CITY OF ARCATA
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
COUNCIL CHAMBER DECEMBER 18, 2024
1 SPECIAL MEETING
A special meeting of the City Council of the City of Arcata was held on the above date at 5:30 p.m. with Mayor Stillman presiding. Notice of this meeting was posted on December 13, 2024.
PRESENT: Stillman, Atkins-Salazar, Matthews, Schaefer. ABSENT: White. STAFF PRESENT:
City Manager Perry, City Engineer Khatri, Director of Environmental Services Sinkhorn.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Stillman invited public comment.
Public Comment: Joanne McGarry addressed the Council regarding Item A.
Mayor Stillman closed the public comment period.
CLOSED SESSION
A. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8 Assessor’s Parcel Nos. 516-271-002, 504-201-002, -003, -004, 507-382-002, -008, 507-251-008, -009, 507-461-005, -006, 507-121-005, - 041, 507-081-024, -013, -012, -010, -009, -011, 507-071-009, 505-011-005, 503-372- 007, 503-355-005, 505-051-012. Agency Negotiator: Merritt Perry, City Manager.
Negotiating Party: Great Redwood Trail Agency. Under Negotiation: License Agreement 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 Nos. 516-271-002, 504-201-002, -003, -004, 507-382-002, -008, 507-251-008, -009, 507-461-005, -006, 507-121-005, - 041, 507-081-024, -013, -012, -010, -009, -011, 507-071-009, 505-011-005, 503-372- 007, 503-355-005, 505-051-012. Agency Negotiator: Merritt Perry, City Manager.
Negotiating Party: Great Redwood Trail Agency. Under Negotiation: License Agreement Terms.
The Council returned to the Chamber at 5:52 p.m.
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RECESS: The Council recessed from 5:52 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Mayor Stillman 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 Stillman 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 Stillman presiding. Notice of this meeting was posted on December 13, 2024. PRESENT: Stillman, Atkins-Salazar, Matthews, Schaefer. ABSENT: White. STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Perry, City Engineer Khatri, Director of Environmental Services Sinkhorn, Finance Director Miller, Human Resources/Administrative Services Director Vink, IT and Digital Media Specialist Carrillo, City Clerk Varley.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Mayor Stillman read a statement acknowledging that Arcata sat on ancestral Wiyot land.
FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Stillman led the Pledge of Allegiance.
COUNCIL AND STAFF REPORTS
A. Receive a Report from Staff on the December 5, 2024, Earthquake and Tsunami Warning Response.
City Manager Perry and Director of Environmental Services Sinkhorn presented a report on the City's response to the December 5, 2024, earthquake and tsunami warning.
B. Receive an Update from Vero Fiber Networks on the Planned Projects in the City of Arcata.
Stephen Nabholz from Vero Fiber Networks provided an update regarding the company's project overview for the City of Arcata.
C. Other Council and Staff Reports.
Presenters: City Manager Perry, Councilmember Atkins-Salazar, Councilmember Schaefer, Councilmember Matthews, and Mayor Stillman.
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EARLY ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Stillman invited public comment.
Public Comment: Pam Brown, Mike Mulderig, Pat Kanzler, Melanie Williams, Sean, and Richard Jeremy Needham.
Mayor Stillman closed the early oral communications period.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Stillman invited public comment.
SCHAEFER MOVED AND ATKINS-SALAZAR SECONDED TO ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR [OF DECEMBER 18, 2024, AS PRESENTED, ITEMS A–C].
Mayor Stillman invited public comment.
Public Comment: Sarai.
Mayor Stillman closed the public comment period.
THE MOTION PASSED ON A FOUR-TO-ZERO VOICE VOTE WITH ONE ABSENCE.
AYES: STILLMAN, ATKINS-SALAZAR, MATTHEWS, SCHAEFER. NOES: NONE.
ABSENT: WHITE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
A. Approve the Minutes of the City Council Meeting of Dec 4, 2024.
B. Bi-Weekly Report on Disbursements.
C. 1) Adopt Resolution No. 245-23, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Arcata Amending the Class and Pay Resolution—Arcata Police Association; and 2) Adopt Resolution No. 245-24, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Arcata Amending the Class and Pay Resolution—International Union of Operating Engineers Local No. 3.
OLD BUSINESS
A. Adopt Resolution No. 245-21 Authorizing the City Manager to Execute Agreements with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) for Implementation of a Local Transactions and Use Tax; and Adopt Resolution No. 245-22 Authorizing Examination of Sales or Transactions and Use Tax Records.
Finance Director Miller explained that the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) would administer the recently passed Transactions and Use Tax increase. She noted that one resolution that was presented for consideration would allow the City Manager to execute agreements and the other resolution specifically authorized staff members to examine the sales or transactions use tax records.
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Mayor Stillman invited public comment.
There being none, Mayor Stillman closed the public comment period.
ON MOTION BY MATTHEWS, SECONDED BY SCHAEFER, AND WITH A FOURTO-ZERO VOICE VOTE WITH ONE ABSENCE, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 245-21 AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE
AGREEMENTS WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TAX AND FEE
ADMINISTRATION FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF A LOCAL TRANSACTIONS AND USE TAX; AND ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 245-22 AUTHORIZING
EXAMINATION OF SALES OR TRANSACTIONS AND USE TAX RECORDS. AYES:
STILLMAN, ATKINS-SALAZAR, MATTHEWS, SCHAEFER. NOES: NONE. ABSENT:
WHITE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
NEW BUSINESS
A. Conduct a Public Hearing to Receive Input Regarding Unmet Transit Needs and Direct Staff to Forward All Comments to the Humboldt County Association of Governments.
City Engineer Khatri introduced Michelle Nielsen with the Humboldt County Association of Governments (HCOAG) who explained the process of evaluating an unmet transit need. She noted that this was an annual process where compiled comments from a series of public hearings throughout the county would be used in a report which would go to a council that advised the HCOAG Board of Directors. She gave a presentation on regional transit touching on ridership trends, unified branding, and the North State Express which had been launched in early 2024.
Mayor Stillman opened the public hearing.
Joanne McGarry spoke in favor of promoting collective travel to destinations such as bars, plays, and events.
Jenna Boyse spoke in favor of the Arcata and Mad River Transit System providing Sunday service and removing winter breaks from the Arcata Marsh transit service. She advocated for service being added to South Arcata.
Mike Mulderig expressed concern that bus stops were inaccessible due to people living out of them, he spoke in favor of them getting help too.
Richard Jeremy Needham spoke against the disconnect between the transit system and the homeless population.
Kelsey Martin with the Coalition for Responsible Transportation Priorities spoke in favor of faster and more direct options between towns, better weekend hours, more busses during peak times, and increased frequency of popular routes.
Councilmember Schaefer spoke in favor of express routes and service out to Bayside.
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Mayor Stillman closed the public hearing.
ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Stillman invited public comment.
Public Comment: Joanne McGarry, Sam Neuwirth, Trisha Murphy, Rosebud, Gigi H., Jamilla, Alice Finen, Sherri, Tamar Krigel, Ellen P., and Ramira.
Mayor Stillman closed the oral and written communications period.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:49 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Rhea Varley
City Clerk