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Contents
Jane Woodward
Planning Commission, June 14, 2022 3 minutes, 5 seconds
Eight questions about public comments, future agenda items, public comment at the end of meetings, posting the public comments on a City website, schedule for Planwest to deliver the Form-Based Code.
Ann King Smith
Planning Commission, May 24, 2022 1 minute, 31 seconds
“I’m confused about the process now…. Are you going to make all your comments at the end? Are you going to make them as you go through? There are a lot of issues that are critical to every one of these chapters.”
Carlisle Douglas
Planning Commission, February 8, 2022 1 minute, 42 seconds
“Please seek expert independent counsel outside of city staff to interpret the ratifications of passing the Gateway Plan.”
Lulu Mickelson
City Council, December 15, 2021 1 minute, 36 seconds
Planning Commission, April 26, 2022 3 minutes, 34 seconds
Planning Commission, June 14, 2022 3 minutes, 6 seconds
Torey Starr
Planning Commission, April 26, 2022 5 minutes, 39 seconds
Jane Woodward
Planning Commission, June 14, 2022
On the video, start at 2:30 through 5:35. 3 minutes, 5 seconds.
Good evening. This is Jane Woodard. And I’d like to raise the following issues for discussion and resolution by City staff, Planning Commission members, and City Council:
- If we make public comments during the initial public comment period (or later), how do we ensure that those comments get responded to by either the City or the Planning Commission? There appears to be no provision enabling discussion of them during the meeting or for addressing them at a subsequent meetings. They normally are not included in the Q&As. How can we get them addressed in the Q&A’s or otherwise?
- How does the public manage to get an item placed on a future agenda for discussion? Can we do that? Are we supposed to contact the Planning Commission Chair, or City Council Chair, or City Manager, or who?
- There appears to be no comment period on the agenda at the conclusions of meetings as occurs with City Council meetings. Can that be added to enable more public input?
- Is there some reason that we can’t post all public comments (at least those submitted in writing) on the City’s website so they are available to the pubic when submitted? A good example is the Humboldt County website for the McKinleyville Town Center Master Plan And where, exactly, do we find Arcata’s “public record?” [Note: David Loya wrote to Jane about her letter being put into the “public record” — but if it’s not in the Agenda Packet, what other public record of letters is there?] (Humboldt County website that is referred to: https://humboldtgov.org/2564/McKinleyville-Town-Center-Master-Plan )
- Exactly when do we need to submit our comments to be included in the Planning Commission agenda packet? We were originally told by the Thursday prior to the following week’s meeting. However, that didn’t work out last week, and we need a specific day and time, e.g., by Wednesday at 5 p.m. or by Thursday at 8:30 a.m. for example. Comments submitted last Thursday were not included in tonight’s Planning Commission agenda packet, meaning that the Planning Commission and public were not made aware of the issues being raised so they could potentially discuss or respond to them during the Planning Commission meeting.
- Can we request staff to acknowledge our e-mailed comments to ensure that they were received and included in the agenda packet and are forwarded to Commission members?
- I submitted a very detailed questions regarding clarifying the grant deadlines and the City’s ability to extend them without penalty. Is there any way to ensure that that gets clarified so we know how much leeway we have in terms of scheduling discussion of the Draft Gateway Plan?
- Since Planwest Partners has not yet produced the draft Form-Based Code — promised to be provided along with the Draft Gateway Plan published December 1, 2021 — is there an expectation that it will be provided soon, and if so, when?
Thank you very much. I hope we can address these issues, either today or at our next meeting or study session. Thank you very much.
Ann King Smith
Planning Commission, May 24, 2022
On the video, start at 1:57:45 through 1:59:16. 1 minute, 31 seconds.
“I’m confused about the process now…. Are you going to make all your comments at the end? Are you going to make them as you go through? There are a lot of issues that are critical to every one of these chapters.”
Hello. Thank you again for your work. My name is Ann King Smith.
I’m confused about the process now because my understanding was that you’re going to go through this — I don’t know whether we call it chapter by chapter, element by element. You dealt with Mobility. And I thought, according to the agenda tonight that I read, it was then going to go to Streetscape, then Employment, then Art and Culture, and then Open Space.
That’s what I read on the agenda. So I didn’t think we’d get to Open Space. But at the beginning as you opened the hearing the Chair announced that we’re not making any decisions. And my understanding was you’ve left Mobility now with no discussion of the issues.
