Fortuna council adopts purchasing ordinance, approves staffing, River Lodge fees and AV budget

The Fortuna City Council voted unanimously to adopt Ordinance 2025-777, update the parks staffing structure, approve a new fee schedule for the River Lodge and authorize an $80,400 supplemental budget for River Lodge audio-visual upgrades. The council also voted to forward the meeting recording for the city's unmet transit needs public hearing to the Humboldt County Association of Governments for review.

The ordinance adopted on second reading revises the city's purchasing regulations (chapter 2.5 of the Fortuna Municipal Code) to better align procurement language with applicable law for charter cities; staff said the code had not been substantially updated since 1997. Council members cast roll-call votes in favor; the ordinance was declared exempt from CEQA.

Council members also approved a staff recommendation to reallocate three part-time park maintenance worker I positions into one full-time park maintenance worker II position, a change staff said would reduce recruitment and preemployment costs and improve retention. Separately, the council adopted Resolution 2025-25, a new schedule of fees and charges for parks and recreation and the River Lodge for fiscal year 2025-26; staff projected that the changes and related operational adjustments could reduce the River Lodge operating deficit from about $275,000 a year to about $200,000 and generate roughly $75,000 in additional revenue based on year-to-date rentals.

On a related item, the council approved a supplemental budget request of $80,400 to purchase and install new audio-visual equipment at the River Lodge and to fund ongoing quarterly maintenance. Staff reported a vendor quote of roughly $78,000 for replacement/upgrade work and estimated annual maintenance at about $2,400; the Humboldt Lodging Alliance has pledged a $25,000 contribution toward the project.

At the meeting's public hearing on unmet transit needs, a member of the public raised pedestrian-access concerns on state highways in Humboldt County. The council voted to forward the meeting recording to the Humboldt County Association of Governments (HCOG) for review by HCOG's Social Services Transportation Advisory Council and other reviewers.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance 2025-777 (purchase of supplies, equipment, and contractual services; second reading and adoption; CEQA exemption) — Outcome: adopted; Roll-call: Connolly, Diaz, Stevens, Trent, Johnson — all recorded in favor. - Motion to forward the council meeting recording to HCOG for unmet transit needs review — Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Reallocation of three part-time park maintenance worker I positions to one full-time park maintenance worker II position — Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Resolution 2025-25 (parks, recreation and River Lodge fee schedule FY 2025-26) — Outcome: adopted; Roll-call: Connolly, Diaz, Stevens, Trent, Johnson — all recorded in favor. - Supplemental budget request for River Lodge audio-visual equipment and ongoing maintenance, $80,400 — Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Consent calendar (minutes and multiple monthly reports; authorization to send a letter of support to HCOG; authorization to negotiate a professional services contract) — Outcome: approved (voice vote).

Council members did not record any "no" votes on the items that reached final action. Several items were approved by voice vote; the purchasing ordinance and the parks fee resolution were adopted by roll-call vote.