 Here Okay, let the record show that all the planning commissioners are here with the exception of commissioner Holton and Now on to the council members councilmember Schwedhelm here Councilmember Sawyer here councilmember Rogers present councilmember McDonald here councilmember Fleming present Vice mayor Alvarez Mayor Rogers here let the record show that all council members are present All right. Thank you and welcome welcome to our fabulous planning commission. Thanks for joining us today We had no closed session. So we'll start our day with our study session on the Santa Rosa forward preferred alternative Madam city manager. Do you want to kick it off? Item 3.1 our good afternoon item 3.1 Is the Santa Rosa forward preferred alternative? And i'll turn it over to am i'm turning this over to commissioner olcrupty or chair weeks Um, I believe it's um being passed on to um Amy is that correct? Oh, hey, Amy Good afternoon. Actually, I'm gonna ask um player to kick us off I feel like we're playing a pickleball or something Good afternoon. We're gonna get the slides up and as we do that. I just wanted to introduce the item So this is a really a critical step in our process And as you know, a general plan process is a multi-year effort and this in particular is a comprehensive General plan updates, but in this moment in the process, um, we are really looking for Feedback in terms of did we hear what we were hearing? through the alternative space and moving into Into our next phase so based on the direction Claire can I enter can I interrupt you for one second? We you're a little muffled. Can you fix your microphone? Please Think you're on mute now And we are working on getting the presentation up for you right now All right. How about this is this working better? Can you hear me? Thank you director? We can hear you fine Okay, great. Thank you and thanks for letting me know Um, okay, so yeah where we're at in this process is we're going to be presenting the preferred alternative tonight Um, and based on the direction that we received tonight from the planning commission and the city council This is a culmination after engagement efforts that you'll hear about in just a moment And once we get direction acceptance that we're on the right path And maybe with some amendments and directions that we get tonight We're going to turn the corner into the next chapter and that next chapter Is where we start drafting the general plan itself. So that's the Not only the new land use diagram that will direct the city but also all of its general plan policies and again This is a comprehensive All element effort And in addition to that we will also concurrently Be processing the environmental documentation that needs to go hand in hand with a general plan update And of course with all of that goes new engagement opportunities So as we continue on in this multi-year process, we're always learning about How to do engagement better. So always always accepting feedback and Opportunities for doing that better. Um, we are definitely a changing society and our media is changing And we are trying to be as adaptive and proactive as possible So, um before we head into the presentation, I also like to give a shout out to all the city departments that we rely on for technical advice and direction as we set up these next These next slides and that next moves in our general plan As well as our community advisory committee They have been the excellent liaisons to our most harder to reach populations in our community And really serving and extending our reach into the community to get feedback So big compliments out to our community advisory committee So tonight we're going to have two speakers, but we have a full bench Tonight we're going to have amy liall supervising planner as a presenter. She's going to speak next Followed by Beatrice Guerrero Anna, and she's our equity and public health planner We also have on deck Jessica Jones our deputy director for planning We have dandan briscoe. He's our city planner training. He's new to the city And he's been a great help to this process already And then we have our consultants that are helping fold these documents together So we have andrea howard from place works charlie nox from place works and dan amston from mit And with that i'll turn it over to amy Great. Thank you so much claire. Good afternoon mayor rogers chair weeks members of the council and commission Um, i'm going to remind myself to talk a little bit slower for our interpretation But we're really excited to present this to you today. This is um the culmination of our latest phase of our general plan update and If you're in council chambers, you've probably seen a very large map in front of you. Um, it is just there for your Use that was a map that we used in some of our pop-ups. So it's a little bit tattered But I wanted to be able to provide you something in paper form for those that are in the council chambers We also have copies of the preferred alternative document In uh paper form in the council chambers for members of the public Um, so we have that in english and spanish if there are folks in the chambers that would like a copy You're also welcome to come by city hall or request one and we can mail one to you as well um next slide please So this afternoon we'll be specifically asking for your feedback and acceptance on this latest phase Which is the preferred alternative that claire was describing And so we're going to go through a presentation and provide some background on how we've arrived at this point We'll go through the preferred alternative And then Beatrice will take you through the outreach and engagement efforts that we've done and then We will answer questions and hopefully have a great discussion on how you'd like us to move forward Um, so to start we are talking about an update to our general plan This is a broad policy document. It is considered the constitution for development for a city We're very fortunate to be able to have this update happen At this point in time. We've been through a lot as a city with fires pandemics recessions Annexations a lot has occurred since the last general plan was adopted. So generally cities update this every 10 to 20 years So we're we're in that ballpark and we are able to do this comprehensively So this general plan is not just about development It really is looking at all aspects of our community and all of our city departments So I know a lot of people think about this as being specific to growth or housing But we're really looking at everything. So how people interact with their communities neighborhoods public safety health environmental justice so we'll be touching on all of these things throughout the process And um, and we'll be kind of walking you through where we've been next slide, please And so the Engagement process that we've been through Um has been a little bit interesting mainly due to the pandemic But the last couple phases we have been out in the community and Beatrice will be able to talk about What we've done for this particular phase of the project This particular phase was a little bit abbreviated because it really was an opportunity to check in with the community to make sure We heard everyone correctly and that What we're moving forward with matches the expectation So our engagement process is driven by a community involvement strategy And i'll talk about that a little bit later and where you can find that document Um, but as part of this general plan update, I wanted to also note that we do have a grant from priser permanente So we are um focusing on health and environmental justice In really being able to engage the community deeper. Thanks to this grant. We were able to hire Beatrice who is our equity and public health planner and um, we are also updating our safety element um Our housing element which i'll talk about as well And then this also includes an update to our climate action plan So the climate action plan right now is a separate document that was updated a separate time from the general plan that we have So this is really going to bring everything together So that we are thinking comprehensively about all aspects of our community and our and our climate goals Next slide, please So just a touch on our schedule We're basically at the halfway point in this process And so after We get acceptance and direction from you all today We will move forward in getting more detailed by drafting the general plan policies and then as claire mentioned working on the environmental analysis So this does include a full programmatic environmental impact report. Um, so those are the next phases So for our preferred alternative process, um, we we presented the preferred alternative in summary form and have had community discussions over the last few months And um are presenting this to you today. Um, and we will uh, let's see. I'll go to the next slide, please so other aspects of this process is one we have a Technical advisory committee, which is very helpful in the drafting of these materials And so