OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Santa Rosa City Council Meeting – January 27, 2026

City CouncilTuesday, January 27, 2026
BodySanta Rosa, California
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, January 27, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 3:45:35
Transcript — Verbatim
2:23

Good afternoon.

2:25

I'd like to ask the interpreter currently on the Spanish channel to commence interpretation of the meeting.

2:31

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.

2:46

It looks like a globe.

2:48

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.

2:56

Click done to activate and begin the interpretation.

4:30

Councilmember McDonald.

4:32

Here.

4:33

Councilmember Fleming.

4:34

Your Councilmember Ben Welloth.

4:36

Here.

4:36

Councilmember Alvarez.

4:38

I'm present.

4:39

Vice Mayor Okrepki is absent.

4:40

And Mayor Stepp?

4:41

Here.

4:42

Let the record show that all council members are present with the exception of Council Members Rogers and Vice Mayor Okke.

4:49

Thank you very much.

4:50

We will move on to items 3.1 and 3.2.

4:53

Item 3.1 is a conference with a real property negotiator, and item 3.2 is conference with real property negotiator.

5:00

I believe we have some members of the public here who wish to make comment.

5:03

Welcome, welcome back to City Council gentlemen.

5:05

Would any of you wish to speak?

5:07

And if you are, make your way to uh either podium.

5:11

So Doug Dino Rich.

5:14

Who wants to be first?

5:16

All right.

5:21

Hello, distinguished uh council members and mayor stepp.

5:25

My name is Dino Dargencio, and I've been a commercial real estate agent and broker and continually active in leasing and development in Santa Rosa since 1979 and had an office at 538 Mendocino Avenue from 1979 to 1984.

5:41

My family and I have improved and developed properties within the downtown core since the mid-1995 period and currently own and manage the following properties downtown across from the uh garage number five, 643rd Street, uh since 1995 is currently occupied by the new Mechanics Bank that moved over from Railroad Square, law offices, and a Santa Rosa Fitness.

6:06

633rd Street, 8,000 feet since 1998, restaurant and offices, including formerly occupied by the city of Santa Rosa offices.

6:16

At 575 Ross Street, we have the newly redeveloped uh building that was a shop and a printing facility.

6:25

It's currently Cooperage Brewing Company Taproom.

6:28

My most recent acquisition is at 640 Fourth Street, that backs up to the northern the end of the garage number five is recently acquired actually from the partners of the Groupie group.

6:43

This building was originally designed by Larry Simons architect, very famous uh architect in the area, and in 1971, it was built for Empire Pharmacy.

6:53

This property includes a land area contiguous to and up to the northerly doorway of the parking garage.

6:59

Uh it backs up to our property, and the specific purpose of that doorway was the intent so that the Empire Pharmacy and its customers could be assured parking, loading, and immediate pedestrian access.

7:12

The same pedestrian corridor leads directly to the back doors of Max Delhi, Sawyers Jewelers, as well as the former Topaz Room building at 96 Courthouse Square and 50 Santa Rosa Avenue, like other stakeholders along this area adjacent to the garage.

7:28

Our building at 644th Street is directly adjacent to the garage and 250 Old Courthouse Square, owned by Airport Business Center, the parking requirement for a building at 50 Old Courthouse Square is approximately three parking per thousand based on the code required and the number of employees and and staff in the building, which requires at least 200 parking spaces for that building alone.

7:58

Garage number five, I believe, is 220 parking spaces.

8:02

Over the last 35 to 40 years, all properties in the downtown core have bought and paid for all the parking garage assessments through the property taxes that expired 10 years ago, but for 30 years prior to that, all the property owners in the downtown core, as far as we're concerned, we own those garages.

8:22

We paid for them.

8:24

So we do not want or need less parking and expect accountability from the city of Santa Rosa in this matter.

8:34

During the past 40 years of active commercial leasing and development.

8:39

Thank you.

8:39

Thank you, Dino.

8:41

I think that's the three minutes.

8:43

Thank you for coming tonight.

8:44

Doug, you're next.

8:52

So mayor, thank you very much.

8:53

Um, today I represent my family.

8:55

We own ER Sawyer Jewelers at 630 638 4th Street, the store next door at 632 4th Street, and the Sultani family that have Max Delhi.

9:05

We are Santa Rosa's oldest business and have been here for a hundred and almost 150 years.

