Consent Agenda Item 3b
STAFF REPORT
Consent Agenda Item
DATE: December 15, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
FROM: Siana L. Emmons, City Clerk
THROUGH: Amy Nilsen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Administrative Department Monthly Report
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Receive report as an informational item.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The Administration Department monthly report encompasses the following divisions: City Attorney, City Clerk, Risk Management/Human Resources and Information Technology.
CITY ATTORNEY
The City Attorney billing was 21.4 hours for the month of October with the Mitchell Law Firm, LLC. Billing for the month of November will be provided with the December monthly report.
Project support for these months included public records request review, ordinance review, contract review, personnel inquiries and various email and telephone calls.
CITY CLERK DIVISION
For the month of November, the Clerk’s Office prepared and published two agendas for Regular City Council Meetings, and one Cancellation Notice for RCRPD Commission meeting.
City Council Meetings
Council Meeting Date Agenda Items
November 17, 2025 Regular Meeting 11
December 1, 2025 Regular Meeting 6
Totals 17
Consent Agenda Item 3b
City Clerk’s Office Key Duties November
Public Records Act Requests 5
General Information Requests 25 – 30 per day, average
Ordinances 3
Resolutions 1
Minutes Prepared 3
Notary Services Provided 1
Claims for Damages Filed 1
FPPC Filings: 0
Legal/Proof of Publications 7
Notices Posted (Public Hearing, Agenda, Ordinance, etc.) 13 On December 9, 2025, Clerk staff attended a webinar with information regarding Senate Bill 707, which explained the significant changes to the Brown Act, California's open meeting law.
Fortunately, due to Fortuna’s population, the City is under the 30,000 City population threshold and the 600,000 county population threshold, which means Fortuna will not have to implement any changes at this time.
RISK MANAGEMENT / HUMAN RESOURCES DIVISION
Staff continues to meet weekly with NeoGov representatives for Perform implementation training.
Staff anticipate rolling out Perform for use in January 2026.
Risk Management
There were no new Worker’s Compensation claims as of November 1, 2025, and one (1) new tort claims. City staff continue to work closely with LWP for Worker’s Compensation and George Hills, the City’s third-party claims administrator to bring claims to settlement or closure.
Date of Claim Type of Claim Status
09/18/2025 Property Claim In Progress
10/08/2025 Property Claim Closed
10/28/2025 Property Claim In Progress
On December 10, 2025, risk staff attended the California Intergovernmental Risk Authority (CIRA) Executive Committee meeting. Topics included discussion of captive insurance feasibility study and loss portfolio transfer options, strategic planning initiatives, and self-insured retention/deductible evaluation. Review and approvals included audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025, prospective member applications for Pioneer Fire Protection District, City of El Segundo, and City of Chino, and the grant program utilization and discussion of administrative and procedural changes.
On December 11, 2025, risk staff also attended the CIRA board meeting. This included a day-long risk and governance forum, which provided members with insight into existing practices and the unique, evolving changing facing CIRA and its organizational goals. Consent calendar topics included updates to CIRA strategic planning initiatives, investment policies and portfolio updates, Consent Agenda Item 3b
general liability memorandum of coverage, recognition and appreciation of distinguished service by John Gillison, the current Board President, and election of the next CIRA Board President.
December 11, 2025, risk staff attended the Redwood Empire Municipal Insurance Fund (REMIF) board of directors meeting. Consent calendar topics included review of June 2025 and 2024 financials, calendar meetings for fiscal years 2026/27 and 2027/28, REMIF conflict of interest code, and Transamerica and Express Scripts Medicare supplement renewal, and prospective member applications for City of Ferndale and City of Blue Lake to REMIF Self-Insured Health Plan.
Human Resources
As a part of the ongoing employee training opportunities, our Payroll and Benefits Administrator, Kelea Town, and Human Resources Director/City Clerk, Siana Emmons, attended the 2025 California Public Employers Labor Relations Association (CalPELRA) annual conference between November 19 – November 21, 2025, in Monterey, CA.
