Eureka Adopted MSR 1 15 14

City of Eureka Municipal Service Review Adopted January 15, 2014 Prepared by: HUMBOLDT LOCAL AGENCY FORMATION COMMISSION Commissioners Virginia Bass, District 4 Supervisor Estelle Fennell, District 2 Supervisor Mike Losey, Fortuna City Council Mike Newman, Eureka City Council Troy Nicolini, Samoa Peninsula Fire Protection District Board Jeff Pauli, Humboldt No. 1 Fire Protection District Board Robert McPherson, Public Member LAFCo Staff George Williamson, AICP, Executive Officer Colette Metz, Administrator Vanessa Blodgett, GIS Technician Paul Brisso, Legal Counsel DRAFT Acknowledgements LAFCo staff would like to thank the contributors to this Municipal Service Review. Input instrumental in completing this report was provided by the City of Eureka. Riley Topolewski, Senior Planner, assisted in procuring updated information from multiple City departments. Rob Wall, AICP, Director, reviewed the document. This report would not have been possible without the City’s assistance. LACO Associates staff Randal Rouda, AICP, Senior Planner and Emily Hedge, Planner, worked with the City to update the 2010 Draft MSR. City of Eureka Municipal Service Review Adopted January 15, 2014 DRAFT Prepared by Humboldt LAFCo www.humboldtlafco.org TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 1 Agency Profile ................................................................................................................................................ 2 Governance Structure and Administration ............................................................................................... 4 Growth and Population ................................................................................................................................ 5 Disadvantaged Unincorporated Communities ........................................................................................ 7 Services Provided ........................................................................................................................................ 10 Other Service Providers ............................................................................................................................... 20 Budget ........................................................................................................................................................... 22 MSR Determinations .................................................................................................................................... 24 SOI Status - Conclusion and Recommendations ................................................................................... 28 References…….... ........................................................................................................................................ 29 DRAFT LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Required Service Review Determinations ................................................................................... 2 Table 2: Agency Profile ................................................................................................................................. 4 Table 3: Eureka City Council ........................................................................................................................ 4 Table 4: Disadvantaged Unincorporated Communities ......................................................................... 8 Table 5: Humboldt Bay Fire Stations .......................................................................................................... 11 Table 6: Community and Neighborhood Parks ...................................................................................... 13 Table 7: Elk River Wastewater Treatment Plant’s Remaining ADWF Capacity .................................. 17 Table 8: The Eureka City Unified School District ...................................................................................... 20 Table 9: Revenue Sources 2013-2014 ....................................................................................................... 22 Table 10: Operating Budget 2013-2014 .................................................................................................... 23 Table 11: Sphere of Influence Projected Growth Capabilities ............................................................. 28 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: City of Eureka’s Current Boundary and Sphere of Influence Figure 2: City of Eureka Organizational Chart Figure 3: Department of Water Resources Disadvantaged Unincorporated Communities Figure 4: Revenue Sources 2013-2014 Figure 5: Operating Budget 2013-2014 INTRODUCTION The Humboldt Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) conducts municipal service reviews (hereafter referred to as “service reviews”) to assess existing and future public service conditions for cities and special districts within Humboldt County. This service review allows LAFCo, local agencies, and the public to better understand how public services, including water, wastewater, fire protection, and law enforcement, are provided by local governmental agencies. This service review was prepared as a component of a required periodic review by the Humboldt LAFCo of the Spheres of Influence (SOI) of all government entities in the county. The purpose of this service review is to examine and evaluate the City of Eureka’s services in order to improve overall understanding of local service conditions and to enhance these conditions through comprehensive review and analysis. This service review presents for the Commission’s consideration a discussion, analysis, and recommendations regarding services provided by the City of Eureka. The current SOI for the City of Eureka was last updated in 1984; this service review serves to update the relevant data on services provided within the City’s SOI. As a result of the City’s ongoing General Plan Update, a subsequent SOI amendment is anticipated. Statutory Authority LAFCo operates under the provisions of the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000, commencing with California Government Code Section 56000 (CKH Act). The CKH Act requires LAFCo to conduct comprehensive studies of the delivery of municipal services provided in the county or other area deemed appropriate by the Commission. The term “municipal services” refers to the full range of services that a public agency provides or is authorized to provide. The CKH Act requires that LAFCo make determinations regarding the provision of municipal services in accordance with Government Code Section 56430. The service review process provides LAFCo with a tool for studying existing and future public service conditions, evaluating organizational options for accommodating growth, and examining whether critical services are provided in an efficient and cost-effective manner. This includes making determinations on the adequacy, efficiency, and effectiveness of these services in relationship to local conditions and circumstances. The service review process does not require LAFCo to initiate changes of organization based on service review findings; it only requires that LAFCo make determinations regarding the provision of public services. However, the service review helps to inform the SOI development process with regard to identifying an appropriate and probable service area for the city or district. Service reviews are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because they are only feasibility or planning studies for possible future actions that LAFCo has not approved (CEQA Guidelines Section 15262). The CKH Act requires that LAFCo review municipal services before or in conjunction with updating SOIs and prepare a written statement of determinations with respect to each of the factors summarized in the following table. 1 Table 1: Required Service Review Determinations Required Service Review Determinations Government Code Section 56430 1. Growth and population projections for the affected area 2. The location and characteristics of any disadvantaged unincorporated communities* within or contiguous to the sphere 3. Present and planned capacity of public facilities, adequacy of public services, and infrastructure needs or deficiencies including needs or deficiencies related to sewers, water, and structural fire protection in any disadvantaged unincorporated communities within or contiguous to the sphere 4. Financial ability of agencies to provide services 5. Status of and, opportunities for, shared facilities 6. Accountability for community service needs, including governmental structure and operational efficiencies 7. Any other matter related to effective or efficient service delivery, as required by commission policy * Disadvantaged unincorporated community means an inhabited community (12 or more registered voters) with an annual median household income that is less than 80 percent of the statewide annual median household income. Review Methods This service review was prepared during August-November of 2013 and is an update to the draft prepared by LAFCo staff during January of 2010. Eureka’s City Manager completed an agency profile questionnaire during January 2010, which provided LAFCo with the 2010 status of city operations. In August-November 2013 City staff reviewed the 2010 draft and provided updated information on the current status of city operations. The Eureka Community Plan, the City of Eureka Five-Year Capital Improvement Program FY 2013/14 to 2017/18 (CIP), the Eureka Phase II NPDES Storm Water Management Plan, and the Infrastructure and Services Report that was compiled as part of the Humboldt County General Plan, were referenced for regional population and housing