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The Harbor District is the main one with no results until after the pools close at 8pm. The Marina Center I guess is a forgone conclusion by the opposition, Democracy Now and Humboldt Paykeeper( Baykeeper) haven’t even twittered the event. Not even a live blogging by Heraldo and sidekicks.
Thanks to the Marina Center for keeping the community informed on this one.
Dear Marina Center Supporters,
Thank you for your continued support of the Marina Center project. Tonight at 6 pm the Eureka City Council will consider the approval of the Coast Development Permit, which would allow environmental clean up on the Balloon Track to move forward. Hopefully this will be the last time for a while that this matter before them.
It is more important than ever to have our supporters attend the City Council meeting and let them know, without a doubt, that you want this property cleaned up.
The worst case scenario for Eureka, if this is passed, is that the property will be cleaner. Debris and garbage will be removed, storm water will no longer run into the bay and we get 11 acres of restored wetlands as well as provide 40 badly needed, good paying jobs.
We have been sued for not cleaning up this property and now are being threatened with a lawsuit by the same people because we want to clean it up.
Please come show your support for the clean up of the Balloon Track for the Marina Center Project.
We hope to see you tonight.
Thank you,
I hate waiting for results.
9:23pm: Well elections website has crashed. Hank got results. Wilson, and Marks so far.
10:19pm: ok elections website is back up
Measure A in Mendocino looks to be rejected. That was the former Masonite plant in Ukiah redevelopment. Maybe it can be now developed with industry that will use the railroad.
Final election night results:
MIKE WILSON 2,680
DAN HAUSER 1,023RICHARD MARKS 1,268
JOHN ASH 957
SUSAN PENN 447
TS article on election results. While I’m disappointed on Wilson winning, I’m happy that Marks won, just because he has an open mind on things, and Heraldo’s pick in that race was last.
TS article, Eureka approves Marina Center costal development permit 4-1. Amazing it wasn’t 3-2.
Other news, is Maine rejected gay marriage. Not one time has the issue of gay marriage come up to a vote, has it been allowed. Thirty one times to zip. Every time it was because of courts, or legislators.
I support both Dan Hauser and Richard Marks for harbor commissioners.
Here are a few of my reasons: Dan Hauser has an extensive and productive history of hard work and dedication to his community. Dan participated in the creation of the Arcata marsh project, which won a Rockefeller award and is now copied and admired all over the world as an example of innovative green conservation.
Dan is for a green port, and has the knowledge and connections in Sacramento to help realized that goal. Dan Hauser is a board member of the Timber Heritage Association (THA) and has actively participated in the THA’s goals of creating a tourist train between Eureka and Arcata, restoring historic North Coast logging equipment, and the visioning a “rails with trails” solution along the rail right-of-way.
The Timber Heritage Association has been offering rides on its restored 1937 railroad speeder, a small rail car that was originally used to move crews from one job to another. Both Richard Marks and Dan Hauser have given generously of their time in facilitating THA’s vision of a world-class museum to convey the history of the Redwood Coast and attract visitors to our area.
Both candidates support rails with trails, the creation of a tourist train, and believe that it is possible to be a “green port” that can attract good-paying jobs without sacrificing the conservation and recreation within Humboldt Bay.
Both Richard Marks and Dan Hauser have earned my support for Harbor Commissioner.
Lawrence LaBranche
Timber Heritage Association and RAPIT member
Eureka
KEET-TV Harbor District forum to air tonight – Times-Standard Online.
Today at 7 p.m., Channel 13 will present the candidate forum in preparation for the Nov. 3 election. The participating candidates for Division Three are Dan Hauser and Mike Wilson, the incumbent. For Division Four, the candidates are John Ash, Richard Marks and Susan Penn.
Filed under: Humboldt, NCRA, Northwestern Pacific Railroad, Railroad, Samoa, Sonoma, THA, Union Pacific, harbor
THA: Looks like we will be transporting the five passenger cars, at least starting, the end of November time frame to Samoa. If all goes well, of course. Looks like the best roofing material, will be the bed liner stuff.
SR Press Democrat: Old railroad bed to get new life as bicycle trail
Creation of a Sonoma-to-Schellville trail for bicyclists and pedestrians is under way with plans to replace a 4-mile swath of Union Pacific railroad tracks with a paved path.
Please note, this, as per the article isn’t NCRA, or SMART owned property, despite some anti-rail folks.
SR Press Democrat: Cloverdale celebrates its 150th birthday
An interesting article on the history of Cloverdale, and interaction of the rail. I didn’t know that Cloverdale was a northern point of the railroad for about 17 years.
TS: Humboldt Bay’s economy and the harbor district’s future, by Patrick Higgins
Usual rallying against rail, and large port.
Filed under: Humboldt, NCRA, Northwestern Pacific Railroad, Railroad, Samoa, THA, harbor, trails
Dan: Wants to keep the rail option open, rails with trails.
Richard Marks: Rails and trails around Samoa to Eureka.
Sue: Also rail and trail from Samoa to Eureka. Rail bank south of Eureka.
Mike: Wants it all, problem is cost, likes excursion train, thinks there is time to figure out what is realistic. Proud to be part of the commities that worked out the rail and trail compermise from Bracutt to around Arcata and rails and trails guidelines for NCRA.
Mike, I hope I got your position right in my paraphrase.
I’ll be cleaning names, etc up later.
