CITY OF ARCATA
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
COUNCIL CHAMBER NOVEMBER 01, 2023
736 F Street, Arcata Wednesday, 6:00 PM
AGENDA
1 Special accommodations for the disabled who attend City meetings can be made in advance by contacting the City Clerk at 822-5953. Assistive listening devices are available.
Pursuant to Government Code section 54957.5, all writings or documents relating to any item on this agenda which have been provided to a majority of the City Council, including those received less than 72 hours prior to the City Council meeting, will be made available for public inspection in the agenda binder located on the counter in the lobby at Arcata City Hall, 736 F Street, during normal business hours, and on the City's website at www.cityofarcata.org.
PLEASE NOTE: Speakers wishing to distribute materials to the City Council at the meeting are requested to provide 10 copies to the City Clerk.
How to Observe and Participate in the Meeting:
Observe:
Members of the public can attend the meeting in person or observe the meeting on Zoom (see below), on Access Humboldt Channel 10, online by visiting www.cityofarcata.org and clicking on the See Live Meetings, Agendas, and Archives button on the home page, or on the City’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/CityofArcataCA Public Comment Participation in Person and on Zoom:
Members of the public may attend the meeting in person and give public comment. Or, they may access the meeting via Zoom to provide public comment.
1. Join from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device: Please use this URL:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89508688655
2. If you want to comment during the public comment portion of any item, click on raise your hand on the right-hand side of your screen. When it is time for public comment on the item on which you wish to speak, the Clerk will unmute you. You will have 3 minutes to comment (2 minutes for Early Oral Communications), subject to the Mayor’s discretion.
Or join by phone:
1. *67 1-669-900-6833
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2. Enter Meeting ID: 895 0868 8655
3. If you are accessing the meeting via telephone and want to comment during the public comment portion of any item, press star (*) 9 on your phone. This will raise your hand. When it is time for public comment on the item on which you wish to speak, the Clerk will unmute your phone. You will hear a prompt that will indicate your phone is unmuted. You will have 3 minutes to comment (2 minutes for Early Oral Communications), subject to the Mayor’s discretion.
I. LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
II. FLAG SALUTE
III. ROLL CALL
IV. CEREMONIAL MATTERS
A. Proclamation Recognizing November 15, 2023, as Zero Waste Day.
B. Proclamation in Recognition of the Great American Smokeout, November 16, 2023.
C. Proclamation in Recognition of California Retired Teachers Week, November 5–11, 2023.
V. REPORT BY COMMISSION/COMMITTEE
VI. EARLY ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
The City Council values your comments. This 15-minute time period allows people to address the Council on matters not on the agenda. Please know that, pursuant to the Brown Act, the Council cannot discuss or take action on items that are not listed on the posted agenda. At the end of all oral communications the Council may respond to statements. Supported requests that require Council action will be set for a future agenda or referred to staff. Speakers may be limited to two minutes. There will also be time for the public to comment specifically on each agenda item and again at the end of the meeting under item number XII (12).
VII. N/A
VIII. CONSENT CALENDAR
All matters on the Consent Calendar are considered to be routine by the City Council and are enacted in one motion. There is no separate discussion of any of these items.
If discussion is required, that item is removed from the Consent Calendar and November 1, 2023 City Council Agenda
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considered separately. At the end of the reading of the Consent Calendar, Council members or members of the public can request that an item be removed for separate discussion.
A. Approve the Minutes of the City Council Meeting of October 18, 2023.
B. Bi-Weekly Report on Disbursements.
C. Amend the Contract with Miracle Recreation—PlayPower, Inc. for Redwood Park Playground Equipment and Surfacing Purchase and Installation in the Amount of $27,953.21, Including Tax, and Authorize the City Manager to Execute All Applicable Documents.
IX. ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
Items removed from the Consent Calendar will be heard under this section.
X. OLD BUSINESS
XI. NEW BUSINESS
A. Adopt Resolution No. 234-18 Declaring a Shelter Crisis in the City of Arcata.
Like many other places in California, and the United States generally, the City of Arcata (“City”) is facing a housing crisis, and a resultant increase in the unhoused population of the City. Since 2022, one step the City has taken to combat this crisis is funding Arcata House Partnership through American Rescue Plan Act Funds to run a “safe parking program” for Arcata residents currently living out of their cars. The program is open to the “literally homeless” with operational vehicles that are registered and insured. The residents can safely park their cars at the site and receive services at an onsite building.
The program provides charging stations, bathrooms, and meals, as well as access to case management services and other community resources.
The City and Humboldt County (“County”) believe that the safe parking program has been a success as evident by over a 50% success rate at finding more permanent housing solutions for those who have initiated services through the program, but the expense is unsustainable for the City’s budget. The County has identified a funding source to continue to operate the safe parking program for an additional year, but would require the City to first pass a “declaration of shelter crisis” subject to Gov. Code § 8698 et seq.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Council adopt Resolution No. 234-18, a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Arcata Declaring a Shelter Crisis in the City of Arcata.
