City Hall, Council Chamber

100 Santa Rosa Avenue

Santa Rosa, CA 95404

City of Santa Rosa

City Council

Regular Meeting Minutes - Final

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

3:00 PM

1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL

Vice Mayor Stapp called the meeting to order at 3:01 p.m.

5 -

Present:

Vice Mayor Mark Stapp, Council Member Eddie Alvarez, Council

Member Victoria Fleming, Council Member Dianna MacDonald, and

Council Member Jeff Okrepkie

2 - Mayor Natalie Rogers, and Council Member Chris Rogers

Absent:

2. REMOTE PARTICIPATION UNDER AB 2449 (IF NEEDED)

3. ANNOUNCEMENT OF CLOSED SESSION ITEMS

PUBLIC COMMENT:

Duane De Witt spoke in support of raises for the lower paid,

hands-on, boots on the ground employees.

Vice Mayor Stapp recessed the meeting to closed session at

3:04 p.m. to hear Item 3.1 as listed on the agenda.

3.1

CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS

(Government Code Section 54957.6)

Agency Designated Representatives: Maraskeshia Smith, City

Manager; Alan Alton, Chief Financial Officer; Dominique Blanquie,

Human Resources Director; Siara Goyer, Employee Relations Manager;

and Burke Dunphy of Sloan Sakai Yeung & Wong LLP.

Employee Organizations: Santa Rosa Firefighters Association - Local

1401 (representing City Employee Unit 2); Operating Engineers Local 3,

Maintenance and Utility System Operators (Employee Units 3 and 16);

Santa Rosa City Employees Association (Employee Units 4, 6, 7);

Santa Rosa Police Officers Association, (Employee Unit 5); Service

Employees International Union Local 1021, (Employee Units 8 and 14);

Public Safety Management Association (Employee Unit 9); Executive

Management (Employee Unit 10); Middle Management (Employee Unit

11); Confidential (Employee Unit 12); Mechanics (Employee Unit 13);

City Attorney (Employee Unit 15); Santa Rosa City Attorneys’

Association (Employee Unit 17), Santa Rosa Management Association

(Employee Unit 18).

This item was received and filed.

Vice Mayor Stapp adjourned closed session at 4:02 p.m. and reconvened the

meeting to open session at 4:09 p.m.

4. STUDY SESSION - NONE.

5. ANNOUNCEMENT OF ROLL CALL (IF NEEDED)

5 -

Present:

Vice Mayor Mark Stapp, Council Member Eddie Alvarez, Council

Member Victoria Fleming, Council Member Dianna MacDonald, and

Council Member Jeff Okrepkie

2 - Mayor Natalie Rogers, and Council Member Chris Rogers

Absent:

6. REPORT, IF ANY, ON STUDY AND CLOSED SESSIONS

City Attorney Stricker reported that Council heard Items 3.1 and

there was no reportable action.

7. PROCLAMATIONS/PRESENTATIONS

7.1

PROCLAMATION - RED CROSS MONTH

Proclamation

Attachments:

Council Member Alvarez read and presented the proclamation to

Red Cross Volunteers Andy Witthorn and Steve Countouriotis.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

Thomas Els spoke in support of the Red Cross proclamation.

Chivvis Moore spoke in support of the Red Cross proclamation.

Proclamation recipients Andy Witthorn and Steve Countouriotis

provided brief comments.

7.2

PROCLAMATION - ARBOR WEEK

Proclamation

Attachments:

Council Member Fleming read and presented the proclamation to

Jen Santos, Deputy Director - Parks.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

Duane De Witt spoke in support of the Arbor Week proclamation,

asked for an arborist be brought back to staff, and more focus on

planting and care for trees.

Danielle spoke on the importance of planting native trees throughout

the city.

Thomas Els spoke in support of Arbor Day, remembering Luther

Burbank, and importance of planting more trees.

Jen Santos, Deputy Director - Recreation and Parks and James

Castro, Parks Superintendent, provided brief comments and

announced upcoming Arbor Day events.

7.3

PROCLAMATION - NATIONAL WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

Proclamation

Attachments:

Council Member MacDonald read and presented the proclamation

to Melanie Jones-Carter, Chair of the Commission on the Status of

Women, Ana Dais.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

Chivvis Moore spoke in support of women outside of the United

States.

Proclamation recipients Melanie Jones-Carter and Ana Dais

provided brief comments.

8. STAFF BRIEFINGS

8.1

COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT PLAN

This will be a standing item on the agenda. No action will be taken

except for possible direction to staff.

