Tag Archives: crescent city news

Art Scene: Art in Public Places, Community Drum Circle

Here are this week’s Arts Notes from the Del Norte Association of Cultural Awareness (DNACA):

  • On display until July 9: As part of its Art in Public Places Program, DNACA presents Flora, Fauna and Omah– a collection of mixed media art by artist Jim Hooper. View his collection at the Del Norte County Courthouse, 450 H St. in Crescent City. The courthouse is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
  • On display until July 9: DNACA presents A Solo Exhibit by Georgia Cockerham at the Del Norte County Airport, 1650 Dale Rupert Rd. in Crescent City. The author and artist’s collection of watercolor artwork can be viewed on the second-floor mezzanine of the airport. 
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Crescent City Approves Tight Budget With Water, Sewer Rate Increases Factored In

Crescent City councilors approved a budget that will have an unallocated fund balance of about $55,000 when the 2026-27 fiscal year closes.

Their decision comes about a month after Finance Director Linda Leaver said that the estimated unallocated general fund balance at the end of 2026-27 would be “basically nothing” at $62,559. 

On Monday, the budget Leaver presented to councilors reflected the changes they called for at that three-hour workshop on May 20. It also reflects water and sewer rate increases the City Council approved on June 1 following an unsuccessful Proposition 218 protest effort. Those increases are expected to stabilize both the water and sewer funds, Leaver said.

Continue reading Crescent City Approves Tight Budget With Water, Sewer Rate Increases Factored In

Construction On Battery Point Apartments Set To Resume By June 29, Developer Says

Thumbnail photo: Changing state regulations and water damage from winter storms sidelined construction on the senior housing portion of Battery Point Apartments in Crescent City. | Photo by James Brooks

Construction is expected to resume at Battery Point Apartments in about two weeks, a representative of the Los Angeles-based nonprofit behind the affordable housing project said.

The project’s subcontractors are paid and a crane will be on site later this week, Synergy Community Development Corporation President Bill Rice told the Crescent City Council on Monday. The investor working with Synergy and its partner, Step Forward Communities, also brought in a construction management firm to remediate water damage to the senior housing structure.

Rice was reluctant to give an exact date of completion, but he told councilors that Synergy and Step Forward Communities are working with their insurance company to ensure the remediation is “done right.”

Continue reading Construction On Battery Point Apartments Set To Resume By June 29, Developer Says

Uncharted Shores Academy Leases City-Owned Former Preschool Building At Peterson Park

Thumbnail image courtesy of Uncharted Shores Academy

Uncharted Shores Academy has found safe harbor for its Offshore Resource Center thanks to a Crescent City Council decision Monday.

The Council’s unanimous approval to lease its property at 475 7th Street to the charter school comes roughly two weeks before Uncharted Shores was set to vacate one of its satellite locations at Washington Square, according to Executive Director Dan Cartwright. 

In addition to offering space for students in its homeschool program to meet with teachers, the Washington Square space also housed the school’s business office, Cartwright said. But because of Sutter Coast Hospital’s plans to use the building for medical offices, its current tenants need to be out by the end of the month, he said.

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Del Norte Marks America’s 250th Birthday By Celebrating ‘The Decades We’ve Been A Community’

Above photo: Del Norte County’s public health nurses and those who gave out COVID-19 vaccines were the grand marshals in the 2021 Independence Day parade | Photo by Jessica Cejnar Andrews. Thumbnail photo: Members of the Crescent City Emblem Club wrapped themselves up in the flag for the 1998 Independence Day parade as shown on the Triplicate’s front page. | Photo by Aisling Bludworth

Valerie Starkey still remembers the Bicentennial at Beachfront Park, and while she doesn’t want to out do that celebration, she hopes the Semiquincentennial will be just as memorable.

“Two hundred and fifty years — that’s a huge milestone for this country,” she said. “We are really celebrating something that’s special to Del Norte County. It’s special to the nation. I think we all felt that way.”

