CITY OF ARCATA
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
COUNCIL CHAMBER SEPTEMBER 20, 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 September 15, 2023. PRESENT:
Schaefer, Matthews, Stillman, White. ABSENT: Atkins-Salazar. STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Diemer, Finance Director Miller, City Engineer Khatri, Director of Environmental Services Sinkhorn.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Councilmember White 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 in Honor of the North Coast Stand Down, October 5-7, 2023.
Councilmember Stillman read the proclamation and presented it to Ann Poole, from Northcoast Stand Down, who spoke about the services available to Veterans during the stand down.
REPORT BY COMMISSION/COMMITTEE
EARLY ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Schaefer invited public comment.
Fred Weis announced new articles available on Arcata1.com.
Joanne McGarry spoke in favor of focusing on waste management in a more intense manner.
Gregory Daggett said there was a need to discuss not developing in the areas that would be impacted by sea level rise, and that the Fire District's capabilities needed to be considered.
Jane Woodward supported reusable utensils at events. She expressed her regret that Police Chief Ahearn was leaving Arcata, describing him as a gem.
Mayor Schaefer closed Early Oral Communications.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilmember Matthews removed item C from the Consent Calendar for further discussion.
Mayor Schaefer invited public comment.
Joanne McGarry requested items B and I be removed from the Consent Calendar for further discussion.
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Gregory Daggett requested item G be removed from the Consent Calendar for further discussion.
Mayor Schaefer closed the public comment period.
ON MOTION BY STILLMAN, SECONDED BY MATTHEWS, AND WITH A UNANIMOUS
VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED THE CONSENT CALENDAR FOR SEPTEMBER 20, 2023, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS: B. BIWEEKLY REPORT ON DISBURSEMENTS; C. REAPPOINT MONIQUE MOLINA AND WALT GEIST TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE FOR NEW THREEYEAR TERMS ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2026; G. ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 234-09, A
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCATA DELEGATING
WITHDRAWAL AUTHORITY FOR THE CITY'S CALIFORNIA EMPLOYERS' PENSION
PREFUNDING TRUST (CEPPT) TO THE CITY MANAGER, FINANCE DIRECTOR AND/OR HUMAN RESOURCES/ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DIRECTOR; AND I.
APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO EXTEND THE CITY'S LEASE AGREEMENT WITH ARCATA HOUSE PARTNERSHIP FOR 501 NINTH STREET IN THE AMOUNT OF $600/MONTH FOR A NEW FIVE-YEAR TERM, FOR THE PERIOD OF SEPTEMBER 21, 2023, TO JUNE 30, 2028, AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE LEASE AGREEMENT AMENDMENT. AYES: SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, STILLMAN, WHITE. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: ATKINS-SALAZAR. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
A. Approve the Minutes of the City Council Meeting of September 6, 2023.
B. Item VIII-B was moved to Items Removed from Consent Calendar.
C. Item VIII-C was moved to Items Removed from Consent Calendar.
D. Reappoint Andrea Alstone to the Energy Committee for a Three-Year Term Ending September 30, 2026.
E. Reappoint Bill Rich to the Historic Landmarks Committee for a Three-Year Term Ending September 30, 2026.
F. Award a Contract in the Amount of $210,000 to GHD, Inc., for Construction Management and Inspection Services for the Old Arcata Road Improvements Project; Authorize the City Engineer to Approve Change Orders and Increase the Contract Amount by up to $42,000 (20 Percent of the Total Proposal, for a Total Not to Exceed $252,000) to Allow for Any Unforeseen Contingencies and Additional Work as Necessary, and Authorize the City Manager to Execute all Applicable Documents.
G. Item VIII-G was moved to Items Removed from Consent Calendar.
H. Adopt Resolution No. 234-08, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Arcata Amending the Class and Pay Resolution—Compensation & Benefits for Hourly Rated Part-Time, Temporary, and Seasonal Personnel (to Reflect Various Benefit Changes/Updates).
I. Item VIII-I was moved to Items Removed from Consent Calendar.
ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
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B. Bi-Weekly Report on Disbursements.
Mayor Schaefer invited public comment.
Joanne McGarry asked for an explanation of why in some places the list of disbursements showed identical amounts paid twice to a vendor.
Mayor Schaefer closed the public comment period.
Finance Director Miller offered to meet with Ms. McGarry outside of the meeting to answer her questions.
