City Council
City Council
Tue, August 18, 2026
Agenda items
Vote records
Discussion summary
Transcript
Meeting summaryAI-generated
Santa Rosa City Council — August 18, 2026
This was a lengthy regular meeting featuring two major substantive items: a landmark city hall property exchange agreement and a South Santa Rosa Specific Plan workshop. Significant public participation occurred on both items, with Spanish interpretation available throughout.
Closed Session Report
The Council met in closed session to discuss anticipated and existing litigation. The only reportable action: on a motion by Councilmember Fleming, seconded by Vice Mayor Okrepkie, the Council voted unanimously to authorize legal counsel to initiate litigation against Pierce Manufacturing et al.
South Santa Rosa Specific Plan — Draft Preferred Alternative (Item 4.1)
What it is: A planning study session — not a binding vote — on a draft preferred land use and circulation alternative for a large planning area in South Santa Rosa, covering roughly two years of work toward a specific plan expected for adoption in spring 2027.
What was presented: Senior Planner Amy Nicholson and consulting planner Connor (of a planning firm) presented a draft preferred alternative that blends elements of three previously studied alternatives. Key features include: a mixed-use corridor along Santa Rosa Avenue with higher-density housing near the Costco/Centers Avenue Marketplace area; lower-density residential to the east; preserved industrial uses to the west and south; a creek greenway pathway connecting neighborhood parks; improved highway 101 crossings at Todd Road and Baker Avenue; a proposed new multimodal crossing at Bellevue Avenue; and a potential bike/pedestrian crossing at Robles Avenue. Full buildout is projected at approximately 6,300 residential units and nearly 3 million square feet of non-residential construction — described as a decades-long incremental process. None of the plan area's 17 mobile home parks are proposed for redesignation.
Council discussion: Councilmember Alvarez praised outreach efforts and raised questions about infrastructure gaps, sidewalk continuity (specifically near Burbank Avenue and Southwest Community Park), and the relationship between new housing supply and affordability. Staff acknowledged sidewalk gaps are a longstanding challenge tied to the developer-funding model for infrastructure. Councilmember Bañuelos expressed strong concern about displacement, mobile home park protections, and affordable housing — calling on the Council to "step up" and take action. She asked about the gap between the city's very-low-income housing targets (56% on track) versus above-moderate housing (231% on track). Councilmember MacDonald asked about protecting mobile home park land-use designations through overlay zoning and inquired about the cost analysis for full buildout. Councilmember Rogers emphasized that jurisdictional lines are "imaginary" but residents' lives are real, and praised the county partnership. Mayor Stapp expressed continued enthusiasm and noted the city is part of active regional discussions on tenant protections.
Public comment was extensive and emotional. Residents and advocates made the following points:
Lena (North Bay Organizing Project/Sonoma County Tenants Union) reported that over 35 residents attended the Planning Commission meeting and described residents of Western and Causa mobile home parks — predominantly immigrant families, veterans, domestic abuse survivors, seniors, and people with disabilities — facing harassment and intimidation from new corporate owner Harmony Communities, including sudden rent increases, removal of trees, and management instability.
Kate (Legal Aid Sonoma County) noted median household income in the plan area is $60,000 — 35% below the citywide average — and warned that preserving mobile home parks is the most cost-effective anti-displacement tool available.
Norma Fernandez, a 15-year resident of one of the parks, described living without adequate lighting, fearing eviction if she complains, and watching neighboring properties develop while her park deteriorates.
Multiple Spanish-speaking residents (with interpretation) described rent doubles overnight, Harmony's unresponsiveness, loss of trees and shade, and fear of displacement.
Abby Arnold (Santa Rosa YIMBY) supported the plan's direction but urged increased density near the eastern urban-wildlife interface and retention of a future SMART station option.
Dwayne DeWitt criticized the process as staff-driven rather than community-driven and urged the Council to return to the drawing board with more open meetings.
Fred (NAACP Housing Committee) noted the plan area has a significant concentration of Black residents (4–5%) and urged equitable development policies to be centered, not appended.
Staff clarified that residents of county-jurisdiction parks should contact the Sonoma County Community Development Commission for rent stabilization assistance, as city resources apply only within city limits. Staff also confirmed a meeting with county partners was scheduled for the following day specifically to discuss housing policies and mobile home park protections.
Outcome: Study session only — no vote. Council gave direction to staff to proceed with the draft preferred alternative and move into policy development, including anti-displacement measures, mobile home park protections, and infrastructure cost analysis, to be brought back in fall 2026.
City Manager's Report (Item 9)
City Manager reported that Moody's upgraded Santa Rosa's credit rating to Aa1 — the second-highest rating in Moody's system — citing disciplined budgeting, pension debt management (including the CalPERS Fresh Start program saving an estimated $37 million long-term), strong property values, and community-approved revenue measures. Additional highlights: Santa Rosa PD will host a community meeting September 17 on ALPR (flock camera) technology; seven SRPD officers were honored by MADD for DUI enforcement (Officer Anthony Metairie led Northern California with 100+ arrests); Ross Street downtown activation runs through October 31; and free Fall Into Fitness classes open at Finley Community Center on September 19.
Real Property Exchange Agreement — New City Hall (Item 15.1)
What it is: The Council considered and approved a landmark agreement to exchange the current city hall campus for a privately owned office building at 520 3rd Street, resolving a decades-long liability crisis at the existing facilities.
The problem: The current city hall campus (90 and 100 Santa Rosa Avenue, 631 and 655 1st Street) has accumulated over $100 million in deferred maintenance liability — structural deficiencies, ADA violations, lead and asbestos issues, sewage leaks, and HVAC systems requiring parts sourced from secondhand sites. Addressing it with a "band-aid" approach would cost approximately $48 million and require $6 million annually in debt service, while displacing all staff during repairs. A full rebuild was estimated at $82–100+ million. The last complete facilities assessment was in 2016; current true liability is likely higher.
The exchange: The city would transfer the city hall campus properties (approximately 6 acres, excluding a retained 1.61-acre strip along Santa Rosa and Matanzas Creeks) to Museum on the Square LLC (MOTS LLC), owned by developer Hugh Futrell. In return, the city receives 520 3rd Street (also known as 521 2nd Street) — a 75,000 square-foot usable office building — currently worth approximately $15.7 million by negotiated appraisal. The city hall campus was valued at approximately $11.1 million after accounting for environmental remediation costs ($4.5 million for lead/asbestos alone) and ADA liabilities. The net exchange differential is $4.5 million, which the city will pay to MOTS LLC at closing. This $4.5 million was previously assigned by the Council from General Fund reserves specifically for facility needs. An additional ~$47,000 from General Fund is also being appropriated to meet the exact differential. Ongoing annual costs to the General Fund are projected at under $1 million — compared to $6 million for the band-aid repair scenario.
Transition: MOTS LLC has agreed to lease back both 100 Santa Rosa Avenue (up to 2 years) and 90 Santa Rosa Avenue (up to 1 year) to the city at $1.00 per year total ($2 prepaid). The city will also assume the existing lease of law firm Dickenson Peatman & Fogarty (DPF), which was already planning to vacate, allowing early staff relocation. The city is paying $55,877.50 for DPF's furniture and fixtures at 50% of appraised value. Tenant improvements at 520 3rd Street are estimated at $17–20 million and will be brought back to Council for appropriation separately. Escrow is targeted to close December 31, 2026, with a $37,500/month penalty (capped at $450,000) if the city causes delays.
The creek: The city is retaining 1.61 acres of creek-adjacent land to preserve flood control options along the culverted Santa Rosa and Matanzas Creeks. Director Hennessey stated this acreage was determined by surveying exactly where culverts are located and preserving flexibility for future flood management. A future development agreement for the exchanged campus will go through the Planning Commission and two City Council hearings with full public input.
Developer's remarks: Hugh Futrell, who has developed 12 buildings in the downtown core over 47 years, spoke briefly in support, praising staff's diligence and committing to transparent community outreach on the development agreement.
Public comment was largely supportive with one strong concern: multiple speakers — including civil engineer Betty Andrews, a creek advocate, and online commenters — raised serious questions about whether the retained 1.61-acre strip is sufficient to allow meaningful daylighting or flood management of the creek. Speakers referenced new FEMA flood maps showing significant downtown flooding risk tied to the culvert. Dwayne DeWitt urged the Council to do a straight exchange without paying the $4.5 million differential. Santa Rosa YIMBY and realtor Derek Stephen expressed strong support.
Vote: Motion by Councilmember Rogers, seconded (seconder unclear from transcript). Passes unanimously, 7–0.
League of California Cities Annual Conference — Voting Delegate (Item 11.2)
Councilmember MacDonald moved to designate Councilmember Rogers as voting delegate and Councilmember Alvarez and Councilmember MacDonald as alternates for the League of California Cities Annual Conference.
Vote: Unanimous, 7–0.
Approval of Meeting Minutes (Items 12.1 & 12.2)
Minutes from July 28, 2026 and August 4, 2026 regular meetings were approved. Councilmember MacDonald abstained from the August 4 minutes as she was absent from that meeting.
Vote: Approved as submitted (MacDonald abstaining on 12.2).
Consent Calendar (Items 13.1–13.6)
The following items passed unanimously without discussion:
13.1 Third amendment to elevator/wheelchair lift maintenance contract (3-year extension with added compensation)
13.2 Contract award for Transit Mall Kiosk
13.3 Appropriation of OBAG3 grant funds and contract award for Downtown Connectivity to Support Housing Density
13.4 Appropriation of expedited drinking water grant from the State Water Resources Control Board
13.5 Acceptance of California Highway Patrol Cannabis Tax Fund grant
13.6 Amended Conflict of Interest Code resolution
Vote: Unanimous, 7–0.
Water Waste Regulations — Nonfunctional Turf Ordinance (Public Hearing, Item 16.1)
What it is: First reading of an ordinance updating Santa Rosa City Code Chapter 14-21 to comply with California AB 1572 (2023), which prohibits irrigation of nonfunctional turf (decorative lawn not used for recreation) with potable water at commercial, industrial, institutional, and HOA common-area properties.
Local governments and public schools must comply by January 1, 2027; commercial/industrial properties by January 1, 2028; HOA common areas by January 1, 2029. Exceptions include irrigation to preserve established trees, public recreational lawn, and cemeteries. The city identified only two city-owned sites with nonfunctional turf (including a small patch at Fire Station #3). Affected property owners were being notified by mail this week. Rebate programs (cash for grass, smart irrigation controllers) are available to assist compliance.
No public comment was received. Councilmember Bañuelos asked about grace periods; staff noted a state hardship exemption process allowing 3-year extensions is available, though state application details have not yet been released.
Vote: First reading approved unanimously, 7–0. Second reading scheduled for September 15; effective date approximately October 16, 2026.
Stormwater Enterprise Charges — County Tax Roll (Public Hearing, Item 16.2)
Annual routine action placing the city's stormwater enterprise charges ($43.52 per equivalent residential unit, unchanged from the adopted budget) on the Sonoma County property tax roll for collection. The program has operated this way since 1996. Parcels with known incorrect ownership or charges below the county minimum of $10 are exempted.
No public comment was received.
Vote: Motion by Councilmember Alvarez. Passes unanimously, 7–0.
Key Takeaways
City hall exchange approved unanimously: The Council approved a landmark deal to trade the deteriorating city hall campus to developer Hugh Futrell's company for 520 3rd Street, eliminating a $100+ million liability and reducing ongoing facility costs from a projected $6 million/year to under $1 million/year. The city pays a $4.5 million net differential at closing, targeted for December 31, 2026.
Creek preservation remains unsettled: Multiple residents and engineers raised serious concerns that the 1.61-acre strip of creek land retained by the city may be too narrow to allow meaningful daylighting or future flood mitigation. This issue will resurface during the public development agreement process.
South Santa Rosa Specific Plan advancing, but displacement fears are urgent: Staff is moving forward with the draft preferred alternative, but a wave of emotional public testimony from mobile home park residents — many facing rent doubles and harassment from corporate owner Harmony Communities — underscored that anti-displacement policy must be developed urgently, especially for the many parks in county (not city) jurisdiction.
Moody's upgrades Santa Rosa to Aa1: The city received its highest-ever credit rating, reflecting years of fiscal discipline including pension debt management and reserve maintenance — directly enabling the city's ability to finance the city hall transition.
Nonfunctional turf ban on track for October: The Council introduced the ordinance required by state law prohibiting potable water irrigation of decorative turf at commercial and institutional properties, with compliance deadlines beginning January 2027.
AI-generated summary from voice-to-text transcript. Not the official record. Verify important details with the source documents linked above.
What happened at this meeting
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Initiation of litigation pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (d) of Government Code Section 54956.9: one potential case RECESS CLOSED SESSION(S) AND RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER AND VIA ZOOM. 3:00 P.M.
# Summary: Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation
The City Council convened in closed session to discuss Item 3.1 regarding anticipated litigation, with all councilmembers present (Rogers, MacDonald, Fleming, Ben Willows, Alvarez, Vice Mayor Okrepkie, and Mayor Stapp). The City Attorney reported on the closed session discussion of anticipated litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.094. On a motion by Councilmember Fleming, seconded by Vice Mayor Okrepkie, the council voted unanimously to direct legal counsel to initiate litigation against Pierce Manufacturing.
The City Council convened in closed session to discuss Item 3.1 regarding anticipated litigation, with all councilmembers present (Rogers, MacDonald, Fleming, Ben Willows, Alvarez, Vice Mayor Okrepkie, and Mayor Stapp). The City Attorney reported on the closed session discussion of anticipated litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.094. On a motion by Councilmember Fleming, seconded by Vice Mayor Okrepkie, the council voted unanimously to direct legal counsel to initiate litigation against Pierce Manufacturing.
SOUTH SANTA ROSA SPECIFIC PLAN DRAFT PREFERRED
# South Santa Rosa Specific Plan Draft Preferred Alternative - Summary
Amy Nicholson, supervising planner, presented the City Council with the draft preferred alternative for the South Santa Rosa Specific Plan, which combines elements from previously presented alternatives to create mixed-use development along Center's Avenue with approximately 6,300 residential units, diverse housing types, improved multimodal connectivity including creek pathways and Highway 101 crossings, and preserved industrial uses. The plan emphasizes infrastructure investment, East-West connections, and community partnerships between Santa Rosa and Sonoma County, though specific affordability levels and displacement/tenant protection policies will be addressed in the next policy development phase expected in fall. Community feedback highlighted critical concerns about housing affordability, mobile home park preservation, tenant protections, and equitable development, with public commenters expressing both support for density and connectivity improvements and concerns that the planning process lacked authentic community collaboration and adequate anti-displacement protections. Council members requested staff conduct cost-benefit analyses, review displacement mitigation strategies, strengthen mobile home park protections, and ensure infrastructure can adequately support population increases before final plan approval.
Amy Nicholson, supervising planner, presented the City Council with the draft preferred alternative for the South Santa Rosa Specific Plan, which combines elements from previously presented alternatives to create mixed-use development along Center's Avenue with approximately 6,300 residential units, diverse housing types, improved multimodal connectivity including creek pathways and Highway 101 crossings, and preserved industrial uses. The plan emphasizes infrastructure investment, East-West connections, and community partnerships between Santa Rosa and Sonoma County, though specific affordability levels and displacement/tenant protection policies will be addressed in the next policy development phase expected in fall. Community feedback highlighted critical concerns about housing affordability, mobile home park preservation, tenant protections, and equitable development, with public commenters expressing both support for density and connectivity improvements and concerns that the planning process lacked authentic community collaboration and adequate anti-displacement protections. Council members requested staff conduct cost-benefit analyses, review displacement mitigation strategies, strengthen mobile home park protections, and ensure infrastructure can adequately support population increases before final plan approval.
REPORT OF SETTLEMENTS AND ACTIVE LITIGATION The City Attorney will report on all settlements authorized by Council in closed session that were finalized in July 2026, which includes but may
The City Attorney reported on settlements and active litigation. There were no settlements or judgments to report for July 2026. As of August 6, 2026, the city had 33 active litigation matters with approximately 25% assigned to trial court level, and 4 cases on appeal following favorable rulings at the trial court level. Public commenter Dwayne from Roseland raised concerns about an upcoming FLOCK camera meeting, requesting that half of the meeting time be allocated for resident input rather than primarily city staff presentations, and suggested the meeting be structured as an interactive discussion addressing community questions and concerns.
MAYOR'S/COUNCIL MEMBERS' SUBCOMMITTEE AND LIAISON REPORTS (AND POSSIBLE COUNCIL DIRECTION TO BOARD REPRESENTATIVE ON PENDING ISSUES, IF NEEDED) 11.1.1 Council Subcommittee Reports 11.1.2 Sonoma County Transportation and Climate Authorities (SCTCA) 11.1.3 Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) - Water Advisory Committee 11.1.4 Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) 11.1.5 Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District
Council members provided brief reports on various community activities and initiatives. Councilmember Donald mentioned attending a Wednesday night market featuring Dee Snider from Guns N Roses and congratulated the Rincon Valley Library on its recent renovation and reopening. Another council member reported on Police Night Out attendance of hundreds of residents, a Sonoma County presentation on municipal budgets and ballot tax measures (150+ attendees), and a Clean Power Board meeting discussing electrification costs and benefits for lower-income neighborhoods in the county.
DESIGNATION OF VOTING DELEGATE/ALTERNATE TO LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES ANNUAL CONFERENCE 11.2.1 LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES 2026 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
The Council moved to designate voting delegates for the upcoming League of California Cities Annual Conference. A motion was made to designate Councilmember Rogers as voting delegate and Councilmembers Alvarez and the mover as the two alternatives. There was no public comment on this item. The motion passed unanimously.
Agenda items (25)
Procedural (7)
1ProceduralHTTPS://SANTA-ROSA.LEGISTAR.COM/CALENDAR. CLICK ON THE "IN PROGRESS" LINK TO VIEW;
Information on how to access the meeting agenda online through the city's legislative management system.
2ProceduralVIA ZOOM WEBINAR BY VISITING
Information on how to join the meeting via Zoom webinar.
3ProceduralCOMCAST CHANNEL 28 OR 24 (ESPAÑOL); AND
Information on how to watch the meeting on Comcast cable channels 28 and 24 (Spanish).
4ProceduralVIA YOUTUBE AT HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/CITYOFSANTAROSA Public Comment may be made live during the meeting In-Person from Council Chamber, via Zoom webinar or dial-in, or submitted in advance via email at cc-comment@srcity.org by 5:00 p.m. the Monday before the City Council Meeting.
Details on how residents can provide public comment during the meeting in person, by Zoom, by phone, or by email submitted by 5 p.m. the Monday before the meeting.
12.1ProceduralJuly 28, 2026, Regular Meeting Minutes.
The council will approve the official minutes from the July 28, 2026 meeting.
What happened
The Council considered approval of the July 28, 2026 regular meeting minutes. Councilmember MacDonald abstained from voting on the August 4th meeting minutes, noting she was out of town. No other corrections or amendments were raised by Council members or members of the public. Both sets of minutes were adopted as submitted.12.2ProceduralAugust 4, 2026, Regular Meeting Minutes.
The council will approve the official minutes from the August 4, 2026 meeting.
What happened
The Council considered approval of the August 4, 2026 regular meeting minutes. Councilmember MacDonald abstained from voting on this item. No other corrections or amendments were proposed. The minutes were adopted as submitted with MacDonald's abstention noted in the record.21.1ProceduralUPCOMING MEETINGS LIST *Did not appear on the preliminary agenda. **Quasi-judicial or adjudicative action, ex-parte communication disclosure is required. The Open Government Ordinance was adopted by City Council in December 2020 (ORD-2020-018) and amended in July 2021 (ORD-2021-007). These ordinances added and amended Chapter 1-10 to the City Code to codify the City of Santa Rosa's commitment to embrace a culture of open government to ensure public trust, engage the community, and establish a system of transparency, public participation, and collaboration. To view a full versions of the Open Government Ordinances go to http://srcity.org/OpenGovOrdinance and http://srcity.org/OpenGovOrdinanceAmend. To request paper copies of the Open Government Ordinances contact the City Clerk's Office at 707-543-3015 (TTY Relay at 711) or cityclerk@srcity.org.
A list of the city's upcoming meetings and dates.
General Business
5General BusinessAdopt the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) findings pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21166 supporting approval of the Exchange and direct staff to prepare, execute and file a Notice of Determination with the County Clerk and State Clearinghouse;
The council will approve environmental review findings for the city hall property exchange.
6General BusinessAuthorize the City Manager to execute the Exchange Agreement and all related agreements, including but not limited to parking agreements and documents necessary or appropriate to complete the transaction in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Agreement;
The City Manager is authorized to sign the property exchange agreement and related contracts to complete the city hall transaction.
7General BusinessAuthorize the City Manager to approve minor modifications to the transaction documents that do not materially increase the City's
The City Manager is authorized to make minor changes to the transaction documents that don't significantly increase costs to the city.
8General BusinessAppropriate $4,500,000 from previously assigned General Fund Reserves that City Council directed to be set aside for City facility needs and an additional $46,868 available from General Fund
The city is allocating $4.5 million from reserves plus $46,868 in available general funds to pay for the city hall property exchange and related costs.
4.1General BusinessSOUTH SANTA ROSA SPECIFIC PLAN DRAFT PREFERRED
The council will review and consider the draft preferred plan for future development and land use in South Santa Rosa.
What happened
# South Santa Rosa Specific Plan Draft Preferred Alternative - SummaryAmy Nicholson, supervising planner, presented the City Council with the draft preferred alternative for the South Santa Rosa Specific Plan, which combines elements from previously presented alternatives to create mixed-use development along Center's Avenue with approximately 6,300 residential units, diverse housing types, improved multimodal connectivity including creek pathways and Highway 101 crossings, and preserved industrial uses. The plan emphasizes infrastructure investment, East-West connections, and community partnerships between Santa Rosa and Sonoma County, though specific affordability levels and displacement/tenant protection policies will be addressed in the next policy development phase expected in fall. Community feedback highlighted critical concerns about housing affordability, mobile home park preservation, tenant protections, and equitable development, with public commenters expressing both support for density and connectivity improvements and concerns that the planning process lacked authentic community collaboration and adequate anti-displacement protections. Council members requested staff conduct cost-benefit analyses, review displacement mitigation strategies, strengthen mobile home park protections, and ensure infrastructure can adequately support population increases before final plan approval.
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 2026, which includes but may
The City Attorney will report on all legal settlements and active lawsuits, including cases that were finalized in July 2026.
What happened
The City Attorney reported on settlements and active litigation. There were no settlements or judgments to report for July 2026. As of August 6, 2026, the city had 33 active litigation matters with approximately 25% assigned to trial court level, and 4 cases on appeal following favorable rulings at the trial court level. Public commenter Dwayne from Roseland raised concerns about an upcoming FLOCK camera meeting, requesting that half of the meeting time be allocated for resident input rather than primarily city staff presentations, and suggested the meeting be structured as an interactive discussion addressing community questions and concerns.11.1General BusinessMAYOR'S/COUNCIL MEMBERS' SUBCOMMITTEE AND LIAISON REPORTS (AND POSSIBLE COUNCIL DIRECTION TO BOARD REPRESENTATIVE ON PENDING ISSUES, IF NEEDED) 11.1.1 Council Subcommittee Reports 11.1.2 Sonoma County Transportation and Climate Authorities (SCTCA) 11.1.3 Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) - Water Advisory Committee 11.1.4 Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) 11.1.5 Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District
Council members will report on their work with various regional boards and committees, including transportation, water, housing, and open space organizations.
