City Council
City Council
mar, 19 de agosto de 2025
Puntos de agenda
Registros de votación
Resumen del debate
Transcripción
RESUMEN DE REUNIÓNGenerado por IA
Concejo Municipal de Santa Rosa — 19 de agosto de 2025
Esta fue una extensa sesión ordinaria que comenzó al mediodía con asuntos de sesión cerrada y se prolongó hasta después de las 9 p.m. El punto central de la sesión fue una controvertida audiencia pública sobre un proyecto de gasolinera pendiente desde hace tiempo, que atrajo a decenas de miembros de la comunidad. La Vicealcaldesa Alvarez estuvo ausente durante la mayor parte de la noche.
Informe de Sesión Cerrada
La Abogada de la Ciudad informó que, mediante votación 6-0 (con la Vicealcaldesa Alvarez ausente), el Concejo instruyó a la Abogada de la Ciudad a iniciar litigación en nombre de la Ciudad. Los detalles estarán disponibles una vez que la acción sea formalmente iniciada. Se escucharon otros tres asuntos de sesión cerrada; uno (asunto 3.4) fue continuado a una fecha indeterminada.
Tres desarrolladores también hicieron uso de la palabra durante el comentario público sobre el asunto de negociación de bienes raíces en sesión cerrada (asunto 3.2, aparentemente relacionado con una parcela de propiedad municipal en 733 Third Street). Representantes de Bay Hill Ventures, The Grupe Company (en asociación con Visionary Homebuilders para vivienda asequible) y LH Housing presentaron brevemente su interés en el terreno, destacando su experiencia y modelos de financiamiento. No se tomó ninguna acción de manera pública.
Proclamación del Día de la Igualdad de la Mujer
La Concejal Rogers leyó una proclamación que designa el 26 de agosto de 2025 como el Día de la Igualdad de la Mujer y señaló que es la primera vez en la historia de Santa Rosa que una mayoría femenina ocupa un lugar en el Concejo. Melanie Jones Carter, Vicepresidenta de la Comisión del Condado de Sonoma sobre el Estatus de la Mujer, aceptó la proclamación y destacó el trabajo actual de la comisión en materia de personas sin hogar, salud mental e inmigración en lo que respecta a mujeres y niñas.
Presentación sobre el Impuesto a la Propiedad (Tasador del Condado de Sonoma)
El Tasador del Condado de Sonoma David Prado y la Subdirectora de Tasación Rihanna presentaron datos sobre el impuesto a la propiedad en Santa Rosa. Puntos clave: el padrón de tasación del condado para 2025–26 alcanzó poco más de $127 mil millones, un aumento del 5.44%. El padrón de Santa Rosa creció un 5.3%, aproximadamente en el rango medio entre las ciudades del condado. La Proposición 13 sigue siendo el principal factor que impulsa los cambios de valor, con restablecimientos de tasación desencadenados por transferencias o nuevas construcciones. El Tasador señaló los efectos continuos de la Proposición 19, que modificó las reglas sobre transferencias de propiedades entre generaciones, lo que ha resultado en más restablecimientos de tasación cuando los herederos no ocupan las viviendas heredadas como residencia principal. La Directora de Finanzas de la Ciudad indicó que internamente se proyecta un crecimiento anual del impuesto a la propiedad del 3 al 4%. No se tomó ninguna acción.
Actualización del Estado del Programa de Mejoras de Capital
El Director de Transporte y Obras Públicas Dan Hennessey y la nueva Subdirectora de Ingeniería Christa Sventallar presentaron una actualización del CIP. Los aspectos destacados incluyeron:
El esperado puente peatonal/ciclista recibió la aprobación de la California Transportation Commission el viernes; la solicitud de propuestas para la gestión de construcción ya está publicada, se espera la adjudicación del contrato antes de fin de año, y se anticipa una ceremonia de inicio de obras en la primavera de 2026.
La Ciudad está en camino de adjudicar 31 contratos de construcción en 2025, en comparación con 35 en total durante los tres años anteriores combinados. Todos los proyectos actualmente programados para 2025 y principios de 2026 cuentan con financiamiento completo.
Las ofertas recientes han llegado con un 15 a 35% por encima de los estimados de los ingenieros, lo que refleja la incertidumbre de los contratistas respecto a los costos de mano de obra y materiales.
El Director Hennessey reconoció con franqueza que el proyecto del estanque de riego del Bennett Valley Golf Course no se completará este invierno debido a una mala asignación interna de recursos — "eso es mi responsabilidad" — pero se comprometió a iniciar la construcción en la primavera de 2026.
CIP de parques: solo 4 de 14 proyectos financiados cuentan con financiamiento completo; el personal regresará con un plan de reasignación.
Mejoras en el centro de la ciudad: el personal solicitó orientación del Concejo sobre si proceder administrativamente con mejoras menores (iluminación, señalización, equipamiento de juegos, monumentos de entrada) o llevar a cabo un proceso comunitario. El consenso del Concejo se inclinó por permitir discreción al personal en los asuntos menores, mientras que se utilizaría un proceso comunitario para cambios de mayor envergadura, como la reconfiguración de Courthouse Square. La Downtown Association y la Cámara de Comercio ya están involucradas.
No se realizó ninguna votación; se impartieron instrucciones al personal.
Cargos de la Empresa de Aguas Pluviales — Audiencia Pública
Asunto 16.2. El personal presentó la colocación anual de los cargos de la empresa de aguas pluviales en el padrón del impuesto a la propiedad del Condado de Sonoma para el año fiscal 2025–26. La tarifa unitaria vigente es de $42.46 por unidad residencial equivalente, sin cambios respecto al proceso presupuestario. Los cargos se han recaudado de esta manera desde 1996. Los comentaristas públicos solicitaron que se destinen más fondos al mantenimiento de arroyos y plantearon preocupaciones sobre doble facturación en zonas de inundación.
Votación: Okrepkie presentó la moción, MacDonald la secundó. Aprobada 6–0 (Alvarez ausente).
Enmienda Sustancial de HOME-ARP y Subvención a Catholic Charities — Audiencia Pública
Asunto 16.3. El personal presentó un paquete para: (1) presentar una enmienda sustancial al Plan de Asignación HOME-ARP de la ciudad ante HUD; (2) aceptar $4,095 en fondos adicionales de HOME-ARP y reasignar $100,000 de la administración municipal a servicios de apoyo; y (3) aprobar una segunda enmienda al convenio con Catholic Charities of Northwest California, incrementando el acuerdo a $1,719,539 hasta el 30 de junio de 2026. Todos los cambios se enmarcan dentro del programa federal HOME-ARP existente y no tienen impacto en el Fondo General. El personal señaló una reducción de aproximadamente el 23% en el número de personas sin hogar de un año a otro, con los datos finales del conteo puntual esperados en el plazo de un mes. Los comentarios públicos plantearon preocupaciones sobre el debido proceso en los procedimientos de queja para los clientes de las organizaciones financiadas.
Votación: Bañuelos presentó la moción, MacDonald la secundó. Aprobada por unanimidad, 6–0 (Alvarez ausente; Alvarez votó a favor de forma remota según la transcripción).
Apelación de la Gasolinera Elm Tree Station — Audiencia Pública (Asunto Principal)
Asunto 16.1. Este fue el asunto central de la noche: una apelación presentada por el solicitante Mongol Dylan contra la denegación unánime del 10 de abril de 2025 por parte de la Comisión de Planificación de un permiso de uso condicional para un proyecto de uso mixto en 874 North Wright Road. El proyecto incluye 6 surtidores de gasolina, 4 estaciones de carga para vehículos eléctricos, un mercado de alimentos frescos de aproximadamente 3,500 pies cuadrados, un espacio comercial pequeño de 400 pies cuadrados, una unidad residencial de 900 pies cuadrados y un espacio de uso público al aire libre adyacente al Joe Rodota Trail.
Antecedentes: El proyecto tiene una historia compleja que se remonta a 2007. Fue aprobado por la Comisión de Planificación en 2013, pero los derechos caducaron en medio de disputas sobre las extensiones de la ley estatal y el Incendio Tubbs. Se presentaron nuevas solicitudes en diciembre de 2021. En septiembre de 2022, el Concejo aprobó una ordenanza que prohíbe nuevas gasolineras, pero incluyó una exención para las solicitudes que ya habían sido declaradas completas, de las cuales esta fue la única que continuó con el proceso (un segundo solicitante se retiró).
Posición de la Comisión de Planificación: La Presidenta Karen Weeks testificó que la Comisión votó 6–0 para denegar el proyecto, determinando que era inconsistente con el código de zonificación (tienda de conveniencia versus supermercado; unidad residencial adyacente al uso de gasolinera), inconsistente con el Plan General (corredor escénico, compatibilidad con el sendero), incompatible con ciclistas y peatones en el Joe Rodota Trail, y un posible detrimento para la salud pública y la seguridad, citando la misma evidencia que motivó la prohibición de gasolineras. Señaló que a la Comisión le habría resultado muy difícil emitir determinaciones favorables en materia de salud y seguridad incluso sin la prohibición.
Posición del solicitante: La abogada Jeanne Kapelcheck y el abogado Martin argumentaron que el lenguaje de la exención en la ordenanza de 2022 —que permitía que la solicitud "continúe siendo procesada"— significaba que el proyecto no podía ser denegado simplemente por incluir elementos de gasolinera, como tanques de almacenamiento subterráneos. Destacaron que el proyecto utiliza tanques de fibra de vidrio de doble pared con sistemas de monitoreo (los tanques de pared simple están prohibidos en todo el estado y deben ser retirados antes de diciembre de 2025), que una evaluación ambiental del sitio Fase 1 no mostró contaminación, y que el proyecto obtuvo una certificación de calidad del agua conforme a la Sección 401. También cuestionaron la caracterización del espacio comercial como tienda de conveniencia por parte de la Comisión de Planificación.
Posición del personal: El personal determinó que las conclusiones para la aprobación *podían* formularse y preparó tanto un borrador de resolución de aprobación como la resolución de denegación equivalente. El personal analizó el proyecto en relación con el Plan General 2035 y el recién adoptado Plan General 2050 y determinó que era consistente con ambos. El personal confirmó que el proyecto estaba exento de la ordenanza de prohibición, lo que significa que debe evaluarse conforme a las regulaciones previas a la prohibición.
Comentario público: Aproximadamente 30 a 35 oradores se dirigieron al Concejo. La abrumadora mayoría —incluidos vecinos, ciclistas, profesionales de la salud (se leyó una carta firmada por 12 médicos y 6 enfermeras), defensores del medio ambiente, estudiantes y miembros de una coalición que se opone a nuevas gasolineras— instó a la denegación. Los temas principales fueron: el riesgo de contaminación de las aguas subterráneas (el censo del área se ubica en el percentil 96 a nivel estatal en cuanto a amenaza para las aguas subterráneas), los impactos en la salud del benceno y otros compuestos de la gasolina cerca de una zona residencial y una escuela concertada a aproximadamente 2,300 pies de distancia, la seguridad del tráfico y de peatones y ciclistas en la concurrida intersección de Highway 12/Fulton Road, los compromisos climáticos y el propio Plan de Acción Climática de la Ciudad, y la opinión de que el análisis exhaustivo y unánime de la Comisión de Planificación debería mantenerse.
Un pequeño número de oradores apoyó el proyecto, citando la conveniencia de contar con un mercado comunitario y un punto de parada junto al sendero, el apoyo a los negocios locales, la realidad de que los vehículos de combustión interna aún requieren combustible, y el deseo de contar con una alternativa independiente a las estaciones existentes.
Debate del Concejo: El debate central giró en torno a si el lenguaje de la exención de 2022 constituía un compromiso con el solicitante de que su proyecto sería evaluado bajo los estándares previos a la prohibición y que tendría una verdadera posibilidad de aprobación. Los Concejales Rogers, Okrepkie, MacDonald y el Alcalde Stapp argumentaron que la Ciudad había realizado una representación de buena fe al solicitante de que podía continuar con el proceso, y que denegar la apelación basándose únicamente en las características de la gasolinera traicionaría ese compromiso y potencialmente expondría a la Ciudad a litigación. Los Concejales Fleming y Bañuelos se alinearon con la Comisión de Planificación, haciendo hincapié en la exhaustividad de las determinaciones de ese organismo, las preocupaciones de salud y seguridad, la proximidad a la gasolinera/expendio de propano Blue Star contiguo, y las obligaciones climáticas. La Abogada de la Ciudad reconoció que el asunto probablemente resultaría en litigación independientemente del resultado.
Votación: La Concejal Rogers presentó la moción para aceptar la apelación, adoptar el addendum a la declaración negativa mitigada y aprobar el permiso de uso condicional. MacDonald la secundó. Aprobada 4–2, con Fleming y Bañuelos en disidencia. (Alvarez ausente.)
*Esto aprueba la construcción de lo que se espera sea la última gasolinera nueva permitida en Santa Rosa bajo la prohibición vigente.*
Nombramiento de Presidenta — Junta de Parques y Recreación
El Alcalde Stapp anunció a Carol Kwan como nueva Presidenta de la Junta de Parques y Recreación. Okrepkie presentó la moción, Rogers la secundó.
Votación: Aprobada 6–0 (Alvarez ausente).
Calendario de Consentimiento
Los siguientes asuntos fueron aprobados en bloque sin discusión separada (MacDonald presentó la moción, Rogers la secundó, 6–0):
13.1 — Respuestas a tres informes del Gran Jurado 2024–25
13.2 — Adjudicación de licitación para un edificio modular a Mobile Modular Management Corporation
13.3 — Adjudicación de contrato, revitalización del área de juegos del South Davis Neighborhood Park
13.4 — Adjudicación de contrato, Kimana Springs Community Park Garden
13.5 — Adjudicación de contrato, instalación de semáforo en Hearne Avenue y Burbank Avenue
13.6 — Adjudicación de contrato, mantenimiento preventivo del pavimento 2025
13.7 — Aprobación del acuerdo maestro de servicios profesionales para 23 categorías de alcance de servicios (adoptado con las enmiendas conforme a las revisiones en documento marcado distribuidas en el estrado)
13.8 — Resolución que establece límites de velocidad aplicables mediante radar (25–40 mph) en 29 segmentos de calles en toda la ciudad
13.9 — Orden de compra de radios Motorola para tres vehículos de bomberos, por un monto no mayor a $128,066
13.10 — Acuerdo de estacionamiento con 425 Humboldt LLC para el Parking Garage 3
13.11 — Venta de la parcela excedente en 0 Coffee Lane
13.12 — *Continuado al 30 de septiembre de 2025*
13.13 — Venta de parcelas excedentes en 970–996 Stony Point Road
13.14 — Acuerdo de servicios profesionales con Meca Consulting para evaluaciones ambientales de sitio Fases 1–3 del complejo del Ayuntamiento
13.15 — MOU con Burbank Housing Management Corporation para programas extraescolares
13.16 — Revisiones al Manual de Procedimientos y Protocolos del Concejo Municipal
13.17 — Aceptación de subvención del CHP Cannabis Tax Fund por $498,245 para el año fiscal 2025–26
Vacaciones de Servidumbres (Asuntos de Informe 15.1 y 15.2)
Ambos asuntos fueron aprobados 6–0 tras breves presentaciones del personal y sin comentarios públicos.
15.1 (4362 Highway 12): Vacación sumaria de una servidumbre de utilidad pública y una servidumbre de acceso para vehículos de emergencia, ambas reemplazadas por nuevas servidumbres dedicadas con el desarrollo de la instalación de autoalmacenamiento. MacDonald presentó la moción, Rogers la secundó.
15.2 (3901 Heathfield Place): Vacación sumaria de una servidumbre de acceso para vehículos de emergencia que nunca fue utilizada y no estaba indicada en el mapa de subdivisión. Fleming presentó la moción, Okrepkie la secundó.
Comunicaciones Escritas y Comentario Público Final
Se tomaron nota por escrito de dos mapas finales de subdivisión (Cherry Ranch Subdivision y Roseland Village). Ningún miembro del público estuvo presente para el período de comentarios finales sobre asuntos no incluidos en la agenda.
Puntos clave
Elm Tree Station aprobada 4–2: El Concejo revocó la denegación unánime de la Comisión de Planificación y aprobó un permiso de uso condicional para lo que se espera sea la última gasolinera nueva en Santa Rosa. El factor decisivo para la mayoría fue el respeto a la exención de buena fe extendida al solicitante en 2022; los miembros disidentes se alinearon con las determinaciones de salud, seguridad y clima de la Comisión de Planificación.
El puente peatonal/ciclista avanza: El esperado cruce recibió la aprobación estatal; se espera una ceremonia de inicio de obras en la primavera de 2026, lo que representa un hito que llevaba décadas en proceso.
Entrega récord del CIP: El personal proyecta adjudicar más de $100 millones en contratos de construcción en 2025 —aproximadamente un año y medio de financiamiento de capital— en comparación con 35 adjudicaciones totales durante los tres años anteriores.
Fondos HOME-ARP extendidos a Catholic Charities: Se aprobaron $104,095 adicionales en financiamiento federal para servicios a personas sin hogar destinados a Catholic Charities hasta junio de 2026, y el personal señaló una reducción de aproximadamente el 23% interanual en el número de personas sin hogar.
Retraso del estanque del Bennett Valley Golf Course: El personal reconoció que el proyecto del estanque de riego perderá otra temporada de invierno y se comprometió a iniciar la construcción en la primavera de 2026.
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.
Puntos de agenda (40)
Procedural (6)
1ProceduralHTTPS://SANTA-ROSA.LEGISTAR.COM/CALENDAR. CLICK ON THE "IN PROGRESS" LINK TO VIEW;
2ProceduralREMOTE PARTICIPATION UNDER AB 2449 (IF NEEDED) To consider and take action on any request from a Council Member to participate in a meeting remotely due to Just Cause or Emergency Circumstances pursuant to AB 2449 (Government Code Section 549539(f)).
3ProceduralCOMCAST CHANNEL 28, AT&T U-VERSE CHANNEL 99; AND
4ProceduralVIA YOUTUBE AT HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/CITYOFSANTAROSA Public Comment may be made live during the meeting In-Person from Council Chamber or submitted in advance via email at cc-comment@srcity.org by 5:00 p.m. the Monday before the City Council Meeting. IN THE EVENT A COUNCIL MEMBER PARTICIPATES REMOTELY BASED ON JUST CAUSE OR EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES PURSUANT TO AB 2449, THE CITY WILL ALSO ALLOW FOR PUBLIC COMMENT THROUGH THE ZOOM LINK OR DIAL-IN NUMBER ABOVE.
12.1ProceduralAugust 5, 2025, Regular Meeting Minutes.
21.1ProceduralUPCOMING MEETINGS LIST
Closed Session
3.1Closed SessionCONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Initiation of litigation pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (d) of Government Code Section 54956.9: one potential case.
3.2Closed SessionCONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR (Government Code Section 54956.8) Property: 730 3rd Street, APN 009-072-044 Agency Negotiator: Jill Scott, Real Property Negotiator Negotiating Parties: LH GPM LLC; The Grupe Company & Visionary Home Builders of California, Inc.: Bayhill Ventures, LLC Under Negotiations: Price and terms of payment.
3.3Closed SessionCONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION (Paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Government Code Section 54956.9) Lucan Bohanan vs. City of Santa Rosa Sonoma County Superior Court Case No. 24CV02519
3.4Closed SessionCONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION (Paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Government Code Section 54956.9) Cindy Gemignani, as Conservator of the Estate of Daryl W. Titus, et al.
General Business
7.1General BusinessPROCLAMATION - WOMEN’S EQUALITY DAY
7.2General BusinessPRESENTATION - COUNTY OF SONOMA PRESENTATION OF PROPERTY TAX INFORMATION FOR THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA
8.1General BusinessCAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM STATUS UPDATE Staff will provide an update of projects currently in the Capital Improvement Program. No action will be taken except for possible direction to staff.
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 July 2025, 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.
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 Authority/Regional Climate
11.2General BusinessBOARD, COMMISSION & COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS 11.2.1 CHAIRPERSON APPOINTMENT FOR BOARDS, COMMISSIONS,
15.1General BusinessREPORT - REQUEST FOR SUMMARY VACATION OF TWO PUBLIC SERVICE EASEMENTS, LOCATED AT 4362 HIGHWAY 12, PARCEL
15.2General BusinessREPORT - REQUEST FOR SUMMARY VACATION OF ONE EMERGENCY VEHICLE ACCESS EASEMENT, LOCATED AT 3901 HEATHFIELD PLACE, PARCEL NO. 173-490-035 (FILE NO.
16.3General BusinessPUBLIC HEARING - SUBMITTAL OF SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT TO THE HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS - AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN (HOME-ARP) ALLOCATION PLAN TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; AND APPROVAL OF SECOND AMENDMENT TO GRANT AGREEMENT
17.1General BusinessNOTICE OF FINAL MAP - Cherry Ranch Subdivision - For Council action.
17.2General BusinessNOTICE OF FINAL MAP - Roseland Village - For Council action.
2026General BusinessAll funding changes are within the Federal HOME-ARP program allocation and have no impact on the General Fund. RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended by the Housing and Community Services Department that the Council, by resolution: 1) authorize submittal of the Substantial Amendment to the HOME Investment Partnerships - American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP) Allocation Plan (Substantial Amendment) to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); 2) accept and appropriate additional HOME-ARP funds in the amount of $4,095 and reallocate $100,000 in HOME-ARP funds from City Administration and Planning to subrecipient Supportive Services and Non-Profit Operating Costs; 3)
Consent Calendar
13.1Consent CalendarMOTION - RESPONSES TO THREE 2024-2025 GRAND JURY
13.2Consent CalendarRESOLUTION - BID AWARD APPROVAL - MOBILE MODULAR BUILDING TO MOBILE MODULAR MANAGEMENT CORPORATION RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended by the Fire and Finance
13.3Consent CalendarMOTION - CONTRACT AWARD - SOUTH DAVIS NEIGHBORHOOD
13.4Consent CalendarMOTION - CONTRACT AWARD - KAWANA SPRINGS COMMUNITY
13.5Consent CalendarMOTION - CONTRACT AWARD - TRAFFIC SIGNALIZATION AT
13.6Consent CalendarMOTION - CONTRACT AWARD FOR THE 2025 PAVEMENT
13.7Consent CalendarRESOLUTION - APPROVAL OF NEW MASTER PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENTS AND AUTHORIZATION TO EXECUTE
13.8Consent CalendarRESOLUTION - ESTABLISHING SPEED LIMITS TO REDUCE VEHICLE SPEEDS TO BETWEEN 25-40 MILES PER HOUR ON 29
13.9Consent CalendarRESOLUTION - APPROVAL OF PURCHASE ORDER UNDER THE
13.10Consent CalendarRESOLUTION - PARKING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA AND 425 HUMBOLDT, LLC FOR THE USE OF
13.11Consent CalendarRESOLUTION - APPROVAL OF THE SALE OF THE SURPLUS PARCEL LOCATED AT 0 COFFEY LANE (APN 058-033-014) RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended by Real Estate Services that the Council, by resolution: 1) approve the sale of the surplus parcel located at 0 Coffey Lane (Assessor’s Parcel Number 058-033-014); and 2) authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all documents necessary to complete the disposition, subject to approval as to form by the City Attorney.
13.12Consent CalendarRESOLUTION - APPROVAL OF THE SALE OF SURPLUS PARCELS LOCATED AT 5740 MONTECITO AVENUE AND 0 FOUNTAINGROVE PARKWAY (APNs 181-010-025, -026 AND -027) (THIS ITEM HAS BEEN CONTINUED TO THE SEPTEMBER 30, 2025, REGULAR
13.13Consent CalendarRESOLUTION - APPROVAL OF THE SALE OF SURPLUS PARCELS LOCATED AT 970, 980, 988, 992, AND 996 STONY POINT ROAD (APNs 125-131-064, 125-131-060, 125-131-058, 125-131-061, AND 125-131-057) RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended by Real Estate Services that the Council, by resolution: 1) approve the sale of the surplus parcels located at 970, 980, 988, 992, and 996 Stony Point Road (Assessor’s Parcel Numbers 125-131-064, 125-131-060, 125-131-058, 125-131-061, and 125-131-057) (collectively, the “Property”); and 2) authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all documents necessary to complete the disposition, subject to approval as to form by the City Attorney.
