[MUSIC] >> KEET-TV AND THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY PRESENT A FORUM FOR CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR THE ARCATA CITY COUNCIL.

YOU CAN CALL 707-497-0811.

THIS FORUM IS ALSO BEING STREAMED LIVE AT OUR KEET.ORG WEBSITE.

AND NOW YOUR MODERATOR FROM THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, BYRD LOCHTIE.

>> GOOD EVENING.

I'M BYRD LOCHTIE WITH THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY.

I'D LIKE TO WELCOME ALL OUR VIEWERS TONIGHT FOR A LIVE CANDIDATES FORUM WITH THE CANDIDATES FOR THE OFFICE OF ARCATA CITY COUNCIL.

CANDIDATES WITH US THIS EVENING ARE HUMNATH PANTA, KIMBERLEY WHITE, AND EDITH ROSEN.

CHASE MARKUM, DANA QUILLMAN, AND ALEX STILLMAN, ALSO CANDIDATES, ARE UNABLE TO BE HERE TONIGHT.

PLEASE TAKE NOTE THAT YOUR SAMPLE BALLOT SAID TO VOTE FOR THREE, BUT THE CORRECT NUMBER ON THE ACTUAL BALLOT IS ONE.

VOTE FOR ONE ONLY FOR THIS POSITION.

THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, A NONPARTISAN POLITICAL ORGANIZATION, ENCOURAGES INFORMED AND ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNMENT, WORKS TO INCREASE UNDERSTANDING OF MAJOR PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES AND INFLUENCES PUBLIC POLICY THROUGH EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY.

THE LEAGUE NEVER ENDORSES CANDIDATES OR POLITICAL PARTIES.

WE DO TAKE POSITIONS ON ISSUES AFTER EXTENSIVE STUDY AND MEMBER CONSENSUS.

THE LEAGUE IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING IMPARTIAL INFORMATION ABOUT VOTING AND THE POLITICAL PROCESS.

BEFORE WE BEGIN OUR FORUM TONIGHT, I'D LIKE TO SHARE SOMETHING WITH OUR CANDIDATES AND THE VIEWING AUDIENCE.

32 YEARS AGO, IT WAS SUGGESTED TO THE LEAGUE BOARD THAT WE HAVE TELEVISION CANDIDATE FORUMS.

BOARD PRESIDENT, JUDY BENNET, MET WITH ST. CLAIR ADAMS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF KEET AT THAT TIME, AND HE AGREED AND SO BEGAN OUR KEET PARTNERSHIP OF CANDIDATE FORUMS.

A FEW YEARS LATER, CAROL MASTERSON, ALSO A LEAGUE BOARD MEMBER, TOOK OVER THE JOB OF FACILITATING THESE EVENTS WITH KEET.

THIS PAST JANUARY, WE LOST CAROL TO LEUKEMIA, SO I WANT TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE FOR ALL SHE DID TO MAKE THESE FORUMS A SUCCESS.

WE NOW HAVE A COMMITTEE DOING WHAT CAROL DID BY HERSELF FOR OVER 25 YEARS.

THANK YOU, CAROL, AND THANK YOU, KEET.

SO TO CONTINUE, LEAGUE MEMBERS ARE SERVING TONIGHT AS PHONE VOLUNTEERS, QUESTION SORTERS, TIME KEEPER, AND COURIER.

THEIR NAMES WILL APPEAR IN THE CREDITS AFTER THE PROGRAM.

SINCE OUR PROGRAM TONIGHT WILL INCLUDE THE USE OF QUESTIONS CALLED IN FROM VIEWERS, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CALL YOUR QUESTIONS NOW TO 707-497-0811.

OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE WAITING TO TAKE YOUR CALLS.

THE FORMAT FOR TONIGHT'S FORUM WILL BE AS FOLLOWS.

EACH CANDIDATE WILL BE GIVEN A MAXIMUM OF ONE MINUTE TO RESPOND TO QUESTIONS PREVIOUSLY SENT TO THE LEAGUE OR PHONED IN BY THE VIEWING AUDIENCE.

AT THE END OF THE QUESTION PERIOD, EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A TWO-MINUTE CLOSING STATEMENT.

THE CANDIDATES HAVE DRAWN LOTS TO DETERMINE THE ORDER OF CLOSING STATEMENTS.

THE ARCATA CITY COUNCIL IS COMPOSED OF FIVE MEMBERS ELECTED AT LARGE BY THE CITIZENS OF ARCATA TO BE THE LEGISLATIVE POLICY MAKING BRANCH OF CITY GOVERNMENT.

THE COUNCIL DIRECTS THE COURSE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT THROUGH ITS POWER TO ADOPT ORDINANCES, LEVY TAXES, AWARD CONTRACTS, AND APPOINT CERTAIN CITY OFFICERS, COMMISSIONS, AND COMMITTEES.

COUNCIL MEMBERS SERVE AS THE CITY'S REPRESENTATIVE ON A NUMBER OF COUNTY AND JURISDICTIONAL AGENCIES.

MEMBERS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH STATE ETHICS LAWS AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST REGULATIONS AND DISCLOSURES.

THE ANNUAL SALARY IS $927,000.3H BENEFITS.

AGAIN, THE NUMBER TO CALL, (707)445-0811.

NOW FOR OUR FIRST QUESTION, WE'LL BEGIN WITH HUMNATH AND THE FIRST QUESTION IS WHAT IS THE GOAL AND PURPOSE OF ARCATA CITY COUNCIL?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY, LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AND KEET-TV.

SO THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OR THE GOAL OF CITY COUNCIL OF ARCATA IS TO SET RULES, REGULATIONS, POLICIES FOR THE CITY.

IT IS A BODY THAT ACTUALLY WORKS FOR THE FUTURE OF THE PEOPLE OF ARCATA.

ALL THESE REGULATIONS AND RULES, ORDINANCES THEY ARE MAKING HAVE LONG-TERM OBJECTIVES AND THEY ARE VERY IMPORTANT FOR LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE CITY OF ARCATA, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

YOUR ANSWER, PLEASE, EDITH?

>> THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS OF ARCATA IN ADDITION TO ORDINANCES AND POLICIES, SO ON AND SO FORTH, ARE TO BE A VOICE FOR THE ARCATA COMMUNITY, FOR THE ARCATA RESIDENTS, FOR OUR ARCATA BUSINESS OWNERS, AND TO GUIDE THE CITY STAFF USING THOSE STANDARDS.

>> THANK YOU.

YOUR ANSWER, PLEASE, KIMBERLEY.

>> THANK YOU, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

THE GOAL FOR CITY COUNCIL IS TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE.

IT IS TO CREATE AN EQUITABLE -- LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD SO THAT ALL CITIZENS FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE A VOICE.

AS POINTED OUT, IT'S RULES, REGULATIONS, POLICY.

IT'S ALSO TO GUIDE THE STAFF AND TO BE A VOICE FOR THE PEOPLE, TO DEEPEN DEMOCRACY AND MAKE SURE, AS I SAID, EVERYONE HAS A VOICE.

>> THANK YOU.

YOUR ANSWER, PLEASE -- OH, NO, WE'RE GOING TO THE NEXT QUESTION, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE KIMBERLEY AGAIN.

WHAT SHOULD COUNCIL DO TO SUPPORT ARCATA BUSINESSES?

