It's Back! Dignity on the Dunes project. Mission B & B.

The B & B on the Peninsula is back. Just south of the Samoa Bridge. Please use responsibly. Hopefully no Samoa citizenry complaints. This is healthy for not only the "house poor" people camping on the dunes, but for the peninsula as a whole.

Port of Oakland delays: 'Absolute madness’ threatens business.

Port of Oakland delays  could cripple business on the west coast. Not just in the immediate but in the future once the Panama canal expansion is complete.

Damn EPD! $1 a minute kind of excessive! B & B yanked on Peninsula. Rainy days suck!

I was talking to a client at my office at the Prosperity and I knew the time was getting close but I had to let them finish at their pace. When I went out to my truck, here was there to greet me. So for 42 minutes I have to pay $38 dollars. Almost a dollar a minute! That is San Francisco prices!

The B & B that has been placed by the Harbor District has had to be removed until we consult with our legal counsel on its status. There has been complaints by locals over escalation of nefarious crime type activity since we have supplied a place to poop.

And that almost ends today's rant. I will do the rest off line.

Major James Marks has bad Pearl Harbor visit 73 years ago!

My father James was at Pearl Harbor during the bombing many years ago. He later became a Major in the Army and passed the bar to become a lawyer in the late 50's. He was the first Deputy Public Defender in Humboldt County history. Later he went into private practice and had multiple law firms. He fathered eight children, my mother had seven. How many brothers and sisters do I have? Buy lunch for the first correct guess!

Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI) purchasing Green Diamond mills?

My inside contacts tell me that Red Emmerson is completing the process to purchase the Korbel Sawmill and the Brainard plant from Green Diamond. Not only that, but SPI is also buying multiple saw mills in the state of Washington. Workers will officially be notified of this transaction next Thursday with a WARN ACT notice and explanation of the process moving forward. I have been in discussions and tried to organize some folk to do an Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP) buyout. That failed. Let us hope this transaction is for real. If not? More jobs lost in Humboldt County. Say it ain't so.

Slumoa project may move forward! 14 years late (r)!

(This is the house I see from my back porch everyday. Lead paint abatement project put on hold I am guessing.) In 2001 Robin and I were so happy to see the town of Samoa sold to the Samoa Pacific Group (Dan Johnson and Lane DeVeres) and their role out of plans for the future were bright. They said they planned to make lot line adjustments and parcel out each house to enable the long time Samoa residents to purchase. We were promised the first chance to buy these homes after there were cosmetic repairs to the outsides such as roofing and painting. There would be parks and trails, grocery store, shopping center and a mix of new houses and affordable housing. (AKA apartments.) Peninsula Elementary School would have an influx of new students and there would be a positive energy for us sandwellers.

Since 2001 there has been many iterations of the original master plans. Dan Johnson has learned one thing. Government can be so slow. While serving as a Director of the Samoa Peninsula Fire Department we had the Samoa Pacific Group come many times to try to form a Peninsula Community Service District so the town of Samoa could provide new infrastructure such as Sewage, Water and Parks. Each time they were met with push back from either the board itself or the residents of Fairhaven.

Now we learn from todays Times Standard that the project is jumping original phases to the project and building the apartments first. They have a 3.8 million dollar grant that needs to be used by 2015. The first most needed piece of the development is a waste-water treatment facility. So the grocery store, fire station, park, trails, campsites and other visitor services will not be in place beforehand as originally proposed. The Board of Supervisors and the California Coastal Commission will have to approve the amendments to the original plan. While I am disappointed in the process looking 14 years back, I am supportive of the project moving forward for the heath and vitality that I hope can be restored for the town of Samoa. That is one long time sandwellers opinion. And I have seen much in the nearly 35 years I have been a resident.  

Measure "S" puts Marks Consulting in the win column again! Bergel? I was told last week of this result.

