CITY OF ARCATA
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
COUNCIL CHAMBER OCTOBER 18, 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 October 13, 2023. PRESENT:
Schaefer, Matthews, Atkins-Salazar, Stillman. ABSENT: White. STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Diemer, City Engineer Khatri, Director of Community Development Loya.
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.
EARLY ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Schaefer invited public comment.
Ana Guiterrez, Humboldt Association of Tennis, explained the objectives of the organization and told the Council it valued the tennis facilities at Larson Park. She offered assistance in enhancing facilities.
Rabbi Eliyahu Cowen, from the Chabad Jewish Center in Arcata, spoke about the importance of being kind to each other during this time of war in Israel.
Joanne McGarry encouraged earthquake preparedness and preparation of a go bag.
Mayor Schaefer closed Early Oral Communications.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilmember Stillman removed item B 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 MATTHEWS, SECONDED BY STILLMAN, AND WITH A FOUR-TOZERO VOICE VOTE WITH ONE ABSENCE, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED THE CONSENT CALENDAR FOR OCTOBER 18, 2023, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM B. BIWEEKLY REPORT ON DISBURSEMENTS. AYES: SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, ATKINSSALAZAR, STILLMAN. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: WHITE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
Councilmember Atkins-Salazar read the Proclamation in Recognition of Dia de los Muertos.
A. Approve the Minutes of the City Council Meeting of October 4, 2023.
B. Item VIII-B was moved to Items Removed from Consent Calendar.
October 18, 2023
-2-
C. Adopt Resolution No. 234-15 , A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Arcata Approving the Zero-Emission Bus Rollout Plan for the Arcata & Mad River Transit System (A&MRTS).
D. Adopt Resolution No. 234-12 Authorizing the Destruction of Certain City Records Maintained by the City Relating to the Departments of City Manager (City Manager, Contracts and Special Projects, Personnel, City Clerk), Environmental Services, Community Development and Finance as Permitted under Section 34090 of the California Government Code and the Secretary of State's Local Government Records Program.
E. Approve Proclamation in Recognition of Día de los Muertos, November 1 & 2, 2023.
ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
B. Bi-Weekly Report on Disbursements.
Councilmember Stillman recused herself from the discussion and vote on this item because she received a monthly check from the City through the Tenant Based Rental Assistance Program.
ON MOTION BY ATKINS-SALAZAR, SECONDED BY MATTHEWS, AND WITH A
THREE-TO-ZERO VOICE VOTE WITH TWO ABSENCES, THE COUNCIL ACCEPTED THE BI-WEEKLY REPORT ON DISBURSEMENTS. AYES: SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, ATKINS-SALAZAR. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: WHITE, STILLMAN (RECUSED).
ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
NEW BUSINESS
A. Conduct a Public Hearing to Receive Input Regarding Unmet Transit Needs and Direct Staff to Forward All Comments to the Humboldt County Association of Governments.
City Engineer Khatri noted that this was the annual public hearing to receive input on unmet transit needs. He introduced Stephen Luther from the Humboldt County Association of Governments who was present to give a presentation on the state of regional transit.
Stephen Luther gave a presentation on regional transit touching on funding, trends, performance metrics, branding, tap-to-pay discounts, micro-transit, new services, Redwood Coast Express, and a review of previous transit needs.
Mayor Schaefer invited public comment.
Joanne McGarry noted that some people did not have a smart phone and wouldn't be able to use the tap-and-pay service.
Gregory Daggett asked if anything was being done about safety after dark at bus stops.
Mayor Schaefer closed the public hearing.
October 18, 2023
-3-
B. Consider Opposing the Humboldt Cannabis Reform Initiative.
Director of Community Development Loya said this item was brought to his attention by the Humboldt Cannabis Growers Alliance, but the staff report reflected his independent research. He said that the Humboldt Cannabis Reform Initiative, that had qualified for the June 2024 ballot, called for many changes to the cannabis regulatory framework within the County of Humboldt that would have secondary effects on the City's manufacturing sector. He said this was the primary reason staff was recommending the Council oppose the measure.
Mayor Schaefer invited public comment.
Ross Gordon, Policy Director, Humboldt County Growers Alliance, voiced the Alliance's opposition to the initiative and gave its reasons why.
Ken Hamick, operating partner of the Ganjery in McKinleyville, voiced his opposition to Measure A which he termed as "unfortunate."
Barron Lutz, S & B Water, spoke of the negative effect the initiative would have on his business.
