Santa Rosa City Council Regular Meeting Summary – December 17, 2024

The Santa Rosa City Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, beginning at 4:02 p.m. in Council Chamber. Mayor Natalie Rogers presided, with Vice Mayor Mark Stapp and Council Members Eddie Alvarez, Victoria Fleming, Dianna MacDonald, and Jeff Okrepkie present. Council Member-elect Caroline Bañuelos joined the dais after taking the oath of office later in the evening. No closed session items, study sessions, proclamations, public hearings, or written communications were scheduled. The meeting included a staff briefing on data dashboards, approval of a nine-item consent calendar, an American Rescue Plan Act spending plan update, a public service easement vacation, Community Advisory Board alignment, certification of the November 2024 election, and election of the Mayor and Vice Mayor. The meeting adjourned at 7:42 p.m.

Staff Briefing

• Item 8.1: The Council received a presentation on the new “Santa Rosa Insights” data dashboards, presented by Administrative Analyst Luke Faser and Chief Information Officer Brian Tickner. The dashboards provide public access to data on community service requests, police calls, building permits, and other city services. Council received and filed the item. Public commenters Duane De Witt and Gregory Fearon spoke in support.

Consent Calendar

• The Council approved Consent Items 13.1 through 13.9 by a 6-0 vote, with a motion by Vice Mayor Stapp seconded by Council Member Okrepkie. Adopted resolutions included:
  • RES-2024-190: Second Amendment to Best Best & Krieger LLP agreement for continued legal representation in the Airport Business Center appeal, increasing compensation by $95,000 to a total not to exceed $195,000, with a $110,000 appropriation from unassigned General Funds.
  • RES-2024-191: Fifth Amendment to Best Best & Krieger LLP agreement for real estate legal services, increasing compensation by $140,000 to a total not to exceed $640,000, with a $140,000 appropriation.
  • RES-2024-192: Purchase order for one Caterpillar 306 compact excavator from Peterson Tractor of Santa Rosa for $143,162.09 through Sourcewell Cooperative Agreement No. 011723-CAT.
  • RES-2024-193: Waiver of competitive bidding and approval of a non-standard agreement with Peregrine Technologies, Inc. for software purchase, implementation, and training, not to exceed $283,500 for an initial three-year term with two optional one-year renewals.
  • RES-2024-194: Waiver of competitive bidding and approval of a Master Services Agreement with Flock Group Inc. for Automatic License Plate Recognition cameras and stationary cameras, not to exceed $897,999.94 for an initial three-year term with three optional renewals.
  • RES-2024-195: Extension of the proclamation of a local homeless emergency.
  • RES-2024-196: Seventh Amendment to David J. Powers & Associates, Inc. agreement for environmental services for the Roseland Creek Community Park and Master Plan, increasing compensation by $118,854 to a total not to exceed $365,224.
  • RES-2024-197: Purchase order for one RapidView IBAK sewer inspection vehicle from Jack Doheny Company of Northville, Michigan, for $421,434.80 through Sourcewell Cooperative Agreement No. 120721-RVL; this item had been continued from the November 19 and December 10, 2024 meetings.
  • RES-2024-198: Waiver of the competitive bid process and approval of a Professional Services Agreement with OIR Group LLC as independent Police Department auditor, not to exceed $270,000 over three years.
• During public comment on the consent calendar, Duane De Witt spoke on Item 13.7, raising concerns about Roseland Creek restoration and calling for community “ground truthing” by the consultant.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item 8.1: Duane De Witt and Gregory Fearon expressed support for the data dashboards.
• Item 9.1: No public comments were made on the litigation report.
• Item 11: Nicole Price spoke on HIV and AIDS awareness in Sonoma County, urging increased testing and outreach.
• Consent calendar: Duane De Witt commented on Item 13.7.
• Item 15.1 (ARPA): Gregory Fearon expressed concern that some services funded by ARPA could end and urged continued support; Duane De Witt criticized what he described as a lack of infrastructure investment in Roseland; Adina Flores spoke in opposition to the item.
• Item 14 (non-agenda public comment): Duane De Witt thanked outgoing Mayor Rogers and Council Member Alvarez for their work in Roseland and welcomed Caroline Bañuelos; Adina Flores raised concerns about campaign manager conduct; Gregory Fearon discussed new behavioral health responsibilities; Eric Fraser spoke in support of Adina Flores and raised short-term rental and civic responsibility issues.
• Item 15.2 (easement vacation): No public comments were made.
• Item 15.3 (Community Advisory Board): Gregory Fearon supported the item; Calum Weeks supported the item and favored Option 2; Duane De Witt suggested abolishing the CAB; Eric Fraser suggested an additional composition option with alternates; Adina Flores spoke in support; Janice Karrman spoke in opposition and asked the Council to delay action.
• Item 18.1 (election results): Adina Flores criticized the business tax measures and questioned whether all businesses were paying taxes; Raj spoke in support of Council Member Dianna MacDonald; Gregory Fearon thanked election officials and voters.
• Item 18.3 (Mayor election): Public commenters included Duane De Witt and Janice Karrman, who advocated for a mayor elected directly by voters; Madonna Feather, Ana Diaz, and Aundray Rogers voiced support for Eddie Alvarez; Larry Liguri supported Victoria Fleming; several speakers thanked outgoing Mayor Rogers.
• Item 18.4 (Vice Mayor election): Adina Flores expressed disappointment with the mayoral result and voiced support for Eddie Alvarez and Dianna MacDonald.
• Item 19 (final non-agenda public comment): Jen Klose of Generation Housing offered support and invited Council members to a Housing 101 event on February 7, 2025; Veronica Cruz congratulated Council Member Bañuelos.

