S.R. City County Meeting, December 8th

Greetings!

This Tuesday's Santa Rosa City Council meeting agenda contains several items of which SRT members should be aware.  Among them are a 3pm study session in which a presentation entitled "SONOMA COUNTY’S BUILDING HOMES: A POLICY MAKER’S TOOLBOX FOR ENDING HOMELESSNESS" will be delivered by the County Community Development Commission.  Click on the above title to review the ToolBox.

City staff has responded indicating "The tools in the Toolbox overlap considerably with the strategies that the City of Santa Rosa’s has used or is considering to increase the supply of a full spectrum of housing that ranges from affordable housing for extremely low-income households - that could house homeless people and others earning less than 30% of the area median income - to incentivizing higher density market rate housing. The Toolbox may be a springboard for collaboration among the County and nine cities to think regionally about the common housing issues throughout the county."

Nevertheless, considerable discussion has taken place which reveals some frustration in the City over an insensitivity concerning the considerable work being done by the City on the issue.  It should be interesting to listen to Council members responses to the presentation.

Also on the agenda is an update on the progress of the City's Capital Improvement Budget.  Recent discussions by Council Members would lead us to believe that a more open and participative planning and prioritizing process for this significant amount of the City's budget is in the cards.

If you can't attend the meeting, remember you can find the links to watch it LIVE (or any past meeting) by clicking on the City's Meeting Agenda Link. 

And from our Friend, Anne Seeley of Citizens Concerned For Santa Rosa:

Friends:   

There is a Study Session at 3PM. 

2.1 Sonoma County's Building Homes Program.  This is in line with the Council's recent sessions looking at City housing needs and potential.  This program offers information from the county's perspective; its 'Toolbox'. See links to the City staff report and in the second, the county's document.

Study Session

The Planning Document

4PM

Consent

12.1 City Attorney's salary increase, voted on last week.  The increase is 4.5%, resulting in an annual income of $202,380.  Last week, Duane DeWitt spoke in opposition, commenting on the disparity between City salaries and benefits compared to those of most private residents.

12.2 Ordinance Adoption Amending the City Code to Increase Water and Wastewater Rates in a 5-Year Plan.  The only dissenting vote was by Council member Wysocky, who objected to setting rates out that far, considering conditions might change year to year.  He wants a yearly request and explanation.

Staff responded to him saying that the increases in rates in future rates are just caps on what might be charged, subject to yearly examination. 

Upcoming Meetings:

I'll see you there!    Anne

Anne Seeley

aeseeley@sonic.net

526-3925

484-8722 (cell)

Friends:   

There will be a design meeting on Saturday, December 12, at 10AM  at 19 Courthouse Square.  I'm told that this meeting place is on the floor level in a building on the southwest side of the Square, adjacent to 3rd Street.

This meeting is important.  You may know that I've been a long time supporter of reunifying the square, since back in the early 1990's, when a downtown group named Heart of Santa Rosa was working.  Plans have gone up and down and have been delayed by the recession.

This meeting is important because it might be a clash of two opposing concepts of the square.   Those of us who want a simpler, less expensive design with renewal of the side streets along with parking on those streets will be countered by those who don't want parking on the side streets.  Some people are opposed to the side streets because they would require the felling of some redwood trees.  The loss of those trees would be very unfortunate, but they'd be replaced by other trees considered more appropriate for providing shade and whose roots aren't problematic. [I understand and agree with the reverence for redwoods, but this proposal is full of trip-wires and my greatest hope is to get the project built.]

Please do join us!

Thank you!    Anne

Steering Committee Update - Roseland Area Projects - Sebastopol Area Specific Plan/Annexation

Greetings!

Reviewing the excellent materials produced by the City of Santa Rosa Community Planning Department, it is clear that Jessica Jones and her colleagues have been busy assisting the civic engagement of the members of the Steering Committee and the residents of Roseland.

The Oct 7th materials sent out by Jessica contain both a detailed map and an update of the variety of activities taking place in Roseland.

She also gave the Committee a map which outlines the projects on the S.R. Capital Improvement Plan which are occuring in Roseland.

In addition, she responded to my email earlier this week asking for her latest planning for the Committee:

Hi Gregory,

Glad to hear you and Pat are back from your trip.  I hope you had a wonderful time!

The last Steering Committee meeting and Community Workshop went very well.  We discussed the proposed land use and circulation plans that were developed out of the first two Steering Committee meetings and Community Workshops.  At the Workshop, which was held in an open house format, we also had information on the annexation, parks in the area and transit.  We hope to have the summaries of both meetings available in the near future.

