CMANC Committee to lobby for 7.8 million for Dredging Humboldt Harbor. Over twice our current allocation.

I attended a recent California Marine Affairs and Navigation Conference  (CMANC) meeting in Layfayette. This was my first meeting since being elected to the Board of Directors. What does CMANC do or what is it?

“CMANC is a consortium of California harbors, ports and marine interest groups. 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.”

It was nice to hear other ports issues and how they came up with solutions. CMANC is helping lobby for Humboldt Bay harbor dredge budget to be raised from 3.1 million to CMANC’s recommendation of 7.8 million.  Dredging spoils were discussed in the morning and challenges for beneficial reuse projects. Duck’s Unlimited representative Steven Carroll spoke to the need of mud in the bay area in a place called Cullinan. The issue is off loading the mud to the area. Consultant Ellen Johnck outlined a potential South Bay Salt Pont restoration project at Eden Landing, near the Port of Redwood City. Dr. Michael MacWilliams explained how the tide marshes will not be able to keep pace with sea level rise. Dredge spoils are targeted to use 40% in reuse purposes in the San Francisco bay. The problem? There are no off loaders available for reuse. No contractors are willing to take a 10 million dollar risk investment so this is a real problem for the future.

In the afternoon Joe Calara of the United States Army Core of Engineers (USACE) explained that 40% of all imports comes through California Ports and International trade represents 40% of the state’s economy.  Dredging represents 400 billion in US commerce.  US Marine transportation represents 2 Trillion dollars in commerce and employs 13 million people! $953 Billion Dollars in Freight flows in Northern California.

Alameda County Transportation Commission Executive Director pointed out 33% of all jobs in Alameda is goods movement related. His organizations budget is $320 million dollars. Oakland is the 5^th largest Port in the US.  

Newport Harbor boss Chris Miller spoke to their harbor’s eel Grass issues. Their goal was to develop a more effective useful maintenance dredge permit approach; Independent on ecosystem based approach for eel grass management. They are going to use Regional General Permits that are developed to avoid unnecessary regulatory control over activities that do not justify individual control or which are adequate. So for the 11 to 15 ft that are being proposed as individual dredge projects combined stay at 16.8 acres, they will only have to mitigate or replant .84 acres. And each parcel owner can use their own plans for replanting the eel grass.

Port of Oakland Principle Assistant to the Executive Director Jean Baker gave a summary of opportunities and challenges of their port and how they are handling bigger ships that need longer berths, deeper channels and higher cranes. Even though updates on under carriages for trucks and better road ability, there is still congestion with ships backing up because of a shortage of labor. The port and their contractor PMA agreed with the hiring of 150 more longshoremen and the ability to have the “gangs” at full working capacity.  (There are currently 423 “casuals.” That will help the turn time for terminal operators.  The Port Efficiency Task Force is also looking into open on Saturdays. (Currently the port only operates Monday through Friday 7am to 5pm.) The Howard property next to Jack London square is being considered for a new sports arena. The transportation of coal through Oakland is looming in the future even though the coal industry is stagnant currently.

The Short Sea Shipping project or the Maritime Highway 5 project was less than a success with only 40 containers actually moved and the project being subsidized by Stockton. There was also the issue of strange floating vegetation that was several feet deep and causing problems in the waterways. 

Trinidad unsafe? Mugging today would say "YES".

I heard third hand about an assault and robbery in Trinidad today at one of the beaches. This lady had been going to the same spot for years and there were hikers and other beach enthusiasts around. She was knocked down from behind and held with a knife as the assailant took her handbag. The assailant demanded her to take her to her car and she totally refused. The person then just walked away. The victim called the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department and was told that wasn't their jurisdiction and to call a county park ranger. They did and were told by the ranger they had had multiple robbery complaints lately and said people should not walk alone. I hadn't heard of any problems recently. What is going on!

North Coast Rail Authority update 9/9/15

At yesterday’s North Coast Rail Authority (NCRA) meeting the Directors had an update on Rail with Trail projects in both Eureka and Arcata. We actually granted the License permit for the City of Eureka so looks like we have progress in moving forward.  Arcata’s request for license will be forthcoming in January it looks like. Any progress is good progress. 

