Meeting Agenda
Minutes
Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at 6:00 pm
621 11th Street, Fortuna CA
Regular Meeting Agenda
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• 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 - Absent, Council Member Diaz - Present, Council Member Stevens - Present, Mayor Pro Tem Trent - Present, Mayor Johnson - Present Mayor Johnson reported out there was nothing to report from the 5pm Special meeting Closed Session.
1. PRESENTATIONS / PROCLAMATIONS
Constitution Week 2026 Proclamation
Minutes:
Mayor Johnson presented the Constitution Week Proclamation to Catherine Culver from the Eel Valley Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR).
a.
Presentation by Vero Fiber
Minutes:
Presentation was presented by Candace Kaiser, Director of Fiber Built Programs and Joe Wicelinski, OSP Project Manager.
b.
2. 3. ORAL COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Minutes:
Virginia Howard Mullen, Matt Rogers There being no additional public comments, Mayor Johnson closed the public comment section.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Minutes:
PUBLIC COMMENT: There being no public comments, Mayor Johnson closed the public comment section. CITY COUNCIL ACTION: Mayor Pro Tem Trent moved, seconded by Council Member Diaz, to approve the consent calendar. Voice vote.
AYES: Council Members Diaz, Stevens, Mayor Pro Tem Trent, Mayor Johnson NOES:
None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: Council Member Conley MOTION CARRIED: 4/0 a. City Council Minutes – August 17, 2026 (Regular Meeting) b. Report of Disbursements
c. Parks Commission Bylaws Amendment
4. CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS
Introduction and First Reading of Ordinance 2026-788, Adding Chapter 5.30 to the Fortuna Municipal Code Regulating Massage Establishments Minutes:
Interim Chief of Police Matt Eberhardt provided a staff on the adding Chapter
5.30 to the Fortuna Municipal Code regulating massage establishments.
PUBLIC COMMENT: There being no public comments, Mayor Johnson closed the public comment section. CITY COUNCIL ACTION: Council Member Diaz moved, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Trent, to introduce and conduct a first reading of Ordinance 2026-788, an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Fortuna Adding Chapter 5.30 to Article 5 of the Fortuna Municipal Code Regulating Massage Establishments and continue the public hearing to October 5, 2026, for the second reading and adoption. Roll Call vote. AYES: Council Members Diaz, Mayor Pro Tem Trent, Mayor Johnson NOES: Council Member Stevens ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: Council Members Conley MOTION CARRIED: 3/1
a.
Authorization to Submit a Proposal to Establish a NorCal SBDC Neighborhood Branch Serving Fortuna and the Greater Eel River Valley Minutes:
Senior Planner Katey Schmidt provided a staff report on submitting a proposal to establish a NorCal Small Business Development Center (SBDC) neighborhood branch. PUBLIC COMMENT: There being no public comments, Mayor Johnson closed the public comment section. CITY COUNCIL ACTION:
Council Member Diaz moved, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Trent, to authorize staff to submit a proposal to the Northern California Small Business Development Center seeking designation of the City of Fortuna as a Neighborhood Branch host organization serving Fortuna and the greater Eel River Valley. Roll Call vote. AYES: Council Members Diaz, Stevens, Mayor Pro Tem Trent, Mayor Johnson NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: Council Members Conley MOTION CARRIED: 4/0
b.
5. Contact: Siana L. Emmons, City Clerk ([email protected] 707-725-1409) | Minutes published on 10/08/ 2026, adopted on 09/21/2026
Hiring Freeze Exception – Finance Office Supervisor
Minutes:
Finance Director Aaron Felmlee provided a staff report on a hiring freeze exemption for the Finance Office Supervisor position. PUBLIC COMMENT:
Catherine Culver, Matt Eberhardt. There being no additional public comments, Mayor Johnson closed the public comment section. CITY COUNCIL ACTION:
Mayor Pro Tem Trent moved, seconded by Council Member Diaz, to approve an exception to the hiring freeze for the Finance Office Supervisor position and, if necessary, to fill a resulting Finance vacancy provided an internal Finance staff member is promoted. Roll Call vote. AYES: Council Members Diaz, Stevens, Mayor Pro Tem Trent, Mayor Johnson NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: Council Members Conley MOTION CARRIED: 4/0
c.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
Minutes:
Acting City Manager Aaron Felmlee provided a verbal report.
6. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Minutes:
None.
7. CITY COUNCIL REPORTS AND COMMENTS
a. Council Member Kyle Conley
b. Council Member Carlos Diaz
c. Council Member Abe Stevens
d. Mayor Pro Tem Tami Trent
e. Mayor Mike Johnson
8. ADJOURN
Minutes:
Mayor Pro Tem Trent moved, seconded by Council Member Diaz to adjourn the meeting at 6:51 pm. MOTION CARRIED: 4/0
9.