Meeting Agenda
Minutes
Monday, March 2, 2026 at 6:00 pm
621 11th Street, Fortuna CA
Regular Meeting Agenda
Zoom Option: 1-669-900-9128 Meeting ID 868 0614 2326 Password 060315 • We May Disagree, But We Will Be Respectful of One Another • All Comments Will Be Directed to the Issue at Hand, and Addressed to the City Council • Personal Attacks are Unacceptable
• The City Council May Take Action on any Item on this Agenda.
CALL TO ORDER / FLAG SALUTE / ROLL CALL
Minutes:
Mayor Johnson called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm and led the flag salute.
ROLL CALL: Council Member Conley - Present, Council Member Diaz - Present, Council Member Stevens - Present, Mayor Pro Tem Trent - Present, Mayor Johnson - Present
1. ORAL COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Minutes:
PUBLIC COMMENT: There being no public comments, Mayor Johnson closed the public comment section.
2. PRESENTATIONS/PROCLAMATIONS
Minutes:
Mayor Johnson presented the Sunshine Week Proclamation to League of Women Voters of Humboldt County Board Member Kathy Johanson.
a. Sunshine Week Proclamation
3. CONSENT CALENDAR
Minutes:
4. PUBLIC COMMENT: There being no public comment, Mayor Johnson closed the public comment section.
CITY COUNCIL ACTION: Mayor Pro Tem Trent moved, seconded by Council Member Conley, to approve the consent calendar.
AYES: Council Members Conley, Diaz, Stevens, Mayor Pro Tem Trent, Mayor Johnson NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: None MOTION CARRIED: 5/0 a. City Council Minutes – February 2, 2026 (Regular Meeting) b. Report of Disbursements
c. Receive and File Assembly Bill 2561 Status and Vacancies Report Review and Approve Mayor’s Recommendation of Appointee to the Park Commission
d.
CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS
Public Hearing for Second Reading and Adoption of Amendments to Title 17, Zoning Regulations, Ordinance 2026-782
Minutes:
STAFF REPORT: Senior Planner Katey Schmidt, provided a staff report on Ordinance 2026-782, amendments to Title 17, the Zoning Regulations.
PUBLIC COMMENT: There being no comments from the public, Mayor Johnson closed the public comment section.
CITY COUNCIL ACTION: Council Member Conley moved, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Trent, to hold a second reading and adopt Ordinance 2026-782, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Fortuna Certifying Compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act, and Amending Title 17 (The Zoning Regulations) of the Fortuna Municipal Code to Comply with State Law for Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units.
Roll call vote.
AYES: Council Members Conley, Diaz, Stevens, Mayor Pro Tem Trent, Mayor Johnson NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: None MOTION CARRIED 5/0. a.
Approve a Hiring Freeze Exception for a Community Development Director/ City Engineer
Minutes:
STAFF REPORT: City Manager Amy Nilsen provided a staff report on a hiring freeze exception for a Community Development Director/City Engineer.
PUBLIC COMMENT: There being no comments from the public, Mayor Johnson closed the public comment section.
CITY COUNCIL ACTION: Council Member Conley moved, seconded by Council Member Diaz, to approve an exception to the hiring freeze for the Community Development Director/City Engineer position and begin the recruitment and appointment process.
Roll call vote.
AYES: Council Members Conley, Diaz, Stevens, Mayor Pro Tem Trent, Mayor Johnson NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: None MOTION CARRIED 5/0. b.
Approve Two Purchase and Sale Agreements for Acquisition of 7.2 Acres at 1320 Riverwalk Drive and Approximately 236 Acres in the Eel River Corridor; c.
5. Adoption of Related CEQA Findings; Resolutions 2026-04 and 2026-05 Minutes:
STAFF REPORT: City Manager Amy Nilsen provided a staff report on the purchase and sale agreements for acquisition of 7.2 acres at 1320 Riverwalk Drive and approximately 236 acres in the Eel River Corridor.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Tina Christensen
There being no additional comments from the public, Mayor Johnson closed the public comment section.