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B. Consider Funding Support for Extreme Weather Shelter Services between November 15, 2023 and March 15, 2024.
Arcata continues to experience more nights of extreme weather between November 15 and March 15 annually. Last year’s winter season, the community through Arcata House Partnership (AHP) operated night shelter for extreme weather for 47 nights, more than double most previous years. In the 2023/24 fiscal year budget, the City Council set aside $30,000 to support local extreme weather shelter options. The Homelessness Services Working Group has worked to identify options for this upcoming season through the leadership of AHP. AHP will be present at the meeting to share the local planning efforts and need for operational funding.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Council consider approval of an agreement with Arcata House Partnership allocating the $30,000 that was budgeted in the 2023/24 Fiscal Year Budget for Extreme Weather Shelter. Arcata House Partnership is partnering with the County, local non-profits and faith-based organizations to provide shelter and stabilizing support services during extreme weather days and nights.
C. Adopt Resolution No. 234-16 to Authorize a $150,000 Loan to Arcata House Partnership for Predevelopment Studies for Acquisition and Development of Affordable Housing at 3605 Heindon Road.
The City adopted a Permanent Local Housing Allocation (Housing Allocation) 5-Year Plan (“Plan”) on October 19, 2022. Within the adopted Plan, the City recognized the need for a funding source for predevelopment financing. Most funding sources require a complete plan and site control as eligibility threshold criteria. Predevelopment funding can signal early partnership between the City and affordable housing developers, facilitate vetting a project, and reduce the risk for our housing partners exploring projects. This action would authorize a loan that includes direct financial assistance for predevelopment studies, planning, design, and engineering, as well as permits to annex and plan the development of an affordable housing project at 3605 Heindon Road.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the Council consider adopting Resolution No. 234-16 to authorize a $150,000 loan to Arcata House Partnership for predevelopment studies for acquisition and development of affordable housing at 3605 Heindon Road.
D. Adopt Resolution No. 234-17 to Authorize a $150,000 Loan to Danco Communities for Predevelopment Studies for Development of Affordable Housing at 1622 Old Arcata Road.
The City adopted a Permanent Local Housing Allocation (Housing Allocation) 5-Year Plan (“Plan”) on October 19, 2022. Within the adopted Plan, the City recognized the need for a funding source for predevelopment financing. Most funding sources require a complete plan and site control as eligibility threshold criteria. Predevelopment funding can signal early partnership between the City and affordable housing developers, facilitate vetting a project, and reduce the risk for our housing partners exploring November 1, 2023 City Council Agenda
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projects. This action would authorize a loan that includes direct financial assistance for predevelopment studies, planning, design, and engineering, as well as permits to plan the development of an affordable housing mixed-use project at 1622 Old Arcata Road, also known as Roger’s Garage.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the Council consider adopting Resolution No. 234-17 to authorize a $150,000 loan to Danco Communities for predevelopment studies for development of affordable housing at 1622 Old Arcata Road.
E. Public Hearing for Closeout of Arcata’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) 22-CDBG-PI-00006 Project and Review of
Accomplishments.
The purpose of this hearing is to receive public input on accomplishments of the 22- CDBG-PI-00006 Project, and to direct staff to submit the grant closeout package to the State. The City is closing out the CDBG West Village Studios Project, which was partially funded by CDBG Program Income.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Council:
1. Open a public hearing to consider closeout of the 22-CDBG-PI-00006 Project, including a review of accomplishments; and
2. Direct staff to authorize the City Manager to sign the closeout certification and submit final reports and closeout package to California Housing and Community Development, CDBG Division.
XII. ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
The City appreciates public input. This time is provided for people to address the Council or submit written communications on matters not on the agenda. Please know that, pursuant to the Brown Act, the Council cannot discuss or take action on items that are not listed on the posted agenda. At the end of all oral & written communications, the Council may respond to statements. Supported requests that require Council action will be set for a future agenda or referred to staff. Speakers addressing the Council may be limited to 3 minutes, with a maximum of 5 minutes, and a time limit on the length of oral communications may be imposed.
XIII. COUNCIL AND STAFF REPORTS
All reports shall be specifically limited to City business and shall not request or lead to action by the Council at this meeting.
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XIV. DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS
XV. CLOSED SESSION
XVI. CLOSED SESSION REPORTS
XVII. ADJOURNMENT
Other than items continued or tabled to a date certain, the Council may, by majority vote, continue all matters not completed by 10:30 p.m. to the following Thursday at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber. Should the Council vote to continue the meeting past 10:30 p.m., discussion on an item on the agenda that either requires or allows for public input may not begin without a unanimous vote of the City Council members present. (Closed Session items may begin later.) (Reference: Resolution No. 223-07)
DOCUMENTS RECEIVED AFTER PUBLICATION OF THE AGENDA
XI-A, B, C, & D. Email from Caroline Griffith
XI-C & D. Email from Colin Fiske