What happened
Council members provided brief reports on various community activities and initiatives. Councilmember Donald mentioned attending a Wednesday night market featuring Dee Snider from Guns N Roses and congratulated the Rincon Valley Library on its recent renovation and reopening. Another council member reported on Police Night Out attendance of hundreds of residents, a Sonoma County presentation on municipal budgets and ballot tax measures (150+ attendees), and a Clean Power Board meeting discussing electrification costs and benefits for lower-income neighborhoods in the county.11.2General BusinessDESIGNATION OF VOTING DELEGATE/ALTERNATE TO LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES ANNUAL CONFERENCE 11.2.1 LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES 2026 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
The council will select a voting delegate and alternate to represent Santa Rosa at the League of California Cities 2026 annual conference.
What happened
The Council moved to designate voting delegates for the upcoming League of California Cities Annual Conference. A motion was made to designate Councilmember Rogers as voting delegate and Councilmembers Alvarez and the mover as the two alternatives. There was no public comment on this item. The motion passed unanimously.15.1General BusinessREPORT - APPROVAL OF REAL PROPERTY EXCHANGE AGREEMENT FOR CITY HALL CAMPUS (90 & 100 SANTA ROSA AVENUE (PORTION), 631 & 655 1ST STREET) AND 520 3RD STREET; DECLARATION OF EXEMPT SURPLUS LAND; AND RELATED ACTIONS BACKGROUND: The proposed Exchange Agreement advances vital community benefits in Downtown Santa Rosa while delivering a fiscally responsible strategy to reduce taxpayer exposure to the significant costs, risks, and long-term liabilities associated with the current City
The city proposes to exchange its current city hall properties (at Santa Rosa Avenue and 1st Street) for a new consolidated city hall building at 520 3rd Street, which would reduce long-term costs and risks.
What happened
# Summary: Real Property Exchange Agreement for City Hall CampusThe City presented a comprehensive Real Property Exchange Agreement to address critical conditions at the City Hall campus (90 and 100 Santa Rosa Avenue), where over $90 million in accumulated liabilities require extensive structural repairs, infrastructure fixes, ADA compliance upgrades, and hazard remediation. After years of analysis since 2018, Staff determined that rebuilding or rehabilitation options are financially unsustainable, with costs exceeding $82-100 million and annual liabilities of $5-6 million over 30 years, leading to the recommendation of a property exchange whereby the city would exchange the City Hall campus for 523 3rd Street, an existing downtown office building owned by MOTS LLC valued at $15.7 million with the city paying a net differential of $4.5 million. The transaction includes an 85-day due diligence period, a $2 leaseback arrangement with MOTS LLC for two years, and implementation costs of $17-20 million for tenant improvements, resulting in less than $1 million in annual general fund expenses compared to the $6 million alternative—representing a $5 million annual budget savings. Public comment emphasized downtown revitalization benefits and urged the city to mandate Santa Rosa Creek daylighting as a binding condition in the development agreement, with Director Hennessey confirming the city is retaining 1.6 acres for future creek reconfiguration and working closely with Sonoma Water on flood control issues. The City Council unanimously approved the exchange agreement resolutions.
16.2General BusinessPUBLIC HEARING - PLACEMENT OF ANNUAL STORM WATER ENTERPRISE CHARGES ON THE SONOMA COUNTY PROPERTY
The council will hold a public hearing on annual storm water management fees charged to property owners on the Sonoma County tax bill.
What happened
Nick Lanham, research program coordinator with the stormwater creeks team, presented on the placement of annual stormwater enterprise charges on the Sonoma County property tax roll. He explained that the stormwater enterprise, established in 1996 under city code title 16, funds creek restoration, stewardship, and flood protection activities, with the current year ERU (equivalent residential unit) assessment at $43.52. Staff recommended that council adopt a resolution to place these charges on the county tax bill for collection by the Sonoma County auditor-controller-treasurer tax collector, with exemptions for parcels with charges below the $10 minimum or known incorrect ownership information. No council members asked questions, and no members of the public spoke during the public hearing. Councilmember Alvarez made a motion to adopt the resolution as presented, which passed unanimously.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 RECESS CLOSED SESSION(S) AND RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER AND VIA ZOOM. 3:00 P.M.
The council will meet in closed session to discuss with legal counsel one potential lawsuit that the city may need to initiate, then reconvene in public.
What happened
# Summary: Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated LitigationThe City Council convened in closed session to discuss Item 3.1 regarding anticipated litigation, with all councilmembers present (Rogers, MacDonald, Fleming, Ben Willows, Alvarez, Vice Mayor Okrepkie, and Mayor Stapp). The City Attorney reported on the closed session discussion of anticipated litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.094. On a motion by Councilmember Fleming, seconded by Vice Mayor Okrepkie, the council voted unanimously to direct legal counsel to initiate litigation against Pierce Manufacturing.
Consent Calendar
13.1Consent CalendarMOTION - APPROVAL - THIRD AMENDMENT TO BLANKET PURCHASE ORDER 166038 TO EXTEND THE TERM THREE YEARS AND ADD COMPENSATION FOR ELEVATOR AND WHEELCHAIR LIFT MAINTENANCE, INSPECTION, AND REPAIR
The city is extending a three-year maintenance and repair contract for elevators and wheelchair lifts, and approving additional compensation for these services.
13.2Consent CalendarMOTION - CONTRACT AWARD - TRANSIT MALL KIOSK
The city is awarding a contract to install information kiosks at the downtown transit mall.
13.3Consent CalendarMOTION - APPROPRIATION OF OBAG3 GRANT FUND AND CONTRACT AWARD - DOWNTOWN CONNECTIVITY TO SUPPORT
The city is accepting state grant funding and awarding a contract to improve pedestrian and bike connections from downtown.
What happened
# Summary: OBAG3 Grant Appropriation and Downtown Connectivity MotionThe City Council considered a consent calendar item regarding appropriation of OBAG3 grant funds and contract award for downtown connectivity to support housing density. Public commenter Dwayne Do'it from Roseland expressed concern that despite significant money being spent on the downtown connectivity project, promised housing density development has not materialized as desired. Another public commenter, Wayne, raised similar concerns about unfulfilled developer commitments for housing density in past downtown projects, citing instances where projects "didn't pencil out," and urged the City Council to secure written commitments from developers for Item 13.3, which involves approximately $3-4 million in funding. The council voted unanimously to adopt consent items 13.1 through 13.6 on a motion by Vice Mayor Creepy and a second.
13.4Consent CalendarRESOLUTION - APPROPRIATION OF EXPEDITED DRINKING WATER GRANT FUNDING FROM THE STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD FOR THE SANTA ROSA WATER
The city is accepting state water grant funding to help provide safe drinking water.
13.5Consent CalendarRESOLUTION - ACCEPTANCE OF FUNDING AWARD FROM THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL (CHP) CANNABIS TAX FUND
The city is accepting funding from the California Highway Patrol's cannabis tax fund.
13.6Consent CalendarRESOLUTION - ADOPTING AMENDED CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The council is updating the city's conflict of interest policies and rules.
Public Hearing
16.1Public HearingPUBLIC HEARING - ORDINANCE INTRODUCTION - ORDINANCE ENTITLED: ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA AMENDING SANTA ROSA CITY CODE CHAPTER 14-21, WATER WASTE REGULATIONS, TO INCLUDE DEFINITIONS, PROHIBITIONS ON IRRIGATION OF NONFUNCTIONAL TURF, COMPLIANCE DEADLINES AND ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS BACKGROUND: The City’s Water Waste Regulations, first adopted in 1999 and last revised in 2023, defines water waste and authorizes customer notification, penalties and potential water service disconnection in cases of unaddressed violations. Since the Regulations were last revised, California Assembly Bill 1572 was signed into law in 2023 prohibiting the irrigation of nonfunctional turf with potable water at certain property types and establishing compliance timelines, including a mandate that local water providers codify the regulatory prohibition by January 1, 2027, and thus necessitating an update to the Water Waste Regulations. RECOMMENDATION: The Board of Public Utilities and Santa Rosa Water recommend that the Council approve the first reading and introduce an ordinance amending Santa Rosa City Code Chapter 14-21 Water Waste Regulations to include clarifying definitions, a prohibition
The council will hold a public hearing and introduce new water conservation rules that prohibit watering of decorative lawns that serve no purpose, to comply with new state law by January 2027.
What happened
# SummaryStaff presented the first reading of an ordinance to amend Santa Rosa City Code Chapter 14-21, implementing California Assembly Bill 1572 by prohibiting potable water irrigation of non-functional turf on commercial, industrial, institutional properties, and HOA common areas, with staggered compliance deadlines from 2027-2031 and exemptions for established trees, public parks, and cemeteries. Staff member Lisa Quail explained the regulation builds on previous conservation legislation (SB 606, AB 1668) to support state long-term water conservation goals, while also presenting 13 new state-derived definitions and noting that city screening found only 2 sites currently affected. The city developed a support plan including notification letters, fact sheets, and a cash-for-grass rebate program (up to $1,000 for residential, $10,000 annually for commercial) to assist compliance. Councilmember Willis raised concerns about properties browning during transition and was informed of a staggered compliance timeline beginning with local government and public schools, plus a state-level hardship provision allowing three-year extensions. Councilmember Willis moved to approve the first reading, which passed unanimously with no public opposition.
Additional votes recorded in minutes
Direct City Attorney to initiate litigation
aye 7
Caroline Bañuelosaye
Dianna MacDonaldaye
Eddie Alvarezaye
Jeff Okrepkieaye
Mark Stappaye
Natalie Rogersaye
Victoria Flemingaye
Verbatim transcript available
251 transcript segments indexed
or tablet locate the 3 dots captain lately and put a check mark on your preferred language. Click done to activate begin the interpretation when she doing the Spanish Channel, we recommend you shut up the main audio. So you'll only hear the Spanish interpretation. Although she You please restate this in Spanish. Just want to thank you. >> This is because most of 69 Espejo see Quentin meet those who summoning up was content. And think that but this evening, the list and point she went complete, though, boosted double dip back that. But the this up and saying that that the sound of protests, been it's been, you >> 6 And that's it peak in a isis in quintet or 1008 will be Kate. The good is plenty to skip, but it's insult, but they hit him in APRIL alone that meat and the media has
been, you know. >> So they and thing that he set. It's still a team of We important day. But I think that with this end, he this forced to put this epa some. Go right ahead. Rhonda, thank you. Mayor. >> Thank you very right. The time is a seed to reading and we will call to order a regular meeting. Many city clerk. >> Thank you, Mayor. Councilmember Rogers, Councilmember MacDonald here, Councilmember Fleming Councilmember Ben Willows here councilmember over as PRESIDENT, Vice Mayor Kathy, you're mayor Stapp here. Let the record show that all councilmembers are present. >> Thank you. We have 2 closed session items on the agenda today. Item 3.1, our conference legal counsel regarding anticipated with mitigation and also item 3.2 is a conference legal counsel
regarding existing medication. We'll go to public comment if you're online and was to make comment, please raise your hand or press star 9, seeing no members of public in council chambers were right resume commenter zoom online MADAM Zuma. Clark, Lauren, anybody online? >> We have no one raising their hand on >> We will close public comment and recess into closed session. Thank All right now, welcome back, everyone. Thank you for being here. Fred. Rica meeting Open session. MADAM City Clerk. >> Deputy City Clerk. Rhonda, can you have the interpreters make the statement in regarding how to participate from the Spanish Channel? A gun. >> Yes, going to go ahead and then they can repeat it in Spanish. If the interpreter currently on the Spanish
Channel could commence again for those who are just joining the meeting, live interpretation Spanish is available and members of the public or staff wishing to listen Spanish can during Spanish channel by clicking on the predation icon in zoom toolbar, it looks like a glow. If you are on your cell phone or tablet locate the 3 dots, tap them lightly and put a check mark on your preferred language. Click done to activate and begin the interpretation. Once we you join the Spanish Channel, we recommend you shut up to make audio. So you only hear the Spanish interpretation if you are providing public comments, please indicate you need interpreters support before starting your comments. This will be after the item is presented and we call for public comments. Remember to speak in short statements of 2 to 3 sentences, then pause for
the interpreter to repeat what you've stated in English. He will be given 4 minutes to speak to allow additional time for the interpretation show. Will you please restate this in Spanish? Yes, Ron, think you. >> This because that those as a nation, that season those 2 communities, they summon it up. Please protect. And and that that this a that yet Jason going to to come up with that Polsky a at and that that day in video month, Kitty saying that this young and they put a 6 and that has been 6 is. And I say, don't take any substance ceasing wind. That will be some of those who say not let them make that we can to those candidates. So but I him and people will meet of us. The nuance 6, it done both He said it's still a team of classes. We put date, but at the left lane that but the sun because person but this epa, nice experience is
important. But in the south of us, the man to name a list. It's the news. He just a lot. But the in those come and that is fully closed. Put forward in the kit and is it coming? Sat in a Houston said they will need deputy. >> In 6 men But it is that those updates. Stone is, you it was known at outset, desperate. They play that if it didn't explain local state, I expect case cynical as he didn't want to meet with those. But I'm not. I if anything, it pull of the sun. And but I like to put this one, what you see the U.S.. >> All right. Thank you. MADAM City clerk, would you please call the roll? >> Thank you. Mayor Councilmember Rogers, Councilmember MacDonald here, Councilmember Fleming Councilmember Ben Willows Air Councilmember Alvarez as it Vice Mayor Okrepkie here. Mayor Stapp here. Let the
record show that all councilmembers are present. >> Thank you again. Welcome everyone move on to item 4.1, our South Santa Rosa specific plan draft preferred alternative. All right. And welcome members are planning been great to have you back. Oh, here we go. >> Thanks. Good afternoon, mayor and council members and members of the Public, Amy Nicholson, supervising planner. Before we dive into the presentation, I'd like to take just a few moments to frame where we are in the specific plan process and what we are asking. Of the council today. So this presentation is focus on the draft, a preferred land use and circulation alternative for the South Center is a specific plan and that reflects the feedback on the 3 alternatives. Were previously presented preferred alternative establishes a
physical framework for the plan. So this is where housing commercial and other types of uses MAY occur. And at what intensity. And it also shows how people can safely move with men and through the plan area. So are primary. Ask is whether council is comfortable with the draft. Preferred alternative has proposed so that we can move into the next phase of policy development. As you'll hear in the presentation, community feedback has been critical in shaping the preferred alternative particular, particularly related to land use and density as well as connectivity and transportation safety improvements. We have heard significant concerns about housing affordability as well as displacement as a result of the specific plan. The importance of Mobile home Park preservation, tenant protections. And support for
annexation. So you won't see these policies directly reflected in the draft preferred alternative that will be presented this afternoon but know that these will be part of the policy development process that staff is beginning work on now and will be presented to the council and the community as a part of the next round, which we anticipate will be later this fall. Just one other important important point that I'd like to make is the partnership between the city of Santa Rosa in the county of Sonoma. We've been working closely with the planning staff as well as starting conversations with the Community Development Commission as it relates to. Housing policies. Given that much of this plan areas actually within the county's jurisdiction. So our goal at the end of this process is that both the city Council and
the Board of Supervisors adopt this planned so that it applies regardless of jurisdiction and any future annexation decisions. So with that, we welcome the council specific feedback on land use and circulation alternatives as well as any continue to impact on policy priorities as we move forward in the process. >> thank you. Supervisor Nicholson for that introduction Greetings, Mayor staff members of the council man is caught him. Okay. I'm a senior partner in the morning division. I'm very excited to present the draft preferred alternative portion of the South Centre is a specific plan. Thanks for background to an introduction. Supervisor Nicholson, I will move through the presentation. >> Just to talk about will be chatting about today. So we'll go over what the project has consisted of thus far at this
point in the process and then describe the draft referred alternative itself and then go on to a next steps in the specific plan process. So this specific plan process started with visioning exercise isn't getting feedback about issues community members vision for the use Greater South Center is the area this consisted of virtual workshops, in-person workshops, a survey table various events and celebrations and things of of of that nature in the community. We eventually released. The alternatives report which reflected that feedback I've received throughout the average process. And as you'll remember, we did hold a study session with the City Council on MARCH 24th earlier this year and got some feedback that discuss later on in my presentation. So all that feedback that received on land use and circulation
alternatives report is a serving is informing the preparation of the draft preferred alternative that we are discussing today the outreach that we've performed for that first far is that we did hold a virtual workshop late JULY. And our reach is actually still ongoing sort table in community events for meeting with neighborhood groups. We do have another survey open that is available for folks to take as well. We did present it to the planning Commission. We have a study session with them on Thursday of last week. Today's study session, obviously with the council and then on AUGUST, 25th, we are presenting to the county Board of Supervisors has a supervisor. Nicholson mentioned it is crucial to engage in an ongoing partnership with the county and ultimately get the boards by in on this effort. Then later on this year resident
Wilson mention will move on to the preparation of the actual specific point itself. And that will include the creation of those goals and policies and the associated Implementation strategy. We'll also be preparing the environmental impact report shooting for adoption by the council in both the border, both the council and the Board of Supervisors later on in spring of 2027. And then the slide. It might be a little bit hard to see. But this kind of shows where we are in overall process. You'll know that we're a little bit over half way of two-year process. I will note as well that you'll see a lot of deliver exciting deliverables and milestones between now and good option of the plan. And I'll talk a little bit more about that during my discussion of next steps. So just to kind refresh the council's memory about what
the alternatives consisted of. So as I mentioned, we took feedback from the community lived experiences and their visions for the South Center is area and brought forward 3 district approaches for development and land use changes in addition to transportation network improvements to hopefully address those issues and achieve the vision is for the neighborhoods in this area. And all feedback did inform. As I mentioned, the creation of this trap preferred alternative that we're discussing today. And briefly recap each of the 3 alternatives that we discussed in our meeting last last time during our study session. So the first alternative is a mixed use corridor on Centers avenue. It also uses smaller or larger parks on the eastern portion of the plan area. And then a consistent across all 3 alternatives as you'll notice.
