Press release from the Yurok Tribe:

The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has awarded the Yurok Tribe $12 million through the Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) Round II to develop a Peer Respite Center as part of its expanding behavioral health infrastructure in the Weitchpec area.

This major project includes a culturally grounded, non-clinical, peer-supported facility designed to serve individuals experiencing mental health challenges, including those transitioning from inpatient treatment, crisis stabilization settings, or requiring step-down support to prevent higher levels of care. The center will complement clinical and youth‑focused facilities planned for construction nearby. 

The Peer Respite Center is a critical component of the Tribe’s continuum of care, addressing identified gaps in post-treatment recovery support and helping prevent unnecessary hospitalization or re-hospitalization. The facility will enhance local capacity by providing a structured, home-like environment where individuals can stabilize, receive peer-based support, and reconnect with family, culture, and community.

Developed in alignment with BHCIP program requirements, the project supports the Tribe’s long-term expansion of behavioral health infrastructure and will operate in coordination with the Wah-sekw Won Yurok Health and Wellness Center and Youth Center to create an integrated system of care.

“Working in unison, these three facilities will provide treatment close to home, helping people stay connected to family while benefiting from a broad range of supportive services,” said Joseph L. James, Chairman of the Yurok Tribe. “The Peer Respite Center reflects our commitment to building a sovereign, community-driven behavioral health system that meets the needs of our people today and for generations to come.”

The Peer Respite Center will serve Tribal members and other Native individuals experiencing behavioral health needs within the region, with a focus on culturally responsive, trauma-informed support services.

Funded through the State of California’s Behavioral Health Infrastructure Bond, the project will be implemented in accordance with DHCS requirements and applicable federal and Tribal compliance frameworks. The facility is expected to be operational by June 2031.

Wellness and Youth Centers

Located near Weitchpec, the Wah-sekw Won Yurok Health and Wellness Center will encompass approximately 26,000 square feet and include 53 inpatient beds, with accommodations for both men and women. This facility will provide inpatient behavioral health services, including mental health and substance use disorder treatment, as well as outpatient services such as behavioral health counseling and primary care. Services will be available to Yurok Tribal members, all Native Americans and the broader community.

The model of care is designed to deliver comprehensive, holistic services that address physical, mental, social, and cultural health needs across the lifespan—from infants to elders.

 The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has awarded the Yurok Tribe $12 million through the Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) Round II to develop a Peer Respite Center as part of its expanding behavioral health infrastructure in the Weitchpec area.

This major project includes a culturally grounded, non-clinical, peer-supported facility designed to serve individuals experiencing mental health challenges, including those transitioning from inpatient treatment, crisis stabilization settings, or requiring step-down support to prevent higher levels of care. The center will complement clinical and youth‑focused facilities planned for construction nearby.

The Peer Respite Center is a critical component of the Tribe’s continuum of care, addressing identified gaps in post-treatment recovery support and helping prevent unnecessary hospitalization or re-hospitalization. The facility will enhance local capacity by providing a structured, home-like environment where individuals can stabilize, receive peer-based support, and reconnect with family, culture, and community.

Developed in alignment with BHCIP program requirements, the project supports the Tribe’s long-term expansion of behavioral health infrastructure and will operate in coordination with the Wah-sekw Won Yurok Health and Wellness Center and Youth Center to create an integrated system of care.

“Working in unison, these three facilities will provide treatment close to home, helping people stay connected to family while benefiting from a broad range of supportive services,” said Joseph L. James, Chairman of the Yurok Tribe. “The Peer Respite Center reflects our commitment to building a sovereign, community-driven behavioral health system that meets the needs of our people today and for generations to come.”

The Peer Respite Center will serve Tribal members and other Native individuals experiencing behavioral health needs within the region, with a focus on culturally responsive, trauma-informed support services.

Funded through the State of California’s Behavioral Health Infrastructure Bond, the project will be implemented in accordance with DHCS requirements and applicable federal and Tribal compliance frameworks. The facility is expected to be operational by June 2031.