Eureka School Bond Measure "S" wins! I was part of a large committee that had over 100 volunteers in one capacity or another. Orchestrating this mass of people was Gregg Gardiner and my hats off to him for his tenacity and hard work. I did data base management and it was huge. Around a 1/3 of all voters in Humboldt County live in the Eureka City Schools jurisdiction. Lots of walking sheets and phone banking sheets and then the entry of the supporters and banking them for the Get Out The Vote (GOTV). It wasn't flawless, but this was probably the most aggressive GOTV I have been involved in. The first election report showed us well short of the 55% threshold needed for the bond to pass and panic set in at the victory celebration for volunteers. People were asking me what would it take for victory to be stolen from defeat. I told the room to hope for a 60% poll voting showing to put us back in the game. Thankfully that happened but the volunteers were left at the edge of their seats for 17 days. The GOTV won this election. Went from around 80 votes up to over 300 up after absentee votes at the precincts were counted. Campaigns are controlled chaos. This campaign was successful keeping the chaos controlled.

I had lunch a few days back with a Humboldt political insider. (No, not MIM.) They had voter information of past elections and asked me to evaluate the trends. It concerned the Mike Newman vs Kim Bergel race.  I am a certified para-statistician (Thank you Louisiana Pacific for sending me to this certification process for operators.) and am obsessed with operational and political trends. All of information gathering was sitting in front of me and I offered that Newman was in trouble. The insider said if the Absentee Votes reached around 1,600 that it might be game over. That person was absolutely correct. And they did not want to be. I have told enough people this last week about what was going to probably happen. Not many believed.  I know, Lies, damn lies and statistics.

"Dignity Dump" or "Dump with dignity at the Dunes?"

For years I have brought up the fact the there are many homeless that make the trek to the Peninsula to use the dunes as their home. There are no bathroom services for them and you know they have to go somewhere. I have brought this up to Social Services and other agencies through meetings concerning homeless not having a place to go with dignity. I thought it would be a good low cost solution to have even just B & B's at the end of the 255 bridge at the "T" at the end. Seems that was problematic at levels that seem excuses. Well I was pleasantly surprised to find out the Humboldt Bay Harbor decided to surprise me with supplying one on Harbor property near the Cookhouse. For $80 a month we can feel good about doing something positive for the dunes. As long as people treat this with respect and do not vandalize this is a positive move. Now help me with a proper name.

Ukiah rail with trail update!

Ukiah City Civil Engineer Ben Kageyama gave an update on the 3/4 mile rail with trail project to the North Coast Rail Authority board yesterday. The construction will be complete by January!  KHUM also did a recent update. So there is hope and an actually completed testament to look at.

NASCAR "Good ol Boy" Domestic Violence is all good. It's in their book!

Seems to be a a two sided racist issue when it comes to domestic violence. There is a great  No more program being brought forward using many African American athletes to educate America on domestic violence issues. But NASCAR has totally ignored the issue allowing Kurt Busch to participate today in a NASCAR event in Phoenix where he finished and placed 7th. So Ray Rice is given an indefinite suspension and Kurt is not even considered. Is it a race issue? I believe so. Last week there was an NASCAR brawl that had very little coverage. If this incident happened in the NBA there would be epic media since blood was drawn on two popular athletes. Just saying. For anyone out there needing help with domestic violence, here is the website:  http://hdvs.org/.

Draft land use Ordinance for lawful cannabis cultivation roll out tomorrow at 5:30!

California Cannabis Voice-Humboldt is going to have a public forum and panel discussion rollout of our draft land use ordinance encouraging lawful guidelines to cultivate cannabis. The event will be hosted by the Blue Lake Rancheria tomorrow at 5:30pm, Thursday, 11/6/14 at the Sapphire Palace. This will hopefully prepare Humboldt County to be on the forefront of the potential statewide initiative legalizing Cannabis in 2016.

Voters are dumb! My predictions locally.

A recent survey in California showed that only 42% of the voters know that Jerry Brown is running for another term. Not only that, but only 1 out of 5 could name his Republican opponent Neel Kashkari! Wow. What is the problem? Apathy? Got me, but below is my fearless predictions for some of the local election results. (No science for the most part, although I have been working on Measure "S". And this is not an endorsement for any item. Observations from the peanut gallery only.)

