OpenPublica

Accountability starts with access.

© 2026 · Filed for the public record

Use casesAboutAPIPrivacyTermsLinkedIn
Home/Santa Rosa, California/City Council
OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Santa Rosa City Council Regular Meeting Summary - August 8, 2023

City Council — Tuesday, August 8, 2023
BodySanta Rosa, California
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, August 8, 2023
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 5:52:54

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
1:08

Rhonda, do you want to have the interpreters make the announcement, please afternoon?

1:15

I'd like to ask the interpreter currently on the Spanish channel to commence translation of the meeting.

1:21

For those just joining the meeting, live translation in Spanish is available, and members of the public or staff wishing to listen in Spanish can join the Spanish channel by clicking on the interpretation icon in the Zoom toolbar.

1:34

It looks like a globe.

2:40

Okay, so welcome.

2:41

Thank you very much.

2:43

Madam City Clerk, may you please call the roll.

2:46

Councilmember Stapp.

2:47

Here.

2:48

Councilmember Rogers.

2:54

Councilmember O'Krepke.

2:55

Here.

2:55

Councilmember Fleming.

2:57

Here.

2:57

Councilmember Alvarez.

2:59

Present.

2:59

Mayor or Vice Mayor McDonald.

3:01

Here.

3:02

And Mayor Rogers.

3:03

Present.

3:03

Let the record show that all council members are present with the exception of Councilmember Rogers.

3:08

We will continue to item two point one.

3:13

This item did not appear on the city's preliminary agenda.

3:17

So as a result, prior to consideration of the item, we need the council by motion to find good cause to consider the item.

3:24

Considerations for the council is making a good finding of good cause.

3:42

Madam City Clerk.

4:09

Thank you.

4:10

Vice Mayor McDonald, may you please make a motion to add two point one to our agenda.

4:16

I'd like to move that we add item two point one to our agenda since we are making a finding of good cause.

4:40

Councilmember O'Krepke.

5:04

Again, if you're in Council Chamber and you'd like to make a comment, please make your way to the podium.

5:08

If you are making a comment from Zoom, please tell Star Nine or raise your hand.

13:21

Welcome back.

13:22

Seeing a quorum, Madam City Clerk, may you please take the role.

13:26

Thank you.

13:28

Councilmember Stapp.

13:30

Councilmember Rogers.

13:33

Council Member O'Krepke.

13:34

Council Member Fleming.

13:36

Councilmember Alvarez.

13:40

Vice Mayor McDonald.

13:42

Here.

13:42

And Mayor Rogers.

13:44

Present.

13:44

Let the record show that all council members are present with the exception of Councilmember Alvarez.

13:49

Thank you.

15:00

And I'm once again, I'm here to try to watch and observe and support the housing authority and your selection of housing authority uh members.

15:10

Um I I don't have to convince you, but I think I'm just talking to the public that the role of the housing authority is supremely important to the city.

15:20

It helps build and maintains low-income housing.

15:25

Uh, and as such is central to the lives of people in the city.

15:30

And so I'm here in support of the housing authority and support of those who are trying to serve on it.

15:37

Uh, and I appreciate what you're doing today.

15:40

Thank you very much.

15:45

Thank you, Mayor.

15:46

I see no additional hands being raised via Zoom and no one else in council chamber approaching the podium.

15:52

Thank you.

15:52

We will start our interviews with Scott Wimmer for tenant commissioner at large.

16:10

Okay.

16:11

Looks easy.

16:20

Hello.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Homelessness█████████████████████████25%
Affordable Housing██████████████████18%
Procedural██████████████14%
Public Comment███████████11%
Parking Management██████████10%
Public Safety█████5%
Public Transportation█████5%
Public Engagement███3%
Legal Affairs███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Santa Rosa City Council Regular Meeting Summary - August 8, 2023

The Santa Rosa City Council met on August 8, 2023, from 2:33 PM to 9:19 PM. The meeting included a closed session, interviews for Housing Authority vacancies, a staff briefing, consent items, and three public hearings. Key actions included adoption of a revised camping ordinance, authorization of a grant application for paratransit vehicles, and denial of an appeal for a 36-unit apartment project.

Consent Calendar

  • Easement for Fire Station 5: Approved grant of easement to PG&E and AT&T and vacation of 1,086 sq ft of public utility easement (Resolutions RES-2023-135 and RES-2023-136).
  • Marketing Services Agreement: Approved third amendment with Belinda M. Fernandez, DBA Studio B, extending visitor marketing through June 30, 2024, with an additional $70,000 (total $322,000) (Resolution RES-2023-137).
  • Software Subscription: Approved first amendment with ePermitHub for electronic plan review software, extending two years for $93,250 (cumulative $192,456.66) (Resolution RES-2023-138).
  • Computer Equipment Purchase: Ratified and authorized continued cooperative purchase from Dell Marketing L.P. for up to $2,000,000 (total not-to-exceed $5,016,358.79) (Resolution RES-2023-139).
  • Legal Services: Approved professional services agreement with Sloan Sakai Yeung & Wong LLP for labor relations and employment law in an amount of $500,000 (Resolution RES-2023-140).
  • Homeless Emergency Extension: Approved extension of the local homeless emergency proclamation (Resolution RES-2023-141).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Housing Authority Interviews: Gregory Fearon spoke in support of the Housing Authority’s role.
  • Camping Ordinance (16.1): Over 30 speakers addressed the council. Supporters (e.g., Downtown Action Organization, business owners) argued the ordinance is needed for health and safety. Opponents (e.g., NAACP, homeless advocates) stated it criminalizes homelessness and lacks clear designation of where camping is allowed. Several speakers suggested clarifying language.
  • ADA Paratransit Grant (16.2): No public comments.
  • 1650 W Steele Lane Apartments Appeal (16.3): Approximately 20 speakers. Supporters (e.g., Generation Housing, CAP Sonoma, nearby business owner) emphasized housing needs and transit proximity. Opponents (e.g., Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates, Children's Museum, neighbors) argued inadequate parking (36 spaces for 36 units with 69 bedrooms) will harm the historic cultural corridor and local parking.