ON MOTION BY STILLMAN, SECONDED BY MATTHEWS, AND WITH A UNANIMOUS
VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL ACCEPTED THE BI-WEEKLY REPORT ON DISBURSEMENTS. AYES: SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, STILLMAN, WHITE. NOES:
NONE. ABSENT: ATKINS-SALAZAR. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
C. Reappoint Monique Molina and Walt Geist to the Economic Development Committee for New Three-Year Terms Ending September 30, 2026.
Councilmember Matthews relayed that Walt Geist had contacted her and informed her he did not wish to be reappointed to the Economic Development Committee.
ON MOTION BY MATTHEWS, SECONDED BY STILLMAN, AND WITH A UNANIMOUS
VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL REAPPOINTED MONIQUE MOLINA TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE FOR A TERM EXPIRING SEPTEMBER 30, 2026. AYES: SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, STILLMAN, WHITE. NOES: NONE. ABSENT:
ATKINS-SALAZAR. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
G. Adopt Resolution No. 234-09, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Arcata Delegating Withdrawal Authority for the City's California Employers’ Pension Prefunding Trust (CEPPT) to the City Manager, Finance Director and/or Human Resources/Administrative Services Director.
Mayor Schaefer invited public comment.
Gregory Daggett asked if it was legal to take money from the wastewater fund and put it in the pension trust fund.
Mayor Schaefer closed the public comment period.
ON MOTION BY STILLMAN, SECONDED BY MATTHEWS, AND WITH A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 234-09, A RESOLUTION
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCATA DELEGATING WITHDRAWAL
AUTHORITY FOR THE CITY'S CALIFORNIA EMPLOYERS' PENSION PREFUNDING
TRUST (CEPPT) TO THE CITY MANAGER, FINANCE DIRECTOR AND/OR HUMAN RESOURCES/ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DIRECTOR. AYES: SCHAEFER, September 20, 2023
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MATTHEWS, STILLMAN, WHITE. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: ATKINS-SALAZAR.
ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
I. Approve an Amendment to Extend the City's Lease Agreement with Arcata House Partnership for 501 Ninth Street in the Amount of $600/Month for a New Five-Year Term, for the Period of September 21, 2023, to June 30, 2028, and Authorize the City Manager to Execute the Lease Agreement Amendment.
Mayor Schaefer invited public comment.
Joanne McGarry requested the Council not extend the lease and that the City consider a different model for that space and how it could better serve the community.
Mayor Schaefer closed the public comment period.
ON MOTION BY STILLMAN, SECONDED BY MATTHEWS, AND WITH A UNANIMOUS
VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL APPROVED AN AMENDMENT TO EXTEND THE CITY'S LEASE AGREEMENT WITH ARCATA HOUSE PARTNERSHIP FOR 501 NINTH STREET IN THE AMOUNT OF $600/MONTH FOR A NEW FIVE-YEAR TERM, FOR THE PERIOD OF SEPTEMBER 21, 2023, TO JUNE 30, 2028, AND AUTHORIZED THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE LEASE AGREEMENT AMENDMENT. AYES:
SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, STILLMAN, WHITE. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: ATKINSSALAZAR. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
NEW BUSINESS
A. Award a Contract in the Amount of $154,890 to GHD for Arcata Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Planning Services and Authorize the City Manager to Execute All Applicable Documents.
Director of Environmental Services Sinkhorn explained that the City received a grant from the California Coastal Commission that provided assistance to local governments managing a Local Coastal Program. She said the City's key goal was to develop an adaptation plan that would inform decision making around potential sea level rise adaptation and capital improvement projects of essential infrastructure. She said the plan would build off of prior studies. She shared that this study would inform other sea level rise planning efforts, a key one of which was a feasibility study for future phases of the Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrades.
Brett Vivyan, from GHD, gave a presentation on the purpose and goals of the study. He said the focus would be on areas vulnerable to flooding due to sea level rise and vertical ground motion.
Mayor Schaefer invited public comment.
Gregory Daggett said the best location for the wastewater treatment plant was the southern portion of the Gateway Area. He said decisions needed to be based on these studies and not made before the studies were completed.
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Joanne McGarry said she was interested in the likelihood and consequences of sea level rise in the region, and also said risk assessment was important for the community.
Fred Weis said the more important issue in the Gateway Area was groundwater, king tides, and breaching of dikes. He said he would request the City Council include this information in the study.
Jane Woodward said it would be useful if the study included an understanding of the elevations in the various opportunity zones, the nature of the soils, and the extent to which water emergence is going to be a problem. She said it would also be helpful to determine a new location for the wastewater treatment plant.
