[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6303417,"mediaKeyId","2472760-e485073667af718c14130b16f6849771","parentId",2472760,"title","Eureka Police report: staffing progress, mental‑health diversions up, and inventory of 'military equipment' and camera systems","audioSeconds",225,"startMs",9559020,"endMs",9784490,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2472760-e485073667af718c14130b16f6849771&start=9559&end=9784","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2472760-e485073667af718c14130b16f6849771/thumbnail_9559020.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6303417/Eureka/Humboldt-County/California/Eureka-Police-report-staffing-progress-mentalhealth-diversions-up-and-inventory-of-military-equipment-and-camera-systems","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6303417-bec45b977020bfefa64d573d7daf7d8c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770438003&Signature=hWSPNKcuK2~Odxyuq1f~WWP3I6s8VqSHmiKA7xML8zGYfk2stjAzLKdrucTV-EISaq8KxtrnEjfDBRrm2SMT7bS8mAAPrFpt6qfv2U1tYi2kNWQGnE3plrheCN4mAbWsp6IK6lX4E7ILsW1mjZ5oH6US~bzBXqRmK03e7ULDYxLx4qcHbSq2RM9pMoulzX~GVI~eon9msm85WEF1LtFSlS84QRtDHg7fBTRJ87qMhh-iULe7HetMiFCCqBvUiteNdxm8Ke4NLlZEfiwkDVlb1pRSA0hckOUcPRrbsrz~NHVmZVV8tGXy5JBlWHg4jdZ2xJ2ycmpWN~4ZFekjzuAdZw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Access Humboldt","date","2025-02-18T00:00:00Z","article","Eureka Police Chief Stevens presented the department’s 2024 annual report to the City Council on Tuesday, reporting recruitment gains, a high diversion rate by the community safety team for mental‑health calls, and a summary of reportable equipment under California’s military‑equipment reporting requirements.

Staffing and operations: Stevens said patrol and dispatch remained short by three positions but that other units were fully staffed and recruitment had improved. He credited the department’s crisis‑response programs and a community safety engagement team (CSET) for handling large shares of mental‑health contacts and for keeping most cases out of involuntary psychiatric holds. Stevens said CSET referred dozens of people to services and that the overall diversion rate for CSET cases was near 98 percent.

Metrics and investigations: In 2024 officers logged about 57,800 calls for service and filed roughly 5,300 police reports; detectives worked more than 160 investigations including violent crimes and suspicious deaths. Animal control and community service officers handled nearly 4,000 incidents, the department said.

Inventory and equipment reporting: Chief Stevens reviewed equipment that must be disclosed under state law and the department policy (including semiautomatic 5.56 patrol rifles, pepper‑ball launchers and less‑lethal shotguns with beanbag rounds). Stevens told council the department currently has 38 patrol rifles (typical service life ~15 years), seven pepper‑ball launchers, and 14 less‑lethal shotguns; he said no rifles or less‑lethal projectiles were discharged by EPD officers in 2024 and pepper‑ball munitions were not deployed in 2024, although the equipment was taken to incidents. Annual training and munitions purchases were summarized: roughly $1,300 for range fees and an ammunition purchase on the order of $1,500 in 2024, with a larger ammunition order forecast for 2025 to maintain training stockpiles. Stevens said the rifles are standard issued and fall under an exemption in the government code but were reported in the interest of transparency.

Mobile cameras and LockCop trailers: Stevens summarized the city’s contract with LiveView Technologies for mobile surveillance trailers (LockCop). Four mobile trailers and one stationary camera were in use at locations that included Dyess Park, Carson Park and the City Hall parking lot; staff said the system is not continuously monitored by EPD and that the department requests footage from the vendor on a case‑by‑case basis. The city manager confirmed the contract cost runs about $8,000 per month for the five units combined. Stevens described the devices as a deterrent where deployed and recounted reduced vandalism at two city sites after unit placement.

Regional teams and transparency: Stevens said EPD contributes personnel to the regional SWAT and CNT negotiator teams under an MOU with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office; council asked staff to provide a copy of the MOU and other related documents to the council. Stevens also said the department received 18 external complaints in 2024 — a small fraction of the roughly 173,000 documented contacts — and that the independent police auditor reviewed complaint investigations.

