City Council - Regular Meeting - October 15, 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. REPORT BY COMMISSION/COMMITTEE
a.
Annual Report from the Transportation Safety Committee.
1. TSC_Annual_Report_2024_2025.pdf
Genevieve Serna, Chair of the Transportation Safety Committee, presented an oral version of the Committee's annual report to the Council.
4. STAFF REPORTS
a.
Receive an Update from the Deputy Director of Community Development, Jennifer Dart, Regarding the City of Arcata's Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) Methodology.
Deputy Director of Community Development Dart provided a staff report regarding the City's Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) methodology.
b.
Receive a Presentation from Bartle Wells Associates on the Results of the City of Arcata Water and Wastewater Rate Study.
1. BWA Presentation - City of Arcata W+WW Rate Study 10.10.2025.pdf Assistant City Manager Miller and Erik Helgeson from Bartle Wells provided a staff report regarding the City's Water and Wastewater Rate Study results.
c.
Other Staff Reports.
Presenters
: Perry.
5. ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS [EARLY - TIME LIMITED] Mayor Stillman invited public comment.
Public Comment
: Cynthia Potente, Shawn Leon, Heidi Curtus, Abraham, Emily, Rainer Shea, Lev Golod, Rebecca Gomez, and Shannon Townsend-Bettis.
Mayor Stillman closed the oral and written communications [early - time limited] period.
6. CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Stillman and Councilmember Matthews requested that Item G be removed from the Consent Calendar for further discussion.
SCHAEFER MOVED AND WHITE SECONDED TO ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS A THROUGH F.
Mayor Stillman invited public comment.
Public comment
: Gregory Daggett, and Scott Davies both spoke regarding Item F.
Mayor Stillman closed the public comment period.
THE MOTION PASSED ON A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE. AYES: STILLMAN, WHITE, ATKINS-SALAZAR, MATTHEWS, SCHAEFER. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
Moved by:
Schaefer
Seconded by:
White
Adopt the Consent Calendar Items A through F.
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 October 1, 2025.
1. Post-Meeting Minutes - CMSM_Oct01_2025 - English.pdf
c.
Approve the Minutes of the City Council Meeting of October 1, 2025.
1. Post-Meeting Minutes - CCM_Oct01_2025 - English.pdf
d.
Bi-Weekly Report on Disbursements.
1. Staff Report - Report on Cash Distributions 9.20.2025-10.3.2025.pdf
2. Attachment A - Cash Disbursements 10.6.pdf
Moved by:
Schaefer
Seconded by:
White
It is recommended that the Council approve the report on disbursements listing for the period September 20, 2025, through October 3, 2025.
e.
Approve the D Street Linear Park Exercise Equipment Enhancement Project.
1. Staff Report - Approve the D Street Linear Park Exercise Equipment Enhancement Project.pdf
2. A. D Street Exercise Equipment Concept Design.pdf
3. B. Combination Product Sheet.pdf
4. C. Leg Lift Product Sheet.pdf
f.
Approve a Letter of Support Urging the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors to Approve a Modification to the Conditional Use Permit Held by Ridgefield Events.
1. Staff Report - Approve Letter or Support for HCPC's Approval of CUP Held by Ridgefield Events .pdf
2. Attachment A – Letter of Support.pdf
g.
Award a Contract in the amount of $115,190 to HELIX Environmental Planning, Inc. for CEQA/NEPA Services for the Roger’s Garage Affordable Housing Project; Authorize a 10% Increase for Contingencies; and Approve Necessary and Associated Related Actions.
1. Staff Report - Roger's Garage CEQA-NEPA Services Award.pdf
2. A. CEQA-NEPA Serivces Proposals Scoring Summary.pdf
3. B. HELIX Cost Proposal.pdf
Councilmember Atkins-Salazar left the Chamber at 7:27 p.m. due to her need to recuse on account of having a financial conflict of interest for the Roger's Garage Affordable Housing Project because of her husband's employment by the project applicant, Danco.
Director of Community Development Loya presented to the Council regarding the award of a contract to HELIX Environmental Planning, Inc. for CEQA/NEPA services for the Roger's Garage Affordable Housing Project.
Mayor Stillman invited public comment.
Public Comment
: Joanne McGarry, an unidentified member of the audience, Kathleen Stanton, and Lisa Brown.
Mayor Stillman closed the public comment period.
Director Loya responded to inquiries and comments from the Council.
ON MOTION BY MATTHEWS, SECONDED BY SCHAEFER, AND WITH A FOUR-TO-ZERO VOICE VOTE WITH ONE ABSENCE, THE COUNCIL AWARDED A CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $115,190 TO HELIX ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING, INCORPORATED FOR CEQA/NEPA SERVICES FOR THE ROGER'S GARAGE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT; AUTHORIZED A 10% INCREASE FOR CONTINGENCIES; AND APPROVED NECESSARY AND ASSOCIATED RELATED ACTIONS; AND AUTHORIZED THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS. AYES: STILLMAN, WHITE, MATTHEWS, SCHAEFER. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: ATKINS-SALAZAR (RECUSED). ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
Councilmember Atkins-Salazar re-entered the Chamber at 7:53 p.m.
