S.R. City Council Agenda, Tuesday, March 28th

Greetings!

Thanks to our good friend, Anne Seeley, of Concerned Citizen For Santa Rosa, for her analysis of this week's City Council agenda:

4:00 A Joint Meeting of the City Council and Planning Commission for a study session.

   3.1 Southeast Greenway Preferred Alternative  After years of work by a committed and inspired group of people, this project held 2 public meetings about which of 3 designs should be the preferred alternative.  Each has different combinations of development - commercial and community, gathering places and wildlife protection areas.  Come and tell the Council and Planning Commission which alternative you prefer!

     See the link below for the staff presentation on this.

https://santa-rosa.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=5030938&GUID=FB24A24E-5F23-4073-9331-0AA72D7C699A Southeast Greenway

5:00 City Council meeting

Report

   14.2 The purchase of 3 new Police vehicles in anticipation of their need for when the annexation of Roseland happens in late 2017 or early 2018.

   14.3 Designation of a Recreational Trail Across Land Belonging to the Oakmont Treatment Plant.   You've read about the objections to access for pedestrians and bicycles from Channel Drive to Annadel State Park.   This is part of a solution to that.

https://santa-rosa.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=5026660&GUID=F913AAEF-E1B5-4582-A382-37FA4C73BF1C  Oakmont Trail

14.4 Urgency Ordinance To Impose a Moratorium of Outdoor Cannabis Cultivation for Personal and Commercial Purposes.

     While a draft comprehensive policy is being created, this 45-day moratorium would protect against some problems already seen with outdoor cultivation.

https://santa-rosa.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=5026660&GUID=F913AAEF-E1B5-4582-A382-37FA4C73BF1Chttps://santa-rosa.legistar.com/View.ashx?   Cannabis Moratorium

See you there!

Anne

Recent Grants in Santa Rosa

Greetings!

Here are recent basic needs grants to Santa Rosa-based nonprofits from the Community Foundation Sonoma County.  The Santa Rosa Office of Community Engagement is working with us to assemble a list of neighborhood resources, and new grants given in the community are often opportunities for our residents to volunteer.  Look for the contact information on the agencies in the blog of our Directory of Santa Rosa Nonprofits.

Ag Innovations & Sonoma County Food System Alliance: to support the 2016 Sonoma County Food Forum

Alliance Medical Center: to support the “Discovering the Hidden Treasures in our Communities-How Community Centers Impact Everyone’s Quality of Life” event in Healdsburg.

American Cancer Society Inc.: to provide medically vulnerable Sonoma County cancer patients undergoing active treatment with free transportation to and from treatment appointments.

Art Escape: to support the Dia de los Muertos celebration at Art Escape

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa: to support the Family Support Center.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa: to support the basic needs of residents at The Palms.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa: to support the Family Resource Center.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa: to support the operations of the DeMeo House.

City of Santa Rosa Housing and Community Services: to support Sam Jones Hall.

Community Action Partnership: to support the Sloan House.

Community Action Partnership: to support “Rally for CAP” event as part of the Annual Day and Night Festival

Community Support Network: for general operating support

Episcopal Senior Communities Foundation: to provide emergency funding to low-income seniors.

FISH of the Santa Rosa Area Inc.: to support FISH’s food pantry.

Hispanics in Philanthropy: to support the HIPGiver Gala.

Integrative Medical Clinic Foundation: to support the “What Matters to YOU” coalition.

InterFaith Shelter Network: to support the Off the Streets project.

Jewish Community Free Clinic of Sonoma County: to provide free medical services to low-income patients.

John Muir Charter Schools: to provide Youth Connection Students the opportunity to purchase the supplies necessary to continue their studies with the Culinary Arts Certificate and Baking Certificate programs.

LandPaths: to support the In Our Own Back Yards program.

Latino Health Forum: to support the 24th annual Latino Health Forum

Latino Service Providers: to support the Fandango Fundraiser

Leadership Institute for Ecology and the Economy: for staff support to apply for inclusion on the Upstream Investments portfolio.

Living Room Center, Inc. : for general operating support.

Los Cien Sonoma County: to support the 2016 State of the Latino Community in Sonoma County event.

Los Cien Sonoma County: to support Los Cien’s operations.

On The Move: to support VOICES with funding for emergency food and transportation assistance.

Museums of Sonoma County: to support the Art4Kids education program, a hands-on art classroom instruction and museum experience for 5th and 6th graders in four Title I schools in Santa Rosa.

North Bay Organizing Project: to support the Latino Student Congress.

Northern California Center for Well Being: to support “Heroes for Health”, a run/walk event to celebrate the Center’s iDo26.2 program.

On the Move: to support the launch of an On The Verge cohort in Sonoma County.

On The Move: for general operating support for VOICES Sonoma

Peace and Justice Center of Sonoma County: to support the 12th annual Winterblast held in the South of A District of Santa Rosa

Pepperwood Foundation: to support TeenNat, connecting youth to natural resource careers through participation in conservation research.

Pepperwood Foundation: to support the professional development of members of the Sonoma Environmental Education Collaborative.