projections, as well as detailed descriptions of existing infrastructure. The 2010 Draft City of Eureka Municipal Review report was sent to the Eureka City Manager for review and clarification. An administrative draft of the 2013 Draft City of Eureka Municipal Review was provided to the Eureka Community Development Director for review. All information gathered for this report is filed by Humboldt LAFCo for future reference. AGENCY PROFILE The City of Eureka is located on the North Pacific Coast, approximately 270 miles north of San Francisco and 90 miles south of the California/Oregon border. The City is bordered by Humboldt Bay on the west and north and by unincorporated Humboldt County on the east and south. Eureka is the Humboldt County seat and the largest city in the county, making it the Humboldt Bay region’s center for governmental, commercial, and industrial activity. The City of Eureka encompasses 16.2 square miles within its boundary. The City’s Sphere of Influence (SOI) includes an additional 12.8 square miles in the areas south and east of the City limits (Figure 1). Portions of the City’s SOI lie within or adjacent to the Humboldt Community Services District (HCSD). The county lands surrounding the City are zoned as low-density 2 LACO Legend City of Eureka A AT City of Eureka Sphere R C STATE HW OL D A Y 255 US HWY 101 RTLE MY 1ST 1ST 5TH 4TH Indianola Area WATERFRONT 2ND I P B AY D A AIL R O14TH J P R BR OA D WAY B R O A D W AY D N Q R S BUHNE MYRTLE ASE P W NAVY B E K M Q W Mitchell Heights Area NE J O D VISTA FAIRWAY UT N Cutten and AL W Humboldt Hill Area Ridgewood Area RIDGEWOOD ³ Y 101 W H S U ELK R IVER 6,000 Feet Sources: Esri, DeLorme, NAVTEQ, USGS, Intermap, iPC, NRCAN, Esri Japan, METI, Esri China (Hong Kong), Esri (Thailand), TomTom, 2012 Date: 11/21/2013 Time: 9:22:22 AM Path: P:\7400\7471 City of Eureka\7471.05 Sphere of Influence Amendment\12 Figures_Maps\GIS\7471.05 City of Eureak Current SOI.mxd residential, agricultural, and timber. The City is considered to be almost “built out” and its remaining undeveloped land is primarily located in agricultural or natural areas, most of which are considered unsuitable for development. There is, however, potential for additional development within the jurisdiction of the County, just east and south of the city limits. Formation The City of Eureka was incorporated on April 18, 1856, making it the oldest city in Humboldt County. Eureka is the only charter city in Humboldt County. The charter city provision of the California constitution, also referred to as the “home-rule” provision, is based on the principle that a city, rather than the state, is in the best position to know what it needs and how to satisfy those needs. The home-rule provision allows charter cities to conduct their own business and control their own affairs. A charter maximizes local control.i Table 2: Agency Profile Agency Name Date of Incorporation Enabling Legislation California Government Code City of Eureka April 18, 1856 §34100-34101 Contact Person Contact Title Email/Website Email: mknight@ci.eureka.ca.gov Mike Knight Acting City Manager Website: www.ci.eureka.ca.gov Mailing Address Physical Address Phone/Fax Eureka City Hall Eureka City Hall Phone: (707) 441-4144 531 "K" Street - Room 208 531 "K" Street - Room 208 Fax: (707) 441-4138 Eureka, CA 95501-1146 Eureka, CA 95501 GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION The City of Eureka uses a Council-Manager form of government in which a separately elected mayor can exercise some executive powers independent of the City Council. The five members of the City Council are elected at-large, but must reside within the wards they represent. The mayor is the Chief Executive Officer and votes at council meetings only to break a tie. Eureka’s existing mayor/City Council composition is illustrated in Table 3. Table 3: Eureka City Council Council Member Ward Term Expiration Frank Jager Mayor November 2014 Marian Brady Ward 1 Council Member November 2014 Linda Atkins Ward 2 Council Member November 2016 Mike Newman Ward 3 Council Member November 2014 Melinda Ciarabellini Ward 4 Council Member November 2016 Lance Madsen Ward 5 Council Member November 2014 4 The Eureka City Council holds regular meetings on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month at 5:00 P.M. for closed session, and 6:00 P.M. for open session. All meetings are open to the public, with the exception of the closed session portion. Time is allowed during every council meeting for the public to address the Council. The meetings are held in the Council Chambers on the 2nd floor of the Eureka City Hall at 531 “K” Street, Eurekaii. Eureka City Council meetings are broadcast live on Cable Channel 10. The Eureka City Council appoints qualified residents and business owners to serve on 17 boards, commissions, and committees. These entities provide advice and recommendations to the Council on various issues of importance regarding city management and the community. The City’s website includes a complete description of the responsibilities of each board, committee, and commission. The City’s website also includes information on city services, city departments, meeting agendas and calendars, and the City’s municipal code and charter. The City of Eureka currently employs 251 full-time employees, 6 part-time employees, 212 temporary employees, and 223 volunteers. The City’s organizational chart, included below as Figure 2, shows the various city departments, boards, commissions, and committees. GROWTH AND POPULATION County Population and Growth According to the California Department of Finance (DOF) data dated January 1, 2013, the total population of Humboldt County is 135,120. The DOF projects the population to reach 143,107 by year 2025. This represents a 0.48 percent annual growth rate. City Population and Housing Projections Eureka is the largest of Humboldt County’s seven cities. According to DOF, the total population of Eureka as of January 1, 2013, was 27,021. Using the 2000 and 2010 U.S. Census data, the City of Eureka has an annual population growth rate of 0.4 percent. Based on DOF’s 2013 population estimate for Eureka and the calculated annual growth rate, it is estimated that the 2025 population will reach 28,460. The City of Eureka’s General Plan was adopted in 1997 and amended in 1999. The City’s policies encourage infill development, focusing development on existing residentially-zoned lands within the City. According to the Building Communities report, prepared for the Humboldt County General Plan Update, Eureka is at or near full buildout in nearly all accessible areas within the existing City limits. The population within the City has remained fairly constant for decades. The majority of development in the Eureka area in recent years has been outside the City limits; the population of this area is nearly equal to that within the City boundaries. In 2009, after input from local planning representatives and the public, the Humboldt County Association of Governments (HCAOG) adopted a housing needs allocation methodology. On December 17, 2009, HCAOG adopted a Regional Housing Needs Allocation Plan in which 880 new housing units were allocated to the City of Eurekaiii. In 2012 the California Department of Housing and Community Development provided HCAOG with their Regional Housing Need Determination for the Fifth Housing Element Update. The Department determined HCAOG’s regional housing need to be 2,060 units for the 5.5-year projection period of January 1, 2014 through June 30, 2019iv. At the time of this service review HCAOG staff was preparing county-wide regional allocations. 5 DISADVANTAGED UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITIES The Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Act defines a "disadvantaged unincorporated community" (DUC) as an inhabited territory (12 or more registered voters), or as determined by commission policy, that constitutes all or a portion of a "disadvantaged community" as defined by Section 79505.5 of the Water Code. The Water Code Section 79505.5 defines a "disadvantaged community" as a community with an annual median household income that is less than 80 percent of the statewide annual median household income. The State Department of Water Resources (DWR) has mapped for each county those communities that are at or below 80 percent of the annual median household income by using Census Designated Places (CDP)v. The U.S. Census Bureau defines CDPs as: “The statistical counterparts of incorporated places, and are delineated to provide data for settled concentrations of population that are identifiable by name but are not legally incorporated under the laws of the state in which they are located.” It should be noted that CDPs and Block Groups are determined using differing criteria. A single Block Group may include property within multiple CDP’s.While the CDP data is a helpful tool in identifying DUCs, not all unincorporated areas are defined as CDPs that arguably should be defined as disadvantaged unincorporated communities. Three CDPs have been identified by DWR as disadvantaged unincorporated communities based on median household income: Humboldt Hill CDP, Bayview CDP, and Myrtletown CDP (Figure 3). 