From: K Silva
To: Whippy, Isaac; Peters, Lindy; Albin-Smith, Tess; Rafanan, Marcia; Hockett, Scott; Paoli, Diana; [email protected]
Subject: PUBLIC COMMENT: 9 February 2026 City Council Meeting - Item 7A “…revising the City’s Fee Schedule…” attachment 11
Date: Thursday, February 5, 2026 6:02:04 PM
Dear Mayor Godecke, City Council members Peters, Albin-Smith, Rafanan and Hockett, and City Manager Whippy~
My husband is in his 80’s. Swimming in the lap pool and walking in the Lazy River at the CV Starr Center keep him mobile. The fact that the pool has been closed quite a bit the last couple of years has been disappointing but he keeps his recurring membership active during those closures as he must do so to keep his membership. I saw the fee schedule item in your agenda for the 9 February 2026 meeting and checked to see if his rate is going to change. At some point it will be too expensive for him to continue and the proposed fee schedule does not look promising.
After looking over the CV Starr Current and Proposed Fee Schedules several times, I see no inclusion of a Senior rate for CV Starr memberships in either the current rate or proposed rate charts. The word senior can only be found on the last page of attachment 11, under Category Criteria. Will someone let the public know what is happening with the Recurring Membership Senior rate and all of the other Senior rates? Is this disappearance an oversight or is it being discontinued as a category and the proposed recurring Adult rates at a greater than 50% increase will apply? The current recurring Senior rate that we pay for my husband is the same as the Youth and the Adult Disabled recurring rates. The proposed youth recurring rate is a 13% increase and the proposed Adult Disabled rate was raised by an obscene 48%. Wow. If that’s so, I hope to hear discussion by the board about how you justify assigning such a large fee increase to those most vulnerable, the disabled (and seniors if that’s the plan). They are the least able to acquire additional income, with the least ability to get exercise in another manner safely and most in need of use of the pool.
Until you let us know if the senior rate is changing and, if so, by how much, or if it is being discontinued, it’s not possible to make an informed comment on this item. I hope to receive a reply soon.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely~
Kathy Silva
City of Fort Bragg resident
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Members of the Council
City of Fort Bragg
416 North Franklin Street
Fort Bragg, CA 95437
February 9, 2026
Re: Item 7a, Attachment 2: Economic Development Fee Waivers Position: Support
Honorable Councilmembers:
On behalf of West Center, I am writing to express support for the proposal brought forward to waive business license fees and minor use permit fees for the first year for new businesses.
We work with hundreds of small businesses every year at West Center, and we know firsthand that startup costs can encumber entrepreneurs or even discourage them from beginning their journey. In addition to reducing the costs of getting started, this proposal sends a message that Fort Bragg wants to see small businesses prosper here.
This proposal reflects big picture thinking, with small incentives that matter. Empty storefronts and buildings impact the entire economy; incentives to help new businesses open could benefit the business community overall.
We hope the Council will adopt this fee waiver and help support the long-term success of our small business owners here in Fort Bragg.
Thank you for your consideration,
Sarah Bodnar
CEO
West Business Development Center
Board of Directors
Tim Karas, Chair
Superintendent/President
Mendocino-Lake
Community College District
Todd Andrus, Chair-Elect
Branch Manager
Redwood Credit Union
David Thurber, Treasurer
Vice President
Tri Counties Bank
Hon. Gerry Gonzalez,
Secretary
Council Member
City of Willits
Michelle Hutchins
Board Member
Mendocino County Office of
Education
Paul Garza, Jr.
Board Member
Mendocino Coast Health
Care District
CEO
Sarah Bodnar
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 1110
Mendocino, CA 95460
Locations
335. N. Franklin St.
Fort Bragg, CA 95437
200 S. School St.
Ukiah, CA 95482
707-964-7571
www.westcenter.org