Moved by:
Matthews
Seconded by:
Schaefer
Award a contract in the amount of $115,190 to HELIX Environmental Planning, Incorporated for CEQA/NEPA services for the Roger's Garage Affordable Housing Project; authorize a 10% increase for contingencies; and approve necessary and associated related actions; and authorize the City Manager to execute all applicable documents.
7. AGENDA MODIFICATION
ON MOTION BY SCHAEFER, SECONDED BY MATTHEWS, AND WITH A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL MOVED THEIR NEW BUSINESS ITEM AHEAD OF THEIR OLD BUSINESS ITEM. AYES: STILLMAN, WHITE, ATKINS-SALAZAR, MATTHEWS, SCHAEFER. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
RECESS
: The Council recessed from 7:54 p.m. to 7:59 p.m.
Moved by:
Schaefer
Seconded by:
Matthews
Move our New Business Item ahead of our Old Business Item.
8. NEW BUSINESS--AGENDA MODIFICATION
a.
Consider Approving a Memorandum of Understanding for the Fall 2025 to Spring 2027 Choose Humboldt Campaign; and Consider Approving a $5,000 Contribution to Financially Support the Campaign.
1. Staff Report - Consider approving an MOU for the Choose Humboldt Campaign and contributing $5,000 support the Campaign.pdf
2. Attachment A - Choose Humboldt Funding Proposal - ACC.pptx.pdf
3. Attachment B - Draft Arcata of MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU).pdf
4. Attachment C - Choose Humboldt Campaign Funding Proposal _ACC.pdf Councilmember Matthews recused herself from this item because her employer, Humboldt Lodging Alliance, could potentially have future involvement with it. She left the Chamber at 7:59 p.m.
Rosa Dixon, Executive Director, and Charlene Cook, Marketing Director, with Humboldt Made presented to the Council regarding the Choose Humboldt Campaign.
Executive Director Dixon and Marketing Director Cook responded to inquiries and comments from the Council.
SCHAEFER MOVED AND WHITE SECONDED TO APPROVE THE MOU FOR FALL 2025 TO SPRING 2027 FOR CHOOSE HUMBOLDT; AND TO APPROVE THE $5,000 CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT THE CAMPAIGN.
Mayor Stillman invited public comment.
Public Comment
: Gregory Daggett, Joanne McGarry, Meredith Maier, and Abraham.
Mayor Stillman closed the public comment period.
THE MOTION PASSED ON A FOUR-TO-ZERO VOICE VOTE WITH ONE ABSENCE. AYES: STILLMAN, WHITE, ATKINS-SALAZAR, SCHAEFER. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: MATTHEWS (RECUSED). ABSTENTIONS NONE.
Councilmember Matthews re-entered the Chamber at 8:25 p.m.
Moved by:
Schaefer
Seconded by:
White
Approve the MOU for Fall 2025 to Spring 2027 for Choose Humboldt; and to approve the $5,000 contribution to support the campaign.
9. OLD BUSINESS
a.
Initiate Adoption of the Comprehensive Update to the City’s Local Coastal Program - Statutorily Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Guidelines Section 15265.
1. Staff Report - LCP Adoption Hearing 2.pdf
2. Attachment A - LCP Letter from the Arcata Fire District Board.pdf Old Business, Item A [Initiate Adoption of the Comprehensive Update to the City’s Local Coastal Program - Statutorily Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Guidelines Section 15265.] was moved to take place after New Business.
Director of Community Development Loya provided a staff report regarding the initiation of adoption of the comprehensive update to the City's Local Coastal Program. He explained that the item would need to be continued to a future meeting.
Mayor Stillman opened the public hearing.
Public Comment
: Gregory Daggett and George Green.
Mayor Stillman closed the public comment period.
ON MOTION BY MATTHEWS, SECONDED BY SCHAEFER, AND WITH A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL CONTINUED THE PUBLIC HEARING TO WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2026, AT 6:00 P.M. IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER. AYES: STILLMAN, WHITE, ATKINS-SALAZAR, MATTHEWS, SCHAEFER. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
Moved by:
Matthews
Seconded by:
Schaefer
Continue the public hearing to Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at 6:00 p.m., in the Council Chamber.
10. NEW BUSINESS
a.
Consider Approving a Memorandum of Understanding for the Fall 2025 to Spring 2027 Choose Humboldt Campaign; and Consider Approving a $5,000 Contribution to Financially Support the Campaign.
New Business, Item A [Consider Approving a Memorandum of Understanding for the Fall 2025 to Spring 2027 Choose Humboldt Campaign; and Consider Approving a $5,000 Contribution to Financially Support the Campaign.] was moved to take place before Old Business.
11. ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS [CONTINUED]
Mayor Stillman invited public comment.
Public Comment
: George Green who provided written communications to the Council, Gregory Daggett, Ella, Joanne McGarry, Dave Meserve who provided a written communication to the Council, Jody, Geoff Harris, Tricia Murphy, Dan Shahin, and Sherri.
Mayor Stillman closed the oral and written communications [continued] period.
12. COUNCIL REPORTS
Presenters
: Matthews, White, Schaefer, Atkins-Salazar, and Stillman.
13. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:27 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,