RESOLUTION 2026-17
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORTUNA ADOPTING
THE HUMBOLDT REGIONAL CLIMATE ACTION PLAN AS THE CITY OF FORTUNA’S REGIONAL CLIMATE ACTION FRAMEWORK AND MAKING
FINDINGS AS A RESPONSIBLE AGENCY UNDER THE CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
WHEREAS, the State of California has established greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets, including reducing statewide GHG emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 pursuant to Senate Bill 32 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2045 pursuant to Assembly Bill 1279; and WHEREAS, in 2019, Humboldt County and the incorporated cities, including the City of Fortuna, entered into a collaborative effort to develop a shared, countywide Regional Climate Action Plan (RCAP) to address climate change through coordinated regional planning while respecting local land use authority; and
WHEREAS, Humboldt County, through its Planning and Building Department, served as the Lead Agency under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for preparation of the RCAP and a Programmatic Environmental Impact Report (EIR) evaluating the potential environmental effects of RCAP implementation (State Clearinghouse No. 2024081319); and WHEREAS, on December 16, 2025, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors adopted the Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan by Resolution No. 25‑196 and, by separate Resolution No. 25‑197, certified the Final Programmatic EIR, adopted a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP), and adopted a Statement of Overriding Considerations; and WHEREAS, the County‑certified Final Programmatic EIR consists of the Draft EIR, comments received during the public review period, responses to comments, and revisions to the Draft EIR, as required by CEQA Guidelines Section 15132; and
WHEREAS, the Final Programmatic EIR evaluates the potential environmental effects of implementing the RCAP at a programmatic level and identifies mitigation measures applicable to future discretionary projects that may be undertaken to implement RCAP strategies, rather than to adoption of the RCAP itself; and
WHEREAS, the RCAP establishes a coordinated, technically supported regional framework for reducing GHG emissions through sector‑based strategies addressing transportation, land use, building energy, solid waste, water and wastewater, carbon sequestration, and regional coordination; and
WHEREAS, adoption of the RCAP does not approve, fund, authorize, or entitle any specific development project, construction activity, or regulatory change, but provides a flexible planning framework to be implemented over time through future City actions subject to separate approval; and
WHEREAS, the City of Fortuna desires to adopt the RCAP as a regional climate action framework to support long‑term GHG reduction planning, enhance coordination with regional partners, improve competitiveness for State and federal funding, and provide a consistent technical basis for future policy decisions and environmental review; and
WHEREAS, the City’s action to adopt the RCAP constitutes an independent discretionary action, and the City of Fortuna is acting as a Responsible Agency pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15096; and
WHEREAS, as a Responsible Agency, the City Council has reviewed and considered the County‑certified Final Programmatic EIR, the Final EIR Errata, the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, and the Statement of Overriding Considerations, together with the administrative record and all information submitted for the City’s consideration; and WHEREAS, the City Council held a duly noticed public meeting to consider adoption of the Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan and received public testimony.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Fortuna as follows:
Section 1. CEQA Responsible Agency Findings
A. The City Council finds that the County‑certified Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Report (State Clearinghouse No. 2024081319), as corrected and clarified by Final EIR Errata dated November 25, 2025, adequately analyzes and discloses the potential environmental effects associated with implementation of the RCAP at a programmatic level and is sufficient for the City’s discretionary action to adopt the RCAP.
B. Acting as a Responsible Agency pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15096, the City Council has reviewed and considered, and hereby relies upon, the County‑certified Final Programmatic EIR, Final EIR Errata, Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, and Statement of Overriding Considerations in its decision‑making.
C. The City Council finds that adoption of the RCAP is a policy‑level planning action that does not approve or authorize physical development, construction, or regulatory changes, and therefore does not result in a direct physical change to the environment at this time.
D. The City Council acknowledges that the Final EIR identifies mitigation measures applicable to future discretionary projects that may be undertaken to implement RCAP strategies, and that those measures will be applied, as appropriate, at the time such projects are proposed and reviewed.
Adoption of a separate mitigation monitoring program by the City is not required for adoption of the RCAP.
E. If the City of Fortuna proposes or acts as Lead Agency for any future discretionary project to implement RCAP measures, the City shall conduct appropriate project‑level CEQA review, apply feasible mitigation measures, and make any required findings in accordance with CEQA.
Section 2. Adoption of the Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan The City Council hereby adopts the Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan as the City of Fortuna’s regional climate action planning framework.
On motion by ________________, seconded by ______________, and the following roll-call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
_____________________________________
MIKE JOHNSON, MAYOR
Attest:
__________________________________
SIANA EMMONS, CITY CLERK
I, __________________, Deputy City Clerk of the City of Fortuna, State of California, hereby certify the above and foregoing to be a full, true and correct copy of a resolution adopted by said City Council on this _____ day of _____________, 20____.
__________________________________________
Name, Deputy City Clerk of the City of Fortuna,
State of California
By: _____________________________________
Name and Title
Note: The attesting officer cannot be the person identified in the Resolution as the authorized signer.