City Council
City Council
mar, 12 de mayo de 2026
Puntos de agenda
Registros de votación
Resumen del debate
Transcripción
RESUMEN DE REUNIÓNGenerado por IA
Concejo Municipal de Santa Rosa — 12 de mayo de 2026
Esta fue una sesión ordinaria del Concejo Municipal que se extendió aproximadamente desde las 3:00 p.m. hasta bien pasadas las 7:30 p.m., con cuatro audiencias públicas, cinco proclamaciones, puntos del calendario de consentimiento y acciones requeridas de cumplimiento con la Ley Brown. Los siete concejales estuvieron presentes; la Concejal Fleming estuvo ausente durante la sesión vespertina. El Alcalde Stapp se recusó de una audiencia pública por un conflicto de interés personal.
Sesión Cerrada
El Concejo se reunió en sesión cerrada a las 3:00 p.m. para tratar dos puntos: litigios existentes (Punto 3.1) y una conferencia con un negociador (Punto 3.2). Se recibió comentario público de Dwayne DeWitt de Roseland, quien instó al Concejo a congelar los salarios durante el actual período de incertidumbre económica, citando una inflación local del 3.8% y urgentes necesidades de infraestructura municipal. Al regresar a la sesión abierta, la Fiscal de la Ciudad informó que no hubo acciones que reportar en ninguno de los dos puntos de la sesión cerrada.
Proclamaciones y Presentaciones
Mes de Concientización sobre el Agua (Punto 7.1) y Premios de Eficiencia en el Uso del Agua (Punto 7.2): La Concejal Rogers leyó la proclamación del Mes de Concientización sobre el Agua. Lisa Corey, Coordinadora de Eficiencia en el Uso del Agua, la aceptó en nombre de Santa Rosa Water, señalando que la ciudad atiende a 175,000 clientes y mantiene una sólida participación en programas de reembolso, incluidos los programas de instalación directa de inodoros de alta eficiencia y cash-for-grass. Cuatro galardonados con el Premio de Eficiencia en el Uso del Agua fueron reconocidos mediante video y fotografía en persona: Best Western Plus Wine Country Inn & Suites (reemplazó 84 inodoros de alto consumo, ahorrando aproximadamente 248,000 galones/año); Bennett Valley Knolls Homeowners Association (convirtió 11,000 pies cuadrados de césped en jardín de bajo consumo hídrico); Mountain Vista Owners Association (eliminó 11,500 pies cuadrados de césped); y Mark y Jody Vandewalle (instalaron un sistema de captación de agua de lluvia que ahorra aproximadamente 35,000 galones/año).
Mes de la Vivienda Asequible (Punto 7.3): La Concejal Benward leyó la proclamación, destacando la administración municipal de más de 6,500 unidades de vivienda, una cartera de préstamos de $200 millones y más de 2,000 vales de elección de vivienda. Se otorgó un reconocimiento especial por la finalización del proyecto Cannery en Railroad Square — 128 viviendas asequibles, de las cuales el 25% está reservado para personas en situación de calle. Catherine Atkinson de la John Stewart Company lo aceptó, señalando que el proyecto estuvo en desarrollo desde 1999, comenzó su construcción en 2022, abrió en 2024 y recibió $450,000 en financiamiento municipal. Anunció que se está planificando el "Cannery Part 2" en el sitio adyacente Plant 5. Summer Lopez de Generation Housing ofreció comentario público felicitando al proyecto y prometiendo continuar la colaboración.
Semana Nacional de Obras Públicas (Punto 7.4): El Concejal Alvarez leyó la proclamación, que abarcó los 560 millas de vialidades, 1,085 acres de parques, 320 millas de drenaje pluvial y 1,200 millas de tuberías de agua y alcantarillado de la ciudad. Jeremy Geist, Subdirector de Servicios de Campo, habló en nombre del departamento y anunció un City Works Festival el 20 de mayo en Courthouse Square. Robert Maddox, representante de Teamsters Local 856, ofreció comentario público elogiando a los empleados de obras públicas. Gail Seymour agradeció al Concejo y a obras públicas por financiar la renovación de South Park. La Concejal Rogers señaló que existe un creciente esfuerzo nacional para clasificar formalmente a los empleados de obras públicas como personal de primera respuesta.
Día Nacional de Conmemoración Policial (Punto 7.5): El Concejal MacDonald leyó la proclamación. El Jefe de Policía John Cregan habló señalando que 109 agentes fueron asesinados en el cumplimiento del deber a nivel nacional en 2025, cifra menor a los 184 registrados en 2024. También reconoció a dos agentes de Santa Rosa fallecidos en el cumplimiento del deber — el Jefe Charles O'Neill y la Detective Marylou Armer — y describió los peligros continuos que enfrentan los agentes del SRPD, incluidos ataques con vehículos.
Informes del Personal
Actualización del Plan Estratégico de Desarrollo Económico (Punto 8.1): Pospuesto a fecha por determinar.
Actualización del Mapa del Área de Incendio en la Interfaz Urbano-Forestal (WUI) — Audiencia Pública (Punto 16.1)
El Alcalde Stapp se recusó de este punto porque su residencia en Bennett Valley se encuentra dentro de los mapas WUI propuestos. El Vicealcalde Okrepkie presidió la sesión.
El Jefe de División/Mariscal de Bomberos Paul Oncale y el Asistente del Mariscal de Bomberos Jared McDaniel presentaron las actualizaciones propuestas al mapa de área de incendio en la Interfaz Urbano-Forestal (WUI) designado localmente por la ciudad. Contexto relevante: la ciudad ha mantenido un mapa WUI desde 2009. En marzo de 2025, el Concejo estuvo legalmente obligado a adoptar los mapas actualizados de zonas de peligro de incendio de Cal Fire (para áreas de riesgo moderado, alto y muy alto) correspondientes al "área de responsabilidad local" de la ciudad. La acción de esta noche consistía en alinear el límite WUI local de la ciudad con esos mapas estatales ya adoptados — expandiéndose en algunas áreas y reduciéndose en otras.
Las expansiones incluyen aproximadamente 3,882 parcelas nuevamente incorporadas, principalmente en un área en forma de herradura al sur del recinto ferial a lo largo de Highway 12 y Farmers Lane (el corredor Creekside/Matanzas Creek), y porciones del vecindario Oakmont. Las reducciones eliminan aproximadamente 811 parcelas en partes de Bennett Valley y Skyhawk donde la zona de peligro estatal fue reducida o no existe. El personal de bomberos realizó un análisis parcela por parcela, incluyó criterios para HOAs y propiedades multifamiliares, celebró dos reuniones comunitarias en marzo y abril, y envió postales dirigidas a las 3,893 propiedades afectadas.
El personal enfatizó que los mapas estatales ya están en vigor y son legalmente vinculantes. La superposición WUI local añade dos requisitos locales principales: inspecciones de espacio defensivo (actualmente educativas, sin aplicación coercitiva) y la eliminación de mantillo de fibra de gorila en un radio de 30 pies alrededor de las estructuras. La mayoría de los demás requisitos de la ordenanza WUI (normas sobre quemas en pilas, eliminación de plantas invasoras, remoción de árboles muertos) aplican principalmente a áreas de cicatrices de incendio y no afectarían significativamente a las nuevas propiedades de Creekside incorporadas.
En cuanto a los seguros: el personal citó una declaración del Comisionado de Seguros en el sentido de que los mapas de zonas de peligro de incendio de Cal Fire no pueden utilizarse para determinar tarifas o decisiones de suscripción de seguros, y enlazó a dicha declaración en el sitio web de la ciudad (srcity.org/wuimaps).
Significativa oposición pública del vecindario Creekside: Varios residentes y abogados testificaron en contra, presentando al Concejo un Aviso de Oposición Legal el 6 de mayo con más de 100 firmas. Los principales argumentos incluyeron: (1) el modelo de mapeo de Cal Fire es científicamente defectuoso y arbitrario — por ejemplo, el lado norte del arroyo está clasificado como de alto riesgo mientras que el lado sur, con combustible y topografía idénticos, no lo está; (2) la ciudad ha incumplido su deber legal de realizar una investigación de campo; (3) la ciudad es propietaria del Matanzas Creek y recibe financiamiento de subvenciones para su mantenimiento — el mismo peligro citado para justificar la reclasificación —, pero traslada la carga financiera (costos de seguros, reforzamiento de viviendas, reducción del valor de las propiedades) a los propietarios; (4) los oradores alegaron que esto constituye una expropiación inversa; y (5) los ponentes pidieron al Concejo que postergara la votación y utilizara primero los fondos del acuerdo con PG&E y las subvenciones federales y estatales para mitigar el peligro del arroyo. La ingeniera retirada Mainly Purvis describió su experiencia personal de ver duplicarse su seguro y que las aseguradoras se negaran a proporcionar cobertura incluso antes de esta reclasificación. La científica Dra. Lauren Raymond argumentó que ningún incendio forestal mayor en la historia registrada de Santa Rosa se ha desplazado hacia el norte desde Taylor Mountain siguiendo vientos de sur a norte, cuestionando la base meteorológica del mapeo de Creekside. El residente Chris Smith pidió que el límite fuera "completamente lógico, exhaustivamente investigado, completamente legal y en última instancia justificable" antes de ser trazado.
Las respuestas del personal señalaron que los mapas estatales ya están en vigor y fueron adoptados conforme a la ley; la superposición local es simplemente una medida de consistencia. Sobre el corredor del arroyo, el personal indicó que la eliminación agresiva de vegetación en los arroyos puede en realidad aumentar el peligro de incendio al reducir la humedad y el dosel arbóreo — citando el incendio Mountain Hawk como ejemplo donde un arroyo exuberante y verde detuvo la propagación del fuego.
El Concejal MacDonald formuló preguntas detalladas sobre quién tiene autoridad sobre los mapas, la base científica de la metodología de Cal Fire y el posible impacto en los seguros. El personal confirmó que el Concejo tiene autoridad sobre el mapa WUI local y que Cal Fire publica documentación metodológica detallada en su sitio web. El Vicealcalde Okrepkie aclaró que la declaración del comisionado de seguros, aunque no está codificada como ley, es legalmente ejecutable mediante boletines y presentaciones regulatorias. Señaló que la ley estatal exige la divulgación durante las transacciones inmobiliarias independientemente del resultado de la votación de esta noche.
Votación: Moción del Concejal Alvarez para adoptar la primera lectura de la ordenanza que modifica el Capítulo 18-46 del Código Municipal de Santa Rosa, con segunda del Concejal Rogers. El Alcalde Stapp se recusó. Aprobada 6–0 (con Stapp recusado).
Spring Lake Village East Grove — Audiencia Pública (Punto 16.3)
El personal presentó la expansión de la comunidad de retiro de cuidado continuo Spring Lake Village, ubicada en Montgomery Drive. El proyecto agregaría 32 unidades de vida independiente en una parcela adyacente, junto con espacios comunitarios abiertos, mejoras dentro y fuera del sitio, y un carril bici a lo largo de Los Alamos Road. Los permisos requeridos incluyen: un permiso de uso condicional menor, un permiso de desarrollo en área montañosa y la rezonificación de una parcela en 2225 Los Alamos Road de residencial rural a desarrollo planificado.
El proyecto tiene una extensa historia que se remonta a una solicitud de 2014, pasó por múltiples rediseños y requirió una amplia consulta tribal con los Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria y la Lytton Band of Pomo Indians en virtud de AB 52. Se desarrolló una alternativa ambientalmente superior (Alternativa 2, posteriormente modificada) para reducir los impactos sobre recursos culturales y recursos culturales tribales, desplazando las huellas de las edificaciones alejándolas de las áreas más sensibles cerca del arroyo, reduciendo el camino secundario a un sendero peatonal, y añadiendo medidas de mitigación que exigen pruebas previas a la construcción en áreas adicionales del sitio y monitoreo tribal durante la construcción. La Comisión de Planificación recomendó por unanimidad su aprobación en marzo de 2026.
El Concejal Alvarez votó en contra de la certificación CEQA, señalando que, si bien respetaba los esfuerzos tanto de la ciudad como del solicitante, deseaba que los socios tribales hubieran continuado participando en el diálogo por respeto al patrimonio cultural y al reconocimiento de la tierra que la comunidad invoca regularmente. Todos los demás concejales votaron a favor.
Votaciones:
Certificar el EIR Final y adoptar las Conclusiones CEQA/MMRP: Moción de MacDonald, con segunda de Okrepkie. 6–1 (Alvarez en contra).
Introducir las ordenanzas para modificar las políticas del PD de Spring Lake Village y rezonificar la parcela: Moción de MacDonald, con segunda de Okrepkie. 6–1 (Alvarez con reconocimiento).
Adoptar las resoluciones que aprueban el permiso de uso condicional y el permiso de desarrollo en área montañosa: Moción de MacDonald, con segunda de Okrepkie. 6–1 (Alvarez).
Pre-Zonificación — 1977 Marsh Road (Punto 16.2)
El personal presentó una solicitud directa de pre-zonificación para anexar una parcela no incorporada de 1.005 acres en 1977 Marsh Road al distrito de zonificación R-20 (residencial rural) de la ciudad. El propósito es conectarse al servicio de alcantarillado municipal para permitir la construcción de una unidad de vivienda accesoria. No se recibieron comentarios públicos.
Votación: Moción de Okrepkie, con segunda de Rogers, para introducir la ordenanza. Aprobada 6–0 (Fleming ausente).
AB 2561 — Informe de Vacantes y Reclutamiento/Retención (Punto 16.4)
La Directora de Recursos Humanos Dominique Blaney y la Subdirectora presentaron el informe anual requerido por AB 2561. Al 26 de marzo, la ciudad tenía 117 vacantes de 1,277 posiciones presupuestadas — una tasa de vacantes del 9.2%, descrita como típica para una agencia del tamaño de la ciudad. Los factores contribuyentes incluyen una congelación parcial de contrataciones durante la incertidumbre presupuestaria, brechas en la competitividad salarial (aunque en mejora) y escasez de mano de obra en campos técnicos como la ingeniería.
El representante de Teamsters Local 856, Robert Maddox, presentó en nombre de las unidades que representan a más de 500 empleados. Elogió las recientes mejoras salariales, pero señaló varias preocupaciones: la Unidad 7 (puestos técnicos) tiene más de 38 vacantes de tiempo completo; los operadores de la planta de tratamiento de agua están sobrecargados y la seguridad está en riesgo; el personal civil del departamento de policía está insuficientemente dotado, lo que contribuyó a una reciente violación de divulgación en un tribunal; un puesto de topógrafo fue eliminado a pesar de los probables ahorros en comparación con consultores externos; y políticas de nómina anticuadas han generado errores de sobrepago que obligan a los empleados a devolver dinero que ya gastaron. Maddox también abogó por la generación de nuevos ingresos mediante festivales de música en el Sonoma County Fairgrounds como medio para financiar salarios competitivos.
La Concejal Rogers señaló preocupaciones de seguridad por la escasez de personal en las operaciones hídricas de 24 horas. La Concejal Benward solicitó una revisión de políticas sobre los procedimientos de recuperación de sobrepagos y una comparación de costos entre servicios contratados y personal técnico interno.
Votación: Moción de Benward para recibir y archivar el informe, con segunda de Rogers. Aprobada 6–0.
Cumplimiento de la Ley Brown SB 707 (Punto 15.1)
La Secretaria Municipal Dina Tasini presentó un paquete de acciones requeridas para que la ciudad cumpla con SB 707, que actualizó significativamente la Ley Brown con vigencia a partir de octubre de 2025 (algunas disposiciones operativas desde el 1 de enero y otras desde el 1 de julio de 2026). El paquete incluyó: (1) enmienda al Manual de Procedimientos y Protocolos del Concejo Municipal para abordar interrupciones, flexibilidad en el tiempo de comentario público (de 1 a 3 minutos a discreción del presidente) y modernización de las tarjetas de orador; (2) adopción de una nueva Política de Interrupción del Servicio de Internet y Telefonía que requiere un receso mínimo de una hora antes de continuar si se interrumpe el servicio de internet; (3) actualización de la Política del Concejo 000-20 sobre Participación Ciudadana (actualizada por última vez en 1987); y (4) introducción de una ordenanza que modifica el Capítulo 1-10 del código municipal sobre Gobierno Abierto.
Sobre la pregunta planteada anteriormente respecto al uso de personal municipal bilingüe para interpretación al español durante interrupciones de internet, Recursos Humanos determinó que esto no era apropiado debido a la naturaleza especializada y certificada del trabajo de interpretación y los riesgos de cumplimiento asociados. En cambio, el personal fortaleció el lenguaje de la ordenanza para exigir que la ciudad distribuya resúmenes en inglés y español de cualquier acción tomada durante una sesión en la que la interpretación fue interrumpida, a través de redes sociales, City Connections y otros canales. El Director de Tecnología de la Información Brent Tickner confirmó que desde la única interrupción ocurrida en los últimos cinco años (otoño de 2024, causada por un conmutador de red defectuoso que se activó durante un problema del sistema telefónico), la ciudad ha agregado capacidad secundaria de conmutación por error de internet.
Votación: Moción de Rogers para adoptar las tres resoluciones e introducir la ordenanza, con segunda de Alvarez. Aprobada 6–0 (Fleming ausente).
Calendario de Consentimiento (Puntos 13.1–13.4)
Aprobado sin debate.
Votación: Moción de Okrepkie, con segunda de MacDonald. 6–0.
Informes de los Concejales (Punto 11)
El Concejal MacDonald nombró a un gerente de proyectos de energía renovable e infraestructura (nombre no claro en la transcripción) para la Junta de Servicios Públicos. La Concejal Rogers asistió a la recepción de bienvenida del intercambio con la ciudad hermana de Santa Rosa, se reunió con la Santa Rosa Manufactured Home Owners Association e invitó al público al evento del Día de los Caídos en Santa Rosa Memorial Park el 26 de mayo (se necesitan voluntarios desde las 6:00 a.m.). El Concejal Alvarez se refirió a un incidente de tiroteo ocurrido cerca de las festividades de Cinco de Mayo en Roseland, declarando claramente que los perpetradores no eran residentes de Roseland y destacando el crecimiento económico de la comunidad y su sólida colaboración con las fuerzas del orden. El Vicealcalde Okrepkie informó que la Sonoma County Transportation and Climate Authority (SCTCA) aprobó el financiamiento Coordinated Claims, lo que permite que el programa de coordinación de tránsito MSCOTS proceda; también asistió a un grupo de trabajo conjunto de ciudades sobre seguros contra incendios y compartió actualizaciones legislativas con la administración municipal.
Comentario Público Fuera del Orden del Día
El Mayor Marcos Marquez del Salvation Army agradeció al Concejo por una reciente proclamación que reconoció la Semana Nacional del Salvation Army, señalando la historia de 135 años de la organización en la comunidad. Dwayne DeWitt de Roseland pidió al Concejo considerar cambiar el nombre de Roseland Creek Community Park a "Como Park and Preserve", señalando que la comunidad no tuvo participación en la denominación original, y describió como excesivamente oneroso para el vecindario un proceso de petición de 6 meses con 1,000 firmas.
Actas
Las actas de la Sesión Ordinaria del 21 de abril de 2026 fueron aprobadas tal como fueron presentadas.
Puntos clave
Expansión del mapa de incendios WUI aprobada ante la oposición vecinal: El Concejo aprobó (6–0, Alcalde recusado) la primera lectura de una ordenanza que amplía el área de incendio en la Interfaz Urbano-Forestal a aproximadamente 3,882 nuevas parcelas, principalmente en el corredor Creekside/Matanzas Creek y partes de Oakmont. Residentes y abogados del vecindario Creekside presentaron un Aviso de Oposición Legal formal, alegando que el modelo de mapeo estatal es científicamente defectuoso y que la ciudad está trasladando los costos de un peligro que ella misma creó y financia mediante subvenciones a los propietarios — lo que podría dar lugar a litigios.
Expansión de Spring Lake Village aprobada: Una ampliación de 32 unidades de vivienda para adultos mayores en Spring Lake Village en Los Alamos Road fue aprobada
Resumen generado por IA a partir de una transcripción de voz a texto. No es el registro oficial. Verifique los detalles importantes con los documentos fuente vinculados arriba.
Qué ocurrió en esta reunión
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION (Paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Government Code Section 54956.9) John Paul Johnson v. City of Santa Rosa, et al. United States District Court Northern District of California Case No. 3:23-cv-02478-JSC
The City Attorney reported on a conference with legal counsel regarding existing litigation. No reportable action was taken on this closed session item.
CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR (Government Code Section 54957.6) Agency Designated Representative: Mayor Mark Stapp
A closed session conference with a labor negotiator was held. During public comment, Duane De from Rose expressed support for the current city manager but urged the council to implement a wage freeze for at least 2 years, citing economic uncertainty, inflation at 3.8% minimum, and the need to prioritize city infrastructure problems like potholes over wage increases.
PROCLAMATION - WATER AWARENESS MONTH
# PROCLAMATION - WATER AWARENESS MONTH SUMMARY
Mayor Mark Stephan proclaimed May 2026 as Water Awareness Month on behalf of the City Council, and Councilmember Rogers read the proclamation highlighting water as a precious and limited natural resource. The proclamation recognized Santa Rosa's significant water conservation achievements, including installation of over 61,300 water-efficient toilets and conversion of 4.3 million square feet of lawn to low water-use landscapes, while acknowledging Santa Rosa Water's 24/7 commitment to protecting public health and sustaining water resources and infrastructure. Lisa Corey, Water Use Efficiency Coordinator for the Greater Santa Rosa Water Department, accepted the proclamation and announced upcoming community events, including the annual Eco Friendly Garden Tour (which had 3,500 registered participants), the Water Smart Expo on June 17th at the Wednesday night market, and water use efficiency awards. The proclamation encouraged citywide understanding of water efficiency as a way of life, and no public comments were raised during the public comment period.
Mayor Mark Stephan proclaimed May 2026 as Water Awareness Month on behalf of the City Council, and Councilmember Rogers read the proclamation highlighting water as a precious and limited natural resource. The proclamation recognized Santa Rosa's significant water conservation achievements, including installation of over 61,300 water-efficient toilets and conversion of 4.3 million square feet of lawn to low water-use landscapes, while acknowledging Santa Rosa Water's 24/7 commitment to protecting public health and sustaining water resources and infrastructure. Lisa Corey, Water Use Efficiency Coordinator for the Greater Santa Rosa Water Department, accepted the proclamation and announced upcoming community events, including the annual Eco Friendly Garden Tour (which had 3,500 registered participants), the Water Smart Expo on June 17th at the Wednesday night market, and water use efficiency awards. The proclamation encouraged citywide understanding of water efficiency as a way of life, and no public comments were raised during the public comment period.
PRESENTATION - WATER-USE EFFICIENCY AWARDS Attachments: WUE Award - Bennett Valley Knolls Homeowners' Association WUE Award - Best Western Plus Wine Country Inn & Suites WUE Award - Mark and Jody Vandewalle WUE Award - Mountain Vista Owners' Association
# Water-Use Efficiency Awards Summary
The Council presented Water-Use Efficiency Awards to four recipients for achieving significant water conservation. Best Western Plus Wine Country Inn and Suites received recognition for installing 84 high-efficiency toilets and fixtures, saving approximately 248,000 gallons of water annually. Bennett Valley Knolls Homeowners Association transformed 11,000 square feet of lawn into low water-use landscape using sheet mulching techniques, while Mountain Vista Owners Association removed 11,500 square feet of turf and installed water-efficient landscape with native plants and weather-based irrigation controllers. Mark and Jody Van der Wal installed a rainwater catchment system with 11,725 gallons of storage capacity, projected to save 35,000 gallons annually. The award recipients were invited to the podium for photo recognition with Council members, though no public comment was offered.
