CITY OF ARCATA
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
COUNCIL CHAMBER FEBRUARY 01, 2023
1 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 Schaefer presiding. Notice of this meeting was posted on January 27, 2023. PRESENT:
Schaefer, Matthews, Atkins-Salazar, Stillman, White. ABSENT: None. STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Diemer, Director of Environmental Services Sinkhorn, Finance Director Miller, Director of Community Development Loya, City Engineer Khatri, IT and Digital Media Specialist Carrillo, City Clerk Dory.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Mayor Schaefer read a statement acknowledging that Arcata (Goudi'ni) sat on ancestral Wiyot land.
FLAG SALUTE
The Color Guard of Boy Scout Pack 95 and Troop 15, and Sea Scout Ship 1 posted the colors and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
CEREMONIAL MATTERS
A. Proclamation Recognizing February 5-11, 2023, as Scouting Anniversary Week.
Councilmember Matthews read the proclamation.
A representative of the local Boy Scouts said the Scouts appreciated the City's support of scouting and that they looked forward to another year of supporting the community.
EARLY ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Schaefer invited public comment.
Darin Ferreira, from Ferreira Dairy, spoke about the high cost of glass milk bottles and posed the idea of bottles being made locally from recycled glass.
Fred Weis recommended the Council watch Chris Dart's OLLI presentation on the ability to build structures over four stories. He also recommended requiring home ownership in the Gateway Area.
Raelina Krikston asked the Council to agendize a discussion on codifying protections for renters.
Anton Souza recommended that Ross Street be converted into a one-way street or cul-de-sac, the installation of a speed bump or raised crossing in the school zone on Grant Street, and the installation of 15 mph signs on Ross Street at Baldwin. He presented a signed petition from the neighborhood.
Luke Bessemer voiced support for making products from recycled materials locally, said Arcata needed opportunities for people to buy homes, and advocated for addressing the homeless problem in Arcata.
James Adam Taylor spoke about the need for renters' protection.
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Joanne McGarry recommended the geodesic dome as a shape for structures because of its strength.
Mayor Schaefer closed Early Oral Communications.
BY GENERAL CONSENSUS, THE COUNCIL DIRECTED STAFF TO CONTINUE RESEARCH INTO INCREASING TENANT PROTECTIONS.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilmember White removed item F from the Consent Calendar for further discussion.
Mayor Schaefer invited public comment.
Joanne McGarry removed item E from the Consent Calendar for further discussion.
Mayor Schaefer closed the public comment period.
ON MOTION BY MATTHEWS, SECONDED BY WHITE, AND WITH A UNANIMOUS
VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED THE CONSENT CALENDAR FOR FEBRUARY 1, 2023, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS: E. 1) ADOPT ORDINANCE NO. 1563 AMENDING THE ARCATA MUNICIPAL CODE TITLE VIII—BUILDING REGULATIONS, TO ADOPT CHAPTER 5—ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS PERMIT STREAMLINING; WAIVE READING OF THE TEXT AND CONSENT TO READ BY TITLE ONLY; 2) FIND THAT ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 1563 IS EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) STATED IN ORDINANCE NO. 1563; AND 3) ADOPT THE
RESIDENTIAL AND NON-RESIDENTIAL CHECKLIST FOR PERMITTING ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND ELECTRIC VEHICLE SERVICE EQUIPMENT (EVSE); AND F. ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 223-31 AUTHORIZING APPLICATION FOR A $250,000 REGIONAL EARLY ACTION PLANNING GRANT. AYES: SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, ATKINSSALAZAR, STILLMAN, WHITE. NOES: NONE. ABSENT; NONE. ABSTENTIONS:
NONE.
A. Adopt the Minutes of the Special Meeting of January 18, 2023.
B. Adopt the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of January 18, 2023.
C. Bi-Weekly Report on Disbursements.
D. Adopt Ordinance 1559, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Arcata Amending Article 3, Short-Stay Vacation Rentals, Chapter 2, Title VI of the Arcata Municipal Code, Waive Reading the Text, and Consent to Read by Title Only.
E. Item VIII-E was moved to Items Removed from Consent Calendar.
F. Item VIII-F was moved to Items Removed from Consent Calendar.
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ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
E. 1) Adopt Ordinance No. 1563 Amending the Arcata Municipal Code Title VIII— Building Regulations, to Adopt Chapter 5—Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Permit Streamlining; Waive Reading of the Text, and Consent to Read by Title Only; 2) Find That Adoption of Ordinance No. 1563 is Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines for the reasons stated in Ordinance No. 1563; and 3) Adopt the Residential and NonResidential Checklist for Permitting Electric Vehicles and Electric Vehicle Service Equipment (EVSE).
Mayor Schaefer invited public comment.
Joanne McGarry recommended electric vehicle charging stations be solar powered.
Mayor Schaefer closed the public comment period.
