CITY OF ARCATA
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
COUNCIL CHAMBER JUNE 07, 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 June 2, 2023. PRESENT:
Schaefer, Matthews, Atkins-Salazar, Stillman, White. ABSENT: None. STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Diemer, Finance Director Miller, Director of Community Development Loya, City Engineer Khatri, Director of Environmental Services Sinkhorn, Chief of Police Ahearn, Assistant City Manager/Personnel Director Demello, Assistant City Engineer Caisse, IT and Digital Media Specialist Carrillo, City Clerk Dory.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Two members of Centro del Pueblo read a statement, both in English and in Spanish, acknowledging that Arcata (Goudi'ni) sat on ancestral Wiyot land.
FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Schaefer led the Pledge of Allegiance.
CEREMONIAL MATTERS
A. Proclamation in Recognition of World Oceans Day, June 8, 2023.
Councilmember Matthews read the proclamation.
B. Proclamation in Recognition of Arcata, Six Rivers Charter, and Pacific Coast High School Safe and Sober Graduation Day, Thursday, June 15, 2023.
Mayor Schaefer read the proclamation.
C. Proclamation Designating June 4-10, 2023, The Week of the Oyster.
Councilmember Atkins-Salazar read the proclamation and presented it to Gil Miracle who thanked the Council and invited everyone to the Oyster Festival, on the Plaza, on Saturday, June 10.
D. Proclamation Recognizing June 2023 as National Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month.
Councilmember Stillman read the proclamation.
EARLY ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Schaefer invited public comment.
An unidentified member of the audience thanked the crew that paved D Street recently and recommended the Police Department's budget be doubled.
**Linda Perez, representing the Sanctuary Garden, demanded an end to the intolerable hate crimes and asked the Council and Police Department to take action. She also requested the Councilmembers come and help clean the damaged sign.
An unidentified member of the audience spoke in Spanish.
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Jeanette Todd, co-founder of the Fairy Festival, requested the Council consider lowering or deleting the permit fees for non-profit organizations putting on events.
Cate Be, a member of the Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Sanctuary Garden, spoke about the 12 attacks on the Sanctuary Garden in the last year. She suggested the Community Ambassadors be assigned to the Sanctuary Garden.
Joanne McGarry reminded everyone that we all belong to each other. She suggested Arcata could lead the way against climate change.
Carlos spoke out against the attacks on the Sanctuary Garden and begged the Council to do something.
Mayor Schaefer closed Early Oral Communications.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilmember White removed item G from the Consent Calendar for further discussion.
Mayor Schaefer invited public comment. No one came forward to speak. Mayor Schaefer closed the public comment period.
ON MOTION BY STILLMAN, SECONDED BY ATKINS-SALAZAR, AND WITH A
UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED THE CONSENT CALENDAR FOR JUNE 7, 2023, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM G. ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 223-56, A RESOLUTION OF THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF ARCATA
AUTHORIZING JOINT REQUEST FOR AMENDMENT TO THE GROVE STANDARD AGREEMENT CONTRACT NO. 21-HK-17196. AYES: SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, ATKINS-SALAZAR, STILLMAN, WHITE. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
A. Approve the Minutes of the City Council Meeting of May 17, 2023.
B. Bi-Weekly Report on Disbursements.
C. Adopt Resolution No. 223-59 Approving the Fiscal Year 2023/24 Annual Report on Stormwater Drainage Maintenance Fee for All Non-Tax Exempt Parcels and Directing That Said Fee be Collected through the Property Tax Rolls for Fiscal Year 2023/24.
D. Adopt Resolution No. 223-58, Approving the Fiscal Year 2023/24 Annual Report on Measure A Special Tax for All Non-Tax Exempt Parcels and Directing That Said Fee be Collected through the Property Tax Rolls for Fiscal Year 2023/24.
E. Approve Lease Agreement between the City of Arcata and the County of Humboldt for the Arcata Branch Library; and Authorize the City Manager to Execute All Applicable Documents.