7 Table 4: Disadvantaged Unincorporated Communities LOCAL SERVICE PROVIDER DWR WITHIN COMMUNITY INCORPORATED? POPULATION DUC? SOI? Waste Fire Water Water City of Eureka Yes Yes Yes 27,191 HBF Eureka Eureka Eureka Indianola CDP No No Partial 1,029 HBF None (Limited) Myrtletown CDP Yes No Partial 4,750 HBF HCSD HCSD East Myrtletown (Tract 8, HCSD HCSD Yes No Yes 1,201 HBF Block Group 1) West Myrtletown (Tract 8, HCSD HCSD Yes No Yes 1,608 HBF Block Group 2) Mitchell Heights and HCSD Freshwater (Tract 106, Block No No Yes 1,205 HBF HCSD Group 1) Cutten CDP No No Yes 3,041 HBF HCSD HCSD HCSD Ridgewood (Pine Hills CDP) No No Partial 2,664 HBF HCSD Pine Hill (Bayview CDP) Yes No Yes 2,640 HBF HCSD HCSD Harris/Harrison (Tract 7, Eureka/ Eureka/ Yes Partial Yes 1,233 HBF Block Group 1) HCSD HCSD Eureka/ Eureka/ California, South of Harris Yes Partial Yes 1,703 HBF HCSD HCSD (Tract 3, Block Group 4) Eureka/ Eureka/ South of Henderson Center HCSD HCSD and Rosewood (Tract 3, Yes Partial Yes 1,401 HBF Block Group 5) Eureka/ Eureka/ Eureka Golf Course (Tract 4, Yes Partial Yes 1,158 HBF HCSD HCSD Block Group 2) Eureka/ Eureka/ Sea Avenue (Tract 4, Block Yes Partial Yes 1,619 HBF HCSD HCSD Group 3) Westgate Drive (west of HCSD Ridgewood) (Tract 107, Yes No Yes 788 HBF HCSD Block Group 1) Humboldt Hill CDP Yes No Yes 3,769 HBF HCSD HCSD HCSD Humboldt Hill (Tract 107, Yes No Yes 2,506 HBF HCSD Block Group 3) King Salmon and Fields HCSD Landing (Tract 107, Block Yes No Yes 602 HBF HCSD Group 4) Fields Landing CDP No No Partial 259 HBF HCSD HCSD 8 Eureka Area Communities With Disadvantaged Community Status and Eureka Sphere of Influence (SOI) µ Indianola City of Eureka Myrtletown Mitchell Heights Bayview Cutten King Salmon Pine Hills Ridgewood Humboldt Hill Fields Landing Legend DWR: Disadvantaged Community CDPs and Block Groups Eureka and SOI Type City of Eureka Eureka SOI SERVICES PROVIDED The City of Eureka provides the following municipal services to its residents:  Fire Protection  Law Enforcement  Parks and Recreation  Public Facilities  Public Roads  Solid Waste Collection and Disposal  Storm Water Collection and Disposal  Wastewater Collection and Treatment  Water Fire Protection Humboldt Bay Fire (HBF) was founded in 2011 through a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) consolidating the Humboldt No. 1 Fire Protection District (HFD) and City of Eureka Fire Department (EFD). Located on Humboldt Bay, HBF serves the City of Eureka and Greater Eureka area. Humboldt Bay Fire is a full-service, all-risk fire department, responding from five fire stations to approximately 5,500 calls for service each year. The department is the emergency service provider for a number of high-hazard occupancies, as well as being the emergency service provider for a large area in the “Wildland Urban Interface” in the outlying areas of the jurisdiction. Prior to the establishment of the JPA, Humboldt No. 1 Fire Protection District and City of Eureka Fire Department had an inter-operational agreement to cooperatively provide services in their respective service areas. In 2007, a Joint Standards of Coverage study was completed to identify the ideal fire protection system and configuration of the greater Eureka area. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CALFIRE) and the Samoa Fire Protection District provide fire services to the unincorporated areas of Eureka’s General Plan Planning Area. Humboldt Bay Fire employs 65 full-time staff and has 15 volunteers. There is currently a ratio of one firefighter (paid and volunteer) per 833 inhabitants, which exceeds the national standard for ideal fire protection of one firefighter per 2,000 inhabitants. HBF’s current Insurance Service Office (ISO) rating is 3 on a scale of 1 to10, with 1 indicating the best possible protection. In 2012 HBF responded to a total of 5,417 total calls, and of these 3,758 were in the city and, of which 61 percent were emergency/medical response calls. The average response time in 2012 was 5.23 minutes for emergency/medical response and 6.46 minutes for structural fire response. Infrastructure Humboldt Bay Fire has five active fire stations: three stations (Numbers 1, 3, and 4) located within the City and two stations previously HFD stations (No. 11 and No. 12). Table 4 (below) provides the street address for each station. 10 Table 5: Humboldt Bay Fire Stations Station Number Location 1 533 C Street - HBF Headquarters 3 2905 Ocean Ave 4 1016 Myrtle Avenue 11 3455 Harris Street 12 755 Herrick Avenue Humboldt Bay Fire owns the following fire suppression/rescue equipment:  Seven Type-1 engines (four owned by the City): These units are operated with a crew of three, captain in charge of all personnel and equipment, an engineer responsible for driving and pumping, a Firefighter and all equipment necessary for fire and medical calls.  Two City-owned trucks (100 ft. ladder and 100 ft. platform)  One Type 3 Engine  Four Command Vehicles (Two City-owned)  One HBF-owned hazardous materials vehicle  One HBF-owned USAR (Urban Search and Rescue Vehicle)  One 8 ft. X 14 ft. enclosed hazardous materials trailer  One 8 ft. X 20 ft. enclosed rescue trailer  Three Utility Pick-ups Infrastructure Needs and Deficiencies Humboldt Bay Fire has identified a number of equipment-related concerns affected by the continued modest funding of equipment replacement or modernization. These include, but are not limited to, the following:  Personnel Protective Clothing and Equipment A second set of structural clothing and a dedicated set of wildland personal protective clothing and equipment are needed for each employee.  Fire Facilities The age and condition of the three fire stations previously managed by EFD is a concern. The two smaller fire stations (No. 3 and No. 4) built in 1958 have exceeded their serviceable life and are now in need of replacement; the stations’ natural gas and water lines need replacement; the current apparatus does not fit safely within these stations; and the facilities are not designed for a diversified workforce.  Communications Equipment- The department is seeking funding to modernize its radio communication equipment in accordance with the forthcoming federal requirements to “narrow-band” and “digitize” station, mobile, and handheld radios. Upgrading of portable radios in ongoing. Maintenance Schedule Humboldt Bay Fire staff has indicated that the Department is in need of an apparatus replacement schedule which has continuous funding. Following the formation of HBF, preventative maintenance schedules have increased with contract services being provided by the City of Eureka Corporation Yard. Planned Upgrades Should funding become available, the following improvements have been planned:  Personnel protective clothing and equipment replacement  Facility replacement  Apparatus replacement 11  Continued development of the Drill Tower and Training Facility  Increased purchase and use of technology (Mobile Data Computers, single point data entry) The City’s Five-Year Capital Improvement Program FY 2013/14 to 2017/18 (CIP) CIP identifies plans to remodel, upgrade, or demolish and rebuild the Ocean Avenue and Myrtle Avenue fire stationsvi. Upgrades were recently completed to the living quarters and plumbing infrastructure. Law Enforcement Law enforcement in the City of Eureka is provided by three agencies: the Eureka Police Department (EPD), the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department (SD), and the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The EPD provides services within the City limits and the SD provides services in the adjacent unincorporated areas. The two agencies coordinate their activities through regular joint staffing meetings, participation in the Humboldt County Drug Task Force, the Law Enforcement Chief’s Association of Humboldt, and by mutual aid agreements as provided by state law. In addition, CHP patrols U.S. Highway 101 (Fourth and Fifth Streets), which bisects the City, and State Route 255 west of R Street. The EPD serves the community with 53 sworn officers, 31 professional staff civilian employees, 6 annuitants, and 7 volunteers. The Department is located at 604 C Street, Eureka. The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office Operations Bureau is made up of seven units under the command of a Sheriff's Captain. The most visible of these units is Patrol. Patrol has one Main Station located on the ground floor of the Humboldt County Courthouse at 826 Fourth Street, Eureka. The Main Station Patrol unit is currently comprised of 1 lieutenant, 6 sergeants, 21 deputy sheriffs, and 1 community services officer (CSO). The SD provides law enforcement services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to the unincorporated areas of Humboldt County from Arcata south to Redcrestvii. The California Highway Patrol Humboldt Communications Center is located at 255 East Samoa Boulevard, Arcata. The California Highway Patrol has specific jurisdiction over all California state routes and freeways in the state. As such, CHP patrols U.S. Highway 101 and State Route 255 within the City limits. Upon request, CHP will also respond to any traffic matter within the rest of the City; CHP also assists EPD with specialized investigations, technical assistance, and officer backup. In April of 2009, the City received a $100,000 state CalGRIP grant to battle gang crime. The grant was used to finance CHP patrols in Eureka for 90 days in an effort to increase EPD’s effectiveness in targeting crime. The additional CHP patrols enhanced traffic enforcement, increased patrols in high-crime areas, and focused on identifying and tracking down gang affiliates. The City of Eureka’s 9-1-1 Communications Center is responsible for answering and directing all 9-1-1 and emergency calls made within the City. The Center provides dispatching services for EPD, Humboldt Bay Fire, Blue Lake Fire District, and Samoa Peninsula Fire Districtviii. Parks and Recreation The City maintains a total of 138 acres of park land. The City’s community and neighborhood parks are listed in Table 5 below. Myrtle Grove Cemetery is included in the Park Facilities Program. There are a total of 42 landscaped facilities, 22 parking lots, and approximately 