Where We Stand

This is where we stand on the following issues.

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Bay Harbor, Recreation & Conservation District Members of Humboldt Business Council and its board endorse Charles Ollivier, Commissioner Fifth Division and Roy Curless, Commissioner, Second Division for re-election to the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District. Our recommendation is based on several considerations including: 1. A recent poll of Eureka Chamber members showed a 2-to-1 ratio of support and confidence in Curless and Ollivier as compared to their challengers. 2. The endorsements of both Curless and Ollivier by several business AND labor-related organizations, indicating their support of candidates who promote job growth while balancing the recreational and conservation needs of the harbor. 3. The ideology, strategic vision, experience and overwhelming knowledge of Curless and Ollivier enjoy compared to their challengers. Mr. Ollivier and Mr. Curless have created, managed and delivered compelling port projects and programs that promote job growth, recreation and conservation for Northern-most California’s only deep-water port. Both candidates have demonstrated experience and expertise in the support of the Port of Humboldt to expand its world–wide shipping connections making it possible to invite future international commerce to Humboldt County. Port development not only generates substantial numbers of living-wage jobs, but the revenues from harbor trade pay for desirable recreation and conservation projects that would otherwise go unfunded. According to Chris Crawford, HBC Chair, “A vote for Curless and Ollivier is a vote for labor, business and the environment. Our Humboldt Bay is a treasure, yet the challengers for harbor commissioner only focus on two of the organization’s mandates. Through their actions, the two current commissioners clearly demonstrate their intention to balanced development and management of Humboldt Bay.”

Marina Center Poll HBC contracted for an opinion poll of Eureka likely voters to determine the level of support for the proposed Marina Center development of the Balloon Tract. Not surprising, there is significant and widespread support for the project. HBC used a reputable polling firm that applied scientific methods using straightforward questions. A copy of the raw poll results can be found at here or copy this URL into your browser: http://1stDistrict.com/HBC_MarinaCtrPoll.pdf. Full poll results with analysis and cross-returns according to demographics are available here or copy this URL into your browser: http://1stDistrict.com/HBC_MarinaCtrPoll-full.pdf. While there is general, widespread support (2/3+) for the Marina Center and there is no demographic group that shows more than 42% opposition, there are several important poll results that warrant special attention, including: • Those who have lived in Eureka 25 years or longer, favor the project more than those living here less than 25 years. • Those 50 and older support the project more than those under 50. • The Eureka ward results show interesting shifts before and after the arguments supporting and opposing the project are offered. The most important result is that individuals review the poll details, methodology and specific questions asked in order decide for themselves and draw their own conclusions. It is our preference to examine public sentiment rather than speculate about it as some have done.

Eureka City Elections 2006 The Humboldt Business Council proudly endorses these candidates for election Nov 7, 2006, because of their proven track record of helping us, the employers of Humboldt County, create jobs and keep our community employed: Eureka Mayor, Virginia Bass To lend your support for Virginia, go to www.VirginiaBassForMayor.com for more information. Eureka City Council 1st Ward, Mary Beth Wolford To lend your support for Mary Beth, go to www.Wolford-Eureka1st.com for more information. Eureka City Council 3rd Ward, Jeff Leonard To lend your support for Jeff, go to www.VoteJeffLeonard.com for more information. Eureka City Council 5th Ward, Mike Jones To lend your support for Mike, go to www.JonesForCouncil.com for more information.

Support Ballon Tract Development We SUPPORT the Balloon Tract development proposed by Security National for the following reasons: 1. The tract has lain vacant for more than 35 years and has served as not only a blighted eyesore, but has cost the City of Eureka for police/fire enforcement, homeless abatement, and lost tax revenue. 2. Union Pacific has sold the parcel to Security National, creating the first real opportunity to clean up the property and put it to productive use. The proposed development would control the site contamination and limit land use to activities that further reduce liability. Absent these terms, UP would have likely let the land sit vacant indefinitely. 3. The current land use designation (public, non-marine dependent) allows use as a cemetery, jail, government garage, government office, bus depot or park. In order to allow purchase and development of the site, the land use must be changed to commercial/light industrial. 4. The proposed development would bring in attractive retail, commercial space and a permanent home for the Discovery Museum, along with limited loft residential, creating a lot of jobs and tax revenue. It would also create a corridor leading to Old Town through 2nd Street. We fully appreciate that there are legitimate arguments on either side of this issue, but we feel that these real or perceived downsides are offset by the added jobs, tax revenue, business development and removal of a major blighted area in the middle of Eureka. To lend your support of this important project, go to www.MarinaCenter.org for more information

