Dezmond Remington / Monday, Oct. 5 @ 11:57 a.m. / Agendizer
ARCATA: TRAIL TOWN USA? City Council Will Ponder Chasing that Dream
By Jehovah that’s a lot of trails! Map from the City of Arcata.
PREVIOUSLY
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A few weeks after adopting a new plan designed to inject some juice into its economy, Arcata’s kick-starting its rejuvenation this Wednesday.
Consulting firm Civic Possible finished a study earlier this year that outlined a scheme to grow Arcata’s economy. There are a lot of moving parts, a lot of ideas, but it boils down to a recommendation to double down on what makes Arcata unique: the culture (intangible as that may be), the university, and the nature that surrounds and defines the city. One of the easiest rungs in the ladder to climb focuses on that last asset.
The city council will discuss pursuing a Trail Town Program Designation from the International Mountain Biking Association, a move Civic Possible recommended as a simple way to put Arcata on the map for roving cyclists. The organization rewards cities that “demonstrate an exceptional commitment to building, maintaining, and celebrating sustainable trail systems,” as the staff report on the item put it, and apparently Arcata already scored the maximum amount on a pre-application assessment that judged the quality of its bike infrastructure and how easy it is to access. The bare minimum for eligibility requires 25 miles of natural-surface trails within 30 miles of the city center, reliable funding, and a community that shows a regular commitment to its trails.
If approved, the city hopes the label will draw some eyeballs from curious cyclists, who, hopefully, will stay there for a spell, spending their money around town and pumping up the economy in between sessions of shredding the forest’s ample singletrack.
“Pursuing this designation could support economic activity associated with Arcata’s outdoor recreation assets, including increased visitor spending, support for local businesses, and additional tourism activity,” staff wrote. “The effort may also help strengthen Arcata’s identity as an outdoor recreation destination and encourage connections between the City’s trail network and commercial areas.”
CDBG Income
City Hall has some money to throw around; various interested parties will likely make their case as to why it should be spent on them.
The Community Development Block Grant program is a state funding program for local projects that will benefit low- or moderate-income residents “through the creation and expansion of community and economic development opportunities in support of livable communities.”
Several of these past projects involved the city loaning small businesses or individuals money; now, Arcata gets to decide how it’s going to spend the repaid loans, which total about $1 million, with the provision that it has to be on projects that serve the same end. The state still has to approve the city’s picks.
A list of projects the city could spend the funds on, compiled from past rounds of pitches, runs to three pages. It runs the gamut from creating a neighborhood center for Valley West to encouraging property owners to spruce up their façades to fixing up damaged apartments for the homeless at The Grove, an idea the city council shot down when it was applying for CDBG funds in February.
After Wednesday’s meeting, the council and staff will winnow down the pitches and choose a few to submit for state consideration.
The city council meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Oct. 5 in council chambers at 736 F Street.
Arcata City Council
Oct. 7, 2026, 6 p.m.
1. LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
2. FLAG SALUTE
3. ROLL CALL
4. CEREMONIAL MATTERS
a. Proclamation in Recognition of Fire Prevention Week, October 4–10, 2026.
DOCUMENTS:
a. Proclamation Recognizing October 2026 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
DOCUMENTS:
5. REPORT BY COMMISSION/COMMITTEE
6. STAFF REPORTS
a. Receive an Update from City Engineer Netra Khatri on the City's Complete Streets Policy.
a. Receive an Update from Assistant City Manager/Finance Director Tabatha Miller and City Engineer Netra Khatri Regarding Measure G.
7. ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS [EARLY - TIME LIMITED]
8. N/A
9. CONSENT CALENDAR
a. Approval to Waive Reading of the Text and Consent to Read by Title Only for Any Ordinance on this Agenda.
a. Approve the Minutes of the City Council Special Meeting of September 16, 2026.
a. Approve the Minutes of the City Council Meeting of September 16, 2026.
a. Bi-Weekly Report on Disbursements.
a. Adopt Ordinance No. 1590, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Arcata Modifying the Whaley House Landmark Historic Property Combining Zone (LHP-80-31) on Assessor Parcel Number 021-093-004; and Adopt Ordinance 1591, An Ordinance of the
DOCUMENTS:
Staff Report • A. Draft Ordinance 1590.pdf • B. Draft Ordinance 1591.pdf
a. Approve the Purchase of Five AIRE-O2 Triton 2.0 Aerators and Award Contract to Newterra Corporation, Inc., in the Amount of $376,101.34, Including Tax; and Approve Necessary and Associated Related Actions.
DOCUMENTS:
a. Approve the Voluntary Closure of City Offices to the Public from December 28, 2026, through January 1, 2027; and Authorize the City Manager to Execute All Applicable Documents.
DOCUMENTS:
a. Adopt Resolution No. 267-18 Making Determination that Public Convenience or Necessity Would be Served by the Issuance of Alcohol Beverage Control License for Compass Group USA Inc.; and Authorize the City Manager to Execute Applicable Documents.
DOCUMENTS:
Staff Report • Attachment A 267-18 Compass Group Inc ABC.pdf • Attachment B ABC-245 for Compass Group USA Inc.pdf
a. Adopt Resolution No. 267-21, Authorizing the Position of Finance Director and Amending the Budget to Provide Funding for the Position for the Remainder of Fiscal Year 2026-27.
10. OLD BUSINESS
a. Public Scoping Hearing on Potential Projects for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program Income Application.
11. NEW BUSINESS
a. Consider Authorization to Pursue an International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) Trail Town Program Designation as Part of the City of Arcata’s Economic Strategic Plan 2026-2031. Not Subject to CEQA.
a. Approve a Memorandum of Understanding Establishing Redwood Coast Energy Authority as Host Agency for the Regional Climate Committee and Climate Program Manager Relating to the Regional Climate Action Plan; and Authorize City Manager to Sign.
DOCUMENTS:
Staff Report • Attachment A - Regional Climate Action Plan Memorandum of Understanding.pdf
12. ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS [CONTINUED]
13. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
14. COUNCIL REPORTS
15. DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS AND FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
a. Confirm a Joint Study Session with the Planning Commission for October 28, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. at the D Street Neighborhood Center for the Purpose of Discussing the Housing Element Update and Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing.
16. CLOSED SESSION
17. CLOSED SESSION REPORTS
18. ADJOURNMENT