City Council - Study Session - May 13, 2026
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor White called the meeting to order at 3:33 p.m.
2. LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Mayor White read a statement acknowledging that Arcata sat on ancestral Wiyot land.
3. ROLL CALL
City Clerk Varley called roll.
4. PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor White invited public comment.
Public Comment
: Joanne McGarry.
Mayor White closed the public comment period.
5. DISCUSSION
a.
Review the General Fund Fiscal Year 2026-27 Proposed Budget; Evaluate Options to Close the Projected Deficit; and Provide Direction to Staff.
1. Staff Report - General Fund Deficit 5.13.2026_.pdf
Assistant City Manager Miller provided an overview of the proposed budget and potential options to close the projected deficit.
Staff responded to inquiries and comments from the Council.
No action was taken. There was a presentation and discussion only for this item.
b.
Review the Transactions and Use Tax (TUTOC) Committee's Recommendation for Measure H Supplemental Budget Requests for Fiscal Year 2026-27; and Provide Direction to Staff.
1. Staff Report - TUTOC Measure H Recommendations_.pdf
2. TUTOC Summary FY 2027 Supplemental Requests_.pdf
3. Measure H Recommendations.pdf
Assistant City Manager Milller led the Council in Reviewing the Transactions and Use Tax Oversight Committee's recommendations for supplemental budget requests and City Manager recommended reductions.
Staff responded to inquiries and comments from the Council.
No action was taken. There was a presentation and discussion only for this item.
c.
Review the City of Arcata Fiscal Year 2026-27 Schedule for Public Hearing and Possible Adoption at the June 17, 2026, Regular City Council Meeting; and Provide Direction to Staff.
Assistant City Manager Miller provided a report
Staff responded to inquiries and comments from the Council.
BY GENERAL CONSENSUS, THE COUNCIL DIRECTED STAFF TO PROCEED WITH A HIRING FREEZE; TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE RECONNECT ARCATA PROJECT WHILE USING A SMALLER DOLLAR AMOUNT OF $150,000; TO USE THE UNRESERVED FUND BALANCE TO BALANCE THE FISCAL YEAR 2026/2027 BUDGET; AND TO ADD A POLICY TO INCREASE GENERAL FUND RESERVES TO 50 PERCENT OF OPERATING EXPENSES.
Certain direction was given, but no Council action was taken.
There was a presentation and discussion only for this item.
6. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 4:27 p.m.
Respectfully submmitted,