Finley Center  
City of Santa Rosa  
2060 W. College Ave.  
Senior Wing Auditorium  
Santa Rosa Violence Prevention  
Partnership  
Regular Meeting Minutes - Final  
Wednesday, September 17, 2025  
9:00 AM  
9:00 AM  
Meeting called to order at 9:05am.  
1. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS  
2. PUBLIC COMMENT  
None.  
3. PARTNER UPDATES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS  
Circuit Riders will be holding Fiesta for the Future on November 11. Also starting  
outdoor mentorship program for youth 12-15 years old, starting in October. Circuit  
Riders is also starting a 1-1 mental health support for Vista youth.  
Community Matters is launching its first adult training for compassionate  
communities on the Monday after thanksgiving. First annual bowling event “Pins for  
Positivity” fundraiser is scheduled for October 25.  
NAMI will hold its Walk Sonoma County at Howarth Park on November 1 with 25  
organizations tabling.  
Adam Peacocke announced that there is movement in faith community on graffiti  
abatement. Training held with VPP for community members. Community is  
enthusiastic.  
Evette Minor announced that the South Park Day and Night Festival will be held on  
October 25 at the Santa Rosa Vets Building.  
4. VIOLENCE PREVENTION PARTNERSHIP UPDATES  
The Violence Prevention Seminar will be held on October 9, 2025.  
Teen Culinary Job Training Program participants are invited to work Sonoma  
Family Meal's Knife's Edge Gala on October 25.  
There will be a new eight-week program called Future Fire Academy starting in  
Santa Rosa in the new year. Participants must be 18 years old and will receive a  
stipend plus certifications.  
Neighborhood Services' Halloween Bash cancelled for 2025 due to competing  
events.  
5. SCHEDULED ITEMS  
5.1 CHOICE GRANT CYCLE XI FINAL REPORT  
Miles Burgin, VPP Research and Program Coordinator and Julie Burr from  
Applied Survey Research provided an overview of the CHOICE Cycle XI final  
evaluation report.  
PRESENTATION - CHOICE Cycle XI Final Evaluation - Applied  
Survey Research  
5.2 CLIMATE UPDATE  
Santa Rosa Police Department:  
Lt. Tommy Isachsen reported that as of today's date, there have been 10  
homicides this year, but none have been gang related. Gang contacts through  
SRPD are being referred to the VPP. Some gang participants are leaving the  
City limits to commit crimes and other local jurisdictions are seeking assistance  
from SRPD on education, training, and resources. Despite lack of gang crimes  
in Santa Rosa, SRPD Gang Crimes Team is keeping busy ooon other  
investigations. Budget issues are impacting ability to hire officers.  
Sonoma County Probation:  
Brad Michnevich, Deputy Chief Probation Officer, reported that referrals to  
juvenile justice is down 24%, District Attorney referrals are down 34%, felony  
cases involving juveniles is down 25% and Juvenile Hall numbers are stabilizing  
at pre-COVID levels after the post-pandemic increase.  
District Attorney's Office:  
Anne Masterson, Chief Deputy District Attorney, reported that there is an  
alarming increase in domestic violence cases and that opportunities exist for  
intervention among children with DV in the home. Truancy program is continuing  
well. There is an increase in mental health issues among justice involved youth.  
Similar increase in youth with developmental delays that have not accessed  
services for which they are eligible.  
Street Outreach and Crisis Response Team:  
New Hope for Youth is working on clearing out their caseload which was  
previously over 80 youth. The team is noticing an uptick of graffiti in priority  
neighborhoods, particularly in Roseland around Sunset and Bayer Park.  
Schools:  
Santa Rosa City Schools is continuing to focus on budget issues and the  
continued need for right sizing. The start of this school year feels very normal  
and hasn't seen increases in issues due to combined campuses. Enrollment  
numbers are at expected levels.  
Roseland School District reported that Roseland Collegiate Prep will close  
campus after this school year due to fiscal reasons. They expressed  
appreciation for graffiti abatement efforts in the neighborhood and are looking  
for ways to participate. Start of the school year seems normal as well.  
6. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS  
Ernesto Olivares stressed the importance of spreading the word of The  
Partnership's successes. The City of Salinas is working with a researcher to  
publish and whitepaper about the city's violence prevention efforts.  
Melanie Dodson of 4Cs also stated the need to highlight VPP's successes. Early  
learning funding is stable, but countywide, the number of families eligible for  
stipends has doubled.  
Jason Lea (Roseland) also mentioned the importance of including the youth voice  
in promotional efforts.  
7. ADJOURN  
Meeting adjourned at 10:30am.  
The City of Santa Rosa does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admissions or access to, or treatment of our  
employment in its programs or activities. Disability- related aids or services, including printed information in alternate formats, to  
enable persons with disabilities to participate in public meetings are available by calling (707) 543-4696 one week prior to the  
meeting. (TTY Relay at 711)  
Any writings or documents provided to a majority of this meeting body prior to this meeting regarding any items on this agenda  
are available for public review in the City Clerk's Office, Room 10, City Hall, 100 Santa Rosa Avenue, during normal business  
hours.