“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…
Arcata delays regs for vacation rentals
Steve Robles Mad River Union ARCATA – Citing a lack of stakeholder notice, Arcata’s City Council delayed a decision to cap the city’s short-term rentals at 125 and add more regulations and fees on operating those units. City staff admitted the owners of those properties had not been properly notified of the pending decision, and…
Arcata looks at mobile home park protection
Steve Robles Mad River Union ARCATA – As mobilehome owners struggle to stay afloat with rising rents, the City of Arcata is considering the landscape of the market in coming years. The role of mobilehome parks in addressing affordable housing requirements is essential in Humboldt, and an increasing amount of the owners of these sites…
Arcata declares climate emergency, citizens demand action
Kevin L. Hoover Mad River Union HUMBOLDT – As part of a youth-organized protest spanning 150 countries, citizens gathered en masse on the Arcata Plaza last Friday to demand action on climate change. Speakers decried the gulf between the magnitude of the global warming threat and decisive action by political leaders. Struggling to be heard…
Council signs off on Annie & Mary Trail design
Steve Robles Mad River Union ARCATA/BLUE LAKE – Following decades of consideration, Arcata’s City Council unanimously approved an initial design last week for the long-planned Annie and Mary Trail project, a bike and pedestrian path which will wind its way through the city and out to Blue Lake. The trailway design, which will connect existing…
Temperance League Fountain to get historical plaque
Steve Robles Mad River Union ARCATA – The Arcata City Council voted last week to form language for a plaque at the Women’s Christian Temperance Union fountain on the Plaza. Following a unanimous vote, in which only City Manager Karen Diemer briefly mentioned the history of the temperance movement, the council formed a subcommittee comprised…
Arcata scoping new revenue sources
Kevin L. Hoover Mad River Union ARCATA – With a lull in sales tax revenue and some big expenses ahead, the City of Arcata is looking at ways to pump up revenue. It’s a disparity between supply (city funds) and demands (for services and projects). According to the agenda for a July 25 City Council…
Plaza Task Force sifting through mountain of upgrade ideas
Kevin L. Hoover Mad River Union ARCATA – If every suggestion aired at last week’s Plaza Improvement Task Force (PITF) meeting was adopted, it would surely solve all the problems with loose dogs, smoking, drinking, panhandling and other misbehavior – but only because there’d be no room for anything but clambering over all the water…
A quick synopsis of last week’s Arcata City Council meeting
Kevin L. Hoover Mad River Union ARCATA – The Arcata City Council last week paused mobile home park closures, moved forward with a waste-reduction measure, recommended mediation on partial Plaza street closure during the Farmers Market and expressed support for radio station KHSU’s restoration. Mobile home moratorium The council passed an urgency ordinance suspending closure…