13.14Consent CalendarRESOLUTION - PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT- MECA CONSULTING, INC. - FOR PHASE I, II, AND III ENVIRONMENTAL
13.15Consent CalendarRESOLUTION - MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE BURBANK HOUSING MANAGEMENT CORPORATION FOR
13.16Consent CalendarRESOLUTION - REVISIONS TO CITY COUNCIL MANUAL OF
13.17Consent CalendarRESOLUTION - ACCEPTANCE OF FUNDING AWARD FROM THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL (CHP) CANNABIS TAX FUND
Public Hearing
16.2Public HearingPUBLIC HEARING - PLACEMENT OF ANNUAL STORM WATER ENTERPRISE CHARGES ON THE SONOMA COUNTY PROPERTY
Votos adicionales registrados en actas
Closed session direction to initiate litigation
absent 1 · aye 1
Alvarezabsent
voice voteaye
Adopt resolution placing stormwater enterprise charges on Sonoma County property tax roll FY 2025-2026
absent 1 · aye 6
Alvarezabsent
Ben Willowsaye
Flemingaye
MacDonaldaye
Okrepkieaye
Rogersaye
Stappaye
Adopt resolutions authorizing substantial amendment to HOME ARP allocation plan and Second Amendment to grant agreement with Catholic Charities
aye 7
Alvarezaye
Ben Willowsaye
Flemingaye
MacDonaldaye
Okrepkieaye
Rogersaye
Stappaye
Accept appeal and approve conditional use permit for Elm Tree Station project
aye 5 · nay 2
Alvarezaye
Ben Willowsnay
Flemingnay
MacDonaldaye
Okrepkieaye
Rogersaye
Stappaye
Approve mayor's appointment of Carol Kwan as chair of Board of Parks and Recreation
absent 1 · aye 6
Alvarezabsent
Ben Willowsaye
Flemingaye
MacDonaldaye
Okrepkieaye
Rogersaye
Stappaye
Approve consent calendar items 13.1 through 13.17
absent 1 · aye 6
Alvarezabsent
Ben Willowsaye
Flemingaye
MacDonaldaye
Okrepkieaye
Rogersaye
Stappaye
Approve summary vacation of public service easements at 4362 Highway 12
absent 1 · aye 6
Alvarezabsent
Ben Willowsaye
Flemingaye
MacDonaldaye
Okrepkieaye
Rogersaye
Stappaye
Approve summary vacation of emergency vehicle access easement at 3901 Hefeld Place
absent 1 · aye 6
Alvarezabsent
Ben Willowsaye
Flemingaye
MacDonaldaye
Okrepkieaye
Rogersaye
Stappaye
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>> 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 to listen in Spanish. Can join the Spanish channel by clicking on the interpretation icon and the Zoom toolbar. It looks like a glow if you're on your cell phone or tablet locate the 3 dots top them lately. And but the check mark on your preferred language. Click done. To activate and to begin interpretation. Won't you join the Spanish Channel? We recommend you shut off the main audio. So you only hear the Spanish interpretation, teacher. Will you please restate this in Spanish? The witness? >> When a s me and going but knitting different, the fields he was done in this bind your own. But actually Times can. Think the project finished on your list of this band of it in it up. But it did have a hose issue, but they have on corner of the tunnel You within a fit pique. It is few of my is Spanish for is fine. Your view. She sent to this delay from a figure that would lead kind of a from the distant. Not part of this with dot fideo to city tradition, but they have and I okay, you but want that Billups. You know, put the field. What's You heat. It a view of my Spanish overspend. Your own no should be than the f it up and can all the stock when they entered me. Now, though, even the Cullman that Musk who never tasted it and come out spend it on. We'll go in and out. You're putting people in Inglis in Louisville. But up with this quick chat on yes for that month and is putting
out. With just like yes. But to you. >> Welcome everyone. The time is 302. And we'll call this sir. Not here to 12. 0, 2, force of habit. Well, 12, 0, cause meaning or MADAM City clerk. >> Thank you. Councilmember Rogers, PRESIDENT Councilmember Okrepkie your Councilmember MacDonald. Councilmember Fleming here, Councilmember Ben Willows here, Vice Mayor Alvarez. Let the record show that all councilmembers are present with the exception of Vice Mayor Alvarez. >> Thank you. We will move on to our very full of closed session agenda today. We have I done 3.1, our conference from legal counsel regarding anticipated litigation item 3 point to our conference with real proper with our property negotiator and item 3.3, conference with legal counsel regarding a litigation or existing mitigation and item 3 point for a conference with legal counsel regarding existing litigation. Are there any members of the public who would like to speak on any of the closed session items, MR. Do it. I see you at the podium. >> My name is Dwayne Do it. I'm from Roseland. I'm also a member of the Sonoma County housing advocacy group which came into existence almost 30 years ago in our effort to get. >> More affordable residential rental housing. >> Into not just Santa Rosa, but the entire county on today's agenda, there's an item real property negotiations are occurring. And as you know, it's real estate. All this is kept in the dark until after the fact for the public. But I'm here to at least advocate that
whatever type of a real estate activities occurring with this city-owned property that there be housing and that the housing should become affordable rental residential. And as many units as possible and that you also look into having as many veterans get the opportunity to live on the site if possible, because I'm in the dark. I don't know what we're dealing with here, but these are just my dreams, if you will. Did you know that there's a program called the Housing and Urban Development, Veterans Affairs, supportive housing voucher program. And what that does is it gives vouchers to veterans that are having difficulties finding housing and it helps them, especially if they're currently housing, homeless out on the streets to get a voucher and hopefully get a place to rent. One of the dilemmas is the vouchers haven't really been if excuse the expression, coordinated well between the city and the county and it's the city that for the entire county and yet even German u the chair of the Housing Authority doesn't know exactly how many vouchers are available and no one really knows the numbers so that we can help the veterans. And I go to these meetings and I bring this up because they're homeless veterans out there right now. And when the rain hits, they're going to be in a world of hurt summer living down in a creek, Rosalynn Creek, which I volunteered to take care of. Bring this all up. I know business people in the staffers aren't necessarily interested in all this at the time, but you can actually use some of those
vouchers on project based situations and which you can verify ahead of time that you'll put 10, 15 vouchers into a project and then that will guarantee that veterans will get to live in those units. And that's happened in a couple of places up in Windsor. 55 units were put together. Veterans are getting to live there and in some other places. So whoever these folks are and whatever they're working on, keep veterans in mind and give them a chance for veterans to live in any kind of housing that might be coming forward on any kind of city land that might have some kind of a project to be getting done in the future and then last but not least please avoid lawsuits from other folks. I saw one of these guys out in the Roseland neighborhood the other day. Sadie soon, ya. Take care. Thank you to Wayne. If all. On the floor is yours. Thank you. Mayor staff. Council members. My name is Paul Parity and I'm the founder of >> and ceo Be Hill Ventures. Thank you so much. That's good. That's good. Our Bay Hill team is really excited to be considered for. >> The 7 33rd Street project. Thanks for giving me a few moments today to express her enthusiasm and to share a few thoughts. We started Bay Hill Ventures a few years ago after my 33 year career with Hines, which is a global real estate company. And Hines, I lead the development of major projects like Salesforce Tower in downtown San Francisco, the jp
Morgan headquarters. At 5.60, mission and spare 35 story. High-end apartment tower in downtown San Francisco. Also all in all, I've worked in about 20 million square feet of commercial real estate development. I'm really excited to put my experience to work here in downtown. Santa Rosa is a wonderful place to live. And we're really confident he'll be great demand to live and the project that we've envisioned for this beautiful city. I've had a home for 20 years on the other side of tree. Only State park. So I know and love this area. And of the world very much. And I'd be thrilled to build a project here. The site has all the right attributes of centrally located. Is surrounded by all the downtown amenities. It's large enough to deliver a sizable project which will allow for lots of variety in the units and and amenities, some of which will make available to the public. This is a really attractive development site is I'm sure, you know. So are proposal to invest is to invest our own capital to design and the title, the project so that we advance it to a point where we secure investment partners to be able to build. We won't rely on finding outside capital to fund the design entitlement process which allows momentum right from selection are entitled design process creates certainty on the budget and schedule, giving our partners in the city confidence that we can commence construction immediately. Will design the community that will attract residents and thrive well into the distant future. High-quality, the project will reflect the importance of the site. Understanding the rental market is dynamic and still improving from some challenging years, we've structured the purchase price to allow the city to benefit
from future higher values. We see this is the start as a long-term relationship of Santa Rosa and hope. It'll be the first of numerous projects. And I thank you for your time today. >> Thank you, Paul. Thanks for being here. Are there any other members of the public would like to speak? Go ahead. >> Good afternoon, mayor and council members. My name is Matt Skelton, and I'm the vice PRESIDENT Acquisitions for the group. Company. Thank you for the opportunity to let us speak propose on the 7 33rd Street rfp. Group is no stranger to Santa Rosa or Sonoma County. We built built the bricks 3.25. Apartments over on London Avenue. We are also the select a developer for the Sonoma Development Center, which we are actively working on entitlements right now. And we also have and active residential project in Sebastopol. More broadly, the group becoming is devolved to more than 13,000 apartments over 20 master-planned communities across Northern California and among many infill residential for sale projects. We also bring direct experience in dealing and in downtown Cora areas having several apartment projects in Midtown, Sacramento. For this project we brought in our partner visionary homebuilders in affordable housing developer. Who has a proven record of success. The visionary has developed over 30 apartment. Excuse me, 30 projects, various types totaling more than 2500 units across various of affordability. Visionaries. Also. Brings extensive knowledge in securing federal tax credits needed for an
affordable housing community and also a great track record when it comes to success awarding state level subsidies such as a sick Together. We We envisioned a large-scale development, the downtown core area. We think it's a great place for an affordable housing community. We see it as opportunity to provide much needed affordable housing in the in the downtown core area. Here. And we are enthusiastic for the chance to work with the city and the community to bring this vision to life. Thank you very much for your time. Matt, thank you very much. >> Are there any other members of the public would like to speak? Please know Mike, is yours. >> name there a mix lh housing? I think so much mayor city members. We're super excited about this downtown site. I think you have a great set of developers we're very happy that I think whatever decision you make is going to be a really good one. But I like to make a couple points make us a little bit different. First, I would say our focus is always on workforce housing filling the middle the missing middle, if you will, the housing. That's all we designed for us. All of our capital is focused on the 80 to one 20%. Am I which I think is a great fit for your Saint downtown. All of our designs, our art art, top quality. We look to build out the housing as a for workforce housing. The second point is that we are fully funded. We do not look for tax credits. We don't look for any kind of subsidies. We managed pension fund money. We manage Korean
capital. All of partners are aware of this site. We've talked to him there. We are. And like Santa Rosa. So when we build a project, we are are fully capitalized from that cap stack from a to z. We are ready to build on this day. One. And then the 3rd p something that's really important is that. You know, we're a committed partner. We like Santa Rosa. We like the area. We want to build on more sites down here. Capital is patient. We are not looking too. Refinance out or have to sell the asset or deal with traditional institutional capital where we have a 3 3 or 5 year time span. We have very, very long term partners that want to stay are nonprofit Crews, a great property manager. And so once we build the project, we intend to have a very focused tenant oriented management. We want to be connected with city on this deal. We want to make sure that we deliver something that's positive to downtown that. By Henry and a j energizes the downtown. Creates ground floor. Food hall cord play. That really kind of connects this project with the rest of the city. And we're really open to feedback working with all the committee members. You. To make something make a lot of sense for everybody. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Thank you again to all of you for being here. Are there any other members of the public would like to speak? Seeing none. We'll
close public comment. And before recess, I will mention that item. 3.4 is being continued to a date uncertain, so announced earlier. But item 3.4 is being continues. So just items. 3.0, 1, 3, 3.3 today. And with that, we will recess in a closed session. Thank you, everyone. Welcome back, everyone. The time is 4 o'clock and we will reconvene MADAM City Clerk, would you please call the roll? >> Thank you, Mayor. Councilmember Rogers, PRESIDENT Councilmember Okrepkie here, Councilmember MacDonald here, Councilmember Fleming councilmember Venmo's Vice Mayor Alvarez present Mayor step here. Let the record show that all councilmembers are present. >> Thank you walking on to item 6. A report on are closed. Sessions and city attorney. Thank you, MR. Have one report out from closed And I just lost it one 0nd. >> By a vote of 6 affirmative votes with Vice Mayor Alvarez. Absent Council directed the city attorney to initiate litigation on behalf of the city. Once formally commenced, the particulars of the action will be made available to any person requesting that information. And with that, I have no other reportable action to report. >> Thank you very much. And now we will move on to item 7.1. Our proclamation to celebrate Women's Equality Day. And I'll turn to my colleague MISS Rogers. >> Thank you, mayor, for Ally. Need to honor 2 read this proclamation. And I would also like to point out that it is the first time in Santa Rosa's history that we've had all-female, majority sitting
here on the council. So I am very proud to serve with you guys. Thank you so much. Whereas on AUGUST, 26 2025. We mark the 100th anniversary of the enactment of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution which secured the right to vote for women. And whereas in 1976, a Sonoma County Board of Supervisors establish one of the first commissions on the status of women in the state of California with the purpose of promoting equal right and opportunities that enhance the quality of life for all women and girls and addressing issues of discrimination and prejudice that negatively affect women in Sonoma County and whereas women constitute nearly 50% of our workforce the majority of the students in our colleges and graduate schools and an increasing number of primary breadwinners. And whereas in 2020 for 2025, Sonoma County Women working full-time earn 86% of what men earn and women working in and service. Services areas such as the majority of women workers in Sonoma Valley earn even less. And whereas even with the gains women have made more work remains to be done in many areas that directly impact equal pay for equal work, including access to quality affordable childcare, affordable housing and
comprehensive health care for women, including reproductive in mental health care. Whereas. The mandate for Women's Equality Day in 2025. Accelerate efforts to eliminate systemic barriers and biases that impede women's progress. Emphasizing the need for swift and decisive measures to achieve gender equity. Now, therefore, be it resolved that our mayor. Marks that the mayor of the city of Santa Rosa on behalf of the entire city Council in recognition of our community do hereby proclaim AUGUST. 26 2025 as Women's Equality Day. Thank you very much. And we have going on here to accept the award on melanie's at you. >> Now onto the floor is yours. My name is Melanie Jones. Carter the vice chair for the Commission on the Status of Women in Sonoma County appointed by Supervisor Chris Coursey. >> We would like to thank the council for taking the time to acknowledge the work done by so many impactful women in Sonoma County. While the 19th amendment was a major victory, women's Equality Day also serves as a reminder that the fight for full gender equality continues. Today's also a chance to recognize the decades of back to enact. And advocacy. >> That led to the passage of the 19th Amendment. >> Women's Equality Day is a day for reflection, celebration and continued commitment to advancing women's rights and opportunities. The
commissioners are advisers to the Sonoma County's Board of supervisors and work to ensure that issues impacting women and girls are given the necessary visibility to effect positive change and public policy. This year we have committees focusing on how women and girls in Sonoma County are impacted by homelessness, mental health issues and immigration. We have our next panel on immigration scheduled for 9.11. Invite you to attend either in person or via zoom after each panel is completed. We produce the white paper with suggestions and solutions feel free to reach out to the commission. If you ever have any need for issues that impact women and girls in Sonoma County again, thank you so much to the council for this proclamation. >> Tony, thank you so much for your. Well, let's yes. Let's applaud that. Now. Many thank you so much for your work on the commission and and so many other other boards in our community. Before we let you down for a photo, let's open this up to public comment. Are there any members of the public who would like to speak? Thank thank you to Wayne. We'll have that in the record. Alright, we'll close public comment and many more to come down to Find out. Thank you again, Melanie. We'll turn now to item 7.2. There are few topics that can capture the attention of city council members right now. More than property tax. So we're delighted to welcome diva and Allen to give us more information. Thank you. Mayor members of the My name is Alan
Alton and the city's chief financial officer. >> With me David Prado, who is the counties clerk recorder assessor and with me also, is Rihanna. Who is the counties deputy chief assessor each year. We are a given property assessment, value information and we thought that it would be good to have. I come by and give a presentation to the council and the community on the property tax information. Just 4 Santa Rosa. So with that, I will turn it over to Thank you. Hello. Council members. >> as Allan said, I'm d for Murray Pro. Do the county assessor. So our annual on e broader level on the county level this year are 25 26 assessment. Roll was and just over 127 billion dollars. The majority of that is secured value, which is what people typically think about land and structures. Although we did have about 4 billion dollars in unsecured value. So that could be personal property boats, aircrafts, things that are affixed the land generally. So that does represent a 5.4, 4 percent increase over last year's value. Most of that was in the secure in value. We had a very small change in the unsecured value. And we did see a slightly higher increase in the unincorporated areas as compared to the incorporated cities. Just a little bit
about timelines. So the values that are presented as part of this role are based on the values as of JANUARY. 1st of 2025, so we go through our process is where basing everything on the market value. As of that day or the Proposition 13 value. And then we close our role on JUNE. 30th and turn that information over to the audit or controller treasure tax collector. So they take the assessed value that we provide. They apply the appropriate tax rate areas. They determined the values and then the tax collector actually sends out the bills and gets the payments for that. So most people are familiar with the DECEMBER 10th due date as well as the APRIL 10th. So in the case of the APRIL 10 states do actually over a year after those values have been set. And then of course, we are working on role corrections and supplemental assessments on an ongoing There are tax bills and notices being sent out for those. This is a graph of the county assessment. Roll history. So you can see that we had several years after the recession of declining or stable growth. And then since then, we've had pretty steady increases. In the assessment. Roll. And this is just looking at the actual percentages. Again, some years of negative growth. And then we've had pretty consistent. Increases in sun. So in terms of the city, Santa Rosa's fairly in the middle, not the. Highest growth, but a 5.3% increase
over last year. So our lowest one was cloverdale this year and our highest was Sebastopol. And this could be for a variety of factors. There could be more transfers, which is when we're going to go through and reassess that property. There could also be more new construction that are coming on to the role as of JANUARY. 1st. This slide is just kind of the wrong numbers. Comparisons from last year to this year. So you can see that we had a slight decrease in assessed value in Santa Rosa for personal property. And we did have a higher percentage in terms of what property was, what values were exempted. So this could be something as small as more people filing homeowners exemptions and it could also be a low income property that started receiving the welfare exemption. So as I mentioned, there are several growth factors that relate each year to the role. So Proposition 13 Israeli, our driving force behind the assessment roll. And that means that property is reassessed upon transfer of property or up on new construction. It's reassess of the market value at the time of the event. And that's not necessarily the sales price, especially if there's an off-market transaction. But generally speaking, it tends to be the sales price. And then the property assessments will go up and you only a maximum of 2%. So if the cpi is lower than 2%, you're going to get the lower of the 2. Our office has had a backlog for a number of years. So part of this growth is related to the work we've been doing on
getting that backlog down. So we are seeing slightly higher increases than some other counties in the Bay area because of that, we are making good progress on the backlog reduction. So that is a positive thing. And then we also just wanted to flag for people that Proposition 19 is affecting things. But we don't have a lot of data on it yet. So Proposition 19 was passed by the voters NOVEMBER of 2020. And there were 2 big provisions for that. One is a base. Your value. So victims of fire if people are older than 55, they can transfer their base here value anywhere in the state. And do that 3 times. And they can keep their base your value as they transfer from property to property. So we are seen in Sonoma County. People from the Bay Area, especially Francisco's Santa Clara, who have maybe on their home for a long time transferring up here. Buying a property and then bringing their low base here up here. So we're not seeing the full value of that transfer. On the flip side, we're also having people from Sonoma County leave and go maybe to the foothills Sacramento area, places where it's slightly lower and they're taking that based year value with them. And then that property. MAY be reassessed at the current market value. As of that transfer. We're also seen an increase based on the intergenerational transfers. So in the past, a parent could pass property to their child with no reassessment of that property. Now it has to be the primary residence of the
parent and it has to become the primary residence of the child within one year. Otherwise it is not eligible for that base year value transfer. So we are seeing less eligible properties, which means that we're seeing more reassessments based on deaths or property transfers between. Families. And I know it was absolutely fascinating, but that is the end of presentation. We have contact information up here for both myself and Rihanna as well as the office in General. So if anyone has any questions. >> That was fascinating and very important. Thank you for taking the time to be here tonight. I'm going get back to council for questions looking my colleagues. Oh, come on. People. MR. Fleming. Thank you for that. >> Presentation I'm curious now, are you able to tell us about the and this is not really within the scope and if you have it off the top, your head, the the percentage of property tax that's collected and how that's distributed to the various jurisdictions. They get a piece of that. >> I'm afraid I don't have that information. That is really the auditors office and tax collector as they do the different tax rates and split all the revenue into the appropriate buckets. Okay. Thank you. Sorry us. That was your question right? Fina? I ask a couple questions. >> you might not have the answer to these either, but it would save what is the comparison between Sonoma counties, tax base and same Napa is lakes. Mendocino is where we rank in the North
Bay. >> If we are, I would say below the kind of >> San Francisco Santa Clara's in terms of assessed values, their larger, they have more properties, more people where larger than I think. Like 3 times or 4 times. Napa. >> much now has 160,000. Okay. So we proportionately larger. The Napa in roughly that larger and roughly that same proportion. >> I think nafta has they have some higher property values in some cases. So I don't know that it's completely proportional, but I would say. >> In line with general. >> Yeah, not sure. We have. We have done that actual comparison that you're speaking But we do have a higher value than they do. >> So I'm just I'm catch you off guard here. I was just I was just curious to know how we compared terms of growth rate. It looks like tended to average and that 5 or so 5 or 6% from around in great recession is at the forecast going forward. That something in that range is going continue. >> We don't generally forecast mainly because we don't know what's happening with the market. I know there's a lot of uncertainty right now related to the commercial market to agriculture and vineyards. So we are. Constantly looking at market values to see if we are seen any type of a dip we have. I would more varied economy. Then some areas in the Bay area. So we haven't seen any dips at this point in time. We've seen kind of. Maybe rumblings on the horizon of possible issues with vineyard values or with commercial values. But we don't have the market value necessarily yet
to back that But we'll continue to look at it. >> Thank you for that analogy. Really? City specific forecast. Yes. So off top my head know it. We do run around. I would say we're closer 3 or 4% with our forecasting going out. We use the information that comes from the county, both the assessors information, but also a number of factors that kind of roll into. Are forecasting is it is different. Then what presenting here? But yeah, around I would where we sit around 3 or 4% growth that we're looking at and we really kind of. Go down and flatten out in our al years of our forecast. So we really focus on the first couple of years. Thank you for that white only guy having any other questions. But I do want to say thank you again and actually before I get my thanks, Laz to public comment on any members of the public who would like to make comment on this item tonight. >> Seeing none. We'll close public comment and even just say thank you again for for stopping by. Allen, thank you for arranging this and even thank you for your many years of work not only in this area but on elections as well. You have the toughest in the priest meester toughest and most tedious jobs in the county. Much obliged. So thank you very much. We will move on to item 8.1. Our Capital Improvement Improvement program status. Update.
Director Hennessey. >> And good afternoon, Mayor vice mayor members of council Dan transportation public works. Director here with some exciting updates. The for most of which is that I bring a co-presenter with me. Our new deputy director of engineering services overseeing the Capital Projects Division, Christus even taller. No happier person in the city to me that she's here. But Lang Kristen, opportunity to introduce yourself to everybody really good. >> Good afternoon. Like Dan said, My name is Chris to see color. I actually grew up in Santa Rosa and I've spent the last 17 years working for Caltrans. So I am very happy to be back. Excited to deliver projects for the city of Santa Thank you. >> Somebody who knows what they're doing is finally here to help hopefully get some good work from Chris. Then some more improvements for the committee members. Alright, this bridge. On Friday. The California transportation. California Transportation Commission approved an amendment to the state transportation Improvement Program, which basically confirms our concept design construction timeline, funding plan for this that says we're allowed to move forward. So that is all but one permission we need. We have one forming to Caltrans that says. That allows us to build the project that says 6 to 8 week timeline that we submitted a couple weeks ago anticipating approval last Friday. So we expect in late SEPTEMBER or OCTOBER and a big plan set to hit the streets for contractors to take a look at. Have out right now. And rfp for construction management and inspection services for this project.
