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Fortuna adopts Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan as city framework
Summary
The Fortuna City Council adopted Resolution 20 26‑17 to accept the Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan as Fortuna’s climate framework; staff said adoption does not approve projects, sets targets of 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2045, and improves grant competitiveness.
The Fortuna City Council voted unanimously on May 18, 2026, to adopt Resolution 20 26‑17, accepting the Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan (RCAP) as the city’s climate framework and making responsible‑agency findings under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Planning staff (Aaron) told the council the RCAP is a regional planning framework designed to help jurisdictions meet state greenhouse gas goals. “It sets targets of 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2045,” staff said, adding that the plan is based on a 2022 greenhouse‑gas inventory with a baseline of about 1,530,000 metric tons CO2e. The inventory shows on‑road transportation accounts for roughly 73% of the community’s emissions.
Staff emphasized that adopting the RCAP does not approve any specific projects or impose immediate new requirements; instead, it provides an implementation framework, potential CEQA streamlining, and stronger competitiveness for grant programs. Staff cited upcoming funding opportunities that would be more accessible to jurisdictions with an adopted RCAP, including grant programs with multi‑million‑dollar awards.
Council asked whether the RCAP places new requirements on builders or new construction; staff replied the plan itself does not impose requirements and that any ordinance changes would return to council. Questions about credits for local carbon sequestration (for example, forests) were answered by staff who said existing sequestration is already accounted for in the inventory.
The motion to adopt the RCAP was made and seconded during the public hearing and passed by roll call: Council member Connolly — Aye; Council member Stevens — Yes; Mayor Pro Tem Trent — Yes; Mayor Johnson — Yes.
With adoption, Fortuna becomes a responsible agency under CEQA for the RCAP framework; staff said subsequent projects implementing RCAP measures would still require project‑level CEQA review where applicable.
