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Record of Proceedings

Santa Rosa City Council Regular Meeting - August 18, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, August 18, 2026
BodySanta Rosa, California
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, August 18, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 4:01:39

Original source
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0:00

Click done to activate and begin the interpretation.

0:03

Once you join the Spanish channel, we recommend you shut off the main audio so you only hear the Spanish interpretation.

0:13

Yes, Rhonda, thank you.

0:15

Les invitamos a todos a seleccionar el español si se encuentra limitado in su dominio del English.

0:21

De esta manera puede escuchar a los interpretes del Inglés al Espanyol.

0:33

Donde podrás seleccionar Espanol.

0:35

Seleccione al hacer un click in this option.

0:53

Este ultimo paso is muy importante para activa la interpretation.

0:57

Muchísimas gracias por su participation.

1:01

Go right ahead, Ronda.

1:02

Thank you.

1:04

Mayor, do you?

1:06

Thank you very much.

1:07

All right.

1:07

The time is let's see, 2 03, and we will call to order our regular meeting.

1:12

Madam City Clerk.

1:16

Thank you, Mayor.

1:18

Councilmember Rogers.

1:20

Councilmember McDonald.

1:22

Here.

1:22

Councilmember Fleming.

1:24

Councilmember Ben Wellows.

1:25

Here.

1:25

Councilmember Alvarez.

1:27

Present.

1:27

Vice Mayor Krepki.

1:28

Here.

1:29

Mayor Step.

1:29

Here.

1:30

Let the record show that all council members are present.

1:32

Thank you.

1:33

We have two closed session items on the agenda today.

1:36

Item 3.1, our conference with legal counsel regarding anticipated litigation.

1:39

And also item 3.2 is a conference with legal counsel regarding an existing litigation.

1:44

We'll go to public comment.

1:45

If you're online and wish to make comment, please raise your hand or press star nine.

1:49

Seeing no members of the public in Council Chambers, we will write to our our Zoom comment or our Zoom room.

2:02

We will close public comment and recess into closed session.

2:05

Thank you.

4:48

Welcome back, everyone.

4:50

Thank you for being here, Fred.

4:51

We'll reconvene in open session.

4:52

Madam City Clerk.

4:55

Deputy City Clerk, Ronda, can you have the interpreters make the statement in uh regarding how to participate from the Spanish channel again?

5:02

Yes, I'm gonna go ahead and then they can repeat it in Spanish.

5:06

Um, if the interpreter currently on the Spanish channel could commence again.

5:11

For those who are 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.

5:26

It looks like a globe.

5:28

If you were on your cell phone or tablet, locate the three dots, tap them lightly and put a check mark on your preferred language.

5:35

Click done to activate and begin the interpretation.

5:39

Once we you join the Spanish channel, we recommend you shut off the main audio so you only hear the Spanish interpretation.

5:47

If you are providing public comments, please indicate you need interpreter support before starting your comments.

5:55

This will be after the item is presented and we call for public comments.

6:00

Remember to speak in short segments of two to three sentences, then pause for the interpreter to repeat what you have stated in English.

6:09

You will be given four minutes to speak to allow additional time for the interpretation.

6:14

Locha, will you please restate this in Spanish?

6:17

Yes, Rhonda, thank you.

7:38

All right, thank you.

7:39

Madam City Clerk, would you please call the role?

7:41

Thank you, Mayor.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Planning And Zoning██████████████14%
Real Estate Development███████████11%
Affordable Housing█████████9%
Water And Wastewater Management█████████9%
Procedural████████8%
Mobile Home Parks███████7%
Urban Planning██████6%
Engineering And Infrastructure█████5%
Community Engagement████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Santa Rosa City Council Regular Meeting - August 18, 2026

The Santa Rosa City Council met on August 18, 2026, for a regular meeting beginning with a closed session at 2:03 PM, followed by a study session at 3:00 PM, and the regular session at 4:00 PM. The meeting adjourned at 6:57 PM. Key actions included a study session on the South Santa Rosa Specific Plan, unanimous approval of a real property exchange for the City Hall campus, introduction of an ordinance banning irrigation of nonfunctional turf with potable water, and approval to place stormwater charges on the property tax roll. The Council also approved consent items including contracts, grants, and a conflict of interest code.

