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Record of Proceedings

Board of Building Regulations Appeals Meeting - January 15, 2025

City Council — Thursday, January 16, 2025
BodySanta Rosa, California
SessionCity Council
DateThursday, January 16, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 39:45

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
9:12

She put a script for you.

9:20

The mics are live.

9:21

We're recording, and you are welcome to start.

9:35

Thank you, Chair Cooper.

9:37

Board Member Gordon.

9:42

And Chair Cooper.

10:00

So approval of minutes.

10:02

So we have the draft minutes of October 18th and 2023.

10:07

Does anyone have any changes to the minutes?

10:16

I entertain a motion to approve the minutes.

10:19

Motion to approve.

10:33

I know you're supposed to roll call that, but I think this will be fine with that.

10:37

Okay.

10:38

Now we have the July 17th, 2024 minutes.

10:43

Anyone have any changes to those minutes?

10:47

Substantial.

10:48

Motion to approve.

10:50

Motion to approve.

10:52

Second motion.

10:56

All in favor.

10:57

Aye.

10:58

Okay.

11:03

Recording secretary.

11:04

Do we have any public comment on item three approval of minutes?

11:08

Seeing no one in the room, I would say no.

11:11

Okay.

11:13

All right.

11:15

Uh great.

11:17

We are now taking public comments on item number four, non-agenda matters.

11:22

This is the time when any person may address the board on matters not listed on this agenda, which are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the board.

11:30

Recording secretary, can you please provide instructions to the public if we have any questions?

11:34

Seeing no one in the room, I think we're good to move on from that one.

11:37

Thank you.

11:39

If you could just close public comment period.

11:41

So I'd like to close the public comment period.

11:44

Thank you.

11:46

So the first item of business is we have to elect some officers.

11:50

So the chair is announcing that we will be moving into the chair election.

11:56

The chair will ask for someone to make a motion for the nomination of chair and call for a second.

12:01

Once the item is seconded, we will call a vote.

12:05

And everybody.

12:18

Any further nominations.

12:32

And second by Jalen Gordon.

12:39

Thank you, Chair.

12:40

Board Member Gordon.

12:42

Yes.

12:43

A board member Lawson?

12:44

Yes.

12:44

Board member Miller.

12:46

Yes.

12:46

And Chair Cooper.

12:47

Aye.

12:48

Thank you.

12:51

Now we are moving on to the vice chair election.

12:54

So let's move on to the nomination for vice chairman.

12:58

I'll nominate Craig Lawson.

13:01

I'll second that.

13:04

Further nominations.

13:07

It's been moved by John Gordon and seconded by Eric Miller that uh Craig Lawson be the vice chair.

13:14

Recording secretary, please.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████████████████████████36%
Public Health Awareness███████████████████19%
Public Engagement██████████████████18%
Public Works████████8%
Environmental Protection████████8%
Homelessness██████6%
Housing█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Board of Building Regulations Appeals Regular Meeting - January 15, 2025

The Board of Building Regulations Appeals of Santa Rosa met on January 15, 2025, at 4:00 PM (called to order at 4:07 PM, adjourned at 4:38 PM) to approve previous minutes, elect officers, and hear an appeal regarding a Notice and Order to Vacate at 961 Stony Point Road. The board unanimously denied the appeal, upholding the city's order.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes: The board approved the draft minutes from October 18, 2023, and July 17, 2024, as submitted without changes.

Board Business

  • Chair Election: Board Member David Cooper was re-elected as Chair by a unanimous vote (4-0).
  • Vice Chair Election: Board Member Craig Lawson was re-elected as Vice Chair by a unanimous vote (4-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Non-agenda public comments: No members of the public commented during the initial public comment period (opened and closed at 4:09 PM).
  • Appeal hearing public comments: After the board's vote, Chair Cooper re-opened public comment at 4:35 PM. Janice Karrman spoke in support of the board's denial of the appeal. She also shared general concerns about building and development in Santa Rosa and Sonoma County, emphasizing the need to preserve green spaces and respect environmental constraints. Public comment closed at 4:38 PM.

Appeal Hearing: 961 Stony Point Road

  • Staff Presentation: Lou Kirk, Assistant Chief Building Official, presented the city's case. The property at 961 Stony Point Road has been subject to code enforcement cases since 1995 due to chronic failure to maintain the property. In October 2024, the city's water department terminated water service for non-payment. The property lacks potable water (a well on site is certified for external use only), has trash and debris, and shows signs of disrepair (tarps on roof, no trash service). The city recommended denial of the appeal.
  • Appellants' Position: Gary and Lili Pigsley, the property owners, appealed the administrative notice and order to vacate. In their written appeal, they claimed the premises is safe and habitable, that they have hot and cold water, and that the city's lack of responsibility for surrounding neighborhoods caused unsafe conditions from homeless individuals. Staff noted contradictions within the appeal.
  • Board Discussion: Board members questioned staff about the property's water service, the status of an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) on the property, and the extent of code enforcement. Staff clarified that water service remains off as of January 7, 2025; the ADU may have a separate meter but that is unclear; the property has not been inspected inside due to lack of access. The board reviewed photographs from December 2024 and January 2025 showing the condition of the property, including trash, debris, and a tarp-covered roof.

Key Outcomes

  • Motion to Deny Appeal: Board Member Lawson moved, seconded by Board Member Gordon, to deny the appeal by Gary and Lili Pigsley and uphold the city's issuance of the Notice and Order to Vacate. The motion carried unanimously (4-0).
  • Next Steps: The property owners must vacate the premises until water service is restored and the property is brought into compliance with health and safety codes. The city may continue enforcement actions, including interior inspections.

The meeting adjourned at 4:38 PM.

Meeting Transcript

She put a script for you. The mics are live. We're recording, and you are welcome to start. Thank you, Chair Cooper. Board Member Gordon. And Chair Cooper. So approval of minutes. So we have the draft minutes of October 18th and 2023. Does anyone have any changes to the minutes? I entertain a motion to approve the minutes. Motion to approve. I know you're supposed to roll call that, but I think this will be fine with that. Okay. Now we have the July 17th, 2024 minutes. Anyone have any changes to those minutes? Substantial. Motion to approve. Motion to approve. Second motion. All in favor. Aye. Okay. Recording secretary. Do we have any public comment on item three approval of minutes? Seeing no one in the room, I would say no. Okay. All right. Uh great. We are now taking public comments on item number four, non-agenda matters. This is the time when any person may address the board on matters not listed on this agenda, which are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the board. Recording secretary, can you please provide instructions to the public if we have any questions? Seeing no one in the room, I think we're good to move on from that one. Thank you. If you could just close public comment period. So I'd like to close the public comment period. Thank you. So the first item of business is we have to elect some officers. So the chair is announcing that we will be moving into the chair election. The chair will ask for someone to make a motion for the nomination of chair and call for a second. Once the item is seconded, we will call a vote. And everybody. Any further nominations. And second by Jalen Gordon. Thank you, Chair. Board Member Gordon. Yes. A board member Lawson? Yes. Board member Miller. Yes.

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