1,390 street trees throughout the City. 12 The Eureka Waterfront Trail along Humboldt Bay makes up a portion of the California Coastal Trail (CCT). On March 2, 2013, the City held a grand opening for the 1.5-mile Hikshari’ Trail in south Eureka’s Elk River Access Area. The Hikshari’ Trail, a portion of the Waterfront Trail through Eureka, extends from Truesdale Street to the Herrick Avenue Park and Ride and includes four trailheads, interpretive signs, a native boat launch to access Humboldt Bay’s water trail system, and associated trail amenities. Table 6: Community and Neighborhood Parks Community Parks Neighborhood Parks Halvorsen Park Carson Park Cooper Gulch Park Hammond Park Hartman/Kennedy Ball Fields Lundbar Hills Park Sequoia Park Highland Park Sequoia Park Garden Ross Park Sequoia Park Zoo Clara Mae Berry Park 20-30 Park Infrastructure Needs and Deficiencies The California Coastal Trail through Humboldt County is incomplete. The completion of Eureka’s Waterfront Trail would fill a substantial portion of this gap in the CCT. The City is seeking grant funding and using General Fund monies to complete the Waterfront Trail. Planned Upgrades The City completed construction of the 12,000-square-foot Eureka Skate Park, located near the entrance to Cooper Gulch Park, in the winter of 2010. A site has been designated at the intersection of Watson Drive and Woolford Drive for a 1.5-acre community dog park. The dog park will be a fenced area located near the existing McFarland Trail and will include small dog, free range, and fetch areas, in addition to an on-leash park area that will have benches and picnic tablesix. The Eureka Street Tree Plan identifies 2,000 new street tree planting sites throughout the City of Eureka. Public Facilities The City’s Recreation Division manages a variety of facilities that the public can reserve for special events. The City’s website provides detailed information about each venue and rental opportunities. The public facilities that the City maintains include the following:  Wharfinger Building  Adorni Recreation Center  Eureka Municipal Auditorium  Sequoia Park  Sequoia Park Zoo and Garden  Cooper Gulch Recreation Center  Sacco Amphitheater  Neighborhood Parks  Halvorsen Park  Carson Park  Athletic Fields The City also provides public harbor facilities that include the following:  24-hour public boat launch ramp on Waterfront Drive  Bonnie Gool Dock located near the Adorni Center  "F" Street Dock located at the Boardwalk 13  Coast Guard Dock located at #1 Commercial Street  Eureka Public Marina  Eureka Public Marina slip rentals  Del Norte Public Fishing Pier at the end of Del Norte Street Public Roads The City maintains 122 miles of public roads within its boundaries, at an annual cost of approximately $700,000. The City’s Public Works Streets and Alleys Maintenance Program is responsible for the upkeep of public street and alley surfaces; regulatory, warning, and street name signs; pavement and curb markings; storm drain system maintenance; weed abatement on City and Redevelopment Agency properties; airport pavement and perimeter care; and maintenance and repair of the City's off-street parking lots and metersx. City sweeping services maintain the cleanliness and appearance of all streets, alleys, and parking lots through debris, rubbish, and leaf removal. This service also enhances storm drain facility operations. Maintenance and repair of traffic signals is accomplished by the Public Works Department. Infrastructure Needs and Deficiencies The City’s roads are in the following condition (City of Eureka Pavement Management Program, 2011):  2.7% “failed”  17.0% “poor”  26.0% “fair”  54.3% “good to excellent” Planned Upgrades The City has planned to spend $550,000 to $700,000 annually to improve roads in failed, poor, and fair conditions as noted above. In addition, in the City of Eureka Five-Year Capital Improvement Program the City has indicated their intent to do the following:  Pave and make major repairs to high priority alleys  Repair slope embankment, street surface, and sidewalks at 14th & P Streets  Improve congestion on Harrison Avenue (from Harris St. to Myrtle Ave.)  Make safety improvements to provide clearer directions at six project sites  Construct gateway improvements along 4th and 5th Streets (U.S. Hwy. 101) from V Street to Airport Road  Re-grout and/or replace brick work in Old Town  Reconstruct at-grade street crossing of the railroad tracks and install railroad warning devices at the City's street crossings  Provide additional parking in the Old Town area on First Street  Provide for the 1911 Sidewalk Program-to repair or construct City walks;  Reconstruct F Street between First and Second Streets  Construct Waterfront Drive Phase II,G to J Streets Solid Waste Collection and Disposal The City contracts with a private company, Recology Humboldt County (Recology), for residential and commercial solid waste collection and curbside recycling services. Recology is headquartered at 949 West Hawthorne Street, Eureka. Waste collected by Recology is transported to the Humboldt Waste Management Authority’s (HWMA) Hawthorne Street Transfer Station, located at 1059 West Hawthorne Street. Waste from HWMA is eventually transferred to two possible locations: the Anderson Landfill located at 18703 Cambridge Road, Anderson, California, or the Dry Creek Landfill located at 6260 Dry Creek Road, Eagle Point, Oregonxi. 14 The Anderson Landfill has a daily permitted disposal of approximately 1,018 tons per day, and a remaining capacity of about eight million tons. Under current conditions, the Anderson Landfill is not expected to close until 2036xii. The Dry Creek Landfill has a remaining capacity of approximately 50 million tons. The Dry Creek Landfill has been estimated to have the remaining disposal capacity to provide for its current service area for another 75 to 100 yearsxiii. Currently, HWMA is preparing a Request for Proposal for disposal and transportation services related to solid waste as the Anderson Landfill contract expires in June 2014 and the Dry Creek Landfill contract expires in June 2016. Storm Water Collection and Disposal The City's stormwater system is not part of its sanitary sewer system; stormwater enters receiving waters untreated. Urban runoff and other “non-point source” (NPS) discharges are regulated by the 1972 Federal Clean Water Act (CWA) through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Program. The City’s Stormwater Division manages efforts to reduce pollutant discharge into the storm drain system and represents the City on stormwater and NPDES stormwater permit issues before the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB), a division of the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB)xiv. The NPDES permit requires the submittal of a Guidance Document demonstrating the City’s efforts to implement Best Management Practices (BMPs) to comply with six Minimum Control Measures (MCMs). Following are the six MCMs established to reduce pollutant discharge into receiving watersxv:  Public Education and Outreach  Public Involvement / Participation  Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination  Construction Site Storm Water Runoff Control  Post-Construction Storm Water Management  Pollution Prevention / Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations Infrastructure The City's storm drain system consists of gutter flow, cross street culverts, valley gutters, storm drain inlets and piping, and open channels. Piping primarily consists of reinforced concrete pipe (RCP) with diameters ranging from 8 to 42 inches. In addition, there are a number of gulches throughout the City that act as natural drainages. The City’s gravity flow stormwater is discharged to Humboldt Bay and the surrounding sloughs. Some of the outlets are equipped with tide gates, some of which are not functioning. The City Public Works Department maintains all drainage, except along U.S. Highway 101 traversing Broadway, Fourth, and Fifth Streets, which is maintained by Caltransxvi. Infrastructure Needs and Deficiencies Much of the City’s existing storm drainage network is old and undersized, depending upon inadequate gutter flow and undersized pipes and drop inletsxvii. There is street flooding during the rainy season. Some of the City’s sloughs and gulches, serving as natural drainage networks, have been filled, restricted, and/or altered. Most of the natural networks are unimproved, relatively deep, and have adequate capacity for a 100-year storm event. However, due to erosion and siltation, resulting in reduced capacity at some storm drain inlets and outlets, a few of the gulches experience flooding. No actual drainage easements exist for many of the City’s natural drainage networks; due to lack of access, maintenance and replacement within these gulches can be difficultxviii. 