Santa Rosa City Council Regular Meeting – April 7, 2026

The Santa Rosa City Council met on April 7, 2026, at 2:30 PM for a closed session and reconvened at 4:00 PM for regular business. The meeting included proclamations, staff briefings, a consent calendar of 13 items, a public hearing on conditional use permit streamlining, and reports on the Homelessness Solutions Strategic Plan and the Police Department's Annual Military Equipment Report. The meeting adjourned at 6:25 PM.

Consent Calendar

• Approved 13 consent items (13.1 through 13.13) by a 6-0-0-0 vote (Council Member Alvarez absent). Items included:
  • Second amendments to legal services agreements with Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP (general municipal legal services, +$45,000; personnel/employment legal services, +$100,000).
  • First amendment with Kramer Workplace Investigations for employment-related investigations (+$150,000, total $250,000) and ratification of $4,961 in erroneously made payments.
  • Purchase orders for a Vac-Con 1100 Xcavator ($682,634.73) and a DTC Thermoplastic Application System ($216,258.40) via cooperative contracts.
  • Addition of subcontractor Sonoma Marin Electric to the Garage Hoist project (no additional cost).
  • Resolutions authorizing SB1 Road Maintenance funding ($4,820,318 for Oakmont Pavement Maintenance), TDA Article 3 grants ($15,000 for a Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon at College Avenue and Beaver Street, and $143,189 for Safety Demonstration Projects at High Injury Intersections), TDA Article IV/State Transit Assistance application ($16,600,000), SB1 State of Good Repair funding ($30,788), summary vacation of a portion of public service easement at Lyon Court, acceptance of a Prohousing Incentive Program grant ($1.25 million), and adoption on second reading of Ordinance No. ORD-2026-005 (adding Chapter 13-40 to the City Code to establish that civil immigration enforcement is not a city purpose and to prohibit use of city property that would disrupt operations or discourage access to services).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Fred Allebach spoke in favor of the fair housing proclamation, emphasizing the triple bottom line of sustainability and the importance of affordable housing at 30% of income. He also commented on upcoming traffic discussions and the city's performance in the March meeting, complimenting the council and police department's alignment with North Bay values.
• David Harris expressed concern over the escalation of costs for the Highway 101 overcrossing project since 2004, noting a pending lawsuit, and suggested a separate fee schedule for nonprofits and a sunset date for the conditional use permit streamlining. He also asked about sales history of military equipment.
• Maryanne Michaels thanked the council for their work on the immigration enforcement ordinance (Item 13.13).
• Al Lerman (Mitote Food Park) spoke in support of the conditional use permit streamlining, noting it would reduce processing time from weeks and months to days.
• Peter spoke on legal vs. lawful systems, the power of magic, and expanding community gardens to address homelessness, referencing Luther Burbank.
• Elena (Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California) thanked the council for the fair housing proclamation and highlighted challenges in the current political climate.
• Zobida McCorguodale and Maria Kapitonova thanked the council for the American Muslim Appreciation and Awareness proclamation.

Discussion Items

• Proclamations: The council presented three proclamations: National Child Abuse Prevention Month (to CASA), Fair Housing Month (to Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California), and American Muslim Appreciation and Awareness Month. Representatives accepted and spoke.
• Staff Briefings:
  • Earth Day at Courthouse Square: Jennifer Nesbitt announced the 17th Annual Earth Day Festival on April 25, 2026, from 12-4 PM, with an estimated attendance of 2,000, free bike parking, 60 vendors, live performances, and creek cleanups.
  • Community Empowerment Plan Update: Ana Horta outlined upcoming events including a Hopper Avenue Corridor Fire Recovery virtual meeting (April 8), Park and Month volunteer day (April 11), police traffic safety meetings (April 16, May, June), volunteer planting days, and board vacancies.
• City Manager's Report: Jason Nutt highlighted upcoming groundbreakings for the Highway 101 bike/ped overcrossing (April 11) and Hopper Avenue reconstruction (April 14), improvements at Comstock Pedestrian Mall, and awards to Chief John Cregan (Allen W. Sill Founders Award), the Transportation and Public Works and Santa Rosa Water departments (Environmental Project of the Year for Lower Colgan Creek), and Sara Kozel (40 Under 40).
• Council Member Reports: Reports included updates on the West End quarterly meeting, Sonoma County Homeless Coalition (potential 15% reduction in homeless services funding), Cal Cities Policy Committees, Springfest, Black Chamber egg hunt, WACTAC meeting, Measure H oversight committee, SRPD awards banquet, Fire Department ride-along, and Southwest Airlines inaugural flights to the county.
• Public Hearing – Conditional Use Permit Streamlining: Deputy Director Jessica Jones presented amendments to the Zoning Code to create a Director Level Conditional Use Permit (CUP) process, reduce CUP levels for certain uses, and update Temporary Use Permits. The fee for the Director CUP is set at approximately $800 (consistent with other director-level processes). The council introduced the ordinance and adopted the resolution by a 5-0-0-0 vote (Mayor Stapp and Council Member Alvarez absent). Council members requested an update in 18 months.
• Report – Homelessness Solutions Strategic Plan Year Three (2025): Sasha Brown and Kelli Kuykendall presented the year three report. Key outcomes: homelessness in Santa Rosa decreased by 31% since 2022 (from 1,658 to 1,140), 718 individuals were housed in FY2024-25 (24% increase over prior year), 245 households prevented from homelessness through Keep People House Sonoma, encampments with 10+ dwellings prevented, and occupied vehicles reduced by 95%. The city invested $4.3 million annually in homeless services. The council received the report by a 5-0-0-0 vote.
• Report – Police Department Annual Military Equipment Report: Chief John Cregan and Lieutenant Chris Mahurin presented the AB 481 annual report. The department has 8 of 15 categories of military equipment. The report covered use, funding, acquisition, and community engagement (a meeting in January with ~30 attendees). The council adopted a resolution (amended to correct terminology) determining not to repeal or amend the military equipment use ordinance by a 5-0-0-0 vote.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Items: Approved 13 items unanimously (6-0).
• Conditional Use Permit Streamlining: Ordinance introduced and resolution adopted (5-0). The new Director Level CUP process will take 6-8 weeks and cost ~$800, compared to the previous minor CUP process at ~$10,000 and 3-4 months. An update is expected in 18 months.
• Homelessness Solutions Strategic Plan: Received the Year Three report (5-0). The council noted the 31% reduction and the need for continued funding, especially given potential cuts at the county level.
• Military Equipment Report: Adopted resolution to maintain the existing ordinance (5-0). The department will continue to use and acquire equipment within current budget, with no equipment procured from military sources.