CITY OF ARCATA
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
COUNCIL CHAMBER OCTOBER 24, 2023
1 A special 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 20, 2023. PRESENT:
Schaefer, Matthews, Atkins-Salazar, Stillman, White. ABSENT: None. STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Diemer, Director of Community Development Loya, Deputy Director of Community Development Dart, Facilitator Heather Equinoss, and Sharonne Blanck and Meredith Oram from equity partners.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Schaefer invited public comment.
The following persons spoke during public comment: Fred Weis, Gregory Daggett, James Becker, Joanne McGarry, Dave Meserve, Colin Fiske, Jane Woodward, Lisa Brown, and Darius.
Mayor Schaefer closed the public comment period.
OLD BUSINESS
A. Consider the Planning Commission's Recommendation on the General Plan 2045.
The City Council and Planning Commission discussed the General Plan update.
NEW BUSINESS
A. Adopt Resolution No. 234-14 Authorizing an Application for the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing Grant.
Director of Community Development Loya said this was a new funding source—the HUD ProHousing Grant—which was intended to address obstacles, that could be addressed at the government level, to development of housing. He said if the activities in the grant were accomplished, the City would be in line to receive the state's pro-housing designation. He said the grant would help to implement the changes in the General Plan and Land Use Code. He stated that the City would have the opportunity through this grant to pay for form-based codes for the Downtown/Uniontown area infill opportunity zone and Valley West infill opportunity zone. He explained that a third component in the grant would be to adopt a formalized Accessory Dwelling Unit program. He explained that the vast majority of the funding proposal was to hire consultants to write codes, and to provide for public engagement.
Mayor Schaefer invited public comment.
Fred Weis expressed his concern that this work would take a tremendous amount of staff time and more staff may be required.
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Gregory Daggett said he was concerned that zoning was being changed in Arcata from mediumdensity to high-density.
Joanne McGarry expressed concern that this was HUD money and might result in bad design for Arcata.
Colin Fiske, Coalition for Responsible Transportation Priorities, expressed the Coalition's support for the grant application.
Mayor Schaefer closed the public comment period.
ON MOTION BY MATTHEWS, SECONDED BY ATKINS-SALAZAR, AND WITH A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 234-14
AUTHORIZING AN APPLICATION FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
URBAN DEVELOPMENT'S PATHWAY TO REMOVING OBSTACLES TO HOUSING GRANT. AYES: SCHAEFER, MATTHEWS, ATKINS-SALAZAR, STILLMAN, WHITE.
NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:13 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bridget Dory
City Clerk