Fortuna council adopts zoning change, approves school MOU and OKs police vehicle grant application

The Fortuna City Council on Tuesday adopted a zoning map amendment, approved a shared-use memorandum of understanding with Fortuna Union High School District for Shelton Field, and passed a series of consent items that included submission of a grant application to fund two fully outfitted patrol vehicles.

On a unanimous vote the council approved Ordinance 2026-783 to rezone assessor's parcel number 040-172-009 from retail commercial to commercial thoroughfare and found the project exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act. The title of the ordinance was read into the record before the roll-call votes were recorded in favor of adoption.

Council members authorized a memorandum of understanding with Fortuna Union High School District that staff said would allow the district to long-term lease Shelton Field at Newberg Park during its baseball season, provide an annual payment of $1,000 to the city and increase Shelton Field revenue by about 30% from the 2025 calendar year. City staff said the MOU leaves stadium lighting out of the agreement and that the district has agreed to make the field available to youth baseball organizations; council members raised concerns that shifting soccer use onto the Shelton outfield could reduce availability for other youth-sports groups.

The consent calendar included the submission of a federal grant application (described in the staff report as a grant to purchase patrol cars). A police sergeant told the council the department has several high-mileage vehicles ("we currently have 4 patrol cars with over a 100,000 miles that are still in service" and "we have 2 patrol cars that we can't even get fixed anymore") and said even if the grant and city approval are secured for two cars, the department would remain short of at least two additional vehicles. Staff described the grant as providing $50,000 toward the purchase; staff and the sergeant gave a figure of $166,928 as the cost for two fully outfitted vehicles, leaving approximately $116,928 as the city's out-of-pocket share if the grant is awarded. Council discussion focused on ensuring the city would not be required to repay grant funds if the council later declined to approve purchase funding.

The council also received and filed the Fortuna Business Improvement District annual report. Staff reported FBID allocations in 2025 for community events (for example, $4,000 to the Fortuna Vintage Market and $1,000 for a Christmas music festival) and said the FBID intends to continue a flat annual assessment; staff characterization of the assessment and total receipts in the oral report included inconsistent figures and the staff presenter said he would bring a resolution of intent at the next meeting if the council wishes to continue the assessment.

Council directed staff to schedule a study session on pedestrian access and multimodal gaps at the earliest convenience after a council member requested a focused discussion on sidewalks, bus-stop access and ADA concerns. City staff indicated sidewalk projects are expensive and depend on future funding but agreed to return with options.

During the city manager's report staff said negotiations continue on a franchise agreement with Recology and that the Humboldt Waste Management Authority will not accept organics until Oct. 1; the manager said that a typical July 1 rate increase is expected and an additional adjustment may follow in October to incorporate organics collection costs. The manager also said a mobile-home rent stabilization ordinance is expected to return to council in April and reminded council members of upcoming community workshops.

All formal motions recorded on the agenda were approved by the council by voice or roll-call vote as noted in the meeting minutes.