Reading time 2 minutes. An A.I. summary of the AP Triton "Standards of Cover" report. It has not been edited here. It was produced on September 9, 2025, prior to the Council / Arcata Fire District joint study session on September 10th.

The City Council has these important decisions to make -- "Arcata’s own Gateway Code specifies that a permit will not be granted on a building that is detrimental to the public interest, health, or safety, or is potentially materially injurious to persons or property." "The Council needs to decide if it is willing to have Arcata grant permits for four-story or taller buildings." "It is my view that the way to get this money is, in a sense, to extort or threaten the State and the CSU system. To convince the State to come up with money for us, they need to be told what could happen if they don’t. It has to be "an offer that they can't refuse.""

Arcata's Gateway Area Code specifically states that a new building cannot be detrimental to the health, safety, or public interest, nor can it be potentially injurious to persons or property. Seeing as the Arcata Fire District has clearly and specifically told the City Council that that cannot provide fire protection in buildings taller than 3 stories, wouldn't that make a 4-story building be impossible to be approved? This is a question for the legal experts to determine.

A listing of the recommendations from the Standard of Cover report. As you read through them, please ask yourself this question:  Which of these recommendations will help the Arcata Fire District firefighters deal with a fire in a four-story (or taller) building? Where is the source of funding to actually expand the capabilities of the AFD, so that they can provide minimal fire protection for taller buildings? Actually achieving fire protection for four-story and taller buildings was supposed to be included in the Triton report. But the report is woefully lacking in specifics and in goals. It is 40% wishful thinking and 60% fluff.

The "Standards of Cover" report was commissioned in January 2024, for expected delivery on August 1 of that year. It arrived at the end of July, 2025 -- one year late. The report is pure bureaucratic fluff that has very little of substance to enable the Arcata Fire District accomplish its aims, which are to provide fire protection for the occupants of buildings that are greater than three stories.

The Arcata Fire District Board has been trying to inform and educate the Arcata City Council for years on the inadequacy of fire protection here in Arcata. Includes excerpt of Arcata Fire District Board minutes, a letter from the AFD Board to the Mayor of Arcata, dated April 8, 2024, and a letter from citizen Gregory Daggett: "While I support thoughtful urban development, the current fire protection infrastructure in Arcata is dangerously inadequate for buildings taller than three stories—a fact that has been repeatedly communicated to the Council and Planning Commission by the Arcata Fire Protection District."

Reading time: 8 minutes -- It is my opinion that, given time, the AFD, the City of Arcata, and Cal Poly will find a solution to the Fire Protection issue. In this BRIEF article, a possible solution is offered so that taller buildings can be planned for in the Gateway area. **** WITH VIDEO from the August 22, 2023, City Council / Planning Commission joint study session.

The full 15-page Grand Jury report on the Arcata Fire District issues. Plus links to articles in the local media on this subject matter.

The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury has released a report warning that the Arcata Fire District is “approaching desperate financial conditions” and may have to reduce services and close one of its stations. The report also delves into the District’s lack of a ladder truck and proper staffing to respond to fires in multi-story buildings.

The Arcata Fire District will need a large increase in funding to provide fire and safety services to Arcata's new tall buildings. It is my expressed opinion -- not based on any conversations or any outside input; just based my own speculation -- that the State of California will come up with the money, both the up-front funds and the annual expenses. I say this for a very simple reason: That something has to be done, and the local taxpayers will be completely unwilling to take on theses costs.

Arcata Fire District Fire and Safety issues in Arcata and the Gateway Plan.

Another example of newer apartment buildings in what once was a single-family home neighborhood. Located in Portland, Oregon.

This is a 14 minute section of the one-hour presentation by Ben Noble, from June 29, 2022. This section includes Ben's description of of the Ministerial Review permitting process. A link to the full presentation is included.

Key to the success of Arcata’s Gateway Area Plan is the quick and certain approval of all projects that meet the standards of the Gateway Code. The current draft has new Gateway buildings up to 37 feet tall – that’s three-stories, generally – being seen only by the Zoning Administrator. This one person would have complete authority to approve new projects. There would be no public hearings for these approvals.

Around 2021, Mark Pahuta put up a video of Super-8 film he shot while in Arcata. The film is dated as being from 1968, but more likely it's from around 1976-1977. FILM and STILL IMAGES of Arcata from that era.

Merritt Perry has been the city manager in Fortuna for more than years. Prior to that he worked as City Engineer and director of Public Works in Fortuna for four years. He became interim City Manager following the resignation (after a second DUI) of former Fortuna city manager and Arcata city councilmember and 3-time mayor Mark Wheetley.

Three videos of the fire from June 19, 2024, in Miami. "I did get a chance  to speak to one gentleman who tells me he was actually sleeping at the  time. He awoke not because he smelled the smoke, not because he heard the commotion, but because he heard a firefighter knocking at his front door. That's what prompted him to get up, get outside."

The traffic crossings are not safe. IT WILL ONLY TAKE ONE FATALITY to have us wishing that we'd thought about this more and done things differently. WITH PHOTOS of 3D images, models, and flashing beacon lights.

Video and Transcriptions on the Sunset-101 Roundabout discussion. From the City Council meeting, February 21, 2024. "If you can make those changes -- the full separated bike and pedestrian facilities, the additional traffic calming measures, and getting rid of the slip lanes."

The letter that sent to the City Council, to request that the Sunset-101 Interchange funding be removed from the Consent Calendar, so that it can be further discussed. From the letter: "I believe there are unsafe elements to this design -- and that the design can be improved to make it safer for bicyclists and pedestrians. The design is good for vehicle traffic flow -- but not so good for bikes and walkers. My strong concern is that with this design there will be vehicle - bicyclist collisions.  *** My concern is that someone will get hurt.***

The Sunset-101 Interchange design: What is wrong with it. Can this design be improved? Is it safe?

Here are images of the design of the roundabouts for the multiple-lane intersection of Sunset Avenue, L. K. Wood Boulevard, and the four on-ramps/off-ramps for US Highway 101. The question is: WHERE ARE THE BIKE LANES?

Part 2. The multi-road intersections of Sunset Avenue, L. K. Wood Boulevard, G Street, H Street, and the four on-ramps/off-ramps for US Highway 101 are an acknowledged difficult situation. The solution that's provide is not, in my view, a good solution. I think this design would be the source of all kinds of problems. I believe there must be a better solution for us at this intersection. We can do better.

The letter sent to the City Council. This item was on their agenda for the February 21, 2024 meeting. The overall design of this interchange does not seem safe -- not safe for bicyclists, for pedestrians, and not even safe for cars. WE CAN DO BETTER,