Mayor Schaefer closed the public comment period.
ON MOTION BY STILLMAN, SECONDED BY WHITE, AND WITH A UNANIMOUS
VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL AWARDED A CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $154,890 TO GHD FOR ARCATA SEA LEVEL RISE VULNERABILITY AND
ADAPTATION PLANNING SERVICES AND AUTHORIZED THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS. AYES: SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, STILLMAN, WHITE. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: ATKINS-SALAZAR. ABSTENTIONS:
NONE.
B. Receive an Update from Caltrans Climate Change Adaptation Branch Chief Clancy De Smet on the Eureka/Arcata Corridor Long-Term Sea Level Rise Comprehensive Adaptation and Implementation Plan.
City Engineer Khatri introduced Caltrans Climate Change Adaptation Branch Chief Clancy De Smet who gave a presentation on Caltrans' study of the U.S. 101 safety corridor between Arcata and Eureka in regard to future planning for sea level rise. He then answered questions from the Council and the public.
Mayor Schaefer invited public comment.
Joanne McGarry asked what needed to happen now that money had been spent on the Indianola Undercrossing and the Bay Trail.
Gregory Daggett expressed concern about any building on top of the levees. He cautioned about losing wetlands and the species that relied on them.
Fred Weis said that one foot of sea level rise would result in king tides of disastrous proportions that would affect U.S. 101 and the Gateway Area.
Jane Woodward asked if the trail could be raised more than one foot. She asked if oyster shells could be tossed in the bay to create a barrier.
Mayor Schaefer closed the public comment period.
ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
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Mayor Schaefer invited public comment.
Joanne McGarry encouraged everyone to remember to prepare their "Go Bag." She expressed her hope for formal, City-sponsored emergency planning for the community. She also asked for information on planning for assistance to the vulnerable community in the winter months.
Fred Weis referenced an article titled, "Can Better Public Spaces Revolutionize the Way We Live." Gregory Daggett spoke of a vehicle-versus-pedestrian accident on the Cal Poly Humboldt campus in the last week. He advocated for more enforcement of traffic laws.
Jane Woodward said it would be good for the Council members to attend the community open house on September 25, 2023, regarding the Form-Based Code.
James Becker asked that people's opinions expressed at the community open house be posted. He thanked Chief Ahearn for his service.
Mayor Schaefer closed the public comment period.
COUNCIL AND STAFF REPORTS
A. Receive an Update from Finance Director Tabatha Miller on Senate Bill 252, Public Retirement System Divestment from Fossil Fuel Investments, and Senate Bill 253, Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act.
Finance Director Miller gave a presentation on Senate Bill 252 which prohibited new investment or renewing investment in fossil fuel companies by CalPERS and CalSTRS and required liquidation by July 1, 2031. She reported the current status of the bill as being that the Chair of the Assembly Committee on Public Employment and Retirement decided not to hear the bill, so it did not make it to the Governor's desk.
Finance Director Miller also reported on two climate action bills, Senate Bills 253 and 261.
B. Other Council and Staff Reports.
Councilmember Matthews expressed her displeasure that the community open house meeting had been scheduled during Yom Kippur. She suggested renaming the D Street Neighborhood Center.
She announced the Coalition for Responsible Transportation Priorities was sponsoring a week without driving. She reported on a meeting with the Arcata Fire District Chief.
Mayor Schaefer reported on a meeting with the Arcata Fire District Chief, the chair of its Board of Directors and City Manager Diemer.
Councilmember White reported on her presentation to Sunrise Rotary Club regarding improvements in Valley West, and her attendance at Festajando. She thanked the Coalition for Responsible Transportation Priorities for its bicycle valet services at the North Country Fair. She reported on her attendance at a meeting of the Housing and Homelessness Working Group. She said she had an upcoming meeting with Arcata Fire District Board Vice President Loudenslager.
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Councilmember Stillman reported she received an email from Dan Grytness expressing interest in a single traffic lane in Northtown and she asked to refer him to the Transportation Safety Committee.
She said she as waiting to hear if Senate Bill 4 had passed, which would allow housing on religious properties. She brought up an idea to merge Arcata and McKinleyville.
DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS
A. Confirm a Study Session with the Planning Commission on Tuesday, October 24, 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, OCTOBER 24, 2023, AT 6:00 P.M., IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:08 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bridget Dory
City Clerk