9:11

The garage at some point in its life will need to be developed.

9:15

We need to make sure that we that you choose a developer that's going to have a vested interest in that development being completed.

9:23

There are too many buildings that are already surrounded with fences, buildings that have been knocked down.

9:28

Some of you weren't even around when the White House site was torn down, and yet we still haven't been able to get that one finished.

9:35

I think one of the things that we keep doing is chasing a shiny penny from out of town or whatever, a different place with a different story or a broad vision.

9:45

And I implore you on behalf of our family, our employees, to choose the local developer, airport business center, because they truly do have a vested interest in bringing this project to fruition in manners that can be had.

10:01

So downtown is struggling hard enough without having the uncertainty of somebody that is from out of the area that doesn't have that vested interest that we all do.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Safety████████████████████████24%
Economic Development█████████████████████21%
Community Engagement█████████9%
Affordable Housing███████7%
Fiscal Sustainability███████7%
Youth Programs███████7%
Homelessness█████5%
Pending Litigation████4%
Procedural████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Santa Rosa City Council Meeting – January 27, 2026

The Santa Rosa City Council met on January 27, 2026, for a regular meeting that included a closed session on real property negotiations, a study session on entertainment zones, reports from the city manager and city attorney, council member reports, appointments to regional boards, a public hearing on fiscal year 2026–27 budget priorities, and acceptance of the annual Public Safety and Prevention Tax (PSAP) report. The meeting lasted from approximately 10:00 a.m. to after 5:00 p.m., with a brief recess between sessions.

Consent Calendar

  • Items 13.1 through 13.6 were adopted unanimously (5–0). Item 13.7 was continued to February 10, 2026.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Closed Session (Items 3.1 & 3.2): Three downtown property owners and stakeholders spoke in favor of selecting a local developer (Airport Business Center) for the redevelopment of Parking Garage #5. They emphasized the need to maintain at least 50 hourly parking spaces and to ensure developer accountability. No decision was reported from closed session.
  • Entertainment Zones Study Session: Multiple residents and business representatives expressed support for creating entertainment zones, urging a pilot program with regular weekly activation (Friday–Sunday, 12 p.m.–10 p.m.) rather than event-only activation. Concerns were raised about public safety resources, lighting, and connectivity between Courthouse Square and Railroad Square.
  • Non-Agenda Public Comments: Speakers addressed a range of issues: homeless veteran housing vouchers, mobile home park senior protections, road repairs, gang violence in Roseland, surveillance concerns (Flock cameras), and the need for anti-displacement strategies in the South Santa Rosa Specific Plan.
  • Budget Priorities Public Hearing: Residents requested infrastructure improvements (road repair, crosswalk safety), senior mobile home park overlay ordinance, anti-gentrification measures, and no further cuts to homelessness services. Some speakers warned of declining sales tax revenue and urged fiscal restraint.

Discussion Items

  • Entertainment Zones Study Session: City staff presented two proposed zone areas (Courthouse Square from D to B Streets, 7th to 3rd; Railroad Square from Davis to Wilson, 5th to 3rd) and a third zone for signature events. Hours proposed were Friday–Sunday, 12 p.m.–10 p.m. Police Lieutenant Chris Maheran reported 5,095 calls for service in the district in 2025, with 499 arrests, and noted that regular weekly activation would be easier for enforcement than event-only. Council members expressed broad support for a pilot program with weekly activation, connectivity through the mall, and flexibility to adjust. Mayor Stapp directed staff to bring back a draft ordinance based on a pilot approach.
  • City Manager & City Attorney Reports: City Manager highlighted the upcoming streamline of conditional use permits, the spring/summer activity guide, and Transit Equity Day (Feb. 4). City Attorney reported two settlements: $250,000 to former city manager Marakisha Smith and $205,000 to former planning director Claire Hartman, both for full releases of claims. The city denies liability in both cases.
  • Council Member Reports: Councilmembers welcomed Dave & Busters’ opening, thanked participants in MLK Day of Service, and voiced strong opposition to recent federal immigration enforcement actions, reaffirming the city’s compliance with its Indivisible Ordinance and state SB 54.
  • Appointments: Council approved (5–0) Tanya Potter and Mayor Mark Stapp to the Sonoma County Aviation Commission, and Samantha Rodriguez to the Child Care Planning Council. Council also confirmed Councilmembers Fleming and Banuelos as equal representatives to the Public Financing Authority (5–0).