ON MOTION BY STILLMAN, SECONDED BY MATTHEWS, AND WITH A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL: 1) ADOPTED ORDINANCE NO. 1563 AMENDING THE ARCATA MUNICIPAL CODE TITLE VIII—BUILDING REGULATIONS, TO ADOPT CHAPTER 5—ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS PERMIT
STREAMLINING; WAIVED READING OF THE TEXT AND CONSENTED TO READ BY TITLE ONLY; 2) FOUND THAT ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 1563 WAS EXEMPT
FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) STATED IN ORDINANCE NO. 1563; AND 3) ADOPTED THE RESIDENTIAL AND NONRESIDENTIAL CHECKLIST FOR PERMITTING ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND ELECTRIC VEHICLE SERVICE EQUIPMENT (EVSE). AYES: SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, ATKINS-SALAZAR, STILLMAN, WHITE. NOES: NONE. ABSENT:
NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
F. Adopt Resolution No. 223-31 Authorizing Application for a $250,000 Regional Early Action Planning Grant.
Councilmember White said she would vote in favor of this item because she was in favor of workforce housing, but she had concerns about the $50,000 for Terner Labs to construct a housing dashboard.
Mayor Schaefer invited public comment.
An unidentified member of the audience asked why the Terner Labs project had increased from free to $50,000. She said this item should not be on the Consent Calendar and recommended the two projects listed on this item be separated.
Mayor Schaefer closed the public comment period.
Mayor Schaefer explained that this item was to approve a grant application for funds.
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ON MOTION BY MATTHEWS, SECONDED BY STILLMAN, AND WITH A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 223-31 AUTHORIZING THE APPLICATION FOR A $250,000 REGIONAL EARLY ACTION PLANNING GRANT.
AYES: SCHAEFER MATTHEWS, ATKINS-SALAZAR, STILLMAN, WHITE. NOES:
NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
NEW BUSINESS
A. Receive an Update on the City’s Trail System and Take Action As Appropriate.
Director of Environmental Services Sinkhorn provided an overview of the City's trail system and its management and maintenance by the Environmental Services Department. She said Arcata had over 40 miles of trail with 7.75 miles of paved trails, two dozen trails in the Arcata Community Forest, 5 miles of natural surface trails at the marsh, and neighborhood connector trails that provided nonmotorized connectivity of neighborhoods. She promoted the Avenza Maps available on one's cell phone showing trails in the forest, parks and the marsh. She pointed out that an internet connection was not required to access the maps. She spoke about funding for maintenance and expectations of the level of maintenance. She said the City was always looking to construct universal trails wherever it could. She noted that the City partnered with Humboldt Trails Council's Volunteer Trail Stewards, the Redwood Coast Mountain Biking Association, and Friends of the Arcata Marsh (FOAM). Further, the City currently had three active adopt-a-park volunteer efforts. Also, the Boy Scouts had helped with open space south of Jacoby Creek and in Sunny Brae Park. She announced that the final segment of the Arcata Ridge Trail was recently completed.
Councilmember White commended FOAM's work at the marsh. She asked if it would be appropriate to add access to the Mad River in the introduction portion of the document.
On inquiry by Councilmember Stillman, Director Sinkhorn updated the Council on the status of the trail running from Alliance Road to North Street saying a neighbor had volunteered for graffiti abatement and trash pickup. She reported that City crews had worked on the stairs and improving sight distance.
On inquiry by Councilmember Atkins-Salazar, Director Sinkhorn responded that the Alliance Road to Northern Avenue trail was on City right of way.
On inquiry by Mayor Schaefer regarding e-bikes, Director Sinkhorn explained that the Humboldt County Association of Governments had been holding discussions about how trail users respected and interacted with one another with the key concern being speed. She said she felt the key was education around speeds, respect, and safe passing. She noted that the draft update of the Forest Management Plan included a recommendation that Class I and II e-bikes be acceptable in the Community Forest. She said that HCAOG had discussed speed limits, the capacity for enforcing speed limits, and was currently focusing its efforts on education.
Mayor Schaefer reported that residents and businesses had requested dogipots along the Humboldt Bay Trail North in the Creamery District.
Councilmember Stillman recommended electric scooters on trails be discussed.
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Mayor Schaefer invited public comment.
Joanne McGarry suggested paper maps be available for those who didn't have access to the Avenza maps. She also recommended the availability of shuttles to volunteer trail work sites.
James Adam Taylor urged the City to expand its trails in an ethical manner and recommended that be included in conditions for approval of future projects.
Coline Fiske, Coalition for Responsible Transportation Priorities, thanked staff for its work and expressed his excitement about the Annie & Mary Trail and the last four miles of the Humboldt Bay Trail.
James Becker encouraged the Council to move forward with a designation of the L Street corridor as a linear park. He spoke about rails with trails and rail banking.
Mayor Schaefer closed the public comment period.
B. Consider Adopting Resolution No. 223-34, Implementing an Emergency Homebuyer Assistance Program for Community Land Trust Acquisition and Authorizing a Budget Appropriation to Fund the Program in the Amount of $130,000.
