CITY OF ARCATA
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
COUNCIL CHAMBER AUGUST 02, 2023
1 SPECIAL MEETING
A special meeting of the City Council of the City of Arcata was held on the above date at 5:30 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 28, 2023.
PRESENT: Schaefer, Matthews, Stillman, White. ABSENT: Atkins-Salazar. STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Diemer, Director of Community Development Loya, Deputy Director Information Technology Savage, City Clerk Dory.
PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment received.
CLOSED SESSION
A. Public Employee Appointment, Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957(b)(1):
City Attorney.
The closed session was not held.
COMMISSION INTERVIEWS
A. Interview Two Candidates for One Vacancy on the Planning Commission for a Term Expiring March 31, 2027.
The Council asked a series of questions of Planning Commission candidates Ethan Lawton and Abigail Strickland.
CLOSED SESSION REPORTS
A. Public Employee Appointment, Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957(b)(1):
City Attorney.
There was no report out due to the closed session not being held.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 5:47 p.m.
REGULAR MEETING
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 28, 2023.
PRESENT: Schaefer, Matthews, Stillman, White. ABSENT: Atkins-Salazar. STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Diemer, City Attorney Diamond, Director of Community Development Loya, City Engineer Khatri, Director of Environmental Services Sinkhorn, Chief of Police Ahearn, Finance Director Miller, Assistant City Engineer Caisse, Deputy Director of August 2, 2023
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Environmental Services—Community Services Benvie, Deputy Director Information Technology Savage, City Clerk Dory.
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.
REPORT BY COMMISSION/COMMITTEE
A. Annual Report from the Energy Committee.
Energy Committee Chairperson Michael Winkler gave an oral version of the Committee's annual report and answered questions from the Council.
EARLY ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Schaefer invited public comment.
Anton Sousa spoke of traffic problems in the school zone on Grant Street at Ross, including speeding and wrong-way driving.
Chief John Juegler said he was present to negotiate the surrender of the state and federal governments and promised forgiveness of criminals who wanted to change their ways.
Pam Laudenslager spoke in favor of a linear park on L Street. **
Joanne McGarry said Arcata needed to be in the forefront of the moment in regard to the climate reality.
An unidentified member of the audience brought to the Council's attention that the local farmers' market only allowed artist vendors as a second option during the winter season.
Darius put forth the idea of lowering the price of electricity before getting rid of natural gas for heating. He also expressed concern about the homeless population.
Peggy Martinez expressed support for the K Street/L Street couplet stating that having all the traffic load on K Street was not a good solution for the community's needs.
Mayor Schaefer closed Early Oral Communications.
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CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Schaefer invited public comment. No one came forward to speak. Mayor Schaefer closed the public comment period.
Councilmember White requested items A and F be removed from the Consent Calendar for further discussion.
Councilmember Matthews also requested item F be removed from the Consent Calendar.
ON MOTION BY STILLMAN, SECONDED BY MATTHEWS, AND WITH A FOURTO-ZERO VOICE VOTE WITH ONE ABSENCE, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED THE CONSENT CALENDAR FOR AUGUST 2, 2023, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEMS A. APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JULY 19, 2023, AND F. ESTABLISH AN AD HOC REVENUE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. AYES:
SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, STILLMAN, WHITE. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: ATKINSSALAZAR. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
A. Item VIII-A was moved to Items Removed from Consent Calendar.
B. Bi-Weekly Report on Disbursements.
C. Approve the Response to the 2022-2023 Grand Jury Report, "The Humboldt County Child Abuse Services Team," Authorize the Police Chief to Sign the Response, and Direct Staff to Forward the Response to the Presiding Judge of the Humboldt County Superior Court.
D. Approve the Annual Military Equipment Report per Assembly Bill No. 481.
E. Approve the Purchase of One Equipment Trailer ($50,982.15, Including Tax and Freight) and Award Purchase Contract to Felling Trailers, Inc.; Approve the Purchase of One CB2.7 Utility Compactor/Roller ($75,556.02, Including Tax and Freight) and Award Purchase Contract to Peterson CAT; Approve the Purchase of One Lely Broadcast Spreader ($5,647.18, Including Tax and Freight) and Award Purchase Contract to Turf Star Western; and Authorize the City Manager to Execute All Applicable Documents.