15 Wastewater Collection and Treatment Infrastructure The City’s wastewater collection system contains approximately 125 miles of sewer main, 9,500 service laterals, 18 lift stations, 4 major pump stations, and associated force mains. The system collects and conveys between 1.6 and 1.8 billion gallons of wastewater per year. The City also collects wastewater from HCSD, which serves the unincorporated areas east and southeast of the city limits. The City operates the Elk River Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) located in the southwest portion of the City near the mouth of the Elk River; the WWTP was designed in 1981 for the purpose of treating, storing, and disposing of wastewater. The WWTP serves customers within the City of Eureka and also treats wastewater from the surrounding unincorporated areas served by HCSD. The total City, County, and HCSD population served by the WWTP is approximately 45,000. Flows and System Capacity The WWTP was designed to treat an average dry weather flow (ADWF) of 6.0 million gallons per day (MGD) and is currently permitted for 5.24 MGDxix. The WWTP was designed to treat peak dry weather flows of 9.5 MGD, and is currently permitted at 8.6 MGD. Peak wet weather flow design and permitted capacity is 32.2 MGD. The Plant was designed such that its treatment capacity could be increased in the future as needed to accommodate both the City’s planned growth within its SOI and the projected HCSD growth. The City has opted not to pursue a request to the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) for a capacity change beyond the nameplate design at this timexx, but would likely do so at the time that a capacity increase is warranted. Treated wastewater from the WWTP is dechlorinated and discharged into Humboldt Bay via a 48-inch pipe during ebb tide cycles. During high influent flows, overflow is directed from a holding pond to a temporary holding marsh. The stored wastewater is returned to the holding pond after the flows subside. Wastewater solids are anaerobically digested then stored in facultative sludge lagoons for up to two years. Stabilized biosolids are dredged from the lagoons and dewatered with a centrifuge process before being disposed of as soil conditioner or other beneficial use. The City owns a reclamation site that has been used for biosolids disposal in the past, but which is currently not permitted for that purpose. Infrastructure Needs and Deficiencies The City’s wastewater collection system is experiencing deficiencies that are typical of a collection system of its age, including Inflow and Infiltration (I/I), pipe condition deterioration (with a majority being clay pipe), aging pumping systems, and some capacity limitations. Capacity concerns occur at a few locations in the collection system during significant rain events. The Martin Slough Interceptor (MSI) Project, further discussed below, will reduce demands on the existing pumping systems and eliminate the need to operate and maintain several small lift stations located in the southern portion of the service area. The WWTP has effectively handled short-term I/I-related flows, although extreme wet weather flows often approach the hydraulic capacity of the Plant. The average I/I peaking factor experienced at the WWTP is just over 5 (32 MGD) which is equal to the combined peak pumping capacity of the existing pumping systems. This is viewed as the average over the entire collection system, with some basins experiencing more I/I. A peaking factor of just under 5 was adopted for the design of the WWTP, indicating the system continues to operate essentially as anticipated. When the Martin Slough Pump Station is fully implemented, higher peak flows to the WWTP will be possible if the collection system I/I is not reduced over time. The City is planning the installation of variable frequency drives (VFDs) at the existing pump stations as a secondary measure. This pump control change will result in better matched pumped outflows and 16 incoming flows and thereby minimize the period of time that the stations will discharge at peak rates. The City is currently meeting its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requirements and is not in violation of Section 301(b)(1)(B) of the Clean Water Act. Under the current agreement between the City of Eureka and HCSD, the City is allotted 69.5 percent of the WWTP Average Dry Weather Flow (ADWF) capacity, and HCSD receives the remaining capacity. Capacity allocation by flow rate is used to estimate the biological oxygen demand (BOD) placed on the WWTP because it is a practical measuring parameter. Data for ADWF to the WWTP indicates the ADWF from 1999 through 2008 was 4.45 MGD, or approximately 85% of the ADWF design capacity. The ADWF has decreased to 4.14 MGD, or approximately 79% of the ADWF design capacity, over the past 5 years, but the BOD load has remained fairly consistent. Additional plant BOD loading beyond the design capacity would require significant upgrades to the secondary treatment system. Peak wet weather flow above 32 MGD are not practical given the hydraulic limitations of the primary and secondary treatment units and the regulatory push to reduce the use of blending during peak flow events. Until secondary treatment system upgrades are implemented at the WWTP, increases in loading should be limited to the existing allocations in the Agreement and should be carefully monitored. The City’s calculations indicate the City has committed to serve a total of approximately 295 estimated dwelling units (EDUs) to be added with future developments. Given these commitments and the City’s remaining uncommitted contractual ADWF capacity (~2,457 EDUs), the City estimates there is remaining available capacity at the WWTP for approximately 2,160 EDUs, or new single-family wastewater connections within the City service area. HCSD is estimated to have capacity within their contractual allocation of ADWF to accommodate 2,700 new single-family wastewater connections within HCSD’s jurisdiction. Table 7: Elk River Wastewater Treatment Plant’s Remaining ADWF Capacity Service District Estimated Dwelling Units (EDUs) City of Eureka Allocation 2,162 HCSD Allocation 2,700 Approximate Remaining Capacity 4,862 Population growth projections for the entire area served by the WWTP indicate an increase of 633 Estimated Dwelling Units (EDUs) for the 5-year planning period ending in 2014, and an increase of 1,298 EDUs for the 10-year planning period ending in 2019xxi. These estimates fall within the available capacity of the WWTP. Planned Upgrades The City has planned the following WWTP and collection system upgrades:  Wastewater Collection System Replacement and Maintenance Program Implementation  Wastewater Inflow and Infiltration Reduction Program - A multi-phased, multi-year program for reducing I/I into the wastewater system by implementing capital improvement projects in accordance with program recommendations based on field tests.  Sewer Lift Station and Pump Station Upgrades including a change to VFD pump control  Extended Fuel Storage Facility  Cross-town Interceptor Maintenance  Installation, Replacement, Repair, or Relocation of Storm Drainage Facilities City-wide. Infrastructure Improvements & Planning A number of wastewater system upgrades and improvements have been accomplished over the past 5 years. Notable accomplishments are listed below. 17 Martin Slough Interceptor Project—The Martin Slough Interceptor (MSI) Project is a wastewater collection and conveyance project located within the Martin Slough drainage basin and includes the southern portion of the City of Eureka and adjacent unincorporated County land. Wastewater services within the MSI project area are provided by both the City and HCSD. The MSI project is designed to assure that the newly developed wastewater collection and conveyance project meets future capacity requirements for planned land uses expected to occur within the project area. The project is expected to serve a minimum full buildout of 9,701 EDUs. This will assist the community in meeting land use and housing goals that were planned and approved by the City in its adopted General Plan, and by Humboldt County in the adopted Eureka Community Plan. The MSI project consists of a new interceptor, pump station, and force main that will convey wastewater directly to the Elk River WWTP. The new interceptor system eliminates the need for up to 13 pump stations that currently convey flows around the City before reaching the WWTP. This infrastructure improvement will reduce energy costs, operation and maintenance costs, and odors caused by extended transfer times in the existing conveyance pipelines. The MSI project will also reduce demands on the existing pumping and conveyance facilities in the northern portion of the service area and attenuate potential wet weather overflows in portions of the service area. Gravity collectors will replace the lift stations and tie into the interceptor along its length to the terminus at the Martin Slough Pump Station. Wastewater Facilities Plan—The City initiated a new facilities planning process in early 2006 and has diligently pursued wastewater system planning over the past 7 years. Phase 3 of the planning process is nearing completion and Phase 4 is now underway. The end products of the facilities planning process include the following: NPDES permit renewal; WWTP capacity analysis including identification of existing process constraints and projections of future process upgrades to accommodate population growth; collection system condition assessment and identification of needed upgrades; pumping station assessment; effluent discharge study; and a review of the wastewater treatment and disposal agreement between the City and HCSD. Wastewater Treatment Plant Biosolids Dewatering Facility—The City completed analysis of several biosolids dewatering and disposal options and has selected a dewatering process that allows reduction of the existing biosolids inventory in the facultative sludge lagoons and helps create a disposable product. Wastewater Treatment Plant Standby Emergency Power Generator—The City is currently completing installation of a 100 percent WWTP capacity backup generator that will maintain full functionality of the WWTP processes in the event of power outages. City-Wide Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System (SCADA) System—The city-wide infrastructure SCADA system is currently being revamped. The water system SCADA will be complete in 2013; the wastewater system SCADA will be complete in 2014. Water Water Supply and Demand The City provides water to customers within its jurisdictional boundaries and, in a few rare instances, to customers outside of the city boundary. Potable water is supplied to the City by Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District (HBMWD). The City maintains an 8.0-MGD water right on the Mad River; by agreement, HBMWD can deliver up to 8.0 million gallons per day of water if needed. Any additional water deliveries are part of HBMWD’s water rights. 