We are maintaining the existing industrial designations to the West and southwest of the plan area. And then the second alternative is city center growth. So that really focuses increased residential developments surrounding the Costco shopping Center or center is a marketplace. And finally, number 3 is centers, which kind of takes a stripped down version of both one into and combines them to focus increased residential density to the south of Costco and a stripped down version of the mixed use district attorney of one primarily in the southern southern portion of the center's Avenue corridor. And so I've touched on a bit already, but we did, as I mentioned, a hold person and virtual workshops. We presented to broad range of the city and county boards of boards and commissions. We did hold study Sessions of the
Planning Commission and City Council. In addition to the Summit County Planning Commission, we post a lot of exciting social media content, including Instagram, Real which I was very happy with. In addition to, you know, bus to our subscribers. And as I mentioned, tabling at existing celebrations, Cinco de Mayo the Bear Farm Harvest Festival. Was a great time being out in the community hearing from folks. You'll see a screen shot on the right side of the screen of our of our face. But one of our Facebook posts on that we posted about this effort as well. And then as far as takeaways, I want to start with just kind of summarizing the feedback of the council provided to during the MARCH 24th workshop. So we've heard a lot of feedback about Moreland specifically. We knew we wanted to see investment in infrastructure Moreland and
that is bike and ped bicycle and pedestrian improvements. Increased connectivity to Centers avenue and then focusing on that investment for existing Moreland residents and not increasing residential densities in the Moreland neighborhood due to existing to potential exacerbation of existing infrastructure needs in the area. We also heard that we like to focus on supporting both new and existing businesses, particularly along the center is Avenue corridor and then we heard some excitement from the council about the of the Greenway connections that flows through the along the Todd Creek limit the are the reaches of the Todd Go through the planning area. And then we also heard support for him feel closer to the urban core, acknowledging some of the costs of infrastructure as you get further away from the the true
Santa Rosa Urban core. And then we did broad support for keeping displacement issues and equity issues at the center of our approaches to the discussions of these of issues. And a lot of the public take away. The takeaway is that we received the public engagement are kind of on your screen as you'll see. And there's a lot of overlap between what the council and with County Planning Commission and center of Planning Commission all said but we did kind of we did notice we that we experience that most people like various parts of each alternative but didn't have super clear oftentimes we noticed and share that there needs to be a better East-West connection from Orland across one-on-one into the center is Avenue corridor and also back from west to east and then my that be provided by new multi-modal crossing a Bellevue, which is
consistent with the center is a general plan 2050, and is supported by our transportation public works. Folks and then additional investment and Moreland. I didn't mention sidewalk safer streets, lighting public transit connections and just overall better connections throughout the city. >> And then there's a lot of excitement about Centers avenue improvements to allow for. >> Multi-modal experience and and then also, as I mentioned, keeping equity displacement. Top of mind as we navigate throughout this process. Ok, moving on to the draft preferred alternative. There are a couple maps that are a little bit hard to read. It's always a struggle trying to get all necessary information like to communicate. So the stock, let's through it. And if we need to revisit anything, I'm happy to do
that. So we We did take that mixed use district from the first alternatives and centered on Center's avenue with a higher density residential to the south and north of couscous. We ultimately combines the urban the center of the city center growth with the mixed use district alternatives. And then we decided to integrate smaller parks throughout. I think a lot of the folks preferred kind meandering creek pathway that connects 2 little outdoor open space moments along the along the Pathway and also provides an opportunity to traverse the plan area without needing to be on center is avenue. And then you'll see a broad diversity of housing with the high density housing centered along the center's Avenue corridor with media and then density as you stray further from the Saint Rose Avenue corridor. Keeping in mind of
the infrastructure costs associated with the touch development. And then as I mentioned, maintain is industrial uses to the West in the south and I'd like to also note that none of the plan area, 17 mobile home parks are proposed to read as a nation of any kind. Okay. So I talked a little bit of transportation, but I was mainly focusing on the land use and that slide. So I just kind of briefly touch upon the transportation improvements that are contemplated with the draft, the preferred alternative. I mentioned the center's avenue improvements. So as you MAY remember, the city just adopted. They're active transportation plan. And the county is also adopted as well. So the thought is to just integrate the scientific findings and recommendations of those plans and in truth and then to this plan to make it a seamless, a seamless
transition integration. And I mentioned the multimodal pass along the creek that would connect neighborhood Park cynic in existing and new neighborhoods in the plan area and then improving the one-on-one crossings both Baker and Todd Road. And then a new multi-modal crossing a Bellevue and potentially a new bike, a ped crossing at Rules Avenue. And then will now kind of zoom in a geographically to the both the north and in the central and southern parts of the plan area to see what are the actual changes from what is currently designated up there. We're getting so looking at the northern part of the plan mention that we're looking at increasing residential densities around the Costco area, leveraging the existing multitude of options for grocery and entertainment and kind of other daily needs that are provided in that Costco
shopping center integrating existing and new neighborhood parks. I mentioned that the improved highway, 1, 1, overcrossing as well. And improving district overall existing corridors and new noon necessary connections to enhance walkability for both new and existing residents of the neighborhood. Moving south to the central and southern portions of the plan area so that this is where you'll see that mixed use district on Centers avenue with commercial centers and active retail frontage to enhance the walkability experience in the area. And they also noticed that transit hub is kind of a translucent because folks in transit wanted the flexibility to adjust specific location as development occurs. And as the city has an opportunity to procuring necessary right of way. And then you'll also notice the low and medium density housing to the east of
the connection from Mel to Petaluma Hill Road Condit operative, your slide there. And then as I mentioned, all industrial uses are maintained and then you'll see Greenway connection that starts all the way. The top right of your screen, the northeast portion of the plan area, that neighborhood park and follows the creek path way all the way down through the transit hub and then eventually hopefully connecting with the runner Park. The smart train, smarter trail down to run a park. So here is our total projected build out and just want to cut caviar by saying this is a full build out realistically would likely not occur for several decades. So well, seems very striking at this point. It would be quite incremental in nature. And most of those new the 6300 residential units would would result from the new mixed use areas along the center's
avenue, which we envision and up to 40 units per acre. And they're also be a nearly 3 million square feet of a new nonresidential construction. And again, that is permit from the mixed use and industrial areas of the plant area. Okay. So I don't think I mentioned U.S. The specific plan area severely lacking in green, open spaces, which is why I'm really excited about that creek pathway and the job, the potential to build a new neighborhood parks that are all connected by that creek path. Where think it will be quite nice. But just 2, just take the city park standard is 6 acres per 1000 residents and the plan would include park space that would meet the standard of future residents. But that would likely be developed prior to full build out so existing residents would get to enjoy the benefit of the parks, provided specific plan and that would
be more of the medium term need that is addressed and as opposed to be longer term. Next As I mentioned, we are continuing outreach. Our draft preferred alternative. The survey is still open. We have some meetings scheduled some table exciting tabling events, but that will continue through summer. And late summer early fall will start conducting some analysis of the preferred alternative and understanding the infrastructure and circulation needs of full build out. Towards the end of the year as Supervisor Nicholson mentioned, we will starch work shopping and actual specific plan and are with with the release of those things. And that will also include study session with the commission and the Council on those policy ideas. Yeah, eventually looking what other mentions looking to adopt the specific plant in spring of 2027. And that would be the
specific plan and environmental impact in report. Okay. That's my presentation. The final slide just a few helpful qr codes for folks in the audience for for anybody watching online on the far left, one is just the website that is that is online on the city's website about this plan. Middle One is if you want to sign up for e-mail distribution, major milestone announcements and things of that nature. And then as I mentioned, preferred alternative survey is open right now. So if you want to take that, maybe save the bookmark, you can scan that qr code on the far right. And finally, there's our e-mail address, the Self Sr specific plan. That's That's our city Dot org. And then we have a phone number on there for both English and Spanish speakers. That concludes my presentation. I'm happy to entertain questions or or
facilitated discussion. >> Current Connor, Amy just couldn't. Gabe, thank you very much. This is just a huge project project, unusually important for the city. Thank you for bringing this back to us. Looking to counsel the questions, MR. Alvarez. And thank you for the that's been put into the outreach. And really, you participation from the community less felt disenfranchised for decades. With that being said, I know it's hard to gauge metrics when it comes to participation. But how have you personally feel about the civic engagement from our community in regards to the future. Santa Rosa in the Southwest Corridor. >> Yeah, that's a great. That's a great question. I think you kind of speaks to the heart of And I think the people behind you speak to the fact as well right? Yeah, I think I think in some ways I
will never feel like enough because there's always somebody who didn't hasn't heard about the planning process that we've been doing. But I do think throughout the employment of all the different strategies that I've discussed, you know, some some pretty conventional kind of government outreach come come see us at our workshop. Verse. Let me come eat with your neighborhood group or you'll see me at the Cinco de Mayo celebration or something like that. I think throughout the def all the different approaches that we took, I think I think we've gotten better. A better response. And I think a normal traditional conventional government outreach effort and I have been PRESIDENT Some of meetings and I'm impressed with the knot of people and the quality of comments and him and ideas that are being shared with the law. So I do
appreciate it. >> in regards to alternatives and hearing. But the lived experience from the residents of Southwest Santa Rosa, what seems to be the biggest hurdle that they for seeing besides time and and you stated a little bit of the equitable housing when it comes to the word affordable. Are other any factors that you worry? The residents of Southwest Center is? >> Yeah, I think trying just a bit of my presentation, but I think just general lack of infrastructure investment, they don't feel safe walking on the street. They don't feel comfortable writing anything other than a car to go shopping or take their kids to school or do other kind of daily need just because of general lack of infrastructure development in the area. >> Would you feel that? That's part of the reason that committee believe
connectivity, 2 Saint Rose Avenue from Southwest Santa Rosa is so vital and one of the concerns of the community absolutely. And in regards to the way that we're looking at the the corridor, as you know, with the quarter, but the central housing model or the different alternatives. How will all the houses are being built? Currently? Influence our? And result, for example, done medal every single time that drive anywhere near Bellevue or gone done Meadow. I have to pay attention to the road as it changes the housing is incredible amount of housing that's coming in and infrastructure being introduced in the area as well. But I'm wondering the decade from now, how will this study incorporate the new housing that's now being built? >> So I think as part of the analysis that is associated with this plan, we are
considering projects that are recently construction projects that are currently under construction and finally projects that could be constructed and compliance with those plans. So and you know, 10, 10 years from now, if there's some projects that have popped up, we have analyzed the infrastructure needs of those of of those projects and ideally, it would be an improved experience. >> Now, this is a very loaded question. I do not expect the answer, but I ponder whenever we speak of housing. We are doing our best to build housing in Santa Rosa, even to the point where some are saying it's too much. With the increase in inventory ultimately in your opinions. And this is after all, just opinions lead to more affordable housing for those that live in the area or will we do see gap that exists in this extremely loaded
question? And I do understand that. >> Thank you, councilmember. I believe that's an excellent question. Oftentimes from the whole conversation of building housing. How does it affect the economic vitality of Santa Rosa? And what does it look like in the future? Because housing does a lot of things, right? It brings people brings revenue with those individuals. Those individuals have needs and we have a lot of stress on the need for affordable housing. So really, what does it do to housing prices is often part of the process. I think a lot of that is dictated by the market is very difficult to determine what the value of prices, housing prices will look like 10 to 25 years from now. I think when we look at the strategies and it really and I you'll hear it from some of the public comment today. It's really about ensuring that we
have the appropriate mix types for Ford abilities and protecting certain housing types. This development comes in also recognizing development is needed. But how do you really create that full spectrum of affordability? And that's really what a lot of these plans attempt to look at. It is I can't state that an affordable units truly affordable 20 years from now because that's the value of the dollar. But ensuring that we have that spectrum of affordability is really critical to these plans in understanding how we get that appropriate mix tape that really does drive our economic development desires does make sure we're taking care of our community from those from that variety of spectrums. And I think what you see today from the preferred alternative is a blending of those various types in attempt to try to meet that, to understand where
the densities makes sense from a transportation standpoint from an economic development standpoint, also understand, and this will be a future conversation from the Counter Council where we need to protect that existing housing stock because that is important to the community from an affordability standpoint. So very critical part of the plan, but very difficult to determine at total dollar amount of what that looks like in the future. And thank you for taking a loaded question. And this was it just gives greatly appreciated. >> And I just asked you look towards the future. The following question is for you just look in the rearview mirror and the question is when it comes to the infrastructure that we currently have, you know, use Kern as an example with this lack of sidewalks, even in
from Southwest Community Park, where we just all a light near for Burbank Avenue. Could you explain why there aren't sidewalks to this point and ultimately his responsibility. It is an understanding that we had with the developers of of yesterday compared to us moving forward. >> Yes, that that is another excellent point. Typically the expansion of infrastructure is often done with development and sidewalk is a really good example that most of the sidewalks that we have in Santa Rosa were a part of a development. Was the developers responsibility. Now, the problem that creates is how do you create continuity through that side? Way in for sidewalk? Infrastructure because there's often gaps where development is not occurring or developers not required to do so. So really one of the focuses that we have placed through the
lens that we pondella Mont applications is how do we ensure that closing that sidewalk? Connectivity gap? There is a legal next. This is what the city can ask for is part of developments. So sometimes that creates challenges and increase that cap and infrastructure. I think what is a really important point to a specific plan because in many ways it is aspirational. It develops a set of infrastructure needed to support full density. It doesn't always factor into the city's current fiscal constraints. So when we determined really a cost of service analysis or a cost to the plan, which is a piece that will evolve it really attempts to understand how you come up with creative funding solutions that help to close the gap because you can't completely rely on development because development does occur in various areas and it
doesn't necessarily go in a logical pattern. So as we progress through this and understand those really in critical points to the community, I think it important pieces injecting some creative revenue strategies where we can look at this plan area to understand how we could potentially address that in the future. That always, that hasn't always been factored in previous plans. Becomes very aspirational. And the reality is, is the appropriate funding is not necessarily there to close those gaps. But this is a good opportunity to take those challenges that we know of and try to figure out a better model moving forward that can prevent And just can minor of Burbank Avenue. >> And where there's a bit where this is not develop planning and residential and up and down the poured over Burbank Avenue and yet side of
the street has sidewalks and even on that side of the street, is there anything that residents can advocate for in ordered have those sidewalks place, although it's already been developed. >> Yes, usually. And obviously this is getting into Director Hennessy's arena on how those types of projects are funded. So I'll talk about that. It really at a high level that's very much some of the challenges, right? Sidewalk is the private property owners spawn civility, the expansion, the sidewalk comes in through development. When we look at concepts such as safe routes to schools or other initiatives where they've looked at connectivity in providing safe routes through a pedestrian path. Those usually require other funding sources to close those gaps. I know much of the discussion about Rosalynn was gaps and infrastructure in
understanding where sidewalk is and where you where it is and how do you focus on creating that connectivity? And where is the appropriate funding source for that? So I think it's always it's always interesting when development isn't occurring because that is based on what the economy is doing. We do go through peaks and valleys, but the need in the community still exists in the Valley of development. And how do we understand how that's prioritized over other capital looks projects and the expenditures associated with that that are needed to fund some of these. But that really becomes part of the capital project mix and understanding where those come in. As I mentioned in the previous response, understanding how much can be placed on development in pushing further for that is a critical piece to to make sure that that we
don't have to piecemeal that together. But it is a bit of a challenge with those understanding the appropriate funding strategy for closing the sidewalk apps. >> And before I get the mic back where they want to thank both our city staff and my colleagues for the effort to. Install the sidewalk stall high visibility crosswalk in front of group from McMahon and Burbank and what has been done in that intersection there is greatly appreciate by many in the community. And I definitely want to give a pass to those that I know have so much to do with it, which is are so many more than I could Thank you. Thank you. MISS Of Thank you, Mayor. >> Thank you so much for the I think first, I just want to say that I the combination of the the alternatives of wanted to, you know, I know bringing it back from the last time that you were here. I really
like the direction that we're going in now. Because it encompasses so many things, I think that's that's really a good thing. Couple things that I'm concerned about that. >> know in the beginning it, you know, it was mentioned that some things weren't necessarily going to talk about. >> Today that we're in a central part of this plan. I guess, is the the issues of displacement and affordability and mobile home parks. Annexation, all those things, which to me is everything. So I said, I just want to ask. In terms of displacement and what what folks, I think what I'm hearing from the community are concerned about is being pushed out of their homes. Once this development, which is the great thing. But there's a fine line between improvements and pushing people out as was done in San Francisco, quite frankly. So I
don't want to see that happen, especially to this particular area, which I think is a really special area. So what I'm wondering is what kind of protections do we have? And we can talk about we're going to fight against displacement. But what kind of protections do the residents really have to? To the extent that it can ensure that they will not be displaced from this development in the long term. Thank you for that. The question councilmember. I would start the limited areas where >> we are proposing land use changes within preferred alternative. There are areas intended or envision for higher density housing and mixed use and then serve the lower spectrum of residential densities primarily within areas that do not contain any residents at all. Right now, these are parcels that are used for unlike commercial or
industrial uses or they are vacant. And so Ed. >> We have made >> real attempt are focused. I understand where existing residents are located and where land-use changes are suggested are proposed as a part of this process. Another piece I would add is that. >> The policies related displacement or tenant protections. Those can be included as part of the specific plan as we move into policy development. So my comments previously were just to say that we hope to hear the council's feedback on the land use in circulation changes today. But of course, any feedback on policy direction as we move forward is also really important. Great. Thank That's And I hear what you're saying and one thing to that, I will ask about the traffic study. I notice that it's it's not out yet. The traffic study. Okay.
Will that go to the planning Commission first and then maybe we'll see it later or. >> What's the plan for that? >> So once we've gotten the feedback from the community and from various boards and commissions in the council on the Board of Supervisors. >> We'll take all that feedback and prepare a final preferred alternative and then will performed the traffic analysis and infrastructure analysis. I don't believe that study session specifically on that portion, but it will made publicly available and we'll do continue conversations about policies and to a specific part itself. >> Okay. Thank you. I was just concerned about it because we know we know currently center is avenue was used as an alternative to want to one. And in high traffic peaked at times a day. So I know the idea is that we're going to have that or circulation
multi-modal all that stuff. Wonderful. But I still have concerns. 10 years out, 20 years out long that's going to look like for the community at at that point, once the though, all those 6,000 rather homes get built, you know what, what that traffic is going to look like. And you see that all just yeah. Just add very quickly to what Connor was mentioning. So there's a couple pieces next steps that I think are really important for. >> The community and our decision makers, including both Planning Commission and the council. So Amy mentioned earlier, we will be bringing a study session forward. Once we have a draft. But the draft policies ready, which is that the draft actual specific plan itself and it will include all the policies and we will bring it forward to both the commission and the council in a study session with a focus
on. Did we get it right with looking at addressing some of the protections and the displacement issues that have been brought forward. So there will be that process in addition to additional outreach and a similar manner as what Connor Mission we've already done to the community, but specific to the evaluation. That will be part of the draft er that will come as a public hearing to the Planning Commission. So it will be out for the public for review as well as the planning Commission. Ultimately, it will come to the council as part of the final er and specific plan. So you'll have a chance to look at at that point as well. Thank you. >> Let's see. I had just one other question. >> Okay. So in it with respect to mobile home parks >> they are part of this plan, right? And I know that we're talking about the county and
city. My understanding is there's about 14 mobile home parks in this. 4 of which are in the city. And I I passed them every day when I come home >> you know, looking at that. That's why I'm really concerned about displacement. I know that to my understanding is the counties policy is so much stronger than ours. And I know that's what I've heard. I haven't looked at myself, but it's what I've heard. So I'm wondering because I know the last time that you are all here and we were talking about how you are going to work together with the county. Is there some room for you all to look at their policy and see if we can strengthen our policy to match that if not all of you, I would. I would hope that both the county, the city would look at making them even stronger what we don't want is for folks to be.
Displaced and or displaced rather. And and for me that that is really important. So I'm just wondering, you know what, what do you foresee in terms of that? And when you're putting together the final plan? Thank you for the very important question. But tomorrow we actually have a meeting with city and county staffs. >> Specifically to it to discuss housing policies as we move forward through this Part of that conversation, we'll be looking at the existing protections that are in place within the city and how those differ from what the county has and that can help to inform how we develop policies as we move forward in the specific plan process. So we're very mindful of. The the layers jurisdiction and different staffer involved in in these protections and and implementing them and want to ensure that. We are addressing
the comments that we hear and that we are truly understanding what's happening now then what can be done in the future as a part of the specific plan. And I just have one more question. It's around the 6300. >> a future housing I I am not against market housing. Want to be really clear about the exit think that was misunderstood. I am. I am for a diversity of different housing types. I really want to see more affordable housing, not just market rate. And I know the way things are set up now that what ends up happening more 9 times out of 10. I'm just going to say is that we end up with market rate housing and I think, you know, when I look at a couple of last housing projects that were done that were actually affordable and and how. From my understanding how quickly they were filled versus the market rate, which doesn't get
feel very quickly. I think it's a question of what we need versus what we want. I know we want nice. Nice looking housing. I do, I think it all should be nice on him. C is as a person that I consider myself low-income. Not poor, but low-income. And. Much of my my district is that in my district isn't the only one and I I so I see what the needs are more than what we would what we want. And so just thinking about that even the number the number of folks that are considered low income. That try fill those needs as well. Not just marketing and I'm sorry that it question. But I guess my question of at thinking about that is how can we promote that? As we're looking for folks to develop of this house. Beyond the 50% that we have right now, it's I don't think is enough and the low what folks, I always tell me too low fees that are charged,
if you choose not to do any affordable housing. Thank you for that question. So, yeah, I think those are very valid points. So the 6300 units that were mentioned, those are not identified as >> market radar affordable it. It is just a total number. And so I think, you know, as we start looking at the policies that we've talked about, we can certainly add in some language to help emphasize the fact that we really want this to be diversified area. But, you know, I also do want to emphasize the city has our regional housing needs numbers that we have to address. And so there will be an emphasis, you know, from our perspective to make sure that we are addressing that as we move forward with policy and in our conversations with developers. >> Thank you. MISS MacDonald. Thank you for the presentation. I too appreciate the mixture of the alternative
plans. I think you guys did a great job from council feedback and I appreciate that. I I was looking for a slight 11 on a couple things >> you're seeing in here that Mobile home parks were not proposing re designation and just going off of what? Councilmember Ben Willows said. Is there a way for us to protect the mobile home parks from being re-designated to anything but that or have you seen policies put in place where there's sort of an overlay to prevent them from selling to make them even affordable housing because we know mobile home parks are one of the most affordable ways for families to be able to stay in parks. And that goes for our senior parks as well family mobile home parks. And I'm just curious, have you seen any language like that? >> Thank you for that question. So I to start the time as mentioned. Already
have in the city a mobile home land use designation as well as a specific zoning district for that. It's different in the county. But in the city, we do have that. And the the allowed uses within that mobile home zoning is very limited. But something certainly that, you know, given all of the comments and concerns that we are receiving from folks that live in those areas, certainly something that we can start looking at as we move forward again from a policy standpoint, but also looking at our zoning regulations to see if we want to shrink that down even more to make it more limited to that housing. And so any future requests to change it to something other than that would be through both general plan amendment which would have to come before the council. Thank you for that clarification on on that process. And what we can do is
we potentially titan language moving forward on those specific areas that are currently designated as mobile home parks. >> what I notice on slide 11, specifically, if you're able to pull it up, you don't need to. >> But I see a lot of light yellow. That's as low residential medium-low residential. When I'm looking at your color coordinated map, which I appreciate, by the way, but I am seeing a lot of mixed use and it and as you said, Jessica, was that that 6300 units, they're not determined of how that is going to go. But if I'm looking on these color coordinated maps, wooden, it show that we actually have a lot of area that's going to be for. Low residential or is that considering that price of the market or just low residential of how many they're putting in those
areas? Those designations are density. So low density residential today. Units per acre me say The colors differentiate amount of units. Second on the side doesn't identify the affordability. So yeah, when I said the 6300 units aren't and what I meant by that is that they are identified far as the level of affordability that those units, it is just the density of those areas that's going to do with the affordability. Thank you for that clarification not makes more sense. What councilmember basically thing because I was thinking they actually meant a fairly large area. So thank you for that. I think that is most of my. Questions. One of the questions I had it you had on the map, Connor, where you had connectivity from south to our part the east to west on a couple different roads. Could you tell me what that would look like for connectivity? I
know we just did the Hearn we're talking about a bridge can to connect, you know, North West and northeast. But could you tell me what that might look like? France connectivity? Would it be under over the freeway or what are looking at for those? >> Sorry, could you? Thank you for the question. Could you clarify? Are you looking at specific think it might be? >> Under the trance and or transportation or there was something that said improved existing highway 101 cross Crossing. So I think it's on slide. Twelves. There's some little arrows going back for us as proposed highway 101 crossing. You have a couple different areas. >> All-Star carrying improved existing. So part of the feedback and I mean, driven on Todd Road crossing many times and it's not a very comfortable that will be partnering with City County
public works folks to see if there's any sort of traffic design changes or striping and things of that nature. It just kind of identifies that it is existing issue that we'd like to improve. It light for to improve the experience of vertically that rose to the Moreland neighborhood, getting Centers avenue and then moving north, you'll see a proposed. I went to one crossing that first one that Robles that is kind of a contemplated to be just a bike and ped bridge. And then the one North Bellevue is contemplated to be vehicles as well. And as we know from the herd overcrossing things get put on maps are in plans and that takes years and years of cip proposition and fundraising. But this is kind of that planning exercise at this point. >> Great. That's helpful to know. I'm glad you're meeting with the county to remind them
that any area that still in county jurisdiction should be having infrastructure done by the county coffers. Before we take over from the city. So I hope you can convey that message in your meetings tomorrow as well. Thank you. Thank you. And the questions from council. Let's open it up to public comment. Then we'll start in council chambers and we have some names in front of If you do want to make public comment, you consider card the back. Otherwise, please be waiting by the podium when it's time speak. >> And if you're online, please raise your hand or dial star 9. Still, we move to online public comment next. We know you have a comment. Let's start with those who submit their cars start with Caitlin and again Linda. Caitlin, Abby. And if you can use both podiums so that we can move through this efficiently. That would be appreciated. And if
you do need help with translation, then we will have an extra 2 minutes. It will meet him in a public comment, it's at translator is required provide extra 2 minutes. So, Linda, you have the floor. >> Hello, everybody. It's Lena. For the record have not gone. Tenant organizer with the North Bay Organizing Project in Sonoma County tenants Union last week. Santa Rosa Planning Commission. We had over 35 residents who live in the Santa Rosa plan area. The South Center is a specific plan and brought for their concerns and need for essential anti displacement protections for the mobile home parks and aims of emergency concerns happening right now, residents of Western and cause a mobile home parks are primarily immigrants. Spanish speaking families, veterans, survivors of domestic abuse, single mothers, people living with
disabilities and elders living on fixed incomes. Many of the folks who live in these parks experience displacement, not only from the 2008 financial crisis, but also from the 2017 wildfires. Folks are enduring pressures not only from possible displacement from the south Rent Santa Rosa, specific area, but also from corporate investor, Harmony Communities who recently bought their parks. Residents have faced an onslaught of intimidation and harassment by harmony, including seven-day notices. The overnight removal of 40 shaved essential shape, providing trees, park maintenance to glatt, it's cetera. You know, harmony is investing right now. Not 5 of the 9 parks that Harmony Communities owns is in Santa Rosa. And 3 of those are in the unincorporated area in the South. Santa Rosa specific plan. If the city and county move forward, we need to see
some essential renter protections that includes baseline targets for preserving housing for extremely low and very low-income households, protecting mobile home parks through specific land use designations, stronger, rent, stabilization and safeguards against Park closure. We want to see just cause protections for all renters in Santa Rosa to match or exceed protections in the county. We want to adopt a rent, stabilization and cap of annual rent increases by 3%. You know, we support investment in plant area but want to make sure that the folks who live here can stay rooted here. Thank you so much. >> Thank you, Caitlin. Thank you. And good afternoon, Mayor Stapp and council members. I'm Kate by housing policy analyst at Legal aid Sonoma County. And today I'm here to urge the city to invest in South Santa
Rosa without displacing the low-income working Latino and immigrant families who live in these neighborhoods and called him home median household income. Here is a $60,000. That's a full 35% below the citywide average. And this area which has long deserved access to services to infrastructure and 2 basic amenities. The residents in the rest of Santa Rosa enjoy they deserve to have investment that starts with protecting housing, stability of families who live here. This area has 17 mobile home parks or 1000 homes in rv's. These are some of the last naturally occurring, affordable housing that we have and corporate investors, as you've heard, have already been acquiring parks in anticipation of rising property values in the area. When a single new affordable units of housing cost $500,000 to develop preserving what we
have is one of the most cost effective tools that the city has its disposal to prevent displacement and homelessness. And the plan zoning should reflect the city's actual needs. Appreciate the comments from some of the council members today. City is on pace to build only 56% of its very low reena targets by 2030. Meanwhile, it's on target to build 231% of its above moderate income housing. And we see this in the low density, the single-family zoning on the east side tied to the Todd Creek Development, which is rumored to be the first project to come forward to materialize out of this plan. Placement also cares environmental consequences. I want to highlight that in a community that's already significantly environmentally burdened and has had significant health disparities from the rest of the city and the county. So please
highlight and to displace the measure part of this plan. Happy to work with council and staff on any of those specific policies. Thank you. Thank you. Calyn over at me. And then Norman Marina, an Angel. Abby will start with you in the norm or in an angel. >> Have had. Thank you so much. Good afternoon, mayor and council members. I'm representing Santa Rosa Yimby an all volunteer organization of over 500 Santa Rosa residents dedicated to building Santa Rosa into an affordable, vibrant and low-carbon city. We're pleased that the proposed alternative addresses are top priorities for Santa Rosa. One of which is concentrating housing density near downtown, improving connections between East and West and recognizing the need for multi-modal corridor improvements along Santa Rosa Avenue. >> We encourage you to propose
some additions. >> To the plan, which include increasing the density near the Eastern Urban wildlife interface to generate the revenues that will be needed to offset the new roads, utilities and vegetation maintenance that the new development will require in our proposed low density is not adequate to pay for the costs of maintaining the necessary public infrastructure. Secondly, in order to maintain the affordability of the Moreland neighborhood, encourage increased housing supply in that neighborhood. Offering additional housing opportunities will help keep the cost of housing at an affordable level. And 3rd to retain the possibility of a future smart station in the South area that will serve the proposed cluster of industry, housing and retail as we in the future decreased
dependency on cars. Thanks so much, MISS Arnold. Thank you. Norm a marina and then angel and use both podiums. Please. >> Normal. >> Hi. My name is Norma Fernandez. And I lived in was to mobile home park for 15 years. I live in one of the mobile home parks. They're 17. And if I'm not wrong and I just come to ask him plea that we would not be removed. We know you're building. We know it looks beautiful rcd. If it looks nice and clean, we're part of harmony are many. We have no management. We have no one to look after us. We're just the bandit I buy by the freeway at an apartment or space number. 64 and I have no lightning. I've been asked and rejected my petition if I don't like it, I can be removed. We have the big board that, of course, they're going develop new apartments. They could make more money. I am a widow. I have my grandkids. My
son and myself leaving that we all live in different mobile homes. We try to keep it clean ourselves. We think we deserve a little sharing a little respect were all together here and we appreciate each and every one here. >> That is taking a little a little easier on and say hello, we're not alone when that, but that home before my husband passed away, I was excited to get it. Now I'm afraid now. I can speak out if I don't have a light mean outside and I'm in the dark spot. Well, that's ok, because if you complain you're out, if you don't like it, you can afford a new warehouse. I know I cannot. That's why I'm there. I appreciate having a home, but I do not appreciate being left alone. When I see the streets, developing a lot new mobile homes in apartments and it looks gorgeous. I want to look like that too. I want to have a house like that.
