CITY OF ARCATA
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
COUNCIL CHAMBER NOVEMBER 20, 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. with Mayor Matthews presiding. Notice of this meeting was posted on November 15, 2024.
PRESENT: Matthews, Stillman, Atkins-Salazar, Schaefer, White. ABSENT: None. STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Perry (left at 5:02 p.m.), Human Resources/Administrative Services Director Vink.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Matthews invited public comment.
There being no public comment, Mayor Matthews closed the public comment period.
CLOSED SESSION
A. EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION, Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957(b)(1): City Manager.
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. EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION, Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957(b)(1): City Manager.
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.
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.
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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 15, 2024. PRESENT: Matthews, Stillman, Atkins-Salazar, Schaefer, White. ABSENT: None.
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Perry, City Engineer Khatri, Director of Community Development Loya, Director of Environmental Services Sinkhorn, Finance Director Miller, Deputy Director of Community Development Dart, 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 in Recognition of National Hospice & Palliative Care Month, November 2024.
Vice Mayor Stillman read the proclamation and presented it to Laura Middlemiss, Board Member; and Sabrina DeLashmutt, Development Council for the Hospice of Humboldt.
B. Proclamation Designating November 16–December 31, 2024, as the Season of Wonder and Light in Arcata.
Councilmember Schaefer read the proclamation and presented it to Bob Judevine, Chair; and J.D. Garza-Valencia, Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for the Arcata Chamber of Commerce.
REPORT BY COMMISSION/COMMITTEE
A. Annual Report from the Transactions and Use Tax Oversight Committee.
Robin Hashem, a member of the Transactions and Use Tax Oversight Committee, gave an oral version of the Committee's Annual Report.
COUNCIL AND STAFF REPORTS
Presenters: City Manager Perry, Councilmember Schaefer, Councilmember Atkins-Salazar, Mayor Matthews, Vice Mayor Stillman, and Councilmember White.
EARLY ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Matthews invited public comment.
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Public Comment: Sean, Nezzie Wade, Steve Davis, Gene, and Gracie.
Mayor Matthews closed the early oral communications period.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Vice Mayor Stillman requested that Item D be removed from the Consent Calendar for separate discussion.
Mayor Matthews invited public comment.
There being no public comment on the Consent Calendar, Mayor Matthews closed the public comment period.
ON MOTION BY STILLMAN, SECONDED BY ATKINS-SALAZAR, AND WITH A
UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED THE CONSENT CALENDAR OF NOVEMBER 20, 2024, ITEMS A, B, AND C, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM D:
ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 245-17 AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO FILE A
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATION WITH THE STATE WATER RESOURCES
CONTROL BOARD TO FUND THE CITY'S STEEL WATERLINE REPLACEMENT PROJECT; AND ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 245-18 STATING THE INTENT TO
REIMBURSE EXPENDITURES BY THE STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL
BOARD MADE IN SUPPORT OF THE CITY'S STEEL WATERLINE REPLACEMENT PROJECT. AYES: MATTHEWS, STILLMAN, ATKINS-SALAZAR, SCHAEFER, WHITE. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
A. Approve the Minutes of the City Council Meeting of October 30, 2024.
B. Approve the Minutes of the City Council Meeting of November 6, 2024.
C. Bi-Weekly Report on Disbursements.
D. Item IX-D was moved to Items Removed from the Consent Calendar.
ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
D. Adopt Resolution No. 245-17 Authorizing the City Manager to File a Financial Assistance Application with the State Water Resources Control Board to Fund the City's Steel Waterline Replacement Project; and Adopt Resolution No. 245-18 Stating the Intent to Reimburse Expenditures by the State Water Resources Control Board Made in Support of the City's Steel Waterline Replacement Project.
Vice Mayor Stillman requested that staff address the letters that had gone out to property owners.
Director of Environmental Services Sinkhorn explained that this was part of a national EPA mandate for the states to help local jurisdictions assess if there was lead in existing service lines or on private properties. She noted that the City had been mandated to send a letter letting people know if it had not been able to identify exactly what was on their private side and inviting people November 20, 2024
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to help identify that type. She emphasized that so far, the City had not identified a lead issue in Arcata.
STILLMAN MOVED AND ATKINS-SALAZAR SECONDED TO ADOPT
RESOLUTION NO. 245-17.
Mayor Matthews invited public comment.
Public Comment: Joanne McGarry, Steve Davis, and Sarai.
