Trinidad City Council Approves Budget, Sunsets Trails Committee, and Plans for New Hydrogen Bus
The Trinidad City Council convened on June 10, 2025, for a meeting covering a range of topics impacting the community. Mayor Jack Tuttle, Vice Mayor Bryce Kenny, City Manager Joe Tagliasso, City Clerk Ineze Brocco, Carrie Varela, and Kati Breckenridge were among those present at the hybrid meeting.
One of the most significant actions was the unanimous approval of the 2025-2026 budget (Resolution 2025-04). However, this decision wasn't without public input. Trinidad water customer Anita Thompson expressed concern about future water rates, noting the long-overdue need for an increase but urging the council to avoid further increases this year. Thompson also questioned the previous high costs associated with the now-departed consultant Coleman Engineering and requested that a planned $100,000 general fund loan to the water fund not be delayed.
In other personnel matters, the council unanimously voted to appoint Mayor Tuttle and City Manager Tagliasso to the Animal Advisory Committee, with Carrie Varela serving as an alternate. This follows a discussion about replacing Council Member Breckenridge on the committee.
Another significant decision was the unanimous vote to sunset the Trails Advisory Committee. No further details on the reasoning behind this decision were provided in the meeting transcript.
The meeting also included reports from council members. Vice Mayor Kenny described the most recent Humboldt County Council of Governments (HCoG) meeting as "uneventful." Mayor Tuttle reported on his attendance at several Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District meetings and a Humboldt Bay Waste Management Authority meeting. The council also announced the arrival of a new hydrogen bus, secured through a grant, and noted the recent launch of the Humboldt Energy Authority's new 300-megawatt solar facility.
Public comment also included a request from Council Member Varela for direction on resurfacing the deteriorating tennis court, a project that the council will now explore options for.
Looking ahead, the council will review the delayed minutes from the May 13th meeting at their July meeting. A government-to-government (G2G) meeting with the Yurok Tribe is scheduled for June 30th, with future G2G meetings to be determined, potentially establishing a standing committee. The full meeting video and agendas are available at [https://www.trinidad.ca.gov/meetings](https://www.trinidad.ca.gov/meetings).
Residents interested in participating in future council meetings or providing input on city matters are encouraged to visit the city's website for details on upcoming meetings and public comment procedures.