CITY OF ARCATA
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
STUDY SESSION
AGENDA
Thursday, February 26, 2026, 5:15 p.m.
Council Chamber
736 F Street, Arcata
Special accommodations for the disabled who attend City meetings can be made in advance by contacting the City Clerk at 822-5953. Assistive listening devices are available. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Pursuant to Government Code section 54957.5, all writings or documents relating to any item on this agenda which have been provided to a majority of the City Council, including those received less than 72 hours prior to the City Council meeting, will be made available for public inspection in the agenda binder located on the counter in the lobby at Arcata City Hall, 736 F Street, during normal business hours, and on the City's website at www.cityofarcata.org.
PLEASE NOTE: Speakers wishing to distribute materials to the City Council at the meeting are requested to provide 10 copies to the City Clerk.
_____________________________________________________________________________________ How to Observe and Participate in the Meeting:
Observe:
Members of the public can attend the meeting in person.
Public Comment Participation in Person:
Members of the public may attend the meeting in person and give public comment.
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
3. ROLL CALL
4. 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.
5. DISCUSSION
a. Discuss Committee and Council Goals, and Priority Projects for Fiscal Year 2026/2027.
6. ADJOURNMENT
City of Arcata
City Council Goals
Facilities and Infrastructure
Enhance Appearance, Public Safety and Livability of the City • Maintain and improve infrastructure and facilities.
• Improve transportation and circulation systems.
• Improve residents' safety and comfort.
• Encourage community beautification and public art.
Environmental Leadership
Provide Leadership in Environmental Stewardship and Climate Change Preparedness • Increase local energy independence.
• Strive to achieve zero waste.
• Develop non-motorized transportation routes.
• Support open space and ecosystem functions.
• Improve water resource management.
Economic Development
Improve Local Economy and Quality of Life for Residents • Provide additional support for existing and new businesses to grow and expand. • Improve community services for business development.
• Improve linkage between energy needs and resources.
• Support a living wage and encourage investment in workforce satisfaction. • Present a welcoming and inviting Community.
Public Service
Improve the Quality of Service to the Public
• Respond to the needs of our residents.
• Increase opportunities for community engagement.
• Improve technological capabilities of the City.
Resident and Community Health
Support Community Creative and Cultural Life
• Support healthy eating and active living programs.
• Provide recreation opportunities for all residents.
• Support housing opportunities.
• Clean up environmental hazards and encourage City Code compliance. • Support essential human services.
Prepare for Future Needs
Provide Opportunities for Residents and Staff
• Provide leadership developing strategies for climate change. • Use the best available science for future planning.
• Develop long-term plans for sustainability.
City of Arcata: FY 2025-26
Arcata City Council Priority Projects for 2025-26 Fiscal Year
1. Coordinate a regional Homelessness Reduction Strategy framework identifying initial priority benchmarks to provide or continue to shelter those who are or may become homeless.
a. Continue to support the regional efforts to provide solutions to homelessness including supporting cold weather shelter services and collaborate with local service providers and neighboring agencies to leverage resources and reduce duplicate services. See 4c. for sheltering resources.
b. Seek additional support for the Tenant Based Rental Assistance Program. A HOME grant was secured to continue the program for an additional 3 years.
c. Continue to seek funding for housing rehabilitation and remodeling programs to assist residents in staying in their homes and preventing them from becoming homeless. The MORE grant program continues to complete rehabilitating mobile homes in Arcata. In all, staff anticipates that 30-35 units will be rehabilitated with these program funds. Additionally, PHLA funds have been secured to provide additional housing rehabilitation and remodeling opportunities. d. Consider tenant and eviction protection policies and regulations, working with Legal Services and other resources. Collaborate with equity arcata and Cal Poly Humboldt housing and student groups to inform students about housing resources and rights.
2. Valley West Improvements
a. Work with the community to build programming for the Valley West community center and complete the long-term operational planning considering this and other sites. Valley West Community Center Assessment was completed. Recreation has hosted programming throughout Valley West including Camp Carlson during the summer and Hoop Nights at Valley West Park. b. Focus public safety on the neighborhood meeting priorities of trespassing/loitering, narcotic activity, vacant properties and encampments and coordinate enforcement of nuisance properties. Consider flashing crosswalk(s). Community Ambassadors have expanded work into Valley West. The City continues to partner with New Directions for monitoring Carlson Park. We were hoping to install the flashing crossing via grant but were not successful. We will include as a budget item for next FY budget. APD worked with the property owner at 4633 Valley West Blvd and Arcata House Partnership to offer services before, during and after the successful removal of trespassers/illegal campers on the property known as “The Pit”, the empty lot next to the Hampton Inn and Carlson Park. The VW Officer position has remained filled throughout the year and in conjunction with patrol we have worked to proactively reduce loitering and narcotic activity in the general VW area. Patrol has also worked proactively to significantly reduce abandoned vehicles and illegal camping in RVs. c. Continue to support and enhance business activity in the Valley West Neighborhood. See 2b.