>> COUNCIL FIRST OF ALL SHOULD PROBABLY REACH OUT TO THE BUSINESSES AND FIND OUT WHAT THEY WANT INSTEAD OF ASSUMING THAT WE KNOW THE ANSWER.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ARCATA HAS RECENTLY PASSED THROUGH THE ARPA FUNDS, THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT, IS TO IMPLEMENT AN AMBASSADORSHIP PROGRAM WHICH WILL BE A LIAISON BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE BUSINESSES AND IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY -- I KNOW LIKE IN DOWNTOWN MAIN STREET, THERE'S BEEN SOME CHALLENGES.

EVERYONE KNOWS THAT HOUSING IS AN ISSUE, NOT JUST IN CALIFORNIA BUT IN PARTICULAR IN ARCATA, WE'RE DEFINITELY HAVING A HOUSING CRUNCH.

AND SO IT WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE UNHOUSED COMMUNITY TO STEP INTO AMBASSADOR POSITIONS AND TO REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY AND TO BE -- TO HELP THE BUSINESSES CREATE SOLUTIONS SO THAT WE CAN ALL MAKE SURE THAT THE ECONOMIC -- THAT WE'RE FLOURISHING ECONOMICALLY IN ARCATA.

>> THANK YOU.

YOUR ANSWER PLEASE, HUMNATH.

>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR THIS QUESTION.

SO THE CITY OF ARCATA, ALL THE BUSINESSES ARE STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW, SO THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT QUESTION YOU ASK, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

WE HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES.

WE HAVE CAL POLY HUMBOLDT, THE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS.

WE CAN WORK TOGETHER IN A PARTNERSHIP, PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY.

WE CAN WORK WITH THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND WE NEED TO FIND OUT THE REASON FOR THE DECLINE OF BUSINESS IN THE CITY OF ARCATA.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE COULD DO IS BASICALLY SOLVING THE PROBLEM FROM THE ROOT.

WE HAVE A BIG HOMELESSNESS PROBLEM.

I TALKED TO THE BUSINESSES IN OUR CITY AND A LOT OF THEM, THEY TALK ABOUT THE HOMELESSNESS PROBLEM, HOW IT'S DESTROYING THE BUSINESS.

PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO VISIT.

SO WE NEED A PLAN TO WORK TOGETHER WITH ALL THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

YOUR ANSWER, PLEASE, EDITH.

>> THE ARCATA CITY COUNCIL CAN BEST SUPPORT OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES BY FIRST REACHING OUT TO THEM TO SPEAK WITH THE BUSINESS OWNERS, THE BUSINESS MANAGERS, AND UNDERSTANDING THEIR PERSPECTIVES.

FROM THERE, WE CAN ENSURE THAT WE ARE FORMING COHESE I COHESIVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE BUSINESSES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT.

>> THANK YOU.

REMEMBER TO CALL YOUR QUESTIONS.

THE NUMBER IS (707)445-0811.

OUR NEXT QUESTION, WE WILL BEGIN WITH YOU, EDITH.

DOES THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES AND TRAINING TO DEAL WITH EXPECTED INCREASES IN THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS AT CAL POLY?

>> THE QUESTION IS DOES THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES AND TRAINING TO SUPPORT THE STUDENTS AT CAL POLY, IS THAT CORRECT?

>> YES, TO DEAL WITH THE EXPECTED INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS EXPECTED AT CAL POLY HUMBOLDT.

>> THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AT THE CITY OF ARCATA, I BELIEVE, COULD USE MORE STAFF, SUPPORT STAFF AND RESOURCES TO FLOW THROUGH AND SUPPORT THE INFLUX OF GROWTH COMING IN TO CAL POLY.

>> THANK YOU.

YOUR ANSWER, PLEASE, KIMBERLEY.

>> FIRST LET ME SAY THAT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED TO INCREASE OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT I DEFINITELY THINK THAT THEY NEED TO UP THEIR GAME WITH REGARDS TO TRAINING.

THERE NEEDS TO BE TRAINING -- WELL, I THINK IT WOULD BE FIRST TO GET A GOOD IDEA TO GET A CLEB, A CITIZEN OVERSIGHT REVIEW COMMITTEE.

IN THE PAST, WE HAVE HAD SOME ISSUES AND THERE DOES NEED TO BE TRAINING WITH REGARDS TO THE BIPOC.

WE'RE NOT ETHICALLY DIVERSE IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY AND I FEEL LIKE THERE'S -- THAT'S GOING TO BE A GAP.

AND OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO BE EDUCATED AND TO BE ABLE TO -- SORRY.

>> THANK YOU.

YOUR ANSWER PLEASE, HUMNATH.

>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION AGAIN.

SO FIRST OF ALL, I KNOW THE RESOURCES AND HAVING RESOURCES, NOT HAVING RESOURCES IS A VERY MINOR THING.

THE CITY OF ARCATA, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, HAD A BIG CUT IN THE BUDGET LAST TIME, BUT HAVING A LOT OF BUDGET DOES NOT HELP THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WE NEED TO LEARN TO OPTIMIZE THE RESOURCES.

WITH THE SAME RESOURCES, WE CAN ACHIEVE A HIGHER GOAL BUT WE NEED MORE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP.

SO WE CAN WORK TOGETHER.

AND ON THE RESOURCES, WE CAN OPTIMIZE.

WE CAN HAVE MORE ACTIVITIES.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CAN SERVE MORE.

DEFINITELY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY, WE CAN RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT QUESTION, WE'LL BEGIN WITH KIMBERLEY.

WHAT STEPS IS ARCATA TAKING OR SHOULD TAKE IN THE FUTURE CONCERNING CONSERVATION INCLUDING LAND, WATER, AND FORESTS?

>> WELL, RIGHT NOW, THE CITY IS INVOLVED IN UPDATING THE GENERAL PLAN AND WE ARE WORKING RIGHT NOW ON OUR CONSERVATION LANDS AND LOOKING BEYOND THE SPHERE OF INFLUENCE AND GETTING INTO THE URBAN AREAS.

I THINK THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE PRESERVE OUR SPACE, GREEN RELEASE TRAILS, AGRICULTURAL LANDS, OPEN SPACE, FORESTS, AND THAT HAS BEEN A PRIORITY FOR THE PEOPLE OF ARCATA.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT DOING INFILL, AND THE REASON THAT WE'VE CHOSEN TO DO THAT IS BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY THAT WE DO PRESERVE OUR OPEN SPACES, OUR AGRICULTURAL LANDS, OUR TRAILS AND THE FOREST.

SO WE'RE DOING THAT RIGHT NOW THROUGH THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

I'M ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION, SO THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT LAST NIGHT AND UPCOMING.

>> THANK YOU.

YOUR ANSWER, PLEASE, EDITH.

>> CAN YOU PLEASE REPEAT THE QUESTION?

>> YES.

WHAT STEPS IS ARCATA TAKING OR SHOULD TAKE IN THE FUTURE CONCERNING CONSERVATION INCLUDING LAND, WATER, AND FORESTS?

>> THANK YOU.

THE CITY OF ARCATA SHOULD TAKE EVERY STEP POSSIBLE TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND THE NATURAL SPLENDOR OF ARCATA.