Wellness and Youth Centers

Located near Weitchpec, the Wah-sekw Won Yurok Health and Wellness Center will encompass approximately 26,000 square feet and include 53 inpatient beds, with accommodations for both men and women. This facility will provide inpatient behavioral health services, including mental health and substance use disorder treatment, as well as outpatient services such as behavioral health counseling and primary care. Services will be available to Yurok Tribal members, all Native Americans and the broader community.

The model of care is designed to deliver comprehensive, holistic services that address physical, mental, social, and cultural health needs across the lifespan—from infants to elders.

The Tribe anticipates breaking ground on the Health and Wellness Center this summer, with construction completion targeted for Spring 2028. All project development and implementation will be conducted under the sovereign authority of the Yurok Tribe and in accordance with applicable Tribal laws, policies, and governance processes.

Concurrently, in Weitchpec, California, the Yurok Youth Behavioral Health Center will be developed utilizing an Alcove-Based Model of Care, designed to support small-group, trauma-informed, and culturally grounded healing environments. The Tribe anticipates breaking ground on the Youth Center this summer.

The 10,500-square-foot Youth Behavioral Health facility will provide access to Yurok Behavioral Health staff, licensed therapists, and external service providers. The center will include a dedicated computer station for telehealth and virtual medical appointments, a calming space for youth, a pantry, a game room, and a classroom to support mutual support groups and parenting education. In addition, the site will feature an outdoor amphitheater and a traditional sweathouse to promote cultural engagement and holistic wellness.

The Tribe anticipates breaking ground on the Health and Wellness Center this summer, with construction completion targeted for Spring 2028. All project development and implementation will be conducted under the sovereign authority of the Yurok Tribe and in accordance with applicable Tribal laws, policies, and governance processes.

Concurrently, in Weitchpec, California, the Yurok Youth Behavioral Health Center will be developed utilizing an Alcove-Based Model of Care, designed to support small-group, trauma-informed, and culturally grounded healing environments. The Tribe anticipates breaking ground on the Youth Center this summer.

The 10,500-square-foot Youth Behavioral Health facility will provide access to Yurok Behavioral Health staff, licensed therapists, and external service providers. The center will include a dedicated computer station for telehealth and virtual medical appointments, a calming space for youth, a pantry, a game room, and a classroom to support mutual support groups and parenting education. In addition, the site will feature an outdoor amphitheater and a traditional sweathouse to promote cultural engagement and holistic wellness.

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Exciting news arrives this morning regarding Humboldt County’s most beautiful old movie palace: The historic Eureka Theater, which now operates as a nonprofit, has landed a $48,870.44 T-Mobile Hometown Grant that will be used to upgrade the sound, lighting and production equipment.

Scott Adair, vice president of the Eureka Concert and Film Center’s board of directors, tells the Outpost that the theater’s grant bid was one of only 25 to be selected for funding among roughly 900 applicants.

Board President Gregg Foster said, “We are very grateful to T-Mobile for their support of the Eureka Theater. This investment will improve our sound and lighting systems and will benefit the many community groups that we serve.”

The theater, built in the elegant Streamline Moderne style (a descendant of Art Deco), opened in 1939, which was a landmark year for cinema: “The Wizard of Oz,” “Gone With the Wind,” “Stagecoach,” “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” … the list goes on.

“The Eureka Theater was a beautiful, ultra-modern movie theater when constructed in 1939 and was an expression of optimism and confidence in Eureka and Humboldt County as they pulled out of the Depression,” the website notes.

But the 87 intervening years haven’t been entirely kind to the theater (nor to the city and county, truth be told). After being divided into a triplex in 1978, the theater stopped showing first-run movies in 1996 amid competition from a multiplex inside the Bayshore Mall called The Movies, Eureka’s Broadway Cinemas (which opened in 1995), the State Theatres on Indianola (which didn’t last much longer) and The Minor and Arcata theaters.

The once-gleamingly modern movie palace has suffered some wear and tear, but its volunteer committees and a board of directors have worked hard in recent years to pursue funding opportunities while hosting a wide array of events, including live music performances, classic film screenings, fundraisers and community events.

“The Eureka Theater board is embarking on an ambitious program of improvements to make the dream of a restored and vibrant community gathering place a reality,” Foster said, adding, ” Stay tuned for more good news!”