Mayor Matthews closed the public comment period.
On inquiry by City Clerk Varley, Vice Mayor Stillman presented a substitute motion to include both resolutions in Item D.
ON MOTION BY STILLMAN, SECONDED BY ATKINS-SALAZAR, AND WITH A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 245-17
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO FILE A FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
APPLICATION WITH THE STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD TO FUND THE CITY'S STEEL WATERLINE REPLACEMENT PROJECT; AND ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 245-18 STATING THE INTENT TO REIMBURSE
EXPENDITURES BY THE STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD MADE IN SUPPORT OF THE CITY'S STEEL WATERLINE REPLACEMENT PROJECT.
AYES: MATTHEWS, STILLMAN, ATKINS-SALAZAR, SCHAEFER, WHITE. NOES:
NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
NEW BUSINESS
A. Consider Adopting Resolution No. 245-15 Authorizing the Submission of a Streamlined Application for Funding Under the Permanent Local Housing Allocation Program (PLHA) Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) 2024 and Amended PLHA Plan.
Deputy Director of Community Development Dart shared that in 2022, the City applied for a five-year allocation of the Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA). She explained that the City was required to submit a streamlined application in order to expend the last two years of its five years’ worth of funding. She noted that there was a new HCD requirement for this allocation and that forty percent of the funding must support homeownership. She said that staff proposed to add an owner-occupied rehab program and moderate income down payment assistance to the amended PLHA Plan.
STILLMAN MOVED AND SCHAEFER SECONDED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 245-15 AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF THE STREAMLINED APPLICATION
FOR FUNDING UNDER THE PERMANENT LOCAL HOUSING ALLOCATION AND NOTICE OF FUNDS AVAILABILITY 2024 AND AMEND PLHA PLAN.
Mayor Matthews opened the public hearing.
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Steve Davis spoke in favor of more affordable housing.
Sarai spoke in favor of the application of funds but wondered how people would get access to the funds.
Mayor Matthews closed the public hearing.
THE MOTION PASSED ON A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE. AYES: MATTHEWS, STILLMAN, ATKINS-SALAZAR, SCHAEFER, WHITE. NOES: NONE. ABSENT:
NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
B. Consider Resolution No. 245-19, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Arcata Reaffirming Arcata's Commitment to the Values of Community, Inclusivity, Environmental Protection, and Respect.
Mayor Matthews provided background regarding the proposed resolution. She spoke of fear and general unease in the community after the recent election and what was going on the community.
She shared that she revisited a resolution that had been passed after the 2016 election and explained that she felt it was an appropriate time to bring it back with the acknowledgment that there were gaps to be filled. Mayor Matthews read the resolution in its entirety.
Mayor Matthews invited public comment.
Public Comment: Joanne McGarry, Steve Davis, Florence Parks, Gigi H., Bob Rottenberg, Amy, Ellen P., Gene, Sarai, Ramira, Jamilla, and Alice Finen.
Mayor Matthews closed the public comment period.
ON MOTION BY STILLMAN, SECONDED BY SCHAEFER, AND WITH A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 245-19, A
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCATA REAFFIRMING
ARCATA'S COMMITMENT TO THE VALUES OF THE COMMUNITY,
INCLUSIVITY, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, AND RESPECT; AND DIRECTED THAT IT BE PUBLISHED IN THE MAD RIVER UNION. AYES:
MATTHEWS, STILLMAN, ATKINS-SALAZAR, SCHAEFER, WHITE. NOES: NONE.
ABSENT: NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
RECESS: The Council recessed from 7:53 p.m. to 7:58 p.m.
ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Matthews invited public comment.
Public Comment: Florence Parks, an unidentified member of the audience, Joanne McGarry, Gigi H., Sarai, Ellen P., Max, Ramira, Kory, Alice Finen, and Luna.
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Mayor Matthews closed the oral and written communications period.
DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS
A. Schedule the Special Meeting to Certify the Election Results, Swear-In New City Council Members, and Elect a Mayor and Vice Mayor for 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 12, 2024, in the Council Chamber.
BY GENERAL CONSENSUS THE CITY COUNCIL SCHEDULED THE SPECIAL
MEETING TO CERTIFY ELECTION RESULTS, SWEAR-IN NEW CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND ELECT A MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR FOR 3:00 P.M. ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2024, IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:33 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Rhea Varley
City Clerk