this is basically a representation of each department here at the city And they are able to review our draft materials provide technical support We check in with this team very often throughout the various Components and they work closely with our consultant team as well We after this point in time, we will be opening up our technical advisory committee to include more of our county resource agencies other transit and transportation organizations To make sure that we're make making sure that our policies are drafted in line with a regional perspective as well as a city perspective Next slide, please And then we also have a community advisory committee this advisory committee is Uh charged with advising us on how to get deeper into our communities and our neighborhoods And to serve as liaisons to help us do greater outreach. So this is a group of 25 individuals We are still seeking a couple council appointments. So if you have not received an email, you will soon on Looking for additional members of this group that they have been incredibly helpful and We look forward to working with them through the rest of the project Next slide, please So this is a another brief slide on where we've been Um, so these documents are all on our web page Santa Rosa forward dot com And we welcome everyone to go and review these things. Um, as you're able So we've kicked off the project back in august of 2020 and that's when we Asked for acceptance on the community involvement strategy And that really laid out the process on how we planned to Engage the community Unfortunately, we had to start doing that remotely and have been able to start realizing a lot of those in-person opportunities that We really wanted to do But the focus is a little bit different because we wanted to be able to go to where people are and not For instance, hold a town hall and ask everyone to come to us So we've been changing our strategies every Every phase of this project to make sure that we're using technology in a way that engages people but also A high touch so we're able to go into the communities go to meetings Do workshops where people are and get feedback that way as well So we're really trying to seek out folks that don't normally engage in our processes or policy efforts And we actually want to continue working with these people not just through the general plan, but other efforts as well So we've really been able to build trust and gain connections with our community members for other civic matters as well Then we also have an existing conditions report This is a very deep dive of data It's a great resource for things beyond the general plan But this really is our building block or foundation for a lot of the technical studies That have been done and will be done through the process And because that is so dense, we've also created a briefing book That briefing book is basically an executive summary of what is in that existing conditions report And then we have formed a vision statement based on communities feedback and That we'll talk about on our next slide But the alternatives workbook is also on our website And we'll talk a little bit about the various alternatives that were presented to you all earlier this year and That we gained feedback from the community on and then our preferred alternative summary, which is what's before you today Next slide, please So this is our vision statement This we came to based on a series of public meetings and surveys and So i'm not going to read the whole thing But this is our guiding principle throughout the project And so all of these words in our word flower on the right are Are really what we've derived and so We always check in with the community on each phase to make sure that we're really centering ourselves and being consistent with this vision statement that was provided to us Early in the project Next slide, please so now we're at the alternatives and This is what we asked for feedback on and this is how we've arrived at our preferred alternative And basically what these are are different scenarios to review growth To review housing And what that would look like in the future So the first alternative that we asked the community about was called central corridors And this really was focused on Downtown and some of our major transit corridors and major areas of growth So what would it look like if from this point forward we focused additional growth In the areas identified on that map And the alternative two was named neighborhood main streets And this really was an extension of that central corridor theme But moving away into more of a neighborhood node situation So it's reflecting our existing neighborhoods in a way that connects more transit and More growth in some of these neighborhood node type Areas And then the other one was distributed housing This is very closely resembling what we have now in our existing general plan So it's looking at housing throughout the city Not necessarily focused on our major transit areas But more on where we have housing opportunity areas so Based on the public's feedback We heard that people wanted a blend of alternative one and two And we confirmed that with your commission and council earlier this year as well And so our preferred alternative Is what we hope taking into consideration all of the comments and feedback And and putting this forward back out to the community and to you all to make sure we got it right And we want to make sure that we have it right because this is what we're going to be drafting our general plan on Next slide, please So with that we're going to talk about the preferred alternative itself So this is a pretty succinct document And it is broken up in four parts as far as subject area And so it's partly map based but partly language based as well because we are Putting forward some potential goals And themes to consider as we start looking at what this general plan could be Next slide, please So i'm going to go through the first two topic areas and then Beatrice will go through the last two um, so the first one is economics and housing and um, so you'll see that we identify some of the key features in Word form and then there's a map as well This map is very tiny. We will have a larger map and i'll describe a lot of the changes Once we get to that slide But really this is Creating a focus for increasing density in these neighborhood nodes in line with Those alternatives one and two that we heard about So this would continue to add focus to our downtown plan Our downtown station area specific plan was adopted in late 2020 and So that is a very recent check-in with our community We have heard a lot of comments that support that vision and keeping that vision So at this point staff does not recommend any changes As far as what that vision entails or what those densities entail But we do want to recognize that The downtown is a primary area for this type of growth And then we're also looking at What other areas Could serve growth And what areas need potential commercial growth and how are they connected? And so we are looking at about 24,000 new homes under this scenario And so Just to put that in context our current general plan envisioned It was 36,000 units. So This is actually still in line with our existing general plan We're actually not projecting as much growth as our last general plan. So this is At the midpoint of the projections for population It is taking into account a lot of the infrastructure needs the feasibility of growth and also things environmentally such as water and Um In our our safety issues, which will be discussed in a in a later slide While i'm on this slide, I also wanted to note that our housing element is being drafted somewhat separately And because there is a state deadline that uh, our city has to adopt a housing element by january 31st of next year And so that was already drafted put out for review And we did get some preliminary comments from housing and community development, which is the state Um department that actually has to certify our housing element So last week we did put another draft of the housing element out for public consumption So that is on our website and um, that is a seven day review period And we do expect formal comments from, um hcd on november 1st So there will be more information coming then and um once we make Final revisions based on their comments. We will put it out for a longer period for public review And then it will become It will come before planning commission and your council I will say that housing element is looking at an eight year period of time Our general plan is looking at a much longer period of time. So this general plan is looking to 2050 And the housing element has to be updated every eight years. So that housing element is just one small picture of this larger map So, um, just keep that in mind as these two processes move forward. Um, which can be somewhat confusing All right. So with that, um, i'm going to pass it to be treese to talk about Efficient and sustainable development. Um, can we have