What’s next: Stevens described ongoing recruitment and training, updated property‑and‑evidence storage improvements, expansion of school and community outreach, and planned grant applications for traffic and enforcement grants.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Eureka City Council Meeting of 2025-02-18","oneSentenceSummary","Chief Stevens presented the department’s 2024 annual report, citing staffing gains, a high diversion rate from involuntary holds for the crisis team, inventory counts for patrol rifles and less‑lethal equipment, and use of mobile surveillance trailers. Council requested copies of the regional SWAT MOU and other documentation.","taxTitle","Eureka, Humboldt County, California","taxId",61737,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6303423,"Crowd urges alternatives to camping bans as council forms 2‑by‑2 to study emergency shelter guidelines",7359,2215695,9575320,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2472760-e485073667af718c14130b16f6849771&start=2215&end=9575","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2472760-e485073667af718c14130b16f6849771/thumbnail_2215695.jpg","/articles/6303423/Eureka/Humboldt-County/California/Crowd-urges-alternatives-to-camping-bans-as-council-forms-2by2-to-study-emergency-shelter-guidelines","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6303423-f16a1f6b43a44cf184e78c60063cc758/orig.mp4?Expires=1770438003&Signature=ZWPwNtClvdcEg-pnysVCKo4nn2APk3ev5B7LFDcEmI3OloylhrYp0TKWrvwytJDzBg4-G6znHS3K2mpOa~btXb-~k~N0r~qFsJ-DRMpyKwWFqiBQq0dSVmSicnlf3YcpcRQbSBmgctbtYPX-OxM8ZnlSNSY~RNWG~0PQne3iEd9XcXUNaH-JqrKhRh4glAgei2993HUJ1kAMLSC9uyJvmSlXpxxLjfRKKkq6EPtfHtS16NeM3x8~DXXvSffcFAR-Xl7RxvK3UjIkiZiPgRz~U85PePct53zJj6sTVx7FRjT5c4eIRi4rONjtH5Dzcv88r16WTuuuiPKi0Dl9jrc5eg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A lengthy public comment period at the Eureka City Council meeting focused on homelessness policy, with many speakers urging the council not to criminalize camping and asking for expanded shelter and housing options.

Commenters described repeated confiscation of personal property, aggressive enforcement during bad weather, and lengthy waits for behavioral health and housing services. Speakers urged the council to pursue humane responses, to hold accountable organizations that manage program funds, and to develop locally administered, staffed encampments or campground‑style sites rather than enforcement.

After public comment, the council approved forming a working group of two councilmembers to meet monthly with staff — the city manager, police chief, building official and development services director — to develop guidelines for authorized emergency shelter opportunities, including campsites and other alternatives. Council Member Castellano moved to appoint Council Members Contreras Deloshe and Fernandez; the motion carried on a 5‑0 vote.

Why it matters: Speakers said enforcement (towing, confiscation of tents, removal of belongings) has left unhoused residents without shelter or basic items in winter storms; others urged city leadership to coordinate regionally and to create low‑barrier sanctioned camping or shelter options. Councilmembers described the work group as an early, collaborative step to explore feasible, administrated emergency shelter models and to improve coordination with county and nonprofit partners.

Next steps: The council directed the two‑member group to meet monthly with staff to develop operational guidelines and return recommendations to the full council; staff will report back on potential sites, operations and coordination with the county and service providers.","Dozens of public commenters urged the City Council to reject criminalizing public camping and called for humanitarian sheltering options. Council appointed Council members Contreras Deloshe and Fernandez to a two‑member working group to craft guidelines for authorized emergency shelter opportunities.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6303428,"City funds artist‑led graffiti abatement pilot on Eureka thoroughfares; program removed over 1,400 tags since August 2023",253,237620,491014,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2472760-e485073667af718c14130b16f6849771&start=237&end=491","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2472760-e485073667af718c14130b16f6849771/thumbnail_237620.jpg","/articles/6303428/Eureka/Humboldt-County/California/City-funds-artistled-graffiti-abatement-pilot-on-Eureka-thoroughfares-program-removed-over-1400-tags-since-August-2023","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6303428-0cb695b166db25ed1a0818f3db3ce54d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770438003&Signature=lj6l6w0DFCnqUnJO6-qbQsRD-D1394fVXVfWPmDSkRQZc63JH67~o6eBRAjb7Y4AbdWEUslPMCBb4owkmNllLSADXfFsa5qd97MLQoKTcRjC-UcHBYi1LhbBVnr8u1Xur4Ho02~KkioOrlO-O~AKGhSZwf35nR4qCFCKdh9s1icX3cFbCwatyCQBg0-4cQ~H2T385bM9CgzzWMx5NmDy8YhweSurF62XfnI2Lk-3EXi8CGWh3phauIl2gtvdE74TdlJC829UQkRz8AQPeU3wXOlSUnEssZ7Cx8DcqkHAh~zwmUj94vCasecsQ02MnM~iEr5XoczuOSJsG2dAZJEzXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Code enforcement staff told the Eureka City Council about an artist‑led graffiti abatement pilot that has removed more than 1,400 graffiti pieces from main thoroughfares since August 2023 and is funded through the Eureka Lodging Alliance (ELA).

