PUBLIC ADVISORY: THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER IN CITY HALL WILL NOT BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC COVID-19 NOTICE Consistent with Executive Orders N-25-20 and N-29-20 from the Executive Department of the State of California and the Humboldt County Public Health Officer’s March 19, 2020, Shelter- in-Place Order, the City Council meeting location will not be…
Teleconferenced Arcata City Council meeting underway
The Arcata City Council is meeting online via YouTube and the city website this week in order to observe social distancing guidelines for avoiding Coronavirus infection.
Susan Ornelas resigns from Arcata City Council
City of Arcata ARCATA – City Councilmember Susan Ornelas has stepped down from her position on the Arcata City Council, effective Tuesday, March 10. Susan was first elected to the Arcata City Council in 2008 and served as a Council Member over 11 consecutive years, serving as Mayor in 2011 and 2017. She has represented…
Arcata City Council considering ballot measure to end community water fluoridation
Mad River Union ARCATA – Among the items on the Wednesday, Feb. 5 City Council agenda is community water fluoridation. Arcata has fluoridated its water since the early 1960s, and in 2006 defeated by 62 to 38 percent Measure W, which would have ceased fluoridation. According to a city staff report, Councilmember Paul Pitino has…
Make-up Arcata City Council meetings on Tuesday will pick up where last week’s left off
According to Community Development Director David Loya, there are approximately 47 people that are “highly vulnerable” in the city’s current tenant-based rental assistance program. “There are at least three people who, if not for the program, would be homeless,” Loya said, and who are at risk of losing their subsidy if the application isn’t submitted in a timely fashion.
Arcata council meeting shut down by Lawson activists
Speakers also harshly criticized Mayor Michael Winkler for referring to opponents of the William McKinley statue as a “lynch mob,” for wildly overestimating costs of statue removal and for his private business entanglements which prevent his participation in city business – including the Creek Side homes development and annexation on the evening’s agenda.
Arcata Mayor Winkler ‘extremely proud’ of false, divisive statements as ethicists disqualify him from annexation hearing
Winkler is also compromised in serving as mayor due to his personal business entanglements. His company, Redwood Energy, continued to consult with developer AMCAL after it had submitted a project – the Village housing development – for city approval. That disqualified him from participating in the matter and left the City Council with four members and a tied vote on the matter. Prior business relations will prevent him from participating in the decision on DANCO’s Creek Side Homes project at this Wednesday’s council meeting as well.
Arcata selects 2020 mayor and vice in annual swap out
Kevin L. Hoover Mad River Union ARCATA CITY HALL – Every December, the City Council names its mayor and vice mayor for the year to come, and rejiggers the numerous liaison responsibilities the five councilmembers have in relating to the outside world. For the past year, Brett Watson has served as mayor and Michael Winkler…
Arcata City Council guides Plaza Task Forcers
“I’ve been coming to these meetings since 1995, hearing the same recommendations and nothing’s been done,” Grey said. She urged bold change, and taking risks on initiatives even if they may not work. “Everybody wants change,” she said.
More tax on pot biz? City Council: ‘Meh’
Steve Robles Mad River Union ARCATA – While considering different ways of generating revenue at last week’s Arcata City Council meeting, city officials decided to avoid weighing another tax on what some consider a considerably overburdened industry – cannabis. After discussing the ways such a levy would be assessed with city staff, board members quickly…