City Hall, Council Chamber  
100 Santa Rosa Avenue  
Santa Rosa, CA 95404  
City of Santa Rosa  
City Council  
Regular Meeting Minutes - Final  
Tuesday, November 28, 2023  
3:00 PM  
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL  
Mayor N. Rogers called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m.  
7 -  
Present:  
Mayor Natalie Rogers, Vice Mayor Dianna MacDonald, Council  
Member Eddie Alvarez, Council Member Victoria Fleming, Council  
Member Jeff Okrepkie, Council Member Chris Rogers, and Council  
Member Mark Stapp  
2. ANNOUNCEMENT OF CLOSED SESSION ITEMS  
PUBLIC COMMENT:  
Thomas Ells spoke on Item 2.2.  
Council Member Alvarez joined the meeting at 3:01 p.m.  
Mayor N. Rogers recessed the meeting to closed session at  
3:02 p.m. to discuss Items 2.1 and 2.2 as listed on the agenda.  
2.1  
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION  
(Paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Government Code Section 54956.9)  
Name of Case: Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) Product Liability  
Litigation (MDL 2873)  
District Court for the District of South Carolina Court Case No. Master  
Docket No. 2:18-MN-2873-RMG  
This item was received and filed.  
2.2  
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION  
Initiation of litigation pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (d) of  
Government Code Section 54956.9: one case  
Potential litigation against 3M Company and E.I. Du Pont de Nemours  
and Company (n/k/a EIDP, Inc.), DuPont de Nemours Inc., The  
Chemours Company, The Chemours Company FC, LLC, and Corteva,  
Inc. (collectively, “DuPont”) Related to Per and Poly-Fluoroalkyl  
Substances ("PFAS")  
This item was received and filed.  
Mayor N. Rogers adjourned closed session at 3:54 p.m. and reconvened the  
meeting to open session at 4:01 p.m.  
3. STUDY SESSION - NONE.  
4. ANNOUNCEMENT OF ROLL CALL (IF NEEDED)  
6 -  
Present:  
Mayor Natalie Rogers, Vice Mayor Dianna MacDonald, Council  
Member Eddie Alvarez, Council Member Victoria Fleming, Council  
Member Jeff Okrepkie, and Council Member Mark Stapp  
1 - Council Member Chris Rogers  
Absent:  
5. REPORT, IF ANY, ON STUDY AND CLOSED SESSIONS  
Teresa Stricker, City Attorney, reported that on Item 2.2 Council  
determined by unanimous vote to opt-out of the two class action  
settlements against DuPont and 3M Company, and no other  
reportable action was taken.  
No public comments were made.  
6. PROCLAMATIONS/PRESENTATIONS - NONE.  
7. STAFF BRIEFINGS  
7.1  
TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS CAPITAL PROJECTS  
OVERVIEW  
Staff will provide a statistical overview of current capital projects as well  
as additional detail of specific projects. No action will be taken except  
for possible direction to staff.  
Presentation  
Attachments:  
James Jensen, Deputy Director - Transportation and Public Works  
Engineering Services, Greg Mariscal - Supervising Engineer, and  
Lisa Welsh - Supervising Engineer, presented and answered  
questions from Council.  
Council Member C. Rogers joined the meeting at 4:08 p.m.  
Thomas Ells spoke on Item 7.1 and showed several maps of  
highway crossings.  
Peter Allen spoke in support of Item 7.1 and CIP projects, and  
requested the process on how to make a service request.  
This item was received and filed.  
7 -  
Present:  
Mayor Natalie Rogers, Vice Mayor Dianna MacDonald, Council  
Member Eddie Alvarez, Council Member Victoria Fleming, Council  
Member Jeff Okrepkie, Council Member Chris Rogers, and Council  
Member Mark Stapp  
8. CITY MANAGER’S/CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORTS  
Maraskeshia Smith, City Manager, provided a brief report on the  
upcoming Transit "Stuff the Bus" event on December 2 at City Hall  
from 9am-3pm in partnership with Toys for Tots, and the 48th  
Annual Handmade Holiday Craft Fairs at the Finley Center on  
December 2 and 3.  
City Attorney Stricker had no report.  
9. STATEMENTS OF ABSTENTION BY COUNCIL MEMBERS  
Council Member Alvarez announced his abstention on Item 14.1  
due to his business being in the cannabis industry.  
10. MAYOR'S/COUNCIL MEMBERS’ REPORTS  
Vice Mayor MacDonald provided a brief report on recent events  
attended.  
No public comments were made.  