>> So we're full steam ahead expect to award a contract on this before the end of the year and have a groundbreaking ceremony with all of you sometime next spring. I know it's been a long time Com a lot of work has been done for several decades over this. I'm lucky to be the one that gets to present the good news. But a lot of people that a lot of stuff to make this happen. On to some smaller projects where we've had recent successful since I last spoke with you in early JUNE, we've had 7 projects have successful bit opportunities for of which are on today's agenda for your approval and the consent portion. Sorry in advance to the city clerk for haven't read all that. But will that brings us now to 15 successful bid opportunities for the year when we talked last 7 of the first 8 that we had for the year came in under the engineers estimate and we were really optimistic. That was trend that might continue. We're over the last 7. Everything you see and hear was over. The engineers estimate somewhere between. 15 35%. Whether that's a trend we do now and talking to contractors. They're guessing right now at their costs and they're passing that uncertainty along to us. And asking us to help them deal with it. We don't really have a choice. But to if we want to keep moving so everybody's kind of just watching out for what's happening in both the labor market and materials markets right now. But there's a lot of uncertainty happening. Also wanted to know the last time we talked about the slurry seal project in Northwest Santa Rosa that completed on Friday on schedule. Cups from residents trying to access their their driveways and properties and
get out of their neighborhood. But everything handled by our team without much ado. As I mentioned, we've done this will be with a purple today. We'll have 15 projects awarded this year. And 25. Comparison to past years. In the 3 years we have done. 35 Project awards total through today will be at 15. There are 5 more projects currently out to bid. And another 11 that we anticipate getting before DECEMBER. So this is cyclical. There's there's been some strategy and some effort to make certain that things get done this year and this won't happen every year, but we will have awarded 31 contracts this year compared to 35 the last based on our tentative plans. The most exciting part about all of this to me is that of the 16 remaining projects for this year and the 17 additional projects that we have for JANUARY through MARCH of 2026, every single one of them is 100% funded. Based on what we now. You all made at clear ask of us to focus on deliver ability. We have done and everything that's on our books right now for particularly for transportation, public works and for water. Expect to deliver. We have a plan to deliver I'm excited to share that news. Those 20 projects are out currently or are have already been awarded some to just under 35 million dollars. The remaining 11 are almost 17 million dollars of construction work. So I think
last time a are you asked if we how far into 8 figures we were going to get this year? I pretty confidently. Said far into it. But I wasn't sure I'm pretty sure we're going to add 9 figures of construction contracts in 2025. And well into 9 figures for fiscal year. 25 26 as a whole. And if you remember our entire capital improvement budget is just over. 75 million dollars. So well over a year's worth of funding will be spent this year delivering projects. Some of those projects that are coming. And 21 at the beginning of 2026 include repaving on by Centennial and founder of pedestrian safety improvements on Avenue, Corby Avenue, Herndon Avenue, paving on. 3rd Street Pearson Street along the sidewalk improvements paving on the street there. Water projects in the Myers Drive area, robust trunk lining project and a flood protection project out at the Laguna Treatment plant. For the rest of the year. Host of projects across departments, those that you see bold and there are from led by center as a water. The attalla size ones are for transportation. Public works along with a couple of parks projects. But again, more than 70 million dollars worth of work. Still to come this year. So far, this presentation I think has mostly been good I wanted also share we're going to be late with the Bennett Valley Golf course irrigation pond. And that is my fault. We have had. Research challenges internally. There are a number of reasons why, but ultimately it's my fault. I didn't prioritize things correctly. This is not going to get done this year. We're looking for
ways to make some improvements before the winter doing some excellent explanation of drilling for the fall to be prepared for the winter. But the pond itself well, not be complete before this winter, so we will experience another winter without that. I apologize for that. I ellich aided the resources to accomplish this project before the winter. We have a plan. This project will be did this winter DECEMBER JANUARY. We will be constructing out there in the spring. All the issues that we've encountered, we've sorted through every time we've pile on turned belief we found more leads to an turn and figure out what the next issue is. So I did want to bring that back to you as a council funded project that we messed this one up. But mostly I mess this one up and well get it done next year. In. With our new brethren from Parks, we have been taking a look at their funding and their project plans to help deliver and help move through some additional there are a host of projects that are currently in construction are up to date right now. Those are the ones that you see on the list. That leaves another 50 million dollars or so that on spoken for in terms of ongoing construction. 14 different projects have funding allocated to them. 7 of which are anticipated to begin construction in the next 12 months, which is good news. However, the funding split between those Only 4 of them are fully funded. So in the next few months, we're going to be moving money around. I will come back with an update to you about how that will work. But we have not allocated resources correctly to deliver this year. So similar to the discussions
that we've had in the past about particular transportation and public works project. We will have a similar discussion later this year at the next update to share how we move some money around and are getting more parks projects out the door the goal, though, is ensure those measure and funds are spent. Those are those are the money that our community members are paying for. Parks improvements. We're going to get them spent. Last I know that there is real desire to see some improvements downtown and host of people from parks from planning and economic development from transportation public works have been talking about. What those opportunities are, what our funding sources are to make those happen. We're talking about lighting signage play a quick meant street Any host of items? And talking to that there are some Farrelly, big picture changes being considered for things like courthouse square for some of our streets and in terms of how they operate and what they do and that team is asking for some feedback from you whether now or through the city manager, as you have time to consider this. But you know, there are a number of things we could do quickly. We can make decisions and go. However, there are is almost certainly going to be interest around this. And wanting to know from you what level of engagement you're looking for from us that a full community engagement process. Report back to council using our boards and commissions or can staff make choices and go, you know? I know there's desire for action, but there's also a lot of interest in downtown you know, we're happy make mistakes. If if you authorize us to make some mistakes and go but we want to try to do as
many good things as we can as quickly as possible, but also understanding that there's a lot of interest in this. So spending some of those parks fees, some of the pet fees that we have available. Also, some funds from transportation public works to make improvements for signage and play structures and things like that. Julie, I park in Courthouse Square and jj, Wayne and others. So any feedback you have on that either now through the city manager, back to me, it would appreciated. Thank you for the time to make that update on the path. Happy to answer any questions. Krista, excellent, as always. And welcome looking my college questions. Mayor before you take question race who want to thank Dan for his transparency. I know Bennett Valley has been on the. >> The list for a long time. You know, our goal is not to hide the football. We want to come to you when we feel like, you know, things are delayed and we want to be van very transparent. So, Dan, I appreciate your transparency. And no, it is not your but we want to communicate with no surprises. Is we move these projects forward as well. Thanks. Thank you for that. Looking again to council for questions, Donald. >> Thank you, Mayor, and thank you for the presentation. I appreciate your willingness accept responsibility for something that started before you got here. But but as a city managers said, I'm I'm happy that you're going to be focusing specifically on Bennett Valley in getting that out. The door eventually cause. I know that's been something we hear from constituents that it needs to be addressed. I do want to also you for looking at the budget specifically on parks
development to see how we combine our friends and not do these 10 year projects and start to earmark we can see the proof in the pudding right now that you have so many projects happening just within this year. And I just want to really commend you and your whole team. I know had its everybody, not just you doing the work to get these out the door. So thank you for that. One question that I do have is on the downtown park improvements. Have we talked to the d a o and the business is down there to include them in the discussion about what they want see what they want to have in the middle courthouse square so that it's not, you know, we're really attracting families and people downtown, making sure that we're reaching out to them consistently. Yeah, through we are is Asian process with lot of corn, 80 with the recently in terms of maintenance responsibilities between parks in Tw. But also what are the types of improvements that we're considering? >> So, yes, should have said that we working with them quite a bit on not just what needs to be there, but then also what happens after how does it get maintained? Have you know, who does it and making sure that we're on the same page. >> 8 things. Welcome to the team. Thank MR. Creepy. >> With us. Or you're skilled. Slurry seal schedule. Do we ever consult with the school calendars as to when that take place? We tried. We we messed it up but we tried cocaine. I yeah, we did look at the calendars. I think 1, 1, there was a change to the school calendar after we also misread
one. We really messed up. Okay. Maybe reread and double checking would be good in the I receive some reports back on that. >> And do you want direction that city manager Okay? Yeah. For me, I think would be great for it to go through the various boards and commissions to see what input is. If we are interact with the in the business community that we can go that route, then come back. I don't know. With a study session report item or whatever it might be to get our input on it before final approval what have you, whatever might be the easiest route to do that as long as it. I mean, I'm open to suggestions. I know this has been a topic for probably the last 2 years to activate the square. >> Specifically for families. So whatever the easiest way is to provide feedback to some open to. >> Yeah, I'm always a big fan of efficiency and doing things quickly. But I the square ever sense. The reunification has been a. Passionate issue for many people. Maybe slowing it down just that little bit to go through the process appropriately would be warranted in a situation. I think it slowing it down. Could still mean yeah, in the next few months, not years long Appreciate the feedback. Thanks, council. Think you. >> Thank you. And my first question is around, slurry Every time these maps came out, you know, you got to put on your helmet before you go in your email. You know what I mean? And I'm just curious what have constituents who are understandably frustrated by the terrible pavement conditions. And, you know, I
try to talk with them about the constraints for budgets and whatever. But I'm just curious, do you give any guidance and like how do you how would you communicate with someone around like? Because because it's not really appropriate for us to ask you to pave a specific street, we can raise lenior tension. But, you know, I mean, it's it's it's a not great governance to be like. Hey, Dan, I need you to do this street over here for game. So, you know, she doesn't. You know, come from in the middle of the night. So how do you how do you think of that? >> I put my helmet on. No, I think I am as transparent as you can be about what we need. >> How we're addressing it to the best of our abilities. And if you if it would be helpful for me to provide some kind of form language about our capabilities and what we can't do, I can do that. But I'm also happy to respond to as you get questions. We you know, I think through the prayers, ation process we went through last year. We redirected a lot of funding towards pavement maintenance. And I think that will be seen over the next few years in terms of the work that's done. To be seen on on a scale at a city scale. That's generational in that that will be, you know, 2040 will be talking about the success of that. If we stick on this course to help it's a long time coming. Thank you. >> And as for the downtown parks that I think that I would conceptualize it on 2 tracks. One would be for larger projects. You definitely want to get good community input. That said there's a lot of smaller things that folks have been wanting to have done for a while. Others upgraded electrical on the square or other types of things. And I
wouldn't put anything like that for a process. I would, you know, prioritize getting stuff done in general. Also think that any of pretty good judgment and that, you know, community process is important, but it doesn't necessarily be need to be quite as say, like rebuilding neighborhood park or community Park. >> Thank you spend Willis. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you so much. Stand for a great presentation. And just wanted to first it's very impressive. How many projects you've got going compared to what we've done in the past. So congratulations on that. And also congratulations on moving the pedestrian bicycle bridge forward. I think that's really exciting. As you said, it's been in the making for a really long time. So I'm really glad to see that you're getting so close the only thing I wanted comment and I do have a list for downtown. And talked to a city manager often about But the one the 2 things that I wanted to stress, I think we're community engagement getting more feedback. I mean, I do think it's important to talk to the d a and and chamber and obviously the merchants a thing. All those folks and I know from what I hear, many conversations are going on an economic development and and I think all of that is wonderful. But also when we think about what we want to see in downtown, it's really not what we want to see downtown. It's what the community wants to see downtown. So. I think that's a piece that probably we need to invest more time in. And and. As I in terms of process. Give my list city manager and we
can talk about it more because there's so many things that we could be doing. And agree Councilmember Fleming, theirs, some things that we can do quickly. And then there's some things that are going to be more long term. So with that, I just say thank you. Thank Dan. You mentioned that there might be areas where staff could have more discretion we could speed things along. Can you give a few examples of what that might look like? >> I think everything that we're considering right now could be could be handled administratively. And so we know we're talking on on the level pedestrian scale lighting. >> Purchasing plan equipment for the square. Public art in places like to maybe some monument signage at the gateways to downtown. All of that is within staff's ability to do you know, tomorrow if we had our ducks in a row. But we also know that all eyes are on downtown and there are a lot of opinions about what should happen and what shouldn't. And so that was that was kind of origin for the question was how much should we use our judgment as staff knowing that can be such strong feelings about downtown? Thank you for that. My instinct is always to devolve as many decisions as possible to the staff level for the sake efficiency, there are sensitivities down there as my colleagues have highlighted. >> Nevertheless, just as Ed as a matter of principle, I'm always always eager to have staff have more more leeway rather than the last. I do think that the scale of projects that we're talking about are all things that could be. >> And on if we make a mistake, we're not talking about huge investments anywhere. Really, with the
exception of Courthouse square and potential. Play structures are rearranging things there and how that might affect Barger programming. Everything else on the order of. Five-figure improvements in real money. But in the grand scheme things and we already have regular discussions with in particular, the chamber, other local the downtown business owners. >> There's already there's are there already established channels of communication to get their feedback on these decisions are made. There are a lot of voices in the room right now. Yes, many cooks in the kitchen. Well, thank you for raising that issue. And back to the back to the golf course Thank thank you for being willing to to fall on a sword But Ms MacDonald mentioned that with that, that issue has been decades in the making. So thank you for being willing to wait in literally and fix said. And with respect to the plan is in place right now. You feel good our chances of having something. Something under construction by the spring. Okay. We've waited through almost all of the uncertainty an have a plan to go now. Excellent. Thank you for that. And then finally, just thanks again for the magnificent work of getting so many projects out the door. The fact that looking at 9 figures of work, what that means, not only for the kfor that the just the capital in in the in our community, but then the Republican or the economic ripple effects of the of those kinds of projects going out there. It's outstanding. So thank you so much for a positive report. If there are no other questions for my colleagues, I think a
public comment. Are there. Any members of the public would like to comment on this item? MR. Do it. I see your first to the podium. Go ahead. >> thank you. My name is doing to it. I'm from Roseland. Dan. Deliver ability. That's the nickname he delivers. He gets it done, man. There's so much stuff going on in Roselawn now because of this guy. Let's give big thanks. 7 year itch lot of stuff wasn't getting done before. He's here with that in mind. He mentions there's these major projects going on. But it's been 7 years since the annexation and South Avenue is still really messed up and a bad way. And I'm hoping we can get that rebuilt some time in the near future. It's really encouraging to hear of the frequent problem. Herndon Avenue, pedestrian improvements, maybe coming our way. It's good to see will get a traffic signal at Herndon, Burbank that's been talked to for a really long time. Corby Avenue. It's dangerous. My for Bank Avenue is dangerous right now because no one abides by the speed limits of 20 an hour. Weve got schools. There are avenue, you know, actually call it her raceway and Burbank Speedway. Those 2 roads are really dangerous. And so that traffic light being put in soon as possible is a really big improvement. I think that comes from MR. Hennessy stepping up to the plate and being that person to try to get these things done. It's really important. You also look into the fact that he's taken on. The Parks and Recreation Department under
his department. He's doing so much and getting so much done. So he didn't know me very well. And he knows that rephrase that. He might not know that. Getting a thanks for me. Could be held against him. I want you to know sure you are doing some stellar work that's really helping the most disadvantaged neighborhoods in Santa Rosa. And so with that in be walking the streets where you talk about getting stuff done and we'll be there to help you in any way that we can. At the state level. We've been told that there's the possibility of asking for more funds from the state even as the feds pull back by asking for road on safety levels. So will look into that more and constantly be cheering for. Well, it was just goes down deliverable that shorter and quick gets it done. Thank you kindly. >> Thank you. Wayne Dando verbal could stick. Janice will go to you. >> city council manager and staff Janice Karman here. Thinking along way Victoria had to say about asphalt roads improvement. And I over time and I asked specifically 9, 0, 2 months ago is something you hear Planning commission about callous to the road being re cities, possibly all the way to the Napa line. I'm keen that are amending that. And
I'd like to see it go beyond The stripping is very light. And you can hardly see it as you approach the school off of Calistoga Road. I also talked about the very poor being entered from highway 12. And that has been improved since I spoke. And that was about 6 weeks ago or something like that. And thank you for paying attention to that because it was really, really dangerous and it's still fairly dangerous because the island is really only about 18 inches wide and it's very narrow and it was actually homeless person trying to panhandle on that. So you're turning the coin is all these things going on? And then there's somebody standing in the little in the middle of the road. I had also asked for a crosswalk that would be in front of the apartment building going over to the mall are still kids, skate boards, bicycles and they're running across that road all hours, daylight or darkness. It doesn't matter. Sometimes it goes safely. Laden air out there. I saw an old woman with grocery cart running across the street, trying to get to the other side. And I talked with people about this and they say if it went from the sidewalk on the other side of the road to the open driveway or not to the driveway, but to the sidewalk and the other side of Calistoga Road. The Dow would take care of the problem and should have something leading up to it. That says caution is something like that because it's pretty close. 2, when you turn the corner on Calistoga Road, the other is I'm really happy to hear the presentations that I've heard so far today. It sounds like
the city is turned a corner and things are sounding like they're looking up all around and I'm very happy to see this. It's it's good news. The other is a con too many meetings since MARCH or so. And I reported I think of the planning Commission, how disappointed I was after hearing the second pitch from Georgia, Darren, Rachel, on the to courthouse square downtown. Someone asked if there was any money and they risk that they said there was no funding. So that was a big disappointment. And the good news for me is that the U.S. Hours seems to be in project and that's moving forward. And I'm looking forward to that thing in Courthouse Square. Thank you for the opportunity. >> Thank you, Janice Peter. Thank Thank you, Mayor. >> Capital Improvement program it to hear all this stuff in the beginning. But I I will say that I was earlier emergency meeting some county people, law enforcement firefighters. And one of the greatest concerns worried about losing their funding. There are nervous about losing funding could not heard probably 20 times. And I saw to ask them, but they didn't seem to be interested in. Maybe maybe that's not realm of the politicians, but really the people to encourage this. And that is how can be worried about funding when 78% plus of all the taxes that goes into the Federal Reserve and the iris, all these places comes out of California. We provide almost all the money for this country. We provide most of the food and that were being bullied about nickels and dimes for law enforcement, for firefighters, for this, for that and for the other. And so they were also focusing on
fema. And I guess someone got upset when I mentioned that this to simply a United Nations program that has that is not based on the U.S. Constitution. It's not interested in maintaining the status quo. That is a program to manipulate alter people's mindsets and also the landscapes by programs disasters, whether they be natural or created. I also today was at a couple of 2 different trailer parks. I noticed so many empty trailers. I mean, really, I we to places was I saw 7 empty trailers. And I was even looking and I'm thinking, don't we use some of this money to purchase these for the homeless? What are we have a program that was brought up in the 90's between myself and 2 Navy vets call the homeless mentor program where we put something forward. But we got something back. And the idea was that the homeless would be able to put 20 hours a week into gardening or cleaning are taking care of people that are financially between the situations that they don't have the insurance so that we utilize what we have more intelligently. And that the other part would be huge gardens. And I also mention to these people there today about the living, cactus fences for firewalls. Well, they deferred me to mitigation and I told them I've been to mid-MAY mitigation up top, share this with everybody. I said apparently you're not interested in fire prevention you're interested in seeing
fires happen because both sides are of the arena. Don't seem to be interested in one. The most common sense things available to all of us, which is also the most underrated food source that would save us money and Holmes, thank >> Thank you, Peter. Are there any other members of the public would like to speak on the Capital improvement program status update. Seeing none. We'll close public comment. Dan and Chris to final thanks. Thank you. So I great great staff. Thank you. Sorry. Ms Rogers, thank you, Mayor. >> Director Hennessey. I would like to say thank you and thank you your team for all the work that you guys are doing in to speak very quickly about Burbank. In Herndon, someone that troubles that road. Practically every day and it is definitely a problem. So thank you so much for addressing it. And I know that there are a lot of problem areas around the city and it is very unfortunate for us that we don't have millions and millions of dollars to fix everything at one time. But to actually see the projects getting over the finish line is very, very exciting. Because that stop light is long overdue. But I would like to also thank pd because in the meantime, well, we don't have the stoplight. They have in the area and really helping us with traffic safety when I did want to bring that up. And so when we put stoplights and things in that we know are going to help with trap traffic safety, it also frees them up to do other other
work. So it comes full circle. But I did want to thank you and your team and also think pd. >> Thank you, MISTER Rogers, any final comments from anyone else on council? All right, Dana, Kristen, thank you again. We will move on to item 9. Our city manager and city attorneys reports MADAM City manager. >> Yeah, thank you, Mayor. Good evening. >> So the South's the South Santa Rosa community based transportation plan is 7, a transportation resource fair. So this Saturday from 11 to 2, the city's transportation and public works Department will be partnering with Sonoma County, transportation and climate authorities. Latino service providers and Sonoma County Transit to host a community transportation resource for their. And it's going to be a Taylor Mountain Elementary. The event will discuss South Santa Rosa community based transportation plan they planned to hear input directly from our residents about how to improve safes, sustainable transportation, specifically in our low income communities. Families can learn about local services, enjoy some activities. Refreshments, and share some ideas to improve walking, biking and transit services for more information or to provide some feedback and you can go to City Dot org forward slash transportation fare 2025. Repeat that our city Dot org forward slash transportation fare 2025. And on another personal note, I would just like to thank this body for the support that they
have provided to our staff. Last week we had a very tragic. We had a lot of events. It is refreshing to work for a body that cares as much as you do about our front-line calls the messages. Whether you reached out to staff directly or to me, I just want to express my appreciation on how you care for staff thank you for reaching out. Thank you for that matter. City attorney. Thank you, MR. I do have a report out monthly litigation report. There was one settlement over $50,000 that was finalized in JULY, which was a settlement previously authorized by the city Council in closed session. >> Wallace, France's versus city of Santa Rosa plaintiff. Well, as France's sued the city for injuries sustained after plaintiff allegedly hit a pothole or writing a bicycle on a roadway. The case was settled with the city paying $151,000 in exchange for release of all claims. Our case load a I remains fairly consistent. We currently have 35 litigation matters with trial dates assigned to more than half of those matters. 3 matters are currently on appeal following rulings in favor of the city at the trial court level. We continue to try to resolve smaller cases with little or no cost to the city. Thank you. Thank We're on to item 10 statements of abstention on because he's made public comment on this item. >> Any members of the public wish to comment on our city manager city attorneys reports. Seeing none. We'll on to item 10, Steven to extension recusal. What council members are there? Any
statements of abstention are accused of this evening? Saying non onto item 11, a mayor and council member reports. Are there reports this evening, MR. Creepy. Thank you, MR. Mayor, just 2 quick Last Monday we have the economic development subcommittee meeting and we covered a variety subjects. But to the most prominent ones where the upcoming release of the quarterly report for Economic development. >> Which we saw draft form but will be coming out soon. And then we saw presentation on entertainment districts, which I think will be coming to this body in the future. Some point as a study session and last week I spoke to the chamber, the Metro Chamber Council along with our chief economic development Officer Scott Just bring him up to date on the efforts for economic development not only in the downtown, but throughout the entire city and some of the efforts we're undertaking. And while I have the opportunity for our city clerk on item 1011.2, it would be great to update that with the new name. The snow can county transportation and climate authorities. Thank you. Councilmember Crappie. We were waiting for final feedback from cta on their re-branding. The we'd already been in contact with them. So we will do. >> Perfect. Thank you. Thank you. MISS Rogers. Thank you. Click on AUGUST 15th. I was able to attend the North Bay Black Chamber of Commerce Tate, a business summit, which was very informative. >> I was able to walk away with multiple ideas to support small businesses here in Santa Rosa while working with all the chamber's that we have
here. So. >> Thank you. And just just 3 quick items we should celebrate the fact that we had another successful Sonoma County fair here in the city technically belongs to the county. But it's right here in Santa Rosa. Talked to live stock option for auction this year, raised over 2.3 million, which I believe was a record and attendance was great and spread like a horse racing. So Good locker. Thank thank you. Rather to all of the fair organizers, there are 2 city meetings to report. We had the meeting, the long-term finance subcommittee with MISTER Crappie in the span. We loans that met last weekend. Budget discussions have already started for the upcoming spring as people might remember from the the budget discussions that went on into perpetuity this past year. We have a we have a deficit of about 17 million that we need to close. And so we are already in discussion for how we do that, from a combination or from a combination of finding new revenues and also figure out how city can work more efficiently. Then last week, we also had a meeting of the Sonoma County Mayors and Councilmembers Association. This is gathered there. The the group of all 9 Sonoma County cities that meets to discuss issues that are common to all of us. As always, we discussed items like homelessness, homeless to service is how we can provide these more efficiently emergency resilience and our on our our city had the opportunity to present to the
board our success. Rooting out bad actors who have massage therapy establishments in the city. For those of you who've been paying attention for the last year, a group of community members prodded the city to look more carefully at the massage therapy establishments that were forming. Made us realize that these were in many cases elicit and that the city was unintentionally supporting human trafficking. And thanks to a lot of work from our police, from our code enforcement, from our planning economic development team really from every team in the city. We made some changes to our ordinances that have given our law enforcement and code enforcement or teams the ability to go out and shut down bad actors in this industry and make sure that Santa Rosa is not an intentionally aiding human trafficking in this county. At a gathering last week we shared we shared the success with the other cities and encourage them to join in with this effort because we have to we have to do it as a county. And again, just an example of the kind of issues that that group works on. And Santa Rosa was proud to be a leader last week. And that concludes my report. Anything from any my colleagues. MR. Crept Sorry, forgot, but I think is fighting bring this up. I just want to take this opportunity to think somebody I think a lot of up on this day as the Lakers before that, an opportunity to interact with that Steve Jackson and the drive today. I think right now, as a matter of fact, are in the middle of his last broadcast. >> And the last 17 years, many of us and many of our
predecessors had the opportunity to speak to him about what's going on in the city and the community and he's been a great operative. Great means to communicate to a lot of people want to take opportunity to thank him for all he's done for the community and for even a slowly elected. Thank you for that. Excellent addition. And with that, looking at the time were just after 5 and we have a full agenda for the rest of the evening. >> We're going we're going to go on to our first public comment for non-agenda items Yes, but with all due respect, I apologize for interrupting. We people signed up for public comment on the mayors and councilmembers Yes, I was. I was forget this one. Yes. For those who had comments on the mayors and Councilmembers report, please step to podium. Are there any members of the public who wish to comment on the mayors and Councilmembers yes, yes. Peter, go ahead. >> Thank you. Mayor is really glad to hear topic addressed regarding trafficking and I very glad to hear that a lot of progress has been made, although I do believe that as I've shared before with you, Detective James Rothstein's, human compromise. These are very long Thousands of years old or organizations trafficking. You know, it's good to have them addressed and taken out, but they're very, very good. Just switching into other arenas. So I hope that the concentration and focus is can those continue continued in that room. So over here on
slower Sonoma, clean power. I want to say you know, it seems to me that the un it's a United Nations program to terminate pg e which is one of the largest working operations in the country and it's filled with honorable, hardworking professionals and that the Sonoma Clean power is no more clean than the pg e. And the fact that we continually divided and sway to think this the I think that we should be utilizing our common sense and spiritual strength to cease being bullied into being divided and all these different topics all the time. And regarding the homeless. This is the home area Luther Burbank. And I'll ask you again. And that's that's not really them is not the people on the podium. It's you out here listening. Why are there not 5,000 more gardens? Why are there not 10,000 guard talking there possibly be a safe way in stories like that. In the homeland of Luther Burbank, you know, we stop paying mortgages and rents info full final or money into. A program where we started 1002 1000 football field size greenhouses and all of a sudden we're doing the best food in the world. We're not being charged for stuff from China or what have you. It's not poison is not a radius right here. It's just a beautiful opportunity for us to be, you know, focusing in that direction, not just thinking about it, but actually talking and doing it. There's all these empty fields. There's all these ways to do The sign-ups propaganda that's utilized by by the behind the scenes groups are continuous, which is why dialogue between the people
needs to help. And as I've said many a time, a true freedom striker. We shut everything down, which is on its way. Well, not only free law enforcement to work for us and for the U.S. Constitution for the first time, but it will free your political workers, your statesmen, states, women to be free of those unseen strands of United Nations, telling them what to do or how to speak or what to say, because I've got to believe the rule power government is local and certainly isn't that the state? It absolutely isn't. At the national level that's thoroughly corrupted right here. We've got people that want to make a difference. But it's up to us to give them that opportunity. >> Thank you, Peter. Are there any other members of the public would like to speak on this item? I don't think so. No, we're still we're just on mayors and Councilmembers reports. So seeing no members of the public you know, other members of the public are working to speak will close public comment on this item and we're going to jump ahead. Did you wish to speak on this on the mayors and Councilmembers report? Okay. The floor is yours. >> I didn't different resources for the homeless currently. Now. >> Excuse me, I am and that I that bodies us Sanchez on. >> I have struggling with being able to get house because of a credit score 5.29. >> I'm looking different locations that have been denial the fact that being able to get housed. Has there been any movement for homelessness to be able to get different resources? Not
necessarily on they're breathing, but and different resources for them to be able to get house because you still have over 50 over 100 people being home. This with their children being able to get house is a struggle around. Sonoma County. >> So were unable to get into a discussion here in this context. But I or city manager to see if we have any of our staff here that might be able to answer some questions offline. >> Yes, thank you. If you could leave your name and number 2, the young lady at the top of the the stairs, we can reach out to you. Thank you. >> Thank you. Alright, final call any of the members of the public wishing to speak on this item on the mayors and Councilmembers report. All right. We will officially close public comment and and we will go on to quit. We have packed agenda and we're going to our first public comment on non agenda matters and from there go to the public hearing section of our of our agenda this evening. But for right now, are there any members of the public who wish to speak on items not listed on the agenda? Again, these are for items not listed on tonight's agenda. Sarah, Go ahead. >> Yeah, I money Troy I'm trying to get a building permit to build an 80 you. At the back side of my house. I've been trying for over 6 months now. It was submitted. On FEBRUARY 13th. Of this year. So my understanding was supposed to take 60 days. That was >> even says on the state website or the city website. This is just for initial plan.