Local builder Kelly Martin came forward with a pre-proposal to renovate the old NCRA office at the Balloon Tract and lease it out. Right now it is just blight that has been ransacked inside by vagrants and has been a home to feral cats.

We had a discussion about a rail spur at the old Palco Fortuna property. Seems there might be a manufacturing outfit that wants to do business there and they just want to make sure the NCRA does not own interest on the property. (We don’t) 

  

Director Paul Kelley from Sonoma County shared a newsletter called the Western Railroader from 1956. Some highlights: Passenger rail service between San Rafael and Eureka resumed after 4 month interruption by winter floods slides and washouts.  Daily overnight passenger service between Eureka and San Rafael was replaced by triweekly daytime service. Rates from San Francisco to Stockton were raised from $1.62 to $2.12.  

CR football. Same results. Where are the locals?

There are more players from Las Vegas on the CR football team than there are from Humboldt County! Why? Got me. I watched their games this Saturday and was shocked to see no fans in the stands. Why? They have been condemned! So they put some stands up near the west side end zone. I walked up and down the track following play close behind the CR bench. At the beginning of the game it seemed CR was totally unorganized, but they seemed to find a stride and even some momentum and led 28-14 going into the 4th. Then they fumbled at around the 14 minute mark and the wheels just fell off. I left with about 3 minutes to go and Monterey was winning 42-28. This team needs to find hero's soon or this season will be a long one.

Trails with Rails on the way in Humboldt!

The North Coast Rail Authority (NCRA) property committee that I am part of moved to recommend adoption of licensing agreements to the City of Arcata and the City of Eureka for their trails projects! This is really happening! An update in the form of a presentation by the City of Arcata will be on the agenda for May 9th at the BOS chambers at 10:30am!

Rex Bohn: "It's easy to throw stones, but not easy getting stoned!"

Actual quote by Humboldt 1st District Supervisor referring to California Cannabis Voice Humboldt's (CCVH) effort in creating county land use ordinance to allow Cannabis cultivation. CCVH was present at the Board of Supervisors (BOS) chambers to announce the closing of the 45 comment period they had gone through collecting input. CCVH is now targeting Sept 15th for completion of a "8th Draft" to bring before the BOS.

Fun(d)raiser Doubleheader! HDVS and Mad River Girls Fastpitch! This Saturday 8/22!

Nearly 100 adults will be playing softball this Saturday at the Arcata Sports Complex for the chance of wearing one of these Humboldt Domestic Violence Services (HDVS) Championship shirts. The tournament is a fundraiser benefit for HDVS and the snack bar will help Mad River Girls Fastpitch. So if you are not playing, come on out and root for your favorite team and have a hot dog or cheeseburger to help out your community!

Train mystery at Balloon Tract! NCRA welcomes Willits City Councilperson Holly Madrigal.

 

First off, the North Coast Rail Authority (NCRA) welcomed new Director Holly Madrigal. She is a long time Willits City Councilperson and lifetime resident of  the Willits area. She actually received mail from the Skunk train as a child living between Willits and Fort Bragg!

Now for the train mystery. Seems that the environmental issue with one of the locomotives leaking diesel is way more strange than originally thought! First of all, the NCRA has written records of the removal of all fluids from the locomotives years ago. And the new "leak" is actually new red diesel! That means someone actually put new fuel in the tanks and popped the tank to cause the spill! That is not cool and now slows the project for removal from Eureka's old town.

Former Congressman Doug Bosco gave a report for North Western Pacific, the company running freight in the southern area of the rail. Doug wanted the NCRA to know that the relationship with Sonoma Marin Train or SMART if you will is improving. Doug also said that the freight service is "doing well" and expanding. The spur extension to Lagunitas brewery in Petaluma will allow an increase of 50% in service capacity. An additional spur to Sonoma's Mountain Village was another positive project eyed for soon. Watch the attached clip for Doug's entire report.

(Above is a picture of rails with trails, just to give perspective.)

Tax for what? You have got to be kidding me!