Filed under: Humboldt, Manila, NCRA, Northwestern Pacific Railroad, Railroad, Samoa, THA, harbor | Tags: Fort Humboldt, Patrick Higgins
Well it wasn’t supposed to be much for public, but for members so we can iron things out. Never-less, we hauled many people. People were able to tour the roundhouse and other buildings. This was also to test, and refine our conductor, driver, and other skills.
I was the one who rode the speeder off the trailer on to the rails at the beginning, and end of the day, working the brake. I had my 1st certification run at 1pm, the scheduled time for our Harbor Commissioner Patrick Higgins. Though I heard later on, he was enjoying a tour of the buildings at the time. No matter, he was able to enthusiastically enjoy the next run. He would like to see “thousands of people” to enjoy this. Say what you like, but he is an active commissioner.
Only two people were within the right of way when were operating. One a bird watcher by the parking lot next to highway 255, didn’t even notice us until we hit the horn. The other parked his bike on the right of way, to retrieve a plastic barrel out of the bay. Overall not a big deal.
I was able to borrow a couple of radios from work. I still have to figure out a good PA system.
I’m happy, it was a good day, even made over $125.
1st run of the day is back, waiting to unload
Medford live steamer dropped by
The Medford live steamer 7 1/2″ gauge, dropped by, after hearing about us at Fort Humboldt. Wonder why we need to keep our parks open?
Next run is this coming Saturday 25 July 2009. Call 707-441-1960 on Friday to reserve a seat.
Filed under: harbor
eLoran Sparks Debate In Washington – Is It Truly Important?
Even as a government watchdog agency warns that GPS navigation satellites could fail, the Obama administration’s proposed fiscal 2010 budget has quietly killed the nation’s backup navigation system.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report last week warning, “It is uncertain whether the Air Force will be able to acquire new satellites in time to maintain current GPS service without interruption. If not, some military operations and some civilian users could be adversely affected.” The report also notes that the current program is about $870 million over budget and the launch of its first satellite has been delayed to November 2009, almost three years late.
This GAO report comes at a bad time for the Obama administration, which cut funding for the nation’s only backup to GPS from its 2010 budget. The LORAN system, which stands for Long-Range Aids to Navigation, is a network of terrestrial transmission stations, equipped with antennas as tall as 900 feet and staffed with Coast Guard personnel.
Instead of drawing back the redwood curtains, we are closing them. Sometimes we, in our efforts, to be penny wise, we end up pound foolish. This is one of those times. In fact staff recommends the retention of the Marketing Director.
Commissioner Hunter brought up a business wanting to produce solar cells here. It would use as much water as a mill, and as much power as Humboldt County uses.
Budget, started by staff in Nov 2008
Possible income increases:
Require all tank vessels to have pilots.
Petrusha can teach classes on navsim 400 a day which would help offset pilot cost.
Pilots work in San Fran to recoup their salary
Surcharge was originally set up as 60% of deeping loan cost, now under 20%
Expense
No pilot, per presentation
5 years all commercial shipping ceases.
Legal
No over 300 gross tons
Corps will not dredge
No more work on shole problem.
Abandoned boats
Legislation may require Humboldt bay pilots
Humboldt bay at bottom of pilots salerly compared to other ports.
Legal due to restrictions on dock owners
Cargo still expected to grow in long term.
Per ship income.
$10k pilot
$2.5k tie up
Pilot boat $15k to $25k
Custom fee $930
plus many more fees.
Ships are big money
Impression is pilot options were either or, as presented. Budget was though the Redwood dock project was a forgone conclusion. As much as I want it, I think the budget should of been more as a matrix, to present with and without the project. I have to wonder if the budget presents an approval of the project.
I asked Mike Wilson later why not solar to reduce costs, he said staff, and other commissioners didn’t want to go that route, but that was before Higgins was on the board.
Filed under: Humboldt, NCRA, Northwestern Pacific Railroad, Railroad, THA, harbor
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to attend today’s meeting. So I can’t tell you for my perspective how it went, or video it. Yesterday, though nobody spoke in opposition to rail.2009-03-10-nwp-co-presentation-to-hc-brd-of-sups
Railroad authority says rail not dead
With enthusiasm fueled by a soon-to-be-opened 60-mile stretch at the south end of the railroad, North Coast Railroad Authority representatives outlined their hope for a localized tourist route at Tuesday’s Humboldt County Board of Supervisors’ and encouraged the supervisors’ continued support.
Railroad authority board members and staff were in Humboldt County for today’s NCRA board meeting.
”Our goal today is to give you an update,” NCRA board Chairman Allan Hemphill said. “It’s an exciting one.”
Hemphill noted that for the first time in years, the NCRA is on the verge of opening a 60-mile section on the south end of the Russian River division that runs from Lombard to Willits. The long-awaited movement forward spilled over to the railroad authority’s commitment to a passenger tourist train from Eureka to Samoa.
John H. Williams, president of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad Co., reiterated, as did others present, that the tourism train is definitely a possibility and will attract tourists. It’s long been an aspiration of the Timber Heritage Association. The main route would run from Eureka around Humboldt Bay.
Timber Heritage Association board members told the board they’ve begun the process of clearing brush from the tracks. Gerry Tomczak said volunteers have cleared about two miles of track thus far.
NCRA to restart freight service to Willits
The draft environmental impact report for freight train operations on a 142-mile stretch of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad line between Napa County and Willits was released Monday, according to North Coast Railroad Authority Chairman Allan Hemphill.