Director of Community Development Loya introduced Beth Matsumoto, Executive Director of Housing Humboldt.
Director Loya said things had changed radically since the staff report was written. He asked the Council to receive public comment that evening and then staff would bring the item back at a future meeting for recommendations. He explained that a community land trust was a way to provide a home ownership opportunity and had been a winning program in Arcata. He further explained that many tools the City used to finance and operate the program had fallen away over time, notably redevelopment funds and Department of Housing and Urban Development HOME funds.
Beth Matsumoto described the program's structure, gave a history of it in Arcata, and explained how it worked. She said the land was leased and the houses were owned thereby keeping them affordable to low-income homeowners. There were 22 homes in Arcata of which 14 had been re-sold.
Director Loya gave a detailed explanation of the history of funding for the program and current problems with accessing funding.
Mayor Schaefer invited public comment.
Fred Weis said he had been exploring options of a legal partnership between landlords who no longer wanted to be landlords and a partner who also owned the property.
Raelina Krikston spoke of the need for affordable rentals and a model for people to move from renting to home ownership. She recommended investigating how to get developers to relinquish control of property to condominiums.
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James Adam Taylor said that home ownership was important, as well as affordable rental options.
He recommended searching out elderly landlords who might be willing to put their property into a land trust.
Sherri Starr asked the Council to please focus on home ownership. She said the land trust model was a way to assist the shrinking middle class.
Jim Becker applauded the council for looking for opportunities to continue to make home ownership affordable.
Patricia Cambianica stated the community had asked for home ownership opportunities, especially affordable ones. She said she was against turning the community land trust homes into rentals or allowing them to be such.
Mayor Schaefer closed the public comment period.
RECESS: The Council recessed from 8:09 to 8:13 p.m.
ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Schaefer invited public comment.
James Adam Taylor said he had been a resident of Westwood Garden Apartments for eight years and felt it was wrong to say renters had protection if they lived somewhere for over one year.
Joanne McGarry asked that a discussion about natural gas appliances be on a future agenda. She said it was painful to her to see violent and unhealthy things happening in the community, as well as the Council's response to those.
Fred Weis expressed that he felt the Gateway Area Plan process had been poorly managed and listed examples to back that up.
Jim Becker said he hoped the Council would consider what the public was saying concerning the L Street corridor.
Mayor Schaefer closed the public comment period.
COUNCIL AND STAFF REPORTS
Councilmember Atkins-Salazar reported on her attendance at a meeting of the Board of Directors of Arcata Main Street.
Councilmember Matthews said that road safety was a huge concern for the Council. She said the Energy Committee was working on electrification for buildings and she would like to see it agendized for the Council. She announced the Chamber of Commerce Business Leadership Awards would be held on February 18, 2023, at the Community Center.
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Mayor Schaefer reported on her participation in a meeting of the Redwood Region Climate and Community Resilience Hub Offshore Wind Community Benefits Network.
Councilmember White reported on her attendance at a meeting of the Board of Directors of Arcata House Partnership, a meeting of the Redwood Region Economic Development Commission, a tour of the Safe Parking Program, and a workshop on public transit.. She also reported on the extreme weather shelter opened by Arcata House Partnership. She invited everyone to the installation of a mural in Valley West on Hallen Drive on February 5, 2023, at 11:00 a.m.
Councilmember Stillman reported on her attendance at a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Humboldt Transit Authority. She announced the League of Women Voters' Annual Meeting would be held on April 22, 2023, and all Councilmembers were invited. She announced a meet-and-greet at Septentrio for Chamber of Commerce and Main Street members on Friday, February 3, 2023.
DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS
A. Confirm Dates for Study Sessions: Annual with Committee Chairpersons, Annual Goal Setting, and Fiscal Year 2023/2024 Budget.
ON MOTION BY MATTHEWS, SECONDED BY STILLMAN, AND WITH A UNANIMOUS
VOICE VOTE THE COUNCIL SCHEDULED THE FOLLOWING STUDY SESSIONS AT 6:00 P.M.: ANNUAL WITH COMMITTEE CHAIRS—FEBRUARY 21, 2023; GOALS SETTING—MARCH 7, 2023; BUDGET—MAY 9, 2023. AYES: SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, ATKINS-SALAZAR, STILLMAN, WHITE. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
B. Confirm a Date for a Special Meeting to Meet in Closed Session Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957—Performance Reviews of City Manager and City Attorney; and Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6—Conference with Labor Negotiators. Unrepresented Employee: City Manager. City Representative: Sarah Schaefer, Mayor.
ON MOTION BY MATTHEWS, SECONDED BY ATKINS-SALAZAR, THE COUNCIL SCHEDULED TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2023, AT 6:00 P.M., FOR A SPECIAL MEETING
TO MEET IN CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957—PERFORMANCE REVIEWS OF CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY; AND PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957.6—CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS. AYES: SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, ATKINS-SALAZAR, STILLMAN, WHITE. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bridget Dory
City Clerk