At this time we are finalizing the land use and circulation plans based on input from the above-mentioned meetings, and we are beginning the process of developing policies that will eventually be put into the final Specific Plan document.  The draft policies will be brought before the Steering Committee and the next Community Workshop in the first of the year (specific dates are not set yet, but it will likely be mid-January for the Steering Committee and mid-February for the Community Workshop).

As for the annexation, the City is currently in discussions with the County regarding the cost of providing services.  The next Joint City/County Roseland Annexation Committee meeting is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 19^th in the City Manager’s Office.

Thanks,

Jessica

COUNTY
The County Community Development Commission met on October 7th, at the new Community Center in Roseland, and reviewed the three revised proposals for the development of the Roseland Village Neighborhood Center.   Kathleen Kane and Beau Anderson told us that staff is working on detailed reports concerning the proposals now, and are planning on presenting their recommendations to the Roseland Village Neighborhood Center Advisory Group at 4pm on Thursday, December 3rd at their conference room at 1440 Guerneville Road, and then taking the final recommendations to the Board of Supervisors.  

In addition, the Rotary Cub of Rohnert Park/Cotati presented a Multi-Cultural Celebration on Sunday, Oct 18th, at the new Roseland Village Library (779 Sebastopol Road) to benefit the Library. Finally, the Grand Opening of the Roseland Library took place today, Saturday, November 14th at 11am.  The celebration was a complete success, with everyone involved congratulating each other, and plenty of parents and kids beginning to use its services.  Here are some photos of the event. 

Reimagining S.R. CityBus Workshops

On November 5th,6th,12th,and 16th, Santa Rosa is asking your participation in Reimagining CityBus Workshops. 
 Click on these Google Calendar icons to find out where and when.

S.R. City Council meeting, Tuesday, Oct 27th

Greetings!

A report on the upcoming Santa Rosa City Council Meeting, thanks to Anne Seeley, of Concerned Citizens For Santa Rosa.

Friends:   

At 3PM there's a Study Session on the City's Parking Program; its current status, money matters, etc.

https://santa-rosa.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=4099769&GUID=BA43B807-64B8-4E6F-B044-683A0D94BAA2 Parking

4PM

Report

14.1 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the County and City about a new Santa Rosa Charter School to be organized at 815 Brookwood Drive.  The agreement obligates the City for planning authority over the use of the Garrett and Kraft Buildings on the Fairgrounds property, which is owned by the County.  More details can be found in the link below.

https://santa-rosa.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=4066264&GUID=164CDEDE-7831-4921-8FB3-0993F8C29768 Charter School

14.2 Community Homeless Assistance Pilot Program (CHAPP) - Safe Parking, Portable Toilets and Temporary Shelter.  The City proposes to allow property owners who meet certain Zoning Code Requirements to allow the placement of the uses listed above, on their property.  See the link below for the staff report and more details.

https://santa-rosa.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=4094546&GUID=D7712337-DAC4-4BE7-976C-99CB8E41779C Homeless Facilities

See you there!    Anne

PS At last week's meeting, neighborhood leader Tom Sawyer spoke at Public Appearances to present the Council the many petition signatures gathered requesting a simpler application process for Neighborhood Block Parties.  In his Bennett Valley neighborhood, he and his neighbors have enjoyed block parties, but find that the applications to fill out in order to close off a (non-arterial) street have gotten longer and more complicated.

YOU, TOO, could present such a request.

See you there!

Anne

Anne Seeley

aeseeley@sonic.net

526-3925

484-8722 (cell)

S.R. City Council Meeting, Tuesday, September 22nd

Greetings!

Thanks again to Anne Seeley of Concerned Citizens For Santa Rosa:

Friends:   This is an important Council meeting.  For me the most compelling subjects are Courthouse Square Reunification (CSR to me) and also the appeal of a Design Review Board decision on the North St. Apartment Project, which is the subject of the Public Hearing.

2PM Study Sessions

4.1 City Financing Options and Courthouse Square Reunification.  This is a helpful review of the various ways the Council might pay for the City's portion of this project.   Some of it (a new project design plan) is being donated, and there will be  a future donation drive for elaborations on the square after this first phase is complete.   The proposal is the work of a group of downtown property owners and advocates who have produced a much simplified plan for reunifying the square, building the 2 side streets and creation of a water-permeable central area.  In Report items, the Council will choose whether or not to proceed and if so, with which funding mechanism.

