Santa Rosa City Council Regular Meeting - June 17, 2025
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Santa Rosa City Council Regular Meeting - June 17, 2025
The Santa Rosa City Council held a regular meeting on June 17, 2025, starting with a closed session at 3:30 PM and reconvening in open session at 4:00 PM. The meeting adjourned at 6:43 PM. Major actions included adopting the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Operations and Maintenance Budget and Capital Improvement Program Budget, approving consent items, and hearing public testimony on homelessness and public safety. The Council approved a total citywide expenditure budget of $553.8 million, with a general fund deficit of $8.1 million, and made reductions totaling $15.76 million.
Consent Calendar
- 13.1 Awarded a contract for the 2025 Residential Slurry to American Pavement Systems, Inc. for $708,378.40 (including contingency).
- 13.2 Approved an additional $2,396,375 contingency for the Hearn Community Hub Phase 1 project, total authorized contract $35,396,375.
- 13.3 Authorized submittal of a Safe Streets and Roads for All federal grant application for the Sebastopol Road Multimodal Safety Corridor and Neighborhood Traffic Calming Demonstration Project.
- 13.5 Approved a five-year courier service agreement with Rapid Express Courier Systems for $194,230.80.
- 13.6 Adopted the FY 2025-26 appropriations limit for the City at $355,353,000.
- 13.7 Approved a three-year concession license agreement with Pony Express Equine Assisted Skills for Youth for $360,000 to operate pony rides at Howarth Park.
- 13.8 Approved a professional services agreement with Moore Iacofano Goltsman, Inc. for Rincon Valley Community Park play area renovation for $297,020.
- 13.9 & 13.10 Confirmed administrative cost recovery liens: $4,753.58 against 515 5th Street (Russian River Properties, LLC) and $9,077.99 against 1727 Burbank Avenue (Rosalinda Wilbor).
- 13.13 Approved amendments to City Manager and City Attorney employment agreements waiving cost-of-living increases, and eliminated July 2025 market equity adjustments for Unit 10 Executive Management.
- 13.14 Adopted on second reading an ordinance rezoning 3150 Dutton Avenue from R-3-18 (Multi-Family Residential) to IG (General Industrial).
- Items 13.4, 13.11, and 13.12 were continued to the July 8, 2025 meeting.
Public Comments & Testimony
- On Consent Item 13.3 (Safe Streets grant): Adina Flores stated that the city is not a sanctuary city and referenced a case of a deportee who committed suicide.
- Non-Agenda Matters (Item 14): Speakers raised concerns about art booklets, code enforcement, a Personnel Board appointee's conduct, a drug house (police called over 200 times), government deception calls for collective action, benefits of community gardens, and homelessness/poverty.
- Budget Public Hearing (Item 16.1):
- Peter Alexander questioned whether homeless spending aligns with UN Agenda 21.
- Jennielynn Holmes (Catholic Charities) reported double-digit decreases in homelessness, expressed support for the city's progress, but warned that reductions (58% drop-in center hour cut and weekend closures) will increase visible homelessness.
- Matt Finnegan (Teamsters 856) opposed layoffs, naming employees affected, and urged a hiring freeze before job losses.
- Patricia Seffrens (Santa Rosa Police Management Association) opposed eliminating the ninth police officer position, citing impacts on special enforcement, downtown enforcement, traffic safety, and response times.
- Ananda Sweet (Santa Rosa Metro Chamber) committed to partnership for economic growth.
- Kim Hawkins described business costs from homeless and mentally ill populations, credited the downtown enforcement team with improvements, and opposed police cuts.
- Tommy Isachsen (Police Sergeant) stated cutting the ninth position would eliminate a detective from domestic violence/sexual assault or collapse the special enforcement team (which seized more firearms in 2025 than all of 2024).
Discussion Items
- Proclamation (7.1): LGBTQ+ Pride Month proclaimed; Joy Bessonen (LGBTQ Connection) accepted, emphasizing the role of queer, trans, Black, Indigenous, and people of color.
