Friday, June 30, 2017

Greetings!

Okay, let's try to understand the Santa Rosa data on affordable housing posted in reports recently on their Open Data Portal. All data is as of June 30th of each year.

2013
16 affordable houses, none at the levels of extremely low income or very low income, 10 at the level of low income, 6 at the level of moderate income. Two affordable units were rehabilitated. 14 mobile home parks subject to rent control existed with 1,450 spaces. The City had 2,885 affordable units being monitored, and 1,321 were inspected.

2014
66 units of affordable housing were completed. None at the level of extremely low income, 8 at the level of very low income, 47 at the level of low income, 11 at the level of moderate income. None were rehabilitated. There were still 14 mobile home parks subject to rent control, but they had grown by five more spaces. The City's affordable housing stock had grown to 3,022 units being monitored, but only 1,176 were inspected.

2015
The HOST program began, and in the quarter ending on September 30th, 136 homeless were contacted, and 90 people had accepted services. In the quarter ending on December 31st, 131 were contacted, and 118 had accepted services.

47 units of affordable housing were completed. None at the level of extremely low income, 11 at the level of veery low income, 34 at the level of low income, 2 at the level of moderate income. 153 units were rehabilitated. The mobile home parks had grown to 15, with 1,642 spaces. The number of affordable units in the City being monitored had dropped to 2,992, with 1,100 inspected. For the first time, the City administered the HCA rental subsidy program, and 252 families were served.

2016
The HOST Program contacted 97 people in the quarter ending on September 30th, 347 in the quarter ending on March 31st, and 131 in the quarter ending on June 30th.

23 affordable units were completed. None at the level of extremely low income, 4 at the level of very low income, 19 at the level of low income, and none at the level of moderate income. 96 units were rehabilitated. There were still 15 mobile home parks, but the number of spaces subject to rent control had increased to 1,664. The City's affordable housing stock had grown to 3,119, with 1,250 inspected. The City's Housing Trust had committed funding to 77 units, but were under construction. 240 families were served by the HCA Program.

2017
60 units of affordable housing were completed, all at the level of low income. The City's Housing Trust had committed funding to an additional 54 units, and 79 were still being constructed.

More data for 2017 for HOST, Housing Trust, and other Housing Department programs is expected soon.

Office of Community Engagement, Santa Rosa

Greetings!

Yesterday's meeting of the Steering Committee of Santa Rosa Together discussed the current activity of Santa Rosa's Community Advisory Board (CAB), an appointed committee of the Santa Rosa City Council, established long ago in the City Charter. Some on our Steering Committee have served, or are serving, on it. Two members of the current City Council have served on it.

This morning, I discovered that the work being done by the City to develop an Open Data Portal for resident access to the information the City collects contains the history of grants given out by CAB.

There is lots more performance measures and other fascinating data from the City at its Open Data Portal.

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

New Proposed Goals for Santa Rosa

Proposed New Goal Categories for Discussion

GOAL CATEGORY ASPIRATION STATEMENTS

1. Community safety, valued City services and open government Santa Rosa is a safe and healthy place and has the right mix of services supported by effective internal services operating within open government practices.

2. Economic development and financial stability Santa Rosa sustains a strong, diversified economic base that continually renews itself, and has a structurally balanced budget with sufficient reserves in all funds to weather economic shifts for long-term sustainability of City services.

3. Housing and homelessness Santa Rosa actively supports housing for all, including effective strategies that help homeless individuals become healthy and self-sufficient.

4. Infrastructure and transportation Santa Rosa regularly invests in its transportation, roads and infrastructure to keep pace with community needs and protect its assets.

5. Neighborhood partnerships and cultural assets Santa Rosa promotes thriving neighborhoods; complements the efforts of others in preserving its heritage; and promotes community vibrancy through cultural and recreational activities.

6. Environmental sustainability Santa Rosa protects and improves the environment in arenas over which the City has influence of control.

