CITY OF ARCATA
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
COUNCIL CHAMBER MARCH 16, 2022
1 SPECIAL MEETING
A special meeting of the City Council of the City of Arcata was held on the above date at 5:30 p.m., in person, with Mayor Atkins-Salazar presiding. Notice of this meeting was posted on March 11, 2022. PRESENT: Atkins-Salazar, Schaefer, Matthews, Watson. ABSENT: None.
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Diemer, City Attorney Diamond, Director of Community Development Loya.
PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
CLOSED SESSION
A. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8. Property: Assessor's Parcel Nos. 507-081-038, 503-232-004, -013, and -016. Agency Negotiator: Karen Diemer. Under Negotiation:
Price and Terms.
The Council met in closed session in the City Manager's Conference Room.
The Council returned to the Council Chamber at 5:55 p.m.
CLOSED SESSION REPORTS
A. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8. Property: Assessor's Parcel Nos. 507-081-038, 503-232-004, -013, and -016. Agency Negotiator: Karen Diemer. Under Negotiation:
Price and Terms.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar announced there was nothing to report out from the closed session.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 5:56 p.m.
REGULAR MEETING
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Arcata was held on the above date at 6:00 p.m. as a hybrid meeting, via teleconference utilizing Zoom Video Communications and in person, with Mayor Atkins-Salazar presiding. Notice of this meeting was posted on March 11, 2022. PRESENT: Atkins-Salazar, Schaefer, Matthews, Watson. ABSENT: None. STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Diemer, City Attorney Diamond, Director of Environmental Services Loya, City Engineer Khatri, Finance Director Starzhevskiy, Director of Environmental Services Sinkhorn, Deputy Director of Community Development Dart, Assistant City Manager/Personnel Director Demello, Community Development Specialist Diehl-McCarthy, IT Manager Savage, City Clerk Dory.
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FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Atkins-Salazar led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance.
CEREMONIAL MATTERS
A. Proclamation in Recognition of Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day, March 29, 2022.
Councilmember Matthews read the proclamation and presented it to Sara Jaye Hart in memory of Sgt. Thomas James Hart of the United States Marine Corps.
EARLY ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Atkins-Salazar invited public comment.
Pat Carr spoke in support of the Gateway Area Plan. He said he liked the project based mainly on the fact that it would bring more dense, affordable housing development and accessibility to the downtown and services.
Joanne McGarry asked the to take urgent action to thwart the threat of global warming and climate change by once again declaring a climate emergency.
Mike Toglia spoke about an interaction with the Arcata Police Department in which he had felt threatened by an incident and was not allowed to file a Police Report..
Mayor Atkins-Salazar closed Early Oral Communications.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilmember Matthews removed item E from the Consent Calendar for further discussion.
Councilmember Watson removed all items, except B, from the Consent Calendar for further discussion.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar invited public comment. There was none. Mayor Atkins-Salazar closed the public comment period.
ON MOTION BY SCHAEFER, SECONDED BY MATTHEWS, AND WITH A
UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE THE COUNCIL ADOPTED ITEM B ON THE STAFF REPORT FOR MARCH 16, 2022 . AYES: ATKINS-SALAZAR, SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, WATSON. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
A. Item VII-A was moved to Items Removed from Consent Calendar.
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B. Reappoint Danny Hagans to the Forest Management Committee for Three-Year Term Ending March 31, 2025; and Reappoint Wes Smith and Jeremy Svehla to the Wetlands and Creeks Committee for Three-Year Terms Ending March 31, 2025.
C. Item VII-C was moved to Items Removed from Consent Calendar.
D. Item VII-D was moved to Items Removed from Consent Calendar.
E. Item VII-E was moved to Items Removed from Consent Calendar.
F. Item VII-F was moved to Items Removed from Consent Calendar.
G. Item VII-G was moved to Items Removed from Consent Calendar.
H. Item VII-H was moved to Items Removed from Consent Calendar.
I. Item VII-I was moved to Items Removed from Consent Calendar.
ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
A. Bi-Weekly Report on General Warrants.
On inquiry by Councilmember Watson, Finance Director Starzhevskiy clarified several items on the warrants listing.
SCHAEFER MOVED AND WATSON SECONDED TO ACCEPT THE BI-WEEKLY REPORT ON GENERAL WARRANTS.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar invited public comment. There was none. Mayor Atkins-Salazar closed the public comment period.
THE MOTION PASSED ON A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE. AYES: ATKINSSALAZAR, SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, WATSON. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
C. Adopt Resolution No. 212-51 Authorizing Submittal of an Application for, and Receipt of, an Equitable Community Revitalization Grant for Little Lake Industries Site Clean-Up.