The Council presented Water-Use Efficiency Awards to four recipients for achieving significant water conservation. Best Western Plus Wine Country Inn and Suites received recognition for installing 84 high-efficiency toilets and fixtures, saving approximately 248,000 gallons of water annually. Bennett Valley Knolls Homeowners Association transformed 11,000 square feet of lawn into low water-use landscape using sheet mulching techniques, while Mountain Vista Owners Association removed 11,500 square feet of turf and installed water-efficient landscape with native plants and weather-based irrigation controllers. Mark and Jody Van der Wal installed a rainwater catchment system with 11,725 gallons of storage capacity, projected to save 35,000 gallons annually. The award recipients were invited to the podium for photo recognition with Council members, though no public comment was offered.
PROCLAMATION - AFFORDABLE HOUSING MONTH
# Affordable Housing Month Proclamation Summary
Miss Benweight presented the Proclamation for Affordable Housing Month, emphasizing that thousands of Santa Rosa residents struggle to secure affordable homes and highlighting the City and Housing Authority's substantial efforts, including financing and monitoring over 6,500 housing units, managing a $200 million loan portfolio, and administering over 2,000 housing choice vouchers. The proclamation recognized the completion of the Stewart County Railroad Square project, which delivered 128 new affordable homes with 25% reserved for residents experiencing homelessness and on-site supportive services. Catherine Soma, Vice President of Development at the John Stewart Company, thanked the City Council for their $450,000 funding contribution and noted the project's 30-year journey to completion, with construction beginning in 2022 and opening in 2024, while announcing plans to develop the adjacent Plant 5 site for additional affordable housing. Summer Lopez, policy coordinator for Generous and Housing Tenants, provided public comment thanking the Council for acknowledging Affordable Housing Month and their continued housing solutions work, congratulating the project's opening and expressing hope for ongoing collaboration to address housing challenges.
Miss Benweight presented the Proclamation for Affordable Housing Month, emphasizing that thousands of Santa Rosa residents struggle to secure affordable homes and highlighting the City and Housing Authority's substantial efforts, including financing and monitoring over 6,500 housing units, managing a $200 million loan portfolio, and administering over 2,000 housing choice vouchers. The proclamation recognized the completion of the Stewart County Railroad Square project, which delivered 128 new affordable homes with 25% reserved for residents experiencing homelessness and on-site supportive services. Catherine Soma, Vice President of Development at the John Stewart Company, thanked the City Council for their $450,000 funding contribution and noted the project's 30-year journey to completion, with construction beginning in 2022 and opening in 2024, while announcing plans to develop the adjacent Plant 5 site for additional affordable housing. Summer Lopez, policy coordinator for Generous and Housing Tenants, provided public comment thanking the Council for acknowledging Affordable Housing Month and their continued housing solutions work, congratulating the project's opening and expressing hope for ongoing collaboration to address housing challenges.
Puntos de agenda (26)
Procedural (6)
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12.1ProceduralApril 21, 2026, Regular Meeting Minutes. (THIS ITEM IS CONTINUED FROM THE MAY 5, 2026, REGULAR MEETING)
The council will approve the minutes from the April 21, 2026 meeting (this approval was continued from the May 5 meeting).
21.1ProceduralUPCOMING MEETINGS LIST
This is procedural information listing upcoming meetings scheduled for the city council.
Closed Session
3.1Closed SessionCONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION (Paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Government Code Section 54956.9) John Paul Johnson v. City of Santa Rosa, et al. United States District Court Northern District of California Case No. 3:23-cv-02478-JSC
The council will meet in closed session with legal counsel to discuss an ongoing federal lawsuit (John Paul Johnson v. City of Santa Rosa) in the U.S. District Court.
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The City Attorney reported on a conference with legal counsel regarding existing litigation. No reportable action was taken on this closed session item.3.2Closed SessionCONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR (Government Code Section 54957.6) Agency Designated Representative: Mayor Mark Stapp
The council will meet in closed session with labor negotiators to discuss employment matters, with the Mayor serving as the city's representative.
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A closed session conference with a labor negotiator was held. During public comment, Duane De from Rose expressed support for the current city manager but urged the council to implement a wage freeze for at least 2 years, citing economic uncertainty, inflation at 3.8% minimum, and the need to prioritize city infrastructure problems like potholes over wage increases.General Business
7.1General BusinessPROCLAMATION - WATER AWARENESS MONTH
The council will proclaim a Water Awareness Month to recognize the importance of water conservation in Santa Rosa.
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# PROCLAMATION - WATER AWARENESS MONTH SUMMARYMayor Mark Stephan proclaimed May 2026 as Water Awareness Month on behalf of the City Council, and Councilmember Rogers read the proclamation highlighting water as a precious and limited natural resource. The proclamation recognized Santa Rosa's significant water conservation achievements, including installation of over 61,300 water-efficient toilets and conversion of 4.3 million square feet of lawn to low water-use landscapes, while acknowledging Santa Rosa Water's 24/7 commitment to protecting public health and sustaining water resources and infrastructure. Lisa Corey, Water Use Efficiency Coordinator for the Greater Santa Rosa Water Department, accepted the proclamation and announced upcoming community events, including the annual Eco Friendly Garden Tour (which had 3,500 registered participants), the Water Smart Expo on June 17th at the Wednesday night market, and water use efficiency awards. The proclamation encouraged citywide understanding of water efficiency as a way of life, and no public comments were raised during the public comment period.
7.2General BusinessPRESENTATION - WATER-USE EFFICIENCY AWARDS Attachments: WUE Award - Bennett Valley Knolls Homeowners' Association WUE Award - Best Western Plus Wine Country Inn & Suites WUE Award - Mark and Jody Vandewalle WUE Award - Mountain Vista Owners' Association
The city will present awards recognizing water efficiency efforts by local businesses, homeowner associations, and residents including Bennett Valley Knolls, Best Western Plus Wine Country Inn & Suites, and others.
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# Water-Use Efficiency Awards SummaryThe Council presented Water-Use Efficiency Awards to four recipients for achieving significant water conservation. Best Western Plus Wine Country Inn and Suites received recognition for installing 84 high-efficiency toilets and fixtures, saving approximately 248,000 gallons of water annually. Bennett Valley Knolls Homeowners Association transformed 11,000 square feet of lawn into low water-use landscape using sheet mulching techniques, while Mountain Vista Owners Association removed 11,500 square feet of turf and installed water-efficient landscape with native plants and weather-based irrigation controllers. Mark and Jody Van der Wal installed a rainwater catchment system with 11,725 gallons of storage capacity, projected to save 35,000 gallons annually. The award recipients were invited to the podium for photo recognition with Council members, though no public comment was offered.
7.3General BusinessPROCLAMATION - AFFORDABLE HOUSING MONTH
The council will proclaim an Affordable Housing Month to highlight the city's commitment to housing accessibility.
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# Affordable Housing Month Proclamation SummaryMiss Benweight presented the Proclamation for Affordable Housing Month, emphasizing that thousands of Santa Rosa residents struggle to secure affordable homes and highlighting the City and Housing Authority's substantial efforts, including financing and monitoring over 6,500 housing units, managing a $200 million loan portfolio, and administering over 2,000 housing choice vouchers. The proclamation recognized the completion of the Stewart County Railroad Square project, which delivered 128 new affordable homes with 25% reserved for residents experiencing homelessness and on-site supportive services. Catherine Soma, Vice President of Development at the John Stewart Company, thanked the City Council for their $450,000 funding contribution and noted the project's 30-year journey to completion, with construction beginning in 2022 and opening in 2024, while announcing plans to develop the adjacent Plant 5 site for additional affordable housing. Summer Lopez, policy coordinator for Generous and Housing Tenants, provided public comment thanking the Council for acknowledging Affordable Housing Month and their continued housing solutions work, congratulating the project's opening and expressing hope for ongoing collaboration to address housing challenges.
7.4General BusinessPROCLAMATION - NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK
The council will proclaim a National Public Works Week to honor city employees and contractors who maintain public infrastructure.
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# Summary: PROCLAMATION - NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEKThe City Council presented a Proclamation for National Public Works Week (May 17-23, 2026), with Mr. Alvarez recognizing public works staff who maintain critical city infrastructure including 560 miles of roadway, 1,085 acres of parks, 108 city-owned buildings, 320 miles of storm drains, and 1,200 miles of water and sewer pipes. Robert Now Doc of Teamsters 856 and Jeremy, Deputy Director of Field Services and Transportation, provided public comment emphasizing public works employees' essential role as disaster service workers and first responders during emergencies. Council Member Rogers expressed gratitude for the department's dedication, noting they serve as de facto first responders who clear the way before fire and police can respond. The community was invited to the City Works Festival on May 20th from 5:00pm to 8:30pm at the downtown farmers market and courthouse square, and community member Gail Seymour thanked the department in advance for renovating 100% of South Park in coming years.
7.5General BusinessPROCLAMATION - NATIONAL POLICE MEMORIAL DAY
The council will proclaim a National Police Memorial Day to honor law enforcement officers.
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# National Police Memorial Day Proclamation SummaryCouncil Member Donald presented a proclamation recognizing National Police Memorial Day on May 15th and National Police Week, acknowledging approximately 900,000 law enforcement officers serving across the United States, including Santa Rosa Police Department members, and emphasizing their responsibility to protect communities and uphold the Constitution and laws. Mayor Mark Tapscott officially proclaimed May 15, 2026 as Peace Officer Memorial Day and May 10-16, 2026 as Police Week in Santa Rosa. Chief John Cregan of the Santa Rosa Police Department spoke about the significance of the observance, noting that 109 police officers were killed nationally in the line of duty in 2025 and that Santa Rosa has lost 2 officers—Chief Charles O'Neill and Detective Marylou Armer in March 2020—while highlighting the ongoing dangers faced by the department's 175 officers and 74 civilians who have been shot, stabbed, and subjected to vehicle ramming incidents. The proclamation stressed the importance of citizens understanding the duties, hazards, and sacrifices of law enforcement members, and the Mayor thanked the Police Department for their service.
8.1General BusinessRECEIVE AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE AND A PRESENTATION ON THE CURRENT STATE OF THE SANTA ROSA ECONOMY (THIS ITEM IS CONTINUED TO A
City staff will present an update on the Economic Development Strategic Plan and provide an overview of Santa Rosa's current economic conditions (this item is continued from a previous meeting).
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The Mayor announced that the Economic Development Strategic Plan update presentation will be continued to a date uncertain, with the item expected to be rescheduled in approximately one month.9.1General BusinessREPORT OF SETTLEMENTS AND ACTIVE LITIGATION The City Attorney will report on all settlements authorized by Council in closed session that were finalized in April 2026, which includes but may not be limited to all settlements requiring the City to pay more than $50,000. The City Attorney will also provide a summary of pending litigation against the City.
The City Attorney will report on all legal settlements from April 2026 (especially those costing the city over $50,000) and provide a summary of pending lawsuits against Santa Rosa.
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# Combined Summary: Report of Settlements and Active LitigationThe City Attorney reported that no settlements were finalized in April, while the city maintains 31 active cases at the trial court level, with 25% having assigned trial dates, and four cases currently on appeal following favorable trial court rulings. A previously appealed case, Western Manufactured v. City of Santa Rosa regarding mobile home park law policy, was decided in the city's favor in April with a published opinion, prompting the City Attorney to commend Assistant City Attorney Nate Putney for his successful oral arguments. The City Attorney noted that a comprehensive litigation report was published with the meeting agenda for council members seeking additional details. No council members posed questions or concerns, and no public comment was made during this agenda item.
11.1General BusinessMAYOR'S/COUNCIL MEMBERS' SUBCOMMITTEE AND LIAISON REPORTS (AND POSSIBLE COUNCIL DIRECTION TO BOARD REPRESENTATIVE ON PENDING ISSUES, IF NEEDED) 11.1.1 Council Subcommittee Reports 11.1.2 Sonoma County Transportation and Climate Authorities (SCTCA) 11.1.3 Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) - Water Advisory Committee 11.1.4 Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) 11.1.5 Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District
Council members will report on their work with various boards and regional agencies including transportation, water, and agricultural organizations, and may provide direction to board representatives.
15.1General BusinessREPORT - SB 707 RELATED COUNCIL ACTIONS BACKGROUND: This item requests Council take various actions based on SB 707, which made significant updates to the Brown Act. Council is required to adopt an Internet and Telephonic Service Disruption Policy, and staff recommends amendments to existing policies and Santa Rosa City Code for operational and procedural alignment with new Brown Act requirements. RECOMMENDATION: The City Clerk’s and City Attorney’s Offices recommend that the Council, take the following actions related to Senate Bill (SB) 707 - Brown Act updates: 1) by resolution, amend the City Council Manual of Procedures and Protocols (CCMPP); 2) by resolution, adopt Council Policy entitled “Internet and Telephonic Service Disruption Policy for City Council Meetings”; 3) by resolution, amend Council Policy 000-20 entitled Citizen Participation; and 4) introduce an ordinance entitled Ordinance of the Council of the City of Santa Rosa to amend Chapter 1-10 - Open Government of the Santa Rosa City Code related to SB 707 Brown Act Updates. This item has no impact on current fiscal year budget.
The council will adopt new policies and ordinance amendments to comply with California's updated open-meeting law (Senate Bill 707), including requirements for handling internet disruptions during meetings and updating citizen participation rules.
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# SB 707 Related Council Actions SummaryCouncil took action on multiple SB 707 compliance matters during this meeting. Staff presented updates on Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) maps and defensible space inspection ordinances, with Councilmember Brown questioning the Insurance Commissioner's authority and Councilmember MacDonald asking about risks of non-adoption; Vice Mayor Sheehan, drawing on 20 years of insurance experience, clarified that the Commissioner's bulletins are legally binding and enforceable. Councilmember Alvarez moved to amend Chapter 18-46-225 to update designated WUI areas, which passed unanimously. Additionally, Council adopted three resolutions and introduced an ordinance establishing new policies for service disruptions during meetings and requiring multilingual communications and outreach under the Brown Act, with IT Chief Brent Tickner assuring Council of improved system resiliency following recent equipment upgrades and phone system replacement; this motion also passed 6-0.
16.2General BusinessPUBLIC HEARING - 1977 MARSH ROAD PRE-ZONING BACKGROUND: The applicant proposes to Pre-zone a 1.05-acre parcel for annexation into the City. The annexation would allow connection to City sewer service and support future construction of an accessory dwelling unit (ADU). The property is currently developed with one single-family home accessible via a shared private driveway off Marsh Road. The parcel is proposed to be pre-zoned to the RR-20 (Rural Residential) zoning district, consistent with the General Plan land use designation of Very Low Density Residential. On April 9, 2026, the Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend that the
The council will hold a public hearing on rezoning a 1.05-acre property on Marsh Road from rural to residential zoning to allow its annexation into the city and enable sewer connection and construction of an accessory dwelling unit.
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# PUBLIC HEARING - 1977 MARSH ROAD PRE-ZONING SUMMARYStaff presented a pre-zoning request for the 1.05-acre unincorporated property at 1977 Marsh Road, with Project Planner Khan Michelson recommending R-20 zoning consistent with the general plan and surrounding low-density residential areas. Public commenters Chris and Fred raised concerns about the mapping and line-drawing process for fire risk areas, questioning whether the approach was thoroughly researched and legally justifiable, with Fred specifically objecting to characterizations of the Fire Marshal's presentation as arbitrary and capricious. Fred also noted that fire hazard designations disproportionately affect higher-value properties in elevated areas while conflicting with affordable housing goals. The Division Chief clarified that risk area mapping was legally required and previously adopted over a year ago, providing examples of how creek vegetation management affects fire spread. One inquiry regarding sewer line sizing and connection costs was answered by the water and engineering division, and Council voted 6-0 to introduce the ordinance as presented.
16.3General BusinessPUBLIC HEARING - SPRING LAKE VILLAGE EAST GROVE BACKGROUND: The applicant for the Spring Lake Village East Grove Project proposes to expand the existing Spring Lake Village Continuing Care Retirement Community at 5555 Montgomery Drive onto adjacent parcels at 225 Los Alamos Road and 5803 and 5815 Melita Road (7.28 acres total). The project includes 32 independent senior living units, a community building, outdoor common areas, parking, walking paths, landscaping, drainage, lighting, fencing, retaining walls, and related off-site pedestrian, bicycle, stormwater, and utility improvements. Project approvals requested include: EIR certification; rezoning of 225 Los Alamos Road from RR-40-SR to PD-0308-SR; a zoning text amendment to PD-0308; a Minor Conditional Use Permit for a large community care facility; and a Hillside Development Permit for development on slopes of 10 percent or greater. On March 26, 2026, the Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend that the Council certify the EIR, adopt the associated rezoning ordinances, and approve the required entitlement permits. RECOMMENDATION: The Planning Commission and the Planning and Economic Development Department recommend that the Council: 1) by resolution, certify the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) and
The council will hold a public hearing on a proposal to expand Spring Lake Village retirement community at Montgomery Drive by adding 32 senior housing units and community facilities on nearby parcels, with the Planning Commission recommending approval.
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# Spring Lake Village East Grove Public Hearing SummaryThe Spring Lake Village East Grove project proposes 32 new independent living units as an expansion of the existing continuing care retirement community on Montgomery Drive, requiring a conditional use permit, hillside development permit, and rezoning of 225 acres. After extensive California Environmental Quality Act review and tribal consultation pursuant to AB 52, Staff presented Alternative 2 as the environmentally superior alternative, which was redesigned to move development away from sensitive tribal cultural resource areas through modifications including a reduced project footprint, shifted cottages, and elimination of a secondary roadway. The Planning Commission unanimously approved the project on March 26, 2025, and the final Environmental Impact Report was released March 11, 2025, with mitigation measures addressing wildfire, noise, bike safety, biological resources, and cultural resources, including tribal monitoring during construction and established procedures for artifact discovery. Council members raised concerns about evacuation routes, two points of access, and the 50-foot Highway 12 setback, while the applicant, represented by Front Porch's Chief Operating Officer Mary McMullen and Perkins Coie attorney, emphasized their 40-year community history and collaborative approach to fire safety and traffic management. Councilmember Ben voted against certifying the final EIR, expressing concern that tribes should continue direct participation in future project discussions despite acknowledging good faith efforts by city and applicant staff.
16.4General BusinessPUBLIC HEARING - STATUS OF VACANT POSITIONS AND RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION EFFORTS IN COMPLIANCE WITH
The council will hold a public hearing on the status of unfilled city positions and the city's efforts to recruit and retain qualified employees.
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# Combined SummaryDirector Dominique Blanc presented the Assembly Bill 2561 vacancy report showing a citywide vacancy rate of 9.2% with 117 vacancies out of 1,277 budgeted positions, identifying key obstacles including budget deficits, a soft hiring freeze, non-competitive salaries, and labor shortages in technical fields. Teamsters Labor Representative Robert Maddox expressed significant concern about high vacancy rates in the technical unit (Unit 7) with 38.5 FTE positions vacant, warning that understaffing creates safety risks and employee burnout. Council members raised specific concerns about safety-critical positions such as water plant operators and transit operators, with one councilmember highlighting that cutting the land surveyor position was counterproductive since external consulting fees exceeded in-house employment costs. Councilmember Rogers questioned retention strategies given employee burnout from staff doing more with less, while staff reported approximately 110 current vacancies with 6 in active recruitment and noted improved applicant pools in the current economy. The council directed HR to begin filling positions deemed safe to fill despite budget uncertainties, and the motion to receive and file the report passed 6-0 with Councilmember Fleming absent.
17.1General BusinessQUARTERLY BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES
The council will receive a quarterly update on city boards, commissions, and committees and their current membership.
Consent Calendar
13.1Consent CalendarMOTION - APPROVAL - SECOND AMENDMENT TO BLANKET PURCHASE ORDER 169396 TO EXTEND THE TERM ONE-YEAR AND INCREASE COMPENSATION WITH SCP DISTRIBUTORS LLC
The council will vote to extend and increase a purchase order with SCP Distributors LLC for city supplies or services.
13.2Consent CalendarMOTION - APPROVAL - THIRD AMENDMENT TO BLANKET PURCHASE ORDER 169264 TO EXTEND THE TERM ONE-YEAR AND INCREASE COMPENSATION WITH IRIS GROUP HOLDINGS
The council will vote to extend and increase a purchase order with Iris Group Holdings for city supplies or services.
13.3Consent CalendarMOTION - FOURTH AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH CIVICPLUS, LLC FOR SRCITY.ORG HOSTED
The council will vote to extend an agreement with CivicPlus, LLC for maintenance and hosting of the city's srcity.org website.
13.4Consent CalendarRESOLUTION - EXTENSION OF PROCLAMATION OF LOCAL
The council will vote to extend a local proclamation (specific topic not detailed in the provided text).
Public Hearing
16.1Public HearingPUBLIC HEARING - ORDINANCE INTRODUCTION - ORDINANCE ENTITLED: ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA TO AMEND CHAPTER 18-46 - 2025 CALIFORNIA WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE CODE ADDING SECTION 18-46.202 - DEFINITIONS, WITH LOCAL AMENDMENT, AND UPDATE THE EXISTING DESIGNATED WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE AREA (THIS ITEM IS CONTINUED FROM THE APRIL 21, 2026, REGULAR
The council will hold a public hearing and introduce an ordinance updating Santa Rosa's wildfire safety standards for homes near wildlands, including new definitions and expanded areas subject to these requirements (this hearing is continued from April 21).
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# Public Hearing Summary: Wildland Urban Interface Fire Area Map OrdinanceFire Marshal Paul and Assistant Fire Marshal Jared McDaniel presented an ordinance introduction for adopting updated Wildland Urban Interface Fire area maps based on Cal Fire data, clarifying that Santa Rosa's WUI designation has remained relatively stable since 2009 encompassing approximately 30% of the community, with the local maps overlaying state-established high and very-high risk boundaries rather than expanding into new moderate-risk areas. Council members and the public raised concerns about the ordinance's impact on constituents, including potential insurance rate increases and housing availability in designated areas like Oakmont, with Councilmember Alvarez questioning the logic of excluding historically burned properties while retaining areas that have not burned. Staff responded that removed parcels fall outside state-mapped areas with documented low risk, and that many areas already have existing state regulations in place; the city is working with United Policyholders and state officials to address insurance-related concerns while using the maps indirectly to support grant applications through the Community Wildfire Protection Plan. Public commenter Dwayne DeWitt identified a vulnerable 19.5-acre city-owned area in Roseland with high underbrush and a fire history as a specific priority for hazard mitigation. Council member Roberts asked whether adopting these maps would generate additional FEMA or state grant support.
