[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6121283,"mediaKeyId","2703235-f7573545c44d65dc5a1be100d37d5a55","parentId",2703235,"title","Fortuna approves Jacobs amendment for wastewater NPDES compliance design; project timeline aims for 2027 regulatory deadline","audioSeconds",1401,"startMs",2854000,"endMs",4255000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2703235-f7573545c44d65dc5a1be100d37d5a55&start=2854&end=4255","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2703235-f7573545c44d65dc5a1be100d37d5a55/thumbnail_2854000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6121283/Fortuna-City/Humboldt-County/California/Fortuna-approves-Jacobs-amendment-for-wastewater-NPDES-compliance-design-project-timeline-aims-for-2027-regulatory-deadline","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6121283-d728296e8d9ad9df9ed2241cb0f255fc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203451&Signature=NQmv6A-9zOzOlNmFurqgM6JrPyZDM9tKKPSXr0C2cHkZwcMIai7JIIwjzjjyIPIrtCPSc6a~AbfzvL1LUXwJ6oZh9sdLg-QjzG7~~5tbLwCUEPdEdV6UKV~a667e3dnRc9tK3Fm5bupDuzxb0brUpHGnekoPd1jKDRGplkoKyTI9g7f7gv2CpxM88JMu5g-sJXyi3J~p25CpeuRVlZNdNH4YDX9jNZWV9o-lprD1JMG6raa3nhxm9g0ZZt7h5Z22vm4PvYl2mfmIR4VMuctVXQYKfXhWY0xDSVztpZK8Zy8flrCOPzh93wdcrOqaxW0d7JT1eBMm~6MdWj5oYJiyJQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Fortuna CA","date","2025-03-18T14:42:14Z","article","The Fortuna City Council on Monday authorized the city manager to execute a professional‑services contract amendment with Jacobs Engineering for the city’s NPDES compliance project, approving an amendment of $1,829,722 and establishing a contract not to exceed $4,900,000 to complete engineering and support services for treatment‑plant upgrades.

Bridal Bird, Fortuna public works director and city engineer, told the council the Pacific Northwest–style activated‑sludge treatment plant must meet regulatory demands that include reduced nitrogen limits and limits on connectivity to surface waters during the discharge prohibition period. Bird said the city received two regulatory orders in 2017 — a time‑schedule order and an NPDES compliance schedule — that drive the work. Bird said the city has pursued alternatives over the past five years and is now focusing design work at the existing treatment plant while pursuing a triennial‑review process that could allow continued use of the city’s percolation ponds.

Bird described the plant as a conventional secondary activated‑sludge facility located west of U.S. Highway 101 between adjacent commercial gravel operations and said the plant operates a solids handling program that produces Class A compost. He told the council that the city’s previous engineering contract, awarded in 2020, totaled approximately $2.8 million and that project changes and inflation have produced the current proposed amendment. Bird said the city’s mid‑range construction delivery estimate is about $46 million and that the wastewater reserve fund (Fund 560) has a balance of roughly $9 million; the delivery plan anticipates a combination of reserves, low‑interest Clean Water State Revolving Fund loans and roughly $6 million in principal forgiveness.

On schedule, Bird said staff expects a draft updated NPDES permit from the North Coast regional board in summer 2025, hopes to complete design in early 2026 and is targeting construction to meet regulatory requirements by the existing deadline of December 31, 2027.

Bird recommended approval: \"It is staff's recommendation that the council authorize the city manager to execute a professional services contract amendment\" with the stated amendment amount and contract limit, and the council approved the measure in a unanimous roll‑call vote.

