Trinidad City Council Appoints John Wessels-Poole, Approves 10% Staff Pay Raise
TRINIDAD, CA – In a packed meeting on Tuesday, October 14, the Trinidad City Council made two significant decisions, appointing a new member to fill a vacancy and unanimously approving an immediate 10% pay increase for all city employees.
Following the recent resignation of Council Member Kerry Varela, the council interviewed two applicants, John Wessels-Poole and Andrew Davis, for the open seat. Both candidates introduced themselves and answered questions from the council. After deliberation, the council voted 3-1 to appoint John Wessels-Poole to serve the remainder of the term, which expires in November 2026. Wessels-Poole, a seven-year resident, brings a background as a former airline and Marine Corps pilot and has served on a Resource Conservation District board and a Fire Protection District board.
The council then addressed a long-overdue Job Classification and Compensation Study prepared by Regional Government Services (RGS). The comprehensive report revealed that city staff salaries are currently 15% to 33% below the market median compared to ten similar agencies. Interim City Manager Gabe Zadona explained that the city’s unstructured pay system had created inequities and challenges in attracting and retaining employees.
Patty Howard of RGS presented the findings, noting the study provides a professional framework for job roles and fair pay. In response to the findings, city staff recommended an immediate 10% across-the-board salary increase as a good faith first step toward market alignment. The estimated monthly cost of just under $1,800 can be covered by existing budget savings from a vacant City Manager position and other unspent salary funds.
During public comment, a resident spoke in strong support of the raise, citing the high cost of living in Humboldt County and the need to retain the city’s “amazing staff.” The council voted unanimously to adopt the new classification plan and approve the 10% salary increase, effective immediately. A phased strategy to reach full market alignment will be considered during budget discussions for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026.
In other news, the results of the public vote for the Trinidad Town Hall’s new exterior paint colors were announced. The winning combination is “Whirlpool Blue” for the body, “Alabaster” for the trim, and a navy blue for the upper portions of the building. A project to repair and replace the Town Hall’s windows is scheduled to begin the week of October 20th.
During the public safety report, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Lt. Josh McCall noted that calls for service in September were stable at 57. He also announced the launch of a new grant-funded, two-deputy Problem-Oriented Policing (POP) team focused on addressing problem locations throughout the county, particularly those with a drug nexus.
The council also held its annual Unmet Transit Needs hearing. A member of the public shared her experience from a “week without driving,” highlighting the infrequent bus service to Trinidad proper compared to the airport and suggesting better bicycle storage at the airport to improve connectivity.
Additional council actions included:
* Appointing Mayor Cheryl Kelly and Vice Mayor Jack Tuttle to represent the city in government-to-government meetings with the Trinidad Rancheria and the Yurok Tribe.
* Rescheduling the November council meeting from Tuesday, November 11 (Veterans Day) to Wednesday, November 12.