637 First Street,  
Santa Rosa, CA  
City of Santa Rosa  
Economic Development Subcommittee  
Regular Meeting Minutes - Final  
Tuesday, March 11, 2025  
10:00 AM  
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL  
Chair Okrepkie called the meeting to order at 10:00 am.  
2. REMOTE PARTICIPATION UNDER AB 2449 (IF NEEDED)  
None.  
3. MODIFICATIONS TO AGENDA  
None.  
4. ANNOUNCEMENTS  
None.  
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
5.1  
November 12, 2024 - Draft Minutes.  
Approved as submitted.  
6. PUBLIC COMMENTS  
Chair Okrepkie opened and closed public comment at 10:01 am.  
7. NEW REGULAR MEETING TIME DISCUSSION  
Chief Economic Development Officer Scott Adair reported.  
Committee Members spoke among themselves.  
Chair Okrepkie opened and closed public comment at 10:03 am.  
A motion was made by Vice-Mayor Alvarez, seconded by Chair Okrepkie,  
to establish the new regular meeting time for the Economic Development  
Subcommittee as the second Monday of every other month at 9am  
beginning April 14th.  
2 - Chair Jeff Okrepkie and Committee Member Eddie Alvarez  
1 - Council Member Victoria Fleming  
Yes:  
Absent:  
8. PARTNER REPORTS  
8.1  
Rose-E Pilot Project Report  
Cadance Allinson will give an overview and recap of the Rose-E trolley  
pilot program.  
Recommended Action: Information Only.  
Cadance Allinson of the Downtown Action Organization presented.  
Cadance Allinson responded to Committee Member inquiries.  
Committee Members provided comments and feedback.  
Chair Okrepkie opened and closed public comment at 10:22 am.  
9. NEW BUSINESS  
9.1  
Economic Development Strategy Implementation Plan Update  
Chief Economic Development Officer Adair will give an update on the  
Economic Development Strategy Implementation Plan.  
Recommendation: Information Only.  
Staff Adair presented.  
Chair Okrepkie opened and closed public comment at 10:36 am.  
9.2  
Business Attractions Retention and Expansion Update  
Chief Economic Development Officer Adair will give an update on  
business retention and expansion.  
Recommendation: Information Only.  
Staff Adair presented.  
Staff Adair and Assistant City Manager Daryel Dunston responded  
to Committee Member inquiries.  
Chair Okrepkie opened and closed public comment at 10:42 am.  
9.3  
Entrepreneurship and Small Business Update  
Chief Economic Development Officer Adair will give an update on  
entrepreneurship and small business.  
Recommendation: Information Only.  
Staff Adair presented.  
Staff Adair and Small Business Ombudsman Rafael Rivero  
responded to Committee Member inquiries.  
Staff Rivero and Program Analyst Rachel Beer reported.  
Planning and Economic Development Director Gabe Osburn and  
Staff Adair responded to Committee Member inquiries.  
Chair Okrepkie opened and closed public comment at 10:54 am.  
9.4  
9.5  
9.6  
Economic Vibrancy and Resiliency Update  
Chief Economic Development Officer Adair will give an update on  
Economic Vibrancy and Resiliency.  
Recommendation: Information Only.  
Staff Adair reported.  
Committee Members provided comments and feedback.  
Staff Adair responded to Committee Member inquiries.  
Community Investment Update  
Arts and Culture Coordinator Meredith Knudsen will give an update on  
the Arts and Culture Program.  
Recommendation: Information Only.  
Staff Knudsen presented.  
Staff Adair reported.  
Committee Members provided comments and feedback.  
KPI Tracking  
Chief Economic Development Officer Adair will give an update on key  
economic indicators.  
Recommendation: Information Only.  
Staff Adair presented.  
Committee Members provided comments and feedback.  
Staff Adair responded to Committee Member inquiries.  
9.7  
Special Projects Update  
Chief Economic Development Officer Adair will give an update on  
Council-directed projects that fall under the Economic Development  
strategy.  
Recommendation: Information Only.  
Staff Adair presented.  
Staff Beer reported.  
Staff Adair responded to Committee Member inquiries.  
Chair Okrepkie opened public comment at 11:41 am.  
Cadance Allinson spoke regarding the importance of businesses  
feeling valued and involved.  
Assistant City Manager Dunston asked a question of Cadance  
Allinson.  
Cadance Allinson gave feedback regarding a pedestrianization  
survey put out by the City of Santa Rosa.  
Assistant City Manager Dunston provided comments.  
Committee Members provided comments and feedback.  
Direcor Osburn and Staff Adair provided comments.  
Chair Okrepkie closed public comment at 11:51 am.  
10 MATTERS HELD IN COMMITTEE  
None.  
11. DEPARTMENT REPORTS  
Director Osburn reported on ongoing Planning and Economic  
Development projects and programs.  
Chair Osburn opened and closed public comment at 11:57 am.  
12. ADJOURNMENT  
Chair Okrepkie adjourned the meeting at 11:57 am.  
Approved on: April 7, 2025  
/s Jack Reynolds, Recording Secretary