Lon Peterson, Chief Communications and Intergovernmental

Relations Officer, introduced Francheasca Roberson, DEI & EEO

Officer, and Ana Horta, Community Engagement Manager, and

provided a brief report on upcoming engagement events.

No public comments were made.

9. CITY MANAGER’S/CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORTS

No reports were provided.

10. STATEMENTS OF ABSTENTION BY COUNCIL MEMBERS

There were no statements of abstention.

11. MAYOR'S/COUNCIL MEMBERS’ REPORTS

No reports were provided.

11.1 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 Authority/Regional Climate

Protection Authority (SCTA/RCPA)

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

Advisory Committee

11.1.6 Sonoma Clean Power Authority (SCPA)

11.1.7 Zero Waste Sonoma (formerly known as Sonoma County Waste

Management Agency (SCWMA))

11.1.8 Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA)

11.1.9 Sonoma County Homeless Coalition

11.1.10 Renewal Enterprise District (RED)

11.1.11 Public Safety Subcommittee

11.1.12 Other

12. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

12.1

February 13, 2024, Regular Meeting Minutes.

Draft Minutes

Attachments:

No public comments were made.

Approved as submitted.

13. CONSENT ITEMS

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

Thomas Els spoke in support of 13.1

Approval of the Consent Agenda

A motion was made by Council Member Okrepkie, seconded by Council

Member Alvarez, to waive reading of the text and adopt Consent Items 13.1

through 13.3. The motion carried by the following vote:

5 -

Yes:

Vice Mayor Mark Stapp, Council Member Eddie Alvarez, Council

Member Victoria Fleming, Council Member Dianna MacDonald, and

Council Member Jeff Okrepkie

2 - Mayor Natalie Rogers, and Council Member Chris Rogers

Absent:

13.1

RESOLUTION - EXTENSION OF PROCLAMATION OF HOMELESS

EMERGENCY

RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended by the Housing and

Community Services Department that the Council, by resolution,

approve an extension of Resolution No. 28839 which formally

proclaimed a local homeless emergency within Santa Rosa.

Staff Report

Resolution

Attachments:

This Consent - Resolution was adopted.

RESOLUTION NO. RES-2024-029 ENTITLED: RESOLUTION OF THE

COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA EXTENDING A PROCLAMATION

OF LOCAL HOMELESS EMERGENCY (Government Code Sections 8630 et

seq.)

13.2

RESOLUTION - APPROVAL OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

AGREEMENT WITH DISABILITY ACCESS CONSULTANTS, LLC

RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended by the Human Resources

Department that the Council, by resolution, approve a Professional

Services Agreement with Disability Access Consultants, LLC of Oroville,

California, to provide updates to the Americans with Disabilities Act

Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan in an amount not to exceed amount

of $398,046.

Staff Report

Resolution

Exhibit A

Attachments:

This Consent - Resolution was adopted.

RESOLUTION NO. RES-2024-030 ENTITLED: RESOLUTION OF THE

COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA APPROVING THE

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH DISABILITY ACCESS

CONSULTANTS, LLC OF OROVILLE, CALIFORNIA

13.3

RESOLUTION - AUTHORIZING SUBMITTAL OF A GRANT

APPLICATION TO THE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION BOARD FOR

THE LOWER COLGAN CREEK RESTORATION PROJECT - PHASE 3

RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended by Santa Rosa Water that the

Council, by resolution, 1) approve a grant application to the Wildlife

Conservation Board for the construction, public art, and installation of a

large-scale monarch and pollinator habitat for the Lower Colgan Creek

Restoration Project - Phase 3; 2) authorize the Santa Rosa Water

Director (Director) to submit a grant application; 3) authorize the

Director to accept the grant and execute the Grant Agreement and

amendments thereto, and all other agreements or documents necessary

for the completion of the project, subject to approval by the City

Attorney; and 4) authorize the Chief Financial Officer to increase

appropriations by the approved grant award.

Staff Report

Resolution

Attachments:

This Consent - Resolution was adopted.

RESOLUTION NO. RES-2024-031 ENTITLED: RESOLUTION OF THE

COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA AUTHORIZING SUBMITTAL OF A

GRANT APPLICATION TO THE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION BOARD FOR

THE LOWER COLGAN CREEK RESTORATION PROJECT - PHASE 3

Vice Mayor Stapp announced that due to the time not yet being 5:00 p.m. Item

15.1 will be taken ahead of Item 14.

