Santa Rosa City Council Meeting - February 4, 2025: Fee Study, Equity Plan, Historic Preservation Board Consolidation
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Santa Rosa City Council Meeting - February 4, 2025
The Santa Rosa City Council held a regular meeting on February 4, 2025, starting with a closed session at 1:00 PM to evaluate the City Attorney's performance (no reportable action), followed by study sessions at 2:30 PM and a regular session at 4:00 PM. The meeting included presentations on the city's equity plan, a reconsideration of development-related fees, an update on the community empowerment plan, appointments to regional boards, and a public hearing on streamlining the Landmark Alteration Permit process and consolidating the Cultural Heritage Board and Design Review Board into a single Design Review and Preservation Board. The council also approved a consent calendar of 10 items. All votes were 6-0, with Vice Mayor Alvarez absent.
Consent Calendar
- Resolution 13.1 (RES-2025-011): Accepted $1,450,000 in Measure O funding from Sonoma County for the inRESPONSE Mobile Crisis Response Mental Health Support Team, authorized the City Manager to negotiate the agreement, and appropriated the funds.
- Resolution 13.2 (RES-2025-012): Approved the Measure H Funding Agreement with Sonoma County for enhanced fire safety services.
- Resolution 13.3 (RES-2025-013): Adopted the amended City Salary Plan and Schedule.
- Resolution 13.4 (RES-2025-014): Approved a second amendment with Lexipol, LLC, increasing compensation by $100,000 to $200,000 and extending performance to June 30, 2026, for wellness support for fire and police departments.
- Resolution 13.5 (RES-2025-015): Approved a second amendment with Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP, increasing compensation by $500,000 to $600,000 for continued legal representation in Hartman v. City of Santa Rosa.
- Resolution 13.6 (RES-2025-016): Approved a second amendment with Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP, increasing compensation by $475,000 to $575,000 for legal representation in Bohanan v. City of Santa Rosa.
- Resolution 13.7 (RES-2025-017): Approved a $640,622.72 purchase order for two Kenworth T880 Class 8 dump trucks to replace city assets.
- Resolution 13.8 (RES-2025-018): Approved an additional $255,000 annually (total $510,000) for operational funding at Samuel L. Jones Hall Homeless Shelter for FY 2023-2024 and FY 2024-2025.
- Resolution 13.9 (RES-2025-019): Extended the proclamation of a local homeless emergency.
- Ordinance 13.10 (ORD-2025-002): Adopted on second reading amendments to Title 15 (Sewers) to maintain compliance with EPA Industrial Pretreatment Program regulations.
Public Comments & Testimony
- During Consent Calendar: Peter Alexandar spoke generally; Duane DeWitt commented on Items 13.1, 13.3, 13.8, and 13.9, expressing support and highlighting coordination challenges for HUD-VASH vouchers and federal threats to funding.
- During Study Session 4.1 (Equity Plan): Duane DeWitt praised authentic community engagement and urged inclusion of working-class voices; Peter Alexandar expressed skepticism about diversity, equity, and inclusion language, linking it to broader societal issues.
- During Study Session 4.2 (Fee Study): Peter Alexandar criticized financial systems and called for a general strike; Duane DeWitt supported increasing fees to reduce general fund subsidies and endorsed recovering legal costs; Kevin Holtman, a homeowner, described a $10,474 minor conditional use permit fee to install a carport with solar panels, requesting a director-level review instead.
- During Community Empowerment Plan Update (8.1): Peter Alexandar praised law enforcement but criticized corruption; Tiesa Meskis thanked for inRESPONSE program; Duane DeWitt reported progress on graffiti removal collaboration with the city.
- During Public Hearing (16.1): Multiple preservation district homeowners (Rich Caro, Lori Bowden, Thea Daniels, Ellen Berry, Ben Mandler, Amelia Irwin) expressed that the increased permit fees were prohibitive and would discourage maintenance and repairs. Stephanie from Generation Housing supported streamlining and consolidation. Cher Ennis and Denise Hill supported fee reductions and noted the need for board member indemnification. Several speakers emphasized that historic districts are not wealthy and that the city should invest in preservation.
