CITY OF ARCATA
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
COUNCIL CHAMBER APRIL 20, 2022
1 A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Arcata was held on the above date at 6:01 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 15, 2022. PRESENT:
Atkins-Salazar, Schaefer, Matthews. ABSENT: Watson. STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Diemer, City Attorney Diamond, Assistant City Manager/Personnel Director Demello, Finance Director Starzhevskiy, Director of Community Development Loya, City Engineer Khatri, Director of Environmental Services Sinkhorn, Deputy Director of Environmental Services—Community Services Benvie.
FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Atkins-Salazar led attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance.
CEREMONIAL MATTERS
A. Proclamation in Recognition of World Tai Chi Day, April 30, 2022.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar read the proclamation and presented it to Glenda Hesseltine who invited everyone to the World Tai Chi Day event on April 30, 2022, on the Plaza.
B. Proclamation in Recognition of Bike Month, May 2022.
Councilmember Matthews read the proclamation and presented it to Jonny Maiullo, from Bike Month Humboldt Coalition, who accepted the proclamation on behalf of all area bicyclists.
EARLY ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Atkins-Salazar invited public comment.
Scott McBain, representing Responsible Growth Arcata, appeared before the Council and made suggestions for a joint study session with the City Council and Planning Commission to discuss the Arcata Gateway Area Plan.
An unidentified member of the audience appeared before the Council and said, in regard to the Arcata Gateway Area Plan, that the community had been missing in the process and that it must be a community-driven effort.
Chris Richards appeared before the Council and thanked it for continuing to be a voice for the people and following through.
James Becker appeared before the Council and requested it call for a joint study session with the City Council and Planning Commission, remove the Gateway Area Plan from the General Plan:
2045 and discuss it being a Specific Plan versus an area Plan.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar closed Early Oral Communications.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilmember Matthews removed item C from the Consent Calendar for further discussion April 20, 2022
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Mayor Atkins-Salazar invited public comment. None was received. Mayor Atkins-Salazar closed the public comment period.
ON MOTION BY SCHAEFER, SECONDED BY MATTHEWS, AND WITH A THREE-TOZERO VOICE VOTE WITH ONE ABSENCE, THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED THE CONSENT CALENDAR FOR APRIL 20, 2022, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM C.
AMEND THE CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $397,773.62 TO GHD, INC., FOR
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS, DESIGN,
PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS AND ESTIMATE FOR THE OLD ARCATA ROAD IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT; AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS. AYES: ATKINS-SALAZAR, SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: WATSON. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
A. Approve the Minutes of the City Council Meeting of April 6, 2022.
B. Bi-Weekly Report on General Warrants.
C. Item VII-C was moved to Items Removed from Consent Calendar.
D. Adopt Resolution No. 212-59, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Arcata Amending the City of Arcata Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy for Commercial Licensed Drivers.
ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
C. Amend the Contract in the Amount of $397,773.62 to GHD, Inc., for Professional Services for the Environmental Documents, Design, Plans, Specifications and Estimate for the Old Arcata Road Improvements Project; and Authorize the City Manager to Execute All Applicable Documents.
On inquiry by Councilmember Matthews, City Engineer Khatri responded that there would be no more adjustments to the contract because this amended version applied to the project through the final design.
MATTHEWS MOVED AND SCHAEFER SECONDED TO AMEND THE CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $397,773.62 TO GHD, INC., FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR
THE ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS, DESIGN, PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS AND ESTIMATE FOR THE OLD ARCATA ROAD IMPROVEMENTS 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.
THE MOTION PASSED ON A THREE-TO-ZERO VOICE VOTE WITH ONE ABSENCE.
