Just one year after accepting the position, Mark Wheetley has resigned as Fortuna’s city manager. The move came one week after he was placed on paid administrative leave by the Fortuna City Council following his sentencing in a DUI case, his second in less than two years. According to a release from the city, Wheetley […]
Mark Wheetley
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Fortuna Council Places Wheetley on Paid Leave
The Fortuna City Council has placed City Manager Mark Wheetley on paid administrative leave in the wake of his sentencing earlier this week after pleading guilty to a “wet and reckless” charge, his second DUI-related offense in less than two years. “At a city council meeting on March 28, 2018, the city council voted 5-0 […]
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Fortuna City Manager Mark Wheetley Receives Jail Time for DUI
Humboldt County District Attorney Maggie Fleming confirmed this afternoon that Fortuna city manager Mark Wheetley pleaded guilty to driving involving alcohol (Vehicle Code section 23103.5, also known as a “wet and reckless”) and violation of probation due to a previous DUI arrest. Court commissioner Timothy Canning sentenced Wheetley to three years probation and 15 days […]
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UPDATE: Fortuna Passes Registration Requirements for Personal Use Cannabis Grows
UPDATE: The Fortuna City Council voted unanimously last night to require residents to register their personal-use cannabis grows with the city. Residents wanting to exercise their rights under Proposition 64 to grow up to six marijuana plants for personal use will now have to pay a $100 filing fee to the city, file a “notice […]
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UPDATE: Fortuna City Manager Arrested for Second DUI
Fortuna City Manager Mark Wheetley was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence yesterday evening, just about 18 months after a DUI arrest derailed his candidacy for a seat on the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors. California Highway Patrol spokesman Cy May said an officer pulled Wheetley over shortly after 7 p.m. yesterday after […]
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Brett Watson Selected as New Arcata Councilmember
Small business owner Brett Watson will join the Arcata City Council on April 19 after being unanimously selected by the other councilmembers following last night’s candidate forum. He will serve out the remainder of Mark Wheetley’s term, which ends in December of 2018. After 12 years of public service, Wheetley stepped down in March to […]
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Arcata Council Hopefuls to Take Questions at Forum
The seven hopefuls seeking to fill the remainder of Mark Wheetley’s term on the Arcata City Council are set to take questions at a candidate forum tomorrow at city hall. Three Arcata planning commissioners — Jason Akana, Robin Baker and Judith Mayer — as well as educator Michael J. Hart, Minor Theatre owner Joshua Neff, […]
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Seven Apply to Fill Wheetley’s Council Seat
Seven hopefuls met Friday’s deadline to apply for the Arcata City Council seat left vacant when longtime member Mark Wheetley stepped down earlier this month to become Fortuna’s city manager. The council voted March 1 to move forward with the application process recommended by staff to fill the remainder of Wheetley’s term, which runs through […]
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Wheetley Feted as Arcata Council Moves Forward With Appointment
Now former Arcata Councilmember Mark Wheetley was sent off with a standing ovation and a proclamation honoring the volunteer soccer coach’s 12 years of elected public service at his last meeting on Wednesday. Mayor Susan Ornelas read the accolades for the soon-to-be Fortuna city manager, which described Wheetley as an “easy to work with and […]
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Timeline Proposed for Filling Arcata Council Seat
The nearly two years remaining in Arcata Councilmember Mark Wheetley’s term are set to be filled by appointment in April as he prepares for his last meeting before moving on to serve as Fortuna’s new city manager. The council is scheduled Wednesday to approve opening up an application process, running until March 24, from those […]
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Wheetley Selected As Fortuna’s City Manager
Arcata City Councilmember Mark Wheetley spent the early part of his morning at the River Lodge, waiting in the same room he first interviewed in for what the city of Fortuna announced today will be his new job: city manager. The process came full circle at the Fortuna Chamber of Commerce’s State of the City […]
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Arcata Neighborhood Concerns Focus of Meeting
Arcata residents expressed frustration at the changing character of their neighborhoods and what they perceive as an increased boldness in the crimes being committed on local streets during a Thursday night meeting with city officials that was spurred by a brazen attack last month on a young girl walking to school. While the focus was […]