Special Budget Workshop
Minutes
Monday, May 4, 2026 at 4:30 pm
621 11th Street, Fortuna CA
Zoom Option: 1-669-900-9128 Meeting ID: 882 5892 9947 Password: 758323 • 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 4:30pm and led the flag salute. ROLL CALL: Council Member Conley - Absent, 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. DISCUSSION ITEM
Fiscal Year 2026-27 Proposed Budget
Minutes:
Finance Director Aaron Felmlee provided a staff report on the proposed Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget. PUBLIC COMMENT: Alex Service, Milton Phegle, Zoey Daffney, Dona Moxon, Elizabeth Belluscio There being no additional public comments, Mayor Johnson closed the public comment section. CITY COUNCIL ACTION: Mayor Pro Tem Trent moved, seconded by Council Diaz, to direct the City Manager to use the Museum donation funds of $22, 000 to keep the museum open while working with interested community members to initiate the transition of the Depot Museum to a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, including a.
3. | Minutes published on 05/19/2026, adopted on 05/18/2026 development of agreements for the transfer of the Museum collection and lease of the facility, and to return to Council with final agreements for approval. Roll Call vote. AYES: Council Members Diaz, Stevens, Mayor Pro Tem Trent, Mayor Johnson NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: Council Member Conley MOTION CARRIED: 4/0
ADJOURN
Minutes:
Mayor Pro Tem Trent moved, seconded by Council Member Diaz to adjourn the meeting at 5:06pm. MOTION CARRIED: 4/0
4. Fortuna City Council
621 11 th Street
Fortuna, CA 95540
May 4, 2026
Dr. Alexandra F. Service
To the Honorable Mayor and Council Members of the Fortuna City Council:
Thank you for this opportunity to address you. I am writing to give input on the Discussion Agenda Staff Report for the May 4, 2026 Special Budget Workshop.
Specifically, I would like to address Section 8. Museum Analysis.
In 2026, the Fortuna Depot Museum marks its 50th anniversary. The museum held its grand opening on July 2, 1976, as part of Fortuna's celebrations of the United States Bicentennial.
Holding the grand opening on that date was not a coincidence. The Depot Museum was Fortuna's signature project for the nation's 200th birthday. Fortuna was the first Humboldt County community to be named an official Bicentennial Community and was one of the first 75 California communities to receive this designation. The National American Revolution Bicentennial Administration granted Fortuna the Bicentennial Community title for the community project to purchase, move and restore Fortuna's historic Northwestern Pacific Railroad depot and open it as Fortuna's museum.
Spearheading the "Save the Depot" movement and creation of the Fortuna Depot Museum was Fortuna City Council Member Beth Rundell. The Times-Standard of December 1, 1974 quoted Mrs. Rundell as saying, "It's a big project and I think it can only be done by a town that works together as Fortuna does." This year, when we mark the nation's 250th birthday, it would be an ideal time to reaffirm the City's support for this community museum. Instead, financial challenges make it necessary for us to address the museum's funding and future.
In Section 8 of the May 4 Staff Report, staff recommends that "Council direct the City Manager to work with interested community members ... to initiate the transfer of the 05-04-2026 Special Budget Workshop Comment Letters Received