10.1 MAYOR'S/COUNCIL MEMBERS' SUBCOMMITTEE AND LIAISON  
REPORTS (AND POSSIBLE COUNCIL DIRECTION TO BOARD  
REPRESENTATIVE ON PENDING ISSUES, IF NEEDED)  
10.1.1 Council Subcommittee Reports  
10.1.2 Sonoma County Transportation Authority/Regional Climate  
Protection Authority (SCTA/RCPA)  
10.1.3 Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) - Water Advisory Committee  
10.1.4 Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG)  
10.1.5 Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District  
Advisory Committee  
10.1.6 Sonoma Clean Power Authority (SCPA)  
10.1.7 Zero Waste Sonoma (formerly known as Sonoma County Waste  
Management Agency (SCWMA))  
Vice Mayor MacDonald provided a brief report.  
10.1.8 Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA)  
10.1.9 Sonoma County Continuum of Care (CoC)  
10.1.10 Renewal Enterprise District (RED)  
10.1.11 Public Safety Subcommittee  
10.1.12 Other  
11. APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
11.1  
November 14, 2023, Regular Meeting Minutes.  
Draft Minutes  
Attachments:  
No public comments were made.  
Approved as submitted.  
12. CONSENT ITEMS  
No public comments were made.  
Approval of the Consent Agenda  
A motion was made by Vice Mayor MacDonald, seconded by Council  
Member Rogers, to waive reading of the text and adopt Consent Items 12.1  
through 12.3.  
The motion carried by the following vote:  
7 -  
Yes:  
Mayor Natalie Rogers, Vice Mayor Dianna MacDonald, Council  
Member Eddie Alvarez, Council Member Victoria Fleming, Council  
Member Jeff Okrepkie, Council Member Chris Rogers, and Council  
Member Mark Stapp  
12.1  
RESOLUTION - APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE CITY’S  
SALARY PLAN AND SCHEDULE  
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended by the Human Resources  
Department that the Council, by resolution, approve and adopt the  
amended City of Santa Rosa Salary Plan and Schedule.  
Staff Report  
Resolution  
Exhibit A  
Attachments:  
This Consent - Resolution was adopted.  
RESOLUTION NO. RES-2023-189 ENTITLED: RESOLUTION OF THE  
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA APPROVING AND ADOPTING  
THE CITY'S SALARY PLAN AND SCHEDULE  
12.2  
RESOLUTION - APPROVAL OF SECOND AMENDMENT TO  
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH GREEN VALLEY  
CONSULTING ENGINEERS, INC. CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT  
AND INSPECTION SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH FIRE DAMAGED  
ROADWAY LANDSCAPING  
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended by the Transportation and  
Public Works Department that the Council, by resolution, approve a  
Second Amendment to Professional Services Agreement Number  
F002460 with Green Valley Consulting Engineers, Inc. of Santa Rosa,  
California, for Construction Management and Inspection Services  
associated with the Fire Damaged Roadway Landscaping Project,  
increasing compensation in the amount of $384,890, for a total contract  
amount not to exceed $1,031,932.  
Staff Report  
Attachments:  
Attachment 1 - Location Map  
Resolution  
Exhibit A - Second Amendment to PSA  
This Consent - Resolution was adopted.  
RESOLUTION NO. RES-2023-190 ENTITLED: RESOLUTION OF THE  
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA APPROVING A SECOND  
AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT NUMBER  
F002460 WITH GREEN VALLEY CONSULTING ENGINEERS, INC. OF  
SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA, FOR CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AND  
INSPECTION SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE FIRE DAMAGED  
ROADWAY LANDSCAPING PROJECT  
12.3  
ORDINANCE ADOPTION SECOND READING- ORDINANCE OF THE  
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA AMENDING TITLE 20 OF  
THE SANTA ROSA CITY CODE TO EXTEND THE EXPIRATION  
DATE OF ZONING CODE CHAPTER 20-16, RESILIENT CITY  
DEVELOPMENT MEASURES, AND ZONING CODE SECTION  
20-28.100, RESILIENT CITY (-RC) COMBINING DISTRICT, BY ONE  
YEAR, FROM DECEMBER 31, 2023 TO DECEMBER 31, 2024  
RECOMMENDATION: This ordinance, introduced at the November 14,  
2023, Regular Meeting by a 7-0-0 vote, extends Zoning Code Chapter  
20-16, Resilient City Development Measures and Zoning Code Section  
20-28.100, -RC Combining District for a period of one year, until  
December 31, 2024, to allow additional time to complete a  
comprehensive update and recommendations to Council, including  
additional community and developer outreach, for codification of both  
Ordinances into appropriate sections of the Zoning Code, with no  
sunset date.  
Ordinance  
Attachments:  
This Consent - Ordinance was adopted on second reading.  