18 Water delivered by HBMWD is drawn from Ranney wells situated in the bed of the Mad River, northeast of Arcata. The wells draw water from depths of 60 to 90 feet below the riverbed. The drawn water has been classified as high-quality groundwater by the California Department of Public Health. Raw water from the Ranney wells is filtered and chlorinated by HBMWD before it is distributed via a pipeline to the City’s water storage and treatment complex. The water receives additional chlorination, if necessary, and fluoridation before leaving the treatment and storage facility. Current HBMWD facilities and operations include the following:  R.W. Matthews Dam, forming Ruth Reservoir in southern Trinity County  Gosselin hydro-electric power house at Matthews Dam  Diversion, pumping, and control facilities adjacent to the Mad River at Essex  Turbidity reduction, disinfection, and storage facilities  Two separate and distinct pipeline systems which deliver treated drinking water or untreated raw water to the District’s customers Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District serves water to a population of approximately 80,000 people, representing 60 percent of the current Humboldt County population. The District also retails water to approximately 180 customers (located in the West End Road area east of Arcata and the Fairhaven area on the North Spit), delivering on average of approximately 0.426 MGD. The Town of Samoa is also a retail customer. City of Eureka’s average annual daily system demand is 4.0 MGD. The average peak month daily demand is 5.23 MGD. Development under the current General Plan will increase potable water demand, resulting in a net increase in the City’s consumption and a potential need to purchase additional water from HBMWD. The City has additional contractual capacity from HBMWD, and HBMWD has indicated that there is sufficient supply for the level of development forecasted in the General Plan. Infrastructure Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District conveys water to the City of Eureka via the City’s Mad River Pipeline (MRP). Recent replacement of the original pipeline with HDPE pipeline has increased the MRP capacity from approximately 6.5 MGD to about 8.0 MGD. Capacity has the potential to be increased by operating the Ryan Slough Booster Pump Station. The City’s water treatment plant provides chlorination and fluoridation treatment. Water is supplied to two primary pressure zones: the Low Zone and the High Zone. A 24-inch steel main supplies the low zone by gravity, and a 16-inch steel force main supplies the high zone with pumping. The high zone pumping capacity is 2,400 gallons per minute (GPM). The low zone is fed by gravity from the 20-MG reservoir, with an increased capacity flow of up to 6,000 GPM when using two 50-HP vertical turbine pumps and one backup 100-HP pump. The system’s total storage capacity is 22.3 MG, comprised of a 20-MG raw water storage reservoir, a 1-MG ground-level steel tank, a 500,000-gallon ground-level steel tank, a 500,000- gallon elevated steel tank, and a 300,000-gallon clear well. Infrastructure Improvements & Planning A number of water system upgrades and improvements have been accomplished over the past 5 years. Notable accomplishments are listed below.  Mad River Water Pipeline Upgrades—The City is currently completing Phase 4 of the MRP Project with Phase 5 getting underway in October 2013. Over 90 percent of the pipeline 19 will have been replaced upon completion of Phase 5. The final phase (Phase 6) will complete this major upgrade to the City’s water delivery system.  Reservoir Maintenance and Security Program—The west half of the City’s 20-MG water reservoir underwent a structural coating maintenance process that was completed in February 2013. Prior to that, smaller projects were completed: replacement of faulty inlet/outlet valves, inspection of reservoir lining, installation of security fencing and lighting, replacement of pumps and electrical controls system, and installation of an emergency generator. Final repairs and maintenance will consist of structural coating maintenance of the east half of the City’s 20-MG water reservoir and repair of the perimeter access road.  Replacement of the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System—Replacement of the water system SCADA facilities are nearing completion with an expected completion date of February 2014. Infrastructure Needs and Deficiencies The City’s distribution system has normal deficiencies for a system of its age, which includes an aging piping system and low-pressure and fire-flow issues. Planned Upgrades Planned water distribution system improvements within the City include the following:  Repairs and replacement of deteriorated, undersized, and aged mains, valves, and services in accordance with the Water Distribution System Annual Replacement and Maintenance Program  Planned water treatment system improvements  Corrosion control and upkeep of water storage tanks  A new pump station at the Harris and K Streets tank farm  Replacement of fire hydrants that do not meet the City’s current standards for fire flow capacity  Installation of water meters at all City facilities OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS Schools The Eureka City Unified School District (ECUSD) operates four elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools. Table 7 identifies the schools within the ECUSD, as listed by the California Department of Education Local Educational Agency List of Schools. The ECUSD office is located at 3200 Walford Avenue, Eureka. Table 8: The Eureka City Unified School District Elementary Middle High  Alice Birney  Winship  Eureka Senior  Grant  Zane (Catherine L.)  Zoe Barnum (A)*  Lafayette  Washington *(A) Alternative School 20 The Eureka City Unified School District has experienced a steady decline in student enrollment since the 1998-99 academic year, when approximately 5,936 students were enrolled. The District’s 2005-06 academic year student enrollment was approximately 4,725xxii, a decrease of approximately 1,200 students during a seven-year period. During the next seven-year period student enrollment numbers dropped from 4,725 to 3,735 (2012-13 academic year student enrollment), a decrease of approximately 1,000 students. Libraries In 1915 the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors established the County Free Library to serve County residents outside the cities of Eureka, Ferndale, and Arcata. Five branches were established: Blue Lake, Fortuna, Garberville, Trinidad, and Willow Creek. Additional branch libraries were eventually opened in McKinleyville (1916), Rio Dell (1919), and Hoopa (1927). The older libraries in Arcata and Ferndale became affiliated with the County system and in 1972 Eureka’s public library and the Humboldt County Libraries were consolidated into one systemxxiii. Today, the Humboldt County Library, in cooperation with local jurisdictions, serves all County residents through a networked structure of ten branches, a bookmobile, and a central library facility. The Humboldt County Library’s Eureka Branch, the Main Branch, is located at 1313 Third Street, Eureka and is open varying hours from Tuesday through Saturday. The Eureka Branch features an adult reference desk and materials, print collections, audio/visual materials, special displays and community information, and features the Humboldt Room, which houses a unique collection of documents and materials of local significancexxiv. Public Transit Redwood Transit System (RTS) is the public bus system for Humboldt County and is operated by Humboldt Transit Authority (HTA). RTS offers service between Scotia, Fortuna, Loleta, Fields Landing, Eureka, Arcata, McKinleyville, Westhaven, and Trinidad, seven days per week. RTS offers service between Willow Creek and Arcata, Monday through Saturday. RTS provides more than 400,000 passenger-trips per yearxxv. 