Check 60 days. Well, it's been 187 days. And it hasn't completed the first plan review yet. So that's why I'm here. I'm just here to be sort of the squeaky wheel to get this thing rolling. >> Well, thank thank you for taking the time. And as with the last presenter, once you leave your name and number by the table and somebody from the city will contact you. Thank. Thank you. We've got a list here. Let's from Dwayne De Wit to Robert Com Park. >> I use the overhead projector on the other side. >> We might as well name that after you do. And of course. >> Should be on. I was a gun. Right? Can you see it? >> Hello. My name is doing to it on from Rose and I'm here to express gratitude today to the recreation and parks department to the people that came out to the Roseland neighborhood in did work to save it from fires. Contrary to what you might have heard, there was no clear cut there on that land. They cleared out what's called flammable fire-prone ground cover and brush and they'll end up the trees. Starting on the 6th of AUGUST. And then again on the 13th of AUGUST, this was found on the 14th of AUGUST when the fire was started. Again by transient vagrants that roll through there and are now camping in the creek. So to abuse you of any fall cities, the homeless. >> Are still having problems. They're still living in that General area down in rows in creek. But city staff needs to be congratulated for all their hard work, especially need to
commend. Park Superintendent Castro. There was Tim Finn. Again and Lorenzo and others who are out there working so hard doing good things, whatever kind emails you folks got was based on an informed misinformation, incomplete assumptions and kind of all you folks up. It shouldn't have been that way. It should have been nothing but commendation. Ys to all that staff, especially you got to give this guy. Delivers. >> a good good could do because he's up there getting it done. Whereas other people in recreation and parks. >> Just let it I mean, sour for for decades, actually in the neighbor would. So we've got something going. This piece of wood was on the 13th picked up that night. Fires were started out there. We're still going out there to clean stuff up. It's a big piece of wood folks. They cut the trees themselves. Those people go out. There was saws. They are still building fires out there. So it's still a fire-prone area and we're hoping you'll work with the Roseland School Board on the other side of Burbank Avenue at Roseland School District and Rams accelerated Middle School to clear that part of the creek out and make this all really nice area. Can only happen if you folks Corden 8. The school District isn't Kingdom unto itself. It can play its own game. But if you folks approach them and say, let's stop fires throughout
this area, really good things will happen. And basically. You can't say enough other than the power of what you see with your own eyes. These are big fires. These people are lining up in there night. You can dangerous. Thank you again, to all parks and recreation staff. >> Thank you to Wayne or do go to Robert and then Peter and then aj and then lets use both podium. So we're efficient with our time. But Robert, you're up next. >> All right, Robert Capa culture keep it brief. I following an official complaint against the Santa Rosa Police just got a reply today for 4 years of a drug dealer operating was a lot of mayhem across the street. From me. They claim they're doing something about it. Well, after he committed his second murder, they raided his house. He had 341 pot plants, psychedelic mushrooms going in there. He had some kind of power. The cops are talking about. The can decide if it was cocaine or are a mushroom powder. Fire department opened up this safe Woodside Diamond to saws and they found a bunch of guns. This is a nice family neighborhood. The police claim they were doing something about this guy for 4 years. Reports and phone calls with all that in his house. That's not good. Something needs to be done about this out of control. Police department and I to know from somebody in Santa Rosa when I hear from I our group oversights police in Santa Rosa. So I can decide my next move. Because I'm getting a I followed official complaint and they gave me
another dance. I've nothing but why won't say it? They're claiming they they were taking care of this guy arrested and doing the staff and the other any at a house full of all these drugs and guns in a family neighborhood. Somebody let me know by email judge detailed email today although City Council somebody let me know when I hear back from the oir group. That you selected to oversight of the police so I can decide my next move. You can tell by what's going on in this room today with the traffic just at other 2. There's not a whole lot of control in this challenge. The worst ever lived in a northern California. Ridiculous. Please let me know. I'm here from back from the police oversight group so I can decide my next move. Thank you very much. Thank you. Robert on to Peter aj and then Alexa. >> Here go ahead. >> Thank you, So we'll start off with through the eyes of law enforcement. The things that are handcuffed and not able to do 90,000 law enforcement, California, 320,000 bar lawyers, British Attorney Registry. >> But we got rid of the British. They handcuffed law enforcement and then the public blames law enforcement because the lawyers handcuffed them. Be clear of what you're seeing and how you're dealing with it through the eyes of a child on the Oakland port, one of the hundreds every month that comes over with their pair and their mother usually and other children to be trafficked there's secured. They will cannot be touched by law enforcement. They can't be touched by the longshoreman
because the repercussions will be severe. The power to change all that is not on the dias up there. But in the stands here because up, we're the ones we are, the ones that are funding this and pretending we don't see what's going on. We have more power than them. We're looking to them to do what we think that should happen. The powers with us. Through the eyes of a mother, the loser child ties or has been or what have you. Is this is going on all over the place. The eyes, the eyes of a mother headed with that's blown up child in her from Gaza and DR. MacDonald, the Green Berets still in prison after 40 54 years. So finish with this. Isis. A new tours raw the world's a war zone worst ever. I saw I am Peter. I'm calling forth your strength and power. Rosebud. Rosebud, rosebud flour from this very flour of life. I ask it has got to come and I pray center me your light as my wife being capable in kind and loving most beautiful filled with spirit. She don't hear it. Yes, being spirits. Lee due to a full suite angels of light. I pray. Restore Sight, Ark Angels as well. Be clear. Do tell, do tell for no angel. Born in can ever break that saying spell therefore, I am commanding. I am Peter. I'm committing to every need to or through amending by setting the world free via the 40 day Freedom strike prophecy. Good Lord Almighty appease us as prophecy through Peter by Jesus. I see you. Here is. So it is done. The power is with us. The churches have you waiting forever and a day for what the power is already in your hearts. My authority comes from on High. Not
highness is in your hearts. Let it go. Let it flow is time for us to be the show I see. And you will see between now and this full red blood most beautiful tune as the power. The Christos light is set free and the whole world will see. And a lot of that power is in the likes of and me. Blessings. Thank you. Peter will move on to aj Alexa and then Victoria. >> aj, are you near podium? Alexa wanted she wanted go first. >> High City council members. As you probably know last Thursday, 19 year-old Natalee Fisher took her dog for a walk but did not make it safely home. She was hit by a car while crossing West. Still rain and she died over the weekend from her injuries. I did not know her. What I know about her. I learned from the press Democrat, including that she was student at Srj. See where I teach. And even though she wasn't my student, I think I think of all the students that srg see is my students. Her death was not an unpredictable and that anomaly or an accident. It was the predictable result of streets that are designed to prioritize speed and convenience of drivers over everything else, including the safety of those outside of cars. Baked into this street infrastructure that we have inherited. Is an assumption that fast-flowing automobile traffic is so essential to our collective prosperity that it
is worth literally sacrificing our children. To this great public. Good. This narrative is not only in pure cleef false as is demonstrated by You did the jurisdictions that have made different decisions. It's also I think, personally, morally abhorrent. I know you guys care have been coming here advocating for street safety for 3 and a half years. And I know you all care. But I do not have the power or authority or resources myself to right the wrong of our street infrastructure. In my own neighborhood. A couple streets over patio court. There was speeding and my neighbors took action on their own. One of them is a construction worker. He had access to a temporary speed bump. He installed The car slowed down. It was great for 2 days, which is how long it took your city staff to remove the temporary speed The city can remove citizen level lead traffic calming measures in 2 days. But it takes 5 to 10 years for the city to install them. Again. I know you all care, but we have to move faster. I don't have the power, but you all do. We have to move faster to ensure that no more of our citizens died. Because I'm here tonight, my 17 year-old volunteered to walk our dog and he will walk our dog across street like Westfield Lane this evening. Is he safe? Hearing irresponsible by letting him do that. We need to move
faster. Thank you. Thank you, Alexa Victoria. My name is Jan. >> I'm a member of homeless action, exclamation point. My address do want Hopper Street apartment 201. And thought off psychology far done yet. 9, 5, 4, 0, 4, Homer's action, exclamation point. As an organization. That on in court rated Association of People Concerned. >> With the war as of the poor in our community. >> unfortunately, we have to use the homeless name. Lot of people don't like that. But we do because we've been around a little while. We've been around a little while around the block. A few times showed beat. We City Council regarding home And at one point 5 people got for not moving out of the council area when ordered. It was shot. It's several disobedience to bring attention to the question homeless, having nowhere to go. Now we know this has all been fall. I'd by your PRESIDENT Number. 47. I would like. For the city Council to take some sort public stamps. Against the treatment of human beings. And this matter. Or are we going to mirror? >> What's going on in our nation's capital? I'm very upset. I don't know what to
do. All I can do is get up every morning. Put the bag down on my head. Case anybody wants So I'm ready. Even with a broken arm. But I'm here to show. That we're still here. Homeless action. We're going to be watching what's going on with the city in response to number. 47. >> And we ask that you need have compassion more peoples what they are. Thank you. >> Thank you, Victoria. Are there any other members of the public who would like to speak on item is not listed on the agenda? Seeing none. We will close this item and we're going to our public hearing section of the evening. We're going to start with with item 16.2. We know that there is no law here here for item. 16.1. We're going to make things a fish and for staff with just a couple of quick items before we get to the main show for the evening. So item 16 point to our public hearing on the placement of annual storm water enterprise charges on the Sonoma County property tax roll. We we have Nick in Clare presenting welcome. Good evening, Mayor staff council members. My name is Nick Lane. I'm researching program corner where storm water and creeks. >> With me is clear. Miers stormwater and creeks manager. I am pleased to be here today to discuss the placement of annual storm water enterprise charges on the Sonoma County property tax roll. The storm. Water enterprise was traded by council in accordance with title 16 of the city code in 1996. Provides funding for
implementation of the city's National pollutant discharge elimination System. Orange Vs permit sing that storm water permit as well as activities such as creek restoration stewardship, flood protection, public education storm, drain maintenance and storm water, quality testing. The calculate assessment is based on equal equivalent residential unit or you are you and considers the size of the parcel amount of impervious surface and land use of each parcel. The current year. Ufi is $42 and $0.46, which was approved by council during the 2025 2026 budget process. In order to simplify the payment process for property owners and minimize collection expenses. He's requested that charges because elected on the Sonoma County property tax roll on the city's behalf. The charges have been collected annually on the tax roll since they were established in SEPTEMBER of 1996. It is in the best interest of the city that those parcels not built by the county due to the charges, not meeting the county's $10 minimum. The bill and are parcels with no an incorrect ownership. Contact information shall not be separately billed by the city as the cost of separately billing exceeds the potential revenue. Any charges not collected will not affect other personal charges. Today's public hearing in accordance with title 16 of the city code adopt the stormwater Enterprise charge report approved placing the charges on the county tax rule for collection and allow the public the opportunity to protest the method of collecting the charges. It is recommended by the Board of Public Utilities and Santa
Rosa Water that the council by resolution adopt by two-thirds vote. The storm water enterprise charge report and approved placement of the storm. Water enterprise charges on the Sonoma County property tax roll to be collected by the Sonoma County Auditor Controller Treasurer-tax collector at the same time and in the same manner as Sonoma County property taxes are collected unless those charges do not meet the county minimum of $10 and or partial owner contact information is known to be incorrect. And I'm happy to answer any questions. Thank you both. There's nothing that sets the pulse racing like pastor tax charges. Thank you for putting this presentation together. Bring it back to council for questions. Please let there be some. >> Your your report was comprehensive. Thank you so much. Alright public. Now's your chance to weigh in. We're going open the public hearing on this item. Is there any feedback on the storm? Water assessments? Thank you to Wayne off. >> I'm an advocate for Rosalynn Creek and have been for many decades. I do believe that storm water assessment charges could be helping the creeks better so that any of the funds that you get this year, would you please look to see how you might be able to get those funds to help with the. Up keep the maintenance. The management of the actual creeks where the storm water goes to many of creeks have signs nearby. Ours to protect. That's not really happening that much. And some of the
creeks and you'll see on some of the storm water drains that they'll be a sewer cap that will say flows to the creek. Much of this debris going to the creek. Comes in with storm water. So we'd like to see you folks find a way for allocations to go to help keep the creeks clean so that when the water goes out to the Laguna de Santa Rosa, it's not polluting there and then further polluting the Russian river. It could happen with the storm. Water enterprise funds. He just got to find a way to pull that little bit of money out. Thank you for your time and once again for all your work on this, thank you to Wayne, Janice. Thank you. Mayor. >> Janice the insurance rates in many places Sonoma County were raised after the fires. And to the point where it was so stressing many people put their houses for sale. Then in the meetings and I'm going to be released to meetings where fema showed team was mapping for flood zones. So the flood zones just to see what's flooding. And they said we were the first city that was supposed to be doing is there mentioning flood protection is already according to the The >> flood >> mapping. It's already going to be required that they paid people pay extra taxes if they're in the designated flood zones. So to me, sounds like a double I say no. So thank >> Thank you, Janice. Are there any other members of the public who would like to weigh
Seeing none? I will I see one. >> Hello again. I'm as that body to Sanchez. I am actually on. >> 7, 3, 4, points. Tree had its a property that I would like to review the water on as well the taxes are going to be putting in. >> For the people who are doing the labor into the water cleaning learning how to recycle the water would be also a convenience we do have a lot of pollution. I'm we we would to have the community have a clean environment. So having the water be purified and recycled would be an awesome. Now clean Sonoma County. Taxes have been something that I would like to overview as well being a high 10%. So I don't where that's coming from. But within the water I feel like a lot of the water secret and it should be cleans. And then the fact that it's at a high should be overview. >> Thank you Are there any other members of the public would like to weigh in? All right. The floor is yours. >> unknown Gordy and I live in 9. 27. 56, Cumberland Street. And behind me, there's a creek and they're working on the country to make it better for our neighbors make sure that we don't get flooded, but they're doing a great job. But I just want to let them know that when they Finney's, I've been living there since 2012
when they finish their job. In one year 2 years, everything comes back. So my area got flooded one year because they come in, do a great job. But I'm always walking around in their saint that they're not clean up because there's species in there that are very important for our environment. I say that is true, but we have to take care of. We the people we need to understand we get flooded, there's no barrier between and the creek. Please, if you are clean the creeks and making it better for all of us, please go back in a couple months in cleanup. It doesn't matter what kind of species are there. I'm just saying the creeks are very important because of fires, especially here in Santa Rosa. So I hope you think about that by clearing out creeks. And forget about what's living in there. My opinion, of course. Thank you for your time. Thank you, a any other members of the public wish to weigh in on storm water assessment. >> Seeing none. I will officially close public comment and bring it back to my calling, MR. Crappie from Ocean. Thank you, MR. Mayor, I will waive reading of the tax and to adopt a resolution entitled resolution of the Council of the City of Santa Rosa Proving and adopting report for proposal to place. >> Storm water and drainage
charges on Sonoma County property tax rule for collection with county property taxes fiscal year 2025. To 2026. Second. We have a motion and a second by MISS MacDonald. Any final discussion? MADAM City Clerk, would you please call the vote? Thank you. Councilmember Rogers, I councilmember Okrepkie Councilmember MacDonald. I councilmember funding U.S.. >> Council member Benoit Yes, COUNCILMAN Vice-mayor offices absent Mayor step. Let the record show this passes. 6 affirmative votes. >> Thank you very much, Andrea. Go on to item 16.3, our public hearing on the sub middle. Stay with me. Now, some middle of substantial amendment to the home investment partnerships, American Rescue Plan allocation plan to the U.S. Department of and Urban Development and approval of Second Amendment to the grant agreement with Catholic Charities home our program. And I think we have Coy and Callie here to the presentation. This is going to be good. Welcome. >> Good evening, mayor and city council members. My name is Corey Stewart and a program specials with housing and Community Services Department. And joining me is my manager Kelly Chi. Can do. Tonight. We will be presenting the substantial amendment to the home. Our allocation plan along with the Second Amendment to the grant agreements with Catholic Charities. Home Investment Partnership, American Rescue Plan or home Arp in Toward the city of Santa Rosa just over 2.7 million dollars in home. Arp Funds and council approved allocation plan for these funds in FEBRUARY of 2023. Prioritizing support of services as the most effective
way to prevent homelessness. >> These funds are awarded competitive request for proposals process and count NOVEMBER of 2023 Council approved 2 grand agreements. One with committee on the shelter lists known as cops and the amount of $711,375. It was fully funded cots has expended all those funds. As of JUNE. 30th 2025. A second contract was awarded to Catholic Charities and the amount of 1.6 million. This was a partial awarded to the amount of home are funds that are available. That contract has been amended on one occasion to extend the term to JUNE 30th 20 20nd 2026. To allow Catholic Charities to fully expend those home Arp funds. Substantial amendment. The city was recently awarded additional home Arp funds the amount of $4,095. Staff also identified $100,000 in existing home Arp funds to reallocate from city administration to support of services. This requires of substantial amendment. Regulations and the repurposing of these funds aligns with the city's original intent for the use of the funds. This slide outlines the original allocation of home Arp funds. Plus the amended allocation the and the additional funds to 4,095. As I mentioned, will be moving 100,000 from city administration planning to support of services and then providing the additional home Arp funds to Catholic Charities, which I'll touch on in the next slide. Staff recommends of awarding the additional home Arp funds and the reallocated funds and the total amount of $104,095 to
Catholic Charities our program. This will be a Second Amendment to their grand agreement. The total contract amount will be just over 1.7 million dollars. They'll be required to expend the funds by JUNE 30th 2026. And they will continue to provide support of services to persons experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. Has acquired with a substantial amendment. >> We conducted a 15 day public comment period from JULY 31st to AUGUST 14th. Most were published in local newspapers and dressed for posted at multiple public locations. And on the city website was also shared to Sonoma County Homeless coalition contact List. 2 former community stakeholders. Thank you. With tonight's public hearing. Ready for the recommendation a good one. It is recommended by the Housing and Community Services Department that the council by resolution authorize middle of the substantial home. Amendment. 2 homes are planned to 2 except the appropriate additional home Arp funds in the amount of $4,095 and reallocate $100,000 in home. Arp funds from city administration and planning to recipient supportive services and non profit operating costs. 3 authorize the city manager or their designee to execute and a former approved by the city attorney in the forms are documents required by hud to implement the home Arp Funds 4 authorize the chief financial officer to increase appropriations and
then that amount of $4,095. 5 approved the Second Amendment to the grant agreement with Catholic Charities to increase the amount of agreement by $104,095 for a total 1 million, 719,539 dollars for the period of JANUARY. First 2024. To JUNE, 30th 2026. And finally 6 authorize the director of Housing and Community Services to execute the Second Amendment. Thank you for your time. And we're happy to answer any questions. >> Thank you both. There's a lot of great work behind for you to council for questions. Seeing no questions from my count for my colleagues all asked just Obviously, this is just one. It's one slice of the city's efforts to provide housing reduce homelessness in our community. Can you give just a couple of top line facts about the the success we've had over the last 12 months based on particular reference to point in time, count. >> You caught me off guard. I'm happy to answer any question specific about the Catholic Charities contract and how successful that has We have made significant progress in addressing homelessness in the city in Sonoma County. And fortunately, don't have the specifics of the recent homeless count there. Some preliminary data that out and we anticipate the final probably in the next month or so. >> Meir, correct that the whisper numbers, something on the order of a 23% reduction year-over-year. Yes. >> Where we're seeing a continued. There a slight increase last year and then we've seen another decrease this year. So trending downwards. And that's due in part to the city's continued investment in homeless services. And, you know, collaboration with our county
partners. >> So I did my apologies for catching off guard. I did want to highlight for all the folks here tonight that they're there are some there are some success stories behind the the somewhat dry contract numbers that we're discussing here. But the organizations that are highlighted in particular costs and Catholic charities are doing great work. And we've got innovative partnerships with the city and it seems to be making a pretty a pretty significant real world difference. And so in spite of very dry numbers under discussion tonight, there is some fantastic work. And I want to thank you both for for at least giving us a live picture that and with that, let's open it up for public comment. Are there any members of the public that would wish to submit wish to speak on this? >> These amendments, yes, Victoria. >> I'm grateful for whatever we now because I don't know what's around the corner and I'm >> We need. >> Encourage meant from City Council. All. >> About. What's going on with. >> and this time. I think it's a right-wing revolution going on are tied to truth. So I don't say could be a lot your many more. I should give lot as she spent. Yeah, long live the resistance. >> So >> I'm very grateful. I want you to know about the services. >> But at the same time I've spent my life as an advocate. For poor people. You know, having a legal career and legal lane everything. The major problem that had with Board, which is part of the coalition on the home from the
Department of what we see is organizations getting funded. Namely one is Catholic Charities. And before ending funding is done or in any review of services. I think it would behoove you to look at the grievance process. Is it even Because these organizations wield great power. Over homeless people, whether they're going to have somewhere to sleep or if they're going to be out in the fishbowl getting picked up by the property thrown in jail. Because that's what's happening now. So please, you look at the grievance process when somebody thrown out from somewhere did they get a proper review of their situation or is it just a kangaroo? That's put on? For approval of funding. Due process of law. Civil of the homeless. These are concepts that people don't even the of. Not just Catholic Charities. The grievance process for people getting thrown out or that exiting procedure. Nobody want to call it what it and of action. To the gutter. Thank Thank you, Victoria. Again, the public hearing is Are there other members of the public wish to speak? Please go ahead. >> Again, I'm is made of that. Body's your syringes. >> overview the documentation, an. Feel like I have to disagree with the District of Housing and community Services to exit queue the Second Amendment. >> Now I disagree with this because there is a lot of
credit to not only within the government from within the fields of labor as well. This discrimination, those people who say I'm not going to house you because I don't like you. I feel like at the time and said doing going hard strong with the strength of the race to come and to obey to endure all nations and races understand you are in the United States of America. There is all kinds of different people unique mentalities, different personalities and different waves of the leaves. I don't feel like they should all be depending on any resources to be able to get housed. There's not had to should be more out there to be able to sustain or how anybody who needs assistance to be able to get house, whether it's someone going through human trafficking or an elder who is having trouble crossing the street falls down on the ground and is able to up their own balance. There's a lot elderly abuse. There's a lot of infections and Pest control needs to be over. Viewed in Sonoma County with a lot of how scenes that unsanitary. Not only for the elders, but for any living human being who is drinking water from the fountain or or a water hose. All of that needs to be overview and something needs to be taken in action immediately. There is funds out there. There is income being brought in. There is a lot of stuff that is not being said and needs to be over
viewed and took an Excepting the laws within the first the second and the 3rd Amendment. So following through, I would I disagree with executing the Second Amendment. >> I feel the need to have them being able review and speak up for their own words in their own choices of believes. >> First 3rd Amendment >> We need to be taken into consideration when it's a lot of government corruption no one is actually taking action to protect those who are going through human trafficking and rather, you know, stocking up on the income instead of actually helping the next door neighbor who needs assistance to be able to get housed. Or even respecting their privacy as are sleeping. That needs to be over viewed throughout the whole county throughout the stadium. Sonoma, not the throughout the state of California. I feel like the lack of communication needs to be overview to. People need to start helping each other out. >> Thank you as Are there any other members of the public would like to speak? Seeing none. We will close the public hearing. And we'll bring it back to on Been willows for a motion. >> we? I'm going to waive reading of the text and adopt resolutions entitled Resolution of the Council of the City of Santa Rosa authorizing some middle of substantial amendment to the home investment partnerships, American Rescue Plan allocation plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and increase appropriations and the home App Fund. 2, 2, Sorry can see that 6, 9, And resolution of the Council of the City of Santa Rosa approving the Second Amendment to grant
agreement for the home Investment Partnership. American Rescue Plan Program with Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa de businesses, Catholic Charities of Northwest California in the amount of 1 million, 719 and 5.39. For the period of JANUARY one. 2024 to JUNE, 30th 2026. Get that. Outright. Have a motion in a second by MISS MacDonald. Any further discussion? MADAM City clerk, we can call the vote whenever you're ready. Councilmember Rogers. Councilmember Okrepkie. I Councilmember Macdonald. I councilmember Fleming. >> Yes, Councilmember Ben Yes, Vice Mayor Alvarez. >> Hopes are here to the presentation. Put have read the notes and voting Mayor step. >> Let the record show this passes unanimously. Thank you. >> All right. Now we can move on to our main show for the evening. Thank you all for your patients. It's item 16.1. Our public hearing on the appeal of plant, the Planning Commission denial of the Elm Tree Station Project. And so we will begin actually with some x disclosures. Are there any ex parte disclosures from council? I would start with MISTER With actually MISTER Rogers. >> I met with both the pellet and no one gas stations. Khan Khan gas. Okay. MR. Cookie. >> I've met with representative for the applicant, the opposition to the application, organization of the Application of the act with the organization opposing the application as well as visited the site nothing further to disclose. Funding. >> I've met with the talent and the or the applicant as well as the appellant.