Below is some more information about the T-Mobile Hometown Grant program, which will end after just one more round of funding. (Deadline to apply is March 31; click the link for details.)

T-Mobile today announced the latest 25 Hometown Grants recipients, including, for the first time, a town in North Dakota. With the latest and second-to-last round, T-Mobile has invested more than $21.5 million in grants to 475 small towns and rural communities across 49 states and Puerto Rico over the last four years.

Since Hometown Grants started in April 2021, the program has impacted 2.8 million people and created nearly 2,700 jobs. With up to $50,000 awarded per town, communities have used the funding on projects that strengthen communities and improve lives, with this round including a new STEM initiative for students, a revitalized historic school building and transforming a barn into a community hub.  

“Nearly five years ago, we launched this program to invest in small towns with big ideas and help turn local vision into meaningful impact,” said Jon Freier, Chief Operating Officer, T-Mobile. “Across 475 communities, thousands have come together to create positive change, contributing nearly 300,000 volunteer hours and proving what’s possible when heart and community pride lead the way.”

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Ed. note: “Community Energy Insights” is a monthly column from the people at the Redwood Coast Energy Authority, Humboldt County’s intergovernmental joint-powers authority on all things electrical. Look for it on the last Thursday of the month.

This week’s column is by RCEA Customer Programs Director Stephen Kullman.

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A new effort led by Redwood Coast Energy Authority is bringing more energy efficiency resources to rural Northern California. The Northern Rural Energy Network (NREN) was developed to make sure rural communities receive their fair share of energy efficiency funding and services. The program is designed specifically for the unique needs of rural areas and is already launching programs to help households, businesses, public agencies and tribes save energy and lower costs.

The effort is meant to address a long-standing challenge for rural communities.

It probably won’t surprise anyone that rural communities across Northern California experience higher energy burdens than more populated regions of the state. Energy burden refers to the share of household income that goes toward energy bills. There are several reasons for this. Energy costs are high, especially for people who rely on propane or other delivered fuels, many homes and buildings are older and average incomes tend to be lower.

Most of us also know that improving energy efficiency — using less electricity to do the same amount of work — is one way to help lower energy bills while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions. What many people may not realize is that the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) collects a small amount of money from all ratepayers to fund energy efficiency programs. It amounts to roughly 1% of an average energy bill. These programs are very successful at reducing energy use across the state.

Energy efficiency programs do not just assist homeowners. They are also designed to help schools, public buildings and commercial buildings operate more efficiently, which saves money over time. Unfortunately, these programs have historically been designed in ways that favor more urban areas. Up here in Northern California, we have not received the same level of energy efficiency services that we have paid for through our energy bills.

As the energy advocate for Humboldt County, Redwood Coast Energy Authority wanted to know why this was the case.

Energy efficiency programs in California are mostly run by Investor-Owned Utilities (IOUs), such as PG&E. These programs must meet strict cost-effectiveness rules. Because of this, contractors can often make more profit working on projects for larger customers located close together in urban areas. Working with smaller customers spread across rural regions like Humboldt County simply takes more time and travel.

There is even an official term for communities like ours: “Hard-to-Reach.” Taking the time to travel longer distances and work with customers, rural schools, under-staffed towns, community service districts and our many Tribal Nations often does not make economic sense under traditional program rules. As a result, rural communities are frequently left behind when it comes to energy efficiency upgrades.

Local contractors face challenges as well. Statewide programs have complex participation requirements that can be difficult for rural, smaller-scale contractors to meet. On top of that, unreliable grid connections and older housing stock can create additional barriers for customers who want to make upgrades. Recognizing these challenges, RCEA decided to do something about them.

RCEA now leads NREN, working in partnership with four other agencies across 17 rural Northern California counties. Together, this network ensures that energy efficiency funds paid by local ratepayers are invested in ways that directly benefit the communities they come from. NREN operates with a “for rural, by rural” philosophy to design and deliver programs tailored to the region’s unique needs.