Votos adicionales registrados en actas
First reading of ordinance amending Wildland Urban Interface Fire Area map (Chapter 18-46-225)
aye 6 · recused 1
Alvarezaye
Ben Willowsaye
Flemingaye
MacDonaldaye
Okrepkieaye
Rogersaye
Stapprecused
Certify Final Environmental Impact Report and adopt CEQA Findings of Fact and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program for Spring Lake Village East Grove
nay 1 · aye 6
Alvareznay
Ben Willowsaye
Flemingaye
MacDonaldaye
Okrepkieaye
Rogersaye
Stappaye
Introduce ordinances amending Spring Lake Village Plan Development policies and rezoning 225 Los Alamos Road
aye 7
Alvarezaye
Ben Willowsaye
Flemingaye
MacDonaldaye
Okrepkieaye
Rogersaye
Stappaye
Approve resolutions for conditional use permit and hillside development permit for Spring Lake Village East Grove
aye 7
Alvarezaye
Ben Willowsaye
Flemingaye
MacDonaldaye
Okrepkieaye
Rogersaye
Stappaye
Introduce ordinance to prezone 1977 Marsh Road to R-20 zoning district
aye 6 · absent 1
Alvarezaye
Ben Willowsaye
Flemingabsent
MacDonaldaye
Okrepkieaye
Rogersaye
Stappaye
Accept vacancy report in compliance with Assembly Bill 2561
aye 6 · absent 1
Alvarezaye
Ben Willowsaye
Flemingabsent
MacDonaldaye
Okrepkieaye
Rogersaye
Stappaye
Approve consent calendar items 13.1 through 13.4
aye 6 · absent 1
Alvarezaye
Ben Willowsaye
Flemingabsent
MacDonaldaye
Okrepkieaye
Rogersaye
Stappaye
Adopt 3 resolutions and introduce ordinance related to SB 707 Brown Act amendments
aye 6 · absent 1
Alvarezaye
Ben Willowsaye
Flemingabsent
MacDonaldaye
Okrepkieaye
Rogersaye
Stappaye
Transcripción literal disponible
128 segmentos de transcripción indexados
i'd like to ask interpreter currently on the Spanish Channel to commence interpretation of the meeting for those just joining the meeting. Live interpretation in Spanish is available and members of the public or staff wishing those things in Spanish can join the Spanish channel by clicking on the interpretation icon in zoom toolbar, it looks like a globe. If you're on your cell phone or tablet locate the 3 dots, top them lightly and put a check mark on your preferred language clicked on to activate and begin the interpretation. Won't you join the Spanish Channel? We recommend you shut off the main audio. So you only hear the Spanish interpretation, Francisco, you please restate this in Spanish. >> suppose. But I can as a say in a artist to win, you need to spend on I was just so. Fo to see the nest with Brussels as we tell you. Was going to be cooler about coming up out of video to the so when Thunder, this could he sing to put this year? See a student and a to lift up the to this bloom to skivvies hit more home us. You listen language interpretation. Let's head click. So you guys been cynics who looks cool. Cat. He Spanish was spending you know this See a Bubble says, I mean, look, temple. With cute little skill could some huge original audio. Will students got a heenan, but it switches intending to put it the ticket, the most kid, set of his doubles They're going conduct those. Does that up because when this will, as spoke to people, you know, look, I'm going to come in to
put the lid from. Thank you. >> Thank you. The time is 3, 0, on and we'll call this meeting or MADAM City clerk. Would you please call the roll? Thank you. Mayor Councilmember Rogers, Councilmember MacDonald here, Councilmember Fleming. Councilmember Ben Air Councilmember Alvarez. Vice Mayor Okrepkie here. Mayor step here. Let the record show that all councilmembers are present with the exception of council members, Alvarez and Fleming. >> Thank you very much. We'll move on to our closed session items we have to this evening item 3.1, our conference legal counsel regarding existing litigation and item 3 point to our conference with a negotiator. We'll open up to public comment. Dwayne, Did you wish to comment on on any of our closed session items tonight? >> Yes, sir. My name is Duane De from Rose. And I'd like to comment on item. Number 2, 3, 0.2, thank you. Wait till the clock begins. So we do everything official. All right. With that in mind, I'd like to stress that I'm supportive of the current city manager being here. And if she stays, that's a good thing. I know you won't based upon my opinion, but I will talk about wages today. We are in a war time period. That probably is going to worsen for our nation. We're having economic difficulties that are increasing. Latest reports show that inflation in our area is up 3.8% at a minimum. This will continue to occur. I'm going to ask that you
folks. Ask for a freeze on wages. That you basically also in the negotiations for the city manager, state that you're going to keep one wage for at least 2 years. We were fortunate to have the city manager that was here before the current one MISS Smith because she signed almond difficulties. She took freeze of sorts for a while. Although when she left, she got to pay back. The main thing on all this is economic uncertainty faces us. So please don't base your decisions. What other cities are doing and this comparative wage raise the goes on and creates millionaires out of bureaucrats within a few short years. This is not what the taxpayers need to be happening. Money from the taxpayers needs to take care of our problems in the city. This is pothole city right now. We got serious problems facing us and we need to have it be based on the idea. We can watch over our fiscal house with some hard-headed reality and take care of our problems. Right now. No more wage increases. Thank Thank Thank you, MR. To it, seeing no other members of the public PRESIDENT. We will close public comment and recess into closed session. >> Alright, everyone, welcome. The time is right for 23 when we could be in open session. Madam City clerk, whenever have a moment, what you call the roll. Thanks, Mary. Just had to make sure that zoom cameras were on. >> Let's see. Here are the
role. Councilmember Rogers, PRESIDENT Councilmember MacDonald here, Councilmember Fleming Councilmember Ben Willows Councilmember Alvarez, PRESIDENT Vice Mayor Okrepkie here. Mayor, stop here. But the records show that all councilmembers are present. Thank you very much. We will go to item 6. Our report on closed session. >> I report an item. 3.2 on and is simply to say that there was no reportable action. MADAM City attorney to join report on 3.1. >> Like Waze mayor, no reportable action on 3.1. Thank you very much. And it's great to see such a full crowd tonight. We've got 4 proclamations or 3 proclamations in a presentation. Let's start with item 7.1 Rogers, would you read the Proclamation for Water Awareness Month? >> Thank you. Whereas water is essential for every living creature and is a precious and limited natural resource that must be Stewart in wisely for future Jenner generations. And whereas the city of Santa Rosa is the proprietor of the water resource in the centre of the community. And whereas the highly skilled staff of Santa Rosa Water are fully dedicated to protecting public health by sustaining water, resources, infrastructure, and the environment. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. And whereas because water is a precious resource wise use of water should be considered a way of life. And whereas Santa Rosa water encourage a citywide. Understanding and appreciation of the value of water efficiency. And whereas Santa Rosa community has long demonstrated a commitment to using water wisely by
minimizing waterways, installing over 61,300 water efficient toilets in converting 4.3 million square feet of lawn to low water use landscapes and whereas the city of Santa Rosa is the owner and operator of the regional water reuse system and is one of the largest recyclers, the water producing high-quality, recycle water for many purposes, including irrigation of parks, commercial businesses and the community garden. And whereas for every drop of recycle water, use a potable water is saved now, therefore, be it resolved that our Mayor Mark step on behalf of the entire city Council proclaimed MAY 2026 as Water Awareness Month and encourage all citizens to do your part in the water. Smart. Thank you. We're very proud of our water here in Santa Rosa. And do we have we have Lisa? Corey are here to accept the word are to be set. The proclamation. >> The council, I'm Lisa, quite Water use efficiency coordinator and I would like to thank you on behalf of the Greater Santa Rosa Water team for the proclamation knowledge the month of MAY as Water Awareness Month, each section of the Water Department strives to provide dependable high quality water services to our 175,000 customers. As well as excellent customer service to city residents, businesses and institutions alike. As a result, we continue to see sustained participation across a number of customer rebates and services such as our high
efficiency toilet direct installation and cash for grass programs. That result in impactful water use efficiency. I also wanted to use this as an opportunity to announce several events to help the community grow and their water awareness. The first is the annual Eco Friendly Garden Tour that was held this past Saturday across Sonoma and Marin counties had 5 low water use landscapes in Santa Rosa, including those who have participated in our cash for grass programs. Those are on display. The event continues to grow in popularity with nearly 3,500 registered for the event. Second is the presentation of the water use efficiency wards during today's council meeting 2 residents and businesses have achieved know where the water savings through their water smart program participation. And lastly, I just wanted to mention that the water department will host the Water Smart Expo at the JUNE 17th Wednesday night market. Their customers can engage directly with water Department staff and better appreciate the value of our water. And without I think you again. Thank you, Lisa good branding with the official Centers of Water Water Bottle right next to Those are available to the public at various events. >> We wanted to have a photo in just a moment to the 40 before we do that. Let's open it up to public comment who here appreciates the water and center. Rosen wants to say a few words. The podiums are open at both sites. Seeing none. All sure the appreciation is there will close public comment and what you come up and little quick photo with counsel. Thank you again for being here today. Thank you. Again, the center is a water now and we will move on to item 7.2, our
presentation for water use efficiency Awards. All right. We got a bit. We have a bit of a program here. You turn the appropriate page. All right. So as part of Water Awareness Month, we are recognizing for community members who have gone above and beyond to save water in our city. Although if you look at the statistics of water use in Santa Rosa over the past couple of decades and see the steep decline, it's pretty clear center's residents are doing their part to save water. We have 4. We have 4 notables. Each property main water efficiency upgrades resulted in thousands of gallons of a new water savings. These actions have helped make Santa Rosa more Resilient Committee community. And we commend their actions before present the awards. We have a short video that we playing in honor of this year's recipients. >> Congratulations to Santa Rosa. Water's for Water use Efficiency Award winners for their outstanding efforts to improve water efficiency in their homes, communities and businesses. This year's award winners are. Best Western Plus Wine. Country Inn and Suites. Which are placed 84 high water use toilets and fixtures. High efficiency ones. These actions save approximately 248,000 gallons of water a year. >> Bennett Valley Knowles, Homeowners Association. Which transformed 11,000 square feet of high water use lawn into a beautiful low water use landscape using an environmentally friendly technique of sheet metal chain. A new landscape supports pollinators and biodiversity. Mountain Vista
Owners Association. It removes 11,500 square feet of line water efficient landscape transformation included the installation of trees. Water use plants and whether based irrigation controller, the new landscape supports biodiversity and attracts pollinators. Mark and Jody Van der installed an elaborate rainwater catchment system that includes 3 large water takes. We have 11,725 gallons of storage to irrigate their landscape. It will save an estimated 35,000 gallons a year. Thank you to our 2026 water use Efficiency Award winners for achieving exceptional water savings. >> Thank you, everyone. Congratulations to all the winners. All right. So now we'll ask the recipients to come up and we'll do a quick phone to an award presentation. A photo. Could I get representatives from the best Western Plus Wine Country Inn and suites to come up. Wonderful. Todd Anderson. So congratulations. Let's do a quick. Let's do a quick photo here. All right. Our second water use efficiency word goes to Bennett Valley Knowles, Homeowners Association. I have friends that live there. My wife and I are invented Valley. Thank you for representing representing our neighborhood. We have a few. We several other Bennett Valley folks here tonight. Please come up and accept your ward and take a photo. Thank you, Ali Knowles, homers
association. Alright, Mountain Vista Owners Association Mountain Vista. Excellent to come on down. Congratulations. All right. Our final water use Efficiency Award goes to Marc and Jody Van der Wal Mark and Jody here. Excellent of the whole family. Please come on out. All right. Doing joint photo. Thanks for keeping me organized up here. I'm the last one to know. Let's let's do a joint photos. All council. Congratulations and all the winners. And before we leave this item, I was reminded that we do need to give public comment. So there are their friends or family or community members that want to shower praise on our water. Water use efficiency Award winners. >> Seeing none or do we do? We have seeing none. We will close public comment to thank you again to all are winners. Thank you for coming out today. And we will go on to item 7.3, our proclamation for Affordable Housing Month on. And I'm going to turn to MISS Been weight Thank you, Mayor. >> c? >> Where is safe and affordable housing is a fundamental human right yet. Thousands of Santa Rosa residents continue to face challenges in securing homes. They can afford. And whereas Santa Rosa recognizes the need to prioritize the development of new affordable housing as well as the preservation and rehabilitation of existing affordable units to support long-term community stability. Whereas the city and the housing authority have taken significant steps to address local housing needs by providing financing and monitoring more than 6,500 home housing units managing
200 million dollar loan portfolio and administering over 2000 housing choice. Vouchers. And where is the current fiscal year in the current fiscal year? The Housing Authority awarded 3.5 million to support the development and rehabilitation of 291 affordable homes. And where is the city and Housing Authority? Probably recognize the completion of the Stewart County in Railroad Square delivering 128 new affordable homes, including 25 per cent reserved for residents experiencing homelessness with on-site supportive services. And 33 project based vouchers to ensure long-term affordability. And whereas the city housing and Community Services Department works with many partners to expand access to safe, stable and affordable housing for all. And where is Affordable? Housing Month provides an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to promoting awareness, equity, inclusion and justice and housing. Now, it be resolved that the mayor Mark step of the city of Santa Rosa on behalf of the entire city council in recognition of our community to hear by proclaim MAY 2026 as Affordable Housing Month and urge community support. Thank you. MISS Said we have Kathryn at >> From the Jon Stewart company here. Katherine, how we have some we have some fans clearly. Catherine Come-on down say, say a few words. Leave it. Is Which the Biden lean lean into those mice?
They do pick up that well. >> Got it. Can you hear me now? We can create. Good afternoon. Members of the city Council and mayor, my name's happened at Soma. Vice PRESIDENT Development at the John Stewart company and behalf of John's your company and all the many team members who worked for quite honestly over 30 years to bring this project to fruition. I want to thank you for this recognition. This project was a labor of love for the Jon Stewart company. John and his partners who he finally called the can purchased the site in 1999. To 2 acre site. It was split into 2 quite sometime ago. The 3rd street site is where the cannery sits and plant 5 is directly adjacent come back to that. At the end, my short remarks here Jon family like to say that it really takes a village to build affordable housing. Was not an exception to that. I don't have time to talk about the project's history, but it went through many, many iterations of design concepts and schemes. Finally, after years of hard work, we broke ground and began construction in 2022. And the project opened its doors in 2024, I really want to thank the city Council for the funding for this project. We got $450,000 from the city, which is a huge catalytic infusion of funding to get the project to go forward. The building's beautiful whenever I'm in Santa Rosa, I walk over and take a look at that. And I really want to thank you for this acknowledgment. We are now actively pursuing development of the adjacent site, which is planned 5. We are looking for pre-development funding and we're hoping to bring cannery part 2 more affordable homes right around square. So things again, very much. >> Catherine, thank you.
That's music to our ears. A beautiful project. Thanks so much. Let's let's throw it open to public comment. The tubes or before we do our photo. Are there any members of the public that would like to comment on on on this proclamation or on the Kerry project? Please. >> afternoon City Council, my name Summer Lopez, some of the policy coordinator and generous and housing tenants, housing. Just want thank you for acknowledging Affordable Housing month this year. And for your continued work on that occasion, too, addressing housing solutions here in Santa Rosa. Want to give a big congratulations to the county project for opening and we hope we can continue working with you. If going to face too. And we look forward to working with you to address housing moving forward. Thank you. Thank you. All are making generation housing. Are there any other members of the public who would like to speak? >> Seeing none. We'll close public comment. And Catherine want to come Florida. Thank you again to the Jon Stewart company for being here. Will move on to our 4th proclamation presentation on this one in honor of National Public Works week. And we've got a lot of our staff here, which we're glad to see MR. Alvarez don't read proclamation. Thank you, mayor. And it reads as follows. >> Whereas public works are central to the daily lives of our residents and critical to staying safe and thriving community by supporting the quality of life. Mobility and well-being of all who work live and visit our city. And whereas public works professional designs manage and maintain. The city vital infrastructure and community assets, including 560 miles of roadway 1085 acres of parks and open space. 73 acres of
roadway, landscaping. 108 city-owned buildings, 320 miles of storm drains 1200 miles of water and sewer pipes and a wastewater treatment plant and string essential services operate reliably every day. And whereas these services depend on the dedication and expertise of public works. Engineers operators, technicians and support plan build, operate, maintain and safeguard the city's infrastructure, transportation networks, utilities, parks and public facilities. And whereas in addition to their daily responsibilities that keep Santa Rosa functioning public works. Personnel respond during storms, floods, infrastructure failures, hazardous roadway conditions and other events serving first responders who protect public safety property and community resilience. And whereas is essential for the residents and leaders of Santa Rosa to recognize and appreciate the importance of public works. Services and the individuals who provide this critical work for our community and now, therefore be it resolved. Our Mayor Mark Step. On behalf of the entire city council do hereby proclaim MAY 17th 23rd 2026 as a National Public Works week in the city of Santa Rosa. We've got some. I think we have some individuals who want to call out we have Jeff Bittner. >> Jeff, here. Got Shelley Allen. Victor, Victor Palacios. Greg Allen Moore. We have Francisco Carlos
Alvarado. >> Charter. Mairi Mackay my forgetting anyone. Thank you all for coming out. All right. We're going to we're going to float around here and thank you again before we do that. Are there any other members of the public that wanted that want to again shower praise on a transportation public works teams for the road. You drive on. >> There we go. Whoever's doing it. Let's talk about our roads. Let's talk about our parks. Please. My name is Robert Now, Doc, I am a member of the public. I am also the Teamsters, 8, 5, 6 representative for >> a number of the public works. Employees. I am here to absolutely shower praise. It's amazing. This skill than knowledge. The commitment all of you bring your jobs at work every day. Trying to find ways to get these guys and gals paid and get their conditions better. I really appreciate being council's doing to make that happen and to work hard. Every time you drive on a road every time you turn on your tap, every time you flush the toilet. Every time you take a shower. Thank these people right here. I can tell you from personal experience, I had a neighbor cut my sewer line last year. It took 6 months to get my sewer reattached. You know what? It's like not to have a toilet flushing in your toilet. I will tell you it's really, really bad. Take care of these
people. Thank you very much. All of you individually and thank you to all of you. City of Santa Rosa employees for keeping this city functioning for sticking around through tough times and for being here every day to get job back. I really appreciate it. Thank you, Robert, thank you very much. >> We have Jeremy got here. Deputy director field services. Jeremy, you want to say a few words. >> Good afternoon. Members of the council ensure we got the deputy director of field services and Transportation public works. So during National Public Works Week MAY 17th through the 23rd. We proudly recognize and thank our public works and water staff for their dedication, professionalism and tireless service to the community. Whether maintaining parks streets, traffic signals facilities and our fleet operating and repairing water and sewer systems. Delivering capital Prague. Improvement projects are providing critical administrative support. Their work has a direct and lasting impact on the quality of life in our city every day. Our public works and water employees also serve as disaster service workers and play a vital role during emergencies and disasters. Public works. Professionals are among often among the first to respond and the last to leave. Maintaining critical water systems and infrastructure during disasters. Supporting evacuations. Providing traffic control, clearing roadways for emergency access. And ensuring city vehicles remain
operational. So public safety personnel can continue serving the community. Their commitment, teamwork, and willingness to go above and beyond often in dangerous and challenging conditions does not go unnoticed. As we recognize national public works week. We also acknowledge the growing nationwide effort to recognize public work professionals as first responders for their essential role. They play and emergency preparedness response and recovery. Please join us during the City Works Festival on MAY. 20th from the 05:00pm to 08:30pm, during the downtown wins in a market. In in courthouse square to show them support for Their dedication service. And the pride that the taken serving our community every day. The event is also a great opportunity to climb aboard some of our construction equipment participate in a scavenger hunt with prizes. Learn more about the work our crews do and meet the people who help keep Santa Rosa, a great place to live work and play so on behalf of transportation and public works and our partners in water, thank you, Mayor Stapp. And the City Council for recognizing National Public Works Week. >> Jeremy, thank you. All right. Before we do the photo, let's go back to to to to the public comment what any other members of the public or to speak. Please go ahead. >> Gail Seymour and I just want to mention that as part of the South Park Coalition, I know that the city council found in allocated funding so that you can renovate 100% of the park in the next couple
years. And I know we sent thank you card. Want to thank you verbally. Doing that and thank the public works Department in advance for the renovation work you're going to do in the next couple years. Thank you so much. Other members of the public. Seeing none. We'll close public comment. Bring it back to the day is here because I suspect we have some folks on the days that was just wish to speak. MISS Rogers. >> So I very rarely say anything during proclamations, but I did want to take the time to thank all of you in like this is definitely an honor to be sitting up here in honoring you. You guys do the work that we But we don't know how or when it gets done, you just get it done. And also to tell you that. >> The state sees you the state sees what you're doing. >> And many council leaders are sitting around the table to see how you can be categorized as first responders. What does that look like? Because you are indeed first responders when before fire can come in sometimes before police can come in. You guys clear the way you make away. We have a problem. We call. And when I call, I never see you grumble or you say anything that is, you know, I don't want to do this. You have smiles on your face. You get in there. You get the job done. What you say. >> When you leave, I don't know. But what you say when you're there and you're serving the public, you do. It was smiles. And so for that, I wanted to thank you for all the work that you do for our city. >> For all the work that you do for our residents and for our visitors. And many of you
are residents and it shows. So thank you very much for your service to our community. >> Here here. Thank you. Thank you. Ms Rogers. All right. We've kept you standing long enough. Thank you again for coming out. Let's do a quick photo op front. Thanks again or whole dpw There are more know we should add you all down front. Thanks for coming out. All right. We're on item 7.5, our proclamation for National Police Memorial Day, MR. Donald. >> Thank you. Mayor is my honor to do this proclamation today. Whereas the Congress and PRESIDENT Of the United States have designated MAY 15th as peace officers Memorial Day and the week in which MAY 15th falls as national Police week. And whereas there are approximately 900,000 law enforcement officers serving communities across the United States, including the dedicated members of the Santa Rosa Police Department. And whereas Santa Rosa Peace officers recognize that the primary responsibility and their profession individual offers officers is the protection of the people within the jurisdiction of the United States to upholding their laws and most important of which are the Constitution as the United States and the state constitution and laws derived from there. And whereas it is important that all citizens know and understand the duties, responsibilities, hazards and sacrifices their law enforcement agency and that members of our law enforcement agencies recognize their duty to serve the people by safeguarding life and property, protecting them
against violence and disorder. And by protecting the innocent against deception and the week against oppression. Now, therefore, be it resolved. That marks tap mayor of the city of Santa Rosa on behalf of the entire city council in recognition of our community do hereby proclaim marks. It might cave 15, 2026 as Peace Officer Memorial Day and MAY 10th through 16th 2026. As police week in the city of Santa Rosa and further the Santa Rosa City Council extends its gratitude and pride to the women and men at the Santa Rosa Police Department for their dedication to the community Peace Officer Memorial Day and police week. Thank you. All right. We have chief be of Cregan here to say a few words. Welcome chief. >> Thank you very much, Mayor Chief John Cregan. A Santa Rosa Police Department is want to thank council so much for honoring this important night and for the Santa Rosa Police Department is important not only for our own staff but across our nation and 2025 we saw 109 police officers across the United States killed in the line of duty that was actually down significantly from the 184 killed in the line of duty in 2024. Here at the Santa Rosa Police Department, we've lost 2 officers in the line of duty Chief Charles o'Neill, who was shot in his office contacting community member and Detective Marylou Armer who we lost in MARCH of 2020. Both those were impactful for our agencies. But it's also important for the Santa Rosa Police Department to understand that we've lost 2 officers in the line of duty, but that doesn't really measure officers the
Santa Rosa Police Department who have been shot here in the line of duty who had been stabbed in the line of duty, have been run over with cars in the line of duty even just as weekend seeing officers, their patrol cars repeatedly rammed that something that the Santa Rosa Police Department officers deal with day after day. Some of those don't make the newspaper are now in the community. But everyday they sign up, they go out there and their shifts. They're serving their community with pride and incredibly proud of the work are doing. And as chief of police, I don't have to face those things. They're facing things that I don't see. But today we have some of the incredible men and women of the Santa Rosa Police Department who are doing that, sir, is really want to honor them and their work. They're doing our bar 175 police officers and our 74 civilians that come together every day for our community. So proud of the work they're doing and let's give them an. >> Thank. Thank you, Chief Brianne and I'm sure I speak for all of council in the city. When I say that we couldn't be more proud of the work Sarpy does. Thank you all for coming out. We do want to do a pay photo here in a moment. But before we do that with any members of the public like to say a few words our center is a police department. Any words from council? Other than perpetual thanks. All right. Thank Thank Chief Craig. You summed it when we do a photo right here in the front. Everyone who's here from Srpd could come out. Let's let's take a picture. Thank you again. Center was a police chief cregan for taking the time. Item. 8.1. What is