>> And then with a Apple came as well emotions mission with both parties as well as residents of District 7. >> It met with both the applicant and also opponents of the application and and have nothing further to disclose. As Ben Willows. >> I met with the appellant and also think is con gas. And I also watched the planning Commission meeting. >> Thank you very much. And look to our city attorney just for a second to make sure that those those disclosures pass muster I would suggest that eats councilmember make a statement, assuming it's true everything they've discussed contained in the materials and decisions will be based on evidence. In the record. >> We can we do that and master? Does it require that every council member goes down think you could each saying, yes, I can affirm with the city attorney just and that would work MR. Rogers. So I met with the applicant and the public. I think I said that Palin that Comcast again. >> So everything I discuss was of public record in nature and can be found. MR. Right >> I confirmed with the city attorney just I can also from with city attorney stated. I also from the city attorney's remarks. >> I can affirm what the attorney city attorney just said. And for the record, I didn't meet with anybody. So all the information is public record because I'm here tonight. From I can affirm with the city attorney just said. All right. Thank you. >> And with that are going to go on to the staff presentation. Connor. Jessica, >> Good afternoon. Good afternoon, mayor stopping members of the council Carmack a senior planner here to
present Tree Station appeal. Product description. The project 6 fueling pumps for electric vehicle vehicle charging stations on lot. One. Also to general retail components. One approximately 3500 square feet on on lot one and approximately 400 square feet on lot, too. Above the retail on lot. One, there is a proposed multi-family residential unit of approximately 900 square feet. I would like to know that none of neither the gas station or the general retail components of this project proposed extended hours of operation. So they would only be allowed to operate from 6 in the morning to 11:00pm in the evening. Finally, there is outdoor amenity space that is publicly accessible. Privately maintained that part of pathway connection to the job or go to trail. We have received quite a bit of comments related to the interface of users of the users of the jury do to trail and patrons of the gas station use. So how respond to those comments and summarize those looking at the site plan. Here is the project location map. The project is located on to the West. Nearly the western boundary of the city along North right road adjacent to the driver go to trail as mentioned. It's also near the intersection Highway 12 and Fulton Road, which turns into North Fry Road on the South side of Highway 12. There's quite an extensive project history. This is a slice of it and there isn't more comprehensive version of the project. History in the Planning Commission staff report, which is included as attachment. 24 in your packet, just for the sake of not ready off the slide. So highlight
kind of the bolded and more important project history events for this project. So the project was first reviewed and denied with prejudice by the Planning Commission in 2007. The project that at that point included zoning code amendment. In addition to the entitlements that are requested with project. The project does not include zoning Code amendment anymore. So that is how the project has changed over time in 2013. The project, as you see today was approved by the Planning Commission. Those approved approval subsequently expired. We received a new applications for this project in DECEMBER of 2021, the council subsequently adopted to the ordinance that prohibited new gas stations. That ordinance also allowed gas stations that we're currently in the review process to proceed through the review process. We've also received public comments related to the gas station ban the effect of that ban on this project. And I will discuss. Those are my belief later in the presentation as well. So here we have the site plan. As you can see, the bottom left of the screen, the pro the project would project site would be accessed by cars to the gas station from the southwest side of the project site North right Road. Not to mention there are a couple pathway connections to the job or go to trail the main pathway connection is on the northeast boundary directly adjacent to the trail. That trail traverses along the
eastern project boundary where users of the trail can stop in that amenity space. Like I described earlier. There's also that 400 square foot, small retail space of the applicant and visions as maybe being an ice cream stand. Some other kind of small retail offering 2, both patrons of the fresh food market in the gas station as well as users of the trail. As you continue down the southeastern portion of the project site to the southern border of the project site for the past continues there. I mentioned there's been a lot of comments about how users of the job or do the trail and cars interface at the project site entry. >> We >> design of this past wages are introduced new Cup points of conflict between cars and use of the job or go to trail. And that in the materials that were provided to you as well. Other developments in similar land uses along the jury. Do trail very Jason c so there's not really necessarily basis to expect additional conflicts. And thing with art exists at land uses and operations. So the general Plan Land use designation as retail and business services staff has review the project to be consistent with both Joplin 2035. And the general Plan 2050, which was just adopted by this council on JUNE 3rd of this year. Moving on to the zoning code. So this project site is located in planned development district for 35 the policy stating for that plan development allows service stations with the
major conditional use permit. Like I mentioned, this project was allowed to proceed through the review process when the gas station. And was enacted and part of that process requires staff to analyze gas station projects against regulations that really 2 gas stations the time of application. So those are namely zoning code section along with kind of 3 topics we've received public comments Section 3 here specifically related to the police start gas operation. As you'll find in Section 4 of the Planning Commission staff report summary of public comments. We responded to that prior to the Planning Commission hearing explaining our research analysis and findings related to the police are gas operations. So just to kind of summarize that the Blue Star gas operation received caught design review approval in MAY of 1997 and has maintained continuous operation. Since then, the product description about time of approval office space and retail sale of propane appliances, accessories and limited retail sales. Of of propane. This definition, therefore constitutes a fuel dealer which is defined by zoning code as a retails trade establishment that sells fuel oil, butane propane and liquefied petroleum gas, bottled or in bulk to consumers. Like I said, this is all outlined in detail and your staff report. Is one too. Bring attention to that specific regulation of the service stations, zoning code and offer that explanation to the public in attendance as well. Moving on to the environmental review performed pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act. This is another issue where we've received quite a bit of public comment has been
provided to and respond to comprehensively. But as part of the project that was approved by the Planning Commission and 2013, there was initial study mitigated negative declaration already us to Monday. Those prepared and adopted when the project was approved in 2013. The end of this iteration of the project has prepared an addendum to that 2039 Sunday, it included updated technical studies that new thresholds and thrust and its new standards of significance pursuant to seek war. And he's also also applied previous mitigation measures to this project to be consistent as well. Yes, that's off to the side. This is similar to the project history. This is a small slice of the public comments. A summary of the public comments that we've received. There is comprehensive summary in the Planning Commission staff report and also you received many emails. I've been into the public record as well. Here again. So this is a small size slice of kind of general, consensus and topics and themes that we've received from the public about this project. The vast majority of public comments are received are opposing the approval of project. I also want to bring your attention to the letter we received from Holder Law group yesterday we reviewed that yesterday and today and provided a memo to the council in advance of this meeting. We have a copy here in copy is there and they're available for the public as well. And we're happy to respond to any of those those claims. And any of our responses to those questions as well in the in staff question portion of hearing. So this quite an
interesting one. So in somewhat of an unusual fashion. So staff analysis has not changed since original analysis that provided to the Planning Commission, which was we found our analysis found the findings to approve the project could be met. So in that in that regard, we prepared draft resolution of approval for the planning Commission do both to adopt the agenda meant to approve the conditional use permit. The planning Commission resolution of denial at that time. And that is why you also a draft resolution of denial. And that is 80 mirror image of the resolution of the Planning Commission adopted to deny the project. Happy to answer any questions about that as well. I know it's unusual, but for the with that it is recommended the planning and economic development Department, the council will consider the recommendations of the planning Commission and city staff and either one or 2 resolutions to accept the appeal and adopt an addendum to station. Initial study mitigated negative declaration and approve the conditional use permit for Tree Station project or to buy one resolution denied the appeal uphold the Planning Commission's denial of the conditional use permit for Tree Station project. And I'm sure there will be plenty of questions and we're happy to answer those. The applicant also has a presentation as well. But I'm happy to answer any questions for staff. If you have those of this point. >> Thank you very much for that very succinct summary of a of a complicated matter. I'll bring it back to council for questions. We'll start with MR. Quickly. Yeah, a couple questions that MAY lead
to other questions so if I recall correctly, this was seen by both. Planning Commission and City Council as part of the gas station ban and was and wasn't recommended by the planning Commission and then approved by council to be exempt from that. Is that correct? This application, the gas station ordinance itself was reviewed by the Planning Commission and the council. >> And the gas station Ban Ordinance included the provision that allowed any gas station in the process to proceed through the process. This was one of those 2 projects just as an aside, the other projects withdrew. So this is the only project that is consider to be exempt from the gas station. Ban ordinance, ok? And touched on something really briefly and wondering if you could expand on that. You said that you have to review this project under the circumstances at the time. Is that correct? >> as part of the gas station ban ordinance allowed gas stations to proceed through the process. The understanding is that the regulations that were in effect at the time before the gas station ban that regulate gas stations would still apply to the projects that were deemed exempt from the ban. And then mentioned the that your team put together and gave to us. And one of the things that I want to talk about and there was the >> the timeline of events. So one of the question, one of the terms that comes up frequently in this memo is substantial changes and there were no substantial changes to application that would trigger multiple kinds of reviews. Is that correct? So and that's from 2013. Yes. All right. So 2013, that 12 years ago, a lot
going on since then in these kinds of approvals for whether be industrial retail housing. Is this timeline uncommon for applications reviews, approvals. And and those matters. >> I think a lot of different developments can have different timelines for a variety of reasons. I wouldn't say it's entirely uncommon for the time ones like this to occur to certain projects, depending on what the what's being proposed regulatory backgrounds, things like that. If you have anything to add to that. >> We generally don't see projects that timeline that has this much time in between. It generally speaking and others project just submitted and within a year, maybe a year and a half, it's before a body to be reviewed. >> In this instance, it we'd had a project that was approved. The timeline expired and they submitted virtually the same project. Again to go through the process and in reviewing the applications and all of the evidence that was provided the original environmental document in consultation with the city attorney's office we were able to bring forward the That's before you that identifies that there were no substantial changes. All right. Thank you. Vice Mayor. >> a couple questions as well. Thank you for answering question of why did come back for Planning Commission City Council. Was there any moratoriums place on gas stations part to 2020. Are part of the 2022? That would have impeded and application
moving forward. And in regards the distance from this counseling session to other ones surrounding it. We have an approximate. >> Distance, you have a nears gas stations located approximately 1.5 miles away. It's pretty close 3 distance between the closest towards a vast pool one in the city in Rose and. >> Have you looked at other parts of the city look what the prosecution is between their gasoline stations and any other guessing station. >> I have but we could get that information for you. >> Do we have any numbers with maybe the? Yulia mom made of the residents of this area compared to others, whether Southwest Sooners or to fix 7, specifically. And the reason the nasa says I am from this area over there for 40 years past. So I understand what the neighborhood looks like with the makeup is. So I definitely take that into consideration because I do see equity value here. I definitely don't believe that. Reserve comments. But nonetheless, though, I would just want make sure the services to provide year provided elsewhere. Equally. So that's why pose these questions they can't get back to with one the distance of can station compared in other parts of the city as wells with the yearly income of this neighborhood. Maybe and this neighborhood being sought right road family and the surrounding streets. >> So we do have an answer to the median income. So this information comes from the U.S. Census just for context. So for the Census tract, the
median income is $97,760. And as compared to the county of Sonoma, which is 102,840. So after the Census tract, it's about 5% lower than the rest of Sonoma County. >> Within 5% pretty much a stable number throughout senators as well. Wars. This number even lower than the 5, the 5% even lower. Say that you send us a >> So all we were able to get was for the full county. So I'm not sure about just the city of Santa Rosa, but for the county. It's the 5% favorable. Thank you. That's it for a nominee. >> Thank you. Other questions council been with us. >> I just wanted to make the distinction about the whole issue the this particular project being exempt and just ask, even though the project is exempt, which meant that it could be brought forward at this time. That does not mean that it would be automatically approved, right? Yes, just want to make that distinction. Thank you. Questions. MR. Donald. >> Thank you. Thank you for the presentation. My question was along the lines of the timeline of when they told they were exempt from this and they were going to move forward after the gas station band. That that was put in place in SEPTEMBER 2022. Would now about the that time on a project for them to want to break ground because it seems like that's fairly quick for them to get in that process. Understand it started way before that. But they were basically told SEPTEMBER 2022. That they could move forward with the project. Not that we
approve it for sure, but that they would be able to do to the exemption that was in place. Is that right? I think that's it. I just wanted to clarify the timeline and perhaps what this business have been told during that 2022, because I think that's pretty important when I'm looking at a timeline that we told one of the potential businesses they could move forward due to an exemption. Thanks. >> Thank you. All right. I think we nicely highlighted some of the key issues in this discussion. I'm going to be my questions to some of the presenters to and if there are no other questions for for Connor and Jessica right now, I think we move ahead presentation from Karen Weeks. Our Planning Commission chair. Karen, are you here, Karen? Welcome. Okay. Ready for me. Ready chair and go ahead. K good afternoon, Mayor Stapp of Vice Mayor Alvarez and members of the council. >> As mentioned, my name is Karen Weeks and I'm the chair of the Planning Commission. I'm here today to provide you some context to why we were unanimous in rejecting this conditional use permit application. APRIL 10th 2025. Reviewed the request for a conditional use permit for gas station. As you know, especially those of you who have been on the commission. Our responsibility is to implement plans ordinances and policies relating to land use matters. We carry out your policy. At this meeting. We reviewed the consistent with existing gas station ordinance. There were 6 of us PRESIDENT And we were
unanimous in our decision. Approving this proposal was not consistent with the city's policies. We could not from the findings presented by staff such as the proposed convenience store welling unit inconsistency with enhancing major entry corridor and the underground tanks on top of seasonal wetlands and within the water table. But probably the finding that was the most problematic was related to health and safety. We leave you the background in the original City Council action and relied upon the voluminous report cited in that item regarding health and safety risks associated with gas stations. They were also there were no new reports contradicting those original reports regarding health and safety. Also a few of us reviewed the video of the original SEPTEMBER 2022. Council and it reinforced or understanding that the 2 gas stations in process at the time of the ban. We're not automatically approved based on the old regulations but could proceed in the process based upon the new regulations. The council at the time could have exempted them from new ban and could have held them to the previous regulations. But they did not. And there was no implication that that was the case. It should be noted that even with out the band, we would have been hard pressed to make the health and safety findings regarding gas stations. Based upon all the data. Once again, our action was consistent with the current ordinance approved by the council. And we are enforcing your policy, which was put in place for a reason. I'm happy to answer any questions that you MAY have. >> Thank you, Karen. Questions
from Council for Karen. Seeing none. How, though, there MAY be some later. So don't move. Don't go too far. Lot. Let's open the public hearing and restart within with the appellant presentation from Jeanne couple check. Jean, you've got welcome. And you have 10 minutes. >> Thank you, Mayor staff it. If the mayor staff members of the city Council >> Jeanne, couple top 1500 Manzanita Avenue. Santa Rosa representing the applicant Mongol Dylan, who is with me this evening before beginning my formal presentation. I would like to address what maybe the councils major concern with this project. That is the potential for groundwater contamination. You've been told by the opponents that the proposed project, which includes a gas station, will be developed in a census tract. Rated in the 96th percentile for grew out groundwater threat. This is a true statement. However, what is not told is over 50% of Santa Rosa, including all downtown, all found Grove Inland east of channel Drive is also in the 96th percentile. Then for the information presented by the opponents is meant to alarm rather than inform. So what is the threat drilling down into the data? We find that there was one contaminated site in the vicinity of the project site stripe in seal. The site was fully cleaned up and the file closed in 2022, the next closest site isn't Finley Avenue, approximately one mile
to the Southeast. This site is part of the former Naval Air Station the entire formal naval station is undergoing remediation. Wells have been installed to monitor the effectiveness of this cleanup. This is not an active threat. The project has undergone a site specific phase. One environmental site assessment, no contamination was found. The data has shown that there are no leaking underground storage tanks in the vicinity of the project. Leakage from failed single walled underground metal storage tanks is the main source of groundwater contamination, single wall tanks and now outlawed in California. The project proposes a reinforced, doubled Wall fiberglass tank equipped with a monitoring alarm should be in a wall of the tank be breached. The goes off. The fuel is trapped in the space between the inner and outer walls of of the tanks, thereby preventing any leakage and now like to move on to my power point. Second slide, please. The project before you is a mixed use project consisting of 2 parcels retail commercial and park parcel. The project is the same project that was approved in 2013, 2014. It is the same project that withstood in the appeal of its subdivision and it is the same project that was exempt from the gas station ban next slide. Please. The entitlement process for this project is long and complicated. I will touch only on the highlights. That might help answer the
question. Why has it taken so long next slide, please. Approved in 2013 ab one 16 grants, a two-year extension entitlements. Good to 2017. Next slide. Please. In 2018, the city determined that the approvals had expired. So we filed new applications had we stayed the scores more likely than not this project would exist today. We wouldn't be here. However, in 2018, the city changed its mind determined that the approvals had not expired and issued a letter extending the conditional use permit and design review next slide. Please however, in 2021 that the city changed its mind again, determined that the conditional use permit and design review had expired. We filed new applications. The gas station ban was adopted. The project was exempt. And we're here today. Next slide. Please. On to the appeal in their motion of denial. The planning commission found the project inconsistent with zoning and general plan, insufficient aside. Environmental analysis and inconsistent with the gas station ban. A detailed response to each of these findings was submitted as part of her appeal. I hope to hit the high points in the following slides. Next slide. Please. The market is a fresh food market offering fresh meat, vegetables and fruits. This issue was examined and discussed at length during the original hearing on the use. The market needs the zoning code definition of small grocery store. It is not a convenience store can take his unit and onsite kid take. His unit was found to be permitted use in the commercial zone. It is as a beneficial use to the project. It has been encouraged and supported by
staff. Adjacent gas station. If the proposed. Propane dispenser, if the existing propane dispensary on the Blue gas parcel is a gas station that use is illegal as far back as 1984, the zoning code prohibited gas stations adjacent to residential zone. Parcels the blue gas, partial adjoins residential and did so at the time of their application and their installation for the more blue gas and never applied for a propane dispensary in their application. Next slide. Please. The Planning commission found the project to Be inconsistent with several urban design policies. The design review is interested. Find project's consistent with the urban design element of the general plan and the city's design guidelines, the project was found to be of some period design by the Design Review board. Next slide. Please. The project was found to be auto centric much to the contrary, the project increases recreational opportunities. It provides both pedestrian and bicycle connections to the job the trail provides a patio seating and gathering areas for ev charging stations in a privately maintained park. Next slide. Please on this slide perhaps you can see it a little bit better. If you look at the green arrow com coming off the job do to trail, you can see that the access has been provided to the back of the parcel.
>> And it comes out to the side. It bypasses the entrance in the excess exit ways of the use. So it's actually a safer alternative than going forward across the parcel frontage next slide. Please moving on to environmental concerns. Traffic that the project is not a traffic generator. 3 traffic studies completed for the project concluded as much as 70% of the trips would be existing passerby trips, water quality. This issue was somewhat touched on my original in my early earlier remarks. The site is not a contaminated site. The project has received as for one certification from regional Water, Quality Control board and for the regional Water, Quality Control Review and building department oversight will be required at the time of building permits. Next slide. Please, please. Both air quality in ghg emissions have been thoroughly studied. A detailed health risk assessment was prepared. That specifically analyzed the potential health risks for locating a gas station in the in the vicinity of residential development. No significant Ghg memo was also prepared in 2024, no significant impacts. Both reports from emissions below pay equality, thresholds of significance. The planning Commission denied the project because it was a gas station. I think I would prefer to end my presentation. He can give Martin courage opportunity to address this issue. Thank you. >> Good evening. My name is Martin Attorney for the applicant. I want to touch on 2 items that were discussed
briefly. But I feel that I have something to add. The first is the topic of the exemption. As you all know, the the gas station ban ordinance was passed in SEPTEMBER of 22. It included exemption language that is found in Section 10 of that ordinance and states that applications for a new gas station use that were deemed complete prior to the effective date of the ordinance were to be exempt and MAY continue to be processed that language makes this project exempt from the ban because the application had been deemed complete. At that time or prior to that time. What that means is this project can cannot be denied simply because it includes a gas station. Use. >> Or >> certain elements that are typical of gas stations like underground storage tanks. >> To deny this application on the basis that it includes an underground storage tank is equivalent to deny it because it is a gas station. That's not what was intended by, including the exemption in the ordinance. The same is true of the policies that were discussed in the ordinance. Those cannot factor and it should not factor in as a reason for denial here the idea is that there was a protection built into that ordinance to protect my client and denying on the basis that this project has a gas station
use or elements typical of a gas station would trample on that protection. Thank. Thank you, Martin. >> All right. I thank you for that. For that presentation, I'm gonna bring it back to council for questions of the applicant. MR. My apologies, MISTER Mayor. But I this MAY not be just for the applicants. I think there's some clarification that I need on this and that's what what was told to whom about what an exemption is. Because what I hear is. >> Staff saying exempt means. The viewing the project as as a point in time. So pre SEPTEMBER 2022. Right. I've heard Chair week say that they use the gas station ban that the exemption was only for the application to move forward, not for the merits of the application. So my question to the applicant is what were you told what the exemption meant for your application. >> I don't know that we were necessarily or specifically told anything but my review of the language in the ordinance is as I explain, it does not make sense that. Policies expressed in the band would be grounds to deny. >> And you get that microphone is not very sensitive to wean way. And thank It doesn't There's an inconsistency there. If policies put in place to support the gas station were then used to deny a project that was exempted from the ban. >> questions from council vice mayor along same lines. The word complete. We heard use upon. The guys are up there by the lure. Will point projects are complete as he stated any time. >> The project was can the second them 3rd time around the project was considered
complete DECEMBER 2021. >> Staff would there be a factual statement? >> Yes, DECEMBER 17th of 2021. It was deemed complete. Mayor. For now. Thank Questions from council. My question revolves around the issue. The aspirations could someone, whether it's either the appellant or staff. Give me a a little clearer picture on the decorations and expirations and then the retractions that the redecoration. >> That I that I understand that that process correctly. Jeanne Jean, take a first shot at that. And then perhaps staff to respond. I'd be glad to. >> goes bat. It goes back to the application of a b one 16. So what what occurred as I mentioned is the projects were approved 2013, 2014. Therefore, they're good to 2015, be one, 16 extended the applications to 2017. In 2018. In a b one. 16 was up like a ball to a subdivision and that in the project included a subdivision, the policy is if project is bundled. Conditional use permit design reviews, subdivision of one is extended. The whole package is extended in early 2018, the city decided know that used for men and design review. Had expired and spawn off the subdivision and then that's where we have all the detail above certificate of
compliance, which I won't go into. The city, took a second. Look at it and then decided because of the disruption in service is having to do with the Tubbs Fire. That the application was, in fact, still alive is because there was delay in terms of review and moving forward. So that's when they wrote us a letter in 2020 in 2018 saying that our entitlements had an expired in brought those entitlements forward. Had the cities up to that position, then we would have had subsequent extensions through emergency ordinances. The relief ordinances. But instead in 2021, the city look back and said looks we made a Be one 16 didn't apply your subdivision and it was at that point that the whole thing unraveled. >> Thank you for that. And a live look to staff now as well as that in. Accurate summary of what happened here, that there was some ambiguity. Around how to to move this project forward. >> unfortunately, I was not in working in the development review section at that time. So I was not privy to the back and forth, but I can say that I know that there was some confusion and I don't know of. I are assistant city attorney or director can help out. Good evening. Thank you. >> My recollection of this is when we took another look at this, and I believe it was 2018 that the previous assumption that a b, one 16
had extended the tentative map was incorrect. And so that state extension had not applied to the project. So therefore, the entitlements had expired and thus lead to a discussion with the applicant submitting new application materials since it had, in fact, expired. >> Yes, a night. I will add to that first off. Thank you. Mayor Vice mayor gave Osman director of planning and economic development as we piece together the history and this it was all sace associated with that ended a map under state law. There's certain allowances for the timelines of the tenant. A map around that time frame. That was quite a bit of legislation that was extending those. That was granting more time for developers to act and how the department handled the Associated Entitle Mint says they were all packaged with the tentative as the tentative map expired dissociated title in 6 part along with that whatever caused it was a lot of conversations and tracking with state law on understanding whether the tentative map was alive or not. And as mentioned, it was determined at that time that it wasn't. And then the staff made the determination that the associated entitle months died along with the map. >> Okay. Thank you for that. This really is a complicated process. Back to the question that commissioner Kirby was was touching on Want to make I understand. So there was that there is that last clause in the ordinance, the gas station Ban Ordinance, which does the any applications in process to continue. Would it have made any sense at all to have that
have that clause in there? If those gas stations were going to be subject to the gas station ban. >> That's a good question. So I mean, I've got the language right here. And if it would help, I can read it verbatim. I think it's kind of been stated. But so the way that the language currently reads is any application to permit a new gas station land use that has been deemed complete for processing by the effective date of this ordinance. He's exempt from this ordinance and MAY continue to be process and considered by the appropriate review authority. So the council in that in adding that language to the ordinance was recognizing these 2 applications that were submitted. They were deemed complete. And and and we should have the opportunity to go through the process. Thank you for that. And a look for to our city attorney as well since I know that we've been reviewing inner city attorney's office. >> Is that legal review? Is that that the interpretation as well? >> I think that the the language is what it I think that the ban across the board than clearly did not apply to applications that were in processed to that point. I think the question you know, looking at this project without a ban in place, I would see that there could be an argument that a policy level could apply, but that's different than all-out now than the out now ban would not apply to this project. Thank And speaking speaking, more generically.
>> When the city. If the city does not. Follow its ordinances closely, doesn't city open itself potentially to litigation risk in terms of making decisions like this? Well, certainly anyone can file a lawsuit about almost anything that doesn't make it meritorious. >> So I'm assuming the question is about meritorious lawsuits. I think certainly, you know, arguments could be made here and certainly I could see how this would get into litigation that we would need to. But probably, you get guidance from the court. Should we want to apply this? I think their arguments the city could make. But I do. I think this would be the subject of litigation. Yes. And I I know we have to be careful about how we speak on these matters, but I did at least want to >> Put it out there for the public that the city is is really dotting its I's and crossing his t's on this matter. Because when we make commitment certainly pass ordinances, there are there are legal ramifications and we need to take that into account is are making the decisions here from the dance. So again, to all the public are here. Rest assured that there has endless review you know, down to the letter of what our ordinances mean and what projects the standard the projects have to be held to. All right. That ends my questions. Anything else Ms Rogers? >> Thank you, Mayor. I have a question about health and safety and I don't know who would answer this. But when we're talking about the double walled tanks. >> How long have those been in use for says the older tanks that >> had a higher concern for. >> Leakage. I don't know how long they've been in use. I
know that. >> I believe it was 2021 that single long tanks were a lot in the legislation actually requires them to be removed by DECEMBER 2025. So the in this project, not only just a double wall metal, it's wall fiberglass with steel reinforcements. And that, too, was with the space in between. >> it's an assumption on my behalf that. As of 2021 new gas stations were built in different parts of California. So what is that percentage of spill? From the double line. Takes. Is there. Do we have any numbers those yet? I have no information on that. I apologize. >> the questions are council. Vice mayor. He believes question, but I have a little to it. Our Ashley ask of it. The single what's a life expectancy of those and was a life expectancy of his double wall tanks. >> I'm not an expert on tanks and tank construction. So what what I know is that with the double long tanks, there was a monitor along and then a mom will go off as soon as is any leakage of fluid from the first tank into the space in between the 2 walls. So to me, that gives you the assurances that is not going go undetected and it won't go to
the point of breaking that second wall. >> So are her that there's rebar as well as modern system. But I don't think that it would be. The point to ask you what its performances. And there quick scenario them one lady, he don't have that information to you. >> I do not. I believe we MAY have someone on zoom if I could speak with my client. >> We have the fire marshal on zoom at all. Yes. Can please promote the farmers one moment? >> We do have a tank experts on zoom. >> To them or near expert here. One 0nd. Get the person's name for promoting. And the deputy fluent all. >> Michael Strachan. >> Good mayor members of the it's Goldman chief fire marshal, the center of the fire department. The single wall takes a as the applicant advised have been banned. We have one remaining tank left in the city. All new tanks under the center of the Fire Department's Authority as a Cuba, which is sort unified program agency. We as the Kuiper regulate the installation and maintenance and inspection and testing of all gas stations throughout the city Santa Rosa. On behalf of the state of California, there are about 4 different who pose in the county and we manage and permit the installation again of those tanks. So from insulation standpoint, they would follow all the newest guidelines.
That was actually one of things we worked on through the development of the ordinance is some of the initial language was likely the potential prevented upgrades that they were not required. But worked on that language and to ensure that any existing tank, regardless of whether there was a need and or any new tanks, h# # # have the ability and a requirement to be installed with the double tank. The sensors as described and all the inspections through our agency. >> Could make through the mayor. I want to let the opponent no, there's no one by that name on Zoom. He's indicated that he can't log on. My clients in contact with him now. I apologize. >> I want resolve that technical issue that's been willows. >> I have a question for chair weeks. Next up actually. Ok, thank you. Just I just wanted to clarify. >> I think when you make a presentation you you MAY have said that the prime. >> I don't know if you said on words in your mouth at all. If the primary was the primary reason that the planning Commission denied the project. Due to the gas station ban or were there not other reasons? And if you could talk about those a little bit, share >> Yes, I think what I said was that even if the band hadn't been in place, we would have been hard pressed to find that. To make the fighting for health and safety reasons because of all the reports all the research around the harm that gas stations can do. So that clarify he has sent in. And I also wanted to ask and I don't know if you know the answer to this.
>> Doesn't that the city also have and emergency climate action I don't know what it's called policy plant. Thank you I mean, I know I stood on the Climate Action Committee, but just given that I thought I heard that is another reason as well. That would have been. Thank you, MR. Donald. Thank you. I'm not really sure who this question goes to. But since chair weeks actually talked about health and safety and I'm not sure who who made the best answer this. >> One of my questions was around climate and our climate issues because one of the things we're hearing is the impact on our climate. But is there anything our data that we have around cars that potentially line up gas stations at Idol and the impact that that has on our community and on our ozone our climate is can you answer any of that? And the reason I ask this question is if there's fewer stations in certain parts of our city, we did. Would it be that those gas stations that are in those areas, we might have more cars lined up like I can attest to Costco where the cars are lined up. A significant line of cars idling. And so I just wondered if you had any information on that. >> Yeah, I wish I had a bit more information about the queuing things like that affairs. A larger queues at certain gas stations going kind of the global impact of that. I do not have that information. Is a traffic study that was performed for this project for that as noted past by trips. And if there's a gas station that is farther
away from where people wherever where they work. And it's a larger trip to get there. That's probably more of a destination type trip probably this point talking out of my wheelhouse about traffic engineering. We do have w trends and our traffic engineer from the city here to talk about that. But I think I think what we should think about as term doesn't as it relates to the the review of this development project is the types of reports and analysis that was performed specifically relate to this development and not necessarily the global impacts of gas station locations throughout the city and the associated impacts with car missions and ghg emissions and things like that. >> Thank you. MISTER Akram is Thank you. I did have a question about electric vehicle, charging stations. How many of those are in my district? So within the vicinity of >> the proposed. Station. >> I do not have the information handy. We MAY be able to get that to you. >> Okay. Pretty interested. >> Myself as MR. Yeah. Something kept councilmember been with us. Said driver my and comprehensive memo that we received today the Climate Action Plan and Climate Emergency resolution were addressed and it can you. There is claim by the holder group that is contrary to those and then there was a response. Can you sort of
summarize that? Or I can read it? It had to summarize a few. Thank you. >> as I kind of mentioned, last response to Councilmember MacDonald, the project is required to complete certain reports. And there's certain now says that are performed for compliance with the center is a climate action plan that takes the shape of a new development checklist, which is included attachment each 15 in in the packet and you'll see specific measures of the climate action plan and how the project implements or does not implement those. But it's an associate discussion so the way that we ensure project development projects are consistent with the center is a climate action plan as we as analyze the project against checklist. I also know that with the adoption of the general plan 2050, the greens that included a greenhouse gas reduction strategy that also has specific development measures in that staff has analyzed the project against those measures as well and found it to be consistent. >> Okay. And then can you address the climate emergency resolution yes, we'll have to look at my notes for that one. >> Yes, so. >> The city's climate emergency resolution that established community-wide goals to contribute to a county wide climate emergency mobilization strategy and collaborate with the regional Climate Protection Authority to integrate climate change into policy decisions. That resolution is not necessarily contain any regulation or policy itself that would
preclude review and approval of this project. >> Any other questions counsel? Good questions. Alright, members of the public now is your time. Many of you already submitted your names. So before we begin taking, hearing from the public first a note of thanks to the dozens of people who have reached out to us on council to all of you who have made the time to be here in person tonight. It is not convenient to come here. This is clearly an issue that stirs up a lot of strong emotions and believe me, all of us here on the dais have felt that and I hope you heard from our ex parte disclosures in from the questions tonight. Our we've gotten a sense that we have put our heads there. We've gotten our heads into the details of this issue. We read the letters. We've had the conversations. We are looking forward to what you have to say tonight. We're glad that so many people are here. I as it as gentle reminder, I will say that you are not required to take all 3 minutes during a public comment. It is perfectly appropriate to say that. I agree with the person who came before me already very succinct with that with the comment that you have to make. But whatever it is, we're certainly eager to listen. So we're going to start off. I'm gonna go right down the list here. And if you can, again, be waiting up by the podium when your name is called and the and use both podium so we can make this very efficient. We're gonna start with Katie Jack and Tyler. Katy, Jack and Tyler, your first 3 and keep calling out names. Katie,
you're out. >> Hello. My name is Katie Rakowski. I am from District 7. I live in this neighborhood. I. The interesting challenge of driving through this intersection every day. I hope you'll bear with me. This is my for my second time speaking before you guys in coming here. My first time was was the first hearing a few months ago. I know a lot of people are going to talk about a lot of different aspects of this issue. I just want to come to you guys and let you know what it's like. As did just a member of the community. I'm not a part of a big organization I can pay for lawyers to come here his time away from my family. And it was really cool to speak in front. You guys last time feel like the people I voted for the people. I encouraged my community members to vote for. Stand up and actually We had to say and and fight for something that is more than what we have today. Hearing that this all might be undone kind of broke my heart. It made me wonder. Who I elected. I I try to really critically look at every proposition, every individual running and give them a fair shot. See who's funding them, see what their history was. And I try and find leaders. And invest my faith in them. Encourage the elders. I work with the natives that I work with the first time voters. I encourage to do the same. And to hear this could all be and done on weird technicalities. I can tell you as the experience of a constituent that to me, there's no difference between the term. Quickie Mart and
grocery store. That calling a patch of grass at a gas station, a park. Is it going to make a difference to me when it's in my community? I I would really like for you guys to take a moment and think on the last time you went for a picnic at the gas station. I understand that the threat of litigation, Israel. But we'll elected you guys to be brave. And that's what I'm asking you to do here is plant trees shade. You will never enjoy. Because there are so few corners of this country where that still happening. And it's one of the things that makes me very proud to be a member of this community. I thank you for your time. And I I hope you really consider this issue. >> Thank you. Katie wanted Jack Tyler and Penndot. >> At 3 kids and wants to go home. So or at least my spot in line. Thank you, Ali. Step out. >> Thank you so much, Jack. My name is Ali whole. I live in the neighborhood in District 7 near the proposed site. I'm here with 3 of my 4 young children and I'm here on behalf of all of the families that live in the area. Our concern is mostly with the health and environmental impact of this project. You've all made aware of what those concerns are. So I don't need to inform you any further, but I hope that my presence here and my very well behaved children. Thank you. And it just shows the feeling of the
neighborhood and how important our voice is for this project. Thank you. >> Thanks for coming out tonight, Ali. It's moving on Tyler and pan out. Jack Jack is that you out, Jack and it will, Jack, then Tyler and Hannah. >> Hello Council. My name is Jacques James. I'm resident here in Santa Rosa District I don't own a car myself. So I bike to work each day. So I have plenty of experience along the Jared trail. So this project directly impacts me just did a traffic concerns and all the other benefits disadvantages that MAY pose on top of all that I feel like this does not need stating, but we are in a climate emergency. All 5 of the mass extinction events that we know of were caused by a rapidly changing climate. It is well known and recognized by a majority of the nation's and scientists globally that we are entering a 6th of such events. The Hollis Enos extinction. With Max mass extinction events averaging 82% of species going extinct this is the single greatest threat that humanity has ever faced. I feel like this doesn't need stating, but the city of Santa Rosa and you are representatives have recognize this emergency as well. I quote from the city's website, the city's climate action policies and strategies recognize the imperative to act and demonstrate a continued commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The city continues to actively implement greenhouse gas emission reduction measures
too reduce emissions to meet local regional state reduction targets. So I feel like it doesn't need to be stated that in the year 2025 we need strong leaders to move us forward. Where is this? Gas station is taking us back. We're only 5 years away from from Santa Rosa's goal of carbon neutrality in 2030. Mayor Stapp Council members. Are you to be intimidated by this litigation? Knowing that you MAY fall on the wrong side of history? Please don't go against the recommendation of your your own rulings in terms of the climate action policies, the commission that you have appointed and you're very constituents. It doesn't need to be said but denied this approval. Please, thank you. Thank you, Jack Tyler Pan and then Alexa. >> Sorry. I would also like to defer my times for someone to go before me. Derrick. Didn't make them. Derrick and you're good to go just mean an okay? >> Yeah. Well, I'll be brief in all of Give your time back. Also here just to voice my opposition to this proposal for many reasons that are already been established through the Planning Commission meeting in APRIL, spoke then I think what's being lost to in some of the rhetorical gymnastics around when permit was issued in the chronology and whether that entitle someone to develop a gas station in center rose is deeper and more fundamental question of is this good for Santa Rosa? Is good for our younger generation. I feel to see how new gas station that I'm a climate crisis meets that definition. Sure. There are plenty of equity issues.
