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The City Council May Take Action on any Item on this Agenda.
1. CALL TO ORDER / FLAG SALUTE / ROLL CALL
Minutes:
Mayor Trent called the public meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. and led the flag salute. ROLL CALL:
Council Member Conley - Absent, Council Member Losey - Present, Council Member Mobley - Present, Mayor Pro Tem Johnson - Present, Mayor Trent - Present
2. ORAL COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Minutes:
There being no public comments, Mayor Trent closed the Oral Comment section.
3. DISCUSSION ITEM
a. Consider Potential Revenue Sources to Fund City Council Priorities Minutes:
City Manager Merritt Perry and Finance Director Aaron Felmlee provided a staff report on potential revenue sources to fund City Council priorities.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: Rus Brown, Fortuna Volunteer Fire Department Chief, outlined some of the financial constraints the volunteer Fire Department continues to face including inflation to costs of required apparatus and declining numbers of volunteers. He spoke in support of a Public Safety specific tax measure, but stated he could only get behind it if it made a difference in Police and Fire, not pet projects.
Sue Long, Fortuna Business Owner - expressed disapproval over there being discussions with other agencies about the possibility of a special tax, before the information was presented to the entire Council for consideration. She felt the process was totally wrong and encouraged the Council to do better.
Special Meeting
Minutes
Monday, February 26, 2024 at 9:30 am
Michelle Bushnell, 2nd District Supervisor - informed the Council that the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors have already directed their staff to draft a Road Tax Ordinance and that it would most likely move forward on the November ballot. She also informed the Council there have been a lot of conversations regarding Measure Z funds and how they've been spent and that those conversations are very relevant.
Gabe Charlton - Fortuna Resident and Fortuna Police Department Sergeant - commented on the Police Department being in dire straits and encouraged the Council to focus on recruitment. He spoke of the younger, newer officers moving to agencies that are paying higher salaries and offering hiring bonuses. He spoke of the department being understaffed and even have one officer out sick caused a great impact. He spoke in support of the Council doing something to sustain the Police and Fire Departments and provide incentive for safety employees to stay here. He pointed out that Fortuna is the lowest paid agency in the County.
There being no additional public comments, Mayor Trent closed the public comment section.
4. BUSINESS ITEM - This item was moved to the beginning of the meeting. a. Approval of Letter Opposing Measure A "The Humboldt Cannabis Reform Initiative" Minutes:
STAFF REPORT: Community Development Director, Shari Meads, provided a staff report on letter of opposition to Measure A. PUBLIC COMMENT: Natalynn Delapp, Executive Director of Humboldt County Grower's Alliance - expressed appreciation for the Council's opposition to Measure A and felt there could be development of solutions that could meet the needs of both those in support and opposition of Measure A. There being no additional comments, Mayor Trent closed the public comment sections. CITY COUNCIL ACTION:
Council Member Losey moved, seconded by Council Member Mobley to Authorize and Sign a letter to record City Council opposition to the Humboldt Cannabis Reform Initiative (Measure A). Voice vote. AYES: Council Members Losey, Mobley, Mayor Pro Tem Johnson, Mayor Trent NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: Council Member Conley MOTION CARRIED: 4/0
5. ADJOURN
Minutes:
CITY COUNCIL ACTION: Mayor Pro Tem Johnson moved, seconded by Council Member Losey to adjourn the meeting at 10:39 a.m. MOTION CARRIED 4/0 Contact: Siana L. Emmons, City Clerk ([email protected] (707)725-7600) | Minutes published on 03/19/2024, adopted on 03/18/2024