Fortuna Cub Scout leaders and parents used the July 20 City Council meeting to challenge a new $32-an-hour fee for meetings at the Rec Hall, saying the charge threatens a long-running use of the facility by scout groups.
Jessica Payne told the council her group was being billed for meetings at the hall, which speakers also referred to as the former Scouts Hall and the Fortuna Recreation Center. Vicki Brown, a den leader for Cub Scout Pack 47, said the pack has used the building for years and asked the council to waive the fee. Honorable Polanco, a Fortuna resident and Cub Scout parent, also urged council members to reconsider charging scouting meetings.
City staff said the charge traces back to the fiscal year 2024-25 fee schedule, when council reduced many nonprofit fee grants. According to the meeting record, staff said the city is open to a gradual transition to the new structure. The record does not include the exact fee-schedule language or the specific waiver categories that changed.
The dispute surfaced during a meeting that also included a long agenda of planning, budgeting and staffing items. Among them, the council adopted the city’s Strategic Plan 2026-2036, advanced an Opportunity Zone 2.0 application, and approved hiring freeze exceptions for parks and recreation and police recruitment.
The full meeting video is available through the city’s posted record of the July 20, 2026 Fortuna City Council meeting.
