or tablet locate the 3 dots
captain lately and put a check
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language. Click done to
activate begin the
interpretation when she doing
the Spanish Channel, we
recommend you shut up the main
audio. So you'll only hear the
Spanish interpretation.
Although she You please
restate this in Spanish. Just
want to thank you.
>> This is because most of 69
Espejo see Quentin meet those
who summoning up was content.
And think that but this
evening, the list and point
she went complete, though,
boosted double dip back that.
But the this up and saying
that that the sound of
protests, been it's been, you
>> 6 And that's it peak in a
isis in quintet or 1008 will
be Kate. The good is plenty to
skip, but it's insult, but
they hit him in APRIL alone
that meat and the media has
been, you know.
>> So they and thing that he
set. It's still a team of We
important day. But I think
that with this end, he this
forced to put this epa some.
Go right ahead. Rhonda, thank
you. Mayor.
>> Thank you very right. The
time is a seed to reading and
we will call to order a
regular meeting. Many city
clerk.
>> Thank you, Mayor.
Councilmember Rogers,
Councilmember MacDonald here,
Councilmember Fleming
Councilmember Ben Willows here
councilmember over as
PRESIDENT, Vice Mayor Kathy,
you're mayor step here. Let
the record show that all
councilmembers are present.
>> Thank you. We have 2 closed
session items on the agenda
today. Item 3.1, our
conference legal counsel
regarding anticipated with
mitigation and also item 3.2
is a conference legal counsel
regarding existing medication.
We'll go to public comment if
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comment, please raise your
hand or press star 9, seeing
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council chambers were right
resume commenter zoom online
MADAM Zuma. Clark, Lauren,
anybody online?
>> We have no one raising
their hand on
>> We will close public
comment and recess into closed
session. Thank
All right now,
welcome back, everyone. Thank
you for being here. Fred. Rica
meeting Open session. MADAM
City Clerk.
>> Deputy City Clerk. Rhonda,
can you have the interpreters
make the statement in
regarding how to participate
from the Spanish Channel? A
gun.
>> Yes, going to go ahead and
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Will you please restate this
in Spanish? Yes, Ron, think
you.
>> This because that those as
a nation, that season those 2
communities, they summon it
up. Please protect. And and
that that this a that yet
Jason going to to come up with
that Polsky a at and that that
day in video month, Kitty
saying that this young and
they put a 6 and that has been
6 is. And I say, don't take
any substance ceasing wind.
That will be some of those who
say not let them make that we
can to those candidates. So
but I him and people will meet
of us. The nuance 6, it done
both He said it's still a team
of classes. We put date, but
at the left lane that but the
sun because person but this
epa, nice experience is
important. But in the south of
us, the man to name a list.
It's the news. He just a lot.
But the in those come and that
is fully closed. Put forward
in the kit and is it coming?
Sat in a Houston said they
will need deputy.
>> In 6 men But it is that
those updates. Stone is, you
it was known at outset,
desperate. They play that if
it didn't explain local state,
I expect case cynical as he
didn't want to meet with
those. But I'm not. I if
anything, it pull of the sun.
And but I like to put this
one, what you see the U.S..
>> All right. Thank you. MADAM
City clerk, would you please
call the roll?
>> Thank you. Mayor
Councilmember Rogers,
Councilmember MacDonald here,
Councilmember Fleming
Councilmember Ben Willows Air
Councilmember Alvarez as it
Vice Mayor Okrepkie here.
Mayor step here. Let the
record show that all
councilmembers are present.
>> Thank you again. Welcome
everyone move on to item 4.1,
our South Santa Rosa specific
plan draft preferred
alternative. All right. And
welcome members are planning
been great to have you back.
Oh, here we go.
>> Thanks. Good afternoon,
mayor and council members and
members of the Public, Amy
Nicholson, supervising
planner. Before we dive into
the presentation, I'd like to
take just a few moments to
frame where we are in the
specific plan process and what
we are asking. Of the council
today. So this presentation is
focus on the draft, a
preferred land use and
circulation alternative for
the South Center is a specific
plan and that reflects the
feedback on the 3
alternatives. Were previously
presented preferred
alternative establishes a
physical framework for the
plan. So this is where housing
commercial and other types of
uses MAY occur. And at what
intensity. And it also shows
how people can safely move
with men and through the plan
area. So are primary. Ask is
whether council is comfortable
with the draft. Preferred
alternative has proposed so
that we can move into the next
phase of policy development.
As you'll hear in the
presentation, community
feedback has been critical in
shaping the preferred
alternative particular,
particularly related to land
use and density as well as
connectivity and
transportation safety
improvements. We have heard
significant concerns about
housing affordability as well
as displacement as a result of
the specific plan. The
importance of Mobile home Park
preservation, tenant
protections. And support for
annexation. So you won't see
these policies directly
reflected in the draft
preferred alternative that
will be presented this
afternoon but know that these
will be part of the policy
development process that staff
is beginning work on now and
will be presented to the
council and the community as a
part of the next round, which
we anticipate will be later
this fall. Just one other
important important point that
I'd like to make is the
partnership between the city
of Santa Rosa in the county of
Sonoma. We've been working
closely with the planning
staff as well as starting
conversations with the
Community Development
Commission as it relates to.
Housing policies. Given that
much of this plan areas
actually within the county's
jurisdiction. So our goal at
the end of this process is
that both the city Council and
the Board of Supervisors adopt
this planned so that it
applies regardless of
jurisdiction and any future
annexation decisions. So with
that, we welcome the council
specific feedback on land use
and circulation alternatives
as well as any continue to
impact on policy priorities as
we move forward in the
process.
>> thank you. Supervisor
Nicholson for that
introduction Greetings, Mayor
staff members of the council
man is caught him. Okay. I'm a
senior partner in the morning
division. I'm very excited to
present the draft preferred
alternative portion of the
South Centre is a specific
plan. Thanks for background to
an introduction. Supervisor
Nicholson, I will move through
the presentation.
>> Just to talk about will be
chatting about today. So we'll
go over what the project has
consisted of thus far at this
point in the process and then
describe the draft referred
alternative itself and then go
on to a next steps in the
specific plan process. So this
specific plan process started
with visioning exercise isn't
getting feedback about issues
community members vision for
the use Greater South Center
is the area this consisted of
virtual workshops, in-person
workshops, a survey table
various events and
celebrations and things of of
of that nature in the
community. We eventually
released. The alternatives
report which reflected that
feedback I've received
throughout the average
process. And as you'll
remember, we did hold a study
session with the City Council
on MARCH 24th earlier this
year and got some feedback
that discuss later on in my
presentation. So all that
feedback that received on land
use and circulation
alternatives report is a
serving is informing the
preparation of the draft
preferred alternative that we
are discussing today the
outreach that we've performed
for that first far is that we
did hold a virtual workshop
late JULY. And our reach is
actually still ongoing sort
table in community events for
meeting with neighborhood
groups. We do have another
survey open that is available
for folks to take as well. We
did present it to the planning
Commission. We have a study
session with them on Thursday
of last week. Today's study
session, obviously with the
council and then on AUGUST,
25th, we are presenting to the
county Board of Supervisors
has a supervisor. Nicholson
mentioned it is crucial to
engage in an ongoing
partnership with the county
and ultimately get the boards
by in on this effort. Then
later on this year resident
Wilson mention will move on to
the preparation of the actual
specific point itself. And
that will include the creation
of those goals and policies
and the associated
Implementation strategy. We'll
also be preparing the
environmental impact report
shooting for adoption by the
council in both the border,
both the council and the Board
of Supervisors later on in
spring of 2027. And then the
slide. It might be a little
bit hard to see. But this kind
of shows where we are in
overall process. You'll know
that we're a little bit over
half way of two-year process.
I will note as well that
you'll see a lot of deliver
exciting deliverables and
milestones between now and
good option of the plan. And
I'll talk a little bit more
about that during my
discussion of next steps. So
just to kind refresh the
council's memory about what
the alternatives consisted of.
So as I mentioned, we took
feedback from the community
lived experiences and their
visions for the South Center
is area and brought forward 3
district approaches for
development and land use
changes in addition to
transportation network
improvements to hopefully
address those issues and
achieve the vision is for the
neighborhoods in this area.
And all feedback did inform.
As I mentioned, the creation
of this trap preferred
alternative that we're
discussing today. And briefly
recap each of the 3
alternatives that we discussed
in our meeting last last time
during our study session. So
the first alternative is a
mixed use corridor on Centers
avenue. It also uses smaller
or larger parks on the eastern
portion of the plan area. And
then a consistent across all 3
alternatives as you'll notice.
We are maintaining the
existing industrial
designations to the West and
southwest of the plan area.
And then the second
alternative is city center
growth. So that really focuses
increased residential
developments surrounding the
Costco shopping Center or
center is a marketplace. And
finally, number 3 is centers,
which kind of takes a stripped
down version of both one into
and combines them to focus
increased residential density
to the south of Costco and a
stripped down version of the
mixed use district attorney of
one primarily in the southern
southern portion of the
center's Avenue corridor. And
so I've touched on a bit
already, but we did, as I
mentioned, a hold person and
virtual workshops. We
presented to broad range of
the city and county boards of
boards and commissions. We did
hold study Sessions of the
Planning Commission and City
Council. In addition to the
Summit County Planning
Commission, we post a lot of
exciting social media content,
including Instagram, Real
which I was very happy with.
In addition to, you know, bus
to our subscribers. And as I
mentioned, tabling at existing
celebrations, Cinco de Mayo
the Bear Farm Harvest
Festival. Was a great time
being out in the community
hearing from folks. You'll see
a screen shot on the right
side of the screen of our of
our face. But one of our
Facebook posts on that we
posted about this effort as
well. And then as far as
takeaways, I want to start
with just kind of summarizing
the feedback of the council
provided to during the MARCH
24th workshop. So we've heard
a lot of feedback about
Moreland specifically. We knew
we wanted to see investment in
infrastructure Moreland and
that is bike and ped bicycle
and pedestrian improvements.
Increased connectivity to
Centers avenue and then
focusing on that investment
for existing Moreland
residents and not increasing
residential densities in the
Moreland neighborhood due to
existing to potential
exacerbation of existing
infrastructure needs in the
area. We also heard that we
like to focus on supporting
both new and existing
businesses, particularly along
the center is Avenue corridor
and then we heard some
excitement from the council
about the of the Greenway
connections that flows through
the along the Todd Creek limit
the are the reaches of the
Todd Go through the planning
area. And then we also heard
support for him feel closer to
the urban core, acknowledging
some of the costs of
infrastructure as you get
further away from the the true
Santa Rosa Urban core. And
then we did broad support for
keeping displacement issues
and equity issues at the
center of our approaches to
the discussions of these of
issues. And a lot of the
public take away. The takeaway
is that we received the public
engagement are kind of on your
screen as you'll see. And
there's a lot of overlap
between what the council and
with County Planning
Commission and center of
Planning Commission all said
but we did kind of we did
notice we that we experience
that most people like various
parts of each alternative but
didn't have super clear
oftentimes we noticed and
share that there needs to be a
better East-West connection
from Orland across one-on-one
into the center is Avenue
corridor and also back from
west to east and then my that
be provided by new multi-modal
crossing a Bellevue, which is
consistent with the center is
a general plan 2050, and is
supported by our
transportation public works.
Folks and then additional
investment and Moreland. I
didn't mention sidewalk safer
streets, lighting public
transit connections and just
overall better connections
throughout the city.
>> And then there's a lot of
excitement about Centers
avenue improvements to allow
for.
>> Multi-modal experience and
and then also, as I mentioned,
keeping equity displacement.
Top of mind as we navigate
throughout this process. Ok,
moving on to the draft
preferred alternative. There
are a couple maps that are a
little bit hard to read. It's
always a struggle trying to
get all necessary information
like to communicate. So the
stock, let's through it. And
if we need to revisit
anything, I'm happy to do
that. So we We did take that
mixed use district from the
first alternatives and
centered on Center's avenue
with a higher density
residential to the south and
north of couscous. We
ultimately combines the urban
the center of the city center
growth with the mixed use
district alternatives. And
then we decided to integrate
smaller parks throughout. I
think a lot of the folks
preferred kind meandering
creek pathway that connects 2
little outdoor open space
moments along the along the
Pathway and also provides an
opportunity to traverse the
plan area without needing to
be on center is avenue. And
then you'll see a broad
diversity of housing with the
high density housing centered
along the center's Avenue
corridor with media and then
density as you stray further
from the Saint Rose Avenue
corridor. Keeping in mind of
the infrastructure costs
associated with the touch
development. And then as I
mentioned, maintain is
industrial uses to the West in
the south and I'd like to also
note that none of the plan
area, 17 mobile home parks are
proposed to read as a nation
of any kind. Okay. So I talked
a little bit of
transportation, but I was
mainly focusing on the land
use and that slide. So I just
kind of briefly touch upon the
transportation improvements
that are contemplated with the
draft, the preferred
alternative. I mentioned the
center's avenue improvements.
So as you MAY remember, the
city just adopted. They're
active transportation plan.
And the county is also adopted
as well. So the thought is to
just integrate the scientific
findings and recommendations
of those plans and in truth
and then to this plan to make
it a seamless, a seamless
transition integration. And I
mentioned the multimodal pass
along the creek that would
connect neighborhood Park
cynic in existing and new
neighborhoods in the plan area
and then improving the
one-on-one crossings both
Baker and Todd Road. And then
a new multi-modal crossing a
Bellevue and potentially a new
bike, a ped crossing at Rules
Avenue. And then will now kind
of zoom in a geographically to
the both the north and in the
central and southern parts of
the plan area to see what are
the actual changes from what
is currently designated up
there. We're getting so
looking at the northern part
of the plan mention that we're
looking at increasing
residential densities around
the Costco area, leveraging
the existing multitude of
options for grocery and
entertainment and kind of
other daily needs that are
provided in that Costco
shopping center integrating
existing and new neighborhood
parks. I mentioned that the
improved highway, 1, 1,
overcrossing as well. And
improving district overall
existing corridors and new
noon necessary connections to
enhance walkability for both
new and existing residents of
the neighborhood. Moving south
to the central and southern
portions of the plan area so
that this is where you'll see
that mixed use district on
Centers avenue with commercial
centers and active retail
frontage to enhance the
walkability experience in the
area. And they also noticed
that transit hub is kind of a
translucent because folks in
transit wanted the flexibility
to adjust specific location as
development occurs. And as the
city has an opportunity to
procuring necessary right of
way. And then you'll also
notice the low and medium
density housing to the east of
the connection from Mel to
Petaluma Hill Road Condit
operative, your slide there.
And then as I mentioned, all
industrial uses are maintained
and then you'll see Greenway
connection that starts all the
way. The top right of your
screen, the northeast portion
of the plan area, that
neighborhood park and follows
the creek path way all the way
down through the transit hub
and then eventually hopefully
connecting with the runner
Park. The smart train, smarter
trail down to run a park. So
here is our total projected
build out and just want to cut
caviar by saying this is a
full build out realistically
would likely not occur for
several decades. So well,
seems very striking at this
point. It would be quite
incremental in nature. And
most of those new the 6300
residential units would would
result from the new mixed use
areas along the center's
avenue, which we envision and
up to 40 units per acre. And
they're also be a nearly
3 million square feet of a new
nonresidential construction.
And again, that is permit from
the mixed use and industrial
areas of the plant area. Okay.
So I don't think I mentioned
U.S. The specific plan area
severely lacking in green,
open spaces, which is why I'm
really excited about that
creek pathway and the job, the
potential to build a new
neighborhood parks that are
all connected by that creek
path. Where think it will be
quite nice. But just 2, just
take the city park standard is
6 acres per 1000 residents and
the plan would include park
space that would meet the
standard of future residents.
But that would likely be
developed prior to full build
out so existing residents
would get to enjoy the benefit
of the parks, provided
specific plan and that would
be more of the medium term
need that is addressed and as
opposed to be longer term.
Next As I mentioned, we are
continuing outreach. Our draft
preferred alternative. The
survey is still open. We have
some meetings scheduled some
table exciting tabling events,
but that will continue through
summer. And late summer early
fall will start conducting
some analysis of the preferred
alternative and understanding
the infrastructure and
circulation needs of full
build out. Towards the end of
the year as Supervisor
Nicholson mentioned, we will
starch work shopping and
actual specific plan and are
with with the release of those
things. And that will also
include study session with the
commission and the Council on
those policy ideas. Yeah,
eventually looking what other
mentions looking to adopt the
specific plant in spring of
2027. And that would be the
specific plan and
environmental impact in
report. Okay. That's my
presentation. The final slide
just a few helpful qr codes
for folks in the audience for
for anybody watching online on
the far left, one is just the
website that is that is online
on the city's website about
this plan. Middle One is if
you want to sign up for e-mail
distribution, major milestone
announcements and things of
that nature. And then as I
mentioned, preferred
alternative survey is open
right now. So if you want to
take that, maybe save the
bookmark, you can scan that qr
code on the far right. And
finally, there's our e-mail
address, the Self Sr specific
plan. That's That's our city
Dot org. And then we have a
phone number on there for both
English and Spanish speakers.
That concludes my
presentation. I'm happy to
entertain questions or or
facilitated discussion.
>> Current Connor, Amy just
couldn't. Gabe, thank you very
much. This is just a huge
project project, unusually
important for the city. Thank
you for bringing this back to
us. Looking to counsel the
questions, MR. Alvarez. And
thank you for the that's been
put into the outreach. And
really, you participation from
the community less felt
disenfranchised for decades.
With that being said, I know
it's hard to gauge metrics
when it comes to
participation. But how have
you personally feel about the
civic engagement from our
community in regards to the
future. Santa Rosa in the
Southwest Corridor.
>> Yeah, that's a great.
That's a great question. I
think you kind of speaks to
the heart of And I think the
people behind you speak to the
fact as well right? Yeah, I
think I think in some ways I
will never feel like enough
because there's always
somebody who didn't hasn't
heard about the planning
process that we've been doing.
But I do think throughout the
employment of all the
different strategies that I've
discussed, you know, some some
pretty conventional kind of
government outreach come come
see us at our workshop. Verse.
Let me come eat with your
neighborhood group or you'll
see me at the Cinco de Mayo
celebration or something like
that. I think throughout the
def all the different
approaches that we took, I
think I think we've gotten
better. A better response. And
I think a normal traditional
conventional government
outreach effort and I have
been PRESIDENT Some of
meetings and I'm impressed
with the knot of people and
the quality of comments and
him and ideas that are being
shared with the law. So I do
appreciate it.
>> in regards to alternatives
and hearing. But the lived
experience from the residents
of Southwest Santa Rosa, what
seems to be the biggest hurdle
that they for seeing besides
time and and you stated a
little bit of the equitable
housing when it comes to the
word affordable. Are other any
factors that you worry? The
residents of Southwest Center
is?
>> Yeah, I think trying just a
bit of my presentation, but I
think just general lack of
infrastructure investment,
they don't feel safe walking
on the street. They don't feel
comfortable writing anything
other than a car to go
shopping or take their kids to
school or do other kind of
daily need just because of
general lack of infrastructure
development in the area.
>> Would you feel that? That's
part of the reason that
committee believe
connectivity, 2 Saint Rose
Avenue from Southwest Santa
Rosa is so vital and one of
the concerns of the community
absolutely. And in regards to
the way that we're looking at
the the corridor, as you know,
with the quarter, but the
central housing model or the
different alternatives. How
will all the houses are being
built? Currently? Influence
our? And result, for example,
done medal every single time
that drive anywhere near
Bellevue or gone done Meadow.
I have to pay attention to the
road as it changes the housing
is incredible amount of
housing that's coming in and
infrastructure being
introduced in the area as
well. But I'm wondering the
decade from now, how will this
study incorporate the new
housing that's now being
built?
>> So I think as part of the
analysis that is associated
with this plan, we are
considering projects that are
recently construction projects
that are currently under
construction and finally
projects that could be
constructed and compliance
with those plans. So and you
know, 10, 10 years from now,
if there's some projects that
have popped up, we have
analyzed the infrastructure
needs of those of of those
projects and ideally, it would
be an improved experience.
>> Now, this is a very loaded
question. I do not expect the
answer, but I ponder whenever
we speak of housing. We are
doing our best to build
housing in Santa Rosa, even to
the point where some are
saying it's too much. With the
increase in inventory
ultimately in your opinions.
And this is after all, just
opinions lead to more
affordable housing for those
that live in the area or will
we do see gap that exists in
this extremely loaded
question? And I do understand
that.