Ending: With the amendment approved, staff said Jacobs will proceed with design work and the city will continue updates to its Clean Water State Revolving Fund application, the triennial‑review process with the regional board and public updates as the design advances.
","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Fortuna City Council Meeting of 2025-03-17","oneSentenceSummary","The Fortuna City Council on Monday authorized the city manager to execute a professional‑services contract amendment with Jacobs Engineering for the city’s NPDES compliance project, approving an amendment of $1,829,722 and establishing a contract not to exceed $4,900,000 to complete engineering and support services for treatment‑plant upgrades.","taxTitle","Fortuna City, Humboldt County, California","taxId",72151,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6121287,"Fortuna staff seeks council backing to pursue Great Redwood Trail grants; residents raise maintenance and private‑property concerns",1749,418000,2167000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2703235-f7573545c44d65dc5a1be100d37d5a55&start=418&end=2167","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2703235-f7573545c44d65dc5a1be100d37d5a55/thumbnail_418000.jpg","/articles/6121287/Fortuna-City/Humboldt-County/California/Fortuna-staff-seeks-council-backing-to-pursue-Great-Redwood-Trail-grants-residents-raise-maintenance-and-privateproperty-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6121287-e5c787db3dd3fcfd848c11391114c514/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203451&Signature=ID7wHvhLvmoGOqTFQ-Q8IQ9uTXhVs3gMlFy~zf37k5vyTmu6S21a7tL4XrWO7~Oohs1hjevs7AbX55QLkIq4fD5C~-YoBVu8IPJ06JmuEiBxlT7rjTO66MUlQVCZxfAFJNOMta~JjDCf4aZaUgUfw7Y6dm2EowilJ-Wn7uaSeD6DKIHmCLTk~2C44tCP1mpvbb7zcPB4ceN42qj62xU7ZNMfJg1mKZaeP1BIV00jtJOy~x~6APpF6aANasHwbCzslg7j5VCd9UfSYIoVeEIKKsbiY2EN7k80bKebCiAkpnsErkE~cwryB7di~HufNSRvOMdPc0DsO-InMH8VCINZqw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Fortuna city staff asked the City Council on Monday to allow them to pursue State Coastal Conservancy grant funding to advance design and environmental work for segments of the Great Redwood Trail and the city’s John Campbell Memorial Greenway (also called the Strongs Creek Trail).

The request, presented by Bridal Bird, Fortuna public works director and city engineer, and supplemented by Elaine Hogan, executive director of the Great Redwood Trail Agency, and Hannah Bartee, Great Redwood Trail project manager with the State Coastal Conservancy, asked the council whether staff should lead engineering and environmental work for trail segments that could extend from Fernbridge to Alton and include portions outside Fortuna city limits. Bird told the council such work would make Fortuna more competitive for implementation grants and would bring trail planning to the same level of readiness as ongoing interchange and active‑transportation projects.

Officials said the roughly defined package under consideration could cover about six miles of corridor work, roughly 60 percent of which lies outside Fortuna city limits, and about 2.5 miles inside the city. Hogan said the agency’s Bay‑to‑Bay vision — a continuous trail along the former railroad corridor from San Francisco Bay to Humboldt Bay — is intended to create recreational and active‑transportation opportunities, restore habitat and bring economic activity to trail towns. She noted an earlier economic analysis that estimated the fully developed corridor could generate about $48 million a year for Humboldt County and that the plan identifies Fortuna as a high‑priority, high‑feasibility segment.

Bird explained that Fortuna has longstanding local planning for trails — including a 2014 master plan for the Strongs Creek Trail and a 2016 complete‑streets connectivity study — and that coordinating trail design with the city’s interchange projects could improve safety and grant competitiveness. He said the staff request is limited to pursuing engineering and environmental grants and does not commit the city to construction, long‑term operation or maintenance of trail segments outside city limits.

Public commenters broadly supported the project but pressed staff for detail on long‑term oversight, maintenance and private‑property impacts. A resident who identified themselves during public comment said, “I would be however remiss if I did not mention … a lot of questions from private land owners where it runs beside or through their properties,” and urged the city and trail agency to resolve landowner concerns before moving forward. Orville Garrison, a resident of Fortuna, said the city should be explicit about who would maintain new trail segments and cited the WENT Trail as an example of a local path that has fallen into disrepair. Another resident said the biggest worry is that “they’re filled with homeless camps” on some trails and urged attention to long‑term maintenance and use.

Council members and staff acknowledged those concerns and said the request at Monday’s meeting was an early step. Bird and agency staff said future grant proposals and project development would include public outreach, coordination with private landowners and work on governance and maintenance strategies with partner agencies such as Caltrans, Humboldt County and the Great Redwood Trail Agency.

The council did not take a formal vote on a grant application at the meeting; staff said they would return with more detailed findings and a proposed grant package if directed. Bird said staff would continue coordinating with the trail agency, the Coastal Conservancy and county stakeholders before any construction or maintenance commitments were sought.