>> how we're going to do it if we cannot even keep our little mobile home safe. We all fear we are all talking about it. And I appreciate your time and please make sure we have enough to get inside our parking spot. We do not have ability to get in there. If somebody goes to mobile home Parks, thank you. Appreciate it. >> Thank you. Ms Fernandez, Marina Angel and then Alex Marina. >> And when a start of a new Levy man, up to the U.S. Will be kept in the side. You living in those top goal, you not been normal. This blast. And then Reebok is Maureen is momentum. Marino siento I we get the instructions. >> Thank you, Mayor. >> Let me bring one of the interpreters back over. >> Claudia or low shot lotion. Am I bringing you back to English side? If so, please raise your hand. Ok, low show.
>> We have snow on the side of the is. >> Okay on those this blessing and you don't really think that one. You normally Miami this something was Bacchus, get in on those who want a lot rain that. In honor of this getting mean in your normal. So Thi You give them put them on the open sea on unless Kaczynski Senate see them put in that now on the d a isn't this asked that animals see Yeah. You have a one just based on a silent best game. Which of this in on those pull them of this. I at ease. Nice to see them I knew that. But again, no known women then was the little storm was just so that the name was they did join with pro that you so violent reign fact, I knew then that can North Beth in ways that eventually they be in that. >> Casing at that moment do, ok, we would like to have r. Rent to fair and we would
also. Like to not be discriminated against or harassed. We would like to be paid attention to the things that we need. We don't want to be denied. >> And we also want to keep our home. We are older adults and we have hard time functioning and moving around and we cannot move so fast and we want them to respect us and not raise our rent. So end up with a look at. We have the need to get the in Festus Court. This about You just put up with it. Think they want to in place to get used advocate eating, to put this u n okay, put Guess going lie. >> invisible. Kevin wasn't just based on island. That's I. Yeah. I mean, you something in me. Wilson was thrown that's what news is. The give most apoyen knocking on the of I and others because it normally and that's where we let me in fact, it in this that most. We'll see you on
the ballot is give on. >> So we you guys. We would like you guys to please stop harassing us. When you go over there did not raise our rent. We are older adults. We need help. We also have children there and we don't want to move. Thank you. >> And Marina, thank you for coming across the U.S.. We want to see Angel Alex >> We'll be sharing his comments in Spanish and has asked that. I interpret for him. Thank you very much. >> We went that but I you know, I'm going a part of the deal. >> So afternoon, everyone, my name is on But the >> So you in this way >> I'm from in Atlanta. >> They will quote that knew even then that. But okay. >> I have 4 years living in Western Mobile home park. >> So you'd be deemed this a companion capital owner. Mothers go missing Comaneci
Thelma, Guinea and the singer and the utility. >> You know, I am a recent victim of the company, Harmony Communities about 4 months ago they started charging me rent and I have lost 1001 those under anatomy and doesn't want you $1500 paying extra for the rent. They're charging me. >> But I will say this. You indulge in the >> I used to pay $780 for MySpace rent. >> In moment that on their o'Malley's, any main call, you settles yet meant that on the inside most elite. My. >> And they just they increase it to a is that, you know, is in Spanish, Mexican Spanish that I can't even say. But from one day to the next they increased it. >> Only double by wind overnight. Yeah, man, Sacramento. >> I called Sacramento up. >> Macomb against Sacramento Judge will come at the end.
Can double the U.S. Have We'll get several not gone by in Wailua. Casey Kenney a and give me the lesson for love it. But there's also report that. >> So I called the company I called Harmony Communities. And when they told me what their response actually was, it was said that we could find another place to live. That was the response that they gave me. >> important key will come But I was today in Milan. >> And I came here looking for support, hoping that you can give that to us. And to me. >> When I thought that, but I >> Very good afternoon to everybody. >> Prices per report, senior Next. We'll go to Alex tough Ina and then Dwane think Alex. >> Mayor and council members, thank you for leading. Letting Alex, from the latest in a county. I'm here to share a statement from the resident of
West. Plus, that was not able to make it today. So bear with me as I read both in Spanish and English, you know, but can stay in a Houston neighborhood West. Plus, everything you need those. Gun and bless it. And center the U.S. On news. My name is Christina. I'm a member of West. The senior Sunni. Those. >> And I have been a member >> resident of plus for 10 years, the moon those said the buck somewhere. Is the idea banks somewhat annoying. He is the out in media. Me from list that you that, you know, personally that the I live in one of the 17 parks that mobile home parks in the area that of the plan that we're talking today. And this park has brought me the ability to have stability with my family. And I and the ability to live in Sonoma County. Because of the that is the condo we had make media. And with just one us as he visited bad local me
that that's part of business. It The cost of living here in county is very expensive and it's very hard for many families like mine to afford food, transportation and many unnecessary costs. Does the high season got to do that by the King? Let me Saints w that I went to a that continue that investment which is in the South. There is a center squatters centers on that is yeah, out of it as close as model is that by the cake. So but think I knew it was nose down. Ever since army charge of this park. >> The. >> The threat of instability for us as a park has become a reality for every day. Residents, many of our rents have been raise $2030400. They have taken away amenities of the park, including trees that been there for 30 years and to provide us shade this. Is it the most? Maybe a significant is that pretty soon. Let us
cause more delays in getting those Santas that Kaepernick, what lenders said, are going listen to We need significant protections. >> For our community and our mobile homes before any plan is approved for south of Santa Rosa. >> No vending. That's the company that I and that could get out of the sense that united don't sell our communities and our neighborhoods just for people that want to enrich themselves. Working with was on the if know anyone missing that you can only We don't have anywhere to go. There's no affordable neighborhoods to go to in this county. This assume to wouldn't can do to spend get on those in a way and throws more one in for descendants. But I can on those But I and in the seek an honest I was given a subtle about it. This is an urgent matter and I'm asking the
county of Sonoma and the city of Santa Rosa to put on protection. So we don't have to leave our community. It's been a look at them want them used make the Simon you the gag I hope you take into account my to my statement in my testimony and that we find a solution. Thank you. >> Thank you, Alex Delfina. And then wane Delfina. >> actually don't My apologies. Good afternoon. Hearing Council members. Thank you for allowing me to speak today. My name is enough Loriano. I'm a caseworker at legal aid of Sonoma County. I will be sharing a common will be in Spanish. So if and that the translator could be ready. And from tenant, I have one of the local parks. >> Yes, I'm ready. Please go ahead. And if you could please speak in short sentences. Appreciate it. Thank you so much. Okay. Now he's. >> My name is or what I am a
leader at Western Plaza United Neighbors. The one in the state openness and revealing a bucket put we to say sign us. >> I live in district 3 in been living in the park for 22 years. >> I am a citizen just like any other person. And I am asking for respect and dignity. Because I've been living here and pain for friend. And it is my right to be able to have some were comfortable and stability where I'm living. Does it can harm an isis ocado their lives doing that. But it on this place on the and those commit not believe that the on the as those important that. But I mean, >> ever since harmony to place of the management of the car of the park. The reality of being removed from my home has been a daily reminder for me. >> Lucas to pass on coming up us on as as the temple people going into it. He died emv
medal got bet on total sidewall is on we will. And so lieu of that just personas units to income of those. What body with the Bulls. Yemeni, though, the let the system, which was scene in bucket. >> So what has been happening is that lately is been that they have been. >> Could up? >> All of the >> trees where I live. And I feel like this is creating a lot of Tom is security for me. And second of all, a lot of people are leaving because they are depressed. >> They are just leaving because their very sad with what's going on. >> As this event, solely Moses, but those cement, the appear to be. So does that include another? The Sonoma that I have, but a solution that is the problem. Not so busy on a city on. >> Okay. And this is urgent and what we want this to
>> County board of directors to do is do the which we are requesting. >> Number what in many the so see But because the cause moving this. But every and this place me this was incident, >> We would like some kind of a norm to say that we cannot be removed from our home, be displaced from it for the residents. >> Therefore, without loading onto sublease they're looking at is but in the dome and those how was he was thinking at >> To reinforce the rental ordinance so that we can avoid to abusive rent, increase. >> Could add incentive because you're in a specific put the down, put on those. But is U.S. Has movie listened and the law, annoying could put American, though the Sonoma going be in that. They had, I was the most you on the be in the even though they time and
economy ca. >> And for there to be some kind of a Sony ordinance place. 2 protect people in the mobile home parks in the unincorporated areas of Sonoma County. >> Thank you. Do for you now, MR. MR. Do 2 minutes to >> Hello, my name is Dwayne DeWitt on from Rose. And I'd like for you, folks too, Kim possible direction to the staff to go back to the community. The preferred draft is not something that many in the community are supportive of. As you can see by the attendance tonight, there are many folks who've come here and didn't understand exactly how this preferred alternative has been coming forward. I have attended meetings of this South Sanford, Santa Rosa, specific plan. And felt it was perform It was like a presentation that wasn't really interested in what the community wanted to say. It's
a matter of fact. I wasn't invited back and I understand that from the city's perspective because they don't want to hear something that's different than the way they're going to do it. But if you saying that this is a community vision you need to have with the community wants to say and have the community bring forward their desired preferred alternative, not staffs. So this is one of the dilemmas we face here at the city of Santa Rosa. It's about planning with the community, not what you're going to do to them. But what you might do with them for them. Those are distinct alternatives which do not happen here very often. It's a matter of fact. The city staff directs you and how they're going to take things. And then you give it a little chance. A little area here. You know what? We call it. You do the happy talk and you blow sunshine up our tailpipes and
say, oh, yeah, this is going to get good. It's a matter of fact. This is not happen and good for us, especially for extra housing in the places where it's needed. I don't know any of these folks here. So they listen me to come down here. I'm down here because I know Roseann gets mistreated South Santa Rosa. Marlins going to get mistreated and you don't even have the money to take care of City Hall. Let alone a whole big section of Saint Rose Avenue as you go forward. So please back to the drawing board a couple more meetings. It won't make much difference. But at least it'll make us feel like you might have listened. Thank you. >> Thank you, MR. DeWitt. Is there anybody else in council chambers who wishes to speak? I see one person at the microphone. If you do is to speak, please be making your way towards one of the podiums. Go ahead.
>> My name's in the blank. I'm interpreting for that aside. Neighbor at Western Mobile home park. >> Witness, that is me numbers that is sent even won an idea that I've been, you know, some federal, men go to prison Jaime Diaz about gizmo, mobile home. Was there. >> Good afternoon to everyone. My name is that and I live on Santa Rosa Avenue and icon representing the families of Western Mobile home Park. >> It's almost like switch on I was little boys, this most both which end with the Vols to see more news. >> We are here listening to these new proposals and we asking where pleading with you that you hear our testimonies. >> It's some of us on the board, a body of conflict, the skin, most and least one thought. You've got that. This is an in built on. >> We have been experiencing several conflicts that have
result that have the have not been resolved and every day things are getting worse for us. >> It's the most being means this enough family for me to put by those, you know, timing was good. Look us that give up a set. >> I'm seeing my own family worried and my neighbors and we don't quite know what's going to happen next. >> I went to a family of Qasem a chill in all of con of the fee can sent a >> We're seeing so many changes in our park and harmony does not let us know what these changes are. >> Have money. So don't look on local most important number 8, but also to know the name listening or not points that I just but I want this. >> They don't they don't notify us of the changes and harmony. We don't know who they are and then they don't respond to. Our questions are
worries. And we have >> bus and I get w let's buy tickets. But and need >> We already experienced 3 managers overseeing our park. But those people have left already. >> Well, the most of got to northamptonshire non. They'll be in. >> We can really see that something is not working well here. It's something first one. And then Monday Ninamandell seem and I get in which program must months. >> You know, without a manager there so we are without manager or anybody. The care of the management of the park. We are seeing a lot of problems happening in the park. >> Putin momentum by the most to him. Any one. Guinness coach and a struggle says. >> So now we are asking about harmony or somebody really listen to our voices. >> Forget the name that.
Unfair the most predicts him. But I was just I mean, yes, good ss. Because we have a right to a roof. And we are asking protection for our family and we are fighting for our homes. Thank you for your attention. >> Thank you. Reena and Theresa Fred. >> Good afternoon. Members of the City Council. My name is Fred, all about come. The co-chair of the Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, naacp Housing Committee. And we didn't quite get our letter out in time, but I'm going quote a couple points from the letter the 2 census tracks in this South Center of the speed. Specific plan are 4, 5%, black. Sonoma County and Santa Rosa are much less than that of the Bay area percent of black and 6%. The concentration of black residents in the plan, areas of significant and warns deliberate intention to preserving community housing,
stability and opportunity. So Santa Rosa specific plan represent an extraordinary opportunity to demonstrate what equitable equitable development can look like. One community's most vulnerable to displacement are considered before and not after major investment. Cursed my switch hats and on some from my own letter here that on page, 29 of and the displacement strategy. There's a lot of options and ordinances presented by staff. And there's also been quite a few presented by members of the public. I would suggest then in the program and policy development study, which by the way, was not listed. And one of the next steps of what's coming next. I found that so interesting. Staff could could put grid to show all these things and the public's ideas to and what they would cost, who they're going to benefit. And a couple
of. Things here is I live in a mobile home park. I wonder when our park is going to be next. I don't think preserving land use designation isn't a few needed closure in conversion ordinance update and strengthening and rent stabilization, strengthening. Plan a little more balance with the socioeconomic pieces. >> Thank you, Fred. >> Are there others in council chambers who wish to speak? Seeing no one making their way to the podium. Let's go online. If you are online, if you could raise your hand or press star, resume host, we'll we'll call on You. MADAM Zoo host. We have any hands raised. >> And seeing no hands raised zoom. >> Thank you. To close public comment thank you to everybody who came out today and made and made those point made those impassioned pleas to bring back to council for
comments final direction. >> Any thoughts from our group? Question is from >> thank to all the public members of the public who came out to speak and share concerns of the U.S.. I'm just wondering if staff could clarify the concerns around the public's comments around harmony in the management with the matter before us as understand the concerns of the members of the public around the management company. But unclear how that ties into the issue of the rezoning. The excuse me, the planned change. >> Thank you for that question. So, yeah, so what we're focused on here is land use policy that will ultimately result in potential zoning regulations, both in the city and the county. You know, the the the issues with harmony that is with a particular property owner, you know, certainly we are definitely hearing the
concerns raised by the residents of those areas. We have been conversation with our housing division as Ms Nicholson mentioned earlier, we're going to be working with the county cdc on, you know, how we can help from a policy perspective. But in a in particular, with the residents that are here today, they are from a park that is located within the county jurisdiction. So there's not at this point a lot that the city can do from our perspective to assist, but certainly in a going continue those conversations with the county. Okay. So the residents who are here today live in the park that >> management harmony. Our county residents. And unfortunately the city does have resources for residents who live in parks within the city limits. But those are not available to county residents. Is that is that right? I
believe that is correct. We have our Yeah. >> I'm just just helping. So it would. But I'm just trying to assist our are listening public. >> Would it make sense for those folks who are in that situation in contact? The county housing department? Thank you for the question. Megan passenger, director of Housing Community Services. So yes, the city does have resources available regarding the mobile home rent stabilization ordinance that we provide to parks. Residents within the city limits. The county has similar services available. >> Through the Community Development Commission, so residents of parks in the county jurisdiction should reach out to the county cdc for questions and guidance on how they work through the rent, Stabilization Ordinance, which is very similar to the
cities and any concerns they have regarding park. And is that something that's of the folks here today could ask you for that contact or or the website yesterday to meet with them at the conclusion of item. >> Thank The other question I had was around gentrification. That's that's the sound. Something that's more within the purview of the matter before us. And I'm just curious to know what measures it will be taking around preservation and protection as we move forward. And if you could just review those and see if we can satisfy some of the concerns of our of our members of the public here today. Thank you for the question. >> I think focuses on a lot of that. The comments that we've heard today on specific measures related to preservation the affordable housing anti displacement
strategy, which was done specifically for this area, was also referenced, but at least one public comment or that does include pretty diverse mix of ways to protect residents and preserve either deed restricted or just naturally occurring, affordable housing. >> So we will be continuing to kind of flush these out as they apply to the issues that we're hearing in concert with county staff and then bring those specific items for council to review it this fall has options to integrate into the specific plan answer your question that that does thank you for your health. >> Thank you for those clarifications. Other comments from council. MRS. And the most respectful manner that >> Nov. I would hope I believe that I do have the support of my colleagues to invite our regional partners and at the lectern level 2 continue the
conversation. How we come together. Provide the median housing in the most effective and efficient manner possible. And I'm grateful that our staff. Are having that conversation. But again, I do invite our regional partners to join us and having that conversation as well. Thank you. Spend >> And along the lines of Councilmember Alvarez was just saying. I appreciate that. I see you reading copious notes. I appreciate that. You are listening to what the public is saying it is true that many of these parks are in the county, but they're also part of the >> And there are parks that are in the city, not as many in this particular plan, but just to say we have many parks throughout the city of Santa Rosa. So so with thinking about that, I I do agree with some of the things that some of the speakers were sent and
that is that we before we move forward, we need to figure out how we make sure that. >> Displacement doesn't happen. Whether know whether you live in mobile home Park rv Park. >> Oran in an apartment building. >> I think that's something that we need to look at. I think I'm going to say this to my counsel. Don't the load Council members we need to step up. We need to step up take some action. I we've been watching what's happening in other jurisdictions and that's great. But I think we need to step up and do something to protect our residents. So and that's not on you necessarily. That's really on us. If we want to really make a difference protect our community the only other thing I would say is I actually am still happy with the direction this is going I know you're going to continue to take
community input. I think that's really important. And and and get more feedback because I want to ensure that we incorporate as much as what the community wants is possible. So very much in favor of that. >> And I also thinking about protecting our community, but also that whatever development we do. >> That word equitable development that that to me, I think that was in the in acp letter and I did read it even though it came to us at the last minute. I read the whole thing. You know, I represent people of color represent Latinos. Echo the to me is really important in any kind of development that we do so and I know you you for that for me. Not just now, but even of the time commission, those of the things that that I think are important. So with that all. That's all I have to say. Thank you. Thank you, MR.
