City Council - Regular Meeting - September 16, 2026
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.
Proclamation Recognizing September 21, 2026, as the International Day of Peace.
1. International Day of Peace 2026 Proclamation.pdf
Councilmember Schaefer read the proclamation and presented it a member of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Linda Evans.
b.
Proclamation in Recognition of National PACE Month, September 2026.
1. National PACE Proclamation 2026.pdf
Councilmember Stillman read the proclamation and presented it to Chief Executive Officer of Humboldt Senior Resource Center, Melissa Hooven and PACE Executive Director, Barbara LaHaie.
5. REPORT BY COMMISSION/COMMITTEE
a.
Annual Report from the Forest Management Committee.
1. Annual Report from the Forest Management Committee PDF.pdf Forest Management Committee member, Erin Kelly, provided an oral version of the committee's annual report.
6. STAFF REPORTS
There were none.
7. ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS [EARLY - TIME LIMITED] Mayor White invited public comment.
Public comment:
An unidentified member of the audience, Joanne McGarry, an unidentified member of the audience, Paul Nicholson, Daniel Pierce, Shawn Leon, and Darius Eversol.
Mayor White closed the oral and written communications [early - time limited] period.
8. N/A
None.
9. CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilmember Matthews requested that Item L be pulled from the Consent Calendar for further discussion.
STILLMAN MOVED AND SCAHEFER SECONDED TO ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR [FOR SEPTEMBER 16, 2026] MINUS ITEM L.
Mayor White invited public comment.
There being none, Mayor White closed the public comment period.
THE MOTION PASSED ON A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE. AYES: WHITE, ATKINS-SALAZAR, MATTHEWS, SCHAEFER, STILLMAN. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
Moved by:
Stillman
Seconded by:
Schaefer
Adopt the Consent Calendar minus Item L.
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 Special Meeting of September 2, 2026.
1. Post-Meeting Minutes - CMSM_Sep02_2026 - English.pdf
c.
Approve the Minutes of the City Council Meeting of September 2, 2026.
1. Post-Meeting Minutes - CCRMSA_Sep02_2026 - English.pdf
d.
Bi-Weekly Report on Disbursements.
1. Staff Report - Report on Cash Distributions 8.22.2026-9.4.2026.pdf
2. Attachment A - Cash Disbursements 8.22.2026-9.4.2026.pdf Moved by:
Stillman
Seconded by:
Schaefer
It is recommended that the Council approve the report on disbursements listing for the period August 22, 2026, through September 4, 2026.
e.
Adopt Resolution No. 267-17 Making Determination that Public Convenience or Necessity Would be Served by the Issuance of an Alcoholic Beverage Control Licenses for Alchemy Distillery LLC; and Authorize City Manager to Execute Applicable Documents.
1. Staff Report - Adopt Resolution No. 267-17 Finding Public Convenience or Necessity for Alchemy Distillery, OOC.pdf
2. Attachment A - Resolution No. 267-17.pdf
3. Attachment B - Alcoholic Beverage Control Form 245 for Alchemy Distillery.pdf
f.
Adopt Resolution No. 267-19 Making Determination that Public Convenience or Necessity Would be Served by the Issuance of an Alcoholic Beverage Control License for Bhupinder Singh LLC; and Authorize the City Manager to Execute all Applicable Documents.
1. Staff Report - Adopt Resolution No. 267-19 Finding Public Convenience or Necessity for Bupindher Singh, LLC.pdf
2. Attachment A - ABC Form 245 for Bhupinder Singh LLC.pdf
3. Attachment B - Resolution No. 267-19 Bhupinder Singh LLC .pdf
g.
Adopt Resolution No. 267-06 Adopting a Citywide Records Retention Schedule, Authorizing Destruction of Certain City Records; and Repealing Resolution No. 201-13.
1. Staff Report - Adopt Resolution No. 267-06 Adopting a Records Retention Schedule.pdf
2. Attachment A - 267-06 Reso Adopt Citywide Retention.pdf
3. Attachment B - Exhibit A_ALL Records Retention Schedules.pdf
h.
Approve the Memorandum of Understanding Regarding the Humboldt Weed Management Area; and Authorize the City Manager to Execute All Applicable Documents.
1. Staff Report - Approve Memorandum of Understanding Regarding the Humboldt Weed Management Area .pdf
2. Attachment A - MOU - Humboldt Weed Management Area.pdf
3. Attachment B - MOU - Humboldt Weed Management Area - Signatory Page.pdf
i.
Reappoint William Rich to the Historic Landmarks Committee for a Three-Year Term Expiring September 30, 2029.
1. Staff Report - HLC Reappointment 2026.pdf
j.
Reappoint Robin Hashem to the Transactions and Use Tax Oversight Committee (TUTOC) for a Term Expiring September 30, 2030.
1. Staff Report - Reappoint Robin Hashem to Transactions and Use Tax Oversight Committee for Term Expiring September 30, 2030.pdf
k.