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F. Award Contracts for the 2023 Timber Sales to Humboldt Redwood Company for Redwood Logs ($848/mbf), and to North Fork Lumber Company for Douglas Fir Logs ($615/mbf) and Grand Fir Logs ($415/mbf); and Authorize the City Manager to Execute All Applicable Documents.
G. Item VIII-G was moved to Items Removed from Consent Calendar.
ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
G. Adopt Resolution No. 223-56, A Resolution of the Governing Body of The City of Arcata Authorizing Joint Request for Amendment to The Grove Standard Agreement Contract No. 21-HK-17196.
Director of Community Development Loya said this item was to correct some language in a prior resolution authorizing an amendment to the Standard Agreement adding an entity to operate the project.
ON MOTION BY STILLMAN, SECONDED BY WHITE, AND WITH A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 223-56, A RESOLUTION
OF THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF ARCATA AUTHORIZING JOINT
REQUEST FOR AMENDMENT TO THE GROVE STANDARD AGREEMENT
CONTRACT NO. 21-HK-17196. AYES: SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, ATKINS-SALAZAR, STILLMAN, WHITE. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
NEW BUSINESS
A. Review Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2023-24.
Finance Director Miller told the Council that the fiscal year 2023/2024 budget was in alignment with the Council's goals and totaled $80.5 million. She noted that $43.7 million of the budget was to fund capital improvements, most importantly the wastewater treatment plant upgrades. She said there was not projected growth in tax revenue, but growth in expenditures, stating that the cost of personnel services had increased due to the filling of vacancies. She said the overall budget reflected $72 million in revenue and $80.5 million in expenditures. She highlighted the capital projects and non-capital programs. She spoke regarding the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds ($4.4 million) saying they needed to be expended before the end of 2024. She reviewed the Council's previously approved plan to address the CalPERS unfunded pension liability by: 1) Making a one-time $5 million payment to CalPERS; 2) establishing a section 115 trust with an initial deposit of $2.5 million; 3) taking advantage of a Fresh Start with CalPERS for 15 years; 4) targeting to pay off the Fresh Start in 10 years; 5) developing a funding policy; and 6) evaluating a policy and strategy annually as part of the budget development process. Director Miller also spoke of a potential Transactions and Use Tax ballot measure for March 2024. She recommended the Council direct the Transactions and Use Tax Oversight Committee to evaluate that potential ballot measure.
She explained that the Appropriations Limit (Gann limit) had increased by $1.6 million. She said there was a request from staff to fund an additional Project Manager/Assistant Engineer to be funded by grant funds. She cautioned the Council that it needed to keep in mind future stormwater revenue sources. She then answered a few questions from the Council.
RECESS: The Council recessed from 7:30 to 7:35 p.m.
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Mayor Schaefer invited public comment.
Elias asked for safety for the Sanctuary Garden community.
Maralee, a member of Centro del Pueblo, asked the Council to put a stop to the crimes being committed at the Sanctuary Garden. She requested the City provide a surveillance system for the garden and invited the Councilmembers to come help with the clean-up..
An unidentified member of the audience listed the crimes that had been committed at the Sanctuary Garden.
An unidentified member of the audience requested the Council form a task force to address the crisis at the Sanctuary Garden.
Gregory Daggett asked why no one was questioning the increased cost for the wastewater treatment plant upgrades from $54 million to $62 million. He also questioned the use of wastewater fund monies to help pay the CalPERS unfunded liability.
An unidentified member of the audience continued listing the vandalism that had been committed at the Sanctuary Garden and asked the Council to take action and to highlight the Sanctuary Garden as an important space.
Angela asked for a strengthening of the system that is part of the community and stated it was time for the community to come together.
Cate Be suggested increasing the pay for the Equity Arcata Network Coordinator position and maybe hiring someone to patrol the Sanctuary Garden area at night.
Joanne McGarry said it was time for Arcata to grow up and recognize the change happening in the world, social and physical, and stop the hate and discrimination.
Carlos asked what would happen once the ARPA funds were expended? He said he hoped in the future the City would allocate funds to non-profits.