And Santa Rosa and I really hope that their addressed. I think there are other ways to address those dressing up a gas station and then just guise of an altruistic projects, which this is clearly not. So I really hope an urge that the council eases their discretion. To determine whether this is, in fact, a project that is good for Senator Rouson's for lawyers, not for developers but for all of us. Thank you. >> Thank you. Derek Tyler, back to you. >> I'm a district 7 resident, as I said on APRIL 10th, Bill Clinton in his 1997 addressed to the North Carolina state Legislature said this new time that we are moving into the coincidentally will be part of a new century and a new millennium. We'll get more people in this state and this nation, the chance to live out their dreams. That at any point in human history, only if we take advantage of it. If we seize our opportunities and deal with our challenges because I know that to achieve the vision that we share for America. We all have to do our part. And even now we can see the vistas of the future. The point I want to make today is we cannot afford to be complacent. We have been given an opportunity almost unique in human history to fashion a future that will embrace everybody. We cannot and dare not blow that opportunity. This gas station will not embrace everybody and is not a part of the vision of the future. I believe that we're trying to work towards the city council, banned the construction new gas station, the 2022 and this proposed gas stations seems in opposition to the cause of the city county and state. And as a city and county, we are working towards carbon
neutrality by 2030 60% of our emissions come from transportation as the state executive orders by both Jerry Brown and Gavin Newsom sit dishes goals of no gas cars on the road by 2045? A goal only achievable if we are willing to try this proposed gas station is not just unnecessary. It is not just a step backwards, but it will be a bad investment in our future with your name is all this. While the epa is being gutted and this city council and its decision to ban new gas stations cited the severe risk of ground pollution and brownfield sites. If this gas station is allowed to be constructed with the epa and its precarious state, we risk creating a mess that we aren't sure that we can clean up and doing so will cost millions of dollars and reclamation. The public does not want this. Your constituents do not want this. And as Obama said in his 2009 town hall meeting in Shanghai to a crowd of college graduates excited for the future. At the end of the day, prosperity goes beyond material pleasures. It transcends material concerns. It resides in the quality of our lives and the health and happiness of our families. It is present in the strength of our relationships and our trust in the community. This gas station will hurt people. It will hurt families and it will hurt our communities. It will not improve the health for happiness or the trust this community has and desperately needs. Now. But the city Council protect them both now in the short term and the long term. I urge you please do not overturn the decision to deny the conditional use permit. Thank >> Thank you, Tyler, Pena Alexa and then Laura Gonzales. You hear me. I can guarantee this is what he hastens panel law see is a health care expert and she had to depart
just about 10 minutes ago. >> So since point to as how to leave, would it be possible, mayor for me to take her place in go now that the insurer, would he? Go ahead. Sure. Thanks so much. Really appreciate. Good. Good evening. Mayor stopped Vice Mayor Alvarez and council members. My name is what do these things in the co-coordinator of the coalition opposing new gas stations. Thank you so much for the opportunity to comment. I'm here today to urge you to deny the appeal and support the planning Commission's unanimous decision on APRIL 10th at that hearing over 20 Sonoma County residents, many of them Santa Rosa resident spoke in opposition to the project and no one spoke in support of the project. Now, there are many other people here tonight that need to leave early. We've got parents with kids in such who came because they care, but prefer not to speak. So I know if it's ok, I'd like to just all those in the chamber who are supporting the planning commission in APRIL 10th decision. You to deny the permits to deny the appeal for you to deny the appeal to please, stand to show who we are here in the room. Ok? Well, I think you can see that we've got, you know, a lot of community members here divert, you know, a lot of different community members here. The care about this. You know, I want to clarify one point a misstep on my own comments because they want to make something clear about why we are even talking about the exemption. And that's because it is in the. >> a resolution from the APRIL 10th meeting. The clarification. I would like to is that it's not about the ordinance is not about the
ban. It's about the findings and they clarified the recognized that that could be a confusion. Are you talking about the ordinance? They were exempt from the ordinance? Well, here's the deal. The ordinance had findings. Findings of fact, and those facts are facts. And the fact about gas stations and they remain the remained yesterday. The remain today and there's no getting around. That was said about the ordinance. It's about the findings. One of the neighbors couldn't be here tonight. I want to read her letter from APRIL 10th because we in our letter, our lengthy letter from from the coalition talks about a potential condemned contamination of of of residential wells. And it's not just the tanks blow, but there's microscope every single day and other ways that spills happen. And from your head, who lives right nearby. We recently bought our first home off she go Avenue right near the site. We discovered our well as only 40 feet deep and most people in our area have shallow wells, everyone on a street because of hard to have a city sewer service because their septic tanks are already contaminating our water. We're concerned about this plan for gas station right around the corner from us. We're afraid that runoff and leaks will start to contaminate our drinking water when this matter comes before you please take the health and well-being of our local community into consideration and reject this proposal. One last thing in Twenty-twenty to see you. This body City Council did not make a mistake. The climate emergency
resolution was correct 2024. Was the hottest year on record for the entire >> What do you think you will go on to Alexa, Laura Gonzalez and Holly Pearce. Alexa, go ahead. >> Hi, and I'm Alexa Forster. And for the purpose of this comment, I am speaking on behalf of Bikeable Santa Rosa, which I am a co-lead for. We are a campaign of over 1000 Santa Rosen's who used bicycles for transportation. And I just want to address the question of safety. I hope that you will take our word for over the appellants about what we want from our bike infrastructure as people who are actually out there riding around. And we do not want this gas station. Gas stations are. We are pro business. We are Pro Santa Rosa business. Where pro development. We are pro housing. But this particular kind of business generates an incredible amount of in and out traffic that puts us in conflict with the cars. And and that's even if they're passed by cars. They're still turning in Andover across our pads. So I just wanted to clarify that the people who ride around on bicycles daily in Santa Rosa do not want this project. Thank you. Thank you. Lauren and Holly. >> Good Evening Council. I'm my name is Laura Gonzalez and I live in District 7 of about 5 minutes from the area and I'm opposed to the elm trees station. This project is being marketed as a fun family place to hang out and have a picnic someone else pointed out who goes to a gas station to have a picnic. And I want to know how will yet another gas station benefit? My working
class neighborhood news flash. It won't. There are 2 other Chevron stations in the area. One on Stony Point Road near Highway 12 1 of the entrance to Sebastopol. There are over a dozen other ones within a 3 mile radius. This is obviously not a gas station does or one of the selling points of the project is fresh, fresh produce and other food. There are various small stores in the area to within half a mile. I can't help but wonder fresh produce is a developer's way of getting around the zoning code that prohibits convenience stores at that location. The developer has stores all over the county and none of their other stores have fresh fruit. I also live I live near the the md convenience store that's on Fulton and West 3rd. And I was just in there a few days and they just have a few overly ripe bananas there. But they did have lots of alcohol, which brings me to another point. That is my understanding that this area there cannot be sailed off sale of alcohol. Will that happen? Not to mention food Max's nearby. So anybody who really want some fresh produce and food and lower prices would go to food. Max, why would they go to a gas station? I have no faith that the project won't affect traffic as anyone who's driven in the area already knows traffic at Highway 12 in Fulton Road. Right? Road is a mess. It's congested, especially during commute time. The fact Street station is not needed and the permit
should be denied. Thank you. >> Thank you, Laura. Holly Wayne and then Terry Shore. Good Evening. Council members. My name is Holly peers and my husband and live lived for 32 years on Providence scored, which is within walking distance of where the Elm Tree Station is proposed to be built. I'm not an activist. I only learned about this project through the public. Notice in the press, Democrat. I'm not a public speaker, but this is an issue that will affect my neighborhood. And so I must speak up. From a neighborhood resident standpoint. I have concerns about this project. One is that traffic at the intersection of Highway 12 in Fulton Road is all very congested. Situating a gas station there. Only further interfere with traffic flow with what motors? What with motorist slowing to turn left into the station? As for another gas station in that area. I'd like to mention that there are already gas stations that we use conveniently situated to the east of both stony point and debt and road accidents. There is no need for another. So problematically close by. They're also grocery stores at the same exits. So I have no need for a mini mart. I'd like to ask council members if you are able to see the photographs that I sent you. Could somebody raise hand if you did? Thank you. Would it be possible for me to show it's just a thing that doesn't. It's been a moment.
Turn it on. Take the light off of that. Yeah. This is a picture. The md market owned by the applicant within a mile of where they want to put the new mini Mart. I'm not interested in a store that looks like this representing my neighborhood and I was at the Planning Commission's meeting in APRIL speakers in opposition to this project made many good point enough that the commission rejected plan unanimously 6 to nothing. Tonight, resident living close to the side in the site in question and having a personal stake in your decision. I'm hoping you will uphold the resolution. Thank you for listening. Thank you, Holly. Want to Wayne Carey Shore and then Kate. >> Thank you very much. My name is Wayne. Yeah, I'm a gay. She I'm a 30 year resident of District 7. I lived approx live approximate quarter of a mile away from this project. Every day I travel that intersection. And then a 3 minute 5 minute commute generally takes nearly 10 minutes. On the dias. You mention that many of you have already visited that location. I'm wondering when you have done that because if you didn't, any time between the hours of 8 to 9 to poured during the lunch hour or even in the afternoon. You'll notice, the lane to the commute and the trend traffic that that's congested the intersection. I fear that the
gress egress of the georiga trail for the bikes. That but and explained earlier, does not just come from the Joe are doing a trail that comes from that whole intersection. If you that entering or exiting a gas station or any kind retail outlet, I'm sure that you would understand turning looking left or right and for different traffic that would go through as well as other kinds of pedestrians bicycles really does pose a danger. It was less than 10 days ago that there was an accident right at that gas station on toward Sebastopol that you mention and person was a produce stand turning. East and was head-on collision with another one was very thankful that no one was injured. They get have to go to the hospital for a different evaluations. But that and and in the middle of that was a turning area. And so even with that, it doesn't take long for one of those occurrences to happen. This evening. You're going to be confronted with very difficult decision and one in which I'm feeling understanding about your position that you're in as far as potential litigation. But I think the responsibility to what could happen and injuring others, not just with accidents, but with also the climb issues that are happening. I don't think that we be able to be must be able to acknowledge
what's going to be in our future. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Wayne Carey, Kate and Karina. Let's make use of both podiums. Keep this to areas that you. >> Go Yes, good evening. My name is Terry. Sure. Am ready represent team the Sierra Club. Sonoma Group. Good evening. Mayor Staff council members and staff and members of the public, the Sierra Club, Sonoma Group represents thousands of Santa Rosa and Sonoma County residents who care deeply about climate health and the city of Santa Rosa's ongoing commitment to addressing the climate emergency. We strongly urge you to deny a conditional use permit for the development of a gas station at 8.74. North Ryde Road in Santa Rosa and to deny the appeal the city of Santa Rosa does not need a new gas station. Seasonal wetland near a busy intersection in a community already impacted by car and truck emissions from fossil fuels. There are several key reasons to deny the appeal. One, the toxic compounds in gasoline and diesel are hazardous to people's health leaking fuel tanks are polluting to water sources and air quality. The gas station will increase climate changing emissions. I'd also like to note that
just a development such as this >> is discretionary by the city council. It is not a right. There are many other reasons for denying the gas station that has been spelled out by the Planning Commission by the public and many organizations. I would like to also recommend that the council seek independent experts on technical questions such as fuel tanks and such, including, of chief blow in fall. Ultimately, I Remind you can remind us of that Sierra Club strongly urges you to support the Planning Commission's denial of this gas station and stay the course on your commitments to the environment and a healthy community in Santa Rosa, thank you. Thank you. Carrie. >> Our Kate Korea and season. >> For the time and careful thought you're putting into this matter. My name is Kate's teen. I live and pay taxes in Santa Rosa. >> As a retired litigator, I noticed that many elected bodies suffer from a that I call fogs or fear of getting sued. Their attorneys advise them that their actions present potential legal risks, elected officials who do not have legal backgrounds to analyze risks often get cold feet about pursuing any action that might in it results in a lawsuit. Risks of litigation are on both sides. In a letter to council Congress's attorney has effectively written the brief that will enable the city to prevail in any litigation that MAY be brought if this appeal is denied. I urge you to read that letter
carefully before you vote on this appeal. You are on solid legal ground. You have nothing to fear from a lawsuit. You are right to be concerned about risks in this matter. The greatest risk to the city is that by permitting another gas station to be developed, you are buying the city, a brownfield for which it will end up on the hook for the costs of mitigation. Once a gas station closes. Is underground storage tanks for us tease age their risk of leakage increases. They become difficult to ensure in the private market, if not insured privately, state funds provide ust insurance. Currently more than 10% of the state funds are insolvent. California is moving definitively away from fossil fuel vehicles over the next 10 to 20 years. Thousands of Raiders are going to walk away, go bankrupt as demand decreases in their storage tanks reached the end of useful life. The state Ust Insurance Fund will become insolvent when that happens. This multimillion dollar cost removal of the U.S. Tease in cleanup of the surrounding contaminated soil. And water will fall to Santa Rosa Tax Greatly outweigh the costs any litigation that might arise from denying this appeal. If this development for a good idea, it would be an operation by now. It has been denied again and again because it is a bad idea. Bad ideas are not like fine wines that improve with age. They are more like milk or fish. The longer they hang around, the more they
stink. Thank you, Kate. Karina, Susan, enriched ice. >> Good evening, everyone. My name is Karina. I'm a current student in my second year at Santa Rosa Junior College, studying nutrition, science and public health. I live in a possible and I am urging the city Council to affirm the planning commission's APRIL 10th denial of the permits and denied the appeal for this new gas station project. As a young person, I am deeply concerned about the climate crisis and my generation's future. I believe building new fossil fuel infrastructure in 2025. Just does not make sense. A new gas station would contribute to increased greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. As we all know, which goes against the city's climate action plan and the Climate Emergency resolution. Number 2020, 0, 2, targeted at improving air quality and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. In addition to fueling climate change, their health and safety concerns. The proposed site is incompatible with cyclists and pedestrians enjoying the job or do to trail and it would expose the immediate and surrounding communities to a host of toxins, human exposure to these types of contaminants, threatens the public health, safety and welfare of the immediate and surrounding communities. I've been actively participating in climate action night at Santa Rosa Junior College for the past 4 years. Both as a student presenter and behind the scenes. The climate action. It is an evening where Sonoma County College and high school students share science, fair style presentations about pending climate-related California legislation and local campaigns. At the last
Climate Action night on APRIL 24th. 41 students filled out postcards. It can show you all agreeing. That council should uphold the Planning Commission's decision to deny this gas station project. These are the postcards right here. Stack of them. I respectfully request that they be included in the records for this hearing. And I wanted to thank you all for the lead it for your leadership on this important issue and all of the good work that you do in agreement with the existing policy. I urged the council to deny the construction of the Elm Tree Station project. >> Things are season forward by Rich. >> Thank you for being concerned about a lawsuit and protecting your money. But we're in perilous times. All right. And our institutions are falling by the wayside because universities, media outlets, law firms and more refusing to fight back against lawsuits. We're losing too much. Don't be part of that. In this case, it is our health and the health of the planet that is at stake. Years ago during a drought year when the first rains finally came over several days, I saw Chris searching for food in the median strip of highway 12 near the site of the proposed gas station, convenience store. With the first rains. The oil sheen could be seen on the highway. Because there is a depression there. Water collected there contaminated by our use of fossil fuels, the site of the grid said in MAY, and I wrote the short home. So channeling Peter Cerna reading up on the High Road titled. Intimate Harm. Hollow, hungry. We hurdle travel, blind and highways
past treat fields. Hurst warm under gaudy light. Zim, still the grit, radiant medium stripped stoic, invisible luminous joy. Born bird be trade. Billy mtn crisp grass. Drought dried season turns liquid late. Oil bright rain broke Rainbows bloom slick and sear. Lightning flashed Snapshot Golpes runoffs. 5 loomed from waste Harvest. How else to tell this regret comes late. So many ways to be dangerous. I'm gonna repeat the last stanza. How else to tell this regret comes late. So many ways to be dangerous. Please consider the health impacts of this decision. Regret will be too late. Please join the commissioners who are appointed and vote no on this gas station. Thank you. Thank you, Susan Rich, tell and share. >> rich air. Respect. Sorry, wrecked. Retires. Hello. What do I do to turn this on? Talk closer? Tamara ties former plant center as a planning commissioner who was fired 30 years ago for supporting more affordable housing and opposing big buck stores in order to support local business. But anyway, I also went on to found the Leadership Institute for College in economy to train and educate leaders to create public policy for sustainable future. And I'm very proud to say that what he has to exist.
