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Arcata might have some more late-night outdoor events coming its way. During tonight’s meeting, the Arcata City Council will consider a request from Arcane Artists Inc. – a local artist management and production company – to extend amplified music past the city’s 10 p.m. curfew for several upcoming events. 

Arcane Artists already applied for and was granted a special event permit for a “fundraiser concert series” taking place on multiple dates between July and October in Arcata’s Creamery District. The first event of the series, on July 23, was only allowed to operate until 10 p.m. – the usual end time of outdoor music and events in Arcata.  

Arcane Artists then requested that the council consider allowing future events to extend past 10 p.m. so that more people who get off work late could attend. During its Aug. 3 meeting the council unanimously approved the request on a monitored basis, allowing amplified music and alcohol sales until midnight, with an option for a silent disco – where people dance while all listening to music through headphones – until 1 a.m. The council will now consider extending the approval for five additional events, scheduled for Sept. 10 and 24, and Oct. 8, 15, and 29. 

Since the council approved the extended event hours, Arcane Artists has held two additional events in the Creamery District – on Aug. 6 and 27 – which, according to the staff report, did cause at least a few complaints from the community. During the Aug. 6 event the police department received two noise complaints (though there was also another event happening that may have contributed to the noise level), and during the Aug. 27 event the police received eight complaints between 10:20 and 11:43 p.m, the staff report says. 

Site map of the Arcane Artists event from the permit application |Arcata City staff report

The council has a few different options tonight. One would be to continue the current agreement of allowing booze and music to go until midnight with the silent disco until 1 a.m. Alternatively, the council could choose to end the extended hours and require the event to end at 10 p.m. Or the council come up with some third alternative for end time. The events will take place on N Street between Eighth and Ninth Streets in Arcata. 

If you are passionate about performing or partying past 10 p.m., or if you hate the noise, you’ll probably want to attend tonight’s meeting and speak your mind. 

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In other business, the Council will consider amending the City’s Conflict of Interest Code, which requires that designated employees disqualify themselves from making or participating in the making of governmental decisions that might benefit them financially. 

Reviewing and making necessary adjustments to the code is something the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) requires the city to do every two years. It should also be pointed out that this is the Conflict of Interest Code for city employees, not for councilmembers. But it does seem worth paying attention to, considering that there has recently been some contention between Councilmember Brett Watson and Councilmember Alex Stillman over whether or not Stillman has a conflict of interest related to the Gateway Area Plan and should be recusing herself from Gateway Area decisions.  Stillman is currently awaiting an official ruling on this matter from the FPPC. 

The Arcata City Council meets tonight (Wednesday) at 6 p.m. at Arcata City Hall – 736 F Street. You can view the full agenda and directions on how to participate in person or virtually here.