City Council - Special Meeting - December 11, 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. ROLL CALL
City Clerk Varley called roll.
4. PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Stillman invited public comment.
Public Comment
: Shannon Yodowitz, Joel Yodowitz, Joanne McGarry, and an unidentified member of the audience.
Mayor Stillman closed the public comment period.
5. CONSENT CALENDAR
ON MOTION BY WHITE, SECONDED BY SCHAEFER, AND WITH A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED THE CONSENT CALENDAR [AS PRESENTED, FOR DECEMBER 11, 2025]. AYES: STILLMAN, WHITE, ATKINS-SALAZAR, MATTHEWS, SCHAEFER. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
Moved by:
White
Seconded by:
Schaefer
Adopt the Consent Calendar.
a.
Bi-Weekly Report on Disbursements.
1. Staff Report - Report on Cash Distributions 11.8.2025-11.21.2025.pdf
2. Attachment A - Cash Disbursements 11-8-2025 to 11-21-2025.pdf It is recommended that the Council approve the report on disbursements listing for the period November 8, 2025–November 21, 2025.
6. NEW BUSINESS
a.
Elect a Mayor and Vice Mayor Pursuant to Arcata Municipal Code Section 2020.
1. Staff Report - Elect a Mayor and Vice Mayor.pdf
2. Attachment A - Arcata Municipal Code, Title II, Chapter 1.pdf
3. Attachment B - Excerpt from City Officials' Protocol Manual 2025.pdf ON MOTION BY STILLMAN, SECONDED BY MATTHEWS, AND WITH A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL NOMINATED CURRENT VICE MAYOR, KIMBERLEY WHITE, AS THE NEXT MAYOR OF ARCATA. AYES: STILLMAN, WHITE, ATKINS-SALAZAR, MATTHEWS, SCHAEFER. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
ON MOTION BY WHITE, SECONDED BY STILLMAN, AND WITH A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL NOMINATED COUNCILMEMBER STACY ATKINS-SALAZAR TO BE THE NEXT VICE MAYOR. AYES: WHITE, ATKINS-SALAZAR, MATTHEWS, SCHAEFER, STILLMAN. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
Moved by:
Stillman
Seconded by:
Matthews
Nominate current Vice Mayor, Kimberley White, as the next Mayor of Arcata.
Moved by:
White
Seconded by:
Stillman
Nominate Councilmember Atkins-Salazar to be the next Vice Mayor.
b.
Consider Council Member Assignments to Regional Boards, Committees, and Commissions, and as Liaisons for 2026.
1. Staff Report - Consider Council Member Assignments for 2026.pdf
2. Attachment A - Committee Commission Liaison Appointments 2026 with blanks.pdf City Manager Perry reviewed the Council's appointment preferences as the Council discussed regional appointments.
The Council arrived at the determination of the following assignments for the Joint Power Agencies (JPAs) for the year of 2026:
HUMBOLDT COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS: PRIMARY-WHITE; ALTERNATE-ATKINS-SALAZAR; HUMBOLDT TRANSIT AUTHORITY: PRIMARY-STILLMAN; ALTERNATE-WHITE; HUMBOLDT WASTE MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY: PRIMARY-ATKINS-SALAZAR; ALTERNATE-MATTHEWS; REDWOOD COAST ENERGY AUTHORITY: PRIMARY-SCHAEFER; ALTERNATE-MATTHEWS; REDWOOD REGION ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION: PRIMARY-MATTHEWS; ALTERNATE-SCHAEFER; HUMBOLDT BAY MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT, WATER QUALITY TASK FORCE: PRIMARY-STILLMAN; ALTERNATE-NONE; HUMBOLDT-DEL NORTE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS RESPONSE JOINT POWERS AUTHORITY: PRIMARY-MATTHEWS; ALTERNATE-NONE; LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES, REDWOOD EMPIRE DIVISION, REPRESENTATIVE TO THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE AND DIVISION BUSINESS MEETINGS: PRIMARY-WHITE; ALTERNATE-ATKINS-SALAZAR.
The Council went on to discuss liaison appointments and arrived at the determination of the following assignments for the year of 2026:
ARCATA HOUSE PARTNERSHIP: PRIMARY-STILLMAN, ALTERNATE-SCHAEFER; ARCATA/CAMOAPA SISTER CITY COMMITTEE: PRIMARY-WHITE, ALTERNATE-SCHAEFER; EQUITY ARCATA ADVISORY TEAM: PRIMARY-SCHAEFER AND WHITE; FRIENDS OF THE ARCATA MARSH: PRIMARY-STILLMAN, ALTERNATE-WHITE; HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING WORKING GROUP: PRIMARY-ATKINS-SALAZAR AND STILLMAN; CPH/CITY LIAISONS: PRIMARY-WHITE AND ATKINS-SALAZAR.
ON MOTION BY SCHAEFER, SECONDED BY MATTHEWS, AND WITH A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL APPROVED THE LIAISON APPOINTMENTS AS DISCUSSED, AND AS THE CITY MANAGER HAD WRITTEN OUT. AYES: WHITE, ATKINS-SALAZAR, MATTHEWS, SCHAEFER, STILLMAN. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
Moved by:
Schaefer
Seconded by:
Matthews
Approve the liaison appointments as discussed, and as the City Manager has written out.
7. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 6:07 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,