Category Archives: Local Government

Articles, Community News, Infrastructure, Local Government

Del Norte CAO Says Federal or State Loans May Be An Option To Finish Jail, Pyke Field Rehab Projects

Leave a comment

Thumbnail photo: Despite receiving about $3 million for much-needed improvements to the jail, Del Norte County Administrative Officer Neal Lopez says additional funding is needed. | Photo courtesy of the Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office

Del Norte County officials are looking to state and federal loan programs to complete needed upgrades to the jail and to the Pyke Field Sports Complex despite receiving roughly $3.5 million in Congressionally Designated Spending funds last year.

During a presentation on capital improvement projects that are either finished or ongoing, County Administrative Officer Neal Lopez said staff is working on applications for a U.S. Department of Agriculture loan and a potential loan through the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank, or Ibank.

Staff have also decided that tackling the Pyke Field rehabilitation project in phases would be the best path forward, he said.

Continue reading Del Norte CAO Says Federal or State Loans May Be An Option To Finish Jail, Pyke Field Rehab Projects →
Articles, Community News, Local Government

Del Norte County Board of Supervisors Roundup, March 25, 2025

Leave a comment

Thumbnail photo by Paul Critz

District 2 Supervisor Valerie Starkey was absent. Among the items discussed at Tuesday’s Del Norte County Board of Supervisors meeting:

Emergency shelter: Supervisors approved a budget transfer of nearly $2.9 million to build the 60-bed emergency shelter that’s part of a larger project to address homelessness in Del Norte County.

The funding, which comes from a $10 million Encampment Resolution Funding grant Del Norte received in 2023, will allow Adams Commercial General Contracting Inc. to start building the shelter. The 6,700 square-foot emergency shelter and a 50-unit micro village, along with restroom and commercial kitchen structures will be housed on county property on Williams Drive. This joint venture, which includes wraparound services and case management, is being spearheaded by the county Department of Health and Human Services and Del Norte Mission Possible. Individuals could begin occupying the emergency shelter and the micro village by September, according to DHHS Director Ranell Brown.

Continue reading Del Norte County Board of Supervisors Roundup, March 25, 2025 →
Articles, Community News, Infrastructure, Local Government

County Engineer Presents List Of Repairs Planned For Del Norte’s Unmaintained Roads, Proposes Long-Term Options For Residents

Leave a comment

Thumbnail: Rock delivery and minor grading on Childs Avenue is among a list of planned repairs to unmaintained county roads for the upcoming fiscal year. | Photo courtesy of Del Norte County

Four Del Norte County supervisors on Tuesday agreed to finance repairs to public roads the county doesn’t maintain for a second year. They also supported a proposal to use that allocation as an incentive to get residents to take on that responsibility themselves.

That policy pitch came from County Engineer Jon Olson. He acknowledged that residents weren’t receptive to a proposed benefit assessment to pay for those repairs about 15 years ago, but, he said, an up-front investment might get them to change their minds.

“This Board is spending $50,000,” Olson said. “That could be the leverage or the carrot that we need to get people to take responsibility long term for the roads that they’re responsible to maintain instead of just spending out $50,000 each year.”

Continue reading County Engineer Presents List Of Repairs Planned For Del Norte’s Unmaintained Roads, Proposes Long-Term Options For Residents →
Articles, Community News, Infrastructure, Local Government

City Starts Process To Underground Utility Lines Ahead of Gateway Project

Leave a comment

Crescent City hopes to use the last leg of Front Street’s reconstruction along with a gateway project as an opportunity to underground electrical distribution lines between K and M streets, but it’s under a tight deadline.

Councilors have until June 8 to update the municipal code chapter governing the creation of underground utility districts. They must hear from the public, adopt a resolution creating the underground utility district, coordinate with Del Norte County on the transfer of work credits Pacific Power can use to underground the existing power lines and negotiate an agreement with Pacific Power.

“It’s that last action which commits the funds,” City Attorney Martha Rice told councilors on Monday.

Continue reading City Starts Process To Underground Utility Lines Ahead of Gateway Project →
Articles, Community News, Law, Local Government

A Look at the 2025 LEADN Award Ceremony

Leave a comment

Thumbnail photo courtesy of Redwood Voice Reporter Ethan Caudill-DeRego.

Friends, family, and other community members came together on March 13th to honor local law enforcement at the Cultural Center on Front Street. The award ceremony kicked off with the Pelican Bay Honor Guard bringing out the flags of the United States, State of California, and Yurok Tribe. Former Crescent City Mayor Blake Inscore followed up the pledge and anthem with a religious invocation.

Awards recipients included staff of the Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol, Crescent City Hall, Del Norte County Probation Department, Redwood National & State Parks, Pelican Bay State Prison, California Department Of Fish & Wildlife, Yurok Tribal Police, and the Del Norte County District Attorney.

