Press release from the City of Eureka:

On February 28th , the City of Eureka will be hosting a workshop to describe and discuss the approval process and requirements to establish an authorized encampment. The workshop will include presentations from both the City and Humboldt County about their Emergency Shelter ordinances and each agency’s conditions of approval to create a shelter space for community members with tent structures or tiny homes.

The meeting will be hosted in City of Eureka Council Chambers on the 2nd floor of Eureka City Hall, 531 K Street, Eureka. The meeting will start at 5:30 p.m. and will be a public meeting for all interested community members. After the presentations, there will be an open public forum for the presenters to respond to comments and answer questions from the public.

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Ask any crotchety old-timer or loquacious longtime local and they’ll tell ya: We ain’t seen this much snow ‘round here for nigh-on 35 years.

It’s true! This morning the Outpost spoke with Meteorologist Josh Wood, who works at the National Weather Service office on Woodley Island, and he said that while the instruments out there have only recorded a quarter-inch of snowfall, some of his NWS colleagues are reporting two inches or more of accumulation in locations around the bay. 

Photos submitted by readers confirm this, and as I write these words it’s still falling!

The last time the Humboldt Bay region got this much snow was during the winter of 1989, when even Woodley Island recorded an inch and a half. 

Arcata residents might quibble: “But what about 2019?” 

Fair point! An uncommonly localized snowfall fell on Arcata and McKinleyville four years ago, briefly turning the Plaza into a winter wonderland and inspiring a few bold souls to snowboard down city streets. Woodley Island saw about half an inch of accumulation that year, but the snow didn’t stick around long once the sun rose — even in Arcata.

The current snowfall has created hazardous driving conditions. Chains or 4-wheel drive are required on Fickle Hill Road in Arcata. In SoHum, chains are required in Whitethorn and Shelter Cove Road; and drivers are advised to carry chains on Alderpoint Road.

Chains are also required on State Route 299 from Lord Ellis Summit to Trinity County. Chains are required on State Route 36 from Post Mountain to Platina.

Stay safe out there, folks!

UPDATE: Chains are now also required on Mattole Road, Titlow Hill Road and Bear River Ridge Road.

Local artist Sequoyah Faulk today released an 18-minute documentary called “Humboldt is Home,” which offers an up-close portrait of the county’s ongoing homelessness crisis.

The short film, which features original music produced by Faulk, was financed by a Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) grant from the California Department of Housing and Community Development, administered by the Humboldt County Association of Governments (HCAOG). 

In a phone interview Wednesday afternoon, Faulk said he hopes the project will let the voices of local people experiencing homelessness be heard so that they can be seen as human beings.

“We all want to see this situation be alleviated,” he said, noting that homelessness is a problem up and down the West Coast. “It’s extremely complicated. Hopefully we can start taking strides toward something helpful.”

At the start of the pandemic, Faulk’s dad, retired Humboldt State University political science professor Daniel Faulk, started building tiny houses, which he hoped to give to local homeless people.

“Turned out that finding a place to put them was a bit of a challenge,” Faulk said. He got involved with his dad’s effort and worked with Eureka City Councilmember Leslie Castellano to find locations for the tiny homes. Eventually they placed a couple at the St. Vincent De Paul site in Eureka.

Faulk started getting more involved in working on local homelessness issues and soon heard about the grant opportunity through the state-funded REAP initiative. The brief said organizers were seeking artists to create multimedia projects to raise awareness about the housing situation in Humboldt. 

Faulk, who started making videos as a kid, using two VCRs to edit footage of him and his friends on their bikes, thought he’d be a good candidate. 

“I felt pretty confident that I could pull something off within the parameters,” he said. “I liked that it was [defined as] an art project, so it didn’t have to be too rigid.”

The film features interviews with a handful of county residents describing their struggles to find and keep housing. In one interview, Manila resident Gwendoline Egger talks about her pending eviction from an unsanctioned encampment that law enforcement cleared out last year. 

“I got a four-year-old grandson that I’ve got guardianship of, I take care of, and nowhere to go,” Egger says in the film. She was living in an RV parked at a property on Stamps Lane, but when the county moved to clear out the property she couldn’t find anywhere else to take the vehicle, since local RV parks don’t accept older rigs.

“So I have no idea what I’m gonna do,” Egger says. “That’s [the] bottom line.”

Other locals experiencing homelessness — or on the verge of it — describe their efforts to get by from day to day. 

“Most of us, I’ll say, try to do our best not to become a problem for the people of the city that want to access all these public places where we end up … ,” California native Ami Mour says in the film. “There just aren’t as many choices as people think there might be.”