>> Thank you, councilmember. I
believe that's an excellent
question. Oftentimes from the
whole conversation of building
housing. How does it affect
the economic vitality of Santa
Rosa? And what does it look
like in the future? Because
housing does a lot of things,
right? It brings people brings
revenue with those
individuals. Those individuals
have needs and we have a lot
of stress on the need for
affordable housing. So really,
what does it do to housing
prices is often part of the
process. I think a lot of that
is dictated by the market is
very difficult to determine
what the value of prices,
housing prices will look like
10 to 25 years from now. I
think when we look at the
strategies and it really and I
you'll hear it from some of
the public comment today. It's
really about ensuring that we
have the appropriate mix types
for Ford abilities and
protecting certain housing
types. This development comes
in also recognizing
development is needed. But how
do you really create that full
spectrum of affordability? And
that's really what a lot of
these plans attempt to look
at. It is I can't state that
an affordable units truly
affordable 20 years from now
because that's the value of
the dollar. But ensuring that
we have that spectrum of
affordability is really
critical to these plans in
understanding how we get that
appropriate mix tape that
really does drive our economic
development desires does make
sure we're taking care of our
community from those from that
variety of spectrums. And I
think what you see today from
the preferred alternative is a
blending of those various
types in attempt to try to
meet that, to understand where
the densities makes sense from
a transportation standpoint
from an economic development
standpoint, also understand,
and this will be a future
conversation from the Counter
Council where we need to
protect that existing housing
stock because that is
important to the community
from an affordability
standpoint. So very critical
part of the plan, but very
difficult to determine at
total dollar amount of what
that looks like in the future.
And thank you for taking a
loaded question. And this was
it just gives greatly
appreciated.
>> And I just asked you look
towards the future. The
following question is for you
just look in the rearview
mirror and the question is
when it comes to the
infrastructure that we
currently have, you know, use
Kern as an example with this
lack of sidewalks, even in
from Southwest Community Park,
where we just all a light near
for Burbank Avenue. Could you
explain why there aren't
sidewalks to this point and
ultimately his responsibility.
It is an understanding that we
had with the developers of of
yesterday compared to us
moving forward.
>> Yes, that that is another
excellent point. Typically the
expansion of infrastructure is
often done with development
and sidewalk is a really good
example that most of the
sidewalks that we have in
Santa Rosa were a part of a
development. Was the
developers responsibility.
Now, the problem that creates
is how do you create
continuity through that side?
Way in for sidewalk?
Infrastructure because there's
often gaps where development
is not occurring or developers
not required to do so. So
really one of the focuses that
we have placed through the
lens that we pondella Mont
applications is how do we
ensure that closing that
sidewalk? Connectivity gap?
There is a legal next. This is
what the city can ask for is
part of developments. So
sometimes that creates
challenges and increase that
cap and infrastructure. I
think what is a really
important point to a specific
plan because in many ways it
is aspirational. It develops a
set of infrastructure needed
to support full density. It
doesn't always factor into the
city's current fiscal
constraints. So when we
determined really a cost of
service analysis or a cost to
the plan, which is a piece
that will evolve it really
attempts to understand how you
come up with creative funding
solutions that help to close
the gap because you can't
completely rely on development
because development does occur
in various areas and it
doesn't necessarily go in a
logical pattern. So as we
progress through this and
understand those really in
critical points to the
community, I think it
important pieces injecting
some creative revenue
strategies where we can look
at this plan area to
understand how we could
potentially address that in
the future. That always, that
hasn't always been factored in
previous plans. Becomes very
aspirational. And the reality
is, is the appropriate funding
is not necessarily there to
close those gaps. But this is
a good opportunity to take
those challenges that we know
of and try to figure out a
better model moving forward
that can prevent And just can
minor of Burbank Avenue.
>> And where there's a bit
where this is not develop
planning and residential and
up and down the poured over
Burbank Avenue and yet side of
the street has sidewalks and
even on that side of the
street, is there anything that
residents can advocate for in
ordered have those sidewalks
place, although it's already
been developed.
>> Yes, usually. And obviously
this is getting into Director
Hennessy's arena on how those
types of projects are funded.
So I'll talk about that. It
really at a high level that's
very much some of the
challenges, right? Sidewalk is
the private property owners
spawn civility, the expansion,
the sidewalk comes in through
development. When we look at
concepts such as safe routes
to schools or other
initiatives where they've
looked at connectivity in
providing safe routes through
a pedestrian path. Those
usually require other funding
sources to close those gaps. I
know much of the discussion
about Rosalynn was gaps and
infrastructure in
understanding where sidewalk
is and where you where it is
and how do you focus on
creating that connectivity?
And where is the appropriate
funding source for that? So I
think it's always it's always
interesting when development
isn't occurring because that
is based on what the economy
is doing. We do go through
peaks and valleys, but the
need in the community still
exists in the Valley of
development. And how do we
understand how that's
prioritized over other capital
looks projects and the
expenditures associated with
that that are needed to fund
some of these. But that really
becomes part of the capital
project mix and understanding
where those come in. As I
mentioned in the previous
response, understanding how
much can be placed on
development in pushing further
for that is a critical piece
to to make sure that that we
don't have to piecemeal that
together. But it is a bit of a
challenge with those
understanding the appropriate
funding strategy for closing
the sidewalk apps.
>> And before I get the mic
back where they want to thank
both our city staff and my
colleagues for the effort to.
Install the sidewalk stall
high visibility crosswalk in
front of group from McMahon
and Burbank and what has been
done in that intersection
there is greatly appreciate by
many in the community. And I
definitely want to give a pass
to those that I know have so
much to do with it, which is
are so many more than I could
Thank you. Thank you. MISS Of
Thank you, Mayor.
>> Thank you so much for the I
think first, I just want to
say that I the combination of
the the alternatives of wanted
to, you know, I know bringing
it back from the last time
that you were here. I really
like the direction that we're
going in now. Because it
encompasses so many things, I
think that's that's really a
good thing. Couple things that
I'm concerned about that.
>> know in the beginning it,
you know, it was mentioned
that some things weren't
necessarily going to talk
about.
>> Today that we're in a
central part of this plan. I
guess, is the the issues of
displacement and affordability
and mobile home parks.
Annexation, all those things,
which to me is everything. So
I said, I just want to ask. In
terms of displacement and what
what folks, I think what I'm
hearing from the community are
concerned about is being
pushed out of their homes.
Once this development, which
is the great thing. But
there's a fine line between
improvements and pushing
people out as was done in San
Francisco, quite frankly. So I
don't want to see that happen,
especially to this particular
area, which I think is a
really special area. So what
I'm wondering is what kind of
protections do we have? And we
can talk about we're going to
fight against displacement.
But what kind of protections
do the residents really have
to? To the extent that it can
ensure that they will not be
displaced from this
development in the long term.
Thank you for that. The
question councilmember. I
would start the limited areas
where
>> we are proposing land use
changes within preferred
alternative. There are areas
intended or envision for
higher density housing and
mixed use and then serve the
lower spectrum of residential
densities primarily within
areas that do not contain any
residents at all. Right now,
these are parcels that are
used for unlike commercial or
industrial uses or they are
vacant. And so Ed.
>> We have made
>> real attempt are focused. I
understand where existing
residents are located and
where land-use changes are
suggested are proposed as a
part of this process. Another
piece I would add is that.
>> The policies related
displacement or tenant
protections. Those can be
included as part of the
specific plan as we move into
policy development. So my
comments previously were just
to say that we hope to hear
the council's feedback on the
land use in circulation
changes today. But of course,
any feedback on policy
direction as we move forward
is also really important.
Great. Thank That's And I hear
what you're saying and one
thing to that, I will ask
about the traffic study. I
notice that it's it's not out
yet. The traffic study. Okay.
Will that go to the planning
Commission first and then
maybe we'll see it later or.
>> What's the plan for that?
>> So once we've gotten the
feedback from the community
and from various boards and
commissions in the council on
the Board of Supervisors.
>> We'll take all that
feedback and prepare a final
preferred alternative and then
will performed the traffic
analysis and infrastructure
analysis. I don't believe that
study session specifically on
that portion, but it will made
publicly available and we'll
do continue conversations
about policies and to a
specific part itself.
>> Okay. Thank you. I was just
concerned about it because we
know we know currently center
is avenue was used as an
alternative to want to one.
And in high traffic peaked at
times a day. So I know the
idea is that we're going to
have that or circulation
multi-modal all that stuff.
Wonderful. But I still have
concerns. 10 years out, 20
years out long that's going to
look like for the community at
at that point, once the
though, all those 6,000 rather
homes get built, you know
what, what that traffic is
going to look like. And you
see that all just yeah. Just
add very quickly to what
Connor was mentioning. So
there's a couple pieces next
steps that I think are really
important for.
>> The community and our
decision makers, including
both Planning Commission and
the council. So Amy mentioned
earlier, we will be bringing a
study session forward. Once we
have a draft. But the draft
policies ready, which is that
the draft actual specific plan
itself and it will include all
the policies and we will bring
it forward to both the
commission and the council in
a study session with a focus
on. Did we get it right with
looking at addressing some of
the protections and the
displacement issues that have
been brought forward. So there
will be that process in
addition to additional
outreach and a similar manner
as what Connor Mission we've
already done to the community,
but specific to the
evaluation. That will be part
of the draft er that will come
as a public hearing to the
Planning Commission. So it
will be out for the public for
review as well as the planning
Commission. Ultimately, it
will come to the council as
part of the final er and
specific plan. So you'll have
a chance to look at at that
point as well. Thank you.
>> Let's see. I had just one
other question.
>> Okay. So in it with respect
to mobile home parks
>> they are part of this plan,
right? And I know that we're
talking about the county and
city. My understanding is
there's about 14 mobile home
parks in this. 4 of which are
in the city. And I I passed
them every day when I come
home
>> you know, looking at that.
That's why I'm really
concerned about displacement.
I know that to my
understanding is the counties
policy is so much stronger
than ours. And I know that's
what I've heard. I haven't
looked at myself, but it's
what I've heard. So I'm
wondering because I know the
last time that you are all
here and we were talking about
how you are going to work
together with the county. Is
there some room for you all to
look at their policy and see
if we can strengthen our
policy to match that if not
all of you, I would. I would
hope that both the county, the
city would look at making them
even stronger what we don't
want is for folks to be.
Displaced and or displaced
rather. And and for me that
that is really important. So
I'm just wondering, you know
what, what do you foresee in
terms of that? And when you're
putting together the final
plan? Thank you for the very
important question. But
tomorrow we actually have a
meeting with city and county
staffs.
>> Specifically to it to
discuss housing policies as we
move forward through this Part
of that conversation, we'll be
looking at the existing
protections that are in place
within the city and how those
differ from what the county
has and that can help to
inform how we develop policies
as we move forward in the
specific plan process. So
we're very mindful of. The the
layers jurisdiction and
different staffer involved in
in these protections and and
implementing them and want to
ensure that. We are addressing
the comments that we hear and
that we are truly
understanding what's happening
now then what can be done in
the future as a part of the
specific plan. And I just have
one more question. It's around
the 6300.
>> a future housing I I am not
against market housing. Want
to be really clear about the
exit think that was
misunderstood. I am. I am for
a diversity of different
housing types. I really want
to see more affordable
housing, not just market rate.
And I know the way things are
set up now that what ends up
happening more 9 times out of
10. I'm just going to say is
that we end up with market
rate housing and I think, you
know, when I look at a couple
of last housing projects that
were done that were actually
affordable and and how. From
my understanding how quickly
they were filled versus the
market rate, which doesn't get
feel very quickly. I think
it's a question of what we
need versus what we want. I
know we want nice. Nice
looking housing. I do, I think
it all should be nice on him.
C is as a person that I
consider myself low-income.
Not poor, but low-income. And.
Much of my my district is that
in my district isn't the only
one and I I so I see what the
needs are more than what we
would what we want. And so
just thinking about that even
the number the number of folks
that are considered low
income. That try fill those
needs as well. Not just
marketing and I'm sorry that
it question. But I guess my
question of at thinking about
that is how can we promote
that? As we're looking for
folks to develop of this
house. Beyond the 50% that we
have right now, it's I don't
think is enough and the low
what folks, I always tell me
too low fees that are charged,
if you choose not to do any
affordable housing. Thank you
for that question. So, yeah, I
think those are very valid
points. So the 6300 units that
were mentioned, those are not
identified as
>> market radar affordable it.
It is just a total number. And
so I think, you know, as we
start looking at the policies
that we've talked about, we
can certainly add in some
language to help emphasize the
fact that we really want this
to be diversified area. But,
you know, I also do want to
emphasize the city has our
regional housing needs numbers
that we have to address. And
so there will be an emphasis,
you know, from our perspective
to make sure that we are
addressing that as we move
forward with policy and in our
conversations with developers.
>> Thank you. MISS McDonald.
Thank you for the
presentation. I too appreciate
the mixture of the alternative
plans. I think you guys did a
great job from council
feedback and I appreciate
that. I I was looking for a
slight 11 on a couple things
>> you're seeing in here that
Mobile home parks were not
proposing re designation and
just going off of what?
Councilmember Ben Willis said.
Is there a way for us to
protect the mobile home parks
from being re-designated to
anything but that or have you
seen policies put in place
where there's sort of an
overlay to prevent them from
selling to make them even
affordable housing because we
know mobile home parks are one
of the most affordable ways
for families to be able to
stay in parks. And that goes
for our senior parks as well
family mobile home parks. And
I'm just curious, have you
seen any language like that?
>> Thank you for that
question. So I to start the
time as mentioned. Already
have in the city a mobile home
land use designation as well
as a specific zoning district
for that. It's different in
the county. But in the city,
we do have that. And the the
allowed uses within that
mobile home zoning is very
limited. But something
certainly that, you know,
given all of the comments and
concerns that we are receiving
from folks that live in those
areas, certainly something
that we can start looking at
as we move forward again from
a policy standpoint, but also
looking at our zoning
regulations to see if we want
to shrink that down even more
to make it more limited to
that housing. And so any
future requests to change it
to something other than that
would be through both general
plan amendment which would
have to come before the
council. Thank you for that
clarification on on that
process. And what we can do is
we potentially titan language
moving forward on those
specific areas that are
currently designated as mobile
home parks.
>> what I notice on slide 11,
specifically, if you're able
to pull it up, you don't need
to.
>> But I see a lot of light
yellow. That's as low
residential medium-low
residential. When I'm looking
at your color coordinated map,
which I appreciate, by the
way, but I am seeing a lot of
mixed use and it and as you
said, Jessica, was that that
6300 units, they're not
determined of how that is
going to go. But if I'm
looking on these color
coordinated maps, wooden, it
show that we actually have a
lot of area that's going to be
for. Low residential or is
that considering that price of
the market or just low
residential of how many
they're putting in those
areas? Those designations are
density. So low density
residential today. Units per
acre me say The colors
differentiate amount of units.
Second on the side doesn't
identify the affordability. So
yeah, when I said the 6300
units aren't and what I meant
by that is that they are
identified far as the level of
affordability that those
units, it is just the density
of those areas that's going to
do with the affordability.
Thank you for that
clarification not makes more
sense. What councilmember
basically thing because I was
thinking they actually meant a
fairly large area. So thank
you for that. I think that is
most of my. Questions. One of
the questions I had it you had
on the map, Connor, where you
had connectivity from south to
our part the east to west on a
couple different roads. Could
you tell me what that would
look like for connectivity? I
know we just did the Hearn
we're talking about a bridge
can to connect, you know,
North West and northeast. But
could you tell me what that
might look like? France
connectivity? Would it be
under over the freeway or what
are looking at for those?
>> Sorry, could you? Thank you
for the question. Could you
clarify? Are you looking at
specific think it might be?
>> Under the trance and or
transportation or there was
something that said improved
existing highway 101 cross
Crossing. So I think it's on
slide. Twelves. There's some
little arrows going back for
us as proposed highway 101
crossing. You have a couple
different areas.
>> All-Star carrying improved
existing. So part of the
feedback and I mean, driven on
Todd Road crossing many times
and it's not a very
comfortable that will be
partnering with City County
public works folks to see if
there's any sort of traffic
design changes or striping and
things of that nature. It just
kind of identifies that it is
existing issue that we'd like
to improve. It light for to
improve the experience of
vertically that rose to the
Moreland neighborhood, getting
Centers avenue and then moving
north, you'll see a proposed.
I went to one crossing that
first one that Robles that is
kind of a contemplated to be
just a bike and ped bridge.
And then the one North
Bellevue is contemplated to be
vehicles as well. And as we
know from the herd
overcrossing things get put on
maps are in plans and that
takes years and years of cip
proposition and fundraising.
But this is kind of that
planning exercise at this
point.
>> Great. That's helpful to
know. I'm glad you're meeting
with the county to remind them
that any area that still in
county jurisdiction should be
having infrastructure done by
the county coffers. Before we
take over from the city. So I
hope you can convey that
message in your meetings
tomorrow as well. Thank you.
Thank you. And the questions
from council. Let's open it up
to public comment. Then we'll
start in council chambers and
we have some names in front of
If you do want to make public
comment, you consider card the
back. Otherwise, please be
waiting by the podium when
it's time speak.
>> And if you're online,
please raise your hand or dial
star 9. Still, we move to
online public comment next. We
know you have a comment. Let's
start with those who submit
their cars start with Caitlin
and again Linda. Caitlin,
Abby. And if you can use both
podiums so that we can move
through this efficiently. That
would be appreciated. And if
you do need help with
translation, then we will have
an extra 2 minutes. It will
meet him in a public comment,
it's at translator is required
provide extra 2 minutes. So,
Linda, you have the floor.
>> Hello, everybody. It's
Lena. For the record have not
gone. Tenant organizer with
the North Bay Organizing
Project in Sonoma County
tenants Union last week. Santa
Rosa Planning Commission. We
had over 35 residents who live
in the Santa Rosa plan area.
The South Center is a specific
plan and brought for their
concerns and need for
essential anti displacement
protections for the mobile
home parks and aims of
emergency concerns happening
right now, residents of
Western and cause a mobile
home parks are primarily
immigrants. Spanish speaking
families, veterans, survivors
of domestic abuse, single
mothers, people living with
disabilities and elders living
on fixed incomes. Many of the
folks who live in these parks
experience displacement, not
only from the 2008 financial
crisis, but also from the 2017
wildfires. Folks are enduring
pressures not only from
possible displacement from the
south Rent Santa Rosa,
specific area, but also from
corporate investor, Harmony
Communities who recently
bought their parks. Residents
have faced an onslaught of
intimidation and harassment by
harmony, including seven-day
notices. The overnight removal
of 40 shaved essential shape,
providing trees, park
maintenance to glatt, it's
cetera. You know, harmony is
investing right now. Not 5 of
the 9 parks that Harmony
Communities owns is in Santa
Rosa. And 3 of those are in
the unincorporated area in the
South. Santa Rosa specific
plan. If the city and county
move forward, we need to see
some essential renter
protections that includes
baseline targets for
preserving housing for
extremely low and very
low-income households,
protecting mobile home parks
through specific land use
designations, stronger, rent,
stabilization and safeguards
against Park closure. We want
to see just cause protections
for all renters in Santa Rosa
to match or exceed protections
in the county. We want to
adopt a rent, stabilization
and cap of annual rent
increases by 3%. You know, we
support investment in plant
area but want to make sure
that the folks who live here
can stay rooted here. Thank
you so much.
>> Thank you, Caitlin. Thank
you. And good afternoon, Mayor
stop and council members. I'm
Kate by housing policy analyst
at Legal aid Sonoma County.
And today I'm here to urge the
city to invest in South Santa
Rosa without displacing the
low-income working Latino and
immigrant families who live in
these neighborhoods and called
him home median household
income. Here is a $60,000.
That's a full 35% below the
citywide average. And this
area which has long deserved
access to services to
infrastructure and 2 basic
amenities. The residents in
the rest of Santa Rosa enjoy
they deserve to have
investment that starts with
protecting housing, stability
of families who live here.
This area has 17 mobile home
parks or 1000 homes in rv's.
These are some of the last
naturally occurring,
affordable housing that we
have and corporate investors,
as you've heard, have already
been acquiring parks in
anticipation of rising
property values in the area.
When a single new affordable
units of housing cost $500,000
to develop preserving what we
have is one of the most cost
effective tools that the city
has its disposal to prevent
displacement and homelessness.
And the plan zoning should
reflect the city's actual
needs. Appreciate the comments
from some of the council
members today. City is on pace
to build only 56% of its very
low reena targets by 2030.
Meanwhile, it's on target to
build 231% of its above
moderate income housing. And
we see this in the low
density, the single-family
zoning on the east side tied
to the Todd Creek Development,
which is rumored to be the
first project to come forward
to materialize out of this
plan. Placement also cares
environmental consequences. I
want to highlight that in a
community that's already
significantly environmentally
burdened and has had
significant health disparities
from the rest of the city and
the county. So please
highlight and to displace the
measure part of this plan.
Happy to work with council and
staff on any of those specific
policies. Thank you. Thank
you. Calyn over at me. And
then Norman Marina, an Angel.
Abby will start with you in
the norm or in an angel.
>> Have had. Thank you so
much. Good afternoon, mayor
and council members. I'm
representing Santa Rosa Yimby
an all volunteer organization
of over 500 Santa Rosa
residents dedicated to
building Santa Rosa into an
affordable, vibrant and
low-carbon city. We're pleased
that the proposed alternative
addresses are top priorities
for Santa Rosa. One of which
is concentrating housing
density near downtown,
improving connections between
East and West and recognizing
the need for multi-modal
corridor improvements along
Santa Rosa Avenue.
