CITY OF ARCATA
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
AGENDA
Friday, January 9, 2026, 8:00 a.m.
Council Chamber
736 F Street, Arcata
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1. CALL TO ORDER
2. LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
3. FLAG SALUTE
4. ROLL CALL
5. PUBLIC COMMENT
During special meetings, public comment is only taken at the beginning of the meeting. Pursuant to the Brown Act Section 54954.3(a), the public comment period provides an opportunity for people to address the Council only on items that are listed on the Special City Council Meeting Agenda.
6. STAFF REPORTS
All reports shall be specifically limited to City business and shall not request or lead to action by the Council at this meeting.
a. Receive Update on Fire Emergency.
7. NEW BUSINESS
a. Consider Adopting Resolution No. 256-32 Confirming the Existence of a Local Emergency and Ratifying the Director of Emergency Services’ Proclamation.
8. ADJOURNMENT
January 9, 2026 - City Council Agenda
STAFF REPORT – CITY COUNCIL MEETING
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Tabatha Miller, Assistant City Manager
PREPARER: Tabatha Miller, Assistant City Manager
DATE: January 9, 2025
TITLE: Consider Adopting Resolution No. 256-32 Confirming the Existence of a Local Emergency and Ratifying the Director of Emergency Services’ Proclamation.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 256-32 confirming the existence of a local emergency and ratifying the Director of Emergency Services’ proclamation.
INTRODUCTION
California Government Code section 8630 and Title II, Chapter 6 (Emergency Operations and Functions) of the City of Arcata Municipal Code authorize the City Manager, in his capacity as Director of Emergency Services, to proclaim the existence or threatened existence of a local emergency. The Arcata Municipal Code defines a “local emergency” as the duly proclaimed existence of conditions of disaster or extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the territorial limits of the City of Arcata, caused by conditions including fire, which require the combined forces of other political subdivisions to combat.
On January 3, 2026, the City Manager, acting as Director of Emergency Services, proclaimed the existence of a local emergency in the City of Arcata. This proclamation was issued pursuant to Title II, Chapter 6 of the Arcata Municipal Code, which requires the City Council to ratify the declaration within seven (7) days, or the declaration of local emergency will cease to be effective thereafter.
BACKGROUND
At approximately 2:30 p.m. on January 2, 2026, the Arcata Fire District responded to the 800 block of 10th Street following reports of a large volume of smoke originating from the downtown commercial district. Upon arrival, fire personnel encountered a well-established, rapidly spreading fire in a large, two-story commercial structure containing businesses on the ground floor and residential apartments above.
Due to extreme wind and gust conditions, the fire spread rapidly and ultimately engulfed four buildings located between H Street and I Street and extending to the alley between 9th Street and 10th Street.
Mutual aid was requested, and fire suppression resources responded from throughout Humboldt County, including as far away as Weott in Southern Humboldt. Participating agencies included Arcata Fire District, Humboldt Bay Fire, Samoa Fire, Kneeland Fire, Westhaven Fire, Loleta Fire, Ferndale Fire, Fortuna Fire, Fieldbrook Fire, Blue Lake Fire, Rio Dell Fire, Arcata-Mad River
Ambulance, CAL FIRE Trinidad, and CAL FIRE Weott. Every ladder truck in Humboldt County was deployed to this incident. Approximately 80 fire suppression personnel and an additional 20 support personnel were involved.
Multiple buildings were destroyed as a result of the fire and emergency response efforts, leaving substantial debris. Ash and other chemicals were released by the burning structures. In addition, paint and other contaminants from the hardware store were likely washed into storm drains and other waterways, ultimately reaching Humboldt Bay. This runoff may negatively impact water quality in Humboldt Bay and pose potential risks to aquaculture operations, fisheries, and other aquatic habitats.
Seven local businesses and eight residential apartments were destroyed. Several nearby buildings sustained minor damage, and others were affected by the fire incident as well as associated power and gas outages.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW (CEQA)
A city’s declaration of a local emergency is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it constitutes immediate governmental action taken to respond to an unforeseen emergency that threatens public health, safety, or property. CEQA expressly exempts emergency actions intended to prevent or mitigate the effects of emergencies, recognizing that environmental review requirements cannot delay urgent response measures.
Specifically, Public Resources Code section 21080(b)(4) and CEQA Guidelines section 15269 exempt actions necessary to respond to emergencies, including declarations of emergency and related response activities. The declaration itself does not commit the City to a specific project or result in a physical change to the environment and therefore does not constitute a “project” subject to CEQA review.