Donald. Thank you, Mayor. I just have a few more comments. I notice in the specific plans that are being brought forward. >> We have an increase of people, an increase of services that we're going to need infrastructure. And I know that sometimes you you have this great plan in place. It takes us a long time to get there. >> But have we ever done a crosswalk of about how much money this will cost less to do it, whether it's infrastructure. >> Public safety, if you're looking at it, it looked like we were going acquire more parks, that type of thing. I oftentimes we look at these specific plans and we have this dream, but I'm not seeing the pen and pencil part of it of how we're going to take care of that and maybe it's in there it all of your documents. But when it comes
to me to approve these plans and we're looking at policy, I think it's wise of us to actually look at what we're biting off to make sure that we can chew it and that we can actually take care of all of these areas appropriately because we're seeing already now how Sandra spread in the city. So I don't know if you have any feedback on that now, but I think just moving forward, that would be helpful for me. Yes, thank you, councilmember question. So it's an excellent point. And yes, part of every specific plan, one of the requirements included in that is an implementation plan. And that addresses the short-term projects, mid-term and long-term projects, potential costs and potential funding. Rep for new or not revenue. But but funding mechanisms put those measures into place and then who would be responsible for doing that? So, yeah. So
when the final specific plan comes before the council for consideration, you'll see that as part of it definitely would welcome any feedback on that. Thank you. That's very helpful. Thank you. Ms Rogers. Thank you, Mayor. I just wanted to thank staff for the presentation and for all the hard work that you're doing. And I think although many of our speakers where from a live outside our jurisdiction. I think that this was great. >> reminder that now is the time that we can collaborate with the county and that this will allow us to collaborate even more. So with the county too, ensure that the low income housing remains protected and that's within the city limits. And without I mean, an outside of the city limits and how important it is in that the lines that we draw are imaginary, but people's livelihoods and their housing in there families are very
real. So I do want to thank everyone that came out to speak with us and I I can speak for myself, but I think that I can also speak for my colleagues that we do what to protect the housing that we have. Not only do we want to increase the housing stock that we want to protect the housing that we have in. We appreciate you coming out to tell us to remind a little reminder goes a long way. So thank you very much. Thank you. Any other question or comments or direction from council? >> I'll just follow up on ms Rogers and it's been a while point with with the reminder that a positive reminder that there are a lot of attorneys, a lot of elected officials and a lot of city managers across the county right now working on exactly the issue that you're here to talk about today. As many of you know, well, you see what's going on
in Petaluma in Windsor, in the city of Santa Rosa. We are part of that discussion. So please don't think that the city of Santa Rosa City on its hands. We have our staff and our elected officials here or are paying very close attention to this discussion because we do need to protect our housing. With respect to to the specific plan, I just continue to be excited with the ideas that are coming forward and impressed with the incredible want to staff work that's gone into this. This is the last large. Relatively undeveloped piece of land in the city within our with boundaries and I say relatively and of the undeveloped because of course, we have thousands of people living there. We have businesses. We have major pieces of infrastructure, but it is it is going to grow. It is going to dense if I I'm excited, but I see that even
even the talk of bridges or pedestrian overcrossing to or want to one as we continue to try to our city to back together after building a freeway right through and the improvements in the quality of life that's going to have for all residents in the city with special reference to those who are living in Southeast and Southwest Santa Rosa along this corridor. So the plan is put forward that incorporate all the community feedback it It proves means gives us and abroad a line from what that part of the city can look like and and how great it can I mean, it's it's a good part of the city now, but we can make it better with a lot of infrastructure investment and with good planning. This is a step towards that. So staff, thank you very much. And thank you all the members of the community that put time in today in our community meetings to help push this
forward. Backed a staff room and you've you've gotten some feedback from a son serving from the community. Do need anything else for today. I think we're good. Thank you. Director has been we're going. Yes, thank you, mayor. Just a really quick recap. I think the critical pieces, the council to understand that we are moving forward now with the preferred alternative that was presented. So we'll do. The technical studies will look at the displacement issues that potentially can can exist with that. >> But this is a critical decision making point for us because we are now investing resources and understanding the financial analysis. The traffic study, all those other parts and pieces. So thank you for the feedback. This really helps us hold our timeline. Staff will move forward with Council direction. We're looking forward to the next
generation. Thank you all. >> All right. We will move ahead then want to item 6. Our report on our clothes Sessions, MADAM City, Attorney. >> Thank you, mayor. There's one reportable action out of closed session. The city COUNCILMAN Closed session on item 3.1 anticipated litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 5, 4, 9, 5, 6.0. 94 has identified on the posted agenda on a motion by Councilmember Fleming, seconded by Vice Mayor Okrepkie the council voted unanimously to give direction to legal counsel, to initiate litigation against Pierce manufacturing at all. There are no additional reportable action is taken. >> Thank you very much, indeed public comment. I just want to thank all the members of the public again, who took the time to come out. Your please, please come back anytime
states stay engaged with this issue. Back to our closed session report. Any public comment on that? Seeing none. We'll close public comment. And we had then to item 9, our city manager and city attorneys reports. City manager, not anything for us today. >> Yes, I thank you, Mayor Mayor and council. I have several great items to talk about. First. I'm really proud to announce that Moody's ratings, one of the world's top credit rating agencies is upgraded the city of Santa Rosa's credit rating to a a one. The second highest credit rating in their system assigning a stable outlook across the board. And a one rating is an exceptional achievement and a powerful external validation of its strength, resilience and positive trajectory of our community. Achieving this level of financial recognition
was no accident. It's the direct results of difficult but necessary decisions made by eu Council and the work of our city departments and the proactive strategies of the city leadership team both today and previously today, specifically highlight highlighted our track record of budgeting and our decisive proactive response to budgetary pressures, including discipline spending, executing significant spending reductions while strictly maintaining our General Fund Reserve strategic depth management implementing highly effective strategies to manage pension debt such as the Calpers Fresh Start program. Which secures an estimated 37 million and long-term cost avoidance community partnership. The final support of our residents who have past success who have passed successful voter approved measures to protect Essential
City services, responsible planning developing public, really disclose long-term contingency plans to ensure our financial stability regardless of future economic shifts. The on city operations, Moody's recognize the undeniable strength of Santa Rosa itself. Our local economy continues to thrive as a prepare regional center for government medical services, retail and tourism. This upgrade reflects our robust property value growth, solid resident incomes and the ongoing construction projects that underscore a deep continue to invest in our city. These upgrades confirm what we already know. Santa Rosa's economy and community are steadily moving in a highly positive and prosperous direction. I want to congratulate and thank the council our team for all of the hard work they did to achieve this upgraded ratings
structure. I think it's great. Absolutely. Our cfo is not here to take a bow. He's hiding steadiest hiding in the back. Thank you to the whole team. I also want to say that the Santa Rosa Police Department will host a community meeting on SEPTEMBER, the 17th about the use of its flock, automated license plate reader technology. The meeting explain how alpr assist with serious criminal investigations outline privacy safeguards such as vehicle only data collection. 30 day retention case based searches and audits and provide an opportunity for residents to ask questions and offer feedback Spanish translation and accommodations will be available and the meeting is being promoted through a variety of avenues, including social media civic, ready and future radio announcements more to come and be published
on that. In addition, 7 Santa Rosa police officers were honored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving for their dui enforcement efforts in 2025. The Srpd made 614 dui arrests with the 7 recognized officers accounting for nearly 60% of that total honorees included Officer Anthony Metairie, Officer Brendan Sawyer, Officer Chase McIntyre officer John Fisher. Officer Hannah Combs. Officer Diego Asensio and Officer Mike meager Officer Anthony Metairie receive special recognition for making more than 100 dui arrests and recording the third-highest total in Northern California. The these awards reflect the department's continued commitment to traffic safety impaired, driving enforcement and reducing traffic related injuries and fatalities. Thank you all to those 7 officers for their hard and continue to work. I'm also happy to share
that the Ross Street activation is now underway, bringing new energy activity and opportunities to connect in the heart of downtown Santa Rosa through OCTOBER 31st. The east side of Ross Street will serve as a vibrant community gathering space featuring live music lunchtime, food trucks and family-friendly activities designed to welcome residents and visitors while supporting our downtown businesses. We are proud to support this effort through funding partnership and coordination assistance from our Economic Development division. This activation reflects the power of collaboration and we appreciate the many but downtown businesses, community partners and event. Organizers who helped bring this vision to life. And I encourage everyone to visit downtown, enjoy the activities and support our local businesses through the activation period
for more information visit downtown Santa Rosa Dot Org. And I have one more mayor. I am pleased to announce that the registration is now open for fall into fitness. These are free class demo day taking place on SEPTEMBER. 19th at the Finley Community Center. This Free Community event invites adults and seniors to explore a variety of exercise and dance classes designed to support a healthy heart body and mind participants can register for up to 3 classes at no cost through advanced registration, although advance registration is required. Fallen to fitness is made possible through measure m Parks for all which supports parks and recreation programs through Sonoma County to view available classes and register visit sr City dot org forward slash calendar and we hope you'll join us at the Finley Community Center on SEPTEMBER. 19th. Thank you, mayor. That
concludes my report. Good up. A good update. We are a healthier and safer city with a higher credit rating. That's our report for this. >> This meeting? Excellent. Alright. MADAM City Attorney. >> Thank you, mayor of a report of settlements and active litigation. There are no settlements or judgments to report out for the month of JULY. As of 8/6/2026, are active. Caseload was 33 litigation matters with child eats assigned to approximately 25% of the trial court level matters. 4 cases are currently on appeal following rulings in favor of the city at the trial court level and the litigation report is attached to the agenda materials and I have nothing further to report this evening. Thank you. Thank you very much the public comment. Are there any members of the public who wish to comment on either of these reports, MR. Do it.
>> Hello, my name is Dwayne from Roseland. Thank you. For those recent reports from the interim city manager and the attorney. It's nice to hear that they'll be a meeting about the flock cameras. This has become an issue that's growing for a number of people. And I'm hoping as specially because the chief of police is come by tonight. That he'll make a point of making sure the meeting is set up so that half of the time is for the residents. I've been to a number of city meetings over the years and typically evolves into the city, talking at the people who've come talking out a more given him some more talk and you can have a two-hour meeting. It comprises one hour and 45 minutes. City staff and different people talking to the residents who then all they get 15 minutes. So the whole flock camera issue has become fraught with this,
understanding this information and other things that are problematic to folks in the community. So this would be excellent opportunity for the police department and city staff, even elected officials to be there and point out to the community. It's what they want. The community is asking about information. They want safety in the future and explain how this might be able to deliver some of those. You might call questions that come from the greater community, deliver answers for those. So don't go in with a preset agenda per se make to our meeting one hour for the city staff and one are for community to talk and interact have it be an interactive discussion. Not just one side leads. Thank you kindly. Going take you to Wayne. >> Are there any other members of the public in council chambers who wish to speak? Seeing none. We'll go online
if you're online was to make public comment. This item, please raise your hand or press star 9. MADAM Zoom host. Is there anybody with her hand raised online? >> Thank you, Mayor. We have no one wishing to speak on Zoom. >> Thank you. We'll close public comment on this item and more on to item. 10 statements of abstention are accused my council members. Do we have any statements of abstention recusal this evening? Seeing none. On to mayor and Councilmembers reports. Do we have any reports this evening? MR. Donald kick us off. >> Thank you, Mayor. I just have a couple of things to report out I was able to 10. I think it was a last Wednesday night market last week and see drummer from Guns n Roses. So if you know, I wasn't at the really big event politically, it's because I was listening
to that. >> I also want say congratulations to the Rincon Valley Library for their amazing renovation. Open the doors yesterday and and it looks like a bookstore going in there. They've done a great job, making it a resource, have for community members. And I know a lot of students go to that library after school. And so I just want to congratulate them. And thank you for opportunity come and speak to all the committee members that were in attendance. And thank you to city manager net for his attendance as well. >> Thank you. Anyone else? I want just bunch of real quick items you mention, not every dimension police night out a couple weeks ago when we had the police to put up a dames again. Thanks, rpd for putting together. We have hundreds of people that that's that's a great tradition. Thank you to
city staff here as well as in Rohnert Park in Windsor for being part of the business line. Sonoma County presentation on where our city budgets are right now as well as the ballot tax measures and a number of jurisdictions in the county are going out with it was well attended meeting. We probably want to add 150 plus people. They're just talking through municipal municipal finances, both Santa Rosa and our and our neighboring cities. That was an important meeting. We did have the Clean Power Board meeting a couple weeks ago. Interesting subject discussed the cost of electric electrification for lower-income neighborhoods. So think about the lower income neighborhoods and our county. How do we give them the get those neighborhoods, the benefits ev of solar cells of more reliable electricity, lower electric costs. Sonoma,
clean power as ever is ahead of the curve and trying to figure out how we make that happen here in our county in a And of course, the fair I know the county tries to end game, for the fair, but we had 10 days of the fair. And that really happens in Santa Rosa as everybody knows. Attendance was good. It was a lot of What a what a great addition for the county. A week ago we had this change council chamber right here was full MARCH. The 7th and 8th graders actually 3rd through 8th graders who were who had were winners in the read on Sonoma County reading effort across the county. They chose to come here and learn about city government. It's a great program county wide. They're going about 7,000 kids in Sonoma County participating re on Sonoma. Again, to encourage reading for encourage reading skills. So kudos to that and to the school districts who
are involved. And then finally an unusual conversation this week I was at San Quentin on Saturday and found myself in policy conversations with relevance to our vies for into partnership. That's been windows in this in this Rogers, believe it or not, we have we have a committed group of men inside San Quentin who wake up at 05:30am, in the morning to watch our council meetings. And so when I'm in there, too, with my basketball team to play basketball, a policy session sometimes emerges and this time around what was concerning for for the for the colleagues I was with was on the increase in gun violence in our area and the increase in youth violence. They've noticed that and particularly some for some residents, former residents of Santa Rosa, Future residents of Santa Rosa with their family. Still here. Want to know how they can help. So and
touching They mentioned that they feel as though they've participated, they they helped create the conditions for the problem that we're seeing here and they want to they want to give back in some way. And that led into a conversation about what the violence Prevention partnership does. What are city Some discussion of how they can participate from San Quentin now with their media labs in terms of videos in terms of terms of public presentations, how they might how they might participate. Much discussion about what Srpd has done, what we have done here in terms of gun seizures in terms of terms ghost lab, ghost manufacturing arrests, et cetera. They were glad to hear that news. But again, it turned into substantive conversation. So shout out to Johnny and Jonas to residents to 2 individuals will be coming back to our city Sunday. We're ready to
worry to plug you in. And then the San Quentin Kings, the name of the team we play when we go in, they would want it noted for the city record that they did actually because pretty badly in and in a basketball game, it wasn't. It wasn't very close this time around by 2 long. But 2 longtime friends, their land cookie. I want to also be on the record that I outscored both of them, even though I was injured. So if our minutes could reflect And and to that to the gentleman watching, first of all, good morning. Thank you. Thank you tuning in for interest in the city and I'll see you in SEPTEMBER. That concludes our report. Any public comment on these items? In council chambers MADAM Zuma, host is any online, have their hands raised? >> Nobody is commenting on zoom. >> We'll close public comment. We will move on to item 11.2.
We have a few of us here who are going to California cities in a couple of weeks and we need we need delegate voting rights to a few of them. And so MR. Dunham internal review from for a motion for our undesignated voter and alternate. >> Thank you, I move to designate Councilmember Rogers as voting delicate and councilmember Alvarez and myself as the 2 alternatives for the upcoming Cal City Conference. Second that. >> We have a motion and a second. Any public comment on this item? In council chambers anybody online, MADAM To host. >> Nobody is raising their hand online. >> we have a motion. A second City clerk call the vote. >> Thank you, Mayor Councilmember Rogers, I Councilmember MacDonald by Councilmember Councilmember Ben Yes, councilmember over as our vice Cookie. I mayor Stapp
yes. Let the record show this passes unanimously. >> Thank you, Ron 12 approval of minutes. We have 2 sets of minutes. Our JULY 2026 regular meeting minutes and AUGUST 4th, 2026 regular meeting minutes. Are there any amendments or corrections to these minutes? Looking to my colleagues. So we do an extension. You want to make that announcement? >> I need to abstain, apologize for not saying it earlier for the obvious 4th meeting as I was out of town. >> Thank you. All right. Any other corrections or amendments seeing none over the public comment in council chambers? Are there any members of the public who would like to make comment on either set or either set of minutes? Seeing none in council chambers. MADAM Zoom host, anybody online with her hand raised. >> We have no public comment
via them. >> Thank you. All right. Then Ms MacDonald stipulation that she is that she's abstaining from item. 12.2 will be will adopt both those minutes as submitted. And move on to consent. We have items 13.1 through 13.6. Are there any questions regarding the consent calendar, anything to be pulled? Seeing? None. What a public comment winning numbers. The public like to make comment on consent, MR. Do it. You have the floor. >> Hello. My name is Dwayne Do it. I'm from Roseland I'm definitely concerned and hopeful that the downtown connectivity to support housing density is actually going to occur and bring good things forward since sizable amount of money that's being spent and one of the things that we hear often is that we want more housing density downtown. But we haven't been getting it. It's a matter of
fact. People in the past that have come here before and told you they're going to do projects to get more housing downtown, then return and say, well, it didn't pencil out so we didn't do it and we don't get that housing that's promised. This is the kind of stuff that needs to be paid attention to you. Folks need to keep a tight rein on what kind of promises you take. It's a matter of fact. You know, there's a term he caught a proverb, actually, perhaps once burned, twice shy. So you could be looking different developer that MAY come here and say we're going to get more housing downtown. We're going to increase that housing density and make sure that you get it in writing because apparently that hasn't occurred before and that's why they've been able to slip through, if you will, and that we don't get that housing. That whole dilemma didn't
pencil out. So as this goes forward, which is 13.3 kind of an ominous number, if you will. You'll make sure that somehow these people that build this project for 13 can be 3.7, 7, 9, 141,000. That's a lot of money. 3 million, almost 4 million dollars. Gonna show somehow that we get that housing density. Thank you. Thank you to Wayne. Any other members of the public like to comment on the consent calendar. >> Seeing none in council chambers met MADAM Zuma, host, anybody online. >> Thank you, Mayor. We have no one raising their hand online. >> Thank you. We'll close public comment and I look to vice mayor creepy for motion. I move to adopt consent items. 13.1 through submitted by staff. >> Second, it. When I was close talking about what MR. Alvarez with a motion and a
second, MADAM City clerk, you can call a vote whenever you're ready. Thank you. Mayor Councilmember Rogers. >> Councilmember MacDonald, I councilmember Fleming Councilmember Ben Willows. Yes, councilmember over vice Cookie. I mean, your step? Yes. Let the record show this passes unanimously. >> Thank you very rights where we are just a few minutes before 5. You know what? Let's let's move right into our report item for the evening item. 15.1. Our report regarding the approval of Real property Exchange agreement for City Hall campus, 9100 Senators Avenue and a portion of that. And then 6.30, per 6, 3, 6, 5, 5 for street and 5 23rd Street with a decoration exempt surplus land and related actions. A high-profile item for those of you read the papers. Thank you for it. To all those who showed up tonight to talk
through this. It's important for the city. MISS Scott, MR. Wagner, MR. Hennessey. >> Good Evening. Council members. We are happy to be here tonight. Excited to be here tonight to talk to addressing the city hall liability and the proposed exchange agreement. I am Jill Scott, the city's real property manager start off the discussion. I'm here with our deputy director or excuse director of just give it a motion. Our director of transportation and public works and cfo, MISTER Wagner. We also have our consulting law firm bk in in the audience to help us out with any questions they've been working with us to this whole process. >> So just going to go over a little road map of how the presentation is going to go because it's a little We want to make sure we had all the points. Any answers. Many questions as we can. Rt Pw
Tractor Director Hennessy is going to start out with the liability and what's going on at the city Hall campus right now. Our cfo is go through the fiscal impact. Then I minister with salt alternatives that we've considered the exchange itself the transaction and what it looks like and how the improvements and the transition would go. They're going turn it back over to cfo Wagner to go through the financial review and the proposed council action. So next slide to MR. Hennessey. >> Good afternoon Council. As a slide on for a new shows. We have more than 9 figures in my ability on the That doesn't happen overnight. That is not specifically my fault or your fault. This is a generational issue that has happened over decades. What we have figured out, though, is how to fix it. And I walk through some of the specific issues. It is our million dollars needed to fix
these buildings for a variety of things from structural repairs to sewer and water issues and ada issues amongst other things. >> These cost to the city here is >> cfo we'll talk a little bit more about that. We are not paying for annually. And as a result of that, it continues to grow rather having us address it in a meaningful way. Joe mentioned this, this liability is systemic both within our facilities portfolio and within our our budgeting over the last many decades. With respect to the buildings and the site itself. We have structural issues, including exterior conditions that have deteriorated past the point of repair that need complete replacement structural deficiencies of started to crop up in some of the buildings. We have ada issues all over the place, including the elevator out
here. The ramps essentially we would need to rebuild the building to make it 88 compliant. We also have as best of sunlight issues throughout a number of the buildings. And I think the biggest thing that I want to fixing this requires everybody working in these buildings to be out of them. You know, we cannot deal with lead and asbestos issues with people working around here. You've all heard the anecdotes of us buying hvac parts from the bay because we cannot find suppliers sell them anymore. That those are truthful anecdotes are facilities. Coordinator superintendent is frequently shopping and second-hand sites to find pieces equipment for us to keep the building running. Some of the specific examples. I know. I've got a couple slides here just showing some some pictures because I know a lot of the public sees the
council chamber MAY be some reception areas, but the 300 plus staff members who work in these building see this every day. We have hvac units with Faye Linda Quirk. We have water leaks stained carpet replacing that carpet. It is a challenge because it would expose who knows what underneath them. Have paint caused by leaks even in the point of 2 point of crack concrete walls that's not supposed to happen as especially not supposed to have then. Where will those concrete walls are important structurally for Keeping the building operate. Sealing leaks are not only water lines, but sometimes sewage lines we've had. Those leaks mostly contained by the ceilings. And as you staying there, we've also had some sewage leaks not contained by the ceilings and make their way down to the desk and ground level. You'll remember
a few years ago that we had an infestation of fleas that send everybody home for a short period of time. While we got that taken care of. These are all costs to us in terms of fixing city facilities but also costs to us in terms of the ability of staff to deliver services for the public. So the great part is that now we know what it costs to fix. And cfo Wagner will tell us how to get there. Thank you, Director Hennessy's. So all Echo one of the points that Dan made in that myself and dinner are willing to come back to councils address this issue, too. >> To put a Band-Aid on to this. Campus not to fix it, but to put a Band-Aid on it so that we can immediately address. The problems here that make this campus a place that we the public cannot reliably count on to be able to conduct their services
here. That indeed is a 48 million dollar band did. And again, we are willing to return to council with dot to be able to execute that plan. Roughly what an understanding of how that would really to our budget would we would anticipate the 6 million dollar annual cost to fund that 48 million dollars. We would do so through debt. Now, as Dan mentioned, that would be fully burden costs of finding a new place for our employees to work until we were able to fix all the issues here. It would be complex and it would be very challenging to execute. But again, we are at a place with our current failure that we do need to take action. And one of the consistent themes that will be throughout this presentation is that this is a issue that has developed over decades and part of that issue is in action. And we're going to talk about that a little
bit more in the presentation. Next slide. 6 million dollars is a meaningful impact to our budget. We're going to talk about leader our exchange concept and how that equals less than 1 million dollars a year. The way I'm characterizing for my Ron finances that there is a 5 million dollar Delta there between these solutions and again, the 6 million dollars is not a solution. It is a Band-Aid. 5 million Dollar Delta really is a meaningful impact to the service that we can provide the community. Our general fund, which would have to bear the burden of that expense is responsible for providing the services that the community expects and asks for first that being our police fire emergency response, our streets and infrastructure keeping our parks clean and well maintained. And as long as well as the community services
through our recreation programs. At the end of the day, we have one high in Santa Rosa and how we choose to divvy it out is the way to provide the most service to the community. Ultimately the end of the day, this inaction on see by the city over the decades to create this problem has left us where we have to make this start decision on how we are going to invest that pie best to maintain our city services. The second thing that I would I would impress is that >> these couple of decades of the city discussing this and this has been discussed at this table for a very long time and very long presentations. I would really describe that as the city was stuck in spiral of a rebuild concept and that it's very rare to be able to know you haven't identified facility that you're able to move into. That will meet your needs. We
do have that opportunity today. But when you don't have that, you have to build from the ground up. The last time the city took a very serious approach at looking at this issue. The twenty-twenty initial estimate was 64 million dollars. That is the large number but what's even larger is taking that number from just 6 years ago. And today we're looking at around 82 million dollars. We have this existing liability on our books for this campus and it grows each year. Unlike an actuary report from Calpers where they'll tell us exactly how much it is each year. We have to look at this and ultimately that 30% increase just makes the rebuild concept more unfeasible than it was in 2020 more unfeasible than it was prior to the Great Recession. And we really need to exit that strategy. We need to come up with something different that we're here to
propose today. >> ok, so we've had a lot of questions about what's happened over the years personally, myself and our city manager of been working on these concepts for over 10 years. But I'm gonna go back in history a little bit for the public, even though this has been to. >> In public means so many times over the years. Back in the 2 thousands, they attempted a man, a master planning process for city hall and and recognize that the times I it wasn't a long-term solution that is affordable in 2000 Ten's they evaluated selling or rebuilding and even bought more property a little earlier than not the West America Bank building too extend and expand on a rebuild of the property. But the high costs and the limited market interest made that not feasible. And the 2000 twenty's. So here is where I
came earlier in the 2020 is probably 2018 we started we looked at, we studied for over an entire year. We looked at the public private partnership side. So we went through a years long study and some some MAY say we over analyzed and my opinion. We were at the point of over analyzing all of this. We brought in every expert you could think We brought in, you know, finance experts. We we put in private equity. We brought and on brokers from in the area from outside the area. We did market surveys. We did studies. We did test surveys with the community. We started a master planning process. We looked at all of our property, every piece of property we own in the downtown. We looked at selling those at the highest possible price that we could come up with for appraised value and we still couldn't get to a number that the city could afford on a rebuilt
that's selling every single piece of land we own in the downtown. Including parking garages. So Twenty-twenty we realize that we're just not in a place where and at that time where rebuild as possible. And as cfo Wagner just went over and the slide previous to this, those numbers even gotten larger. Now. In 2025, we decided to test the market a little bit. Let's see what our properties worth. And let's see if we sell some of the pieces individually rather than a whole. Where we would come out, too. So we decided to put up for sale 6.55, for street, which is the West America Bank building to see what would happen. We received after a pretty significant amount of time. We received 2 offers both of the officers or so significantly below the appraised values that the city declined to move forward with those. And at that time with that told me, in my
professional opinion, is that this? City Hall campus is worth more as a whole than it is peace million that are separating that. Next slide. Please. So this slide just shows you that we've we've tested analyzed, brought in every expert. To the Nth Degree on rebuilding what we could do to rehabilitate this campus and what needs to be done. We had significant amount of studies done facilities, study's done 100 million dollar liability at 6 million dollars a year for 30 years. I'm thinking it's just it doesn't work for the city. We don't. We don't have the funds as our cfo tell you. Building new on the existing site. Like I said, a minimum of 82 Million. It's probably closer to 100 million at this time. And estimating 5 million dollars a year for 30 years. Again, not a sustainable option for the city. Next slide. Please. So
after years and years of studies of talking to everyone we can talking to every expert we came up with a or an opportunity for an exchange which we want to talk to you about tonight. And this opportunity is the first opportunity I-10 to 12 years of working on this that I can say is a sustainable opportunity and is in my professional opinion, a great opportunity for the city to get out of 100 million dollar liability. And let's just say that one more time, 100 million dollar taxpayer liability on this campus. Next slide. Please. So what's an exchange? I've been asked many times what a property exchanges. It's exactly what it sounds like. So let's think of the definition exchange. It's you give something you get something usually of equal value or or becomes of equal value. And that's exactly what a property changes. So what
staff is proposing tonight is that the city of Santa Rosa Exchange, what we call the city Hall campus. Now, I'd be very specific about what those properties are. That is 100 Santa Rosa Avenue, which is the campus that this is sitting on today.-1.6 one acres. So director Hennessy is going to go into this slides coming up. But the city is keeping keeping full. 1.6, one acres of all of the creek property. So all of the property of Santa Rosa Creek and Matanzas Creek that is covert under here will remain in the government's hands. That will provide flexibility in the future. So what what can be done with those properties? So 100 Rose Avenue minus a 1.6 acres which we will be keeping 90 Santa Rosa Avenue 6.55. For street and 6.31, 0st street that are all the properties here and across the street on First Street and we would exchange all of those
properties for 5 23rd Street, which is owned by museum on the Square llc. That is an existing downtown office building that meets all of the city's needs. And I'll go into the next couple of slides. How we got to the point of recommending this property at 5 23rd Street. So where we came from is the city have a need? Moss has a need and desire and the need to line. That's the hardest part. A finding in exchange property that works and needs have to align for both. So how this fits in the state law. So the Surplus Lands Act, which I know you've all heard me talk about it. Not probably at this point. I'm a you have to designate this is this is how the city governs or how the state governs, how governments sell property and it has to be designated either non-exempt surplus land or exempt surplus land. There is an exception in the state law that in the
surplus lands out that allows and property exchange for government use. For agents. What they call agency use obesity use. So we are asking tonight that the council declare this property exempt surplus land and that we are and that allows us to be able to exchange that property for agency the existing city hall property would be transferred 2 Mott's llc and then 5 23rd Street would be transferred to the city for agency use. So it all you ation. Here's another question. We've got a lot of that we wanted to go over is how did we get to the recommendation of 5 23rd Street? There's a lot of properties in the downtown have. Why did this come out at the top of the less? I will tell you, this came out far beyond any other property. It was a no-brainer really to bring this one to you we looked at all the different properties and the downtown.