Reappoint Andrea Alstone, Patrick Buckwalter, and Dan Stockwell to the Energy Committee for Three-Year Terms Ending September 30, 2029.
1. Staff Report- Reappoint Energy Committee members Alstone, Buckwalter, and Stockwell for Another Three-Year Term Ending 2029.pdf
m.
Approve the Purchase of Three 2027 Chevy Silverado EV Trucks and Award Contract to Northwood Auto Plaza in the Amount of $200,964.45, Including Tax; and Authorize the City Manager to Execute All Applicable Documents.
1. Staff Report-Award Contract to Northwood Auto Plaza for Purchase of 2027 Chevy Silverado EV Trucks in Amount of $200,964.45.pdf
2. Attachment A - Chevy Silverado EV Northwood Auto Plaza Quote (PDF).pdf
3. Attachment B - Chevy Silverado Sourcewell Quote.pdf
n.
Designate Vice Mayor Stacy Atkins-Salazar as Voting Delegate to the Cal Cities 2026 Annual Conference and Expo, September 23–25, 2026.
1. Staff Report - Designate Vice Mayor Atkins-Salazar as Voting Delegate to the Cal Cities 2026 Annual Conference.pdf
l.
Approve a Sponsorship in an Amount Equivalent to $1,128 for the Plaza Use Fee for the Same Old People's 52nd Annual North Country Fair to be Held on the Arcata Plaza on September 19 and 20, 2026.
1. Staff Report - Sponsorship for North Country Fair .pdf
2. Attachment A. Request for Event Fee Support for 52nd Annual North Country Fair.pdf City Manager Perry responded to comments and inquiries from the Council.
Mayor White invited public comment.
There being none, Mayor White closed the public comment period.
ON MOTION BY ATKINS-SALAZAR, SECONDED BY SCHAEFER, AND WITH A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED ITEM L FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR [APPROVE A SPONSORSHIP IN AN AMOUNT EQUIVALENT TO $1,128 FOR THE PLAZA USE FEE FOR THE SAME OLD PEOPLE'S 52ND ANNUAL NORTH COUNTRY FAIR TO BE HELD ON THE ARCATA PLAZA ON SEPTEMBER 19 AND 20, 2026]. AYES: WHITE, ATKINS-SALAZAR, MATTHEWS, SCHAEFER, STILLMAN. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
Moved by:
Atkins-Salazar
Seconded by:
Schaefer
Adopt Item L from the Consent Calendar.
10. OLD BUSINESS
a.
Adopt Project Action and Introduce Two Associated Ordinances for the Whaley House Proposed Rehabilitation and Lot Split at 1395 H Street, Arcata.
1. Staff Report - Whaley House Rehabilitation and Lot Split at 1395 H Street, Arcata; File No. 256-016-PM-PDP.pdf
2. A. Project Action Draft.pdf
3. B. Historic Resource Report .pdf
4. C. Ordinance No. 950 LHP-80-31_.pdf
5. D. National Register Application 1979.pdf
6. E. Draft Ordinance 1590.pdf
7. F. Draft Ordinance 1591.pdf
Senior Planner Freitas provided a staff report.
Mayor White opened the public hearing.
There being no public comment, Mayor White closed the public hearing.
Senior Planner Freitas responded to inquiries and comments from the Council.
ON MOTION BY STILLMAN, SECONDED BY SCHAEFER, AND WITH A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED THE PROJECT ACTION, APPROVING THE PROPOSED SUBDIVISION AND TENTATIVE MAP; INTRODUCED ORDINANCE NO. 1591, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCATA AMENDING THE ZONING MAP TO ADD A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT COMBINING ZONE TO ASSESSOR PARCEL NUMBER 021-093-004; AND INTRODUCED ORDINANCE NO. 1590, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCATA MODIFYING THE WHALEY HOUSE LANDMARK HISTORIC PROPERTY COMBINING ZONE (LHP-80-31) ON ASSESSOR PARCEL NUMBER 021-093-004; WAIVED READING OF THE TEXT AND CONSENTED TO READ BY TITLE ONLY FOR BOTH ORDINANCES. AYES: WHITE, ATKINS-SALAZAR, MATTHEWS, SCHAEFER, STILLMAN. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
Moved by:
Stillman
Seconded by:
Schaefer
Adopt the project Action, approving the proposed subdivision and Tentative Map; Introduce Ordinance No. 1591, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Arcata Amending the Zoning Map to Add a Planned Development Combining Zone to Assessor Parcel Number 021-093-004; and Introduce Ordinance No. 1590, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Arcata Modifying the Whaley House Landmark Historic Property Combining Zone (LHP-80-31) on Assessor Parcel Number 021-093-004; waive reading of the text and consent to read by title only for both ordinances.
b.
Consider Adopting the 2026-2031 City of Arcata Economic Strategic Plan.
1. Staff Report - Adopt The City of Arcata Economic Strategic Plan.pdf
2. Attachment A - City of Arcata Economic Strategic Plan 2026-2031.pdf City Manager Perry and the City's consultant with Civic Possible, Jason Schneider, gave a presentation.