>> We encourage you to propose
some additions.
>> To the plan, which include
increasing the density near
the Eastern Urban wildlife
interface to generate the
revenues that will be needed
to offset the new roads,
utilities and vegetation
maintenance that the new
development will require in
our proposed low density is
not adequate to pay for the
costs of maintaining the
necessary public
infrastructure. Secondly, in
order to maintain the
affordability of the Moreland
neighborhood, encourage
increased housing supply in
that neighborhood. Offering
additional housing
opportunities will help keep
the cost of housing at an
affordable level. And 3rd to
retain the possibility of a
future smart station in the
South area that will serve the
proposed cluster of industry,
housing and retail as we in
the future decreased
dependency on cars. Thanks so
much, MISS Arnold. Thank you.
Norm a marina and then angel
and use both podiums. Please.
>> Normal.
>> Hi. My name is Norma
Fernandez. And I lived in was
to mobile home park for 15
years. I live in one of the
mobile home parks. They're 17.
And if I'm not wrong and I
just come to ask him plea that
we would not be removed. We
know you're building. We know
it looks beautiful rcd. If it
looks nice and clean, we're
part of harmony are many. We
have no management. We have no
one to look after us. We're
just the bandit I buy by the
freeway at an apartment or
space number. 64 and I have no
lightning. I've been asked and
rejected my petition if I
don't like it, I can be
removed. We have the big board
that, of course, they're going
develop new apartments. They
could make more money. I am a
widow. I have my grandkids. My
son and myself leaving that we
all live in different mobile
homes. We try to keep it clean
ourselves. We think we deserve
a little sharing a little
respect were all together here
and we appreciate each and
every one here.
>> That is taking a little a
little easier on and say
hello, we're not alone when
that, but that home before my
husband passed away, I was
excited to get it. Now I'm
afraid now. I can speak out if
I don't have a light mean
outside and I'm in the dark
spot. Well, that's ok, because
if you complain you're out, if
you don't like it, you can
afford a new warehouse. I know
I cannot. That's why I'm
there. I appreciate having a
home, but I do not appreciate
being left alone. When I see
the streets, developing a lot
new mobile homes in apartments
and it looks gorgeous. I want
to look like that too. I want
to have a house like that.
>> how we're going to do it if
we cannot even keep our little
mobile home safe. We all fear
we are all talking about it.
And I appreciate your time and
please make sure we have
enough to get inside our
parking spot. We do not have
ability to get in there. If
somebody goes to mobile home
Parks, thank you. Appreciate
it.
>> Thank you. Ms Fernandez,
Marina Angel and then Alex
Marina.
>> And when a start of a new
Levy man, up to the U.S. Will
be kept in the side. You
living in those top goal, you
not been normal. This blast.
And then Reebok is Maureen is
momentum. Marino siento I we
get the instructions.
>> Thank you, Mayor.
>> Let me bring one of the
interpreters back over.
>> Claudia or low shot lotion.
Am I bringing you back to
English side? If so, please
raise your hand. Ok, low show.
>> We have snow on the side of
the is.
>> Okay on those this blessing
and you don't really think
that one. You normally Miami
this something was Bacchus,
get in on those who want a lot
rain that. In honor of this
getting mean in your normal.
So Thi You give them put them
on the open sea on unless
Kaczynski Senate see them put
in that now on the d a isn't
this asked that animals see
Yeah. You have a one just
based on a silent best game.
Which of this in on those pull
them of this. I at ease. Nice
to see them I knew that. But
again, no known women then was
the little storm was just so
that the name was they did
join with pro that you so
violent reign fact, I knew
then that can North Beth in
ways that eventually they be
in that.
>> Casing at that moment do,
ok, we would like to have r.
Rent to fair and we would
also. Like to not be
discriminated against or
harassed. We would like to be
paid attention to the things
that we need. We don't want to
be denied.
>> And we also want to keep
our home. We are older adults
and we have hard time
functioning and moving around
and we cannot move so fast and
we want them to respect us and
not raise our rent. So end up
with a look at. We have the
need to get the in Festus
Court. This about You just put
up with it. Think they want to
in place to get used advocate
eating, to put this u n okay,
put Guess going lie.
>> invisible. Kevin wasn't
just based on island. That's
I. Yeah. I mean, you something
in me. Wilson was thrown
that's what news is. The give
most apoyen knocking on the of
I and others because it
normally and that's where we
let me in fact, it in this
that most. We'll see you on
the ballot is give on.
>> So we you guys. We would
like you guys to please stop
harassing us. When you go over
there did not raise our rent.
We are older adults. We need
help. We also have children
there and we don't want to
move. Thank you.
>> And Marina, thank you for
coming across the U.S.. We
want to see Angel Alex
>> We'll be sharing his
comments in Spanish and has
asked that. I interpret for
him. Thank you very much.
>> We went that but I you
know, I'm going a part of the
deal.
>> So afternoon, everyone, my
name is on But the
>> So you in this way
>> I'm from in Atlanta.
>> They will quote that knew
even then that. But okay.
>> I have 4 years living in
Western Mobile home park.
>> So you'd be deemed this a
companion capital owner.
Mothers go missing Comaneci
Thelma, Guinea and the singer
and the utility.
>> You know, I am a recent
victim of the company, Harmony
Communities about 4 months ago
they started charging me rent
and I have lost 1001 those
under anatomy and doesn't want
you $1500 paying extra for the
rent. They're charging me.
>> But I will say this. You
indulge in the
>> I used to pay $780 for
MySpace rent.
>> In moment that on their
o'Malley's, any main call, you
settles yet meant that on the
inside most elite. My.
>> And they just they increase
it to a is that, you know, is
in Spanish, Mexican Spanish
that I can't even say. But
from one day to the next they
increased it.
>> Only double by wind
overnight. Yeah, man,
Sacramento.
>> I called Sacramento up.
>> Macomb against Sacramento
Judge will come at the end.
Can double the U.S. Have We'll
get several not gone by in
Wailua. Casey Kenney a and
give me the lesson for love
it. But there's also report
that.
>> So I called the company I
called Harmony Communities.
And when they told me what
their response actually was,
it was said that we could find
another place to live. That
was the response that they
gave me.
>> important key will come But
I was today in Milan.
>> And I came here looking for
support, hoping that you can
give that to us. And to me.
>> When I thought that, but I
>> Very good afternoon to
everybody.
>> Prices per report, senior
Next. We'll go to Alex tough
Ina and then Dwane think Alex.
>> Mayor and council members,
thank you for leading. Letting
Alex, from the latest in a
county. I'm here to share a
statement from the resident of
West. Plus, that was not able
to make it today. So bear with
me as I read both in Spanish
and English, you know, but can
stay in a Houston neighborhood
West. Plus, everything you
need those. Gun and bless it.
And center the U.S. On news.
My name is Christina. I'm a
member of West. The senior
Sunni. Those.
>> And I have been a member
>> resident of plus for 10
years, the moon those said the
buck somewhere. Is the idea
banks somewhat annoying. He is
the out in media. Me from list
that you that, you know,
personally that the I live in
one of the 17 parks that
mobile home parks in the area
that of the plan that we're
talking today. And this park
has brought me the ability to
have stability with my family.
And I and the ability to live
in Sonoma County. Because of
the that is the condo we had
make media. And with just one
us as he visited bad local me
that that's part of business.
It The cost of living here in
county is very expensive and
it's very hard for many
families like mine to afford
food, transportation and many
unnecessary costs. Does the
high season got to do that by
the King? Let me Saints w that
I went to a that continue that
investment which is in the
South. There is a center
squatters centers on that is
yeah, out of it as close as
model is that by the cake. So
but think I knew it was nose
down. Ever since army charge
of this park.
>> The.
>> The threat of instability
for us as a park has become a
reality for every day.
Residents, many of our rents
have been raise $2030400. They
have taken away amenities of
the park, including trees that
been there for 30 years and to
provide us shade this. Is it
the most? Maybe a significant
is that pretty soon. Let us
cause more delays in getting
those Santas that Kaepernick,
what lenders said, are going
listen to We need significant
protections.
>> For our community and our
mobile homes before any plan
is approved for south of Santa
Rosa.
>> No vending. That's the
company that I and that could
get out of the sense that
united don't sell our
communities and our
neighborhoods just for people
that want to enrich
themselves. Working with was
on the if know anyone missing
that you can only We don't
have anywhere to go. There's
no affordable neighborhoods to
go to in this county. This
assume to wouldn't can do to
spend get on those in a way
and throws more one in for
descendants. But I can on
those But I and in the seek an
honest I was given a subtle
about it. This is an urgent
matter and I'm asking the
county of Sonoma and the city
of Santa Rosa to put on
protection. So we don't have
to leave our community. It's
been a look at them want them
used make the Simon you the
gag I hope you take into
account my to my statement in
my testimony and that we find
a solution. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Alex Delfina.
And then wane Delfina.
>> actually don't My
apologies. Good afternoon.
Hearing Council members. Thank
you for allowing me to speak
today. My name is enough
Loriano. I'm a caseworker at
legal aid of Sonoma County. I
will be sharing a common will
be in Spanish. So if and that
the translator could be ready.
And from tenant, I have one of
the local parks.
>> Yes, I'm ready. Please go
ahead. And if you could please
speak in short sentences.
Appreciate it. Thank you so
much. Okay. Now he's.
>> My name is or what I am a
leader at Western Plaza United
Neighbors. The one in the
state openness and revealing a
bucket put we to say sign us.
>> I live in district 3 in
been living in the park for 22
years.
>> I am a citizen just like
any other person. And I am
asking for respect and
dignity. Because I've been
living here and pain for
friend. And it is my right to
be able to have some were
comfortable and stability
where I'm living. Does it can
harm an isis ocado their lives
doing that. But it on this
place on the and those commit
not believe that the on the as
those important that. But I
mean,
>> ever since harmony to place
of the management of the car
of the park. The reality of
being removed from my home has
been a daily reminder for me.
>> Lucas to pass on coming up
us on as as the temple people
going into it. He died emv
medal got bet on total
sidewall is on we will. And so
lieu of that just personas
units to income of those. What
body with the Bulls. Yemeni,
though, the let the system,
which was scene in bucket.
>> So what has been happening
is that lately is been that
they have been.
>> Could up?
>> All of the
>> trees where I live. And I
feel like this is creating a
lot of Tom is security for me.
And second of all, a lot of
people are leaving because
they are depressed.
>> They are just leaving
because their very sad with
what's going on.
>> As this event, solely
Moses, but those cement, the
appear to be. So does that
include another? The Sonoma
that I have, but a solution
that is the problem. Not so
busy on a city on.
>> Okay. And this is urgent
and what we want this to
>> County board of directors
to do is do the which we are
requesting.
>> Number what in many the so
see But because the cause
moving this. But every and
this place me this was
incident,
>> We would like some kind of
a norm to say that we cannot
be removed from our home, be
displaced from it for the
residents.
>> Therefore, without loading
onto sublease they're looking
at is but in the dome and
those how was he was thinking
at
>> To reinforce the rental
ordinance so that we can avoid
to abusive rent, increase.
>> Could add incentive because
you're in a specific put the
down, put on those. But is
U.S. Has movie listened and
the law, annoying could put
American, though the Sonoma
going be in that. They had, I
was the most you on the be in
the even though they time and
economy ca.
>> And for there to be some
kind of a Sony ordinance
place. 2 protect people in the
mobile home parks in the
unincorporated areas of Sonoma
County.
>> Thank you. Do for you now,
MR. MR. Do 2 minutes to
>> Hello, my name is Dwayne
DeWitt on from Rose. And I'd
like for you, folks too, Kim
possible direction to the
staff to go back to the
community. The preferred draft
is not something that many in
the community are supportive
of. As you can see by the
attendance tonight, there are
many folks who've come here
and didn't understand exactly
how this preferred alternative
has been coming forward. I
have attended meetings of this
South Sanford, Santa Rosa,
specific plan. And felt it was
perform It was like a
presentation that wasn't
really interested in what the
community wanted to say. It's
a matter of fact. I wasn't
invited back and I understand
that from the city's
perspective because they don't
want to hear something that's
different than the way they're
going to do it. But if you
saying that this is a
community vision you need to
have with the community wants
to say and have the community
bring forward their desired
preferred alternative, not
staffs. So this is one of the
dilemmas we face here at the
city of Santa Rosa. It's about
planning with the community,
not what you're going to do to
them. But what you might do
with them for them. Those are
distinct alternatives which do
not happen here very often.
It's a matter of fact. The
city staff directs you and how
they're going to take things.
And then you give it a little
chance. A little area here.
You know what? We call it. You
do the happy talk and you blow
sunshine up our tailpipes and
say, oh, yeah, this is going
to get good. It's a matter of
fact. This is not happen and
good for us, especially for
extra housing in the places
where it's needed. I don't
know any of these folks here.
So they listen me to come down
here. I'm down here because I
know Roseann gets mistreated
South Santa Rosa. Marlins
going to get mistreated and
you don't even have the money
to take care of City Hall. Let
alone a whole big section of
Saint Rose Avenue as you go
forward. So please back to the
drawing board a couple more
meetings. It won't make much
difference. But at least it'll
make us feel like you might
have listened. Thank you.
>> Thank you, MR. DeWitt. Is
there anybody else in council
chambers who wishes to speak?
I see one person at the
microphone. If you do is to
speak, please be making your
way towards one of the
podiums. Go ahead.
>> My name's in the blank. I'm
interpreting for that aside.
Neighbor at Western Mobile
home park.
>> Witness, that is me numbers
that is sent even won an idea
that I've been, you know, some
federal, men go to prison
Jaime Diaz about gizmo, mobile
home. Was there.
>> Good afternoon to everyone.
My name is that and I live on
Santa Rosa Avenue and icon
representing the families of
Western Mobile home Park.
>> It's almost like switch on
I was little boys, this most
both which end with the Vols
to see more news.
>> We are here listening to
these new proposals and we
asking where pleading with you
that you hear our testimonies.
>> It's some of us on the
board, a body of conflict, the
skin, most and least one
thought. You've got that. This
is an in built on.
>> We have been experiencing
several conflicts that have
result that have the have not
been resolved and every day
things are getting worse for
us.
>> It's the most being means
this enough family for me to
put by those, you know, timing
was good. Look us that give up
a set.
>> I'm seeing my own family
worried and my neighbors and
we don't quite know what's
going to happen next.
>> I went to a family of Qasem
a chill in all of con of the
fee can sent a
>> We're seeing so many
changes in our park and
harmony does not let us know
what these changes are.
>> Have money. So don't look
on local most important number
8, but also to know the name
listening or not points that I
just but I want this.
>> They don't they don't
notify us of the changes and
harmony. We don't know who
they are and then they don't
respond to. Our questions are
worries. And we have
>> bus and I get w let's buy
tickets. But and need
>> We already experienced 3
managers overseeing our park.
But those people have left
already.
>> Well, the most of got to
northamptonshire non. They'll
be in.
>> We can really see that
something is not working well
here. It's something first
one. And then Monday
Ninamandell seem and I get in
which program must months.
>> You know, without a manager
there so we are without
manager or anybody. The care
of the management of the park.
We are seeing a lot of
problems happening in the
park.
>> Putin momentum by the most
to him. Any one. Guinness
coach and a struggle says.
>> So now we are asking about
harmony or somebody really
listen to our voices.
>> Forget the name that.
Unfair the most predicts him.
But I was just I mean, yes,
good ss. Because we have a
right to a roof. And we are
asking protection for our
family and we are fighting for
our homes. Thank you for your
attention.
>> Thank you. Reena and
Theresa Fred.
>> Good afternoon. Members of
the City Council. My name is
Fred, all about come. The
co-chair of the Santa Rosa,
Sonoma County, naacp Housing
Committee. And we didn't quite
get our letter out in time,
but I'm going quote a couple
points from the letter the 2
census tracks in this South
Center of the speed. Specific
plan are 4, 5%, black. Sonoma
County and Santa Rosa are much
less than that of the Bay area
percent of black and 6%. The
concentration of black
residents in the plan, areas
of significant and warns
deliberate intention to
preserving community housing,
stability and opportunity. So
Santa Rosa specific plan
represent an extraordinary
opportunity to demonstrate
what equitable equitable
development can look like. One
community's most vulnerable to
displacement are considered
before and not after major
investment. Cursed my switch
hats and on some from my own
letter here that on page, 29
of and the displacement
strategy. There's a lot of
options and ordinances
presented by staff. And
there's also been quite a few
presented by members of the
public. I would suggest then
in the program and policy
development study, which by
the way, was not listed. And
one of the next steps of
what's coming next. I found
that so interesting. Staff
could could put grid to show
all these things and the
public's ideas to and what
they would cost, who they're
going to benefit. And a couple
of. Things here is I live in a
mobile home park. I wonder
when our park is going to be
next. I don't think preserving
land use designation isn't a
few needed closure in
conversion ordinance update
and strengthening and rent
stabilization, strengthening.
Plan a little more balance
with the socioeconomic pieces.
>> Thank you, Fred.
>> Are there others in council
chambers who wish to speak?
Seeing no one making their way
to the podium. Let's go
online. If you are online, if
you could raise your hand or
press star, resume host, we'll
we'll call on You. MADAM Zoo
host. We have any hands
raised.
>> And seeing no hands raised
zoom.
>> Thank you. To close public
comment thank you to everybody
who came out today and made
and made those point made
those impassioned pleas to
bring back to council for
comments final direction.
>> Any thoughts from our
group? Question is from
>> thank to all the public
members of the public who came
out to speak and share
concerns of the U.S.. I'm just
wondering if staff could
clarify the concerns around
the public's comments around
harmony in the management with
the matter before us as
understand the concerns of the
members of the public around
the management company. But
unclear how that ties into the
issue of the rezoning. The
excuse me, the planned change.
>> Thank you for that
question. So, yeah, so what
we're focused on here is land
use policy that will
ultimately result in potential
zoning regulations, both in
the city and the county. You
know, the the the issues with
harmony that is with a
particular property owner, you
know, certainly we are
definitely hearing the
concerns raised by the
residents of those areas. We
have been conversation with
our housing division as Ms
Nicholson mentioned earlier,
we're going to be working with
the county cdc on, you know,
how we can help from a policy
perspective. But in a in
particular, with the residents
that are here today, they are
from a park that is located
within the county
jurisdiction. So there's not
at this point a lot that the
city can do from our
perspective to assist, but
certainly in a going continue
those conversations with the
county. Okay. So the residents
who are here today live in the
park that
>> management harmony. Our
county residents. And
unfortunately the city does
have resources for residents
who live in parks within the
city limits. But those are not
available to county residents.
Is that is that right? I
believe that is correct. We
have our Yeah.
>> I'm just just helping. So
it would. But I'm just trying
to assist our are listening
public.
>> Would it make sense for
those folks who are in that
situation in contact? The
county housing department?
Thank you for the question.
Megan passenger, director of
Housing Community Services. So
yes, the city does have
resources available regarding
the mobile home rent
stabilization ordinance that
we provide to parks. Residents
within the city limits. The
county has similar services
available.
>> Through the Community
Development Commission, so
residents of parks in the
county jurisdiction should
reach out to the county cdc
for questions and guidance on
how they work through the
rent, Stabilization Ordinance,
which is very similar to the
cities and any concerns they
have regarding park. And is
that something that's of the
folks here today could ask you
for that contact or or the
website yesterday to meet with
them at the conclusion of
item.
>> Thank The other question I
had was around gentrification.
That's that's the sound.
Something that's more within
the purview of the matter
before us. And I'm just
curious to know what measures
it will be taking around
preservation and protection as
we move forward. And if you
could just review those and
see if we can satisfy some of
the concerns of our of our
members of the public here
today. Thank you for the
question.
>> I think focuses on a lot of
that. The comments that we've
heard today on specific
measures related to
preservation the affordable
housing anti displacement
strategy, which was done
specifically for this area,
was also referenced, but at
least one public comment or
that does include pretty
diverse mix of ways to protect
residents and preserve either
deed restricted or just
naturally occurring,
affordable housing.
>> So we will be continuing to
kind of flush these out as
they apply to the issues that
we're hearing in concert with
county staff and then bring
those specific items for
council to review it this fall
has options to integrate into
the specific plan answer your
question that that does thank
you for your health.
>> Thank you for those
clarifications. Other comments
from council. MRS. And the
most respectful manner that
>> Nov. I would hope I believe
that I do have the support of
my colleagues to invite our
regional partners and at the
lectern level 2 continue the
conversation. How we come
together. Provide the median
housing in the most effective
and efficient manner possible.
And I'm grateful that our
staff. Are having that
conversation. But again, I do
invite our regional partners
to join us and having that
conversation as well. Thank
you. Spend
>> And along the lines of
Councilmember Alvarez was just
saying. I appreciate that. I
see you reading copious notes.
