CITY OF ARCATA
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
COUNCIL CHAMBER AUGUST 17, 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 August 12, 2022.
PRESENT: Atkins-Salazar, Schaefer, Matthews, Stillman, Watson. ABSENT: None. STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Diemer, City Attorney Diamond, Assistance City Manager/Personnel Director Demello, Director of Environmental Services Sinkhorn, City Engineer Khatri, Deputy Director of Community Development Dart, Chief of Police Ahearn, Finance Director Starzhevskiy, Deputy Director of Environmental Services—Community Services Benvie, Deputy Director of IT Savage, City Clerk Dory.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Mayor Atkins-Salazar read a Land Acknowledgment acknowledging that Arcata (Goudi'ni) sat on ancestral Wiyot land.
FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Atkins-Salazar led the Pledge of Allegiance.
CEREMONIAL MATTERS
A. Recognition of Steven Martin for 22 Years of Service on the Parks and Recreation Committee.
Councilmember Matthews read the Certificate of Appreciation for Steven Martin thanking him for his long-term work on the Parks and Recreation Committee.
B. Proclamation Recognizing September 4-10, 2022, as Suicide Prevention Week.
Councilmember Watson read the proclamation and presented it to Heather Freitas who announced the "Out of the Darkness Walk" on Saturday, September 11, 2022.
REPORT BY COMMISSION/COMMITTEE
A. Annual Report from the Energy Committee.
Energy Committee members Carisse Geronimo and Jim Zoellick gave an oral version of the Committee's annual report.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar invited public comment.
Gregory Daggett asked if the proposed all-electric requirement would be for new construction only.
Jane Woodward asked if the committee's comments would be included in the Gateway Area Plan.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar closed the public comment period.
Deputy Director of Environmental Services—Community Services Benvie responded that the proposed all-electric ordinance would focus on new construction only at this time.
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EARLY ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Atkins-Salazar invited public comment.
Fred Weis said he would like to see a 3-D rendering of what a build-out of 1,000+ apartments in the Gateway Area would look like. He suggested the Barrel District have a Native American name instead.
Gregory Daggett said the wastewater treatment plant needed to be addressed in relation to sea level rise. He said the Grand Jury Report said it there shouldn't be tall buildings in the sea level rise area, and the Gateway Plan advocated for tall buildings. He also stated that the building or raising of levees was not a good direction to take.
Dan Barton asked Councilmember Watson to resign or, at the very least, to not seek re-election.
Joanne McGarry asked the Council to get specific about what it is going to do about the climate emergency. She asked Arcata to lead the way.
Jane Woodward commended the City for the Ben Noble presentation on the Gateway Area Plan and said she hoped to have a talk about the issues at the study session with the Planning Commission on August 23.
Mary spoke regarding the Gateway Area Plan saying she lived in Sorrell Place and that living with 400 people in a four-story apartment building had left her concerned and dissatisfied. She expressed her fear that building eight-story structures would cause social unrest by both the residents and nearby neighbors.
Jim Becker spoke in favor of a linear park on L Street.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar closed the public comment period.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilmember Watson removed item F from the Consent Calendar for further discussion.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar invited public comment. None was received. Mayor Atkins-Salazar closed the public comment period.
ON MOTION BY MATTHEWS, SECONDED BY SCHAEFER, AND WITH A
UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED THE CONSENT CALENDAR FOR AUGUST 17, 2022, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM F. AMEND THE EXISTING
BIKE SHARE PROGRAM WITH TANDEM MOBILITY LLC TO ADD FOUR
ADDITIONAL STATIONS IN THE CITY LIMITS FOR THE CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $36,000 PER PROGRAM YEAR; AUTHORIZE THE CITY ENGINEER TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT BY UP TO $9,000 (FOR A TOTAL OF $45,000) TO ALLOW
FOR INSTALLATION OF AN ADDITIONAL BIKE STATION IF FUNDING BECOMES AVAILABLE; AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL August 17, 2022
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APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS. AYES: ATKINS-SALAZAR, SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, STILLMAN, WATSON. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
A. Bi-Weekly Report on Disbursements.
B. Adopt Resolution No. 223-15 Accepting a Conservation Easement on a Portion of Assessor’s Parcel No. 503-271-028, Adjacent to the Arcata Community Forest.
C. Adopt Resolution No. 223-16 Accepting a Fee Title Interest in a Portion of Assessor's Parcel No. (APN) 507-131-091 from Eureka Ready Mix Concrete Company, Inc.
D. Adopt Resolution No. 223-05, a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Arcata Authorizing Application for a California Coastal Commission Planning Grant.
E. Approve a Purchase Contract with Western Global for Two Aboveground, Stationary Fuel Storage Tanks and Two Standard-Duty Pump Kits for a Total Contract Price of $67,691.44 (Including Tax and Freight); and Authorize the City Manager to Execute All Applicable Documents.