21 BUDGET The following tables provide a summary of the City’s revenue sources and operating budget for the 2011/12 Actual budget, 2012/13 Estimated Actual, and the 2013/14 Budget. The associated graphs show the 2013-14 Budget. Table 9: Revenue Sources 2013-2014 Source 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 Actual Estimated Budget Actual Taxes 22,351,654 22,700,252 23,144,040 Licenses/Permits/Franchises 1,316,531 1,341,782 1,342,330 Intergovernmental 10,135,163 10,435,654 9,581,205 Charges for Services 20,650,523 21,788,468 23,526,354 Fines & Forfeits 474,188 991,864 622,200 Miscellaneous 3,268,914 8,185,896 14,245,149 Other Financing Sources 28,759,009 11,952,062 14,039,607 Total 86,955,982 77,395,978 86,500,885 Figure 4: Revenue Sources 2013-2014 22 Table 10: Operating Budget 2013-2014 Department 2011/12 2012/13 2012/13 2013/14 Actual Amended Estimated Budget Budget Actual General Government 6,790,891 4,142,188 7,621,863 7,971,819 Parks & Recrations 2,585,171 2,935,540 2,806,295 3,219,620 Public Safety 17,078,794 21,420,513 18,817,236 20,684,567 Public Works 16,446,328 18,052,481 16,900,494 17,765,641 Community Development 1,639,791 2,517,020 1,617,520 3,899,330 Economic Development 665,178 733,890 432,500 863,090 Redevelopment 589,095 0 0 0 Successor Agency 386,030 3,444,299 3,346,986 255,163 Transit 2,120,480 2,165,138 1,893,358 2,299,754 Debt Service 4,056,451 6,526,953 7,132,217 6,191,154 Total* 52,358,209 61,938,022 60,568,469 63,150,138 * Does not include projects or other financing uses Figure 5: Operating Budget 2013-2014 23 MSR DETERMINATIONS Government Code Section 56430(a) In order to prepare and to update spheres of influence in accordance with Section 56425, the Commission shall conduct a service review of the municipal services provided in the county or other appropriate area designated by the Commission. The Commission shall include in the area designated for service review the county, the region, the subregion, or any other geographic area as is appropriate for an analysis of the service or services to be reviewed, and shall prepare a written statement of its determinations with respect to each of the following: 1) Growth and population projections for the affected area Purpose: To evaluate service needs based upon existing and anticipated growth patterns and population projections. According to the Department of Finance (DOF), the total population of Eureka as of January 1, 2013 was 27,021. Using the 2000 and 2010 U.S. Census data, the City of Eureka has an annual population growth rate of 0.4 percent. Based on DOF’s 2013 population estimate for Eureka and the calculated annual growth rate, it is estimated that the 2025 population will reach 28,460. Eureka is at or near full buildout in nearly all accessible areas within the existing City limits. The population within the City limits has remained fairly constant for decades. The majority of development in the Eureka area in recent years has been outside the City limits; the population of this area is nearly equal to that within the City boundaries. Further development is expected to occur in unincorporated neighborhoods. In 2009, after input from local planning representatives and the public, the Humboldt County Association of Governments (HCAOG) adopted a housing needs allocation methodology. On December 17, 2009, HCAOG adopted a Regional Housing Needs Allocation Plan in which 880 new housing units were allocated to the City of Eureka. In 2012, the California Department of Housing and Community Development provided HCAOG with their Regional Housing Need Determination for the Fifth Housing Element Update. The Department determined HCAOG’s regional housing need to be 2,060 units for the 5.5-year projection period of January 1, 2014 through June 30, 2019. At the time of this service review HCAOG staff was preparing county-wide regional allocations. 2) The location and characteristics of any disadvantaged unincorporated communities within or contiguous to the sphere Purpose: To identify communities that lack basic services and that may benefit from being included within the District’s service area in the future. Three CDPs and the City of Eureka have been identified by DWR as disadvantaged unincorporated communities based on median household income: Humboldt Hill CDP, Bayview CDP (which includes the Pine Hill neighborhood), and Myrtletown CDP. In addition, DWR has identified 10 Block Groups within, partially within, or adjacent to the Eureka Sphere of Influence as disadvantaged. 24 As shown in Table 4, each of the identified communities has potential access to critical services. Humboldt Bay Fire provides fire protection service throughout the greater Eureka region. Water and wastewater service is provided by HCSD throughout most of the area within the Sphere of Influence but outside the City boundary. HCSD has not extended both services throughout its entire boundary, however, the District has the authority to do so as such services become necessary. 3) Present and planned capacity of public facilities, adequacy of public services, and infrastructure needs or deficiencies related to sewers, water, and structural fire protection in any disadvantaged unincorporated communities within or contiguous to the sphere Purpose: To evaluate the infrastructure needs and deficiencies in terms of supply, capacity, condition of facilities, and service quality. Wastewater As described in the Wastewater Section above, the WWTP has sufficient capacity to accommodate anticipated population growth for the planning period ending in 2019. Population growth projections for the entire area served by the WWTP indicate an increase of 633 Estimated Dwelling Units (EDUs) for the 5-year planning period ending in 2014, and an increase of 1,298 EDUs for the 10-year planning period ending in 2019. These estimates fall within the available capacity of the WWTP. Beyond the ten-year planning horizon, however, the County estimates that areas within the WWTP service area have a full buildout potential in excess of the current capacity of the WWTP. Full buildout is estimated at 5,677 EDU’s, which exceeds capacity by approximately 815 EDU’s. To accommodate full buildout of the WWTP service area, the plant will require eventual expansion. The current capacity of the plant is approximately 4,862 EDU’s. Capacity enhancements of 15 to 25 percent will be needed to serve the estimated 5,677 EDU’s at full buildout. While the need is not immediately urgent, as the system has capacity for the next ten years of anticipated growth, the eventual need merits ongoing consideration and active planning. The City of Eureka, County of Humboldt, and HCSD are encouraged to continue discussions regarding the timing and intensity of development within the service area. Pre-planning for eventual expansion of the plant is also encouraged to permit the identification of funding sources. Such expansion should also be considered as the City of Eureka addresses operational and physical plant changes necessary to respond to anticipated relative sea level rise in Humboldt Bay. Water The City maintains an 8.0-MGD water right on the Mad River; by agreement, HBMWD can deliver up to 8.0 million gallons per day of water if needed. Any additional water deliveries are part of HBMWD’s water rights. The City of Eureka’s average annual daily system demand is 4.0 MGD. The average peak month daily demand is 5.23 MGD. Development under the General Plan will increase potable water demand, resulting in a net increase in the City’s consumption and a potential need to purchase additional water from HBMWD. The City has additional contractual capacity from HBMWD, and HBMWD has indicated that there is sufficient supply for the level of development forecasted in the General Plan. 25 Fire Protection Humboldt Bay Fire (HBF) is a full-service, all-risk fire department, serving the City of Eureka and Greater Eureka area. HBF responds to approximately 5,500 calls for service each year. HBF will continue to work with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CALFIRE) and the Samoa Fire Protection District who provide fire services to the unincorporated areas of Eureka’s General Plan Planning Area. 4) Financial ability of agencies to provide services Purpose: To evaluate a jurisdiction’s capacity to finance needed improvements and services. As described in the Budget section, above, the budget of the City of Eureka is generally in balance. A sewer rate increase was approved on September 1, 2010, and a water rate increase was approved on February 1, 2012. These increases are expected to provide sufficient and stable funding for those services, subject to periodic review. The City of Eureka intends to continue to pursue grant funding and other outside financing to support municipal services and programs. Ongoing collaboration with neighboring service providers including, but not limited to, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and the County Sheriff for enforcement services, the member agencies of Humboldt Bay Fire, and Humboldt Community Services District continues to be actively pursued. 5) Status of, and opportunities for, shared facilities Purpose: To evaluate the opportunities for a jurisdiction to share facilities and resources to develop more efficient service delivery systems. Law Enforcement The City continues to actively pursue all opportunities to receive additional grant funding and to collaborate with the CHP and the County Sheriff for enforcement purposes. Fire Protection Humboldt Bay Fire (HBF) was founded in 2011 through a Joint Powers Authority consolidating the Humboldt No. 1 Fire Protection District (HFD) and City of Eureka Fire Department (EFD). This has helped to improve service efficiency to the City and Greater Eureka area. Wastewater The City of Eureka continues to cooperate effectively with Humboldt Community Services District (HCSD) to improve their wastewater collection systems, most notably through the jointly financed Martin Slough Interceptor Project. While the Elk River Wastewater Treatment Plant has sufficient capacity to serve the current population of its service area as well as anticipated growth for the next ten years, the two agencies are expected to continue to identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency and to prepare for increasing demand. It is recommended that the City of Eureka and HCSD cooperate to plan for physical and operational responses to anticipated sea level rise affecting Humboldt Bay. Water The City of Eureka continues to cooperate effectively with the Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District and the Humboldt Community Services District to provide water service. The three agencies are expected to continue to work together to address underserved and developing areas. Indianola residents have requested that the City and/or HCSD extend water service to 26 the area. Eureka and HCSD are in active discussions to determine the most efficient means of providing such service. 