CITY OF ARCATA
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
COUNCIL CHAMBER JANUARY 19, 2022
1 A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Arcata was held on the above date at 6:03 p.m. as a hybrid meeting, via teleconference utilizing Zoom Video Communications and in person, with Mayor Atkins-Salazar presiding. PRESENT: Atkins-Salazar, Goldstein, Matthews, Schaefer, Watson. ABSENT: None. STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Diemer, City Attorney Diamond, Assistant City Manager/Personnel Director Demello, Chief of Police Ahearn, Director of Environmental Services Sinkhorn, Director of Community Development Loya, Finance Director Starzhevskiy, IT Manager Savage, City Clerk Dory.
FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Atkins-Salazar led the Pledge of Allegiance.
CEREMONIAL MATTERS
A. Proclamation Recognizing January 2022 as National Mentoring Month.
Councilmember Watson read the proclamation.
REPORT BY COMMISSION/COMMITTEE
A. Annual Report from the Planning Commission.
Vice-Chair, Judith Mayer, gave a verbal version of the Planning Commission's Annual Report.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar invited public comment. None was received. Mayor Atkins-Salazar closed the public comment period.
EARLY ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Atkins-Salazar invited public comment.
Jean said the said she hoped for a special meeting to discuss the urgent needs of the homeless community. She suggested spending $6,000 a month for hotel rooms, rain gear, storage lockers, and tarps.
Jackie Taylor advocated for the homeless requesting a tent town and bungalow with divided rooms.
Greg King asked that the minutes of December 15, 2021, be corrected to show him as being in opposition to the Gateway Area Plan. He said he was trying to get the City to address critical issues such as potential liquefaction of the soils.
Chris Richards reported that the Transportation Safety Committee was in consensus that making K Street and L Street one-way streets was not a great idea. He said he liked the idea of leaving L Street as a people's corridor.
Joanne McGarry reminded the Council of the climate emergency and its need to act urgently to implement the Climate Action Plan.
January 19, 2022
-2-
Patricia Cambianica expressed her neighborhood's concerns with the Gateway Area Plan as being impacts to infrastructure, building height, parking, business parking, and keeping the bicycle/pedestrian path intact.
Aaron DeBruyn expressed concern that there could be new City Councilmembers elected in November who would then be asked to approve the Plan in December.
Jim Becker asked that the minutes of December 15, 2021, be corrected to show him as being against the Plan. He said his issues were with capacity of the wastewater treatment plant and parking.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar closed the public comment period.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Atkins-Salazar invited public comment. None was received. Mayor Atkins-Salazar closed the public comment period.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar removed item A from the Consent Calendar for further discussion.
Councilmember Watson removed items C and G from the Consent Calendar for further discussion.
ON MOTION BY SCHAEFER, SECONDED BY MATTHEWS, AND WITH A
UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED THE CONSENT CALENDAR FOR JANUARY 19, 2022, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS: A.
APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF DECEMBER 15, 2021; C. BI-WEEKLY REPORT ON GENERAL WARRANTS; G. ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 212-37, A RESOLUTION OF THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF ARCATA
AUTHORIZING JOIN APPLICATION TO AND PARTICIPATION IN THE HOMEKEY PROGRAM AND RESCINDING RESOLUTION NO. 212-33; AND ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 212-38, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCATA AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. 212-34. AYES: ATKINS-SALAZAR, GOLDSTEIN, MATTHEWS, SCHAEFER, WATSON. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
A. Item VII-A was moved to Items Removed from Consent Calendar.
B. Approve the Minutes of the City Council Meeting of January 5, 2022.
C. Item VII-C was moved to Items Removed from Consent Calendar.
D. Adopt Ordinance No. 1555, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Arcata Amending the Arcata Municipal Code, Title II, Chapter 10, to Make Biennial Consumer Price Index Adjustments to Campaign Contribution Limitations; Waive Reading of the Text and Consent to Read by Title Only.
