City Council - Regular Meeting - September 17, 2025
1. LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Mayor Stillman read a statement acknowledging that Arcata sat on ancestral Wiyot land.
2. FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Stillman led the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. CEREMONIAL MATTERS
a.
Proclamation in Recognition of National PACE Month, September 2025.
1. National PACE Month Proclamation 2025.pdf
Vice Mayor White read the proclamation and presented it to Barbara LaHaie, Executive Director of Redwood Coast PACE.
4. STAFF REPORTS
a.
Receive an Update from the Equity Arcata Team; Mo Harper-Desir, Fernando Paz and Anna Martinez, Regarding Equity Arcata.
Mo Harper-Desir and Fernando Paz, Co-Managers of Equity Arcata, provided an update on Equity Arcata, touching on its recent events, upcoming programs, and ongoing focus.
b.
Receive a Presentation from the League of Women Voters of Humboldt County Regarding the Letter of Support for All Humboldt County Community Members.
Anne Hartline with the League of Women Voters of Humboldt County presented regarding a letter of support for all Humboldt County community members to be considered at a future meeting.
c.
Other Staff Reports.
None were received.
5. ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS [EARLY - TIME LIMITED] Mayor Stillman invited public comment.
Public Comment:
Sean.
RECESS
: The Council recessed from 6:27 to 6:35 p.m.
Public Comment [Continued After Recess]:
Abraham who provided written communication to the Council, Pat Kanzler, Jody who provided printed handouts to the Council, Ella, Joanne McGarry, and Mike Edwards.
Mayor Stillman closed the oral and written communications [early-time limited] period.
6. CONSENT CALENDAR
MATTHEWS MOVED AND WHITE SECONDED TO ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR [AS PRESENTED, ITEMS A–K].
Mayor Stillman invited public comment.
Public Comment
: Joanne McGarry regarding Item F, and Alex McNeill regarding Item J.
Mayor Stillman closed the public comment period.
THE MOTION PASSED ON A FOUR-TO-ZERO VOICE VOTE WITH ONE ABSENCE. AYES: STILLMAN, WHITE, MATTHEWS, SCHAEFER. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: ATKINS-SALAZAR. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
a.
Approval to Waive Reading of the Text and Consent to Read by Title Only for Any Ordinance on this Agenda.
b.
Approve the Minutes of the City Council Special Meeting of September 3, 2025.
1. Post-Meeting Minutes - CMSM_Sep03_2025 - English.pdf
c.
Approve the Minutes of the City Council Meeting of September 3, 2025.
1. Post-Meeting Minutes - CCM_Sep03_2025 - English.pdf
d.
Bi-Weekly Report on Disbursements.
1. Staff Report - Report on Cash Distributions 8.23.2025-9.5.2025.pdf
2. Attachment A - Cash Disbursements 9.8.pdf
It is recommended that the Council approve the report on disbursements listing for the period August 23, 2025, through September 5, 2025.
e.
Adopt Resolution No. 256-10 Adopting the Permanent Local Housing Allocation Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Program Guidelines – California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Exempt per the Commonsense Exemption.
1. Staff Report - Permanent Local Housing Allocation Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Program Guidelines.pdf
2. Attachment A- Resolution No. 256 -10.pdf
3. Attachment B - Permanent Local Housing Allocation Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Program Guidelines.pdf
f.
Award a Contract Amendment in the Amount of $327,870 to GHD, Inc., for Additional Engineering and Design Services for the US 101 and Sunset Avenue Interchange Improvements Project; and Authorize the City Manager to Execute All Applicable Documents.
1. Staff Report - Award Contract Amendment to GHD of $327,869.23 for Design Phase US 101 and Sunset Ave Interchange.pdf
2. Exhibit A- Scope of Work for GHD Contract Mod 1 8.21.25.pdf
g.
Reappoint Jim Zoellick to the Energy Committee for a Three-Year Term Ending September 30, 2028.
1. Staff Report - Reappoint Jim Zoellick to Energy Committee Three-Year Term Ending September 30th, 2028. .pdf
h.
Reappoint Jill MacDonald and Jeanette Cooper to the Historic Landmarks Committee, Each for a Term Expiring September 30, 2028.
1. Staff Report - HLC Reappointment.pdf
i.
Approve a Contract Amendment with GHD, Inc. for Professional Services to Support the Construction Phase of the Annie and Mary Trail Project in the Amount of $86,681.60; and Authorize the City Manager to Execute All Applicable Documents.
1. Staff Report - Amend Contract to GHD, Inc. for Professional Services for Annie and Mary Trail Project.pdf
2. Attachment A - GHD Agreement A+M Trail Env. Monitoring_executed.pdf
3. Attachment B - Contract Amendment Scope and Fee - Annie and Mary Trail.pdf
j.