the next slide, please? Thank you, Amy. Um, thanks everyone for for this opportunity to present On general plan update in a preferred alternative specifically in relationship to Efficient and sustainable development Our preferred alternative has key features that we included to present to the community The first one was to manage transportation demand and reduce vehicle miles travel and Specifically in in this key feature, we're thinking about improving connectivity and reducing the occupants of a single vehicle single occupant private vehicles including access to city's priority development areas like Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa Avenue Corridors and north Santa Rosa station downtown station area the vestibule road corridor Rosen and Santa Rosa Avenue and including smart stations as well as East-west connections from walking and biking A transit that needs to be improved in in this preferred alternative For for us in in in this key features Transit system needs needs to be expanded. This is something that we have been collaborating with the with the transit team But another item that came out from community Conversation was evacuation Being a priority consideration for for for this topic and we will talk a little bit more on the next on the next topic But one of the main conversations that we have both internally In the city as well as community engagement and community concerns while we received comments was water capacity and the housing Needs that we have being matched to the Water capacity that the city has fortunately the number that we have and that amy was mentioning on the 24,000 units 42050 actually comply with the long-range Water planning that we have in the city So I just want to clarify this because I knew this was one of the concerns that the community has had And that we wanted to take into account not only while we were working on the preferred alternative But also while we were doing community engagement with with different areas of the city if This this was one of the engagement pieces that actually got a lot of feedback from organizations and from our survey and one of the things that people embraced really well was carbon neutrality achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 and one of the the main Common common the common comments that we had in relationship to this was how are we going to Achieve carbon neutrality if we were not focusing on moving people out of their vehicles to improve sidewalks and and bicycle infrastructure So this this were particular comments that we had not not only from online survey and we will talk a little bit more about the engagement piece and How we received comments in in person and and online But this this was a very frequent comment that we received from the community We also included in terms of goals how to improve infrastructure and access to transit as well as active modes of transportation as I was mentioning before to improve community needs and limit greenhouse gas emissions and Finally provide the highest quality city services including transit utilities infrastructure parks and recreation and more to Ensure accessibility to everyone in the city And if we could go to the next slide, please this new goals are actually connected to the part that I'm going to focus on right now resiliency and And safety and in in this specific part of of a preferred alternative our key features where focused on three main things one limiting development in the wildfire Well, and will work or an interface to what is currently allowed in terms of our Online engagement. We had 80 of people actually agreeing with this initiative. This was the highest the most The the the the question with the most consensus that we have We also were We're including improving evacuation capacity in east highway 12, which is part of the key features and as well as transit system improvements I was mentioning this on the on the previous topic but supporting specifically evacuation and focusing on areas in the city that are Zero vehicle households, which means people who don't have access to cars or who can't drive And this includes some of our equity priority communities actually, so This this was part of the conversation in our key features and actually Brought out by community members before we created this work in terms of of proposed new goals in terms of resilience in and safety part of the the the conversation about policy is Fortifying our community the city of Santa Rosa But specifically focusing on areas that have been more vulnerable to wildfires earthquakes plots and other hazards and also paying attention to equity priority communities and I'll get a little bit deeper on on equity priority communities, but the conversation is about how we Are able to inform communicate and engage with communities that have usually been Less involved in this conversation either because they don't speak English They don't have access to cars their low income or they have Or face barriers that don't let them be as engaged as other community members are and this includes people with disabilities people who who might be speaking other languages or who have Different different who face different barriers to be engaged An additional part of the of the conversation in the in the policies was focused on Including new building standards in highly vulnerable areas This was another of the goals that got a lot of responses. It where people agreed the most and Specifically talking about Wildfires this this was the main the main work mentioning when providing feedback and relationship to the soldier to this To this goal and to resiliency and safety and we presented the maps of of both wildfires and Risks in relationship to floods, but we included also airway earthquake impact that could be Faced by the city. So those are the maps that are on the right in the visualizing Concepts and that we also Showed to the community so that people are also aware of the risks that the city is facing If we can go to this next slide, please And as I was mentioning before equity in health, which is the fourth topic was mostly focused on providing our community with the basic needs and this Actually focusing on equity priority communities to provide areas of the city With the services the access to healthy food the access to transportation the access to recreation and As we presented on a former city council meeting and planning commission meeting We created a map coming actually from from MTC metropolis and transportation commission where we Replicated their methodology to identify the census tracts or the areas in the city that face Certain barriers and this is the the blue area, which is low Sorry the the yellow area, which is low income communities in the city and the blue area Which is the majority of of concentration of people of color And those two areas intersections create equity priority Areas in the city the green areas that we're showing in the right side map Concentrate the areas where we identify that the most Needs of both infrastructure access to healthy food and services are are located in the city And based on this we Created some key features or included some key features in the preferred alternative basically Emphasizing Visibility for for folks who are for or residents who are not familiar with this concept. It's basically providing Spaces and in houses that Can give access to people who have disabilities or face barriers to walk or use stairs and in particular We had conversations With disability services and legal center and the council on aging to be including this on our general plan and including this as a concept that we Need to to build upon policy in in terms of Of other Key features we included a setback a setback a minimum of 500 feet from highways 101 and 12 To avoid exposure to particulate matter from from these Worldways as you probably know based on our calling virus screen information Some of the census tracks next to the highway are the ones facing the largest amount of pollution And that's that's the reason that we're including this new setback minimum and I I'm living it to the last piece of of key features, but it was actually one of the most most Commented and the most engaged Topics and it was sidewalks and pedestrian infrastructure. Most of our community is very very interest Interested on on us improving our our pedestrian network. So people can actually access services access Grocery stores and access some of the of the city's Services through our Through walking and willing to this also includes People who who are willing to bike and people who actually have strollers or wheelchairs Trying to be inclusive of all the people who who inhabit the city of Santa Rosa and for for comments related to these 50% of people who thought there was something missing in their neighborhood actually talked about sidewalks so for us to hear this much about sidewalks is a big A big item that we will be focusing policy on We also heard something that we did not include in here with with a lot of