Santa Rosa City Council Regular Meeting - October 24, 2023
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Santa Rosa City Council Regular Meeting - October 24, 2023
The Santa Rosa City Council met on October 24, 2023, in a regular session that began with a closed session at 1:32 PM and reconvened in open session at 4:02 PM. The meeting included a proclamation, staff briefing, consent agenda, public comments, a public hearing, and a report item. The council adopted all consent items and introduced an ordinance updating water waste regulations, and accepted the Water Supply Alternatives Plan, all by 5-0 votes (with two members absent). The meeting adjourned at 6:06 PM.
Proclamation
- Filipino American History Month: Council Member Eddie Alvarez read and presented the proclamation. Jeanette Anglin of the Filipino American National Historical Society accepted and thanked the council.
Staff Briefings
- Russian River Water Forum and Potter Valley Project Update (Item 7.1): Jennifer Burke, Director of Santa Rosa Water, reported on a collaborative effort to address the planned decommissioning of PG&E’s Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project. A proposal from Mendocino County Inland Water and Power Commission, Round Valley Indian Tribes, and Sonoma Water was accepted in concept by PG&E. The council received the update; no action taken. A public commenter, Thomas Ells, expressed support for the project.
Consent Calendar
- All four consent items were approved unanimously (5-0) with two members absent. Items included:
- 12.1: Resolution to amend the NextRequest LLC agreement for public records management, extending three years and adding $35,679.29 (total not to exceed $118,435.06).
- 12.2: Resolution to approve a cooperative purchase of four Hamm Asphalt Rollers from Nixon-Egli Equipment Company for $268,701.44.
- 12.3: Resolution to award a five-year blanket purchase order to Ramos Oil Co., Inc. for gasoline and renewable diesel, not to exceed $750,000.
- 12.4: Resolution to amend the Homeless Outreach Services Team grant with Catholic Charities, adding $100,000 in ARPA funds for expanded downtown outreach (total $1,135,450). Public comment: Eric Fraser spoke on Item 12.1, raising concerns about the NextRequest platform’s usability and transparency.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Non-Agenda Matters (Item 13): Multiple speakers addressed topics not on the agenda:
- Michelle Escobar-McGarry read a letter from a high school student (Giselle) supporting restrictions on flavored tobacco and vape products.
- Pam Granger, Chair of Tobacco Free Sonoma County Community Coalition, urged the council to pass a tobacco retail license ordinance, noting the county had just passed a first reading.
- Melissa Stewart (Safe Campus Alliance) called for immediate campus supervision at Montgomery High School and temporary SRO presence.
- Eric Fraser criticized the Press Democrat’s coverage of public records requests and alleged corruption.
- Thomas Ells discussed the Hearn Avenue overcrossing design and water issues.
- Other speakers supported school safety, veterans’ events, and community stewardship.
- Public Hearing (Item 15.1): Thomas Ells spoke on water waste concerns, particularly for apartments in the county without individual meters.
- Report Item (Item 14.1): Thomas Ells commended the Water Supply Alternatives Plan presentation.
Discussion Items
- Public Hearing – Water Waste Regulations Ordinance (Item 15.1): Deb Lane and Claire Nordlie presented proposed amendments to Chapter 14-21, including refined definitions of water waste, escalating administrative fines ($100, $200, $500 per violation), an exception process, and an appeals process. The council discussed the value of the AMI system and customer engagement. No questions were raised before the vote.
- Water Supply Alternatives Plan (Item 14.1): Colin Close, Senior Water Resources Planner, presented the plan (WSAP) developed after analyzing 18 options. The plan proposes an adaptive approach focusing on groundwater, recycled water, and efficiency. Four portfolios were presented, with Portfolio 4 being the most adaptive and including a future reconsideration of desalination. The council commended the thorough process and stakeholder engagement.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Items: Items 12.1–12.4 adopted by resolution (5-0).
- Ordinance Introduction (Item 15.1): The council voted 5-0 to introduce an ordinance amending Water Waste Regulations. Second reading scheduled for November 14, 2023, with an effective date of December 14, 2023.
- Water Supply Alternatives Plan (Item 14.1): The council voted 5-0 to accept the plan.
- Reports: The City Manager announced upcoming community meetings for the Hearn Community Hub (virtual Oct. 25, in-person Oct. 26) and a survey on pickleball/tennis courts. Council members reported on subcommittee meetings, including the Public Safety Subcommittee’s review of police oversight, Vegetation Management Plan (to return in January), and the Enhanced Infrastructure Finance District progress.
- Next Meeting: Regular meeting scheduled for November 14, 2023.
Attendees: Mayor Natalie Rogers, Council Members Eddie Alvarez, Jeff Okrepkie, Chris Rogers, Mark Stapp present; Vice Mayor Dianna MacDonald and Council Member Victoria Fleming absent.
Meeting Transcript
Good 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. Once you join the Spanish channel, we recommend you shut off the main audio so you only hear the Spanish translation. Pablo, will you please restate this in Spanish? Thank you. Councilmember Stepp. Councilmember Rogers. Councilmember O'Krepke. Councilmember Fleming. Councilmember Alvarez. Present. Vice Mayor McDonald. Mayor Rogers. Present. Let the record show that all council members are present with the exception of Vice Mayor McDonald, Councilmember Fleming, and Councilmember Rogers. Thank you. We will now proceed to item two, which is our announcement of closed session. We have three items 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3. 2.1 is our conference with labor negotiators. 2.2 is our conference with legal counsel for existing litigation. And 2.3 is conference with legal counsel also for existing litigation. Madam City Clerk, can you please facilitate public comment on these items? We are now taking public comment on item two. If you're in the chamber and would like to make a comment, please make your way to the podium. This is a very important thing to have occur to get this at grade crossing finally. We've been waiting for many, many years. And it really is a situation that'll help you on your sustainability goals, getting people to use less car traffic right now because the distance is so long to go around to get to the other side because of the way this is blocked off. People don't walk or ride their bikes, they drive. And as you do your deliberations with them, I would ask you to keep in mind the people at the bottom of the pay grades in the other departments of the city. The people that take care of our parks, the people that are out there on a daily basis making sure that the roads are working okay. Sometimes this is called pothole politics. But this is what we really need to get taken care of around here. We got plenty of management people. So please keep that in mind and help those folks get raises and make the rest of these folks stay right where they're at. They're doing real fine right now. Thank you for your time and we'll see you later today. Thank you. Mayor, I see no additional people approaching the podium for public comment on closed session items. With no additional uh public comment, we will now recess into closed session. Thank you. Councilmember Rogers. Thank you. All right. And welcome back, everyone, to our October twenty-fourth, Santa Rosa City Council meeting. It is now four oh three, and we will begin our meeting seeing a quorum. Madam City Clerk, can you please call the roll? Thank you. Councilmember Stepp.
openpublica.com