City Manager Diemer requested the Council use the updated resolution number of 212-56.
On inquiry by Councilmember Watson, Deputy Director of Community Development Dart explained that the grant was for clean-up or assessment of the Little Lake property.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar invited public comment. There was none. Mayor Atkins-Salazar closed the public comment period.
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ON MOTION BY WATSON, SECONDED BY SCHAEFER, AND WITH A
UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL UPDATED THE RESOLUTION NUMBER TO 212-56 AND ADOPTED THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING
SUBMITTAL OF AN APPLICATION FOR AND RECEIPT OF AN EQUITABLE
COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION GRANT FOR LITTLE LAKE INDUSTRIES SITE CLEAN-UP. AYES: ATKINS-SALAZAR, SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, WATSON.
NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
D. Award a Three-Year Professional Services Agreement for Business Loan Program and Microenterprise Program Portfolio Management to AEDC Small Business Lending Center (AEDC) Not to Exceed $25,000 Annually, and Authorize Staff to Work with AEDC to Finalize the Agreement.
Director of Community Development Loya explained that the Arcata Economic Development Commission (AEDC) had serviced the City's business loan program in the past, and the City would like to renew the contract with AEDC for three years.
WATSON MOVED AND SCHAEFER SECONDED TO AWARD A THREE-YEAR
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR BUSINESS LOAN PROGRAM AND
MICROENTERPRISE PROGRAM PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT TO AEDC SMALL BUSINESS LENDING CENTER (AEDC) NOT TO EXCEED $25,000 ANNUALLY, AND AUTHORIZE STAFF TO WORK WITH AEDC TO FINALIZE THE AGREEMENT.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar invited public comment. There was none. Mayor Atkins-Salazar closed the public comment period.
THE MOTION PASSED ON A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE. AYES: ATKINSSALAZAR, SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, WATSON. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
E. Award a Contract in the Amount of $59,846.00 to CSW/Stuber-Stroech Engineering Group, Inc. (CSW|ST2) to Provide Preliminary Engineering, Public Engagement and Environmental Analysis for the 8th & 9th Streets Improvements Project; and Authorize the City Manager to Execute all Applicable Documents.
City Engineer Khatri stated this contract was being awarded pursuant to a Request for Proposals (RFP). He said it would be tracked for time and materials, not to exceed $59,846. He then answered several questions from the Council.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar invited public comment.
Joanne McGarry said she was looking forward to the changes in Eighth and Ninth Streets. She also encouraged public outreach to let people know a big project was planned.
ON MOTION BY MATTHEWS, SECONDED BY SCHAEFER, AND WITH A
UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL AWARDED A CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $59,846 TO CSW|STUBER-STROECH ENGINEERING GROUP, INC.
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(CSW|ST2) TO PROVIDE PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
AND ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS FOR THE EIGHTH AND NINTH STREETS IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT; AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS. AYES: ATKINS-SALAZAR, SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, WATSON. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
F. Amend the Construction Contract for the Boyd Road Sewer Improvements Project 2021 with GR Sundberg, Inc., in the Amount of $36,000; Extend the Contract Term through 6/30/2022; and Authorize the City Manager to Execute All Applicable Documents.
On inquiry by Councilmember Watson, City Engineer Khatri said that a grant was funding this project.
WATSON MOVED AND SCHAEFER SECONDED TO AMEND THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR THE BOYD ROAD SEWER IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT 2021 WITH GR SUNDBERG, INC., IN THE AMOUNT OF $36,000; EXTEND THE CONTRACT TERM THROUGH 6/30/2022; AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar invited public comment. There was none. Mayor Atkins-Salazar closed the public comment period.
THE MOTION PASSED ON A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE. AYES: ATKINSSALAZAR, SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, WATSON. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
G. Adopt Resolution No. 212-45, Authorizing a Grant Application to the California State Library for the Arcata Library Accessibility Project; and Authorize the City Manager to Execute All Applicable Documents.
On inquiry by Councilmember Watson, Director of Environmental Services Sinkhorn said staff was envisioning the grant to be $500,000 and that it required a 50 percent match. She said the grant application amount would be based on what the County of Humboldt could provide as a match, and that elements may be removed or added to the project.
WATSON MOVED AND SCHAEFER SECONDED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 212- 45 AUTHORIZING A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE CALIFORNIA STATE LIBRARY FOR THE ARCATA LIBRARY ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT; AND
AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL APPLICABLE
DOCUMENTS.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar invited public comment. There was none. Mayor Atkins-Salazar closed the public comment period.
