City Council - Regular Meeting - December 17, 2025
1. LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Mayor White read a statement acknowledging that Arcata sat on ancestral Wiyot land.
2. FLAG SALUTE
Mayor White led the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. ROLL CALL
City Clerk Varley called roll.
4. CEREMONIAL MATTERS
a.
Certificate of Appreciation for Joseph Mateer for His 26 1/2 Years of Service to the City of Arcata.
1. Mateer Joe Retirement Certificate.pdf
Councilmember Matthews read the Certificate of Appreciation and presented it to Joe Mateer.
b.
Proclamation in Recognition of Human Rights Awareness Month, December 2025.
1. Human Rights Awareness Month 2025.pdf
Councilmember Stillman read the proclamation and presented it to Jim Glover with the Humboldt County Human Rights Commission.
5. REPORT BY COMMISSION/COMMITTEE
There were none.
6. STAFF REPORTS
a.
Receive an Update from Cal Poly Humboldt Staff on the University's Foster Campus Connectivity Project.
Mike Fisher, Interim Vice President for Administration and Finance at Cal Poly Humboldt, provided an update regarding Cal Poly Humboldt's Foster Connectivity Project.
7. ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS [EARLY - TIME LIMITED] Mayor White invited public comment.
Public Comment
: Brittney Villagran, Doug Moyer, Shawn Leon, Blase Bonpane, Travis, and Doug Landers.
Mayor White closed the oral and written communications [early - time limited] period.
8. N/A
None.
9. CONSENT CALENDAR
STILLMAN MOVED AND MATTHEWS SECONDED TO ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR [AS PRESENTED FOR DECEMBER 17, 2025, ITEMS A THROUGH K].
Mayor White invited public comment.
Public Comment
: Joanne McGarry.
Mayor White closed the public comment period.
THE MOTION PASSED ON A FOUR-TO-ZERO VOICE VOTE WITH ONE ABSENCE. AYES: WHITE, ATKINS-SALAZAR, MATTHEWS, STILLMAN. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: SCHAEFER. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
Moved by:
Stillman
Seconded by:
Matthews
Adopt the Consent Calendar.
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 Meeting of November 19, 2025.
1. Post-Meeting Minutes - CCM_Nov19_2025 - English.pdf
c.
Bi-Weekly Report on Disbursements.
1. Staff Report - Cash Distributions 11.22.25-12.5.25.pdf
2. Attachment A - Cash Disbursements 11-22-2025 to 12-05-2025.pdf Moved by:
Stillman
Seconded by:
Matthews
It is recommended that the Council approve the report on disbursements listing for the period November 22, 2025–December 5, 2025.
d.
Adopt Resolution No. 256-03 to Authorize Establishing a Public Agency Retirement Services (PARS) 115 Trust to Prefund City Pension Obligations; and Authorize the City Manager to Execute All Applicable Documents.
1. Staff Report - Adopt Resolution No. 256-03 to Authorize Establishing a PARS 115 Trust.pdf
2. Attachment A - Resolution No. 256-03 .pdf
3. Attachment B - Draft Contract for Services with PARS.pdf
e.
Approve the Plans for Parking Along Mad River Parkway for Carlson Park.
1. Staff Report - Approve Plans for Parking along Mad River Parkway for Carlson Park.pdf
2. Exhibit A.pdf
f.
Adopt Resolution No. 256-26 Declaring Approximately Eight Acres of the City Owned Property at Happy Valley (Assessor’s Parcel No. 507-081-038) Surplus Land – Not a Project Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act.
1. Staff Report - Happy Valley SLA Declaration 1.pdf
2. A. Res 256-26_Happy Valley_Surplus Lands.pdf
g.
Adopt Resolution No. 256-19, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Arcata Adopting the Primary Loan Program Guidelines to Work in Conjunction with the CalHome Mobilehome Ownership Program Guidelines.
1. Staff Report - CalHome Primary Loan Guidelines.pdf
2. Attachment A - Resolution No. 256-19.pdf
h.
Adopt Resolution No. 256-24, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Arcata Approving the City of Arcata New Employee Onboarding Administrative Policy; and Authorize the City Manager to Execute All Applicable Documents.
1. Staff Report - Adopt Reso 256-24.pdf
2. Attachment A - Resolution 256-24 Approving City of Arcata New Employee Onboarding Administrative Policy.pdf
i.
Adopt Resolution No. 256-22 Adopting the Amended Permanent Local Housing Program (PLHA) Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Program Guidelines – California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Exempt Per the Commonsense Exemption.
1. Staff Report - Amended PLHA Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Program Guidelines .pdf
2. Attachment A- Resolution No. 256-22.pdf
j.
Approve Amendment No. 3 to the Professional Services Agreement with AP Triton, LLC for Providing a Community Risk Assessment and Standards of Cover Study Analysis for the Arcata Fire Protection District, Increasing the Contract Price by $1,300.
1. Staff Report - AP Triton Contract Amendment.pdf
2. Attachment A - AP Triton Amendment No. 3.pdf
k.
Adopt Resolution No. 256-23, Authorizing the Adoption of the Humboldt Operational Area Hazard Mitigation Plan 2025 Update; and Approve Necessary and Associated Related Actions. Not a Project Per CEQA.
1. Staff Report - Adopt Resolution No. 256-23 Adopting the Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2025.pdf
2. Attachment A - Reso No. 256-23 Adopting 2025 HMP Update.pdf
3. Arcata Annex_Humboldt_County_HMP_Volume 2_2025-10-08.pdf
10. OLD BUSINESS
a.