Eureka City Council: Natalie Arroyo over Chet Albin and Mike Newman over Kim Bergel. Natalie has had a strong phonebanking campaign and dominated the debates. Mike Newman has been very active attending community events over the last 4 years and has worked very hard in his first term. I don't always agree with him, but he is always respectful.

Arcata City Council: Sofia Pereira and Mark Wheetley. For the 2 year terms. Both very knowledgeable politically. Be a huge surprise if they didn't win. For the 2 year term I think Paul Pitino will prevail. Great guy and former Arcata City Councilman. Passionate over Transportation issues.

Measure P: I think this will pass. Lots of good arguments both ways.

Measure Q: I am kinda shocked, but I think this will pass. If I lived in Eureka, I would vote against. There had been some questionable spending the last few years. But the Measure Q team has done a good job with this campaign.

Measure R: I predict it will pass, but not in the overwhelming fashion I thought it would. The "No" on R has come on strong, but way too late.

Measure S: The phone banking results seem to show it will pass with over 60%. But that 5% fudge factor could go the wrong way. But the GOTV strategy for the Measure "S" team tomorrow should carry the measure over the top.

Measure Z: From all the people I have talked to this measure should fail miserably. No clear and concise message and just a way late start to the campaign. If I am wrong here I will probably have to quit my election predictions.

Again, no science. Just in fun.

Mark Sprague memorial.

A memorial for Mark Sprague will be at Redwood Park in Arcata tomorrow at 1pm. Went too early.

Samoasoftball only one to vote for Measure Z?

One of my friends jokingly referred to Measure Z as, "Zero chance of passing!" I have talked to quite a few people of varying political spectrum and have heard a resounding "NO!" I voted for the Measure but can't speak for my wife. I find it odd that many I have talked to are for Measure "Q" though. If I were Natalie Arroyo and Kim Bergel I would hope "Q" passes or I wouldn't want to be the new Eureka City Council person with a huge deficit on the horizon!

Mark Sprague hitting homers in heaven. And lifting his teammates up!

Just heard that Mark Sprague is launching Homers in Heaven. I was honored to have Mark as a teammate, coworker and friend. His brother Basil "Bill" went a few years earlier. Dave and Bob are still with us. Played ball with them all and won many games and have great memories, both in slow pitch and fast pitch, here are others. Only a few of the many comments going around:

Gordon Holt Great guy...had some great times! JJ Katri RIP Mark. Hell of a ball player and fun guy to be around. Carlos Avelar He was a tough competitor but always fair person that pulled for success of others as well but you knew you were in for a game if the other team ever had a Sprague on it and sometimes multiple Spragues they all always brought their A+ GAME. Kris Avelar Well said Clos . I remember when he made an unassisted triple play n willow creek. And basil was doing head first slides on a shit field and had a huge raspberry on his chest. Great family and will be missed by many. Doug Weatherbee Had the pleasure of playing next to Mark on some of the best teams I ever played for. We were complete opposites on the field. Mark was always chirping.lol. But always in a good way and made me work harder and be a better player. He was fun to play with and we became good friends. I can see Mark and Bill reunited and already winning together in heaven. I will miss you Mark. Rick Verhulst I concur Doug Weatherbee ! Mark always pumped me up when we played together. Sounds silly but he made me feel like I was the best pitcher out there cuz he was so supportive! Steve Georgianna Very lucky to of known him and played with him. So much fun!

Great Quote by Ryan Sundberg concerning Cannabis Summit.

Great story in Times Standard this morning. But a simple statement by Humboldt County 5th District Supervisor Ryan Sundberg explaining Humboldt County Cannabis Voice-Humboldt type cannabis farmers, "They are saying, 'We want to be regulated, we want to be taxed, help me help you figure out how to make that happen!"

It is not that simple, but it was a huge step forward as yesterday I witnessed 35 stakeholders work together to find consensus on many of the main land use issues. I actually finished a draft of the Ordinance last night and sent it off to our legal "Draft Team" to massage and move forward. I am excited to be a part of the process to help growers who want to do clean growing practices. I am not supportive of trespass grows or grows using illegal pesticides or that divert water illegally. I feel we are headed in the right direction.

