City Hall, Council Chamber  
100 Santa Rosa Avenue  
Santa Rosa, CA 95404  
City of Santa Rosa  
Economic Development Subcommittee  
Regular Meeting Minutes - Draft  
Monday, October 13, 2025  
9:00 AM  
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL  
Chair Okrepkie called the meeting to order at 9:01 am.  
2 - Chair Jeff Okrepkie, and Council Member Victoria Fleming  
Present:  
1 - Committee Member Eddie Alvarez  
Absent:  
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 - August 11, 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  
Presentation: Local Preference Policy and Purchasing Overview  
Receive a report out and presentation on the City of Santa Rosa’s Local  
Preference Policy and other purchasing procedures from the Finance  
team.  
Recommended Action: Discussion  
Deputy Director of Finance Scott Wagner and Purchasing Agent  
Jennifer Myles 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  
Target Industries List  
Receive a draft copy of the Target Industries list for the 2026 Business  
Recruitment plan from the Economic Development Division and provide  
staff with feedback.  
Recommended Action: Discussion  
Chief Economic Development Officer Scott Adair presented  
Staff responded to Committee Member inquiries.  
Chair Okrepkie opened public comment.  
Janice Karrman provided comments.  
Chair Okrepkie closed public comment.  
Committee Members provided comments and feedback.  
Annual District Survey Results  
9.2  
Receive a staff report on the Annual District Survey Results from the  
Economic Development Division.  
Recommended Action: Discussion  
Program Analyst Rachel Beer presented.  
Chair Okrepkie opened and closed public comment.  
Committee Members provided comments and feedback.  
9.3  
Downtown Infill Housing Economic and Fiscal Impact Study - Close Out  
Report  
Receive update and copy of close out report for the Downtown Infill  
Housing Economic and Fiscal Impact Study.  
Recommended Action: Informational  
Staff Adair presented.  
Chair Okrepkie opened and closed public comment.  
Committee Members provided comments and feedback.  
Second Sundays  
9.4  
Receive update and copy of close out report for Second Sundays.  
Recommended Action: Informational  
Staff Beer and Staff Adair presented.  
Chair Okrepkie opened public comment.  
Janice Karrman provided comments.  
Cadance Allinson provided comments.  
Chair Okrepkie closed public comment.  
Committee Members provided comments and feedback.  
Business Concierge Program  
9.5  
Receive update and copy of six-month progress report for the Business  
Concierge Program.  
Recommended Action: Informational  
Small Business Ombudsman Rafael Rivero and Staff Adair  
presented.  
Staff responded to Committee Member inquiries.  
Chair Okrepkie opened public comment.  
Janice Karrman provided comments.  
Cadance Allinson provided comments  
Chair Okrepkie closed public comment.  
Planning and Economic Development Director Gabe Osburn  
responded to Committee Member inquiries.  
Committee Members provided comments and feedback.  
Art & Culture initiatives  
9.6  
Receive update from staff on various Art and Culture initiatives.  
Recommended Action: Informational  
Arts and Culture Coordinator Meredith Knudsen presented.  
Chair Okrepkie opened public comment.  
Janice Karrman provided comments.  
Cadance Allinson provided comments.  
Chair Okrepkie closed public comment.  
Committee Members provided comments and feedback.  
Other Updates and Announcements  
9.7  
Receive other updates and announcements related to:  
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United Soccer League (USL)  
Asawa panels  
Findings on fountain placement in courthouse square  
Permit process improvements (Director Level Permit)  
Entertainment Zone due diligence  
Conversations with childcare partners  
Quarterly Report online  
Recommended Action: Informational  
Staff Adair, Staff Osburn, and Staff Knudsen presented.  
Chair Okrepkie opened and closed public comment.  
Committee Members provided comments and feedback.  
10. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS  
Chair Okrepkie proposed an agenda item regarding graffiti visible  
from the SMART train.  
Staff Osburn provided comments regarding the proposed agenda  
item.  
Chair Okrepkie opened public comment.  
Janice Karrman provided comments.  
Chair Okrepkie closed public comment.  
11. ADJOURNMENT  
Chair Okrepkie adjourned the meeting at 10:42 am.