A fellow of the institute and what a great job he's done it leaving in this effort to understand why one gas station makes a difference. I also served for 12 years on the board of trustees of Sonoma County and chair their buildings and grounds committee and oversaw the building the janitor. Good Building Commons, which was extremely green. And APRIL of 2021, Living Building Challenge certified the first carbon free building in California. And one of the few in the United States. It went on to get many, many other certifications made being green and sustainable, including leed Platinum International Future Institute, the National Institute of Buildings, Science and the American Institute Architecture. I know difficult use to reduce carbon. And I really appreciate the work that the planning Commission is done to support the the Climate action plan of the city. We need to do more. I hope you will stand up and support them by refusing this appeal. Thank you. Thank you, Rick. Share and Laura. >> a killer? You're ready of names of in a in Santa Rosa. This for the city council as well as the city attorney and the city manager. I know that this is conditions about making decisions about this. But I trust the research and finding of the planning Commission. They're just sitting there a unanimous decision and there's a good reason for that. And there's been lot of information put out tonight why this should not go permitted. And so I'm
just going to add that task as the city council with the decision to affect everyone in this city. And I encourage you to vote, according to good sense and reason. Don't be influenced only by those who bottom whose bottom line is profit without regard for the environment that everyone must share. Every one of us here. So think of the future generations. Just like the young woman who was here a little while ago, you know, she has to go up the decisions that are be made by our generation here and yours. So think of the future and whose lives are affected by good or bad decisions made today. And I too, I hope that you make decision today and you know what that Thank you. Thank you share, Lauren. I and some people. >> Share. Go ahead. >> Good evening. Mayor says they're and council members my name is share an aside. Lived in Santa Rosa for 15 years I in the late 80's, early 90's worked for a local business that was called Petroleum Engineering. What we did was. Design and oversee the building of new gas stations. So I have some technical expertise in tanks, double wall tanks, appreciate that. There is that annular space between the 2 tanks. And there is a monitor monitoring system. That theoretically. We'll let us know that there has been a breach. What I want to say is how many gas stations to we already have. And when. The big one hits. How many of them will fail? We
don't know that. But there's a 99% chance, according to the usgs. 99% probability in the next 30 years for an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.7 or greater, which is certainly. To break both both tanks. At that point in time. And this is getting a little distant dystopian. The electricity will likely be out. So. It doesn't matter whether there's monitoring going on or not. We won't know whether it has been breached or not, and it will take months for all of the current. Gas stations. To be looked and to be dug up if necessary. Why would we add just one more in that chain of events? I hope you will listen to what the planning Commission said and what many of the people here are saying we don't need another gas station. Thank you. Share Laura, some people and how the year. >> Our Aneesh, any ice I'm the executive director, 3.50, Bay Area and 3.50, cinemas, one of our local groups. And I'm also a resident and live near Memorial Hospital. So I'll keep it brief. Thank you for your patience. Maybe we can all take a good, big, deep breath. 3 energize ourselves. The little concerned about some of the procedural comments and just wanted to highlight something. Terry sure said, which is this is not ministerial project. This relies on the judgment of the planning commission and AUGUST
Council right here. So this is a decision that you can make based on the evidence before you. And I think that that's really important to call out because a couple comments have seemed to imply that will be forced somehow to make different kind of decision. So the only thing that nobody has brought up is that there is decreasing demand for gasoline in Sonoma County. And I'm actually been consistently surprised that local operators of gas stations have been kind of come out against these new applications and enforce. So as demand goes, Ali doing is cannibalizing the existing owners, some of which are huge Safeway, Costco and put some of which are kind of mom and pop operations. So just on the demand side alone, literally is no need for this gas station. And then the other thing I just want to underscore that other people have pleaded no matter how will you build it? Take. There is always always always leakage between big tanker trucks that fill up those tanks. And as everybody here knows who is filled up a car, there's always leakage there as well. And I get the prize for being quick. Thanks. Thank you, Laura. Some people. >> Is Sunday want to is about here. People that some people. It's your it's your turn. Hello. Good evening, everyone. >> My name is Cindy Sherman. I live. That insanity. They are
being a gas station. Everybody's talking about. >> ny demand pollution. But Bush saw need to all 4. Guess it's elite him. And there are only 2 ways to get them. The team Met-ed is. The Lee Tim Bridgewater, the clout collecting a pound and then they put And the second one getting you from the. Vulcan mining and of them. Causes the habitat destruction. And the cause ammunition. You locks off fresh water. The other thing is that need to feel fat really to painted on the electric cars. It's very difficult to recycle them, too. And it is not all. Not a soft option. 3 psycho. Lithium battery. And there's only amount of dead batteries are recycled. And the second thing is much more expensive than mining. Often humid tto the team too. So. They're hired, wanted is and want for everything. If think about that. But it's a convenient plays for People who lives around that fun sanity, specially that people. And being on the working class people who want to grab a cup of coffee and go for a walk. So I support that. Thank you very much. Thank you. Here. Jeff. You're welcome. >> also a community member in Roseland am sure bikers, I'm not very professional, but, you know, even 5, 7, miles as lot for me and it be nice to have that little community be
a great will stop on that over infield that many times. And it's a possible. And so for me, it's very convenient. You know, is right off the trail. Beautiful spot I can to stop by rest a little bit. If I wanted to. >> So yeah, the market would be a great location for me you know, get some rest, hydrate, get a snag or whatever. I think it's a is going adding too much traffic, everyone that's already there is going to go in so in my eyes, I don't see that being a bigger issue and same with like reports as well. So all in all, I think it's a great project for the community. There's not really a freshman food market like that nearby. You know, like the center of jc has the community market, their specific market Northern Santa Rosa. Just don't have that in Southeast Santa Rosa. So I think id be actually great. Food mask isn't. Think it's great. You know, it's affordable. It's good. But like this is community market but would have. More healthier options than the alternatives. So I'm supporting this project. >> Thank you. Move on to Kyle, Vanessa and Carla. Kyle. Vanessa and Carla. >> I would like to echo everything the Jags year said it would be really great to have a mart. That's right off the trail that we can stop that and get hydrated on their bikes. I just don't see there being that much of an issue with one more gas station it would be extremely convenient for anybody who's driving on that road rather than having to go to the Chevron. I rather prefer to support a local business some local business people. Thank you. >> Thank you, Kyle. Vanessa,
Carla and Matt. >> Hi, my name is Vanessa. Some member of this community. I would like to express my support for this development of the gas station. I believe this gas station will break a lot and it would increase the tax revenue. Also for So I do so what 10 deep had mentioned in the past. It's very important to look at. So I am I do approve this project guy. I go for it. >> Thank you, Carla, Matt and Nicole. >> Hi, my name Carla. I'm from support and raise. So I honestly do think the gas station and it's a good place for it to be there. And I used to live around the area and I honestly doll. Like going to am. >> For example, Chevron right there on. That little shopping center. >> And shell, just because I feel like there's just a lot of people I kind of like, I kind of look for more like Hayden spots of gas stations to put my guests and I think it's very communion to my kids that have the gas station there. It's right between the 4 intersections going 2 Sebastien Board going on 12 or Fulton. And I I honestly think he should trust the process and take a chance. And I support the project. >> Thank you, Carla, Matt, Nicole and Lauren Laurel, rather. >> mayor councilmembers meetings. McAllen resident of Santa Rosa. Here representing Sonoma County Conservation Action. I'm here tonight to strongly urge you to affirm the unanimous decision. The APRIL 10th decision of the Planning Commission to deny the conditional use permit for the gas station on North Railroad. And reject the appeal filed by the developer that 6, 0, vote by the Planning Commission wasn't
made lightly. It was really it was the result extensive public testimony, careful analysis and deep understanding of how this project directly conflicts with Santa Rosa General plan zoning laws that are climate emergency declaration, which is especially important Summit County residents overwhelmingly support the news. The city's ban on new gas stations and that includes environmentalist healthcare workers, local businesses every day to day residents, many of whom live nearby the proposed gas station and would be most affected by project. The Post gas station would be located in a flood-prone seasonal wetlands. Mealy just read near multifamily housing into that other propane facility put into highly flammable hospital operations side by side has been said many times by many of the speakers here. We're in a climate emergency, not a theoretical one, but a declared emergency. We've seen the wildfires that in the floods. The heat waves. We cannot keep building fossil fuel infrastructure and expect a little Future gas stations week has been said over and over again. They pollute the air and the ground water. They emit greenhouse got gas isn't a proposed and they pose risks to frontline communities who have long warned the burden of these the environmental harm. >> We know better. The planning better, which is why the unanimously rejected decided project. And they know that it doesn't reflect our current science or our current values approving this gas station would undo that hard-won progress and signal that Santa Rosa is not serious about this, their climate commitments. But for me that I will send a powerful message that are city stand by stands by its by its people. And by its transition into a
healthier, more resilient Future Council members. We are asking you to finish with the planning commission started from the decision the appeal and Sam of the community and say loud and clear were gas stations and center as thank you. >> Thank you, Matt Nicole, Laurel and Jenny. >> Thanks everyone for being here and sitting through this line meeting missing your dinner. I'm Nicole. Sorry with Right on the edge of the Laguna and I commute through the pass. The proposed site daily on my way to work. In fact, I drove through that intersection on the way here today to this meeting with my tank on empty. I'm here. I'm needed as still have gas enough to get to a gas station after this meeting. I welcome that real and we can with my friends and their kids. The kids usually ride bikes or scooters at the commission meeting. We heard a neighbor after neighbor talk about why we don't want or need this gas station in our community. The biggest reason being that it is a safety hazard on multiple levels. The intersection is extremely busy. Adding car interactions going to and from a gas station will only increase the inevitability of an accident of the fatal collision with a biker or a pedestrian. It is unknown air and water pollution hazard and an area prone to flooding and its location right next to a propane gas station will exacerbate problems if fire's cause one of these 2 gas stations or starts nearby, making it difficult or impossible for neighbors leave the area and for emergency personnel to respond to this threat. There are plenty of gas stations already existing
in our area to serve are diminishing needs for gasoline. That this business owner really wants to provide food or housing to the community that they could simply build an apartment or grocery store without adding to the risks that I just described. Again, I'm not the only person whose voices concerns or points have been well documented and would be ignored. Now at the risk to the lives and health of your constituents and eminently foreseeable future. If these consequences are not the bottom line. And instead we choose to focus on potential lawsuits. Please note the consideration being given to lawsuits that could happen as a result of denying this proposal should also be the same consideration given to lawsuits that could happen as a result of future deaths and disasters. If the city council knowing we now chooses to forgo those concerns. So mayor stabbed. Can city council if your mind already made up for hearing our comments are Cousins, constituents comments? Please remember that just because proposal can be approved doesn't mean that it should. Safety was a primary concern of the planning commission when they denied the proposal on the council should uphold its decision for the same reasons. Thank you. >> Thank you, Nicole World Jenny and Lori Ann. >> Hi, good I am a resident district 5 district 7. I live in the neighborhood just north of the proposed developments. My kids go to write elementary school. I have one in second grade and one in t k and I'm very active in the school. I'm
active for the safe routes to school program. I would love to start a walking school bus going from the neighborhood to the north, down to the school. And I just want to point out that the that the path that goes around the proposed development looks really good on paper. But people especially kids are not going to take that detour out of their way around the development. Just going to cut straight down. And I'm also on the Vision 0 Advisory Committee Vision, 0 advocates for people centered approach and taking into account what people actually are going to do. Actual human behavior. And so I urge you to keep that in mind as well. That safety consideration and not to mention what everyone else has already mentioned about how this neighborhood is not even their gas station. What we would really love is a place to gather. We love a coffee shop, ice cream Really anything else and many need to take food park would be great. We would hang out there. >> We're not gonna hang out of the gas station. Thank you. >> Thank Jenny Rory and Joe. >> Good Evening Council. My name is Jenny Blaker and I'm coordination coordination of the coalition opposing new gas stations. I wrote to the planning commission about the inconsistency is between this project and the 2035 General plan. And I've just been reviewing the 2050 general plan as well, which was adopted in JUNE this year. Its excellence and inspiring it emphasizes community health safety and the quality of life. It recognizes the reality of the climate crisis and impacts and that 58% of Santa Rosa's greenhouse gas
emissions are generated by the transportation sector. It focuses on reducing vehicle miles, traveled in greenhouse gas emissions. Emphasizes discouraging traffic by automobile in favor of public transportation and safe connect to the low stress, active transportation for ages and abilities, including safe routes to schools. As we've been hearing this evening this gas station would be exactly country to those policies laid out in the general plan, general titles emphasizes protecting waterways, wetlands ecosystems and natural areas, sinking 2 large fuel tanks into designated seasonal wetlands in an area that floods in winter and developing a gas station adjacent to land zoned for multi-time just density housing, his country to these efforts. There are also many references in the plan to protecting the community from hazardous materials. How does this square with putting gasoline storage tanks, pipes and pumps plus to liveries by tank. It's a tanks with potential impacts to local residents. Along with the safety hazards of situation, the tanks in a geologically sensitive area. In particular. One thing stood out to me, which is policies to do with protecting residents by protecting Appalachian. I'm concerned about past month. According to the American Lung Association, gas-powered vehicles are a major source of pollution and greenhouse gases that drive climate change, Bunning, gasoline and diesel fuel contributes particulate months as smoke forming nitrogen oxidize oxides and volatile organic compounds as
well as carbon dioxide into the air. These pollutants can cause move for their ups, lung cancer, heart disease and even premature death. So how does this square with putting in a new gas station? Mostly there is are common to ensure meaningful public engagement. Giving people the opportunity to develop and implement plans and projects that improve community health. Also, ironically, there's a lot in the plan about protecting cleaning up brownfield sites from contamination, including petroleum. Why create a new site now when the emphasis should be on clearing up damage done from existing ones. Thank you. >> Thank you, Jenny Lori and Joe Boswell and Kevin Marion. >> Laurie Ann Barbour and I want to. >> Thank you for your patience this evening. As so many of us are speaking. I'm actually speaking not for I'm going to read partial part of a letter from fair number of physicians and one of them was here earlier and could not stay. So we the undersigned, local healthcare professionals right to express our dismay that the city of Santa Rosa is entertaining. The notion of permitting a new gas station at age. 74 North Fry Road just within the Santa Rosa City limits as health care professionals committed to safeguarding public health. We are writing to express our deep concerns regarding the negative health impacts associated with gasoline stations in general. And this particular proposal, specifically there a several
highly toxic chemicals and gasoline is harmful compounds which can escape into the air, including benzene. Tell you, Ansel, benzene and zaya lean of these benzene is the gasoline constituent, most harmful to human health, adverse health effects of benzene included cancer, including the Kenya anemia, increased susceptibility to infections and low birth weight babies. When babies are born at low birth weight, they had to wait. They have a higher risk for a range of complications. There are another couple of paragraphs. But in the interest of time, i'm going to skip to the end. Has come to our attention that the environmental review upon which your decision will be based was completed in 2013, 12 years ago. Much has been learned over the past 12 years about the human health impacts of exposure to gasoline and diesel instead of calling for a new environmental review. We call on you to simply reject the proposal. California is on the tree transition away from using dangerous fossil fuels towards much cleaner and safer electrification approving a new gas station in 2025. Is an unhealthy deviation from the positive path to healthier forms of transportation. We believe that the people of Santa Rosa are as committed to climate healthy choices as we are and given the concerns noted above, we urge the commission, the council to deny or too. To deny the conditional use permit stick with what the planning Commission did. And this is signed by 12 visits, 12 local physicians and 6 nurse practitioners and nurses.
Thank you very much. >> Thank you, Larry Joe. And then Kevin. Is this thing on? Okay. Perfect it on. Only lived in Santa Rosa for about 5 years, but my mom, both my sisters and their kids, all of in Santa Rosa. So I'm not quite as qualified as everybody here, but I just wanted to give kind of the other side because everyone's making good points. But everyone's also making the same points. Let me just tell you quickly for the station can we guarantee for sure that they'll never be another gas station opened in Santa Rosa? That's my question. Because I feel like most of the points here are made against gas in general and gas stations. One, I'm not sure if this room is completely emblematic of all the residents in Santa Rosa. And, you know, I think sometimes the loudest voices in the room, one of the ones that I'm very much pro environment to I don't see everyone protesting all the gas stations and the reality is in Santa Rosa. Some point, another gas station is going to open. The reason for this one is because that's not where the blood second corporations like Chevron Shell and all those people. I don't think everybody in Santa Rosa has an Unfortunately, the reality is people still have gas cars. A lot of those places are convenience stores. This is not supposed to be a communion store. This is supposed to be a community-based or and there's a lot of chains of, by the
way, all around these places. I don't think that any of us are pro chain. And like I can we guarantee for sure another gas station will never open in Santa Rosa. I don't think the council can make that call. I don't think anyone can make that call. So in some ways I feel like isn't this the lesser of 2 evils? I wouldn't want to Chevron opening their. I wouldn't want to shell opening there. Like I said, I haven't seen the data on how many EVs there are in Santa Rosa versus gas cars. But I look at the gas stations all the time. And they're very congested again. I really appreciate what everyone's saying here about the environment. But we also have to look at the reality that we're going to need some gas stations that are much, much better than others. So that's my opinion. And I just want to say there's another side to this story and there's a lot of people in our community and unfortunately, a lot of them are not here. So I really respect the people who are here and they're speaking up loudly. That's so important. But I also just want to look at the reality of the situation. If we can guarantee another gas station will never ever opened in Santa Rosa. And that's fine. But I don't think any of us can make that call. Thank you so much. Thank you, Joe. Kevin. I just wanted to say I support the same things that Joe just said. I heard Kyle and Carla. I'm in support of this gas station. >> I've lived here about 10 years or so. And that area is
always kind of been fair to And I think the proposed site plan by the planning. I think it's a net positive. >> Kevin, thank you very much. Alright, Janice. Thank you, Mayor Mike channels Kerman. >> I was present at the Planning Commission meeting and it was one of the most outstanding meetings ever been at. >> All of the commissioners were so on board and they were so present. Think questioning about everything they seem to be able to think about during commission. >> Hours we spent there and they they did a fantastic job. And I thought that was going to be the end of it. And then when I found very shortly after that, it was appealed. I started trying to find out how could this be have healed? And is this long later? Did I just found out in the last she weeks that it was coming before the city council. I had been told it was going to go back to zoning and that, you know, other places. But anyway, those are all side issues. That thing is that there are many people that have come here tonight. I think it is amazing that so many people showed up and when it was announced that this meeting was going to be this week, I was at that design review. I think it was last week maybe use was planning commission anyway. They didn't say the time or the place or anything like that. That would be helpful somebody, you know, wanted to know. And so I
talked about that about always saying time place. And, you you know, which meeting it is because there's a lot of different kinds of meetings. But anyway, there's so many people that spoke out often with with good science and background and climate and the young people have been incredible to show up tonight with their current exposure and their heart and passion about declining to allow this gas station to happen. And I just want to say that it's been a long night for everyone. And I hope that there is no question. I the remains that anybody thinks that there's in this situation, the thing is this is the future tomorrow. And there MAY be another gas station somewhere. But this location at the meeting in the planning commission, they talked about fumes views around little park that was supposed to be being billed. They talked about the apartment above the convenient able convey recalling at time the store. So there were things that they were discussing that I haven't heard here tonight. There were concerns the traffic, the bicycles. There is something we didn't discuss at that time. The bicycles, but all of these things had been discussed and I think they made the right decision. And I hope you follow and deny this gas station being built. Thank a Janice. Are there. Other members of the public would like to speak? >> Approach podium. Let's use both. So if you've got your hand up will start at the podium to my left here. >> Yeah. Can you hear Yes.
Okay. Good afternoon City Council. Actually. Good evening. I got to get out of here. Is my bedtime? I'm a little old lady and it's past my bedtime anyway. My name is Chris Thompson. I live in Oakmont. From APRIL 10th unanimous decision from the Planning Commission to deny the permits for this project. As a retired first grade teacher. I am concerned that the proximity of the benzene emitting operation such as a gas station MAY adversely affect the brain health of the young children who will be attending write to charter elementary school, which is just 2700 feet from the gas stations site. This is on top of the safety issues for these children as they try to navigate around the cars that would be PRESIDENT Using the gas station. It is clear we are witnessing yet another. This struggle between a safe, clean planet for our children and the ruthless greed of fossil fuel, billionaires. Let's put our priorities where they belong. On our children and their future. And by the way, if we're afraid of threats of litigation from the gas station suing Santa Rosa. >> Well, maybe the people of Santa Rosa. We'll sue the gas station. >> Thank you. >> Thank u next speaker. >> I from Oakmont it first, I'd like to thank the City Council for all the work you do you guys put in hours and hours and we don't see. And I also know the city council here has a legacy of doing strong work on climate. However, there are those who
would like to pretend the future of our country and the world is based on fossil fuels. Donald Trump, the online lobby, their spending, lots of money in Sacramento and Washington to make sure legislation gets water down. You have a chance tonight to make a decision decision, whether you're standing with the fossil fuel companies and building out more infrastructure or whether you're saying no moss. And I think it's really important that you take a stand 12 years ago when his proposal was put together, it was a different world We thought it was 2017 when we moved here to the beautiful city of Santa Rosa. We also thought climb and okay with then the place caught fire and caught fire again. Because of climate change? And tonight you guys have to make a decision. Whether you're gonna support building more infrastructure for fossil fuels or saying no, encourage you to say no. The planning commission is giving you lots of reasons to say no, but it's up to you to make the decision again. Thank you for your work. And I hope you say make a good decision tonight. Thank you, Are there any of the members of the public? Please go ahead. >> this is on. >> Yes, hi, everyone. My name is or fair. I'm going to try to keep this succinct as possible. I've heard a lot of really great arguments on both sides and what I want to say is there's a need for a gas station because we have fuel vehicles right? A lot of that
is due to the fact that we are still selling and operating fuel vehicles. I would love to see some picketing around a Ford factory where they are making selling f-one 50's. Same goes for, you know. Tobacco causes cancer go after the tobacco companies and not the small business that, you know, trying to make a living for themselves. So let's focus more on. Do we want to bring in a small business support? It? A local business versus a big ExxonMobil. So that's all I'm gonna Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Next podium. Marla Charbonneau. And I'd like to read a letter from a member of the community that couldn't be here this evening. >> you're a member or members of the Santa Rosa City Council. >> My name is Annie Fowler. I'm a recent graduate of uc Berkeley and a current student at sr j c with hopes to work in water treatment for the city of Santa Rosa as a way to give back to the community. I've grown up in Sonoma County for most of my life and went to school in Sebastopol and Santa Rosa. I've used highway 12 countless times to get to and from school. And I've always appreciated the open landscape and peaceful surroundings. This has been my home. I recently heard about the plans to construct a gas station at the intersection of North right road Fulton and Highway 12 with 6 gas pumps and for electric charging stations. In addition to a convenience store in residential unit, I am completely perplexed by this.
Not only because that area already experiences congestion just from regular traffic, but also because Santa Rosa alone already has more than 40 gas stations. Why are we putting money into another one? We could be investing in our infrastructure schools and more sustainable projects. I see that the construction of the gas station would also include park like amenities, benches and picnic area and a bike path. Why not just construct these things alone rather than add them to another gas station proposal? I am writing because I cannot attend in person for today's hearing since my class conflicts with the agenda time slot. However, I want to state that I strongly stand against the approval of this construction. We have much more pressing and important matters at hand. And another gas station, especially in this area is the last thing we should be funding as a member of this community. I urge you to deny the applicants appeal for this permit. Thank you for your time. And he Fowler. Thank you. Next podium. Hello. My name is doing to from Roseland. >> I grew right around there belong to past school Grange been going up and down those roads all my life. >> faced with a decision here. We have to act a bit like Solomon. >> So how about a fuel station without to gas? People have been talking about the future. No one's come up with a
different way to get around and wheeled vehicles except for the electric vehicles. So maybe have this all the things that the proponent proposes. With an electric field, charging stations which are already part of the proposal and just say no gas. That simple. The people who live out there get to have a market, the people who live out there good to have the amenities of all the things that have been proposed, he just would have. The gas. >> Are the SUVs, the big trucks that the young people like to use the lines that got the really loud pipes and the big tires. You don't see those on electric vehicles yet. You know, I got to thinking. The young people might buy more electric vehicles. If you allowed. If you put some kind of system on there, young guy with all his hormones could step on the And although know is we just come bubbling out of that electric vehicle. Anyway, you get drift of this. The young folks want a different world. Get with that. And I think let's just make it a fuel station. Putin, the electric Chargers. Oh, yeah. And you got to have solar panels on all of the buildings and a windmill there. Did you know when I grew up here, we had wind mills. And that's all you got your water out of the ground. Pretty cool. Anyway, we've
advanced be on that. And I'm hoping that we'll get some good. Saw him on decision from you, folks tonight, which will be really cool. And with that in mind, whoever holds against me that's life. Thank you to Wayne. >> Any other members of the public wish to speak? >> And Jean for shares and I was at the planning commission's meeting in APRIL. Alex, you know, you know, we've heard a lot of great stuff about the vision like Dwayne Just hadn't the commissioners. I would say that all of them were on board for all that. The reason they denied this was because of the very specific rules in the code in the zoning code in and what's required to approve a conditional use permit. And to do that, you have to make it like 6 findings, it has to be consistent with the general plan. They could not find it consistent with the general plan. It has to be consistent zoning code. They could not find it to be consistent is oneco. It has not be a detriment health or not be a detriment to safety and you have to each of And if you don't need even one of them, if you can't find it needs to stand on. One of those you're required to And at the meeting they wondered is Blue Star gas, a gas station or not? They decided it was a gas station and it was in the first resolution of the findings. Then they got wondering what's see implications there MAY be besides just that determination and they talked about it and they decided to pull it out of findings. And
your own staff yeah, you can pull it out. You don't need because you only need ones finding any got about a dozen findings there. And you really going to go against the commission and try to knock down in every single one of Some of these you might maybe you think you could put a gas station right next residential code or maybe you're not worried about the underground storage tanks a safety risk. But if there's one they are kind of worried about that requires you to deny there's one thing that, you know, it does me did not tell you one right now. They the proximity to residential. You got a legal argument there. It's shaky. But I'll tell ya, if you if there's that they're in the mixed use, you have to be compatible and your staff doesn't give you the full rules of compatibility about minimizing hazards between cannabis compatibility and a gas station and house right there is that ultimate in compatibility? You hear the health studies. We know more than we knew in 2013, 2013. They didn't know that. That's incompatible. Now we know it's incompatible and it would compatible a year before the gas station ban is not because of the gas station ban is because it just is unsafe and it doesn't meet these rules and they Some of the science and gas station ban. So they threw it mediation. Have it doesn't beat the health and safety standards that you are elected to uphold by law. Thank you for your time. And I know you're going to do the right thing. Thank you. Are there any other members of the public who wish to speak?
>> Go ahead wonderful. >> Good evening. My name is are you now a bilingual dietician at a local nonprofit running from work mostly serving low-income community members here Santa Rosa. Many who are my neighbor. I'm here express my strong opposition to the proposed gas station. We are here because we care about Santa Rosa, its health, its people and its future. I helped to cement the healthcare letter on behalf 18 health care professionals and Sonoma County all strongly opposing this project. Some are most vulnerable community members live so close to this project. Summer concert to speak today because of their political climate. That we are. I'm deeply concerned about what this project come in for our community's health, especially when it comes to our water Life. When I served in the Peace Corps in Guatemala, I can turn to local water due to contamination. I never want to experience that in our community here. My family bought our first home when she got afternoon, less than half a mile from the proposed site. We are excited to grow our garden, build community and enjoy the beauty of Sonoma County. But even when we're closing on a home, we learned that the area had been switched to city sewage because the water was becoming contaminated by septic systems. Well, as only 40 feet deep, shallow wells like ours, a pardon, particularly vulnerable to contamination even without a major spill. Small fuel leaks happen every day from underground tanks, pipelines and from people to stop enough. Just last week I saw someone spilled gas on to the pavement when returning than also it happens all the time. So what happens to all the small spills research
shows that just 10 gallons petroleum can contaminate up to 12 million gallons of groundwater. We live in an area prone to earthquakes and flooding and foot underground tank or pipe ruptures. The consequences could be long-lasting and devastating. Also spoke with several neighbors who are deeply concerned. Many of my patients are also my neighbors, and they're already faced several health risks due to social determinants of health poverty, chronic illness limit access to health care and language barriers. They cannot afford another environmental burden, especially one. That's preventable. According to the research, this area already rings 96th percentile for groundwater threats nationwide are statewide. Adding another source of contamination beyond the environmental impacts of this project would create safety vests for those using it by bike trails, myself included, including traffic fuel deliveries and congestion. When this proposal comes before y'all, I hope you prioritize the health and safety of our community. Please reject project. I don't need another gas station. We need clean water, safe neighborhoods and development that reflects long-term care. But the people who live here and the visions for future. Thank you. >> Thank you. Are there any other members of the public who wish to speak? Seeing none? We will officially close the public hearing and bring it back to council for more questions. Looking at my colleagues Rodgers watching off. >> It did have a follow-up from one of the public commenters.
