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Crescent City is looking to the private sector to develop two properties that were once owned by the Sause Bros.

Using tug boats and barges, the Sause Bros. exported more than 500 million board feet of lumber out of its Crescent City dock between 1949 and 1962, City Manager Eric Wier told the City Council on Monday.

The company donated the two parcels, currently undeveloped, to the city in 2013, Wier said. Under the California Government Code, Crescent City must first offer its surplus property to public or non-profit agencies.

The city tried to do that between November 2018 and 2019, but since it didn’t receive a response, staff is looking at an unorthodox approach for dealing with the two parcels, Wier said.

“Instead of asking how much one-time funding could we receive by selling, let’s put it out to developers,” he said. “Let’s see what people can envision; what they can develop.”

The Crescent City Council unanimously approved a request for proposals from developers for the two parcels. The first property is about a half-acre between Front and Second streets. According to Wier, it sits on a right-of-way — C Street — which is currently undeveloped, though city-owned utilities run through it.

The second property is about 0.33 acres between Second and Third streets that also fronts C Street. Both parcels are within Crescent City’s commercial waterfront zone, Wier said.

“In the RFP, we explain the area we’re trying to develop,” Wier said. “We envision an experiential commercial hub with uses supportive to residents and visitors. One that creates local jobs, but is also a revenue-generator for the city itself.”

According to Wier, proposals will be evaluated based on the development’s intended use, ability to generate property, sales or transient occupancy taxes, its design and potential aesthetic improvements to the site. City staff will also take into account the developer’s qualifications and ability in getting previous projects through the planning, designing and permitting phases, Wier said.

The proposed price for purchasing each parcel will also be a factor in the city’s decision, Wier said. He suggested the City Council appoint two of its members to a selection panel that would vet potential submissions.

Crescent City Mayor Blake Inscore commended the city’s approach and said he and his colleague, Councilor Jason Greenough, would sit on the selection panel.

“The properties are worth far more developed than they are as vacant assets,” Inscore said. “yes we could possibly sell them and have one-time money and still have vacant lots. This approach of being able to have development happen is certainly a forward-thinking approach and one that will best suit the city long term.”

In other matters, the City Council unanimously approved sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation in support of Contour Airlines continuing to serve as Del Norte and Curry county’s air carrier.

The letter was a request from the Border Coast Regional Airport Authority, which is opposing a proposal to the transportation department from Boutique Air to operate in the region through the Essential Air Service program.

Heidi Kime, the city’s representative on the joint powers authority, said the BCRA survey of the community indicated that most would rather fly to Oakland via Contour than Portland via Boutique Air.


U.S. Flag program
The Crescent City Council also approved an idea from the Crescent City Police Department to purchase kits that include a 3 foot by 5 foot U.S. flag and the hardware to install them on a building. Police Chief Richard Griffin came up with the idea, saying he was able to obtain a $2,500 donation from the Wild Rivers Community Foundation for the program.

“I’ll be able to get 312, plus a little bit extra, flag kits to install or hand out,” he said, adding that with the COVID-19 emergency Crescent City’s 4th of July celebration will likely be different. “ spoke with Sheriff Apperson and (California Highway Patrol) Cmdr. Larry Depee and they jumped at the idea to help pass out flags using as much social distancing as we can.”

During public comment, David Gearhart, owner of Dave & Suzie’s Grub Hut, liked Griffin’s idea so much, he pledged a $200 donation during Monday’s public comment period.

“Just let me know where you want the money,” Gearhart told Griffin.

Inscore also applauded Griffin’s flag program, but said he’d like to get those flags on as many city homes as possible.

“This is going to be a strange 4th of July,” he said. “The idea that we could drive around downtown and in our city neighborhoods and see flags out everywhere just seems like that would be a really nice thing.”

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