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THE MOTION PASSED ON A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE. AYES: ATKINSSALAZAR, SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, WATSON. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
H. Adopt Resolution No. 212-53, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Arcata Amending the Class and Pay Resolution—International Union of Operating Engineers Local No. 3 (to Reflect Water/Wastewater Operator-inTraining/Operator I/Operator II Position Changes).
On inquiry by Councilmember Watson, Assistant City Manager/Personnel Director Demello said that in order to expand the applicant pool, the City was creating an entry-level position of Operator-in-Training for the water/wastewater operator class.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar invited public comment. There was none. Mayor Atkins-Salazar closed the public comment period.
ON MOTION BY SCHAEFER, SECONDED BY WATSON, AND WITH A
UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 3212-53,
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCATA AMENDING THE CLASS AND PAY RESOLUTION—INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS LOCAL NO. 3 (TO REFLECT WATER/WASTEWATER OPERATOR-INTRAINING/OPERATOR I/OPERATOR II POSITION CHANGES). AYES: ATKINSSALAZAR, SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, WATSON NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
I. Adopt Resolution No. 212-51, 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. 212-37; and Adopt Resolution No. 212-52 Amending Resolution No. 212-38.
Councilmember Watson asked for clarification on this agenda item.
Director of Community Development Loya said that Resolution No. 212-51 was an attempt to correct a dollar figure for the grant amount to make it $20 million. Further, the Redwood Community Action Agency was no longer going to be a co-applicant, so the Council would need to adopt Resolution No. 212-51 as amended by removing the words " . . . and Redwood Community Action Agency ("Corporation")." Director Loya further requested the Council not adopt Resolution No. 212-52 at this time.
MATTHEWS MOVED AND SCHAEFER SECONDED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 212-51, 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. 212-37, AS AMENDED BY REMOVING THE LANGUAGE " . . . AND REDWOOD COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY ("CORPORATION").
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Mayor Atkins-Salazar invited public comment. There was none. Mayor Atkins-Salazar closed the public comment period.
THE MOTION PASSED ON A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE. AYES: ATKINSSALAZAR, SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, WATSON. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
NEW BUSINESS
A. Consider Adopting Resolution No. 212-54, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Arcata Accepting the Mid-Year Budget Review and Approving Associated Budget Revisions for Fiscal Year 2021/22.
Finance Director Starzhevskiy presented the City's mid-year-budget review for the fiscal year 2021/2022. She then answered clarifying questions from the Council.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar invited public comment.
Kurt Schasker asked that the City address its deferred maintenance of City facilities, such as the wastewater treatment plant and sewer pipes, especially in relation to expected future growth of the City's population.
Joanne McGarry asked what funding was available for natural disasters.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar closed the public comment period.
City Manager Diemer responded that emergency response would be funded out of the General Fund reserves, as well as possibly reserve balances in the enterprise funds. However, in a large emergency, the City would be looking to state and federal agencies for assistance.
ON MOTION BY SCHAEFER, SECONDED BY MATTHEWS THE COUNCIL ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 212-54, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF ARCATA ACCEPTING THE MID-YEAR BUDGET REVIEW AND APPROVING ASSOCIATED BUDGET REVISIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021/22.
AYES: ATKINS-SALAZAR, SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, WATSON. NOES: NONE.
ABSENT: NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Atkins-Salazar invited public comment.
Joanne McGarry said she wanted the community, moving forward, to keep in mind THC (Trust, Truth, Transparency; humility, honesty, humanness; caring, compassion, connectedness).
Mayor Atkins-Salazar closed Oral and Written Communications.
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COUNCIL AND STAFF REPORTS
Councilmember Matthews announced that Purim began at sundown that day.
Councilmember Schaefer reported on her attendance at a meeting of the Sister City Committee.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar reported on her attendance at a meeting of the Homelessness Services Working Group. She announced Arcata Main Street's Membership Gala on Friday, March 25, 2022, at the Arcata Theatre Lounge.
Councilmember Schaefer said she and former Mayor Sofia Pereira would be participating in a panel at Cal Poly Humboldt as part of the Schwab Lecture Series for Political Science, at 4:00 on March 25, 2022.
DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS
A. Study Session with Committee Chairs, Tuesday, March 29, 2022, at 6:00 p.m., in the Council Chamber.
BY GENERAL CONSENSUS, THE COUNCIL CONFIRMED IT WOULD HOLD A STUDY SESSION WITH THE COMMITTEE CHAIRS ON TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2022, AT 6:00 P.M., IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bridget Dory
City Clerk