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Fortuna adopts ordinance requiring county registration and inspections for commercial food recovery
Summary
The council adopted Ordinance 2024-770 to align Fortuna with county edible-food recovery efforts: qualifying commercial generators must register with Humboldt County Environmental Health, pay an estimated fee and submit to annual inspections verifying recovery contracts and safe handling practices.
The Fortuna City Council on Feb. 4 completed the second reading and adopted Ordinance 2024-770 amending Title 8 (Health and Safety) of the Fortuna Municipal Code to refine local organic reduction and commercial edible-food recovery rules.
The ordinance focuses on commercial edible-food generators and requires qualifying businesses to register with Humboldt County Environmental Health, pay a registration fee (staff said the fee would be about $80) and submit to an annual inspection. The inspections will verify that businesses have contracts with edible-food recovery organizations, post required notices, maintain records for end-of-year reporting, and meet training, segregation, temperature control and contamination-prevention standards.
Matt Nyberg, deputy engineer, presented the staff report and said the amendment resolved ambiguity about inspections and incorporated the county’s request that the city require registration and inspections in order to ensure consistent reporting and enforcement countywide. Nyberg said inspectors would check for contracts with recovery agencies, posted documentation, properly kept records, staff training records on food diversion and safe handling, and that recovered edible food is segregated and stored at safe temperatures.
Council members asked about the availability of recovery agencies and whether there were destinations for recovered edible food; Nyberg said the program development had identified local collection agencies but acknowledged room for growth in collection capacity and uncertainty about end-user demand.
The ordinance is codified as Chapter 8.14 and was adopted by unanimous vote (Councilmember Connolly — aye; Councilmember King — aye; Mayor Pro Tem Trent — yes; Mayor Johnson — yes).
Ending: Staff will coordinate registration and inspection procedures with Humboldt County Environmental Health and provide outreach to businesses that may qualify.
