Citing “huge grave concerns” about the public process surrounding several upcoming housing projects, Eureka Planning Commission chair Jeff Ragan abruptly resigned during the commission’s virtual meeting on Tuesday.
“Over the last month, I’ve visited with several City Council members, several staff members as well concerning the project,” Ragan said less than 10 minutes into the meeting. “First and foremost, frankly, I’m just appalled that the council or the staff thinks this kind of decision-making process is adequate. I’ve been a member of the planning commission for 12 years now … but to this day we haven’t had a public meeting where the entire city has come to look at the plans and I just think that’s not acceptable.”
The projects Ragan referred to are a part of an effort to create nearly 1,000 housing units in Eureka by 2027, based on population and job growth estimates identified by the state in 2019.
The three projects, approved by the Eureka City Council on Oct. 20, 2020, will be built on a trio of city-owned parking lots at the intersections of Eighth and G streets, Sixth and M streets, and Sunny and Myrtle avenues.
Ragan said he is not against increased affordable housing in Eureka but said, “the effort of public engagement on this project was just pathetic.”
“I’m not trying to offend anybody but these are three buildings, each one larger than City Hall,” Ragan said. “They will live there for 50 years … . If we have design flaws and these big projects, we’re going to live with consequences, be it monetary in the form of tearing it down or be it three and potentially …12 huge buildings.”
Ragan noted that he sells real estate for a living and said if he signed a contract on behalf of a client without giving them the chance to see the home or discuss it further, “they would and should fire me.”
“I can’t in good conscience participate in a government that claims to represent those people and then sidelines with minimized processes and minimal efforts of public outreach,” Ragan said. “I believe city government should serve the people we represent by listening to them and giving them what they want not by dictating to them what we think they need.”
Ragan said the last 12 years on the commission had been “a distinct pleasure and joy” and gave his resignation, effective immediately. After apologizing to vice-chair Tiana Arriaga, Ragan wished the commission the best and left the Zoom call.
“Well, that was a dramatic turn of events that I don’t think any of us were expecting,” Arriaga said.
“That’s a shame,” Commissioner Meredith Maier said. “Jeff’s a smart guy, he’s been a stand-up member of this commission.”
Commissioner Delores Freitas, who was sworn in by Ragan moments before his resignation, said she appreciated his style.
“I always really appreciated how he would start the meetings and welcome everybody in and try and make every person feel at home and feel like what they had to say was important,” Freitas said. “He would always say, ‘This is like our community living room and we’re all just here to learn together and talk about these issues.’ ”
Reached by phone on Friday afternoon, Ragan emphasized the importance of the public process.
“The people of the city need to know what’s going on,” he said. ” … I don’t particularly care how the people of the city decide, we can decide one way or the other, I just want the people to decide because they’re the ones who are going to deal with the consequences for the next 50 years.”
City Manager Miles Slattery said Ragan’s sudden departure from the commission was unfortunate but said the city has been “as transparent as possible and tried to get as much public input as possible.”
“It’s unfortunate that he chose to resign over something like this when it’s going to be a huge benefit for the community,” Slattery said. “Staff was pretty clear from the onset of this. The planning commission had its involvement related to these housing projects … all 12 of these properties were approved by them for the use for low-income housing and public input has been extensive.”
Reached by email on Friday, Eureka Mayor Susan Seaman noted that she and Ragan “don’t always agree” but said she was disappointed to hear of his resignation.
“I was pleased the way he handled his role in the past, as were staff and other council members,” Seaman said. “At this time, he has an opinion that cannot be reconciled with the direction of staff, council, or even the planning commission based on their earlier votes.”
Seaman recognized the parking lot housing projects as the point of contention but said the planning commission had provided input on the projects on several occasions.
“The zoning code set the parameters for those developments, approved by the planning commission, through the zoning code update,” she said. “The Housing Element and Regional Housing Needs Assessment, which was approved by the planning commission, went into detail about these projects, including identifying the properties. There were many opportunities for the general public, planning commission and others to provide input on both the zoning code and Housing Element.”
Seaman said the occupancy permits will not be made available until 2024, allowing for many more opportunities for community engagement.
The city will host a virtual traffic and safety community input session relating to the housing projects on April 29 at 6 p.m. More information can be found here: tinyurl.com/cny7wcef.