I appreciate that. You are
listening to what the public
is saying it is true that many
of these parks are in the
county, but they're also part
of the
>> And there are parks that
are in the city, not as many
in this particular plan, but
just to say we have many parks
throughout the city of Santa
Rosa. So so with thinking
about that, I I do agree with
some of the things that some
of the speakers were sent and
that is that we before we move
forward, we need to figure out
how we make sure that.
>> Displacement doesn't
happen. Whether know whether
you live in mobile home Park
rv Park.
>> Oran in an apartment
building.
>> I think that's something
that we need to look at. I
think I'm going to say this to
my counsel. Don't the load
Council members we need to
step up. We need to step up
take some action. I we've been
watching what's happening in
other jurisdictions and that's
great. But I think we need to
step up and do something to
protect our residents. So and
that's not on you necessarily.
That's really on us. If we
want to really make a
difference protect our
community the only other thing
I would say is I actually am
still happy with the direction
this is going I know you're
going to continue to take
community input. I think
that's really important. And
and and get more feedback
because I want to ensure that
we incorporate as much as what
the community wants is
possible. So very much in
favor of that.
>> And I also thinking about
protecting our community, but
also that whatever development
we do.
>> That word equitable
development that that to me, I
think that was in the in acp
letter and I did read it even
though it came to us at the
last minute. I read the whole
thing. You know, I represent
people of color represent
Latinos. Echo the to me is
really important in any kind
of development that we do so
and I know you you for that
for me. Not just now, but even
of the time commission, those
of the things that that I
think are important. So with
that all. That's all I have to
say. Thank you. Thank you, MR.
Donald. Thank you, Mayor. I
just have a few more comments.
I notice in the specific plans
that are being brought
forward.
>> We have an increase of
people, an increase of
services that we're going to
need infrastructure. And I
know that sometimes you you
have this great plan in place.
It takes us a long time to get
there.
>> But have we ever done a
crosswalk of about how much
money this will cost less to
do it, whether it's
infrastructure.
>> Public safety, if you're
looking at it, it looked like
we were going acquire more
parks, that type of thing. I
oftentimes we look at these
specific plans and we have
this dream, but I'm not seeing
the pen and pencil part of it
of how we're going to take
care of that and maybe it's in
there it all of your
documents. But when it comes
to me to approve these plans
and we're looking at policy, I
think it's wise of us to
actually look at what we're
biting off to make sure that
we can chew it and that we can
actually take care of all of
these areas appropriately
because we're seeing already
now how Sandra spread in the
city. So I don't know if you
have any feedback on that now,
but I think just moving
forward, that would be helpful
for me. Yes, thank you,
councilmember question. So
it's an excellent point. And
yes, part of every specific
plan, one of the requirements
included in that is an
implementation plan. And that
addresses the short-term
projects, mid-term and
long-term projects, potential
costs and potential funding.
Rep for new or not revenue.
But but funding mechanisms put
those measures into place and
then who would be responsible
for doing that? So, yeah. So
when the final specific plan
comes before the council for
consideration, you'll see that
as part of it definitely would
welcome any feedback on that.
Thank you. That's very
helpful. Thank you. Ms Rogers.
Thank you, Mayor. I just
wanted to thank staff for the
presentation and for all the
hard work that you're doing.
And I think although many of
our speakers where from a live
outside our jurisdiction. I
think that this was great.
>> reminder that now is the
time that we can collaborate
with the county and that this
will allow us to collaborate
even more. So with the county
too, ensure that the low
income housing remains
protected and that's within
the city limits. And without I
mean, an outside of the city
limits and how important it is
in that the lines that we draw
are imaginary, but people's
livelihoods and their housing
in there families are very
real. So I do want to thank
everyone that came out to
speak with us and I I can
speak for myself, but I think
that I can also speak for my
colleagues that we do what to
protect the housing that we
have. Not only do we want to
increase the housing stock
that we want to protect the
housing that we have in. We
appreciate you coming out to
tell us to remind a little
reminder goes a long way. So
thank you very much. Thank
you. Any other question or
comments or direction from
council?
>> I'll just follow up on ms
Rogers and it's been a while
point with with the reminder
that a positive reminder that
there are a lot of attorneys,
a lot of elected officials and
a lot of city managers across
the county right now working
on exactly the issue that
you're here to talk about
today. As many of you know,
well, you see what's going on
in Petaluma in Windsor, in the
city of Santa Rosa. We are
part of that discussion. So
please don't think that the
city of Santa Rosa City on its
hands. We have our staff and
our elected officials here or
are paying very close
attention to this discussion
because we do need to protect
our housing. With respect to
to the specific plan, I just
continue to be excited with
the ideas that are coming
forward and impressed with the
incredible want to staff work
that's gone into this. This is
the last large. Relatively
undeveloped piece of land in
the city within our with
boundaries and I say
relatively and of the
undeveloped because of course,
we have thousands of people
living there. We have
businesses. We have major
pieces of infrastructure, but
it is it is going to grow. It
is going to dense if I I'm
excited, but I see that even
even the talk of bridges or
pedestrian overcrossing to or
want to one as we continue to
try to our city to back
together after building a
freeway right through and the
improvements in the quality of
life that's going to have for
all residents in the city with
special reference to those who
are living in Southeast and
Southwest Santa Rosa along
this corridor. So the plan is
put forward that incorporate
all the community feedback it
It proves means gives us and
abroad a line from what that
part of the city can look like
and and how great it can I
mean, it's it's a good part of
the city now, but we can make
it better with a lot of
infrastructure investment and
with good planning. This is a
step towards that. So staff,
thank you very much. And thank
you all the members of the
community that put time in
today in our community
meetings to help push this
forward. Backed a staff room
and you've you've gotten some
feedback from a son serving
from the community. Do need
anything else for today. I
think we're good. Thank you.
Director has been we're going.
Yes, thank you, mayor. Just a
really quick recap. I think
the critical pieces, the
council to understand that we
are moving forward now with
the preferred alternative that
was presented. So we'll do.
The technical studies will
look at the displacement
issues that potentially can
can exist with that.
>> But this is a critical
decision making point for us
because we are now investing
resources and understanding
the financial analysis. The
traffic study, all those other
parts and pieces. So thank you
for the feedback. This really
helps us hold our timeline.
Staff will move forward with
Council direction. We're
looking forward to the next
generation. Thank you all.
>> All right. We will move
ahead then want to item 6. Our
report on our clothes
Sessions, MADAM City,
Attorney.
>> Thank you, mayor. There's
one reportable action out of
closed session. The city
COUNCILMAN Closed session on
item 3.1 anticipated
litigation pursuant to
Government Code Section 5, 4,
9, 5, 6.0. 94 has identified
on the posted agenda on a
motion by Councilmember
Fleming, seconded by Vice
Mayor Okrepkie the council
voted unanimously to give
direction to legal counsel, to
initiate litigation against
Pierce manufacturing at all.
There are no additional
reportable action is taken.
>> Thank you very much, indeed
public comment. I just want to
thank all the members of the
public again, who took the
time to come out. Your please,
please come back anytime
states stay engaged with this
issue. Back to our closed
session report. Any public
comment on that? Seeing none.
We'll close public comment.
And we had then to item 9, our
city manager and city
attorneys reports. City
manager, not anything for us
today.
>> Yes, I thank you, Mayor
Mayor and council. I have
several great items to talk
about. First. I'm really proud
to announce that Moody's
ratings, one of the world's
top credit rating agencies is
upgraded the city of Santa
Rosa's credit rating to a a
one. The second highest credit
rating in their system
assigning a stable outlook
across the board. And a one
rating is an exceptional
achievement and a powerful
external validation of its
strength, resilience and
positive trajectory of our
community. Achieving this
level of financial recognition
was no accident. It's the
direct results of difficult
but necessary decisions made
by eu Council and the work of
our city departments and the
proactive strategies of the
city leadership team both
today and previously today,
specifically highlight
highlighted our track record
of budgeting and our decisive
proactive response to
budgetary pressures, including
discipline spending, executing
significant spending
reductions while strictly
maintaining our General Fund
Reserve strategic depth
management implementing highly
effective strategies to manage
pension debt such as the
Calpers Fresh Start program.
Which secures an estimated
37 million and long-term cost
avoidance community
partnership. The final support
of our residents who have past
success who have passed
successful voter approved
measures to protect Essential
City services, responsible
planning developing public,
really disclose long-term
contingency plans to ensure
our financial stability
regardless of future economic
shifts. The on city
operations, Moody's recognize
the undeniable strength of
Santa Rosa itself. Our local
economy continues to thrive as
a prepare regional center for
government medical services,
retail and tourism. This
upgrade reflects our robust
property value growth, solid
resident incomes and the
ongoing construction projects
that underscore a deep
continue to invest in our
city. These upgrades confirm
what we already know. Santa
Rosa's economy and community
are steadily moving in a
highly positive and prosperous
direction. I want to
congratulate and thank the
council our team for all of
the hard work they did to
achieve this upgraded ratings
structure. I think it's great.
Absolutely. Our cfo is not
here to take a bow. He's
hiding steadiest hiding in the
back. Thank you to the whole
team. I also want to say that
the Santa Rosa Police
Department will host a
community meeting on
SEPTEMBER, the 17th about the
use of its flock, automated
license plate reader
technology. The meeting
explain how alpr assist with
serious criminal
investigations outline privacy
safeguards such as vehicle
only data collection. 30 day
retention case based searches
and audits and provide an
opportunity for residents to
ask questions and offer
feedback Spanish translation
and accommodations will be
available and the meeting is
being promoted through a
variety of avenues, including
social media civic, ready and
future radio announcements
more to come and be published
on that. In addition, 7 Santa
Rosa police officers were
honored by Mothers Against
Drunk Driving for their dui
enforcement efforts in 2025.
The Srpd made 614 dui arrests
with the 7 recognized officers
accounting for nearly 60% of
that total honorees included
Officer Anthony Metairie,
Officer Brendan Sawyer,
Officer Chase McIntyre officer
John Fisher. Officer Hannah
Combs. Officer Diego Asensio
and Officer Mike meager
Officer Anthony Metairie
receive special recognition
for making more than 100 dui
arrests and recording the
third-highest total in
Northern California. The these
awards reflect the
department's continued
commitment to traffic safety
impaired, driving enforcement
and reducing traffic related
injuries and fatalities. Thank
you all to those 7 officers
for their hard and continue to
work. I'm also happy to share
that the Ross Street
activation is now underway,
bringing new energy activity
and opportunities to connect
in the heart of downtown Santa
Rosa through OCTOBER 31st. The
east side of Ross Street will
serve as a vibrant community
gathering space featuring live
music lunchtime, food trucks
and family-friendly activities
designed to welcome residents
and visitors while supporting
our downtown businesses. We
are proud to support this
effort through funding
partnership and coordination
assistance from our Economic
Development division. This
activation reflects the power
of collaboration and we
appreciate the many but
downtown businesses, community
partners and event. Organizers
who helped bring this vision
to life. And I encourage
everyone to visit downtown,
enjoy the activities and
support our local businesses
through the activation period
for more information visit
downtown Santa Rosa Dot Org.
And I have one more mayor. I
am pleased to announce that
the registration is now open
for fall into fitness. These
are free class demo day taking
place on SEPTEMBER. 19th at
the Finley Community Center.
This Free Community event
invites adults and seniors to
explore a variety of exercise
and dance classes designed to
support a healthy heart body
and mind participants can
register for up to 3 classes
at no cost through advanced
registration, although advance
registration is required.
Fallen to fitness is made
possible through measure m
Parks for all which supports
parks and recreation programs
through Sonoma County to view
available classes and register
visit sr City dot org forward
slash calendar and we hope
you'll join us at the Finley
Community Center on SEPTEMBER.
19th. Thank you, mayor. That
concludes my report. Good up.
A good update. We are a
healthier and safer city with
a higher credit rating. That's
our report for this.
>> This meeting? Excellent.
Alright. MADAM City Attorney.
>> Thank you, mayor of a
report of settlements and
active litigation. There are
no settlements or judgments to
report out for the month of
JULY. As of 8/6/2026, are
active. Caseload was 33
litigation matters with child
eats assigned to approximately
25% of the trial court level
matters. 4 cases are currently
on appeal following rulings in
favor of the city at the trial
court level and the litigation
report is attached to the
agenda materials and I have
nothing further to report this
evening. Thank you. Thank you
very much the public comment.
Are there any members of the
public who wish to comment on
either of these reports, MR.
Do it.
>> Hello, my name is Dwayne
from Roseland. Thank you. For
those recent reports from the
interim city manager and the
attorney. It's nice to hear
that they'll be a meeting
about the flock cameras. This
has become an issue that's
growing for a number of
people. And I'm hoping as
specially because the chief of
police is come by tonight.
That he'll make a point of
making sure the meeting is set
up so that half of the time is
for the residents. I've been
to a number of city meetings
over the years and typically
evolves into the city, talking
at the people who've come
talking out a more given him
some more talk and you can
have a two-hour meeting. It
comprises one hour and 45
minutes. City staff and
different people talking to
the residents who then all
they get 15 minutes. So the
whole flock camera issue has
become fraught with this,
understanding this information
and other things that are
problematic to folks in the
community. So this would be
excellent opportunity for the
police department and city
staff, even elected officials
to be there and point out to
the community. It's what they
want. The community is asking
about information. They want
safety in the future and
explain how this might be able
to deliver some of those. You
might call questions that come
from the greater community,
deliver answers for those. So
don't go in with a preset
agenda per se make to our
meeting one hour for the city
staff and one are for
community to talk and interact
have it be an interactive
discussion. Not just one side
leads. Thank you kindly. Going
take you to Wayne.
>> Are there any other members
of the public in council
chambers who wish to speak?
Seeing none. We'll go online
if you're online was to make
public comment. This item,
please raise your hand or
press star 9. MADAM Zoom host.
Is there anybody with her hand
raised online?
>> Thank you, Mayor. We have
no one wishing to speak on
Zoom.
>> Thank you. We'll close
public comment on this item
and more on to item. 10
statements of abstention are
accused my council members. Do
we have any statements of
abstention recusal this
evening? Seeing none. On to
mayor and Councilmembers
reports. Do we have any
reports this evening? MR.
Donald kick us off.
>> Thank you, Mayor. I just
have a couple of things to
report out I was able to 10. I
think it was a last Wednesday
night market last week and see
drummer from Guns n Roses. So
if you know, I wasn't at the
really big event politically,
it's because I was listening
to that.
>> I also want say
congratulations to the Rincon
Valley Library for their
amazing renovation. Open the
doors yesterday and and it
looks like a bookstore going
in there. They've done a great
job, making it a resource,
have for community members.
And I know a lot of students
go to that library after
school. And so I just want to
congratulate them. And thank
you for opportunity come and
speak to all the committee
members that were in
attendance. And thank you to
city manager net for his
attendance as well.
>> Thank you. Anyone else? I
want just bunch of real quick
items you mention, not every
dimension police night out a
couple weeks ago when we had
the police to put up a dames
again. Thanks, rpd for putting
together. We have hundreds of
people that that's that's a
great tradition. Thank you to
city staff here as well as in
Rohnert Park in Windsor for
being part of the business
line. Sonoma County
presentation on where our city
budgets are right now as well
as the ballot tax measures and
a number of jurisdictions in
the county are going out with
it was well attended meeting.
We probably want to add 150
plus people. They're just
talking through municipal
municipal finances, both Santa
Rosa and our and our
neighboring cities. That was
an important meeting. We did
have the Clean Power Board
meeting a couple weeks ago.
Interesting subject discussed
the cost of electric
electrification for
lower-income neighborhoods. So
think about the lower income
neighborhoods and our county.
How do we give them the get
those neighborhoods, the
benefits ev of solar cells of
more reliable electricity,
lower electric costs. Sonoma,
clean power as ever is ahead
of the curve and trying to
figure out how we make that
happen here in our county in a
And of course, the fair I know
the county tries to end game,
for the fair, but we had 10
days of the fair. And that
really happens in Santa Rosa
as everybody knows. Attendance
was good. It was a lot of What
a what a great addition for
the county. A week ago we had
this change council chamber
right here was full MARCH. The
7th and 8th graders actually
3rd through 8th graders who
were who had were winners in
the read on Sonoma County
reading effort across the
county. They chose to come
here and learn about city
government. It's a great
program county wide. They're
going about 7,000 kids in
Sonoma County participating re
on Sonoma. Again, to encourage
reading for encourage reading
skills. So kudos to that and
to the school districts who
are involved. And then finally
an unusual conversation this
week I was at San Quentin on
Saturday and found myself in
policy conversations with
relevance to our vies for into
partnership. That's been
windows in this in this
Rogers, believe it or not, we
have we have a committed group
of men inside San Quentin who
wake up at 05:30am, in the
morning to watch our council
meetings. And so when I'm in
there, too, with my basketball
team to play basketball, a
policy session sometimes
emerges and this time around
what was concerning for for
the for the colleagues I was
with was on the increase in
gun violence in our area and
the increase in youth
violence. They've noticed that
and particularly some for some
residents, former residents of
Santa Rosa, Future residents
of Santa Rosa with their
family. Still here. Want to
know how they can help. So and
touching They mentioned that
they feel as though they've
participated, they they helped
create the conditions for the
problem that we're seeing here
and they want to they want to
give back in some way. And
that led into a conversation
about what the violence
Prevention partnership does.
What are city Some discussion
of how they can participate
from San Quentin now with
their media labs in terms of
videos in terms of terms of
public presentations, how they
might how they might
participate. Much discussion
about what Srpd has done, what
we have done here in terms of
gun seizures in terms of terms
ghost lab, ghost manufacturing
arrests, et cetera. They were
glad to hear that news. But
again, it turned into
substantive conversation. So
shout out to Johnny and Jonas
to residents to 2 individuals
will be coming back to our
city Sunday. We're ready to
worry to plug you in. And then
the San Quentin Kings, the
name of the team we play when
we go in, they would want it
noted for the city record that
they did actually because
pretty badly in and in a
basketball game, it wasn't. It
wasn't very close this time
around by 2 long. But 2
longtime friends, their land
cookie. I want to also be on
the record that I outscored
both of them, even though I
was injured. So if our minutes
could reflect And and to that
to the gentleman watching,
first of all, good morning.
Thank you. Thank you tuning in
for interest in the city and
I'll see you in SEPTEMBER.
That concludes our report. Any
public comment on these items?
In council chambers MADAM
Zuma, host is any online, have
their hands raised?
>> Nobody is commenting on
zoom.
>> We'll close public comment.
We will move on to item 11.2.
We have a few of us here who
are going to California cities
in a couple of weeks and we
need we need delegate voting
rights to a few of them. And
so MR. Dunham internal review
from for a motion for our
undesignated voter and
alternate.
>> Thank you, I move to
designate Councilmember Rogers
as voting delicate and
councilmember Alvarez and
myself as the 2 alternatives
for the upcoming Cal City
Conference. Second that.
>> We have a motion and a
second. Any public comment on
this item? In council chambers
anybody online, MADAM To host.
>> Nobody is raising their
hand online.
>> we have a motion. A second
City clerk call the vote.
>> Thank you, Mayor
Councilmember Rogers, I
Councilmember MacDonald by
Councilmember Councilmember
Ben Yes, councilmember over as
our vice Cookie. I mayor step
yes. Let the record show this
passes unanimously.
>> Thank you, Ron 12 approval
of minutes. We have 2 sets of
minutes. Our JULY 2026 regular
meeting minutes and AUGUST
4th, 2026 regular meeting
minutes. Are there any
amendments or corrections to
these minutes? Looking to my
colleagues. So we do an
extension. You want to make
that announcement?
>> I need to abstain,
apologize for not saying it
earlier for the obvious 4th
meeting as I was out of town.
>> Thank you. All right. Any
other corrections or
amendments seeing none over
the public comment in council
chambers? Are there any
members of the public who
would like to make comment on
either set or either set of
minutes? Seeing none in
council chambers. MADAM Zoom
host, anybody online with her
hand raised.
>> We have no public comment
via them.
>> Thank you. All right. Then
Ms MacDonald stipulation that
she is that she's abstaining
from item. 12.2 will be will
adopt both those minutes as
submitted. And move on to
consent. We have items 13.1
through 13.6. Are there any
questions regarding the
consent calendar, anything to
be pulled? Seeing? None. What
a public comment winning
numbers. The public like to
make comment on consent, MR.
Do it. You have the floor.
>> Hello. My name is Dwayne Do
it. I'm from Roseland I'm
definitely concerned and
hopeful that the downtown
connectivity to support
housing density is actually
going to occur and bring good
things forward since sizable
amount of money that's being
spent and one of the things
that we hear often is that we
want more housing density
downtown. But we haven't been
getting it. It's a matter of
fact. People in the past that
have come here before and told
you they're going to do
projects to get more housing
downtown, then return and say,
well, it didn't pencil out so
we didn't do it and we don't
get that housing that's
promised. This is the kind of
stuff that needs to be paid
attention to you. Folks need
to keep a tight rein on what
kind of promises you take.