E. Approve Amendment No. 1 to the Arcata Scout Hut Lease between the Arcata Kiwanis Club and the City of Arcata.
January 19, 2022
-3-
F. Adopt Resolution No. 212-39, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Arcata Amending the Class and Pay Resolution for Arcata Police Association [Title Change Only—Dispatch/Records Supervisor].
G. Item VII-G was moved to Items Removed from Consent Calendar.
ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
A. Approve the Minutes of the City Council Meeting of December 15, 2021.
BY GENERAL CONSENSUS AND PURSUANT TO PUBLIC COMMENT RECEIVED
DURING EARLY ORAL COMMUNICATIONS, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CITY CLERK WOULD REVIEW THE MINUTES OF DECEMBER 15, 2021, MAKE
ADJUSTMENTS AS NECESSARY, AND PUT THE APPROVAL OF THOSE MINUTES ON THE CITY COUNCIL'S FEBRUARY 2, 2022, AGENDA.
C. Bi-Weekly Report on General Warrants.
On inquiry by Councilmember Watson, Finance Director Starzhevskiy said that warrant no. 245251 was a payment as part of the micro-enterprise grant program; warrant no. 245253 was a refund on a lower sewer lateral deposit; warrant no. 245274 was payment to the provider of the City's Employee Assistance Program services; and warrant no. 245291 was bond service debt repayment.
ON MOTION BY SCHAEFER, SECONDED BY WATSON, AND WITH A UNANIMOUS
VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED THE BI-WEEKLY REPORT ON GENERAL WARRANTS FOR THE DATES DECEMBER 25, 2021, TO JANUARY 7, 2022. AYES:
ATKINS-SALAZAR, GOLDSTEIN, MATTHEWS, SCHAEFER, WATSON. NOES: NONE.
ABSENT: NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
G. Adopt Resolution No. 212-37, A Resolution of the Governing Body of the City of Arcata Authorizing Joint Application to and Participation in the Homekey Program and Rescinding Resolution No. 212-33; and Adopt Resolution No. 212-38, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Arcata Amending Resolution No. 212-34.
City Manager Diemer explained that before the Council were revised resolutions for the Red Roof Inn Homekey grant because Danco had partnered with the Redwood Community Action Agency for services at the project.
Councilmember Watson expressed his concerns with the project as inadequate public engagement, loss of transient occupancy taxes, delegation of power to staff without oversight by the Planning Commission or City Council, and lack of infrastructure for future development.
SCHAEFER MOVED AND MATTHEWS SECONDED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 212- 37, A RESOLUTION OF THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF ARCATA
AUTHORIZING JOINT APPLICATION TO AND PARTICIPATION IN THE HOMEKEY PROGRAM AND RESCINDING RESOLUTION NO. 212-33; AND ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 212-38, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCATA AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. 212-34.
January 19, 2022
-4-
Mayor Atkins-Salazar invited public comment. None was received. Mayor Atkins-Salazar closed the public comment period.
THE MOTION PASSED ON A FOUR-TO-ONE VOICE VOTE. AYES: ATKINSSALAZAR, GOLDSTEIN, MATTHEWS, SCHAEFER. NOES: WATSON. ABSENT:
NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
OLD BUSINESS
A. Award of Contract For Operations of Safe Parking Program.
City Manager Diemer said the Council had prioritized the establishment of a safe parking program pilot project and allocated American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for a Safe Parking Space program. She said the City released a Request for Proposals for operation of the program and received one proposal from Arcata House Partnership to manage and staff the site. She explained that the program would offer 24-hour staff for program users and house 30 vehicle households with a mix of family sites, single sites and10 spaces reserved for single-night occupancy. She let the Council know that the program would provide the basic necessities and service referrals and would assist participants to obtain entry into Humboldt County's Coordinated Entry system to be eligible in the future for some of the Homekey projects. She said the program would also be supported by the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services, the Mobile Intervention and Services Team (MIST), and the Open Door Mobile Medical program. The proposal came in at the Councilallocated budget. She explained that the lease for the property would be paid directly by the City, and staff's recommendation is that the Council authorize $600,000 to Arcata House Partnership for the operation of the program.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar invited public comment.