ORDINANCE NO. ORD-2023-015 ENTITLED: ORDINANCE OF THE  
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA AMENDING TITLE 20 OF THE  
SANTA ROSA CITY CODE TO EXTEND THE EXPIRATION DATE OF ZONING  
CODE CHAPTER 20-16, RESILIENT CITY DEVELOPMENT MEASURES,  
AND ZONING CODE SECTION 20-28.100, RESILIENT CITY (-RC)  
COMBINING DISTRICT, BY ONE YEAR, FROM DECEMBER 31, 2023 TO  
DECEMBER 31, 2024  
Mayor N. Rogers announced that as the time not being 5:00p.m. Item 14.1 would  
be heard before Item 13.  
14. REPORT ITEMS  
14.1  
REPORT - CANNABIS EQUITY ASSESSMENT  
BACKGROUND: On March 1, 2022, the Council, by Resolution No.  
RES-2022-042, granted approval to accept a Type 1 grant of $75,000  
from the California Governor's Office of Business and Economic  
Development (GO-Biz) and authorized the City Manager to execute the  
Standard Agreement. This funding was allocated for the purpose of  
conducting a cannabis equity assessment, which has been prepared for  
the Council’s acceptance. The City would become eligible to apply for  
Type 2 grant funding which would be dispersed to eligible applicants  
following acceptance of the Cannabis Equity Assessment and the  
creation and adoption of a cannabis equity program.  
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended by the Planning and  
Economic Development Department that the Council, by resolution: 1)  
accept the City of Santa Rosa Cannabis Equity Assessment; and 2)  
direct staff to prepare a cannabis equity program.  
Staff Report  
Attachments:  
Attachment 1 - Grant Solicitation for Cannabis Equity Program  
Resolution  
Exhibit A - Cannabis Equity Assessment  
Presentation  
REVISED Resolution_Redline (UPLOADED 11-29-2023)  
REVISED Resolution_CLEAN (UPLOADED 11-29-2023)  
Late Correspondence (Uploaded 11-30-2023)  
Council Member Alvarez left the dais at 4:44 p.m.  
Jessica Jones, Deputy Director - Planning, Monet Sheikhali, Senior  
Planner, Gabe Osburn, Interim Director - Planning and Economic  
Development, and Kyle Tankard, SCI Consulting Group, presented  
and answered questions from Council.  
PUBLIC COMMENT:  
Thomas Ells spoke on the item and suggested that cannabis may  
not be the right industry to start an equity assessment within the City.  
Moses Flickenger spoke in support of the item and requested that it  
be expedited.  
A motion was made by Council Member Rogers, seconded by Council  
Member Fleming, to waive reading of the text and adopt  
RESOLUTION ENTITLED: RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY  
OF SANTA ROSA ACCEPTING THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA CANNABIS  
EQUITY ASSESSMENT AND DIRECTING STAFF TO PREPARE A  
CANNABIS EQUITY PROGRAM. The motion failed by the following vote:  
3 -  
Yes:  
Mayor Natalie Rogers, Council Member Victoria Fleming, and  
Council Member Chris Rogers  
3 -  
No:  
Vice Mayor Dianna MacDonald, Council Member Jeff Okrepkie, and  
Council Member Mark Stapp  
1 - Council Member Eddie Alvarez  
Abstain:  
After Item 14.2 was heard, City Manager Smith requested  
through the Mayor that Council return to Item 14.1 for additional  
discussion.  
Council Member Alvarez left the dais.  
At the request of staff, City Attorney Stricker made a  
recommendation that Council adopt an amended resolution to  
accept the Cannabis Equity Assessment only which was part of  
the Type 1 grant requirements.  
A motion was made by Council Member Rogers, seconded by Mayor  
Rogers, to waive reading of the text and adopt  
RESOLUTION NO. RES-2023-191 ENTITLED: RESOLUTION OF THE  
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA ACCEPTING THE CITY OF  
SANTA ROSA CANNABIS EQUITY ASSESSMENT.  
The motion carried by the following vote:  
6 -  
Yes:  
Mayor Natalie Rogers, Vice Mayor Dianna MacDonald, Council  
Member Victoria Fleming, Council Member Jeff Okrepkie,  
Council Member Chris Rogers, and Council Member Mark Stapp  
1 - Council Member Eddie Alvarez  
Abstain:  
13. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA MATTERS  
Thomas Ells spoke on the Hearn highway overcrossing.  
Peter Allen spoke on 805 White Oak Drive easement and notice of  
violation.  
Council Member Alvarez returned to the dais at 5:51 p.m.  
