CITY OF ARCATA
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
COUNCIL CHAMBER MARCH 20, 2024
1 SPECIAL MEETING
A special meeting of the City Council of the City of Arcata was held on the above date at 4:29 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 March 15, 2024.
PRESENT: Matthews, Stillman, Atkins-Salazar, Schaefer, White. ABSENT: None. STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Diemer, Director of Community Development Loya, Human Resources/Administrative Services Director Vink, Finance Director Miller, Deputy Director of Community Development Dart.
PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
CLOSED SESSION
A. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6 (Three Items). Employee Organizations: International Union of Operating Engineers Local No. 3; Arcata Police Association; and Management/MidManagement/Confidential Employees. Agency Negotiator: Keira Vink.
The Council met in closed session in the City Manager's Conference Room.
The Council returned to the Council Chamber at 5:00 p.m.
CLOSED SESSION REPORTS
A. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6 (Three Items). Employee Organizations: International Union of Operating Engineers Local No. 3; Arcata Police Association; and Management/MidManagement/Confidential Employees. Agency Negotiator: Keira Vink.
Mayor Matthews stated there was nothing to report out from the closed session.
RECESS: The Council recessed from 5:00 to 5:15 p.m.
OPEN SESSION—Commission Interviews
A. Interview Four Applicants for Two Vacancies on the Planning Commission for Terms Expiring March 31, 2028.
The Council interviewed Scott Davies, Judith Mayer, Genevieve Serna and Millisa Smith for two vacancies on the Planning Commission beginning April 1, 2024.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 5:45 p.m.
March 20, 2024
-2-
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. s a hybrid meeting, via teleconference utilizing Zoom Video Communications and in person, with Mayor Matthews presiding. PRESENT: Matthews, Stillman, Atkins-Salazar, Schaefer, White. ABSENT: None. STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Diemer, Director of Community Development Loya, Director of Environmental Services Sinkhorn, City Engineer Khatri, Deputy Director of Community Development Dart, IT and Digital Media Specialist Carrillo, City Clerk Dory, City Clerk Varley.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Mayor Matthews read a statement acknowledging that Arcata sat on ancestral Wiyot land.
FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Matthews led the Pledge of Allegiance.
CEREMONIAL MATTERS
A. Proclamation Recognizing Two-Spirit Day of Appreciation and Celebration, March 19, 2024.
Mayor Matthews read the proclamation and presented it to Andie Martin, a member of the Wailaki Tribe; Max Lopez, a member of the Apache Tribe; and Marni Atkins, a member of the Wyot Tribe; who thanked the Council for opening its hearts and minds to the Two-Spirit community.
B. Proclamation in Recognition of Girl Scout Week, March 10–16, 2024.
Councilmember Schaefer read the proclamation and presented it to Karuna and Isabella, from the Redwood Service Unit of the Redwood Girl Scouts, and their adult leader, Diane, who thanked the City for acknowledging Girl Scouts in Humboldt County.
C. Proclamation in Recognition of American Red Cross Month, March 2024.
Councilmember White read the proclamation and presented it to Randy Robertson, from the American Red Cross serving Humboldt, Del Norte and Trinity Counties, who explained about services the Red Cross provided and encouraged people to volunteer with them.
EARLY ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Matthews invited public comment.
James Becker spoke in relation to General Plan Policy CM-5e-7 and recommended the Council exclude the L Street rails-with-trails corridor Class I trail from the policy and honor the Council's promise to abandon the K and L Street couplet. He also submitted his comments in writing.
Joanne McGarry asked that the Plaza be re-named the Arcata Peace Plaza.
March 20, 2024
-3-
Gregory Daggett expressed his surprise that the draft General Plan Environmental Impact Report showed the City's noise standards would be enforced, as he had not had good results to his requests for enforcement.
Mayor Matthews closed Early Oral Communications.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilmember Stillman removed item B 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 MARCH 20, 2024, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM B. 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 March 6, 2024.
B. Item XI-B was moved to Items Removed from Consent Calendar.
C. Adopt Resolution No. 234-38, 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 a New Position of Program Coordinator).
D. Reappoint Dennis Halligan, Ken Hoffman and Jack Naylor to the Forest Management Committee for Three-Year Terms Ending March 31, 2027; Reappoint Deborah Coles, Jolly Earle and Sheldon Heath to the Parks and Recreation Committee for Three-Year Terms Ending March 31, 2027; and Reappoint Bob Brown, Chris McAuliffe, and Steven Railsback to the Wetlands and Creeks Committee for Three-Year Terms Ending March 31, 2027.
E. Reappoint Wendy Ring, Korina Johnson and Genevieve Serna to the Transportation Safety Committee (TSC) for Three-Year Terms Ending March 31, 2027.
F. Approve an Amendment to Extend the Agreement with Humboldt Waste Management Authority for Receiving and Processing Green Waste and Authorize the City Manager to Execute All Applicable Documents.
