Fortuna City Council adopted Resolution 2026-18 on May 18, approving the city’s schedule of fees and charges for fiscal year 2026-27.
According to the meeting minutes, Finance Director Aaron Felmlee presented the public hearing on the proposed rates and fees, and the council approved the resolution on a 4-0 roll-call vote with Council Member Carlos Diaz absent. The adopted schedule covers administrative, building, community development, parks and recreation, police, River Lodge, transit, and water and wastewater fees.
Meeting materials and a transcript-derived summary say the building side of the schedule includes a 2.9% increase for most building department fees, tied to inflation, and a shift for most non-over-the-counter permits toward valuation-based pricing. Staff said the change was intended to improve transparency and align Fortuna more closely with nearby jurisdictions. Even with the new structure, staff said the building division would still require about a $9,302 general fund subsidy.
The council took up the fee resolution after opening the May 18 regular meeting with proclamations for Older Americans Month and National Police Week. The minutes show no public comment during the fee hearing before the council voted to adopt the measure.
The council also adopted Resolution 2026-17 on the same night, making the Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan Fortuna’s climate action framework, and approved a hiring-freeze exception for a part-time code compliance officer position.