detail, but food deserts were mentioned in in a fair amount of the of the neighborhoods and One of the largest comments that was not included on our our Preferred alternative presentation or draft But that I was mentioned by a fair amount of people in in the community was bike lanes class 4 For for people who are not familiar with this topic is basically the separation in between cyclists and moving cars And for for for the community This is a big item that people Requires to be required to be able to use bike lanes for much more for people who are not experienced cyclists And this includes youth and people attending school So we took this is a very serious comment provided by by the community and I'm going to pass this this This presentation to to aim you so she can continue with with the next slide. Thank you very much Thank you, Beatrice If we can make yes, thank you So this is our preferred alternative map And so I'm just going to walk through this briefly and Then we're going to carry on with the rest of the presentation But we can certainly come back to this and go through this in more detail or answer questions Um, but this map is showing the all of the changes as suggested by our preferred alternative in one In one visual and this is the map that's in front of you if you're sitting in council chambers as well And so the areas of change are the kind of light Salmon color and then we have our downtown plan area in the dark purple So these are the areas that really reflect that culminations of alternative one and two And i'm just going to read the definition that we have for areas of change But there are areas where the city will focus efforts on addressing housing services connectivity And or infrastructure needs to make these complete neighborhoods So these aren't necessarily areas where you could see an increased density of housing But it could also mean an area of change or investment necessary Where there needs to be commercial uses open space or bike and ped infrastructure Really creating opportunities for people to shift modes of transportation So it's encompassing all of those things And we arrived at these and and I want to tell you how I'm really by first taken into consideration where Currently our neighborhood centers are And that was really based on feedback from the community And then looking at those neighborhoods and those shopping centers that are identified with those neighborhoods And then we worked with our economic sub consultants to identify Which of these neighborhood nodes are potentially Um viable as increased areas of growth And so based on that and the level of investment needed for infrastructure or gaps and services Um, these are the areas that have been identified and um And there may be Some of these that don't currently have a neighborhood center But are envisioned to be one For instance, we have an annexation proposal off of um Gernville road in the west santa rosa area of lance drive So that is something that is anticipated We are also anticipating the community center off of her of creating an opportunity for A neighborhood or infrastructure needs in that area Um And so there these are all the things that we are hoping to get your feedback on because we want to make sure that One we've identified the right areas of change but two Did we uh get the the boundaries right are these the right? Are we missing some? Do we need to add some? Are these too many and this would encompass about 24 000 units of development in total And we also are showing these areas outside of the wildland urban interface. That was a key Move that the community asked for and as Beatrice noted 80 of our survey respondents supported um And so there there will be some questions um on related to that and how we should move forward So I also want to note that this does include a potential new smart station on belview avenue and then widening of highway 12 East in east santa rosa near oakmont and those were based on community conversations as well So as much as this is based in what's feasible This also includes a vision of what the community wants. So we know that Keltrans and smart may not necessarily have these identified in their plans And so that is a question of do we want this plan to create the vision for the community that allows us to advocate for in the future or do we want this to be Really drilled down into what's feasible and what can be accomplished And or is there a potential to be in between those two things? So that's something we're looking for feedback on as well And I just wanted to give you a little bit more input on what we heard through this engagement set On these areas of change So we've had several people comment about the southeast greenway and um creating an area of change around Um potentially the whole greenway But specifically the area that has been identified For housing which is reflected in our existing general plan and is already zoned accordingly We've also had comments around adding Or expanding the area of change near the north station smart station And that one is a little bit difficult because there are a lot of constraints to be able to expand that particular area of change We do have a specific plan in place that does look at the connectivity to the station and the uses around there and Specific plans could certainly be revisited based on how this general plan forms and then we also heard that uh People in the south park neighborhood Have they've lost a senior center and they are very interested in having a community center Or some kind of policy calling for a gathering place in that neighborhood To not just make up for the lack of that senior center, but to increase the opportunities For that neighborhood to come together And then Lastly as veteers mentioned We did receive quite a few comments from our bike and pedestrian community and general public About the need for increased bike infrastructure And so we don't have that level of detail identified At this time in the preferred alternative But with that is something that We will add in the next phase And we do have a recently adopted bike and pedestrian master plan which will be Something that we will focus on Because that is something that we have been hearing consistently from the community so With that we can move on through the rest of the presentation and we can come back to this map for questions and discussion So for now I will Beatrice, I'm hoping this is the next This is your opportunity to talk about our engagement. Thank you. Beatrice Thanks, Amy in relationship to the engagement activities that we That we do to Increase the awareness about general plan and also help people understand a little bit more the the planning process that we have followed and Talk about preferred alternative and I'm mentioning these two other items before preferred alternative because we reached around 40% of people who had never heard about the general plan update. So for us that was a really good a really good thing We did a fair amount of of Events that were pop-up boots and we just showed up to different places where we knew people were going to be gathering We did some of the bike events we did some of youth events at chopstein club we did some visits to mitote and mecaito in roseland and Basically what we were trying to do was to catch people who either don't have the time to come to our events or workshops And provide an opportunity for them to see what the city is working on and also how this Actually concerns their neighborhoods and and the life that that they can have in their neighborhoods So we would say that this this was an opportunity for us to also get people to get into our website and get some Some of them to answer online surveys So we did a little bit of twist on how we did engagement for this part because it was a short period of engagement But we wanted to focus on those communities who have not had the chance to participate before if we can go to the next slide, please Uh for for the formal part of of how we presented to people who like to see Posters in person and and want to speak to to planners who are there to to hear their their comments We did two bilingual open houses And they were held in person during october and in here we presented the same materials that we brought to the to the pop-up boots But we did a little bit different in terms of having actual physical space to record the opinions the opinions of people We brought maps the the big map that you are looking at in city council chamber We also took it to all our engagement activities So so people could interact and see the the different areas of change and figure out if their neighborhood Was actually part of one of them and what they thought about it If we can do the the next slide, please just in relationship to the to the bilingual Open houses we extended the time provided Child care provided food and provided Transit passes for people who require them So we were able to bring people who probably would have not have been able to come because they Were taking care of their