Finley Center  
City of Santa Rosa  
2060 W. College Ave.  
Senior Wing Auditorium  
Santa Rosa Violence Prevention  
Partnership  
Regular Meeting Minutes - Final  
Wednesday, September 18, 2024  
9:00 AM  
9:00 A.M.  
1. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS  
Chair MacDonald called the meeting to order at 9:02am.  
2. PUBLIC COMMENT  
Carolyn Spencer commented on the lack of public meeting after the  
recent Elsie Allen High School incident and commented on the  
treatment of these students by the Santa Rosa Police Department  
during and after the investigation.  
3. VIOLENCE PREVENTION PARTNERSHIP UPDATES  
Program Manager Danielle Garduño shared that the CHOICE Cycle XII  
funding recommendations are to be presented to the City Council on  
September 24, 2024. There is a Request for Proposals out to the public for  
Street Outreach and Crisis Response work that will close on September 23,  
2024. The Partnership is holding the annual Violence Prevention Seminar on  
October 10, 2024.  
4. SCHEDULED ITEMS  
4.1 CLIMATE UPDATE  
The Santa Rosa Police Department, Captain Marincik, reported  
calls for service increase by 6% year over year, arrests of youth  
and juveniles are down by 4% and firearm seizures have  
increased. Investigations have been furthered by the STOPit App  
at schools. Graffiti has been increasing around town and in other  
jurisdictions.  
Sonoma County Probation, Vanessa Fuchs, reports other  
communities have been observing a rise in the number of youth  
detained, especially women. Brad Michnevich reported Sonoma  
County Juvenile Hall currently holds 68 youth, with four from out  
of county.  
Deputy Director of Transit in Santa Rosa, Rachel Ede, reported  
the temporary relocation of the transit mall has led to a reduction  
of problematic activity there though there is an increase in reports  
of youth tagging in city busses.  
District Attorney's Office reports the Keeping Kids in School  
program has been successful in truancy mediation. Legislature  
changes are being made to support restorative justice that will not  
re-traumatize victims. This office is working with the Sonoma  
County Office of Education on developing a crisis response plan.  
The Public Defender's Office announced a need for mentors for  
youth.  
inRESPONSE reported an increase in calls for service this past  
month due in part to school being back in session.  
The Santa Rosa Plaza staff reported a decline in juvenile issues  
at their site in the last months but an increase in youth  
experiencing homelessness around the mall property.  
Superintendent of Santa Rosa City Schools, Dr. Morales, thanked  
the Violence Prevention Partnership for their response to the  
recent Elsie Allen High School incident and for mental health  
support provided to the students. Santa Rosa City Schools will  
hold an all-staff professional development day to focus on  
implementing safety strategies.  
April Santos, Montgomery High School Principal, reported that  
campus culture has improved in the last two years. She  
commented the campus' no cell phone policy is supporting an  
increase in participation. Superintendent Morales announced  
intent to unify Santa Rosa City Schools' cell phone policy.  
Danielle Garduño detailed the Partnership's response to the  
recent incident at Elsie Allen High School including deploying the  
Safe Campus Intervention Program (SCIP) team and arranging  
two wellness events on-campus for students, calling for  
participation in the second upcoming event.  
Community Outreach Specialists Juan Flores and Rogelio  
Roman shared SCIP has been on campus sites in preparation for  
launching up to eight youth empowerment groups this fall.  
Raul Guerrero reported the Roseland School District completed  
their fencing project to increase physical security around all  
campuses.  
Public Comment:  
Carolyn Spencer objected to comments made by Montgomery  
High School Principal and to the district's categorization of  
students as gang involved.  
Anabel Nunez asked what are schools doing to prevent the Santa  
Rosa Police Department misconduct towards students,  
specifically interrogating students without their parent present.  
4.2 WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY  
Danielle Garduño shared about the Violence Prevention  
Partnership's attendance of the Global Homeboy Industries  
Network Conference and their approach to workforce  
development. She announced the Partnership's plan to start a  
working group before opening discussion to the whole group.  
Partners made suggestions and expressed interest.  
Public Comment:  
Lara Mayellian from the Sonoma County Library promoted the  
library's resources that could help workforce development  
efforts.  
Carolyn Spencer commented on the need for financial literacy  
programs, partnership with unions, stipends and making sure  
gang-impacted youth have a place in any workforce development  
programs.  
Anabel Nunez commented on alternative education programs and  
the available lived-experience experts in the community.  
5. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS  
Upcoming Meeting Date:  
November 20, 2024  
6. ADJOURN  
Meeting was adjourned by Chair MacDonald at 10:35am.  
The City of Santa Rosa does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admissions or access to, or treatment of or  
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) 543-3278 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.