>> THANK YOU.

YOUR ANSWER, PLEASE, HUMNATH.

>> WELL, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

SO FIRST OF ALL, TO ACHIEVE ANYTHING, WE NEED TO HAVE A MISSION AND VISION.

RIGHT NOW, AS A CITY IN THE CITY OF ARCATA, WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE LONG-TERM VISION AND MISSION FOR LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE CITY PLANNING.

SO FIRST OF ALL, WE NEED TO WORK WITH OUR LONG-TERM GOAL.

I REALLY THINK THAT WE NEED TO WORK WITH A SUSTAINABLE ARCATA CITY AND MAKE PROGRAM POLICIES, PROCEDURES ACCORDINGLY AND WE NEED TO IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT THAT.

SO FIRST OF ALL, TO SUMMARIZE THE ANSWER IS WE NEED TO HAVE A VISION AND WE NEED TO HAVE POLICIES, PROGRAMS, AND PLANS TO IMPLEMENT THAT VISION FOR A SUSTAINABLE ARCATA CITY.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

WE'LL BEGIN THIS QUESTION WITH YOU, HUMNATH.

WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON THE OLD ARCATA ROAD RENEWAL PROJECT IN BAYSIDE?

>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

WELL, I REALLY THINK THAT THAT IS A GREAT PROJECT.

WE NEED TO HAVE MORE OF THESE PROJECTS.

THAT PROJECT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE CITY OF ARCATA.

SO I SUPPORT THAT PROJECT AND ACTUALLY I THINK WE NEED MORE OF THESE PROJECTS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES IN THE CITY OF ARCATA WITH INFRASTRUCTURE.

THEY NEED TO BE DEVELOPED.

THEY NEED TO BE WORKED ON.

SO I THINK WE NEED MORE OF THESE KINDS OF PROJECTS IN THE CITY OF ARCATA.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

YOUR ANSWER, PLEASE, KIMBERLEY.

>> SO ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THE JACOBI CREEK ROUNDABOUT?

I GUESS I NEED A LITTLE BIT OF CLARIFICATION.

>> THE QUESTION IS WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON THE OLD ARCATA ROAD RENEWAL PROJECT IN BAYSIDE.

>> OKAY, YEAH.

SO IT'S ACTUALLY COMING BEFORE LAFCO BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN SOME DIVISION.

SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ADAMANTLY AGAINST THE ROUNDABOUT AND OTHERS ARE FOR IT.

IT'S BEEN BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION SEVERAL TIMES AND WE DID PASS THAT IT WAS GOING TO MOVE FORWARD.

AND SO THAT HAS BEEN THE POSITION OF CITY, STAFF, AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION, BUT WE'LL WAIT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS AT LAFCO.

>> THANK YOU.

YOUR ANSWER, PLEASE, EDITH.

>> MY POSITION ON THE OLD ARCATA ROAD PROJECT IS THAT -- WELL, IT'S ONE OF -- I SUPPORT IT.

IT IS DUE TO PRIMARILY SAFETY CONCERN.

I LIVE ON OLD ARCATA ROAD AND IT IS -- THE CARS, THE TRAFFIC DO NOT -- TYPICALLY DO NOT SLOW DOWN.

IT CAN BE VERY DICEY TO WALK JUST FROM JACOBI STREET SCHOOL TO THE BAYSIDE POST OFFICE AND I THINK THE REPAIR, THE MAINTENANCE OF THE ROAD IS LONG OVERDUE.

AND THAT, COMBINED WITH THE SAFETY ISSUE, WILL DEFINITELY IMPROVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

WE'LL BEGIN WITH YOU, EDITH, FOR THE NEXT QUESTION.

WE'VE HAD SEVERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT HOMELESSNESS, SO WHAT IS YOUR PLAN OR YOUR APPROACH TO THE HOMELESSNESS PROBLEM IN ARCATA?

>> MY PLAN TO THE HOMELESSNESS, HOUSELESSNESS ISSUE IN ARCATA IS ONE OF COMPASSION AND EMPATHY.

I HAVE STATED THIS BEFORE THAT HOUSELESSNESS RARELY OCCURS OVERNIGHT.

THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE LESS ADVANTAGED AND WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT THERE ARE SUPPORT SYSTEMS IN PLACE, THAT THERE ARE ROBUST SUPPORT SYSTEMS IN PLACE FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS TO FIND NOT ONLY THE RESOURCES TO HEAL BUT ALSO TO ENSURE THEIR VERY BASIC NEEDS ARE MET.

AND FROM THERE, WE CAN TAKE ACTION WITH PARTNERING WITH OTHER LOCAL JURISDICTIONS TO FIND A LONG-TERM SOLUTION.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

YOUR ANSWER, PLEASE, HUMNATH.

>> WELL, THE HOMELESSNESS IS ONE OF THE MOST SERIOUS PROBLEMS IN THE CITY OF ARCATA.

SO TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM, WE NEED TO HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

WE NEED TO WORK WITH THE NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES.

WE NEED TO WORK TO CREATE A PLAN.

I MEAN, RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T KNOW THE SITUATION.

WE HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES, BUT WE NEED TO REALLY WORK WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

WE NEED TO WORK WITH THE NEIGHBORING CITIES.

AND WE NEED TO WORK WITH THE LOCAL -- I MEAN, STATE GOVERNMENT AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

WE NEED TO HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

WE NEED TO HAVE A SHELTER AND WE NEED TO TRAIN THESE PEOPLE.

THEY HAVE A LOT OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

SO WE WORK WITH THAT, COUNSELING.

AND WE NEED TO TRAIN THESE PEOPLE, GIVE JOBS TO THESE PEOPLE AND BRING BACK THESE PEOPLE TO THE COMMUNITY.

THAT'S THE LONG-TERM SOLUTION.

SO DEFINITELY WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS, DIFFERENT GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, AND HAVE A LONG-TERM PLAN, A VISION TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM.

THAT'S THE LONG-TERM SOLUTION.

OTHERWISE DOING SMALL THINGS HERE AND THERE, THAT'S NOT GOING TO SOLVE THE HOMELESSNESS PROBLEM IN ARCATA, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

YOUR ANSWER, PLEASE, KIMBERLEY.

>> SO WE HAVE HOMEKEY AND WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED A SAFE PARKING PROGRAM.

PERSONALLY, I FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD HAVE GIVEN APPRECIATE TO SAFE CAMPING.

IF YOU HAD TO CHOOSE BETWEEN ONE OR THE OTHER.

BECAUSE THOSE WHO HAVE AN RV OR VEHICLE DO HAVE A WAY TO GET OUT OF THE ELEMENTS.

I LIVE IN VALLEY WEST AND IT'S INSIDIOUS OUT THERE.

MOST OF THE UNHOUSED COMMUNITY KNOW ME BY NAME, I KNOW THEM BY NAME.

AND THEY ARE PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO STEP UP OUR GAME.

EVERYBODY DESERVES A HOME.

IT'S AN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN HERE EVER SINCE I CAN REMEMBER FOR 30 YEARS AND WE NEED TO START IMPLEMENTING MULTIFACETED -- WE CAN GET CREATIVE.

WE CAN DO ADDITIONAL DWELLING UNITS.

WE CAN RESTORE SOME OF THESE OLDER BUILDINGS.