F. Item VIII-F was moved to Items Removed from Consent Calendar.
G. Adopt Resolution No. 223-13, Stating the City's Intent to Reimburse Expenditures by the State Water Resources Control Board Made in Support of the City’s Infiltration and Inflow Reduction Project; and Resolution No. 223-14, Authorizing the City Manager to File a Financial Assistance Application with the State Water Resources Control Board for the City’s Infiltration and Inflow Reduction Project.
ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
F. Amend the Existing Bike Share Program with Tandem Mobility LLC, to Add Four Additional Stations in the City Limits for the Contract Amount Not to Exceed $36,000 Per Program Year; Authorize the City Engineer to Increase the Amount by up to $9,000 (for a Total of $45,000) to Allow for Installation of an Additional Bike Station if Funding Becomes Available; and Authorize the City Manager to Execute All Applicable Documents.
On inquiry by Councilmember Matthews, City Engineer Khatri explained that this program was fully funded by a grant. He noted there were two bicycle stations on the Plaza and two at Cal Poly Humboldt, and this action would add four more stations.
WATSON MOVED AND MATTHEWS SECONDED TO AMEND THE EXISTING BIKE
SHARE PROGRAM WITH TANDEM MOBILITY LLC, TO ADD FOUR ADDITIONAL
STATIONS IN THE CITY LIMITS FOR THE CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $36,000 PER PROGRAM YEAR; AUTHORIZE THE CITY ENGINEER TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT BY UP TO $9,000 (FOR A TOTAL OF $45,000) TO ALLOW FOR
INSTALLATION OF AN ADDITIONAL BIKE STATION IF FUNDING BECOMES AVAILABLE; AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar invited public comment.
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Joanne McGarry advocated for allowing bicycles to park in automobile parking spaces.
Greg King supported covered bicycle lockers or parking garages.
Anthony said a solution to encourage more bicycle riding was to mix residential units with grocery stores in neighborhoods.
Dan Close said, in order to reduce bicycle accidents, the City should make roads more curvy and reduce the number of lanes in order to force people to drive slower.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar closed the public comment period.
THE MOTION PASSED ON A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE. AYES: ATKINS-SALAZAR, SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, STILLMAN, WATSON. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
OLD BUSINESS
A. Receive an Update on the City of Arcata's Wastewater and Water Infrastructure Planning.
Director of Environmental Services Sinkhorn gave a presentation on water wastewater infrastructure planning. She highlighted the 10 water and wastewater projects currently included in the City's Capital Improvement Program.
She said that Phase I of the wastewater treatment plant upgrade was currently out to bid. The rehabilitation of the facility focused on the existing plant and retention of the natural system, along with installation of a parallel mechanical system in Phase II. The rehabilitation would replace aging infrastructure and upgrade the disinfection from chlorine to ultraviolet. She noted that the upgrade included a new outfall location. The project would begin in the Fall of 2022 and last 30 months.
She said planning for sea level rise would not require additional levee augmentation for the Phase I improvements' 30-year life span. However, incremental levee augmentation of the core treatment plant area was being pursued. She said the upgrades would accommodate a 20 percent growth factor. She went through the details of the flow parameters and the plant's capacity to handle the flow levels.
Director Sinkhorn said that the Phase II project would be a parallel mechanical system within the treatment facility so that if the plant was not meeting its goals, an oxidation ditch could be phased in.
Also, there was the ability to add a secondary clarifier. She said the State Water Resources Control Board had put the Phase II project on hold and was funding a third-party feasibility study for longrange planning.
Director Sinkhorn described the City's sewer lateral replacement program and said it was decreasing the influent to the plant by decreasing inflow and infiltration during wet weather.
Regarding the drinking water supply planning, Director Sinkhorn said that in 2020, the City used 52 percent of its right to 1,186 million gallons of water annually. He told the Council that the City had August 17, 2022
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an auxiliary groundwater well at Heindon Road that had been offline for several years, but the City was in the process of getting it up and running again. She stated the City had 16 storage tanks with a total capacity of 4.8 million gallons, and the current project to add a tank (Tank 1C) would increase that by one million gallons, thereby increasing the City's storage capacity by 20 percent. She said staff was working on a waterline replacement project. Further, in the Jacoby Creek Water Dissrict, the California Office of Emergency Services was making improvements to the booster station and waterlines.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar invited public comment.
Chris Richards, speaking to the population growth factor and the treatment plant's capacity, said the City should connect with Cal Poly Humboldt.
Gregory Daggett said another factor to consider for the treatment plant was the prediction of large storms coming in from Hawaii. He asked where the treatment plant would be located in the future when the current plant was under water due to sea level rise.
Jane Woodward asked how much additional capacity would have to be put into the core area and how much of the plant would have to be moved. She asked about plans during construction to limit inflow and how much capacity could be diverted to the oxidation ponds if necessary.
