City of Santa Rosa

City Charter Review Committee

Regular Meeting Minutes - Final

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

5:00 PM

1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL

Chair Cisco called the meeting to order at 5:02 p.m.

15 -

Present

Chair Patti Cisco, Committee Member Adriana Arrizon, Committee

Member Annie Barbour, Committee Member Dan Condron,

Committee Member Jazmin Gudino, Committee Member Jen Klose ,

Committee Member Danny Martinez, Committee Member Chris

Mazzia, Committee Member Ron Miller, Committee Member Evette

Minor, Committee Member Ernesto Olivares, Committee Member

Logan Pitts, Committee Member Jocelyn Villalobos, Committee

Member Mark Walsh, and Committee Member Karen Weeks

6 -

Absent

Committee Member Lisa Badenfort, Committee Member Scott

Bartley, Committee Member Christine Byrne, Committee Member

Abigail Cunningham, Committee Member Ana Diaz, and Committee

Member Brian Ling

2. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA MATTERS

No public comments were made.

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

3.1

February 16, 2022, Regular Meeting.

Draft Minutes

Attachments:

Approved as submitted.

3.2

March 2, 2022, Regular Meeting.

Draft Minutes

Attachments:

Approved as submitted.

4. SCHEDULED ITEMS

4.1

EQUITY PRINCIPLES

The principles of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging remain in the

forefront of the Charter review process. This standing agenda item

provides the Committee with the opportunity, at the outset of each of its

meetings, to refine, reaffirm and recommit to its Statement of Principles.

The Statement of Principles regarding diversity, equity, inclusion and

belonging provides a procedural and substantive lens through which the

Committee undertakes all of its work.

Attachment 1 - Updated Equity Principles

Attachments:

Attachment 2 - Equity Priority Areas with Council Districts

Attachment 3 - Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Definitions (City of Santa

Rosa)

No presentation or discussion was made.

No public comments were made.

19 -

Present

Chair Patti Cisco, Committee Member Adriana Arrizon,

Committee Member Annie Barbour, Committee Member Lisa

Badenfort, Committee Member Scott Bartley, Committee Member

Christine Byrne, Committee Member Dan Condron, Committee

Member Ana Diaz, Committee Member Jazmin Gudino,

Committee Member Jen Klose , Committee Member Danny

Martinez, Committee Member Chris Mazzia, Committee Member

Ron Miller, Committee Member Evette Minor, Committee Member

Ernesto Olivares, Committee Member Logan Pitts, Committee

Member Jocelyn Villalobos, Committee Member Mark Walsh, and

Committee Member Karen Weeks

2 -

Absent

Committee Member Abigail Cunningham, and Committee Member

Brian Ling

4.2

CHARTER UPDATE AND MODERNIZATION

The Committee is currently considering several proposed Charter

amendments to address significant substantive issues, including, but

not limited to Council compensation, directly elected Mayor and

ranked choice voting. In addition, the City Attorney recommends that

the Committee consider a ballot measure to include more minor

amendments, designed to update, clarify and modernize the City

Charter.

The proposed measure would be intended to remove ambiguities,

streamline City procedures, and revise outdated provisions. Similar

update measures were placed on the ballots in 2002 and 2012 and

were passed with strong voter approval. For 2022, the proposed

amendments may include clarification of the timing of Charter review

and amendments, clarification of emergency management

responsibilities, allowance for a two-year budgeting process,

streamlined provisions for procurement, clarification of scope of

authority of the Board of Public Utilities, alignment with District-based

elections and others. This agenda item will ask the Committee to

provide its recommendations on the contents of this measure.

Presentation

Attachments:

REVISED Presentation (Uploaded 3-30-2022)

Attachment 1 - Council Policy 000-023 (Uploaded 3-16-2022)

Attachment 2 - Presentation 3/16/22 Meeting.pdf

City Attorney Sue Gallagher presented a summary of elements

for the Committee's continued discussion on District Elections,

Council Vacancy Procedures, frequency of Charter

Amendments, Clarification of Emergency Response roles for the

City Manager, Mayor, Police Chief, and Fire Chief. Information

was presented on adding flexibility to the following: Two-year

budget, Board of Public Utilities, Contract Procurement, to clarify

ambiguities to City Attorney work experience, Council Member

Recall vacancy, appointment of Deputy Officials, and language

as it relates to the Community Advisory Board, Santa Rosa

School Districts, Public Library, and the induction of new Council

Members.

No public comments were made.

A motion was made by Committee Member Pitts, seconded by

Committee Member Badenfort, to approve the recommended staff

revisions to the following City Charter Sections:

Section 4, District Elections: revise to provide district based election of

Council Members, district boundaries set by ordinance, decennial

update of District boundaries following the Federal census, and

additional updates of district boundaries if structure of Council is

revised.

CLARIFICATION OF EMERGENCY RESPONSE:

Section 15, Mayor: delete sentence "In case of riot, insurrection or

extraordinary emergencies the Mayor shall assume general control of

the City's government and all its branches, and shall be responsible for

the suppression of disorders and the restoration of normal conditions."

