At its June 2 meeting, the Eureka City Council heard a coordinated public appeal to help fund staffing tied to the Regional Climate Action Plan.
According to a meeting summary based on the public comment period, Matt Simmons, Katie Gurren, Colin Fisk and Deborah Dukes all urged the city to support a Regional Climate Action Plan coordinator or climate program manager position. The comments framed the role as necessary to carrying out implementation work linked to the regional plan.
The council did not take a funding vote at the June 2 meeting. The meeting summary says the public comment period was followed by votes on the city’s water plans and other agenda items, while the climate staffing request remained a matter raised from the public mic.
The June 2 agenda shows the meeting was a regular City Council session that included water planning, capital program items and a proposed budget study session. The climate staffing comments came up during public comment, alongside other remarks about bike access, parking, plastic use and local public-space concerns.
Simmons identified himself as a climate attorney with the Environmental Protection Information Center, while Gurren said she had previously worked on the climate plan as a consultant to the Redwood Coast Energy Authority, according to the meeting summary. Fisk spoke on behalf of CRTP, and Dukes voiced support for funding the position.
The public request adds a budget pressure point for Eureka and its regional partners as they look at how the climate plan will be staffed and implemented.