BUDGET / FISCAL IMPACT
The City has incurred costs associated with the initial response to the fire, including water used for fire suppression, staff time devoted to emergency response activities, and equipment and supplies used during the incident. In addition, the City has incurred expenses related to securing the site, evaluating damage, mitigating impacts from debris and runoff, and coordinating ongoing emergency recovery efforts.
It is anticipated that additional costs will be incurred to further evaluate and mitigate potential environmental impacts.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
1. Receive a staff report and review questions with staff.
2. Motion to adopt Resolution No. 256-32 to confirm the existence of a local emergency and ratify the Director of Emergency Services’ Proclamation.
ATTACHMENTS:
A. Resolution No. 256-32 Confirming the Existence of a Local Emergency and Ratifying the Director of Emergency Services’ Proclamation.
B. Exhibit A – Arcata Emergency Proclamation 01.03.2026
RESOLUTION NO. 256-32
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ARCATA CONFIRMING THE EXISTENCE OF A LOCAL EMERGENCY
AND RATIFYING THE DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY SERVICES’
PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, Title II, Chapter 6 (Emergency Operations and Functions) of the Arcata Municipal Code empowers the City Manager, in his capacity as Director of Emergency Services, to proclaim the existence or threatened existence of a local emergency when conditions warrant; and WHEREAS, that chapter of the Arcata Municipal Code defines a “local emergency” as the duly proclaimed existence of conditions of disaster or extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the territorial limits of the City of Arcata, caused by conditions including fire, which require the combined forces of other political subdivisions to combat; and WHEREAS, at approximately 2:30 p.m. on January 2, 2026, the Arcata Fire District responded to the 800 block of 10th Street following reports of a large volume of smoke originating from the downtown commercial district and encountered a well-established, rapidly spreading fire in a large, two-story commercial structure containing businesses on the ground floor and residential apartments above; and
WHEREAS, due to extreme wind and gust conditions, the fire spread rapidly and engulfed four buildings located between H Street and I Street and extending to the alley between 9th Street and 10th Street; and
WHEREAS, mutual aid was requested and fire suppression resources responded from throughout Humboldt County, including as far away as Weott in Southern Humboldt. Participating agencies included Arcata Fire District, Humboldt Bay Fire, Samoa Fire, Kneeland Fire, Westhaven Fire, Loleta Fire, Ferndale Fire, Fortuna Fire, Fieldbrook Fire, Blue Lake Fire, Rio Dell Fire, ArcataMad River Ambulance, CAL FIRE Trinidad, and CAL FIRE Weott. Every ladder truck in Humboldt County was deployed to this incident. Approximately 80 fire suppression personnel and an additional 20 support personnel were involved; and
WHEREAS, the destruction of multiple buildings and the associated emergency response efforts created substantial debris containing known and unknown hazardous materials, pollutants, and other contaminants; and
WHEREAS, the spread of these known and unknown pollutants and contaminants is likely to be exacerbated by ongoing and forecasted rainstorms, windstorms, and record-setting King Tide conditions; and
WHEREAS, the mobilization of local resources, coordination of an interagency response, acceleration of procurement of vital supplies, use of mutual aid, and ability to seek reimbursement from state and federal governments are critical to effectively responding to the fire damage and
associated environmental impacts, including providing assistance to local property owners, businesses, and residents who cumulatively are estimated to have sustained $20 million or more in damages; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the California Emergency Services Act (Government Code section 8550 et seq.), state agencies and political subdivisions are authorized to take actions necessary to protect public health, safety, and welfare, including providing extraordinary services through mutual aid (Government Code sections 8631–8633) and promulgating orders and regulations necessary to protect life and property; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of proclaiming a local emergency is to activate the City’s emergency organization, authorize the exercise of extraordinary police powers, permit the issuance of emergency orders and regulations, provide immunity for emergency actions as authorized by law, and facilitate access to state and federal assistance; and WHEREAS, on January 3, 2026, the City Manager, in his capacity as Director of Emergency Services, proclaimed the existence of a local emergency in the City of Arcata in response to the fire and resulting damage, including actual and potential threats to Humboldt Bay, local waterways, public property, and the environment, which exceed the capacity of City resources; and
WHEREAS, the declaration of a local emergency enables the City to more effectively respond to the impacts of the fire damage, including assessing actual and potential threats to Humboldt Bay, local waterways, public property, the local economy, and the environment, which likewise exceed the capacity of City resources.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCATA AS FOLLOWS:
The City Council finds and determines that:
1. All of the above recitals are true and correct and are incorporated herein by reference.
2. The Proclamation of the City of Arcata Confirming the Existence of a Local Emergency, issued by the City Manager in his capacity as Director of Emergency Services and dated January 3, 2026, attached hereto as Exhibit A, is hereby confirmed and ratified.
