How to Serve on the City Council

The Arcata City Council is composed of five members elected at large by the registered voters 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.
June 2016 Arcata City Council

Candidate Requirements:

To be appointed to the Arcata City Council, one must:

  • Be at least 18 years of age
  • Be a registered voter, registered at and residing at an address within the city limits of Arcata.
  • Prospective candidates must gather a minimum of 20, and not more than 30, signatures of voters registered at an address within the city limits of Arcata
  • Write-in candidate nomination papers for the open City Council seats are available by appointment from Monday, September 12, 2022, through Tuesday, October 25, 2022. Issuance of write-in candidate nomination papers can take up to an hour and appointments are required. To make an appointment, please call (707) 822-5953.
  • Example write-in candidate nomination papers can be viewed here.
  • The FPPC Campaign Manual can be viewed here.

Fair Political Practices Commission Forms 

Under the Political Reform Act administered by the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC), City Clerks are the local Filing Officers for their cities. The Filing Officer is the person who receives and retains original Statements of Economic Interests (FPPC Form 700) and pre-election campaign statements for candidates and ballot measures.

Information on how and when to file FPPC forms, and the forms themselves can be found at the Fair Political Practices Commission's website. For information regarding completion of the forms, please call the FPPC's advice line at 1-866-ASK-FPPC (866-275-3772).