March 20, 2024
-4-
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 was listed in the disbursements due to one of her tenants participating in the Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Program.
ON MOTION BY ATKINS-SALAZAR, SECONDED BY SCHAEFER, AND WITH A
FOUR-TO-ZERO VOICE VOTE WITH ONE ABSTENTION, THE COUNCIL RECEIVED THE BI-WEEKLY REPORT ON DISBURSEMENTS. AYES:
MATTHEWS, ATKINS-SALAZAR, SCHAEFER, WHITE. NOES: NONE. ABSENT:
NONE. ABSTENTIONS: STILLMAN (RECUSED).
NEW BUSINESS
A. Appoint Two New Members to the Planning Commission for Terms Expiring March 31, 2028.
Mayor Matthews invited public comment.
Gregory Daggett said he felt there needed to be clarity regarding the determination of a conflict of interest for a Planning Commissioner. He said he felt things were not being addressed by the Commission and that lines had been crossed.
Mayor Matthews closed the public comment period.
City Manager Diemer explained that recusals were up to the individual member to determine.
Further, the Fair Political Practices Commission did not view Planning Commissioners as being conflicted because the Planning Commission was an advisory body only.
WHITE MOVED TO REAPPOINT JUDITH MAYER TO THE PLANNING
COMMISSION FOR ONE OF THE TWO VACANCIES ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR TERMS EXPIRING MARCH 31, 2028.
THE MOTION DIED FOR LACK OF A SECOND.
ON MOTION BY ATKINS-SALAZAR, SECONDED BY STILLMAN, AND WITH A
FOUR-TO-ONE VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL REAPPOINTED SCOTT DAVIES TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR A TERM EXPIRING MARCH 31, 2028, AND
APPOINTED MILLISA SMITH TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR A TERM EXPIRING MARCH 31, 2028. AYES: MATTHEWS, STILLMAN, ATKINS-SALAZAR, SCHAEFER. NOES: WHITE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
B. Authorize a Grant Application to the HOME Investment Partnerships Program for the Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Program.
Director Loya said the Department of Housing and Community Development was impressed by Arcata's managing of its program and recommended the City apply for $1 million instead of the March 20, 2024
-5-
usual $500,000. He explained that this program had a huge impact on the City's 60 participants.
He said staff was recommending the Council approve a new grant application. He noted that the money provided for administration was not enough to operate the program and it was important for the Council to understand that the program involved a subsidy by the City for this reason.
Deputy Director of Community Development Dart recommended the City apply for the grant for up to $1.5 million. She said this would give staff the ability to add another 15 families to the program over the next three years. She said she hoped there was not a gap between the current grant and the new grant, explaining that if there was a gap, participants would be dropped from the program and have to re-enroll, which took several months. She said the administrative portion of the grant was guaranteed at 2.5 percent, but that staff would be asking for 10 percent this time.
Mayor Matthews invited public comment.
Linda Derksen requested the Council apply for the 2022 TBRA grant noting there were 31 seniors in the Lazy J Mobilehome Park who were enrolled in the program.
Lindsay, who also submitted written comment on this item, said she was in support of the City applying for the grant to continue the TBRA program.
Joanne McGarry said she appreciated the availability of the program for people who could not afford their rent and asked the Council to proceed for the vulnerable in the community.
Written communication in favor of the grant application was received from Kathy D'Or-Reid and Lisa Pelletier,
Mayor Matthews closed the public comment period.
ON MOTION BY WHITE, SECONDED BY STILLMAN, AND WITH A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 234-39 AUTHORIZING
A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM FOR UP TO $1.5 MILLION FOR THE TENANT-BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. AYES: MATTHEWS, STILLMAN, ATKINS-SALAZAR, SCHAEFER, WHITE. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
C. Public Hearing to Approve the Annual Engineer's Report and Declare the City's Intention to Continue to Levy and Collect Assessments of Existing Assessment Districts to include Mad River Parkway Business Center Landscape Maintenance Assessment District, Windsong Subdivision Landscape Maintenance Assessment District and Janes Creek Meadow Landscape Maintenance Assessment District.
City Engineer Khatri explained that the City had three landscape maintenance assessment districts: Janes Creek Meadow, Mad River Parkway Business Center and Windsong, and annually the City was required to hold a public hearing regarding these assessments as part of its budget process. He noted that the assessments did not quite cover the City's expenses.
March 20, 2024
-6-
Mayor Matthews opened the public hearing.
Gregory Daggett asked for a report on the Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade project.
Mayor Matthews closed the public hearing.
