Consent Item 4h
STAFF REPORT
City Council Consent Item
DATE: April 7, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and Councilmembers
FROM: Shari Meads, Community Development Director
THROUGH: Amy Nilsen, City Manager
SUBJECT: 2024 General Plan and Housing Element Annual Progress Reports
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Receive the 2024 General Plan and Housing Element Annual Progress Reports, which have been reviewed and accepted by the Planning Commission and submitted to the California Department of Housing and Community Development and the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation as required by state law.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A general plan is a local government’s blueprint for meeting their community’s long-term future vision. The City of Fortuna’s current General Plan (hereafter referenced as General Plan) was adopted by the City Council on October 26, 2010, and formalizes policies, standards, and programs related to the City’s development through the year 2030.
Each year, the Planning Division staff prepares a General Plan Annual Report (GPAR) to inform the public and City decision-makers about the progress made during the prior calendar year toward achieving General Plan goals. Additionally, pursuant to Government Code Sections 65400 and 65700, the GPAR must be submitted to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) by April 1 of each year. This report serves as the 2024 GPAR.
Each California jurisdiction must also prepare an annual progress report on the status and progress in implementing its Housing Element (Government Code Section 65400.). The Housing Element Annual Progress Report (HEAPR) covers the previous calendar year and must also be submitted to HCD and LCI by April 1 of each year. HCD uses HEAPR data to track a jurisdiction’s progress towards meeting their Regional Housing Needs Allocations (RHNA) each year and over the eight year RHNA planning cycle. The key benchmark for tracking RHNA progress is issued building permits. The 2024 HEAPR is attached to this report and together with the GPAR has been accepted by the Planning Commission and submitted to HCD and LCI.
Consent Item 4h
GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENTS
California Code Section 65358 allows a legislative body to amend all or part of an adopted general plan up to four times per calendar year with additional general plan amendments allowed to accommodate residential development meeting certain requirements. A general plan amendment may be initiated by a jurisdiction, or by a member of the public. General Plan amendments require public hearings before the Planning Commission and the City Council.
On October 7, 2024, the City Council adopted Ordinance 2024-771, amending the General Plan Land Use Diagram from Residential Very Low (RVL) and Rural Residential (RR) to Commercial (COM) and Rezoning from Residential Estates (RE) and Residential Single-Family (R-1-10) to Commercial Thoroughfare (CT) 0.81 Acres of Assessor’s Parcel Numbers 202-092-006, 202-092- 003, and 1.1 acres of Assessor’s Parcel Number 202-103-010.
GENERAL PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
The General Plan is the City’s highest level policy document. It consists of chapters, which HCD calls “elements.” Each element covers a different aspect of the urban environment, such as land use, economic development, housing, transportation, circulation, and more. The City’s General Plan consists of nine elements that address both state‐mandated subject matter and optional topics of concern to Fortuna. Implementation highlights for each General Plan element are highlighted below.
Land Use Element (Chapter One)
The Land Use Element outlines land use patterns, policies and standards for future development and redevelopment. City progress toward Land Use Element goals, policies, and programs includes:
• Hired a Community Development Director
• The OpenGov online permitting software continues to streamline the process of building and planning permit submittal, review, and tracking. In 2024, the City introduced online inspection scheduling as an additional public option. Staff continues to utilize ParcelQuest for real-time ownership, boundary, and graphic layer information to assist property owners in developing compliant and complete applications.
• All proposed projects are evaluated for General Plan consistency. • Staff continues to participate in local and regional planning and land use efforts to achieve maximum jurisdictional and agency coordination including the Humboldt County Association of Governments, and various regional planning roundtables. • Progress on the Mill District Specific Plan (MDSP) project continued including drafting and circulating the Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (SEIR). The MDSP will transform the approximately 64-acre vacant former Pacific Lumber Company (PALCO) mill site with a broad range of land uses. During 2024, Staff presented the Planning Commission and City Council with informational presentations on the MDSP including infrastructure, design guidelines and the implementing Q-qualified zone. The MDSP, MDSP SEIR and implementing General Plan and Zoning Amendments and Design Guidelines were ultimately adopted in early-2025.
Consent Item 4h
Economic Development Element (Chapter Two)
The Economic Development element provides goals, policy guidance, and implementation measures to promote long‐term job creation, business opportunities, and prosperity. The City implements Economic Development Element goals, policies, and programs by:
• Continuing to promote business growth and diversification, a conducive business climate, and a supportive economic foundation.