3. Look for opportunities to collaborate with Humboldt County and local jurisdictions/non-profits to increase mental health and social services.
4. Public Safety
City of Arcata: FY 2025-26
a. Continue to support and expand programs that provide an alternative response to crises other than policing. Seek long-term funding strategies and 24-hour emergency crisis response for adults and youth.
Arcata Community Outreach Team focuses on community-oriented policing projects and coordinated problem-solving. Removed approximately 400,000 pounds of environmentally damaging waste from green spaces, and worked closely with service providers, such as Arcata House Partnership, to connect individuals to services and housing while discouraging camping in City parks and green spaces.
The Community Ambassador Program is also housed within the ACOT unit, allowing for close coordination between outreach, engagement, and alternate response efforts. The team increased staffing to 8 and expanded services into Valley West. Provided thousands of assists to housed and unhoused community members, supported local businesses, generated public works referrals for hazards and large waste abatement.
Juvenile Diversion Program provided intervention and substance abuse resources to 94 families and diverted 33 youths from the juvenile criminal justice system.
These are strong examples of alternate response models improving quality of life while reducing the need for police response.
De-escalation and Crisis Intervention Training and tactics remain critical components of our policing culture.
Regional Crisis Negotiation Team participation by APD will be occurring in the near future. Members will receive certified training in crisis negotiations to help peacefully resolve critical incidents such as barricaded subjects etc. b. Re-establish the Public Safety Committee and provide additional oversight duties.
PSC- Proposal to repeal is forthcoming
c. Initiate and implement Opioid prevention programs, including education programs. Opioid funding was allocated to Playhouse Art – Our Space Mobile program to create a mobile day shelter and warming center to bring art, community and mutual aid to vulnerable populations, including those impacted by opioids, in Arcata. Funding was also allocated to Arcata House Partnership to provide temporary emergency shelter and wrap around services, including addiction treatment, to homeless individuals impacted by opioids and other substance abuse.
d. Implement ordinance banning the sale of nitrous oxide. Complete. e. Continue to clean up public spaces, remove camps and debris, and actively discourage camping in City parks and green spaces. The City continues to partner with New Directions for active monitoring and cleanup of public property. In addition to Valley West, significant progress was made at 901 O St, Soilscape Solutions, and Marsh. Illegal camps have been identified in Redwood Park. f. Consider coordinating with other jurisdictions to implement a ban on disposable vaporizers. g. Evaluate the role and reporting structure for Community Ambassadors. Consider transitioning the program to more emphasis on citywide trash and debris cleanup. See 4a h. Coordinate with the Humboldt Transit Authority to identify programs and policies to keep City bus stops clean and accessible to the ridership. In progress and continue to partner with HTA on these items.
City of Arcata: FY 2025-26
5. Continue Government Relationship growth with local Tribal Governments by seeking to strengthen relationships with tribal governments and identify ways to honor and build awareness of Wiyot history and language. The City partnered with and contracted with the Wiyot Tribe to design and implement bilingual interpretive signage at Carlson Park celebrating Wiyot cultural lifeways and highlighting the Soulatluk language.
6. Economic Development Strategies
a. Complete an Economic Development Strategic Plan. The ESP is well underway, a Landscape Report synthesizing the research has been written by Civic Possible and will be distributed in late February as part of the community design sessions, which is a critical aspect of community acceptance of the final ESP.
b. Promote business and tourism: Identify funding source(s) to advertise Arcata as a great place to shop; support visitarcata.com and regional marketing around student alumni successes locally. Collaborate with the Chamber, Humboldt Made, Cal Poly Humboldt (staff and student interns) and other local tourism organizations. Continuing to work with CPH staff on their upcoming projects: Health hub at 16th street, Hunar HU Moulik ( almost complete), Foster Avenue property. Sponsored Humboldt Made Shop Local program and proposing extension of the Friday Night Markets in late summer/fall 2026. Working with the Chamber to help sponsor community events and collaborate on visitarcata.com.