Study Session: SEED Collaborative Equity Plan Implementation (Item 4.1)
- Francheasca Roberson (Culture/EEO Officer) and Paul Hudson (SEED Collaborative) presented the final City Equity Plan implementation strategies, developed through hundreds of city employee hours. The plan includes 13 recommendations: five handled by the executive leadership team (e.g., creating the VIBE committee, fostering employee well-being, creating career pathways) and eight by an employee task force (e.g., aligning mission with DEI principles, improving communication, language access, increasing workforce diversity, transparent data dashboards). Council members expressed support and asked about integration with community engagement. No action taken; item received and filed.
Study Session: Reconsideration of Development Related Cost of Service Fee Study (Item 4.2)
- Gabe Osburn (Planning Director) and City Attorney Teresa Stricker presented a six-month review of the fee study adopted March 5, 2024. The study aimed for full cost recovery but resulted in significant increases in some fees, particularly for Landmark Alteration Permits (LMA), which had been heavily subsidized. Staff proposed analyzing adjustments for homeowner- and small business-initiated projects, reducing tree removal fees, and exploring cost recovery for city attorney legal review for complex developments. Council members broadly supported increasing cost recovery to 70-80%, adding legal fees for large projects, and lowering tree removal fees to increase compliance. Staff was directed to bring forward modifications in the near future.
Community Empowerment Plan Update (Item 8.1)
- Lieutenant Chris Mahurin provided an update on the inRESPONSE mental health program: in 2024, the program responded to 4,977 crisis calls plus 670 follow-ups (total 5,647 contacts), expanded to 24/7 service at year-end, hired a hospital navigator, and established strong partnerships. For 2025, the building will open to the public, a three-year strategic plan will be finalized, and the department is seeking multi-year Measure O funding commitments. Community Engagement Manager Ana Horta also announced Transit Equity Day (February 4) with free transit fares and upcoming meetings on affordable housing priorities.
Appointments to Regional Boards (Item 11.2.1)
The council directed the mayor on appointments for the Sonoma County Mayors’ and Councilmembers’ Association and City Selection Committee. Approved (all 6-0):
- North Bay Division LOCC Executive Board: Jackie Elward (Rohnert Park)
- Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District Citizens Advisory Committee: Frank Quint (Petaluma)
- Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) Commission – SCTA seats: Gerard Giudice (Rohnert Park) and Ariel Kelley (Healdsburg)
- SMART Commission – Non-SCTA seat: Victoria Fleming (Santa Rosa)
- Bay Area Air Quality Management District Board: Brian Barnacle (Petaluma)
- Golden Gate Bridge, Highway & Transportation District: Gerard Giudice (Rohnert Park)
- Sonoma County Consolidated Oversight Board: Stephen Zollman (Sebastopol) A motion to reconsider the SMART non-SCTA appointment failed on a 3-3 tie vote.
Public Hearing: Landmark Alteration Process Improvements and Cultural Heritage Board/Design Review Board Consolidation (Item 16.1)
- Jessica Jones (Deputy Planning Director) presented proposed measures: streamlining the Landmark Alteration (LMA) Permit process by adding exemptions and a director-level review, consolidating the Cultural Heritage Board (CHB) and Design Review Board (DRB) into a single Design Review and Preservation Board (DRPB) with seven members (four required positions: two architects, one landscape professional, one archaeologist/historian), changing appointments from individual council to full council, and reducing homeowner LMA permit fees by 92% (option two) to return to prior subsidized levels. Staff argued the consolidation would better allocate resources and maintain eligibility for the Certified Local Government program. Council members expressed support for the consolidation and fee reduction, with some preferring “preferred” rather than “required” qualifications for board seats. The council apologized for the unintended fee increase and acknowledged the impact on homeowners.
