PORT/RAIL NEWS #75
Every organization has a responsibility to periodically evaluate its “Reason d’être”. This is an important piece of housekeeping if an organization is to try to remain relevant and true to the community that it hopes to serve. This month I want to review our MISSION STATEMENT which, we originally approved in 1989 and last reviewed a couple of years ago.
The Mission of Citizens for Port Development is:
1. To assist in the cooperative development and revitalization of port facilities on Humboldt Bay, to provide both a clearinghouse for
resources and information and a forum for dialogue, and to aggressively
pursue the creation of more jobs on the North Coast.
2. To seek to optimize opportunities for economic diversification through the construction of modern port facilities on Humboldt Bay capable of off-loading as well as on-loading cargo, thereby opening the channels of commerce for importing goods as well as exporting forest products and other items.
3. To promote, protect, defend and enhance the existing economic and beneficial uses of the Bay including the export of forest products, commercial and sport fisheries, aquaculture, tourism and wildlife.
4. To take a positive approach through public discourse to facilitate the efforts of public agencies and private entities to achieve productive results while preserving the unique beneficial character and quality of Humboldt Bay.
5. To stress the urgent need for action by our elected officials and others to help diversify our local economy in order to offset a declining number of jobs in the timber industry.
6. To encourage public education and discussion regarding the existing facts about Humboldt Bay and the potential our Bay holds for the betterment of our community.
Mission Statement update concepts to consider: Some of the concepts that we may want to ask when re-examining our Mission Statement are:
Do we still support this? I’d like to spend a few minutes on it this month if time allows, because I feel that predominantly the Statement is still valid. I think that we all want Good Sustainable JOBS, and to help retain more of our existing local companies and to help keep them competitive. A concept that we may want to include in our Statement is that of a ‘green port’. We also may want to broaden the concept our port’s commerce from that of just extraction and forest products to something more contemporary.
Also up for consideration might be the concepts fostered by RAPIT that include the beneficial efforts of our unions, Timber Heritage Assoc., NCRA and the RR Operator John Williams. Mr. Williams conveyed his vision to create a Humboldt Short Line Railroad from South Fork around the Bay to Samoa, for shipping and tourism with inclusion of a trail where practical. Consider strengthening our support for the Railroad and the concept of a “Humboldt Green Port”.
Important upcoming events:
Timber Heritage Association (THA): The THA is planning for the annual Dinner and Auction – Scheduled for Sat. May 2 at the Fortuna River Lodge. The theme for this years Dinner and Auction is: “Tall Trees and Timber Towns” is. This Fortuna River Lodge event is always a super fun evening, and lots of interesting rail memorabilia, and auction items. If you haven’t attended before, plan to do so. We will need everyone’s help to get auction items and sell tickets. They always garner really interesting items for the Auctions…..such as Rex Bohn!!!!! The goal is to create a Timber Heritage Museum over at Samoa below the Samoa Cookhouse using the historic 116-year-old Samoa Shops and Roundhouse. THA volunteers work most Saturdays towards this effort. For more info contact Mike Kellogg at 443-2957, kellogg1807@att.net or go to: http://www.timberheritage.org/ . Mike will be at CPD with more news.
HARBOR DISTRICT: David Hull: Dave was in Washington DC this week at the Annual Golden State Conference. David has returned to his day job and is spearheading his District duties that are currently are focused on next years budjet. While in DC David had some good supportive meetings with our elected folks. Dave offered convey at CPD details from the DC trip.
CalTrans Deputy Directive #64: As it applies to the Trail around the Bay and the concepts envisioned by Green Wheels and others.
Kim Floyd and Charlie Fielder: CPD May 6 meeting will have on our agenda the Cal Trans- Eureka-Arcata ‘Safety’ Corridor project. What and when comes next? I also plan to call Chris and Aaron and invite them to that meeting; they are welcome at any of our meetings for that matter. *** DD #64 says a lot ***. Just found out that Aaron is permanently living and working on transportation issues in Portland. We wish him well.
MARINA CENTER Update: Discussion with Randy Gans, Security National.
Draft EIR 60 day comment period is now over and comments are being compiled. They received over 200 and the FEIR is scheduled to be out in June or July. I have tentatively scheduled with Randy for him to come to our July 1 Meeting.
Support for the Return on Rail Service: Kaye as Chair of the CPD sent a support letter to the NCRA for their December 10, 2009 Board meeting. This letter conveyed the CPD/R’s Continued Support for the
Railroad. A copy of the text of Kaye’s letter can be found below following this month CPD Agenda.
CPD Agenda Online. Thanks to Larry LaBranche, we can now see our CPD News Letters on line. View then at: http://www.humboldtgreenport.com .
Lots of other good information available there as well, including Moss Bittner’s Video of his hikes along the Eel Canyon, and the forum put on by RAPIT at the Eureka Wharfinger Building last Aug. 20 that presented fair and balanced reasons why we need the railroad and the port improvements. The views presented by Moss convey a much truer picture of the state of the rail than are available in other publications.
Thanks to: Eleanor Berg and Barbara Kelly for going to NCRA in my place when they were here in Eureka in January. And as long as I’m saying Thank You….Thank you To Pete and Leroy for sending out these e-mails and post cards for me.
RAPIT NEWS: Updates from Bill Bertain on Wednesday.
Charles & Carol Ollivier’s Photography Show: Last but certainly not least Charles & Carol Olivier’s Photography Show will be at McKinleyville Ramone’s till April 17. Go see their many beautiful Rhodi pictures.
That’s about all I have for this time, hope to see many of you this Wednesday (April Fool’s Day).
Come and join us – Hope to see you there………….
As is said in the media says, that’s thirty for today.
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Public Always welcome – bring a friend – no host lunch
Kaye Strickland
kstricklan@humboldt1.com
707-443-6105
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CPD 12/2009 Support Letter for the NCRA
Board of Directors
NORTH COAST RAILROAD AUTHORITY
Once again this is to reiterate the continued enthusiastic support of all
of us in Citizens for Port/Rail Development. This will be short and sweet, but I think they have to be said as often as necessary.
* We must continue our effort to bring this railroad back, all the way
thru the Eel Canyon, to Humboldt Bay and around to Samoa.
* You have countless supporters up here that are very anxious to be able
to travel by rail again after all this time.
* We have many businesses up here that need the rail service, and we
don’t want to lose any of them.
* We will also support your effort requesting Congressman Mike Thompson
to do all he can to help with the ‘Economic Stimulus’ legislation, and
thank him again for all he has done in the past to help with rail funding
and assistance.
* Restoration of our rail service is good for the environment. For better use of energy, for our economy (jobs), for our hoped for ‘green port’, and to remove unnecessary wear and congestion on our one and only Highway 101.
Thanks for this opportunity to add comments to your meeting record. I
hope that the next time you come to Eureka, I will be able to get there in person.
From, Kaye Strickland Chair CPD/R
