CITY OF ARCATA
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
COUNCIL CHAMBER AUGUST 16, 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 August 11, 2023. PRESENT:
Schaefer, Matthews, Atkins-Salazar, Stillman, White. ABSENT: None. STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Diemer, City Attorney Diamond, Finance Director Miller, Director of Environmental Services Sinkhorn, 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.
CEREMONIAL MATTERS
A. Proclamation Recognizing September 10–16, 2023, as Suicide Prevention Week.
Councilmember Atkins-Salazar read the proclamation and presented it to Heather Freitas, Walk Chair for the Out of the Darkness Community Walk, who invited everyone to the walk on September 10, 2023, beginning on the Plaza.
EARLY ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Schaefer invited public comment.
Joanne McGarry spoke of the importance of being prepared for earthquakes and climate change.
Stephanie Hardin spoke of the lack of compassion for houseless people in the community and the lack of hygiene facilities.
Fred Weis distributed a budget for expenditures relative to the Gateway Area Plan. He noted the lack of 3-D modeling available.
James Becker spoke in favor of a linear park on L Street.
Nicholas Tomljenovic spoke about hazards with the water dispensing machines located outside of grocery stores.
Lisa Pelletier offered an apology to Mayor Schaefer and Vice Mayor Matthews for comments she made in a letter to the editor of the Mad River Union.
Mayor Schaefer closed Early Oral Communications.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilmember White requested item F be removed from the Consent Calendar for further discussion.
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Mayor Schaefer invited public comment.
Pat Carr requested item D be removed from the Consent Calendar for further discussion.
James Becker requested item A be removed from the Consent Calendar for further discussion.
Mayor Schaefer closed the public comment period.
ON MOTION BY STILLMAN, SECONDED BY WHITE, AND WITH A UNANIMOUS
VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED THE CONSENT CALENDAR FOR AUGUST 16, 2023, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS: A. APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF AUGUST 2, 2023; D. APPROVE AN
AGREEMENT AND ELECTION FOR THE CITY OF ARCATA TO ESTABLISH A
CALIFORNIA EMPLOYERS' PENSION PREFUNDING TRUST FUND (CEPPT) TO PREFUND EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS TO A DEFINED BENEFIT PENSION PLAN;
AND AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR OR VICE MAYOR TO EXECUTE ALL APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS; AND F. ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 234-03 ESTABLISHING AND APPROVING A PENSION FUNDING POLICY. AYES: SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, ATKINS-SALAZAR, STILLMAN, WHITE. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
A. Item VIII-A was moved to Items Removed from Consent Calendar.
B. Bi-Weekly Report on Disbursements.
C. Approve the Purchase of Four Hybrid Ford Mavericks ($117,585.72, Including Tax and Freight) and Award Purchase Contract to Harper Motors; and Authorize the City Manager to Execute All Applicable Documents.
D. Item VIII-D was moved to Items Removed from Consent Calendar.
E. Adopt Resolution No. 234-04 Establishing and Approving an Unclaimed Funds Policy and Procedures.
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 August 2, 2023.
Mayor Schaefer invited public comment.
James Becker noted that comments he had made at the August 2, 2023, City Council meeting had been left out of the minutes.
Mayor Schaefer closed the public comment period.
ON MOTION BY STILLMAN, SECONDED BY ATKINS-SALAZAR, AND WITH A
UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL APPROVED THE MINUTES OF AUGUST August 16, 2023
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2, 2023, WITH THE CORRECTION THAT A SUMMARIZATION OF JAMES BECKER'S COMMENTS BE INCLUDED UNDER EARLY ORAL COMMUNICATIONS. AYES:
SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, ATKINS-SALAZAR, STILLMAN, WHITE. NOES: NONE.
ABSENT: NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
D. Approve an Agreement and Election for the City of Arcata to Establish a California Employers' Pension Prefunding Trust Fund (CEPPT) to Prefund Employer Contributions to a Defined Benefit Pension Plan; and Authorize the Mayor or Vice Mayor to Execute All Applicable Documents.
Mayor Schaefer invited public comment.
Patrick Carr requested the Council endorse Senate Bill 252 which would require CalPERS and CalSTRS to divest from investing in fossil fuels.
Joanne McGarry also requested the Council endorse SB 252.
Mayor Schaefer closed the public comment period.