It's a matter of fact. You
know, there's a term he caught
a proverb, actually, perhaps
once burned, twice shy. So you
could be looking different
developer that MAY come here
and say we're going to get
more housing downtown. We're
going to increase that housing
density and make sure that you
get it in writing because
apparently that hasn't
occurred before and that's why
they've been able to slip
through, if you will, and that
we don't get that housing.
That whole dilemma didn't
pencil out. So as this goes
forward, which is 13.3 kind of
an ominous number, if you
will. You'll make sure that
somehow these people that
build this project for 13 can
be 3.7, 7, 9, 141,000. That's
a lot of money. 3 million,
almost 4 million dollars.
Gonna show somehow that we get
that housing density. Thank
you. Thank you to Wayne. Any
other members of the public
like to comment on the consent
calendar.
>> Seeing none in council
chambers met MADAM Zuma, host,
anybody online.
>> Thank you, Mayor. We have
no one raising their hand
online.
>> Thank you. We'll close
public comment and I look to
vice mayor creepy for motion.
I move to adopt consent items.
13.1 through submitted by
staff.
>> Second, it. When I was
close talking about what MR.
Alvarez with a motion and a
second, MADAM City clerk, you
can call a vote whenever
you're ready. Thank you. Mayor
Councilmember Rogers.
>> Councilmember MacDonald, I
councilmember Fleming
Councilmember Ben Willows.
Yes, councilmember over vice
Cookie. I mean, your step?
Yes. Let the record show this
passes unanimously.
>> Thank you very rights where
we are just a few minutes
before 5. You know what? Let's
let's move right into our
report item for the evening
item. 15.1. Our report
regarding the approval of Real
property Exchange agreement
for City Hall campus, 9100
Senators Avenue and a portion
of that. And then 6.30, per 6,
3, 6, 5, 5 for street and 5
23rd Street with a decoration
exempt surplus land and
related actions. A
high-profile item for those of
you read the papers. Thank you
for it. To all those who
showed up tonight to talk
through this. It's important
for the city. MISS Scott, MR.
Wagner, MR. Hennessey.
>> Good Evening. Council
members. We are happy to be
here tonight. Excited to be
here tonight to talk to
addressing the city hall
liability and the proposed
exchange agreement. I am Jill
Scott, the city's real
property manager start off the
discussion. I'm here with our
deputy director or excuse
director of just give it a
motion. Our director of
transportation and public
works and cfo, MISTER Wagner.
We also have our consulting
law firm bk in in the audience
to help us out with any
questions they've been working
with us to this whole process.
>> So just going to go over a
little road map of how the
presentation is going to go
because it's a little We want
to make sure we had all the
points. Any answers. Many
questions as we can. Rt Pw
Tractor Director Hennessy is
going to start out with the
liability and what's going on
at the city Hall campus right
now. Our cfo is go through the
fiscal impact. Then I minister
with salt alternatives that
we've considered the exchange
itself the transaction and
what it looks like and how the
improvements and the
transition would go. They're
going turn it back over to cfo
Wagner to go through the
financial review and the
proposed council action. So
next slide to MR. Hennessey.
>> Good afternoon Council. As
a slide on for a new shows. We
have more than 9 figures in my
ability on the That doesn't
happen overnight. That is not
specifically my fault or your
fault. This is a generational
issue that has happened over
decades. What we have figured
out, though, is how to fix it.
And I walk through some of the
specific issues. It is our
million dollars needed to fix
these buildings for a variety
of things from structural
repairs to sewer and water
issues and ada issues amongst
other things.
>> These cost to the city here
is
>> cfo we'll talk a little bit
more about that. We are not
paying for annually. And as a
result of that, it continues
to grow rather having us
address it in a meaningful
way. Joe mentioned this, this
liability is systemic both
within our facilities
portfolio and within our our
budgeting over the last many
decades. With respect to the
buildings and the site itself.
We have structural issues,
including exterior conditions
that have deteriorated past
the point of repair that need
complete replacement
structural deficiencies of
started to crop up in some of
the buildings. We have ada
issues all over the place,
including the elevator out
here. The ramps essentially we
would need to rebuild the
building to make it 88
compliant. We also have as
best of sunlight issues
throughout a number of the
buildings. And I think the
biggest thing that I want to
fixing this requires everybody
working in these buildings to
be out of them. You know, we
cannot deal with lead and
asbestos issues with people
working around here. You've
all heard the anecdotes of us
buying hvac parts from the bay
because we cannot find
suppliers sell them anymore.
That those are truthful
anecdotes are facilities.
Coordinator superintendent is
frequently shopping and
second-hand sites to find
pieces equipment for us to
keep the building running.
Some of the specific examples.
I know. I've got a couple
slides here just showing some
some pictures because I know a
lot of the public sees the
council chamber MAY be some
reception areas, but the 300
plus staff members who work in
these building see this every
day. We have hvac units with
Faye Linda Quirk. We have
water leaks stained carpet
replacing that carpet. It is a
challenge because it would
expose who knows what
underneath them. Have paint
caused by leaks even in the
point of 2 point of crack
concrete walls that's not
supposed to happen as
especially not supposed to
have then. Where will those
concrete walls are important
structurally for Keeping the
building operate. Sealing
leaks are not only water
lines, but sometimes sewage
lines we've had. Those leaks
mostly contained by the
ceilings. And as you staying
there, we've also had some
sewage leaks not contained by
the ceilings and make their
way down to the desk and
ground level. You'll remember
a few years ago that we had an
infestation of fleas that send
everybody home for a short
period of time. While we got
that taken care of. These are
all costs to us in terms of
fixing city facilities but
also costs to us in terms of
the ability of staff to
deliver services for the
public. So the great part is
that now we know what it costs
to fix. And cfo Wagner will
tell us how to get there.
Thank you, Director
Hennessy's. So all Echo one of
the points that Dan made in
that myself and dinner are
willing to come back to
councils address this issue,
too.
>> To put a Band-Aid on to
this. Campus not to fix it,
but to put a Band-Aid on it so
that we can immediately
address. The problems here
that make this campus a place
that we the public cannot
reliably count on to be able
to conduct their services
here. That indeed is a
48 million dollar band did.
And again, we are willing to
return to council with dot to
be able to execute that plan.
Roughly what an understanding
of how that would really to
our budget would we would
anticipate the 6 million
dollar annual cost to fund
that 48 million dollars. We
would do so through debt. Now,
as Dan mentioned, that would
be fully burden costs of
finding a new place for our
employees to work until we
were able to fix all the
issues here. It would be
complex and it would be very
challenging to execute. But
again, we are at a place with
our current failure that we do
need to take action. And one
of the consistent themes that
will be throughout this
presentation is that this is a
issue that has developed over
decades and part of that issue
is in action. And we're going
to talk about that a little
bit more in the presentation.
Next slide. 6 million dollars
is a meaningful impact to our
budget. We're going to talk
about leader our exchange
concept and how that equals
less than 1 million dollars a
year. The way I'm
characterizing for my Ron
finances that there is a
5 million dollar Delta there
between these solutions and
again, the 6 million dollars
is not a solution. It is a
Band-Aid. 5 million Dollar
Delta really is a meaningful
impact to the service that we
can provide the community. Our
general fund, which would have
to bear the burden of that
expense is responsible for
providing the services that
the community expects and asks
for first that being our
police fire emergency
response, our streets and
infrastructure keeping our
parks clean and well
maintained. And as long as
well as the community services
through our recreation
programs. At the end of the
day, we have one high in Santa
Rosa and how we choose to
divvy it out is the way to
provide the most service to
the community. Ultimately the
end of the day, this inaction
on see by the city over the
decades to create this problem
has left us where we have to
make this start decision on
how we are going to invest
that pie best to maintain our
city services. The second
thing that I would I would
impress is that
>> these couple of decades of
the city discussing this and
this has been discussed at
this table for a very long
time and very long
presentations. I would really
describe that as the city was
stuck in spiral of a rebuild
concept and that it's very
rare to be able to know you
haven't identified facility
that you're able to move into.
That will meet your needs. We
do have that opportunity
today. But when you don't have
that, you have to build from
the ground up. The last time
the city took a very serious
approach at looking at this
issue. The twenty-twenty
initial estimate was
64 million dollars. That is
the large number but what's
even larger is taking that
number from just 6 years ago.
And today we're looking at
around 82 million dollars. We
have this existing liability
on our books for this campus
and it grows each year. Unlike
an actuary report from Calpers
where they'll tell us exactly
how much it is each year. We
have to look at this and
ultimately that 30% increase
just makes the rebuild concept
more unfeasible than it was in
2020 more unfeasible than it
was prior to the Great
Recession. And we really need
to exit that strategy. We need
to come up with something
different that we're here to
propose today.
>> ok, so we've had a lot of
questions about what's
happened over the years
personally, myself and our
city manager of been working
on these concepts for over 10
years. But I'm gonna go back
in history a little bit for
the public, even though this
has been to.
>> In public means so many
times over the years. Back in
the 2 thousands, they
attempted a man, a master
planning process for city hall
and and recognize that the
times I it wasn't a long-term
solution that is affordable in
2000 Ten's they evaluated
selling or rebuilding and even
bought more property a little
earlier than not the West
America Bank building too
extend and expand on a rebuild
of the property. But the high
costs and the limited market
interest made that not
feasible. And the 2000
twenty's. So here is where I
came earlier in the 2020 is
probably 2018 we started we
looked at, we studied for over
an entire year. We looked at
the public private partnership
side. So we went through a
years long study and some some
MAY say we over analyzed and
my opinion. We were at the
point of over analyzing all of
this. We brought in every
expert you could think We
brought in, you know, finance
experts. We we put in private
equity. We brought and on
brokers from in the area from
outside the area. We did
market surveys. We did
studies. We did test surveys
with the community. We started
a master planning process. We
looked at all of our property,
every piece of property we own
in the downtown. We looked at
selling those at the highest
possible price that we could
come up with for appraised
value and we still couldn't
get to a number that the city
could afford on a rebuilt
that's selling every single
piece of land we own in the
downtown. Including parking
garages. So Twenty-twenty we
realize that we're just not in
a place where and at that time
where rebuild as possible. And
as cfo Wagner just went over
and the slide previous to
this, those numbers even
gotten larger. Now. In 2025,
we decided to test the market
a little bit. Let's see what
our properties worth. And
let's see if we sell some of
the pieces individually rather
than a whole. Where we would
come out, too. So we decided
to put up for sale 6.55, for
street, which is the West
America Bank building to see
what would happen. We received
after a pretty significant
amount of time. We received 2
offers both of the officers or
so significantly below the
appraised values that the city
declined to move forward with
those. And at that time with
that told me, in my
professional opinion, is that
this? City Hall campus is
worth more as a whole than it
is peace million that are
separating that. Next slide.
Please. So this slide just
shows you that we've we've
tested analyzed, brought in
every expert. To the Nth
Degree on rebuilding what we
could do to rehabilitate this
campus and what needs to be
done. We had significant
amount of studies done
facilities, study's done
100 million dollar liability
at 6 million dollars a year
for 30 years. I'm thinking
it's just it doesn't work for
the city. We don't. We don't
have the funds as our cfo tell
you. Building new on the
existing site. Like I said, a
minimum of 82 Million. It's
probably closer to 100 million
at this time. And estimating
5 million dollars a year for
30 years. Again, not a
sustainable option for the
city. Next slide. Please. So
after years and years of
studies of talking to everyone
we can talking to every expert
we came up with a or an
opportunity for an exchange
which we want to talk to you
about tonight. And this
opportunity is the first
opportunity I-10 to 12 years
of working on this that I can
say is a sustainable
opportunity and is in my
professional opinion, a great
opportunity for the city to
get out of 100 million dollar
liability. And let's just say
that one more time,
100 million dollar taxpayer
liability on this campus. Next
slide. Please. So what's an
exchange? I've been asked many
times what a property
exchanges. It's exactly what
it sounds like. So let's think
of the definition exchange.
It's you give something you
get something usually of equal
value or or becomes of equal
value. And that's exactly what
a property changes. So what
staff is proposing tonight is
that the city of Santa Rosa
Exchange, what we call the
city Hall campus. Now, I'd be
very specific about what those
properties are. That is 100
Santa Rosa Avenue, which is
the campus that this is
sitting on today.-1.6 one
acres. So director Hennessy is
going to go into this slides
coming up. But the city is
keeping keeping full. 1.6, one
acres of all of the creek
property. So all of the
property of Santa Rosa Creek
and Matanzas Creek that is
covert under here will remain
in the government's hands.
That will provide flexibility
in the future. So what what
can be done with those
properties? So 100 Rose Avenue
minus a 1.6 acres which we
will be keeping 90 Santa Rosa
Avenue 6.55. For street and
6.31, 0st street that are all
the properties here and across
the street on First Street and
we would exchange all of those
properties for 5 23rd Street,
which is owned by museum on
the Square llc. That is an
existing downtown office
building that meets all of the
city's needs. And I'll go into
the next couple of slides. How
we got to the point of
recommending this property at
5 23rd Street. So where we
came from is the city have a
need? Moss has a need and
desire and the need to line.
That's the hardest part. A
finding in exchange property
that works and needs have to
align for both. So how this
fits in the state law. So the
Surplus Lands Act, which I
know you've all heard me talk
about it. Not probably at this
point. I'm a you have to
designate this is this is how
the city governs or how the
state governs, how governments
sell property and it has to be
designated either non-exempt
surplus land or exempt surplus
land. There is an exception in
the state law that in the
surplus lands out that allows
and property exchange for
government use. For agents.
What they call agency use
obesity use. So we are asking
tonight that the council
declare this property exempt
surplus land and that we are
and that allows us to be able
to exchange that property for
agency the existing city hall
property would be transferred
2 Mott's llc and then 5 23rd
Street would be transferred to
the city for agency use. So it
all you ation. Here's another
question. We've got a lot of
that we wanted to go over is
how did we get to the
recommendation of 5 23rd
Street? There's a lot of
properties in the downtown
have. Why did this come out at
the top of the less? I will
tell you, this came out far
beyond any other property. It
was a no-brainer really to
bring this one to you we
looked at all the different
properties and the downtown.
So There are we look to bronco
through first we looked at him
for size and functionality
tenant, relocation because
obviously we don't want to re.
We don't want to be display
scene. Commercial tenants more
than we need to. We want to be
very careful about that. So a
building that has 15 people
and it is not not the best for
us. Our businesses are very
important to us. We looked at
tenant improvement costs.
Would what condition is the
building? You know, how many?
How much money do we need to
put in nt eyes with that said
exchange feasibility, not
everybody's going to want to
exchange a property or how or
once a city property and then
long term city suitability. So
do we have room for growth and
what does it look like for the
future? When we looked at it
all the properties in the
downtown, it was important. We
knew to counsel and we knew
for staff and and the business
community. It's those 300
employees that we have remain
in the downtown. So we did not
look outside of the downtown
area. When we got to size and
functionality, which was one
of them that cut the majority
of the properties out in the
downtown. They're are not. We
would have to buy 2 properties
and most instances to be able
to. Have enough space to
situate all of our employees
that in the downtown now, let
alone. You know, we wouldn't
be able to put them together
so we can, you know, have a
one-stop shop or any of the
issues any of that items that
we want to bring forward for
the community to make this an
easier serviceable area.
Exchange feasibility we had a
partner, a development partner
Hugh Futrell and Montel see
that was interested in
exchange that wanted to do
that. And then we had to look
at costs and disruption. So
how could we move people
without disrupting service?
And that's something that we
negotiate within the contract,
which I will talk about a
minute. So here's the here's
the crux of the agreement. How
did we establish fair value?
So we have a very specific
business protocol that we do
in the city with every real
property transaction that we
do. And it's based on
appraisal on outside
appraisals by qualified
appraisals. And we stuck to
that process of which we do
with every acquisition that we
do here in the city. And we
did it again with this one.
And sometimes we did it with
multiple appraisals, which is
very common. So it's very
common even in right away
transactions by one Palm Beach
Party get their own appraisal.
And then, you know, to go, she
ate between the 2. And that's
exactly the same process that
we followed here. So let's
start with the Fy 23 Street.
The appraised value range
between appraisals was 12.4
million to 18.7 million.
Again, that might seem like
very big Delta to the
community. That is not it is
typical for us to see an
appraisal that there is a very
big delta between one
appraisal and the other
appraisal. It is and my job
and my staff's job in the city
manager's job to know and
understand what the value is
and to negotiate appropriately
for the city and for the
taxpayers and for the council.
And that's what we did here.
So we looked at very similar
properties. We looked like
what it was going on downtown.
And we came to a fair value
that was agreed upon by both
properties at 15.7 million.
And I will tell council and
the community that I think
this is a very, very
appropriate value. The
exchange has to be beneficial
for both parties. And this
very beneficial to the city
and it works for our exchange
partner. The existing city
Hall campus. Again, I'll go
back to my comments before
that. I truly believe that the
campus is worth more as a
whole that it is separately
the appraised value for the
city Hall campus has a
combined to campus was a
little over 13 million dollars
when we negotiated this value.
Again, these negotiate
somewhere very detailed and
and extensive when we
negotiated this a value of
11.1 million. We had to take
other things into
consideration that were not in
the appraised So the appraised
value is going to be exactly
what the property is worse
could be in its best
condition. This is not in its
best condition during during
the negotiations. We had
environmental studies done,
which we had planned in
advance to be doing those
environmental studies just for
lead and asbestos abatement,
not even all the other payment
that needs to be done for
anybody to do anything with
this campus came back at 4 and
a half million dollars. Our
ada came back at U.S.
Astronomical number. Those are
the things that we had to take
into account for. We're
keeping 1.6 acres of land. We
are not transferring that
land. So that had to come into
play is also as a reduced
value. So the 11.1 by 3 value
I feel is a very fair value as
well. So when I say net
exchange differential, what I
mean is the difference. The
delta between the value,
negotiated value of 5 23rd
Street and then negotiated
value of existing city Hall
campus. That is 4.5 million.
And that is what the city
would pay to Montz llc at the
close of escrow for the
exchange to happen. Next
slide. Please. What is the
city gain? The city gains a
lot. The taxpayers gain a lot.
I can't harp on this and not
design or cfo. Really harp on
is we are eliminating
100 million dollar liability
from the taxpayers from the
city. We gained so much being
in one building. It's
consolidating departments and
its customer service. It's the
ability to put a one-stop shop
and so that we can our
community can walk in and get
almost every service that they
want and one place instead of
walking into 5 different
places are having to go here
or across the street or
across, you know, wherever
they need to go. Its strength
shun strengthens the
collaboration across city
services and city departments
and even allows us to move
other departments into the
building that are not to are
not downtown already. And that
has. Even more facts, right?
And it allows us to
collaborate more with each
other, which gives us a better
customer service. It also
brings a significant even
more. Employees down to use
the services to go to the
businesses, to have to go out
after work. It helps our
community and so many ways
it's it's a some markets, a
smart community investment
next slide. Please. Turn this
over to director Hennessey as
Joe mentions or keep in about
1.6 acres and it's highlighted
by that image on the scene
from close to center as Avenue
looking back towards Nome
Avenue.
>> The 1.6 acres is at its
widest at certain center is
avenue and then kind of comes
back through here and almost
scrapes this corner of the
building before heading down
Sonoma to all the way to the
street. The purpose of the
retention of this is because
it has a number of potential
uses for First and foremost is
the creek uncovered
infrastructure that is under
that that land. Right now. It
does lot of work for us with
respect to flood as you know,
fema has released updated fund
risk maps that we are
reviewing in concert with our
partners at the Sonoma County
Water Agency for how we're
going to address those risks
moving forward. Retention of
this property gives us a
number of options to do that.
And in fact, it gives us the
same number of options that we
have today to do that. So
essentially, by keeping this
property, there is no change
to what the city and the
county collectively can do
with respect to mitigate flood
risk in the future. This also
does provide, you know,
pointing out towards Juilliard
Park towards Luther Burbank,
home and Garden tours to
intersection of Sonoma Avenue
and Saint Rose Avenue gives us
the opportunity for other
things, too like Placemaking
we'll be happy to answer any
questions you have on that.
>> How we make the move for.
This another area of where
really thought through what we
don't want to disrupt service
to the public at all. And so
we had to think about how we
prepare 5.24 the city to move
into it. If the council does
approve this transaction
tonight, so will need to
complete design and tenant
improvements or estimating
right now that those will be
between 17 20 Million. But
those will come back to
council will make it closer
for appropriations and for
review. When we get closer and
get a more defined dollar
amount, we'll need to put a
plan together and relocate
existing commercial tenants
and then we need to just
prepare the space for city
departments to move into an
order to do that. We needed to
lease back on this property
and that this was another
thing that we had to take into
consideration and the value of
the property. And in the
exchange partner, we needed to
be able we can't move 300 or
400 people overnight and we
can't disrupt services like
that to the community. We have
to be able to supply those
services. So Hamas agreed to
through their negotiations to
allow us to lease back 2 years
on this campus at 100 Santa
Rosa Avenue. So we still
having these in this chamber
for 2 more years doing these
meetings and one year at City
Hall Annex 90 Santa Rosa
Avenue. Mostly because most of
our it operations happened out
of there and will need time to
prepare those and move them.
