City Hall, Council Chamber  
100 Santa Rosa Avenue  
Santa Rosa, CA 95404  
City of Santa Rosa  
Economic Development Subcommittee  
Regular Meeting Minutes - Final  
Monday, June 9, 2025  
9:00 AM  
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL  
Chair Okrepkie called the meeting to order at 9:02 a.m.  
2. REMOTE PARTICIPATION UNDER AB 2449 (IF NEEDED)  
None.  
3. MODIFICATIONS TO AGENDA  
None.  
4. ANNOUNCEMENTS  
None.  
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
5.1  
Draft Minutes - April 14, 2025.  
Approved as submitted.  
6. PUBLIC COMMENTS  
Chair Okrepkie opened public comment.  
Janice Karrman provided comments.  
Chair Okrepkie closed public comment.  
7. MATTERS HELD IN COMMITTEE  
None.  
8. PARTNER REPORTS  
None.  
9. DEPARTMENT REPORTS/UPDATES  
9.1  
Economic Development Strategy Implementation Plan Update  
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Update on plan implementation. - Scott Adair  
Chief Economic Development Officer Scott Adair reported.  
Staff responded to Committee Member inquiries.  
Committee Members provided comments and feedback.  
Chair Okrepkie opened and closed public comment.  
Business Attraction, Retention and Expansion Update  
9.2  
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Report out on ICSC activities. - Scott Adair  
Film tourism and attraction. - Scott Adair  
Permit Ready Program. - Gabe Osburn  
Staff Adair and Director of Planning and Economic Development  
Gabe Osburn presented.  
Committee Members provided comments and feedback.  
Staff responded to Committee Member inquiries.  
Chair Okrepkie opened public comment.  
Janice Karrman provided comments.  
AJ Trombetta provided comments.  
Chair Okrepkie closed public comment.  
9.3  
Entrepreneurship and Small Business Update  
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NorthBay Biz - Best of the North Bay - Celebrating Santa Rosa as  
"Best Business-Friendly City. - Scott Adair  
Results of downtown activation (pedestrianization) community survey  
and business meetings. - Rachel Beer  
Staff Adair and Program Analyst Rachel Beer presented.  
Staff responded to Committee Member inquiries.  
Committee Members provided comments and feedback.  
Chair Okrepkie opened public comment.  
Abby Arnold provided comments.  
AJ Trombetta provided comments.  
Janice Karrman provided comments.  
A member of a local YIMBY organization provided comments.  
Another member of a local YIMBY organization provided comments.  
Cadance Allinson provided comments.  
Chair Okrepkie closed public comment.  
9.4  
Economic Vibrancy and Resiliency Update (Events)  
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Downtown Activation Strategy update. - Rachel Beer  
o Pop up program (shipping container). - Rachel Beer  
o Theater Alley project (Comstock Mall). - Rachel Beer  
Report out on our first Downtown Farmers Market and “Second  
Sunday”. - Rachel Beer  
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Chamber Transition Update. - Meredith Knudsen  
New Event Specialist Recruitment Update - Meredith Knudsen  
City-sponsored events: (How many and which events will the city  
sponsor). - Meredith Knudsen  
o Definition for “signature events”. - Meredith Knudsen  
o Eligibility. - Meredith Knudsen  
o Budget. - Meredith Knudsen  
Staff Adair and Beer presented.  
Chair Okrepkie opened public comment.  
Cadance Allinson provided comments.  
A member of a local YIMBY group provided comments.  
Chair Okrepkie closed public comment.  
Committee Members provided comments and feedback.  
Community Investment Update (Art & Culture)  
9.5  
•
Asawa Fountain Update. - Meredith Knudsen  
Arts and Culture Coordinator Meredith Knudsen and Staff Adair  
presented.  
Staff responded to Committee Member inquiries.  
Chair Okrepkie opened public comment.  
A member of a local YIMBY group provided comments.  
Janice Karrman provided comments.  
Chair Okrepkie closed public comment.  
Committee Members provided comments and feedback.  
Assistant City Manager Daryel Dunston reported.  
9.6  
Metrics and Indicators  
•
One Stop Shop Update. -Rachel Beer  
Staff Adair and Beer presented.  
Staff responded to Committee Member inquiries.  
Chair Okrepkie opened and closed public comment.  
Other Updates or Announcements  
9.7  
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•
•
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Entertainment Zones. - Gabe Osburn  
CUP and VBL Update. - Gabe Osburn  
Tourism strategic planning. - Scott Adair  
SRTBIA update. - Scott Adair  
USL Update. - Scott Adair  
Director Osburn presented.  
Committee Members provided comments and feedback.  
Staff Adair presented.  
Staff responded to Board Member inquiries.  
Chair Okrepkie opened and closed public comment.  
10. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS  
Staff Adair spoke on reports staff will bring to the August Economic  
Development Subcommittee meeting.  
11. ADJOURNMENT  
Chair Okrepkie adjourned the meeting at 11:22 a.m.  
Approved on: August 11, 2025  
/s Jack Reynolds, Recording Secretary