kids or they were not able to pay for for for their transportation So we made all this extra efforts during our open houses to be inclusive of all the community members who might have barriers to access them In terms of the the tool that we used We worked on an interactive online survey with our consultant team that included all the materials that were printed in in physical for both the pop-ups and the and the Open houses and these included all the questions and presentations But we gave the chance to people to provide thoughts and feedback about their preferred alternatives on the on the map and In here, it says that over at 380 people people participated But we actually got 620 till last week when we closed the survey. This was a very participative Survey for us more than than our last stage of the of the general plan and And on this part, I would like you We like to provide you some demographics because I think it is important for us to know Who are we engaging with with this type of of? of Tools that we're using for for the general plan update and for us It was 96 people who actually lived in santa rosa 42 people who worked in the city too And 11 percent people who were business owners and 10 percent of people Who actually study in santa rosa who are students so that was for us a really big shift because We did not have young people on our previous engagement and talking about what claire was mentioning before Figuring out how to get those younger voices into the conversation This was a shift that we did on the on the process on how we did engagement For gender conversations We got 61 percent of people responding were women and 4 percent for lgbtq Plus communities, which for us was also a change We actually wanted women to be participating in this conversation since we have been Exploded from the from the planning field for a while So this was an important part for us in terms of intersectionality and who was engaged in in this conversation And in relationship to race and ethnicity, we got 71 percent of white people responding to the to the survey We've got 21 percent of latino and hispanic communities responding to the survey 2 percent of asian communities 1 percent of the african-american communities responding in in the survey and Finally, but not less important in terms of age 5 percent under 25 10 percent from 25 to 34 years old 28 percent for from 35 to 49 years old 24 percent from 50 to 64 and 32 percent of People 65 and over so for us. This was a Better distribution of age and that was something that we were really looking forward to do so We we actually felt that this was a more targeted engagement for for people who had not been participating in this in this conversations And if we can go to the next slide Talking about age, we just wanted to include this Slide to talk about the youth voice contest. We're actually going to be providing the prices This was part of the last engagement, but we also want to thank the the economic development division as well as the public art program because they are going to be working with us on the next stage to talk about policy using art so We'll keep you posted on how this this Activities are going to be worked on but we're basically using this as an opportunity to connect with younger people and schools so That was the only reason that we included this slide if we can go to the next one, please And just just in terms of of community feedback as I mentioned before it was it was A new process that we did both mixing our online tools with our in person engagement and talking to people using bilingual communication with with our residents and We got 40 percent of new respondents people who had never been engaged with the general plan update or knew that this was happening and 60 percent of people who Engaged with us agreed and or strongly agreed that The preferred alternative actually reflected their vision of the city of Sina Rosa. So this this would be the last part that that I will mention about engagement and I'll I'll give it back to to Amy. Thank you I'll give you trace next slide, please So as I noted earlier Our next step will actually get a lot more specific and will be a little bit faster pace but The next step is really moving into drafting the general plan itself and the policies programs and also Starting to work on our environmental impact report. So all of those things will be occurring starting As soon as tomorrow based on your direction today And will be a lot more Exciting and we will be looking to have a lot more conversations on specific elements or issues that We've broached on this long long range kind of big picture phase Next slide, please So this afternoon We're really here to inform you on what we heard from the community and to get as much impact input and feedback from you all on What you'd like to see and just to confirm our preferred alternatives so we can move forward to those next steps So with that, I will also note that there is some late correspondence That's been included in your agenda package today I believe that was uploaded this morning And so we're happy to respond to any of those questions comments We have reviewed those and have incorporated that into the presentation today And we look forward to answering any questions that you have. Thank you All right. Thank you so much team I'm going to kick it over to chair weeks if you want to walk through questions from the planning commission Sure, um, do undo that before you take public comments and then we will come back for our final comments Yeah, let's do questions right now. Then we'll do public comment and then we'll do final discussion Okay, great. Thank you. So, uh, commissioners questions questions Uh, commissioner dug in Yeah, I think you touched a little bit on this But I just wanted to clarify this. Um, so in the areas where we're Uh, not wanting to encourage new building the residential building like in the well Wildfire urban interface areas and within 500 feet of highway 12 or highway 101 Is that going to be accomplished? Um through zoning like rezoning some of the empty partial So it's going to discourage people So that was one of them and then um, I think I had a couple other questions, but I can wait and see what anybody else says Great. Thank you for that question. Um, you did sound a little bit garbled, but I got I got your question So in regards to the changes that may happen to land use and zoning The answer is yes So we based on this phase would actually propose different Or changed land uses and zoning I will say that we will not Most likely not be down zoning properties So there is current capacity within the wildland urban interface areas Along the highway system and so That would not we would not move to prevent those opportunities from developing But we would not be increasing development opportunity beyond what is currently allowed So you may still see projects in those areas you may still see single family homes in our wildland urban interface or new subdivisions, but that is based on Existing land use and zoning which we would not be able to Touch we have broached some conversations with communities such as oakmont about the potential for like managed retreat policies or other policy techniques where There may be an opportunity to transfer development rights out of areas But we have not gotten into anything specific on that front Any other questions? Vice chair Peterson Sure, I've got a couple Just kind of a clarifying question, which is what does urban agriculture mean? And and sort of how that gets integrated into the planning And then for the Bellevue station and that kind of aspirational stuff I guess that How likely is it? I mean is it if you build it they will come or are there discussions that have actually occurred with smart? Where are we at? Thank you for that question. I'm actually I'll answer your transportation question Then I'm going to ask Beatrice to respond to the urban agriculture question So when it comes to identifying transportation improvements Um It it is a little bit of a balance because we do want to make sure that things are feasible In the case of smart, um, we have had some contact with smart about the station. It is not Right now within their planning Or purview to explore that station But that is something that we can continue to work on with them and explore So we have nothing definitive at this point in time Thank you vice chair Peterson for the question about urban agriculture And that was actually a question that we also heard from the community. So thank you for the opportunity to clarify it We don't we have not written down the policy, but we we are working with The fluid alliance system to to define what exactly we want the city to to focus on in terms of urban agriculture But we're not thinking about substituting spaces for housing for agriculture. We're thinking about Including the process of cultivation processing and distribution of of agricultural products in the city but not Not not changing the the land use for for them. It's just including