[{"_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",6245742,"mediaKeyId","3222134-ed3cfe3dca9409bb4e4cd953fe46b317","parentId",3222134,"title","Fortuna council adopts $25 flat assessment for business improvement district, amends FBID rules","audioSeconds",339,"startMs",3853000,"endMs",4192000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3222134-ed3cfe3dca9409bb4e4cd953fe46b317&start=3853&end=4192","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3222134-ed3cfe3dca9409bb4e4cd953fe46b317/thumbnail_3853000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6245742/Fortuna-City/Humboldt-County/California/Fortuna-council-adopts-25-flat-assessment-for-business-improvement-district-amends-FBID-rules","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6245742-623e8b81db7b6f4516ba2a71d4f6ec88/orig.mp4?Expires=1776067057&Signature=e6ak9AsLRWtO09xdzsRDmMvGqRO3Wr9VUP7S933ntCV-Ej2FO~AIew~1InSqnirV8skrsE2I5-MxKomiVwLe2-XBtTPF7-HucdYiyVpL9GHQ4xbwiTxL3r8Nj6aErZj4nmwOIv7OENo1t35yuwY29hm7jAqAM5LxOVgHeA0cg9T0jHes-KkqInKqrM2mZuTqbILkvHE74hLLyp0FQsNStK1cdMNogEdzRCAh-cQA946HLiV5TwKU3XCR~AO5jF0kt3CU8k56jv2gJNZh3EHCjxcmpFRAgbLMX1m5drACShT8otrXv29hTEP9QzE7GOgDJESx8ROXdmuvn73FV7Ccdw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Fortuna CA","date","2025-05-08T04:30:46.723Z","article","On May 5, 2025, the Fortuna City Council adopted Resolution 2025-12 to levy a flat $25 assessment per qualifying business for fiscal year 2025–26 and completed the second reading and adoption of Ordinance 2025-774 to amend the Fortuna Business Improvement District (FBID) regulations.

Staff reported there are approximately 660 qualifying businesses in Fortuna and that a flat $25 assessment would generate an estimated $16,500 for the FBID fund in 2025–26. The council opened and closed the public hearing without receiving oral protests and staff reported it had not received sufficient written protests to block the assessment.

Resolution 2025-12 authorizes the FY 2025–26 levy at the flat $25 rate. The roll-call vote read into the record was: Council Member Connolly — Aye; Council Member Stevens — Yes; Mayor Pro Tem Chen — Yes; Mayor Mike Johnson — Yes. The motion carried and the assessment was authorized.

On the ordinance, staff explained the amendments dissolve three previously defined benefit core areas (Downtown North Core area, Redwood Village Shopping Center core area and Strongs Creek Plaza core area), remove definitions no longer needed for an annual flat assessment, reduce the advisory committee from seven to five members and revise committee composition requirements (four members from specified industry groups and one City Council liaison). The amendment also removes the requirement to apportion funds to the three core areas and provides that funds may be used to promote the entire community while retaining the principal purpose of the district.

Council conducted the second reading and adopted Ordinance 2025-774. The roll-call vote was recorded as: Council Member Conley — Aye; Council Member Stevens — Aye; Mayor Pro Tem Trent — Yes; Mayor Mike Johnson — Yes.

Staff advised that future FBID work will consider a more detailed, tiered assessment once the city’s new finance system (NvoiceCloud) is fully online and that the flat rate approach is intended as a simplified first step for FY 2025–26.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Fortuna City Council Meeting of 2025-05-05","oneSentenceSummary","The City Council adopted a $25 flat annual assessment per qualifying business for the Fortuna Business Improvement District (FBID) for fiscal year 2025–26 and approved ordinance changes that dissolve three core areas and revise the advisory committee structure.","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},6245747,"Fortuna council pauses cannabis ordinance spending, moves to public education and workshops",964,2872000,3836000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3222134-ed3cfe3dca9409bb4e4cd953fe46b317&start=2872&end=3836","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3222134-ed3cfe3dca9409bb4e4cd953fe46b317/thumbnail_2872000.jpg","/articles/6245747/Fortuna-City/Humboldt-County/California/Fortuna-council-pauses-cannabis-ordinance-spending-moves-to-public-education-and-workshops","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6245747-72548abf0b802ba26f859828d2383751/orig.mp4?Expires=1776067057&Signature=cVO~PLFUKhRePaGYgzfbKaHncZNmCr9DjNwfjYh-21OOSX768tJ9RdRTcK5c4rUMwuQfm16kkQCXTJ3yJ2B2aVenNmsFo9lN22dguBPTYFznog0fNZxOLjmJQ8i81jaJe87mr8OoDT70exox46kFDTumGX7W021QsZEM4s6WQM1pKuerICw2~zCl6aBwL285RWOpNB8KSnwWMEDdXqZeUS-NPrzR132m2s2zVUmEa5M0H58jO7-QqBLz4FXe5-wf6mQ6BPSNU0IqmJ3jYEpidqAnLSRio-l2ywqcBUo~CwO-WDMMCYVSuhdGSR~e600EjTWIMxM3WIuf8y9oILTmpg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Fortuna City Council on May 5 declined to proceed with immediate spending to draft a commercial cannabis ordinance and instead endorsed a staged approach that begins with public education and a workshop series.

City Manager Amy Nelson told the council staff recommends an educational program on state regulations, business types and best practices as the first step. She said this educational phase \"does not require a supplemental budget at this time.\" The report outlined subsequent optional steps: a fiscal analysis, drafting a local regulatory ordinance and — only after an ordinance exists — consideration of a cannabis tax measure.