14.2  
REPORT - HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP - AMERICAN  
RESCUE PLAN (HOME-ARP) FUNDING AWARDS  
BACKGROUND: In Fiscal Year 2021/2022, the City was awarded  
$2,737,433 in HOME Investment Partnership American Rescue Plan  
(HOME-ARP) funds by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban  
Development (HUD). Through HUD’s required consultation and public  
participation process, the City developed a HOME-ARP Allocation Plan  
(Plan) which identified the use of HOME-ARP funds for supportive  
services, specifically focusing on homelessness prevention. On  
February 28, 2023, Council authorized submittal of the Plan to HUD. On  
August 31, 2023, a Request for Proposals (RFP) was released, with a  
due date of October 2, 2023, and sought proposals from qualified and  
experienced organizations to provide supportive services starting  
January 1, 2024. Two proposals were received, one from COTS and  
one from CCDSR. Based on the review and scoring of the proposals,  
staff recommends funding awards to COTS and CCDSR in the  
respective amounts of $711,375 and $1,615,444 for an eighteen-month  
period January 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025.  
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended by the Housing and  
Community Services Department that the Council, by resolution: 1)  
approve a Grant Agreement for the HOME-ARP Program with  
Committee on the Shelterless (COTS) in the amount of $711,375 for an  
eighteen-month period January 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025; 2) approve a  
Grant Agreement for the HOME-ARP Program with Catholic Charities of  
the Diocese of Santa Rosa (CCDSR) in the amount of $1,615,444 for  
an eighteen-month period January 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025; and 3)  
authorize the Director of Housing and Community Services to execute  
the grant agreements for HOME-ARP Program funds with COTS and  
CCDSR in the total amount of $2,326,819.  
Staff Report  
Attachments:  
Attachment 1 - Request for Proposals  
Resolution  
Exhibit A  
Exhibit B  
Presentation  
Sasha Brown, Program Specialist Housing and Community  
Services, and Kelli Kuykendall, Housing and Community Services  
Manager, presented and answered questions from Council.  
PUBLIC COMMENTS:  
Jennielynn Holmes, Catholic Charities, spoke in support of the item  
and spoke of the services that this agreement affords them to  
provide to the community.  
Sanford Robinson, COTS, spoke in support of the item.  
Thomas Ells spoke in support of the item and allocation of funds  
and miscellaneous accounting and reporting requirements of  
receiving these funds.  
A motion was made by Council Member Fleming, seconded by Vice Mayor  
MacDonald, to waive reading of the text and adopt  
RESOLUTION NO. RES-2023-192 ENTITLED: RESOLUTION OF THE  
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA APPROVING TWO GRANT  
AGREEMENTS FOR THE HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP - AMERICAN  
RESCUE PLAN (HOME-ARP) PROGRAM WITH COMMITTEE ON THE  
SHELTERLESS AND CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE DIOCESE OF SANTA  
ROSA IN THE RESPECTIVE AMOUNTS OF $711,375 AND $1,615,444 FOR  
AN EIGHTEEN-MONTH PERIOD JANUARY 1, 2024 TO JUNE 30, 2025  
The motion carried by the following vote:  
7 -  
Yes:  
Mayor Natalie Rogers, Vice Mayor Dianna MacDonald, Council  
Member Eddie Alvarez, Council Member Victoria Fleming, Council  
Member Jeff Okrepkie, Council Member Chris Rogers, and Council  
Member Mark Stapp  
15. PUBLIC HEARINGS - NONE.  
16. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS - NONE.  
17. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA MATTERS  
None.  
10.2 ELECTION OF VICE MAYOR  
10.2.1  
The Council, in accordance with the City’s Charter Section 15 and  
the City Council Manual of Protocols and Procedures, will elect a  
Vice Mayor from among its members. The Vice Mayor will serve a  
term of one year.  
Memorandum  
Attachment  
Attachments:  
Mayor N. Rogers acknowledged Vice Mayor MacDonald's work in  
the position as Vice Mayor.  
Vice Mayor MacDonald provided brief comments.  
No public comments were made.  
A motion was made by Council Member C. Rogers, seconded by  
Council Member Okrepkie, to nominate Council Member Stapp as Vice  
Mayor. Council Member Stapp accepted the nomination. There were no  
other nominations therefore Council Member Stapp was selected as  
Vice Mayor by unanimous consent.  
18. ANNOUNCEMENT OF CONTINUED CLOSED SESSION ITEMS, RECESS TO  
CLOSED SESSION IN THE MAYOR’S CONFERENCE ROOM, RECONVENE TO  
OPEN SESSION, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS [IF NEEDED]  
19. ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING  
Mayor N. Rogers adjourned the meeting at 6:25 p.m. in honor of  
Frances Diaz, former Planning Commissioner for the City of Santa  
Rosa. The next regular meeting will be held on December 5, 2023,  
at time set by the Mayor.  
20. UPCOMING MEETINGS  
20.1  
UPCOMING MEETINGS LIST  
Upcoming Meetings List  
Attachments:  
This item was received and filed.  
Approved on: December 12, 2023  
/s/ Dina Manis, City Clerk