Santa Rosa City Council Meeting - November 18, 2025: Recology Rate Increase, Fleet Electrification, Variance Appeal, and Vice Mayor Election
Santa Rosa City Council Regular Meeting – November 18, 2025
The Santa Rosa City Council convened at 2:30 PM on November 18, 2025, with six members present (Councilmember McDonald joined remotely later due to illness). The meeting covered a proclamation, multiple public hearings, adoption of consent items, and key policy reports. Major actions included approving a 3.7% Recology rate increase, accepting the Fleet Electrification Master Plan, denying a variance appeal for an assisted living facility, adopting a resolution of necessity for eminent domain, and electing Jeff O'Krepke as Vice Mayor.
Proclamation
- Family Court Awareness Month – The council proclaimed November 2025 as Family Court Awareness Month. Several speakers, including survivors and advocates (Emily Stifler, Connie Rodriguez, Renee, Asia Gonzalez, Joan Collins, Janice Corman), testified about systemic failures in family court, the need for child safety, and the impact of domestic violence. The proclamation was adopted.
Consent Calendar
- Items 13.1–13.8 – Approved unanimously (6-0) after public comment from Duane DeWitt, who raised concerns about rezoning notification (3,932 properties rezoned) and the Oakmont bus route cost. The council waived further reading of the text.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Non-Agenda Items – Speakers addressed:
- Accessibility of agenda attachments (Janice Corman noted 367 pages).
- Veterans Day ceremony and the proposed "Pomo Park and Preserve" naming (Duane DeWitt).
- A personal complaint about hospital notification and APS policies (Alan Cook).
- Bike infrastructure improvements on West College and North Dutton (Chris Gunther of Bikeable Santa Rosa).
Discussion Items
- City Manager’s Report – Announced a citywide food drive from November 13 to December 18 in support of the Redwood Empire Food Bank.
- City Attorney’s Report – Litigation update: 32 current matters, trial dates for about one-third, five appeals in favor of the city.
- Council Reports – Included the Tunnels to Towers run (over 250 participants, ~$30,000 raised), Hub groundbreaking, Fire Station 5 dedication, MTC funding for 101 bike overcrossing, Santa arrival at the mall, finance subcommittee meetings with police and planning departments, food security discussions with Sonoma County cities, and the county Threads Conference on homelessness.
- Recology Rate Increase (Item 15.1) – Staff recommended a 3.7% rate increase (about $1/month per residential customer) effective January 1, 2026, under the existing contract. Approved 6-0.
- Fleet Electrification Master Plan (Item 15.2) – Presentation by Peter Martin and Brent Johnson. The plan estimates a net additional cost of $38 million over 15 years to comply with California’s Advanced Clean Fleets Rule (100% zero-emission fleet by 2040). Near-term compliance is challenging due to vehicle availability and cost. The plan also includes backup generator options for power outages and policies for public EV charging. Council accepted the plan 6-0, with discussion on flexibility given federal policy uncertainty.
- Public Hearing 16.3 – Variance Appeal for 635 Benjamin’s Road – Appellants Kim Pham and her husband sought relief from frontage improvement requirements for a 15-bed assisted living facility. The city engineer partially denied the variance, requiring roadway, curb, gutter, and sidewalk (but not undergrounding). The appellants argued the improvements are disconnected, create safety issues, and are a financial burden. Generation Housing supported the appeal. Council denied the appeal (5-2) after debate, upholding the engineer’s determination.
- Public Hearing 16.4 – Resolution of Necessity for 408 Duncan Street – To acquire an easement (363 sq ft additional) for the Santa Rosa Creek Trail Access at North Dutton Avenue. The property owner did not appear; no written objections. Council approved the resolution 6-0 (Banuelos recused) with a two-thirds vote.
Key Outcomes
- Recology Rate Increase – Approved (6-0). Effective January 1, 2026.
- Fleet Electrification Master Plan – Accepted (6-0). Staff to revisit annually.
- Variance Appeal Denied – Motion to uphold the city engineer’s denial passed 5-2 (Rogers, O'Krepke, Fleming, Alvarez, Stapp in favor; McDonald, Benwellos opposed).
- Eminent Domain Resolution – Adopted 6-0 (Banuelos recused). Council will pursue acquisition via eminent domain if negotiations fail.
- Vice Mayor Election – Jeff O'Krepke elected unanimously by acclamation after a single nomination. He assumed the role for the coming year.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon. I'd ask like to ask the interpreter currently on the Spanish channel to convince 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. If you are on your cell phone or tablet, locate the three dots, tap them lightly, and put a check mark on your preferred language. Click then to activate and begin the interpretation. Once you join the Spanish channel, we recommend you shut off the main audio so you only hear the Spanish interpretation. Claudia, will you please restate this in Spanish? Yes. Thank you very much. Back to you. Thank you. Welcome everyone. The time is 2.30, and we will call our regular meeting to order. Madam City Clerk. Thank you. Councilmember Rogers. President. Council Member O'Kepkey. Councilmember McDonald is absent. Councilmember Fleming. Councilmember Ben Wellos. Here. Vice Mayor Alvarez. Mayor Stapp. Here. Let the record show that all council members are present with the exception of Councilmember McDonald. Thank you. And actually one clarification. Is Councilmember McDonald coming on now to discuss her remote participation or would that happen later? It's my understanding the council member will appear later, but she's not available at this point in time, and so she'll be coming in when she comes in. Thank you. And so that there's nothing else we have to we need to announce right up front here. Not right up front. We just need to make sure that for sure she is coming, and if she is, then we can announce it at that time. So thank you very much. We'll move on to item three, our announcement of closed session items. We've got four today. We've got item 3.1, conference with legal counsel regarding significant exposure to litigation. Item 3.2 conference with legal council regarding significant exposure to litigation. I have item 3.3 conference with legal council regarding or regarding existing litigation. On item 3.4, we have a clarification. All right. So item 3.4 conference with real property negotiator. And remind me of the change there, Madam City Attorney. So the agency negotiator will be uh Jill Scott, not Stephanie Vol Volkovic. I know I just butchered your name, Stephanie. I'm so sorry, but it will be Jill Scott. Thank you very much. Alright, we'll throw it open to public comment.
openpublica.com