Council OKs affordable housing projects

Members talk about recognizing meetings are on Wiyot land

The Eureka City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to declare Linc Housing the preferred proposer of three affordable housing projects on cityowned sites.

The council’s 5- 0 vote authorizes interim City Manager Miles Slattery to proceed with a development agreement with Linc Housing.

The three projects will be built on a trio of city-owned parking lots at the inter sections of Eight hand G streets, Sixth and M streets, and Sunny and Myrtle avenues.

Linc Housing’s proposal calls for:

• A four- story, 32-unit complex at Sunny andMyrtle avenues comprised of 15 two-bedroom and 16 threebedroom units for households earning 30%-80% of the area median income, and one three- bedroom manager’s unit.

• A six- story, 40- unit complex at Eighth and G streets comprised of 19 twobedroom and 20 three-bedroom units for households earning 30%- 80% \of the area median income, and one three-bedroom manager’s unit.

• A six-story, 35-unit complex comprised of 16 twobedroom and 18 three-bedroom units for households earning 30%-55% area median income, and one threebedroom manager’s unit.

Nearly a dozen members of the public commented on the proposed development.

More than half of them opposed the new developments, contending that the elimination of parking spots would hurt local businesses and cause undue congestion in the three locations.

“Where do we put our employees that need to park there during the day? We think the city should look deeper into parking. … We could all get behind (this project) if we hada better parking solution.” said

Mike Ford, generalmanager of Pro Pacific Auto Repair, which is located on Fifth and M streets.

Commenter Thomas Wheeler was in support of the projects.

“Those who think there are better places, I challenge you to find them,” he said. “These are some of the last undeveloped spots in the city. We don’t want to turn down extra housing in our community.”

During its July 15 meeting, city staff reported the three parking lots contain 96 parking spots.

Staff reported the lots at Eighth and G street and at Sunny and Myrtle avenues have an average usage rate no higher than 15%.

The lot at Sixth and M had a usage rate as high as 86% in 2016 and 95% in 2017.

“Higher- density housing … makes neighborhoods safer,” councilmember Austin Allison said. “Some of these concerns are a bit short- sighted. … We are mandated by the state to buildmore housing.…More housing lifts an area up.”

Council establishes CAB

The council voted unanimously to adopt an ordinance adding a citizens advisory board for the Eureka Police Department.

The advisory board will work with EPD Chief Steve Watson and will make yearly reports to the council giving “counsel, support, advice, and recommendations to the Chief of Police for the purpose of improving transparency and accountability while building trust and fostering strong police- community relations,” according to language in the ordinance.

The board will have be

tween five and sevenmembers chosen by the mayor and approved by the council. It will meet no less frequently than quarterly.

The advisory board is a product of former ChiefAndrewMills’ Community Advisory Panel, a non- official body formed in July of 2015 which completed many of the same tasks as outlined by the new ordinance.

Council passes land acknowledgment statement

The council adopted a resolution to introduce language acknowledging the city is holding its meetings on Wiyot Tribe land before every meeting.

The language for the acknowledgment will be worked on and defined at a later council meeting.

Councilmember Kim Bergel saidshe is in full support of a land acknowledgment before meetings, but stressed that she wanted to see the city go further than a simple statement.

“I think it’s important,” Bergel said. “I think it’s a sign of respect. I don’t want to, however, do a land acknowledgment because it’s the thing to do…I want to have some substance behind it. … I don’t think this has any substance.”

Bergel said she wanted to see the city have meetings with the tribe, and other area tribes and rancherias in addition to making an acknowledgment before every meeting.

Councilmember Leslie Castellano asked, “I support this, I’ve been in support of this, why wait?”

The language used in the agenda itemthat will be reshaped at a future meeting is: “The City of Eureka acknowledges that we are located on the unceded ancestral lands of the Wiyot Tribe. Please join us in acknowledging this fact as we work andmeet together today.”