continued to a date uncertain. So we are going to do in economic development update for the city, but that will probably take place in a in a month or so. And it's gonna be a good one. So come back. We're going to our city manager and city attorneys reports MR. Mrna City manager, assistant city manager. Not would you like to City manager report this evening. Thank you, Mayor. I have no report for this evening. I want from MADAM City Attorney. >> Yes, mayor, I do have a report on settlements and litigation tonight. Settlements. There were a nun finalized in APRIL. So no settlements to report. Ongoing litigation. We have a current caseload of 31 cases at the trial court level right now. Trial dates assigned to 25% of those court level matters. We have 4 cases currently on appeal following favorable rulings for the city at the trial court level. And I got to say, I like that track records. One case. I'm very happy to report previously on appeal decided in the city's favor in APRIL. There's now published opinion in Western manufactured the city of Santa Rosa. And anybody who is interested in Mobile home Park Lawn policy should really read that case. Nice public policy win for the city. And I want to send a special shout out to my colleague in the city attorney's office, assistant city Attorney Nate Putney argued that case successfully on behalf of the city. So great job. Nate. And finally, I just want to remind everybody that well, this monthly report out the verbal
report is very short. We do publish a longer litigation report with the agenda. So those of you yearning for additional information on litigation in the city attorney's office should go and check that out. And with that, I will kick it. Back to you. Mayor. >> Thank you. MADAM City, attorney, would any members of the public like to comment on either the city attorney or city managers reports? Seeing none. We'll close public comment on that item and move on to item 10 statements of abstention or recuse elect council members. Any? Well, I am that I am alone recusal this evening. So I must for you. I've been advised that in an in an abundance of caution, I should recuse from item 16.1. This is the the new we fire map item and that's because my wife and I were over in Bennett Valley and our home is actually contained within them. We fire maps. And so again, when our city attorney and our and the fire department reviewed the item, it was recommended to me that I recuse. >> Because of location of our home. So I will turn it over to the vice mayor for that before we do that, we it at the time is after 5 o'clock. >> We're going to go to jump ahead to item 14, which is our first public comment on non agenda matters. So this is a chance for members of the public to comment on items not listed on the agenda. So we're not talking Spring-like village or the fire amounts we're talking about. It was not listed on the agenda. Are there any members of public here was to make comment tonight, please, sir, that microphone is yours. >> Well, thank you. My name is a major Marcos Marquez with the Salvation Army here in Santa Rosa. And last why my wife and I were appointed to
continue in the administrative work of the Salvation Army. And I'm here today, Mayor stop and council members to thank you so much. Last week we received a wonderful proclamation this week is National Salvation Army Week. And this proclamation, it this week Salvation Army week in Santa Rosa. And so I'm so grateful for that expression from you in the council. Recognizing that we are deeply honored by this recognition. And we are truly thankful for the support of our mission and the work that we're able to do in Santa Rosa Sonoma County this year represents our 100 and 35th year in this community since 18, 91, the Salvation Army had the privilege of serving this community through times of prosperity through times of hardship. This community has always shown compassion, resilience and generosity toward its neighbors. It's a blessing for us to stand alongside our neighbors and to help meet the needs of those who are struggling. Those are all vulnerable and those simply need a little bit of hope every day we see through those who come through our doors, the strength from the kindness of this community, to our volunteers, to our donors, to city leaders, to first responders and everyday residents who care deeply about one another. Whether it's providing food to families transitional shelter for those experiencing transition or whether its support for seniors experiencing loneliness or disaster relief or youth programs to our boxing program or assistance. In moments of crisis, we are reminded by every person that comes
through our doors. That the most significant and meaningful part of service. It's found when it's rooted in community and we're experiencing that wonderful. Think about this community. This proclamation and is not only a recognition of the Salvation Army, but also a recognition of the spirit of compassion that we are learning defines Santa Rosa and Sonoma County. We are so proud to be a part of this community that believes in caring for its neighbors and lifting those up in need. So again, mayor and council members, thank you for this honor for your partnership for your acknowledgment of the Salvation or thank you. We were prosecuted Proclamation. Thank you for all the work of the Salvation Army. Does. >> MISTER Dewitt, I believe you wish to make public comment. The floor is yours. >> Hello, thank you. My name is Dwayne to it. I'm from Roseland. I want to thank the city and the staff that came out to Rosalynn Creek on the 28th for Earth Day and did some good things along the creek. There. I definitely want you to know that people in our community appreciate the fact city staff takes the time to come and see in person some of the things that we face there along the creek. For a number of years. People in the community of been looking into the idea of having the name for that Park area. Called Como Park and Preserve reasoning is the first parcel of 5.9 acres was purchased with money from the Sonoma County agricultural preservation and open space
district. 15 years ago. Then other parcels were added and the city chose to call it Rosalynn Creek Community Park. Nobody that we know in our community made that decision. It was just foisted upon us by city staff at the time. People have been working for a long time amongst the community members to have it be named Como Park and preserve. Recently. City guidelines were released stating that you had to do a petition drive with 1000 signatures, 500 from within a half-mile. The park. And you had to do it all within 6 months of starting the process. That's a bit onerous for the folks over in our area. We understand you could do it with the better off neighborhoods, people more organized. So we're going to look into the idea that maybe the city council could make the decision to have the naming changed. You put the name on there in the first place, basically. So you could make that choice for us. Keep in mind, Como Park and preserve. Thank you, sir. Thank you to Wayne. Are there any other members of the public would like to speak on item is not listed on the agenda? >> Then we will close this portion of public comment will move on to item 16.1. And I will take my leave, MR. Vice Mayor. All right. We'll take a moment to that. The mayor after the premises and have is it going? >> Going to be fire marshal, low Dollar Assistant fire Marshal shared McDaniel. Both. >> Can be seen coming out of their creek, have a tax to clean up the streets. Oh, yes. Here, images of otters, turtles and frogs. >> And once again, going to make my bid for one of those old 1950's, temper technical difficulties slide that we can
put up during >> you're ready. All right. Good evening. Vice mayor members of the council members of the community that have joined us tonight. My name is Paul on call Division Chief Fire marshal with the fire department joined by Assistant Fire Marshal Jared McDaniel. Also with our department for updates to our Wildland Urban Interface, Fire area map prior to Jared seeding this presentation. I want to take moment to address some of the concerns and comments that have come from our community in advance of this presentation that felt it's a given the amount of public feedback as well as the committee members that have taken time out of their afternoon and evening. Join us here to address some of the recurring themes that we heard loud and clear from our community, primarily in the creekside I do want to acknowledge they did have a committee meeting that we did not attend as the mayor and I spoke to some of those committee meetings for this meeting. We apologize. It sounds like there was a miscommunication with some of the messages worse being sent to our city staff via text message to a landline and those messages were not received. That being from reviewing the number of the public comments as well as a lot of the social media and comments that were received to council. It seemed like there is 3 reoccurring themes that came up. One was that there is a perception that the fire department is adopting a high risk map for the first time tonight. The second one was concerns regarding insurance and what this adoption of our local wildland Urban Interface, Fire Mount House on insurance. And then the 3rd seemed to confusion about why
certain parts of our community were, quote, unquote, skipped from the heights Syria, Bennett Valley Heights and around Spring Lake and then pick back up in the spring Lake area. I want to start off by acknowledging the fact that a lot of what I'm going to be say is likely going to be repeated by Jurgen some points during the presentation. But without slides moving. We just wanted to have people here. Some misinformation from me directly. So are wild land, urban interface, Fire area encompasses about 30% of our community and has been in place since 2009. Within the Wild Land Urban Interface, which we refer to primarily as the founder of area. The Skyhawk area, the Oakmont area and the Bennett Valley area Bennett Valley meeting between Summerfield in an adult state park primarily those maps have been in place and unchanged since 2009 within those areas. The state had mapped only very high fire risk areas within those wild land, urban interface, boundaries that we had here locally. Those had remain unchanged until 2020 following the adoption of our local community. Wildfire protection plan. One of the objectives in action items that came out of that plan was to evaluate, including Coffey Park into the Willie. There is a decision that involves a couple different pieces as to why that was not included one and consulting with Cal Fire and doing our own analysis. Coffey Park was had no characteristics of a wild land. Urban interface. There is feedback burned during the Tubbs Fire. However, it is our belief that had the winds not stop when they did that
morning. That fire would have continued to progress towards downtown Santa Rosa. That does not mean that everything between Coffey Park in downtown Santa Rosa should be considerably that transition out of a wild land, urban interface, fire and into an urban conflagration. We also knew that the state was going to be at some point what we saw it was going to be soon really seen maps that would be updating their risk, which could then provide us additional guidance to recommendations that we should be making to you as the council body. In 2021. 2022. Cal Fire released high risk. Very high fire hazard severity zone maps for moderate high and very high outside of the city limits in what's referred to as the state responsibility areas and those areas only it did not affect the city at that point in time. But the state adopted those maps. We could logically look at the maps and we knew that there was going to be changes to our risk within the city. Mean, if you have very high right up to the city's boundary, one could assume that the very high will extend into the city, but we are in limbo until Cal-fire finally got to a position where they are ready to release the maps to the local responsibility areas or lra, which the city of Santa Rosa is 100% lra. When Cal Fire released the maps for our area. We like every other community that has lra maps in the state are required by law to adopt the moderate high and very high fire risk areas within 120 days. Those maps. We're required to be adopted
and were brought to counsel and approved in MARCH of 2025. A little over a year ago. At that point time the moderate and high has been in effect for areas outside of our previously adopted Louis. So we realized we had a conflict. We had areas of our community that we're in our locally adopted Louis that contained new state responsibility started new state risk areas and then we had areas outside of our Willie that had state adopted locally adopted moderate high and very high risk areas. And we saw them in areas that had we had never been mapped for primarily around the fairgrounds and over into Bennett Valley on the creekside, a side of Ali. That extended into Montgomery High School. We will be we will admit that it extended a little bit further than we anticipated, but it was very clear by state law that we were not allowed to adopt anything less restrictive. We can only go more restrictive. So that has been in place since 2005 since MARCH of 2025. We then did an analysis to make recommendations from based on the states mapping. Our previous history here in Santa Rosa. The way things have been developed where we could retract are really in some parts of our community. But then we're going to have to expand. Our will be in other parts of our community. The reason we wanted to do that was to provide consistency across our community and how we're enforcing state law. But then also our ordinances. The ordinances that are affected by or will we involved burning pile burning is allowed in. Our will be, however, the area where receiving most of the complaints in the creekside area would not qualify for that. The burning can only properties over 5 acres in
size that was approved by council really as a measure to allow a lot of the open spaces and the founder of area and ability to do mitigation fuels. That meant the ordinance also requires the removal of dead fire-damaged trees in a will be that or is a result of one of our burns scars, which does not affect the creekside area. It requires the removal of invasive scotch broom and other growth that we're seeing are burn. Scar wish does not affect the creekside area. It applies the weed abatement ordinance which for most part, will not affect that area because most of the properties that area are manicured and nuisance properties or weeds on a typical single-family dwelling are typically more of a code enforcement that we have a part Haynes, primarily to undeveloped, large, vacant. Lots. The 2 things that it will do is it will implement our local defensible space inspections, which we previously started as an educational program and is now an inspection program. There is no enforcement associated with that program right now. It simply provides for a defensible space inspection. It also requires the removal of what we refer to as guerrilla her mulch for properties in the Louis within 30 feet of a structure. That requirement went into effect because of primarily the glass fire where we were seen Amber cast. That type of mulch is extremely receptive, was leading to a lot of property damage. A lot of homes burning and neighborhoods and was tied up a considerable amount of resources. We did allow residents when that ordinance went into effect a year to come into compliance with that. To address the concern
that the city is essentially through the adoption of these maps, skipping or that Cal Fire skip to the areas in between Summerfield and the Creekside neighborhood is inaccurate. The Summerfield to how Earth Park to Heights area is primarily at risk of a fire coming out of the north-northeast that would potentially burn through state park and into that community. The area that's being mapped around the creekside area is been maps because of the threat from Holland Heights and Mount Taylor says the department that area is actually a high-risk area to us because that is a naturally occurring wind event that occurs almost every evening here in Sonoma County and something that we've actually trained for for years now because that has been our perceived event are perceived threat. Are we get that short duration afternoon breeze that could potentially blow a fire into that part of our community. Which also aligns with Cal Fire's risk and why they met likely map that area as a moderate and high risk area. And lastly, I'll touch on the insurance. We've established fake use our website sr City Dot Org slash Whitley. I remember during the previous council item, the vice mayor and I had a conversation regarding insurance and impacts and it's important to note that the insurance commissioner, when the state released their maps provided an faq in a statement that we've provided our Web site that said, quote, Let me be clear. The Cal Fire hazard severity maps are not to be used for insurance rates. Poor
underwriting decisions. That has been released by the insurance commissioner and that affected the actual state maps, which are already in effect here locally. Again, we're simply now taking our local Louis and essentially drawing a line around the high and moderate risk areas that have been added to the community. So hopefully that addresses a lot of the concerns that council received and that have been voiced by our community. This is a fire Marshal. Jared will move on with his presentation and obviously will answer address any bn >> Good evening, everybody. Thanks being here with us. All briefly, go through a lot of summary of kind of the proposed changes that we have to are. Begins with a quick definition of what are we is for those who are unfamiliar. It's kind of geographical area. It's not necessarily a place per se, but it's it's sort of a set of conditions that are all that come together. That created where we come in. Conditions include the amount type and distribution of vegetation. Weather typography. And then most importantly, is the inner mixing of all those factors. So you can have a lot of those things independently of each other. But it's when you mix them is when it becomes a true definition of a a little bit of historical context just to review kind of a chief Ron Paul went through, as be kind of talked about, we have an existing will be that it's been unchanged since 2009 and that that was predicated upon the state not being just the very high, so very severe in zone within the city. So we had to expand that
realistically to look at what are we will truly look like. And then following that more recently in 2020 2022, Cal Fire released the state responsibility areas which are outside the city limits. But give us kind of a prelude of what they were going to probably do and subsequent mapping when at the local hazard are local responsibility. Areas. And then in 2025 they released those maps that are inside the city boundaries. And that's truly when we were able to get a clear picture where the true changes were within the city limits. And and as Paul mentioned, we did. We did adopt those by law as required by law MARCH of 2025. And here's kind of a couple graphics to help illustrate that. The graphic on the left is the original very high fire hazard severity zone that released by Cal Fire. So that is what we used enforce state laws regarding defensible space in a real estate transactions. But as you can see, it's it's kind of a limited area within the city limits. So we had to expand that and the map on the right hand side. But the pink outlines that is our existing. We boundary. And so that's what we had to work with previously. But as you can imagine, we've all experienced since 2009, there's been significant changes within the city, both to the natural environment and the built environment and the 2 key things I want to focus in on. So you have a keen understanding and those that are here of a key understanding what has changed substantially within the city
is that due to recent fire activity? We've seen a very significant change in the vegetation and the landscape with in Santa Rosa and where we've talked about this before in other presentations. But where we once Crestwood lens parts of town Grove Skyhawk, we've now seen a kind of a decimation of some of that landscape in in. In the absence of those more native species, we've seen an abundance of invasive species thrive in these conditions along with a of dead and down fuel. So arguably some of burn scars that we have more hazardous conditions that we had previously. On the other side of the scale due to loss of our housing stock, deuce fires in the past, we've actually seen a significant number of homes in more of the Fountain Grove neighborhood and to a lesser degree skyhawk Anoka Oakmont be rebuilt. And as a result of that, those homes were built to more stringent building construction standards have we specifically requirements that make them more more hardened, more recent resilient from fire. So that's a benefit. But as you can see, there's been a lot of change in our week. Skews me in our built environment, natural environments. And then jurors again to reflect the the original very high fires varities a map that the state issued. And then on the right hand side is the more recent updated lr. A map that the state Cal Fire released in 2025 and the great out areas kind of in the outskirts outside of stimulant city limits is what we were referring to earlier is the state responsibility area. So a good example is kind of the
southern portion where Taylor Mountain is. You can see a significant amount of orange that we rips accuse me then hits the southern portion of the city limits. We can kind see that that that boundary was going to extend into the city limits and which, in fact, this map depicts it surely did. And then along with some other areas over in Oakmont. But these are the new maps that we we adopted by law. So given those new maps, then we were we were tasked with the with the with the job of reflecting those maps and then changing our existing Willian. So there was 2 main things we saw that we were going to expand the map that we map ends in certain areas. And then we're also going to take this opportunity to contract it in a couple and using those we were able to re very precisely redraw. Are we boundary down to literally parcel parcel by parcel to more accurately reflect the very specific boundary of the high and very high severity zones. And then the contraction of the we or reducing of the way he was was predominantly Bennett Valley and Skyhawk neighborhoods. And that was because either the severe, the hazards of Arizona was reduced in those areas or he was completely absent. So some neighborhoods were actually removed hazard Spurs on altogether. And so we felt comfortable and confident that removing some that we was was justified. Quick note on a couple notable areas of expansion that we've kind of been discussing this evening,
which is this orange kind of horseshoe depicted section of Santa Rosa, south of the Fairgrounds Highway 12 Farmers. Lane intersection down towards your lawn avenue. And that's all new to our our Ruiz. That's for proposing adding them. And it's just the orange section. The Yellow Fin Finner section is just the moderate. And that hasn't historically been areas that we include in the So that's one notable area that was included in our new proposal. Another area to smaller areas are and this is the Oakmont neighborhood, the kind of depiction in the red ovals South East corner of Oakmont. And then the kind of northern section adjacent to highway 12 in Oakmont Drive was added to some high and then smaller extent. Some very high severity zone. A key thing we want to discuss is the criteria that we use are the rules that we kind of used to dictate which parcel. As mentioned, we went literally parcel by parcel on this to make sure we are accurate as possible. And so I felt it was important to talk about the criteria that we used when we inevitably had parcels that were split either partially in one's own and partially in another a partially in his own impartially and not his own at all. And so we felt it was important to articulate that. And so for predominantly for single-family dwellings, if any portion about parcel fell within the high or very high fire hazard severity zone, me included them into are we? And so the reason being is that
the Cal Fire maps as you can and you can from abc and in a subsequent slide the boundaries are very pixelated. They're kind of drawn in squares, not in the real flowing and they're not with any regard to property about property lines or any other manmade boundaries. And so there was inevitably a lot of instances where properties were split. And so we had to create these criteria. For single-family dwellings, and this was more common Oak lawn that had calm and open where a person might own a single-family dwelling. But then the open space or the surrounding landscape is managed by H.O.A.. Then use the similar criteria were of any portion of that common open space was was within a high or very high. We included the entire H.O.A. And that's for consistency purposes. And all slide illustrate that in the second and then kind of the last land use we wanted to discuss was the multi-family dwellings similarly to to to the previous liar. Previous bullet point with any common open space. Again, if they any, any part of the open space or common open space, both in the high or very high, be included the entire multifamily caught multifamily complex. And here's a real world example that we were confronted with. So this is a small little H.O.A. Sub H.O.A. Out and Oakmont of seeing, Brooke, as you can see by the blue highlighted, those are single-family dwellings themselves. But all that common area in between them is managed by an H.O.A.. And as
you can also see that orange pixelated line kind of splits more or less the southern portion of And so as you can for consistency sake for the H.O.A. And for the residents, it wouldn't make any sense from our perspective to draw that boundary as it Strachan because it would create in consistencies for maintenance. And so we felt it for this application and make most sense to include the entire so that all the residents within little Sub H.O.A. Applied to the at the same rules to apply to. So just a real world example. And then conversely, we had couple years of contraction where we actually remove folks from the recent want to highlight those. Here's east of Summerfield Road. And as you can see, kind of highlighted in the red oval, those areas that we're proposing to remove is is completely out of a fire hazard severity zone. So that's really important to note. So we fell again, confident and comfortable removing those folks. And then another section that we removed is kind of the lower portion of Skyhawk neighborhood again removed completely from the fire hazard maps that Cal Fire issued. So we again felt comfortable even though that upper portion has sustained fire history. We saw we felt confident that those areas could be removed as well. Talking about impacts this little diagram sort of summarize is from the state. What state regulations are clickable to the different severity zone. So the yellow
on the bottom where orange is the high severity zone and then the red is the very high and so on calm in implications are common rules that apply to the zones would be compliance with building stricter building standards. And that spread predominately. As a result of like new construction or significant remodels and then the other smaller, less frequent item that is common for severity zones is the disclosure during real estate transactions called ab 38 inspection. That's just a quite quite simply, a simple defensible space inspection that the property of the cellar of a property is required to disclose to prospective buyers. Again, there's local ordinances that we've kind of highlighted on. But we do an ordinance and then compliance with our vegetation management ordinances chief on Falcon articulated within that vegetation management ordinance there, several items, but a majority of which do not apply or wouldn't really apply to a majority of the single-family residences in the impacted areas. Those a significant portion of that management ordinance was designed and specifically in mind for some of our burn scar areas, which aren't a lot of these new where we are is. And then also to summarize their in total. There's 3893 properties that were impacted by this proposed change 3,882 were new to the and then 811 are proposed to be removed just to kind of put a fine point on it. And then in terms of community outreach and feedback. Santa Rosa Fire Department hosted 2 community
meetings that were proposed to go over this information and then answer questions. And we had one in person at the family Center and the other via zoom and those were in MARCH late MARCH early APRIL of this year and between the 2 meetings, we I think we estimate approximately 40 community members attend them we also mailed and printed 3,893 targeted postcards. We work with our jazz team to actually figure out exactly which parcels are being impacted by this proposed change. So we were able to specifically target mailers to those impact us in a post cards. Those residents to inform them of this issue as well as the informational meetings are held. For the most part after we had discussions unanswered questions and have lot of back and forth with residents. For the most part, their feedback was fairly supportive and understanding with, as you know, some residents opposing the proposed changes, overall, very supportive. Conclusion. We obviously are recommending that the council approved this first reading of the proposed changes to are And with that, happy to answer any questions you MAY have. Thank you so much for that. The the presentation and the provided by with all bout of some of conversations and feedback we've been receiving. So bring back to the day. Is here there any questions? >> Councilmember MacDonald. >> Thank you, Vice Mayor. I have a few questions for you primarily it's because my district, it's district 3 where the majority of the city has an homes are going to be affected. So I understand that when we adopted the cal-fire maps that was mandatory and we
had real no say over the adoption of it. Can you tell me who has the authority over our maps and adopting the maps presented today. >> So thank you for the question. That is correct. The initial maps that were released by Cal Fire that affected the city of Santa Rosa were adopted as required by law and had to go into effect within 120 does. The decision to align our local Wild land, Urban Interface, fire area map boundaries to align with the new state mapped areas falls with our city council. I would know that our reason for bringing this forward to now is really just to provide consistency across our community in our effort to mitigate the risks of wildfire. We have our could. We see wpp, which obviously but you know, is being renewed right now. We hope to get a lot of community feedback through that process as well. But a lot of the actions and and objectives out of the cw, pr intended to mitigate the risks within our wildland urban interface. >> So if hearing you correctly, you're saying that when we adopt these maps is to actually help the community where the maps are being drawn now be more safe. That is correct. And not would be the purpose of us adopting what you're presenting today is to ensure that there's more wildfire mitigation. And less risk in the community. And that's why we update them to reflect some of what Cal Fire is. But actually what we've