Next Steps Regarding Goal Categories

· Staff will bring a discussion of the six proposed goal categories and aspirational statements to the Council and seek feedback and either modification or confirmation. The interest is in having a revised set of broad goals that can be placed in the City’s operating budget and on the website. Additionally, a future step will be to identify how the Tier 1 and 2 priorities help move the City forward in achieving these broad goals.

Sunday, June 18, 2017

The Complete Updated Santa Rosa City Goals

Greetings!

I noticed that the City had not yet integrated its recently-adopted priorities into their Goals. Here is my attempt to do so.

MISSION STATEMENT: To provide high-quality public services and cultivate a vibrant, resilient and livable city.

VISION STATEMENT: Santa Rosa – Leading the North Bay

VALUES: Excellence, Integrity, Teamwork, Transparency, Innovation

COUNCIL GOALS

1. CREATE A STRONG, SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC BASE

a. 1.2 Implement a comprehensive housing strategy – “Housing for All” Implement the Housing Action Plan· Implement rental housing inspection· Address rent stabilization, pending June 6, 2017 election·

b. 1.4 Pursue opportunities and prepare for impacts related to medical and legalized marijuana

c. 1.5 Implement commitments associated with Roseland annexation

d. 2.9 Attract businesses with well-paying jobs and encourage the retention and expansion of existing local companies

e. Adopt living/minimum wage (additional)

f. Develop a strategy for producing/stimulating the production of child-care facilities (additional)

g. Hold a study session on creating a public bank (additional)

2. CITY STRUCTURE

a. 2A.PROMOTE CITY ORGANIZATION THAT IS SERVICE-SUSTAINABLE AND MAINTAINS EMPLOYEE MORALE

i. 2.2 Create a framework for 21st century service delivery model that is nimble, fosters innovation and supports new technologies and opportunities

ii. Conduct an employee survey to gauge morale (additional)

iii. Develop a strategy for producing/stimulating the production of child-care facilities (additional)

iv. Explore paid family leave (additional)

b. 2B FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY

i. Ensure long-term revenue stability: Evaluate the Council’s 17% reserve policy to determine appropriate levels· Evaluate the utility user tax and transient occupancy tax as compared with· other cities to determine what levels would be required to bring us to standard levels and reduce our reliance on sales taxes

ii. 1.4 Pursue opportunities and prepare for impacts related to medical and legalized marijuana

3. PROVIDE LEADERSHIP FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES

a. Plan and implement the Southeast Greenway

b. Support the SMART train – connectivity, transit-oriented development

c. Carry out work on the climate action plan (additional)

4. MAINTAIN AND ENHANCE OUR CITY’S CULTURAL, HISTORICAL AND RECREATIONAL ASSETS

a. 1.5 Implement commitments associated with Roseland annexation

b. 2.8 Plan and implement the Southeast Greenway

c. 2.7 Support the SMART train – connectivity, transit-oriented development

d. 2.13 Explore options for funding the Roseland Library

e. 2.12 Increase youth engagement services

f. 2.11 Increase funding for Community Advisory Board grants and review policies for determining awards

5. IMPROVE PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN NEIGHBORHOODS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOLS, AND THE CITY TO SUPPORT AND PROMOTE THRIVING, INCLUSIVE AND DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOODS

a. 1.1 Reduce homelessness through a comprehensive strategy

b. 1.2 Implement a comprehensive housing strategy – “Housing for All” Implement the Housing Action Plan· Implement rental housing inspection· Address rent stabilization, pending June 6, 2017 election·

c. 1.5 Implement commitments associated with Roseland annexation

d. 2.8 Plan and implement the Southeast Greenway

e. 2.7 Support the SMART train – connectivity, transit-oriented development

f. 2.6 Conduct a study session on community impact reports

g. 2.5 Implement Open Government Task Force report components

h. 2.10 Implement Participatory Budgeting

i. 2.11 Increase funding for Community Advisory Board grants and review policies for determining awards