I FEEL LIKE I'M REALLY NOT INTO THE TENT CITY OR ANY OF THE CAMPING.

WE NEED LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE BEGIN THE NEXT QUESTION WITH YOU, HUMNATH.

WHO HAS ENDORSED YOUR CANDIDACY AND WOULD ANY CAUSE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST?

>> WELL, SO NOBODY HAS ENDORSED MY CANDIDACY.

I JUST WANT TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.

I HAVE EXPERTISE AND I JUST WANT TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

I DON'T HAVE ANY CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

I'M A PROFESSOR.

I TEACH BUSINESS FINANCE AT CAL POLY HUMBOLDT.

SO I DON'T HAVE ANY CONFLICT OF INTEREST OR ENDORSE APPOINT.

I JUST WANT TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

YOUR ANSWER, PLEASE, EDITH.

>> I DO NOT HAVE ANY ENDORSEMENTS AT THIS TIME.

AND THEREFORE, I DO NOT HAVE ANY CONFLICT OF INTEREST BASED ON THAT.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

YOUR ANSWER, PLEASE, KIMBERLEY.

>> SO I HAVE NO CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

IBEEN ENDORSED BY HUMBOLDT COUNTY DEMOCRATS.

IBEEN ENDORSED BY THE HUMBOLDT PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS, THE GREEN PARTY, HUMBOLDT COUNTY CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL.

I'VE BEEN ENDORSED BY ROCKER REDWOOD COALITION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY AND I'VE ALSO BEEN ENDORSED BY HEALTH CARE FOR ALL HUMBOLDT.

I THINK THAT WAS IT, SIX.

SO NO CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

>> THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT QUESTION WE WILL BEGIN WITH YOU, KIMBERLEY.

WHAT IS THE CITY DOING TO ADDRESS SEA LEVEL RISE IN THE NEXT TEN TO 40 YEARS?

DO YOU FEEL THE PLANNING IS SUFFICIENT?

>> SO WE'RE DOING A MEASURED RETREAT.

WE'RE WORKING ON THAT ONGOING.

IT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR OVER A YEAR.

WE ARE UPDATING OUR GENERAL PLAN.

THERE'S SOME CONTROVERSY AS HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS BECAUSE OF OUR WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.

EVERYBODY KNOWS WE'LL BE UPGRADING IT.

SOME FOLKS THINK MAYBE WE SHOULDN'T BE PUTTING RESOURCES INTO AN UPGRADE WHEN IT'S GOING TO BE UNDERWATER IN WHO KNOWS HOW LONG.

AND SO I FEEL LIKE THE CITY IS DOING ENOUGH FOR IT.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, IS PRETTY UNPREDICTABLE.

I PERSONALLY FEEL THAT SEA LEVEL RISE IS GOING TO DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT THE POOR, SO WE REALLY NEED TO HAVE A GAME PLAN.

WE'RE GOING TO START LOOKING FOR SOME GRANTS AND LOOK FOR WAYS TO RELOCATE THOSE.

WHAT WE'RE ALSO DOING IS WE'RE GOING TO NOT BE BUILDING MORE RESIDENTIAL BUT WE'LL BE LOOKING AT PUTTING PARTICULAR BUSINESSES THAT -- IT WOULD BE LESS -- STOP, OKAY, SORRY!

>> THANK YOU.

YOUR ANSWER, PLEASE, HUMNATH.

>> WELL, THIS IS ONE OF THE MAJOR PROBLEMS FOR THE CITIES ON THE SEWER LINE.

SO RIGHT NOW, THE CITY OF ARCATA IS IMPLEMENTING THE PLANS LIKE SEWER LINE, THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT WE REALLY NEED A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM IN THE LONG TERM.

SO FOR ME AND THE FIRST THING WE NEED TO DO IS THE STORMWATER SYSTEM.

WE HAVE THE ONE ESTABLISHED IN THE 1990S TO ADDRESS THE SEA LEVEL RISE PROBLEM.

WE NEED TO BUILD A WALL.

SO WE NEED TO WORK ON THAT.

AND ALSO WE NEED TO GET MORE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FUNDING TO PROTECT OUR CITIES.

AND RIGHT NOW, WE ARE LACKING THAT LONG-TERM PLAN.

WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A LONG-TERM VISION AND PLAN TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

FOR OUR NEXT QUESTION, WE WILL BEGIN WITH YOU, HUMNATH.

WHAT EXPERIENCE DO YOU BRING TO THE TABLE THAT MAKES YOU THE BEST PERSON ON THE JOB?

I'M SORRY, I MISSED YOU, ALL RIGHT.

YES, EDITH, WOULD YOU -- DID YOU WANT ME TO REPEAT IT?

WHO HAS ENDORSED YOUR -- NO, THAT'S NOT THE RIGHT ONE.

THE SEA LEVEL ONE, YES.

I LOST IT, SORRY.

WHAT IS THE CITY DOING FOR SEA LEVEL FOR THE NEXT -- SEA LEVEL RISE IN THE NEXT TEN TO 40 YEARS.

DO YOU FEEL THE PLANNING IS SUFFICIENT?

>> SURE, THANK YOU.

I THINK THAT REGARDING SEA LEVEL RISE, OUR ACTIONS AS A CITY NEED TO BE PRIORITIZED.

THEY NEED TO BE URGENT.

IN ADDITION TO WHAT'S ALREADY BEING DONE, PRIORITIZING THE RELOCATION AND THE RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROTECTING OUR CITY.

>> THANK YOU.

EDITH, WE WILL BEGIN WITH YOU FOR THE NEXT QUESTION.

WHAT EXPERIENCE DO YOU BRING TO THE TABLE THAT MAKES YOU THE BEST PERSON FOR THE JOB?

>> WHAT EXPERIENCE DO I BRING TO THE TABLE THAT MAKES ME THE BEST PERSON FOR THE JOB?

WELL, I HAVE AN MBA FROM NOW CAL POLY HUMBOLDT.

I'VE WORKED IN FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT, IMPORT AT LOCAL COMPANIES.

I'VE OWNED MY OWN CONSULTING BUSINESS AND I'VE WORKED FOR THE CITY OF ARCATA.

I HAVE A KEEN BUSINESS ACUMEN.

I HAVE A SINCERE, GENUINE NATURE.

I HAVE AN INCREDIBLE ANALYTICAL MIND AND AN OPEN HEART.

AND THESE THINGS ARE WHAT MAKE ME THE BEST CANDIDATE FOR ARCATA CITY COUNCIL.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

YOUR ANSWER, PLEASE, KIMBERLEY.

>> SO I'M A 30-YEAR RESIDENT.

I HAVE A MASTERS IN SOCIOLOGY FROM CAL POLY HUMBOLDT.

I HAVE A HEART FOR PUBLIC SERVICE, WHICH IS WHY I BECAME A PLANNING COMMISSIONER.

MY PASSION IS HOUSING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND THE UNHOUSED, FINDING LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT.

AND I'VE BEEN SERVING ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR THREE YEARS AND I FEEL LIKE I'M READY FOR THE NEXT STEP.

I'M A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER, COMMUNITY ADVOCATE.

I WORK FOR A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, COOPERATION HUMBOLDT, SO I AM IN THE COMMUNITY AND I'M READY TO LISTEN AND I ATTEND ALL THE MEETINGS.

