CITY OF ARCATA
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
COUNCIL CHAMBER APRIL 16, 2024
1 A special meeting of the City Council of the City of Arcata was held on the above date at 5:00 p.m. with Mayor Matthews presiding. Notice of this meeting was posted on April 12, 2024.
PRESENT: Matthews, Stillman, Atkins-Salazar, Schaefer. ABSENT: White. STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Diemer, Director of Community Development Loya, City Engineer Khatri, Director of Environmental Services Sinkhorn, Finance Director Miller, Assistant City Engineer Caisse, Deputy Director of Environmental Services Benvie, IT and Digital Media Specialist Carrillo, City Clerk Dory, Executive Assistant/Deputy City Clerk Varley.
CLOSED SESSION
A. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL—EXISTING LITIGATION Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1). Name of Case: City of Arcata vs. Citizens in Support of Measure M, Humboldt Couty Superior Court Case No. CV2300554.
Mayor Matthews invited public comment.
Dave Meserve said that the supporters of Measure M were going to appeal the Superior Court's ruling regarding the Earth Flag. He asked that, for the duration of the appeal, the City fly the Earth Flag at the top of its flagpoles.
Mayor Matthews closed the public comment period.
The Council retired to the City Manager's Conference Room to meet in Closed Session at 5:05 p.m.
CLOSED SESSION REPORTS
A. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL—EXISTING LITIGATION Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1). Name of Case: City of Arcata vs. Citizens in Support of Measure M, Humboldt Couty Superior Court Case No. CV2300554.
The Council Recessed at 5:25 p.m. and reconvened in the Council Chamber at 5:30 p.m.
Mayor Matthews reported out from closed session, stating "The City Council just met in closed session on the legal case City of Arcata vs. Citizens in Support of Measure M and made the following motion: By unanimous vote, the City Council directed staff to adhere to the Superior Court of California's ruling that flying the Earth Flag at the top of the City flag poles is against State law, and to re-order the flags to place the national flag on top, followed by the state flag.
The City will be releasing background information tomorrow to provide a more in-depth framework for this decision. The City Council truly values the ballot proposition process and yet must follow both state law and court decisions."
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Matthews invited public comment.
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Gregory Daggett commented on the amount of money spent on engineering and outreach for the Eighth and Ninth Streets one-way conversion project. He also spoke regarding the purchase of land in the areas of sea level rise. Finally, he asked for an update on the Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade Project.
Mayor Matthews closed the public comment period.
NEW BUSINESS
A. Review Preliminary Projected Revenues and Expenditures for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 to 2029.
Finance Director Miller reviewed preliminary projected revenues and expenditures for fiscal years 2024 through 2029 for all City funds and specifically the General fund, Water fund, Wastewater fund, and the Storm Water fund.
B. Review Draft Language for Proposed Transactions and Use Tax ("TUT" or Sales Tax) November 5, 2024, Ballot Measure.
Finance Director Miller presented draft language for a proposed ballot measure for the November 5, 2024, General Municipal Election to increase the Transactions and Use Tax (TUT). She explained that the current tax rate in Arcata was 8.5 percent and that the City would be looking to increase the rate by .75 percent to 9.25 percent. She said the tax would only impact anyone who comes into contact with commerce within the city.
Finance Director Miller presented the proposed language for the TUT ballot measure as follows:
Arcata Essential Services Measure
To maintain and improve Arcata's essential city services and facilities, such as • emergency, disaster and climate change prevention and response, • services addressing homelessness and its impacts to the city, • clinical mental health response to people in crisis,
• youth diversion counselor programs,
• sidewalks, bike lanes and trails
• recreation and local parks, and
• other vital city programs
shall the City of Arcata enact a measure, by adopting a ¾ cent sales tax, for general government purposes, providing approximately $2.6 million annually until ended by voters, requiring public spending disclosure, citizens’ oversight, annual audits, and all funds used locally?
On inquiry by Mayor Matthews, Finance Director Miller said that allocation of the funds would be decided during budget determination each fiscal year.
On inquiry by Councilmember Schaefer, Finance Director Miller said the existing Transactions and Use Tax Oversight Committee might be able to provide oversight of the revenues from this tax.
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BY GENERAL CONSENSUS, THE COUNCIL AGREED ON THE FOLLOWING CHANGES TO THE WORDING FOR THE BALLOT MEASURE QUESTION:
CHANGE "PREVENTION" TO "PREPAREDNESS" IN THE FIRST BULLET POINT, AND CHANGE THE FIFTH BULLET POINT TO READ "SIDEWALKS, BIKE LANES, TRANSIT, ROADS, AND TRAILS."
C. Overview of City's Capital Improvement Program for Fiscal Year 2024-25.
Assistant City Engineer Caisse, along with City Engineer Khatri and Director of Environmental Services Sinkhorn, gave a presentation on the City's Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for Fiscal Year 2024/2025, including detail on projects in progress and prior year's projects.
D. Recommendations for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25 Open Space, Parks and Trails Special Tax Priorities.
Environmental Services Director Sinkhorn reminded the Council that the City had formed an ad hoc group consisting of members of the City's Forest Management Committee, Parks and Recreation Committee and Wetlands and Creeks Committee to make recommendations for the Open Space, Parks and Trails Special Tax revenues. She presented the Group's priorities for Fiscal Year 2024/2025. She also gave an overview on projects that had been assisted by these funds in the past.
DATE OF FUTURE MEETINGS
A. Set a Date for a Study Session with City Committee/Commission Chairpersons.
BY GENERAL CONSENSUS, THE COUNCIL SCHEDULED THE FOLLOWING SPECIAL MEETINGS: MAY 29, 2024, AT 6:00 P.M., IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER,
TO DISCUSS ADOPTION OF THE GATEWAY AREA PLAN AND THE GENERAL PLAN 2045; AND JUNE 12, 2024, AT 6:00 P.M., IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, TO ADOPT THE FISCAL YEAR 2024/2025 BUDGET.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:24 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Rhea Varley
Executive Assistant/Deputy City Clerk