These programs currently serve Humboldt, Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Lake, Lassen, Mariposa, Mendocino, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sierra, Sutter, Tuolumne and Yuba counties, with plans to expand to neighboring counties in the coming years. NREN was officially approved by the CPUC toward the end of 2024 as one of the state’s newest Regional Energy Networks, also known as RENs. These networks are designed to serve customers and fill gaps not met by large IOU programs.

NREN programs serve homeowners and renters, small businesses, public agencies and tribes. They will also focus on improving workforce education and training and making energy efficiency financing more accessible. While some programs are still under development, others are already available.

RCEA staff members Stephen Kullman, Shea Donnelly, and Patricia Terry, who work on administering the NREN program.

For example, NREN offers phone-based home energy assessments at no cost! One of our energy advisors will help identify where you can save energy and money. They can also advise you on upgrades you might be considering and connect you with programs such as our equipment rebate program.

NREN currently provides rebates for a variety of energy upgrades, including more efficient cooking, washing, drying and water heating equipment. Our popular heat pump rebate program is currently paused while the CPUC revises its requirements, but we hope to reopen it soon and will be sure to get the word out once it is back online. If you are not ready to invest in new equipment, we can still help.

We would be happy to send you a free energy efficiency kit. These kits include high-efficiency LED bulbs, weather-stripping and faucet aerators, along with useful tools like a smart power strip and an energy meter to help you track your energy use.

More programs will launch this summer. These programs will provide incentives for local participating contractors to install energy-efficient equipment in homes and businesses. Through existing programs, RCEA already works closely with public agencies, schools, tribes and other partners throughout the county and NREN will allow us to expand that work and bring more funding into Humboldt.

This funding will support the organizations that serve our communities and the local contractors who will be doing this work. We will also be launching partnerships to support workforce training at all levels, helping ensure that local rural workers benefit from the programs we offer.

At NREN, we recognize that high energy bills are a burden and that upgrades can be expensive. Our goal is to make sure the dollars you already pay to support energy efficiency programs are spent locally and provide the greatest benefit to our rural communities.

For more information or to enroll in any of our programs, please visit RCEA or NREN. You can also email info@redwoodenergy.org or call 707-269-1700. We are here locally and happy to help.

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This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters.

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Want to know what your government is up to? Be prepared to pay up.

A California state lawmaker wants to let public agencies charge an unspecified, uncapped fee if it takes their workers more than two hours to search for records to fulfill a public records request. The proposal is raising concerns among transparency advocates that the fees could deter Californians from accessing records they are constitutionally entitled to.

Assembly Bill 1821, authored by Assemblymember Blanca Pacheco, a Downey Democrat, would also allow the charge if government workers spend more than 10 hours within a month looking for documents requested by the same person. The proposal would apply to most people, with exemptions for journalists and educational or scientific institutions.

In a statement responding to CalMatters’ questions, Pacheco said public agencies have had to spend substantial time responding to a spike in the volume and scope of records requests.

“This bill is intended to address a narrow set of high-cost, resource-intensive requests that can delay agencies’ ability to respond to other records requests,” she said. “The goal is to ensure that agencies can continue to respond to all requests in a timely manner.”

The measure follows years of local government complaints that fulfilling extensive, sometimes duplicative records requests can be so time-consuming that it distracts government staff from other vital tasks, such as performing health insurance eligibility checks, responding to homeless encampments or conducting elections.

“The growing volume and complexity of requests creates real challenges for local governments — straining limited public resources,” said Ben Adler, spokesperson for the California State Association of Counties, which has not taken an official stance on the bill.

It becomes even more difficult for governments when someone “disgruntled” or “unreasonable” files requests maliciously, an attorney who represented public agencies in California wrote in a 2023 op-ed.

Pacheco said in her statement that one person submitted more than 100 records requests in the city of Fontana and stated that their goal was to disrupt city operations, resulting in more than $300,000 in legal and staffing costs. Another request received in Chula Vista, she said, could require 150 to 300 staff hours to fulfill.

“Requests of this size consume a disproportionate share of public resources and delay agencies’ ability to respond to other requests.”