• Continuing to work closely with, and provide support to the Chamber of Commerce. • Participating in Redwood Region Economic Development Commission meetings.
The City’s Business Improvement District (FBID) continued to promote public events in 2024 including coordinating the Shop Fortuna program, Al Gray Lighted Holiday Parade, Kids Holiday Movie, and annual Wedding Show which showcased local vendors.
Housing Element (Chapter Three)
The Housing Element identifies demographic information, existing and projected housing needs, and establishes goals, policies, standards, and implementation measures for the preservation, improvement, and development of housing in the City of Fortuna. The Housing Element must include a residential land inventory and identify ways the City will meet its share of regional housing needs at all affordability levels. The Housing Element must be updated and certified by the State every eight years. Fortuna’s Housing Element covers the period of 2019 through 2027.
The following three sections provide information related to Housing Element components.
Population
The California Department of Finance (DOF) estimates that Fortuna had 12,181 residents as of January 1, 2024, representing an approximately 0.6 percent decrease from the 2023 population of 12,256. This slight population decrease follows and continues the overall trend for Humboldt County.
Residential Growth and Development
The City of Fortuna continues to encourage the development of a variety of housing choices, including diverse residential types, tenures, sizes, locations, and price points. In 2024, building permits were issued for 38 new residential units.
• Twelve permits are for new single-family dwellings.
• Four permits are for accessory dwelling units (ADUs). • Two building permits were issued for a total of twenty-two multi-family units Housing Needs and Affordability
The City reviews and maintains an inventory of sites zoned to allow multi-family residential housing, which, per market analysis, tends to support lower rental prices. • In 2024, four entitlements creating seven new residential units were approved.
Consent Item 4h
• On December 16, 2024, the City Council introduced Ordinance 2024-772 to amend the Fortuna Municipal Code (FMC), allowing single-room occupancy (SRO) facilities. • On December 16, 2024, the City Council introduced Ordinance 2024-769 amending the FMC to add Chapter 17.10, Reasonable Accommodations Policy and Procedures.
Transportation & Circulation Element (Chapter Four)
The Transportation & Circulation Element is divided into two major sections. The first section, Circulation Diagram & Standards, describes the Circulation Diagram and the roadway classification system and standards. The second section includes the goals, policies, and implementation programs related to the various forms of transportation. City progress implementing Transportation & Circulation Element goals, policies, and programs includes:
• Upgrading and enhancing transportation and infrastructure facilities within the City that are necessary for facilitating economic growth and development. Progress over the past year has included developing improvement concepts for the Kenmar and Ross Hill Road intersection, and initiating the Engineering Design phase of the Kenmar and US Highway 101 Interchange project.
• Implementing circulation improvements and road rehabilitation for existing streets and new development. Road improvements were made on Newburg Road and Second Avenue. • As noted in the Land Use Element section above, work continued on the Mill District Specific Plan, which presents preliminary options for circulation improvements for the former PALCO mill site.
Natural & Cultural Resources Element (Chapter Five)
This element addresses the City’s natural and cultural resources, including mineral, energy conservation, agricultural, biological, historical, archaeological, and tribal cultural resources. The General Plan must ensure that long-term growth is compatible with these resources.
Implementation of Natural & Cultural Resources Element goals, policies, and programs includes:
• Maintaining and repairing streams with high sedimentation by installing habitat restoration and fish passage structures, restoring gravel beds, and creating deep ponds. • Continuing the design development for the Mill Creek Habitat Connectivity Project, which plans to replace five culverts along Mill Creek in Fortuna with fish passage friendly structures.
• Maintaining relationships, consultations, and exchange of information with nearby Tribal entities and Tribal leaders including the Bear River band of the Rohnerville Rancheria and the Wiyot Tribe.
Parks, Recreation, & Open Space Element (Chapter Six)
Fortuna boasts a vast, multifaceted system of parks, recreational facilities, and open spaces. Parks provide venues for Fortuna’s annual festivals, and the recreational facilities and open space corridors allow for active and passive uses by community members and visitors. The Parks, Recreation, & Open Space chapter provides goals, policies, and programs to ensure that Fortuna’s Consent Item 4h
parkland, recreational facility, and open space provisions match future growth. City progress toward meeting Parks, Recreation, & Open Space Element goals, policies, and programs includes:
• Hired a new Parks and Recreation Director
• Continuing to work with the Rohner Community Recreation and Parks District to develop funding for and construction of a Community Pool.
