CITY OF ARCATA
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
COUNCIL CHAMBER JANUARY 03, 2024
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 Matthews presiding. Notice of this meeting was posted on December 28, 2023. PRESENT:
Matthews, Stillman, Atkins-Salazar, Schaefer, White. ABSENT: None. STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Diemer, City Attorney Varinsky, Director of Community Development Loya, City Engineer Khatri, Director of Environmental Services Sinkhorn, 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.
EARLY ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Matthews invited public comment.
Joanne McGarry announced Greta Thunberg's 21st birthday, and listed books she was currently reading.
Gregory Daggett noted an increase in injuries and fatalities of pedestrians and bicyclists in Humboldt County and nationwide, and said the focus for the reasons is on smart phones and the legalization of cannabis.
An unidentified member of the audience requested the Council take action on adopting a resolution calling for a cease fire in Gaza.
Fred Weis mentioned new articles he had posted on Arcata1.com.
Shannon Townsend urged the Council to think about the children and adopt a resolution calling for a cease fire in Gaza.
Dave Meserve advocated for the Council to adopt a resolution calling for a cease fire in Gaza.
Mayor Matthews closed Early Oral Communications.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilmember White removed item C from the Consent Calendar for further discussion.
Mayor Matthews invited public comment. None was received. Mayor Matthews closed the public comment period.
ON MOTION BY STILLMAN, SECONDED BY SCHAEFER, AND WITH A UNANIMOUS
VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED THE CONSENT CALENDAR FOR JANUARY January 3, 2024
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3, 2024, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM C. BI-WEEKLY REPORT ON DISBURSEMENTS. AYES: MATTHEWS, STILLMAN, ATKINS-SALAZAR, SCHAEFER, WHITE. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
A. Approve the Minutes of the City Council Meeting of December 14, 2023.
B. Approve the Minutes of the City Council Meeting of December 20, 2023.
C. Item VIII-C was moved to Items Removed from Consent Calendar.
D. Award an Agreement for an Amount Not to Exceed $109,123 to AP Triton, LLC, to Provide a Comprehensive Community Risk Assessment and Standards of Cover Deployment Analysis for the Arcata Fire Protection District and Authorize the City Manager to Execute All Applicable Documents.
ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
A. Bi-Weekly Report on Disbursements.
On inquiry by Councilmember White, City Manager Diemer explained that Calcards were the City's credit cards.
ON MOTION BY WHITE, SECONDED BY STILLMAN, AND WITH A UNANIMOUS
VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL RECEIVED THE BI-WEEKLY REPORT ON DISBURSEMENTS FOR JANUARY 3, 2024. AYES: MATTHEWS, STILLMAN, ATKINSSALAZAR, SCHAEFER WHITE. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTENTIONS:
NONE.
OLD BUSINESS
A. Review Revised Draft General Plan 2045.
Director of Community Development Loya introduced George Williamson from PlanWest Partners, who worked on this project.
George Williamson spoke about the award-winning General Plan: 2020 and this new, updated General Plan 2045 with nine optional elements.
Director Loya explained that the General Plan 2045 had two new elements—a Health Element and the Gateway Area Plan. He said the Parks and Recreation Element had been completely revised. He said the document could change during the environmental review period in ways that would not have an effect on the environment. He confirmed this document reflected changes the Planning Commission made on December 12, 2023. He announced the draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) would be released on January 31, 2024, and be open for a 45-day comment period until March 18, 2024. He said that public comment and agency comment received, and the responses thereto, would be put together to produce the final EIR. He noted that adoption of the General Plan 2045 could not happen until the final EIR was certified by the City Council.
Councilmember Schaefer asked, in regard to the "opportunity zones" of the Craftsman area, Valley West, Gateway, and downtown, if people were getting "policies" confused with "codes." She said she only saw building height being addressed in the Gateway Area Plan, and not in other areas.
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Director Loya said there was confusion in the community about what it meant to move policies from the Gateway Area Plan into the General Plan. He responded that "codes" could allow for higher densities in those areas, but the codes had not yet been developed. He said the areas Councilmember Schaefer had identified were the only areas where increased density was being talked about. He said the Planning Commission had recommended to change the underlying zoning to Commercial-Mixed Use so that the policies that applied to those Commercial-Mixed Use areas that one might see applied in the Gateway Area, could be applied, if the Council chose, to the other Commercial-Mixed Use areas. But, they would not be applied at large just because the policies might be moved into the General Plan.
Councilmember White asked that the process be slowed down and the Council take more time to discuss this stating that the General Plan 2045 could be amended at a later time.