So There are we look to bronco through first we looked at him for size and functionality tenant, relocation because obviously we don't want to re. We don't want to be display scene. Commercial tenants more than we need to. We want to be very careful about that. So a building that has 15 people and it is not not the best for us. Our businesses are very important to us. We looked at tenant improvement costs. Would what condition is the building? You know, how many? How much money do we need to put in nt eyes with that said exchange feasibility, not everybody's going to want to exchange a property or how or once a city property and then long term city suitability. So do we have room for growth and what does it look like for the future? When we looked at it all the properties in the downtown, it was important. We knew to counsel and we knew for staff and and the business
community. It's those 300 employees that we have remain in the downtown. So we did not look outside of the downtown area. When we got to size and functionality, which was one of them that cut the majority of the properties out in the downtown. They're are not. We would have to buy 2 properties and most instances to be able to. Have enough space to situate all of our employees that in the downtown now, let alone. You know, we wouldn't be able to put them together so we can, you know, have a one-stop shop or any of the issues any of that items that we want to bring forward for the community to make this an easier serviceable area. Exchange feasibility we had a partner, a development partner Hugh Futrell and Montel see that was interested in exchange that wanted to do that. And then we had to look at costs and disruption. So how could we move people
without disrupting service? And that's something that we negotiate within the contract, which I will talk about a minute. So here's the here's the crux of the agreement. How did we establish fair value? So we have a very specific business protocol that we do in the city with every real property transaction that we do. And it's based on appraisal on outside appraisals by qualified appraisals. And we stuck to that process of which we do with every acquisition that we do here in the city. And we did it again with this one. And sometimes we did it with multiple appraisals, which is very common. So it's very common even in right away transactions by one Palm Beach Party get their own appraisal. And then, you know, to go, she ate between the 2. And that's exactly the same process that we followed here. So let's start with the Fy 23 Street.
The appraised value range between appraisals was 12.4 million to 18.7 million. Again, that might seem like very big Delta to the community. That is not it is typical for us to see an appraisal that there is a very big delta between one appraisal and the other appraisal. It is and my job and my staff's job in the city manager's job to know and understand what the value is and to negotiate appropriately for the city and for the taxpayers and for the council. And that's what we did here. So we looked at very similar properties. We looked like what it was going on downtown. And we came to a fair value that was agreed upon by both properties at 15.7 million. And I will tell council and the community that I think this is a very, very appropriate value. The exchange has to be beneficial for both parties. And this
very beneficial to the city and it works for our exchange partner. The existing city Hall campus. Again, I'll go back to my comments before that. I truly believe that the campus is worth more as a whole that it is separately the appraised value for the city Hall campus has a combined to campus was a little over 13 million dollars when we negotiated this value. Again, these negotiate somewhere very detailed and and extensive when we negotiated this a value of 11.1 million. We had to take other things into consideration that were not in the appraised So the appraised value is going to be exactly what the property is worse could be in its best condition. This is not in its best condition during during the negotiations. We had environmental studies done, which we had planned in advance to be doing those
environmental studies just for lead and asbestos abatement, not even all the other payment that needs to be done for anybody to do anything with this campus came back at 4 and a half million dollars. Our ada came back at U.S. Astronomical number. Those are the things that we had to take into account for. We're keeping 1.6 acres of land. We are not transferring that land. So that had to come into play is also as a reduced value. So the 11.1 by 3 value I feel is a very fair value as well. So when I say net exchange differential, what I mean is the difference. The delta between the value, negotiated value of 5 23rd Street and then negotiated value of existing city Hall campus. That is 4.5 million. And that is what the city would pay to Montz llc at the close of escrow for the exchange to happen. Next slide. Please. What is the
city gain? The city gains a lot. The taxpayers gain a lot. I can't harp on this and not design or cfo. Really harp on is we are eliminating 100 million dollar liability from the taxpayers from the city. We gained so much being in one building. It's consolidating departments and its customer service. It's the ability to put a one-stop shop and so that we can our community can walk in and get almost every service that they want and one place instead of walking into 5 different places are having to go here or across the street or across, you know, wherever they need to go. Its strength shun strengthens the collaboration across city services and city departments and even allows us to move other departments into the building that are not to are not downtown already. And that has. Even more facts, right? And it allows us to
collaborate more with each other, which gives us a better customer service. It also brings a significant even more. Employees down to use the services to go to the businesses, to have to go out after work. It helps our community and so many ways it's it's a some markets, a smart community investment next slide. Please. Turn this over to director Hennessey as Joe mentions or keep in about 1.6 acres and it's highlighted by that image on the scene from close to center as Avenue looking back towards Nome Avenue. >> The 1.6 acres is at its widest at certain center is avenue and then kind of comes back through here and almost scrapes this corner of the building before heading down Sonoma to all the way to the street. The purpose of the retention of this is because it has a number of potential uses for First and foremost is
the creek uncovered infrastructure that is under that that land. Right now. It does lot of work for us with respect to flood as you know, fema has released updated fund risk maps that we are reviewing in concert with our partners at the Sonoma County Water Agency for how we're going to address those risks moving forward. Retention of this property gives us a number of options to do that. And in fact, it gives us the same number of options that we have today to do that. So essentially, by keeping this property, there is no change to what the city and the county collectively can do with respect to mitigate flood risk in the future. This also does provide, you know, pointing out towards Juilliard Park towards Luther Burbank, home and Garden tours to intersection of Sonoma Avenue and Saint Rose Avenue gives us the opportunity for other
things, too like Placemaking we'll be happy to answer any questions you have on that. >> How we make the move for. This another area of where really thought through what we don't want to disrupt service to the public at all. And so we had to think about how we prepare 5.24 the city to move into it. If the council does approve this transaction tonight, so will need to complete design and tenant improvements or estimating right now that those will be between 17 20 Million. But those will come back to council will make it closer for appropriations and for review. When we get closer and get a more defined dollar amount, we'll need to put a plan together and relocate existing commercial tenants and then we need to just prepare the space for city departments to move into an order to do that. We needed to lease back on this property
and that this was another thing that we had to take into consideration and the value of the property. And in the exchange partner, we needed to be able we can't move 300 or 400 people overnight and we can't disrupt services like that to the community. We have to be able to supply those services. So Hamas agreed to through their negotiations to allow us to lease back 2 years on this campus at 100 Santa Rosa Avenue. So we still having these in this chamber for 2 more years doing these meetings and one year at City Hall Annex 90 Santa Rosa Avenue. Mostly because most of our it operations happened out of there and will need time to prepare those and move them. And and they agreed to lease back for a total of $2, but is $2 total for all of that lease back consideration? And that was a big deal for the city. And and then the 3rd part is we need to consolidate and set
up our one stop shop. So we're not disrupting service. So we'll do that. He eyes over in the new building. The tenant improvements to transition people in space into it. When the public counter space is complete and ready. Then we will move public counters from here to there. But we won't be moving those and tell the spaces ready. So there's no disruption in service for the community. Next slide. The other thing is is there's closing. So lake, even when you now say you're buying a house, you come to an agreement. You negotiate agreement just like we have you open escrow during that escrow period. You have an inspection period. You're looking at the house. You're looking at the property. It's the same thing with an exchange agreement or any acquisition for that matter. So during if council passes us tonight during this time and
when we close escrow, there'll be some things that we still need to work through and work on. So where need to establish a process? Tonight's Exchange agreement, if you approve this also approves it. Iwork letter to and establishes a process for design, pricing construction and tenant improvements on 5.20. But it does not approve the appropriations for that yet. So we will be back to council and public session to talk about the scope and the amount and the appropriations that will need for that. We need to finish up relocation plans with the tenants. Help find those tenants space if they want our help work out, what their what they will be through the relocations. So there is a state relocation process that we are mandated to follow and which we will and which we need to help those tenants. And we will have some payments to those
tenants as well for their moving expenses. Among other things. There was one tenant in the building that had already had plans to long before the city had come into play. That one 10, came to us and said, would you be interested? We'd like to leave. Could you take over our lease? And we said yes, because the hot makes it a lot easier for the tenant and for the city. We can move some staff that we need. We'll need to move out of the chamber building at the close of escrow. So we'll be moving some staff from there and here and allows us some extra space for transition. The city assume the lease rent from SEPTEMBER first through DECEMBER 31st. When we expect to close escrow part of relocation is an appraisal process that we do that we hire outside experts for and they up raise the cost of their fsa. Furnitures and
fixtures and equipment. And then we can either pay to have them moved or we can offer to purchase sighed equipment. And this case they had very nice furniture that would work well for the city. So we offered them 50% of the appraised value and they did accept. And so the city is paying 55,008, 77 for the existing furniture and not space for the city to go out buy that furniture would be much more expensive. The assignment in this agreement, the assignment of the lease would end at the close of escrow and there and we would let them out of their lease and that would be the end of any lease payment that we have other tenant arrangements will and the relocation process will keep going through through this process. The other thing that we will need to do and the developers asked for is a development agreement, development agreement has a
completely separate processes of his own. It will come back to planning Commission for consideration. So we'll work on trying to negotiate a very draft development agreement with the developer. That will go to planning Commission for their input in for public input and a public meeting, then it will go to city Council twice and a public meeting for your input and the communities put input again. So it's total of 3 public meetings and it does have its own environmental process. Next slide, please. So from today until closing today, if Council approves the exchange agreement, if you authorize and you adopt the secret findings for the Exchange agreement that transaction begins. After this. The 85 day due diligence period will start during that 85 days. We will too We will do at a lot of testing. We already have. It is lined up just in case
counsel prove said we will begin testing on the building to make sure that we know all of the ins and outs of this building. So this is also part of how we would set up a facilities plan going forward. And I think I've mentioned in past meetings that we very much planned to. This will these 2 guys right here. Our cfo and director Hennessy will bring forward a plan to council to probably with the budget every year to make sure that we have enough money in the budget every year to properly maintain the new building so that we're not getting back in the situation. We are now. So we'll have other things. Relocation plans, a stop. Assignments, transaction documents that will have to that will have to work through. Some of those will have to come back to council for approval. Some of those will be under the city manager's authority to approve
her. This exchange agreement, the ones that require appropriations will be back to the city council. Once we satisfy all of those conditions and we're ready to close, we plan to close on DECEMBER 31st. That's our goal. I should say. The city would acquire than 5 23rd Street Mott. So we'll see what occurred. Why the exchange property? The city hall cancel the Kent campus. The payments. 4.5 million dollars and the least back time will begin now sometimes with government. We don't like this, but we do have a lot of regulations. We have especially a lot of regulations with Acquisition process is and this is a type of the acquisition process and sometimes that causes a delay that we don't like so if. Due solely to our we have to extend escrow. Part of the agreement is that we will payments. $37,500 a month, which would be prorated daily
if it's a half a month for every month that we go over, we did put a cap on that at $450,000. But its side does happen. It could cars the 4.5 million to be slightly more. Next slide. Please. That turn this over to our cfo thank you, for the remainder of these sides, I'm going to get into some more of the specifics. >> Around how this transaction is going to proceed. As you mentioned, there's a 4.5, 5 million dollar difference between the exchange properties that that she took us through. The overall implementation costs of 17 to 20 million dollars. The way that I would describe that from a finance perspective is that's being fully burdened. So given analogy, when I bought my first house, we bought the house and we didn't have the money for the couch and the moving expenses and all that stuff. We're not
doing that here. We are fully baking in all of the moving expenses, the tenant improvements that are going to happen in the building. The architectural designs, the professional services that are going to be needed. We'll add that. I think we're going to be on the low end of that estimate. We've put together a very thoughtful, well baked planted to kind of make that all there. At the end of the day, we're anticipating the ongoing expenses to the general fund to be around a little less than 1 million dollars. What we're going to do is we're gonna have to go out and raise some debt for this. There's different debt tools that we can use as a city to be able to finance that I can say publicly. Now it's about public knowledge. I've been meeting with rating agencies recently. We are very credit worthy where a very strong financial positions to
be able to take this action based on the strength of our community. Let's drill down on the specifics just a little bit more. The 4.5 million dollars worth of the exchange amount council has already assigned to fire 4.5 million dollars of that money. This is prior council action to address facility needs in the city that we're allocating in this way. That's best to use of those funds. We're asking for an additional less than $50,000 as part of this action to meet that differential difference of the 4.5 versus the 4 points. 5, 4, 6, As Joe mentioned, there's going to be around little let little more than $80,000 with additional expenses tied to the take over of the lease at the new property to get some office space for us right away. And to have smoother transition with one of the established tenants. Are you mention less than a million dollars of
ongoing annual costs spread over potentially what would be 30 years? Key to that number is a number that we spoke about earlier. 1 million dollars is a lot less than 6 million dollars. That is something that comes up very frequently in these conversations. But as point important point out, fundamentally, today's action is about maintaining in safeguarding the services that we're providing to the community. Joe mentioned there's going to be a $2 lease back. I will share that. There was coincidentally a $2 donation to the city today over at the revenue counter. Sam Davis is ready to receive that money. But overall we'll be able to lease back this property for $2 that's a great deal for us because it's going to give us transition time that we're going to need as an organization to execute this move in all of the complicated
ways they're going to happen potentially after today. So today's council action just to summarize is is asking council to declare an exempt surplus land adopt an example exempt surplus Land resolution declaring the identified exchange property exempt a surplus land make the required sequel. Findings and second approve the exchange adopt the exchange agreement resolution approved the real property sheens agreement with Montel c adopt the secret findings authorize the city manager to execute these change agreement and all related transaction docks. I will give a brief closing on any subject that has been talked about at this South table for decades and for a very long period of time like the actions council has been taking over the past 3 years. This is a big swing on an area of deep, deep need in our city. These large liabilities that are in the 9
figures like the one we're addressing today have real impact on the way that we're able to provide service to our community and our budget issues that honestly we've been facing now for the past 3 years. Staff is brought forward different resolution towards this problem that addresses the flaws that have made the prior propose actions Today's pros actions that additional piece of that puzzle that we've been putting together to help maintain our services to the community. And with that, I'll turn it over to council. I think that's the last light. I hope her That was that was enough. Thank you. So becoming Thank you for that. They years of work on this on this project. We have certain excited from the beginning. >> We're not going to count questions yet. Our rushing to turn over to MISTER For trial and who is our partner in this
proposed deal? All right. You would you like to take 5 or 6 minutes and then talk about your perspectives on on what we're discussing here. There it is. I should know. Thank you. Mayor and council members will be brief thank you for taking the time on this. >> And thanks very much, too, to your staff for professional staff for the extremely focused, extremely detailed work in the course of extended period of time, there has been yes is in that conversation. There have been knows. But there's always been logic and it has been from my standpoint to exemplary experience. Just to just very, very, very quickly. When my partners and I first considered this possibility, there were reservations. The 5 23rd Street building is in certain respects and iconic building required tremendous capital investment on our part. We have been very, very reluctant
to sell the assets that we created in the city of Santa Rosa. Almost invariably, we have kept well, we've built, but we will yourselves ultimately around to the notion that this does make sense, make sense for the city. It makes sense for for ownership. We also had concerns that my partners expressed to me because I'm responsible to a board other jurisdictions have What can be sure to become train wrecks when it comes to evaluating expanded the facilities or relocations. As a company. We did not want to be associated with another train wreck. There is no train wreck. My partner's looked at the numbers. I looked at the analysis and I was absolutely convinced of the precision. The diligence, the extreme detail of the analysis you've now that's for the city to decide that's for the public to evaluate a counter party.
But I'm saying that that did come into consideration as we evaluated this this transaction. The second issue my partners. Ask Because they know my history. They know I'm of a certain age. Now they also know that the first time that I appeared before this and before this council in this exact council chambers almost exactly 47 years ago. And there have been 4 e projects that my company has done here. 12 of them in the downtown core, all buildings that we've built. We don't entitle buildings. We don't acquire land except but executing the project, MR. Do it made a comment about that? Our record is very, very clear. And that I think the 12 buildings we built in the downtown core, which has been a particular emphasis of ours has included 5 housing projects of news for all all income ranges. Downtown really, really matters. And
this is an opportunity from our standpoint, apart from the economics of the exchange to do something special over and above the numbers that could have major impact on creating the sense of residents sense of attraction to sensitive since of visit this. Let's call it the can attract the whole community to downtown and make downtown thrive. Even more. A good part of my career has been focused on exactly that point. As you as you know, and this is an opportunity to to help execute that difficult cobi other partners inevitably involved sophisticated and it is a collaboration in the in between city. There was comment about the development agreement which is subject to further review when the time comes. I also want to stress something else as we move forward. Should you choose to approve this exchange? On our end contact with the
community, transparency with the community outreach to the community to hear what people think. What matters. Clearly, we have our own ideas at this point but to shape that in a way that the public likes that serves, the needs of the community will be fundamental. And that has to be a very open process. I want to thank the staff again, I want to thank you for the opportunity. It's been a very long opera, very long process. I would say look forward to whatever decisions you in the course of meeting today. MR. Trial. Thank you very much. Thank you for taking time to speak. >> All right. Now, as for get back to council Rogers annually to >> Thank you. Hugh stepped away. But I think one of my questions was why would a developer want a development agreement? What is that? Mean, or what is that insurer for a developer?
