CITY OF ARCATA
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
COUNCIL CHAMBER NOVEMBER 06, 2024
1 SPECIAL MEETING
A special meeting of the City Council of the City of Arcata was held on the above date at 5:00 p.m. in person with Mayor Matthews presiding. Notice of this meeting was posted on November 1, 2024. PRESENT: Matthews, Stillman (arrived at 5:38 p.m.), Atkins-Salazar, Schaefer, White.
ABSENT: None. STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Perry, City Engineer Khatri.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Matthews invited public comment.
There being no public comment, Mayor Matthews closed the public comment period.
CLOSED SESSION
A. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8, Assessor's Parcel No. 507-461-002. Agency Negotiator: Merritt Perry, City Manager. Negotiating Party: Humboldt Gem and Mineral Society. Under Negotiation: Price and Terms.
The City Council met in closed session in the City Manager's Conference Room.
B. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL––EXISTING LITIGATION, Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1). Name of Case: City of Arcata v. AO Kiriki Ben Tut Malik Silkiss; and Marc Delany, et al., Humboldt County Superior Court, Case number CV2401719.
The City Council met in closed session in the City Manager's Conference Room.
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: Merritt Perry, City Manager. Negotiating Party: Humboldt Gem and Mineral Society. Under Negotiation: Price and Terms.
The Council returned to the Council Chamber at 5:46 p.m.
RECESS: The Council recessed from 5:46 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Mayor Matthews stated that there was nothing to report out from this closed session item.
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B. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL––EXISTING LITIGATION, Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1). Name of Case: City of Arcata v. AO Kiriki Ben Tut Malik Silkiss; and Marc Delany, et al., Humboldt County Superior Court, Case number CV2401719.
Mayor Matthews stated that there was nothing to report out from this closed session item.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 6:00 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 November 1, 2024. PRESENT: Matthews, Stillman, Atkins-Salazar, Schaefer, White. ABSENT: None.
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Perry, City Engineer Khatri, Director of Environmental Services Sinkhorn, Finance Director Miller, Human Resources/Administrative Services Director Vink, Equity Arcata Manager Harper-Desir, IT and Digital Media Specialist Carrillo, 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 November 15, 2024, as Zero Waste Day.
Councilmember Atkins-Salazar read the proclamation and presented it to Jose Posada Cabrera, an intern with Zero Waste Humboldt.
B. Proclamation in Recognition of California Retired Teachers Week, November 3–9, 2024.
Councilmember Schaefer read the proclamation and presented it to Wendy Branca, a member from the California Retired Teachers Association.
C. Proclamation in Recognition of Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, November 17–23, 2024.
Councilmember White read the proclamation and presented it to Winchell Dillenbeck, a representative from Affordable Homeless Housing Alternatives.
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COUNCIL AND STAFF REPORTS
Presenters: City Manager Perry, Equity Arcata Manager Harper-Desir, Vice Mayor Stillman, Councilmember Atkins-Salazar, Councilmember Schaefer, Mayor Matthews.
EARLY ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Matthews invited public comment.
Public Comment: Sean, Sylvia Levyborde, Leonard Perry, an unidentified member of the audience, Amon Armstrong, Lehava Devan, Rabbi Bob Rottenberg, Gene, Gigi H., Sarai.
Mayor Matthews closed the early oral communications period.
CONSENT CALENDAR
City Clerk Varley requested to pull Item H due to the date possibly being incorrect.
Mayor Matthews invited public comment.
Public Comment: Joanne McGarry addressed the Council regarding Item F.
RECESS: The Council recessed from 7:00 p.m. to 7:04 p.m.
Mayor Matthews clarified that Item H would not be pulled as the dates for the item were correct.
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 NOVEMBER 6, 2024, AS PRESENTED, ITEMS A-I. AYES: MATTHEWS, STILLMAN, ATKINS-SALAZAR, SCHAEFER, WHITE. NOES: NONE. ABSENT:
NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
A. Approve the Minutes of the City Council Meeting of October 16, 2024.
B. Bi-Weekly Report on Disbursements.
C. Adopt Ordinance No. 1572, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Arcata, Amending Article 1 in Chapter 2, Title II of the Arcata Municipal Code to Include the City Manager's Authority to Sign Documents; Waive Reading of the Text and Consent to Read by Title Only.
D. Adopt Ordinance No. 1573, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Arcata Amending Arcata Municipal Code Regulations Regarding Boards, Commissions, Committees and Task Forces, Waive Reading of the Text, and Consent to Read by Title Only.
E. Approve the Appointment of New Senior Project Manager, Laura Kadlecik, at Salary Range M185, Step 5.
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F. Approve the Purchase of Three 2025 Hybrid Ford Escapes and Award Contract to Harper Motors in the Amount of $108,913.86, Including Tax; and Authorize the City Manager to Execute All Applicable Documents.
G. Receive the City Treasurer's Cash and Investment Report for the Quarter Ending on September 30, 2024.
H. Adopt Resolution No. 245-14, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Arcata Revising The Effective Date of Decreases to Certain Fees and Service Charges Associated with Commercial Cannabis Activity Permits from January 1, 2025, to October 25, 2024.
I. Approve the Amended Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Arcata and Arcata Police Association for July 1, 2024–June 30, 2027; and Authorize the Mayor to Execute.
NEW BUSINESS
A. Receive an Update on the City of Arcata's Pension Funding and Outstanding Unfunded Accrued Liability (UAL).
Finance Director Miller presented an update regarding the City's pension funding and Unfunded Accrued Liability (UAL). She explained that the current amount of the UAL was $32.8 million, which was the City's largest source of liability and debt owed to outside agencies. She emphasized that one of the challenges with the UAL was that it was not stable. She reviewed recent actions that the Council had taken to help stabilize the City's UAL and provided recommendations for action that the Council could take to continue to address the UAL.
Mayor Matthews invited public comment.
Public Comment: Rabbi Bob Rottenberg, and Ellen P.
Mayor Matthews closed the public comment period.
The Council provided feedback to staff regarding potential options for addressing the UAL and, by general consensus, agreed to have the item brought back for consideration during the midyear budget review.
ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Matthews invited public comment.
Public Comment: Gary Bloomfield, an unidentified member of the audience, an unidentified member of the audience, Tamar Krigle, Joanne McGarry, Alice Shaw, Ellen P., and Jamilla.
Mayor Matthews closed the oral and written communications period.
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ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:26 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Rhea Varley
City Clerk