them in community gardens rooftop farms hydroponic Or vertical production. So using the spaces that housing already has for for these spaces or using Using community spaces to to have them either schools or other Other areas in the city because right now with our current code. We don't allow community gardens in a lot of Of zoning districts. So we wanted to change that And also talk a little bit more about the exchange or the selling of products because this is also limited to specific Zoning districts. So we we want to Review what other cities have been doing and include policies that actually make sense for the city But that will come in the part of of policies and goals when we focus in that area But thank you for the clarifying question Thank you. You read my mind Uh, any other questions before I go into my list uh commissioner crepeki Yeah, thank you. Um under The new goals in economics and housing you have facility facilitate future annexations And uh through a thoughtful strategy. Can you go a little bit more in depth on what that needs to to have a strategy? Does that mean that you're going to plan for those for certain areas to be annexed like county islands or possible future developments or is it just kind of thinking about it So this is really just kind of introducing the opportunity to have the conversation in the next phase of the project. Um, we do have uh an annexation proposed Um within our urban growth boundary now, um, which is currently a Unincorporated island. So that is incorporated into the preferred alternative Um, but um beyond that I'm wondering if director Hartman if you want to comment on um annexation Moving forward in the general plan update Thank you. Yes, that's a great question Um, yeah annexations need to be addressed in our general plan update So in our next phase as we start to get into policymaking Directional policymaking then we need to inform the plan and our community on on where the city is at with annexations What's our priority areas for annexations? What are the circumstances upon which we would look to annex? Um, in addition to all the infill opportunities that we have in the community. So that is the the thoughtful process that will be undertaken with annexation conversations Okay, thank you. And you're not looking for feedback on what areas to prioritize or annexation that propose You're not looking for that now that would be the next step. Is that correct? You know, we'll take your feedback now on on big picture ideas, frankly, um, but policymaking will be in the next phase um But yeah, we are looking for feedback tonight. I know areas of change whether it's within our infill areas or Looking outward. Um, we we will accept all the feedback that we get tonight Thank you Any other questions Uh, mr. Deggan Okay, I'll try this again. Hopefully it's not my internet that's got a problem So I had two things one uh, vice chair peterson's question on the smart station Um, kind of made me think about the highway 12 wide. I mean, I know some people There are a lot of people who want to see that I don't know if it's on cal trans this list And I don't know if you've had any talks with cal trans about is that actually a future Project for them and if so, how is that going to affect the Sonoma valley trail that it's the separated class 1 bike Lane So that's one question and the second one is I think it's on the economic and housing slide um This update is trying to plan for like a maximum of 24,000 housing units and 8500 jobs I think for the two numbers and how does that how do those numbers? You know 24,000 residents Does that 8500 jobs did that presume so many residents are going to be Commuting out of the area. Is it based on today's numbers? What percentage of people commute out of Santa Rosa for work? Or is that just you know, the maximum number of jobs that could be Realized by this plan update Thank you commissioner. Um, let me answer the first part of your question and then I'm going to ask Andrea Howard of our consultant consultant team to maybe Talk through your second piece of the question But in regards to Caltrans and their particular plans and what may be possible That is why we hope in the next phase to expand our technical advisory committee to start having those conversations with our regional and state entities to make sure that and you know, it is it feasible and If it isn't why? And if it is how do we move forward? So there are feasibility studies that have been prepared for that that trail and we know the communities vocalized a lot of support for that trail and And but we don't know where Caltrans stands on that issue So that would be part of their exploration if we get the direction to pursue the potential of those things occurring And then so I'll turn it over to Andrea to talk about demographics and jobs Thanks Amy. Thank you for the question commissioner dug in So this is actually a great opportunity to clarify some of the information here on the economics and housing slide What we the information that we present with regards to economic development is really the potential that's related to The possibility of 24 000 additional rooftops This is really thinking about and is related to an economics analysis from the the team that did that part of the study for us And tells us that if we were to bring in 24 000 new homes and the additional resident population with that What are the additional demands for services and What's the additional possibility to fill new jobs? So this isn't necessarily You know who we would like to be able to provide jobs for this is strictly related to An analysis of these this number of new rooftops typically you can expect to be equated to this number of new Residential or sorry commercial jobs retail jobs and And so those are the numbers that you see there and then also to clarify the 24 000 rooftops total that would be what's allowed citywide With the additions or the changes to existing Zoning and maybe land use in the areas of change So that's not necessarily what we would forecast out or expect to see over the plans horizon through 2050 That's just that would be the maximum capacity With no other changes over that time period okay, so Does that answer your question commissioner dug in? okay, okay, I have about six questions so And then I'll swing back around to my fellow commissioners to see if any of them Have any other questions So You talked about the land use designation and the goals. Is that will that be coming back in like summer of 2023? So let me ask each question and then you can answer me But otherwise just you're going to be writing all day long Amy. So that sounds great. Thanks chair weeks. Okay Yes, so to your first question related to the goals. So these are just suggestions to start the conversation now Based on what we heard during the alternatives phase So yes, we will begin drafting goals policies programs as part of the next phase And I will say at the staff level We're hoping to slow things down a little bit to be able to have more direct conversations on individual issues Because we did hear a lot of need around individual issues. So We do anticipate the schedule moving a bit But we hopefully will be bringing forward a draft in the spring And then moving through adoption in the the summer that is our tentative goal for right now, but it does depend on You know moving through today and then Working with our team to identify how we want to have these conversations over the next few months as we draft the the policies Thank you And there's farmers lane extension is showing on the map And wondered if how that's factored in at all if it is if it isn't So Yes, so that is identified in the map. Um, you will see there's quite a few aspects of our existing general plan that are being carried forward One thing we heard from the community is that there is a need and desire for more more east west and connections and on the east side of town more North south connections. So that has been identified There has been right of way dedicated Along that route. Um, so there that potential still exists So we have put that out to the community to See if this is the right move to continue with and we are seeking your input on that as well But so far that has been part of our our planning on this project Okay, thank you The boundaries of the focus area So how did you determine or the priority areas? What is it? What's the proper term areas of areas Think about it too. We did work on this name quite a bit areas of change areas of change So the boundaries of areas of change For example, I was looking at the one in Bennett Valley around Safeway and CVS I wondered how you determined How to draw the circle around that and how big it was or how big it wasn't That makes sense. Yes. Um, so most of these Areas of change the boundaries have been identified based on public input But also a mix of what came out of our market study research But I'm wondering Andrea if you can speak to that as well and get a little more context Yeah, absolutely. And for Bennett Valley in