>> We're going bring up Ethan bk law who is working on this for us. >> We thank you. Councilmember So when a development agreement is, is it it's an agreement provided for under under state law that allows developers to have more certainty and what they ultimately want to develop. So what it does is gives the developer what's called vested rights and what it means is generally the developer will ebb the opportunity to to to build and develop in the area in a manner that's consistent with the with the rules in place today. So when you when you give someone when you enter into a development agreement with the developer, they get certainty that the rules are going to change when they ultimately come forward for development. So if there's a development agreement per term of 10 years, then during that 10 year know that they
are going to be able to develop their property consistent with those rules. And then if it's a there's a specific plan amendment or if there's a zoning change or something like that that won't affect their ability to develop. And so so that's the reason why developer would typically wanted development agreement. Again, what we're dealing with today's just know that the property transactions. So that's something that will come forward in the future. But that's ultimately there is help her looks for something like Thank you. And in. >> Why would there be a delay? I know we're government. Why are we giving enough time? Because I feel like Christmas is going to be here tomorrow. So are is there enough time with us being government for this? Actually, too. Close DECEMBER 31st. >> And all honesty. I think
it's tough. It's going to be a hard push on our end to get all of those things done. Now, if everything aligns, we have enough time to do the work. We don't have control of outside things that come up and happen in a perfect world. They would easily closed by a van I'm anticipating my schedule that there could be issues that come up that we have to deal along the way. And so I think it is going to be a hard push. But this was a very detailed important part of the negotiation there were some parts that that there had to be some give and take during the negotiation. And so that's why staff agree to where we are. Okay. >> so of the departments that potential potentially be housed at 5.20. How many are currently in least properties. >> We do not have any lease properties. We don't have staff in any lease properties at this moment.
>> In staffing right as we've talked about is not had a all-time high. Its actually. >> At a low. With that and hoping to increase in the future will 5.20? I gotta get used to saying that. Well, 5.20, be able to accommodate an increase in staffing for the departments that we believing that will be housed. And 5.20. >> Have my Ashley anticipated this question. So yes, we We assuming a growth factor and each floor for each department, but just to be a little more specific about this, because I do know Councilmember Okrepkie also asked this last time at our study session. So I wanted to have the information available for you in the public, which is. The city hall campus right now. So I'm not talking about square footage of talking about building square footage. So not usable square footage. Again, just a square foot each
building. If you add it all together, we have 97,811 square feet. Of that. We can only have people and 82,000 Square feet. Now of that, what is actually usable is 16, 5,000 square feet. 65,000 square feet of 97,000 total square feet because of the conditions of our buildings and the wasted space. Honestly, we have a lot of leases space in here. You can kind of see in the council chamber. The new building, the usable space and and 5.20, there is a 12,000 square-foot 4 Square-foot Basin, which I'm not I'm not including is 75,000 Square feet. So we're gaining over 15, almost 16,000 Square feet. And what we have now and that leaves growth space. We're also thinking about moving things around a little bit and MAY not need everything in that building. But that also allows us. >> To move. Additional employees. And so we MAY be
able to, for instance, move some of tp w r or you know, admin staff from across town into this building. So it allows the city a good amount of flexibility. In my last question is there is a lot of history that is housed at 5 20. So have we determined if that history is going to stay or is it? Leaving the photos? Yes, yes, they are stain according to MR. Futrell. They go with the building and we get to keep those. There's a a wall of history of photos and the new building that shows all of the work they did. It starts when it was the 18 team building and it shows the old like I know you call them where you push the buttons and picked up the phone or, you know, whatever, whatever those are called. >> It shows the that era and then it shows when they bought the building and redeveloped it where they have these, they even have large Sabah leads
and and that he lcd office from these massive saw believes they had to use to cut into the building and create windows months and Mr for child did fantastic job and lot of work to redevelop that for this part benefit. Now. >> Thank you. Spend Thank you, Well, first of all, thank you for not only what you brought forward today, but for working on this for years and years. I'm so sorry, but thank you for all that. I just have 2 quick I wanted to ask just a little bit. Just really to clarify for the public is a beginning. A lot of questions about the development part. It does say in the staff report that that's going to be done. Seems like it's saying at the close of escrow or before the close of escrow, if you could talk about that the development agreement. Yes, that will happen before for the close of escrow. So we
will have 3 public meetings, one at Planning Commission and 2 at City Council where the public will have plenty chances to have input. The planning commission will have and put the city council have and put before anything is adopted. All right. Great. Thank you. And then the only other thing that would I think we've been getting a lot input on is the creek. Just wanted to ask Doctor Hennessy if you talk a little bit more about what that's going to look like. We don't frankly, based on what we're talking about today and what we know this 1.0, 6, one acres that we talked about will look exactly like it does today. >> All options remain on the table to us. Nothing has been decided. All we've done a separate that land out from this exchange so that the city keeps it. All options are at our disposal. Okay. All right. So that that's to be
determined then. Okay. All right. Great. Thank you. Thank you, MISTER. Donald. Thank you, Mayor, thank you for the presentation. I want say up front, I'm in full support at this exchange. >> I think it's critical for a lot of different reasons that we're moving. And and mostly it's a liability of the deferred maintenance that we have on the current buildings that we have the condition of our buildings and how that results in taxpayer money going to basically throw good money after some things, bad things, Mr for child taking on the bad. I just want to make sure that when they questions come across it's just for clarification purposes, not because I'm not in support of this. When was the last time we had a full assessment done on the property because the site about 100 million dollars of of maintenance. But what year was that that we had that
study done the last? >> Facilities, complete facilities assessment was done in 2016. We have escalated those What we have added to that in pieces. But the last complete assessment was 10 years ago. Okay. So with that said, if you haven't done that full assessment knowing about how much the cost of construction has increased since 2016, what would your guess be if that was more of a realistic number? >> Of the liability that we currently have we escalator that number 200 million dollars and put the plus sign after it because I have no idea. It's definitely more than 100 million dollars. Whether that's, you know, as we get into this and it uncovered different things. Who knows. But I am certain that we don't know everything we would need to fix today until we started fixing it. And then we would find out
more like a true remodel. Okay. So that that's I think something that's critical for us to to also know is that we actually don't know the potential the cost of what it would even costs for us to fix this current liability that were sitting on the numbers that we shared earlier. Our best estimates best without starting to tear the building to part of victim. Okay. And so I I think that that's something else you mentioned that I hadn't heard before was the ada. >> That hasn't been completed in these buildings. You have any idea about how much that would That assessment was done at the same time across the full campus. That number was on the order at 8 million dollars. But that number is 10 years old. And frankly, so this all these buildings were built before the adoption of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
>> I don't even know how we would fix some of the issues like, like complete reconstruction to make these some of these ramps great accessible. It would be major construction project. >> And on the new property, do we have any of concerns? >> Everything has been updated since the adoption of the ada approved by city staff through that building permit process. And so we have no concerns really accessible. That's right. Thank you. >> And so so I am trying to make sure that the community and all of us know that really we have to do something is critical at this point because of the liability. Scott, you mentioned the 4.5 5 million dollars that we've already set aside in reserves. Was that the money that we were going to appropriate for starting some of the critical needs of the campus is right now. Yes, thank you for your question.
COUNCILMAN Member Donald. >> Specifically as part of the adopted for this current fiscal year. The 2026 27 budgeted. We have been having conversations about. Our lack of facility funding and now we have breaking point and many of our facilities. And at Point Council's specifically directed to assign 4.5 million dollars towards this function of the city. So so those those are those are funds that are essentially already accounted for as a way to think about it from a budgeting accounting perspective. >> And I see the. >> The more like rip back. If we're not able to close. >> Escrow it says if you'll state I got to tell you, it feels a little steep on the potential of a half a million dollars. But when I look at this pace, it you're talking about. And these back at it feels that that's an appropriate amount. Keeps a
fire underneath us and makes do our job make sure that we're getting these public meetings So so I appreciate the negotiation. Part of it. And and I'm not thrilled about that and or that figure. But I understand the reason for it. So I will just say that not happy about that part, but other than that great job and then finally, Joe, you spoke about it in the presentation. I know it's something that we've talked about several times is moving forward. And I think this is in a critical component for the community to know is what policies we going to put in place to ensure that there's deferred maintenance funds appropriated every year from the city of Santa Rosa. So we don't have 6 decades neglecting our buildings. And when will that be brought forward to us? >> You have a chief financial officer and a director of transportation public works
who want nothing more than to decrease the maintenance liability of the city. So should this happen. You would see this as part of next year's budget. Scott, my way back highlighting this issue continuing a ban women will probably asking for something else to decrease liability and some arena. And I know it's not popular to set money aside for deferred maintenance, but we just don't want to put ourselves in this position again. >> I think that the community deserves us to appropriate money and their money really so that we can take measures and set aside money moves forward. I know we spoke about this specifically during the Calpers conversations. Scott has that liability goes away that potentially in the future we would be able to capture that. One of my clarifying questions around this is the cip funds that we set aside
every single year to do deferred maintenance. Dan, does a portion of that go to our buildings or is that strictly reserved for other parts of cip? A very small portion of The 1.2 million dollars from the general fund that goes into the ada improvements account that can be used on city facilities, not just for buildings but for all city facilities, which includes. >> Curb ramps and parks and other things. So that gets stretched thin very quickly. That is the only eligible funding source that I have through Cip to improve city buildings. That's very helpful. I think for us to know from council as well as the community to know that deferred maintenance funds have to come out of general fund and that we have to appropriate that because you cannot just be earmarked as a cip.
>> Funded projects. So I appreciate that. And I want to commend all of you for bringing information forward so that it's an understanding that it's not just a swap of property, but that this is a fiscal decision really for the council to make for community and and to me, this makes financial sense for us. I know the 6 million dollars a year that we need to appropriate to go down to 1 Million. That's a pretty easy math equation. The savings that we won't be needing to appropriate from the general friend looking at our deficit. So thank you for laying it out the way that you did. I don't really have any more questions other than I'm I'm hopeful that you'll get the direction that you need from council today and not be in favor of it. Thank you. Anything else from council? All right. Members of the public, this is your chance. We'll start with people in
council chambers. >> Beginning with looks like Abby Arnold, Richard Carlisle and Derek Stephen. >> There's been ongoing might not want to have listed here. Duane Shedding some stuff. You folks beat you to punch. Richard and Eric Abbe, go ahead. >> Good Evening Council and mayor, I'm representing Santa Rosa Yimby tonight. An all volunteer organization of over 500 Santa Rosa residents. We are very pleased to support the proposed exchange agreement, which we think if done right will quickly bring more people downtown, save a lot of money for the city and uncover Santa Rosa Creek, which is long hidden under this building. We some recommendations for the development agreement, but in the interest of time and moving ahead with this tonight, I refer you to our written comments and we will
be there at your community meetings. Thank you so much. And please approve it. >> Thank you. MISS Arnold. Thank you. Center is a would say it's Richard and Derek. >> The mayor. >> Members of the Richard Carlisle. I'm retired civil engineer and urban planner. I'm very much favor of this exchange. I was a young engineer 50 some years ago. Doing working for the engineer. That was the urban renewal engineer. So I did a lot of this. >> I connected designed the street. The connected. Mendocino Avenue was Santa right through the square. And 50 years later, I got to design debris, put the square back together again. And the same thing with Prince Memorial Greenway. I was able to do the redesigned that. This is your front porch. You have to have good urban design. This is another chance
to make it right. Well, there's opening it up with the creeks. Obviously some housing can be put on this. And I'm glad that we got a local developer. Hugh Futrell who has a track record. He understands what the city wants, what the city needs. But remember, this is your front porch. You can put all the bedrooms on the front porch. I think it's really important. That you some public input. You get good urban in on this. On the map. Thank you. >> MR. Cole, thank you very much. >> Council, thank you so much for the opportunity to speak. Derek Stephen, Real chore and resident long time in the Jaycee neighborhood. Very much would like to say thank you to staff and 2 consultants for this report. It's a very meaningful report to have at this juncture of time in our history in Santa Rosa, I will
urge the council to consider this unanimously as this is an important historic moment and the city of Santa Rosa and the son of George and Stevan architect now deceased. But he appeared in these council chambers over many years and supported many local projects as an architect in the downtown core and residential designs. And but they and beyond one of the things that I think this report from staff and consultants is highlighted is not only cost savings, but it's a social value and this is in transit to the community and to civic pride, but also civic use for many generations to come. I would definitely like to urge the design team in future generations of use of this building to look at the tops base. I don't know the engineering. Certainly, sir, you would. And MR. Trailwood. But a roof garden for the public and staff to use in the throes of Kaiser
Permanente's Roof Garden in Oakland. When I was a member of the team at Kaiser, we enjoyed it quite extensively on the top of a parking garage and was built because MR. Henry j Kaiser said build a roof garden for people to use and was open for the public and perhaps that could happen here in Santa Rosa. Another beautification project. And lastly, my mom, Terri, Stephen, is a big proponent of keeping. The fountains are bringing them back to courthouse square. So where are those mountains are? If they could come back? That would be great. Thank you. >> Stay tuned, MR. Stephen, thank you very much. We're going to Betty Andrews and then doing too wet that he and chambers. Welcome. You have the floor. Thank you. Thank you, mayor. Members of the council. >> My name is Betty Andrews. I'm a 38 year resident of
Santa Rosa and I then working throughout that time as a professional civil engineer had an opportunity to work with my friend and neighbor, MR. Carlo, who you just heard from back at the beginning of focus on Santa Rosa Creek and the possibility of lightening this feature of our downtown area. I worked on that Creek Masterplan in the early 1990's. I worked on Prince Memorial Greenway. I also worked on the hydrology and hydraulics studies that found created the foundation for the fema flood maps that are provisionally out there and soon to be adopted for the city of Santa Rosa. And I want to applaud the staff for coming up with a solution. As a resident, it's been hard to see how we were going to solve this problem. So I like everything about it. With one exception. I'm worried about that. 1.6, 1 acres. I do not understand the basis for
director Hennessy's statement that all options are preserved. It's a very narrow corridor that has been set aside in this plan. I e do not know what analysis developed. That number. And that form of land to preserve options along the creek the Sonoma Water staff who have been working on solutions for Santa Rosa Creek to deal with those culverts have not been consulted with those cold hurts are the biggest hydraulic constrained in the entire city of Santa Rosa. And this is a generational opportunity to make sure we set aside enough land to thank. Thank Sanders, MR. MR. Do it. >> Hello. My name is doing to from Rosen. But I've been in Santa Rosa all my life. Pretty much. Remember the Occidental Hotel lasted for 100 years until 1976, when urban renewal decide they were going to help downtown. >> So
>> it's been interesting to hear these discussions. One of the things that's most important for the public to evaluate the taxpayer liability is give the public the actual opportunity to speak more at the meetings. Taking away the 3 minute making it too running everything clicks. Everybody goes your way is not the best way to have the public be served. And that's what we learned from urban renewal. As it stands now. You haven't talked much about how museum on the square got tnt building, which was owned by the city of Santa Rosa's redevelopment agency in the past. And there was a deal done for the building to go over too. A developer with an idea that housing would get in there. I went to those meetings. I participated. One of the things that happens when we get a lockstep kind of crew like you got here today
is we're going to lose. We're going to lose money. So I ask you not to give any money to the proposed developer. Just do a straight across exchange. You've already made your mind up to give the land up. So don't give any of our taxpayer money over. I've watched development agreements. Violated. I've seen it. I know what's going to happen here in the future. The taxpayers are going to be on the hook for things that cost more than you've been told and down the road. You won't be accountable. No one will be held accountable. You get to walk away. Sadly. Thank you, MR. Do Does anybody else in council chambers wish to speak? Fred, are you making your way to the microphone? >> Good afternoon. Again. As long as I stayed here this long, I might as well throw in my $0.2. This reminds me of Varias complicated decisions that I've had to make myself
with lot of factors. And so it seems to me that that the staff and and everyone is is making reasonable jean here. So I think that, you know, I don't know problem with that. I'd like follow up on Betty Andrews comments. Did have a chance to meet with want to Sonoma. Water's top engineers talking about the Central Center rose up watershed project and the covert there. If you look at the future modeling with the in the Russian River sustainability study, that's no more water recently did. There's a shocking map of of flooding in downtown Santa Rosa and then engineered told me that was all because of the the covert that's on that area. That's that's the real problem. It's not the Matanzas Dam. And so that flooded all the way up Montgomery Village. And so that looks like it could be a future serious problem. So I think that it would be
worthwhile with Austin, normal water to 10 loss. Step back and look at that covert there and see if you got enough land, maybe you need another half acre or what what you need to do to make it so that that off future flooding map would be greatly reduced. Thank you. Thank you, Fred. Anybody else in council chambers, MR. Floor is yours. >> a resident here in Santa Rosa. I sent a letter last week to the council which I hope you had a chance to read. But I've been an advocate liberating the creek since the day. I moved here and discovered that the creek was flowing under our city hall. And so I think there's an intention here when I began talking about the idea of integrating the creek, I heard from countless people who for decades have been advocating for the same things. This is not a new idea has been around for a really long time. To be
clear, I'm in full support. Not just a full 4. I'm in. In support in concept of this kind of this project of this transfer. I appreciate the work the city staff has done manage are our city's financial situation. I in fact, support of development here, I'd love to see more housing. I'd love to see more housing on this property but last night when the fit that the maps were finally released to the public. As you heard from it. But Andrews was her name said so eloquently. We're talking about 1.6 acres that narrows to incredibly narrow degree. We're talking about the length of the width of a covert, whether or not that can accommodate daylighting the creek to any meaningful way to make that creek real part of our community. I'm really doubtful. And that's my wish that again increase creeks team was so some water been consulted prior to this.
I feel like you're all probably moving this evening. So what I'll simply say to staff and of course, the developer Emaar for trial is to please take a look at how that the creek can become a centerpiece for the community, a benefit to the new development that's going to be taking place here and really become a landmark for Santa Rosa. Thank you, Evan, thank you. Anybody else in council chambers. >> Seeing none. Let's go h# # # . Does anybody have their hand raised? If you are online? Yeah. Raise your hand or press star 9. Lauren, anybody there. >> Thank you, mayor. We currently have 2 hands raised 3 hands raised. We will start with Joey and then next will be chops. And then Ellen. Julie, I'm going to go ahead and enable your permissions to
speak. You'll hear the timer to alert you to the 2 minutes. Please go ahead. When you're ready. >> Hey, there. Can you hear me? Yes, we can. >> Hello, I want to. >> I have good memories in these chambers on the Santa Rosa resident. My whole life. Grateful for the opportunity to address city council just a few Still there's they can pass this on to the board. I really want to echo what the last speaker said as well Indians Andrews about the creek and concerned about the creek. I want. And in the 1950's was a time of concrete hazing and channeling. And i really and it was before the term ecology really existed. And here we are in 2026 of this great opportunity that again, does seem like you're going to vote yes on. And I think there's a lot of good reasons for. >> But I would really like you
I would like to put it in the strongest language possible in these in this development agreement to mandate Daylighting the creek featuring the creek. I'm thinking of South Bend and how Mayor Pete Buttigieg groove to national prominence with the good work he did featuring the creek and saying, wait, this can be amazing. And building on I think some of the mistakes made with Prince Memorial. Let's learn, let's learn from what many municipalities have done and let's fate have the building's faced a creek really again featuring it as an asset. If anybody's looking for good summer read just finished one called. Is a river, a life. By Robert McFarland. And he's got a really good section. Kind of some what I'm saying here. So again, the I have some skepticism about the 1.6 one acres as well. I'd like you to take a closer look at that.
And I do think is great idea and a great project, but let's do it right. Once in a generation opportunity to shake your time. >> Thank you, Joey. Next will be chops teen club followed by Allen. Chop Simon, a billing, your position, your permissions. >> Hi, good evening, MR. Mayor members of the council, my name is Kevin Anderson. And then in the West and Historic District of Santa Rosa also work in the downtown core is a program director at Trump's team club and then many interactions with many of you and respect the time and energy put you put into making the city quite a good place to live. But Santa Rosa can be better, much better. It is empty each of you to recognize the opportunity. You have. The amenities we have here in Santa Rosa can rival any other city here we have a small town feel of the big count energy,
however, as many of already mentioned, fly under the radar. And there's one major reason our downtown has been gutted for multiple urban renewal projects gone wrong. None of you made the choice to the most historic buildings. My for Courthouse squares, destroy the walkability on the housing connection. Here we are over 50 years later with an opportunity to bring that to downtown that charm. Not only must we like the Santa Rosa Creek. We must make it a prominent feature. The downtown landscape. Somebody mentioned bend. But you can also think about Creek in Libya, Park and downtown kind of the San Francisco Embarcadero after the 89 quake. Madonna utilize the creek path from the West and the Sonoma Avenue for our daily by commute to school birds. Fish river otters are just a few of the amazing gives. We get daily. Urge you
to not let opportunity slip away on it. I love the words, MISTER Hugh, for tell. And I totally agree. This can be a game-changer for downtown Santa Rosa. He talked about contact with the community of transparency shape than we the public like I love this. But we need to make daylighting binding condition. Not an aspiration set design standard creekside development that faces the creek. And let's look at the whole space with the other John o'Shea, federal building next door. Look at the whole thing. In a minimum up, John mentioned this a minimum, the public design process even well publicized workshop. Before we go into any development agreement. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next will be Ellen. Helen. I'm going to. Enable your permissions to talk. Please go ahead when you're ready. >> Thank you. Very impressed
by all the work that has gone into this and appalled by deferred maintenance. How overall it seems to be excellent agreement. However, I agree the creek is a sticking point. Literally a sticking point. When you speak, has it covered? I'm absolutely in favor of daylighting. I think making features wonderful. But far beyond that, the call Kids k. Liability far beyond perhaps 100 million considering was happening with our climate and what floods have taken place in other areas. So I do think the while this he's obviously on track to happen tonight. You have something that case. Huge and needs to be addressed here. >> Thank you, Ellen. And I am seeing there hands raised on zoom. >> Wonderful. Thank you. Alright, we will bring it back to before we open it up to 2 to thoughts here. All right.