And and they agreed to lease
back for a total of $2, but is
$2 total for all of that lease
back consideration? And that
was a big deal for the city.
And and then the 3rd part is
we need to consolidate and set
up our one stop shop. So we're
not disrupting service. So
we'll do that. He eyes over in
the new building. The tenant
improvements to transition
people in space into it. When
the public counter space is
complete and ready. Then we
will move public counters from
here to there. But we won't be
moving those and tell the
spaces ready. So there's no
disruption in service for the
community. Next slide. The
other thing is is there's
closing. So lake, even when
you now say you're buying a
house, you come to an
agreement. You negotiate
agreement just like we have
you open escrow during that
escrow period. You have an
inspection period. You're
looking at the house. You're
looking at the property. It's
the same thing with an
exchange agreement or any
acquisition for that matter.
So during if council passes us
tonight during this time and
when we close escrow, there'll
be some things that we still
need to work through and work
on. So where need to establish
a process? Tonight's Exchange
agreement, if you approve this
also approves it. Iwork letter
to and establishes a process
for design, pricing
construction and tenant
improvements on 5.20. But it
does not approve the
appropriations for that yet.
So we will be back to council
and public session to talk
about the scope and the amount
and the appropriations that
will need for that. We need to
finish up relocation plans
with the tenants. Help find
those tenants space if they
want our help work out, what
their what they will be
through the relocations. So
there is a state relocation
process that we are mandated
to follow and which we will
and which we need to help
those tenants. And we will
have some payments to those
tenants as well for their
moving expenses. Among other
things. There was one tenant
in the building that had
already had plans to long
before the city had come into
play. That one 10, came to us
and said, would you be
interested? We'd like to
leave. Could you take over our
lease? And we said yes,
because the hot makes it a lot
easier for the tenant and for
the city. We can move some
staff that we need. We'll need
to move out of the chamber
building at the close of
escrow. So we'll be moving
some staff from there and here
and allows us some extra space
for transition. The city
assume the lease rent from
SEPTEMBER first through
DECEMBER 31st. When we expect
to close escrow part of
relocation is an appraisal
process that we do that we
hire outside experts for and
they up raise the cost of
their fsa. Furnitures and
fixtures and equipment. And
then we can either pay to have
them moved or we can offer to
purchase sighed equipment. And
this case they had very nice
furniture that would work well
for the city. So we offered
them 50% of the appraised
value and they did accept. And
so the city is paying 55,008,
77 for the existing furniture
and not space for the city to
go out buy that furniture
would be much more expensive.
The assignment in this
agreement, the assignment of
the lease would end at the
close of escrow and there and
we would let them out of their
lease and that would be the
end of any lease payment that
we have other tenant
arrangements will and the
relocation process will keep
going through through this
process. The other thing that
we will need to do and the
developers asked for is a
development agreement,
development agreement has a
completely separate processes
of his own. It will come back
to planning Commission for
consideration. So we'll work
on trying to negotiate a very
draft development agreement
with the developer. That will
go to planning Commission for
their input in for public
input and a public meeting,
then it will go to city
Council twice and a public
meeting for your input and the
communities put input again.
So it's total of 3 public
meetings and it does have its
own environmental process.
Next slide, please. So from
today until closing today, if
Council approves the exchange
agreement, if you authorize
and you adopt the secret
findings for the Exchange
agreement that transaction
begins. After this. The 85 day
due diligence period will
start during that 85 days. We
will too We will do at a lot
of testing. We already have.
It is lined up just in case
counsel prove said we will
begin testing on the building
to make sure that we know all
of the ins and outs of this
building. So this is also part
of how we would set up a
facilities plan going forward.
And I think I've mentioned in
past meetings that we very
much planned to. This will
these 2 guys right here. Our
cfo and director Hennessy will
bring forward a plan to
council to probably with the
budget every year to make sure
that we have enough money in
the budget every year to
properly maintain the new
building so that we're not
getting back in the situation.
We are now. So we'll have
other things. Relocation
plans, a stop. Assignments,
transaction documents that
will have to that will have to
work through. Some of those
will have to come back to
council for approval. Some of
those will be under the city
manager's authority to approve
her. This exchange agreement,
the ones that require
appropriations will be back to
the city council. Once we
satisfy all of those
conditions and we're ready to
close, we plan to close on
DECEMBER 31st. That's our
goal. I should say. The city
would acquire than 5 23rd
Street Mott. So we'll see what
occurred. Why the exchange
property? The city hall cancel
the Kent campus. The payments.
4.5 million dollars and the
least back time will begin now
sometimes with government. We
don't like this, but we do
have a lot of regulations. We
have especially a lot of
regulations with Acquisition
process is and this is a type
of the acquisition process and
sometimes that causes a delay
that we don't like so if. Due
solely to our we have to
extend escrow. Part of the
agreement is that we will
payments. $37,500 a month,
which would be prorated daily
if it's a half a month for
every month that we go over,
we did put a cap on that at
$450,000. But its side does
happen. It could cars the 4.5
million to be slightly more.
Next slide. Please. That turn
this over to our cfo thank
you, for the remainder of
these sides, I'm going to get
into some more of the
specifics.
>> Around how this transaction
is going to proceed. As you
mentioned, there's a 4.5,
5 million dollar difference
between the exchange
properties that that she took
us through. The overall
implementation costs of 17 to
20 million dollars. The way
that I would describe that
from a finance perspective is
that's being fully burdened.
So given analogy, when I
bought my first house, we
bought the house and we didn't
have the money for the couch
and the moving expenses and
all that stuff. We're not
doing that here. We are fully
baking in all of the moving
expenses, the tenant
improvements that are going to
happen in the building. The
architectural designs, the
professional services that are
going to be needed. We'll add
that. I think we're going to
be on the low end of that
estimate. We've put together a
very thoughtful, well baked
planted to kind of make that
all there. At the end of the
day, we're anticipating the
ongoing expenses to the
general fund to be around a
little less than 1 million
dollars. What we're going to
do is we're gonna have to go
out and raise some debt for
this. There's different debt
tools that we can use as a
city to be able to finance
that I can say publicly. Now
it's about public knowledge.
I've been meeting with rating
agencies recently. We are very
credit worthy where a very
strong financial positions to
be able to take this action
based on the strength of our
community. Let's drill down on
the specifics just a little
bit more. The 4.5 million
dollars worth of the exchange
amount council has already
assigned to fire 4.5 million
dollars of that money. This is
prior council action to
address facility needs in the
city that we're allocating in
this way. That's best to use
of those funds. We're asking
for an additional less than
$50,000 as part of this action
to meet that differential
difference of the 4.5 versus
the 4 points. 5, 4, 6, As Joe
mentioned, there's going to be
around little let little more
than $80,000 with additional
expenses tied to the take over
of the lease at the new
property to get some office
space for us right away. And
to have smoother transition
with one of the established
tenants. Are you mention less
than a million dollars of
ongoing annual costs spread
over potentially what would be
30 years? Key to that number
is a number that we spoke
about earlier. 1 million
dollars is a lot less than
6 million dollars. That is
something that comes up very
frequently in these
conversations. But as point
important point out,
fundamentally, today's action
is about maintaining in
safeguarding the services that
we're providing to the
community. Joe mentioned
there's going to be a $2 lease
back. I will share that. There
was coincidentally a $2
donation to the city today
over at the revenue counter.
Sam Davis is ready to receive
that money. But overall we'll
be able to lease back this
property for $2 that's a great
deal for us because it's going
to give us transition time
that we're going to need as an
organization to execute this
move in all of the complicated
ways they're going to happen
potentially after today. So
today's council action just to
summarize is is asking council
to declare an exempt surplus
land adopt an example exempt
surplus Land resolution
declaring the identified
exchange property exempt a
surplus land make the required
sequel. Findings and second
approve the exchange adopt the
exchange agreement resolution
approved the real property
sheens agreement with Montel c
adopt the secret findings
authorize the city manager to
execute these change agreement
and all related transaction
docks. I will give a brief
closing on any subject that
has been talked about at this
South table for decades and
for a very long period of time
like the actions council has
been taking over the past 3
years. This is a big swing on
an area of deep, deep need in
our city. These large
liabilities that are in the 9
figures like the one we're
addressing today have real
impact on the way that we're
able to provide service to our
community and our budget
issues that honestly we've
been facing now for the past 3
years. Staff is brought
forward different resolution
towards this problem that
addresses the flaws that have
made the prior propose actions
Today's pros actions that
additional piece of that
puzzle that we've been putting
together to help maintain our
services to the community. And
with that, I'll turn it over
to council. I think that's the
last light. I hope her That
was that was enough. Thank
you. So becoming Thank you for
that. They years of work on
this on this project. We have
certain excited from the
beginning.
>> We're not going to count
questions yet. Our rushing to
turn over to MISTER For trial
and who is our partner in this
proposed deal? All right. You
would you like to take 5 or 6
minutes and then talk about
your perspectives on on what
we're discussing here. There
it is. I should know. Thank
you. Mayor and council members
will be brief thank you for
taking the time on this.
>> And thanks very much, too,
to your staff for professional
staff for the extremely
focused, extremely detailed
work in the course of extended
period of time, there has been
yes is in that conversation.
There have been knows. But
there's always been logic and
it has been from my standpoint
to exemplary experience. Just
to just very, very, very
quickly. When my partners and
I first considered this
possibility, there were
reservations. The 5 23rd
Street building is in certain
respects and iconic building
required tremendous capital
investment on our part. We
have been very, very reluctant
to sell the assets that we
created in the city of Santa
Rosa. Almost invariably, we
have kept well, we've built,
but we will yourselves
ultimately around to the
notion that this does make
sense, make sense for the
city. It makes sense for for
ownership. We also had
concerns that my partners
expressed to me because I'm
responsible to a board other
jurisdictions have What can be
sure to become train wrecks
when it comes to evaluating
expanded the facilities or
relocations. As a company. We
did not want to be associated
with another train wreck.
There is no train wreck. My
partner's looked at the
numbers. I looked at the
analysis and I was absolutely
convinced of the precision.
The diligence, the extreme
detail of the analysis you've
now that's for the city to
decide that's for the public
to evaluate a counter party.
But I'm saying that that did
come into consideration as we
evaluated this this
transaction. The second issue
my partners. Ask Because they
know my history. They know I'm
of a certain age. Now they
also know that the first time
that I appeared before this
and before this council in
this exact council chambers
almost exactly 47 years ago.
And there have been 4 e
projects that my company has
done here. 12 of them in the
downtown core, all buildings
that we've built. We don't
entitle buildings. We don't
acquire land except but
executing the project, MR. Do
it made a comment about that?
Our record is very, very
clear. And that I think the 12
buildings we built in the
downtown core, which has been
a particular emphasis of ours
has included 5 housing
projects of news for all all
income ranges. Downtown
really, really matters. And
this is an opportunity from
our standpoint, apart from the
economics of the exchange to
do something special over and
above the numbers that could
have major impact on creating
the sense of residents sense
of attraction to sensitive
since of visit this. Let's
call it the can attract the
whole community to downtown
and make downtown thrive. Even
more. A good part of my career
has been focused on exactly
that point. As you as you
know, and this is an
opportunity to to help execute
that difficult cobi other
partners inevitably involved
sophisticated and it is a
collaboration in the in
between city. There was
comment about the development
agreement which is subject to
further review when the time
comes. I also want to stress
something else as we move
forward. Should you choose to
approve this exchange? On our
end contact with the
community, transparency with
the community outreach to the
community to hear what people
think. What matters. Clearly,
we have our own ideas at this
point but to shape that in a
way that the public likes that
serves, the needs of the
community will be fundamental.
And that has to be a very open
process. I want to thank the
staff again, I want to thank
you for the opportunity. It's
been a very long opera, very
long process. I would say look
forward to whatever decisions
you in the course of meeting
today. MR. Trial. Thank you
very much. Thank you for
taking time to speak.
>> All right. Now, as for get
back to council Rogers
annually to
>> Thank you. Hugh stepped
away. But I think one of my
questions was why would a
developer want a development
agreement? What is that? Mean,
or what is that insurer for a
developer?
>> We're going bring up Ethan
bk law who is working on this
for us.
>> We thank you. Councilmember
So when a development
agreement is, is it it's an
agreement provided for under
under state law that allows
developers to have more
certainty and what they
ultimately want to develop. So
what it does is gives the
developer what's called vested
rights and what it means is
generally the developer will
ebb the opportunity to to to
build and develop in the area
in a manner that's consistent
with the with the rules in
place today. So when you when
you give someone when you
enter into a development
agreement with the developer,
they get certainty that the
rules are going to change when
they ultimately come forward
for development. So if there's
a development agreement per
term of 10 years, then during
that 10 year know that they
are going to be able to
develop their property
consistent with those rules.
And then if it's a there's a
specific plan amendment or if
there's a zoning change or
something like that that won't
affect their ability to
develop. And so so that's the
reason why developer would
typically wanted development
agreement. Again, what we're
dealing with today's just know
that the property
transactions. So that's
something that will come
forward in the future. But
that's ultimately there is
help her looks for something
like Thank you. And in.
>> Why would there be a delay?
I know we're government. Why
are we giving enough time?
Because I feel like Christmas
is going to be here tomorrow.
So are is there enough time
with us being government for
this? Actually, too. Close
DECEMBER 31st.
>> And all honesty. I think
it's tough. It's going to be a
hard push on our end to get
all of those things done. Now,
if everything aligns, we have
enough time to do the work. We
don't have control of outside
things that come up and happen
in a perfect world. They would
easily closed by a van I'm
anticipating my schedule that
there could be issues that
come up that we have to deal
along the way. And so I think
it is going to be a hard push.
But this was a very detailed
important part of the
negotiation there were some
parts that that there had to
be some give and take during
the negotiation. And so that's
why staff agree to where we
are. Okay.
>> so of the departments that
potential potentially be
housed at 5.20. How many are
currently in least properties.
>> We do not have any lease
properties. We don't have
staff in any lease properties
at this moment.
>> In staffing right as we've
talked about is not had a
all-time high. Its actually.
>> At a low. With that and
hoping to increase in the
future will 5.20? I gotta get
used to saying that. Well,
5.20, be able to accommodate
an increase in staffing for
the departments that we
believing that will be housed.
And 5.20.
>> Have my Ashley anticipated
this question. So yes, we We
assuming a growth factor and
each floor for each
department, but just to be a
little more specific about
this, because I do know
Councilmember Okrepkie also
asked this last time at our
study session. So I wanted to
have the information available
for you in the public, which
is. The city hall campus right
now. So I'm not talking about
square footage of talking
about building square footage.
So not usable square footage.
Again, just a square foot each
building. If you add it all
together, we have 97,811
square feet. Of that. We can
only have people and 82,000
Square feet. Now of that, what
is actually usable is 16,
5,000 square feet. 65,000
square feet of 97,000 total
square feet because of the
conditions of our buildings
and the wasted space.
Honestly, we have a lot of
leases space in here. You can
kind of see in the council
chamber. The new building, the
usable space and and 5.20,
there is a 12,000 square-foot
4 Square-foot Basin, which I'm
not I'm not including is
75,000 Square feet. So we're
gaining over 15, almost 16,000
Square feet. And what we have
now and that leaves growth
space. We're also thinking
about moving things around a
little bit and MAY not need
everything in that building.
But that also allows us.
>> To move. Additional
employees. And so we MAY be
able to, for instance, move
some of tp w r or you know,
admin staff from across town
into this building. So it
allows the city a good amount
of flexibility. In my last
question is there is a lot of
history that is housed at 5
20. So have we determined if
that history is going to stay
or is it? Leaving the photos?
Yes, yes, they are stain
according to MR. Futrell. They
go with the building and we
get to keep those. There's a a
wall of history of photos and
the new building that shows
all of the work they did. It
starts when it was the 18 team
building and it shows the old
like I know you call them
where you push the buttons and
picked up the phone or, you
know, whatever, whatever those
are called.
>> It shows the that era and
then it shows when they bought
the building and redeveloped
it where they have these, they
even have large Sabah leads
and and that he lcd office
from these massive saw
believes they had to use to
cut into the building and
create windows months and Mr
for child did fantastic job
and lot of work to redevelop
that for this part benefit.
Now.
>> Thank you. Spend Thank you,
Well, first of all, thank you
for not only what you brought
forward today, but for working
on this for years and years.
I'm so sorry, but thank you
for all that. I just have 2
quick I wanted to ask just a
little bit. Just really to
clarify for the public is a
beginning. A lot of questions
about the development part. It
does say in the staff report
that that's going to be done.
Seems like it's saying at the
close of escrow or before the
close of escrow, if you could
talk about that the
development agreement. Yes,
that will happen before for
the close of escrow. So we
will have 3 public meetings,
one at Planning Commission and
2 at City Council where the
public will have plenty
chances to have input. The
planning commission will have
and put the city council have
and put before anything is
adopted. All right. Great.
Thank you. And then the only
other thing that would I think
we've been getting a lot input
on is the creek. Just wanted
to ask Doctor Hennessy if you
talk a little bit more about
what that's going to look
like. We don't frankly, based
on what we're talking about
today and what we know this
1.0, 6, one acres that we
talked about will look exactly
like it does today.
>> All options remain on the
table to us. Nothing has been
decided. All we've done a
separate that land out from
this exchange so that the city
keeps it. All options are at
our disposal. Okay. All right.
So that that's to be
determined then. Okay. All
right. Great. Thank you. Thank
you, MISTER. Donald. Thank
you, Mayor, thank you for the
presentation. I want say up
front, I'm in full support at
this exchange.
>> I think it's critical for a
lot of different reasons that
we're moving. And and mostly
it's a liability of the
deferred maintenance that we
have on the current buildings
that we have the condition of
our buildings and how that
results in taxpayer money
going to basically throw good
money after some things, bad
things, Mr for child taking on
the bad. I just want to make
sure that when they questions
come across it's just for
clarification purposes, not
because I'm not in support of
this. When was the last time
we had a full assessment done
on the property because the
site about 100 million dollars
of of maintenance. But what
year was that that we had that
study done the last?
>> Facilities, complete
facilities assessment was done
in 2016. We have escalated
those What we have added to
that in pieces. But the last
complete assessment was 10
years ago. Okay. So with that
said, if you haven't done that
full assessment knowing about
how much the cost of
construction has increased
since 2016, what would your
guess be if that was more of a
realistic number?
>> Of the liability that we
currently have we escalator
that number 200 million
dollars and put the plus sign
after it because I have no
idea. It's definitely more
than 100 million dollars.
Whether that's, you know, as
we get into this and it
uncovered different things.
Who knows. But I am certain
that we don't know everything
we would need to fix today
until we started fixing it.
And then we would find out
more like a true remodel.
Okay. So that that's I think
something that's critical for
us to to also know is that we
actually don't know the
potential the cost of what it
would even costs for us to fix
this current liability that
were sitting on the numbers
that we shared earlier. Our
best estimates best without
starting to tear the building
to part of victim. Okay. And
so I I think that that's
something else you mentioned
that I hadn't heard before was
the ada.
>> That hasn't been completed
in these buildings. You have
any idea about how much that
would That assessment was done
at the same time across the
full campus. That number was
on the order at 8 million
dollars. But that number is 10
years old. And frankly, so
this all these buildings were
built before the adoption of
the Americans with
Disabilities Act.
>> I don't even know how we
would fix some of the issues
like, like complete
reconstruction to make these
some of these ramps great
accessible. It would be major
construction project.
>> And on the new property, do
we have any of concerns?
>> Everything has been updated
since the adoption of the ada
approved by city staff through
that building permit process.
And so we have no concerns
really accessible. That's
right. Thank you.
>> And so so I am trying to
make sure that the community
and all of us know that really
we have to do something is
critical at this point because
of the liability. Scott, you
mentioned the 4.5 5 million
dollars that we've already set
aside in reserves. Was that
the money that we were going
to appropriate for starting
some of the critical needs of
the campus is right now. Yes,
thank you for your question.
COUNCILMAN Member Donald.
>> Specifically as part of the
adopted for this current
fiscal year. The 2026 27
budgeted. We have been having
conversations about. Our lack
of facility funding and now we
have breaking point and many
of our facilities. And at
Point Council's specifically
directed to assign 4.5 million
dollars towards this function
of the city. So so those those
are those are funds that are
essentially already accounted
for as a way to think about it
from a budgeting accounting
perspective.
>> And I see the.
>> The more like rip back. If
we're not able to close.
>> Escrow it says if you'll
state I got to tell you, it
feels a little steep on the
potential of a half a million
dollars. But when I look at
this pace, it you're talking
about. And these back at it
feels that that's an
appropriate amount. Keeps a
fire underneath us and makes
do our job make sure that
we're getting these public
meetings So so I appreciate
the negotiation. Part of it.
And and I'm not thrilled about
that and or that figure. But I
understand the reason for it.
So I will just say that not
happy about that part, but
other than that great job and
then finally, Joe, you spoke
about it in the presentation.