So I’m confused. Are you going to make all your comments at the end? Are you going to make them as you go through?
There are a lot of issues that are critical to every one of these chapters. Such as: Are we going to be dealing with the number of 3,500 or not? Are we going to be — what’s the height we’re going to be dealing with?
The whole incentive process – incentivizing … that word is used all over the place — is that something that the Planning Commission supports or not.
Now you’re going into all these other things with no discussion of the issues.
So I’m confused. Are you going to make all your comments at the end? Are you going to make them as you go through?
There are a lot of issues that are critical to every one of these chapters. Such as: Are we going to be dealing with the number of 3,500 or not? Are we going to be — what’s the height we’re going to be dealing with?
The whole incentive process – incentivizing … that word is used all over the place — is that something that the Planning Commission supports or not. And it has to be refined. Are we supporting it for things like EV charging station, bicycle storage? Or is that only going to be a real incentive if there’s something substantially located.
And so I’d like some clarification on how you’re going about this.
Thank you very much.
Carlisle Douglas
Planning Commission, February 8, 2022
On the video, start at 47:28 through 49:10. 1 minute, 42 seconds.
“Please seek expert independent counsel outside of city staff to interpret the ratifications of passing the Gateway Plan.”
Good Evening. My name is Carlisle Douglas, I reside at 1588 J Street.
Let me begin by saying that in general I’m in favor of planned development in West Arcata.
Please seek expert independent counsel outside of city staff to interpret the ratifications of passing the Gateway Plan.
But I would really like to say to Planning Commission members tonight that to emphasize how important to Arcata’s future it is that you all do your due diligence on this Gateway Plan this year, and really understand the changes to procedures and codes that it contains. Please seek expert independent counsel outside of city staff to interpret the ratifications of passing the Gateway Plan.
I would like to ask all concerned citizens to take a moment to shift your attention away from building height and really focus in on the language of the Gateway Plan that provides for streamlining and fast tracking the approval of developers’ proposals.
Second, I would like to ask all concerned citizens to take a moment to shift your attention away from building height and really focus in on the language of the Gateway Plan that provides for streamlining and fast tracking the approval of developers’ proposals. This in combination with a shift to form-based code opens a path to a significant change in the character of Arcata.
Third, I’d like for all of us to question the sense of urgency that is being promoted around approving this plan. The development would happen over the next 20 years but a vote to deviate from our existing General Plan is being pushed this year.
While the state of California did devise a formula and mandate cities to grow, most California cities are finding they are unable to comply with unrealistic expectations. Why should Arcata be in the minority of cities who creatively figures out how to comply with a State mandate for growth that does not take into account our unique geography?
And lastly I’d like to plant the seed that we make a plan for our own city of Arcata to start buying land in West Arcata and create resident-owned housing on city-owned land. This model has been very successful in other cities across the country.
Thank you.
Lulu Mickelson
City Council, December 15, 2021 1 minute, 36 seconds
Awesome. My name is Lulu Mickelson. And I want to express my enthusiastic support for the Gateway area plan. As an Arcata resident who has struggled to find quality and affordable rental housing in the city, this plan will be a really important opportunity for housing created through thoughtful density that benefits the community and the environment. And I think I just want to echo some of what we’ve heard from other speakers that this crisis is not some sort of, or this plan is not for future residents. Today, it’s can be incredibly hard as a younger professional to find housing in this area. And I think it’s, you know, I’m coming to this housing search with a huge amount of privilege and access. And I can only imagine for folks with less. This place is a very hard place to make home, even when folks want to, you know, provide and contribute to the community.
And so I also want to just say that I’m really impressed by the comprehensive and creative approach of this plan. I think it’ll help our community thoughtfully and proactively accommodate the growth that the region is already experiencing, to infill rather than sprawl that robs us of our beautiful, wild, and cultivated lands. And I’m particularly impressed by the commitment to centering equity and creating a walkable and bikeable area that prioritizes people over cars, and creating new opportunities for local businesses and housing that includes community assets for all new development. So as a small community this plan will be critical to ensuring that we manage the current incoming changes and population in a way that aligns with our values and ensures the greatest benefit for our entire community. Thank you.