The Del Norte County District 2 supervisor heads the Fourth of July committee for the Crescent City-Del Norte County Chamber of Commerce. This year instead of asking the community to select a theme for the festivities in Downtown Crescent City, Starkey and her colleagues wanted to recognize “the decades that we’ve been a community together.”

Continue reading Del Norte Marks America’s 250th Birthday By Celebrating ‘The Decades We’ve Been A Community’

City Officials Pursue $50 Million Forgivable Loan For Major Sewer Plant Upgrade

Thumbnail photo by James Brooks

Following a public hearing and the adoption of increased sewer rates, Crescent City City Manager Eric Wier said staff have begun pursuing the state funding connected to the utility’s next phase.

The next phase involves installing the infrastructure the sewer plant needs to meet updated National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit regulations. 

After fining the city $228,000 for not complying with those stricter permitting regulations last year, the state has given Crescent City five, potentially 10 years, to make those upgrades, according to Wier. 

Continue reading City Officials Pursue $50 Million Forgivable Loan For Major Sewer Plant Upgrade

Early Election Results Show Howard, Borges Leading Over Challengers in Del Norte Supervisor Races

Thumbnail photo: The Veterans Memorial Hall served as one of the polling places for the June 2 Primary Election. | Photo by Monique Camarena

Chris Howard said he was ready for the “next leg of the adventure” after final election night results were posted Tuesday, though he lamented at the low voter turnout.

As the evening wound to a close, the Del Norte County District 3 supervisor was ahead of his challenger Lupe Gutierrez based on early results the Del Norte County Elections Office posted at about 9:50 p.m.

County Clerk Recorder Alissia Northrup and her staff will spend the week processing ballots, but Howard is already looking toward his fourth term.

Continue reading Early Election Results Show Howard, Borges Leading Over Challengers in Del Norte Supervisor Races

Protest Efforts Fail To Stop City Water, Sewer Rate Increases

Thumbnail photo: Margaret Sargent on Monday speaks out in opposition of Crescent City’s plan to increase water and sewer rates. | Photo by Aisling Bludworth

A Proposition 218 protest failed to halt water and sewer rate increases in Crescent City on Monday despite an effort to collect signatures by a local group who says residents can’t afford them.

Though he didn’t specify if it was water or sewer, county resident David Olkowski, said at $95.38, his bill currently consumes about 16.95% of his social security income. It’s set to account for about 30% of his monthly social security at $171.92 when the rate adjustments take effect next month.

“The assistance we get from the many food banks are dwarfed by these rate increases,” he said. “The savings from our gardens, growing vegetables, fruit trees and produce, berries, are dwarfed by these rate increases.”

Continue reading Protest Efforts Fail To Stop City Water, Sewer Rate Increases

Three CCHD Commissioners Abstain In Vote To Oppose City Water, Sewer Hikes; Bearing Cost Will Be Difficult, Board Chair Says, But ‘Rates Are Valid’

Thumbnail photo: Crescent City wastewater treatment plant | Photo by James Brooks

Three harbor commissioners declined taking a position on whether or not Crescent City’s water and sewer rates should increase.

Chairman Rick Shepherd, Vice Chairman John Evans and their colleague Gerhard Weber abstained from a vote to oppose the proposed rate increases. Though they toured the sewer plant with City Manager Eric Wier, Shepherd and Evans said taking a position on the issue would be difficult for them.

Shepherd echoed points Wier has made to the Crescent City Council — that it’s been about 10 years since water and sewer rates have increased and that the sewer system is in dire financial straits. But, Shepherd also noted that the increased water and sewer rates may cost the Crescent City Harbor District $10,000 to $12,000 a year.

Continue reading Three CCHD Commissioners Abstain In Vote To Oppose City Water, Sewer Hikes; Bearing Cost Will Be Difficult, Board Chair Says, But ‘Rates Are Valid’