Section 18, City Manager: add emergency management to list of City

Manager powers and duties, and require emergency services be

provided in accordance with Federal and State standards for emergency

response.

Section 21, Chief of Police: delete or revise the sentence "It shall be the

duty of the Chief of Police to preserve the public peace and to suppress

riots, tumults and disturbances." and make no changes to the general

language that grants the Police Chief powers as provided by State law

and as prescribed by Council.

Section 22, Chief of the Fire Department: revise fourth sentence under

scope of powers to read "During the time of a Fire, the Fire Chief shall

have full and complete authority over the territory immediately involved

in or threatened by the fire and all persons in the immediate vicinity of

the fire during such time shall be subject to the Fire Chief's orders."

TO ADD FLEXIBILITY:

Section 28, Budget: clarify that City Manager may propose a multi-year

budget, while retaining all other provisions of the Section.

Section 44, Contract Procurement: revise to add allowance for

alternative procurement procedures as authorized by ordinance.

TO CLARIFY AMBIGUITIES:

Section 19, City Attorney: revise to read "City Attorney must have at

least three years of actual practice in the state."

Section 32, Council Member Recall: clarify that a vacancy created by

recall will be filled as any other vacancy, in accordance with Section 31:

Council Vacancy.

Section 37, Deputy Officials: delete phrase "...subject however to

confirmation by Council" to align with current practice Deputy City

Managers and Deputy City Attorneys are not confirmed by Council.

The motion carried by the following vote:

19 -

Yes:

Chair Cisco, Committee Member Arrizon, Committee Member

Barbour, Committee Member Badenfort, Committee Member

Bartley, Committee Member Byrne, Committee Member

Condron, Committee Member Diaz, Committee Member Gudino,

Committee Member Klose, Committee Member Martinez,

Committee Member Mazzia, Committee Member Miller,

Committee Member Minor, Committee Member Olivares,

Committee Member Pitts, Committee Member Villalobos,

Committee Member Walsh and Committee Member Weeks

2 - Committee Member Cunningham and Committee Member Ling

Absent:

A motion was made by Committee Member Weeks, seconded by

Committee Member Barbour, to keep the current language in Section 31:

Council Vacancy as reflected in the Charter and not imbed an

appointment process in the Charter language on how to fill a vacancy.

The motion carried by the following vote with Committee Member

Gudino abstaining due to being undecided on the issue:

17 -

Yes:

Chair Cisco, Committee Member Arrizon, Committee Member

Barbour, Committee Member Badenfort, Committee Member

Bartley, Committee Member Byrne, Committee Member

Condron, Committee Member Diaz, Committee Member Klose,

Committee Member Martinez, Committee Member Mazzia,

Committee Member Miller, Committee Member Olivares,

Committee Member Pitts, Committee Member Villalobos,

Committee Member Walsh and Committee Member Weeks

1 - Committee Member Minor

No:

Absent:

Abstain:

2 - Committee Member Cunningham and Committee Member Ling

1 - Committee Member Gudino

A motion was made by Committee Member Weeks, seconded by Vice

Chair Olivares, to recommend Council revise the methodology used in

the appointment process to fill a Council Vacancy.

The motion carried by the following vote:

19 -

Yes:

Chair Cisco, Committee Member Arrizon, Committee Member

Barbour, Committee Member Badenfort, Committee Member

Bartley, Committee Member Byrne, Committee Member

Condron, Committee Member Diaz, Committee Member Gudino,

Committee Member Klose, Committee Member Martinez,

Committee Member Mazzia, Committee Member Miller,

Committee Member Minor, Committee Member Olivares,

Committee Member Pitts, Committee Member Villalobos,

Committee Member Walsh and Committee Member Weeks

2 - Committee Member Cunningham and Committee Member Ling

Absent:

A motion was made by Committee Member Bartley, seconded by Vice

Chair Olivares, to revise the Charter language in Section 12: Charter

Review to reflect the Charter be reviewed at least every 10 years and

adding the statement "Nothing in this section precludes additional

amendments placed on the ballot by voter initiative or by Council

ordinance at such other times as deemed necessary."

The motion carried by the following vote:

15 -

Yes:

Chair Cisco, Committee Member Barbour, Committee Member

Badenfort, Committee Member Bartley, Committee Member

Condron, Committee Member Diaz, Committee Member Klose,

Committee Member Martinez, Committee Member Mazzia,

Committee Member Miller, Committee Member Olivares,

Committee Member Pitts, Committee Member Villalobos,

Committee Member Walsh and Committee Member Weeks

4 -

No:

Committee Member Arrizon, Committee Member Byrne,

Committee Member Gudino and Committee Member Minor

2 - Committee Member Cunningham and Committee Member Ling

Absent:

A motion was made by Committee Member Weeks, seconded by Vice

Chair Olivares, to clarify the scope of responsibility in Section 25: Board

of Public Utilities to include storm water, "dry" utilities including

electricity, broadband, and others at the discretion of the Council .