Lulu Mickelson
Planning Commission, April 26, 2022 3 minutes, 34 seconds
Planning Commissioners, thank you for the opportunity to give a comment this evening. My name is Lulu Mickelson, and I’m a renter in Arcata. And even with a well-paying job, I struggled to find quality and affordable rental options in the area. It took me months and even a stint moving temporarily back home with my family to secure a rental in Arcata and I’m one of the lucky ones professionally. I’ve also spent the last decade working at the intersection of housing policy, racial justice, and homelessness prevention. It is clear to me that our community is facing a critical tipping point in the local housing crisis. Younger and working class people are feeling the pressure of displacement. And every night unhoused neighbors sleep on the street. The same time we’re also facing an escalating global climate crisis. For my generation — and I’m a millennial, 30 years old — it feels like decision-makers at the national and local levels are lacking the necessary urgency in addressing these interlocking crises. It feels like too little, too late.
That’s why I’m so energized by the Gateway area plan. It’s just the type of bold, thoughtful, and comprehensive planning we need for an equitable and sustainable future in Arcata. I’m proud and excited that renters, environmental groups, and employers are standing up and advocating to see this change happen quickly in our community. I’m here tonight to ask you as Planning Commissioners to keep up the urgency that this moment demands. I’m hopeful that the review of this plan can move forward efficiently with a transparent streamline and time-bound process for review. I fully support community engagement, especially from voices who are under-heard and government decision-making. And I’ve been impressed with many of the public outreach strategies employed by the City, which we’ve heard many commenters address tonight. There’s always more to be done. But reaching diverse constituents requires creative on-the-ground engagement organizing. The majority of residents will never come to a Planning Commission meeting no matter how many you host.
And that’s why hearing about this Commission’s plan to do an extended review of the Gateway area plan was honestly disappointing. It feels like our local leaders have again failed to grasp the urgency of this moment in our community is giving over to what sociologist and Professor Katherine Levine Einstein calls the “politics of delay.” Professor Einstein studied the meeting minutes of more than 97 local Planning Commissions. She found that community members who show up to these meetings do not reflect the larger public. I think tonight is an exception on that. I’ll say Einstein found that there are the folks that come to Planning Commission meetings and comment are 25% more likely to be homeowners and 9% more likely to be white than the general community. They’re also disproportionately older in age and longer-term residents. She found in these Commission meetings only 15% of Folks who showed up were pro-housing when in the same jurisdictions more than 56% of residents voted Yes on affordable housing ballot measures. Professor Einstein on the Planning Commission’s often delay much needed zoning infrastructure and housing projects. This politics of delay is that dynamic which she and other researchers see as a key contributing factor to our nation’s housing shortage. So I urge this Commission to not fall into the same dynamics and instead create a transparent, streamlined, and time-bound process for review that efficiently moves us toward more housing in this community and the passage of the Gateway action plan. Thank you so much.
Lulu Mickelson
Planning Commission, June 14, 2022 3 minutes, 2 seconds
Thank you, David. And thank you to the Planning Commission for the opportunity to address you this evening. My name is Lulu Mickelson. I’m an Arcata renter and co-director of Landecker [word?]. And I just wanted to sort of express my enthusiastic support for the thoughtful planning that’s going on here. It’s not easy work. I have 10 years of local government experience, a lot of it in planning and housing policy. And I just know how much energy goes into preparing for these Commission meetings and also just the type of rigorous planning that’s happening.
And so I wanted to just quickly address: You ask a question to staff in the Commission, and just something to kind of put into the mix. You know, I very much think that we need to be planning holistically for housing, infrastructure, and growth together. You know, that being said, I think it’s important to remember that the Gateway plan is just an envelope and invitation for growth and opportunity, to reimagine in an area of the city that’s very much underutilized. And I think going into your next item with growth, the Growth Management element, it really exemplifies this idea of infill planning, strategically locating the region’s growth in urban centers to avoid sprawl and the sort of reduction of our green spaces. And so I think it’s also important to acknowledge that while the Gateway plan will hopefully happen and move forward this type of info planning, if it doesn’t move forward at a quick pace will have regional consequences. Because if we don’t start to up-zone parts of Arcata where this growth can really be managed — because we have access to public transit, access to urban spaces that don’t require a car — if we as Arcata decide to not move forward with these types of infill opportunities which is so rich are so thoughtfully kind of laid out for us to things like the Gateway plan, it has real regional consequences, I think, for kind of what type of growth we’ll see. Because I think we have to all acknowledge that the growth on some level is inevitable at this point. And so by choosing to not kind of create these strategic spaces in our urban core and move forward on infill, there are real kind of infrastructure and quality-of-life implications for our region. And we’ll see sort of sprawl in unincorporated areas that don’t have the thoughtfulness and the planning oversight that Arcata does.