6. COMMIT TO MAKING SANTA ROSA A HEALTHY COMMUNITY WHERE PEOPLE FEEL SAFE TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY

a. 1.1 Reduce homelessness through a comprehensive strategy

c. 1.3 Create a plan to address infrastructure and deferred maintenance throughout the community

d. 1.5 Implement commitments associated with Roseland annexation

e. 2.8 Plan and implement the Southeast Greenway

f. 2.7 Support the SMART train – connectivity, transit-oriented development

g. 2.4 Develop and implement an emergency preparedness strategy, including identifying vulnerable targets

h. 2.5 Implement Open Government Task Force report components

i. 2.3 Encourage programming in downtown

j. 2.12 Increase youth engagement services

k. 2.11 Increase funding for Community Advisory Board grants and review policies for determining awards

l. Obtain a new funding source for the transit system (additional)

m. Explore paid family leave (additional)

n. Develop a strategy for producing/stimulating the production of child-care facilities (additional)

o. Explore options for funding free transit rides for K-12 students (additional)

p. Create a transition program for neonicotinoids (additional)

Monday, June 12, 2017

S.R. City Council Agenda, June 13th

Greetings!

Thanks once again to our friend, Anne Seeley, of Concerned Citizens For Santa Rosa, for her analysis of this evening's Santa Rosa City Council agenda.

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

7 Staff Briefings: Occasionally City staff give short informational presentations at this time.

7.1 Sustainable Education Garden Project Update.

You've wondered about the project on the north side of City Hall?: Here it is:

https://santa-rosa.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=5242095&GUID=0ED412C1-FE43-49BD-9C8E-5778A01EF5C3 Sustainable Garden Project

Consent

12.1 Contract Award for the Neighborhood Streets and Roseland Street Overlay.

The Council is awarding a total of $2,610,824.04 to Ghilotti Construction. What is remarkable and commendable in this plan is the amount of consultation with the community that was done to craft it.

https://santa-rosa.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=5240197&GUID=64973DB5-8A0F-468C-9A60-A8954DA917E8 Streets Overlay

Report

14.2 Urgency Ordinance to Impose a Temporary Moratorium on the Eligibility of the Limited Light Industrial Combining District zoning type for Medical Cannabis Cultivation.

This is one of 3 zoning types that under current policy can be used for this purpose. What prompted this proposed moratorium (I think) is the project before the Council in the Maxwell Court Area. This area, like others in the zoning district, is planned eventually to provide transit- oriented housing - this one for the nearby train station and the development that will happen there. A very large warehouse conversion project for cannabis growing is proposed close to the West End Neighborhood, not far from the Bodean Asphalt Plant.

This moratorium is proposed, I think, so that large capital for cannabis growing isn't invested in areas that will someday soon be called on to become housing areas.

https://santa-rosa.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=5241944&GUID=97B5F72A-C3CA-4E2D-A07F-4CEBE621BBC0 Cannabis Grow Sites

5:00 PM Public Hearings

15.1 The Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed Fiscal Year 2017/18 Operations and Maintenance Budget, along with the Capital Improvement Program 9CIP) Budget.

Keep in mind that the amount of money in the budget for the City's General Fund pays for most Departments, but a larger dollar amount is in the Enterprise Fund Budget. The latter Fund is for departments that are supposed to pay for themselves through fees. An example is the Water Department (used to be called Utilities).

https://santa-rosa.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=5240245&GUID=5F9E9185-801F-4A67-BC16-51721F3E9EF4 City's 2017/2018 Budget

9:00AM continuation of this hearing and Council discussion on 6/14 if necessary.

I'll see you on Tuesday afternoon!

Anne

Santa Rosa Together Calendar

Pages

Friday, June 30, 2017

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Sunday, June 18, 2017

Monday, June 12, 2017