I ATTEND COMMITTEES.

I'M ACTIVE IN MY COMMUNITY.

AND HONESTLY, I FEEL LIKE I'VE DONE MY TIME AND I'M READY TO SERVE ARCATA AND HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.

I HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH ALL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, SO YEP.

>> THANK YOU.

YOUR ANSWER, PLEASE, HUMNATH.

>> WELL, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

LET ME START WITH MY QUALIFICATIONS.

I FINISHED MY PhD IN FINANCE WITH REAL ESTATE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ARLINGTON.

I'M AN EDUCATOR.

I STARTED MY CAREER AS A HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER.

I HAVE BEEN TEACHING IN COLLEGE FOR A LONG TIME, SO I TEACH FINANCE.

SO BASICALLY I WORK FOR THE GOVERNMENT FOR FIVE, SIX YEARS, SO I KNOW THE POLICIES, PLANS, PROGRAMS.

I WORKED FOR A COMPANY AS A CONTROLLER, CFO, SO COMBINING ALL OF THESE QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERTISE, I CAN BRING A LOT OF THINGS TO THE TABLE.

I DON'T HAVE TO RELY ONLY ON STAFF.

MAKING POLICIES, PROGRAMS, PLANS, FINANCE, ACCOUNTING, AND ANALYTICS, ALL OF THIS, I CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE CITY OF ARCATA.

I SEE A LOT OF TIMES THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH ALL THESE SKILLS AND I'M THE ONE THAT CAN BRING THAT TO THE TABLE.

THE SECOND THING IS HONESTY.

I'M NOT A POLITICIAN.

I'M AN EDUCATOR.

I WANT TO CHANGE THE PEOPLE'S LIVES THROUGH EDUCATION, SO I THINK THAT ALL THESE QUALITIES MAKE ME THE BEST CANDIDATE FOR THIS POSITION, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT QUESTION, WE WILL BEGIN WITH YOU KIMBERLEY.

HOW WILL LIFE PLAN HUMBOLDT IMPACT HEALTH CARE OR ARCATA?

>> I FEEL LIKE EVERYBODY DESERVES QUALITY HEALTH CARE, AND THE QUALITY OF ONE'S HEALTH CARE SHOULD NOT BE DICTATED BY THE SIZE OF ONE'S POCKETBOOK.

WE HAVE RIGHT NOW -- NOBODY CAN FIND A HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER.

AND WE REALLY NEED TO STEP UP OUR GAME IN TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO ATTRACT.

AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS WE'VE LOST A LOT OF NURSES FROM ST. JOSEPH HEALTH SYSTEM BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T FIND HOUSING.

SO I THINK IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ALONE, BUT WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT HOLISTICALLY AND CREATE HOUSING FOR PRACTITIONERS.

WE NEED TO FIND WAYS TO ATTRACT THEM.

I DON'T KNOW WHY ANYBODY WOULDN'T WANT TO LIVE HERE, NESTLED IN THE REDWOODS ON THE COAST.

BUT, YEAH, WITH THE EXPANSION OF CAL POLY HUMBOLDT, WE DEFINITELY NEED TO STEP UP OUR GAME AND CREATE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HEALTH CARE AND EQUITY FOR ALL.

>> THANK YOU.

YOUR ANSWER, PLEASE, EDITH.

>> I THINK THE FOCUS NEEDS TO BE ON ATTRACTING AND RETAINING THE HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS BY WAY OF ROBUST SUPPORT SYSTEMS AND ALSO ENSURING THAT THE GRADUATES FROM CAL POLY HUMBOLDT COULD BE PLACED LOCALLY, POTENTIALLY PLACED LOCALLY IF THAT IS THEIR CHOICE SO THAT THEY CAN MOVE FORWARD AND SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY THAT THEY HAVE ATTENDED SCHOOL AT, SO THOSE SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR THE HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS ARE WHAT WILL HOPEFULLY RETRACT AND RETAIN THEM.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

YOUR ANSWER, PLEASE, HUMNATH.

>> CAN YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION, PLEASE?

>> HOW WILL LIFE PLAN HUMBOLDT IMPACT HEALTH CARE OF ARCATA?

>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

SO HEALTH CARE IS A MAJOR ISSUE.

WHEN I MOVED OVER HERE, I COULD NOT FIND A DOCTOR FOR TWO YEARS.

SO A LOT OF TIME WE TALK ABOUT HOW GREAT WE ARE.

HAVE WE REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT HOW GREAT WE ARE IN TERMS OF DIFFERENT ASPECTS?

HIGH DON'T PEOPLE STAY HERE.

WHY DO THEY COME HERE AND LEAVE IN SIX MONTHS?

MY DENTIST LEFT IN SIX MONTHS.

SO WE NEED TO REALLY WORK WITH WHAT WE HAVE.

IT'S ALL ABOUT DEMAND AND SUPPLY.

I'M AN ECONOMIST, SO I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO WORK MORE TO MAKING THIS PLACE FOR THIS SUSTAINABLE FOR ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE.

WE NEED TO ATTRACT MORE PEOPLE.

FOR THAT, WE NEED TO HAVE THE FACILITIES, MORE RESOURCES.

WE NEED TO HAVE GOOD SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

SO ALL OF THIS COMBINING TOGETHER CAN SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.

SO HEALTH CARE PROBLEM COULD BE RESOLVED WITH THE QUALIFIED PEOPLE IN THE HEALTH CARE AND IT'S A SERIOUS PROBLEM.

WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER WITH ALL THE CITIES.

WHAT ARE THE LACKING THINGS THAT ARE STOPPING THE GOOD CANDIDATES FROM BEING HERE?

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT QUESTION, WE'LL BEGIN WITH YOU, EDITH.

WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON THE EXISTING LIBRARY AND SHOULD IT BE EXPANDED OR SHOULD THIS THERA NEW ONE?

>> MY OPINION OF THE EXISTING LIBRARY?

WELL, I LOVE IT.

I LOVE TO READ.

AND DO I THINK THAT THE CITY OF ARCATA COULD BENEFIT FROM AN UPGRADE AND POTENTIAL RELOCATION OF OUR LIBRARY?

100% YES.

THAT WOULD OFFER US A CHANCE TO EXPAND THE OFFERINGS OF THE LIBRARY AND MAYBE EVEN INCLUDE SOME COMMUNITY EVENTS THERE AS WELL.

>> THANK YOU.

HUMNATH, YOUR ANSWER, PLEASE.

>> COULD YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION, PLEASE?

>> WHAT IS YOUR OPINION OF THE EXISTING LIBRARY AND SHOULD IT BE EXPANDED OR A NEW ONE BUILT?

>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

THE LIBRARY IS THE PLACE WHERE OUR CHILDREN LEARN A LOT OF THINGS.

MY CHILDREN COULD GET ANY BOOKS WHEN THEY WANTED WHEN I WAS IN A BIGGER CITY.

MOVED TO HUMBOLDT, CONSTRAINED, WITH VERY FEW RESOURCES.

SO RATHER THAN REPLACING, I JUST REALLY WANT TO EXPAND OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM.

WE HAVE MORE BOOKS, MORE RESOURCES, INTER-LIBRARY LOAN.

REALLY, IT'S A SERIOUS ISSUE.