Faulk also owns and operates a small recording studio, called Shady Manila Records, and as part of the project he enlisted some musician acquaintances, including a pair of rappers who have experienced homelessness. 

In the finished film, embedded above, each of those artists — Gage Anderson, aka AlexanderTheGreatest, and Francis Verges — contributes a verse to the song that bookends the documentary. Faulk said he invited them to share their own experiences through the lyrics.

The song’s chorus was written and sung by local artist Zera Starchild.

“When I said I’m going to produce this song and I’d like you to sing chorus, she got back to me like a day later with the chorus [completed],” Faulk said.

The title of the documentary is taken from the chorus she created.

Fred John Vanni, of Arcata, California, was the first born son of Angelo and Nida Vanni, making his entrance into the world October 28th,1929.  Angelo and Nida were long-time Arcata residents who also owned and operated the Arcata Trailer Park for many decades.

After having spent an enjoyable Christmas Eve with family, Fred passed away peacefully on December 26, 2022, at the age of 93.  

Fred loved and was proud of his long lived life in Arcata. He was a graduate of Arcata High School.  He and his wife Sally, along with their boys, David and Dean,  lived at the same house on Beverly Drive from the early 1950’s until 2019 when Fred and Sally moved to Oakmont in Elk Grove to be close to family.  Emptying and selling the long time family home was bittersweet.

Fred had an amazing work ethic.  He worked hard all his life, from the time he was a teenager.

He instilled this work ethic into his sons and grandchildren, and also loved to share stories of his life.

Fred was the proud co-owner of Arcata Bowl.  He, along with his wife Sally, and his brother Don Vanni and sister in law, Barbara Vanni, made the bowling alley and  adjacent bar, The Pin Room, a huge success and fixture in town for almost 30 years.  Fred also served his country in the Korean War and had many stories to tell of his time overseas.  Fred was an amazing story teller!

Fred was predeceased by the love of his life, and wife of more than 67 years, Sally.  Sally passed away in March of 2020 and Fred missed her dearly.  He is now reunited with her in heaven.  Fred was also predeceased by his sister Linda and his brother Don.

Fred is survived by his two sons, David Vanni (Lisa Renee), Dean Vanni (Robin), his sister Donna Fauerbach (Sid), sister in law Barbara Vanni, grandchildren, Tammi Gyori (Jeremy), Ryan Vanni (Melissa), Benjamin Vanni, Steven Vanni, Jason Vanni, and Jonathon Vanni.

Fred liked to boast about his many great-grandchildren, 18 so far, as well as two great great grandchildren!  Fred is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and cousins.  The Vanni and Dal Porto Clan were and are long time fixtures in the Eureka and Arcata area.  

A funeral mass will be held to honor Fred’s wonderful and well lived life on Saturday, March 4th at 10 am at St.Mary’s Church in Arcata.  Private graveside service, organized by Paul’s Chapel, for immediate family only, will be held following the mass. Fred and Sally will be interred together at the St. Mary’s Cemetery in Arcata.

Donations can be made in Fred’s name to Veterans of Foreign Wars, The Wounded Warriors Project, or any organization of your choice.

Rest in heavenly peace Fred; we will miss you more than words can express.

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

HUMBOLDT TODAY: Winter weather causes havoc on Humboldt’s roadways, a pair of Ferndale’s favorite farmers receive a big award, plus LoCO readers were kind enough to send in their snow videos! Those stories and more in today’s newscast with John Kennedy O’Connor.

FURTHER READING: 

• Eureka City Council Seeks Affordable Housing Funds, Ends Local COVID Emergency Declaration, Reinstating Water Shutoffs for Delinquent Utility Bills, and More!
• Ferndale’s Foggy Bottoms Boys Honored as Climate Smart Farmers of the Year
• GATEWAY AREA PLAN: Arcata Will Host Online Public Workshop Thursday Evening to Gather Your Design Input
• (VIDEO) Logging Truck Overturns on Highway 101 in Front of Legend of Bigfoot
• 75 Trees Cut Down Along the Arcata-Eureka Safety Corridor in Preparation for Indianola Undercrossing Construction
• California Water Board Waives Delta Rules That Protect Salmon
• The 2023 Humboldt Snow Experience Looks Likely to Last a Little Longer

HUMBOLDT TODAY can be viewed on LoCO’s homepage each night starting at 6 p.m. Want to LISTEN to HUMBOLDT TODAY? Subscribe to the podcast version here.

With Northwest California in the midst of an intense winter storm, many of our local nonprofit organizations and emergency centers have opened extreme weather shelters to provide refuge for those living outdoors, or who have been displaced by the weather conditions. 

