The Santa Rosa City Council met on March 18, 2025, at 2:00 PM for a closed session, reconvening at 4:00 PM for the regular session. The meeting included proclamations, a Downtown Action Organization update, a briefing on the Active Transportation Plan, approval of consent items, a public hearing on fire hazard severity zones, and direction on Sonoma Water's proposed water rate increase. Two council members (Vice Mayor Alvarez and Council Member Fleming) were absent; all votes were 5-0.
Good afternoon. I'd like to ask the interpreter currently on the Spanish channel to com commence em 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. Thanks for your patience, everyone. We're back. Time is four o'clock, and we can resume the meeting. Madam City Clerk, would you please call the roll? Thank you, Mayor. Councilmember Rogers, present. Council Member O'Krepke. Here. Councilmember McDonald. Councilmember Fleming is absent. Council Member Ben Whalos. Mayor Stapp. So we invite you to come back. And we'll move on to item uh six, a report on closed session. Madam City Attorney. There's no reportable action from closed session this evening. We'll move on then to item seven point one, our proclamation for National Surveyors Week. Mr. Okropke. Whereas surveying has been an essential element in the development of the human environment since the beginning of recorded history, and it is a requirement in the planning and execution of nearly every form of construction with its most familiar modern uses in the fields of transport, building and construction, communications, mapping, and the definition of legal boundaries for land ownership, and whereas to accomplish their objectives, surveyors use elements of engineering, physics, mathematics, astronomy, law, and history, and whereas, since the colonial days of the United States, surveyors have been leaders in the communities, statespeople, influential citizens, and shapers of cultural standards. Former notable surveyors include George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Lewis and Clark, Daniel Boone, and Henry David Thoreau, among others. And whereas many services are now provided using sophisticated surveying equipment and techniques, including satellite-borne remote sensing devices and automated positioning measuring, recording and plotting equipment, and whereas the establishment of the week of March 16th through 22nd, 2025 as National Surveyors Week is a fitting tribute to all surveyors. Now, therefore, may it be resolved that Mayor Mark Stapp of the City of Santa Rosa, on behalf of this entire city council in recognition of our community do hereby proclaim the week of March 16th through March 2022, 2025, National Surveyors Week. Thank you. And do we have Bruce Johnson with us to accept to accept this proclamation? Oh, wonderful. The microphone's all yours. Hello, my name is Monica Wingett, and I am the Secretary for the California Land Surveyor Association Sonoma chapter. I would like to thank the City Council for the proclamation of National Surveyors Week. Our organization is comprised of a wide variety of surveyors from both the private and public sectors, including local land development companies and employees at the county who review survey maps and help maintain our county's history and records. We also have our treasurer who just retired from 25 years of working with the city of Santa Rosa. I myself have been in the industry for three years and have never thought I would find a career full of people who love it as much as surveyors do. The average age of a surveyor is 55, mostly because they just refuse to retire, because it is such a fun industry to work in. Monica, thank you. You're you're a great recruiter for the profession. We're going to do a photo down in front in just a moment, but before then, are there any other members of the public that would like to make make a public comment? Seeing none, Monica, why don't you come on down and we'll take a photo? Our proclamation for women's history month. Ms. Ben Wellos. Yes, thank you, Mayor. Uh it's my honor. Uh, whereas women have always played a critical role in shaping the economic, cultural, and social fabric of our society through their participation in the labor force, working both inside and outside of the home, in leadership positions and through creative inspirations, and whereas women's history month provides an opportunity for schools and communities to expand and enhance what our children and our community know about the women's roles in history and their contributions to the development of this nation. And whereas the story of American women is the story of women of all ages, races, and cultural backgrounds who led campaigns for equality and civil rights, advanced professional and educational opportunities, founded entirely new enterprises, and contributed significantly to the arts, sciences, and humanistic causes. And whereas women from every background have long realized that an uneven playing field will never bring equality or justice, and we all need to eliminate bias and discrimination entirely for our lives and institutions. And whereas the 2025 theme of the women's history month is moving forward together. Women educating and inspiring generations, which celebrates the collective strength and influence of women who have dedicated their lives to education, mentorship, and leadership.