- Summertime Construction Update (8.1): Director Dan Hennessey reported that construction contracts awarded in 2025 will exceed 2023 and 2024 combined. Projects include residential slurry, arterial pavement work, park improvements, and fire-break paths. The city is also applying for SCTA funding for 10 priority projects.
- Litigation Report (9.1): City Attorney Teresa Stricker reported one settlement finalized in May (JM Manufacturing case, 50-year extended warranty) and 32 ongoing litigation matters.
- Future Agenda Item (11.2.1): Council discussed authorizing the City Manager to hire a consulting group for department efficiency assessments. City Manager Smith confirmed this is already underway and will return with a cost for appropriation if needed. The item did not require a council vote.
- Budget Presentation (16.1): CFO Alan Alton announced retirement. Staff presented the FY 2025-26 budget with a general fund deficit of $8.1 million after $11 million in reductions. The budget eliminates 55 FTEs (16.8 filled, 38.2 vacant) from the general fund, resulting in 8 layoffs, plus demotions. Citywide net reduction of 31 FTEs. Reserves projected to last through FY 2026-27. Council debate: Council Member MacDonald moved to retain a ninth police officer position, and the Council agreed.
Key Outcomes
- Adopted six budget resolutions:
- Homeless Services Program Budget (RES-2025-109) - passed 6-0 (Rogers recused).
- Recreation & Parks Budget (RES-2025-110) - passed 6-0 (MacDonald recused).
- Recreation & Parks FTE changes (RES-2025-111) - passed 6-0 (MacDonald recused).
- Primary budget and CIP (RES-2025-112) - passed 7-0 with amendment to remove the ninth police officer cut.
- Salary plan and schedule (RES-2025-113) - passed 7-0 with removal of ninth officer cut.
- Stormwater utility budget (RES-2025-114) - passed 7-0.
- Public Safety and Prevention Tax Implementation Plan amendment (RES-2025-115) - passed 7-0.
- Approved all consent items as listed.
- Directed City Manager to proceed with efficiency consultant and bring back budget appropriation if needed.
- Next steps: Mid-year budget review in October 2025; formation of a Budget Advisory Committee to include community and labor participation.
- Noted that the City Manager and City Attorney waived salary adjustments/cost-of-living increases for FY 2025-26.
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. Welcome back, everyone. The time is the time is four o'clock. Oh. Sorry, I need to be put into the interpretation channel, please. Thank you. We'll do one moment. Thank you. Thank you, Mayor. We are good. Yesidra is now in the Spanish channel. Thank you. All right. It's time, the time is four o'clock, and we'll reconvene an open session. Madam City Clerk, would you please call the roll? Thank you, Mayor. Councilmember Rogers. Present Councilmember O'Krepke. Here. Councilmember McDonald. Here. Councilmember Fleming. Here. Councilmember Ben Wellos. Here. Vice Mayor Alvarez? President. Mayor Stepp. Here. Martha Recordshow, all Council members are present. Thank you. We will move on to item six point one, our report on our closed session. Madam City Attorney. Sorry, I'm catching you as you're in transit. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, there's no reportable action. Um, I did, however, want to indicate that Councilmember O'Krepke recuse from the closed session based on a professional relationship. Thank you for that. We will go to um item seven point one, our proclamation on LGBTQ Pride Month. Ms. Fleming. Yes, and aren't we all so proud to be here today to um read this um really important proclamation? Whereas the City of Santa Rosa recognizes the month of June as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning LGBTQ plus Pride Month, June is recognized nationally as LGBTQ plus Pride Month, a time to honor the history struggles and achievements of the LGBTQ plus community, and whereas the history of this community's movement is based on grassroots activism here in Sonoma County. And I don't think that there could possibly be a more important moment to stop and recognize our um communities here. So thank you for coming out today.
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