seen and what are history has been within our own city. That is correct. Okay. So of course insurance has gone up. We have no say over that. My understanding you said is that there's a piece of law from the insurance commissioner that says that they can't base rates on these new maps. But does it saying not long? Maybe you can just help me because I haven't read it that there's only a percentage that the insurance can go up year, sort of like how we have a rent control in the city. >> Would there be something in that or any temperature from the city of Santa Rosa Fire Department to work on capping? Not because I know in my district there's been a vast increase to insurances and many homes have been dropped because of the new maps. >> So thank you for the question. I do want to clarify that. The statement that we are connecting to through our frequently asked questions is a statement from the insurance commissioner. His statement is is not related to law per se. It's it's a statement on behalf of the insurance commissioner in regards to our efforts to work on insurance. Issues within our community. We as a department are very actively involved in a working group that is hosted by United Policyholders that works on addressing those specific issues myself as well as a fire marshal from Marin County are the 2 fire officials that are actively working without working group that really addresses these concerns across the entire state. >> And I know we've talked to our lobbyist to talk, kept them address the concern that's happening in Santa Rosa for at legislative platform to make sure that it stays on the
radar of the state insurance commissioner and and our assembly member and senator. But I think that it's important for us to be aware of that when we're adopting maps that are of local ordinance, that it could have an impact on our community members ability to even have insurance. And I think that that's what the fear is right now, specifically in my district, does Cal-fire have to demonstrate? >> From a scientific base, how they come up with their maps or do they just say these are places we see have had a problem in the past and now? Here you go. City of Santa Rosa. >> Sure. So Cal Fire is does an extensive job about providing a lot of that background. The scientific methods, the computer models, the data sets that they use. As we mentioned, we have a faq on our website. I have a direct link to where that information can be found on Cal Fire's website because that question gets asked a lot. So there's very detailed information on the computer models. The Amber cast models that they use all the different technologies that they use to develop these maps. And so I encourage everyone to go to that link because it's very informative. Lot of these tools. The reason the state is responsible for this task is because they have the resources and the capabilities to map. An entire state as large as California. And so that's why local jurisdictions rely on some of the technologies that they implement on these maps because they have capabilities that lot of local jurisdictions just don't have. >> And then What do we base
our data on just from the Cal Fire? Do we have our own technical data that we use for our own local maps. >> So for our little the maps a little bit of what farmers Ghana was referring to. We made a decision in the areas that were being added to rely on the high and very high risk boundaries. I made a decision to not include the moderate into our newly added violent urban interface, fire area primarily in our opinion, they moderate is a lower risk area. But there's also no legal requirements to do anything in those areas except adopt that map for the community and the graphic that was shown in the presentation, the high and very high already have state regulations and laws that require action in those particular areas. So logically made sense for us to utilize that as the basis for to establish the boundaries that where our local ordinance would also apply again for consistency. >> I'm and I'm not going to disagree with the medication requirements that you're saying in any of the areas and probably be a good thing for all of the city of Santa Rosa to have some of this. I keeping the grass under 4 inches as type said issues that you brought forward removing dead trees are things like Scott is at Scotch Broom today. It's such a weird name for invasive plant. But there you go. I think those are all fine things. I think the thing that I'm consistently hearing
is by us expanding the maps. What risk do we pose for community members when housing is such an issue? But a lot of housing for 55 and older and Oakmont is even more of an issue. So when I'm I'm looking at this, I want to be able to go back to constituents and say this is why we adopted this. It's for your protection is for your safety and we're we're governed by another entity that helps us make those decisions. Would that be a fair thing to say to the community? >> I want to clarify that. The areas that have been mapped are already mapped. They are existing and they are in effect, primarily where we've been hearing a lot of the concerns and rift generally for to his creek side area. Those areas have been mapped and there are already laws in place for them that we had no say on that have been in effect since since last year. This procedure, this process is simply over. Lane are Willie boundary on top of the state's boundary for the moderate sorry for the high and very high and to apply our local ordinance to those areas. >> That's very helpful. And I think it's helpful for not just me, but perhaps the community to know how those were made and why the mitigation levels are is necessary as they are. I had questions as well. Parts of Santa Rosa that had burned in the past were not included in these. So to understand the data behind that I think is important because then some parts who've never burned. We're now included. And
there's a lot of confusion over that. So I appreciate you answering all my questions. Alright, Councilmember Alvarez. Thank you. Mayor. >> You have because you pretty much answered the question with the line of question that I called just ask for less so to the constituent to this resident who asks. >> Why are you removing? >> Parcells. Historically have burned and including those that Auburn prior, what was up your response be to that person? >> So the areas that are being repeated year, sorry confirming you're asking about properties that have burned that are being removed, right. And another part of the answer, some of these are state doesn't mean already. But the question that I received is where we including areas that haven't historically bird. >> And removing areas that we know have burned the past. >> So I think it's the it's the opposite. We have areas that have not burned and there is and the data to support leaving some of those areas in the Louis. Again, remember some of these maps of in effect since 2009 were some areas could have been an open and developed large piece of property and it's now been developed with you or construction. The risk is low. It was our opinion that there isn't a need to keep a property in our locally establish Louis and it's outside of the state's mapped area. Then we rake the recommendation to remove them. But I will tell you that I think logically see certain parts of our community, even though they MAY removed from our local Louis, just like anybody else in our community,
they're still probably going to take actions are still going to provide for defensible space. They're still gonna poly upgrade their their gutters and do certain things. We see that across the entire city. We get requests for defensible space inspections on Fulton Road because people just they've seen what can happen and they just want to take a higher level of precautions. So there's nothing stopping people from still complying with some of those rules and there's nothing stopping our staff from continuing to engage with those community mean members that are outside of our staff, Louis to make recommendations and do inspections. >> I want you to conclude with smoke of the bridge. Only you can prevent a wildfire. All right. Thank you, sir. All right. A look one last time. Any questions from any of my other colleagues. All right. Kathleen MacDonald has one more sorry. It just heard a topic councilmember robber as. >> Do we get any more support from fema or the state by adopting our maps? >> So thank you for the question. A majority of the close support or what we would need to apply for grants really falls back on our community. Wildfire protection plan and our local hazard mitigation plan or come in for just multi-jurisdictional hazard. Mitigation plan. I have not yet seen. From a grant application that affected. But there's often times where when we're including a cover letter or some of backup information
that we do discuss the percentage of our community that's affected by the will be the number of parcels. So indirectly, we use it as supporting. But I can't say whether or not actually as a scoring critics helpful. Thank you. >> All right. That's all the questions. We will go ahead and open the public hearing. This is the opportunity for you to have 3 minutes to say your piece on this item. We have people signed up a this is a very this is topic of large interest. So we will go through the list of people. And if you'd like to sign up, you can add your name to the list or you can just wait until the end. So the first person is Dwayne DeWitt followed by Catherine. Then Don, then Jennifer. >> Mr to it. Can you hold for one moment for clerk? Please. Mayor, can you vice mayor, can you please confirm the time allotment for public comments on this item? >> Since we didn't discuss it earlier with will will go with 3. Please. Go ahead, MR. Do it. >> Hello, my name is doing to it. I'm from Roseland. Thank you for the very thorough presentation today and thank you for discussing the whole idea of community wildfire protection. The reason I'm here is because there's a section of Roseland. It's also vulnerable. The city owns 19 and a half acres. We call the Roseland neighborhood right now. Today, the underbrush is as high as my shoulder. Basically, we want to make sure that you look at this area because it has a history of fires. It also has people who live along the creek and start fires almost every night. One of the dilemmas as the fires get out of control. Sometimes the wind is strong. You can check with your fire department on how many calls
for service they've had along Roselyn Creek, everybody. There builds wooden fences on their houses on the north side of the property. The city owns and the east side of the property the city owns. So essentially, please put us in to your wild land. Urban interface, Protection area. We think this is very important. Many of the property owners on McMinn Avenue and Hughes Avenue have contacted me and said, hey, we see you out there volunteering and doing things trying to make this better. And yet we still get fires in there. And it's a city responsibility. They wouldn't mind being apart of the Louis, if you will. Thank you kindly for your time. Thank you, It. >> Next up is Catherine followed by Dawn. Then Jennifer, just reminder. You can use both podiums so you can switch back and forth. Catherine Gehring. Going once twice. We'll move on to Don. Followed by Jennifer than the trees. >> Good evening. My name is Don. Nominate resident of Creekside Neighborhood and I'm an attorney. I'm here tonight regarding the proposed high fire risk classification for this neighborhood. Our petition and notice of legal opposition with over 100 signatures. We served on the city on MAY 6. The proposed map it's being adopted is based on faulty satellite modeling and as such is arbitrary and capricious. This map, blacks rational basis, for example, creekside north of the loop is labeled as high-risk while the south side
with identical feel. And topography is not fired is not stopping and loop this map does. This is one of the many internal contradictions that proved the city has failed its duty under government code 5, 1, 1, 7, 9, to conduct an actual ground investigation of local topography, fuel moisture, wind direction and the seasonality of those winds just to name a Under center as a municipal code. Matanzas Creek, which is also now known as the firework is under the absolute Dominion and control of the city. The city expects millions in state in federal funds to maintain this natural habitat which has now created a fire hazard. The cities, families to a basis hazard is the catalyst for this high-risk the city is effectively profiting from keeping the creek wild. While the residents of this neighborhood suffer the economic loss, skyrocketing insurance. That fire risk stigma, creating a diminished home value as well as the costs of hardening the properties. The city can not privatized a risk of a public asset receives money to maintain. Until the city fulfills its statutory duty and its municipal duty to debate the hazard. It created this vote on the proposed map must be state for both procedural and substantive grounds. Thank you. Thank you very much. Next up, we have Jennifer followed by Patrice and then John. >> Reminder, you can go to both sides so that we can rotate quickly. >> 20 to hit the button for my own. Okay. Hi. My name is Jennifer McNeil. I'm also here on behalf of the residents of
the Creekside neighborhood. The city of Santa Rosa has received significant financial infusions for fire safety, including its portion of the 95 million pg any settlement and over 33 million in various state and federal mitigation grants. >> Which are meant to handle community hazards. However, this reclassification proposal ignores that in time shifts the entire financial burden on to the individual residents of the Creekside neighborhood. This results in the city retaining public funding will homeowners are forced to bear the cost of mandatory fire hardening landscape removal, skyrocketing insurance premiums and devalue properties. Our petition which I served on City Council on MAY 6 was signed by over 100 residents in our neighborhood. A large majority of who are retirees on fixed incomes. The other large demographic in our neighborhood, our working families with small children due to multiple schools in our area. These neighbors cannot absorb massive insurance premium hikes. The cannot afford the thousands of dollars to retrofit homes and remove landscaping as required by high fire building. Had it this reclassification causes home values to drop because of the stigma of being in a high fire area. Just as these residents need their equity most all of the mounting costs are worst upward by a map that they had no voice in creating. You are pricing people out of their homes, the hazard, the city sites as justification for this reclassification Matanzas Creek. He's a very hazard. The city has failed to abate proximity defend Matanzas Creek is used as a weapon against our neighborhood the city refuses
to perform the necessary maintenance and fuel reduction in Matanzas Creek, which is its responsibility. It isn't just to penalize homeowners for hazard that has City neglect. How do you tell homeowners that we have to for her fire, harden our properties, but the city doesn't have to do theirs. We demand the council state a vote on the proposed not for the Creekside area. We also demand that the council used the p g any settlement and federal and state grants to harden the public areas before you demand that our neighborhood harden our private homes at the cost of our financial security. Thank you. Thank you very much. Next up is Patrice, followed by John and then mainly. >> Good evening. Vice mayor and council members. My name is Patrice Toil. I'm an attorney and a resident of the Creekside neighborhood. Our Notice of legal opposition was served on the city of Santa Rosa on MAY 6. It documents the fundamental failure of Eunice, a pull duty and a massive financial risk to the city's general fund. For years. The city has allowed hazardous fuel loads to accumulate on city-owned parcels and within the Matanzas Creek Corridor. This maintenance is the responsibility of the city. Further, the city received millions in state and federal grants, including its share of the 95 million dollar Pg e settlement. But yet it has done nothing. You're now attempting to reclassify are Creekside neighborhood as high fire risk. This demands at home owners including fixed income seniors. Pay for the fire hardening in landscaping
to mitigate a risk that originates on city land. Further, you are creating a very real threat to our ability to maintain and pay for homeowner's insurance. All because the city is shirking its responsibility. As a matter of law. This constitutes an inverse condemnation claim by using our private properties as a buffer for your and maintain land. You are damaging our property interests for public use without just compensation. If we prevail, the city will be required statutorily to pay our attorneys fees, expert witness costs appraisal and engineering fees and any other fees and costs incurred granted by the court. By ignoring our MAY 6 notice of opposition. You are knowingly creating a multimillion dollar liability. You have the funds to abate the hazard today. We ask that you stay this vote for the Creekside neighborhood, fulfill your maintenance duties. First and Protect pact Act, protect taxpayers from the litigation trap you are setting for the city. Thank you, John. Followed by MAY lead and >> Hello, I'm John Pappas. And I've been a resident for Santa Rosa for over 50 years and live in the creeks and your burden. We're not arguing that the that there's a fire risk in our green. There's a risk. It's just the classification of the risk. And we're partners in risk management on this. The distance between the nfl Heights, high risk classification and the creekside Airboat is about a mile to mile and a half distance and not seems ignore
fire science with embers traveling over a mile distance to reach our neighborhood. And so the city's failing to provide any scientific basis for that leapfrogging of embers. According to the map. And then also the Matanzas Creek as a wick that Jennifer Point out, you know, that reclassification, if you look at the a tense creek goes from high risk in our neighborhood to notice a frisk as it crosses your little. But and over And do. And so it seems like magically changes from high risk to low-risk for that creek. So also so want to reemphasize that this encourage city council to stay this vote for reclassification and to also provide legally binding timeline to restore the creek. Thank you. Thank Mainly followed by Lauren than Gayle. >> Deer City Council. I'm mainly Purvis. I'm retired engineer school parent volunteer. Is he being mom driving to multiple schools and sports practices? Along with my teacher has been science teacher has been I read the press Democrat article couple days ago about that. Those really boundaries and after receiving help to figure out how to navigate. These maps. I don't understand why some homes in my neighborhood are being upgraded from no risk to high risk. I understand a little bit more based off of the presentation. Thank you. It logically, I guess it doesn't make sense to me. We're not adjacent to woodlands and the neighborhood immediately behind us is moderate risk. 5 houses down from my house are
also moderate risk. Bennett Valley has never once in a part of a fire quarter since 1944. So I implore due diligence to realistically assess the local ris. If we are going to impact so many newly added people in Bennett Valley. When we purchased our Bennett Valley home across from you at the Safeway, our current insurance said we need a fair plan. They could a surprise that was doubled. A triple. >> The cost of our home insurance we pay now. We called several more insurance companies who flat out refused to us. Finally, we signed with a military member, homeowner insurance policy. As of MARCH 2024. This same insurance. They no longer take on new properties with the wildfire risk of one lowest risk. If we had not been able to secure insurance, we probably would have walked away as buyers. The change in risk levels does have the potential to impact home sales and home values across Bennett Valley. And we did experience that. Things are already in turmoil with respect and I'm afraid that with this things will get much more worse after we implement these changes. So I encourage a ground level local assessment approaching this cautiously and thoughtfully. And I just find Ed in general, it makes sense to make our homes more wildfire. Defensible. We've implemented changes in our home. And we have been through to evacuations in the left field with you at the area. Thank you for your consideration. >> Thank you very much. Lauren, followed by Gail. Then Chris. >> Hello on what Dr Loring.
And >> Professional scientist and educator. I'm here to try to raise awareness about some of the problems with Cal Fire's mansion. For the As you have heard our concerns represent a variety of things including insurance, property values and defensible space. But I'm here to talk about for science. >> First, if I could interrupt you real quick and get uncomfortably close to the microphone were having trouble hearing Sorry. Just Perfect. Thank you. I'm here to talk about poor signs. Note that every major wildfire starting with any team unnamed 18, 70 fired, for example, 1965 Hanley fired that abstinence. >> All of those we're driven by winds out of the northeast to the southwest. Those are all the ones that affected Santa Rosa or around. You're buying. No major wildfires are listed in fire history to form gun Taylor Mountain and spread north as result of north directed Winds, 0 fires between 18, 98 2025. Now I want to comment that. Winds associated with fog in the summertime are not the winds that Cal Fire's concerned with. They talk about the worst case scenario wins. So those winds are relevant. Cal Fire's assessment been filing high Hazard zone is based on south to north winds blowing from a fire and take them out. Second, the so-called scientific method employed by Cal Fire. Highly flawed and
produced incorrect results for Santa Rosa. Cal-fire described her method is one with a series of success of steps involving using data on fire. He's truly between 1991 2020 and using other data. Several estimates averages statistical probabilities and multiple computer models. Interspersed with estimates and model output to yield zone. Clearly the zones are based on a stacked set of inputs and outputs. This. Is really a house of cards in which one piece of faulty information leads to the collapse. And in this case, a field prediction and incorrect fires And old but pertinent phrase about computer modeling is garbage in garbage out. 2 things going model decision, design and data and both design and data can be flawed. CalFire needs to reassess. The proposed fire hazard zones based on ground measurements. Data especially on fire season wins. And major wildfire history over the past 70 years in Santa Rosa. Please ask them to do that as a council. Thank you for your hearing me. Thank you, Gayle, followed by Chris. Hi, I'm Gayle. See more of a 30 year property owner on Cyprus Way in Santa Rosa. >> Thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight, considering the many Santa Rosa residents who are unaware of the w you I will be proposed updates. I respectfully ask that you postpone your vote tonight and give us adequate time to investigate and to understand. I hope that you pay really close attention to the recent letter you received from Doctor Lauren Raymond, who just spoke. His expert meteorological analysis, address the specific concerns and questions. So the computer model modeled Louis analysis
from Cal Fire appears arbitrary and is inconsistent. I think we've heard the criteria that were used by Cal Fire. But how were the criteria waited? For instance, historic fire in an area like Coffey Park or Fountain Grove. How is that waited when the models that out its information data. Cal Fire obviously did not confirm the data analysis to direct observation or ground truth. I think the city could could do that and give that information back to Cal Fire. I know sister agencies don't want to challenge each other. I don't think there's anything wrong with the city asking questions of the modeling that Cal Fire conducted. And additionally, I want you to please consider your process of notifying the public. This was important information that we all need to see back in early MARCH. Your staff said when I call that the notices were sent and that they must have been mistaken for junk I pay very good attention to all of my mail. I subscribe to the U.S. Postal Service. Photographs that come in every morning is called informed mail to see what I'm going to receive. I did not receive your notice. I've talked to over 50 people and of those 50 people in the Cypress weakside area. Only 2 people recall seeing a notice. So if your staff thinks the notices were overlooked because they look like junk mail, then please consider in the future that you send out mail. That looks more official. And it will be
appropriate and will not be overlooked by recipients cause. I think it's really important that we had this information a lot earlier. And thank you very much for your attention. Thank you, Chris. Hello, my name is Chris Smith in first want to thank you very much for serving on the city Council for all you do. I know. >> It is not an easy job. I was hoping to speak for to you for less than 2 minutes. >> About lines on the left on a map. We all know that in modern times and all around the world. >> It can make a huge difference to your life. Perhaps a devastating. Difference to your life. Just exactly where you stand, where you walk or where you live in relationship to a line on a map. Think of national borders congressional districts and such. When I moved when I was fortunate to move on to Creekside Road in beautiful city. 35 years ago, my my home was on a there was a line behind my home. That said I was in a flood plain I thought, well, I'm a little surprised. Got my my backyard. Like many of go down about 30 feet to Matanzas Creek. I couldn't imagine already. Imagine a flood could come up any rate. Somebody challenge the justification for that line on that map. And now I don't live in a floodplain and I'm no longer playing of paying flood insurance. But I did for a while live on on that with that line on my map. Now we in my neighborhood. Facing the possible drying of another very consequential and potentially very impactful
line on a map and you've heard I'm sure a lot of you've heard and read a lot of compelling. Justification you to take make sure is lined the drawing this land, this line. Reviewed deeply We just want to make sure before you draw this line that we aren't sure that it is entirely. Logical. Thoroughly. Researched entirely legal and ultimately ultimately justifiable. You can be sure. I think you sense that this particular line on this particular map is very important to Thank you. Thank you, Chris. Is there anybody else would like to speak on this item? >> Hello, my name is Fred. All about and job. I didn't research item as much as I would like to. So I think that it is possible if the council does delay the vote, that would allow me to sharpen my arguments in support of map because I don't feel like I'm entirely prepared to make a statement. But but I do do kind of take exception the fire. Marshals presentation is being arbitrary and capricious that the cal-fire data is garbage. That I think a lot of times when you when you have a public policy conflict that what you get end up as alternate universes of facts collide. And so it makes it seem like it's got to be all this way or that way. I think in general, what I look at I walk around Santa Rosa lot and I live in flat area that, you I'm up against Amber cast myself. So I see that. And I also see the median household
income maps in Santa Rosa. And so as soon as the as the topography goes up, like one foot, the median household in common, the median home value goes up a lot and it frequently those areas that com to housing project Housing Project hearings where pose high density infill. The city has a plan for and those folks say, well, we don't want that because that's going to impede our evacuation. But then you hear you have a situation where you have people who maybe have to mitigate the hazards of where they live. So it seems like they kind cohort in general maybe want to have it both ways. And that doesn't seem really fair to me, but I'm not entirely prepared to address that creekside area because I don't exactly know what the topography is. There. But I think this this is a reckoning on where people live and what they need to do. And so if if we're gonna if the city is going to be asked to not do dance in feel and then to not draw lines on maps where people live in and foothills and elevated areas where where they have to bear the responsibility of where they live. And that's an impossible situation for the city. So the city has balance the affirmatively furthering fair housing law and the actual fire hazard. And, you know, come to some kind of Bob, you know, public policy policy balance. And so, you know, home home values are and issue and and job. In these areas that are much higher. So
and then also the idea that the creek is it is that ecosystem services are decreasing people's property values. I see sort kind of reaching for, you know, almost any argument here. So as just for now and look forward to the rest. Thank you. Is there anyone else like to speak on this item? >> Seeing none. We will close the public hearing before we come back to the dais division chief, I saw you vigorously, John do get some responses. You'd like to give you some of the concerns are heard. >> Yeah, thank you. Vice Mayor. So I do appreciate the comments. Did hear some recurrent themes in no particular order all trying to address as many of them as I can party here in additional questions from council. I heard a lot of comments about the mapping of the risk areas. And I just want to reiterate the fact that that has taken place that was done as required by law. The city of Santa Rosa had to adopt those just like every other city that has local responsibility areas across the entire state of California. And that took place a little over a year ago. I did hear number of comments about the Matanzas Creek. I can't speak specifically to what maintenance is or is not required on the creek. Our I'm happy to have a conversation departments with their city. I will tell you, though, that I do get a lot of feedback regarding creeks in general in different parts of our community, including
Councilmember MacDonald's district. I think one thing that's very important to note is that creeks similar to portions of creeks that I've seen in the Matanzas Creek Area do act as green belts when we've had communities that want fuel management feel reduction to take place in creeks. It has the potential to promote additional sunlight and the drying of the creek. We can use. Mountain Hawk is an example of a lush Green creek. That is cloe overgrown and a part of Mountain hawk where the creek was cut and opened and the side of Mountain Hawk Drive on the north side completely burned and actually acted as a chimney to burn the home at the bottom of mountain hawk. That fire with the intensity that it had literally could not burn across now and how drive at the bottom of a college him near shoot because a transition from a maintained cut creek bed to a lush green heavily Vegetated creek bed where the humidity's or higher there's more moisture in there and it actually stopped the fire in its tracks at the bottom of Mountain hawk. We got a lot of feedback from similar concerns in the Oakmont area and actually worked to not do that type of filter, convince them not to do that fuel reduction 2 again act as a green belt and stop the spread of fires and certain part of our community. I heard a lot of comments about U.S. Adopting a risk areas and insurance. And believe we addressed that earlier. That again, we are not adopting the risk maps. Those have previously been adopted last year and we have the from the insurance commissioner. There's a number