I know it's something that
we've talked about several
times is moving forward. And I
think this is in a critical
component for the community to
know is what policies we going
to put in place to ensure that
there's deferred maintenance
funds appropriated every year
from the city of Santa Rosa.
So we don't have 6 decades
neglecting our buildings. And
when will that be brought
forward to us?
>> You have a chief financial
officer and a director of
transportation public works
who want nothing more than to
decrease the maintenance
liability of the city. So
should this happen. You would
see this as part of next
year's budget. Scott, my way
back highlighting this issue
continuing a ban women will
probably asking for something
else to decrease liability and
some arena. And I know it's
not popular to set money aside
for deferred maintenance, but
we just don't want to put
ourselves in this position
again.
>> I think that the community
deserves us to appropriate
money and their money really
so that we can take measures
and set aside money moves
forward. I know we spoke about
this specifically during the
Calpers conversations. Scott
has that liability goes away
that potentially in the future
we would be able to capture
that. One of my clarifying
questions around this is the
cip funds that we set aside
every single year to do
deferred maintenance. Dan,
does a portion of that go to
our buildings or is that
strictly reserved for other
parts of cip? A very small
portion of The 1.2 million
dollars from the general fund
that goes into the ada
improvements account that can
be used on city facilities,
not just for buildings but for
all city facilities, which
includes.
>> Curb ramps and parks and
other things. So that gets
stretched thin very quickly.
That is the only eligible
funding source that I have
through Cip to improve city
buildings. That's very
helpful. I think for us to
know from council as well as
the community to know that
deferred maintenance funds
have to come out of general
fund and that we have to
appropriate that because you
cannot just be earmarked as a
cip.
>> Funded projects. So I
appreciate that. And I want to
commend all of you for
bringing information forward
so that it's an understanding
that it's not just a swap of
property, but that this is a
fiscal decision really for the
council to make for community
and and to me, this makes
financial sense for us. I know
the 6 million dollars a year
that we need to appropriate to
go down to 1 Million. That's a
pretty easy math equation. The
savings that we won't be
needing to appropriate from
the general friend looking at
our deficit. So thank you for
laying it out the way that you
did. I don't really have any
more questions other than I'm
I'm hopeful that you'll get
the direction that you need
from council today and not be
in favor of it. Thank you.
Anything else from council?
All right. Members of the
public, this is your chance.
We'll start with people in
council chambers.
>> Beginning with looks like
Abby Arnold, Richard Carlisle
and Derek Stephen.
>> There's been ongoing might
not want to have listed here.
Duane Shedding some stuff. You
folks beat you to punch.
Richard and Eric Abbe, go
ahead.
>> Good Evening Council and
mayor, I'm representing Santa
Rosa Yimby tonight. An all
volunteer organization of over
500 Santa Rosa residents. We
are very pleased to support
the proposed exchange
agreement, which we think if
done right will quickly bring
more people downtown, save a
lot of money for the city and
uncover Santa Rosa Creek,
which is long hidden under
this building. We some
recommendations for the
development agreement, but in
the interest of time and
moving ahead with this
tonight, I refer you to our
written comments and we will
be there at your community
meetings. Thank you so much.
And please approve it.
>> Thank you. MISS Arnold.
Thank you. Center is a would
say it's Richard and Derek.
>> The mayor.
>> Members of the Richard
Carlisle. I'm retired civil
engineer and urban planner.
I'm very much favor of this
exchange. I was a young
engineer 50 some years ago.
Doing working for the
engineer. That was the urban
renewal engineer. So I did a
lot of this.
>> I connected designed the
street. The connected.
Mendocino Avenue was Santa
right through the square. And
50 years later, I got to
design debris, put the square
back together again. And the
same thing with Prince
Memorial Greenway. I was able
to do the redesigned that.
This is your front porch. You
have to have good urban
design. This is another chance
to make it right. Well,
there's opening it up with the
creeks. Obviously some housing
can be put on this. And I'm
glad that we got a local
developer. Hugh Futrell who
has a track record. He
understands what the city
wants, what the city needs.
But remember, this is your
front porch. You can put all
the bedrooms on the front
porch. I think it's really
important. That you some
public input. You get good
urban in on this. On the map.
Thank you.
>> MR. Cole, thank you very
much.
>> Council, thank you so much
for the opportunity to speak.
Derek Stephen, Real chore and
resident long time in the
Jaycee neighborhood. Very much
would like to say thank you to
staff and 2 consultants for
this report. It's a very
meaningful report to have at
this juncture of time in our
history in Santa Rosa, I will
urge the council to consider
this unanimously as this is an
important historic moment and
the city of Santa Rosa and the
son of George and Stevan
architect now deceased. But he
appeared in these council
chambers over many years and
supported many local projects
as an architect in the
downtown core and residential
designs. And but they and
beyond one of the things that
I think this report from staff
and consultants is highlighted
is not only cost savings, but
it's a social value and this
is in transit to the community
and to civic pride, but also
civic use for many generations
to come. I would definitely
like to urge the design team
in future generations of use
of this building to look at
the tops base. I don't know
the engineering. Certainly,
sir, you would. And MR.
Trailwood. But a roof garden
for the public and staff to
use in the throes of Kaiser
Permanente's Roof Garden in
Oakland. When I was a member
of the team at Kaiser, we
enjoyed it quite extensively
on the top of a parking garage
and was built because MR.
Henry j Kaiser said build a
roof garden for people to use
and was open for the public
and perhaps that could happen
here in Santa Rosa. Another
beautification project. And
lastly, my mom, Terri,
Stephen, is a big proponent of
keeping. The fountains are
bringing them back to
courthouse square. So where
are those mountains are? If
they could come back? That
would be great. Thank you.
>> Stay tuned, MR. Stephen,
thank you very much. We're
going to Betty Andrews and
then doing too wet that he and
chambers. Welcome. You have
the floor. Thank you. Thank
you, mayor. Members of the
council.
>> My name is Betty Andrews.
I'm a 38 year resident of
Santa Rosa and I then working
throughout that time as a
professional civil engineer
had an opportunity to work
with my friend and neighbor,
MR. Carlo, who you just heard
from back at the beginning of
focus on Santa Rosa Creek and
the possibility of lightening
this feature of our downtown
area. I worked on that Creek
Masterplan in the early
1990's. I worked on Prince
Memorial Greenway. I also
worked on the hydrology and
hydraulics studies that found
created the foundation for the
fema flood maps that are
provisionally out there and
soon to be adopted for the
city of Santa Rosa. And I want
to applaud the staff for
coming up with a solution. As
a resident, it's been hard to
see how we were going to solve
this problem. So I like
everything about it. With one
exception. I'm worried about
that. 1.6, 1 acres. I do not
understand the basis for
director Hennessy's statement
that all options are
preserved. It's a very narrow
corridor that has been set
aside in this plan. I e do not
know what analysis developed.
That number. And that form of
land to preserve options along
the creek the Sonoma Water
staff who have been working on
solutions for Santa Rosa Creek
to deal with those culverts
have not been consulted with
those cold hurts are the
biggest hydraulic constrained
in the entire city of Santa
Rosa. And this is a
generational opportunity to
make sure we set aside enough
land to thank. Thank Sanders,
MR. MR. Do it.
>> Hello. My name is doing to
from Rosen. But I've been in
Santa Rosa all my life. Pretty
much. Remember the Occidental
Hotel lasted for 100 years
until 1976, when urban renewal
decide they were going to help
downtown.
>> So
>> it's been interesting to
hear these discussions. One of
the things that's most
important for the public to
evaluate the taxpayer
liability is give the public
the actual opportunity to
speak more at the meetings.
Taking away the 3 minute
making it too running
everything clicks. Everybody
goes your way is not the best
way to have the public be
served. And that's what we
learned from urban renewal. As
it stands now. You haven't
talked much about how museum
on the square got tnt
building, which was owned by
the city of Santa Rosa's
redevelopment agency in the
past. And there was a deal
done for the building to go
over too. A developer with an
idea that housing would get in
there. I went to those
meetings. I participated. One
of the things that happens
when we get a lockstep kind of
crew like you got here today
is we're going to lose. We're
going to lose money. So I ask
you not to give any money to
the proposed developer. Just
do a straight across exchange.
You've already made your mind
up to give the land up. So
don't give any of our taxpayer
money over. I've watched
development agreements.
Violated. I've seen it. I know
what's going to happen here in
the future. The taxpayers are
going to be on the hook for
things that cost more than
you've been told and down the
road. You won't be
accountable. No one will be
held accountable. You get to
walk away. Sadly. Thank you,
MR. Do Does anybody else in
council chambers wish to
speak? Fred, are you making
your way to the microphone?
>> Good afternoon. Again. As
long as I stayed here this
long, I might as well throw in
my $0.2. This reminds me of
Varias complicated decisions
that I've had to make myself
with lot of factors. And so it
seems to me that that the
staff and and everyone is is
making reasonable jean here.
So I think that, you know, I
don't know problem with that.
I'd like follow up on Betty
Andrews comments. Did have a
chance to meet with want to
Sonoma. Water's top engineers
talking about the Central
Center rose up watershed
project and the covert there.
If you look at the future
modeling with the in the
Russian River sustainability
study, that's no more water
recently did. There's a
shocking map of of flooding in
downtown Santa Rosa and then
engineered told me that was
all because of the the covert
that's on that area. That's
that's the real problem. It's
not the Matanzas Dam. And so
that flooded all the way up
Montgomery Village. And so
that looks like it could be a
future serious problem. So I
think that it would be
worthwhile with Austin, normal
water to 10 loss. Step back
and look at that covert there
and see if you got enough
land, maybe you need another
half acre or what what you
need to do to make it so that
that off future flooding map
would be greatly reduced.
Thank you. Thank you, Fred.
Anybody else in council
chambers, MR. Floor is yours.
>> a resident here in Santa
Rosa. I sent a letter last
week to the council which I
hope you had a chance to read.
But I've been an advocate
liberating the creek since the
day. I moved here and
discovered that the creek was
flowing under our city hall.
And so I think there's an
intention here when I began
talking about the idea of
integrating the creek, I heard
from countless people who for
decades have been advocating
for the same things. This is
not a new idea has been around
for a really long time. To be
clear, I'm in full support.
Not just a full 4. I'm in. In
support in concept of this
kind of this project of this
transfer. I appreciate the
work the city staff has done
manage are our city's
financial situation. I in
fact, support of development
here, I'd love to see more
housing. I'd love to see more
housing on this property but
last night when the fit that
the maps were finally released
to the public. As you heard
from it. But Andrews was her
name said so eloquently. We're
talking about 1.6 acres that
narrows to incredibly narrow
degree. We're talking about
the length of the width of a
covert, whether or not that
can accommodate daylighting
the creek to any meaningful
way to make that creek real
part of our community. I'm
really doubtful. And that's my
wish that again increase
creeks team was so some water
been consulted prior to this.
I feel like you're all
probably moving this evening.
So what I'll simply say to
staff and of course, the
developer Emaar for trial is
to please take a look at how
that the creek can become a
centerpiece for the community,
a benefit to the new
development that's going to be
taking place here and really
become a landmark for Santa
Rosa. Thank you, Evan, thank
you. Anybody else in council
chambers.
>> Seeing none. Let's go h#
#
.
Does anybody have their hand
raised? If you are online?
Yeah. Raise your hand or press
star 9. Lauren, anybody there.
>> Thank you, mayor. We
currently have 2 hands raised
3 hands raised. We will start
with Joey and then next will
be chops. And then Ellen.
Julie, I'm going to go ahead
and enable your permissions to
speak. You'll hear the timer
to alert you to the 2 minutes.
Please go ahead. When you're
ready.
>> Hey, there. Can you hear
me? Yes, we can.
>> Hello, I want to.
>> I have good memories in
these chambers on the Santa
Rosa resident. My whole life.
Grateful for the opportunity
to address city council just a
few Still there's they can
pass this on to the board. I
really want to echo what the
last speaker said as well
Indians Andrews about the
creek and concerned about the
creek. I want. And in the
1950's was a time of concrete
hazing and channeling. And i
really and it was before the
term ecology really existed.
And here we are in 2026 of
this great opportunity that
again, does seem like you're
going to vote yes on. And I
think there's a lot of good
reasons for.
>> But I would really like you
I would like to put it in the
strongest language possible in
these in this development
agreement to mandate
Daylighting the creek
featuring the creek. I'm
thinking of South Bend and how
Mayor Pete Buttigieg groove to
national prominence with the
good work he did featuring the
creek and saying, wait, this
can be amazing. And building
on I think some of the
mistakes made with Prince
Memorial. Let's learn, let's
learn from what many
municipalities have done and
let's fate have the building's
faced a creek really again
featuring it as an asset. If
anybody's looking for good
summer read just finished one
called. Is a river, a life. By
Robert McFarland. And he's got
a really good section. Kind of
some what I'm saying here. So
again, the I have some
skepticism about the 1.6 one
acres as well. I'd like you to
take a closer look at that.
And I do think is great idea
and a great project, but let's
do it right. Once in a
generation opportunity to
shake your time.
>> Thank you, Joey. Next will
be chops teen club followed by
Allen. Chop Simon, a billing,
your position, your
permissions.
>> Hi, good evening, MR. Mayor
members of the council, my
name is Kevin Anderson. And
then in the West and Historic
District of Santa Rosa also
work in the downtown core is a
program director at Trump's
team club and then many
interactions with many of you
and respect the time and
energy put you put into making
the city quite a good place to
live. But Santa Rosa can be
better, much better. It is
empty each of you to recognize
the opportunity. You have. The
amenities we have here in
Santa Rosa can rival any other
city here we have a small town
feel of the big count energy,
however, as many of already
mentioned, fly under the
radar. And there's one major
reason our downtown has been
gutted for multiple urban
renewal projects gone wrong.
None of you made the choice to
the most historic buildings.
My for Courthouse squares,
destroy the walkability on the
housing connection. Here we
are over 50 years later with
an opportunity to bring that
to downtown that charm. Not
only must we like the Santa
Rosa Creek. We must make it a
prominent feature. The
downtown landscape. Somebody
mentioned bend. But you can
also think about Creek in
Libya, Park and downtown kind
of the San Francisco
Embarcadero after the 89
quake. Madonna utilize the
creek path from the West and
the Sonoma Avenue for our
daily by commute to school
birds. Fish river otters are
just a few of the amazing
gives. We get daily. Urge you
to not let opportunity slip
away on it. I love the words,
MISTER Hugh, for tell. And I
totally agree. This can be a
game-changer for downtown
Santa Rosa. He talked about
contact with the community of
transparency shape than we the
public like I love this. But
we need to make daylighting
binding condition. Not an
aspiration set design standard
creekside development that
faces the creek. And let's
look at the whole space with
the other John o'Shea, federal
building next door. Look at
the whole thing. In a minimum
up, John mentioned this a
minimum, the public design
process even well publicized
workshop. Before we go into
any development agreement.
Thank you.
>> Thank you. Next will be
Ellen. Helen. I'm going to.
Enable your permissions to
talk. Please go ahead when
you're ready.
>> Thank you. Very impressed
by all the work that has gone
into this and appalled by
deferred maintenance. How
overall it seems to be
excellent agreement. However,
I agree the creek is a
sticking point. Literally a
sticking point. When you
speak, has it covered? I'm
absolutely in favor of
daylighting. I think making
features wonderful. But far
beyond that, the call Kids k.
Liability far beyond perhaps
100 million considering was
happening with our climate and
what floods have taken place
in other areas. So I do think
the while this he's obviously
on track to happen tonight.
You have something that case.
Huge and needs to be addressed
here.
>> Thank you, Ellen. And I am
seeing there hands raised on
zoom.
>> Wonderful. Thank you.
Alright, we will bring it back
to before we open it up to 2
to thoughts here. All right.
Some several several of the
speakers did raise an
important issue. And one of
the city is well aware of it
as the importance of this site
and that creek for flood
control. And we certainly
wouldn't want more get out
there that that we were not in
touch regularly with Sonoma
Water. Fact I myself is with
the snow water team at the
Matanzas Stammer
rehabilitation discussion just
a week ago. We are well aware
the fema fund, fema flood maps
we've been doing with those
for a couple years now. Are
centers of water team has been
noise is constant focus on
this issue. Dan, very briefly
can use can use confirmed for
the public that we we do have
flood control issues in mind.
We're well aware of the
importance of of this
particular particular section
of covert. Now want to
highlight that. The 1.6 one
acres that we mentioned is not
a random number. We've done
surveys out there to know
exactly where the culverts
are. We've kept an amount of
land be on the edge of the
culverts to give us
flexibility in terms of what
we do in the future.
>> And so like I mentioned,
respect to the land available
where where the culverts
currently exist. All options
are on the table to anything
that would happen on this
property. We would still have
to move some somebody out of
the way these buildings out of
the way to make something else
happened. We have now from the
edge of property that we're
keeping to the exchange
agreement all the way into
Sonoma Avenue. If we need to
to reconfigure and make things
happen. So there are still
lots of options on the table
and frankly conditioning any
of that on MR. Futrell would
make exchange agreement fall
apart keeping us with the
property allows us flexibility
of that land moving forward.
Perfect. Thank you. And I
think that underlines as well
for the public is rightfully
interested in the creek as all
of us here are.
>> How complicated and how
public and how frequent those
conversations are going to be.
That is not going to that.
That's not gonna be a simple
meeting or 2. That's gonna be
a long discussion of how that
and how that creek is best
best used for the city. So
absolutely. Stay tuned with
that. Let's go back to
council. Final final thoughts.
What I'm looking for, a
motion. And I think I think
I'm looking at Rogers. Yes,
there we
>> I would just like to thank
staff Thank Not llc. Thank
you. The consultants and thank
the mayor for allowing me to
make this motion because this
is a very historical like the
meeting because I'm just so
excited. And at the potential
what is about to transpire. So
with that, I would like to
make a motion to adopt 2
resolutions as presented by
staff in way.
>> Are there?
>> Reading of the trading of
the attack saying it.
>> he's got that, this is how
excited we are. People. We are
we good with the motion a
second. MADAM City clerk. All
right. If that passes muster,
then let's let's call the
roll.
>> Call thank you, Mayor
Councilmember Rogers Side,
Councilmember I councilmember
Fleming Councilmember Ben
Willows. Yes, Councilmember
office.
>> All say is a kids play to
most of the critical center is
a I don't care how old I If
it's over earth and shown I
will be in that creek. So
>> Thank you. Vice Mayor
Okrepkie I mayor step yes. But
the record show this passes
unanimously.
>> That that is worthy of a
little lies. All right. A big
swing, indeed. Thank. Thank
you, city team for getting to
this point. So after
consulting with my colleagues
were going to power on just to
show that the city of Santa
Rosa never rests even when
we're going in getting into
our 4, go back to our public
comment on non agenda matters.
Our first public comment and
gender matters. And those of
you heading for the door. Be
aware that we've got exciting
items left to come. We're
talking about storm water
charges. Yeah, no, no. Need to
rush hour. But first. First,
this is your chance to to to
make public MAY comment on it
was not listed on the agenda.
Anybody in council chambers is
not simply walking towards the
door was to make comment
items, not just on the agenda
Fred. Even kick us off. All
right. Bring some order to the
room, Fred. Here you're out.
>> Again, been sort of new to
Santa Rosa and I felt like
coming to the city council is
kind of like visiting the
Oracle of Delphi the council
someone inscrutable and my
journey find the Isle of
Equity in a just society. I
have found that the Oracle to
be tremendously transparent.
But this evening, I have to
say that I was very impressed
with councilmember well as
comments and really appreciate
that. Thank you very much.
>> Thank you, Fred and Oracle
Delphi. Appreciate that. All
right. We're going ebb economy
and then to Wayne Ave Europe.
>> Mayor and council members.
>> I am.
>> Here tonight to invite each
of you to participate in this
year's a week without driving.
It's Thursday, OCTOBER, first
through Wednesday, OCTOBER
8th. And it's a national
observation the use
alternatives to cars each year
we ask elected officials and
community leaders to
experience the world as this
experience by about 30% or
more of your constituents who
are dependent on public
transportation options walking
and biking. These are your
constituents who are too young
to old physically unable
financially, unable or legally
unable to have a personal car
to drive wherever they need to
be. Even if you are only able
to participate for one or 2
days, we really urge you to
make the commitment and try to
get around without a car for
day or 2 during the week
without driving. I hope you'll
join North Bay Transit Rise
Riders in experiencing are
wonderful biking and walking
assets as well as our local
public transportation and that
when you're doing that, you
can note any needed
improvements and you can
recognize those parts of the
system that are so wonderful
and that deserves your
recognition. Santa Rosa is
proud to be part of this
national movement. I'll be
writing about it for
Streetsblog again this year.
And again, the dates are
Thursday, OCTOBER first
through Wednesday, OCTOBER 8.
And if you let me know, I'll
make sure that you get talked
about your experiences
described.
>> Nationally through streets
plot. Thank you. Thanks for
organizing, Connie, Dwayne and
then Daniel Daniel.
>> Connie, welcome.