• The City was awarded a $171,000 grant from the California State Parks Habitat Conservation Fund for the acquisition of approximately 6.25 acres of redwood forestland that is adjacent to a 13-acre redwood forest parcel (Vancil parcel) already owned by the City of Fortuna, and the 55-acre City owned Rohner Park and Rohner Community Forest.
The parcel proposed for acquisition would connect existing City owned forested properties to create a 74.25 acre contiguous publically owned forest. The City recently submitted a grant proposal to the USDA Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program in the amount of $126,000 to complete the land acquisition. • The City received notification that the State Coastal Conservancy (SCC) will award $1,000,000 to acquire 237 acres along the Lower Eel River, of which 7.2 acres, near the River Lodge, will remain with the City, while 229.6 acres will be returned to Wiyot Tribe for ceremonial purposes, restoration, and public access. This grant funding is in addition to $620,194 in grant dollars from the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) River Parkways grant. There is still an administrative process the City needs to pursue with the SCC to make the final acquisition.
• Parks staff continue to facilitate important annual City events such as the “Before I Do” Wedding Show held at the River Lodge, Easter Egg Hunt held at Rohner Park, Forest Moon Festival held at Rohner Park, Fireworks Festival held at Newburg Park, Rodeo Week held at Rohner Park and at the Rodeo Grounds, AutoExpo held downtown and at Rohner Park, Hops in Humboldt held at Rohner Park, Apple Harvest which is celebrated citywide, Spookathon held at Rohner Park, and the Annual Holiday Craft Faire held at the River Lodge.
Public Services & Facilities Element (Chapter Seven)
The City is responsible for the development and day-to-day operations of public services and facilities. The Public Facilities & Services Element describes the City’s existing and planned public facilities and services and details emergency response capabilities. The City implements Public Services & Facilities Element goals, policies, and programs by:
• Preparing and annually reviewing public facility master plans (e.g., water, wastewater, drainage).
• Updating public facility master plans every five years to ensure compliance with appropriate State and Federal laws, use of modern and cost‐ effective technologies, and compatibility with current land use policy.
• Monitoring water, wastewater and storm drain system capacities on an annual basis, and making needed capacity improvements.
• Ensuring through the development review process that adequate public facilities and services are available to serve new development.
• Continuing to update the Capital Improvement Program to address the City’s existing and Consent Item 4h
projected public facility needs.
• Establishing and implementing a fair‐share fee program for new development to help pay for system‐wide water, wastewater, and storm drainage improvements that are required to serve the proposed development and maintain existing levels of service through 2030. • Ensuring the adequate, reliable, and safe provision of water to all existing and future development within the City.
• Providing police and fire facilities, equipment, and personnel to maintain adopted service standards using new law enforcement and fire technologies. • The City is also participating in a Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan update which will be adopted in late spring or early summer of 2025.
Police
The Fortuna Police Department is comprised of 30 dedicated fulltime and part-time employees who provide twenty-four-hour public safety service. The department’s many divisions and specialized positons offer a wide variety of services; some of which are highlighted below:
• Police Administration manages and oversees public safety operations and ensures the department works across all City departments and the community to increase public safety. • Patrol patrols the community proactively enforcing crime and investigating calls for service.
• The Investigations team is comprised of three fulltime Detectives. Two detectives investigate crimes within our community and one Detective is assigned as a Humboldt County Drug Task Force Agent working to combat drug trafficking operations within Fortuna and throughout the county.
• The City’s K-9 Team is comprised of two Police Canines and their handlers trained in patrol operations, narcotics detection, and tracking.
• The School Resource Officer works with schools, youth and families. • Communications handles Public Safety Dispatching services for our community, Fortuna Volunteer Fire Department, and the cities of Ferndale and Rio Dell. • Community Services includes two Community Services Officers and one Kennel Attendant. The Community Services team maintains our animal control facility, responds to animal related calls, conducts parking enforcement, handles misdemeanor crime reports, maintains department evidence, and much more.
• A part-time Code Compliance Officer addresses Fortuna Municipal Code violations, blighted properties, and abandoned vehicles.
• Records maintains and routes records for prosecution, conducts live scan services for the community, and much more.
In addition to paid staff, the department hosts a wide variety of volunteer programs which allow community members to work alongside employees to enhance public safety services. Some of the department’s volunteer programs include:
• Chaplin Program which provides services to employees and community members in times Consent Item 4h
of need.