Discussion Items

• ARPA Spending Plan Update (Item 15.1): Staff presented an update on Santa Rosa’s $34,637,465 allocation from the American Rescue Plan Act. Funds must be obligated by December 31, 2024, and fully spent by December 31, 2026. As of November 1, 2024, approximately $19.4 million had been expended (about 55%), $6.7 million was encumbered, and $8.4 million was obligated, with the largest remaining obligation being the Hearn Community Hub. Staff reported that 43 of 45 small business support grant agreements had been executed as of the meeting, equivalent to 96%. Program highlights included: 260 individuals sheltered through the Safe Parking program, 71 participants exiting to permanent housing, 9 undocumented youth securing Special Immigrant Juvenile Status through the Secure Family Fund, 640 individuals sheltered at Sam Jones Hall, 502 adults and children sheltered at Coritas Family Support Center, and the In-Response mental health team responding to nearly 4,800 calls in 2023. The item was received and filed; no action was taken.
• Summary Vacation of Public Service Easement (Item 15.2): City Planner Sachnoor Bisla presented the request for 5608 Newanga Avenue. The easement, recorded in 1983, had never been used for public access or public utilities; a relocated emergency vehicle access easement off Newanga Avenue would supersede the existing emergency access. The Council adopted RES-2024-199 by a 6-0 vote.
• Community Advisory Board Alignment (Item 15.3): City Clerk Dina Manis, City Attorney Teresa Stricker, and Community Engagement Manager Ana Horta presented recommended changes to align Community Advisory Board (CAB) geographic areas with City Council elected districts. The recommendations reduced CAB membership from fourteen to seven members, established a quorum of four members, clarified motion-passing language, and amended Council Policy 000-06. The City Attorney recommended amending the voting language in Resolution 1 so that a majority of CAB members present is required to pass a motion, with abstentions effectively counted as no votes. The Council discussed two transition options: Option 1 allowed all seven seats to be filled immediately with existing appointees while prioritizing future appointments from the correct districts; Option 2 required immediate appointments from within each district and left two vacancies. The Council adopted RES-2024-200 and RES-2024-201, and approved the Option 1 transition plan, all by 6-0 votes.

Council Reorganization

• Election Results (Item 18.1): City Clerk Dina Manis reported the certified results of the November 5, 2024 General Municipal Election. The Council adopted RES-2024-202 by a 6-0 vote, declaring Eddie Alvarez elected for District 1, Dianna MacDonald for District 3, Caroline Bañuelos for District 5, and Natalie Rogers for District 7, each for a full four-year term, and declaring that voters approved Measure EE (Business Tax) and Measure FF (Transient Occupancy Tax).
• Oaths of Office (Item 18.2): City Clerk Manis administered the Oath of Office to newly elected Council Members Alvarez, MacDonald, Bañuelos, and Rogers. Council Member Bañuelos then joined the Council at the dais.
• Election of Mayor (Item 18.3): Following nominations, Council Members voted by ballot. In the first round, Eddie Alvarez, Dianna MacDonald, and Mark Stapp each received 4 votes. In the second round, Mark Stapp received 4 votes, Eddie Alvarez received 3 votes, and Dianna MacDonald received 0 votes. Mayor Rogers declared Mark Stapp elected Mayor and passed the gavel.
• Election of Vice Mayor (Item 18.4): Jeff Okrepkie and Eddie Alvarez were nominated. By ballot, Eddie Alvarez received 4 votes and Jeff Okrepkie received 3 votes. Mayor Stapp declared Eddie Alvarez elected Vice Mayor.

Key Outcomes

• Consent calendar adopted 6-0, approving RES-2024-190 through RES-2024-198.
• ARPA spending plan update received and filed; staff confirmed compliance with the December 31, 2024 federal obligation deadline.
• Public service easement vacation at 5608 Newanga Avenue approved 6-0 as RES-2024-199.
• Community Advisory Board realignment resolutions RES-2024-200 and RES-2024-201 adopted 6-0, and the Option 1 CAB appointment transition plan approved 6-0.
• November 2024 election results certified 6-0 as RES-2024-202.
• Mark Stapp elected Mayor and Eddie Alvarez elected Vice Mayor.
• Meeting adjourned at 7:42 p.m.; the next regular meeting was scheduled for January 7, 2025.