Epic Cannabis Summit tomorrow at Wharfinger.

California Cannabis Voice-Humboldt will be hosting 35 cannabis stakeholders (People with interest or concern, in this case Board of Supervisors, Planning Department, Environmental groups, Medical Industry, Business Owners and Cannabis Farmers.) participating in a critical process that will create a Humboldt County Ordinance setting reasonable cannabis agricultural guidelines for growing. Those stakeholders will help craft the guidelines in the form of the Ordinance "on the run" while being lead by Professional Bay Area Facilitator Dr. Debrorah Pruitt. The "Draft" of the Ordinance will be created by committee with renown attorney Dorgi Roberts, a former Deputy City Attorney of San Francisco, leading the process. The "Draft" of the Ordinance will be vetted by the public with the first planned forum hosted by the Blue Lake Rancheria at the Sapphire Palace November 6th in the form of a panel discussion. This is a chance to Decriminalize the reasonable cannabis growers by Legitimizing their processes and letting them be Humanized by coming out of the shadows and contribute taxes to the County.

Please support Measure S. Samoasoftball putting money where his mouth is.

 I am asking you all to support school bond Measure S. It is a benefit to the children currently in the Eureka City Schools system and will pave way to a better quality of education for the future. Yes, I realize there was a bond measure in 2002 that is not paid off, but don't punish the current children or staff for ills of the past administration. Yes, I went to school in Eureka. And I own property in Eureka so I will be helping foot the bill.

Eureka Rotary hosts Eureka City Council Forum!

The Eureka Rotary club with help of the League of Women Voters (LOWV) hosted a Eureka City Council candidates forum.  Challengers Kim Bergel (KB) and Natalie Arroyo (NA) were present as were incumbents Mike Newman (MN) and Chet Albin (CA). Questions were filtered by the LOWV. The first question was:

What do you see as the biggest problem or Challenge in Eureka?

 KB said there were three problems, homeless, addiction and the economy.  She pointed out solutions such as streamlining permitting processes, developing the port and build on strengths. MN pointed out problems doing business in the county.  Spoke about homeless solution through Community Homeless Improvement Project (CHIP).  CA spoke of a recent 4million dollar budget cut. Need to find revenue sources. NA said we need to focus on a diverse economy and not put all our eggs in one basket. She is running on jobs issue. Would like to see a ten year strategy including medical residency, tech jobs and beautifying the area while using targets of opportunity such as using the General Plan for industrial development.

Measure R may send businesses out of town, what will you do?   

MN “This is the elephant in the room and the question of the day!” Pointed out the movement was driven by Occupy Eureka and it was already hard to do business here. NA said there was a need for higher wages and added the need in the county. KB completely supports Measure R and said it would take people off welfare, creates more taxes and empowers people. “What we are doing now not working!” CA “What if they leave? Not much we can do.” Said it could cost hundreds of jobs and lower the tax base and close more businesses. 

Did you or would you have agreed to give Eureka Department Heads a raise considering Eureka budget issues?

NA “We need a talented staff.” Said there was a need for system upgrading.  CA said there was research done several years ago on how to attract department heads. Not many apply to Eureka. He said he would have reluctantly voted for the raises. MN reiterated the need to attract decent workers. That has been the goal the last few years. Said there was police reporting upgrades. KB “Look at what we got!” Said the city was forward thinking.

Do you support crisis training for the mentally ill?  

CA “Yes, we need intervention” Brought up homeless issue and CHIP. KB “Absolutely.”  She said this subject was a black eye to our community for improper training. “Treat people with dignity and respect!” NA “Absolutely.  Need to deal with the challenges and the gaps between County Mental Health and Health care. Don’t put ill people back out in the street! “ MN Was in agreement and said Mental Health working with patrol officers in training important.

Do you support Measure Q?

NA “Yes. It is only an extension of existing tax.” Does not want to see elimination of city jobs. MN “Yes. In 2010 we thought we wouldn’t need to, but we didn’t get new business.” He said that 71% of the Measure “O” money went to law enforcement. Also said that not having the extension would eliminate “POP.” KB “Absolutely.” She has done ride-along with both Police and Fire. Pointed out leaky roofs and need of turnouts. Not a new tax. CA “I support “Q. If it fails we will lose POP, 9 traffic officers and 6 Firemen. Response for services will be slowed down."

