Consent Agenda Item 3c
STAFF REPORT
Consent Agenda Item
DATE: April 6, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
FROM: Brian Issa, Director of Public Works
THRU: Amy Nilsen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Approve and Adopt the Humboldt County Operational Area Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP), 2025 Update Volume 1 and the City of Fortuna Annex of Volume 2; and Authorize the City Manager or Designee to Submit the Adopted Resolution to Appropriate Agencies; Resolution 2026-08 STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt Resolution 2026-08 approving and adopting the Humboldt County Operational Area Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP), 2025 Update Volume 1 and the City of Fortuna Annex in Volume 2; and authorize the City Manager or designee to submit the adopted resolution to Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services (OES), California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), and the Federal Emergency Management Authority (FEMA)_.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
• What this is. Adoption of the Humboldt County Operational Area Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (2025 Update) and the City of Fortuna Annex—the countywide, FEMA-compliant plan that documents our risks and the mitigation projects we intend to pursue. • Why it matters to Fortuna. Adoption is a FEMA requirement for eligibility to apply for Hazard Mitigation Assistance grants (e.g., Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA), Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC)) that can fund local priorities such as hardening critical facilities, stormwater/flood projects, and seismic resilience. FEMA approved the plan on Dec. 19, 2025; each partner city must formally adopt to keep grant eligibility.
• What's new in this update. Stronger public/stakeholder outreach, higher-resolution loss modeling (Hazus Level 2), integration of climate impacts, and a focus on community lifelines (water, power, transportation, safety) to better target funding and projects. • Project/CIP coordination. Table 178 of the Fortuna Annex shows specific actions and associated costs. Where applicable, projects are typically added to the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) as prioritization and funding allow. This City utilizes this approval to seek grant funding for many of these projects where feasible. • Timing. The previous LHMP was approved March 11, 2020, and expired March 10, 2025.
The 2025 update was developed Dec 2024–June 2025, went through public review in May 2025, and is now ready for local adoption; the next resubmission is due Dec. 9, 2030.
Consent Agenda Item 3c
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Adoption itself has minimal cost (staff time) and preserves access to external grant dollars; specific match requirements will be brought to Council with each project/grant.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
Motion to adopt Resolution 2026-08. Consent Agenda vote.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Do not adopt the updated LHMP. Not recommended; it would jeopardize eligibility for FEMA hazard mitigation funding and delay implementation of the City’s Annex action list.
DECISION MAKING CRITERIA
• Increase opportunities for cross-org and external collaboration • Positive community impact and increased emergency preparedness and grant positioning Attachments:
• Exhibit A - Humboldt Operational Area Hazard Mitigation Plan: City of Fortuna Annex • Exhibit B - Resolution 2026-08, a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Fortuna Authorizing Adoption of the Humboldt County Operational Area Hazard Mitigation Plan 2025 Update
• Exhibit C – Entire Humboldt Operational Area Hazard Mitigation Plan (volumes 1 & 2) - https://humboldtgov.org/DocumentCenter/View/149343/Humboldt-County-HMPVolume-1_2025-09_24_-508-ready-