I plan to speak for the project in the later item.  Below is more information:

https://santa-rosa.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=4022756&GUID=FF5489F0-3532-4F0E-9143-86B00E2E93E3 CSR Financing

4.2 Development Impact Fee Revue, Session #2.  in this session the consultant , Walter Kieser of Economic and Planning Systems will present information on the possibility of a commercial linkage fee for housing, a summary of the concerns of stakeholders and will offer a menu of Impact Fee Options.   The Council will give direction to staff about how they wish to proceed.  BTW: Thanks to our Greenbelt Alliance NorthBay representative, stakeholders other than the building community were consulted.  Teri Shor assembled a group of longtime housing advocates, including me, to meet with the consultant.

The fees being considered for change are the Capital Facilities Fee (CFF), the Southwest Area Fee and Southeast Area fee (both instituted when area plans  were done for new development in those two parts of the city) and the Parks fee. 

https://santa-rosa.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=4022767&GUID=DA353E3E-7779-47FA-9AAE-7186ED11D925 Impact Fees

4PM General meeting

Consent

6.1 Proclamation for National Latino Heritage Month.

6.2 Proclamation for Assistant City Attorney Michael Casey, who is retiring.

Consent

12.4 Support of Transportation Funding.  The National Transportation Research Group listed the Santa Rosa area at 3rd in a list of 25 urban regions with populations between 125,000 and 500,000 for our share of major roads with pavement in poor condition that provide a rough ride.  City staff has provided the Council with a list of projects that might be funded by the League of California Cities.

https://santa-rosa.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=4022996&GUID=2CFB7894-7E55-41C0-8E1A-1E8133FEBB13 Transportation Funding

Report

14.1 Financing Options for the Courthouse Square Reunification project.  It is recommended by the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer that the the Council, by motion, select a financing method and direct staff to begin the process of pursuing the selected financing method to fund all or part of the project.  My opinion: It is time, I agree, for us to stop discussing and get on with this better project.

https://santa-rosa.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=4023041&GUID=D845443A-8C50-409D-864D-23CFA08217FD Courthouse Square funding

14.2 Authority to Issue Design-Build Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to build solar panel arrays on the rooftops of selected public parking structures.  Engineering studies have been done and a couple of downtown parking structures have been ruled out.

Public hearing

15,1 Appeal of the approval by the Design Review Board of the North Street Apartment project.  A complex of apartment buildings providing 20 apartments is proposed, involving a 3-story building next to a 2-story building on the site next to the Bekins warehouse on North St.  The neighbors are not objecting to something being built there; they object to the style of architecture, as not being compatible with the McDonald Avenue Historic Neighborhood to the east and the Ridgeway neighborhood to the west.  This will be difficult, as the City Council members are seeking housing development (although this is not a low-income project).  The architect took as his influences building in other places, not the local neighborhood styling and neighbors believe it doesn't live up to the city's infill policy. 

https://santa-rosa.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=4023357&GUID=58E6B205-32D1-4ACD-8F74-C8D59DE0D87B North St.

See you there!   Anne

Wednesday, Sep 30th, Paul Gullixson

League of Women Voters of Sonoma County invites you to -

THUMBS UP – THUMBS DOWN:

A look at what readers are talking about

featuring Paul Gullixson

Editorial Director, The Press Democrat

   Wednesday September 30, 2015

6:00 – 7:30 pm

Santa Rosa Central Library

211 E Street

Refreshments will be served

S.R. City Council, Sep 15th

Greetings!

Thanks to Anne Seeley of Concerned Citizens For Santa Rosa:

Hello friends!

The Council is holding a lot of Study Sessions over the next two months to help them fulfill their recently affirmed goals.    The one for Tuesday starts soon after 3PM and is titled:  

Fair Housing/Ordinance Banning Discrimination Against Persons who Use Housing Vouchers. This is an overview of what's happening and what the law says about it.

4PM Meeting 

Consent   There are several items for bid awards for products and services.

Report

13.1 The Community Advisory Board (CAB) will present its work plan for the coming year.  

   https://santa-rosa.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=4013034&GUID=B5525AAB-A685-4AD5-BB14-1A7054F8168F CAB Workplan

13.3 Expedited Permitting for Small Rooftop Solar Systems

13.4 Water Bill Assistance Program.   The Council asked for this to help low-income people with increasing water bills.  It will allow all users to "round up" payments of their bills to fund assistance for low-income households.

Upcoming meetings:

https://santa-rosa.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=4011997&GUID=A41483E1-5F61-4156-9BDD-71038A6C162D Upcoming meetings

See you there!   Anne