>> will there be a license to sell alcohol? >> At this market? >> Thank you for the question. I meant to include that in my presentation, would not be permitted to sell another alcohol nor tobacco products at the either of the general retail spaces of the project. >> Just if I could just clarify that, the current project proposal does not include that if they wanted to propose it later, it would need to major conditionally espresso come back to the planning Commission for that. I'd also like to ask a follow-up from one that the commenters right school. >> Is this a part of the going by this gas station with that be a part of like a safe route to school. Are there a lot of it? Children coming off the show off the trail to go to the charter school. >> Director of Transportation. Brooke, Sprinkles going answer Thank you. Iraq sprinkle traffic engineering. For the question. >> The defense on the as one of the members of the public mention they come from the north side of Highway 12. So if they're coming across highway 12 in going towards right school than they would cross in front of the school, it's a coming off the Jordan a trail. They would have the option to use to bypass trail that's being proposed. >> Does it question it It does. But I'm thinking like, is it a safe route to school? Right? Like is it? Traveled frequently where we would be able to see as travel frequently by students that are coming from the other
side. The highway 12 and or well, there's nothing else backing up to. The trail right? Correct. So I think as the member of the public mention it would it would be if you are on and I think great schools, a charter schools. So you can have. >> Many students from anywhere going thank you. Vice Mayor. >> We swear to GOD about of work. Our carbon emission goals as well as our southwest Pacific holes in general goals approving this project negatively affect our goals. How if at all. >> So I would say that staff looked at this proposal analyzed it against the general plan 2035 in the Climate Action plan. And fact, at that time as well as the general plan 2050 and the greenhouse gas emissions strategy that was recently bought by adopted by council and in staff's review of both of those documents found the project to be consistent with the goals and policies within those. >> And although we this question's been asked prior to today, but I will ask again. Is there any proof that these double walled? Tanks have leak? Since 2021 when they were being required by law. Are there any known incidents? >> Do we know if Paulo also on the line? I believe that Paul is thank you, Paul. These popping on now. >> Thank you, councilmember for the question. To our knowledge, we have no reports of any leaks that have taken place since then. Again, we have a pretty aggressive not only enforcement program, but inspection program that does engage with our gas stations around the city center is a pretty regularly through our
Cup of program. MR. Donald. >> Thank you, Mayor. I just had a quick question. Couple quick questions. Do you know? Because they were talking about how many see this is from right school, about 2300 feet. Do we have any idea how far our rest of our gas stations are in the sanity to our school districts? Our schools, not even school districts. >> I do not have information handy. I do have a map of all gas stations throughout the city and I could turn on the school district's layer and can I analysis based on that? The visual image, but I couldn't definitively respond to that question at this time. >> Just thinking about like still school. There's a gas station on the corner next to bed because here's a Safeway gas station. Those I don't know how far 2300 feet are, but I do everything by football field. So I'm guessing is probably closer than that. Just to go back to safe routes to school if we do safe routes to school, would we be ones that could route them a different way so they wouldn't be towing near where additional traffic potentially could be. Don't we work with the school district's on safe routes to school. So I robbed for the question after you went and sat back down. I apologize. >> We do work with the schools in safer at the school and part of our Vision 0 program again, it depends on where the route. I mean, I think it would be unlikely that if you walking the north side of Highway 12 across Highway 12 that you would then detour around the back of a gas station too. To continue your out. I mean, that a stranger
usually Strickland, shortest route. Let's steps. >> Somebody who works and, you big yearsley to keep safe routes to school on the table. I think it's important to note that we can work on those routes with schools to make sure that children are are safe getting to school. I grew up on the corner of Fulton and Miguel on the west side of town. My whole life. And so I understand the concern about gas stations, but also can remember going to highway 12 and not having a gas station and looking down and being on empty and being concerned. Where will I go to get to the next gas station? So I'm not sure how far the Chevron is going out towards highway 12 or in the other direction about how far that is for a car. But I know just personally growing up there. That was a challenging area to get past run. Robbie and then find out why really better hope I'm gonna get to the gas station. Of course, I didn't have any electric vehicle. And so cannot afford to buy one because they are quite expensive and don't become economically feasible for many families yet. I did have one other question. >> There was a speaker talking about how the planning commission denies based on some of the qualification that there's only one thing, but they need to deny an applicant. Can you go through a little bit of that with us tonight to see was there more than one thing that they we're denying the applicant for? Was there several things or what? What qualify for that? Yes,
certainly. I did want to clarify also while we walk through that so. >> There's lots of talk about the exemption. Those listed in the ordinance that was adopted. And and that exemption language made it so that the 2 applications, as we discuss that were deemed complete prior to effective do the ordinance could continue through the process as stated. That doesn't mean that the was going to be approved. There are specific findings within our zoning code for conditional use permits that have to be met. And there are 6 specific ones and to answer your specific question, councilmember the planning Commission went through each of those findings and determined that none of them could be made. So the 6 findings that have to be made are the first is consistency with the zoning code. The planning Commission had a number of and outlined in. There's there's 2. Well, I guess 3 draft resolutions before you one of which is a denial the conditional permit. And that includes all of the findings of the Planning Commission. Couldn't make. They found that the project was not consistent with the zoning code and and that had to do with the convenience what they deemed was a convenience market rather than grocery store Trump. Alyssa Perry, a quick. It also had to do we'll see. The onsite residential unit being inconsistent with gas station. Use and then the next finding is related to the general plan. Inconsistency with general plan goals and policies. The commission found for specific policies within
the general plan. And at this time, the general plan, 35 was in effect. And so they were focusing on policies within the general plan 2035. And the primarily focused on the adjacent see of the propose use to highway 12 scenic roadways. The 3rd finding was related to the design location size operating characteristics and compatibility with existing and future land uses. And they found that that couldn't be met because of the adjacent see to the jury to the trail in compatibility with cyclists and pedestrians using the trail. The 4th finding is related to the nuisance or injury or detrimental to the public interest, health and safety and convenience or welfare. And that is the one that was focusing on the findings that were made in the council's ordinance banning gas stations. And then the final one was a. For secret compliance and they found the attendant did not adequately analyze new information. Okay. And I apologize for this. I don't mean to be redundant, but you're saying that this project would be in compliance and consistent with our general plans and that there wasn't something that staff found. >> That would go against what we have in place. Is that right? That's correct. Okay. Thank you. >> Any further questions from there have been many tonight. This is a tricky one. Then I'm going I'm going to look to my colleague MISS Rogers for a motion that we could have some
final discussion. >> First, I would like to thank staff chair weeks and the Planning Commission for all the work you pleaded for us to get here tonight. Thank you to the public for coming down in sharing your thoughts. I recognize that there are many safety concerns about Elm Tree Station. And I hope some of those wear a dress today. I also acknowledge that the arguments made by those who oppose the appeal, Harper persuasive Andrew did in important facts about the potential impacts of the station. What I did not hear are new facts concerning this specific station. I'm not concerned about a lawsuit. I would like to say that. My grandmother did teach me though, to be a woman of my word because that is all I truly have when the gas station ban was first presented as a concept, I supported it with few questions. One of those questions was about the applications that had already been submitted. At that time. I wasn't sure that previously submitted applications would not be contested. I repeat would not be contested. The findings that were brought today are all the reasons why I in the rest of the council at that time supported a gas station baited. I understand that circumstances have occurred which impeded the applicant from moving forward with this project sooner for me honoring commitments made in good faith is important. And and that principle guides
my decision here today. I will be supporting the applicants appeal. The Planning Commission's decision regarding the Elm Tree Station project. And with that. I waive reading of the text and adopt resolution entitled Resolution of the council. The city Santa Rosa adopting and it didn't um to the Elm Tree Station. Initial study mitigated negative declaration for the Elm Tree Station Project located at 8.74. North. Right Road assessors, Parcel member. 0, 3, 4 Dash, 0, 6, 3 Dash, 0, 0, 1, file number p r j to one Dash 0, 3, 3, And altogether, right. City attorney. Resolution of the Council of the City of Santa Rosa accepting an appeal in making findings and determinations and improving a conditional use permit for a gas station to general retail land uses one apartment unit and outdoor amenities located at a 74 north right road file number. See up 2, one dash, 1, 0, 0 and way for the reading of the text. >> We have a motion a second by MISS MacDonald. This question. Spend >> Well, just say I think the work that the planning commission did really does matter. And it has. Just on face of it. I just they really did look at each finding and and came up with. They're
result. And I think just rejecting that doesn't make sense to me as a former planning commissioner. Also. You know, I used to represent that area of Roseland. So I know it very well because the jc you Rosling campus there. And which is being remodeled and expects banded. So this could be even more traffic and I really have great concerns about health and safety. I know we all know that intersection very well. So I. You know, just based alone, not even on the ban, but just something that wasn't talked about very much tonight was the Blue Star gas. I mean, the is a fuel. How I I can't in good conscience. And I'm gonna vote against this. I cannot in good conscience. The live with voting for something putting a gas station right? To blue gas. That just makes no sense to me. Just from environments, medal standpoint, you know, if there is a fire, anything that happens out there? I could live with myself so I'm just going to say, I totally don't understand why we would reject the work that the planning Commission already did. And I went back and I walked watched everything. I've heard everything that they said. I respect all the planning commissioners, including the one I appointed because they really did the homework. I don't know if basing this just on supporting some small business, which I do support small business. I suggested to the to the applicant. You know, if you had a real fresh food store, which I think the jc needs because there's no
food on campus the park and everything else, but not a gas station. We don't need another gas station. It is not. Environmentally to our advantage to at another gas station. So I'm just I'm just saying I can't believe that we're just going to reject all the work that the planning consent. I have tremendous respect for staff for the applicant and I'm sorry that you've gone through so much all these years. I do. Feel badly about that. But I still don't see any need for it. So that's that's all I want to say. Thank you, MR. Creepy. Thank Just real quick to address one of COUNCILMAN Ran with us as concerns that that we didn't discuss the propane distribution spot, but in a gas station next to it, from my office, I'd look out every day my window to a gas station that is 100 feet away from a propane distribution facility on College Avenue right next to an aggregate supplier trucks going in and out. So it already exists. Right next to our downtown core. Right on smart tracks. I would assume that staff and and our planning department have have reviewed the zoning, the the the risks that are involved this if it already exists. >> And then we're being asked to to consider a new one similar circumstances. >> Overall for me at my concern with this is we. I say we being a planning commissioner that was on the commission when this recommendation was put forward for the gas station ordinance
as well as multiple other members of his day is 2022. Voted for the gas station or as we made a good faith >> offer to this applicant. We said that you will be exempt from the gas station ban. Now, I understand that it doesn't mean that it's automatic. I understand that there's other merits that have to be taking place. But to me, I think that. Denying this appeals simply on the basis of it being a gas station is counter to what was done. 3 years ago almost. I mean, most of the week when we said yes, you can go forward with this application. If we didn't want another gas station, we could've just said no, no more allegations. I don't care where they are in the process. i don't care if it's completed. I don't care if it's a day away from being seen by planning commission. We just want to ban them completely. But we made a good faith offer to this applicant. I think it is just the the moral and ethical thing to do to see that through because that is that is what as a planning commission as a council and as a city gave them, was to captain Rogers Point. We gave them our word and I think that's the proper way to proceed. Other thoughts. Funding thank you. I'd say that when I was making that decision a few years ago. >> First of all, I let me start by saying this. I don't think that we should have had the conversation about the gas station ban with this conversation. They're 2 really different issues. This is about an applicant. Getting a fair shake from the City Council on a land-use decision. And that's what when
I made that decision a few years ago, I promised that I would give you applicant a fair chance. And I've heard everything you have to say and what I've not heard is. That this is going to protect our neighborhood, that it's going to protect our children. That is going to protect our creeks. But I have heard is that it's going to protect. Potential for for business and development. And that is really important. But there are risks of that in this situation are are not outweighed by the real risk to the waterways to the children, to the cyclists who are going to be confronted by increased traffic and the argument that this exists elsewhere in the city is an compelling, frankly, because just because something that happens in one location doesn't make it a good idea to put it in another location. In fact, the makes it fairly foolhardy right? So we know that this is this is something that we don't want any more of in the city. But that is not how this decision should be made. This decision should be made on the facts set that how the planning commission made the decision that 6 of our thoughtful, diverse and hardworking planning commissioner sat down and went through all this evidence and came to the decision that this is not a good idea. And today I want to thank the Planning Commission for your hard work over almost 2 decades. They've been really consistent on this. And I'm going I'm going say that this is not something I can support today. Haven't heard any that have made me think that that we should support it. But that
having been said, there are people on both sides of those who have been really thoughtful, compelling in kind. And I don't doubt that anybody's commitment to our city. Our future it is in question here today. So thank you for your. Your time. And I just really hope that the council can see clear to not adding any more carbon, her fossil fuel that dispensaries into our city. Thank you. Thank you, MR. Donald. And i want to thank staff for the presentation tonight. I really want to think everybody who is here on both sides to speak to this issue. >> It is very serious issue. And I I think one of the things that I go back to is what did we tell the applicant in 2022? As far as giving them a fair shake? Did we say that the Senate ease a concern? Did we say you wouldn't have opportunity to move forward because of all of these things are out of school or safe routes to school. The jury a trial. And I don't hear that that was ever mention. What I understand is we said move forward. You're going to have a fair shake at this and so for from my perspective, we want to make sure that we are standing on that. We are also saying no one else can put a gas station in Santa Rosa because this was, in fact, the only applicant of the 2 that move forward at that time. So I want to make sure that the audience hears that we do have a gasp and that while this counselors in place that would have to be overturned to put an additional gas station. But to be good players with our businesses, with our small businesses and putting something in that specific
area. I think that is needed. And so I'm I'm Councilmember Rogers and Okrepkie that I feel I I feel compelled to support this and and be able to move forward and get this business an opportunity to open in that area. But I also want to say thank you to everybody for your well thought out and your comments tonight. I really do appreciate it. And everything that you did say really did resonate with me. So thank you. Thank you. Vice Mayor. >> Thank you, I think first about privacy started planning Commission for put through this put you through this. If council back in 22. Had foreseen changes in regulations. Michael wording in there that I would. Not let the part of of should there be any changes regulations? Then putting them to weather is the the expiration of a permit as we did approve the permit. And the part. But it's it's it's it's really the wording of it for myself. I don't see is that we've. Are looking at something different. Promise back And I think councilmember correctly that we did not or do. We did say that there would be any future gas stations and we still hold ourselves to that word now with the applicants, whether we're worried about a lawsuit, we're looking at the money issue. Were you that all see the whole trouble my experience on also threat road where I did knock on doors. And ideally, the parents who say will every night, I guess is the the course of my children. So they have a guest in the car next And I'm there every every time have to drive
a car, they have to go the mouse ago, put gasoline vehicle multiple times at night. You know, those are the personal stories that I heard. Well, welcome area. I'll simply go back to the part of having approved. Projects. And saying no other project will be allowed. And I don't see myself moving away from the way that we did give back land and that's why we'll approving the appeal. >> And I think my colleagues are marks on fairness. Really something up for We want to attract companies to this area. And when we make promises to them or when we explain to them the procedures for setting up shop here in Santa Rosa, do we want them to have confidence that we're going to follow those procedures and it seems clear to me from the record that we left the impression with this firm with this ownership group that they we would we would be looking at their project with the lands that was prior to the gas station Ban. And in this and this was an exception, was clearly left open by the by the council at that time. And so we should stand by that just as a matter of fairness, having said that, I want to I want to echo the point that the gas station bans in place. I think the press Democrat correctly summed it up and they said this and we build the last gas station in Santa Rosa. But again, this is a decision that was made predominantly back in 2022. When that when the applicant was allowed to go forward, we gave the applicant every expectation that they would be looked at from a lens prior to the gas station band. And we should stand by that today. I want to think that they want the planning Council and in particular, my
appointee share weeks. Knows her stuff better than anyone in the city, probably. I think it's fair to say that is that the bad gas station band created some ambiguity around how planning council should look at this decision. They did not have easy task. It was it was novel and they took perfectly understandable route to it. I'm not sure that the Planning Council decision ultimately a chord with the the wishes of the council at that time when they left open, they the route to approval by the by the ownership group. And so I prefer hold to that. But begin with complete understanding and thanks to the Planning Council for very detailed work they did and through it all like to think, Steph, I mean, the staff work on this has really been, I think, got excellent. You had to respond to a lot of objections about the answer. A lot of questions for a project that's been percolating for a dozen years now. And I found your iPhone the way that you respond to the objections to to be or to questions to be very persuasive. And ultimately it was your reports and your diagnoses led me to my conclusion. So with that, also be supporting the project moving forward. And with that, we have a motion a second on the table. MADAM City clerk, I think we can. We can finally call the Thank you, Mayor Councilmember Rogers, I Councilmember Okrepkie I Councilmember Macdonald. I councilmember Fleming. >> No councilmember Ben Vice Mayor Alvarez start. Let the record show these resolutions pacified affirmative votes. >> Thank you again for everyone who came out tonight and spent so many hours We are
going to take, but let's take a a 10 minute break we've had for a long time. We will reconvene in 10 minutes. All right, everyone. The time is precisely 9 o'clock. And we will reconvene city clerk. Would you please call the roll? >> Thank you. Mayor Councilmember Rogers says Councilmember Okrepkie here, Councilmember MacDonald here, Councilmember Fleming. Councilmember Ben Willows Vice Mayor Alvarez. Let the record show that all councilmembers are present with the exception of Vice Mayor Alvarez. >> Thank you. All right. We're gonna poor souls way back to item 2011.1. The chairperson appointment for boards, commissions and committees. Would like to announce Carol Quant being named chair of the Board of Parks and Recreation in her favor. Carol spends her free time scrubbing tombstones at center of World Cemetery. She also raises money for young Are young ag students at the fair where she can help put together a lot of the organization this year. I could go on and on and I would issue was to maybe Carolyn Johnson might actually be watching. So apologies if I could make out the short. I would like to I will eventually ask for for approval from council for this appointment. In the meantime, let me call for public comment. Dwayne you have you have thoughts on the board of Parks and rec share person. >> I use the overhead projector. Please. Hello. My name is Dwayne Do when I'm from Roseland and I wish appointments that are not happening. We have public
input before you make the decision so the public could talk a bit about who could be the chairs. This is a picture from Sonoma County parks, their financial statements. See that young boy next to the tree. That's a Roselyn kid. There. And that trees really cool. And look at I'm bringing this up because they got trails there that they don't behave. We need a chair of the recreation and Parks department. That's not and paving. Don't need to have paved paths. And so I'm looking at this thing again and back here in the back. It might not be able to see it so well. So we'll zoom >> Right here. It says Santa Rosa, its measure m moneys. >> So far they've got 10 million dollars is come in and it's waiting to be used for future projects. Board of Community Services, which is now changed to board of Parks and Recreation hasn't been looking favorably on the things we need in the west of Santa Rosa. No offense to Kwan, I don't know or at all. Except for her business and being on that board that she currently is on. We need to get some young people and some new visions on how we can get improvements with nature. And not paving paths and not putting in sidewalks, curbs and gutters and natural areas. Parks can be natural areas. And there's this money right here waiting. And we need to have a chair that will actually work with the
community to help find ways to get that spending. And I don't say this. Just happenstance. I've gone to those meetings of that board or commission. For decades. And they've never really wanted to involve the public. And this kid here have been a dull by the time they MAY do something there that are Rosalynn never would and help We've been working on for 30 years. So hopefully you'll have this chair pay more attention than the previous chairs have to all of U.S. Community members. Madonna feather crews. The Pomona Indian wants to have the name. For Rosen never would be Pomona Park and preserve. Give Thank you. Kindly. Thank you to Wayne. Are there any other members of the public here would like to speak >> Seeing none. We'll close public comment. Remembering a pack to MR. Okrepkie for a motion on the selection of Carol Kwan as chair. I move to approve the mayor's appointment of chair second. Emotion and a second by MISS Rogers. Thank you both. MADAM City clerk, whenever you're ready. >> Councilmember Rogers, I councilmember Okrepkie Councilmember Macdonald. I councilmember Fleming. I am big. Congratulations to you, Carol. Councilmember Ben Willows. >> I congratulations, Cairo. Vice Mayor Alvarez is absent. Mayor step. I let the record show this past of the 6 affirmative votes. >> Thank you. All right. We'll move on to item 12 approval of minutes. Are there any amendments to the minutes? Seeing none. We will approve the minutes as submitted and
we will move on to consent. MADAM City Clerk. Oh, sorry. We have public comment on not on minutes there. Any member, Dwayne, You want to comment on the minutes. All right. Thank you. Thank Thank you to wait. Moving back moving back to consent. MADAM City clerk, whenever you're ready, you got your job in front night. >> Thank you. Item 13.1 motion responses to 3, 2024. Through 2025. Grand jury reports. Item 13.2 resolution. Resolution of the Council of the city of Santa Rosa. Bit award up mobile modular building to mobile modular management Corporation. That's going to be a good month. Sorry, bananas. Late. Item, 13 point 3 motion contract award South Davis Neighborhood Park play area revitalization. 13.4 motion contract award Kaimana Springs Community Park Garden. Item. 13 Point 5 motion contract award traffic signals Ation at Hearne Avenue in Burbank Avenue. Item 13.6 motion contract award for the 2025 pavement, preventative maintenance. And 13.7. I do want to note that this item has some red line amendments that were left at the dais earlier this evening. Hard copies were made available for the public. So this is going to be adopted as amended resolution entitled Resolution of the council, the city of Santa Rosa. One approving 96 master professional services agreement for the 23 scopes of services categories provided by the departments. To delegating authority to certain staff to execute the master professional services agreement. 3 delegating authority to certain staff to
execute project work orders issued under master Professional Services agreement. Item 13.8 resolution. Of the city of City resolution of the council, the city of Santa Rosa, establishing radar, enforceable speed limits. That reduce vehicle speeds between 25 to 40 miles per hour on 29th Street segments throughout the city. Item. 13.9 resolution of the Council of the city of Santa Rosa authorizing the purchase order for radios, accessories and installation from Motorola Solutions Incorporated in an amount not to exceed $128,065.70 under the source book contract contract number for 2, 0, 2, 1, dash in ot for a quick equipping 3 fire apparatus with mobile radio systems and authorizing the city manager to negotiate and execute any necessary agreements to complete the purchase. 13.10 resolution, the Council of the City of Santa Rosa approving a parking agreement between the city of Santa Rosa. And for 25 Humbled llc for the use of parking garage. 3. Item, 13.11. Resolution of the Council of the city of Santa Rosa approving the sale of surplus parcel located at 0 coffee lane Apn 0, 5, 8 Dash, 0, 3, 3 Dash, 0, 1, 4, Item. 13.12 has been continue to the date of SEPTEMBER. 30th at the regular city council meeting. Item 13.13. Resolution of the Council of the city of Santa Rosa approving the sale of surplus parcels located at 9, 7, 0, 9, 8, 0, 9, 8, 8, 9, 9, 2, and 9, 9, 6 Stony point Road ap ins 1, 2, 5 dash, 1, 3, one, Dash, 0, 6, 4, 1, 2, 5 dash, 1, 3, one, Dash, 0, 6, 0, 1, 2, 5 dash, 1, 3, one,
Dash, 0, 5, 8, 1, 2, 5 dash, 1, 3, one, Dash, 0, 6, 1, and 1, 2, 5 dash, 1, 3, 1, Dash, 0, 5, 7, and delegating authority to the city manager or designee to execute all documents necessary to complete the disposition. Item. 13.14 resolution of the Council of the city of Santa Rosa approving professional services agreement. Number f 0, 0, 3, 0, 6, 1, with Mecca Consulting incorporated for phase 1, 2, and 3 environmental site Assessment Services for City Hall complex. Item. 13.15. Resolution of the council, the city of Santa Rosa to approve a memorandum of understanding with Burbank Housing Management Corporation for after-school enrichment and recreation programs and authorize the director of Housing and Community Services to execute. Item. 13.16 resolution of the Council of the city of Santa Rosa, revising City Council manual procedures and Protocols. Item 13.17 resolution of the Council of the city of Santa Rosa accepting an award for 498,254 40 party $498,245.30 from the California Highway Patrol. Chp, Cannabis Tax Fund Grant program fiscal year. 25 26. >> Thank you. Looking council, are there any questions or concerns? All right. Well, about for public comment. Dwyane I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm like half asleep repair, Carillon. It's it's been way. Let's go ahead. Thank you. Just a quick, really just a recommendation, I guess
>> The the responses to the grand jury on Animal services in Sonoma County. The separate and not equal. That I guess they recommend. I guess it was the a grand jury that recommended that we have a task force. Animal service test person. I was just wondering It can include a community member or community members because as you recall, they were the ones that came here and and had a lot of concerns about dog flee shun all of that. And I just thought. Is there a way for us to ensure that some community members will be included? That's >> It's a good question. MADAM Chair, MADAM City manager, you want to speak about, you know, through the mayor. I think that's something we can reach out to the county and propose. In the meantime, we can go ahead and submit the grand jury reports and work with the county executive's office and see if they would take that recommendation. Thank you. Any other concerns. Excellent. Alright, back to public comment. Dwayne the floor is yours. >> a skinny doing to it from Roseland 13.3. So good idea on the park. But you could perhaps put in a recommendation to have a named George maybe park after George, maybe United States Navy sailor from Santa Rosa killed in Pearl Harbor on the uss Arizona during those attacks. Okay. On 13 for please involve the community in that community garden planning. 13, 5 great thing to get that signal going forward is so needed. Please make sure it does happen. 13.8 speed limits. Put them all down to 25 please. People don't need to be going fast and everybody sees a 25 miles be limit. They ignored anyway. They're going.
45, especially on the Herndon Avenue Raceway in them, Burbank Avenue Speedway. Really important. We keep at 25 years of school there and we need to get one of those electric speed limit monitor. Signs like to have a non bold avenue that one's not being used much. Maybe we could put it over on her now to a Burbank. Next. As you go further, the resolutions for the surplus property. 13.13, the stony point properties many people that lived in those properties that were the house is destroyed to widen the road against recommendations of the citizens who's going to buy those properties. It doesn't say this year. And next as you go to 13, 15, that's a good idea to be helping Burbank Avenue on that situation. But 13 16 is rather vague, which protocols and procedures are going to be changed and the public should know which those are ahead of time because and up where you folks are able to do things. The public's not getting a voice on this is really important to know last but not least the chp given cannabis money, tax money, it says funds to a project. Key. And I'm like, well, ok, well, what is that? How about you give those funds to helping out over and the Roseland neighborhood? Did you know that people back in the day? Some people illegally grew. Cannabis back out in Can you imagine? So here's the thing. Let's see about have and some
unease go to those folks there and that Roseland neighborhood and you know, we'll just get high on nature. Chp could help us out. You know, they used to do law Burbank Avenue. You used to get tickets for going. 25 on Burbank from the chp pull in Santa Rosa City. Annexed and the police took over the chp went away and now it's much more unsafe. I'll leave it at that. I know you're very tired. I appreciate all of you and all the work you do as the volunteers for the city. And I appreciate all the staff over there that are waiting for the next report. Everybody have great thank you to Wayne MacDonald's. And then we have a motion. >> Thank you, Mayor. I move item 13.1 through 13.7 with the updated resolution that was provided to Councilmember on the dais tonight. >> We have a motion and a second by MISS Rogers matter. City clerk. Whenever you're ready. >> Councilmember MacDonald, Deeded 13.1 through 13.7. But we had 13.1 through. 13.17. I apologize. I misspoke. It should have been 13.17 and I want to call out 13.7 specifically that we had a new resolution provided to tonight. I apologize. I misspoke. >> Okay. Thank you. Still second. >> The motion a second. Whenever you're ready. MADAM City clerk. >> Thank you. Councilmember Rogers, I Councilmember Okrepkie I Councilmember Macdonald. I councilmember Fleming. Yes, Councilmember Ben yes. Vice Mayor Alvarez is absent. Mayor step. Let the record show this passes. The 6 affirmative votes. >> Thank And now we're on to the real stars or evening our
summer vacation of easements. Had team members come on down. Thank you for that introduction. >> Good evening, mayor. Stop and members of council. My name is Suzanne Hartman. I'm a city planner here with department presenting to summary vacation of easements for 43 62 highway 12. The applicant is seeking a summer vacation of 2 public servants. Easements. One is a public utility easement or it pe for short. That was recorded back in 2002. And one emergency vehicle access easement known as eb. A that was recorded in 2022. This is the location of the project site for the vacations are the site is surrounded by commercial uses and is adjacent highway 12. This is the showing the locations of the current easements, one that's towards the front of the property highlighted in Orange is where the pe is and the one that's highlighted in yellow towards the rear of the property is the current cba. Section 8, 3, 3, 3, subsection c of the California streets and highways code allows cities to vacate public service easements. If they've been superseded by relocation and if they are no longer that there are no longer public facilities located with not easement and staff analysis found that both of these easements comply with this section. This action is categorically exempts from the California Environmental Quality Act because it involves a minor alteration and land use limitations
pursuant to Secret guidelines, section 1, 5, 305. So therefore, it's recommended by the planning and economic development department that the council by resolution approved summary vacation to public service easements located at 4, 3, 6, 2, highway 12. And I'm here with Cleve Carney and deputy director Jessica Jones. If you have any questions for us. >> and this was absolutely the best presentation all evening long. Thank you so much. I'm going to look to my colleagues for questions. Just applause. Can we agree that that was magnificent lead on? Thank you. That's exactly what we wanted. We do not have any questions or to public comment is Dwayne Store here? He is not. We'll close public comment. All right. And MISS MacDonald, give us a motion. Please. Thank you, Mayor. >> I move the adoption of resolution of the council, the city of Santa Rosa approving summary vacation of to public service easements for the property located 4, 3, 6, 2 highway, 12 assessor, parcel number 0, 3, 2, Dash, 0, 1, 0 Dash, 0, 6, 8 filed number Ba see 24 Dash 0, 0, 1, and wave for the reading of the text. >> Seconded motion a second by MISS Rogers City clerk. Whenever you're ready, you jurors. Councilmember Crappie, I Councilmember Macdonald, I councilmember Fleming. Yes, Councilmember Ben yes. Vice Mayor Alvarez is that it MAY or stop. Yes, records show this passes 6 affirmative votes. Thank you so much. >> All right. We item or our
item. 15.1. Our second summer vacation of MISTER. That's right. Hi, 5, MR. Briscoe. You see how it's done. The floor is yours. >> Good evening. Messed up. And the rest of the city council and to the project in front today is a summer vacation easement located at 39. 0, one. He feel place. The applicant seeks a summer vacation of it of an emergency vehicle access easement, which is a court in 1997. In the easement has not been used for Give you the emergency vehicle access for over 20 years. And additionally The easement was no shown on the subdivision map. And here is the public location of where easement is located at the intersection of Fungal parkway recovers drive Schutz wrote Circle. And here's the exact location of where the easement is located. And pursuant Section 8, 3, 3, 3 subsection, a of the streets highways cool an easement can be vacated if it has not been used over 20 plus years in the season has not been use foot emotion, emergency vehicle access for over 20 years. And this action is kind categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act person to see 1, 5, 2, 0, 5, because it was minus alterations, sell and use use limitations. Does it is recommended. But by the planning economic development department that this council by resolution approved a summer vacation of an emergency vehicle access easement easement. For property located at 39 to one. He feel place the market to cut emissions at the bottom screen and deputy director Jessica Jones my colleague parties. If you have been questions. Thank you. >> I didn't think Suzanne's
presentation can be improved upon. But you have. You've shown that I was wrong. Thank you so much. Is it? This is the first time you're appearing before council right? All right. And energy, wait until 9.20. To do when one of these presentations. So welcome. Thank you. Thank you for doing it. I will look to my colleagues. Surprise, surprise. There's no questions. There are no members of the public present its public comment. I want to MISS Funding for motion. >> Thank you, mayor. With that'll bring resolution of the council, the city of Santa Rosa, proving 96 master professional services agreement. No. Now the one they put in front of me. >> All right. Let's get it together up here, folks. It's time to go home. Okay. >> It's recommended by the planning and economic development department that the council, my resolution improve a summary vacation of emergency vehicle access easement for the residential property located at 3, 9, 0, one he field place and wait for the reading of the text. >> Second, we have a motion a second MR. Okrepkie Ramsey Clark. Councilmember Rogers Council Okrepkie. I Councilmember Macdonald, I councilmember Fleming. >> Councilmember Ben Willows. Yes, Vice Mayor Alvarez is absent. Mayor step yes. Let the record show this passes. The 6 affirmative votes. >> Thank you. We will jump ahead to item 17, a written communications. We have 2 written communication is listed 17.1. A notice of final map of the Chair and subdivision and 17.2 notice a final map for resident village. We have item 18. Our final public comment on non agenda matters. There are no members of the public PRESIDENT So we can move on to a tournament. Thank you, everyone.