Mayor Matthews invited public comment.
Fareed Atiq Ahmed voiced his opposition to moving forward with the General Plan update and advocated for developing an eco-city.
Gregory Daggett expressed concern that items from the General Plan: 2020 were being removed from the General Plan 2045, and that there could be seven-story buildings in residential neighborhoods. He recommended notices be mailed to residents letting them know what was happening.
Fred Weis said he was in favor of moving the General Plan 2045 forward into the EIR process.
However, he was not in favor of moving policies from the Gateway Area Plan into the General Plan 2045 at this time. He said the General Plan 2045 could be amended at a future time after policies in the Gateway Area had been proven.
Joanne McGarry said Arcata needed to think differently and be creative, forward thinking, and experimental in an organic way.
Dave Meserve said it was important to keep neighborhoods and let the residents speak out before changing zoning.
James Glore supported the idea of moving Gateway Area Plan policies into the General Plan.
Lisa Brown spoke against changes to policy OS-1e of the General Plan because language had been added to it that could allow development of open space.
Glen Colwell recommended zoning changes be put on a ballot so residents could vote on them. He said the General Plan could be amended later after seeing how policies in the Gateway Area Plan worked out.
Kathleen Stanton said that the blanket application of overlay zones throughout the City was not good planning. She asked that implementation measures be removed from the General Plan.
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Melody, from the Redwood Coalition for Climate and Environmental Responsibility (RCCER), voiced RCCER's support of the General Plan as proposed citing the importance of addressing climate change now.
Raelina and Adam proposed minor changes to the following policies: CM-5e, D-1a, D-4a, D-81, GA-6f, LU-1r, 5d, 9z, and 3f. They also submitted their comments in writing.
Patricia Cambianica said that whatever turned out to be good for the neighborhoods in the Gateway Area should also be good for the rest of Arcata. She recommended protections against solar shading with setbacks and stepbacks.
Mayor Matthews closed the public comment period.
Councilmember Schaefer asked for an explanation of the overlay zones. She recommended affordable housing and inclusionary zoning policies be applicable citywide.
Councilmember Atkins-Salazar said society needed to shift from car use to public transportation for the benefit of the planet. She suggested Cal Poly Humboldt could help by not allowing freshmen to bring cars.
Councilmember Stillman spoke in favor of moving forward with the EIR process.
Councilmember White said policy OS-1e should not have the additional language because Arcata always wanted to protect its open space lands. She recommended waiting on the community benefits until the City had form-based codes for the individual neighborhoods. She said the Council needed to talk about inclusionary zoning, affordable housing, housing for the unhoused, and asked to take one more meeting to work on this.
Councilmember Schaefer requested overlay zones and inclusionary zoning be agendized for discussion in the near future.
RECESS: The Council recessed from 7:50 to 7:55 p.m.
B. Review the December 2023 Revised Gateway Area Plan.
Councilmembers Atkins-Salazar and Stillman recused themselves from the discussion and decisionmaking on this item due to the fact that they owned property near the Gateway Area. The left the Chamber at 7:50 p.m.
Director of Community Development Loya said the Gateway Area Plan was an element of the General Plan 2045. He said this was the Council's opportunity to weigh in before the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) process began. He said it was reviewed by the Planning Commission on December 12, 2023, and had policies extracted as recommended by the Planning Commission.
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Councilmember Schaefer said she didn't have anything to add to her prior comments, that she was proud of the work that had been done, and thanked the Planning Commission and staff for their work.
On inquiry by Councilmember White, Director Loya noted that the Council would hold future discussions on owner-occupied housing and inclusionary zoning.
Mayor Matthews said she was excited to see the Plan at this point and was ready to send it on to the EIR process.
Councilmember White said she hoped to be able to beef up the incentive to build owner-occupied housing.
Mayor Matthews invited public comment.
An unidentified member of the audience suggested de-incentivizing short-stay rentals in order to provide home ownership opportunities.
Fareed Atiq Ahmed said the Gateway Area Plan needed to incorporate eco-city development.
Gregory Daggett noted that the 3-D modeling had not been produced and it would have been a helpful visualization.
Jeff Harris noted that sea level rise was a big unknown. He said businesses would want parking, and he did not believe people were serious about environmental issues.
Fred Weis listed what he felt were errors in the Gateway Area Plan. He complained that the Plan was not innovative. He listed policies that were removed that he felt were important.
Joanne McGarry recommended a transit hub be placed in the Gateway Area.
Raelina and Adam proposed minor changes to the following policies: OS-1e, D-1a, D-11, D-4a, D8d, Ga-11a, GA-11b, GA-6f and 3d. They also submitted their comments in writing.
