MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE TRINIDAD CITY COUNCIL TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2022 (LIVE/HYBRID
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Pro-Tem West called the live-hybrid meeting to order at 6:00pm. Council members in attendance: Tuttle & Kelly. Ladwig was absent. City Staff in attendance: City Manager Eli Naffah, City Clerk Gabriel Adams Devily olen rene ate egin Manager ener Hakenen. Approximately (6) participants were present II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
III. CLOSED SESSION
1. Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation (Calif. Gov. Code Section 54956.9(d) (1)) (1 Case: City of Trinidad VS. Tsurai Ancestral Society, et. al, Humb. Co. Sup. Court Case No. 180684) IV. RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION
No reportable action was taken in closed session.
V. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Motion (Kelly/Tuttle) to approve the agenda as amended, pulling the Staff Activity report for discussion. Passed VI. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - 08/23/2022 cc2, 09/13/2022 cc.
Motion (West/Tuttle) to approve 09/13/2022 as submitted. Passed 3-0. 08/23/2022 cc2 will be reviewed again in November. Kelly did not attend that meeting and 3 votes are needed to approve.
VII. COUNCIL REPORTS/COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
West: Brief HCAOG meeting update. Very little change to ongoing status of highway projects.
No reports from Kelly or Tuttle.
VIII.STAFF REPORTS - City Manager & Law Enforcement
City Manager Naffah highlighted accomplishments summarized in the staff report included in the meeting packet. Announced candiate forum hosted by the City on October 18, 2022 at 7:00pm. Naffah also provided the Luffenholtz Creek flow rate, and highlighted the grant report which as pulled for discussion.
HCSO Lieutenant McCall provided a brief summary of the stats included in Consent Item 3.
Councilmember Kelly noted that the Library/Museum has become a hot spot. Is the Sheriff Department seeing stats that support this? McCall noted that he will discuss this with staff and instruct his Deputies to focus attention on that area, specifically. Resident Patti Fleschner added details to support Kelly's request for additional patrols.
IX. ITEMS FROM THE FLOOR
(Three (3) minute limit per Speaker unless Council approves request for extended time.) Paula Levine - Trinidad Area resident
How will housing be increased when drinking water is in short supply? Why is the City pursuing grants for housing, or affordable housing, when the City isn't considering expanding its drinking water source to include a larger, more reliable source such as Humboldt Bay Municipal Water? The City chose not to pursue a larger water supply, so why are we accepting grants to increase housing? Council will discuss this further as Consent 1, Staff Activity Report, was pulled for discussion.
Michael Morgan - Trinidad
Distributed a public complaint (meme) to Council and staff, included in the public comment packet online.
Concerned with mischaracterization of his argument against Measure P, submitted in the rebuttal to his argument. Clarified the timeline of his complaint to the City, followed by action taken by the City, to propose the increase at an election as required by law.
10-11-2022 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1
X. CONSENT AGENDA
1. Staff Activity Report - September 2022
City Manager Naffah explained that there is not a current moratorium on water connections. The City did however, not support the water connection request for the Trinidad Rancheria hotel project. The grants proposed have been accepted to respond to State requirements to address housing, and meet mandated housing standards.
Councilmember Kelly explained that while on the Planning Commission, housing inventory and accessory dwelling assessments were performed and the grants pursued help offset the cost of performing the mandated assessments - whether it results in increased housing opportunities or not, based on the local restraints (septic, water, etc.).
Public comments included:
Paula Levine - Trinidad Area Resident
Seems like a lot of money for planning such a restricted housing sector. We are one of the smallest cities in the State. What are we getting for the State spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to tell us what we might already know? Who makes all this money?
Mike Morgan - Trinidad
ADU's are a good way to provide affordable housing to long-term residents. If the State encourages this, we should do everything to make that happen.
Sherri Provolt - Trinidad Property Owner
I'm concerned with all the development constraints that exist from water to septic. Affordable housing is a good thing, but there are constraints.
City Manager Naffah reiterated that the grant proposed will help the City streamline affordable housing opportunities should they exist.
