637 First Street,  
Santa Rosa, CA  
City of Santa Rosa  
Economic Development Subcommittee  
Regular Meeting Minutes - Draft  
Tuesday, November 12, 2024  
10:00 AM  
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL  
Chair Rogers called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m.  
2. REMOTE PARTICIPATION UNDER AB 2449 (IF NEEDED)  
None.  
3. MODIFICATIONS TO AGENDA  
None.  
4. ANNOUNCEMENTS  
Gabe Osburn, Director of Planning and Economic Development,  
spoke about staffing of the Economic Development Division.  
Chair Rogers opened and closed public comment at 10:02 a.m.  
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
5.1  
September 10, 2024 - Draft Minutes.  
Approved as submitted.  
Chair Rogers opened and closed public comment at 10:02 a.m.  
6. PUBLIC COMMENTS  
Chair Rogers opened public comment at 10:02 a.m.  
Gig Hitao asked about what metrics the City was using to track  
Economic Development.  
Chair Rogers expressed that this topic would be covered within the  
agenda.  
Chair Rogers closed public comment at 10:03 a.m.  
7. NEW BUSINESS  
7.1  
Economic Development Strategy Implementation Plan Update  
Chief Economic Development Officer Adair will give an update on the  
Economic Development Strategy Implementation Plan.  
Recommendation: Information Only  
Chief Economic Development Officer Scott Adair and Director  
Osburn presented.  
Committee Members offered comments and feedback.  
Chair Rogers opened public comment at 10:10 a.m.  
Gig Hitao asked about metrics used for tracking the economic health  
of Santa Rosa.  
Staff Adair explained the various metrics used by the City.  
Chair Rogers closed public comment at 10:12 a.m.  
7.2  
Business Attractions Retention and Expansion Update  
Chief Economic Development Officer Adair will give an update on  
business retention and expansion.  
Recommendation: Information Only.  
Staff Adair reported.  
Staff Adair and Assistant City Manager Daryel Dunston responded  
to Committee Member inquiries.  
Committee Members provided comments and feedback.  
Staff adair and Assistant City Attorney Ashle Crocker responded to  
Committee Member inquiries.  
Chair Rogers opened public comment at 10:32 a.m.  
Charles Evans spoke regarding recruiting existing businesses to  
Santa Rosa.  
Gig Hitao inquired on zoning issues regarding the city limit of Santa  
Rosa.  
Chair Rogers closed public comment at 10:33 a.m.  
Chair Rogers, Staff Adair, and Director Osburn responded to public  
comment.  
7.3  
Entrepreneurship and Small Business Update  
Chief Economic Development Officer Adair will give an update on  
entrepreneurship and small business.  
Recommendation: Information Only.  
Staff Adair reported.  
Committee Members provided comments and feedback.  
Assistant City Manager Dunston responded to Committee Member  
inquiries.  
Chair Rogers opened public comment at 10:44 a.m.  
Gig Hitao asked about the City's definitions of "small business" or  
"entrepreneur."  
Charles Evans spoke regarding the City's permitting practices and  
fees.  
Chair Rogers closed public comment at 10:47 a.m.  
Staff Adair responded to public comment.  
7.4  
Economic Vibrancy and Resiliency Update  
Chief Economic Development Officer Adair will give an update on  
Economic Vibrancy and Resiliency.  
Recommendation: Information Only.  
Staff Adair reported.  
Committee Members provided comments and feedback.  
Chair Rogers opened and closed public comment at 11:00 a.m.  
7.5  
7.6  
7.7  
Community Investment Update  
Chief Economic Development Officer Adair will give an update on  
Community Investment.  
Recommendation: Information Only  
Staff Adair and Assistant City Manager Dunston reported.  
Committee Members offered comments and feedback.  
Chair Rogers opened public comment at 11:15 a.m.  
Gig Hitao spoke about wanting to eliminate parking tickets.  
Charles Evants proposed issuing parking tickets as credits to  
parking garages.  
Chair Rogers closed public comment at 11:18 a.m.  
KPI Tracking  
Chief Economic Development Officer Adair will give an update on key  
economic indicators.  
Recommendation: Information Only.  
Staff Adair presented.  
Committee Members offered comments and feedback.  
Staff Adair and Assistant City Manager dunston responded to  
Committee Member inquiries.  
Chair Rogers opened public comment at 11:28 a.m.  
Gig Hitao spoke regarding the complexity of different economic  
indicators.  
Chair Rogers closed public comment at 11:31 a.m.  
Vacant Parcel Strategies and Pop-Up Program  
Chief Economic Development Officer Adair will seek guidance from the  
Subcommittee on vacant parcel strategies and a potential pop-up  
program.  
Study Session: Discussion  
Staff Adair presented.  
Committee Members provided comments and feedback.  
Assistant City Manager Dunston and Director Osburn responded to  
Committee Member inquiries.  
Chair Rogers opened public comment at 11:42 a.m.  
Charles Evans spoke in favor of the proposed program.  
Chair Rogers closed public comment at 11:43 a.m.  
8. MATTERS HELD IN COMMITTEE  
None.  
9. DEPARTMENT REPORTS  
Staff Adair reported on the overall goals and vision for the Economic  
Development Division.  
Committee Members provided comments and feedback.  
Chair Rogers opened public comment at 11:46 a.m.  
Gig Hitao thanked the Committee.  
Chair Rogers closed public comment at 11:46 a.m.  
10. ADJOURNMENT  
Chair Rogers adjourned the meeting at 11:46 a.m.