Eureka City Council Approves Rate Hike, Addresses Historic Preservation Appeal
The Eureka City Council convened its regular meeting on Tuesday, August 5th, covering a range of topics impacting Eureka residents. Key decisions included approving a rate adjustment for solid waste collection and resolving an appeal concerning a historic preservation project. The meeting, which lasted approximately 58 minutes and was held both in-person and via Zoom, was attended by Mayor Kim Bergel, several councilmembers, City Manager Miles Slattery, and other city staff.
One significant item on the agenda involved an appeal of a decision by the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) regarding the replacement of three wooden doors on a historic carriage house. The HPC had initially approved the replacement with a nine-lite design, but added a condition requiring the use of five-panel doors to match existing ones. The applicant appealed, arguing that the existing doors might be repurposed interior doors, that five-panel doors wouldn't fit, that sourcing similar doors was prohibitively expensive, and that the proposed nine-lite design better suited the carriage house's modern use as a shared laundry and trash area. After discussion, the council voted 4-0 (with Councilmember Molton absent) to remove the condition, allowing the nine-lite doors. A public hearing on the matter is scheduled.
Another key discussion centered on a rate increase request from Recology Humboldt County for solid waste collection services. The council reviewed the rate review process, which included an analysis of collection hours, cost projections, and a comparison with Recology's other operations. An over-allocation of street sweeping disposal costs was identified and removed from the proposed increase. The council ultimately approved a resolution implementing a 4.29% rate increase effective July 1, 2024, and a 9.46% increase effective July 1, 2025, with a corresponding adjustment to the green waste fee. A public hearing on this matter is also scheduled.
The meeting also featured public comments. One speaker expressed support for Israel, while another alleged that a city employee had covertly filmed them nude in their home using city equipment, claiming the city had not addressed the issue. The city council did not directly respond to these comments during the meeting.
In addition to the main agenda items, the council announced upcoming events, including the Humboldt Bay Marathon on August 10th and an Energy and Sustainability Fair on August 19th at the Jefferson Community Center. Looking ahead, a special meeting on the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) is scheduled for August 26th at 5 pm, and a strategic visioning meeting is planned for September. A new Recology franchise agreement will be presented to the council in the coming months. Agendas and minutes from the meeting can be found at [https://www.eurekaca.gov/662/Agendas-Minutes](https://www.eurekaca.gov/662/Agendas-Minutes).
Residents interested in learning more about upcoming council meetings or participating in public hearings are encouraged to visit the city's website for further information.