>> Thank you. This is in
regards to the city naming
department. I was here
starting this several years
ago and spoke to some eu
council members that had.
>> The city naming department
kinda revises. We're going to
try get through this anyways.
This is in regards I'm a Santa
Rosa resident submitting this
request regarding an unnamed
trail in Highland Park. My
friend Rick for Ella took his
life on the trail and Memorial
Tree and rocket already been
approved by the centers are
commissions and the city Rick
was born and raised in center
isn't spent. Most of us live
in this community. And in how
were fired from young age he
carved in the trail and in the
main trails with youth groups,
friends and adults. The park
was his happy place who works
as a local contractor in the
area getting freeway wall
schools, public buildings,
private residents throughout
Santa Rosa. Many people
recovered. Howard Park knew
him as doing bike tricks from
Pharma says this petition
seeks to name the name trail
and memory of him because of
the lifelong connection to the
park in the community. Most of
all the communities supported
this. I'm moving number 2.
That has to reference to 5, 1,
point, 2, at least 1000 of the
Santa Rosa resident
signatures. And at with 50% or
more living within a half a
mile of the city. Nowhere in
that does it say that there's
1000 required signatures. And
in addition, an additional 500
the way it's worded and the
way I talked to this, the
staff and previous people
waiting for this for years, it
was 500 friend Sonoma County,
Santa Rosa residents and 500
from half a mile moving
further. The petition and
despair and see we submitted a
total of 8,000 in my mind and
it came back at 570 were Santa
Rosa residents and then they
counted 304.
>> Connie, thank you. Thank
you for coming to speak
tonight. I'm sure that our
staff will be willing to talk
to speak further with you in
the back. Moving on, then to
DeWayne Daniel.
>> Hello, my name is doing to
wit. I'm from Roseland. I come
today because I want to ask
you to put up some posters.
Prisoners of war missing in
Action Day, which is one month
away from today. It's next
month. It's a national day of
recognition and it's important
because America is always at
war. My entire lifetime. We've
or somewhere or another. We're
at war right now. It's not
something that's talked much
about, but we did a sneak
attack on a country. We killed
over 160 children. Think about
that. Pearl Harbor, a sneak
attack started World War 2 for
America. There's a lot of
things that go along with the
fact that there are prisoners
of war and missing in action.
Military members still
unaccounted for. We'd like to
get some posters up here and
get the city and the community
to understand that.
>> We believe U.S. Veterans
believe and the city's open
government ordinance. That
specifically stated you would
embrace a culture of open
government.
>> To ensure public trust.
>> engage the community.
>> Establish a system of
transparency, public
participation and
collaboration. We're hoping
that that's going to be
something that you really
delve into now that you talked
about these new plans, you
have what you're going to do
to us here in the city. I'll
leave you with this. You had a
policy that if you would
turned in a written comment.
You couldn't speak on that
same matter. And that meeting.
That's what you did. If Red
recently. But tonight, some
people and turned in comments
and then came and spoke again.
You need to have equity and
fairness and all you do. Thank
you. Kind.
>> Thank you Wayne. Actually,
address that point directly
because the city relies it
better. That interpretation of
policy regarding the written
versus spoken comments was an
heir. So we have fall
apologize to Fred and in fact,
called the the all-in buck for
real change. If you'd like,
you can submit public to
submit written both written
and verbal comments. That's
the explanation. Daniel, you
have that you have the floor.
>> First and foremost, I just
want to thank the city council
and the public for being here
today. I just wanted to
comment on specifically on the
creek that it was kind of a
good decision from a financial
standpoint, not the best. But
I also want to Vice-mayor for
working on Harper Avenue. It's
the first ever seen anything
being done there in a long
time. And then also on the
topic on technology as well. I
want to talk about
>> new policies that have not
been risen yet like
>> specifically for DoorDash
drivers, Lyft drivers like
Amazon.
>> Specifically setting aside
like apartments to follow
policies to allow those people
to deliver certain things or
even for the state or public
offices. I think making the
committee specifically for
innovation, innovative
policies to work on, do things
like Waymo's to bees past
specifically at a local
ordinance level recently.
Sacramento just pass a law
that allowed the increase of
Waymo's from San Francisco to
Sacramento. Obviously we
should pass at a local
ordinance. But looking at that
from a general specific point
of view, we should make a
committee focus on innovative
policies that allowed us to
look at things that are
happening in the current
society. But thank you so much
to the city Council, the
public today. Thank you.
>> Daniel, thanks for taking
time to come and speak. Are
there any other members of the
public in council chambers who
wish to speak?
>> Seeing none that we will go
online. MADAM House. Does
anybody online have their
hands raising? If you're
online press star 9 or raise
your hand?
>> Thank you, mayor. There's
no one on zoom, wishing to
speak.
>> Her facts. Alright, we'll
close public comment. And with
that, we'll conclude this. The
first public comment non
agenda matters. Bringing us to
then item 16.1. Which is our
public Let's see if the public
hearing is an ordinance or
introduction. The ordinance of
the city Council, the city of
Santa Rosa, amending the Santa
Rosa City code. Chapter 14
dash. 21 waterways,
regulations to include
definitions prohibitions on
irrigation of non-functional
turf, compliance deadlines and
enforcement provisions. I
think that's the end of that
long title. All right. This is
this is an exciting one given
to us by the state. If I'm not
mistaken, which emphasize
throughout. But Musk way for
yours.
>> All right. Good evening.
Mayor stopped vice mayor and
council members. My name is
Lisa Quail are and will be
walking you all through.
Spiciness specific revisions
to our city's waterways
regulation. That is indeed
required by state law,
specifically Assembly Bill.
15, 72. So California Assembly
Bill 15 72 was signed into law
2023 and it explicitly
prohibits the use of potable
water to irrigate what's been
termed non-functional turf a
host of property types,
including commercial
industrial institutional
Properties, Homeowners
Association, common areas.
There are some exemptions to
this prohibition which
includes irrigation that would
be allowed to preserve the
health of established trees.
Another perennial plantings
public parks where people
recreate on lawn would be
exempt cemeteries and in the
event of an immediate health
or safety need, you could have
the ability to keep irrigating
on social turf. So by JANUARY
of 2027, which is approaching
the city of Santa us updated
city code to be 15 72
compliance and we must notify
those impacted by the
regulation. This is a
requirement folded into the
regulation. So the purpose, as
you might suspect is really to
proactively help urban water
suppliers preserve our water
supply, especially during in
light of. You know, cyclical
periods of drought that
commonly experience up within
the region, water, scarcity,
et cetera. It also builds upon
previous conservation
legislation that passed sb
606. And ab 16. 68. That was a
2018 timeframe. When that
pass, it's referred to as
making conservation a
California way of life
regulation that regulation
had. Water efficiency targets
set for commercial industrial
institutional accounts for the
outdoor usage. So this. New
regulation kind of to give
backs off of that. The state
did formally acknowledge that
potable water use for non
functional turf is considered
wasteful and unsustainable. So
the ordinance that is being a
presented tonight during the
first reading is a way to
reviser waterways, regulations
so that we are, in fact, in
compliance with state law and
really trying to support the
long term goals, conservation
goals of the state and its
regulators. There is a
staggered compliance timeline
for different property types,
too terminated their
irrigation of non-functional
turf. So as soon as JANUARY,
first of 2027 Department of
General Services, local
government and public agencies
have to discontinue irrigation
of non-functional turf. That
also includes public schools
followed the next year by that
commercial industrial and
other institutional
properties. And then in 2029
H.O.A. Common areas come
coming service. Public service
developments, I believe is the
other term. They have to come
into compliance with a
regulation and then the 2031
deadline doesn't apply to save
Santa Rosa, but for local
governments that are in
disadvantaged communities,
they have an extended timeline
of for compliance. Just to
back up a little bit because
I'd mention the term and folks
MAY be asking what is
nonfunctional turf.
Essentially it's irrigated
lawn that is purely decorative
and not regularly used for
recreation or public or
community gatherings. So
feeling time you walk on the
turf is it then effectively it
is nonfunctional. These are
some examples of areas and
non-functional turf within
within the city of Santa Rosa
within our service area. A
couple of business park
examples where you see the
narrow strips there along
abutting the around business.
Park signage is pretty common
throughout our community. And
then the other example
suspected non-functional turf
at an H.O.A. One of their
common areas. And associate
deadlines are listed on the
site as well. The city of
Santa Rosa to be proactive. We
did do an internal screening
of all of our city and
irrigation accounts to see if
any of those were. In fact,
you're getting on functional
turf. The good news is is that
after detailed review in and
js and doing some selected
site, reconnaissance or water
use efficiency team found only
2 sites to have non-functional
turf. At the end of the day,
parks and recreational areas
where Dean excluded due to the
functional nature of the turf.
And then also they have. As
you know, several established
areas of established trees and
again, the turf can be
irrigated to preserve the
health of those established
trees. This is an example of
one of those facilities with
city-owned facilities with
non-functional turf. It's for
station number 3. Pretty small
patch, looking about 1000
square feet. A non-functional
turf. The fire. So they
decided that they wanted to
replace that non-functional to
not just discontinue the
irrigation to meet to come
into compliance with
regulation, but if they wanted
to install waters landscape
estimated cost of doing that
is about 7 to $11 per square
foot. So however, run our fire
station anywhere between 7
$11,000 to do that. Her for
turf replacement. Just as a
side note, we do have a cash
for grass rebate program
that's administered out of the
water. Use efficiency section
that could offset that cost
about $1000 if they were get
preapproved machine likely it.
So we are very aware that the
public might be a little
confused with this regulation.
And so we have a
communications plan in place.
We are obligated by law to
notify affected I believe
postage was put on that first
batch notification letters
this afternoon. Should hit
mailboxes by the end of the
week. We so all all affected
accounts will be notified
restarting the process. Now we
have some water, smart branded
fact sheets in guidance
documents which will live on
our city website, which is.
Presented here on the Www City
Sr City Dot org for its last 4
to slash in Ft. We've also
designated an email address
where customers can send us
questions and the water
sufficiency team will respond
in a timely manner. To help
demystify the regulation,
provide some guidance, offer
some resources and for
commercial landscapes for to
you know, a lot of hearts
keeps. Gravel, other things
that could potentially
exacerbate the Heat island. We
would like. We are working on
some resources to encourage
them to replace if there going
to replace the turf. To, you
know, keep it green. And do
you do that with efficient
irrigation and mind? As I
mentioned, the water use
efficiency team. We do have
resources to support our
commercial industrial
institutional counts as well
as ways. Not just again, meet
the requirement of the
regulation to discontinue
irrigation, but 2 maintain a
static Lee pleasing landscapes
or cash for grass program
would. Support that outcome
rate of keeping our city
beautiful. We will for
commercial counts. We rebate
for every square foot of turf
removed. I mean, our design
criteria and a little water
use landscape goes We kept we
will revisit rebate them at a
dollar per square foot with a
cap of $10,000 annually per
meter. We also have efficient
irrigation rebates to you
know, at $1000 lifetime year.
So that includes a hardware
and things like smart
irrigation controllers for
commercial accounts. So this
brings me now action item for
this evening, which is.
Introducing an ordinance to
revise the city's waterways
regulation. And city of Santa
Rosa did adopt the codified or
waterways regulations under
City Code chapter 14 dash. 21
in 1999. As the name implies,
the purpose was to promote the
efficient use of potable and
recycled water by prohibiting
water uses which constitute
water waste. And folded into
that regulation is an
enforcement mechanism where we
can for violators of our
waterways, regulation. We have
you know, process for issuing
written warnings, then
followed by administrative
fines, escalate the longer the
violation persists and then
ultimately with Director Berks
approval, we could end up
discontinuing water service.
Do everything we can to
prevent that outcome. But it
is enforcement measure that we
could end up taking for
violators. So the waterways,
regulation included as
attachment to agenda package
has the proposed lines. The
ordinance has a proposed highs
to the waterways, regulation
in summary, it includes 13 new
definitions taken verbatim
from statute from the new
regulation. It's simply to to
clarify terms that are listed
in the prohibition. Mike, what
is a common area? What is
nonfunctional turf? What is
functional turf? What our
common interest developments.
We also clarified waterways to
is and or sorry, we included a
new reference to water waste
citing potable irrigation
non-functional turf. We took
verbatim from statute, the
prohibition and inserted that
as a new prohibition and our
waterways regulation. And then
we just referenced the new
prohibition in our enforcement
section of the regulation,
enforcement, mechanized
mechanism has not been
modified. And I just wanted to
note that by using the exact
language in the regulation
from California water code. We
really are trying to reduce
confusion for businesses,
landscape, landscapers,
property managers and others
that work in multiple service
areas across the region. As
far as budget impacts Co
adoption. This ordinance
really has no immediate budget
impact. I wanted to note that
customers that have that fall
under this regulation that
have more than 5,000 Square
feet of irrigated landscape
have to self certified
directly to the state and not
the city of Santa Rosa, which
means that that administrative
burden doesn't fall on our
shoulders and then we dealt
with at the state level.
Potential long-term costs
really folded into the
customer service is we want a
already provides. We? You
know, offer complant support
for other conservation
regulations. We enforce the
waterways, regulation and we
monitor some of those sites
that are under inforcement.
Any future funding requests
will follow the normal
budgetary approval process
would be addressed at the time
if there were any increases
that were needed. So the
timeline for approval is
listed on the screen We are
through the first 2 items. Bp
you did make a recommendation
to council on JUNE 18th
approve the ordinance. So
tonight is AUGUST 18 through
here City Council to introduce
ordinance and host a public
hearing. And take public
comments regarding the changes
if council moves to adopt the
ordinance. A second reading
would occur on SEPTEMBER 15th
and then the proposed
effective date of the new code
change would happen
approximately OCTOBER 16th.
That's 31 days. Following the
second reading. So I'll end
with the formal recommendation
to council tonight. The Public
Utilities and Santa Rosa Water
recommended the council
approve the first reading and
introduce an ordinance
endings, Santa Rosa City Code
chapter 14 dash. 21 water
waste regulations to include
clarifying definitions, a
prohibition for irrigating
non-functional turf with
potable water compliance
deadlines per affected
property type enforcement
provisions and make other
clarifying changes. This item
has no impact on current
fiscal year budget. And at
this time I would be happy to
field any questions from the
mayor, vice mayor and council.
Lisa, thank you very much. I'm
sure you can sense the
enthusiasm from from the
>> Thank you. Thank you for
your presentation. All right,
friends. What questions do we
have? It's been wheeless.
>> Thank you, Mayor. Thank you
for the presentation. I was
just wondering them because
we're a I know we have to do
this. It sounds like this is
something they have to do. So
there's no really debate
around that. But I'm just
wondering since this is.
Relatively new home. And
during one sits effective,
which I guess is up tober
16th. Is there any kind of
grace period for the property
owners or any anybody that
might? I'm just wondering
people are going to start
getting code enforcement right
away or is there a grace
period? Weather understanding
what the non-functional turf
isn't all that. Thank you for
your question. Just revisit.
There is staggered compliance
timeline. So the first
property types that are
affected or local government
public schools and I just
wanted to reiterate to comply.
They just have to turn off the
irrigation. So. You know, it's
it's sort of a simple
compliance measure. We do
understand that that could
lead to some areas turning
going from green to Brown,
which folks in community might
not like so much.
>> The the state does have
there's a hardship provision
that was writ written into the
regulation that does allow.
>> Impacted properties to
appeal to the state and ask
for a three-year extension.
They do have to demonstrate
some type of economic hardship
there wasn't. But a number of
qualifying hardship categories
that they could appeal to the
state on. So those appeals go
directly to the state, not to
the city of Santa Rosa and the
state this time has not
released information about how
to formally go about doing
that. So we're sort of waiting
to see when the information
will be released. So we can
direct customers to that
process to request hardship
extension. Ok? Thank you.
>> Thank you. Any other
questions? All right. What a
public comment are there any
members of the public here in
council chambers wish to
comment? Seeing none. We'll go
online. MADAM Zuma, host, is
anybody online have their
hands raised as press star 9.
>> They do not. Mayor.
>> All right. I confess I'm a
little surprised when give
some comment on this item, MR.
Rogers. Good question. That's
right. We're doing a public
hearing our way. All right. So
Karen, hoping the public
hearing back to back to
council chambers any made any
members. The public here was
to participate in public
hearing. There are non I back
to back to admitting that was
alert no colors on zoom.
>> Then we're closing the
public hearing. Thank you.
Thank you. I wasn't I wasn't
paying All right. Any final
comments from the dais? All
right. You have that. You have
the difficult duty tonight.
Reset bringing is before
especially after a long day.
So thank Thank you. Thank you
for getting him for bringing
us into line with state
regulations. It was something
that had to be done. Thank
you. Senator is a water team.
We will comply even if it's
half heartedly. All right. I'm
looking for a motion from
let's see who ms been? Willis
yours. Looking make make make
a motion for us. Okay.
>> I moved to approved the
first reading and introduce
the ordinance as presented by
staff. Second. It.
>> We have a motion and a
second. MADAM City clerk can
call the vote whenever you're
ready.
>> Thank you, Mayor
Councilmember Rogers, I
Councilmember Macdonald, I
councilmember Fleming
Councilmember Ben well oath.
Yes, Councilmember Alvarez,
Vice Cookie. I step yes. Let
the record show this passes
unanimously.
>> All right. Thank you and
thank and thank you again for
for the presentation. Thank
you. Move on to our last item
of the evening item. 16 point
to our public hearing on the
placement of annual storm
water enterprises charges on
the Sonoma County property tax
roll. All right. This is gonna
be a good awake again.
Jennifer, are you doing this
one? All right, Nick. Are all
yours? State staff is making
way for the door for the
doors. Peter, you're walking
out on this one. Shame on you,
Nick. We're here. We're here.
We're paying attention.
>> Thank you, mayor and
members of council. My name is
Nick Lanham, a research
program coordinator with the
storm water creeks team. Stay.
I mean, the over the placement
of annual storm water and or
press charges on the Sonoma
County property tax roll. Just
a very brief enterprises
create by council and of
course, title 16 of the city
code in 1996, provides funding
for the implementation of
cities and pds permit and
funds activities like creek
restoration, Stewardship, foot
protection, public education,
other activities as well. The
calculate assessment is based
on nie er you equivalent
residential unit and considers
parcel amount of impervious
surface and land use for each
parcel. Current year. Ufi is
$43.52. And that was approved
by council during the 2026
2027 budget process. To
simplify process for property
owners is requested that these
charges be id on the Sonoma
County property tax from the
city's behalf. These charges
been collected annually on
that actual since they
established in SEPTEMBER of
1996. It's in the best
interest of the city that
these parcels not built by the
county due to a minimum charge
of $10 and or parcels with
known incorrect ownership be
exempt from these buildings.
Any charges not collected will
not affect other parcel
charges. Today's public
hearing in accordance with
title 16 of the city code will
adopt the stormwater
Enterprise charge report
approved placing the charges
on the county tax bill for
collection and allow the
public the opportunity to
protest the method of
collecting charges. Therefore,
the board of Public Utilities
in Santa Rosa Water or
recommend that council by
resolution adopt by 2 0rd
vote. The stormwater
Enterprise Charger port and
approved placement of the
stormwater enterprise charges
on the Sonoma County property
tax roll to be collected by
the Sonoma County auditor, a
controller treasurer tax
collector at the same time and
in the same manner as Sonoma
County property taxes are
collected unless those charges
do not meet the county minimum
of $10 and or partial owner
contact information is known
to be incorrect. This item was
no impact on current fiscal
year budget. And I'm happy to
answer any questions. You
have. That was masterful neck
bring it back to council.
Surprise. Surprise. No
questions. All right. Over to
public hearing, Sarah, to
start a public opening this up
to the public during am are
any members, the public
hearing House chambers that
wish to speak?
>> Seeing non online host.
Anybody online.
>> We have no one was wishing
to speak Zoom.
>> Thank you so much. Alright,
causing a public I feel like I
should make comments or or ask
a question or something, but
I'm I'm too tired. I'm not
doing it. Were now. We're
going to thank you for going
to thank you for your work.
This is again necessary
necessary work on behalf of
the city in the county. And
with that, a look see MISTER
Alvarez for Motion.
>> Thank you, Mayor. I like to
make a motion to adopt a
resolution is presented by
staff and we for the reading
of the text second, we have a
motion and a second and MADAM
City Clerk, Inc, all whenever
you're ready.
>> Thank you. Mayor
Councilmember Rogers and
Councilmember MacDonald.
Councilmember Fleming
Councilmember Yes, Bres vice
Cookie. I mayor step yes. Let
the record show this passes
unanimously.
>> All right. Thank you. Thank
you for the work in the
presentation. Both Nick, an
entire Santa Rosa Water team.
Thank you for being here That
is the and of our substantive
items. We have one more public
comment on non agenda matters.
So opening that There is no
one, no member. There are no
members of the public hearing
Council chambers to make host
anybody online for our our
second public comment on non
agenda matters.
>> No mayor, we have no one
online wishing to comment.
>> And then we are officially
adjourned. Thank you,
everyone.