Assemblymember Blanca Pacheco in the Assembly in Sacramento on March 13, 2025. Photo by Fred Greaves for CalMatters

But agencies already try to charge astronomical fees for public records, which has a chilling effect on the public’s right to know because “for most people … $100 is going to be too much,” said David Snyder, executive director of the First Amendment Coalition.

Applying the charge to most Californians threatens their constitutional right to government information, Snyder said.

“The California Constitution says that it’s a fundamental … right of everybody in this state to obtain records from their public agencies,” he said. “The underlying principle is that the government’s records are the people’s records. The government serves the people; not the other way around.”

State law allows public agencies to charge fees for making copies of public records but not for the time spent searching, reviewing or redacting them. In 2020, the California Supreme Court concluded that governments cannot charge for search and redaction and said such costs would undermine Californians’ right to access.

“Just as agencies cannot recover the costs of searching through a filing cabinet for paper records, they cannot recover comparable costs for electronic records,” the ruling said. “Even if higher costs to the agency mean slower disclosure rates or greater inconvenience to the requester, these burdens on access are insignificant if the alternative is no access at all.”

But several local governments tried to charge those fees anyway. Shasta County, for example, adopted an ordinance in January 2021 to charge $25 an hour for staff to find, review and redact records. A year later, Mendocino County established regulations to charge up to $150 an hour, in one case sending a local journalist an $84,000 bill. Both counties only repealed their ordinances after drawing widespread criticism and litigation threats from journalists and First Amendment advocates.

Under Pacheco’s measure, they wouldn’t have had to.

What is a ‘reasonable’ charge?

The measure would require the rates agencies charge for records searches to be “reasonable.” But without a dollar amount cap, that guardrail is meaningless, Snyder said.

“If it’s a large volume of body cam footage, that could be many, many, many hours of review time,” he said. “And if agencies are charging hourly, let’s say $100 an hour, you can see how those numbers can go up really fast.”

The proposal also doesn’t say who would determine what is a reasonable amount of time necessary to search and review records, which could further empower public agencies to justify expensive fees, Snyder said.

“It leaves an enormous range of variables up to agency discretion,” he said. “Many agencies unfortunately behave in a way that suggests that their goal is to not produce the records asked for.”

The measure would additionally give agencies more time to respond to and fulfill requests: While state law requires agencies to tell the requestor what’s disclosable within 10 calendar days and allows them to extend that deadline by no more than 14 calendar days, Pacheco’s measure would prolong those periods to 10 and 14 business days, respectively.

Pacheco said she will amend the bill to ensure it is “narrowly tailored” to establish “appropriate thresholds” for charging for public records, although she did not elaborate on what those thresholds would be.

Pacheco has pushed for several measures to limit disclosure requirements in recent years, including a law last year that made it easier for agencies to redact police misconduct records and another that allowed more public officials to withhold personally identifying information.

John Joseph Gierek, Sr. was called home by the Lord on March 16, 2026. John joins his parents, Michael and Gertrude Gierek, as well as his siblings Michael Gierek, Helen Scuri, Mary Hoffman and Paul Gierek.

John was a lifelong resident of Eureka, born on February 4, 1935. He attended Nazareth Academy and Eureka High School. Upon graduation, he went to work at Hammond Lumber Company until he was drafted by the US Army and was deployed to serve in Germany. After his return, he became a journeyman carpenter and married our mom, Joyce Evenson. They enjoyed 63 happy years together.

John managed Humboldt Moving & Storage after his brother’s death and worked there until his retirement. John loved his community. He was a member of the Rotary Club of Southwest Eureka and served on numerous local boards – including the American Cancer Society and the St. Joseph Hospital Board of Trustees and Foundation.

When John saw a need in the community he always strived to lend his assistance and help. He was instrumental in the creation of the Evergreen Lodge, which was created to help house patients who had to travel to Eureka to undergo cancer treatments at St. Joseph Hospital.

John’s sense of humor and cheerful smile were contagious and will always be remembered. John loved to garden and was always happy spending time in his shop woodworking. He built his family’s home as well as numerous pieces of furniture and toys for family children.

