Fortuna Council Moves Toward Total Ban on Nitrous Oxide, Hears Urgent Plea on Police Staffing Crisis

FORTUNA, CA – The Fortuna City Council took decisive action on public health and safety at its Monday, October 6, 2025, meeting, unanimously directing staff to draft ordinances for a complete ban on nitrous oxide sales and the creation of a local tobacco retail license program. The move came after a detailed presentation from Humboldt County Public Health officials and impassioned pleas from law enforcement and community leaders.

During a study session, representatives from Public Health outlined the growing dangers of recreational nitrous oxide use, citing local youth survey data showing 4% of 7th and 11th graders in Humboldt County have tried inhalants. They highlighted severe long-term health risks, including permanent neurological damage. A retail landscape analysis revealed that nitrous oxide products, from small “whippet” canisters to large tanks, are sold openly in Fortuna, primarily at the city’s three smoke shops. These same shops were also found to have a large variety of flavored tobacco and nicotine products, the sale of which is illegal in California.

The presentation was bolstered by powerful public comment. Fortuna’s Chief of Police urged the council to implement the “strictest policies” possible, recounting a recent incident where large nitrous oxide canisters were found discarded in the brush near Fortuna High School. Humboldt County Supervisor Michelle Bushnell also spoke, sharing tragic stories from her district of paralysis and death linked to nitrous oxide inhalation. She noted the ineffectiveness of current state law, which requires a person to admit they are buying the product for inhalation to be illegal, and begged the council to act to protect the community.

Following the testimony, the council directed the city manager to return with ordinances modeled after the county’s total ban for a future vote.

Earlier in the meeting, the council was confronted with another pressing public safety issue: a severe staffing crisis at the Fortuna Police Department. The president of the Fortuna Police Employees Association (FPEA) reported that officers have worked 2,963 hours of overtime since June 29 to maintain basic patrol coverage. He stressed the issue is one of retention, not recruitment, stating the department has lost 13 personnel to other agencies since the last retirement in January 2020.

“In the next five years, we’re going to have five people who are retirement eligible,” the FPEA president warned. “When they depart, we’re going to lose approximately 100 years of law enforcement experience.” He described the personal toll on officers, including working an extra 20 hours per week and missing family events.

The meeting began on a commemorative note, with the council issuing a proclamation recognizing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. A representative from Humboldt Domestic Violence Services accepted the proclamation, noting the agency receives 100 to 200 calls for help each month and underscoring the importance of community awareness to break the cycle of violence.

In other business, the council approved a significant overhaul of the city’s purchasing and procurement codes for the first time since 1997. The changes are designed to streamline processes, save staff time, and potentially achieve better pricing by aligning with modern best practices and state regulations. The council also approved raising the purchasing authority limits for the city manager, department heads, and supervisors to further increase efficiency.