Approve Sponsorship in an Amount Equivalent to the Plaza Event Fees of $1,981 for the Same Old People’s North Country Fair to be Held on the Arcata Plaza on September 20 and 21, 2025.
1. Staff Report - Approve Sponsorship for Plaza Event Fees for the North Country Fair.pdf
2. Attachment A - Email Request for event fee support for North Country Fair Arcata.pdf It is recommended that the Council approve a sponsorship in an amount equivalent to the Plaza event fees of $1,981 for the Same Old People’s North Country Fair to be held on the Arcata Plaza on September 20 and 21, 2025.
k.
Adopt Resolution No. 256-11 Establishing the Community Benefits Program; Action Not Subject to Additional California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Review.
1. Staff Report - Community Benefits Adoption.pdf
2. Attachment A - Res 256-11 Com Bennies.pdf
Staff recommends the Council adopt Resolution No. 256-11 establishing the community benefits program.
7. NEW BUSINESS
a.
Hold a Public Hearing to Consider and Adopt Resolution No. 256-05 Confirming City Costs Incurred from Abating Nuisance Conditions at 2579 Baldwin Street and Approving Collection of Costs as a Special Assessment.
1. Staff Report - Adopt Resolution 256-05 Confirming $10,686.44 Costs 2579 Baldwin St Abatement and Approve Collection of Cost.pdf
2. Attachment A - 2579 Baldwin St. Invoice for Abatment.pdf
3. Attachment B - 2025.03.11 Inspection Abatement Warrant.pdf
4. Attachment C - Resolution 256-05 Confirming Costs, Ordering Assessment.pdf Building Official Bishop provided a staff report regarding actions leading to the abatement at 2579 Baldwin Street.
Building Official Bishop responded to inquiries and comments from the council.
Mayor stillman opened the public hearing.
There being no public comment, Mayor Stillman closed the public hearing.
ON MOTION BY SCHAEFER, SECONDED BY MATTHEWS, AND WITH A FOUR-TO-ZERO VOICE VOTE WITH ONE ABSENCE, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 256-05 CONFIRMING $10,686.44 IN CITY COSTS INCURRED TO ABATE NUISANCE CONDITIONS AT 2579 BALDWIN STREET, ARCATA, AND COLLECTING THE SAID COSTS VIA SPECIAL ASSESSMENT; AND AUTHORIZED THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS. AYES: STILLMAN, WHITE, MATTHEWS, SCHAEFER. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: ATKINS-SALAZAR. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
Moved by:
Schaefer
Seconded by:
Matthews
Adopt Resolution No. 256-05 confirming $10,686.44 in City costs incurred to abate nuisance conditions at 2579 Baldwin Street, Arcata, and collect the said costs via Special Assessment; and authorize the City Manager to execute all applicable documents.
b.
Award a Contract in the Amount of $500,000 to Smith Group, Inc. for Professional Services for Planning, Community Outreach and Preliminary Concept Design for the Reconnect Arcata Project.
1. Staff Report - Award Contract of $500,000 to Smith Group Inc for Reconnect Arcata Project.pdf
2. Exhibit A - project locations map.pdf
3. Exhibit B - SmithGroup_Reconnecting Arcata_COST-PROPOSAL.pdf City Engineer Khatri and Senior Project Manager Kadlecik provided a staff report regarding the proposed project and details regarding the funding for it.
Staff responded to inquiries and comments from the Council.
The Council deliberated.
BY GENERAL CONSENSUS, THE COUNCIL AGREED TO TABLE THE ITEM UNTIL A FUTURE MEETING DATE.
Mayor Stillman invited public comment.
Public Comment
: Joanne McGarry.
Mayor Stillman closed the public comment period.
No Council action was taken at this time.
c.
Receive and Approve an Update on the Fiscal Year 2025/26 Capital Improvement Program (CIP).
1. Staff Report - 25-26 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Update.pdf
2. Attachment A - 25-26 CIP Document FULL.pdf
City Engineer Khatri asked for the Council to receive a presentation, but to bring back the guiding Capital Improvement Program document for approval at a future meeting due to some needed corrections.
Director Khatri provided a presentation touching on funding sources and the City's projects. He then responded to inquiries and comments from the Council.
Mayor Stillman invited public comment.
Public Comment
: Joanne McGarry.
Mayor Stillman closed the public comment period.
No Council action was taken at this time. There was only an update on the program that was received for this item.
8. ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS [CONTINUED]
Mayor Stillman invited public comment.
Public Comment
: Tricia Murphy.
Mayor Stillman closed the oral and written communications [continued] period.
9. COUNCIL REPORTS
Presenters
: Schaefer, Matthews, White, and Stillman.
10. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:54 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,