I HAVE TWO CHILDREN AND THEY NEED BOOKS AND THERE'S NO BOOKS AVAILABLE AND MY CHILDREN HAVE READ ALL THE BOOKS THEY HAVE RIGHT NOW IN THE PREVIOUS PLACE I MOVED FROM, SO I REALLY WANT TO PUT MORE FUNDING AND SUPPORT OUR CURRENT LIBRARY SYSTEM, BUT WE NEED TO EXPAND THEM RATHER THAN REPLACING, BECAUSE REPLACING COSTS ADDITIONAL MONEY.

WE CAN USE THAT MONEY TO EXPAND THE RESOURCES FOR OUR CURRENT LIBRARY SYSTEM.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

YOUR ANSWER, PLEASE, KIMBERLEY.

>> SO IN THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC IN 2020, THERE WAS SOME MAJOR CUTS WITH PUBLIC LIBRARIES.

WE NEED TO STEP UP AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

RIGHT NOW I USE CAL POLY HUMBOLDT BECAUSE THEY HAVE A PRETTY EXTENSIVE LIBRARY.

I THINK WE CAN GET REALLY CREATIVE.

I DEFINITELY AM FOR EXPANDING AND RELOCATING AND GETTING A BIGGER LIBRARY.

ON MARCH 15TH OF THIS YEAR, PRESIDENT BIDEN JUST SIGNED ANOTHER REFERENDUM TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIES, AND THERE'S MONEY OUT THERE.

WE NEED TO FIND IT.

WE NEED TO HAVE SOMEBODY DESIGNATED FOR THE CITY OF ARCATA FOR GRANT WRITING TO LOOK AT FIND WAYS TO DO THIS.

WE CAN GET CREATIVE BY HOLDING LOCAL AUTHOR -- TO BRING BUSINESSES IN, LOCAL AUTHORS, CAF ÉS, EATERIES.

GO LOOK AND SEE HA OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE DOING AND JUST CAPITALIZE THAT AND WE CAN DO FUN RUNS, BOOK HALL OF FAME, WALL OF FAME, BRICKS, GET BUSINESSES, GET EVERYBODY EXCITED ABOUT THESE READ-A-THONS, ET CETERA.

>> THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT QUESTION, WE'LL BEGIN WITH YOU, HUMNATH.

WE'VE HAD SEVERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CHANGES AND THE EXPANSION AT CAL POLY HUMBOLDT.

FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT ARE YOUR MAJOR CONCERNS?

ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THE BUDGET, THE POLICING, AND SO FORTH?

>> WELL, ONE OF THE MAJOR CONCERNS FOR ME EXPANDING CAL POLY HUMBOLDT, WE'LL HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING IN, THE FAMILY, SO RIGHT NOW, ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS THE HOUSING CRISIS, SO WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER WITH CAL POLY HUMBOLDT AND IDENTIFY PLACES TO BUILD MORE HOUSES, SO ABOUT WORKING WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHILE CAL POLY HUMBOLDT HAS A POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO RESOLVE ALL THESE PROBLEMS.

SO THE RESOURCE CONSTRAINT IS ONE OF THE ISSUES PEOPLE ALWAYS BRING TO THE TABLE, BUT WE NEED TO OPTIMIZE THE RESOURCES OF WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW AND WE CAN WORK TOGETHER.

WE CAN WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY, BUILD A PARTNERSHIP AND CAN RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM.

SO RATHER THAN HAVING MORE RESOURCES, LET'S WORK TOGETHER.

>> THANK YOU.

YOUR ANSWER, PLEASE, KIMBERLEY.

>> SO WE HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES THAT WE WILL NEED TO ADDRESS AS CAL POLY HUMBOLDT EXPANDS AS A PRIOR SPEAKER SAID.

HOUSING IS GOING TO BE A BIG ISSUE, AND, OF COURSE, EVERYONE KNOWS THAT WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF THE GATEWAY PLAN WHICH IS CONTROVERSIAL.

INFRASTRUCTURE, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE CAN SUPPORT IT.

OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, OUR WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, OUR ROADS.

WE NEED TO ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ADEQUATE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS AS WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.

LAW ENFORCEMENT NEEDS TO ABSOLUTELY GET MORE TRAINING AND LEARN MORE ABOUT ETHNIC DIVERSITY.

IN PARTICULAR, I FEEL LIKE WE REALLY NEED TO DEEPEN OUR CONNECTIONS AND OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH CAL POLY HUMBOLDT, BE MORE COLLABORATIVE.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THE CRAFTSMEN MALL HOUSING COMPLEX AND I REALLY HOPE THAT WE CAN COLLABORATE, THE CITY, WITH CAL POLY HUMBOLDT AND THE MOST IMPORTANT IS WE NEED TO DEEPEN OUR CONNECTIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH CAL POLY HUMBOLDT.

>> THANK YOU.

YOUR ANSWER, PLEASE, EDITH.

>> THANK YOU.

YES, THAT'S A VERY GREAT ANSWER, KIMBERLEY, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I BELIEVE THAT IF THE CITY DOESN'T TAKE ACTIONS TO MOVE FORWARD IN PREPARING FOR THE INCREASE IN GROWTH THAT CAL POLY HUMBOLDT WILL BRING TO ARCATA, IT WILL JUST FURTHER EXACERBATE THE CURRENT ISSUES WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH FOR YEARS.

AND SO ENSURING THAT WE HAVE ROBUST SUPPORT SYSTEMS IN PLACE, THAT WE HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS REALLY GOING TO MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE IN THIS SMALL TOWN.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT QUESTION, WE WILL BEGIN WITH YOU, HUMNATH.

DO YOU SUPPORT BUILDINGS THAT ARE MORE THAN FOUR STORIES HIGH, THE PRESENT REGULATION?

>> WELL, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

WE HAVE RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS.

EXCUSE ME.

SO I SUPPORT THAT IDEA, BUILDING MORE THAN FOUR STORIES, BECAUSE WE NEED TO HAVE MORE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO SUPPORT GROWTH.

SO I SUPPORT BUILDING MORE HOUSES MORE THAN FOUR STORIES.

EXCUSE ME.

[ COUGHING ] >> SORRY ABOUT THAT, MY THROAT WAS STUCK.

SO, YEAH, I SUPPORT THAT IDEA OF BUILDING THE HOUSES MORE THAN FOUR STORIES, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

YOUR ANSWER, EDITH.

>> DO I SUPPORT BUILDINGS OVER FOUR STORIES HIGH IN ARCATA?

THE SHORT ANSWER IS NO, I DON'T THINK I SUPPORT THAT.

IT DOES NOT SEEM -- WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO ENSURE THAT BUILDINGS THAT ARE PROPOSED IN ARCATA CITY LIMITS ARE COHESIVE WITH THE ESTHETICS OF OUR TOWN AS WELL AS SOUND AND ENGINEERING ESPECIALLY REGARDING WE LIVE IN EARTHQUAKE COUNTRY AND WE ARE PREPARING FOR A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT SEA LEVEL RISE.

SO FOR THAT REASON, FOR THOSE REASONS, I WOULD STICK TO FOUR STORIES MAX.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

YOUR ANSWER, PLEASE, KIMBERLEY.

>> SO AS EDITH SAID, WE NEED TO REALLY LOOK AT WHETHER WE CAN SUPPORT THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF A FOUR-STORY OR ABOVE BUILDING.

