Special Meeting Minutes 08/04/2022
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
Fortuna City Council
Thursday, August 4, 2022 at 5:30 P.M.
621 11th Street, Fortuna
Zoom Option: 1-669-900-9128 Meeting ID: 880 5183 3435 Passcode: 053024 _______________________________________________________________________________________ I. CALL TO ORDER / FLAG SALUTE / ROLL CALL
Mayor Long called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m., and led the flag salute.
Council Staff
Council Member Mike Johnson Absent City Manager Merritt Perry Council Member Mike Losey Deputy City Clerk, Buffy Gray Council Member Jeremy Stanfield
Mayor Pro Tem Tami Trent
Mayor Sue Long
II. ORAL COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
There being no public comments, Mayor Long closed the public comment section.
III. DISCUSSION ITEMS
A. Direction for future of Fortuna Business Improvement District (FBID) STAFF REPORT:
City Manager Merritt Perry presented options for Council to consider regarding the future of FBID.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Jeffrey Durham, Owner of Redwood Riverwalk e-mailed a public comment to the Deputy City Clerk, City Manager, and City Council. Mr. Durham explained he has been a member of the Chamber, paid into the FBID assessment, and participated with the Tourism Committee and believes the entities should remain separate.
Marilyn Strehl, Owner of Strehl’s Family Shoes & Repair spoke in support of keeping FBID. Ms. Strehl also expressed concern about how much time it takes to obtain insurance for each event, she explained, in the past FBID would help obtain the insurance.
Monica Marinez, Owner of Fresh on Main Street explained she thinks the City should take control of FBID. She supports the option of hiring a part-time person to take on the tasks of FBID. Ms. Marinez explained that she believes the businesses would be more accountable and the City should keep the money and get rid of the assessment.
Kathy Comerer, Owner of Fortuna Fabrics & Crafts explained that she is closing her store in a couple of months to be an at home business. She believes that there needs to be oversite with whatever decision is made by Council. Ms. Comerer explained she is ok with the assessment and spoke in support of the Downtown Merchants.
Amber Woodward, Owner of AP Property Management spoke in support of keeping FBID.
Emma Coleman, Owner of Gold Leaf Media spoke in support of having the Fortuna Chamber be the support for FBID.
Special Meeting Minutes 08/04/2022
Jenn Brown, Member of the Fortuna Chamber spoke in support of having the Fortuna Chamber take over the FBID as outlined in the proposal dated July 5, 2022. She also spoke in support of keeping the assessment.
Walt Wilson, resident of the City of Fortuna asked if the events could go under the City’s insurance.
Renee Lindsay, President and CEO of the Fortuna Chamber of Commerce answered questions from City Council and clarified that the Downtown Merchants wouldn’t be a part of the list of FBID items being taken on by Chambers.
Marilyn Strehl, Owner of Strehl’s Family Shoes & Repair confirmed that the Downtown Merchants were their own entity.
There being no additional comments, Mayor Long Closed the public comment section CITY COUNCIL ACTION: City Council provided direction to staff to go with the Fortuna Chamber of Commerce’s summary dated July 5, 2022 and to work out the details on what the City’s responsibilities will be.
IV. ADJOURN
Mayor Pro Tem Trent moved, seconded by Council Member Stanfield to adjourn the meeting at 6:46 p.m. Motion carried 4/0.
Submitted by,
Buffy Gray, Deputy City Clerk