Dan Close said it was not necessary to add chlorine to the drinking water. He stated that the cost of re-lining of the sewer pipes fell on the poor people, and people were being pushed out by the cost of water, wastewater and garbage.
Joanne McGarry said the City's treatment of water and wastewater needed to be revolutionary. She recommended considering retreat for the wastewater plant due to sea level rise.
Greg King said he didn't feel Arcata was taking ecological changes and demographic changes seriously and the Council needed to think differently.
Lisa Pelletier said a lot of the area south of Samoa Boulevard would be under water in five years and asked if the City had a plan to relocate the wastewater treatment plant and critical infrastructure. She recommended an advisory board of experts be formed to advise the City on the integrity of its system.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar closed the public comment period.
RECESS: The Council recessed from 8:10 to 8:17 p.m.
NEW BUSINESS
A. Review and Consider the Information Presented from Responsible Growth Arcata.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar recused herself from the discussion and decision on this item because she owned property and a business near the Gateway Area. She left the Council Chamber at 8:18 p.m.
Vice-Mayor Schaefer proceeded to preside over the meeting.
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Scott McBain requested the City form an advisory committee to advise the Council on the Gateway Area Plan. He said the proponents of an advisory committee hoped to: 1) implement a more balanced community engagement strategy celebrating the public to find solutions; 2) build community trust and support for the plan; 3) address and recommend solutions to priority issues to date; and 4) recommend solutions for the final Gateway Area Plan on an updated timeline. He said they also recommended separating the Gateway Area Plan from the General Plan 2045 process. He proposed an advisory committee of seven to nine members with one Planning Commissioner and said the role of the committee would be to lead the process with the assistance of City staff. He explained that the proponents envisioned the advisory committee creating topic working groups and interacting with staff, the Planning Commission, City committees, consultants and the public.
Vice-Mayor Schaefer invited public comment.
The following people spoke in favor of the City Council forming a Gateway Area Plan advisory committee: Joanne McGarry, James Becker, Patricia Cambianica, Chris Richards, Scott McBain, Fred Weis, Jane Woodward, Anthony, Sherri, and Greg King.
Gregory Daggett said the question of whether it was safe to build in the Gateway Area needed to be answered by experts.
Dan Close said development in Arcata was displacing disadvantaged people.
Matt Simmons, Redwood Coalition for Climate and Environmental Responsibility, said the Plan was urgent and the Housing Element called for this upzoning. He noted the second draft of the Plan would be different than the first as a lot of changes had been put forth. He declared that dense housing allowed people to burn less fossil fuels.
Colin Fiske, Coalition for Responsible Transportation Priorities, said the Coalition did not support a new advisory committee for this purpose stating it was hard to see how it would add anything to the process. He said a scientific survey was a clunky tool for land use planning.
Vice-Mayor Schaefer closed the public comment period.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar returned to the Council Chamber at 9:50 p.m. and returned to presiding over the meeting.
ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Atkins-Salazar invited public comment.
Chris Richards said he felt the Fair Political Practices Commission's (FPPC) guidelines were clear and that Councilmember Stillman should recuse herself from participating in discussions on the Gateway Area Plan until she received a determination from the FPPC.
Dan Close spoke about gentrification and advocated for rent control in Arcata.
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Gregory Daggett spoke regarding the Gateway Area Plan stating that the Council didn't really know what the public thought and a mass mailing should be done in order to find out.
Joanne McGarry said it would be nice to know periodically during the meeting how many people were attending the Council meetings online.
Fred Weis voiced his disappointment that letters written to the Planning Commission were not being posted to the website in a timely manner. He submitted a written comment on this subject.
Anthony said a Gateway Area Plan advisory committee would create cohesion between community awareness and the decision makers.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar closed Oral and Written Communications.
COUNCIL AND STAFF REPORTS
Councilmember Schaefer reminded everyone that the Arcata/Camoapa Sister City Project would hold the I Block Party on Monday, September 5, on I Street.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar reported on the status of the Community Ambassador Program and the Safe Parking Program. She announced that Arcata Main Street was looking for a new Executive Director.
Councilmember Watson thanked Mayor Atkins-Salazar for her letter regarding the sprucing up of the G and H Street corridor.
Councilmember Stillman reported on her attendance at a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Humboldt Transit Authority.
DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS
A. Confirm the City Council Will Hold a Joint Study Session with the Planning Commission on Tuesday, August 23, 2022, at 6:00 p.m., in the Council Chamber.
BY GENERAL CONSENSUS, THE COUNCIL CONFIRMED IT WOULD HOLD A JOINT STUDY SESSION WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2022, AT 6:00 P.M., IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER TO DISCUSS THE DRAFT GATEWAY AREA PLAN.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 10:11 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bridget Dory
City Clerk