Morgan, the city’s code enforcement manager, said the program partners with local artist Ben Gulart for color‑matched restoration — a practice intended to preserve murals and public art while removing profane or racist vandalism. “We got funding from the Eureka Lodging Alliance … and we partnered with our local artist Ben Gulart in assisting with color matching so that we didn't have a bunch of blocked out different colors over the graffiti,” Morgan said.

Morgan said the ELA‑funded team focuses on Broadway and Fourth and Fifth streets; code enforcement handles other properties but sometimes logs graffiti as part of broader “public nuisance” cases, which makes it harder to compile a single citywide tally. The city created an interactive graffiti dashboard for reporting and case tracking, and Morgan encouraged residents to report graffiti via codeenforcement@EurekaCA.gov or the city's request‑tracker webform.

Councilmembers and the mayor praised the program’s use of local artists and quick response. Council member Castellano noted visible improvements and commended the program for employing local artists. Morgan said the program received additional ELA funding for the coming year and staff hope to expand it beyond main thoroughfares if new funding is secured.","Eureka’s code enforcement program, funded by the Eureka Lodging Alliance, uses an artist partner for color‑matched restorations along Broadway and other main streets and seeks expanded funding to cover more citywide areas.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6303433,"County emergency manager urges planning after near‑source tsunami response; March 26 community drill set",700,643009,1343865,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2472760-e485073667af718c14130b16f6849771&start=643&end=1343","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2472760-e485073667af718c14130b16f6849771/thumbnail_643009.jpg","/articles/6303433/Eureka/Humboldt-County/California/County-emergency-manager-urges-planning-after-nearsource-tsunami-response-March-26-community-drill-set","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6303433-efa259fc47d74728b79cc5932e7551f4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770438003&Signature=nXGLC02nQVPsFa-zcIw-SOMFnelv3six6FysfCLmp3XYb-666GbWKEXmigRpqKcl6C-EZjOpwyOixp~xwYdHMnKCs-XshZjHBZHU5QMW3mjSVvfyrRPGv1nIIU~1iPz~ArtRGxQuk-WLggv0-331ojdfM-Pq7XKDYpwYcAlLsmVpYL4a~-PrCVMzcsqjE0yUyj06BWd8MFs9gKgfVAG16K3iUHExyn1YN-Y9M8rim7PbqpKe9TiL40XeaXvvwdmE~oRNQujmdDNxpgB9pjCY0hlwbAtJZ7gZ5WuhhqBATQ1kLQ4RT1R0l6aF7p0~xEPJSWX2GHA7sxaERwXifhY70Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Humboldt County emergency officials briefed the Eureka City Council on after‑action findings from the Dec. 5 near‑source earthquake and tsunami warning, and announced a first‑ever communitywide tsunami drill for March 26 to test evacuations to high ground.

Ryan Derby, Humboldt County emergency manager, told the council that a near‑source tsunami can bring hazardous waves to the North Coast within 10–15 minutes after shaking. “In those situations, the earthquake itself is the warning,” Derby said, explaining that there is little time to rely on sirens or smartphone alerts to prompt evacuations.

Derby said multiple agencies issued alerts during the Dec. 5 event, including an automated tsunami warning from the National Tsunami Warning Center (delivered via Wireless Emergency Alerts). He and other presenters noted that Wireless Emergency Alerts currently send messages only in English; the county is planning geotargeted, simultaneous English‑and‑Spanish follow‑ups to meet the requirements of Assembly Bill 1638, which requires multilingual emergency information when a jurisdiction’s non‑English population meets certain thresholds.

County and city officials described strengths — early public alerting, school evacuation practice in some small coastal communities, and successful staffing of bilingual call‑centers during the incident review — and areas for improvement. Officials said one problem during the event was that the California Geological Survey’s tsunami hazard website briefly crashed under high traffic, hampering public access to hazard maps.

Derby and Humboldt Bay Fire Chief Citro urged household planning and education that, in a near‑source event, people in inundation zones should evacuate on foot to nearby high ground rather than wait for official notice or drive. Citro said that in Old Town Eureka reaching a safe block of Broadway can be a two‑to‑three‑block walk and recommended clearly posted, designated collection points for evacuees.

Council questions focused on whether WEA alerts could be sent in other languages and on geofencing. Derby said federal WEA rules limit polygon complexity and language options; the county’s plan is to issue parallel local or geotargeted alerts in Spanish where warranted while creating outreach to help residents find inundation maps and practice routes.