of comments about being included in tonight's map affecting home hardening. That is not the case. Our ordinance as well as the state standards apply to new construction or homes that have significant remodels requiring building codes be in a put into effect. There is again comments about the lack of critical risk mapping between Bennett Valley, Hight Heights and the Creekside area. And again, when Cal Fire map those areas, those are 2 very different mapped areas into different risks associated with them. It is not based on Amber cast skipping over you It's a risk from the Mount Taylor Hall night. Syria and then a risk from an adult state parks. Again, 2 different risks. There's a lot of but again, that about the cal-fire map. And again, this is not a public hearing related to tell fires maps. This is a public hearing that is specific to adopt teen essentially an overlay of our local Louis on top of the previously adopted Cal Fire maps. There is also the potential that this adoption would create impacts as we outlined. Really the only, quote, unquote impacts it would have is the inclusion of the defensible space inspections, which we actually get a lot of requests for across the community and then the the vast majority of the ordinance that would apply to the violent interface would not affect this area. And then there was comments about areas that haven't historically
burned being considered a threat. That's exactly the opposite. I think that's where a lot of the state's recommendations are coming from. The concern is areas that have not had fire history and that it's only a matter of time that some of those areas could be impacted by fire and the state has seen enough devastating fires in areas that had never had fire history and what measures can be taken and should be taken to reduce that. There is also lastly, the comment about not being at risk of a West Wind event. That is absolutely not the case. We have had multiple fires in our community. We had a 50 acre fire on the west side of Santa Rosa couple years ago. I have to go check the wind direction. I'm pretty sure was out of the west, but we just burned a little over 2 and a half acres and Fountain Grove with an afternoon just below key site. But this this county, although we how fires are community, doesn't hear about a lot of our west wind afternoon when fires because we have a department that a great response. An excellent staffing, the table to mitigate a lot of those fires and keep them small to where we're not getting the axles. We're not getting wireless emergency alert. We're not evacuating people but we have the West wind events. We have the afternoon grass fires in there. Put out quickly and we want to keep it that way. Sorry, I promise last thing was the comments about the mailers. We did with our order that we did have the mailers that went out. I also want to know that not only do we rely
on the Marylanders, but we also rely on our city connections. We're live on our social media city connections as 180,000 subscribers. Last time I checked, I would hope that a number of our committee members that are in this area are subscribe to that that we do use multiple channels to get dot topics like this out to our community. All right. Thank you >> final thoughts. Further questions. Has been with us. Thank you. Vice Mayor. >> Thank you so much for presentation and for addressing all the things I think everything that came up in and the public comment, I just sort of wanted to clarified back Ina a couple things that that I think I heard you saying just want to make sure I understand. So are what we're trying to do tonight make sure that our we boundaries. >> Overlay this. The state previously adopted. I think that's what you just said. Boundaries. That is correct for the hi and very high areas outside of our existing Okay. Okay. And then on the insurance, concern which the we've got a lot correspondents around And again, just want to clarify for my own understanding the insurance commissioner stated or wrote a letter that stated that that insurance rates cannot be based on whether or not you're in the wwii. Basically. The insurance commissioner released a statement that explained that the Cal Fire Hazard severity zone maps cannot be used for. >> Make sure I get correct. Insurance rates are
underwriting decisions and we've really linked to that statement to our website at sr City Dot org. Slash Louis maps as a faq. >> And then there was that I don't have presentation up right now. But I was looking at this. The staff report again, >> for real estate purposes because a lot of folks have mentioned property values, which is a concern they do have to disclose if they were to sell their home, whether or not there in we map. >> Yeah. Regardless of what we do tonight with our local wildland Urban Interface, Fire area state laws already dictated that the mapped areas that are in the high and very I already have to comply with the disclosure requirements that has been effect in those specific areas since MARCH of 2025. >> Just my final clarification. It is on adopting this based from using their online, which, you know, feel free correct me adopting the around Reese is mandated by law. >> the adoption of the moderate high and very high zones within the city of Santa Rosa was required by law and had to be done within 120 days could not be less restrictive them. What was essentially passed on to us, but could have been more restrictive. We did not do anything more restrictive. Then what the state provided to us last year. And if we To not do that, what would be the ramifications of that if we were not to do adopt this? That's a great question. From what I understand. They they essentially force it upon us. Or if we were to go back and say, well, we have some
problems with it. You know, to question it. The other, there was a number of communities that had questions and concerns the way that the maps. >> identified. We specifically on behalf of the city of Santa Rosa. Actually a drug a 10 did a lot of the public hearings as well as the feedback that we provided on behalf of the city. Well, before they really start maps, we're actually providing feedback on the state's maps and their process. So use the different avenues provide feedback initially. And then it became very clear that these maps where we're moving forward, I sit on number different working groups and there was a number of frustrations and concerns that were shared by fire officials across the they were they were move forward under under state law. Thank Councilmember Brown asked the majority my questions. >> And one remaining question, which is what authority does the insurance commissioner have to hold these insurance companies to his preference is about their implementation of his is pain. Is it binding in any way? >> so. I can get back to you on that question. But seeing the vice Mayor Sheehan I mean, I'm the daughter of an insurance man. And I think I know that answer that question. But I just figured since you're expert here, I would give you an opportunity >> Let us know. Okay. Thank
you. Any other questions? >> Final thoughts. That's her MacDonald's. >> I just have one question. Would there be any risk for the city if we decided to not adopt the maps they present to us tonight. >> I don't know a risk is the right word. We have positions that are funded through our department through settlement funds to conduct defensible space inspections as well as rpg up. Sorry, our measure h funds so there's obviously money that has been injected through sales tax as well as pg some of them and money to do inspections on our community to keep the fire risk as minimize as much as as possible. I know I repeated a number times of port with a lot of the council members here over the years and we've heard the message loud and clear that the city cannot afford to go through another major wildfire. We have a lot of risk that's been identified our community. We want to continue to do defensible space inspections as well at have the adherence to the ordinance uniformly across our community where applicable. So the only risk per se would be delaying us the ability to take some of those pride to measures. In map, there is especially as we head into this next critical fire season. >> I appreciate you answering all my questions and and that helps me as well to know, because I know that was a tax measure that passed. >> And we were, you know, very
pro public safety. And it's because of all the fear of wildfire. So it's I'm glad to >> see that we're looking at the maps in a way that helps prevent these large wildfires from occurring again in the city. I appreciate all the work that went into this as well as everything that our fire department does to keep Santa Rosa the underlying areas safe. So thank you again. >> Everyone's of their I just wanted to say a big thank you to the community come out who came out today? It's never fun realize that you're part of risk area. And I think we all learned the hard way almost 10 years ago now that we live in community that were there a place where we think we are safer or not vice versa and that this is a community that is prone to to wildfire and that. These maps MAY MAY feel unfair and gracious and seems like they're essential in terms of the state as the state relates to us in coming for us, whether or not we like them, but that they do give us that some additional tools in our tool kit to to harden our community against wildfire. I know that it's a difficult thing to be added to what we and I'm sorry for the inconvenience that this will cause folks. But I do believe that, well, frustrating that this is the only viable path forward at this point in time and I'll be supporting our staff recommendation. Any other final comments? My time to shine. >> All right. So I'm not big. I'm not an expert in maps. I'm not an expert fire movements. However, I have been a licensed insurance agent for
20 years. So to answer some of your questions, proper 103, defines how rates determined. It is something that that is the black and white of the law. However, that to insurance commissioner condition what are called bulletins, which is what you're referring to and then also in filings and letters, they essentially make a legally binding statements which are enforceable example of that is last week State Farm's hit with over 300 violations by not now with maps, but in another 300 violations of California code and violations of the California Department of Insurance. So but what I will say moving on from that is thank you so much for presentation. Thank you again to the community for coming out. It is not an easy thing understand this. However, I hope you understand why we're doing it. And that it is not Santa Rosa doing this to you. It is Santa Rosa coming into compliance with something that the state has already done. With that, I will look to Councilmember Alvarez for a motion. Thank you, I would like to prison or done so. The council, the city of Santa Rosa to amend chapter 18 Dash 46 dash 225 California. While an >> urban interface code adding Section 18 dash. 46, not 202, definitions with local amendment and update the existing designated Wildland Urban Interface Area and wait for the reading of the text. We have a motion councilmember Alvarez and a seconded by Councilmember Rogers. >> MADAM City clerk, when you're ready. Thank you. Councilmember Rogers. Councilmember MacDonald, i councilmember Fleming, yes, Councilmember Ben Willows. Yes, Councilmember Alvarez Act. >> Vice Mayor I. Has recused. Let the record show this
passes. 6 affirmative votes. >> Thank you very much. We will pause for a couple minutes while the mayor. Rejoins us as we move on to item 16 point to our second public hearing of the night. All right, folks, thanks for your patience. >> For those of you who are fans of public hearing, rest assure we have 3 more tonight. So settle in. We're going to move on. I raise your hand or your for the spring-like item. There we go. All right. Keep your hands up. If you prefer to go home sooner rather later. All right. We bump that one up and we have been at it since about 3 o'clock. So what we're going to do is go into the spring Lake item. I'm going to short break for council and then come back into the remaining public hearings. But let's go on right now to item 16.3 public hearing regarding the spring Lake Village, East Grove. Surrey to I. I'm causing staffed after pick this one. Up off the bounce. Apologies. Alright woman it Monday. Brian and Christine are just occur either. Sir Henry, my money, my notes. But you're not you're not Christine. Good. Good to see you. I kick us off whenever you're ready. >> Sure. Thank you, mayor and good evening councilmembers. The project before you Spring Lake Village, the project is expansion of the existing Spring Lake Village continuing Care retirement community located the Montgomery Drive. And it's proposing to expense
to get to a nearby project by adding 32 leading units in your living. You needs the project with at the side would at a community open spaces, onsite and offsite improvements. The image below shows the existing Spring Lake Village campus Orange and the proposed expansion in correct. And the star here in the kids shows the location of the project in the ct and this project requires approval of tree entitlements that I'm gonna go over them in next trees lights. So the project requires approval of minor conditional use permit. Put zoning code to every coming to care facility viewed more than 6 three-quarters approval of it used for meat and has to be placed at least 300 feet from another facility. The proposed com to care facility meets this requirement. And these almost function as an expansion of existing campus shared management and operations. The project also requires a hillside that will open per meet because there are areas slopes more than 10% on the project's side. That will to quiet grading. However, the project has been designed to minimize disturbance in the natural topography and grading. And it's also being designed to meet hillside development standards. Also, the project requires every zoning for parcel at 225 looks almost road from rural residential meets Citigroup, combining the streak to pd pd district who because then data used Spring Lake Village campus policy statement. As a result of that through this rezoning, the current plan development for the existing campus also will
and accordingly. And here is an aerial view that shows the location of the project at the corner of Highway to will and will most wrote. And here I will go over the history of project so that project was submit it originally submitted in 2014 and it to propose 24 units in 2016, the cte shoots and not so free patients 40 in more mental impact reports and health is scoping meeting to gather input from agencies, tribes and community. Same year to at the Cannes made changes to the project, expanded the project added more. You needs and right up 32 units as a result of this. The city had to issue and not they're not so for duration. Then intimate venue on the draft. Environmental Impact report was released for the public review and it was presented to the Planning Commission. Following the circulation of the draft, the ir the app you can elected to proceed alternative to Mike Simon avoidance alternate team, which is identified as beaches identified in the draft, the ir as an environmentally superior alternative same year and in 2024 the app you can submit a distrubance plan the same year the project was present it to the Design Review board as a concept item. And in 2025 following additional consultation with the tribe. The app you can mate for didn't want to cations to this alternative and submitted 3 Weiss plans. On MARCH 11 of this year. The final in more mental impact report was released review and on MARCH. 26 the project was presented to the Planning Commission beach unanimously recommended approval to the City Council of All entitlements and certification of the final.
Are. So here is the modified version of alternative to that plus-up needed in 2025, which is the project before you. This modified version of alternate. He to review says the overall development footprint and minimizes grand disturbance. Also from 2016 to 2026. The city held tribal consultations the present a teams from Little Ranch rodeo. And for the rate Indians of Graton Rancheria, we started to be a b 52 notification. And this include that meeting side is the end it. Additional cultural resource studies tribal improved lead to changes to the project design and also additional site who seem to me to Kate cultural resources last year in JUNE 2025. The city send closure letter to the Federated Indian Grayton and following by the final closure live there on APRIL. 20th of this year. And as for sequel, I will hand it over a consultant to go over the sequel process and summarize the else's of the more mental impact report. All right. Good evening, Mayor. Stop Council members. I'm Brian veteran and environmental planner with Ghd here in Santa Rosa. So tonight, all just provide a brief about 5 minute overview of the environmental impact report for this project. And and the ir is the highest level of environmental review. Under the California Environmental Quality Act. Evaluated and originally proposed project along with one design, alternative during public review. The comments were received at a planning commission public hearing as well as through written letters from the public and reviewing agencies excited. So fda are identified impacts and mitigation measures for the
topics listed here. So for wildfire mitigation is included to reduce the potential for fired during construction. >> For noise, mitigation includes reducing construction noise and vibration and then for and ensuring the mechanical equipment and the emergency generator. All meet the city's noise limits. For bike safety mitigation includes new signage along Los Alamos Road. For Biological Resources. Mitigation includes protections for special status species, nesting birds and bats. Mitigation also includes compensating for feel of a small seasonal wetlands on the site and a roadside drainage and for protection and replacement of trees in accordance with the city's tree ordinance. Mitigation is also included to prevent erosion, protect water, quality and to prevent potential impacts to pay the union to logical resources if they were encountered. And as money said for cultural and tribal cultural Resources. Mitigation includes a treatment plan in coordination with Native American tribes, monitoring avoidance measures and other procedures to minimize disturbance. So in addition to the topics listed here, the also includes requirements for implementing Joe Technical design. Recommendations, compliance with the California Building Code. The California Fire Code. The Santa Rosa Fire Department standards, local ordinances, as well as air quality in greenhouse gas control measures during construction. The originally proposed project resulted in 3 significant unavoidable impacts. Alternative to did not result in significant unavoidable impacts. So for that reason, it was identified as the environmentally
superior alternative. The next few slides will just highlight a few of the changes to the project and the environmental setting that are discussed in the final er, including the revised version of Alternative to off-site transit improvements and then changes to the Los Alamos Road frontage near the project site. So as Monet explained after the draft er was released, the project was essentially paused. The city in the applicant. Took a look at the project and the alternatives in the focus shifted to alternative to. So the city then conducted additional Native American tribal consultation and additional departmental reviews. On the revised plans, a refined version of alternative to. Was developed and is now the project being proposed and the modifications were evaluated in the final Another change was the addition of off-site improvements along Highway 12. These include moving the westbound bus stop so shown here on the north side of Highway 12, 2 before Los Alamos Road intersection and then extending the sidewalk to the eastbound stop on the south side of the highway to improve ada access. Another change was to the environmental setting along Los Alamos Road. So after the draft, the ir was released pg e completed utility work within the city right of way, including utility ball driveway. Utility lines shown in this picture. So the finally ir discusses and review these changes. The slide summarizes what's included in the final er includes copies of all the written comment. Letters, summary of the public Planning Commission comments and then responses to every comment received. Finally, our includes 8 master responses that address a lot of the common concerns along with an evaluation of the project,
changes discussed earlier. The city look very closely at whether Recirculation of the draft, the ir was required and it was not the proposed part project is now a refinement of an alternative that was already evaluated in the draft. Er. And the changes did not create new or worse impacts. So for the final slide in summary, the draft the ir evaluated original project and alternative to alternative to was identified as the environmentally superior alternative. The draft the ir was circulated for review and comments are received after that. The project was paused loud time to further evaluate and refine that alternative to so a modified version of alternative 2 is now proposed. And the final documents, the full secret record for the for the project. >> So we did that. The Planning Commission and applying the comic that will open the parts and recommend that the council by 3 resolution, 2 ordinances, one certified the final environmental impact reports and adopt the sequel. Findings of Fact and Mitigation Monitoring and reporting program introduce an ordinance to amend that takes up to Spring Lake Village plan development policies, a and introduce an ordinance to rezone the property located at 2 to 5 loss. Almost wrote from ruler is then shall Wrote to plan they will open city growth and that crew in minor conditional use permit afford come to care facility and approve a hillside development permit. That was our report them presentation. The applicant has a verbal presentation that if there are no questions for staff, you
can listen to presentation. >> Her a bright and Jessica, thank you so much. Before we do before we we see if there are any questions we knew ex parte disclosures right down the line here Rogers want to kick us off? >> I did have a conversation with advocate. Thank you. Stronger I attempted to have a conversation with the applicant. But our time schedule did not. >> a permit. So therefore, speak with anyone. Thank you. MISS Falling, have nothing to discuss. MR. Vice Mayor. I had a conversation with a representative of the applicant and visits. I have nothing further disclose. Thank you for my part. I've nothing to disclose, MR. Donald's nothing been Willows. >> I had a conversation with the representative for the applicant. >> Thank you very Right. With out of the way our their questions from council this time. Strong for us. >> You stated that that. The tribal entities identified issues. They get that part right at the at the origination of the project. What were those issues? And how were the result? >> All right. So the draft, are determined that the the originally proposed project would result in significant unavoidable impacts to cultural resources and tribal resources. Now there's a confidentiality that has to be established. I can't give a lot of detail. But even with mitigation because construction activities at the site, we're determined to potentially impair the
integrity of archaeological resources. The impact was determined to be significant unavoidable. So in response, an alternative to was developed through collaboration with the city. The project applicant and the affiliated tribes. To reduce these impacts and still meet the basic project objectives. So the modifications to alternative to compared to the version that was originally proposed. Substantially reduce the impacts to cultural resources and tribal culture resources. Ultimately a reduction project footprint at the site shifting of cottages that are proposed reduction in about the secondary roadway that was going to connect to later road and other adjustments that with that were made that word determine ultimately to reduce the impact to lessen significant level with with all of the additional mitigations that are included in the >> United Competency, part of it. So I'll just ask straight forward was anybody is great. Grandma found on the site suspect any other great grandma's being done on the site. >> I think there's look, there's limited things that we can disclose about what was found in that. So I don't know for city attorney wants to Assistant city attorney wants to speak more to that. >> Hi, yes. Thank you. And I understand the question, just to pick up on what my colleagues were saying under state law. We cannot release information that's related to location, description or use of tribal cultural resources. We can't disclose that during the environmental process. During the document or disclosed to the lead agency. So >> and appreciate the effort to answer the question
ultimately the and the the tribal councils to sign off on the project. Is that correct? >> We received want to talk about we received back and forth. We did close consultation pursuant to a b 52. We did, however, receive additional feedback from the tribe saying that they would like to have additional conversations. If you guys want to add anything else at that point, we reviewed everything that we had done and under the state we can close consultation once that we have. We decided that we've acted in good faith after reasonable effort. Unusual agreement could not be reached. So after we got that additional correspondents from the tribe, we did a pretty closure letter than we did a closure letter. We got additional correspondents and then we sent them a final closure letter under this provision of the resources code that we've acted in good faith. We've gone. I mean, I think responded to virtually every. Request that we got and I'll defer to our environmental consultant to walk through that. But that's our final letter was under that second prong of our ability to close after good faith. >> So if I understand that we are going good faith continued good faith. But those continue conversations did not continue. Will that be correct? >> The last round of the last round additional conversations, correct. Although I will note that the the last mitigation measures that they requested which had to do with testing in additional areas that had not been previously tested. The city and the applicant teen did agree to that. So in the final round of negotiations, if you are discussions, we did go ahead and add that mitigations such that I
believe the entire site. We'll Tested and I want defer to the sky for how that works. But we did add that mitigation measure, which was quite significant at the end. >> So as of right now, the entire site has not been tested. Can you explain the testing? Thank appreciate >> So the there was a number of studies that were COUNCILMAN Alvarez over over the course of the environmental review. Ground penetrating radar can forensic subsurface investigations surface surveys. So different types of surveys and studies have been developed on different areas of the site. And there was a request in the kind of the final collaboration and consultation efforts to add in some additional allowances for some additional surveys and testing. If if if desired, because the city will be entering into a treatment plan with the tribes. And there will be a number of different measures >> implemented during that construction monitoring different types of testing, as we mentioned here. So there there's been additional allowances built into the final mitigation measures address and those are documented within the final. >> And correct that I hear you say if desired. So at this point has not been desired. To complete testing an entire site. >> During the environmental Impact report. What as was not. It was there was not a request by the tried to do additional studies throughout
the site. But at the end there, there was a discussion of potentially having having ounces to do that, ok? >> Appreciate and thank you for taking images of the question. Thank you. And we do have yes Monet's looking at the actual mitigation measure. If you'd like to have absolute. Absolutely. Thank you. She's getting that right now. All right. Thank you very much. Want. Few other questions, MR. Donald. >> Thank you for the presentation. I have a few questions which is a setback from highway 12. What's the room from that to where the ad a sidewalk go saying? Could you tell me that? I think 100 or let me take to the other 50 or 100 because it depends is one story or 2 story. >> So let me look at the map. I can kill you. And the reason I ask this is because we get. >> Asked a lot specifically in district 3 about evacuation routes. Not believe me to my next question. And there's been some conversations about putting potentially like a bike path along the front of some of these developments to help and to serve not just as a bike path that has potentially evacuation route. It's necessary. It's nothing on the books. It's just discussions I've had over time with the supervisor Gorin. So I thought I asked to see what that distances to see if there would be any potential of the ability to add a bike path along the front of this development. That is 50 feet. Okay. I think that's why not for a bike path. Thank you for that. And I can just add add. So the project actually would widen Henry Stripe section of
Los Alamos Road. >> To provide a 5 foot wide class, 2 bike lane adjacent to the project site. That's consistent with what's envisioned in the Santa Rosa bike and pedestrian master plan. >> That's actually very helpful. Thank you for adding that. I appreciate that. Just to ask a couple more on slide. 16. Pg and e had brought and the power lines. Are those power lines going to be buried or those going to be ground power lines? Those are already installed and they're below ground with great. That's good to You know, Pg e has been working haven't heard of much work to be honest by the Abbott from them that to make sure that those lanes are buried makes it safer for fire issues. What if something else was found during construction from the cultural aspect. It's something that councilmember Alvarez said. Do we have people out there ensuring that there if somebody was found or if there were artifacts found is construction stop. And how's that mitigated? Just because this is not something I've heard that in the past where we've had this concern. >> so mitigation that there's there's 4 different mitigation measures related to cultural resources that are identified in and we have a copy for the language here. So the first measure is related to developing a cultural resources treatment plan. And as part of that, there's coordination with with the tried to identify the different types of measures that would be taken during the construction as protection and