Joanne McGarry said she hoped the program would help people in the community.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar closed the public comment period.
ON MOTION BY GOLDSTEIN, SECONDED BY WATSON, AND WITH A UNANIMOUS
VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL AWARDED THE CONTRACT FOR OPERATION OF THE
SAFE PARKING PROGRAM TO ARCATA HOUSE PARTNERSHIP IN THE AMOUNT OF $600,000. AYES: ATKINS-SALAZAR, GOLDSTEIN, MATTHEWS, SCHAEFER, WATSON. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
NEW BUSINESS
A. Presentation by Chant'e Catt-Nesser and Sue Armitage Regarding the Humboldt Tenant Landlord Collaboration (HTLC)
Chant'e Catt-Nesser and Sue Armitage gave a presentation on the Humboldt Tenant Landlord Collaboration (HTLC), a research-based course offered at Humboldt State University to provide education on how to be a good tenant or a good landlord.
Councilmember Watson left the Council Chamber at 7:02 p.m., returning at 7:07 p.m.
January 19, 2022
-5-
B. Appoint Two Councilmembers with Ceremonial Authority to Select a Recipient for the 2022 City of Arcata Business of the Year Award and to Present the Award at the Arcata Chamber of Commerce's Annual Business Leadership Awards Dinner.
Councilmember Matthews reported that the in-person Arcata Chamber of Commerce Awards Dinner had to be canceled due to COVID, and the Chamber was working to find another way to hold the event, most likely online.
City Manager Diemer reminded the Council that each year the Chamber of Commerce held an awards dinner and one of the awards was Business of the Year chosen by the City. She explained that the Council needed to appoint two of its members to serve on a subcommittee to work with the Economic Development Committee to choose a business of the year.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar invited public comment. There was none. Mayor Atkins-Salazar closed the public comment period.
ON MOTION BY SCHAEFER, SECONDED BY GOLDSTEIN, AND WITH A
UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL APPOINTED COUNCILMEMBERS
MATTHEWS AND GOLDSTEIN, WITH CEREMONIAL AUTHORITY, TO SELECT A RECIPIENT FOR THE 2022 CITY OF ARCATA BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD, AND
TO PRESENT THE AWARD AT THE ARCATA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE'S ANNUAL BUSINESS LEADERSHIP AWARDS DINNER.
ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Atkins-Salazar invited public comment.
Patricia Cambianica suggested that for the open house on the Arcata Gateway Area Plan at the Community Center, the tables be moved outside because of COVID concerns.
Jim Becker asked if the Local Coastal Program would be adopted in April.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar closed the public comment period.
City Manager Diemer said she would find an answer for Mr. Becker.
COUNCIL AND STAFF REPORTS
City Manager Diemer thanked people for encouraging others to attend the Arcata Gateway Area planning event on Friday, January 21, 2022, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Saturday, January 22, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. She noted there would also be a table at the Farmers' Market and there was an online community visioning survey that people could complete.
On inquiry by Councilmember Watson, City Manager Diemer said a large homeless encampment in Valley West was on private property and staff had been in communication with the property owner to address the situation. Councilmember Watson said he had been receiving complaints about the fence around the data center and that Director of Community Development Loya had assured him the property owners were going to fix the fence. He stated that community members in the planned January 19, 2022
-6-
Gateway Area were concerned about communication and noticing between the City and the residents of the area. He said he would like the Council to take a look at City processes for notifying and engaging the public regarding projects.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar reported on her attendance at a meeting of Arcata Main Street. She said she was working to determine if she could participate in discussions and decisions on the Gateway Area Plan because she lived within the project area. She reported on her attendance at a meeting of the Homelessness and Housing Working Group.
On inquiry by Councilmember Goldstein, City Manager Diemer announced that the upcoming annual point-in-time count of those experiencing homelessness would be held on Wednesday, January 26, 2022. She recommended that people who wanted to volunteer to assist in the count should contact her or Arcata House Partnership.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:48 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bridget Dory
City Clerk