Hold a Public Hearing to Adopt Ordinance No. 1583, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Arcata Amending Title VIII of the Arcata Municipal Code and Adopting by Reference the 2025 California Building Standards Code, the Uniform Housing Code,
1. Staff Report - Adopt Ordinance No. 1583, Amending Arcata Municipal Code Pertaining to CA Building Code Updates.pdf
2. Attachment A - DRAFT 1583 AMC TITLE VIII_Final.pdf
City Engineer Khatri provided a staff report regarding the ordinance that had been introduced on November 19, 2025.
Mayor White opened the public hearing.
There being no public comment, Mayor White closed the public hearing.
ON MOTION BY STILLMAN, SECONDED BY ATKINS-SALAZAR, AND WITH A FOUR-TO-ZERO VOICE VOTE WITH ONE ABSENCE, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED ORDINANCE NO. 1583, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCATA AMENDING TITLE VIII OF THE ARCATA MUNICIPAL CODE AND ADOPTING BY REFERENCE THE 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING STANDARDS CODE, THE UNIFORM HOUSING CODE, THE UNIFORM CODE FOR THE ABATEMENT OF DANGEROUS BIUILDINGS, AND THE PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE. AYES: WHITE, ATKINS-SALAZAR, MATTHEWS, STILLMAN. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: SCHAEFER. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
Moved by:
Stillman
Seconded by:
Atkins-Salazar
Adopt Ordinance No. 1583, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Arcata Amending Title VIII of the Arcata Municipal Code and Adopting by Reference the 2025 Building Standards Code, the Uniform Housing Code, the Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings, and the Property Maintenance Code.
11. NEW BUSINESS
a.
Receive a Presentation; and Adopt the Valley West Neighborhood Center Assessment Report.
1. Staff Report - Receive Presentation and Adopt Valley West Neighborhood Center Assessment Report.pdf
2. Attachment A - Valley West Neighborhood Center Assessment Report.pdf Deputy Director of Environmental Services—Community Services Benvie introduced James Coles, Principal of Housing Tools, and Alex Salazar, Principal of Salazar Architect, who provided a presentation regarding the Valley West Neighborhood Center Assessment Report.
Director of Community Development Loya responded to inquiries from the Council.
MATTHEWS MOVED AND STILLMAN SECONDED TO ACCEPT THE VALLEY WEST NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER ASSESSMENT REPORT.
Mayor White invited public comment.
Public Comment:
Joanne McGarry.
Mayor White closed the public comment period.
THE MOTION PASSED ON A FOUR-TO-ZERO VOICE VOTE WITH ONE ABSENCE. AYES: WHITE, ATKINS-SALAZAR, MATTHEWS, STILLMAN. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: SCHAEFER. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
Moved by:
Matthews
Seconded by:
Stillman
Accept the Valley West Neighborhood Center Assessment Report.
b.
Adopt Resolution No. 256-15, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Arcata Amending Resolution No. 201-08 Designating Streets Subject to Preferential Parking.
1. Staff Report - Preferential Parking Zone Update.pdf
2. Attachment A - 256-15 Preferential Parking.pdf
3. Attachment B - Preferential Parking Petition 11122025_Redacted.pdf
4. Attachment C - Parking_Map-12-8-25.pdf
City Engineer Khatri and Police Business Manager Brazil presented and responded to inquiries from the Council regarding the proposed changes for preferential parking zones on Eye Street and Todd Court.
Mayor White opened the public hearing.
Public Comment
: Dan Shahin, and Joanne McGarry.
Mayor White closed the public hearing.
ON MOTION BY STILLMAN, SECONDED BY MATTHEWS, AND WITH A FOUR-TO-ZERO VOICE VOTE WITH ONE ABSENCE, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 256-15 UPDATING THE DESIGNATED PREFERENTIAL PARKING ZONES. AYES: WHITE, ATKINS-SALAZAR, MATTHEWS, STILLMAN. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: SCHAEFER. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
Moved by:
Stillman
Seconded by:
Matthews
Adopt Resolution No. 256-15 updating the designated preferential parking zones.
c.
Adopt Resolution No. 256-25 Designating Off-Street Parking Lots Subject to Four (4) Hour Time Limits.
1. Staff Report - Adopt Resolution 256-25 Designating Off-Street Parking Lots Subject to Four (4) Hour Time Limits.pdf
2. Attachment A - Resolution No. 256-25.pdf
Director of Environmental Services Sinkhorn presented regarding proposed amendments to the designation of parking time limits in off street parking lots in City parks and other city-owned lots.
Director Sinkhorn responded to inquiries and comments from the Council.
Mayor White invited public comment.
There being none, Mayor White closed the public comment period.
ON MOTION BY STILLMAN, SECONDED BY ATKINS-SALAZAR, AND WITH A FOUR-TO-ZERO VOICE VOTE WITH ONE ABSENCE, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 256-25 DESIGNATING OFF-STREET PARKING LOTS SUJECT TO FOUR HOUR TIME LIMITS. AYES: WHITE, ATKINS-SALAZAR, MATTHEWS, STILLMAN. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: SCHAEFER. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
RECESS
: The Council recessed from 7:55 p.m. to 7:59 p.m.
Moved by:
Stillman
Seconded by:
Atkins-Salazar
Adopt Resolution No. 256-25 designating off-street parking lots subject to four-hour time limits.
12. ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS [CONTINUED]
Mayor White invited public comment.
Public Comment
: Ella, Abraham, Jody, Joanne McGarry, Dan Shahin, Tricia Murphy, and Shannon Townsend-Bettis.
Mayor White closed the oral and communications [continued] period.
13. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
City Manager Perry provided a report.
14. COUNCIL REPORTS
Presenters
: Stillman, Atkins-Salazar, Matthews, and White.
15. DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS AND FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
There were none.
16. CLOSED SESSION
There was none.
17. CLOSED SESSION REPORTS
There were none.
18. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:31 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,