Michael Bettencourt, Pacific Paraphernalia, requested the Council's support in opposing Measure A.
Paul Hagen, environmental and land use attorney, spoke in opposition to Measure A.
Natalynne DeLapp, Humboldt County Growers Alliance, spoke in opposition to Measure A.
Craig Johnson, Alpenglow Farms, spoke in opposition to Measure A and asked the Council to take a stance against it.
Tanasa Daniel, a resident of Arcata, urged the Council's opposition of the measure.
Mark Thurmond, a co-sponsor of the initiative, asked the Council to delay its vote until it had had a chance to meet with the sponsors and have questions about the initiative answered.
Mayor Schaefer closed the public comment period.
ON MOTION BY STILLMAN, SECONDED BY MATTHEWS, AND WITH A FOUR-TOZERO VOICE VOTE WITH ONE ABSENCE, THE COUNCIL OPPOSED THE HUMBOLDT CANNABIS REFORM INITIATIVE. AYES: SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, ATKINS-SALAZAR, STILLMAN. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: WHITE. ABSTENTIONS:
NONE.
C. Adopt Resolution No. 234-13 Amending Resolution No. 167-36, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Arcata Establishing School Zone Speed Limits on City Streets and Roads.
City Engineer Khatri explained that it was time to update the City's resolution establishing school zone speed limits. He noted that legislation had recently removed the requirement of completing a October 18, 2023
-4-
traffic study before reducing speed limits, so a traffic study was not done. He said adoption of this resolution would lower speed limits in the school zones listed to 15 miles per hour.
Mayor Schaefer invited public comment.
Gregory Daggett said there was no traffic law enforcement in the City of Arcata and that he had been telling the Council this for two years.
Joanne McGarry said while riding in a car she noticed how fast people drove. She said drivers in cars did not notice how fast they were going. She recommended more public education.
Jim Becker voiced his support of lowering the speed limit to 15 miles per hour in school zones. He also recommended reducing parking to allow more visibility at corners.
Patricia Cambianica voiced her support of lowering the speed limit to 15 miles per hour in front of Redwood Coast Montessori on K Street and around other schools in Arcata. She also asked for more crosswalk visibility near schools.
ON MOTION BY STILLMAN, SECONDED BY ATKINS-SALAZAR, AND WITH A FOURTO-ZERO VOICE VOTE WITH ONE ABSENCE, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 234-13, AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. 167-36, A RESOLUTION OF
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCATA ESTABLISHING SCHOOL ZONE SPEED LIMITS ON CITY STREETS AND ROADS. AYES: SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, ATKINS-SALAZAR, STILLMAN. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: WHITE. ABSTENTIONS:
NONE.
ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Schaefer invited public comment.
Gregory Daggett said the Co-Op was losing 20 parking spaces because of changes to Eighth and Ninth Streets and its effect on the entrances/exits to the Co-Op's parking lot. He challenged the Council members to ride a bicycle or walk the area to see what was happening.
Joanne McGarry expressed her dismay that she had not been able to say goodbye to Chief Ahearn before he left the City. She said she would be talking to the Councilmembers individually about a serious concern she had. She asked for a quarterly accounting of the American Rescue Plan Act funds.
Mayor Schaefer closed Oral and Written Communications.
Mayor Schaefer responded to Mr. Daggett saying she had met with the General Manager of the CoOp and Assistant City Engineer Caisse.
October 18, 2023
-5-
COUNCIL AND STAFF REPORTS
City Manager Diemer reminded everyone to participate in the Great American Shakeout drill at 10:19 a.m. on Thursday, October 19, 2023.
Councilmember Stillman commented on the number of cars being driven with only one headlight.
She reported on Building Official Bishop's presentation on current building codes.
Mayor Schaefer reported on her and Councilmember Atkins-Salazar's attendance at a meeting of the Arcata/Cal Poly Humboldt Liaison committee.
Councilmember Matthews reported on her attendance at a meeting of the Board of Directors of Humboldt Waste Management Authority. She expressed her appreciation for Rabbi Eliyahu Cowen's comments earlier in the meeting. She thanked Detective Sergeant Ortega for coming to Chabad often to make sure everyone was safe.
Councilmember Atkins-Salazar announced Halloween Trick or Treating on the Plaza from 3-6 p.m. on October 31. She asked for an agenda item to update the Council on Arcata House Partnership's plans for winter sheltering.
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 7:48 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bridget Dory
City Clerk