6) Accountability for community service needs, including governmental structure and operational efficiencies Purpose: To evaluate the internal organizational structure of the jurisdiction and to consider the advantages and disadvantages of various government structures to provide public services. The Eureka City Council holds regular meetings on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month at 5:00 P.M. for closed session, and 6:00 P.M. for open session. All meetings are open to the public, with the exception of the closed session portion. Time is allowed during every council meeting for the public to address the Council. The meetings are held in the Council Chambers on the 2nd floor of the Eureka City Hall at 531 K Street, Eureka. The current Charter City government structure is operating efficiently, and appears to have sufficient governance structure and operational capacity, no change is needed. 7) Any other matter related to effective or efficient service delivery, as required by commission policy As described in the Wastewater Section, the WWTP has sufficient capacity to accommodate anticipated population growth for the planning period ending in 2019. Potential future growth within the City’s existing SOI has the potential to exceed the WWTP’s capacity. The Humboldt Hill Urban Study Area (USA) area, within the City’s SOI, has development potential. Most of the Humboldt Hill area is within the boundaries or Sphere of Influence (SOI) of the Humboldt Community Services District (HCSD). In 2005 the County estimated that there were 1,791 housing units within the Humboldt Hill areaxxvi. At that time the Humboldt Hill area was projected to have a total buildout potential, taking into account physical and zoning constraints, of 3,861 units. The Freshwater Water study area (WSA), which includes the Mitchell Heights and Redmond Road areas, is mostly within the HCSD boundary or SOI. The area was originally served by private, individual wells and several private water companies. In 1992, at the request of local residents, HCSD formed the Freshwater Assessment District to provide residents with water service. HCSD does not provide wastewater services. The Mitchell Heights area is also located within the City’s SOI. The Freshwater WSA has both underdeveloped and vacant parcels that could be further developed. In 2005 the County estimated that there were 803 housing units within the Freshwater WSAxxvii. The area was projected to have a total buildout potential, taking into account physical and zoning constraints, of 1,138 units. The Indianola WSA area, within the City’s SOI, contains mostly underdeveloped parcels with some vacant parcels that could see future development. Within the Humboldt County General Plan, much of the land surrounding the Indianola area is designated as Agriculture Exclusive (AE), which consists of prime agricultural land, and Agriculture Suburban (AS), which consists of prime agricultural land that is adjacent to urban areas or rural community centers and may eventually require urban services. In 2005 the County estimated that there were 516 housing units within the Indianola WSA; the area was projected to have a total buildout potential of 678 unitsxxviii. 27 Table 11: Sphere of Influence Projected Growth Capabilities Sphere of Influence Existing: Future: Projected Buildout: (SOI) Area Estimated Dwelling Estimated Dwelling Estimated Dwelling Units (EDUs) Units (EDUs) Units (EDUs) Humboldt Hill USA 1,791 2,070 3,861 Freshwater WSA 803 335 1,138 Indianola WSA 516 162 678 Total EDUs 3,110 2,567 5,677 The City currently provides water service to portions of the Indianola service area, but not wastewater service. Residents of the area have expressed that private wells provide poor water quality and have requested that the City and/or HCSD extend water service to the area. The Indianola area is outside of the Urban Limit Line (ULL) established by the Humboldt Bay Area Plan (HBAP). The HBAP generally prohibits the extension of municipal sewer or water service to parcels outside the ULL. This limitation would need to be addressed prior to the extension of water service by either agency. The Indianola area is also outside of the boundaries of the City and HCSD; as such, the serving agency would be required to annex the territory or make findings pursuant to California Government Code Section 56133 and local LAFCO policy to demonstrate that the service is necessary to address a risk to public health and safety. Any future provision of water service to the Indianola area will require LAFCo’s analysis of at minimum, the City’s and HCSD’s infrastructure present, governmental and financial capacity, and boundary/SOI relation to the proposed service area(s). The analysis will work to determine which jurisdiction is capable of providing water service in the most efficient means possible. The agencies are encouraged to work together to establish a mutually beneficial service plan for the Indianola area. If such service is to be provided, LAFCO may consider conditions of approval or other limitations to encourage orderly growth and preserve open space and prime agricultural land. SOI STATUS - CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS The City of Eureka Sphere of Influence was last updated in 1984. As currently configured, the Sphere of Influence includes portions of Indianola, Myrtletown, Mitchell Heights, Cutten, Ridgewood, Pine Hill, Humboldt Hill, King Salmon, and Fields Landing. Each of these neighborhoods on the periphery of the City exhibits unique characteristics of service needs, development potential, and community cohesion. Any changes to the City’s Sphere of Influence should reflect established communities and should focus on the need for additional municipal services. With the exception of Indianola, the City’s entire Sphere of Influence is within the boundary of HCSD which provides sewer and/or water services to existing development. Unless the City and HCSD reach an alternative agreement, LAFCO anticipates that HCSD will continue to serve those areas within its boundaries. 28 REFERENCES i League of California Cities. Charter Cities: A Quick Summary for the Press and Researchers. http://www.cacities.org. Accessed on April 6, 2009. Last Updated May 9, 2007. ii "City of Eureka Website - Mayor & City Council." City of Eureka Website - Homepage. 1 Oct. 2009 <http://www.ci.eureka.ca.gov/council/default.asp>. iii Humboldt County Association of Governments. Humboldt County Housing Needs Methodology. http://hcaog.net/docs/RHNA/Adoptedmethodogy9_24_09.pdf. Accessed on April 1, 2013. iv California Department of Housing and Community Development Regional Housing Need Determination for the Fifth Housing Element Update. June 30, 2012. http://www.hcaog.net/sites/default/files/hcd_letter.pdf. Accessed on October 7, 2013. v California Department of Water Resources Disadvantaged Communities (DAC) Mapping Tool. http://www.water.ca.gov/irwm/grants/resourceslinks.cfm. Accessed on October 11, 2013. vi "Five-Year Capital Improvement Program FY 2013/14 to 2017/18." City of Eureka. 13 January 2013 < http://www.ci.eureka.ca.gov/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=8742>. vii "Humboldt County Sheriff's Office : .Humboldt County Homepage - Humboldt County, California. 1 Oct. 2009 <http://co.humboldt.ca.us/sheriff/operations/>. viii "Welcome to the City of Eureka, California - Police Department." Eureka, California's Community Site - Supporting The Chamber of Commerce, Humboldt State University, and Local Businesses on the North Coast of Northern California - A Northcoast Web. 1 Oct. 2009 <http://www.eurekawebs.com/CityHall/police.htm>. ix Hamblin, Kevin R.. "Eureka City Planning Commission Staff Report." Sequoia Humane Society. 11 May 2009. 1 Sep. 2009 <http://www.sequoiahumane.org/Eureka%20City%20Planning%20Commission%20Staff% 20Report%20Dog%20Park%201.pdf>. x"Public Works Department." City of Eureka. 1 Sep. 2009 <http://ci.eureka.ca.gov/depts/pw/default.asp>. xi ESA. "Marina Center Mixed Use Development Project Draft Environmental Impact Report." City of Eureka. 1 Sep. 2009 <http://www.ci.eureka.ca.gov/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=5035>. xii ibid. xiii ibid. xiv "City of Eureka Website - Stormwater Division." City of Eureka Website - Homepage. 2 Oct. 2009 <http://www.ci.eureka.ca.gov/depts/pw/stormwater.asp>. xv ibid. 29 xvi Winzler and Kelly Consulting Engineers. "City of Eureka Phase II NPDES Storm Water Management Plan." City of Eureka. 1 Sep. 2009 <http://www.ci.eureka.ca.gov/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=3023>. xvii ibid. xviii ibid. xix Gierlich, Kurt. City of Eureka Engineering Department - City Comments on Draft City of Eureka MSR. January 12, 2010. xx Knight, Mike. Correspondence from the City of Eureka's Assistant Manager to the California Regional Water Quality Control Board. Eureka: City of Eureka, 2008. xxi Hamblin, Kevin. Correspondence from the City of Eureka’s Community Development Department to the Humboldt County Community Development Department. Eureka. City of Eureka, January 14, 2008. xxii Topolewski, Riley. City of Eureka Planning Department - Correspondence with the school district representative. September 4, 2013. xxiii "Welcome to the Humboldt County Library!." Humboldt County Homepage - Humboldt County, California. 6 Oct. 2013 <http://co.humboldt.ca.us/library/usingLibrary/welcome.asp>. xxiv ibid. xxv Redwood Transit System. http://www.redwoodtransit.org/. Accessed on October 8, 2013. xxvi Winzler and Kelly Consulting Engineers. “Community Infrastructure & Services Technical Report.” County of Humboldt Community Development Services Department. July 2008 https://co.humboldt.ca.us/gpu/docs/prelimhearingdraft/group7c/technical%20report/ comm_inf_serv_tech_report.pdf. xxvii ibid. xxviii ibid. 30