Ending: Staff will bring a refined grant approach and scope back to the council for further public hearings and a decision on whether to apply for State Coastal Conservancy funding.","Fortuna city staff asked the City Council on Monday to allow them to pursue State Coastal Conservancy grant funding to advance design and environmental work for segments of the Great Redwood Trail and the city’s John Campbell Memorial Greenway (Strongs Creek Trail).",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6121278,"Fortuna council opts to solicit applicants and appoint a replacement by May 11; special election rejected as cost‑prohibitive",453,2407000,2860000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2703235-f7573545c44d65dc5a1be100d37d5a55&start=2407&end=2860","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2703235-f7573545c44d65dc5a1be100d37d5a55/thumbnail_2407000.jpg","/articles/6121278/Fortuna-City/Humboldt-County/California/Fortuna-council-opts-to-solicit-applicants-and-appoint-a-replacement-by-May-11-special-election-rejected-as-costprohibitive","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6121278-cd9a6b287b76624636af9d6bc8208bdb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203451&Signature=m4G3qq03gEuq1IlRkEsRIPSzD1CE4z9ntrdG6IS0kwFvH5U8X5jTVx2VEFeqyPWBklYNxTwxxNYWK7nNeswrx7DOSOGbJ5l2PlupuxuoW0Ag07YWlKxU6Co8DoJQPJMBvEYyR7lYa-EEsay~n06SiLJvgHNbgS6e6EZlbIBKn3EKzBCxXy5pM4CQiD0DTJvkzkZUs~AFXAnUGR0TOLVyZ5uJ80~NFAYyemvmDxPreZs19m5EGvqa49NLaeFrIYnvPWLuABKEAXDfgx262oqXQMdUeKfO~200CmqqIJdq7Hxt1hqX0oFA2AV83tm9wrrtAHop8ya7QpiHcpWde1RfQw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Fortuna City Council voted unanimously on Monday to announce a vacancy and solicit applications to fill a vacant council seat, scheduling a filing deadline of April 18, 2025, and a special public interview meeting on April 28, 2025, with the expectation of appointing a replacement by May 11, 2025.

City staff told the council that Jerry King submitted his resignation effective immediately and presented three options: (1) make an immediate appointment; (2) announce the vacancy, solicit applicants and conduct interviews with an appointment by May 11, 2025; or (3) call a special election by May 11 (staff recommended against a special election because of its $35,000–$55,000 estimated cost). The staff recommendation that the city follow the advertised application and appointment schedule was the option the council adopted.

The recommended timeline read into the record was: announce the vacancy and solicit applications beginning March 18, 2025; a filing deadline of April 18, 2025; and a special public meeting to conduct interviews and select an appointee on April 28, 2025. Council members said the public, transparent interview process used previously worked well and was the most fiscally responsible option.

Public comment included a written submission read into the record from Clyde Silversmith, a Fortuna resident, who urged the council to require that interviewees be present in person and said online interviewees could gain an unfair advantage by watching prior interviews on the livestream; he asked that the council clearly state whether remote interviews would be allowed. A speaker who identified themself remotely commended the previous process and said remote participation via video conference is a recognized statutory option and helpful to applicants with scheduling constraints.

The motion to proceed with the advertised appointment schedule passed on a roll‑call vote: Council member Connolly — aye; Council member Diaz — aye; Mayor Pro Tem Trent — yes; Mayor Johnson — yes.

Votes at a glance — consent and other actions taken that evening included: (1) approval of the consent calendar (13 items, including the MOU with the Fortuna Police Employees Association and routine reports) — approved unanimously; (2) approval to solicit applications and appoint by May 11, 2025, using the schedule above — approved unanimously; (3) approval of the Jacobs Engineering contract amendment for the wastewater NPDES compliance project — approved unanimously.

Ending: With the schedule set, staff will publish the vacancy notice and application materials, accept filings through April 18 and present candidates for public interviews on April 28.","After the March 12 resignation of Councilmember Jerry King, the Fortuna City Council voted unanimously to announce a vacancy, solicit applicants beginning March 18, set a filing deadline of April 18 and hold interviews April 28 with the goal of appointing a replacement by May 11, 2025; councilors cited cost and expediency in favor of appointment.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Fortuna approves Jacobs amendment for wastewater NPDES compliance design; project timeline aims for 2027 regulatory deadline

Fortuna staff seeks council backing to pursue Great Redwood Trail grants; residents raise maintenance and private‑property concerns

Fortuna council opts to solicit applicants and appoint a replacement by May 11; special election rejected as cost‑prohibitive