City Hall, Council Chamber  
100 Santa Rosa Avenue  
Santa Rosa, CA 95404  
City of Santa Rosa  
City Council  
Special Meeting Minutes - Final  
Tuesday, December 21, 2021  
10:00 AM  
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL  
Mayor Rogers called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m.  
5 -  
Present:  
Mayor Chris Rogers, Vice Mayor Eddie Alvarez, Council Member  
Natalie Rogers, Council Member John Sawyer, and Council Member  
Tom Schwedhelm  
1 - Council Member Victoria Fleming  
Absent:  
2. ANNOUNCEMENT OF CLOSED SESSION ITEMS  
No public comments were made.  
Mayor Rogers adjourned to closed session at 10:02 a.m. to discuss  
Items 2.1 and 2.2 as listed on the agenda.  
Council Member Fleming joined the meeting at 10:03 a.m.  
2.1  
CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR  
(Government Code Section 54956.8)  
Property: 976, 980 and 1004 Hearn Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA. APN’s  
043-191-018, 043-191-019 and 043-191-020  
Agency Negotiator: Jill Scott, Real Property Negotiator  
Negotiating Parties: 976 Hearn- Jose Dominguez  
980 Hearn- Turnkey Deals LLC  
1004 Hearn- Arthur Vincent Nelson and Timothy  
Nelson  
Under Negotiations: Price and terms of sale.  
This item was received and filed.  
2.2  
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION  
(Paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Government Code Section 54956.9)  
Name of Case: Nicholle Vannucci, et al. v. County of Sonoma, et al.  
Court Case No. USDC Northern District of California Case No.  
3:18-cv-01955-VC  
This item is received and filed.  
Mayor Rogers adjourned closed session at 11:19 a.m. and reconvened to open  
session at 11:21 a.m.  
3. ANNOUNCEMENT OF ROLL CALL  
6 -  
Present:  
Mayor Chris Rogers, Vice Mayor Eddie Alvarez, Council Member  
Victoria Fleming, Council Member Natalie Rogers, Council Member  
John Sawyer, and Council Member Tom Schwedhelm  
4. REPORT, IF ANY, ON STUDY AND CLOSED SESSIONS  
City Attorney Sue Gallagher reported Council met in closed session  
on Item 2.1 Conference with Real Property Negotiators regarding  
properties on Hearn Avenue and gave direction to the negotiator, on  
Item 2.2 Conference with Legal Council regarding Existing Litigation  
Vannucci v. County of Sonoma, City of Santa Rosa and gave  
direction to legal counsel.  
5. REPORT ITEMS  
5.1  
REPORT - COUNCIL VACANCY APPOINTMENT PROCEDURE AND  
SCHEDULE  
BACKGROUND: Council member Jack Tibbetts has announced his  
resignation from the City Council effective December 21, 2021. His  
resignation creates a vacancy on the Council. Section 31 of the Santa  
Rosa City Charter provides that such vacancy may be filled either (a) by  
appointment by the Council within 60 days of the vacancy, or (b) by the  
calling of a special election.  
Council must first determine which method it prefers for the filling of the  
vacancy. A special election would take place no earlier than June  
2022. The City Clerk has received a preliminary estimate from the  
County of Sonoma that the cost of such special election could range  
between $56,115 and $102,878. An appointment by the Council would  
be governed by Council Policy No. 000-23, and would be effective upon  
selection of the successor. Policy No. 000-23 requires that the Council,  
at the earliest possible time after a vacancy occurs, adopt a schedule  
setting forth the time and date for: (1) submission of applications to fill  
the vacancy; (2) submission by the public of questions for applicant  
interviews; and (3) interviews of prospective candidates by the Council  
at a public meeting. The selection process must be completed within 60  
days of the vacancy. If Council determines to proceed by way of an  
appointment, Council may, by motion, approve a proposed schedule  
and authorize related documents and procedures.  
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended by the City Attorney’s Office  
that the Council, by motion, determine the procedure and schedule for  
filling the Council vacancy caused by the resignation of Council Member  
Jack Tibbetts.  
Staff Report  
Attachments:  
Attachment 1 - Application Schedule  
Attachment 2 - Vacancy Application  
Attachment 3 - Council Policy No. 000-23  
Attachment 4 - Excerpts from SRCC  
Presentation  
City Attorney Sue Gallagher presented and answered questions  
from staff. City Clerk Stephanie Williams was available to answer  
questions.  
No public comments were made.  
A motion was made by Council Member Schwedhelm, seconded by Vice  
Mayor Alvarez, to fill the Council vacancy by the appointment process  
consistent with Council Policy 000-23 and schedule District 3 to be placed  
on the ballot in the November 8, 2022 election.  
The motion carried by the following vote:  
6 -  
Yes:  
Mayor Rogers, Vice Mayor Alvarez, Council Member Fleming,  
Council Member Rogers, Council Member Sawyer, and Council  
Member Schwedhelm  
1 - Tibbetts  
Absent:  
6. ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING  
Mayor Rogers adjourned the special meeting at 11:53 a.m.  
Approved on: January 11, 2022  
/s/ Stephanie A. Williams, City Clerk