CITY COUNCIL ACTION: Council Member Conley moved, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Trent to adopt Resolution 2026-04 A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Fortuna, California, Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Agreement of Purchase and Sale and Joint Escrow Instructions with Troy Elbert Land and Trudy Marilyn Ehmke for the Acquisition of Approximately 7.2 Acres of Unimproved Real property Located at 1320 Riverwalk Drive, Fortuna, California(Portion of APN 200-362-005-000) Through the California River Parkways Grant Program (Grant Agreement No. R86202-0); Adopting CEQA Categorical Exemption Findings Under Guidelines §§ 15316 and 15325; and Making Related Findings and Authorizations.
Roll call vote.
AYES: Council Members Conley, Diaz, Stevens, Mayor Pro Tem Trent, Mayor Johnson NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: None MOTION CARRIED 5/0.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None.
There being no additional public comment, Mayor Johnson closed the public comment section.
CITY COUNCIL ACTION: Council Member Conley moved, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Trent to adopt Resolution 2026-05 A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Fortuna, California, Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Agreement of Purchase and Sale and Joint Escrow Instructions with Troy Elbert Land and Trudy Marilyn Ehmke for the Acquisition of Approximately 236 Acres of Unimproved Real Property in the Unincorporated Area of Humboldt County (Portion of APN 200-362-005-000 and APNs 106-091-040-000, 106-091-030-000, and 106-091-044-000) Through the California Coastal Conservancy Grant Program, Conditioned Upon Receipt of Grant Funding at or in Excess of Fair Market Value; Authorizing Designation of a Conservancy Steward to Hold and Manage the Property; Adopting a CEQA Class 25 Categorical Exemption Finding (CEQA Guidelines § 15325); and Making Related Findings and Authorizations.
Roll call vote.
AYES: Council Members Conley, Diaz, Stevens, Mayor Pro Tem Trent, Mayor Johnson NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: None MOTION CARRIED 5/0.
Approve a Zoning Map Amendment for Assessor’s Parcel Number 040-172-009 from Retail Commercial to Commercial Thoroughfare, and Find the Project Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act, Ordinance 2026-783
Minutes:
STAFF REPORT: Senior Planner Katey Schmidt provided a staff report on a d.
zoning map amendment from Retail Commercial to Commercial Thoroughfare for Assessor’s Parcel Number 040-172-009. PUBLIC COMMENT:
Erica Thompson
Sue Long
Abe Fockeart
Carson Anderson - City Ambulance
Chief Matt Eberhardt, Fortuna Police Department
There being no additional comments from the public, Mayor Johnson closed the public comment section.
CITY COUNCIL ACTION: Mayor Pro Tem Trent moved, seconded by Council Member Conley, to hold the first reading of Ordinance 2026-783, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Fortuna Approving a Zoning Map Amendment from Retail Commercial to Commercial Thoroughfare for Assessor’s Parcel Number 040-172-009 and Finding the Project Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act, and continue the item to the next regular Council meeting. Roll call vote. AYES: Council Members Conley, Diaz, Stevens, Mayor Pro Tem Trent, Mayor Johnson NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: None MOTION CARRIED 5/0.
Approve a Hiring Freeze Exception for a Part-Time/On-Call Public Safety Dispatcher
Minutes:
STAFF REPORT: Police Lieutenant Jason Kadle provided a staff report on a hiring freeze exception for a vacant Part-Time/On-Call Public Safety Dispatcher position.
PUBLIC COMMENT: There being no comments from the public, Mayor Johnson closed the public comment section.
CITY COUNCIL ACTION: Council Member Conley moved, seconded by Council Member Diaz, to approve an exception to the hiring freeze for the Police Department part-time/on-call Dispatcher position and begin recruitment/hiring process.
Roll call vote.
AYES: Council Members Conley, Diaz, Stevens, Mayor Pro Tem Trent, Mayor Johnson NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: None MOTION CARRIED 5/0. e.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
Minutes:
City Manager Amy Nilsen provided a verbal report.
6. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Minutes:
Council Member Diaz requested the Council revisit appointments to outside committees.
7. CITY COUNCIL REPORTS AND COMMENTS
a. Council Member Kyle Conley
b. Council Member Carlos Diaz
8. Contact: Siana L. Emmons, City Clerk ([email protected] 707-725-1409) | Minutes published on 03/17/ 2026, adopted on 03/16/2026
c. Council Member Abe Stevens
d. Mayor Pro Tem Tami Trent
e. Mayor Mike Johnson
ADJOURN
Minutes:
Council Member Conley moved, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Trent to adjourn the meeting at 6:45 pm. MOTION CARRIED: 5/0
9.