Internet Connectivity Several organizations are moving ahead on improving our local fiber optic connections in order to provide back-up and competition. Currently, there is only one line leading into the county, and we are a winter storm or a backhoe away from interrupted service. HBC supports these efforts and encourages these organizations to continue working together for a solution, including the Redwood Coast Regional Action committee (part of HSU and CR), Redwood Technology Consortium, and Redwood Region Economic Development Committee. A report on options to obtain a second fiber optic line can be found at http://www.neratech.net/docs/final_report.pdf WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT: High-speed Internet connectivity (broadband) is emerging as an important element in economic and community development. Access to broadband affects a wide spectrum of community interests such as education, government, business, healthcare and the arts. Rural regions can be at a competitive disadvantage if they don’t take action to spur broadband infrastructure deployment in their communities.

Evergreen Pulp Permitting In 2005, Evergreen Pulp Mill, Inc. received permission from the North Coast Air Quality Management District to fix equipment that would improve air quality after collaborated involvement of several community organizations including the Eureka Chamber of Commerce and Humboldt Business Council. Why is Evergreen Pulp, Inc Important to Humboldt County? Since acquiring the Samoa pulp mill in January 21, 2005, Evergreen Pulp, Inc. has succeeded in overcoming many challenges associated with inheriting the mill. As a testament to Evergreen’s continuing commitment to this community and clean air, $4 million has been invested in maintenance and equipment upgrades. Today, Evergreen Pulp is operating below its overall air emissions and water quality limits at the mill. We need Evergreen Pulp in Humboldt County because: 1. The company provides 180 living-wage employees and employs many hundreds of contractors who all breathe the same air as everyone else in this county. 2. Several years ago, the Samoa pulp mill was the first in the United States to produce a totally chlorine free product. Not only has Evergreen Pulp maintained the mill as chlorine free, it now only produces pulp (not paper), so there is even less chemical treatment required. 3. Our timber industry is still a huge part of Humboldt's private sector economic base and the pulp mill is part of the delicate timber economic balance. The pulp mill uses wood waste products from the mills to create pulp. Without the pulp mill, this wood waste product would either have to be shipped out of the area or end up in our waste stream. 4. Evergreen Pulp operates on the global market, selling its entire product to China so it is not dependent upon local market fluctuations to stay in business. This international trade is vital to our harbor because it sustains ship traffic, justifies harbor dredging, and employs dozens of bay industries. 5. If the railroad were ever to be rebuilt, Evergreen pulp would be an important anchor user to sustain the economic viability of the rail line. Evergreen Pulp began operating in Samoa as a good community member and they only ask for the opportunity to continue doing so. They have proven their willingness to invest in new and upgraded equipment to comply with California regulations.

Humboldt Bay Management Plan The Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District published a management plan at their website Humboldt Harbor has enormous potential for business and job growth, while maintaining compatibility with recreational use.

Humboldt Taxpayers League The Humboldt Taxpayers League recently filed a lawsuit against the City of Eureka and two local business people claiming that redevelopment processes gave an unfair advantage in the sale and development of the Eureka Waterfront. Regardless of where one stands on the issue of redevelopment, this move was wrong for several reasons: 1. The suit was filed without consultation with or the concurrence of HTL membership. 2. Filing such lawsuits, especially against taxpayers, is not within the mission charter or purpose of HTL. 3. The remedy that HTL seeks is to cancel the sale of the property, rebid the projects and resell the properties at today's market price ... this is patently absurd and unfair. The HTL has now passed this lawsuit to another individual and failed to address member concern over any of the issues surrounding the suit and the decision to file it. Consequently, dozens of responsible local business people and citizens declined to renew their membership in HTL and will not renew until the organization adopts bylaws that clearly allow consultation with members before such future drastic action is contemplated, and the current Board of Directors is replaced.

State Assembly and Senate

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Humboldt County Board of Supervisors

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