What can you do strategically to solve homeless?

MN “We are working on the problems, and now implementing solutions such as Motel Ordinance service calls.” NA Pointed out that Homeless sometimes comes in stages such as living in a car as first step. Need to examine substance abuse element.  CA “CHIP has come a long way.” Need to look for solutions to long term hospital stays with alternate medical housing.  KB “Never going to eradicate the homeless.” Advocates use of Betty Chin programs and rapid housing programs.

Will consolidating Fire Department help?

NA “I need to know more. I thought we were already. Said she will do more homework.” KB Said she was confused by question and would do homework. MN “It has happened and has saved the city $185,000.” CA “Yes. It has happened already and the savings is helping the Fire Departments.

Closing Statements

NA Identified Labor endorsements and other individuals and the Democratic Central Committee. Respectfully asked for peoples vote. CA Lived many years in Eureka and wants to continuing giving back and has served on the Planning, Housing and Parking commissions. MN Wants to keep moving forward and provides “More bang for the buck.” Has been the leader in consolidating departments and promotes more business through developing a deep water port with living wage jobs. KB Promotes change with 21^st Century thinking. Wants to break barriers that separate the community. She says she works well with others and points out the need to work together.  

Sending hair off to Locks of Love. Probably last time.

My hair is getting too thin and silver as I get older. So this just might be my last foray into growing my hair for Locks of Love. It left me looking like this:

Dredging prices affect gas prices? CMANC meeting.

I recently attended a California Marine Affairs and Navigation Conference (CMANC) in San Francisco. They are a gathering of California harbors, ports and marine interest groups. It originated in the 1950’s. The mission of CMANC is to optimize California maritime benefits by providing advocacy for the maintenance and improvement of California harbors, ports and navigation projects. CMANC works with the California legislature and congressional delegation to make sure that California maritime interests are supported by the federal and state government to the greatest extent possible. CMANC address such issues as beach erosion, dredging impact, and taxing policies on navigation, seeking regulatory reforms, and to assure adequate recognition of the importance of commercial navigation, fisheries and water-related recreation. This was my first meeting.

The first presenter was Mark Toy Brigadier General of the Army Corp of Engineers. He is the commanding General for the South Pacific Division. Faced a 25% reduction of staff but still optimistic to be able to do the job. He plans to visit all 27 California Ports and Harbors. The Corps dredge 10million cubic yards annually and remove 1,200 tons of debris from SF Harbor alone!

The first panel discussion was on Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL’s) and Dredge Placements. Talk was around Regional Monitoring Programs and whether testing frequency should be considered or averaging period. Lots of threshold numbers were introduced. Beneficial reuse of Dredge materials was another topic with mostly roadblocks such as clean material vs. bad and lack of lands that material can be barged to. Steve Low from the Port of Oakland gave some statistics from his port. They dredge 100,000 cy a year for 2.7 million. Problem is fewer disposal sites and costs are on the rise. Then a presentation is done by the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project in Fremont who needs lots of material! So that should solve issue, right? Nope.

In the afternoon we had a presentation about the replacing of 2 wharves at Redwood City. They removed 850 timber pilings with creosote and replaced with concrete. They addressed Sea Level rise issues by estimating 1.5 feet by 2060 and also accounted on seas surges also. The price adjustments for the inclusion of Sea Level rise mitigation was minimal at $505,000 out of a 16.8 million dollar project.

Later was a update on the damage caused by a recent Hurricane in Mexico to the Long Beach Breakwater. There are actually three separate breakwaters and there was significant damage. This caused all sorts of havoc to the Port of Long Beach. I had no idea.

The next morning the Honorable 24^th District Assemblyman Richard Gordon, who is the chair for the Select Committee on Sea Level Rise, gave an update. He is also on the Budget committee and suggested a placeholder in the budget for sea level rise. When the item went to the Senate, they actually funded the item. They are starting a state wide data base to collect information.