A communitywide tsunami drill sponsored by the Redwood Coast Tsunami Work Group — covering Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte counties — is scheduled for 11 a.m. on March 26, Derby said. The drill will be used to test walking evacuations, public messaging, and designated gathering sites in small coastal communities.","Humboldt County’s emergency office presented findings from a December 5 near‑source earthquake and tsunami warning, highlighting the need for household planning, multilingual alerts under Assembly Bill 1638, and a countywide tsunami drill on March 26.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6303437,"Eureka council delays vote on midyear fee changes after heated public hearing over sewer lateral charges",4258,4338009,8596796,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2472760-e485073667af718c14130b16f6849771&start=4338&end=8596","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2472760-e485073667af718c14130b16f6849771/thumbnail_4338009.jpg","/articles/6303437/Eureka/Humboldt-County/California/Eureka-council-delays-vote-on-midyear-fee-changes-after-heated-public-hearing-over-sewer-lateral-charges","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6303437-4b1446aff432d139cc7eb99edc71eaa9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770438003&Signature=Ja5xFFE-umffl-YMACNRJtirNdVHfWfd0YGR4S1jZgO6jBrJxmOPOqrZkUpJNlea6C3UXryXk3R4cYM~BRp~Yj998367DK4xH2ZaETRcv1im3vwPPcf2DxbhxBp7bu8m8kJeA8mt1UfgD6RWF7YIsLT9OnkXovO91ZVzLDb~Q4dklijGESLPPei0~aGrIzFgBA69KTIryZ3Z4ErnwtJpLxe72rPQJL5Ojh14HXnFqQZD~JDxcx3qUbXv799p7UmAWU~aj1BtK-qSq5YdYm8JWV31O3xXQCtYQ-g0hznwYiS5f0j8bOCkiL76bEZHYpQ1Zf45qEs5Dbe0Rll~3BZg3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Eureka City Council on Tuesday postponed consideration of midyear changes to the city’s fee schedule, including higher fee-in-lieu charges for deeper sewer lateral replacements and a discretionary “nonstandard” cost estimate, after an extended public hearing and broad public opposition.

The council voted to continue the item to its March 4 meeting. The motion to postpone carried on a 5-0 roll call vote; staff and council said the delay will allow them to return with clearer definitions of discretionary estimates and additional documentation.

Why it matters: The proposal would raise the standard fee-in-lieu for deeper lower lateral replacements from $8,000 to $12,600 in some cases and leave in place an option for the city engineer to require a property-specific time-and-materials estimate for complex connections. Realtors and homeowners told the council the proposals create uncertainty that can scuttle real-estate transactions, particularly for older houses and for elderly sellers who lack liquid equity.

What council heard: About two dozen speakers, many representing the Humboldt Association of Realtors or local brokerages, described cases where sellers faced large, unexpected estimates — one cited in public comment was $30,000 — and asked for caps, greater transparency and accounting of money already collected under the fee-in-lieu program. Several speakers asked the city for a public ledger showing how much the fee-in-lieu account has collected and how funds were spent.

Staff explanation: Finance Director Millar and City Manager Miles Slattery explained the changes as responses to operational experience under the sewer lateral point-of-sale ordinance. Millar said the city has operated a program that bids lateral replacement work annually and historically set an $8,000 flat allowance for the lower lateral. Experience, staff said, shows a subset of “deeper” lower laterals require additional shoring (OSHA rules apply below five feet) and cost materially more; separating shallow from deep laterals keeps the flat $8,000 rate from being pushed higher for all homeowners. Slattery said the city currently subsidizes the program by roughly 20 percent and that people already in the replacement queue would not be charged retroactively.

Open questions and next steps: Councilmembers and several speakers pressed for a cap on discretionary engineer estimates and for clearer administrative timelines (for example, how quickly the city would review submitted CCTV footage). City staff said they will return with clarified language about the “nonstandard” engineer estimate process, requested documentation about past fee-in-lieu collections and expenditures, and options for better notice to sellers. The hearing also generated repeated questions about whether the program could be funded via utility rates rather than point-of-sale charges; staff said that would require a separate rate-setting process and community discussion.

Votes at a glance: The council postponed action on the FY24–25 fee schedule midyear update, including the sewer lateral changes, to March 4, 2025. The motion carried 5-0.","Hundreds of realtors, homeowners and small-business owners urged the City Council to delay proposed increases and clarify a discretionary ‘nonstandard’ cost estimate tied to sewer lateral work. Council postponed action to March 4 by a 5-0 vote.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Eureka Police report: staffing progress, mental‑health diversions up, and inventory of 'military equipment' and camera systems

Crowd urges alternatives to camping bans as council forms 2‑by‑2 to study emergency shelter guidelines

City funds artist‑led graffiti abatement pilot on Eureka thoroughfares; program removed over 1,400 tags since August 2023

County emergency manager urges planning after near‑source tsunami response; March 26 community drill set

Eureka council delays vote on midyear fee changes after heated public hearing over sewer lateral charges