Andres Camarena told the Eureka City Council on Sept. 22 he would like to buy a small 0.01-acre strip of city-owned land between his two parcels at Church Street and Deprezin Street. The council confirmed the city’s records and a Ludlow Engineering survey show the parcel is 527 square feet.

City attorney Brad said state code requires the city to follow surplus/ disposition procedures when disposing of municipal property unless a specific exception applies. Council members discussed whether the parcel qualifies as previously classified railroad property (which uses a different pricing rule) and noted the city must provide the legal description, square footage and a public hearing notice before completing a sale.

Andres Camarena said the strip was donated to the city by family members after an owner’s death and that the narrow parcel would be awkward to retain. The council and staff agreed the property does not appear to provide access or public benefit and asked staff to determine fair-market value and whether the city ordinance allows avoiding a public hearing for small parcels. Patricia (city staff) will work with the recorder’s office and Ludlow Engineering to ensure the legal description and square footage are complete; Brad said staff would check the municipal ordinance and state law and return to the council with a recommended process.

Council members asked staff to confirm whether the public-noticing and hearing expenses could exceed proceeds from a sale of this size and to proceed only if the sale is cost-effective or an ordinance exception applies. The council did not vote on disposition at the meeting but directed staff to prepare a path forward and to notify Mr. Camarena.