AYES: ATKINS-SALAZAR, SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS. NOES: NONE. ABSENT:
WATSON. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
April 20, 2022
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NEW BUSINESS
A. Adopt Resolution No. 212-60 Establishing and Approving a Complete Streets Policy within the City of Arcata.
City Engineer Khatri said the City's goal was to develop a balanced and equitable transportation policy and that was what adopting the Complete Streets Policy would do. He said the current document incorporated comments from the Transportation Safety Committee and the public. He explained that the Transportation Safety Committee had recently received additional comments and wanted to meet again to approve its recommendation to the City Council to adopt the policy. He requested the Council take more public comment on the policy and send it back to the Transportation Safety Committee.
Councilmember Matthews asked that the words "strive to" in item C be changed to "shall." Mayor Atkins-Salazar invited public comment.
Matt Simmons Co-Director of the Redwood Coalition for Climate and Environmental Responsibility spoke in support of the policy.
Colin Fiske, Executive Director of the Coalition for Responsible Transportation Priorities, spoke in support of the policy and recommended it call for prioritizing improvements in disadvantaged neighborhoods.
Pat Carr spoke in support of the policy and noted the transportation needs in the Valley West area.
Joanne McGarry reminded staff that in addition to bicycles as alternative transportation, the policy also needed to address skateboards, scooters, etc. Also, bicycle parking needed to be considered.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar closed the public comment period.
BY GENERAL CONSENSUS, THE COUNCIL CONTINUED THIS ITEM TO ITS MAY 18, 2022, REGULAR MEETING.
Councilmember Matthews requested the wording regarding prioritizing disadvantaged neighborhoods be included in the policy.
B. Receive a Presentation on the Draft Coastal Land Use Element of the Local Coastal Program.
Director of Community Development Loya gave a detailed presentation on the draft Coastal Land Use Element of the Local Coastal Program and planning for sea level rise.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar invited public comment.
Jennifer Carlson, Director, Humboldt Baykeeper, recommended the City focus on near-term planning for capital improvements and projects that took many years to plan and implement. She April 20, 2022
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said she supported the idea of not allowing new residential development in the sea level rise inundation areas.
Chris Richards asked about the odds the Coastal Commission would accept the City's proposed program.
Patricia Cambianica noted that the Eureka Waterfront Specific Plan was going to follow the Coastal Commissions guidelines and recommended Arcata talk to Eureka regarding the pros and cons.
Joanne McGarry recommended a retreat plan be started right away and suggested the City plan to move the Wastewater Treatment Plant elsewhere.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar closed the public comment period.
ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Atkins-Salazar invited public comment.
Kimberley White, representing CUNA (Communidad Unida del Norte de Arcata/Community United North Arcata), invited the public to a disaster preparedness and climate resiliency event on Saturday, April 23, in Valley West.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar closed Oral and Written Communications.
COUNCIL AND STAFF REPORTS
A. Presentation by Deputy Director of Environmental Services Emily Benvie and Zero Waste Humboldt on the Food Waste Prevention and Rescue Grant Program.
Emily Benvie, Deputy Director of Environmental Services—Community Services, and Jenna Boyce, Environmental Program Aide in the Environmental Services Department, provided an overview of the County-wide Food Waste Prevention and Rescue Grant Program.
Maggie Gainer, Zero Waste Technical Advisor at Zero Waste Humboldt, continued the presentation speaking about the edible food recovery capacity assessment and Arcata food business outreach.
Juliette Bohn, consultant, and Shelly Reider, Zero Waste Specialist, assisted in the presentation.
B. Other Council and Staff Reports.
Councilmember Matthews reported on her attendance at a meeting of Cooperation Humboldt and the Arcata Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. She announced that Arcata Main Street would be holding its May Day celebration on May 1 on the Plaza, and reminded everyone that Friday, April 22, was Earth Day . She congratulated Redwood Coast Energy Authority on it's fifth anniversary of being the area's community choice aggregator.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar reported on her attendance at a board development training for Arcata Main Street, and a meeting of the Homelessness and Housing Working Group. She announced the Safe Parking Program was up and running successfully.
April 20, 2022
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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.
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, TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2022, AT 6:00 P.M., IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bridget Dory
City Clerk