Continue reading A Look at the 2025 LEADN Award Ceremony →
Articles, Community News, Local Government

Week of Activities Planned For Next Month’s Kamome Festival, Including A Cardboard Boat Regatta

Leave a comment

Thumbnail: A delegation from Rikuzentakata, Japan celebrates the unveiling of a mural commemorating its Sister City relationship with Crescent City at the inaugural Kamome Festival in 2023. | Photo by Jessica Cejnar Andrews

Del Norters have less than a month to shore up their finest cardboard boat for a regatta celebrating the 20-foot long fishing vessel that led to a friendship between Crescent City and Rikuzentakata, Japan.

The first-annual Kamome Cardboard Race will be held at the Fred Endert Municipal Pool on April 11, City Manager Eric Wier told the Crescent City Council on Monday. It’s a new component to the third-annual Kamome Festival, which has grown into a week-long shoulder-season — spring or autumn — event that includes involvement from local businesses as well as several different government agencies.

Continue reading Week of Activities Planned For Next Month’s Kamome Festival, Including A Cardboard Boat Regatta →
Articles, Community News, Infrastructure, Local Government

Crescent City Harbor Recap, March 12, 2025

Leave a comment

Thumbnail photo by Paul Critz

Among the items discussed at the Crescent City Harbor District meeting Wednesday:

Community survey: Crescent City Harbor officials are seeking the community’s feedback on plans for future development at the port in the form of an online survey.

The survey comes after the Board of Commissioners contracted with Commercial Real Estate Development Enterprise, or CREDE to assess market interest and analyze financial performance for development options at the harbor. It asks the public to weigh in on community needs, the future of Bayside and Redwood Harbor Village RV parks as well as how the proposed development plans at the harbor would impact its character. To access the survey, visit www.ccharbor.com/community-survey.

Continue reading Crescent City Harbor Recap, March 12, 2025 →
Articles, Community News, Infrastructure, Local Government

Crescent City Harbor To Pursue Regional Grant To Cover Shortfall in Seawall Project

Leave a comment

Thumbnail photo: Moffatt & Nichol representative Younes Nouri discusses the reconstruction of Citizens Dock and its adjacent seawall during a tour of Crescent City Harbor District facilities in January. | Photo by Jessica Cejnar Andrews

Though his company regularly pursues grants on behalf of the Crescent City Harbor District, commissioners on Wednesday officially added grant writing to the contract Mike Bahr and Community System Solutions has with them.

Bahr asked commissioners to add language to his contract that authorizes him to pursue grants through the California Regional Investment Initiative Implementation Phase Request for Proposal, formerly known as Redwood Region Rise or California Jobs First.

The Harbor District could be eligible for $3 million to $5 million in grant dollars. The district could use those dollars to cover a shortfall in the seawall reconstruction budget, its efforts to re-establish a boatyard and a dredging pilot study, Bahr said.

Continue reading Crescent City Harbor To Pursue Regional Grant To Cover Shortfall in Seawall Project →
Articles, CC Harbor, Community News, Local Government

Harbor Commissioners Green Light County Collaboration Over Fireworks

Leave a comment

Thumbnail photo by Jessica Cejnar Andrews

(Updated at 3:05 p.m. Thursday to correct the date of the Harbor District’s most recent meeting. Commissioners met on Wednesday.)

Eight months after a fireworks explosion sent 14 people to the hospital, Crescent City Harbor commissioners took official steps to try to curb the bedlam that spills over into their jurisdiction every Independence Day.

After learning that Del Norte County wouldn’t enforce its fireworks ordinance within the Harbor District without a memorandum of understanding, three commissioners approved a resolution Tuesday Wednesday authorizing the proposed agreement. But instead of calling for a ban on all fireworks, they decided that the safe and sane variety should be allowed in the marina while requiring a $5 fee for parking at the harbor.

Commissioners Dan Schmidt and Gerhard Weber voted against the proposed resolution.

Continue reading Harbor Commissioners Green Light County Collaboration Over Fireworks →
Articles, Community News, Economy, Environment, Local Government

Del Norte Supervisors Weigh In On Updated Plan For Managing Forest Service Lands

Leave a comment

Thumbnail: A rain-swollen Smith River in the Smith River National Recreation Area, which is one of the U.S. Forest Service units addressed in its Northwest Forest Plan. | Photo by Jessica Cejnar Andrews

District 3 Supervisor Chris Howard used an example from the 1960s to highlight the importance of local input into an amended Northwest Forest Plan.

Del Norte County housed 52 manufacturing mills six decades ago, he said, now there are none. Howard blamed their collapse on the Northwest Forest Plan, which was created in 1994. Now, with a public comment deadline approaching on an amended plan, Howard urged his colleagues to weigh in on a letter to the U.S. Forest Service, the agency spearheading the process.

Tacked onto Tuesday’s agenda at the last minute due to the Monday public comment deadline, the county’s letter was unanimously approved by the Board of Supervisors.

Continue reading Del Norte Supervisors Weigh In On Updated Plan For Managing Forest Service Lands →