The Humboldt Bay Harbor District unanimously authorized its executive director on Sept. 10 to negotiate and execute an $810,000 contract with the Northern California Indian Development Council for tribal engagement tied to planning and design of the proposed Heavy Lift Marine Terminal project.
The district’s adopted minutes show all five commissioners present — Benson, Dale, Kullmann, Newman and Norton — voted yes. The action followed a motion by Commissioner Aaron Newman and a second by Commissioner Dale. No members of the public commented on the item.
According to the Sept. 10 board agenda, the contract would be funded through the Waterfront Facility Improvement Program grant awarded to the district. The agenda says the Northern California Indian Development Council, or NCIDC, would support California tribal organization participation by facilitating capacity-building opportunities and helping interested tribes engage in project discussions, consultation activities and planning processes.
The district is advancing permitting, planning and design for the proposed terminal in support of West Coast offshore-wind energy development, the agenda says. The contract authorization comes after the board’s August approval of continued and expanded planning, permitting and design services with Moffat & Nichol, also funded through the California Energy Commission’s Waterfront Facility Improvement Program, according to the Aug. 13 adopted minutes. The board also authorized special counsel for permitting and environmental review of the terminal project at that meeting.
The district’s meeting records do not specify the contract term, payment schedule, detailed deliverables or which tribal governments and organizations will participate. The agreement itself was not included in the records reviewed for this report.