F. Item VIII-F was moved to Items Removed from Consent Calendar.
ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
A. Approve the Minutes of the City Council Meeting of July 19, 2023.
Councilmember White requested the following be added to the seventh paragraph under New Business item C in the minutes of July 19, 2023: "She recommended another open house be held now that we aren't at the height of the pandemic."
ON MOTION BY WHITE, SECONDED BY STILLMAN, AND WITH A FOUR-TOZERO VOICE VOTE WITH ONE ABSENCE, THE COUNCIL APPROVED THE MINUTES OF JULY 19, 2023, CORRECTED AS FOLLOWS: ADD TO THE SEVENTH August 2, 2023
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PARAGRAPH UNDER NEW BUSINESS ITEM C, "SHE RECOMMENDED ANOTHER
OPEN HOUSE BE HELD NOW THAT WE AREN'T AT THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC." AYES: SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, STILLMAN, WHITE. NOES:
NONE. ABSENT: ATKINS-SALAZAR. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
F. Establish an Ad Hoc Revenue Advisory Committee.
On inquiry by Councilmember Matthews, Finance Director Miller stated she had received interest in this ad hoc committee from both members of the Transactions and Use Tax Oversight Committee and the public. She asked the Council to pass on the names of anyone they knew was interested in being on the committee.
ON MOTION BY MATTHEWS, SECONDED BY STILLMAN, AND WITH A FOURTO-ZERO VOICE VOTE WITH ONE ABSENCE, THE COUNCIL ESTABLISHED AN AD HOC REVENUE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. AYES: SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, STILLMAN, WHITE. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: ATKINS-SALAZAR.
ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
NEW BUSINESS
A. Appoint One New Member to the Planning Commission for a Term Expiring March 31, 2027.
MATTHEWS MOVED AND WHITE SECONDED TO APPOINT ABIGAIL
STRICKLAND TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR A TERM EXPIRING MARCH 31, 2027.
Mayor Schaefer invited public comment.
Gregory Daggett commended the Council on doing a good job with the interviews.
An unidentified member of the audience acknowledged the candidates were great and said he felt there were benefits to holding the interviews in public.
Joanne McGarry asked what was preventing the Council from appointing two new commissioners and questioned why the Planning Commission was larger than the Council.
Mayor Schaefer closed the public comment period.
THE MOTION PASSED ON A FOUR-TO-ZERO VOICE VOTE WITH ONE ABSENCE.
AYES: SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, STILLMAN, WHITE. NOES: NONE. ABSENT:
ATKINS-SALAZAR. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
B. Approve Modification to the Design for the 2023 Arcata Annual Paving Project; and Authorize the City Engineer to Make Those Edits.
City Engineer Khatri explained how the block on H Street between 17th and 18th Streets was not wide enough to accommodate a bicycle lane, so with the annual paving project, staff had proposed painting sharrows in that block. He explained that one way to make space for a bicycle August 2, 2023
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lane in this block would be to remove parking on one side. He outlined staff's proposal to remove the parking on the west side of H Street between 17th and 18th Streets and replace it with a bicycle lane.
Mayor Schaefer invited public comment.
Gregory Daggett suggested narrowing the sidewalk to provide room for a bicycle lane. He spoke to the heavy use of the parking spaces when the university was in session.
Darius spoke against the removal of parking and suggested there was a need for a parking lot.
Colin Fiske, Executive Director of the Coalition for Responsible Transportation Priorities, thanked the Council for responding to the requests to fill in this gap in the bicycle lane on H Street. He asked the Council to reaffirm its commitment to its Complete Streets Policy.
Mayor Schaefer closed the public comment period.
ON MOTION BY MATTHEWS, SECONDED BY STILLMAN, AND WITH A FOURTO-ZERO VOICE VOTE WITH ONE ABSENCE, THE COUNCIL APPROVED MODIFICATION TO THE DESIGN FOR THE 2023 ARCATA ANNUAL PAVING
PROJECT, AUTHORIZED THE CITY ENGINEER TO MAKE THOSE EDITS, AND AFFIRMED ITS SUPPORT OF THE COMPLETE STREETS POLICY. AYES:
SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, STILLMAN, WHITE. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: ATKINSSALAZAR. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Schaefer invited public comment.
Joanne McGarry complained that the recreational needs of dogs were not being met because Arcata did not have a dog park. She asked for a status report on the Larson Park and Hallen Park sites.
Gregory Daggett expressed his disappointment that Arcata was not enforcing its noise ordinance and traffic laws.
Fred Weis spoke about problems he saw with waivers and concessions. He also spoke to the lack of homeownership opportunities in the Gateway Area Plan.