WE HAVE CURRENTLY FOUR STORIES.

THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT GOING UP TO EIGHT STORIES WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM, I GUESS, IS WHAT'S GOING ON.

SO NO, I DON'T.

IT WILL DEFINITELY CHANGE THE FLAVOR OF ARCATA.

I THINK THAT WE CAN MEET THE HOUSING NEEDS WITHOUT GOING TO EIGHT STORIES.

USED TO BEYOU KNOW WHAT, LET MEE THAT.

I THINK FOUR STORIES IS WHAT WE HAVE, I THINK WE NEED TO MEET SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE EIGHT AND OBVIOUSLY WE DO NEED TO ADDRESS THIS HOUSING CRISIS, SO I THINK THAT WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT IS THAT WE ASK THE PEOPLE HA THEY WANT.

IT'S REALLY NOT IMPORTANT WHAT I WANT BUT WHAT OUR CONSTITUENTS WANT AND WHAT I'M HEARING FROM THE CONSTITUENTS IS THEY DON'T WANT EIGHT STORIES.

I THINK THAT WE ALL WANT THE SAME THING.

WE WANT TO INCREASE HOUSING AND I THINK WE CAN MEET SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN.

>> THANK YOU.

WE'LL BEGIN WITH YOU, KIMBERLEY, WITH THIS QUESTION.

PARKING IS VERY DIFFICULT IN THE CITY.

DO YOU HAVE IDEAS TO HELP ALLEVIATE THIS PROBLEM?

>> YES, GET RID OF OUR CARS!

NO, SERIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, WHEN I SAY GET RID OF OUR CARS, IDEALLY WE DO NEED TO START THINKING ABOUT WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO.

I THINK THAT WE CAN MAKE OUR STREETS WALKABLE.

I THINK THAT ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE MIGHT DO IT IS TO LOOK AT OUR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.

RIGHT NOW, STARTING THIS SUMMER, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FREE FOR MUD RIVER TRANSIT, IT WILL BE FREE TO RIDE THE BUS.

I DID RIDE THE BUS FOR A WHILE.

I WENT BACK TO CAL POLY HUMBOLDT AND THOUGHT I WOULD PARK MY CAR BECAUSE THERE WASN'T ANY PARKING.

IF YOU BOUGHT A PERMIT, IT WAS A LICENSE TO HUNT FOR ONE.

I SPENT SO MUCH TIME WAITING FOR THE NEXT BUS, IT WASN'T CONVENIENT.

IF WE WANT PEOPLE TO PARK THEIR CARS, WE NEED TO INCREASE OUR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.

I THINK THAT WE CAN -- WE HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS AND ONE OF THE WAYS IS TO GET SOME ELECTRIC BIKES OUT THERE, MAKE OUR CITIES WALKABLE AND I GUESS I GOTTA STOP.

>> THANK YOU.

HUMNATH, YOUR ANSWER, PLEASE.

>> WELL, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

SO HOW TO SOLVE THIS PARKING PROBLEM, I BELIEVE BUILDING MORE BIKE-FRIENDLY ROADS, THAT'S GOING TO BE ONE SOLUTION.

MORE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

AND ALSO THE WALKABLE STREETS.

SO WE ARE A SMALL TOWN, SO WE CAN REALLY RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I'D LIKE TO MENTION HERE IS WE CAN HAVE PARKING OUTSIDE THE CITY.

WE CAN WORK WITH OUR NEIGHBORING CITIES AND THEN WE CAN HAVE THE REGULAR BUS SERVICE IN BETWEEN FROM CAL POLY HUMBOLDT TO THOSE LOCATIONS SO THAT WAY WE CAN RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM.

IT'S A PROBLEM, SO A LOT OF TIMES YOU CAN'T FORCE PEOPLE TO WALK OR RIDE BIKES, BUT WE CAN BUILD PARKING OUTSIDE THE CITY AND HAVE FREQUENT CONNECTING BUS SERVICES TO THE MIDDLE, LET'S SAY CITY OF ARCATA OR CAL POLY HUMBOLDT SO WE CAN RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM.

>> YOUR ANSWER, PLEASE, EDITH.

>> THANK YOU.

IN ADDITION TO MORE WALKABLE ROADS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE WORK TO REDUCE OUR DEPENDENCY ON OUR CARS AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A PRETTY HUGE CULTURE SHIFT FOR OUR TOWN AND IN OTHER TOWNS THAT SURROUND US.

SO I THINK PERHAPS USING INCENTIVES TO USE THESE ALTERNATIVE MODES OF TRANSPORTATION INCLUDING OUR OWN TWO FEET WOULD REALLY HELP TO SHIFT OUR DEPENDENCY ON CARS.

>> THANK YOU.

WE BEGIN WITH YOU, EDITH.

THIS IS OUR LAST QUESTION.

HOW DO YOU SEE THE GATEWAY PLAN IMPACTING THE CITY OF ARCATA?

GOOD, BAD, WHATEVER?

>> HOW DO I SEE THE GATEWAY AREA PLAN IMPACTING THE CITY OF ARCATA?

WELL, I SEE IT FROM THIS POINT OF VIEW, I SEE IT AS IMPACTING THE CITY ON A MIXED LEVEL.

AND THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, BECAUSE IT WOULD REALLY HELP US TO CONSIDER WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE MORE OF, ESPECIALLY IN A PLAN THAT ROBUST AND THAT COMPREHENSIVE IS CONTINGENCY PLANNING.

I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A PLAN OF THIS NATURE, OF THIS SIZE, THAT WE THINK THROUGH RISKS, THAT WE THINK THROUGH CONSEQUENCES, WHETHER THEY'RE INTENDED OR UNINTENDED, AND THAT WOULD REALLY BEHOOVE US TO THINK DEEPER ABOUT THE PLAN ON MANY LEVELS.

>> THANK YOU.

KIMBERLEY, YOUR ANSWER, PLEASE.

>> COULD YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION?

>> HOW DO YOU SEE THE GATEWAY PLAN IMPACTING THE CITY OF ARCATA?

GOOD, BAD, WHATEVER?

>> OR INDIFFERENT?

NO.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO AFFECT ARCATA IN A HUGE WAY AND IT'S NOT JUST NOW, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE FOREVER.

SO WE NEED TO GO SLOW.

WE NEED TO BE THOUGHTFUL.

WE NEED TO INCLUDE ALL VOICES.

IN PARTICULAR, WE NEED TO BRING IN THOSE VOICES THAT ARE NOT TRADITIONALLY WEIGHING IN.

WE NEED TO LOOK AT FOLKS WHO SPEAK SPANISH.

WE NEED TO GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY.

AND I KNOW THAT THE STAFF IS WORKING REALLY HARD AND GOING INTO THE COMMUNITY.

WE'LL COME TO YOU.

BUT I THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO RUSH IT.

I THINK THAT WE ALSO NEED TO BE CAREFUL THAT IT DOESN'T TEAR A COMMUNITY APART.

I KNOW THAT IT'S BECOMING REALLY DIVISIVE AND THAT'S WHAT HURTS THE MOST IS I'M AFRAID THAT IT BREAKS MY HEART TO SEE NEIGHBORS THAT ARE COMING AGAINST EACH OTHER OVER THIS.

