As fun as it is to pontificate about Humboldt’s county seat — “Homeless people!” “Drugs!” “Wow, that’s a big hammer!” “BANANAs!” — there’s no substitute for that warm inner glow that comes from actually participating in the civic process. And this evening, local residents (especially us ‘reekans) have a golden opportunity in the form of a General Plan Update community workshop.

A city’s general plan, of course, serves as a set of guidelines for land use decisions, laying out which parts of the city should be used for which purposes, be they industrial, commercial, residential or something else. Tonight you can help make decisions that will guide Eureka for many years to come. As Eureka Senior Planner Riley Topolewski noted via email, “You will have an opportunity to provide input to help define the land use alternatives for opportunity areas within Eureka and potential annexation areas in the County, give us your thoughts on future planning policies, and come learn about sea level rise and its potential effects on the City.”

Here are the deets:

WHAT: General Plan Update Community Workshop

WHERE: Wharfinger Building, #1 Marina Way, Eureka

WHEN: Tuesday, April 28, 5:30 – 7:30 pm

WHY: For Eureka. For the future. For America.

HOW: Attending and participating?

Also cool? This being 2015 and all, the City of Eureka has launched an online platform for people who live and/or work in Eureka “to work together and share their ideas on what Eureka should be in the future.” The site has the term “mindmixer” in its url, which is cool, and it allows you to weigh in on a succession of topics. Currently, the city’s seeking input on potential changes to land use along the north end of Broadway. Have at it. 

And for more information on this whole General Plan Update process, click here for a pdf (in color).