The last panel discussed Dredge issues.  In San Francisco the cost range for disposal is between $10.55 a cubic yard and $55.67. Options are Alcatraz, ocean and landfills.  They dredge 200,000 cy a year. If they were able to use in bay disposal site their cost would be 2.1 million. If they have to do 20/40/40 or 20% in bay 40% ocean based and 40% landfill it would cost 5.4 million. Using the same methodology the cost to move the 3 million cy dredged in all of San Francisco bay it would cost over 80 million dollars! In the past it was 32 million dollars. For pier 39 the next dredge cycle could go from 892,000 to 2.5 million and would put the district in bankruptcy, as they only have 280 slip or lease owners. The Chevron Refinery in Richmond processes nearly ¼ million barrels of oil daily. They supply fuels for 65% of the jets in the bay area and produces 100% of the base oils on the west coast! And they also have dredging issues. Their dredge cost from 2002 to 2012 has more than doubled to 4 million dollars. Doesn’t take a genius to figure those additional costs go to consumers. That would be us!

Hey California Redwood Workers! Do an ESOP!

A few years ago a I implored my fellow workers to take destiny in their own hands and do an Employee Stock Option Plan buyout of the Pulp Mill. Now I am asking the old Simpson Korbel Mill (California Redwood) Workers to consider since they were told today the mill was up for sale for 2 million. Here is a My Word from 2004. Kind of prophetic and relates to this situation.

MY WORD-Richard MarksEmployee Ownership can save Pulp Mill

As a long time forest product worker at Stockton Pacific Enterprises pulp mill in Samoa, I am deeply concerned that my community is missing a once in a lifetime opportunity today in the management shakeup and potential sale of the mill.

Many people do not know that the Stockton Pacific Enterprises Pulp Mill is the only certified totally chlorine free (TCF) pulp mill operating in North America and the only operating pulp mill in California. Our raw material is wood chips, our product is virgin pulp and our market is worldwide.

Over 150 good jobs with benefits that add wealth to the community are directly dependent on the mill, and many more local Humboldt businesses and jobs are indirectly affected by the viability of the mill.

The Stockton Pacific Enterprises Pulp Mill is undergoing another turnover of owners and management. Already workers have given up 15 percent of our monthly wages (around $100,000 per month) in the hope that the mill will not be closed.

Several years ago we reduced our workforce by over 50 employees to cut costs to preserve the company. We have given and will give more to make this mill viable.

We owe the Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District (HBMWD) $600,000 in back payments for water, and if we close down we will never pay; the mill represents 45% of the monthly revenue of the HBMWD which would be borne by increased rates to residents if we close. PPM Finance (an American bank in Chicago owned by a British company) has a 17.5% interest loan which management cannot pay and the threat of foreclosure is very real.

We workers want to buy out our mill and operate it successfully. We can do this successfully through a mechanism called an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). We need time to develop a feasibility study and we need community support. We need our local legislators to sponsor legislation giving chlorine free pulp and paper products preferential status in state purchasing to assure a steady local market for our pulp. We need the Headwaters Funds and our economic development leaders to get behind and ESOP feasibility study and local ownership of the mill.

Think what a better situation we could have today in Humboldt County if our community had successfully supported an ESOP buyout of Pacific Lumber when Hurwitz and Maxxam rode into town in the 1980’s. We don’t want another round of foreign management: with a locally managed ESOP, it can be different this time.

An ESOP could provide for at least a 35% ownership, with two employee members on the board of directors; there would be profit sharing; democratic decision making; wages and benefits would be competitive with the industry; worker input on production; sound environmental stewardship and attention to worker safety; job retention; lobbying for greater production and sales of chlorine-free paper products.

We could work toward the conversion or development of the plant to include the manufacture of chlorine free finished paper products to create even more living wage jobs for the community.

To make all this happen, we need a working partnership with the HBMWD, an agreement which helps keep the district solvent without putting extra costs on local customers.