AND I DON'T THINK IT HAS TO BE THAT WAY.

I THINK WE ALL HAVE THE SAME INTENTION OF CREATING HOUSING.

I THINK THAT WE JUST NEED TO COME TOGETHER AND JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE INCLUDE ALL VOICES.

>> THANK YOU.

YOUR ANSWER, PLEASE, HUMNATH.

>> WELL, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

SO I REALLY SUPPORT THE GATEWAY PLAN, BUT WE NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL.

I WORK ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AS A VICE CHAIR.

WE HAD LONG CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CITY AND ARCATA.

THEY HAVE A LOT OF CONCERN.

WE NEED TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS AND BE VERY TACTFUL IN WORKING ON THIS PLAN.

WE NEED TO HAVE LONG-TERM VISION.

OUR CITIZENS, THEY HAVE CONCERNS THAT IT'S BRINGING LOW-END BUSINESS AND NOT HAVE ANY POSITIVE IMPACT, SO DEFINITELY THE GATEWAY PLAN WILL HAVE POSITIVE IMPACTS, BUT WE NEED TO THINK MORE.

WE NEED TO TALK TO THE COMMUNITY.

WE NEED TO HAVE MORE COMPREHENSIVE RESEARCH ON THIS GATEWAY PLAN.

AND WE CAN MAKE IT BETTER.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

IT IS NOW TIME FOR YOUR CLOSING STATEMENT, KIMBERLEY.

>> SO I'VE LIVED IN ARCATA FOR 30 YEAR.

I'M A MOTHER.

I'M ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

I'M A COMMUNITY ADVOCATE.

I HAVE A PASSION FOR HOUSING, A PASSION FOR SERVING.

I HAVE A PASSION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THE UNHOUSED.

I COME FROM -- SORRY!

I GUESS I BRING TO THE TABLE THAT I GET INTO THE TRENCHES AND I TALK TO THE PEOPLE.

I'M NOT A POLITICIAN.

I HAVE NOT MISSED A CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

I AM ABOUT ALL THINGS ARCATA.

AND I DON'T WANT TO PRETEND THAT I KNOW EVERYTHING, BECAUSE I DON'T, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT I WILL LISTEN AND I WILL LEARN AND I WILL RESEARCH AND I WILL LISTEN TO THE CONSTITUENTS AND I WILL NOT BE A RUBBER STAMP PERSON.

I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO BE MORE EQUITABLE.

I AM RUNNING TO BE A VOICE FOR THOSE WHO TRADITIONALLY DON'T HAVE A VOICE.

I LOVE CAL POLY HUMBOLDT AND I FEEL LIKE IT'S AN UNTAPPED RESOURCE AND WE USED TO BE REALLY CREATIVE.

ARCATA WAS CUTTING EDGE.

WE NEED TO GET BACK THERE.

AND I KNOW THAT WE CAN.

AND IF ELECTED, I WILL DO MY BEST TO DO THAT, TO GET US BACK TO WHERE WE USED TO BE.

THE ARCATA THAT WE ALL -- THE REASON WE LIVE HERE NESTLED IN THE REDWOODS ON THE COAST, THE PLACE THAT WE CALL HOME.

AND FINALLY, I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE ARE ON THE TRADITIONAL LAND OF THE (WORD OR NAME NOT RECOGNIZED) PEOPLE WHICH MEANS OVER IN THE WOODS.

AND I JUST WANT TO THANK THEM FOR STEWARDING THIS LAND AND I GUESS MY TIME NOW IS UP!

>> THANK YOU.

YOUR CLOSING STATEMENT, PLEASE, EDITH.

>> FIRST I'D LIKE TO THANK KEET-TV AND THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I MOVED TO ARCATA OVER 21 YEARS AGO AS A SINGLE MOTHER TO RAISE MY TWO DAUGHTERS IN A SAFE, HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT AND TO FURTHER MY EDUCATION.

WITH THE SUPPORT OF THIS WONDERFUL COMMUNITY, I'VE ACCOMPLISHED THAT AND SO MUCH MORE.

AND SO NOW IT'S TIME TO GIVE BACK.

THAT'S A BIG PIECE FOR ME, GIVING BACK.

I BRING OR I STAND FOR A SAFE AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY.

I STAND FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH THROUGH THOUGHTFUL PLANNING.

I STAND FOR A THRIVING ECONOMY.

YES, WE CAN HAVE ALL THREE THINGS CONCURRENTLY.

I BRING A FRESH PERSPECTIVE TO OUR COMMUNITY, OUR FUTURE, ARCATA, OUR HOME.

I'D BE HONORED TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

YOUR CLOSING STATEMENT, PLEASE, HUMNATH.

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU, LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AND KEET-TV FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES.

WE HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES.

BUT I HAVE EXPERTISE, BUT LET ME START WITH AN HONEST ANSWER.

IF SOMEBODY ASKS ME A QUESTION, IF I'M AN EXPERT, I'LL ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

IF I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER, I'LL FIND AN ANSWER AND HELP THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE THE ANSWER BUT I WON'T SAY NO.

A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE ARE NOT WILLING TO DO THAT.

I WILL NOT SAY NO.

I'M HERE TO SUPPORT PEOPLE.

I HAVE EXPERTISE AND QUALIFICATIONS IN FINANCE, ADMINISTRATION, PUBLIC POLICIES, PLANNING, BUDGETING, ECONOMIC, FINANCE, AND ALSO I'M AN ECONOMIST.

I KNOW RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS ARE A PROBLEM.

SO WE HAVE RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS.

I CAN OPTIMIZE THE RESOURCES FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE CITY.

THEREFORE, I THINK I CAN BRING A LOT TO THE CITY.

I'VE NOT BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME.

I CAME TO CAL POLY HUMBOLDT IN FALL 2019.

MY OBJECTIVE IS TO MAKE MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTION TO PEOPLE'S LIVES THROUGH FINANCIAL EDUCATION.

PEOPLE TALK ABOUT DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION, BUT IN REAL LIFE, WITHOUT HELPING PEOPLE TO BE FINANCIALLY WELL IS NOT POSSIBLE, SO I HAVE A PLAN TO HAVE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS TO GO TO HIGH SCHOOL AND EDUCATE CHILDREN.

SO I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY THROUGH DIFFERENT THINGS.

I DON'T KNOW, A LOT OF THINGS, I DON'T WANT TO LIE, BUT I KEEP EXPLORING.

I'M EXPLORING ABOUT ARCATA.

I WANT TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTION IN THE CITY OF ARCATA.

THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.

SO I'M HERE, PLEASE SUPPORT ME, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

THAT CONCLUDES TONIGHT'S PROGRAM.

THERE WILL BE ONE MORE FORUM ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT, JUNE THE 1ST, FOR THE JUDGES, THE JUDGE POSITION.

I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR CALLING IN YOUR QUESTIONS, THANK THE CANDIDATES FOR BEING HERE, THANK YOU TO OUR AUDIENCE FOR PAYING ATTENTION AND VOTING AFTER YOU LEARN SOMETHING ABOUT THE CANDIDATES.

THANK YOU ALL.

BE SURE TO RETURN YOUR VOTE, YOUR BALLOT, BEFORE JUNE 7TH.

VOTE IN PERSON ON JUNE 7TH.

THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT.

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