Staff attended the following sessions:
All the Feels: A New Generation of Workers and Accommodations for Mental Health Conditions which covered trends among newer workers, how to conduct the interactive process, and effective accommodations for conditions such as depression, ADD/ADHD, and anxiety, while supporting a multigenerational workforce.
Tough Budget Times: How to Reduce Your Workforce training on legal and practical considerations for workforce reductions during budget constraints. The session reviewed layoffs, severance options, part-time programs, related benefit, and retirement impacts, and key collective bargaining obligations.
Who Wants to be a CalPERS Retiree? California Public Agencies’ Favorite Gameshow reviewed common and complex issues faced by public agencies, including payrate and special compensation reporting, SB 278 liability, retired annuitant rules, recent case law impacts, and disability retirement requirements for safety and non-safety members. The session provided guidance on recognizing and avoiding common CalPERS-related errors.
Protecting Your Agency from the Pitfalls of Police Discipline, from Allegations to Appeals explored the complexities of disciplining police officers, including legal requirements, investigatory best practices, ad reporting obligations. Strategies were reviewed for handling disciplinary appeals, managing high-profile cases, and minimizing political and organizational impacts. The discussion also addressed practical considerations such as administrative leave, departmental morale, and the overall costs and consequences of disciplinary actions.
CalPERS’ New Industrial Disability Retirement Procedures: Navigating the Maze of an Evolving Process addressed recent changes to CalPERS’ IDR procedures and the challenges they pose for public employers. Staff learned practical strategies for analyzing, certifying, and defending IDR determinations, including differences between IDR and workers’ compensation standards. The session emphasized compliance, minimizing costly errors, and protecting the agency’s interests while ensuring fairness and legal integrity in the disability process.
Building Stakeholder Trust and Minimizing Organizational Costs through Proactive Disability and Leave Management focused on improving disability and leave programs to rebuild trust and increase transparency for employees, supervisors, and labor partners. Staff learned strategies for effective communication, employee advocacy, and support throughout leaves, including timely benefit guidance, coaching, and improved return-to-work processes.
Consent Agenda Item 3b
Human Resources staff continue to administer recruitments for non-general fund full-time positions, police officer and sergeant and part-time recreation positions, as needed.
Current Recruitments:
Parks and Recreation
Park Maintenance Worker II: Candidate selected and is in the pre-employment stage.
Conference Center Worker: Matthew Torres and Caleb Seitz started December 2nd.
Recreation Leader/Youth Basketball Facilitator: Recruitment closed November 30th and interviews conducted on December 9
th
.
Police Department
Police Officer: Recruitment open until filled, interviews continue to be scheduled as qualified applicants apply.
Police Officer Trainee: Recruitment open until filled, interviews continue to be scheduled as qualified applicants apply. One candidate in the pre-employment stage.
Community Services Officer: Candidate is in the pre-employment stage.
Public Works
Lead Vehicle and Equipment Mechanic: Dylan Cook started November 17th.
Treatment Plant Operator I/II (Non-General Funded Position): Employee recruitment requisition received December 8th.
The City is always looking to recruit qualified staff for open positions. For more information about employment with the City of Fortuna, visit the City’s website www.friendlyfortuna.com, send e-mail to the City Clerk at [email protected], or call 707-725-7600. We also encourage all interested applicants to create a user account on www.governmentjobs.com
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIVISION
City Website (www.friendlyfortuna.com)
If any members of the public would like to receive public notices from Public Works, Community Development/Planning, the Police Department or Citywide Press Releases, please visit the website at https://www.friendlyfortuna.com/enotify/index.php and sign up for e-notifications.
Computer/Network
IT support staff continues to work collaboratively with Nylex to meet the City’s ongoing technical needs.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
Receive Administrative Monthly Report. Consent Agenda vote.