Motion (Tuttle/Kelly) to accept and approve the staff activity report. Passed 3-0.
2. Financial Statements - August 2022
3. Law Enforcement Report - September 2022
Motion (West/Tuttle) to approve consent agenda as amended, pulling Consent 1 for discussion. Passed 3-0.
XI. DISCUSSION/ACTION AGENDA ITEMS
1. Unmet Transit Needs Public Hearing.
HAOG representative Stevie Luther explained that each year HAOG conducts citizen participation process to assess unmet transit needs within Humboldt County as part of the Transportation Development Act. The public is invited during this hearing to express their opinion, solutions, complaints, or suggestions regarding Humboldt County's public transportation systems and/or general unmet transit needs.
Council questions included:
Kelly: Does HCAOG do any surveys? Could the data be separated for Trinidad? Luther responded, yes, surveys are distributed on the busses and available online as part of the annual solicitation process. Survey results and all unmet needs are then analyzed as part of the Unmet Transit Needs process. We usually hear that more routes to Trinidad from Eureka are desired, but ridership and the cost of running the bus make it challenging to implement.
Tuttle: I took the bus for the first time 2 weeks ago, picking up brother from bus depot in Eureka. He's disabled, and was heading to Patrick's Point to camp. There was no way from him to get from Trinidad to Patrick's Point, and back. It would be helpful to have this type of service if possible. I was the only one on the bus when it left Trinidad, but it was completely full when I reached Eureka. 10-11-2022 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2
Richard Johnson - Trinidad Area Resident
Member of the Technical Advisory Committee overseeing the Unmet Transit Needs process. It is extremely important to convey input to HCAOG not only during this process, but all year round. Transportation system funding and priorities are shaped by this process.
Mike Morgan - Trinidad
People need the bus. Would love to see Orick included in the transportation system route, maybe only on the weekends if 7-day service is not feasible.
Paula Levine - Trinidad Area Resident
Would it be feasible to have a smaller electric vehicle service to transport people? Maybe that would encourage ridership?
Luther noted there was a study currently being conducted for an on-demand route from Trinidad to the Airport that he could present to the Council at a future meeting if desired.
No decisions were made. Public hearing item only. Comments will be forwarded to HAOG as part of the Unmet Transit Needs hearing process.
2. Discussion/Decision regarding Councilmember Appointment to the Water Advisory Committee.
City Manager Naffah explained that the Water Advisory Committee was established by Resolution 2021-02.
Committee membership consists of (2) City Council members, (1) Planning Commissioner, (2) City of Trinidad water customers. Councilmember Cheryl Kelly took over the position left by former Councilmember Richard Clompus in January 2022.
The current vacancy occurred when former Councilmember David Grover resigned in July, and the Council must appoint someone to join Kelly as one of the 2 members on the committee.
Tuttle volunteered to fill the vacancy.
Public comment included:
Paula Levine - Trinidad Area Resident
Consider expanding membership to include 1 member from the sphere of influence.
City Manager Naffah explained that the (2) water customers on the committee can be from outside the city as long as they are water customers.
Motion (West/Kelly) to appoint Councilmember Tuttle as the second Council representative on the Water Advisory Committee. Passed 3-0.
3. 2022 General Election Update.
City Clerk Adams explained that there were 3 updates added to this months agenda:
1. Voter Guides were mailed to all registered voters
2 October 18 Candidate Forum hosted by the Citv, oraanized by the League of Women Voters.
3. Trinidad School is the Official Polling Place
Presentation item only. No decisions was made.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Kelly: Water Plant Update. Contractor vs. In-house Staffing.
Kelly: Roles and Responsibilities of the City Manager and City Council.
Kelly: Website improvements, electronic communication tools Update from City Engineer regarding water storage tank grant. 10-11-2022 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3
Public contributions included:
Aaron Hakenen - Trinidad
Future agenda items requested are:
1. Traffic calming measures on collector streets.
2. Increase in Law Enforcement
3. Mayor Appointment Ordinance
ADJOURNMENT: 7:11pm.
Submitted by: Approved by:
al
Gabriel Adams Steve Ladwig
Trinidad City Clerk Mayor
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