The motion carried by the following vote:

19 -

Yes:

Chair Cisco, Committee Member Arrizon, Committee Member

Barbour, Committee Member Badenfort, Committee Member

Bartley, Committee Member Byrne, Committee Member

Condron, Committee Member Diaz, Committee Member Gudino,

Committee Member Klose, Committee Member Martinez,

Committee Member Mazzia, Committee Member Miller,

Committee Member Minor, Committee Member Olivares,

Committee Member Pitts, Committee Member Villalobos,

Committee Member Walsh and Committee Member Weeks

2 - Committee Member Cunningham and Committee Member Ling

Absent:

A motion was made by Committee Member Weeks, seconded by

Committee Member Barbour, to leave the language as currently written

in Charter Section 29: Santa Rosa School Districts and Section 33:

Public Library.

The motion carried by the following vote:

19 -

Yes:

Chair Cisco, Committee Member Arrizon, Committee Member

Barbour, Committee Member Badenfort, Committee Member

Bartley, Committee Member Byrne, Committee Member

Condron, Committee Member Diaz, Committee Member Gudino,

Committee Member Klose, Committee Member Martinez,

Committee Member Mazzia, Committee Member Miller,

Committee Member Minor, Committee Member Olivares,

Committee Member Pitts, Committee Member Villalobos,

Committee Member Walsh and Committee Member Weeks

2 - Committee Member Cunningham and Committee Member Ling

Absent:

4.3

COUNCIL COMPENSATION

The City Council has recommended that, among other topics, the

Committee research and consider preparing a Charter amendment to

increase Council member compensation. Currently, the Charter

allows for the establishment of Council compensation in accordance

with formulas set forth in state law. For a city the size of Santa

Rosa, state law allows for Council member salary of up to $800 per

month. State law allows for an annual increase in salary of up to 5%

(not compounded). State law also allows the city’s voters to approve

a higher salary. The voters of Santa Rosa have approved a higher

salary for the Mayor, currently equal to $1200 per month (150% of

Council member salary).

The Committee began its discussion of Council compensation at its

December 15, 2021 meeting and expanded its discussion at its

meeting on January 5, 2022. This agenda item will provide the

Committee with the opportunity to provide final direction on its

recommendation for Council compensation.

Presentation

Attachments:

REVISED Presentation (Uploaded 3-30-2022)

Attachment 1 - Comparable Cities

Attachment 2 - North Bay Cities

Attachment 3 - Select Northern California Cities (Uploaded 1-4-2022)

Attachment 4 - Berkeley Measure JJ (November 2020) (Uploaded 1-4-2022)

Attachment 5 - Presentation 1/5/2022 Meeting

This item was continued to the April 13, 2022, meeting.

4.4

PROPOSED SCHEDULE

In its work thus far, the Committee has considered and given staff

direction on three issues that were recommended by the Council for

consideration, including Council compensation, direct elect Mayor,

and ranked choice voting. In addition, the Committee has identified

three additional issues as priorities for consideration, including voting

rights for non-citizens, frequency of Charter amendments, and

procedures for filling a Council vacancy. The City Attorney has also

recommended consideration of a measure to include more minor

amendments, designed to update, clarify and modernize the City

Charter.

This item will allow the Committee the opportunity to approve a work

plan for its remaining meetings.

Proposed Schedule

Attachments:

City Attorney Gallagher provided a proposed schedule of topics

for Committee discussion and informed the Committee the

Sonoma County Registrar of Voter Deva Provo will be presenting

information on non-citizen voting at the April 13 meeting.

No public comments were made.

A motion was made by Committee Member Weeks, seconded by

Committee Member Bartley, rescinding her request for a separate

discussion and vote on Section 10: Community Advisory Board and to

leave the language as currently reflected in the Charter.

The motion carried by the following vote:

18 -

Yes:

Chair Cisco, Committee Member Arrizon, Committee Member

Barbour, Committee Member Badenfort, Committee Member

Bartley, Committee Member Byrne, Committee Member

Condron, Committee Member Diaz, Committee Member Gudino,

Committee Member Klose, Committee Member Martinez,

Committee Member Mazzia, Committee Member Miller,

Committee Member Olivares, Committee Member Pitts,

Committee Member Villalobos, Committee Member Walsh and

Committee Member Weeks

1 - Committee Member Minor

No:

2 - Committee Member Cunningham and Committee Member Ling

Absent:

5. COMMITTEE CHAIR'S/CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORTS

No reports were made.

6. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS - NONE.

7. WRITTEN AND/OR ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS - NONE.

8. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

April 13:

Voting Rights for Non-Citizens

Council Compensation

April 27:

Voting Rights for Non-Citizens (if needed)

Council Compensation (if needed)

May 11:

Possible final meeting and continued discussion of items if needed.