c. Develop public/private partnerships to support and encourage development projects. Staff are working with a private developer to potentially develop at least a portion of the Happy Valley business park. d. Market and sell vacant Alder Grove Industrial Park parcels. The Alder Grove parcels were cleared and placed on the market. Potential offers are in discussion.
e. Develop schedule and plan for Happy Valley business park development. See 6c above. f. Initiate project to develop wayfinding and placemaking for Downtown and Valley West. Staff have engaged with a consultant to develop a plan for phasing wayfinding and placemaking for the Downtown and Valley West. g. Develop an Economic Development program with staff support that includes implementation of Economic Strategic Plan goals, City Council goals, and other priority projects. Once the ESP is complete, a program for implementing the recommendations will be developed.
7. Prioritize Future Planning
a. Finalize redevelopment planning and Surplus Land Act process for Happy Valley and Little Lakes Properties. A City Council Study Session was held on January 22, 2026, and direction provided for Reuse concepts for the Little Lake Redevelopment Property. b. Implement SB 1383 and new franchise agreement for solid waste and organic recycling services. The City continues to work in partnership with other local Humboldt County jurisdictions to refine a new franchise agreement with Recology and cost proposal for fair and efficient services. Staff anticipate the franchise agreement coming before the Council in spring 2026.
8. Implement the Arcata Arts Strategic Plan by working with existing arts efforts established in the community.
City of Arcata: FY 2025-26
a. Continued engagement with the arts and culture community to identify ways to bring art into the community. If additional funding is identified, complete a third call for arts in the Arts around Arcata program. The third Call for Art was released in winter 2026 with implementation anticipated in spring 2026. City and Playhouse Arts staff provided a three-year review of the Arcata Strategic Arts Plan to Council in fall 2025.
9. Climate Change and Climate Adaptation
a. Finalize, adopt and begin implementation of the Climate Action Plan. The Regional Climate Action Plan has been completed and is anticipated to go before the Council for potential adoption. b. Continue sea level rise adaptation planning and implementation strategies including research, analysis, project implementation and strategic property acquisition to support long term climate change adaptation. Completed the Arcata Sea Level Rise Risk & Vulnerability Assessment, completion of the Arcata Wastewater Treatment Facility Long Term Feasibility Study anticipated at the end of March, grant awarded from the Ocean Protection Council to develop an Arcata SLR Adaptation Pathways Plan, and another grant is being written to develop potential adaptation designs for the Butcher Slough/South H Street neighborhood. c. Develop a climate resiliency pipeline of projects to cohesively synthesize citywide effort and leverage potential funding sources. An initial climate resiliency pipeline of projects has been developed and is informing projects proposed for the Capital Improvement Program.
10. Parks Improvements
a. Finalize agreements and licenses and begin construction of the Annie Mary Trail (A&M). Construction is well underway along the entire 3.5 mile trail corridor, and the first trail segment between the Arcata Skate Park and the new Hinarr Hu Moulik Cal Poly dorms was completed in fall 2025.
b. Consider areas for increased public access to garbage and recycling cans and sharps disposal within City properties. Ongoing. c. Pilot the opening of restrooms at Redwood Park during park visiting hours and assess if a Portland Loo style bathroom is a more appropriate facility. Exterior restroom at Redwood Park have been opened to the public. d. Implement basketball court improvements at Redwood Park. Currently in the design phase with implementation planned for fall 2026.
11. Safe Streets: Transit and Alternative Transportation Systems a. Develop conceptual alternatives for safety improvements on K Street between 8th and 12th Streets to slow traffic and improve safety at crossings. Installed rapid flashing at 8th street (& K) and speed feedback signs on K street (near 8th). Plan to implement temporary speed humps in April-June 2026 (funded by HCAOG).
12. Proactively maintain a strong partnership with Cal Poly Humboldt focused this year on:
Maintain regular communication with Cal Poly Humboldt through quarterly liaison meetings and identify opportunities to create a sense of community and better understand the needs of the student population in regard to housing and transportation. Continuing to work with CPH
City of Arcata: FY 2025-26
staff on their upcoming projects: Health hub at 16th street, Hunar HU Moulik (almost complete), Foster Avenue property. Partnering on Capital projects (US 101 and Sunset Avenue project) and Bikeshare program.
13. Explore options to support Spanish translation of Council meetings including agendas as needed.
14. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
a. Coordinate efforts of the Arcata Chinatown Project.