• Citizen’s on Patrol Program consisting of volunteers who have undergone a Citizen’s Academy. These volunteers patrol the community, report suspicious activity, conduct vacation house checks, assist with community events, and much more. • Police Explorer Program which engages youth and young adults interested in public safety.
Explorers attend monthly meetings, assist with community events, and ride-along with patrol officers, gaining knowledge and providing assistance when appropriate.
Last year the Department handled 15,503 incidents, made 691 arrests, issued 714 citations, received 5,051 911 calls, and 30,077 business calls. The department utilizes the National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS) to track and report crime statistics. In 2024 there was a 9.55% reduction in “Group A” crimes, which are the major crimes tracked and reported, some of which include, homicide, sex crimes, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft and arson.
In June of 2024 the Police Department staff moved into their new facility at 2600 Newburg Road, allowing the department to enhance its services to the community and provide room for future growth.
In 2024 the Police Department implemented the Special Needs Alert Program (SNAP). The program assists vulnerable members of the community like the elderly and those with disabilities and special needs with interactions with first responders. The program is voluntary and designed to identify individuals needs in advance to help first responders ensure aid is provided and their needs are accommodated during moments of crisis.
Fire
The Fortuna Fire Protection District (District) provides fire protection services including prevention, public education, preparedness, and emergency response to the City of Fortuna and the communities of Alton, Hydesville, Metropolitan, Fernbridge, and Palmer Creek. The District encompasses 26 square miles with a population of 17,000. The District equips the Fortuna Volunteer Fire Department (Department) with essential resources, including five fire engines, one ladder truck, two water tenders, five command vehicles, and three rescue trucks.
In addition to providing emergency response, the Department actively participates in Fortuna community events. Firefighters volunteer to set up and remove event banners and seasonal decorations, take part in parades with their fire trucks, and offer free rides on their antique fire engine. During rodeo week, they organize entertaining water games for kids and engage in friendly competitions for the enjoyment of the crowd.
In 2024 the Department responded to a total of 1,274 requests for service, including:
• 82 fires (including 21 structure fires)
• 760 rescue & medical incidents
• 33 hazardous conditions
• 145 service calls
• 178 good intent calls
Consent Item 4h
• 76 false alarms and false calls
Health & Safety Element (Chapter Eight)
The Health and Safety Element provides goals and policies to protect and enhance public safety by addressing potential hazards the City may face. The City implements Health & Safety Element goals, policies, and programs through:
• Holding in-house safety meetings on a quarterly basis • Ensuring that all new buildings (except as otherwise allowed by State law) intended for human habitation are designed to comply with the most recent edition of the California Building Code, California Fire code, and other adopted standards • Reviewing all new development for compliance with the City’s noise standards Community Design Element (Chapter Nine)
The Community Design Element provides goals, policies, and programs to ensure all stakeholders (e.g., developers, the City, community members) share a common understanding of what constitutes good design in Fortuna and includes requirements that individual project design is evaluated for consistency with community character as a whole. Progress implementing Community Design Element goals, policies, and programs includes:
• Continuing to encourage new development along major corridors to comply with the following minimum standards:
All outdoor storage of goods, materials, and equipment and loading dock areas shall be screened from major roadways;
Developments with multiple buildings should have a uniform design theme and sign program;
Earth tones shall be used as the dominant color; colors such as white, black, blue, and red should be used as accents. Building surfaces should have color schemes that reduce their apparent size;
Metal buildings shall be allowed only with enhanced architectural and landscaping treatment (such as use of trim bands, wing walls, parapets, and reveals); and All exterior elevations visible from major roadways should have architectural treatment to alleviate long void surfaces. This can be accomplished through varying setbacks, breaking buildings into segments, pitched roof elements, columns, indentations, patios, and incorporating landscaping into architectural design.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The 2024 General Plan and Housing Element Annual Progress Reports are not a project under the CEQA Guidelines Section 21065 definition of “project” and are therefore exempt from additional environmental review pursuant to Section 153378(b)(5).
Consent Item 4h
FISCAL IMPACT
The General Fund budget accounts for staff costs related to preparing the 2024 General Plan and Housing Element Progress Reports and submitting them to HCD and LCI.
RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION
Informational Item. Receive report by Consent Agenda vote.
ATTACHMENT:
• 2024 Housing Element Annual Progress Report