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The Eureka Reporter- Printer Friendly Page Page 2 of 2 units,"Tranberg said."The City Council introduced the ordinance, so I take it they see it the same way ... so it appears it is on its way to adoption." If the council does decide to reduce the square footage,fire and building codes would still have to be followed,Tyson said. City Fire Marshal Rick Bennett said, initially,the fire department was hesitant about the reduction of the square footage; however the fire department was OK with the proposed ordinance after working in"comfort factors,"such as fire suppression/sprinkler systems and fire detectors. Linda Gillette, site manager for the California Tribal TANF Partnership, and Cindy Sullivan, case worker for the organization, both agreed the downsizing will do little to help clients such as theirs. Gillette said most of the tribal organization's clients have multiple family members and, in hotels, "legally you can only have four people in a hotel." "Some(of our clients) have three to four to five kids,"Gillette said. Sullivan said she believes the City Council should not lower the square footage. "Kids need a separate space they can play and do homework, etc.,and a spot to call their own and with under(220) square feet,you just don't have that,"Sullivan said."1 understand there's a need for housing, but let's not squash everyone in one place." Thobaben said,in looking at the big picture in terms of affordable housing,the main question is,"How do you make housing affordable?" Housing"is so expensive ... and (in)our area and we're making changes in our zoning and building codes to reduce the size of lots for single-family houses to allow second units on single family lots;where there is normally one house,we are encouraging a second unit(on the lot),such as a granny/mother-in-law unit,"Thobaben said."It's the same with apartments. "We are serving single people with modest incomes who would be happy to pay$350,for example, and have a little bathroom,kitchen and their own space. It's difficult to find housing that's affordable, so downsizing housing makes it a little more affordable." Thobaben said RCAA will initially buy one motel and then another,and so on. He declined to comment on the prospective motels being looked at for conversion to efficiency dwelling units. "We are unsure which one we will buy first,"Thobaben said. "City staff is aware, but(we)don't talk about particular properties." http://www.eurekareporter.com/PrinterFriendly.aspx?ArticleID=6206 1/11/2006