CITY OF ARCATA
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
COUNCIL CHAMBER JULY 19, 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 July 14, 2023. PRESENT:
Schaefer, Matthews, Atkins-Salazar, Stillman, White. ABSENT: None. STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Diemer, City Engineer Khatri, Director of Community Development Loya, Deputy Director of Community Development Dart, Deputy Director of Environmental Services— Community Services Benvie.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Mayor Schaefer read a statement acknowledging that Arcata (Goudi'ni) sat on ancestral Wiyot land.
FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Schaefer led the Pledge of Allegiance.
CEREMONIAL MATTERS
A. Proclamation Recognizing July 2023 as Parks and Recreation Month.
Councilmember Matthews read the proclamation and presented it to Sheldon Heath, Chairperson of the Parks and Recreation Committee.
B. Proclamation in Support of the Protection of the Southern Resident Orcas and Their Ecosystem.
Mayor Schaefer read the proclamation and presented it to Isabelle (Izzy) Shirah who thanked the Council and spoke about the critically endangered Southern Resident Orcas.
REPORT BY COMMISSION/COMMITTEE
A. Annual Report from the Parks and Recreation Committee.
Sheldon Heath, Chairperson of the Parks and Recreation Committee, gave an oral version of the Committee's Annual Report.
EARLY ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Schaefer invited public comment.
James Becker spoke in favor of making the L Street corridor a linear park.
Pat Carr asked the Council to send a letter to Assemblymember Jim Wood asking him to support SB 252 which would require CalSTRS and CalPERS to stop investing in fossil fuel projects.
Joanne McGarry said Arcata could do so much more to thwart the climate emergency, including not using gas-powered landscaping tools.
Fred Weis reported on a community meeting at the Arcata Playhouse, stating there would be subsequent meetings on the first Tuesday of every month beginning in September.
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An unidentified member of the audience spoke in favor of creating a linear park on L Street.
Mayor Schaefer closed Early Oral Communications.
CONSENT CALENDAR
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 JULY 19, 2023, AS PRESENTED. AYES: SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, ATKINSSALAZAR, STILLMAN, WHITE. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTENTIONS:
NONE.
A. Approve the Minutes of the City Council Meeting of June 21, 2023.
B. Bi-Weekly Report on Disbursements.
C. Approve a Memorandum of Understanding between Humboldt County and the City of Arcata for a Regional Edible Food Recovery Program Manager Position; and Authorize the City Manager to Execute All Applicable Documents.
D. Award a Contract in the Amount of $217,900.00 to SHN for Engineering Design & Construction Management Services for the Arcata Ball Park Improvement Project; Authorize the City Manager to Increase the Contract Amount by up to $10,895.00 (5 Percent, for a Total of $228,795.00); and Authorize the City Manager to Execute All Applicable Documents
E. Approve the Project Plans and Award a Construction Contract for the Bloomfield Park Improvement Project to Hooven & Co., Inc., in the Amount of $39,037.00; Authorize the City Engineer to Increase the Contract Amount by up to $3,903.70, (10 Percent, for a Total Amount Not to Exceed $42,940.70) to Allow for Any Unforeseen Contingencies; and Authorize the City Manager to Execute All Applicable Documents.
F. Amend the Contract in the Amount of $30,960.73 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.
NEW BUSINESS
A. Conduct a Public Hearing to Hear Objections or Protests from Landowners Listed on the Report of 2022 Lien Letter Recipients of Delinquent Garbage Account Fees; and Make Revisions or Corrections to the Report as the Council Deems Just; After Which, Adopt Resolution No. 234-02 Confirming the Report of 2022 Delinquent Garbage Account Fees for Lien.
Deputy Director of Environmental Services—Community Services Benvie explained the process in regard to delinquent garbage bills stating that if not paid, the amounts due would become liens on the properties and be collected by the County with property taxes.
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Mayor Schaefer opened the public hearing. No one came forward to speak. Mayor Schaefer closed the public hearing.