Consent Calendar

  • 13.1 Approved Third Amendment to Blanket Purchase Order with KONE Inc. for elevator and wheelchair lift maintenance, extending term by three years and adding $160,000 for a total of $421,000.
  • 13.2 Awarded Contract C02129 to GCCI, Inc. for Transit Mall kiosk alterations in the amount of $552,200 (including 10% contingency).
  • 13.3 Awarded Contract C02456 to Team Ghilotti, Inc. for Downtown Connectivity to Support Housing Density in the amount of $4,157,055.10 (including 10% contingency).
  • 13.4 Adopted Resolution RES-2026-097 appropriating $22,534,460 in Expedited Drinking Water Grant funding from the State Water Resources Control Board for the Santa Rosa Water Consolidation Project.
  • 13.5 Adopted Resolution RES-2026-098 accepting a $358,323.06 grant from the California Highway Patrol Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program FY26/27.
  • 13.6 Adopted Resolution RES-2026-099 adopting an amended Conflict of Interest Code for designated city positions.

Closed Session Report

  • The Council gave unanimous direction to legal counsel to initiate litigation against Pierce Manufacturing et al. regarding anticipated litigation (Item 3.1). No reportable action on the existing litigation (Item 3.2, Merlin Davis v. City of Santa Rosa).

City Manager’s Report

  • City Manager Jason Nutt announced that Moody’s Ratings upgraded the City of Santa Rosa’s credit rating to Aa1, the second highest, with a stable outlook.
  • The Santa Rosa Police Department will host a community meeting on Flock automated license plate reader technology on September 17, 2026.
  • Seven SRPD officers were honored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving for making 614 DUI arrests in 2025; Officer Anthony Materi made over 100 DUI arrests, the third highest in Northern California.
  • The Ross Street activation is underway through October 31, 2026, featuring live music, food trucks, and family activities.
  • Registration opened for Fall Into Fitness, a free class demo day on September 19, 2026, at Finley Community Center.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Study Session (South Santa Rosa Specific Plan): Numerous speakers opposed the plan without stronger anti-displacement measures. Lina Blanco (North Bay Organizing Project), Caitlin Vejby (Legal Aid of Sonoma County), Norma Fernandez, Marina Nunes, Angel Portillo, Alex Pallais, Delfino Fioriano, and others expressed concerns about potential displacement and rent increases, particularly targeting Harmony Communities (corporate owner of mobile home parks). Abby Arnold (Santa Rosa YIMBY) expressed conditional support, emphasizing density near downtown and multimodal improvements. Fred Allebach urged inclusion of anti-displacement strategies.
  • Real Property Exchange (Item 15.1): Several speakers supported the exchange, with conditions on daylighting Santa Rosa Creek: Abby Arnold (Santa Rosa YIMBY), Richard Carlile, Derek Stephan, Evan Wiig, Joey Smith, Kevin Anderson (Chop’s Teen Club), Ellen Van Allen. Betty Andrews opposed due to insufficient creek land retained for flood management. Duane De Witt opposed, questioning fiscal prudence. Fred Allebach expressed general support but echoed creek concerns.
  • Non-Agenda Matters: Fred Allebach spoke on equity; Abby Arnold invited council to participate in “Week Without Driving” (Oct 1-8, 2026); Connie Jenkins requested naming a trail in Howarth Park after Rick Farella; Duane De Witt requested posting posters for Prisoners of War/Missing in Action Day; Daniel Pablo praised work on Hopper Avenue and suggested an innovative policies committee.