particular, I remember looking at this one We Did a pretty close look the consultant team Of a street level view. So we were able to see satellite level and looked at existing parcels What's on the ground today and where do you have actually have capacity for changes? if you have, you know Existing beautiful homes and buildings that aren't likely to change over the horizon of this plan Unless they're smack dab in the middle of an area of change We generally planned around those areas because we want to be realistic with where you're really going to be focusing these resources. So The boundaries and the outlines were really heavily driven by by that and then also wanting to make sure that we were still inclusive of Existing commercial spaces and other things that we want to make sure that people have We have an opportunity with this process to focus on improving access to those locations Okay, thank you now um on page six Um Let's see what oh, um it talks about the commercial space 2 million square feet of regional demand supports up to 2 million square feet of new office and 1 million Square feet of new industrial development and I wondered if those numbers were determined prior to kovid because you're anecdotally you hear that businesses Aren't coming back that they're doing things from Like we are right now at least planning commissioners from zoom and from home. And so is Are those numbers based upon pre kovid or post kovid? Andrea would you Of course, uh, these are post kovid numbers. Of course, you know everything that uh, we're basing these assumptions off of is still Largely coming from a pre kovid world So there are a lot of things that are evolving with the projections and the the inputs to the assumptions that we use to come up with these outputs, but Short answer is that yes, these are uh recent projections in the last couple months Okay Just a couple more questions. Um So on page eight it talks about one of the goals is uh carbon neutrality by 2030 Which is a great aspiration and you talked about aspirational versus realistic and wondered How you came up with 2030 So this was actually based on The council resolution for our climate emergency declaration So that's where that number originally came from and we've been asking the community at each point About this issue and we've really had overwhelming support on that particular goal and In the background, we also have consultants working on our greenhouse gas emission strategy and forecasting as part of our climate action plan update and Andrea i'm wondering if you can talk a little bit about How our preferred alternative may intersect with this goal and any Glimmers of what could have you know what those forecasts could say Sure, I think you know, we have um the involvement of our climate sustainability team who's working on the greenhouse gas production strategy That will be your new climate action plan for the community integrated with the general plan So they're a part of the place works team and we get to work with them closely throughout this process And so we consulted with them directly about the goals that we might include here for the community's consideration They haven't been engaged too much in the policy yet We're going to see them be more heavily involved once we get to the process of coming up with the policies and actions They did not bulk at this number So it seems like it may still be within the realm of possibility And it's it's their job to help us chart a path to get there So I think we'll have an opportunity before we get to the The final policies for review in this next phase or not final But the policies for review in this next phase to engage with them more closely with what they've found in their inventories and projections of what really is feasible and how How the what's feasible aligns with the community's will there's a lot of interest in increasing and improving the community's access to walkable and bikeable alternatives to getting around And so, you know, there are ways that you can really move the needle significantly from where the city is today And depending on how far we go through this plan's implementation And that I think you might see a lot of opportunities to they get closer there than at least we are today And chair weeks if I may I also just wanted to note that We are working with the climate action subcommittee on this particular aspect of the plan So we will be providing an update to the subcommittee in december on these efforts and And Since we're here I will say that the place works team and a member of our planning team are in baltimore this week at a climate adaptation conference To just help further our knowledge base on how we can You know write our general plan in a way that could achieve this goal of this is where Your commission council and community wants to go Thank you and The next two may be for Beatrice, but I'm not sure On page 10 under resilience and safety It says support the potential managed retreat from the highest fire risk areas What does potential managed retreat mean? Or what does managed retreat mean? I guess I can take that question. So managed retreat is a concept in planning and land use policy world to consider hazard areas and Consider ways to move populations away from those hazards So a lot of these have been employed on the east coast in areas that have Repetitive flood loss due to hurricane or storm surge On the west coast we've been seeing a lot of these policies around sea level rise But now the conversations have started to move to areas that have high wildfire risk And so it is something that we hope to explore but it it really would be setting up a program and policies To either transfer the development rights from one area to another or to work with property owners So they would be willing to move out of these high risk areas so There's a variety of different techniques on how that could occur, but that is something that We have been asking the community if we want to explore And Amy if I could just add To to that question. It's it's the retreat of people but also the retreat of infrastructure and identifying Not only properties but Spaces or services that can also be moved because they they might be in danger If a wildfire or a different type of threat happens So just to make clear this this would require Identifying if we've had any type of infrastructure that could damage the rest of the city or that could damage Additional services that are provided to the community and relocate them And find strategies to to do it. But yeah, I just wanted to to to add the infrastructure part and on the housing part Thank you. Thank you. Just two more questions So on page 12, uh, there's under the gold. It's recognize and reconcile historic and existing land use patterns That perpetuate racial and socioeconomic segregation So how would you what? understand the recognize but the reconciliation how What are you looking at there? Um, I know it's still early and you don't have the policies Developed but can you give us ideas to? What it might be? Thank you for that question, uh, two weeks. I think um, the recognition Part of it is identifying the data that can provide us this information that you are actually Looking at on the on the maps that we're showing we tried to base this on data Seems we were not able to find the maps of redlining of the city So part of the work that we're doing and that we are actually collaborating and with the county is identifying Covenants that actually prohibited Communities to be part of of certain areas in the city and we're waiting for them to provide us They're working on really interesting mapping parts. So we will know that I guess in a few months But besides that we already have identified the areas where segregation happened We can see it clearly with highway 101 In terms of how the concentration of people of color in terms of percentage Is divided by by highway 101 and highway 12 Reconciliation for us is something that actually we want to hear from the community So as you were mentioning the policy part is not still there Part part of our of the reconciliation for us is happening on how we do engagement first of all How do we provide services to people and how do we hear? And go to the community and find them where they are That's that that was our initial step the engagement part We will continue with what we hear from the community and We can share more about this when we work on the environmental justice Element this is going to be a very specific scope of work that we're actually Going to do with the public art team So we'll we'll get back to you with the details This is something that we have to build together We don't think that this is something that the staff has to define Specifically each community wants to reconcile in a different way and we're trying to do this work hearing what what the community wants from us Thank you And then um gaps and sidewalks and pedestrian networks. Um, how are you meshing that with the cip schedule? Or how will it be? So we have not gotten