TITLE II—ADMINISTRATION

CHAPTER 1—COUNCIL

(Ord. No. 1171, eff. 8/5/1991; Ord. 1278, eff. 3/6/1998; Ord. 1308, eff. 9/01/2000; Ord. 1311, eff. 11/17/2000;
Ord. 1336, eff. 11/1/2002; Ord. 1351, eff. 4/1/2005; Ord. 1358, eff. 3/9/2007; Ord. 1388, eff. 3/6/2009)

Sec. 2000 Time and place of regular meeting.

The City Council of the City of Arcata shall meet at 6:00 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at the Arcata City Hall. In the event any regular meeting day falls on a holiday, such regular meeting shall be held on a day and at a time selected by the City Council after giving notice thereof as may be required by law. (Res. 923-31, eff. 12/16/1992; 978-32, eff. 11/19/1997; 045-37, eff. 1/19/2005; 056-08, eff. 7/20/2005; 067-56, eff. 5/16/2007; Ord. 1457, eff. 5/15/2015)

Sec. 2001 Time and place of special meetings.

Special meetings of the Council shall be held in the Arcata City Hall and may be called as provided by the laws of the State of California.

Sec. 2002 Change of place of meeting.

If by any reason of fire, flood, earthquake, or other emergency, it shall be unsafe to hold any meeting of the Council in the City Hall, any such meeting may be held for the duration of such emergency at such place as shall be designated by a majority of the Council. In the event said Council Chamber shall be determined by a majority of the Council to be too small to conveniently accommodate the persons in attendance at any meeting, the Council may adjourn such meeting to be held at a place within the City to be designated by the Council.

Sec. 2003 Decorum.

While the Council is in session, order and decorum shall be preserved. No person shall, by conversation or otherwise, delay or interrupt the proceedings of the Council, disturb any member while speaking, or refuse to obey the orders of the Council.

Any person making personal, impertinent or slanderous remarks, or who shall become boisterous during a meeting, shall be forthwith barred by the presiding officer from further attendance at said meeting, unless permission to continue be by a majority of the Council.

Sec. 2004 Statement of purpose.

In enacting Sections 2004 through 2007, the City Council is exercising its right, pursuant to Government Code Section 45953.7 of the Ralph M. Brown Act (hereinafter “Brown Act”) to impose requirements upon itself pertaining to noticing of meetings that are more stringent than standards prescribed by the Brown Act. In situations of conflict in which the Brown Act provides more stringent noticing requirements than the provisions herein set forth, the provisions of the Brown Act shall apply.

Sec. 2005 Definitions.

The words and terms used in Sections 2006 and 2007 shall have the meaning as defined in the Brown Act, Government Code Section 54950, et seq.

Sec. 2006 Items not on posted agenda.

In any case where the Council determines that the need to take action arose subsequent to the posting of an agenda, no action shall be taken without specific findings and a statement thereto by four-fifths (4/5) of the Council, or if less than all of the members are present, a unanimous vote of those members present, of the actual facts and circumstances that supports each of the following:

(a) That the need to act arose subsequent to the posting of the agenda.

(b) That action must be taken at the present meeting, rather than at a subsequent meeting.

Sec. 2007 Action on items not on posted agenda.

In any case where a Councilmember proposes to place an item not appearing on the posted agenda before the Council for action, the Council shall make those findings specified in Section 2006 prior to calling any regularly calendared item on the posted agenda. If the Council makes those findings as specified in Section 2006 and determines to add the item to the agenda, action on the item shall be continued and shall be considered as the last action item on the agenda. When the item is called for action, the public shall be permitted to offer testimony on the item.

Sec. 2010 Salaries of City Councilmembers.

The members of the Arcata City Council shall receive as compensation that amount authorized by Section 36516 of the Government Code of California, equal to eight hundred forty-nine dollars and fifty-one cents ($849.51) per month, which represents an increase of five percent (5%) for each calendar year from the operative date of the last salary adjustment. Said compensation shall become effective the first pay period after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this Section. (Ord. 1308, eff. 9/01/2000; Ord. 1336, eff. 11/1/2002; Ord. 1351, eff. 4/1/2005; Ord. 1358, eff. 3/9/2007; Ord. 1388, eff. 3/6/2009; Ord. 1407, eff. 3/18/2011; Ord. 1454, eff. 12/4/2015; Ord. 1506, eff. 8/31/2018; Ord. 1531, eff. 4/17/2020; Ord. 1541, eff. 3/5/2021; Ord. 1564, eff. 3/31/2023)

Sec. 2011 Supplemental Benefits for City Councilmembers.

Any Councilmember who so wishes may participate in the health, dental, vision care and life insurance plans provided by the City. These benefits may include the Councilmember and his/her dependents. These benefits shall be administered the same as management employees’ benefits, excepting that Councilmembers are not eligible to receive these benefits as retirees; provided, that Councilmembers are eligible to receive COBRA. (Ord. 1278, eff. 3/6/1998; Ord. 1454, eff. 12/4/2015)

Sec. 2015 Reimbursement.

The salaries provided are and shall be exclusive of any amount payable to each member of the City Council as reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred by him in the performance of official duties for the City of Arcata.

Sec. 2020 Selection of Mayor and Vice-Mayor.

The members of the City Council shall elect one (1) of its members as Mayor and one (1) of its members as Vice-Mayor at a special meeting to be held on the Thursday immediately following the second Wednesday of December. The offices of Mayor and Vice-Mayor shall each be held for one (1) year. If any vacancy occurs in the office of Mayor, the Vice-Mayor shall automatically assume the office of Mayor. If any vacancy occurs in the office of Vice-Mayor, the City Council shall elect one (1) of its members to fill the office. (Ord. 1311, eff. 11/17/2000; Ord. 1457, eff. 5/15/2015)