CITY OF ARCATA
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
STUDY SESSION
AGENDA
Monday, June 30, 2025, 5:30 p.m.
Council Chamber
736 F Street, Arcata
Joint Study Session with Planning Commission
_________________________________________________________________________________________ Special accommodations for the disabled who attend City meetings can be made in advance by contacting the City Clerk at 822-5953. Assistive listening devices are available. _________________________________________________________________________________________ Pursuant to Government Code section 54957.5, all writings or documents relating to any item on this agenda which have been provided to a majority of the City Council, including those received less than 72 hours prior to the City Council meeting, will be made available for public inspection in the agenda binder located on the counter in the lobby at Arcata City Hall, 736 F Street, during normal business hours, and on the City's website at www.cityofarcata.org.
PLEASE NOTE: Speakers wishing to distribute materials to the City Council at the meeting are requested to provide 10 copies to the City Clerk.
_________________________________________________________________________________________ How to Observe and Participate in the Meeting:
Members of the public may attend the meeting in person and give public comment.
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. PUBLIC COMMENT
3. DISCUSSION
a. Local Coastal Program.
b. Regional Housing Needs Allocation and Housing Element Process. c. Single-Stair Building Reform.
4. ADJOURNMENT
STAFF REPORT – CITY COUNCIL MEETING
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: David Loya, Community Development Director
PREPARER: David Loya, Community Development Director
DATE: June 30, 2025
TITLE: Single-Stair Building Reform.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Council review the resources provided below for the Joint Study Session discussion on single-stair building reform.
INTRODUCTION:
The Council will discuss single-stair building design with the Planning Commission at the June 30, 2025, Study Session. The following resources help provide context for the discussion.
DISCUSSION:
https://www.pew.org/en/research-and-analysis/reports/2025/02/small-single-stairwayapartment-buildings-have-strong-safety-record https://www.archpaper.com/2023/03/why-does-american-multifamily-architecture-look-sobanal-heres-one-reason/ https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2024/12/5/how-single-stair-reform-can-help-unlockincremental-housing https://legiscan.com/CA/text/AB835/id/2844410
https://cd4.lacity.gov/press-releases/council-adopts-motion-to-update-building-code/ POLICY IMPLICATIONS:
Single-stair design accommodates higher densities on smaller sites that fit into traditional singlefamily neighborhoods without significant aesthetic impacts.