Point Blue Conservation Science: to bring the expanded Students and Teachers Restoring A Watershed (STRAW) multi-visit program to an underserved Sonoma County school.

Raizes Collective: to support the Guelaguetza festival at Luther Burbank Center for the Arts.

Redwood Empire Food Bank: for general operating support.

Santa Rosa Junior College Foundation: to support the traveling exhibit ” Patient No More.”

Santa Rosa Symphony: to support Simply Strings, a five-year program providing free in-depth music training to underserved elementary students.

Serve A Little: to provide free auto repair to low-income single moms.

Sixth Street Playhouse: to support an innovative project challenging students in selected middle and high schools in Sonoma County to create an original theatre piece.

Social Advocates for Youth: for general operating support

Social Advocates for Youth: to support the “Girls Empowerment Movement”  conference

Sonoma County Economic Development Board Foundation: to support the “Discovered” project, recognizing exceptional individual artists in Sonoma County.

Sonoma County Economic Development Board Foundation: to engage in a county-wide assessment of arts education instruction in the public schools, K-12.

Sonoma County Office of Education: to support ” Equity at the Core” conference.

Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation: to support the Roseland Cup in Southwest Santa Rosa.

Sonoma Ecology Center: to support the K-6 Watershed Education Program and EnviroLeaders paid internship program for teens.

Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods:  to support the Forest to the Sea programs for K-12 students in Sonoma County.

Team Sugarloaf: 1) Red Barn Campsite construction - to create three new backcountry campsites at the historic red barn compound near Bald Mountain; 2) Hood Mansion Interpretive Panels - to provide permanent interpretive information relating to the history  of Hood Mansion and surrounding properties; 3) Bear Aware Program - ber-proff garbage containers at campsites, signage and interpretive programs to educate the public about black bears. 
TLC Child & Family Services: for general operating support

Verity: to secure emergency shelter and other basic needs for victims of sexual violence and human trafficking.

Volunteer Center Of Sonoma County Inc. : to support 211 Sonoma County.

Women’s Recovery Services A Unique Place:  to provide food, safe housing, and diapers to mothers enrolled at Women’s Recovery Services.

Women’s Recovery Services: to support Women’s Recovery Services programs for homeless women and their children.

YWCA of Sonoma County: to provide food and essential program supplies for women and their children fleeing domestic violence.

S.R. Council Agenda March 14th

Greetings!

Our thanks once again to Anne Seeley, of Concerned Citizens For Santa Rosa, for her analysis of this week's City Council Agenda.

Friends:

    Before the meeting, the Council will be in closed session to consider 3 legal matters, two of them requests from other jurisdictions to join in support in suits against the Trump Administration.  Interesting.

There are 2 Study Sessions before the 4PM meeting.  They start at 2pm..

3.1 Progressive Parking Strategies and Railroad Square Parking Management Plan.

https://santa-rosa.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=5006769&GUID=57370445-F0E2-43AD-A451-B8907B11351F Progressive Parking

3.2 Development of a Safe Medicine and Sharps Disposal Ordinance.

   The County Department of health will present its model Safe Medicine Disposal Ordinance that could be implemented throughout the county. 

https://santa-rosa.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=5006773&GUID=F5ADA71C-3CC3-497F-AD06-49F5D46F39DC Safe Medicine Disposal

10.2.1 Request for a Future Agenda Item.  On 3/7/17 Vice Mayor Tibbetts asked for an agenda item in which Council members will discuss having a 'Housing First' speaker present to the Council.

Consent

12.1 Resolution - Valet Parking Agreement (VPA of course).  It is recommended by the Finance Department that the Council approve a VPA with the Futrell Corporation which will develop a hotel in the Empire Building, on the northwest corner of Courthouse Square.  Cars would be parked by valets in Garage #12 on First Street.

12.2 Changes to Speed Limits on portions of several roads: Bellevue Ave. Bennett Valley Road and Brookwood Ave. All speeds would be set lower by 5MPH.

12.3 Resolution of Support Authorizing an Application to the State's Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP) for $93, 257 in funds to support more frequent service on CitiBus trunk lines.  

   These funds would come from the State's Cap and Trade System.

Report

14.1 Resolution of the Council Approving the Argument in Support of the Cannabis Tax Measure that the Council voted to appear on the June 6 ballot.

https://santa-rosa.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=5009995&GUID=25430DCC-EC65-45F9-9ABE-5F5025C79B4D Ballot Argument

14.2  Sonoma County Water Agency 2017/18 Budget and Water Rate Increase.  On April 3, the Water Advisory Committee to the Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA), which is made up of representatives of each contractor, will vote on whether to increase the water cost  for users.   SCWA's new budget shows a need for an increase in usage payments which might result in an average 2.2% increase.

   The purpose of this item is for the Council to direct Santa Rosa's representative on the WAC, Tom Schwedhelm, on how to vote on 4/3.

https://santa-rosa.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=5006839&GUID=20B76DB3-DA59-4EC8-9BEE-104F09BBFFB6  Water Rates

14.3 An Update on the Cpurthouse Reunification Project and its costs so far.

https://santa-rosa.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=5010715&GUID=E99E3ACF-20A5-41FC-90E9-08F9E7581DF5 Courthouse Square Reunification Project

14.4 Sustainable Cities Memorandum

   The 'Sustainable Cities' program is a nation-wide model for partnership between cities and universities.   The Council will decide whether to partner with Sonoma State University in this program.