Wow. Out of nowhere I received this tax bill from Humboldt County for "Possessory Interest." Mad River Softball Association is being taxed for renting the softball fields from the City of Arcata on a arbitrary scale of the value of the fields to the tune of $32,645! No one was able to explain how they came up with that number or why we have never been billed in the past!

I am going to fill out paperwork to the Board of Equalization asking for a exemption for a non profit. In the mean time I was told to pay the bill until the process moves forward. WITH WHAT? The league is already on a shoestring budget. My whine for the day tastes bitter.

Fresh Tuna on Maria Isabel! Woodley Island welcome!

There is fresh Tuna on the docks of Woodley Island Marina. The Maria Isabel is offering to fillet for $.35 a pound of whatever Tuna you choose to buy. (Tuna price per pound various. Probably around $3 a pound or less.) They will even seal it and walk it to your car!

Humboldt Domestic Violence Services (HDVS) fundraiser and request!

I am hosting a softball tournament to benefit HDVS. I am also asking for help for new people on the HDVS Board. We need more volunteers! Meetings are once a month on the last Wednesdays of the month. Hence, there is a meeting tomorrow at 5:30pm. Call me at 445-3432 if you want to know location.

B & B's to be removed. Sad.

With the recent notice given to illegal campers at the Devil's Playground, I predicted people would vandalize the B & B toilets the Harbor District provided. Unfortunately I was correct. I wish I wasn't this time. Where else could they show their protest? Sad for all.

Samoa face lift on the way! Sandwellers rejoice!

The town of Samoa master plan has has a few new quirks added to the project since the original idea in 2002 when two local families of Dan Johnson and Lane Devries purchased the town. One of the new items that was kind of a surprise is the selling off of the parcels not expected to be in the mix. "Everything will be parceled, and everything will be sold." So The Cookhouse, Samoa Gym and the Samoa Block may have separate investors.

The Town might end up part of a Community Service District annexing with Fairhaven and Finn Town through the Samoa Peninsula Fire District. That has been a hot button topic on the Peninsula since I was a Director on the board a few years back. If there is much opposition to the formation of the CSD, the town will form a Homeowners Association.

Robin and I have lived in Samoa for 35 years. Watched much happen in the town and anxiously awaiting positive movement to this process. It is beautiful out here. I can walk out my front door and see the ocean and the bay! Where else can you get that?

Harbor Commissioners try to help Devil's Playground "Poo Lagoon!"

My fellow Humboldt Bay Harbor Commissioners unanimously endorsed the portable B & B  toilets behind the Bayshore Mall to help stall the human waste at the Devil’s Playground “Poo Lagoon!” We had requested our Executive Director Jack Crider to work with the city of Eureka for appropriate cites and this only took a few days. The concern for the Harbor escalated when Eureka Police Chief Andy Mills identified how much waste was being produced per day near the bay there. Estimates of 50 gallons of urine and 400 pounds of waste feces per day which equals a Biohazard truck load a month essentially being dumped in the bay! I called Andy about our project and he endorsed the concept and hoped there would not be vandalism. If that happens, then we will have to pull the toilets. But for now there will be two.

Lady-Fame. A fishing tragedy or triumph in Humboldt Bay.

If you lived in Humboldt County in the late 60’s and early 70’s, the book Lady-Fame is a must. Many familiar scenarios come forward and history repeats itself to many of us native Humboldt County residents. Times that were way more simple, but complex as far as the maturation process. Hard to explain, but when you read and touch the characters of this book, it is impossible not to reach back into your own memories and stories of the streets of Eureka. And actually there are multiple storylines that seemed to be shortened that were relevant and building that were cut too short by the time the end of the book comes and actually attacks you and begs for more.  Fiction or non? Doesn’t matter.

THIS BOOK IS NOT A ROMP! Pace yourself. There are many intricate situations that deal with multi personalities and scenarios that actually need to be envisioned at your own personal level.  There is a sophisticated level that makes this book a higher level read. (Think Carl Hiaasen reaching for Tom Wolfe or Wally Lamb level complication.)