ON MOTION BY STILLMAN, SECONDED BY WHITE, AND WITH A UNANIMOUS
VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL APPROVED AN AGREEMENT AND ELECTION FOR
THE CITY OF ARCATA TO ESTABLISH A CALIFORNIA EMPLOYERS' PENSION
PREFUNDING TRUST FUND (CEPPT) TO PREFUND EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS
TO A DEFINED BENEFIT PENSION PLAN, AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR OR VICE
MAYOR TO EXECUTE ALL APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS, AND DIRECTED THAT A DISCUSSION OF SENATE BILL 252 BE ON A FUTURE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA.
AYES: SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, ATKINS-SALAZAR, STILLMAN, WHITE. NOES:
NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
F. Adopt Resolution No. 234-03 Establishing and Approving a Pension Funding Policy.
ON MOTION BY STILLMAN, SECONDED BY MATTHEWS, AND WITH A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 234-03 ESTABLISHING AND APPROVING A PENSION FUNDING POLICY. AYES: SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, ATKINS-SALAZAR, STILLMAN, WHITE. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
NEW BUSINESS
A. Receive a Presentation from Dr. Wendy Ring, of the Humboldt Coalition for Clean Energy, regarding Biomass.
Dr. Wendy Ring gave a presentation on biomass energy production, specifically at the plant in Scotia. She requested the Council adopt a resolution reiterating its commitment to 100 percent clean and renewable energy and calling on Redwood Coast Energy Authority to end its contract with Humboldt Sawmill. Dr. Ring answered questions from the Council.
Mayor Schaefer invited public comment.
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Joanne McGarry said that energy conservation was number one. She asked what we were doing to our children. She said she hoped the Council would discuss adopting the resolution.
Martha Walden, a member of 350 Humboldt, said it was critical to promote other uses for woody debris. She recommended Redwood Coast Energy Authority purchase more solar, wind and geothermal energy.
Mayor Schaefer closed the public comment period.
BY GENERAL CONSENSUS, THE COUNCIL DECIDED TO REFER THE RESOLUTION PRESENTED BY DR. RING TO THE ENERGY COMMITTEE.
ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Schaefer invited public comment.
Joanne McGarry suggested the City ask students to write about what they wanted to see for their future in Arcata.
Fred Weis made suggestions for the framework of the upcoming City Council/Planning Commission Joint Study Session.
Mayor Schaefer closed Oral and Written Communications.
COUNCIL AND STAFF REPORTS
Councilmember Atkins-Salazar reported that construction of the undercrossing on U.S. 101 at Indianola Cutoff had begun. She publicly thanked Wahlund Construction and its workers for being polite and accommodating to the public during the upgrades to the wastewater treatment facility.
She read updated statistics from the Community Ambassador Program and thanked the Ambassadors for their work. She announced the Chamber of Commerce would be hosting a block party at Foodworks on Sunday, August 20, 2023.
Councilmember Matthews reported on her attendance at a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Humboldt Waste Management Authority.
Mayor Schaefer reported on her attendance at a meeting of the Arcata/Camoapa Sister City Committee and reminded everyone of the I Block Party to take place on Labor Day.
Councilmember White reported on recently witnessing a City Ambassador show great compassion toward an unhoused individual. She reported on Move-In Day at Cal Poly Humboldt, a Clean the Sidewalk event, and a meeting of the Housing and Homelessness Working Group. She announced a community clean-up on September 3, 2023, in Valley West and a free community barbecue.
Councilmember Stillman announced that Friends of the Arcata Marsh had two openings on its Board of Directors. She proposed the City conduct some education on how to recycle appropriately. She August 16, 2023
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reminded everyone that the Summer Concert Series and Art Market on the Plaza continued on Sundays.
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.
BY GENERAL CONSENSUS, THE COUNCIL CONFIRMED IT WOULD HOLD A STUDY SESSION WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2023, AT 6:00 P.M., IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER.
B. Set Two Dates for Study Sessions with the Planning Commission, Tuesday, September 26 and Tuesday, October 24, 2023, at 6:00 p.m., in the Council Chamber.
BY GENERAL CONSENSUS, THE COUNCIL SET TWO STUDY SESSIONS WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, AND TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2023, AT 6:00 P.M., IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER.
CLOSED SESSION
A. Public Employee Appointment, Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957(b)(1):
City Attorney.
The Council retired at 7:28 p.m. to the City Manager's Conference Room to meet in closed session.
CLOSED SESSION REPORTS
A. Public Employee Appointment, Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957(b)(1):
City Attorney.
Mayor Schaefer announced there was nothing to report out from the Closed Session.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:04 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bridget Dory
City Clerk