ON MOTION BY ATKINS-SALAZAR, SECONDED BY STILLMAN, AND WITH A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE THE COUNCIL ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 234-02 CONFIRMING THE REPORT OF 2022 DELINQUENT GARBAGE ACCOUNT FEES FOR LIEN. AYES: SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, ATKINS-SALAZAR, STILLMAN, WHITE.
NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
B. Public Hearing for Closeout of Arcata’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) 17-CDBG-12017: Accomplishments, Disencumbrance, and Acceptance of Two Planning Only Activity Reports.
Director Loya explained that this item was the report out on the 2017 Community Development Block Grant.
Mayor Schaefer opened the public hearing.
Fred Weis suggested the Housing Element undergo an informal review because a lot had changed in Arcata in the last 3-1/2 years.
Mayor Schaefer closed the public hearing.
ON MOTION BY MATTHEWS, SECONDED BY ATKINS-SALAZAR, AND WITH A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 234-01
ACCEPTING THE ANALYSIS AND INFILL MARKET STUDY WITH APPENDIX
REPORT AND ANALYSIS AND CITY OF ARCATA HOUSING ELEMENT SIXTH
CYCLE REPORT, DIRECTED STAFF TO DISENCUMBER THE UNUSED GRANT
FUNDS, AND AUTHORIZED THE CITY MANAGER TO SIGN THE CLOSEOUT
CERTIFICATION AND SUBMIT THE FINAL REPORTS AND CLOSEOUT PACKAGE
TO THE CALIFORNIA HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CDBG DIVISION. SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, ATKINS-SALAZAR, STILLMAN, WHITE. NOES:
NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
C. Receive a Verbal Report from the Planning Commission Chairperson on the Planning Commission's Recommendations for the City's General Plan Updates.
Planning Commission Chairperson Scott Davies gave an update on the Planning Commission's review of the General Plan, Gateway Area Plan and the associated Gateway Code. He said the Commission was recommending the June 27, 2023, draft General Plan 2045 for the Council's consideration. He described the major issues the Commission grappled with during review such as the housing crisis, pressure from the state to meet its mandated housing goals, the threat that the state would approve projects on its own, agricultural resource preservation, Craftsman's Mall infill opportunity zone, parking, racial equity and social justice. He said the Commission's recommendations weighed all the input from the public and the City's committees.
Director of Community Development Loya reviewed the timeline leading up to adoption of the General Plan 2045. He then reviewed the outstanding work product.
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Councilmembers Atkins-Salazar and Stillman recused themselves from the discussion on the Gateway Area Plan because they owned property in close proximity to the Gateway Area. They left the Chamber at 7:22 p.m.
Chairperson Davies said the Gateway Area Plan provided policy framework to develop the Gateway Area. He said the Gateway Code was the form-based code that implemented the Gateway Area Plan.
He said the Planning Commission would be doing further work on the Gateway Code. He stated that the Commission appreciated and incorporated all the City's Committees' recommendations with the exception of one. He said the Planning Commission was recommending building heights for each of the Gateway Districts: Barrel District (7 stories), Gateway Hub (6 stories), Gateway Corridor (5 stories), and Gateway Neighborhood (4 stories). He said the Commission wanted City Council input on building heights. Chairperson Davies explained that the Planning Commission retained the K and L Streets one-way couplet (northbound on K Street and southbound on L Street) because it felt the couplet provided a significantly superior alternative for bike and pedestrian safety than the other options considered. He said the Plan included retaining the L Street trail and enhancing the linear park. He said there were several other topics vetted by the Commission, which included fire protection services, geologic factors (including earthquakes and liquefaction), sea level rise, noise issues, affordable housing and gentrification, and feasibility. He said the Commission had made its recommendation in light of, and not in spite of, its review and vetting of these topics.
Chair Davies read the Commission's recommendation: "The Commission recommends the policy in the draft General Plan 2045 dated June 27, 2023, including the Gateway Area Plan and Gateway Code dated July 11, 2023, as amended. This is the Commission's working version for City Council review and consideration. The Commission has determined these versions incorporate policy guidance and implementation that will thoughtfully guide the City's development while balancing resource preservation, public safety, racial equity and health. The Commission will continue to undertake more specific and detailed review of the Gateway Code and is able at this time to provide policy guidance on key focus areas as noted in the July 11, 2023, adopted Discussion Guide and Other Considerations Table. The Commission will provide a formal recommendation on the final draft versions of the General Plan 2045 and the Gateway Code, along with the program Environmental Impact Report, that incorporates all further revision, and editorial and organizational refinement in early 2024. Thank you for your careful consideration of our recommendation and thank you for your decision to provide a recording of our upcoming study sessions. The Commission and the community appreciate you."