14.5 Sesquicentennial Celebration Event Planning.

    In September, 2018, Santa Rosa will be 150 years old.  An ad hoc group involving city leadership and members of the public has been working since 2015 to discuss how to celebrate the City's birthday.

The committee asks for $23,000 to hire an event coordinator to begin work.

https://santa-rosa.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=5010014&GUID=D4740885-D979-405F-A32E-D55FED4DFE6D Sesquicentennial

There are Public Hearings having to to do with trash abatement.

See you there!    Anne

Goal-Setting for Santa Rosa City Council

Getting to Housing First in Sonoma County

Problems like homelessness have no simple answers.  For decades, we’ve seen poverty and housing costs rise. Wanting to avoid development sprawl, and enjoy a healthy environment, we contained new housing.  And we knew it would result in higher costs, and the poor would suffer.

Eliminating poverty is not a local option.  For many years, I served on the board of directors of the local, federally-funded poverty agency with a mission to end poverty.  The agency has been consumed just aiding our local poor to keep hope and children alive.

Building affordable housing is closer to a local option.  State and local funds, coupled with local zoning and development authority have allowed some reduced price housing to be built.  Federal, state, city and private funds have opened and closed shelters when it got too cold and wet.

So we shouldn’t be surprised by a movement that demands we do a better job of getting our most vulnerable residents into permanent housing without wasting money cycling them through shelters, or trying to change the behaviors mostly brought on by being homeless and poor.

What should surprise us is the ease with which our representatives are moving to end homelessness without asking us to answer the question “What sacrifices are we willing to make?” .

If we can’t make the poor richer, and we’re not willing to dispoil our environment so badly that housing costs drop, then it looks like our only options are to either: 1) squeeze solutions out of housing developers (and all non-poor housing seekers); or 2) squeeze currently-housed residents to provide new taxes to subsidize poor housing development; or both.  

I vote for both, and I think we should have a full community discussion about it.

S.R. City Council Meeting Agenda, March 7th

Greetings!

Friends:    There is no Study Session before the 4PM meeting.

7. Proclamations and Presentations

7.1 Women's History Month.  In this proclamation, credit is given to the National Women's History Project, and their birth 37 years ago of the National Women's History Month.  

8.  Staff Briefings
8.1 Artspace Market Study of Artists', Creative Individuals' and Arts Organizations' Space Needs and Preferences.  In their report to the Council, the consultants indicate that the survey was completed by 394 individuals and 47 organizations and businesses. The results of the survey reflect a need for art-focused spaces of all types in Santa Rosa including:

• Affordable live/work space for artists/creative individuals and their families; 
• Studio and creative work spaces for artists; 
• Permanent spaces for arts and cultural organizations; and 
• Event, gallery, administrative, educational, shared/co-working, and other types of spaces for organizations and businesses to rent or utilize on a short-term or occasional basis. 

Consent Items

13.1 RESOLUTION - EXTENSION OF PROCLAMATION OF LOCAL HOMELESS EMERGENCY RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended by the Housing and Community Services Department that the Council, by resolution, approve an extension of Resolution No. 28839 which formally proclaimed a local homeless emergency within Santa Rosa.Community

The staff report includes twelve important community conditions effecting the health and safety of our homeless, and concludes: "These conditions continue to pose extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the territorial limits of the city, thus necessitating the continuation of the proclamation of local homeless emergency at this time."

Report Items
15.1 & 15.2 are two separate, but similar items which place before the Council the decisions to call for an election on June 6th to allow City voters to enact a rent control & stabilization ordinance delayed since last fall, and a new tax on cannabis operations in Santa Rosa.

There is also a special meeting of the City Council, called for this Friday from 9am to 4pm, at the Hilton, 3555 Round Barn Rd.  Here is the agenda.  It would appear that residents wanting to influence the goals of the Council in the next year should be prepared to speak at the "Public Comments" period at the beginning of the meeting.

Workshop Objectives:
• Consensus on mission, vision and values
• Consensus on Tier 1 priorities
• Strengthen teamwork of Council and executives

1. Welcome by the Mayor 
2. Public Comments 
3. Comments from the City Manager 
4. Review Today’s Agenda 
5. Discuss Progress and Achievements Over the Past Year 
6. Discuss Trends and Challenges 
7. Discussion Mission, Vision and Values for Santa Rosa 
8. Orientation to Setting Priorities 
9. Discussion of Tier 1 Priorities 
10. Wrap up and Next Steps 
11. Discuss April 20 – 21 Workshop objectives: 

• Discuss Council procedural items 
• Confirm mission, vision and values 
• Discuss core business functions of the City and investments needed 
• Reaffirm Tier 1 and achieve consensus on Tier 2 priorities, and what will move to Tier 3 (non-assigned and non-programmed) 
• Strengthen teamwork of Council and executives No other business will be considered at this Special Meeting