Jim Becker spoke of his concerns with policies GA-07I and GA-9F.
Melody, from the Redwood Coalition for Climate and Environmental Responsibility (RCCER), expressed its full support of the Gateway Area Plan saying that Arcata deserved housing that was walkable and affordable for its people.
Mayor Matthews closed the public comment period.
Councilmember White said she did not want to remove policy 5B. She asked that GA-7i be clarified in regard to showing no net loss of trails. She expressed interest in waste water pre-treatment to remove microplastics. She said she would like to explore the policy regarding public plazas in the Barrel District. She relayed a constituent's concern about tall buildings on alluvial soils.
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Director Loya said he would add that to the list for future discussions.
NEW BUSINESS
A. Introduce Ordinance No. 1566 Amending the Arcata Municipal Code Title II, Chapter 10, to Make Biennial Consumer Price Index Adjustments to Campaign Contribution Limitations.
City Clerk Dory informed the Council that the 2024 adjustment to the campaign contribution limitation, according to the Consumer Price Index, would be $20 thereby bringing the limit to $240.
Mayor Matthews invited public comment.
James Glore critiqued the readability of the ordinance and asked that it be simplified. He felt the definition of election cycle was problematic. He also said that paragraph 3012(F) was ambiguous.
Joanne McGarry said she was glad the limit was $240 and not $420.
Mayor Matthews closed the public comment period.
On inquiry by Councilmembers, City Manager Diemer said she would review the ordinance to see how language could be made easier to read. She noted the ordinance was the result of a voterinitiated ballot measure, so care would have to be taken when proposing changes to be sure it wouldn't have to go back to the voters.
ON MOTION BY STILLMAN, SECONDED BY SCHAEFER, AND WITH A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL INTRODUCED ORDINANCE NO. 1566 AMENDING THE ARCATA MUNICIPAL CODE, TITLE II, CHAPTER 10, TO MAKE BIENNIAL
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX ADJUSTMENTS TO CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION
LIMITATIONS, WAIVED READING OF THE TEXT AND CONSENTED TO READ BY TITLE ONLY. AYES: MATTHEWS, STILLMAN, ATKINS-SALAZAR, SCHAEFER, WHITE. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Matthews invited public comment.
The following people spoke in support of the Council adopting a resolution calling for a cease fire in Gaza: Paul Pitino, Jeff Harris, Fareed Atiq Ahmed, Tricia Murphy, Sean, an unidentified member of the audience, Joanne McGarry, Ellen P, Margarita, Fox, Adam and Kate B.
Gregory Daggett said he wasn't sure the Coastal Commission would be happy with Arcata's vision for its coastal zone. He said that infill was a good way of building mid-rises and high-rises, but not in a wetland area.
Fred Weis said that in-lieu park fees should be used to develop local parks, not regional parks. He said there were dozens of things that slipped through the cracks in the development of the Gateway Area Plan and the General Plan 2045 that would have to be corrected later.
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Raelina proposed recycling be expanded to include bins for glass and aluminum and electronics.
She said a cease fire was an important topic to address.
Sherri thanked the Council for not agendizing a cease fire resolution again.
Adam proposed exploring getting more property in Arcata into land trusts. He suggested older residents bequeath buildings to the City for the purpose of non-market rate housing.
Mayor Matthews closed Oral and Written Communications.
COUNCIL AND STAFF REPORTS
Councilmember Schaefer reported on her attendance at a meeting of the Board of Directors of Redwood Coast Energy Authority.
Councilmember Atkins-Salazar announced the next Chamber of Commerce mixer would be held on January 4, 2024, at 5:30 p.m., at The Basement. She said the State of the City event would be held January 25, 2024, at the Minor Theatre at 10:30 a.m.
Mayor Matthews announced there were several vacancies on City committees.
Councilmember Stillman reminded residents of the two free large-item trash pick-ups available to them each year. She announced the Chamber of Commerce would hold its annual awards dinner on February 24, 2024. She proposed reviewing the City's short-stay vacation rental ordinance in regard to the affect those rentals had on the availability of housing. She reported that the Valley West community had a great visit from Santa. She announced a clean-up in Valley West on Sunday, January 7, 2024, at 9 a.m.. She said that Communidad Unida del Norte de Arcata (CUNA) would be holding its participatory budgeting brainstorming event on January 11, 2024, at 6 p.m., via Zoom.
Councilmember White reported she was excited about the new loft apartments in Valley West. She said the City's Public Safety Committee needed new members. She reported on an event held during the holidays at Ourspace.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bridget Dory
City Clerk