Most of these shelter locations were sent out in a press release on Tuesday from the Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services. Arcata House Partnership also contacted the Outpost Wednesday to let us know that the nonprofit will also be opening its extreme weather shelter this evening (Feb. 22) and expects to remain open until Feb. 26. Arcata House is also in desperate need of volunteers to help run the emergency shelter. If you are able to help out, you can call 707-382-0385.

Here is a current list of the extreme weather shelters available in Humboldt. If you know of any other shelters not listed here, feel free to email the information  news@lostcoastoutpost.com and we will add it to the list. 

Arcata

• Arcata House Partnership: February 22-26. Call 707-296-4230 to check availability. Call 707-382-0385 if you would like to volunteer. 

Eureka

• Eureka Rescue Mission: Overnight sheltering, dinner and showers -Men - 110 Second Street, Eureka.  Arrive between 5:30-6 p.               -Women- 102 Second Street, Eureka.  Arrive at 6:30 p.m.

• Betty Kwan Chinn Day Center: Overnight sheltering, dinner and showers. Call before 4 p.m., 707-407-3833 or visit the Day Center at 133 Seventh Street, Eureka.

Southern Humboldt

• SoHum Housing Opportunities (SHO) Warming Recharge/Warming Center                                                                 -Tuesday, February 21: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Redway First Baptist Church (1055 Redway Drive, Redway)                                                             - February 22-24 (Wed. - Fri.): 1 - 4 p.m. at Mateel Community Center (59 Rusk Lane, Redway)

• Redwood Rural Health Centers (RRHC) Extreme Winter Weather Shelter: Call to check capacity: 707-923-2783, ext. 1361

Northern Humboldt

• Lower Trinity River Prescribed Burn Association Warming Center: February 22-23 (Wed.-Thur.) 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. at 111 Mayfair Street, Willow Creek

• The Heights Casino Warming Center: February 22-24 (Wed.-Fri.) 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the Heights Bingo Hall 27, Scenic Drive, Trinidad

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Rising interest rates and building costs are complicating efforts to bolster Eureka’s affordable housing stock. In an effort to ease that burden, the Eureka City Council approved a request from staff to submit an application for additional funding through the California Department of Housing and Community Development’s Permanent Local Housing Allocation program. 

If approved, the funds would alleviate construction costs for the new senior affordable housing complex being built on Myrtle Avenue. The complex will contain a mix of one-bedroom, two-bedroom and studio apartments for 36 seniors with an income of 60 percent or less than the Area Median Income.

However, the cost of the project has increased significantly since its inception, according to Chris Westlake, a consultant with affordable housing developer and city partner Danco Communities.

“This project is under construction, but due to cost overruns on materials and interest rates, the project [cost] has increased over $2.8 million,” Westlake explained during Tuesday’s council meeting. “In addition, the tax credit pricing was affected before we closed on it. The tax credit application cost another several thousand dollars.”

Danco contacted city staff late last year to look for a way to “bridge some of this gap on the project,” he said. Staff identified a funding source through the state Department of Housing and Community Development and submitted an application. However, the state requires the city council to pass a resolution approving the application request before it can be processed.

Looking beyond the senior housing project, Councilmember Scott Bauer asked if increasing interest rates and material costs will affect the city’s ability to provide housing in the future.

“We’re seeing it statewide,” Westlake said. “You know, for the last couple of years it was rising construction costs. In the last six, eight months it’s now become the interest rates on their construction firm loans, as well as the tax credit pricing. It’s nothing new and … it’s starting to become normal, unfortunately.”

Councilmember Kati Moulton asked if there were any specific projects on the horizon that would be subject to similar financial constraints. 

“Not at this time,” said City Manager Miles Slattery. “[Other projects] are in the earlier stages and haven’t even gotten to the point of getting funding. The only other project I can think of that’s not really similar to this is Betty Chinn’s [housing] project [on Hilfiker Lane]. We’ve awarded the [request for proposals] and we’re having discussions with the consultant that received the award and we’re working through those issues. We’re hoping that it is not going to be an issue, but … it is related to the cost of goods that we’re looking at.”

Councilmember Leslie Castellano made a motion to adopt a resolution authorizing the submittal of the funding application. Both Bauer and Moulton offered a second. 

Before voting, Castellano noted that “it would be nice if [this item] came to council before it was applied for,” but she was sympathetic to the surrounding circumstance.

“I’m glad to see this particular development moving forward,” she added. “I can’t wait for people to be living in this [complex] after, you know, the many years it’s taken to see it through.”

The council voted 4-0, with Councilmember Renee Contreras de Loach absent, to approve the item.

End of Local COVID Emergency

After nearly three years of living through the pandemic, the council unanimously approved a resolution to terminate the local emergency declaration regarding COVID-19. 