He is survived by his loving wife, Joyce Gierek, as well as his children John (Heather) and Laurie (Chris); grandchildren Caitlin (Mike), Alex (Nathan), Jonathan (Nicole), Lane (Emily), Elizabeth, Lucas, Catherine and Natalie; and great-grandchildren Mary Gwen, Graham, and Hattie; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank the nursing staff at St. Joseph Hospital for their outstanding and compassionate care. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. Joseph Church in Eureka on April 11, 2026, at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Evergreen Lodge Fund at Humboldt Area Foundation, or to the charity of your choice.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of John Gierek Sr.’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.

Patricia Marie Lancaster-Guidry
Aug. 11, 1960 – Feb. 4, 2026

Patricia Marie Lancaster, the only daughter of Russell Parr Lancaster and Lois Marie Pritchard-Lancaster, passed away peacefully in the arms of her beloved husband, Glen, on February 4 at 8:45 a.m.

Anyone who knew Patty knew she was deeply passionate and wore her heart on her sleeve. She had a gift for laughter, more in a single day than most experience in a year. And when she was surrounded by family and friends, that laughter was constant. She loved life, her family, and adventure. She especially cherished life’s milestones, particularly those of her grandchildren. Her garden was her pride and joy; one visitor once called it “an oasis,” a compliment that lit up her face.

Patty held a special place in her heart for her grandmother, Betty Edgar, who taught her how to love and cherish life and others. She spoke of her often and with great affection. Her childhood on Kenmar Road in Fortuna was filled with animals of every kind, sparking a lifelong love for them. One of her happiest memories was receiving her own horse, which she proudly rode all over town. That love never faded. In recent years, her home was filled with chickens, cats, dogs, birds, fish, geese, and even a turtle. Given the chance, she would have added a llama to the mix as well.

At just 16, Patty began building her own life, welcoming her daughter Ryanne in 1979. Several years later, in 1985, she welcomed her son Gabriel. Her children were truly her life. She spoke with Ryanne every day, often multiple times, sharing everything from the smallest moments to the biggest milestones, a constant and unbreakable bond between them. With Gabriel, she carried his life forward through stories, photos, music, and videos, keeping his spirit close in every way she could. The loss of Gabriel on January 21, 2021, was a heartbreak she always carried.

When Gabriel was here, the two of them were inseparable, two peas in a pod. They shared a quick wit, a playful sense of humor, and a connection filled with laughter and the purest kind of love.

Despite a challenging childhood, Patty later completed her high school education in Arkansas. She went on to earn a certificate in Early Childhood Development from College of the Redwoods, graduating with a 4.0 GPA, a source of great pride.

Her four grandchildren — Heaven, Trinity, Emilia and Caine — became the center of her world and brought her immense joy. Heaven, her first grandchild, was the root that grew into a beautiful family tree. Next came Trinity, another bright light and source of joy, followed by Emilia, Gabriel’s firstborn. Lastly came Caine, Patty’s one and only grandson, a spitting image of his late father.

Emilia and Caine shared special time with their Gma and PopPop (Patty and Glen), alternating weekends and filling their home with laughter, love, and lasting memories. One of Patty’s last road trips was traveling north to visit Ryanne. Caine was blessed to be her road trip buddy one last time, a beautiful memory that will be held close forever. There could not have been a more perfect partner to share that final ride in her new red Camaro.

Patty loved to travel, camp, and explore new places. She especially enjoyed fishing at Ruth Lake and the South Jetty. Humboldt County held a special place in her heart, so much so that she even used “Humboldt hippie chick” as her email, a reflection of how deeply she identified with the place she loved. She cherished time spent at Fern Canyon, Moonstone Beach, and a quiet redwood grove near Jordan Creek. Together with her husband, she traveled to Hawaii, Costa Rica, Canada, and Mexico, and had been looking forward to an upcoming Alaska cruise and future travels abroad.

The past 20 years with her husband, Glen, were a beautiful, wild journey filled with love and unforgettable memories. There was only ever one Patty, and she will never be forgotten.

She is survived by her husband Glen Guidry; daughter Ryanne Tucker; her son-in-law Damon Tucker; her daughter-in-law Rebeca Urbina; her brother Glen; her niece Megeara Noland; and her nephew Zach Lancaster; and her four beautiful grandkids — Heaven, Trinity, Emilia and Caine. She was preceded in death by her son, Gabriel Irah LeRoy, and her brothers Michael and Steven Lancaster.

