The Santa Rosa City Council held a regular meeting on November 12, 2024, beginning at 4:02 p.m. Six council members were present (Mayor Natalie Rogers, Vice Mayor Mark Stapp, Council Members Eddie Alvarez, Victoria Fleming, Dianna MacDonald, and Chris Rogers); Council Member Jeff Okrepkie was absent. The meeting included staff briefings, reports, consent items, two report items, and two public hearings. Key actions included approval of a 3.4% Recology rate increase, adoption of an Affordable Housing Capital Facilities Fee Pilot Program, addition of an annual Tobacco Retail License Fee, and adoption of three ordinances updating the Resilient City zoning measures.
Director of Transportation and Public Works Dan Hennessey presented the proposed inflationary adjustment (3.4%, about $1.10–$1.40 per month for residents, billed quarterly). The rate is tied to an industry-specific cost index (RRI) and is consistent with neighboring counties. Council Member Fleming asked about historical rates; staff noted the adjustment is inflationary. No public comments were made. The Council approved the motion 6-0.
Director of Planning and Economic Development Gabe Osburn presented the program, which sets the Capital Facilities Fee to zero for deed-restricted affordable housing units (very low, low, and moderate income categories) for a limited period (three years or until a new impact fee study is adopted, whichever comes first). The pilot aims to incentivize near-term development to meet Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) targets. Staff estimated a potential reduction in revenue of up to $3 million if 294 projected units move forward. Council discussion included reporting requirements (annual check-ins), triggers for sunsetting the low-income category once RHNA is met, and the impact on Capital Improvement Projects (no immediate impact, potential delay for some future projects). Council Member Fleming noted the importance of flexibility if projects stall. Council approved the resolution 6-0 (RES-2024-175).
Assistant City Manager Jason Nutt presented two options: Option 1 (one compliance visit/year) at an annual fee of $631 (initial 18-month fee: $1,013) and Option 2 (two visits/year) at $828 annual ($1,210 initial). The fee covers costs of compliance monitoring through the County Department of Health Services. Staff recommended Option 1. The public hearing was opened and closed with no public comment. Council Member Alvarez recused himself due to ownership in a cannabis business. Council approved Option 1 via Resolution RES-2024-176 (5-0).
City Planner Christian Candelaria and Senior Planner Amy Nicholson presented three ordinances to replace the temporary Resilient City (-RC) Combining District (set to expire Dec. 31, 2024) with permanent citywide standards, streamline permitting processes, and extend temporary housing provisions for hazard-recovery areas. The ordinances also remove the combining district from 8,383 parcels and memorialize Tubbs/Nuns Fire tentative map extensions. Planning Commission recommended approval. Public comments addressed enforcement concerns and conflicts. Council adopted all three ordinances (4-0; Mayor Rogers and Council Member Alvarez absent, Council Member Okrepkie absent):
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 interpretation 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. If you are on your cell phone or tablet, locate the three dots, tap them lightly, and put a check mark on your preferred language. Click done to activate and begin the interpretation. Once you join the Spanish channel, we recommend you shut off the main audio so you only hear the Spanish interpretation. Isidra, will you please restate this in Spanish? Again, click in esos three puntitos and después elija Spanish or Espanyol. No se olviden de hacer click in Don or Terminado después de ver elegido su idioma. Gracias. Back to you. Hello and welcome all to our November 12th, 2024 Santa Rosa City Council meeting. It is now 4.02, and we will be starting our meeting. Sing a quorum, Madam City Clerk, may you please call the roll. Thank you, Mayor. Councilmember Rogers. Councilmember O'Krepki is absent today. Councilmember McDonald here. Councilmember Fleming? Here. Councilmember Alvarez. Present. Mayor Vice Mayor Stapp. Here. Mayor Rogers. Present. Let the record show that all council members are present with the exception of Councilmember O'Krepke. We have no announcements today, no study session, and no proclamation. So moving on to item eight, which are our staff briefings, and I'll hand it over to Assistant City Manager Dustin. Thank you, Madam Mayor. And I believe that Ana Horta, our community engagement manager, will be providing a community empowerment update. On November 18, the Santa Rosa Fire Department will be conducting a TK Community Helpers presentation at Cawana Springs Elementary School, 2121 Moraga Drive from 10 to 11 a.m. On November 29, the Santa Rosa Fire Department will be participating in the annual tree lighting ceremony at Courthouse Square, 600 4th Street from 4 to 7 p.m. Santa Claus will be in town along with lights and sirens. On December 3rd, the Santa Rosa Fire Department will be participating in the Santa Rosa Junior College EMS Career Day at Public Safe Training Center, 5743 Skyline Boulevard from 12 to 130 PM. On December 5th, the violence prevention partnership will be hosting again awareness presentation for parents and Montgomery High School, 1250 Hackman Drive at 6 p.m. The presentation will be preceded by a community resource fair and is open to all members of the public. Additional details will be shared early next week on the Santa Rosa's Police Department website and social media pages. Please stay tuned for more information on how to help spread holiday cheer to those in need. Finally, last month, the city hosted several successful Halloween events. We saw some great costumes and smiles bringing together over 3,700 participants and handing out more than 800 bags of candy and special treats. That concludes the community empowerment plan update for November. Thank you. Thank you. And looking at Council to see if there are any questions. Seeing none, Madam City Clerk, may you please facilitate public comment? Thank you. We are now taking public comments on the item 8.1. If you were in the chamber and would like to comment but have not yet provided a speaker card or your name, please make your way to the podium.