At its March 1st meeting the Eureka City Council discussed its concerns related to how the General Plan Update (GPU) is being conducted, specifically with regard to public input as called for in the current plan.

Councilman Lance Madsen brought the matter forward along with a draft letter outlining the City’s concerns

After hearing comments from a wide range of local groups and individuals, including HumCPR, the council held a spirited discussion and the voted 4-1 in favor of sending the letter to the Board of Supervisors. The letter stated in part, “It is incumbent upon us as elected representatives of our communities, to ensure that the policies and measures in this document do not unfairly burden any segment of our communities. Therefore, we believe that Citizen Advisory Committees as provided for in section 1550 et seq. of the current General Plan are a necessity in making this process inclusive.”

It is unclear when or if the Supervisors will address this letter. We’ll keep you posted and will update our website as soon as we know.

In the meantime, you can find section 1500 of the General Plan by clicking here. (To see the section regarding Community Advisory Committees scroll down to Section 1550).

And here’s the letter that Eureka sent to the Board of Supervisors:

Eureka Letter GPU

Third District Supervisor John Woolley opposed the motion.

Just prior to the afternoon session, a contingent of about 30 TPZ supporters rallied outside the courthouse with a forest of protest signs: "Where’s Our Due Process," "Save Rural Life," "I want my TPZ," and more.

The debate inside began early in the afternoon when 5th District Supervisor Jill Geist questioned the lack of planning staff’s consultation with the state Board of Forestry on the entire issue. Geist recounted her own conversations with state staff indicating that The Pacific Lumber Co.’s plans for dividing timber land could not be accomplished under the Forest Practices Act, hence the board’s temporary moratorium on building on TPZ lands wasn’t needed.

The incomplete assessment, she said, prompted the board to give direction to the Planning Commission that was not proper.

The supervisor’s final vote came hours later after about 30 residents commented on the controversial issue.

Many spoke of a growing distrust of the planning staff, others called for a focus on protecting wildlife habitat and some urged the supervisors to keep their hand in the TPZ debate. Still others urged the board to halt the entire general plan process.

First District Supervisor Jimmy Smith spoke in favor of slowing the process down.

Confusion, an expedited process and bad information prompted many people to feel they haven’t been included, he said.

"My sense is the process has been expedited and now, because of all the questions and new audiences, it is time to slow this process down," he said.

Geist agreed, but noted that the TPZ considerations won’t be abandoned.

"It’s not a win-lose," she said. "We’re simply putting ourselves back on track and putting it back in the general plan process."

Jessie Faulkner can be reached at 441-0517 or jfaulkner@times-standard.com

Jessie Faulkner The Times-Standard
Posted: 12/12/2007 01:21:14 AM PST

http://www.times-standard.com//ci_7698781