CITY OF ARCATA
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
COUNCIL CHAMBER DECEMBER 15, 2022
1 A special 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 December 9, 2022.
PRESENT: Atkins-Salazar, Schaefer, Matthews, Stillman. ABSENT: Watson. STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Diemer, City Attorney Diamond, Deputy Director Information Technology Savage, City Clerk Dory.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Mayor Atkins-Salazar read a statement acknowledging that Arcata (Goudi'ni) sat on ancestral Wiyot land.
FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Atkins-Salazar led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Atkins-Salazar invited public comment.
Dave Meserve expressed his delight that Measure M had passed. He said the proponents were working out ways to cooperate if there was a legal challenge to flying the Earth Flag above the flag of the United States.
Joanne McGarry advocated for looking at the Earth in an overview and said she was happy that Measure M had passed.
Nick Matthews thanked Mayor Atkins-Salazar for her work and welcomed Meredith Matthews and Kimberley White to the Council wishing them the best for the next four years.
Walt Geist expressed his appreciation for all the sacrifices made by those who serve the community.
Uri Driscoll thanked everyone for committing to agendizing the parking lot on lower Fickle Hill Road.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar closed the public comment period.
NEW BUSINESS
A. Adopt Resolution No. 223-28 Declaring the Results of the Municipal Election Held on November 8, 2022.
ON MOTION BY MATTHEWS, SECONDED BY SCHAEFER, AND WITH A FOUR-TOZERO VOICE VOTE WITH ONE ABSENCE, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 223-28 DECLARING THE RESULTS OF THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION December 15, 2022
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OF NOVEMBER 8, 2022. AYES: ATKINS-SALAZAR, SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, STILLMAN. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: WATSON. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
B. City Clerk to Swear-In Newly Elected Members of the Arcata City Council Pursuant to California Elections Code Section 10265.
City Clerk Dory issued the Oath of Office to incoming Councilmembers Meredith Matthews and Kimberley White. The new Councilmembers took their seats on the dais.
C. Elect a Mayor and Vice Mayor Pursuant to Arcata Municipal Code Section 2020.
ATKINS-SALAZAR NOMINATED AND MATTHEWS SECONDED TO ELECT SCHAEFER AS MAYOR FOR THE ENSUING YEAR. THE MOTION PASSED ON A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE. AYES: SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, ATKINS-SALAZAR, STILLMAN, WHITE. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
SCHAEFER NOMINATED AND WHITE SECONDED TO ELECT MATTHEWS AS VICE MAYOR FOR THE ENSUING YEAR. THE MOTION PASSED ON A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE. AYES: SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, ATKINS-SALAZAR, STILLMAN, WHITE. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
D. Consider Council Member Assignments to Regional Boards, Committees, and Commissions, and as Liaisons for 2023.
MATTHEWS MOVED AND STILLMAN SECONDED TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING
APPOINTMENTS TO REGIONAL BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES AND AS LIAISONS:
HUMBOLDT COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS: PRIMARY—ATKINSSALAZAR; ALTERNATE—WHITE; HUMBOLDT TRANSIT AUTHORITY: PRIMARY—STILLMAN; ALTERNATE— WHITE;
HUMBOLDT WASTE MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY: PRIMARY—MATTHEWS;
ALTERNATE—STILLMAN;
REDWOOD COAST ENERGY AUTHORITY: PRIMARY—SCHAEFER; ALTERNATE— ATKINS-SALAZAR;
REDWOOD REGION ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION: PRIMARY— WHITE; ALTERNATE—STILLMAN;
HUMBOLDT BAY MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT, WATER QUALITY TASK FORCE:
PRIMARY—MATTHEWS; ALTERNATE—STILLMAN;
HUMBOLDT-DEL NORTE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS RESPONSE JOINT POWERS AUTHORITY: PRIMARY—STILLMAN; ALTERNATE—SCHAEFER;
LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES, REDWOOD EMPIRE DIVISION,
REPRESENTATIVE TO THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE AND DIVISION BUSINESS MEETINGS: PRIMARY—SCHAEFER; ALTERNATE—MATTHEWS; ARCATA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: PRIMARY—MATTHEWS; ALTERNATE— WHITE;
ARCATA DOWNTOWN BUSINESS COMMUNITY—ARCATA MAIN STREET:
PRIMARY—ATKINS-SALAZAR; ALTERNATE—STILLMAN;
ARCATA HOUSE PARTNERSHIP: PRIMARY—WHITE; ALTERNATE—MATTHEWS; December 15, 2022
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ARCATA/CAMOAPA SISTER CITY COMMITTEE: PRIMARY—SCHAEFER; ALTERNATE—STILLMAN;
EQUITY ARCATA ADVISORY TEAM: PRIMARY—SCHAEFER; ALTERNATE— ATKINS-SALAZAR;
FRIENDS OF THE ARCATA MARSH: PRIMARY—STILLMAN
HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING WORKING GROUP: PRIMARY—MATTHEWS; ALTERNATE—WHITE;
HSU/CITY LIAISONS: PRIMARIES—SCHAEFER AND MATTHEWS.
THE MOTION PASSED ON A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE. AYES: SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, ATKINS-SALAZAR, STILLMAN, WHITE. NOES: NONE. ABSENT:
NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
CLOSED SESSION
A. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL—ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2): One Case.
The Council retired at 6:35 p.m. to the City Manager's Conference Room for closed session.
CLOSED SESSION REPORTS
A. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL—ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2): One Case Mayor Schaefer reported out the following:
BY UNANIMOUS VOTE, THE COUNCIL DECIDED THAT, AS DECIDED BY THE WILL
OF THE PEOPLE, THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD UPHOLD MEASURE M AND
CONCURRENTLY SEEK JUDICIAL RESOLUTION TO DETERMINE IF THE MEASURE VIOLATED STATE OR FEDERAL LAW. AYES: SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, ATKINSSALAZAR, STILLMAN, WHITE. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTENTIONS:
NONE.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bridget Dory
City Clerk