Darius spoke about the increase in homelessness and asked what was being done about it.
Mayor Schaefer closed Oral and Written Communications.
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COUNCIL AND STAFF REPORTS
A. Receive a Report from City Attorney Nancy Diamond and Environmental Services Staff on the Status of the City's Electrification Ordinance Draft.
Director of Environmental Services Sinkhorn reported that it had been the Council's goal to develop incentives or requirements for fully switching to electric, away from natural gas. She said the Council gave direction to staff to write an ordinance for an all electric initiative. That draft ordinance has been reviewed by the Energy Committee which recommended staff start conducting public outreach. She said that now there was a court decision against the City of Berkeley's all electric ordinance which was similar to Arcata's draft.
City Attorney Diamond said the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, with a three-Judge panel, had ruled these types of ordinances that banned any new gas infrastrcture were preempted by federal law. She said this decision had put these types of ordinances on hold. She said a Petition for Rehearing had been filed to have the entire Ninth Circuit panel hear it, and that full panel of Judges could overturn the decision. But, if that happened, it could then go to the Supreme Court.
City Attorney Diamond said that in the meantime she had been working with staff and the Energy Committee to figure out how to implement greenhouse gas reduction measures.
Deputy Director of Environmental Services--Community Services Benvie explained how the Reach codes required more stringent standards that resulted in better energy efficiencies, but they had to be adopted every three years. She listed the City's current efforts as: 1) Changing water heaters to be heat pump water heaters at three facilities; 2) Applying for a loan through the California Energy Commission for the Community Center's rooftop solar and LED retrofit; 3) Changing Community Center water heater to be electric; 4) Working to install battery backups at facilities; 5) Engaging in continuation of Climate Action Plan efforts; 6) Increasing electric vehicle charging stations; and 7) Purchasing an electric bus. She reported on discussions at the Energy Committee to promote incentivizing all electric.
RECESS: The Council recessed from 7:46 to 7:52 p.m.
B. Receive a Report from City Engineer Netra B. Khatri on Adding a New Transit Route to the City's Transit System.
City Engineer Khatri updated the Council by explaining that staff had been working with Cal Poly Humboldt to expand transit routes in the City. He said there was now a planned route that would go from Library Circle to West End Road, Valley East Boulevard, Valley West Boulevard, Janes Road, Spear Avenue, and back to Library Circle. The buses would run every 30 minutes. He called this the Green and Gold Route and said that, coupled with the Gold route and the Redwood Transit System, it would give people four opportunities per hour to travel from Valley West to Cal Poly Humboldt. He confirmed that Cal Poly Humboldt was fully funding the Green and Gold Route for a year, Monday through Friday, during peak hours.
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C. Other Council and Staff Reports.
Councilmember Stillman reported on her attendance at a meeting of the Humboldt Transit Authority. She announced Wildwood Days in Rio Dell on August 5-6. She also reminded everyone about the Summer Concert Series and Art Market on the Plaza every Sunday.
Councilmember White reported on her attendance at a meeting of the Redwood Region Economic Development Commission and the Arcata House Partnership quarterly board meeting.
She reported she gave an OLLI Brownbag Lunch presentation on transforming Valley West.
She announced several upcoming neighborhood cleanups.
Mayor Schaefer announced several upcoming events: Chamber Mixer at Ridgefield Events on August 3 at 5:30; the marsh Lantern Float Ceremony on August 5 at 7:30; and the I Block Party on September 4. She reported on her attendance at a meeting of the Redwood Coast Energy Authority.
Councilmember Matthews reported on her attendance at a meting of the Board of Directors of Humboldt Waste Management Authority and a Cal Poly Humboldt housing mixer. She announced the Obon Festival to be held on Sunday, August 13, 2023. She thanked the Humboldt County Association of Governments for sponsoring the Dan Burden events.
Councilmember White reminded everyone of Arts Arcata on August 11, 2023, from 4 to 8 p.m., on the Plaza.
DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS
A. Confirm a Study Session with the Planning Commission on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, at 6:00 p.m., in the Council Chamber.
This item was not taken up at this meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bridget Dory
City Clerk
**On August 16, 2023, the Council corrected the minutes, on motion by Stillman, seconded by Atkins-Salazar, to include James Becker's comments under Early Oral Communications: James Becker noted the similarity between a linear park in Ukiah along the Great Redwood Trail and Arcata's L Street.