CITY OF ARCATA
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
COUNCIL CHAMBER DECEMBER 20, 2023
1 SPECIAL MEETING
A special meeting of the City Council of the City of Arcata was held on the above date at 5:30 p.m. as a hybrid meeting, via teleconference utilizing Zoom Video Communications and in person, with Mayor Matthews presiding. Notice of this meeting was posted on December 15, 2023. PRESENT: Matthews, Stillman, Schaefer, White. ABSENT: Atkins-Salazar. STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Diemer, Director of Community Development Loya, Director of Environmental Services Sinkhorn, IT and Digital Media Specialist Carrillo, City Clerk Dory.
PUBLIC COMMENT
No public comment was received.
COMMITTEE INTERVIEWS
A. Interview One Candidate for a Vacancy on the Energy Committee for a Term Expiring September 30, 2026, and One Candidate for a Vacancy on the Parks and Recreation Committee for a Term Expiring March 31, 2025 or 2026.
The Council interviewed Dan Stockwell for a seat on the Energy Committee for a term expiring September 30, 2026, and interviewed Joshua Loehr for a seat on the Parks and Recreation Committee for a term ending March 31, 2025 or 2026.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 5:48 p.m.
REGULAR MEETING
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 Matthews presiding. Notice of this meeting was posted on December 15, 2023. PRESENT: Matthews, Stillman, Schaefer, White. ABSENT: Atkins-Salazar. STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Diemer, Finance Director Miller, Director of Environmental Services Sinkhorn, Director of Community Development Loya, City Engineer Khatri, Chief of Police Silvers, Assistant City Engineer Caisse, IT and Digital Media Specialist Carrillo, City Clerk Dory.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Mayor Matthews read a statement acknowledging that Arcata sat on ancestral Wiyot land.
FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Matthews led the Pledge of Allegiance.
December 20, 2023
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EARLY ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Matthews invited public comment.
Mark Dubrow asked questions regarding the definition of "smart growth technology" as the City was using the term, if the Edge Connex facility would be storing surveillance data, and how the data from the license plate reader cameras was being used.
Joanne McGarry asked about the City's list of annual proclamations and suggested that Staff Reports should be moved to the beginning of the City Council meeting agendas. She also asked for a task force to address the unhoused.
Gregory Daggett asked for ongoing photographs of the Wastewater Treatment Facility upgrades with an explanation of how the money was being spent, and asked for an explanation of how money was spent in developing the Gateway Area Plan.
Fred Weis suggested the City hire an outside land use and planning consultant. He said he was in favor of having some of the policies in the Gateway Area Plan apply citywide. He said there was a staff report for the Planning Commission's December 12, 2023, meeting that referred to an overlay zone, of which there was none. He asked for an agenda item to discuss these things.
Mayor Matthews closed Early Oral Communications.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilmember White removed item F from the Consent Calendar for further discussion.
Mayor Matthews invited public comment.
Joanne McGarry also asked that item F be removed from the Consent Calendar.
Mayor Matthews closed the public comment period.
ON MOTION BY STILLMAN, SECONDED BY SCHAEFER, AND WITH A FOUR-TOZERO VOICE VOTE WITH ONE ABSENCE, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED THE CONSENT CALENDAR FOR DECEMBER 20, 2023, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM F. ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 234-24, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCATA DECLARING THE CITY-OWNED
PROPERTY AT 5540 WEST END ROAD SURPLUS LAND. AYES: MATTHEWS, STILLMAN, SCHAEFER, WHITE. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: ATKINS-SALAZAR.
ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
A. Approve the Minutes of the City Council Meeting of December 6, 2023.
B. Bi-Weekly Report on Disbursements.
December 20, 2023
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C. Adopt Ordinance No. 1565, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Arcata Adding Sections 7472.5(F) and 7492.6, Bypass, to Chapter 2, Sewers, of Title VII, Public Works, of the Arcata Municipal Code; Waive Reading of the Text and Consent to Read by Title Only.
D. Adopt Resolution No. 234-23, 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 1/1/24 Change in State Minimum Wage & Update to California Paid Sick Leave & Update to City Step Increase Policy).
E. Adopt Resolution No. 234-22 Approving an Update to the City’s Existing Policy for Installing Speed Tables, Humps and Lumps for Residential and Local Streets.
F. Item VIII-F was moved to Items Removed from Consent Calendar.
G. Ratify Employment Agreement with Richard "Bart" Silvers for Chief of Police for the Term December 10, 2023, through December 9, 2028.
ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
F. Adopt Resolution No. 234-24, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Arcata Declaring the City-Owned Property at 5540 West End Road Surplus Land.
Director of Community Development Loya told the Council the property at 5540 West End Road had been owned by the City since the 1970s and had been leased to the Humboldt Gem and Mineral Society since then. He said a prior Council had given staff direction to sell the property, and since that time laws had changed and now the City had to go through requirements of the Surplus Lands Act to declare the property as surplus.
Mayor Matthews invited public comment.
Joanne McGarry suggested the City be creative and look into a land trade. She said sometimes the City got rid of things that could have been useful in the future.
Mayor Matthews closed the public comment period.
ON MOTION BY SCHAEFER, SECONDED BY STILLMAN, AND WITH A FOUR-TOZERO VOICE VOTE WITH ONE ABSENCE, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 234-24, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCATA DECLARING THE CITY-OWNED PROPERTY AT 5540 WEST END ROAD SURPLUS LAND. AYES: MATTHEWS, STILLMAN, SCHAEFER, WHITE.