We need better communications between workers here at the plant and our community. We have a long term work investment here. The average worker has been at the plant over 20 years. We want to make this plant sustainable in good times and bad. I believe that an ESOP plan is the best way for direct worker involvement and investment in the future economic viability of this industry. We have a number of excellent models to work from, including the recent ESOP implemented by the Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers (AWPPW) Blue Heron Paper in Oregon, and the very successful union ESOP at Blue Ridge Paper in North Carolina. We have the resources, the people and the desire to succeed.

But the Stockton Pacific Enterprises Pulp Mill workers and local 49 cannot do this alone. We are asking the community for involvement and input. What kind of economic future do we have here in Humboldt County?

One of the alternatives is foreign management, like the potential Chinese owners or the British bank investors or Pacific Lumber’s Maxxam. Another alternative, one I prefer, is local ownership with real democratic worker participation in an ESOP.

We can choose the future direction and economic development of our community, and we need to act now to make it happen or we will lose this opportunity forever. The workers of Local 49 ask for your support and input.

Humboldt Bay Rail with Trial or Bust by 2019!

The North Coast Rail Authority (NCRA) met at the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors chambers yesterday and Karen Diemer, the City of Arcata Environmental Services Deputy Director gave an update on the Humboldt Bay Rail with Trail Project.  The phase 1 portion of the project is funded and should be completed by the end of 2015 to Samoa Boulevard. Phase 2 to Bracut has also been funded and should be completed by 2016. Phase 3 or the “Bay Trail South” phase to Eureka is more complicated and will require a 2 year environmental review and has not been completely funded. Most likely won’t be complete until 2019. Lots of sea level rise, Eucalyptus tree and freeway crossing issues.  Once the trail is able to connect to Eureka, there are other processes to connect. Phase “C” or the North end of the Eureka side of the project is underfunded by about 1.5 million dollars. But on target to be complete by 2018. Phase “B” and “A” to southern Eureka are funded and hope to be completed by 2016. Lots of discussion on sea level rise and how that affects the project.

Other items of importance for the NCRA meeting was property management issues with Parallel Infrastructure and a cell tower in Willits. We agreed to terms outlined by the contractor. 6-2 yes.

The Directors for the NCRA agreed to move forward to a property configuration that positions the NCRA to sell property in Ukiah. A big move to put the agency into the black for many years to come.

Sad time of year. Mad River Softball Association ramps down. Standings 8/28/14.

The season is ramping down. Hope everyone having fun.

Mad River Softball Association Standings 8/28/14
MRSA"Composite Bat" Division
	Wins	Loses
1. SOP's	10	2
2. Bear River	9	3
3. Snow Leopards	9	4
4. O & M Industires	7	5
5. Brant Electric	5	7
7. Marks Consulting	2	11
6. Samoa Athletic Club	1	11
MRSA "A" Wood Bat Division
	Wins	Loses
1. Arcata Used Tires/Murphys	10	3
2. Snow Leopards	10	3
3. Schwaap	9	4
4. Hey Juans Barnstormers	9	4
5. Ball Bangers	8	5
6. Ironside	8	5
7. E & O/Hum Depot Wood Bang	2	11
8. Arcata Garbage	2	11
9. Sidelines	1	12
MRSA "B" Wood Bat Division
	Wins	Loses
1. Tomaso's	8	2
2. Sushi Spot	8	2
3. Batting Cages	7	4
4. Blue Lake Good Woods	7	4
5. Blondies Breakers	5	5
6. Pigs	4	7
7. Glassblowers	3	8
8. Dirtbags	1	11
MRSA "C" Wood Bat Division
	Wins	Loses
1. Mckinleyville Barbershop	11	1
2. Big Pete's	8	2
3. BCM Drywall Fat Bastards	7	3
4. Warlock Nuits	6	5
5. AMPT	5	6
6. Renegades	4	6
7. LPB	4	6
8. Betz Bombers	4	8
MRSA "D" Wood Bat Division
	Wins	Loses
1. Kokatat	7	4
2. Everett's	8	5
3. NHS Blazers	5	5
4. Mad River Hosp. Crash Karts	5	7
5. Blue Lake Casino	5	8
6. Tomo's Sake Bombers	2	8
7. Points West Surveying	2	9