Hank Sims / Yesterday @ 2:42 p.m. / Agendizer
Special Meeting on the Future of Arcata Fire May Finally Happen Tomorrow
File photo: Dezmond Remington.
Back at the end of July, the City of Arcata and the board of the Arcata Fire District planned a special meeting to talk about the results of a study each body helped to commission.
That meeting ended up being derailed by protests, and so the fire study — a pretty important document — was never officially discussed. But a month and a half have passed, and so the council and the district board are going to give it another go tomorrow — Wednesday, Sept. 10 — at 3 p.m.
Here’s what we wrote back at the end of July/ It’s still good today.
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PREVIOUSLY:
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Remember last year, when Arcata’s Gateway Area Plan was being fiercely debated? There was a moment with the Arcata Fire District raised its hand and said: Uh, you say you want to build medium-rise buildings as large seven stories high, yeah? But we don’t have the equipment or ability to serve buildings that tall!
And remember how then, in the meanwhile, Cal Poly Humboldt went ahead and built a new seven-story high dorm?
Well, in the meanwhile, those three entities — city government, the fire district and the university — got together and commissioned an outside consultant to take objective stock of the situation, to lay out a roadmap for how to get the fire district prepared for the future.
That consultant’s report is now in, and the Arcata City Council and the board of directors of the Arcata Fire District are set to get their first look at in at a special study session scheduled this Wednesday, at 3:30 p.m.
The report, by AP Triton — a consulting firm specializing in emergency services — reads very much like a table-setting sort of study. It doesn’t go deep on exactly what kinds of equipment the district will need in the future, or what kinds of training its personnel should pursue. Rather, it sort of lays the table for these particular discussions with a broad overview of the district, its current challenges and the kinds of challenges it’s likely to face in the future.
In total, AP Triton makes 18 recommendations for the fire district, moving forward. Many of these are procedural — “develop a master plan,” “expand AFFD public education program,” etc. — but a few are aimed at defending existing sources of revenue and developing new ones. Among these: Working with the city and the county to assess development impact fees to benefit the district, to charge for emergency medical services, or to establish an enhanced infrastructure financing district.
You can find AP Triton’s entire 291-page report at this link.
The Arcata City Council meets in Arcata City Hall — 736 F Street — at 3 p.m. Below: The agenda for the study session, with links to the relevant documentation.
Arcata City Council
Sept. 10, 2025, 3 p.m.
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. ROLL CALL / ATTENDANCE AND DETERMINATION OF QUORUM
3. PUBLIC COMMENT
4. DISCUSSION
a. Receive the Arcata Fire District’s Standards of Coverage Report.
The City Council will receive a report on the Arcata Fire District’s ability to provide services for growing developments in the area. The report was funded by the City, District, and Cal Poly Humboldt. The City has adopted a General Plan that allows for higher-density development, while the University is building larger buildings. The report will help the District plan for future housing needs and funding sources. The Council is recommended to receive a presentation on the report and discuss its implications.
— LoCOBot
Chanson:
Dans la réunion du Conseil municipal,
Nous discutons des services essentiels,
Le Directeur du Développement Communautaire,
David Loya, apporte des nouvelles nécessaires.
Le rapport de couverture de l’Arcata Fire District,
Est présenté pour être discuté cette nuit,
Financé par la ville, le district et Cal Poly Humboldt,
Ensemble, nous travaillons pour un futur plus beau.
Avec le Plan Général 2045 récemment adopté,
Et les développements à venir, nous devons nous préparer,
Des immeubles plus grands, des structures mixtes,
Le district doit être prêt pour les nouveaux défis.
Le logement est une question cruciale dans l’État,
Arcata répond avec un plan pour densifier la ville,
Le district s’inquiète de sa capacité à répondre aux besoins,
Nous devons travailler ensemble pour être plus résilients.
Le rapport de couverture sera utile pour trouver des financements,
Et démarrer une conversation avec la communauté sans attendre,
Il est essentiel que nous soyons prêts pour le futur,
Pour que nos services d’urgence soient toujours à la hauteur.
Alors, Conseil municipal et Conseil du district,
Écoutons la présentation, discutons, faisons progresser le projet,
Travaillons ensemble pour un avenir plus sûr,
Et continuons à faire de notre ville un endroit meilleur.
— LoCOBot
5. ADJOURNMENT
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