Discussion Items

  • South Santa Rosa Specific Plan Draft Preferred Alternative (Study Session): Senior Planner Conor McKay and Supervising Planner Amy Nicholson presented the Draft Preferred Alternative, which combines elements of prior alternatives: a mixed-use corridor on Santa Rosa Avenue, higher density around Costco, and a network of parks and multimodal paths. The plan projects 6,300 new residential units and nearly 3 million square feet of non-residential construction at full build-out. No redesignation of 17 mobile home parks is proposed. Council members raised concerns about displacement, affordable housing, mobile home park protections, and infrastructure costs. Staff confirmed ongoing coordination with the county and that anti-displacement policies will be developed in the next phase. Council gave direction to proceed with the preferred alternative and continue policy development.
  • Real Property Exchange for City Hall Campus (Item 15.1): Real Property Manager Jill Scott, TPW Director Dan Hennessey, and CFO Scott Wagner presented a proposal to exchange the deteriorated City Hall campus (100, 90 Santa Rosa Avenue, 631 and 655 1st Street) for 520 3rd Street, owned by Museum on the Square, LLC (MOTS). The city will retain 1.61 acres containing Santa Rosa Creek and Matanzas Creek culverts. The exchange eliminates more than $100 million in deferred maintenance liability. The net purchase price differential of $4,546,868 will be funded from existing reserves ($4.5M previously assigned, $46,868 from available General Fund reserves). The city will lease back portions of the current campus for $2 for up to two years during renovation. Total implementation costs estimated at $17-20 million, with ongoing annual costs less than $1 million (versus $6 million to band-aid the existing campus). Developer Hugh Futrell (MOTS) spoke in support, emphasizing his track record and commitment to community engagement. After public comment, the Council unanimously adopted two resolutions: RES-2026-100 declaring the property exempt surplus land, and RES-2026-101 approving the exchange agreement.
  • Ordinance Introduction: Water Waste Regulations (Item 16.1): Water Use Efficiency Coordinator Lisa Cuellar presented an ordinance to comply with California AB 1572, prohibiting irrigation of nonfunctional turf with potable water on commercial, industrial, institutional properties, and HOA common areas, with staggered compliance deadlines starting January 1, 2027. The Council held a public hearing with no public comments and unanimously approved the first reading (7-0). The second reading is scheduled for September 15, 2026.
  • Stormwater Enterprise Charges on Tax Roll (Item 16.2): Research and Program Coordinator Nick Lynn presented the annual resolution to place Storm Water Enterprise charges on the Sonoma County Property Tax Roll. The current ERU fee is $43.52. Parcels below the county’s $10 minimum or with incorrect owner contacts are excluded. The Council held a public hearing with no comments and unanimously adopted Resolution RES-2026-102 (7-0).

Key Outcomes

  • South Santa Rosa Specific Plan: Council received the study session and gave direction to staff to proceed with the Draft Preferred Alternative and develop anti-displacement policies in coordination with the county.
  • City Hall Exchange: Approved unanimously (7-0) via two resolutions, authorizing the exchange with MOTS LLC and declaring the property exempt surplus land.
  • Water Waste Ordinance: Introduced on first reading unanimously (7-0); second reading set for September 15, 2026.
  • Stormwater Charges: Resolution RES-2026-102 adopted unanimously (7-0) to place charges on the tax roll.
  • Closed Session Litigation: Council directed legal counsel to initiate litigation against Pierce Manufacturing et al.
  • Consent Items: All six consent items approved unanimously.
  • Designation of Voting Delegates: Council Member Rogers designated as voting delegate, Council Members Alvarez and MacDonald as alternates for the League of California Cities Annual Conference.
  • Minutes: July 28, 2026 minutes approved as submitted; August 4, 2026 minutes approved with Council Member MacDonald abstaining.

Meeting Transcript

Click done 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. Yes, Rhonda, thank you. Les invitamos a todos a seleccionar el español si se encuentra limitado in su dominio del English. De esta manera puede escuchar a los interpretes del Inglés al Espanyol. Donde podrás seleccionar Espanol. Seleccione al hacer un click in this option. Este ultimo paso is muy importante para activa la interpretation. Muchísimas gracias por su participation. Go right ahead, Ronda. Thank you. Mayor, do you? Thank you very much. All right. The time is let's see, 2 03, and we will call to order our regular meeting. Madam City Clerk. Thank you, Mayor. Councilmember Rogers. Councilmember McDonald. Here. Councilmember Fleming. Councilmember Ben Wellows. Here. Councilmember Alvarez. Present. Vice Mayor Krepki. Here. Mayor Step. Here. Let the record show that all council members are present. Thank you. We have two closed session items on the agenda today. Item 3.1, our conference with legal counsel regarding anticipated litigation. And also item 3.2 is a conference with legal counsel regarding an existing litigation. We'll go to public comment. If you're online and wish to make comment, please raise your hand or press star nine. Seeing no members of the public in Council Chambers, we will write to our our Zoom comment or our Zoom room. We will close public comment and recess into closed session. Thank you. Welcome back, everyone. Thank you for being here, Fred. We'll reconvene in open session. Madam City Clerk. Deputy City Clerk, Ronda, can you have the interpreters make the statement in uh regarding how to participate from the Spanish channel again? Yes, I'm gonna go ahead and then they can repeat it in Spanish. Um, if the interpreter currently on the Spanish channel could commence again. For those who are 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 were 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.

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