preservation. There's preconstruction data recovery, construction monitoring all of that occurs. So during construction process, there's that would be representatives of the tribe. There would be archaeologists on site all collaborating together. So in the event that something is identified, there's through this treatment plan that's developed. There's a whole procedure in place to how to respond to that. >> On the new map says any wind at a crosswalk with a new fire maps that we just had the hearing. 9 a moment before to seize. This was designated in a higher risk, a very high risk area. >> So Paulo and don't can't answer that. >> You thought you were done with my questions for the I apologize. You getting your stepson. >> Thank you for the questions. So the area was mapped as a moderate. So it has been recorded as required. But areas not included in I are very high fire zone. So it is not being recommended as part of our new while entering a phase fire area. >> Thank you for that. You can stay there for a moment. You MAY have to answer the next question for evacuations because this is something that comes up over and over. When we're building in the we specifically this district. What do they have to do to provide that? Because this is 32 units and residents that I would say need some assistance for evacuation plans. How's that going to be addressed or what do we require during building for them to provide for us to make sure that those are safe? >> So we do have more restrictive requirements for unit counts for multiple for
more than one point of access. This would be under it with that number of individuals to address general evacuations for that area. The fire department working closely with my committee and his team have established we for to us the flush plan. So were looking at evacuations. The Santa Rosa much differently than we do. Other parts of our community for the existing home as well through the existing population as well as anticipated growth in the Santa Rosa. >> Prevent for preventative type issues. >> I will note that Spring Lake Village is in that campus, the existing campus is probably the most active and prepared community serving senior population that we actually have in the city of Santa Rosa. We work on an annual evacuation plan with them where they actually evacuate the residents, too, are temporary evacuation point at a place to play. In fact, we actually just got our annual request from them to assist with their permitting for a place to play and working on a day to again exercise their evacuation plan. So that's one of things that we've been stressing is populations that need the assistance that are in the front row. Bernie Sanders area take these proactive measures. They are a leading example for our community. >> mean, that's very helpful to hear. And can you tell me the number of units that would trigger them to have a submitted evacuation plan. I'm just curious about that. Now. >> So that's 2 different things for the access points for for evacuations are fired
not says we have a local report. That requires 2 points of access for our access and for evacuation purposes for more than 50 units. The overall sequel that takes into account evacuations for developments as looked at us. Look at by us. No matter what. Just for the jet for general development requirements. That's not based on a unique out. >> In Europe paying in, could you tell me if you feel that with 32 should be required to have submitted evacuation plan versus just working with us. I'm not saying that they haven't done a phenomenal job. I understand they do a great job, but just asking your opinion if if that's enough people that we should require that. >> So I would have to defer to the applicant. But if the process or thought was to take the expansion and incorporated into their existing plans that they already have then from the fire department standpoint, I would more than enough for for us from evacuation planning perspective. Again. They have evacuation plans exist for Spring Village campus. >> points access. Then it would require 2 versus the one. No, this would only require the one point of access on the Los Alamos Road Code perspective. It remained under 50 units. >> That's right. But I'm saying in your opinion, he's 50 units an appropriate number for safety for evacuation or should the city consider lowering that number? Because we're seeing that they need 2 points of access for safety. I know what current code says says this. I'm asking in your opinion, specifically in the would it behoove us to actually look at that number
and reduce how many units or require or pull that trigger to having to have to access point. >> So the city's code right now is more restrictive than state law already and has a lower number for the second point of access. That's very helpful. Thank you so much. Thank you. Any other questions counsel? Seeing none. We're going to open the public Mayor, order the part of the presentation. My apologies. All right. We'll start with the presentation. I whenever you're ready. >> Thank Thank you for considering this application. I am Mary McMullen. I'm the chief operating officer for front Porch. >> Which is a nonprofit owner of Spring-like Village. I'm here with 30 black who is the executive director, Spring-like Village. Just want to know that as a nonprofit organization, our mission is to inspire and build community, creating meaningful relationships and responding creatively to changing needs here in Santa Rosa. We serve many folks at Spring Lake Village at friend's house at Jennings Court, which is an affordable housing community. And we have been part of the community for 40 years. So I do think it's important to express how this modest development we'll add to the need and an address the need for senior housing but also free up general housing. And what I mean by that is we attract local folks who moved to our community and then free up their housing for new families in Santa Rosa. And all of this helps achieve
Santa Rosa's housing plan and build community, which is important to both of us as part of front porch, Spring-like village brings great experience and a solid legacy of innovation and attention to detail that will continue with this new neighborhood. We are an employer of choice in Santa Rosa and our residents are in a girl, important asset for the Santa Rosa community. They invest their time, their talent and their donations in local causes and nonprofits and they support local businesses through their commerce. And I would argue that this symbiotic relationship with Santa Rosa is incredibly meaningful and responsive and meets our mission and your goals as well, especially as needs change. So as you can see, we've invested a decade in this planning process because we believe that this neighborhood is a responsible expansion, our commitment to planning extends to our commitment to continued partnership, as was just mentioned with the city on fire. Evacuation planning an emergency preparation and management. Our commitment also extends to the pedestrian and bike paths and a shuttle for residents to integrate the campuses and continue our collaboration with the city traffic department to manage the load on Montgomery Drive. So through the extensive renovations we've made to this plan, we have shown our dedication to resolving key issues and creating an asset for Santa Rosa. Ask for your support of our mission and our application. Thank you. Members of the city Council Mayor, I'm Barbara shoots man. I am an attorney at Perkins Coie and I'm here on behalf of the applicant. >> As you've heard, this has been a very long and thorough process of environmental
review and project review. This review really reflects the commitment of your city staff, the consultant, the members of the community that have made good and helpful comments. The tribe's who engaged in consultation and were very forthcoming. And the project applicant teen, as you also heard, this resulted in a secret document that finds based upon all of the evidence that all of the impacts of this project have been reduced to a less significant level. That's something to appreciate. I do want to drill down a little bit into the effects on tribal cultural resources, which you've been hearing about. As you know, the applicant redesigned the project, wholesale redesign in order to address cultural and tribal cultural resources that redesign moved the development away from the areas of the site that were the most sensitive from a tribal cultural resources perspective. Applicant also worked with the tribes with with regard to investigations of tribal cultural resources between 2017 2021. Those investigations included thorough investigations by a license. Archaeologists shovel testing. And as the as thc, the mentioned, canine testing and ground penetrating radar to the question of has the whole site been tested the way this works is one starts in the area of the unknown archaeological resources which
tend to be closer to creeks and to areas where there's known cultural resources. Those areas are tested. First, the shovel testing keeps going farther and farther out until nothing is found. And that is where you set a boundary to the cultural resources, the additional mitigation that has now been added to the ir at the tribes new request is really to make sure that even outside that boundary, we're going to go the extra mile. We're going to do additional testing before ground disturbance occurs just to make sure that there's nothing there that was at the request of the tribe and it was agreed upon by the applicant. The other thing that's going to happen is there will be tribal monitoring during construction. The tribes will be will be invited to be there. They will be consulted at all times. The conversation will not stop and the consultation does not stop. We will continue to engage with the tribes throughout this process. Finally, these additional changes were made at the end again, to be responsive to the tribes the what was a potential road or access through the panhandle portion was changed to a pedestrian pathway in order to make it narrower and less deep in order to be responsive to the tribes. This was done in consultation with the fire department to make sure that we were still in compliance with all rules and regulations. We also moved to a cottage. And as I said, we change that mitigation
measure. All of this to be responsive to the tribes and make sure that we're doing everything that was being requested of us. We thank you for your consideration of the project. The project, the whole project team is here. So if you have any questions that the 2 of us can't answer, we will have someone who can. Thank you both and thank you to the entire Spring-like team. Alright, not now. We will open the public hearing. >> Are members of the public who would like say a few words tonight. Seeing So we will then close the public hearing, bring it back to council for any final questions or discussions, ok? My colleagues. Seeing I'm going MISTER Alvarez. Thank you, The applicant. You see that that. >> There will be tribal monitors during the process moving forward. So I imagine that you've been able continue conversation with the tribes or they've been responsive to forward. >> That's a good question. In the early part of the consultations, there were direct conversations between the applicant team and the tribes. More recently the tribes have chosen to consult directly with the city with the applicant team, not at the table and that is their right. And so, you know, we're trying to be responsive with at the same time, respecting confidentiality rules. But out in the field when the tribal monitors there, they will be there with applicant's construction crew. Thank you. >> Thank you for that. Let's let's get a motion on the table. Ms MacDonald. >> Thank you, Mary. Been advised that I can do this in 3 motions. So my first motion is to move my resolution that we certify the final
environmental impact report adopt a secret findings of fact and mitigation monitoring and report program. All right. We have a motion and a second by MISTER Creepy. There's no discussion with vote on that on that motion. >> Councilmember Rogers, I Councilmember Macdonald, I councilmember Fleming Councilmember Ben Yes, councilmember of runs. >> It forced a my my actually voting nay on this, but not because of the lack of of effort from the both the city and the applicant. SEPTEMBER respect, both efforts to move this project forward. In fact, I watch you would look towards. Our tribal partners of not continue the conversation, whether it was comfortable or not. But I think too, to respect of of. And I will disclose anything that's been found not on the property, but I would hope that move forward in the future. They will continue conversation. They will come to the table to have the conversation about the ancestors because what I hear many up events that we attend, we hear about this land acknowledgement to our Lakota and we tribes. We pay respect to those members have been here before we look at the city of some time rolls on. But yeah, we kind of. Barry that history and I don't want to see that continue happen in the future. Out of respect to those or the saying goes, if you for years, you're you, don't we, Peter, right. So with that being said, I will vote no, but I definitely expect both the energy bill that's been put up the respect that's been given to to the project of the self. And I definitely do it. That was
that moving forward. Thank you. >> ice America I step. Yes. Let the record show motion passes with 6 affirmative votes. >> And then I'd like to introduce the 2 ordinances wanting to as presented by staff and on slide number 20 We have a motion second to give MR. Okrepkie. >> City clerk what you may call the roll call vote whatever. >> Thank you, Mayor Councilmember Rogers, I Councilmember Macdonald, I councilmember Fleming. Councilmember Ben Willows. Yes, Councilmember Alvarez. >> a with the appreciation. By Snow Cookie. I mayor step yes. Let the record show motion passes 6 affirmative votes. >> And then I will be moving resolution resolutions. 2 3 presented by staff related to the conditional use permit and the hillside development permit. Second. We have a motion and a second MR. Creepy. City clerk wouldn't call the vote. Thank you. Councilmember Rogers, I Councilmember Macdonald, I councilmember Fleming. >> Councilmember Ben Willows. Yes, Councilmember Alvarez. Vice Mayor Kathy, I mayor stop. Yes. Let the record show that motion passes with 6 affirmative votes. >> Thank you all. All right. As as was forewarned because councils been added for well, over 4 hours now, we're going to take 20 minute break. We're gonna be strict to my to my colleagues who like to linger over their dinner. It's not going to happen tonight were back here at 7.35. Thank u everyone. Thanks for your patience.
Thank you for your patience. Everyone. It's precisely 20 minutes since we went into recess and we're back. I'm sure my colleagues are making their way down the steps right now. MADAM City clerk, would you put please call the roll? Thank you, Mayor. Councilmember Rogers. Councilmember MacDonald, Councilmember Fleming. Councilmember Ben Willows here councilmember over as PRESIDENT Vice Mayor Okrepkie. Let the record show that all councilmembers are present with the exception of Councilmember Fleming. Thank you very much. All right. We'll go back to our public hearings. 2 more to go item 16 point to our public hearing on 1, 9, 7, 7, Marsh Road pre zoning. Let's see. We've got hot and with us tonight. And >> thank you. Good evening, Mayor. Stop council members. My name is Khan. A Michelson. I am the project planner for 1, 9, 7, 7 MARCH Road. Presenting that request for annexation. This property is located at 1, 9, 7, 7 MARCH Road, which currently unincorporated an adjacent properties within the city's limits. It's currently developed with a single-family dwelling and the parcel is 1.0, 0, 5, acres. The purpose of this annexation is to obtain city's sewer service to support the future construction of an accessory dwelling unit. The project is located in the northwest quadrant of the city and it's with in a unincorporated county island. The general plan land use is very low density residential. To the West is very low rates. Very residential to the north is
low residential to the east is low density residential and to the south is very low density residential. The proposed so many district is our 20, which is consistent with the general plans land use a very low density residential and also consistent with surrounding our 20 parcels in the area. Here's the subject parcel. It's accessible via a marsh road off of the shared private driveway. And it's located about 0, 8, miles west of Marlow Road. This project has been reviewed in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act Seaquest qualifies 4 c quote, 1, 5, 1, 8, 3, and that the presenting is consistent with the general plan. Excuse me, qualifies for an exemption under section 1, 5, 23 and additionally it qualifies for an exemption under section 1, 5, 3, 1, 9, and that the future annexation of existing private structures developed the density allowed under the present in classification. The project that spot description. Project received one public inquiry wondering about the size of current and planned future sewer lines and the cost to connect the future sewer lines. This was answered by the water and cheering division and no further public comments were raised after this one. Therefore, it is recommended that the planning Commission. And planning and Economic Development Department excuse me. Recommends that the council by ordinance introduced an ordinance to praise on the
property located at 1, 9, 7, 7 MARCH Road to our 20 were all residential zoning district consistent with the very low density residential general plan land use designation. And this concludes my presentation. I'm here to answer any questions. It was brilliant. Lisa, same Thank you. Thank you so much. Before we go to questions, we got to do disclosures on the line here again Rodgers and you can disclose. >> No, Nothing to disclose nothing to disclose thing to discuss. All right. Nothing disclosure, many of us any questions from our group. All right. No questions. We will open the public hearing. Are there any members, the public here to make comment on this item? Seeing none. We will close the public hearing. Bring it back to council for a motion to find this MR. Crappie. Move to introduce the ordinance is presented by staff. Check When you get that one of us Rogers, we have motion and a second by MISS Rogers. If there's no further MADAM City clerk, we can we can call about. Thank you, Mayor. >> Councilmember Rogers, I Councilmember Macdonald. I Councilmember Fleming is absent councilmember Ben Willows. Yes, councilmember over a spy. Vice Mayor Okrepkie. I mayor stop. Yes. Let the record show this motion passes with 6 affirmative votes. >> On hot and when a thank you very much. We'll move on then to item 16 point for our public hearing on the status of vacant positions and recruitment and retention efforts and compliance with Assembly Bill. 2, 5, 6, 1, Thank you very much. To our hr team for lingering as long as they have.
>> All right. Good evening. Mayor staff members of the council, I'm Dominique Blanc. He I'm here to present a b, 2, 5, 6, one with me as my deputy Director Coburg a and so are its first flight is the background. Be 2, 5, 6, 1, I went to a fact in lawn 2024. Were actually at the effective date was 2025, we did our presentation last year. And so we're back again this year, too. >> Follow up on. >> Our vacancy rate for this fiscal year. And maybe 2, 5, 6, requires a few things within it is to track the vacancies and then present information on the status of our vacancies in our recruitment and retention efforts and at least one fiscal year before budget option and 3 to identify any policies, procedures and recruitment activities that MAY present obstacles in hiring. In addition, there are some other triggers related to additional obligations when the vacancy rate reaches a 20%. And it also gives the unions and opportunity to present to the governing bodies and make a statement. So. Within our workforce information, basically there's 1277 positions budgeted within the city are there is all of our different departments that run our city. And then our citywide vacancy rate as of MARCH. 26 was 9.2%. That's pretty standard in an organization of our side. We kind of see a rotation and between 9 and 12 to 4, 10% typically average for a city or agency of our size. The statistics there are ranked by
the different units and lefties that our budget and then it kind of where they felt within the vacancy rate at that time. Second slide is the continuation of the alive. And there are 18 and with us as of MARCH, we had 117 vacancies. Which gave us a 9.2% vacancy rate. Good evening. Some of the obstacles that we have included the budget deficit, which >> as we heard last week during the budget study session, there had been also hiring freeze the hiring freezes a soft hiring freeze and we've continued to conduct recruitments throughout that period of time. We've been working on our salaries, becoming more competitive. There's been quite their progress in that area. Still some room to go. Labor shortages in certain fields continue to be an issue for many different industries that are technical, including engineering. So that's true for a lot of employers, not just not just for us. This is just a general overview of the recruitment process as a merit based agency. We have to provide recruitments that follow this type of a planned. This is the typical recruitment product process for most public sector agencies. We advertise or vacancies. We have exam steps along the way. There are interview panels, examinations, background and then of course, the herring stages that take place as well. Some folks like a I pictorial depictions. So this is a more visual overview of the same process and steps that I just talked about. Some of the recruitment source is that we use are presented here on this side. We try to target a lot of different sources so that we have blanket coverage of our recruitment and for some industries. We have to
take a more targeted approach with certain journals or or places where they would find those advertisements. Our recommendation tonight is to accept the vacancy report and conduct a public hearing. We are here to answer any questions that you MAY have been director you mentioned. The unions are also able to provide presentation as well, which has been requested by or Teamsters Labor Representative Robert Maddox was here this evening. >> Wonderful. Thank you both this presentation and MR. Vatican wanted that presentation right now. Won't you come up here. Thank Robert Madoff, investors locally 5, 6, staff tourney representative and I represent it. 5 Bergen in groups here at City of Santa Rosa. That's units for years >> So, support services unit. 6 professional unit. >> 7. The technical Unit unit 17, which are your city attorneys and unit 18. Your managers. >> That's over 500 of your employees here at City of Santa Rosa. >> And I can tell you that vacancies are one of the biggest problems. Of course, I've been here before you tell you how big pay was a problem. And I really do appreciate the efforts that have been made so far. I think there's significant in terms of how that has affected the vacancy rate itself. I've spoken with some of your department heads, including that water. The change in the pay structure and improvements are making a difference. And the retention of quality employees and actually recruiting more employees. Also want to share with you in terms some of the
they can see issues regarding some of the technical skills such as engineering. One of the ways that I think hr team is is and we work together is to remove some of the licensing requirement. State aren't really necessary for some of your supervisory positions in management. I think that's a benefit there can always be an engineering license if someone has it, open more positions to quality people to get into those. I'm director deputy director and director positions and then level management. A couple of things I really want to mention about the specifics in the vacancy units, 7, the technical unit that really is where you have some of the highest one of the highest vacancy rates. And you have 38 points for 5 fte positions currently vacant. What I would tell you is there is really big frustration and any of your enterprise fund areas where they feel why is money being collected for us? And we are having our pay and are fake and sees held open up a and lower and vacancies held open because of general budget issues. I know that the interim city managers made some changes and we have recruitment going on. But I would strongly encourage this council to our direct hr and the departments to try to fill those positions, especially in the technical positions where it actually causes danger to your employees to be understaffed. You're getting people worn out coming in at night on call. You're having
staffing issues with for instance, Operators in training who are doing more than they should do that as I personally been involved in issues out look treatment plant involving that. What needs to happen is to keep your enterprise fans, particularly in the water fully staffed the the rate pairs MAY not like it. I don't like it. I'm or a pair. I just had my rates increased. But there is no justification to have rate pairs get benefits off the backs of our employees, especially for other cities. Cotati Rohnert Park, et cetera, that this cd manages the regional 0.4 city of Santa Rosa, employers or employees are paying the price. From not being at market and that price includes. I was just having a conversation with some say more in water was paying over $10 more per hour for the exact same position that's just down the road. So those are issues that are continue to impact you. The other issue I really want to mention is your administrator of folks I'm unit for are really suffering to. They're often overlooked because who's the most important, right? Firefighters, please. The people on the streets. Public safety. But those are the people that make things actually happen right now in police, the administration the it admins are being cut and reduced. Just had another person announce retirement. And I will say I believe it's because of some of those staffing issues. Civilian
staff at police needs just as much. Support and staffing as the police themselves. I was a deputy district attorney. I worked at that office for 16 years. I cannot tell you how important those evidence techs are. The people who drop off discovery. We had an incident recently where Stan Rose did not deliver their discovery. The criminal reports as required by law to the courts in time. That is a big issue. That is a discovery violation that the district attorney has to explain. But that was the city of Santa Rosa Staffing issue. We need to get do with. I am. Here is Teamsters to also say we support you 100% in revenue. If what you can do to generate more revenue. And that includes not just taxing more generating revenue through things such as music event. I was pointing out at a recent meeting that. Block or 2 away from here at the Sonoma County Museum 2 weeks ago, you had a packed house for game. A museum show on the history of punk rock in Sonoma County, which was an amazing seen. I was part of And that victim's family played right over here. The crowd was incredible. I was part of that crowd and I went out to dinner and city of Santa Rosa on a Friday night. Not planning to but that event happen. I wouldn't spend a bunch of money. I would say there were 50600 people that left. They're walking out to go eat at city of Santa Rosa restaurants. That's a lot of tax money. You have a great music and art scene. You you already have very good system
is going on to generate that. This city needs and music festival. Another one and you have the fairgrounds here, which is an incredible venue that could house something like bottle Rock where I will be in a week and a half spending a lot of money with a lot of other people in Napa. So I know the bottle. Rock folks canceled law on day this year. Let's move it to the fairgrounds. You have a great venue for that. Let's bring in that kind of thing. Bring in revenue and we can pay our employees right? We can support our local people. Keep them from becoming homeless. Right? That's that's the main thing. People need jobs. The last thing I wanted to really hit on because this is something we can talk pursuant to this lies your policies and how they affect the vacancy rate here. I will mention a name, but I know a specific person and number of people actually who are affected by mistakes in your payroll. Where you are confusing payroll policies cause your payroll department too. Give people race is bigger than they should have and then say, hey, that's a gift of public funds. You need to pay us back. Well, your employees already spent that money. They didn't have extra money. They can't pay that money back. Answers want to gift public funds. We can't do that and don't make a gift of public funds in the first place. It is illegal. So I'm asking this council to direct this e staff to meet and confer with the
unions on the issue of updating all of your policies, primarily the payroll policies. And your personnel policies and rules. Some of them are very archaic. Some of them are very punitive to employees and your own managers can't even properly interpret them without making errors. I've been pounding as you're at your staff will. We'll share. I have been. Pounding that table issue for price 3 years now that that has to be done. I'm proud to say we've completed all the first meetings on the class and calm. That has been a major, major haul overall. We've I I think incredibly good work together. There's still a little bit more work to finish up. That's a huge improvement. I think that is going to change the vacancy. Close with this. The vacancies are as big of a morale issue. If not bigger, especially for units where if they don't have someone next to them working. It's dangerous. It's a problem. Thanks for listening. Thank you, Robert. And thanks to thank our team for the presentation. Bring you back to council for questions. >> MR. Rogers. >> Thank I did have a question. Can you tell me some of the positions that are in unit 7, again, technical. >> There's the operators, water operators, you have mechanical technicians. >> Civil engineer to the civil in any aren't us. Electrical
and water. Housing and community service technicians and these artists, some of the lot of analysts, these are just ones that are listed for vacancy is with an eye on it. >> Yeah. The does seem like a large. A large number. I think if it was broken down a little bit more, it went unseen so large. But some of the positions that you just named offer very technical. And we do want to make sure one that safety is a priority so that they're safe when they're doing it. In I've been out to the water plant, which is in district 7. But I do know that sometimes they have to go in when things are, you know, it's a 24 7. So to make sure to ensure that they are able to go in that they are not sleep deprived, that they're able to make the decisions that we need them to make is very, very important. Also, I know we're working on transit. Credit. We're still working on on transit and that one has been difficult to recruit retain at times. But we're getting better. >> It's it's a little bit about It's also having the buses in an f transit buses actually go around and actually fully right now, like so they have a new buses coming online, but they're not here yet. So we actually don't have enough acessible a staff So that's my kind of see that residual kind of bonds of the bus drivers. >> I think today I saw soul. But it's not a soul train I saw a Seoul bus.