NOES: NONE. ABSENT: ATKINS-SALAZAR. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
December 20, 2023
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NEW BUSINESS
A. Appoint One New Member to the Energy Committee for a Term Expiring September 30, 2026, and One New Member to the Parks and Recreation Committee for a Term Expiring March 31, 2025 or 2026.
ON MOTION BY SCHAEFER, SECONDED BY STILLMAN, AND WITH A FOUR-TOZERO VOICE VOTE WITH ONE ABSENCE, THE COUNCIL APPOINTED DAN
STOCKWELL TO THE ENERGY COMMITTEE FOR A TERM EXPIRING
SEPTEMBER 30, 2026, AND JOSHUA LOEHR TO THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE FOR A TERM EXPIRING MARCH 31, 2026. AYES: MATTHEWS, STILLMAN, SCHAEFER, WHITE. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: ATKINS-SALAZAR.
ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Matthews invited public comment.
Joanne McGarry said that in 2024 she wanted to see Arcata's commitment to exemplifying exceptional realities such as peace, justice, and non-violence.
Dr. Kintay Johnson, President of the Eureka NAACP, complained that the process the City went through in selecting its new Chief of Police had not been transparent and did not include organizations of color.
Fred Weis complained that for the Planning Commission's December 12, 2023, meeting, commissioners' comments were not posted in writing. He noted that the draft of the Gateway Area Plan that was posted before December 12, said it included material from the December 12, 2023, Planning Commission meeting. He asked the Council to take into account comments from Commissioner Mayer.
Gregory Daggett said there appeared to be a problem in Arcata in that low-income housing was not being developed.
Mayor Matthews closed Oral and Written Communications.
COUNCIL AND STAFF REPORTS
A. Receive the Quarter 1 Fiscal Year 2023-24 Financial Report from Tabatha Miller, Finance Director.
Finance Director Miller gave the Council a big-picture overview of the City's finances for July 1, 2023, through September 30, 2023.. She reminded everyone that the City now had the budget available online. She gave a summary of all the City's funds and said the current state of the City's budget was consistent with staff's projections.
Mayor Matthews suggested the City explore a vacancy tax for residences and businesses.
December 20, 2023
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B. Receive an Update on the Arcata Police Department from Bart Silvers, Chief of Police.
Chief of Police Silvers gave an update on the status of staffing in the Arcata Police Department.
He reminded the Council that in April 2023, the department was in a severe staffing crisis and the Council approved a $50,000 hiring bonus. Since then, the Department had hired and trained five officers that were currently on the street, and four of those were lateral transfers. He said that three cadets had just graduated from the academy and would start their four months of field training. He noted one other cadet would be starting the academy in January 2024. Further, the Department had been contacted by three interested officers. He said that currently the Department had three officers out on maternity and paternity leave. He noted the Department currently had four dispatchers, was hiring a fifth and interviewed for a sixth. He said it had hired a Community Services Officer, which position had been vacant for a year. He reported that the Juvenile Diversion division had remained steady with two counselors, and it had obtained a grant to expand The Parent Project into the region.
Chief Silvers noted that the Community Ambassadors had made a noticeable change in the downtown which had been a significant help to the Department. He reported that the radio upgrade was almost complete. He said that in January 2024, the Department would be rolling out a wellness program for officers and offering counseling services to help with some of the stresses that came with the job. Finally, he said the Department would be promoting someone to the rank of Lieutenant, and then someone to the rank of Sergeant.
C. Other Council and Staff Reports.
Councilmember White reported on Senator McGuire's Eighth Annual Holiday Food Drive for Food for People. She reported on her attendance at a meeting of the Homelessness and Housing Working Group.
Councilmember Stillman recommended the Council explore how to help fund the Humboldt County Visitors Bureau. She said she would be receiving a video recording of a presentation to the Coastal Commission regarding housing in coastal communities, and she would share it with the Council and the Planning Commission. She reported that Communidad Unida del Norte de Arcata (CUNA) was giving holiday gift bags to the unhoused in Valley West.
Mayor Matthews reported on her participation in the PacOut Green Team cleanup at the Arcata Marsh on December 16, 2023. She reported she had been appointed to the Cal Cities Policy Committee on Housing, Community and Economic Development. She reminded everyone to have a zero-waste holiday.
Councilmember Stillman noted that there were new businesses that had opened in Arcata recently.
Councilmember Schaefer reported on her attendance at a meeting of the Board of Directors of Equity Arcata. She said the Redwood Coast Energy Authority would hold a Board Meeting on December 21, 2023.
December 20, 2023
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RECESS: The Council recessed at 7:22 p.m.
CLOSED SESSION
A. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8, Assessor's Parcel No. 507-461-002. Agency Negotiator: Karen Diemer, City Manager. Property Negotiator: Scott Ferriman, President, Humboldt Gem and Mineral Society. Under Negotiation: Price and Terms.
The Council entered closed session at 7:36 p.m. in the City Manager's Conference Room.
B. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8, Assessor's Parcel No. 507-382-012. Agency Negotiator: Karen Diemer, City Manager. Property Negotiator: Steve Morris.
Under Negotiation: Price and Terms.
The Council met in closed session.
CLOSED SESSION REPORTS
A. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8, Assessor's Parcel No. 507-461-002. Agency Negotiator: Karen Diemer, City Manager. Property Negotiator: Scott Ferriman, President, Humboldt Gem and Mineral Society. Under Negotiation: Price and Terms.
There was nothing to report out from the closed session on this item.
B. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8, Assessor's Parcel No. 507-382-012. Agency Negotiator: Karen Diemer, City Manager. Property Negotiator: Steve Morris.
Under Negotiation: Price and Terms.
There was nothing to report out from the closed session on this item.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:19 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bridget Dory
City Clerk