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The Eureka Reporter- Printer Friendly Page Page 1 of 2 g� i City Council to discuss downsizing Tuesday by Kara D.Machado, 12/4/2005 In an effort to provide low-income housing to Eureka residents,the City Council will consider converting older motels into efficiency dwelling units through a proposed ordinance to downsize the square footage of each unit. City Public Works Director Mike Knight said the proposed ordinance will be before the council Tuesday. "If it is introduced, it will be back to be adopted unless the council elects not to go for it," Knight said. "It .. appears the council is interested in moving forward"with the revisions being made. Keep in mind, there will be another opportunity for public comment and the council will have more time to consider it,so it's really going to be up to the City Council to see if the ordinance meets its expectations." According to Kermit Thobaben,director of planning for the Redwood Community Action Agency,the RCAA initiated the idea and approached city officials to approve downsizing the current requirement of 220 square feet of living space to 150 square feet. "Basically, because part of our mission(at RCAA) is to develop affordable housing and what they call single-room occupancy rental units are commonly developed and used about the country—such as San Francisco hotels being converted into living quarters,"Thobaben said. "We took a look around (in our community)and realized we have older motels that are well-maintained and in good condition, but are having difficulty getting high occupancy because the newer motels are getting the travelers and visitors. "So we approached several of(the older motel)owners and they indicated a willingness to sell at a reasonable price." The units,Thobaben said,would include efficiency kitchens/cooking facilities, bathrooms and all other amenities that are standard in efficiency apartments. Thobaben said the issue has been before the City Council twice, in June and again in July, and the proposed ordinance was brought before the council in November. "It will take two readings(to become effective)",Thobaben said. "So that will take at least two future council meetings." Thobaben said the passing of the proposed ordinance looks promising. City Manager David Tyson said Eureka already has ordinances in place that address self-dwelling units. "But Mr.Thobaben had asked the council to consider reducing the number of square feet and so the council is considering that and has given direction to staff to develop an ordinance so they could consider this direction as far as reducing the size of the dwelling units from 220 to 150 square feet and staff is responding to the city council's request," Tyson said. "Basically,what staff does, in this case, is to reconsider if they want to go into this direction of reduction. Tyson said he did not want to comment on what direction he thinks the City Council will take. Mayor Peter La Vallee,who also works with RCAA, said the proposed ordinance would address some of the housing element issues. "With this change(in square footage), it would take a lot of people off the street,"La Vallee said. City Attorney David Tranberg said he does not have a strong opinion about the proposed ordinance. "The advocates for the change(of downsizing square footage)think it will accomplish a good deal to create more living http://www.eurekareporter.com/PrinterFriendly.aspx?ArticleID=6206 1/11/2006