Key Outcomes

  • Entertainment Zones: Council directed staff to draft an ordinance establishing pilot entertainment zones in Courthouse Square and Railroad Square, with regular weekly activation (Friday–Sunday, 12 p.m.–10 p.m.), a separate event-based zone, and flexibility to adjust based on police feedback and community input. A management plan addressing wristbands, reusable cups, signage, and lighting improvements to be developed.
  • PSAP Annual Report: Council unanimously accepted the FY 2024–25 report from the Fire Department (Chief Westrope), Police Department (Chief Cregan), and Violence Prevention Partnership (VPP Manager Ronshausen). Highlights: Fire Department used PSAP funds to staff an entire paramedic engine company; Police funded 17 positions, added fleet cameras and substation; VPP reported no gang-related homicides in 2025, a 61% referral increase, and 129 youth completions (85% success rate). Council commended the work but noted flatlining sales tax revenue poses future challenges.
  • Budget Process: The public hearing on FY 2026–27 budget priorities was held; no formal action taken. Council will receive a mid-year financial update in March/April, review department budgets on May 5–6, and adopt the final budget on June 16, 2026.

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. 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 done to activate and begin the interpretation. Councilmember McDonald. Here. Councilmember Fleming. Your Councilmember Ben Welloth. Here. Councilmember Alvarez. I'm present. Vice Mayor Okrepki is absent. And Mayor Stepp? Here. Let the record show that all council members are present with the exception of Council Members Rogers and Vice Mayor Okke. Thank you very much. We will move on to items 3.1 and 3.2. Item 3.1 is a conference with a real property negotiator, and item 3.2 is conference with real property negotiator. I believe we have some members of the public here who wish to make comment. Welcome, welcome back to City Council gentlemen. Would any of you wish to speak? And if you are, make your way to uh either podium. So Doug Dino Rich. Who wants to be first? All right. Hello, distinguished uh council members and mayor stepp. My name is Dino Dargencio, and I've been a commercial real estate agent and broker and continually active in leasing and development in Santa Rosa since 1979 and had an office at 538 Mendocino Avenue from 1979 to 1984. My family and I have improved and developed properties within the downtown core since the mid-1995 period and currently own and manage the following properties downtown across from the uh garage number five, 643rd Street, uh since 1995 is currently occupied by the new Mechanics Bank that moved over from Railroad Square, law offices, and a Santa Rosa Fitness. 633rd Street, 8,000 feet since 1998, restaurant and offices, including formerly occupied by the city of Santa Rosa offices. At 575 Ross Street, we have the newly redeveloped uh building that was a shop and a printing facility. It's currently Cooperage Brewing Company Taproom. My most recent acquisition is at 640 Fourth Street, that backs up to the northern the end of the garage number five is recently acquired actually from the partners of the Groupie group. This building was originally designed by Larry Simons architect, very famous uh architect in the area, and in 1971, it was built for Empire Pharmacy. This property includes a land area contiguous to and up to the northerly doorway of the parking garage. Uh it backs up to our property, and the specific purpose of that doorway was the intent so that the Empire Pharmacy and its customers could be assured parking, loading, and immediate pedestrian access. The same pedestrian corridor leads directly to the back doors of Max Delhi, Sawyers Jewelers, as well as the former Topaz Room building at 96 Courthouse Square and 50 Santa Rosa Avenue, like other stakeholders along this area adjacent to the garage. Our building at 644th Street is directly adjacent to the garage and 250 Old Courthouse Square, owned by Airport Business Center, the parking requirement for a building at 50 Old Courthouse Square is approximately three parking per thousand based on the code required and the number of employees and and staff in the building, which requires at least 200 parking spaces for that building alone. Garage number five, I believe, is 220 parking spaces. Over the last 35 to 40 years, all properties in the downtown core have bought and paid for all the parking garage assessments through the property taxes that expired 10 years ago, but for 30 years prior to that, all the property owners in the downtown core, as far as we're concerned, we own those garages. We paid for them. So we do not want or need less parking and expect accountability from the city of Santa Rosa in this matter. During the past 40 years of active commercial leasing and development. Thank you. Thank you, Dino. I think that's the three minutes. Thank you for coming tonight. Doug, you're next. So mayor, thank you very much.

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