A celebration of life was held on February 22, and the family is deeply grateful to everyone who came to honor Patty and share in remembering her. Special thanks go to Caryl, Glen’s sister and Patty’s sister-in-law; Jovita Urbina for her delicious Mexican food — one of Patty’s favorites, especially her tamales; Matthew LeRoy, Gabriel’s father, for his presence and support; Rebeca Urbina for her love, support, and all she has done for the family, especially in helping with arrangements and being there for Glen during Patty’s passing, holding a truly special place in their hearts; and to Goble’s Fortuna Mortuary for their care and services.

The family would also like to extend a very special and heartfelt thank you to Debbie Chisum of Double D Steakhouse in Fortuna for generously allowing the family to hold Patty’s celebration of life there, as well as Gabriel’s celebration of life five years earlier on February 21st. Words cannot express the depth of their gratitude for her kindness and support.

May Patty’s laughter echo in the hearts of all who knew her, and may her love continue to guide those she cherished.

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” — Psalm 118:24

CORRECTION: Following comment from RCEA Executive Director Beth Burks, the Outpost would like to correct a few points made in the original article.

Burks and deputy director Eileen Verbeck currently earn a smaller salary than the Outpost originally reported. In short, we had confused actual salary with potential salary – what a person in each of those positions may earn after years of service. Burks’ base salary, for example, is currently $212,000, not $246,000 as we had originally reported.

If the higher salary ranges are approved at Thursday’s meeting, it may take employees several years to work their way to the top of the scale at their particular job. Burks says that no employee will be getting more than a five percent increase in their actual salary if the proposal is approved.

But the Outpost notes that the proposal would institute the potential for large raises over the current maximum salaries, in some positions, as employees move up the pay scale. The maximum the the deputy executive director could earn, for example, would be 34.7% higher than it is now.

In addition, the article misidentified the mid-year budget projection’s net income for the organization as RCEA’s reserve balance.

The Outpost regrets the errors.

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Original article:

The Redwood Coast Energy Authority, the agency responsible for purchasing electricity for residents in Humboldt County, is attempting to grant its employees massive salary increases — many of them more than 20% — and switch to a four-day workweek.

Everyone at RCEA stands to benefit if the board of directors decides to raise their salaries and implement a four-day workweek at their meeting tomorrow.

According to the staff report, a number of unfilled positions at RCEA gives it a $600,000 surplus, some of which they can use by handing out the raises, which will total about $104,000 annually. The raise suggestions come courtesy of consulting firm Gallagher, who took a look at their staffs’ salaries, compared them to positions elsewhere they considered roughly equivalent, and recommended the pay bumps.

RCEA wants to move to a four-day, 34-hour-a-week working schedule to “to support employee recruitment and retention, promote work-life balance, and maintain service levels to the public, while remaining fiscally responsible.” 

“Like many public agencies, RCEA continues to experience budget constraints combined with competitive labor market conditions, increased workload complexity, and heightened employee burnout,” the staff report reads. “In response, staff have evaluated alternative work schedules that maintain operational effectiveness while improving organizational sustainability.”

Their staff’s productivity goals would remain unchanged.

Merritt Perry, Arcata’s city manager, declined to comment on RCEA directly, but said that when it came to Arcata’s budget — considering rising costs across the board — he urged caution.

Eureka City Manager Miles Slattery told the Outpost that the proposals for an increased salary were unjustifiable, and that their timing, coming near the middle of the fiscal year, was concerning as well.

“I am amazed at the compensation level being proposed,” Slattery said. “I don’t know where they came up with that salary schedule and how it was achieved, but just based on our region I find it not equitable with other positions of similar description and responsibility…Whether they’re financially doing well, I still don’t believe there’s justification for such salary proposals.”

The Outpost left several voicemails for RCEA’s media spokesperson; she could not be reached for comment.

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CORRECTION, 5:58 p.m.: A previous version of this article misidentified mid-year budget projection net income as RCEA’s reserve balance. The Outpost apologizes for the error.