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Community Development Services is responsible for protecting public health, safety, and welfare. The department achieves its mission through the Building Inspection, Advance Planning and Current Planning, Development Assistance, Economic Development, and Natural Resources divisions. Building permit approvals and inspections are reviewed consistent with California model codes. Planning and development approvals are reviewed consistent with the county General Plan. The department also administers development assistance programs, and economic development and natural resource grants. For more information about the divisions featured on this website, please refer to our department's staff page.
The department measures performance in each focus area by tracking a series of qualitative performance measures.
What's New
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Community Development Services launches the new performance measure website!
Feature Story
Easter Seals Pool Acquisition and Rehabilitation
The Easter Seals Pool Acquisition and Rehabilitation is one of several State of California Community Development Block Grant Program grants secured by the Economic Development Division that have been used to assist our community. This grant is assisting a local non-profit agency to acquire, rehabilitate, and reopen the warm-therapy pool located on Edgewood Road in Eureka.
In the 1960’s Easter Seals built a warm-therapy pool. Until last year the facility had been used for physical therapy and rehabilitation. The pool served people with spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, strokes, rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, gout, fibromyalgia, and other mobility problems. Warm-therapy pools have been shown to be of great benefit to persons with disabilities, particularly in our cool weather.
The pool had been operated on donations and grants. When Easter Seals was moved to Santa Rosa, local fundraising efforts were greatly reduced. This meant that the facility was almost completely dependent on grant funds. The Grant funds came from the Department of Developmental Services, which substantially cut funding in 2009. A local non-profit, Vector Rehabilitation, leased the pool from Easter Seals and tried to keep it open, but after years of deferred maintenance, the facility was closed on April 30, 2010.
The site has been acquired and rehabilitation work has begun. The rehabilitation work will consist of replacing the existing pool, improving mobility access to meet ADA requirements, and improving energy efficiency. Cost savings with the new energy efficient facility and reconfigured financing strategy will allow this warm-therapy pool to remain a part of our community for years to come.