Councilmember Matthews said she would like the K and L Street couplet to be one of the first items discussed at the study sessions. She would also like to discuss opportunities for home ownership, condominiums, Regional Housing Needs Allocation numbers, very low income to low income to moderate income housing, and parking.
**Councilmember White said she wanted to talk more about inclusionary zoning at the study sessions.
Councilmembers Atkins-Salazar and Stillman returned to the Chamber at 7:40 p.m.
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Mayor Schaefer invited public comment.
Gil Friedman spoke in favor of a linear park on L Street and against the K and L Street couplet.
An unidentified member of the audience spoke in favor of converting L Street to a linear park.
Laurel Krause spoke against eight-story buildings. She expressed concern about liquefaction zone and tsunami zone. She asked how the sewage would be handled. She asked where the shadows would fall. She asked that parking be considered.
Alan Ringer spoke in support of retaining the L Street corridor as a pedestrian and bicycle pathway.
Jillian spoke in favor of the L Street corridor as a linear park.
Aaron spoke in favor of retaining the L Street corridor as a linear park and capping building height at four stories.
Finn spoke in favor of the bike path on L Street.
Ann Anderson spoke against the conversion of L Street into a one-way street.
An unidentified member of the audience spoke against eight-story buildings.
Fred Weis spoke against making the L Street corridor a one-way truck route.
Joanne McGarry said we were spending too much time dealing with cars and the future would not be about cars. She recommended the City and university work more closely together.
James Becker spoke against an L Street/K Street couplet and asked that the L Street corridor become a linear park. He asked the Council to revisit solar shading.
Jane Woodward said the L Street pathway was a gem.
Mayor Schaefer closed the public comment period.
ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Schaefer invited public comment.
Fred Weis stated that the votes taken at the Planning Commission level were a 3-3 basis and it had been hoped there would be more of a consensus.
Jane Woodward thanked staff for all the work they had done.
Mayor Schaefer closed Oral and Written Communications.
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COUNCIL AND STAFF REPORTS
Councilmember Stillman suggested that City-owned parking lots be considered as available for housing. She suggested Arcata have another Sister City perhaps in Australia where Charles Darwin University is located. Councilmember Stillman stated that I Street was not great as a Bicycle Boulevard.
Councilmember White reported on: CUNA's Tianguis; her attendance at a meeting of the Housing and Homelessness Working Group; her attendance at a meeting of the Redwood Region Economic Development Commission; Our Space's Arts Night; CUNA's neighborhood cleanup on July 3, 2023; and her attendance at the Fourth of July Jubilee. She said she would be attending a meeting of the Board of Directors of Arcata House Partnership on July 20, 2023. She announced a walk audit with Dan Burden on Saturday, July 22, 2023, and a memorial for Jessica McGuinty at the Humboldt Bay Social Club on Friday, July 21, 2023.
Mayor Schaefer reported on a meeting of the Redwood Coast Energy Authority and on her attendance at the Fourth of July Jubilee.
Councilmember Matthews reminded everyone of the Friday Night Markets in Eureka.
Councilmember Atkins-Salazar announced the walk audit with Dan Burden on Walkable Communities to take place on Saturday, July 22, 2023, and the Summer Music and Art Series on the Plaza on Sunday, July 23, 2023.
DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS
Mayor Schaefer announced the Council would hold a study session with the Planning Commission on Tuesday, August 22, 2023.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:26 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bridget Dory
City Clerk
** Corrected on August 2, 2023, on motion by White, seconded by Stillman, and with a four-to-zero voice vote with one absence, to add to the seventh paragraph under New Business item C: "She recommended another open house be held now that we aren't at the height of the pandemic."