The item, which was pulled for discussion from the agenda’s consent calendar, acknowledged that California “has the tools needed to continue fighting COVID-19 when the State of Emergency terminates” on Feb. 28, including “vaccines and boosters, testing, treatments, and other mitigation measures.” While the virus continues to spread, “the conditions necessitating the local emergency due to COVID-19 are steadily improving and … will no longer be warranted,” according to the staff report.

The end of the local state of emergency means the City of Eureka will also terminate its moratorium on water shutoffs, said city Finance Director Lane Millar.

“The good news is, we will give our customers a fresh start,” Millar said. “We will take their current water debt – if they have any – and we will separate that from their utility account so, going forward, they will have at least two billing cycles before any chance of a shutoff. … We will work with customers to the best of our ability to keep people’s water on.”

There are still programs in place for folks struggling to pay delinquent utility bills. There is $15,000 available for utility assistance through the city’s participatory budgeting program, in addition to $200,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. “That might be a little bit harder [to apply for] than the participatory budget program,” Millar noted. “But I encourage anyone out there to reach out to the city’s finance department to get more information.”

Councilmember G. Mario Fernandez asked how much the city is owed in delinquent utility payments. Millar said the city is owed “roughly a million for both water and sewer,” but noted that the city was already owed around $800,000 before the pandemic.

Castellano made a motion to approve the resolution terminating the local COVID emergency, which was seconded by Bauer. 

Before voting, Castellano asked Millar if the staff would consider adding a checklist of some sort to help residents determine if they’re are eligible for utility assistance. Millar said, “Sure, that would be no problem.”

The motion passed unanimously, with Contreras de Loach absent.

Humboldt Bay Fire Update

Last summer, Humboldt Bay Fire Chief Sean Robertson reported a “significant and unprecedented” staffing shortage at the department, forcing the department to implement a temporary rotating closure, or “four-station model,” of one station per day. Humboldt Bay Fire lost 12 employees last year, seven of whom left in a single month. 

Fortunately, Robertson said things are looking up. In the last six months, the department has filled all but four positions and is actively recruiting to fill the remaining vacancies.

“We are also modifying our training programs for driver operators and company officers to try to get more of our folks qualified early in their career, and just make it a better development program to have a more long-term solution to this problem,” Robertson said during last night’s meeting. “Our resignations occurred at about every position in the organization. The two resignations we had at the administration level were really significant … and we’re still recovering from that loss [but] we’re thankful for the folks who have joined us.”

Bauer asked if the Humboldt Bay Fire’s response time was impacted by the four-station model. Robertson said it added one to two minutes in additional response time “assuming we’re at the end of a jurisdiction.” The department’s typical response time is between six and seven minutes within the entire jurisdiction, he said.

“Our five stations are strategically located,” he continued. “We have had a Standards of Response Coverage Study to verify that. Our call volume is going to continue to increase with all the tremendous development projects that are happening in the city and in the county. So, maintaining those orientations that are well-vetted are going to stand the test of time, I believe.”

Earlier in his presentation, Robertson provided a breakdown of the department’s calls for service and incident types for 2022. Fire-related incidents accounted for 3.5 percent of the department’s calls for service whereas the vast majority of calls – 63.6 percent – were for rescue and emergency medical services. He added that Humboldt Bay Fire’s jurisdiction typically sees more annual fires per capita than the rest of the state. 

“I think it’s just our particular demographic and construction features,” he said. “We have a lot of older houses and commercial buildings, whereas a lot of developments and communities in the Bay Area, for example, have a lot of newer construction, they are required to have sprinklers and there’s much more fireproofing. Generally speaking, that would account for some of the differences.”

The council agreed to accept the report but did not take any action on the item.

Zero Waste Action Plan

The council also received an update on the city’s Zero Waste Action Plan. The plan outlines the city’s strategies to maximize recycling while minimizing waste and reducing overall consumption. 

Robin Praszker, the city’s environmental project manager, outlined three primary goals listed in the draft document: waste reduction in city offices and facilities, waste reduction for public functions/special events, and leading by example.

“In essence, we’re in this together,” Praszker said. “The first strategy is to invest in city staff education and training [by] setting expectations of waste reduction as a duty of city employees and investing in specific staff who can be leaders. The second strategy is seeking department and community collaborations. … And lastly, to sustain and promote best practices the true effort of leading by example, which means folding in zero waste goals into other city planning documents and asking public officials to serve as role models in zero waste behaviors.”

The first draft of the city’s Zero Waste Plan is nearing completion. It will be presented to the council in the coming months. 

The council agreed to accept the report but did not take any formal action on the item. 

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You can find a recording of Tuesday’s meeting here.