>> But it was a trainee. But I thought that that was kind of interesting. So I see that we do have some people that are currently currently training. >> And then another one that. >> Look, it was definitely a problem, but a lot of our other departments rely on. It looks like we're getting better on that. Are the mechanics when I first got on to counsel, I know I went and visited and they were like we started off with this and now we're down to this. So I do know that a lot of the other departments such as our public safety depend on mechanics and it would be great. Is it we can get then? >> a fully staffed and that they have all the certifications in things that they need so that we invest in them so that they're able to work on. >> Some of the vehicles and things that we have in the city I learned visiting them that that is a complete that they have is that they MAY only have one person that can due a certain something. And if we don't invest in that, then they're gonna go elsewhere where they can get paid, where they can get paid more into that one person that we had that can do that certifications. If they leave, then the department doesn't have what they need to ensure that what we need as a city gets done. And then lastly all say that policy review as always, a great thing. And we do have some some all policies. And I think that. >> As they come up, I would I would hope that hr is able to go through them and take your
feedback that you have been then if it needs to come a counselor, whatever that MAY be, but that we are able to do that understanding that we're always asking our staff to do more with less. And so us getting our our staff paid probably is a great priority. And then if we have additional time where we can go through all those policies that we will. As they come up, definitely tell hr and they will write it down and and get to it. I don't know the timeliness of that because we are asking all departments to do more with less at this time. So apologies for that. And I do appreciate that and respect that answer. I got to thank you. >> And if I can just also just quickly add regarding there was a very technical positions, one of them that's being cut regards land. Surveyors. I'm very familiar with that. My brother is a land surveyor and I'm talking to some of your staff, the the land surveying position can save the city money because your cup consultation, fees for that I believe are going to Utah for someone to do right now are I told that just make the consulting for getting map signed and that sort of stuff is more expensive by far than it would cost to pay the employee. So that's one of the things where you can, you know, trip over a dollar to pick up a dime. Right? So, you know, consulting fees for that kind of can go through the roof. So think thank you, Robert been well, as you have a question. Thank you. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you for the presentation. Thank you for
all information. >> I just was wondering. Thank you mention that. We know we have a freeze, but it's a soft freeze. I think that's the term. And I just wondered what's >> criteria or what determines whether or not a position will be open debt >> yeah. So at this time, like I said, those presentations based off of a snapshot. So currently we have 110 vacancies as of today and of that, we have 6 to run some sort of recruitment process. 47 are either budget realignments reallocations or we've. Put them up as potential. >> Donations. And then there's really only 3 that we don't have any requisition process happening right now. So holding, like I said, per se moment right here. So we're we're trying to roll them out as quickly as we can. >> thank you. And so along that line is. In this in this economy and I have I don't have a sense really because they're saying many people are not moving because their freight to move in this economy. So is recruitment an issue? Take it. And if you >> Come right now in our agreements are actually getting a lot more candidates that we have in the past. So our recruitment numbers have definitely gotten up. And we might even get to the point where we're going actually have cut off dates are cut off to a certain amount of positions where before would have continuous recruitment. Sorry weren't getting the applicant pool that we needed. So seeing a shift. >> Okay. So so. >> I know that you mentioned that the 9 0.2% is average. Yeah, I guess like a better are or what we find generally.
So since you are getting lots of applicants, which I think is I guess that's a good Well, is the goal right now again in this economy and with there are restrictions to still try to fill some of those positions because I know is is Councilmember Rogers said? We don't we want to make sure that folks that that our folks we already were already asking our folks to do more with less. And we know that in, of course, we're I concerned about burnout and morale and all those issues. And then that goes to retention. So I'm just wondering, you know what I know you're under a lot of strain. Also. I recognize that and respect that some just wondering what what? Direction are you getting at this point in terms of trying to address all of that? >> Yeah. So I think that, you know, with agency of our size were. We're here where people, right? That's how we for our services to the public. And so you're going to always kind of have a revolution of it. You know, 9.10% people are promoting. People are moving. People are retiring, like it's just that kind of continuation of that number. And in terms of direction, like I said, as we present and within budget study session just a couple weeks ago, that's where the reflection of what positions could we potentially reduce in order to cut some of those costs. And yes, the staff will feel it right. But these are positions that have been vacant for a little bit up for a while was kind of the criteria that went into in the department has provided that feedback to as to what they feel like they can absorb are the work has already been shifted. So those were the presentations that were done for the budget study session. What recommended and that does
it reflected on this. Like I said, the vacancy to the ones that are filling. >> If I could add through and through the mayor. >> Some of these vacancies have been been building over the course of time. As we've been uncertain about the future of our budget situation and how we're going address that. So. >> The direction to the Asian Resource Department has really been. We sent over the last month or 2 to start filling the vacancies that we felt. We're in the clear to go ahead and do so. And so the numbers that you MAY be seeing 110 current vacancies might not be as consistent that way moving forward as we continue to go through the recruitment process on a more consistent So I think the hr department is working very hard to try to catch up some of the preparations. We had 3 upcoming budget. >> Thank you for that. Thank Thank Spent well as Donald. Just want thanks for the presentation for your comments tonight. >> One thing that I want talk about is something that council Rogers said to give some direction on around review of our policies. It's also my understanding that if the arisen over payment in payroll, that that is considered a gift of public funds and so has to be paid back. I know more. My background has been in schools and just actually happened twice and that the vice principal where he was overcharged for benefits and he has to pay it back over time. But I think it's important for council have clarification on what the law states for. That's where employees also know. Where's
our accountability when there is an air and then how do we thoughtfully do that with our employees? Because if there's an overpayment, most people can't say I could pay it back in a month or 2. The money's gone. So I think that those are policies that we should be reviewing. I'm gonna say based on some of our outdated policies that come before council over the last 4 years, that would be a priority for me to have that specifically reviewed around personnel. If that's the direction we can go into tonight. >> The other >> question that I have is when we look at the they can season and I know MISTER Maddox brought the surveyors. I know I've said budget many times. Have we done the crosswalk of how many contracted services we have for outside and then the difference of bringing people and house with our and ended liability in Calpers. We've always been told it's cheaper to go out. But I still think that with the rising costs of contracts, it's something that we should go back and look in hr closely specifically on technical positions that what is it actually more to contract with some placing Utah versus having somebody and how so those are things I think as we dive into the budget. And unfortunately, when you get cut down to very little and left in our budget is when you get to focus on those harder questions on, is it cheaper here and there? And there's more time because there's actually nothing the art to cut. So I think those are all great points that were brought up tonight. And I appreciate the work that you're doing for filling vacancies and really just to our employees for all the work they continue to do with fewer
people and fewer resources. Thanks. Thank With that, let's actually open the public hearing here. Are there any members of the public here who wish to make comment? Seeing none. We'll close the public hearing and will bring it back to believe it's been we will stream ocean any final discussion. >> I thank you. And it I moved to receive and file a report on status of vacant positions and recruitment. >> And retention efforts in compliance with Assembly Bill. 25 61 second. It motion and a second by MISS Rogers. Any final discussion, MR. Final discussion. But I would like to me laughing at me. I would like to thank the h r Team because that I know we only have 2 employees and we keep you guys very, very busy just with our 2 and not to mention with all the other staff that we have in the organization's. So thank you very much. For all that you do in helping us to maintain our staffing levels in everything else that falls under your thank you so much. >> Agreed with that. MADAM City clerk, we can call the call, vote. >> Thank you, Mayor Councilmember Rogers, I Councilmember Macdonald. I councilmember Fleming is absent councilmember Ben Willows. Yes, councilmember over as vice mayor, a cookie. I mayor step yes. Let the record show this passes. 6 affirmative votes. >> Thank you. Thank you both. Thank you, Dominique. Thank you. Robert. With that, we're going jump around a little bit. We're going to go back actually to our consent items hopefully allow a few more staff to to head off to bed. So let's see, we have items, 13.1 through 13.4 are are there any questions any should point out this evening? Seeing none. To the vice mayor for a
motion. Oh, yes, public comment. Apologies enters the public wish to comment on consent. Seeing none. All right. Now going back to the vice mayor for motion. Move to approve consent items. 13.1 through 13.4 check it. All right. We'll give that a MISS MacDonald. So motion by vice mayor second by MISS MacDonald, MADAM City Clerk, you can call the roll whenever you're ready. Thank you. Councilmember Rogers, I Councilmember Macdonald, I councilmember Fleming, is Councilmember Ben? Well Yes. >> Councilmember Alvarez vice mayor a cookie. I mayor step yes. Let the record show this past 6 affirmative votes. >> Thank you very much. All right. Do you know your next stop? We're going to jump ahead. Then item, 15.1. Our report on sb 707, and related Council actions. This has been the one that everyone's been waiting for tonight. Everyone, you take your time, you take your time. You settle and and you walk us through this item because we are. We are here for it. Are you prolong the drama? Is that what this is? This feels like sb 707, action already. >> Good evening, Mayor Vice Mayor Council, thank you for having me here this evening. At the very end of the meeting at the man as your city clerk. This evening, I'm going to be presenting on sb 707, Brown Act amendments at the related Council actions that we need to be in compliance with 707, and Brown Act. So today we're going to cover the background on sb 707, amendments prior council action in review. And then the next steps moving forward. So in MARCH on MARCH 10th, I came to council to
present to you. On the roads in Brown throughout and Brown Act. Is that open meeting laws here in the state of California. Those laws were amended by sb 707, and it was adopted in OCTOBER of 2025. Take a breath here. 707, recast the existing provisions that the Brown Act. And as new requirements around transfer at transparency, right for suffocation, participation methods and now requires agencies to increase outreach efforts for improving public engagement. Some provisions were operative JANUARY one, others were are going to be operative JULY one. The items that we have already implemented as of JULY or JANUARY included providing a copy of the New Brown Act. And a list of all meeting locations to appointed officials as well as elected officials serving on a legislative body. We sent out reminders regarding the social media provisions which are now permanent as 77 removed the sunset date. We've also updated procedures around council compensation discussions now being prohibited in closed sessions. Prior counsel review and action to date. So like I mentioned on MARCH, 10th 2026. We held a study session to review the critical components of sb 707, in council gave direction to come back with the actions required to become into compliance. On APRIL. 21st Council adopted Council policy. 76 related to Everett are entitled requests for remote participation accommodation for legislative body members with disabilities. This is to come in line with the attorney general's. Past decision. So if there was a council member or a board or commission member who had a disability
that prohibited them from participating in person. They can participate. After approval of this disability for it. Determined amount of time and they their participation counts as in-person participation and does not impact the quorum. So this is just a council policy that memorializes that. Additionally council repealed council policy, 34 citizens public appearance in addressing the council on agenda items as that item. And that policy has been now incorporated into our open government section of city code and into the City Council manual procedures and protocols. Today we are here to discuss the next steps in the final next. Pieces of the puzzle around the Brown Act and we need to amend the City Council manual procedures and protocols. We are required to adopt an Internet and telephone. Nick Service, destruction policy for city council meetings. We upon our research determined that the council policy on citizen participation need some updating. And lastly, we did. Our staff is recommending to introduce an ordinance to amend certain sections of Santa Rosa City code related to open government. In all of these actions are to come into compliance with state law and then related operational in procedure, alignments. These next few slides. I broke it up into components that you affirmed from the study sessions so we can move through these pretty quickly. And there's one final component or request or staff recommendation that there additional discussion and research that council had asked us to do so, do it. I can to zip through the slides. First and foremost, the mending of the City Council manual procedures and protocols, therefore different sections that we are
recommending. Council update. This is the disruptions and decorum and order. For the audience. Section 2 e public comments on agenda items in both the first and second public comment on non agenda matters. Item 4 be the right to address council to correct previous clerical corrections and remove reference to council policy. 34 and reference Santa Rosa City code one dash 10.0 6, 0 public caught public access in comment. And then item 4, d manner of addressing council to update the process for further alignment with Santa Rosa City code. For Section one. Dash h one h this is to address a Brown Act amendments related to disruptive behavior by the public during the Brown Act meetings and allow for operational procedures procedure alignment. Really what this memorialized was council. Treats public comments. Public commenters in attendance, the same as they would be treating those who are participating in person. So if you have a disruption on zoom, they're going to be handled in a dressed similar fashion as if we had a disruption in council chambers was due to behavior issue. 2 dot e to address or to allow the presiding officer discretion to set public comment. Time between one in 3 minutes per speaker. This is an anticipation increase public comment via zoom or the remote participation option is just gives council have the chair vice chair. For the facilitator of the meeting, some flexibility change that.
Little bit easier. Manner of addressing council. Again, this really just we're hoping to modernize and simplify the speaker card language again to address the impacts on staff time having to prepare minutes and getting an adequate and accurate summary of the statements being made by the public commenters. Sometimes that requires repeated listening means of the public comments. If we are anticipating an increase in public comment. We're trying to balance that with Steph demand with not increasing staff. Wertheim demand and not increasing staff. Next. We are required to adopt an Internet and telephone service disruption policy for city council meetings ultimately because open government laws and the state leveraging connectivity as a means for participation Council is required to adopt this policy. And it we had no issues with this from this recommendation during the MARCH 10th meeting in study session. They will know that in the event that we have a service disruption here in council chamber. The English broadcast to the Comcast Station remains plane. And the meeting is continually recorded. That is on a separate feed. But if our Internet goes down here in council chamber, that means our zoom and our YouTube goes down as well as our Spanish interpretation option opportunity. As required by the Brown Act Council Mestre says for recess open session for at least one hour while staff attempts to restore service or Intel, they
restored service at that point of service isn't restored. Council MAY reconvene the meeting and proceed with a meeting, but only after making findings. >> My motion that there is good cause to proceed. In council from the adoption of this policy in MARCH. Council also affirmed the Amendment to council policy, 20 citizen participation. We're simply modernizing the language on this policy to align with the current operational structure and operations. Brief know the council. You know, did acknowledge that staff has made considerable efforts to engage. The public and missing. My notes To engage. Encourage and represented in non English-speaking community members to participate in public meetings. In part by shown outreach and participation policies dating back to 1987. Like this one. But it hasn't been updated since so we're just trying to get up to speed. Next at. We are. The staff is recommending that in Santa Rosa City code one dash 10 in a variety of subsections on broadcast public access and comment in minutes. All of these components were previously affirmed by council at the MARCH 10th meeting and the broadcast component is to align with. And now for the proposed Internet and service Internet and telephone service disruption policy for city council meetings. 0, 7, 0 public access and comment. We're really just correcting it for clerical errors and current organizational structure. And then on the Minutes, 0, 7, 0, were aligning with the new Brown Act provisions that require additional detail be included in the minutes related to remote participation in simple by the public re requirements due to the anticipated increase in Parsippany n
participation remote access. Next. This is a item or this is the section that council wanted us to do a little bit more research on in. This is related to interpretation services at City Council meetings. Staff had recommended that. We come back to amend this section of city code to allow meetings to proceed if Spanish interpretation services have been disabled in council chamber. With an Internet and telephone service disruption and staff at undertake in good faith efforts to restore the disruption. Like I said, currently, the city's Spanish interpretation service provider participates remotely via the Internet. And for remote and in-person participation of regular council meeting. So for Internet goes down our interpretation services go down. At that point in MARCH Council gave direction to explore leveraging bilingual staff receiving bilingual pay for interpretation services during an Internet and telephone disruption. Human resource is evaluated. This option in determined it would not be appropriate for city staff to provide occasional interpretation services at City Council meetings. For the following reasons that you see up on the screen. Interpretation is a specialized certified profession requiring specific training and licensure signing this work to existing staff raises compliance, quality control in my ability risks. If information is misinterpreted. Adding interpretation duties would fundamentally alter the scope of the affected positions, which would require than new job. New job classifications recruitment standards and pay
ranges. In the modest differential would not be appropriate. Given the professional requirements of interpretation. Using bilingual staff also MAY bring up equity inconsistency. Concerns if interpretation, responsibilities vary by department or individual staff capacity creating an even expectations and workloads. Lastly, use of qualified certified Inter readers or artificial intelligence insurers are to it accuracy neutrality, consistency and appropriate risk management across the organization. And to be clear disruption, history is not extensive. And the last 5 years we've had one Internet service disruption. That was just this last fall. It resulted in 2 hours. Since then, it has also implemented Secondary backups. So if one Internet service provider goes down, we can flip over to another service providers. So we have learned from the one time it happened and have tightened up the ship. So back to the interpretation concept, Seth has strengthened the recommended amendment language for interpretation to provide guardrails against excessive use of the Interpretation ix exception in the amendment as it is currently drafted. Now recommends that council MAY reconvene the meeting without language interpretation services to hear any remaining time sensitive items on the agenda. Both the Senate was a city 0, 3, 0, the Open government section and the proposed Internet and telephone service disruption policy for city. It City
Council. Have also are also include communications and outreach requirements. That the communications and Intergovernmental Relations Office, we'll provide in English Spanish in any other languages that come on board as required under the Brown Act and our city code related to actions taken by counsel during those meetings where interpretation services. Have been disrupted due to an Internet and telephone disruption. 0 will have discretion on communication and outreach methods but should include a brief summary of what happened and what action was taken and shared across goal at various communication platforms like of delivery or the equivalent social media. Platforms in the City. Connections newsletter. They are for. The city clerk's in the city attorney's office recommended the council by 3 separate resolutions and one ordinance in the city council, many of procedures and protocols, the dot, the City Council policy entitled Internet and Telefonica Service disruption policy for city council meetings and then City Council policy 20 entitled Citizen Participation. And introduce an ordinance entitled Ordinance of the City ordinance of the Council of the City of Santa Rosa to amend chapter one, Dash 10 open government sections. One dash, 10 0, 3, 0, one Dash, 10 0, 4, 0, one Dash 10 0, 6, 0, 1, dash 10.0 7, 0, With that. I'm happy to answer any questions for you this evening. MADAM City Clerk, thank The amount of work that
has been that was involved in putting together was very large, very time consuming. And so very tedious. >> Thank you very much for your your service to the city. Let's throw open for questions on sb 707. All right, folks. Gonna ask We cut back to. Was one slide. That MAY be a bit concerned. I think it was one. C where was it? Let's go back to the disruption. History slide slide. 11. I noticed MR. Tickner has chosen to stay around and we're only one with one week removed from his threat to minimize cyber security here in the city. Should we be interpreting this live as a threat to hold the council hostage over sb 707. >> It services going to be going to maintain maintain his letter maintain this level of consistency. MR. Tickner please. Either either podium is fine. We just want reassurance that that our it services are going maintain the same level of excellence going forward. Get given the the the potential impacts our lifestyle. >> Good Mayor Council and Brent took chief information officer for the city. Assure you that these services will still continue. We've actually since that one disruption is Dina mentioned, we've added some additional resiliency. We've looked at it a lot beyond that, too. So it's not just fell over to a different Internet provider. We've updated some equipment that actual disruption was caused from a network switch that affected this whole room. Coincidentally at the exact same time the funny thing, there was an old phone that through the network switch off. So we've we've for replace our phone system, not just because of that, but it
was due to some of the equipment through the network often and so forth. We've we do realize that the Internet is a big part, though. And technology in general is a big part of these particular meetings. And so we too, have we take that with a lot of respect and are doing what we can to continue improving that. >> Thorough and politic answer. Brian, thank you for waiting for you on the spot. Alright, I want or journey was any further? What will stop 3rd open to public comment? Are there any members of the public wish to comment on this item? Seeing non? All right. We'll bring it back let's It's it's MISS Rogers for a motion. >> Hi, correct in that we'd have to 3 separate. Motions are working on doing same on this side and they can all go in one okay. So like to make a motion to adopt. >> The 3 resolutions and introduce the ordinance as presented by staff. >> Say right. Every motion. A second by MISTER Alvarez. Let's there's further discussion we can call and we can call the vote. >> I I would like to say thank you to you and your staff and also thank you to the it Department for all the work that you guys do to keep us running. >> Hear, hear. >> Councilmember Rogers at. Councilmember MacDonald. I Councilmember Fleming is absent councilmember Ben Yes, Councilmember Alvarez, Vice Mayor Okrepkie. I mayor Stapp. Yes, the motion passes with 6 affirmative votes. >> Thank you very much and sincere. Thanks to both of you. And this is a ton of work. So thank you for a ride for getting us through it. >> Thank you. There's more to
come on the staff side internal procedures and protocols that we will be implementing to support all of these items that you have just approved. >> I'm sure we can thank our formal car for former calling Rogers we can. We should have an idea. A memorial plaque dedication plaque to him somewhere down the it room. All right, Dave, thank you both. All right. Now, the true test of how of how much arc my council colleagues want to get home. We're going what we're going back to item 11 mayor and Councilmember reports. Would like, of course, Ms MacDonald us off. >> And on a you can move closer to the front of you want to. If you want to hear Ms MacDonald easily. >> Thank you, Mayor. Actually my pleasure that I get to introduce She's a renewable energy and infrastructure project manager with decades of experience seeing guiding complex public and private utility initiatives from concept execution building on a master of public administration degree from San Diego State University. She's like many projects manning, public infrastructure, finance, electrical and water system planning, environmental permitting and long-range policy development. She's very excited to bring her experience to the city Santa Rosa's Board of Public Utilities and to contribute to the successful planning coordination and Bill that filled out of critical utility projects that strength in community, resilience in support, long-term regional growth. And so I'm very thrilled to be appointing her to the Bpu Commission today. Excellent. Thank you, MR. Rogers. Thank you.
>> First, like to say that I attended the exchange Welcome reception for our Sonoma County, new along with Mayor Stapp. And city manager. I also met with the Santa Rosa manufactured Home Owners Association which I was able to get a lot of feedback, which I will be discussing with interim city manager. >> And >> I wanted to invite everyone out the Memorial Day event. >> That will be at the Santa Rosa More Memorial Park, 1900 Franklin Avenue. >> Being sponsored by Express Co South, keeping Veterans, local Marine Corp's Lee Hart in armor. And Vietnam Veterans of Redwood Empire, Chapter 2 to 3. >> Where we will honor the service members that we have lost. So that will be Monday. MAY 20 >> At the program will start in. Volunteers are always needed as early as 06:00am to set out all the flags that we put it at all, the grave site. So if you Ching to volunteer, we love to see there. And then lastly, as public servants, I know we we give a lot and we are away from our families a lot. So I wanted to take the opportunity to wish my now 15 year-old Jalen Rose a very happy birthday let the jayland. >> Thank you, MR. Rogers and Happy MRS.
>> Thank you, I want to take a moment to address it. Isn't that happened outside of the Cinco Mayo festivities a couple days ago softened. But this will definitely be pause. >> This is this is this is an incident. Know that these are facilities that have that have happened for many years now. And sadly, you know, we get the wrap of of. The negative incident happens. But I want set the narrative straight. From what I've been hearing. And that is. The perpetrators. Arnott from Rosen. Have they been from rose and the worst and what great things are happening and the community. How we are. One of the fastest, if not the the fastest growing economic districts of of Saint Rose of not Summit County and beyond. Nor do they understand. The great collaboration that's happening between our law enforcement and the residents that make a bros And I believe the quick apprehension of the suspects. Attest to that. So so for me. The record clear Rosen. Is not the same. Be it was yesterday nor it isn't anywhere near how great it will be tomorrow. I am from Rose and I'm proud and sadly we have our PRESIDENT Schoolboard ideas and I who are mere feet from the shooter but it's a definite reminder of the narrative that we are still combating. It is not the of today. And I want to set the Clare. Thank you. Thank you, MR. Over as Vice Mayor. 2 quick things Ctca yesterday we find the past the coordinated
claims. So that is now in place and funding can be put in place. >> For the mascots program, aligning transit for city bus. But all of a sudden the county bus smart going transit and so on down through the Northern California area and then secondly, this morning was the meeting for the cows cities. Fire Insurance working And we met there some information that has come for legislation is going forward and some for that on to the city manager, assistant city manager and Siro and they can disseminate it or if any of my colleagues want consider to directly. Thank you. With that, we'll throw it open to public comment saying no members of the public remaining. We will close public comment. >> We'll move on to item 12 approval of minutes. Are there any edits see? Yes, any edits to the APRIL 21st 2026 minutes. Seeing none. We will any public comment or numbers of the public here. So we will prove the minutes as submitted. We will then jump ahead to item 17.1 where we do have a one written communication are Courtney Boards, commissions and committees. A tense report. Providing for information our last public comment on non agenda matters. There are no members of the public remaining. So we will close that public comment and we are adjourned. Thank you. Everyone else.