3. The City Manager is authorized to take all necessary actions to qualify for and obtain state and federal assistance and reimbursement for costs incurred in response to this emergency.
4. During the existence of this local emergency, the powers, functions, and duties of the City’s emergency organization, as set forth in Title II, Chapter 6 of the Arcata Municipal Code, are activated and shall be fully implemented.
This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption.
DATED:
ATTEST: APPROVED:
___________________________ __________________________
City Clerk, City of Arcata Mayor, City of Arcata
CLERK'S CERTIFICATE
I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of Resolution No. 256-32, passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Arcata, Humboldt County, California, held on the 9
th day of January, 2026 by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
___________________________
City Clerk, City of Arcata
PROCLAMATION OF THE CITY OF ARCATA
CONFIRMING THE EXISTENCE OF A LOCAL EMERGENCY
January 3, 2026
(By the City Manager, Director of Emergency Services)
WHEREAS, Title II, Chapter 6, Emergency Operations and Functions, of the Arcata Municipal Code empowers the City Manager, as Director of Emergency Services, to proclaim the existence or threatened existence of a local emergency when conditions warrant; and
WHEREAS, said chapter of the Arcata Municipal Code defines a "local emergency" as the duly proclaimed existence of conditions of disaster or extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the territorial limits of the City of Arcata, caused by conditions including fire, which require the combined forces of other political subdivisions to combat; and
WHEREAS, at approximately 2:30 p.m. on January 2, 2026, a fire occurred at the southwest corner of H Street and 10th Street in downtown Arcata, which rapidly spread under extreme wind and gust conditions and engulfed four buildings located between H Street and I Street and extending to the alley between 9th Street and 10th Street; and WHEREAS, mutual aid was requested and provided by numerous agencies, including Humboldt Bay Fire, the Fortuna Fire Department, the Rio Dell Volunteer Fire Department, the Blue Lake Fire Department, as well as local utilities, contractors, suppliers, and other local and state agencies; and
WHEREAS, the destruction of multiple buildings and the associated emergency response efforts created substantial debris containing known and unknown hazardous materials, pollutants, and other contaminants; and
WHEREAS, the spread of these known and unknown pollutants and contaminants will continue to be exacerbated by ongoing and forecasted rainstorms, windstorms, and record-setting King Tide conditions; and
WHEREAS, the mobilization of local resources, the coordination of an interagency response, the acceleration of procurement of vital supplies, the use of mutual aid, and the ability to seek reimbursement from state and federal governments are critical to effectively responding to the fire damage and resulting environmental impacts; and WHEREAS, pursuant to the California Emergency Services Act (Government Code§ 8550 et seq.), state agencies and political subdivisions have statutory authority to take actions necessary to protect the public health, safety, and welfare, including providing extraordinary services through mutual aid (Government Code§§ 8631-8633) and promulgating orders and regulations necessary to protect life and property; and WHEREAS, the purpose of proclaiming a local emergency is to activate the City's emergency organization, authorize the exercise of extraordinary police powers, permit the issuance of emergency orders and regulations, provide immunity for emergency actions as authorized by law, and facilitate access to state and federal assistance.
NOW, THEREFORE, I HEREBY PROCLAIM that effective immediately and until further notice, a Local Emergency exists within affected areas of the City of Arcata as a result of the circumstances described above, which have created actual and potential threats to Humboldt Bay, local waterways, public property, and the environment, and which exceed the capacity of City resources; and
IT IS FURTHER PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED that all City officers and employees shall take all actions directed by the City Manager to assess, mitigate, and protect Humboldt Bay, local waterways, public property, and the environment from further harm, and to take all necessary steps to qualify for and obtain state and federal assistance and reimbursement for costs incurred in responding to this emergency; and BE IT IS FURTHER PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED that, during the existence of this Local Emergency, the powers, functions, and duties of the City's emergency organization, as set forth in Title 11, Chapter 6 of the Arcata Municipal Code, are activated and shall be fully implemented and the City Council shall review and ratify this proclamation of the Director of Emergency Services within seven (7) days as required by state and local law.
Dated: January 3. 2026 By: ~
MerrittPerry
- City Manager/Director of Emergency Services
City of Arcata