Mayor White invited public comment.
Public comment:
Laura Hughes and Dan Shahin.
Mayor White closed the public comment period.
City Manager Perry and the City's consultant Schneider responded to inquiries and comments from the Council.
ON MOTION BY MATTHEWS, SECONDED BY SCHAEFER, AND WITH A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED 2026-2031 CITY OF ARCATA ECONOMIC STRATEGIC PLAN. AYES: WHITE, ATKINS-SALAZAR, MATTHEWS, SCHAEFER, STILLMAN. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
Moved by:
Matthews
Seconded by:
Schaefer
Adopt the 2026-2031 City of Arcata Economic Strategic Plan.
c.
Discussion and Possible Action on Ordinance No. 1594, An Interim Urgency Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Arcata Imposing a 45-Day Temporary Moratorium on the Processing and Approval of New Land Use Applications for Data Centers to Allow for
1. Staff Report - Interim Urgency Ordinance No. 1594 Imposing a Temporary Moratorium on Process and Approval of Data Centers.pdf
2. A. Urgency Ordinance No. 1594.pdf
the Evaluation of Potential Public Health Impacts and Additional Land Use Regulations; Waive Reading of the Text and Consent to Read by Title Only.
Assistant City Manager Miller gave a staff report.
Councilmember Stillman left the Council Chamber at 7:49 p.m. and returned at 7:51 p.m.
Mayor White invited public comment.
There being none, Mayor White closed the public comment period.
ON MOTION BY SCHAEFER, SECONDED BY MATTHEWS, AND WITH A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED ORDINANCE NO. 1594, AN INTERIM URGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCATA IMPOSING A 45-DAY TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON THE PROCESSING AND APPROVAL OF NEW LAND USE APPLICATIONS FOR DATA CENTERS TO ALLOW FOR THE EVALUATION OF POTENTIAL PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACTS AND ADDITIONAL LAND USE REGULATIONS; WAIVED READING OF THE TEXT AND CONSENTED TO READ BY TITLE ONLY. AYES: WHITE, ATKINS-SALAZAR, MATTHEWS, SCHAEFER, STILLMAN. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
Moved by:
Schaefer
Seconded by:
Matthews
Adopt Ordinance No. 1594, An Interim Urgency Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Arcata Imposing a 45-Day Temporary Moratorium on the Processing and Approval of New Land Use Applications for Data Centers to Allow for the Evaluation of Potential Public Health Impacts and Additional Land Use Regulations; Waive reading of the text and consent to read by title only
11. NEW BUSINESS
a.
Public Hearing to Consider the City of Arcata’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Grant Number 22-CDBG-ED-30042 Business Assistance and Microenterprise Accomplishments for Final Closeout; and Adopt Resolution No. 267-13 for Submission of
1. Staff Report - Business Assistance and Microenterprise CDBG Closeout - 22-CDBG-ED-30042.pdf
2. Attachment A - Resolution No. 267-13.pdf
Closeout Documentation.
Director of Community Development Dart provided a staff report.
Mayor White opened the public hearing.
There being no public comment, Mayor White closed the public hearing.
ON MOTION BY SCHAEFER, SECONDED BY STILLMAN, AND WITH A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 267-13 AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF ALL REQUIRED CLOSEOUT DOCUMENTATION TO THE STATE; AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS. AYES: WHITE, ATKINS-SALAZAR, MATTHEWS, SCHAEFER, STILLMAN. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTENTIONS: NONE.
Moved by:
Schaefer
Seconded by:
Stillman
Adopt resolution No. 267-13 authorizing the submission of all required closeout documentation to the State; and authorize the City Manager to execute all applicable documents
12. ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS [CONTINUED]
Mayor White invited public comment.
Public comment:
Dan Shahin.
Mayor White closed the oral and written communications [continued] period.
13. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
City Manager Perry provided a report.
14. COUNCIL REPORTS
All reports shall be specifically limited to items relating to City business and shall not request or lead to action by the Council at this meeting.
Presenters
: Atkins-Salazar, Matthews, Schaefer, Stillman, and White.
15. DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS AND FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
a.
Schedule a Joint Study Session with the Planning Commission for October 28, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. at the D Street Neighborhood Center for the Purpose of Discussing the Housing Element Update and Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing.
BY GENERAL CONSENSUS, THE COUNCIL SCHEDULED A JOINT STUDY SESSION WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR OCTOBER 28, 2026, AT 5:30 P.M. AT THE D STREET NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING THE HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE AND AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHERING FAIR HOUSING.
16. CLOSED SESSION
There was none.
17. CLOSED SESSION REPORTS
There were none.
18. ADJOURNMENT
Other than items continued or tabled to a date certain, the Council may, by majority vote, continue all matters not completed by 10:30 p.m.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m. in honor of Mary Gelinas and David Cobb.
Respectfully submitted,