EUREKA REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY

Eureka finds builder for long-awaited Fisherman's Terminal

Donna Tam/The Times-Standard

Posted: 12/14/2009 01:24:13 AM PST

The Eureka City Council may approve a construction company for the Fisherman's Terminal Building Tuesday, bringing the long-awaited waterfront revitalization anchor one step closer to becoming a reality.

The council will vote to declare Randy Hill Construction, Inc., the lowest bidder out of eight for the project, at $2.8 million.

The Fisherman's Terminal Building will include space for smaller niche seafood processors -- Humboldt Seafood Unloaders, Wild Planet, Coast Seafoods and Humboldt Bay Oysters are currently committed as tenants -- as well as a restaurant, loading docks and a market space. It is intended to help revitalize Eureka's waterfront area, which is currently made up of mostly empty lots.

The city has been awarded a $2.4 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration's Recovery Program for the building's construction. A cash match of $800,000 is required from the city, plus $200,000 to complete the project.

The council will also be discussing the approval of plans for the C Street and market square project, which would also be located at the waterfront. The project will consist of a 41-space public parking lot, a 60-foot-wide plaza along C Street between the boardwalk and First Street, and a market square.

In other matters, the council will look at approving a wastewater outfall stabilization project -- from the city's capital improvement projects -- and the addition of an ethanol gas pipeline to the existing

The council will also review its contract with the Greater Eureka Chamber of Commerce. According to a staff report, the city pays 8.25 percent of its transient occupancy tax, or hotel tax, to the chamber. This percentage represents roughly $125,000 per year.

The council will have the option to renew the contract for an additional year starting in January, and could opt to end its contract after Dec. 31, 2010.

Chamber of Commerce Executive Director J Hockaday said the review is something done every year and he has faith that the city will continue its relationship with the chamber since the chamber adds to the city's economic well-being, as well as that of the entire county.

If You Go:

What: Eureka City Council meeting

Where: Council Chambers, City Hall, 531 K St.

When: 6 p.m., Tuesday

Donna Tam can be reached at 441-0532 or dtam [at] times-standard [dot] com.