From BAZAR to CR Baseball to the Major Leagues. What Happened?

I have always worked. When I was 7 years old we lived in Petaluma due to an untimely divorce of my parents. We were broker than broke. I ended up working at a rabbit farm for produce. When we moved back to Cutten, Linda Rodriguez and I would pick any types of berries or cherries and plums and go door to door and sell. At about 12 and living in Myrtletown I sold either the Times or Standard on the streets of Eureka in between fishing off of Lazio's for Perch and Jack Smelt to sell. Then I had a paper route before going to work at Duck's market at 15. At 16 I worked my first union job at Bazar. I loved my job and would have probably retired from there but they closed in 1978. So I went to work at Transamerica. A job I really did not enjoy. So I went back to school at College of the Redwoods to play baseball.

Again, I have always worked which left me little opportunity for High School scholastic athletics. I played Babe Ruth and JV Baseball at St. Bernard's but didn't have the time for sports my Junior and Senior years at Eureka High. Luckily I was able to play Joe DiMaggio League which allowed players done with Babe Ruth to play until 18 years old. I was a pretty good pitcher who absolutely loved to throw.

So I survived the cuts and was honored to be part of the 1979 College of the Redwoods baseball team. Co/champions of the Golden Valley Conference. I must have led the conference in chasing down foul balls. It was all right for me. I just wanted to be part of the team. And we had a good one.

Above that I remember: Front row from left to right, Can't Remember (CR), Tim Earhart, David Stone, Fred Gomes, Mark Suchanek, The Softball King, Steve Ross. Second row, #25 CR, Kieth Ambrosini, Troy Freeman, Mike Robinson, CR, John Wilkinson, Dave Reynolds, Coach Tom Giacomini. 3rd Row, Manager Jorgenson, Byron Busik, Jerry Johnson, Stacey Morgan, Mike Spini, CR, CR. CR.

I had a GPA of 3.71 for 17 units on the team and was on the Dean's list. That summer of 79' I started working in the mills on the Samoa Peninsula. Never to be heard from again..............

Slumoa low life strike again! Freaking sandweller thieves!

My #75 rental garage in Samoa violated.

Ripped the lock off very vunerable door.

 



Some slimeball stole tubs of various tools, circular saw. Left Virginia Bass and Richard Marks campaign signs. Also have had many months of recycles "reused" without our approval. They come through our gate and help themselves. So how many of these little events not worth reporting are happening in Humboldt County?

 

Memorial Day 2015. Thanks Mike and Dad!

My brother Mike and Major James Marks. At my wedding in 1978. Not too many pictures of my dad with any of us five Marks' family members through my mom. My dad served in World War II and in Korea. My brothers James and Roy served in Korea also. Roy and my brother Mike were poisoned by Agent Orange in Vietnam in the early 70's.

My family has a rich history of war participation. All the way back to the Revolutionary War and beyond.

Harbor Fork Lift swiped! $1,000 reward for it's return! Damn thieves!

Whoever is the culprit knew alot about this subject. They had to break through 3 locks leading into the Redwood Dock Warehouse below the Cookhouse. They were cognisant of the camera positions and went through the back Warehouse gate. Most likely they used a truck and trailer. Help us find and receive a thousand buck! What is becoming of this county!

North Coast Rail Authority meeting 5/13/15. Billboards and Locomotives to be removed.

The North Coast Rail Authority (NCRA) voted unanimously to send Cal Trans and Outfront media respectfully requesting the removal of 5 billboards between Arcata and Eureka. A letter was sent off in 2010 by the NCRA but pretty much ignored and Cal Trans requested the revisit. There were no people at the meeting supporting the signs.

Dane Grytness from Security National updated the status on the Locomotive removal on the balloon tract and offered to fix and renovate the abandoned rail office. All 10 items on their property will be refurbished elsewhere or scraped. Lots of positive things to fix the blight problem will be addressed within the next few months!

Humboldt Redwood is starting negotiations with the NCRA to remove or cover up rail on their sawmill property to make safer working conditions. They have offered to relieve some of our debt to them and promise to help with the reconstruction if rail returns in the future.