Key Outcomes
- All consent items (13.1–13.10) approved (6-0).
- Equity Plan (Item 4.1) received and filed; no action.
- Fee Study (Item 4.2) discussed; staff directed to bring forward modifications, including exploring city attorney cost recovery, tree removal fee reductions, and homeowner/small business adjustments.
- Community Empowerment Plan Update (Item 8.1) received and filed.
- Regional appointments approved as listed above (6-0); reconsideration motion failed (3-3).
- Public Hearing (Item 16.1): Approved unanimously (6-0):
- Resolution RES-2025-020: Amended Design Guidelines to replace references to CHB and DRB with DRPB.
- Resolution RES-2025-021: Assigned existing service fees to director-level LMA permits and reduced homeowner LMA fees (option two: ~92% reduction).
- Resolution RES-2025-022: Amended Council Policy 000-06 to add DRPB and require full council appointments.
- Ordinance (introduced): Amended Municipal Code Titles 10, 17, 19, 20, 21 to streamline LMA process and consolidate boards into DRPB.
- Adjourned at 6:41 PM. Next regular meeting tentatively February 25, 2025.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon. I'd like to ask the interpreter currently on the Spanish channel to commence interpretation 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. Thank you for your patience, everyone. We'll reconvene from closed session. Madam City Clerk, would you please call the role? Thank you, Mayor. Councilmember Rogers, President, Councilmember O'Krepki. Councilmember McDonald. Here. Councilmember Fleming. Councilmember Ben Willows. Here. Councilmember or Vice Mayor Alvarez. Mayor Stepp. Here. Let the record show that all council members are present with the exception of Vice Mayor Alvarez. Thank you. Move on to item four point one. This is our study study session focused on the seed collaborative equity plan implementation and approved strategies. Welcome. Good afternoon, Mayor Stabb, uh, Vice Mayor Alvarez in his absence, and esteemed council members. My name is Francesca Roberson, and I am the culture and EEO officer of the City of Santa Rosa. And with me today is our HR director, Dominique Blanchi, and our deputy director, Gobu Gasimia. I would also like to acknowledge the presence of members from our voices of inclusion belonging and equity committee, VIB. If you're here, please wave your hands and stand and let us know that you're here so you can be acknowledged. Thank you. Awesome. In support of the city's goal to create an environment that supports staff and operational excellence, promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, and reliably deliverable outstanding services to the community. We are here to present the approved implementation strategies for the city's equity plan. Seed Collaborative is here to present the summary report to your council. And with that, I'd like to welcome Paul Hudson from the Seed Collaborative, who is joining us via Zoom to make the final summary report out of the approved equity plan, implementation strategies. And Paul, if you could please let us know when you're ready to advance the slide. Thank you very much, Francesca. Um, and uh thank you to the mayor and city council for this opportunity to present. My name is Paul Hudson, I'm a senior consultant and principal with C Collaborative, and we were engaged to not only do the implementation plan, but we also conducted the equity plan for the city of Santa Rosa. I just want to preface the the presentation by saying the work product that you will see here is the result of hundreds of city employees and thousands of countless hours in deliberation discussion, co-creation, and consensus decisions. Next slide, please. The executive leadership leadership team decided a hybrid model where the executive leadership team took five of the total recommendations and they prioritize prioritize those and said the executive leadership team is going to handle these five recommendations. The remaining eight recommendations were delegated to a diverse group of employees, diverse by position, by department, by age, by cultural background. And so this body, the implementation task force, were appointed by department directors to serve on this task force. The task force created three subcommittees one community engagement and communications, one around employee life cycle, and run around culture. Those are the three areas that were approbed. And they linked the recommendations to those areas. So you can see the executive leadership team. Well, they had five of the recommendations they had, and then the other eight were done by the implementation team. Next slide, please. This gives you the timeline around this process. We started in December of 23 with the executive leadership team.
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