Crescent City council authorizes letter of support for dredged‑sediment reuse pilot
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Summary
The council authorized a nonbinding letter of support for a multi‑port GoBiz grant application, backing a pilot to study beneficial reuse of Crescent City Harbor dredgings; the vote passed 4–1 after public questions about testing, permits and grant management fees.
The Crescent City Council on Jan. 7 authorized Mayor Wright to sign a letter of support for a Regional Investment Initiative grant application being submitted by True North Organizing Network on behalf of the Crescent City Harbor District.
City staff and Michael Barr of Community System Solutions described the application as a multi‑port proposal to the state (GoBiz) seeking up to $20 million across several projects. Barr said Crescent City’s beneficial‑reuse pilot request would be about $500,000. He described an initial permitting and testing phase estimated at $250,000, and a separate estimated $2,250,000 line item for dredging a small area and placing material on a beach as part of the study to evaluate environmental impacts and permit feasibility.
"We're applying for $20,000,000 across four projects… for beneficial reuse being one of those projects," Barr said. He added that True North would manage the grant submission and that its fee was capped at 10 percent of any award for grant management and accounting.
Council members asked for additional detail about how funds would be allocated, the expected local share if the state awards funding, what studies and tests would be performed, and whether the permit process (including the Coastal Commission and regional water board) is likely to permit beach application in Northern California. Barr said the pilot would include testing of sediments (multiple samples over time) and that about 10,000 cubic yards — not a small bucket test — would be needed to create a study area large enough to evaluate impacts.
Public commenters with harbor experience said sediment disposal is a chronic, costly problem for harbor operations and that a successful pilot could provide a practicable disposal path. Several commenters expressed concern about the narrow time window for council consideration and asked for more specific written information before action.
Council debated whether to reagendize for more information; a motion to delay failed for lack of a second. The council then voted to authorize the mayor to sign a nonbinding letter of support for the regional grant application; roll call recorded four votes in favor and one vote against.
The letter of support does not obligate the city to provide funding; it endorses the harbor district’s participation in a regional application and allows Crescent City to remain a participating partner if the state invites applications to proceed.