15. REPORT ITEMS

15.1

REPORT - RESOLUTION TO APPROVE CITY-WIDE INTEGRATED

PEST MANAGEMENT POLICY

BACKGROUND: Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a science-based

approach to reduce the quantity of harmful pesticides used in landscape

management. The key reasons cited for developing IPM policies are to

reduce impacts on humans and the environment. The purpose of an

IPM policy is to design landscapes that are naturally resistant to pests

and utilize non-chemical controls where possible. This includes

installing pest-resistant species, controlling weeds with mulch and

dense plantings, mechanical removal with powered equipment or

grazing animals, and only using chemical controls when all other

methods have been determined to not be effective in eliminating the

pests to the desired levels. IPM policies typically specify using the least

toxic pesticide first before applying more toxic pesticides.

The proposed IPM policy will ensure the greatest protection to city staff

and the community when managing pests. The policy provides clear

guidance on the management of pests on city-owned landscapes,

direction on how to control pests, and direction on how to identify and

implement methods to minimize the need for pesticide application.

RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended by Santa Rosa Water and the

Recreation and Parks Department that the Council of the City of Santa

Rosa, by resolution, adopt the City-Wide Integrated Pest Management

Policy.

Staff Report

Attachments:

Attachment 1 - Draft City-Wide Integrated Pest Management Policy

Attachment 2 - Appendix A City Integrated Pest Management Policy

Resolution

Exhibit A - City-Wide Integrated Pest Management Policy

Presentation

Sean McNeil, Deputy Director - Environmental Services, Jen Santos,

Deputy Director Recreation and Parks, and Paul Lowenthal, Division

Fire Chief presented.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

Thomas Els spoke in support of the item.

Tess spoke in support of the item but addressed the exceptions

page of the agreement.

Susan Lamont, spoke in support of the item.

A motion was made by Council Member Fleming, seconded by Council

Member Okrepkie, to waive reading of the text and adopt

RESOLUTION NO. RES-2024-032 ENTITLED: RESOLUTION OF THE

COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA ADOPTING A CITY-WIDE

INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT POLICY. The motion carried by the

following vote:

5 -

Yes:

Vice Mayor Mark Stapp, Council Member Eddie Alvarez, Council

Member Victoria Fleming, Council Member Dianna MacDonald, and

Council Member Jeff Okrepkie

2 - Mayor Natalie Rogers, and Council Member Chris Rogers

Absent:

14. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA MATTERS

LuLu Lashua spoke in support of Council adoption of a ceasefire

resolution.

Roxy Schilling spoke in support of Council adoption of a ceasefire

resolution.

Duane DeWitt spoke in support of cooling communities.

Elizabeth Neylon spoke on her years of protest and on concerns of

arrest in Gaza.

Susan Lamont spoke in support of a ceasefire resolution.

In Hui Lee spoke in support of Council adoption of a ceasefire

resolution.

Dianne Monroe spoke in support of Council adoption of a ceasefire

resolution.

Gary Huntsman spoke in support of Council adoption of a ceasefire

resolution.

Matt Conley spoke in support of Council adoption of a ceasefire

resolution.

Maria spoke in support of Council adoption of a ceasefire resolution.

Thomas Els spoke in support of Council adoption of a ceasefire

resolution.

Jason Sweeney spoke in support of Council adoption of a ceasefire

resolution.

LATE CORRESPONDENCE

Late Correspondence (Uploaded 03-05-2024)

Late Correspondence (Uploaded 03-07-2024)

Attachments:

16. PUBLIC HEARINGS

16.1

PUBLIC HEARING - DEVELOPMENT RELATED COST OF SERVICE

FEE UPDATE

BACKGROUND: The Planning and Economic Development Department

has contracted with MGT Consulting to perform a cost of service study

analyzing the full labor and indirect costs associated with providing

development review services such as application processing, plan

review, long range planning, and construction inspections. The study is

being utilized to set the foundation for a comprehensive update to the

Planning and Economic Development Department’s service fee

schedule. Staff is recommending that the Council adopt development

service fees to reflect the changes in fee descriptions, the removal of

obsolete fee categories and the full cost rates identified within the cost

of service study, with an effective date of July 1, 2024. In addition, the

Planning and Economic Development Department is recommending the

adoption of specific general fund supported subsidies to reduce fees on

certain application and service types that support City Council

development goals. The proposed reductions also focus on increasing

participation in permitting programs associated with ensuring health and

life safety and community appeal processes. Staff is also recommending

that the Planning and Economic Development Director be authorized to

adjust all adopted fees on July 1st of each year to incorporate price

changes identified in the Consumer Price Index.

RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended by the Planning and

Economic Development Department that the Council: 1) adopt the full

cost development service fees identified in the Development Related

Cost of Service Study prepared by MGT Consulting; 2) authorize the

Planning and Economic Development Director to adjust all fees

identified within the study annually based on price changes as identified

by the Consumer Price Index; and 3) adopt certain fee reductions to

further encourage City development goals and public participation in

health and life safety permitting programs and community appeal

processes.

Staff Report

Attachments:

Attachment 1 - Stakeholder Outreach & Comparison Survey

Resolution

Exhibit A – Development Related Cost of Service Study

Exhibit B – Development Service Fee Reductions

Presentation

Public Hearing Notice

Gabe Osburn, Director of Planning and Economic Development,

and Cindy Sconce, MGT Consulting Group, presented and

answered questions from Council.

Vice Mayor Stapp opened the public hearing at 6:03 p.m.

Calum Weeks spoke in support of Item 16.1.

Thomas Els spoke on the item and suggested recovering the fee

reductions from developers after occupancy.

Roxy spoke in support of more incentives for affordable and

supportive housing.

Vice Mayor Stapp closed the public hearing at 6:08 p.m.

A motion was made by Council Member Alvarez, seconded by Council

Member MacDonald, to waive reading of the text and adopt

RESOLUTION NO. RES-2024-033 ENTITLED: RESOLUTION OF THE

COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA ADOPTING THE FULL COST

DEVELOPMENT SERVICE FEES; AUTHORIZING THE PLANNING AND

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR TO ADJUST ALL FEES

ANNUALLY BASED ON THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX; AND ADOPTING

CERTAIN FEE REDUCTIONS TO FURTHER CITY DEVELOPMENT GOALS.

The motion carried by the following vote:

5 -

Yes:

Vice Mayor Mark Stapp, Council Member Eddie Alvarez, Council

Member Victoria Fleming, Council Member Dianna MacDonald, and

Council Member Jeff Okrepkie

2 - Mayor Natalie Rogers, and Council Member Chris Rogers

Absent:

17. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS - NONE.

18. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA MATTERS

Tess Caldwell spoke in support of Council adoption of a ceasefire

resolution.

Holly Calica spoke in support of Council adoption of a ceasefire

resolution.

Tammy McNulty spoke in support of Council adoption of a ceasefire

resolution.

Jordan spoke in support of Council adoption of a ceasefire

resolution.

Summer spoke in support of Council adoption of a ceasefire

resolution.

Maribi Mendoza spoke in support of Council adoption of a ceasefire

resolution.

Giovani Contreras spoke in support of Council adoption of a

ceasefire resolution.

Jacquelin Oneal Mermet spoke in support of Council adoption of a

ceasefire resolution.

Sarah Soss spoke in support of Council adoption of a ceasefire

resolution.

Lee Vandeveer spoke in support of Council adoption of a ceasefire

resolution.

Bailey Russell-Willis spoke in support of Council adoption of a

ceasefire resolution.

Oona Risling-Shell spoke in support of Council adoption of a

ceasefire resolution.

Ari Vinion spoke in support of Council adoption of a ceasefire

resolution.

Michael Titone spoke in support of Council adoption of a ceasefire

resolution.

Gary spoke in support of an end to the conflict.

Althea spoke in support of Council adoption of a ceasefire

resolution.

Tamra spoke in support of Council adoption of a ceasefire

resolution.

Erika spoke in support of Council adoption of a ceasefire resolution.

Unidentified spoke on concerns in Israel.

Chivvis Moore was not present for public comment but provided

comment on speaker card: "Santa Rosa City Council affirms its

commitment to human rights by resolving to demand a permanent

ceasefire to the Israeli genocide in Gaza."

19. ANNOUNCEMENT OF CONTINUED CLOSED SESSION ITEMS, RECESS TO

CLOSED SESSION IN THE MAYOR’S CONFERENCE ROOM, RECONVENE TO

OPEN SESSION, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS [IF NEEDED]

20. ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING

Vice Mayor Stapp adjourned the meeting at 6:46 p.m. The next

regular meeting will be held on March 26, 2024 at a time set by the

Mayor.

21. UPCOMING MEETINGS

21.1

UPCOMING MEETINGS LIST

Upcoming Meetings List

Attachments:

This item was received and filed.

Approved on: March 26, 2024

/s/ Dina Manis, City Clerk