CITY OF ARCATA
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
COUNCIL CHAMBER APRIL 06, 2022
1 SPECIAL MEETING
A special meeting of the City Council of the City of Arcata was held on the above date at 5:45 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 April 1, 2022. PRESENT: Atkins-Salazar, Schaefer, Matthews. ABSENT: Watson. STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Diemer, Assistant City Manager/Personnel Director Demello, City Engineer Khatri.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Atkins-Salazar invited public comment. There was none. Mayor Atkins-Salazar closed the public comment period.
COMMITTEE INTERVIEW
A. Interview One Applicant for One Vacancy on the Transportation Safety Committee for a Term Expiring March 31, 2023.
The City Council interviewed Mishka Straka for a seat on the Transportation Safety Committee.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 5:54 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 April 1, 2022. PRESENT: Atkins-Salazar, Schaefer, Matthews. ABSENT: Watson. STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Diemer, City Attorney Diamond, Assistant City Manager/Personnel Director Demello, City Engineer Khatri, Director of Environmental Services Sinkhorn, Finance Director Starzhevskiy, Chief of Police Ahearn, Deputy Director of Environmental Services-- Community Services Benvie, IT Manager Savage, City Clerk Dory.
FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Atkins-Salazar led the Pledge of Allegiance.
CEREMONIAL MATTERS
A. Proclamation in Recognition of the Week of the Young Child, April 2–8, 2022.
Councilmember Matthews read the proclamation and presented it to Rodney Oien who appeared on behalf of Northcoast Children's Services.
B. Proclamation in Recognition of the 2022 Godwit Days Spring Migration Bird Festival, April 15-17, 2022.
April 6, 2022
-2-
Councilmember Schaefer read the proclamation and presented it to Alexandra Stillman from the Godwit Days Bird Migration Festival.
Ms. Stillman and Wetlands and Creeks Chairman Bob Brown thanked the Council and spoke about aspects of the upcoming festival.
C. Proclamation in Recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, April 2022.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar read the proclamation and presented it to Amanda LeBlanc from the North Coast Rape Crisis Team who thanked the Council for the honor.
REPORT BY COMMISSION/COMMITTEE
A. Annual Report from the Wetlands and Creeks Committee.
Bob Brown, Chair of the Wetlands and Creeks Committee, gave an oral version of the Committee's annual report.
EARLY ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Atkins-Salazar invited public comment.
Patricia Cambianica inquired about a joint study session with the City Council and Planning Commission to discuss specific plans versus area plans; specifically, the Gateway Area Plan.
Jim Becker noted that Planning Commissioner Vaissade-Elecock expressed her opinion at a recent Planning Commission meeting that there was not enough work done by the City to get community buy-in of the Gateway Area Plan.
Joanne McGarry said her dream was that people would think globally and act locally, putting the Earth first every day.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar closed Early Oral Communications.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Atkins-Salazar invited public comment. No one came forward to speak. Mayor AtkinsSalazar closed the public comment period.
Councilmember Matthews removed item G from the Consent Calendar for further discussion.
ON MOTION BY SCHAEFER, SECONDED BY MATTHEWS, AND WITH A THREETO-ZERO VOICE VOTE WITH ONE ABSENCE, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED THE CONSENT CALENDAR FOR APRIL 6, 2022, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM G.
ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 212-55 AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF THE
CERTIFICATIONS AND ASSURANCES AND AUTHORIZED AGENT FORMS FOR
THE LOW CARBON TRANSIT OPERATIONS PROGRAM (LCTOP) FOR THE FOLLOWING PROJECT: A&MRTS FREE FARES IN THE AMOUNT OF $13,595.
April 6, 2022
-3-
AYES: ATKINS-SALAZAR, SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS. NOES: NONE. ABSENT:
WATSON. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
A. Approve the Minutes of the City Council Meeting of March 2, 2022.
B. Approve the Minutes of the City Council Meeting of March 16, 2022.
C. Bi-Weekly Report on General Warrants.
D. Declare a Continuation of the Local Emergency Related to the Coronavirus Pandemic.
E. Request the Annual Engineer's Report and Preparation of Notices to Declare the City's Intention to Continue to Levy and Collect Assessments of Existing Assessment Districts to Include Mad River Parkway Business Center Landscape Maintenance Assessment District, Windsong Subdivision Landscape Maintenance Assessment District and Janes Creek Meadow Landscape Maintenance Assessment District.
F. Approve Proclamation in Recognition of World Tai Chi Day, April 30, 2022, and Place It on the List of Annual Approved Proclamations.
G. Item VII-G was moved to Items Removed from Consent Calendar.
ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
G. Adopt Resolution No. 212-55 Authorizing the Execution of the Certifications and Assurances and Authorized Agent Forms for the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP) for the Following Project: A&MRTS Free Fares in the Amount of $13,595.