Members of the public submitted and had read into the record multiple written comments opposing spending on an ordinance. Dan Beline wrote, \"What goes on in Fortuna should not be all about revenue but quality of life.\" Other written submissions from Dennis and Doris Miller, Tim and Jody Toste, Doug and Sue Smith, Joe and Joyce Mitchell and Tammy Hall expressed concerns about fiscal priorities, community quality of life and the expected modest city revenue from cannabis. Several commenters urged more resident input before hiring a consultant or committing city funds; one submission cited an estimated annual tax revenue of about $15,000 and described that as insufficient relative to the city's needs.

During the public-comment period, speakers also raised broader alternatives. One speaker urged the council to pursue expanded sports-tourism and use the city’s sports complex to generate more revenue, citing economic-impact examples from other communities.

Council members asked procedural questions about sequencing. Nelson and staff clarified that public hearings would be required to develop any ordinance, that a tax measure requires an existing ordinance before placement on the ballot, and that the initial outreach/education could precede any consultant-funded ordinance draft. There was no supplemental budget approved for the ordinance at this meeting.

The council directed staff to proceed with public education and workshops about cannabis regulation and to return with options for subsequent fiscal analysis or ordinance development only if the council chooses to proceed. No consultant contract or spending authorization was approved at this meeting.","After receiving dozens of written and in-person comments both for and against permitting commercial cannabis, the Fortuna City Council agreed May 5 to first pursue public education and workshops rather than immediately spend city funds to draft a commercial cannabis ordinance.",{"_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},6245752,"Fortuna council directs staff to explore enhanced infrastructure financing district with Humboldt County",1267,467000,1734000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3222134-ed3cfe3dca9409bb4e4cd953fe46b317&start=467&end=1734","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3222134-ed3cfe3dca9409bb4e4cd953fe46b317/thumbnail_467000.jpg","/articles/6245752/Fortuna-City/Humboldt-County/California/Fortuna-council-directs-staff-to-explore-enhanced-infrastructure-financing-district-with-Humboldt-County","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6245752-941659d34408a124ae5b4f9f4fddc297/orig.mp4?Expires=1776067057&Signature=IkUjhPQ7U8uP7CVcquFNmeKUrjUpkdJyI2ZcH9Qoy-qCbxF2-kBOK0qK273dGeSdQUWmZs-SPtezI2AjnAe1hl1bbY~sntUGnwDB2VC4~PkiPIcvHOhA~AqLVn6B6FMRVV2He5XFf5wVJX8o9AUhWuJzwLAdfj3ZcyvgY5bNGhlV~Zb9pTdbZxJbZN8740hM2MkmYu5Jd3GVzLCKfQk1FqLQfrWPAIoMRdMepNeYDZheJUZrdt0Yu3T0dHtpQnBOiET9iGGjRXjPPfgfbUHVcjg0tfPntdgTf06Z5fcvuenaNFwWGS5PhD4DSLtFGnlw8uT0NGGaX3MpOKjYRUWngw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","On May 5, 2025, the Fortuna City Council voted unanimously to direct staff to contact the County of Humboldt to explore forming an Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District (EFID) that could capture future property-tax growth to pay for local infrastructure projects.

The study presented by Cosmont Companies estimated a present-value funding range for an EFID under several scenarios and argued that a county partnership would materially increase the dollars available for projects such as the Twelfth Street and Kenmore interchange improvements, pedestrian access to the Eel River and downtown streetscape work.

Amy Nelson, the city manager, told the council the feasibility analysis was authorized earlier and that the consultant would present numbers and options. Joe D'Aguz, senior vice president with Cosmont Companies, summarized the analysis and said, \"To get to the punchline, when we look at different scenarios ... we see a present value range of up to $80,000,000.\" He emphasized the district \"is not a new tax\" and described it as an earmark of future property-tax growth within a defined boundary.

Cosmont presented two boundary options. A smaller alternative focused on the mill-site specific plan and nearby corridors would cover about 372 acres — roughly 12% of the city's acreage — with about $178,000,000 in existing assessed value. The consultant showed year-10 revenue scenarios that ranged from hundreds of thousands to roughly $3 million in nominal annual spending capacity and present-value ranges (accounting for inflation) from about $5 million to $23 million depending on allocation and partner-match assumptions.

Consultant and staff explained mechanics and risks. An EFID typically earmarks only a portion of future growth in assessed value, does not change current property-tax bills, and can last up to 45 years unless the council chooses a shorter term. Formation requires multiple public meetings, mailed and published notices and a protest process; if more than 50% of combined landowners and residents in the boundary file timely protests, the district cannot form. D'Aguz said the early years usually produce modest \"trickle\" revenues and that jurisdictions generally wait several years to issue bonds, because municipal bond markets expect demonstrated revenue before underwriting a bond.

Council member Trent raised concerns about using future funds when the city currently lacks cash and asked where county funds would come from. The city manager and the consultant explained the county would likewise allocate future growth from its share only if there were a defensible return-on-investment case showing that infrastructure investments would expand the tax base.

After discussion, the council made and passed a voice-motion directing staff to contact Humboldt County to explore an EFID partnership based on the smaller boundary presented. The motion was seconded and carried on a unanimous voice vote; no council member opposed.

Next steps identified by staff include exploratory discussions with county staff and supervisors and continued analysis of boundary, program terms, eligible projects and fiscal impacts before any binding commitment or formation steps are taken. No funds were committed at this meeting.","The Fortuna City Council unanimously authorized staff to contact the County of Humboldt to explore forming an Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District (EFID) after a presentation from a consultant on how the tool could fund transportation, flood control and other infrastructure projects.","actionData","errors"]

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Fortuna council adopts $25 flat assessment for business improvement district, amends FBID rules

Fortuna council pauses cannabis ordinance spending, moves to public education and workshops

Fortuna council directs staff to explore enhanced infrastructure financing district with Humboldt County