August 14, 20205 - At the August 11th meeting, the city unveiled a new online GIS mapping system developed in conjunction with two CSU Long Beach students as part of their master’s thesis. Angelica Cruz and Jully Voong demonstrated the features, which include the location of front doors and property lines. The new system will be available to the public and will be continually enhanced over time by city staff for planning and emergency preparedness purposes.
The city also received a presentation from Lucretia Renteria from the Mendocino Coast clinics about how the recent bill passed in Washington DC, will impact medical service delivery on the coast. Per Renteria, undocumented immigrants are not eligible for MediCAL benefits. However, there is also a federal mandate to treat anyone who comes through the door, which means immigrants will likely turn to emergency services for care. Able-bodied adults who are 19 through 64 years old will be required to prove that they are working or providing community service for at least eighty hours per month. Renteria said the changes also require MediCAL recipients to requalify every six months to maintain benefits. This adds to the burden at the County, which is currently understaffed. The Mendocino Coast Clinics is currently funded through February 2026.
During public comment, several residents expressed concern about the artificial turf that the city plans to install at Bainbridge Park. Under staff updates, Assistant Director of Engineering, Chantell O’Niell said the children’s play area at Bainbridge Park will be closed starting August 13th for one month during construction.
O’Niell also reported that ADA ramp construction will continue at six locations for the remainder of August.
The retirement of Police Chief Cervenka was also addressed during public comment. Several lauded his accomplishments, including the purchase of electric trucks and the CARE program. Several detractors also spoke up.
Under consent, the Fort Bragg City Council authorized a budget amendment to provide a one-time $40,000 payment to the Mendocino Coast Humane Society, adopted ordinance changes that make design review for multi-family projects a ministerial process to align with the Housing Accountability Act. Authorized a $109,000 contract expansion with Accela Civic for building, planning, and engineering permits. And authorized a $175,000 contract with Creative Thinking Inc. for the Visit Fort Bragg website
Finally, City Manager Whippy announced that the CV Star Center will host Oktoberfest on October 4th. The city also announced that they will expend $7500 plus staff time to host a Longest Table event downtown, on October 5th, on Franklin Street. Longest Table events are designed to bring the community together for a shared meal. The event is free, but RSVPs are required to ensure a seat at the table. The North Coast Kelp Fest is also scheduled for October 3rd through 6th. Additional information on all three events can be found at the Visit Fort Bragg website.