City Hall, Council Chamber  
100 Santa Rosa Avenue  
Santa Rosa, CA 95404  
City of Santa Rosa  
Economic Development Subcommittee  
Regular Meeting Minutes - Final  
Monday, August 11, 2025  
9:00 AM  
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL  
Chair Okrepkie called the meeting to order at 9:03 am.  
Rollcall  
2 - Chair Jeff Okrepkie, and Council Member Victoria Fleming  
Present:  
Absent:  
1 - Committee Member Eddie Alvarez  
2. REMOTE PARTICIPATION UNDER AB 2449 (IF NEEDED)  
None.  
3. MODIFICATIONS TO AGENDA  
None.  
4. ANNOUNCEMENTS  
None.  
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
5.1  
Draft minutes - June 9, 2025.  
Approved as submitted.  
Chair Okrepkie opened and closed public comment.  
6. PUBLIC COMMENTS  
Chair Okrepkie opened and closed public comment.  
7. MATTERS HELD IN COMMITTEE  
None.  
8. PARTNER REPORTS  
8.1  
Sales Tax Overview Report  
Staff from the City of Santa Rosa Finance Department will give an  
overview of how sales tax works in Santa Rosa.  
Recommended Action: Information Only..  
Scott Wagner, Deputy Director of Finance, presented.  
Staff responded to Committee Member inquiries.  
Chair Okrepkie opened and closed public comment.  
Committee Members provided comments and feedback.  
9. DEPARTMENT REPORTS  
9.1  
Economic Development Strategy Implementation Plan Update  
Economic Development staff will provide an update on the  
implementation plan for the Council-adopted Economic Development  
Strategy and progress made since the last subcommittee meeting.  
Recommended Action: Information and Discussion.  
Rachel Beer, Program Analyst, presented.  
Chair Okrepkie opened and closed public comment.  
Metrics and Indicators: Draft Quarterly Economic Report  
9.2  
Economic Development Staff will present a final draft of the quarterly  
Economic Development Report for the subcommittee's review.  
Recommended Action: Information and Discussion.  
Scott Adair, Chief Economic Development Officer, and staff Beer  
presented.  
Committee Members provided comments and feedback.  
Chair Okrepkie opened and closed public comment.  
Vacant Space Activation: Rank and Review Options  
9.3  
Economic Development staff will present options for activating vacant  
spaces to the Subcommittee for them to rank and review.  
Recommended Action: Information and Discussion.  
Staff Adair presented.  
Staff responded to Committee Member inquiries.  
Chair Okrepkie opened public comment.  
AJ Trombetta provided comments.  
Chair Okrepkie closed public comment.  
Committee Members provided comments and feedback.  
Entertainment Zones  
9.4  
Staff will provide an update on Entertainment Zones and receive  
feedback from the Committee.  
Recommended Action: Information and Discussion.  
Director of Planning and Economic Development Gabe Osburn  
reported.  
Staff responded to Committee Member inquiries.  
Chair Okrepkie opened and closed public comment.  
Committee Members provided comments and feedback.  
9.5  
Program Updates  
a. Business Attraction, Retention and Expansion Update.  
b. Entrepreneurship and Small Business Update.  
c. Economic Vibrancy and Resiliency Update (Events).  
d. Community Investment Update (Art & Culture).  
Economic Development staff will provide general updates on other  
programs and initiatives as related to the categories defined in the  
Council-adopted Economic Development Strategy.  
Recommended Action: Information Only.  
Staff Adair presented.  
Chair Okrepkie opened public comment.  
Gig Hitao provided comments.  
Chair Okrepkie closed public comment.  
Committee Members provided comments and feedback.  
Other Updates or Announcements  
9.6  
Economic Development staff will provide other relevant updates or  
announcements to Economic Development Subcommittee.  
Recommended Action: Information Only.  
Staff Adair reported.  
Chair Okrepkie opened and closed public comment.  
10. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS  
Staff Adair and Osburn discussed possible future agenda items and  
staff presentations.  
Chair Okrepkie opened and closed public comment.  
11. ADJOURNMENT  
Chair Okrepkie adjourned the meeting at 10:41 am.  
Approved on: October 13, 2025  
/s Jack Reynolds, Recording Secretary