The Arcata City Council on Oct. 1 authorized up to $300,000 to retain SmithGroup Inc. for planning, community outreach and preliminary concept design work for the Reconnect Arcata project, a multi-zone effort to reconnect neighborhoods divided by state highways.

Council and staff said the smaller local investment aims to preserve momentum on a project that originally sought much larger state funding, and to position the city to compete for future grants.

Staff told the council Reconnect Arcata grew out of the state Reconnecting Communities Highway-to-Boulevard program. The program originally contemplated a large grant for a cap over the highway in front of Cal Poly Humboldt and downtown Arcata; staff said available state funding was cut repeatedly and the city’s internal planning ask was reduced from about $3,000,000 to $500,000 and then to $300,000. The city also noted separate grant opportunities it is still pursuing, including the federal Safe Streets for All program and a Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant with a November 21 deadline.

In discussion, council members and public speakers repeatedly urged focusing early planning on Valley West, a neighborhood residents described as isolated by two highways and served by many seniors, low-income residents and people without vehicles. Councilmember White said Valley West is “arguably the neighborhood most affected” and urged directing initial work to non-vehicular connections and community-driven planning. Councilmember Atkins Salazar likewise urged preserving momentum, saying seed funding can help attract larger awards later.

Several council members and staff acknowledged the city’s fiscal constraints. The finance director told the council the general fund’s unreserved balance is roughly $9.9 million but cautioned the figure is one-time money that will be needed for other priorities and that spending it reduces the pool for ongoing or emergency needs.

Council members asked staff to pursue cost-sharing with partners. Staff confirmed Caltrans has no discretionary funds available and said the city would contact Cal Poly Humboldt to explore contributions. Staff also said South Arcata and Sunset Avenue planning work already done would be folded into the larger Reconnect Arcata planning effort to reduce duplication.

After debate over scope and cost, the council moved to authorize staff to contract with SmithGroup with a not-to-exceed amount of $300,000 and to return to council with a detailed scope of work and a final scope/fee for council review. The motion passed on a voice vote.

Why it matters: City leaders framed the $300,000 as seed money intended to preserve the city’s eligibility for future state and federal planning grants and to keep public engagement and consultant work underway so Arcata is ready if larger construction funding becomes available.

What’s next: Staff will prepare a detailed scope of work aligned to the $300,000 budget, seek potential contributions from Cal Poly Humboldt, continue pursuing the Safe Streets for All and Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant opportunities, and return to council for final scope approval.