City Engineer Khatri explained that by this agenda item, the City's intent was to use the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP) funds to provide free rides on the Arcata & Mad River Transit System for two months during the summer.
MATTHEWS MOVED AND SCHAEFER SECONDED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 212-55 AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF CERTIFICATIONS AND
ASSURANCES AND AUTHORIZED AGENT FORMS FOR THE LOW CARBON TRANSIT OPERATIONS PROGRAM (LCTOP) FOR THE FOLLOWING PROJECT:
A&MRTS FREE FARES IN THE AMOUNT OF $13,595.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar invited public comment. None was received. Mayor Atkins-Salazar closed the public comment period.
THE MOTION PASSED ON A THREE-TO-ZERO VOICE VOTE WITH ONE ABSENCE. AYES: ATKINS-SALAZAR, SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS. NOES: NONE.
ABSENT: WATSON. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
NEW BUSINESS
April 6, 2022
-4-
A. Appoint One New Member to the Transportation Safety Committee for a Term Expiring March 31, 2023.
MATTHEWS MOVED AND SCHAEFER SECONDED TO APPOINT MISHKA
STRAKA TO THE TRANSPORTATION SAFETY COMMITTEE FOR A TERM ENDING MARCH 31, 2023.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar invited public comment. None was received. Mayor Atkins-Salazar closed the public comment period.
THE MOTION PASSED ON A THREE-TO-ZERO VOICE VOTE WITH ONE ABSENCE. AYES: ATKINS-SALAZAR, SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS. NOES: NONE.
ABSENT: WATSON. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
B. Receive an Update on Community United of North Arcata's (CUNA) Participatory Budgeting Process and Approve Selected Proposals for Beautification and Community Connectivity in Valley West.
Director of Environmental Services Sinkhorn said that CUNA (Communidad Unide del Norte de Arcata/Community United of North Arcata) had been expanding networking in Valley West, conducting clean-ups, and working to get more community engagement. She explained that under a Memorandum of Understanding, the City and Cooperation Humboldt had been working together to come up with a pilot project for the $15,000 in American Rescue Plan Act monies.
She stated that a participatory budget process was used to select projects.
Kimberley White, CUNA Coordinator, reported on the participatory budget pilot project. She gave a history of the process and how it was set up in Arcata. She listed the winning project proposals as: 1) fruit trees; 2) outdoor amenities in Valley West Park such as picnic tables and grills; 3) an artisan flea market; 4) teen meet-ups; 5) weekend dance classes; 6) theatre classes for children; 6) a basketball court mural; and 7) park murals utilizing community involvement.
Mayor Atkins Salazar invited public comment.
Joanne McGarry said it was exciting to see the process and important to involve those living in the neighborhood at the beginning.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar closed the public comment period.
ON MOTION BY SCHAEFER, SECONDED BY MATTHEWS, AND WITH A THREETO-ZERO VOICE VOTE WITH ONE ABSENCE, THE COUNCIL APPROVED THE
SELECTED PROPOSALS FOR BEAUTIFICATION AND COMMUNITY
CONNECTIVITY IN VALLEY WEST. AYES: ATKINS-SALAZAR, SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: WATSON. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Atkins-Salazar invited public comment.
April 6, 2022
-5-
Kurt Schasker spoke about the need to financially plan for the repair/replacement of the City's sewer lines.
Patricia Cambianica asked that advertising for the meeting in Valley West for Spanish speakers to discuss the Gateway Area Plan be on the City's website. She also supported a meeting of residents in the Gateway Area for a presentation and question-and-answer period.
Joanne McGarry spoke of events in the Creamery District, suggested that Council ceremonial matters be handled differently, and requested more time be spent talking about the climate change crisis.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar closed the public comment period.
COUNCIL AND STAFF REPORTS
A. Receive a Report from Environmental Services Staff on the City of Arcata's Summer Recreation Program Offerings.
Deputy Director of Environmental Services--Community Services Benvie reported on the Recreation Division's summer programs and camps.
OTHER COUNCIL AND STAFF REPORTS
Councilmember Matthews announced the Chamber Mixer would be held at Synapsis in Eureka on Thursday, April 7, 2022, at 5:30 p.m.
DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS
A. Budget Overview Study Session, Wednesday, May 25, 2022, at 5:30 p.m., in the Council Chamber.
BY GENERAL CONSENSUS, THE COUNCIL CONFIRMED IT WOULD HOLD A BUDGET OVERVIEW STUDY SESSION ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 2022, AT 5:30 P.M., IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER AND VIA TELECONFERENCE.
B. Study Session with Committee Chairs, Tuesday, May 31, 2022, at 6:00 p.m., in the Council Chamber.
BY GENERAL CONSENSUS, THE COUNCIL CONFIRMED IT WOULD HOLD A STUDY SESSION WITH COMMITTEE CHAIRS ON TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2022, AT 6:00 P.M., IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER AND VIA TELECONFERENCE.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:12 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bridget Dory, City Clerk