Some several several of the speakers did raise an important issue. And one of the city is well aware of it as the importance of this site and that creek for flood control. And we certainly wouldn't want more get out there that that we were not in touch regularly with Sonoma Water. Fact I myself is with the snow water team at the Matanzas Stammer rehabilitation discussion just a week ago. We are well aware the fema fund, fema flood maps we've been doing with those for a couple years now. Are centers of water team has been noise is constant focus on this issue. Dan, very briefly can use can use confirmed for the public that we we do have flood control issues in mind. We're well aware of the importance of of this particular particular section of covert. Now want to highlight that. The 1.6 one acres that we mentioned is not
a random number. We've done surveys out there to know exactly where the culverts are. We've kept an amount of land be on the edge of the culverts to give us flexibility in terms of what we do in the future. >> And so like I mentioned, respect to the land available where where the culverts currently exist. All options are on the table to anything that would happen on this property. We would still have to move some somebody out of the way these buildings out of the way to make something else happened. We have now from the edge of property that we're keeping to the exchange agreement all the way into Sonoma Avenue. If we need to to reconfigure and make things happen. So there are still lots of options on the table and frankly conditioning any of that on MR. Futrell would make exchange agreement fall apart keeping us with the
property allows us flexibility of that land moving forward. Perfect. Thank you. And I think that underlines as well for the public is rightfully interested in the creek as all of us here are. >> How complicated and how public and how frequent those conversations are going to be. That is not going to that. That's not gonna be a simple meeting or 2. That's gonna be a long discussion of how that and how that creek is best best used for the city. So absolutely. Stay tuned with that. Let's go back to council. Final final thoughts. What I'm looking for, a motion. And I think I think I'm looking at Rogers. Yes, there we >> I would just like to thank staff Thank Not llc. Thank you. The consultants and thank the mayor for allowing me to make this motion because this is a very historical like the meeting because I'm just so
excited. And at the potential what is about to transpire. So with that, I would like to make a motion to adopt 2 resolutions as presented by staff in way. >> Are there? >> Reading of the trading of the attack saying it. >> he's got that, this is how excited we are. People. We are we good with the motion a second. MADAM City clerk. All right. If that passes muster, then let's let's call the roll. >> Call thank you, Mayor Councilmember Rogers Side, Councilmember I councilmember Fleming Councilmember Ben Willows. Yes, Councilmember office. >> All say is a kids play to most of the critical center is a I don't care how old I If it's over earth and shown I will be in that creek. So >> Thank you. Vice Mayor Okrepkie I mayor Stapp yes. But the record show this passes
unanimously. >> That that is worthy of a little lies. All right. A big swing, indeed. Thank. Thank you, city team for getting to this point. So after consulting with my colleagues were going to power on just to show that the city of Santa Rosa never rests even when we're going in getting into our 4, go back to our public comment on non agenda matters. Our first public comment and gender matters. And those of you heading for the door. Be aware that we've got exciting items left to come. We're talking about storm water charges. Yeah, no, no. Need to rush hour. But first. First, this is your chance to to to make public MAY comment on it was not listed on the agenda. Anybody in council chambers is not simply walking towards the door was to make comment items, not just on the agenda Fred. Even kick us off. All right. Bring some order to the
room, Fred. Here you're out. >> Again, been sort of new to Santa Rosa and I felt like coming to the city council is kind of like visiting the Oracle of Delphi the council someone inscrutable and my journey find the Isle of Equity in a just society. I have found that the Oracle to be tremendously transparent. But this evening, I have to say that I was very impressed with councilmember well as comments and really appreciate that. Thank you very much. >> Thank you, Fred and Oracle Delphi. Appreciate that. All right. We're going ebb economy and then to Wayne Ave Europe. >> Mayor and council members. >> I am. >> Here tonight to invite each of you to participate in this year's a week without driving. It's Thursday, OCTOBER, first through Wednesday, OCTOBER 8th. And it's a national observation the use alternatives to cars each year
we ask elected officials and community leaders to experience the world as this experience by about 30% or more of your constituents who are dependent on public transportation options walking and biking. These are your constituents who are too young to old physically unable financially, unable or legally unable to have a personal car to drive wherever they need to be. Even if you are only able to participate for one or 2 days, we really urge you to make the commitment and try to get around without a car for day or 2 during the week without driving. I hope you'll join North Bay Transit Rise Riders in experiencing are wonderful biking and walking assets as well as our local public transportation and that when you're doing that, you can note any needed improvements and you can recognize those parts of the system that are so wonderful
and that deserves your recognition. Santa Rosa is proud to be part of this national movement. I'll be writing about it for Streetsblog again this year. And again, the dates are Thursday, OCTOBER first through Wednesday, OCTOBER 8. And if you let me know, I'll make sure that you get talked about your experiences described. >> Nationally through streets plot. Thank you. Thanks for organizing, Connie, Dwayne and then Daniel Daniel. >> Connie, welcome. >> Thank you. This is in regards to the city naming department. I was here starting this several years ago and spoke to some eu council members that had. >> The city naming department kinda revises. We're going to try get through this anyways. This is in regards I'm a Santa Rosa resident submitting this request regarding an unnamed
trail in Highland Park. My friend Rick for Ella took his life on the trail and Memorial Tree and rocket already been approved by the centers are commissions and the city Rick was born and raised in center isn't spent. Most of us live in this community. And in how were fired from young age he carved in the trail and in the main trails with youth groups, friends and adults. The park was his happy place who works as a local contractor in the area getting freeway wall schools, public buildings, private residents throughout Santa Rosa. Many people recovered. Howard Park knew him as doing bike tricks from Pharma says this petition seeks to name the name trail and memory of him because of the lifelong connection to the park in the community. Most of all the communities supported this. I'm moving number 2. That has to reference to 5, 1, point, 2, at least 1000 of the
Santa Rosa resident signatures. And at with 50% or more living within a half a mile of the city. Nowhere in that does it say that there's 1000 required signatures. And in addition, an additional 500 the way it's worded and the way I talked to this, the staff and previous people waiting for this for years, it was 500 friend Sonoma County, Santa Rosa residents and 500 from half a mile moving further. The petition and despair and see we submitted a total of 8,000 in my mind and it came back at 570 were Santa Rosa residents and then they counted 304. >> Connie, thank you. Thank you for coming to speak tonight. I'm sure that our staff will be willing to talk to speak further with you in the back. Moving on, then to DeWayne Daniel. >> Hello, my name is doing to wit. I'm from Roseland. I come today because I want to ask
you to put up some posters. Prisoners of war missing in Action Day, which is one month away from today. It's next month. It's a national day of recognition and it's important because America is always at war. My entire lifetime. We've or somewhere or another. We're at war right now. It's not something that's talked much about, but we did a sneak attack on a country. We killed over 160 children. Think about that. Pearl Harbor, a sneak attack started World War 2 for America. There's a lot of things that go along with the fact that there are prisoners of war and missing in action. Military members still unaccounted for. We'd like to get some posters up here and get the city and the community to understand that. >> We believe U.S. Veterans believe and the city's open government ordinance. That specifically stated you would embrace a culture of open
government. >> To ensure public trust. >> engage the community. >> Establish a system of transparency, public participation and collaboration. We're hoping that that's going to be something that you really delve into now that you talked about these new plans, you have what you're going to do to us here in the city. I'll leave you with this. You had a policy that if you would turned in a written comment. You couldn't speak on that same matter. And that meeting. That's what you did. If Red recently. But tonight, some people and turned in comments and then came and spoke again. You need to have equity and fairness and all you do. Thank you. Kind. >> Thank you Wayne. Actually, address that point directly because the city relies it better. That interpretation of policy regarding the written
versus spoken comments was an heir. So we have fall apologize to Fred and in fact, called the the all-in buck for real change. If you'd like, you can submit public to submit written both written and verbal comments. That's the explanation. Daniel, you have that you have the floor. >> First and foremost, I just want to thank the city council and the public for being here today. I just wanted to comment on specifically on the creek that it was kind of a good decision from a financial standpoint, not the best. But I also want to Vice-mayor for working on Harper Avenue. It's the first ever seen anything being done there in a long time. And then also on the topic on technology as well. I want to talk about >> new policies that have not been risen yet like >> specifically for DoorDash drivers, Lyft drivers like Amazon.
>> Specifically setting aside like apartments to follow policies to allow those people to deliver certain things or even for the state or public offices. I think making the committee specifically for innovation, innovative policies to work on, do things like Waymo's to bees past specifically at a local ordinance level recently. Sacramento just pass a law that allowed the increase of Waymo's from San Francisco to Sacramento. Obviously we should pass at a local ordinance. But looking at that from a general specific point of view, we should make a committee focus on innovative policies that allowed us to look at things that are happening in the current society. But thank you so much to the city Council, the public today. Thank you. >> Daniel, thanks for taking time to come and speak. Are there any other members of the
public in council chambers who wish to speak? >> Seeing none that we will go online. MADAM House. Does anybody online have their hands raising? If you're online press star 9 or raise your hand? >> Thank you, mayor. There's no one on zoom, wishing to speak. >> Her facts. Alright, we'll close public comment. And with that, we'll conclude this. The first public comment non agenda matters. Bringing us to then item 16.1. Which is our public Let's see if the public hearing is an ordinance or introduction. The ordinance of the city Council, the city of Santa Rosa, amending the Santa Rosa City code. Chapter 14 dash. 21 waterways, regulations to include definitions prohibitions on irrigation of non-functional turf, compliance deadlines and enforcement provisions. I think that's the end of that
long title. All right. This is this is an exciting one given to us by the state. If I'm not mistaken, which emphasize throughout. But Musk way for yours. >> All right. Good evening. Mayor stopped vice mayor and council members. My name is Lisa Quail are and will be walking you all through. Spiciness specific revisions to our city's waterways regulation. That is indeed required by state law, specifically Assembly Bill. 15, 72. So California Assembly Bill 15 72 was signed into law 2023 and it explicitly prohibits the use of potable water to irrigate what's been termed non-functional turf a host of property types, including commercial industrial institutional Properties, Homeowners Association, common areas. There are some exemptions to this prohibition which includes irrigation that would
be allowed to preserve the health of established trees. Another perennial plantings public parks where people recreate on lawn would be exempt cemeteries and in the event of an immediate health or safety need, you could have the ability to keep irrigating on social turf. So by JANUARY of 2027, which is approaching the city of Santa us updated city code to be 15 72 compliance and we must notify those impacted by the regulation. This is a requirement folded into the regulation. So the purpose, as you might suspect is really to proactively help urban water suppliers preserve our water supply, especially during in light of. You know, cyclical periods of drought that commonly experience up within the region, water, scarcity, et cetera. It also builds upon previous conservation legislation that passed sb 606. And ab 16. 68. That was a
2018 timeframe. When that pass, it's referred to as making conservation a California way of life regulation that regulation had. Water efficiency targets set for commercial industrial institutional accounts for the outdoor usage. So this. New regulation kind of to give backs off of that. The state did formally acknowledge that potable water use for non functional turf is considered wasteful and unsustainable. So the ordinance that is being a presented tonight during the first reading is a way to reviser waterways, regulations so that we are, in fact, in compliance with state law and really trying to support the long term goals, conservation goals of the state and its regulators. There is a staggered compliance timeline for different property types, too terminated their irrigation of non-functional turf. So as soon as JANUARY,
first of 2027 Department of General Services, local government and public agencies have to discontinue irrigation of non-functional turf. That also includes public schools followed the next year by that commercial industrial and other institutional properties. And then in 2029 H.O.A. Common areas come coming service. Public service developments, I believe is the other term. They have to come into compliance with a regulation and then the 2031 deadline doesn't apply to save Santa Rosa, but for local governments that are in disadvantaged communities, they have an extended timeline of for compliance. Just to back up a little bit because I'd mention the term and folks MAY be asking what is nonfunctional turf. Essentially it's irrigated lawn that is purely decorative and not regularly used for recreation or public or
community gatherings. So feeling time you walk on the turf is it then effectively it is nonfunctional. These are some examples of areas and non-functional turf within within the city of Santa Rosa within our service area. A couple of business park examples where you see the narrow strips there along abutting the around business. Park signage is pretty common throughout our community. And then the other example suspected non-functional turf at an H.O.A. One of their common areas. And associate deadlines are listed on the site as well. The city of Santa Rosa to be proactive. We did do an internal screening of all of our city and irrigation accounts to see if any of those were. In fact, you're getting on functional turf. The good news is is that after detailed review in and js and doing some selected site, reconnaissance or water
use efficiency team found only 2 sites to have non-functional turf. At the end of the day, parks and recreational areas where Dean excluded due to the functional nature of the turf. And then also they have. As you know, several established areas of established trees and again, the turf can be irrigated to preserve the health of those established trees. This is an example of one of those facilities with city-owned facilities with non-functional turf. It's for station number 3. Pretty small patch, looking about 1000 square feet. A non-functional turf. The fire. So they decided that they wanted to replace that non-functional to not just discontinue the irrigation to meet to come into compliance with regulation, but if they wanted to install waters landscape estimated cost of doing that is about 7 to $11 per square foot. So however, run our fire
station anywhere between 7 $11,000 to do that. Her for turf replacement. Just as a side note, we do have a cash for grass rebate program that's administered out of the water. Use efficiency section that could offset that cost about $1000 if they were get preapproved machine likely it. So we are very aware that the public might be a little confused with this regulation. And so we have a communications plan in place. We are obligated by law to notify affected I believe postage was put on that first batch notification letters this afternoon. Should hit mailboxes by the end of the week. We so all all affected accounts will be notified restarting the process. Now we have some water, smart branded fact sheets in guidance documents which will live on our city website, which is. Presented here on the Www City Sr City Dot org for its last 4
to slash in Ft. We've also designated an email address where customers can send us questions and the water sufficiency team will respond in a timely manner. To help demystify the regulation, provide some guidance, offer some resources and for commercial landscapes for to you know, a lot of hearts keeps. Gravel, other things that could potentially exacerbate the Heat island. We would like. We are working on some resources to encourage them to replace if there going to replace the turf. To, you know, keep it green. And do you do that with efficient irrigation and mind? As I mentioned, the water use efficiency team. We do have resources to support our commercial industrial institutional counts as well as ways. Not just again, meet the requirement of the regulation to discontinue irrigation, but 2 maintain a
static Lee pleasing landscapes or cash for grass program would. Support that outcome rate of keeping our city beautiful. We will for commercial counts. We rebate for every square foot of turf removed. I mean, our design criteria and a little water use landscape goes We kept we will revisit rebate them at a dollar per square foot with a cap of $10,000 annually per meter. We also have efficient irrigation rebates to you know, at $1000 lifetime year. So that includes a hardware and things like smart irrigation controllers for commercial accounts. So this brings me now action item for this evening, which is. Introducing an ordinance to revise the city's waterways regulation. And city of Santa Rosa did adopt the codified or waterways regulations under City Code chapter 14 dash. 21 in 1999. As the name implies, the purpose was to promote the
efficient use of potable and recycled water by prohibiting water uses which constitute water waste. And folded into that regulation is an enforcement mechanism where we can for violators of our waterways, regulation. We have you know, process for issuing written warnings, then followed by administrative fines, escalate the longer the violation persists and then ultimately with Director Berks approval, we could end up discontinuing water service. Do everything we can to prevent that outcome. But it is enforcement measure that we could end up taking for violators. So the waterways, regulation included as attachment to agenda package has the proposed lines. The ordinance has a proposed highs to the waterways, regulation in summary, it includes 13 new definitions taken verbatim from statute from the new regulation. It's simply to to
clarify terms that are listed in the prohibition. Mike, what is a common area? What is nonfunctional turf? What is functional turf? What our common interest developments. We also clarified waterways to is and or sorry, we included a new reference to water waste citing potable irrigation non-functional turf. We took verbatim from statute, the prohibition and inserted that as a new prohibition and our waterways regulation. And then we just referenced the new prohibition in our enforcement section of the regulation, enforcement, mechanized mechanism has not been modified. And I just wanted to note that by using the exact language in the regulation from California water code. We really are trying to reduce confusion for businesses, landscape, landscapers, property managers and others that work in multiple service areas across the region. As
far as budget impacts Co adoption. This ordinance really has no immediate budget impact. I wanted to note that customers that have that fall under this regulation that have more than 5,000 Square feet of irrigated landscape have to self certified directly to the state and not the city of Santa Rosa, which means that that administrative burden doesn't fall on our shoulders and then we dealt with at the state level. Potential long-term costs really folded into the customer service is we want a already provides. We? You know, offer complant support for other conservation regulations. We enforce the waterways, regulation and we monitor some of those sites that are under inforcement. Any future funding requests will follow the normal budgetary approval process would be addressed at the time if there were any increases
that were needed. So the timeline for approval is listed on the screen We are through the first 2 items. Bp you did make a recommendation to council on JUNE 18th approve the ordinance. So tonight is AUGUST 18 through here City Council to introduce ordinance and host a public hearing. And take public comments regarding the changes if council moves to adopt the ordinance. A second reading would occur on SEPTEMBER 15th and then the proposed effective date of the new code change would happen approximately OCTOBER 16th. That's 31 days. Following the second reading. So I'll end with the formal recommendation to council tonight. The Public Utilities and Santa Rosa Water recommended the council approve the first reading and introduce an ordinance endings, Santa Rosa City Code chapter 14 dash. 21 water waste regulations to include
clarifying definitions, a prohibition for irrigating non-functional turf with potable water compliance deadlines per affected property type enforcement provisions and make other clarifying changes. This item has no impact on current fiscal year budget. And at this time I would be happy to field any questions from the mayor, vice mayor and council. Lisa, thank you very much. I'm sure you can sense the enthusiasm from from the >> Thank you. Thank you for your presentation. All right, friends. What questions do we have? It's been wheeless. >> Thank you, Mayor. Thank you for the presentation. I was just wondering them because we're a I know we have to do this. It sounds like this is something they have to do. So there's no really debate around that. But I'm just wondering since this is. Relatively new home. And
during one sits effective, which I guess is up tober 16th. Is there any kind of grace period for the property owners or any anybody that might? I'm just wondering people are going to start getting code enforcement right away or is there a grace period? Weather understanding what the non-functional turf isn't all that. Thank you for your question. Just revisit. There is staggered compliance timeline. So the first property types that are affected or local government public schools and I just wanted to reiterate to comply. They just have to turn off the irrigation. So. You know, it's it's sort of a simple compliance measure. We do understand that that could lead to some areas turning going from green to Brown, which folks in community might not like so much. >> The the state does have there's a hardship provision
that was writ written into the regulation that does allow. >> Impacted properties to appeal to the state and ask for a three-year extension. They do have to demonstrate some type of economic hardship there wasn't. But a number of qualifying hardship categories that they could appeal to the state on. So those appeals go directly to the state, not to the city of Santa Rosa and the state this time has not released information about how to formally go about doing that. So we're sort of waiting to see when the information will be released. So we can direct customers to that process to request hardship extension. Ok? Thank you. >> Thank you. Any other questions? All right. What a public comment are there any members of the public here in council chambers wish to comment? Seeing none. We'll go online. MADAM Zuma, host, is anybody online have their
hands raised as press star 9. >> They do not. Mayor. >> All right. I confess I'm a little surprised when give some comment on this item, MR. Rogers. Good question. That's right. We're doing a public hearing our way. All right. So Karen, hoping the public hearing back to back to council chambers any made any members. The public here was to participate in public hearing. There are non I back to back to admitting that was alert no colors on zoom. >> Then we're closing the public hearing. Thank you. Thank you. I wasn't I wasn't paying All right. Any final comments from the dais? All right. You have that. You have the difficult duty tonight. Reset bringing is before especially after a long day. So thank Thank you. Thank you for getting him for bringing us into line with state regulations. It was something that had to be done. Thank
you. Senator is a water team. We will comply even if it's half heartedly. All right. I'm looking for a motion from let's see who ms been? Willis yours. Looking make make make a motion for us. Okay. >> I moved to approved the first reading and introduce the ordinance as presented by staff. Second. It. >> We have a motion and a second. MADAM City clerk can call the vote whenever you're ready. >> Thank you, Mayor Councilmember Rogers, I Councilmember Macdonald, I councilmember Fleming Councilmember Ben well oath. Yes, Councilmember Alvarez, Vice Cookie. I step yes. Let the record show this passes unanimously. >> All right. Thank you and thank and thank you again for for the presentation. Thank you. Move on to our last item of the evening item. 16 point to our public hearing on the
placement of annual storm water enterprises charges on the Sonoma County property tax roll. All right. This is gonna be a good awake again. Jennifer, are you doing this one? All right, Nick. Are all yours? State staff is making way for the door for the doors. Peter, you're walking out on this one. Shame on you, Nick. We're here. We're here. We're paying attention. >> Thank you, mayor and members of council. My name is Nick Lanham, a research program coordinator with the storm water creeks team. Stay. I mean, the over the placement of annual storm water and or press charges on the Sonoma County property tax roll. Just a very brief enterprises create by council and of course, title 16 of the city code in 1996, provides funding for the implementation of cities and pds permit and funds activities like creek restoration, Stewardship, foot
protection, public education, other activities as well. The calculate assessment is based on nie er you equivalent residential unit and considers parcel amount of impervious surface and land use for each parcel. Current year. Ufi is $43.52. And that was approved by council during the 2026 2027 budget process. To simplify process for property owners is requested that these charges be id on the Sonoma County property tax from the city's behalf. These charges been collected annually on that actual since they established in SEPTEMBER of 1996. It's in the best interest of the city that these parcels not built by the county due to a minimum charge of $10 and or parcels with known incorrect ownership be exempt from these buildings. Any charges not collected will not affect other parcel charges. Today's public hearing in accordance with
title 16 of the city code will adopt the stormwater Enterprise charge report approved placing the charges on the county tax bill for collection and allow the public the opportunity to protest the method of collecting charges. Therefore, the board of Public Utilities in Santa Rosa Water or recommend that council by resolution adopt by 2 0rd vote. The stormwater Enterprise Charger port and approved placement of the stormwater enterprise charges on the Sonoma County property tax roll to be collected by the Sonoma County auditor, a controller treasurer tax collector at the same time and in the same manner as Sonoma County property taxes are collected unless those charges do not meet the county minimum of $10 and or partial owner contact information is known to be incorrect. This item was no impact on current fiscal
year budget. And I'm happy to answer any questions. You have. That was masterful neck bring it back to council. Surprise. Surprise. No questions. All right. Over to public hearing, Sarah, to start a public opening this up to the public during am are any members, the public hearing House chambers that wish to speak? >> Seeing non online host. Anybody online. >> We have no one was wishing to speak Zoom. >> Thank you so much. Alright, causing a public I feel like I should make comments or or ask a question or something, but I'm I'm too tired. I'm not doing it. Were now. We're going to thank you for going to thank you for your work. This is again necessary necessary work on behalf of the city in the county. And with that, a look see MISTER Alvarez for Motion. >> Thank you, Mayor. I like to
make a motion to adopt a resolution is presented by staff and we for the reading of the text second, we have a motion and a second and MADAM City Clerk, Inc, all whenever you're ready. >> Thank you. Mayor Councilmember Rogers and Councilmember MacDonald. Councilmember Fleming Councilmember Yes, Bres vice Cookie. I mayor Stapp yes. Let the record show this passes unanimously. >> All right. Thank you. Thank you for the work in the presentation. Both Nick, an entire Santa Rosa Water team. Thank you for being here That is the and of our substantive items. We have one more public comment on non agenda matters. So opening that There is no one, no member. There are no members of the public hearing Council chambers to make host anybody online for our our second public comment on non agenda matters.