Jane Woodward made suggestions to address the situation at the Sanctuary Garden such as expanding the volunteer police program, creating a special CERT program, establishing a Neighborhood Watch, having someone live there in a modular unit, etc. She said the City needed to find ways to support events, including in the Creamery District and Valley West.
Lee Torrence suggested making the Community Ambassador positions full time and said she hoped the City could help the Sanctuary Garden.
Mayor Schaefer closed the public comment period.
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BY GENERAL CONSENSUS, THE COUNCIL: 1) DIRECTED THAT THE
TRANSACTIONS AND USE TAX OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE EVALUATE A POSSIBLE TRANSACTIONS AND USE TAX BALLOT MEASURE IN THE SPRING OF 2024; 2) CREATED A RAINY DAY FUND OF $15,000 FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDS, INCLUDING $5,000 TO CENTRO DEL PUEBLO FOR THE SANCTUARY GARDEN; 3) DIRECTED THE CITY MANAGER TO CREATE AN EQUITABLE
FRAMEWORK FOR LOWER RATE PERMIT FEES FOR SPECIAL EVENTS PUT ON BY NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS; 4) INCREASED THE GENERAL FUND RESERVES FROM 25 PERCENT TO 30 PERCENT; AND 5) ALLOCATED A NEW POSITION OF
PROJECT MANAGER/ASSISTANT ENGINEER TO BE FUNDED FROM CAPITAL PROJECT GRANT FUNDS.
Councilmember Stillman suggested exploring merging of the Transportation Safety Committee and Public Safety Committee.
ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Schaefer invited public comment.
Carlrey Arroyo demanded managerial staff assist in the clean-up at the Sanctuary Garden. She criticized the removal of people from Carlson Park.
Gregory Daggett complained that the streets were not being cleaned and massive amounts of cigarette butts were outside businesses and being washed into the waterways.
Shoshanna reported on the success of the Fairy Festival, announced the summer reading program was beginning at the library, and encouraged everyone to help out at the Sanctuary Garden.
Joanne McGarry said Arcata was getting really shabby and that the unhoused situation was discouraging.
Jane Woodward said homelessness needed to be a priority. She reminded the Council that the Planning Commission recommended there be safety improvements made to K Street and said that needed to be budgeted.
Jim Becker advocated for low-cost improvements to K Street including a flashing crossing at Eighth Street and eliminating parking on one side, and advocated for designating the L Street corridor as a linear park.
Mayor Schaefer closed Oral and Written Communications.
COUNCIL AND STAFF REPORTS
Councilmember Atkins-Salazar announced the Oyster Festival would take place on the Plaza on Saturday, June 10, 2023.
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Mayor Schaefer announced the I Street Block Party would take place on the Monday of Labor Day weekend. She announced that during Arts Arcata on Friday, June 9, there would be an artwork display and live music at Our Space Playhouse Arts.
Councilmember White reported on a neighborhood cleanup in Valley West on Sunday, June 5, 2023.
She said the Arcata House Partnership food pantry needed volunteers. She reported on her attendance at the Oyster Festival kickoff event. She said West Village Studios was moving people in. She announced the City had several committee vacancies. She announced a participatory budgeting event at 6 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce building on June 8, 2023. She announced the Oyster Festival would have a shuttle to and from Arcata High School and the Westwood Shopping Center. She announced she would be attending a climate conference. She said that Wednesdays and Saturdays were opportunities to stand in solidarity with Centro del Pueblo.
Councilmember Stillman announced a mural dedication on June 9, 2023, at the Montessori School.
She reported on her attendance at: a meeting of the Board of Directors of Humboldt Transit Authority, a hempcrete workshop at the Chamber of Commerce, and a meeting at the Small Business Development Center. She suggested citizens donate to housing for the homeless. She reminded people that I Street was still a Bicycle Boulevard and an alternative to riding on K Street.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bridget Dory
City Clerk
**Corrected on June 21, 2023, on motion by Stillman, seconded by Matthews, and with a unanimous voice vote, to change "Linda Perez" to "Brenda Perez."