ON MOTION BY STILLMAN, SECONDED BY SCHAEFER, AND WITH A
UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL APPROVED THE ANNUAL
ENGINEER'S REPORTS; DECLARED THE CITY'S INTENTION TO CONTINUE TO LEVY AND COLLECT ASSESSMENTS OF EXISTING ASSESSMENT DISTRICTS;
AND ADOPTED THE MAD RIVER PARKWAY BUSINESS CENTER LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE ASSESSMENT DISTRICT RESOLUTION NO. 234-32, THE JANES
CREEK MEADOW LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE ASSESSMENT DISTRICT
RESOLUTION NO. 234-31, AND THE WINDSONG LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE ASSESSMENT DISTRICT RESOLUTION NO. 234-30. AYES: MATTHEWS, STILLMAN, ATKINS-SALAZAR, SCHAEFER, WHITE. NOES: NONE. ABSENT:
NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
D. Public Hearing on Community Development Block Grant Accomplishments and Closeout.
Deputy Director of Community Development Dart said there were two projects funded by this Community Development Block Grant—to Playhouse Arts for a circus tent and stage for outdoor events , and to Arcata House Partnership for kitchen upgrades at The Annex and provision of services to clients.
Mayor Matthews opened the public hearing.
Joanne McGarry inquired about the future use of the circus tent and suggested it would be nice to have an open house at The Annex.
Gregory Daggett suggested it could be helpful to know what was successful and where else money might need to be spent to be successful.
Mayor Matthews closed the public hearing.
ON MOTION BY STILLMAN, SECONDED BY SCHAEFER, AND WITH A
UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL DIRECTED STAFF TO SUBMIT THE
FINAL REPORTS AND CLOSEOUT THE PACKAGE TO THE STATE FOR THE GRANTS 20-CDBG-CV2-3-00212 AND 20-CDBG-CV2-3-00213. AYES: MATTHEWS, STILLMAN, ATKINS-SALAZAR, SCHAEFER, WHITE. NOES: NONE. ABSENT:
NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Matthews invited public comment.
March 20, 2024
-7-
Lorenza Simmons, Youth Coordinator with HC Black Music and Arts Association and the Harambee Cultural Center in Arcata, presented her team to talk about the Center.
The Teen Liaison said he connected with youth to bring along the next generation and show them what they could do within the community.
Valetta said this non-profit organization was created to support black and brown bodies. She said they had employed youth to run the program and had been partnering with schools. She said their goal was to bring the community together in Arcata and she invited the Council to come see the space at Harambee Cultural Center.
Gregory Daggett spoke about the need for diverse points of view on the Planning Commission and the City Council.
Joanne McGarry asked that proclamations be hung on the wall in the City Hall lobby, and advocated for a space in the community where people could gather to discuss issues of concern.
An unidentified member of the audience spoke about the adjustments in home insurance rates due to reassessment of fire danger, and the economic impact of global warming.
Written communication was received from John Emig calling for more police patrols, especially in Valley West, and putting forth possible projects for the Reconnecting Communities grant.
Mayor Matthews closed Oral and Written Communications.
COUNCIL AND STAFF REPORTS
Councilmember Stillman suggested it might be helpful for the Council to receive a presentation from a representative of the insurance industry. She reported on her attendance at a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Humboldt Transit Authority.
Councilmember Schaefer reported on her attendance at a CivicWell Conference in Yosemite along with Councilmembers Stillman and White.
Councilmember White reported on her attendance at a mixer for the Arcata Chamber of Commerce, the CivicWell Conference, and a meeting of the Homelessness and Housing Working Group. She said she walked in Valley West with Chief of Police Silvers and Lt.
Ortega. She gave an update on the improvements at Carlson Park.
Councilmember Atkins-Salazar reported on her attendance at a meeting of the California Association of Councils of Governments (CalCOG). She said she participated in an interview with a young journalist on what services Arcata offered to the unhoused.
Mayor Matthews reported on her attendance at a meeting of the CalCities Policy Committee on Housing, Community and Economic Development; a meeting of the Cal Poly Liaison March 20, 2024
-8-
committee; and a meeting of the Community Emergency Response Team. She thanked the City employees who worked long hours to repair the water leak at Seventh and F Streets over the past weekend. She requested the Council receive an update on the Wastewater Treatment Facility upgrades in the near future.
Councilmember Atkins-Salazar reported on her attendance, along with Councilmember Stillman, Mayor Matthews and City Engineer Khatri, at a press conference in San Francisco on the Reconnecting Communities Grant that Arcata had received which would fund projects to reconnect communities divided by transportation infrastructure.
DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS
A. Set a Date for a Study Session with Committee Chairpersons.
City Manager Diemer said staff was still trying to determine a date that was convenient for all five Councilmembers.
B. Set a Date for a Goal Setting Study Session.
BY GENERAL CONSENSUS, THE COUNCIL SET A GOALS-SETTING STUDY SESSION FOR TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2024, AT 5:30 P.M., IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER.
C. Set a Date for a Fiscal Year 2024/2025 Budget Study Session.
BY GENERAL CONSENSUS, THE COUNCIL SET A FISCAL YEAR 2024/2025 BUDGET STUDY SESSION FOR TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2024, AT 5:30 P.M., IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:49 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bridget Dory
City Clerk