Discussion Items

  • Community Empowerment Plan Update: Lon Peterson highlighted upcoming engagement events, including a town hall on September 7 at Roseland University Prep and various police-community activities.
  • Housing Authority Appointments: Council interviewed nine applicants and appointed Angela Conte as At-Large Tenant Commissioner and Doug Shivananda Friedman as Senior Tenant Commissioner (7-0 votes).
  • Board of Building Regulation Appeals: Appointed Ken Coker (4-year term), Craig Lawson (2-year term), and Carl Colgrove (2-year term) (7-0 vote).
  • Camping Ordinance (16.1): Staff presented proposed ordinance to repeal and replace Chapter 11-22 to comply with Martin v. City of Boise (2019). Key provisions: prohibitions on camping near specific areas (e.g., within 25 feet of entrances, 150 feet of waterways), conduct regulations (e.g., no fires except in city-installed facilities), and no time restrictions. Council amended language in two sections, changing “in a manner” to “in any way” for clarity. City Attorney confirmed the ordinance aligns with state law.
  • ADA Paratransit Grant (16.2): Staff requested authorization to apply for FTA Section 5310 funds (approx. $75,000 per vehicle, 45% of cost) to replace four aged paratransit vehicles. No nonprofits indicated ability to provide service. Council approved.
  • 1650 W Steele Lane Apartments Appeal (16.3): The project (36 units, 4 very low-income, density bonus 100%) was approved by Zoning Administrator in January 2023. Appeal by Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates cited insufficient parking (36 spaces vs. 52 required by code, reduced via concessions). Staff and applicant argued state density bonus law and AB 2097 (effective Jan. 1, 2023) entitle the project to reduced parking. Zoning Administrator and WTrans parking study supported 36 spaces as adequate given unbundled parking and transit proximity. Council discussed legal findings required to deny appeal and ultimately denied it.

Key Outcomes

  • Camping Ordinance: Introduced as amended (7-0 vote). Final adoption set for a future meeting.
  • ADA Paratransit Grant: Resolution RES-2023-142 adopted (7-0). Authorizes City Manager to file grant application.
  • 1650 W Steele Lane Apartments Appeal: Three resolutions adopted (each 6-0-1, Councilmember Okrepkie abstained): RES-2023-143 (Addendum to EIR), RES-2023-144 (Minor Conditional Use Permit for density bonus), RES-2023-145 (Minor Design Review). Appeal denied; project to proceed.

Meeting Transcript

Rhonda, do you want to have the interpreters make the announcement, please afternoon? I'd like to ask the interpreter currently on the Spanish channel to commence translation of the meeting. For those just joining the meeting, live translation in Spanish is available, and members of the public or staff wishing to listen in Spanish can join the Spanish channel by clicking on the interpretation icon in the Zoom toolbar. It looks like a globe. Okay, so welcome. Thank you very much. Madam City Clerk, may you please call the roll. Councilmember Stapp. Here. Councilmember Rogers. Councilmember O'Krepke. Here. Councilmember Fleming. Here. Councilmember Alvarez. Present. Mayor or Vice Mayor McDonald. Here. And Mayor Rogers. Present. Let the record show that all council members are present with the exception of Councilmember Rogers. We will continue to item two point one. This item did not appear on the city's preliminary agenda. So as a result, prior to consideration of the item, we need the council by motion to find good cause to consider the item. Considerations for the council is making a good finding of good cause. Madam City Clerk. Thank you. Vice Mayor McDonald, may you please make a motion to add two point one to our agenda. I'd like to move that we add item two point one to our agenda since we are making a finding of good cause. Councilmember O'Krepke. Again, if you're in Council Chamber and you'd like to make a comment, please make your way to the podium. If you are making a comment from Zoom, please tell Star Nine or raise your hand. Welcome back. Seeing a quorum, Madam City Clerk, may you please take the role. Thank you. Councilmember Stapp. Councilmember Rogers. Council Member O'Krepke. Council Member Fleming. Councilmember Alvarez. Vice Mayor McDonald. Here. And Mayor Rogers. Present. Let the record show that all council members are present with the exception of Councilmember Alvarez. Thank you. And I'm once again, I'm here to try to watch and observe and support the housing authority and your selection of housing authority uh members. Um I I don't have to convince you, but I think I'm just talking to the public that the role of the housing authority is supremely important to the city. It helps build and maintains low-income housing. Uh, and as such is central to the lives of people in the city.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com