Consent Agenda Item 3d
STAFF REPORT
Consent Agenda Item
DATE: January 5, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
FROM: Amy Nilsen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Authorize City Manager to Execute Professional Services Agreement with Jen Rice Consults for Fortuna Strategic Plan and General Plan Updates and Supplemental Budget Request
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Authorize the City Manager to execute the professional services agreement with Jen Rice Consults for Fortuna Strategic Plan and General Plan Updates and approve a supplemental budget request in the amount of $70,000.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Per the City Council’s Policy and Procedures Manual the City Council every two years following a City Council election, meets with department managers in a goal setting/priority projects session to review progress on goals previously set, and defines new goals, and objectives for the City. This has not been done in several years.
At the December 15, 2024, City Council meeting during Future Agenda Item discussion, the Council requested the City develop goals as stated in the City Council’s Policies and Procedures Manual. A brief discussion took place where the City Manager asked the Council if they would be open to a more thorough process to work on vision, shared purpose, priorities and a strategic plan1in a more comprehensive approach involving the community, and the City Council was agreeable to this option.
The City of Fortuna began listening to staff and the community during the summer and fall of 2025 to inform the public engagement process for updates of the City’s General Plan and Strategic Plan in 2026. Open-ended questions during interviews and focus groups were designed to discover what City staff and community members anonymously think, feel, hope for, and prioritize about the City’s future operations and development. Listening was designed to understand the sentiments, perspectives, and needs of a diverse sample of City interests:
o Staff Interviews: across departments of those closest to City operations about their experiences and internal strategic interests
1 A strategic plan is a comprehensive framework cities use to define their long-term vision, establish specific objectives, and outline the actions required to achieve them. It acts as a roadmap that guides a city through its goals, challenges, and milestones. A well-crafted strategic plan helps bridge the gap between high-level aspirations and daily operations, ensuring that all efforts remain aligned toward a common purpose.
Consent Agenda Item 3d
o Community Interviews: a broad cross-section of residents about how they feel about and what they hope for in their community
o Focus Groups: more time with immigrants and struggling teens, two groups that often lack influence on and yet are greatly impacted by government decisions On December 15, 2025, your City Council received a presentation on the first phase of this project which included information from staff interviews. Also discussed were the completion of community interviews and focus groups and a report on the community listening campaign that would come back later.
The second phase of this project includes:
• Listening Campaign Report - develop draft and final reports about staff and community and focus group results.
• Workshops Planning and Preparation - champions workshop (a mix of staff and community interested in this process) and public outreach plan for workshops • Public Workshop 1 (weeknight 2.5 hours) – present listening campaign results, and create guiding principles
• Public Workshop 2 (weekend 4 hours) – apply principles to identify priorities for both plans, map potential partnerships and priority projects. • Staff and Council workshops to outline plans
• Final synthesis of results and preparation of draft and final strategic plan and guidance for General Plan Update development.
It is anticipated that the General Plan Update (GPU) Request for Proposals (RFP) will be released on January 12. The RFP includes language requiring the incorporation of the Strategic Planning document and community guidance into the GPU process.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The supplemental budget request is for the second phase of the Fortuna Strategic Plan and General Plan updates in the amount of $70,000. The funds for the second phase of this project will come from the $1,000,000 set aside for the General Plan update. Costs for staff time to meet with the consultant and engage in this work are already included in the budget as salaries.
Staff will also explore grant opportunities to further enhance community engagement and additional focus groups.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
1. Motion to authorize the City Manager to execute the Professional Services Agreement with Jen Rice Consults for Fortuna Strategic Plan and General Plan Updates and approve a supplemental budget request in the amount of $70,000. Consent Agenda vote.
ATTACHMENTS:
• Professional Services Agreement with Jen Rice Consults • Supplemental Budget Request