So I kind of feel we can do it best as Arcatans. We can rise to the challenge of these infrastructure limitations and really come together and work with staff to kind of address these issues. I’m very nervous that if we refuse to move forward with the timely kind of approval of these plans, we’re gonna see a real kind of growth happening in a really unstrategic, un-environmentally friendly way. That is inequitable, and it has real consequences for all of us that are liviing here. So I just wanted to kind of make sure that we’re always thinking about the trade offs. Thank you.
Torey Starr
Planning Commission, April 26, 2022 5 minutes, 39 seconds.
Good evening. Good evening, everyone. I’m Torey Starr. I’m the President and Executive Officer of Open Door Community Health Centers. I’m also a long-time resident of Arcata for over 40 years and a homeowner within the community. A little bit of background on Open Door, if you’re not familiar. We have over six facilities within the city of Arcata, we serve over 60,000 patients a year. We are the largest provider of primary care in Humboldt and Del Norte counties.
I wanted to do three things tonight. Number one, express our support for the Gateway plan. The second provide a little bit of context of the housing crisis from our perspective. And then the third thing is to provide you with a letter of support from the 13 members of the North Coast CEO healthcare leadership group regarding the issues around housing for our community.
I want to say the staff and I want to compliment David and everybody else who has worked on the plan. I actually have had the pleasure of reading the entire plan and had been really impressed with the process. And then just the thoroughness and content of it. And my office actually is in the Gateway district, right across from the creamery building. So I am part of that community on a daily basis. And I just really have been so impressed with the thoroughness, the thoughtfulness, the detail, the attention to community input, and really trying to give us a framework of how we should move forward in the future. And in the work that I do, as a healthcare leader, always trying to think for the future, laying out the right groundwork so that we can work together to respond to community needs. And having a framework within to do that is so very important. And I just think that the work that’s been done so far, it’s just been terrific. And wish we could turn out work like that ourselves on a regular basis.
I want to give you some context around the housing crisis from our context as a healthcare provider. And then, I think, as one of the business leaders within the community. And I, it’s really a time when we use the term “crisis” a lot. And I think there’s probably good reason for that, that it seems like crisis is all around us. And whenever you run into that, you have to think about moving forward with some really thoughtful and, I think, deliberate and consistent action in that. And when I took over the leadership of Open Door, I never really thought that my job description would include housing developer, it just wasn’t in the context. And then as the pandemic evolved, we had always known that our patients were negatively impacted if they didn’t have a safe place to live. And we’ve seen the house-lessness issue throughout our communities for decades.
But what has become more apparent to me is actually the impact that it’s having on our workforce. And so I have some concrete examples that I can actually share with you. And really safe, affordable housing is the key to the fundamental health of our community. And like I said, I’ve seen that in our patients, but now we’re running into extreme difficulty recruiting providers of health care to our community, because there is no affordable place to live. And I can give you a concrete example, we had, as you know, we’re in partners with Providence Health Care in the Family Medicine Residency Program, which we created to help create health care providers that would stay in our community. And we have lost two faculty members because they could not afford to come and live in our community, which is something I never thought we would run into. There’s lots of other challenges that come in here. But a place to live that was affordable, isn’t there.
And then it got me to thinking, you know, our providers, actually, we pay well enough now they can compete in this marketplace. And then I started to think about all of our folks that make less than $30 an hour, right? And we need two medical assistants for every doctor, or we shouldn’t recruit a doctor. And so I started to get really concerned about what’s going to happen to those folks that are in our community that aren’t in the upper echelon of the socio-economic status, and how are we going to provide for them. So I’ve really become more engaged and involved and we have, luckily, some properties in Arcata that we’re looking at, but I want you to just to be aware of the fact of that context. It’s completely impacting our community now, the housing crisis. And the last thing I wanted to — and I can enter it into the record, however, that works — that this topic started to come up a year ago in the health care leadership group. We meet once a month. And so this is now an issue for every health care provider in our community, in both Humboldt and Del Norte County. Housing always comes up and it’s just completely impacting everybody across the board from that standpoint. So we actually crafted a letter that just expresses our support for all the activities that are going on around the community to try to help develop safe, affordable housing. I think the Gateway plan is a wonderful plan. And I hope that you can see the merit in that and know that the healthcare and business community is supportive of that. So thank you much for your time.