into that level of detail by identifying those gaps That is one thing that we did ask on the survey That we most recently closed And allowed people to note on the map where there could be potential gaps or needs for that type of infrastructure That is absolutely something that we will have to work on But may actually be more of a program that will come out of the general plan because the general plan will Need to set up the the structure But that could be a program goal that comes out of that and then that would allow us to seek grant funding or Do that level of research to determine where those gaps are and then work with Our public works team on a plan to to create To close those gaps Thank you, and that's all my questions. Thank you for letting me take so much airtime commissioner sysco Yeah, I always forget to unmute um I'm going back in in memory as to When the eir was done for the southeast greenway And it had to go back and Look deeper at the farmers lane extension because I believe all of what was done was anticipating that the farmers lane extension would go through and Obviously it hasn't and so they redid it to do mitigations in case it didn't go through It hadn't gone through at the time that the South was southeast greenway was being Looked at and so my my question is if we Decide we're in support of Making the southeast greenway area A new area of change Would that Assist in taking a broader look at the farmers lane extension as opposed to how it's just being brought forward From the former general plan or our existing general plan I don't know if that makes any sense or not, but I'm just wondering if those if we supported that would those two be looked at together Yeah, that's a very good question Um, and you know, it was a hard decision on what was an area of change and what wasn't Um, and what was identified and and how do we really reflect what we heard from the community in a way that makes sense? Um, because these areas of change are not just Density and housing or just commercial Um, so the comments that we received related to the southeast greenway Um, I believe are looking for an area of change around that area where there is Development proposed and not necessarily the full infrastructure Um open space peace um the The transportation infrastructure pieces that are identified as part of the areas of change are really looking at more of a Mode shift to create more opportunities for a bike and pedestrian opportunity not so much automobile. So I um, Just my gut instinct right now would say that the farmers lane extension would not be identified as an area of change because that really is one infrastructure piece that is Automobile related. Um, of course it could come with other aspects, but it is not An area that would be like a new community or a new Or needing connections to make it more of a complete community And I'll ask the team if they want to weigh in on that as well anything else Any other questions? I'm sorry Uh, any other questions? That's good good answer Any other questions from my fellow commissioners? Okay with that then we'll turn it over to mayor rogers Thank you so much madam chair I'm going to go ahead look to my colleagues to see if there are any additional questions Before public comment John was that just a fun look or did you have a question? Go for it. Thank you mayor So this has it was touched on by chair weeks as far as the Aspirational and then and and the feasible so I have a question a couple of questions and some comments Was the development community? interviewed or What did the committee or the the groups look? Looked at the development development community to in in a sense At least at this point or to this point that The recommendations were they pulled out for specific Comment Thank you for that question. We have had some conversations, but not specific to our development community We have talked to Some different organizations and groups that have had the development community as part of their conversations and audience But those are certainly things that we will get into as we get more specific in the next phase my Sentiment at this moment is that so far we have been very big picture With this general plan update and now that we're actually getting Into more specifics on how we can create areas of change That may be a better time now to start engaging our development community But that is something that we will work to do Thank you for that. I'm going to read a one sentence out of your introduction that I think is really important In the what is a general plan question it says all future city decisions All future city decisions related to land use are required to be consistent with the adopted general plan And all other city documents and reports like the recently adopted downtown stationary specific plan are required To be consistent with the adopted general plan That's a mouthful and what concerns me and why I asked about the development community You know, it's not going to be the general community nor is it going to be staff or the council that that builds The infrastructure into creating complete neighborhoods It will be those individuals that decide to take a chance which is always a it's always a risk to do development And they are going to be the ones that will be Asked to in in essence in part to complete Or to create the complete neighborhoods lots of market forces involved that we have no idea about in 2022 It was going to happen closer, you know in the next 15 years much less 2040 or 2050 so what i'm curious about is flexibility And if we have too much flexibility in a plan then the plan becomes useless On the other hand, if we don't have enough flexibility baked into a plan Then we can find ourselves Strangled by our own recommendations So i'm curious if flexibility is desired How much and how can we create an environment that is How can we incentivize a commercial development in some of those areas of change So that we can actually You know realistically expect A complete neighborhood, you know the the days of the neighborhood groceries are virtually gone Um The the world of safeway is here and will not probably not be going away anytime soon so It's one thing to build homes. It's another thing to build the infrastructure around those homes so that people can walk Which which speaks to The vmt's And in your equity and health Number four the key features It was stated very clearly that pedestrian friendly environments are really important So if you want to have a pedestrian friendly environment, then those commercial developments around the neighbor around the housing that we build Will be equally important and indeed Do we know that there will be enough support for those? Those new commercial developments inside those areas of change so that we can so that we can attract Developers to come in and build those commercial that commercial infrastructure So I know this it's a really broad question And I'm I'm I'm pleased to hear that you're going to be drilling in To some conversations with the development community in your next steps But I think it is elemental to the success of this plan That that we do have um some level Perhaps even more than we have had in the past To have uh flexibility Um and nimbleness Baked into the plan So I think that's really what I'm I'm hoping for In the future I won't be around to to see that happen But I will be around it in in part to see the the um The react or the the response to this plan It's a it's I have to say it's an impressive body of work I I have kudos to everyone involved that created this plan These are not easy to create but they are easy to shelf And so I really I'm I'm I'm hoping for great things It's it is it is touching on on issues that have yet to be touched on in in past general plans and general plan updates That um I am concerned about the flexibility And uh making sure that that where possible That we are allowed to be um Allowed to pivot if necessary to create those complete neighborhoods that we that so many individuals Aspire to and and hope for Thank you Thank you so much council member. Um, I'm I'm gonna respond to your question But I'm also going to ask um charlie knocks of our place works team to talk a little bit about how this How to frame this and how this could occur? but I will say you are You know, you're getting to the crux of the issue of we create a vision of how what the community wants But then how do we create the policy structure? So it actually happens and I over your tenure you've seen our existing general plan and it means somewhat inflexible and then um creating documents and specific plans to create additional flexibility for the development community to accomplish what we need so um Everything does have to be consistent with the general plan. So that will be that vision document That we hope will be uh feasible And then the specific plans and zoning will come under that And those two documents are really where we will um be able to activate that vision and put it in context where That type of flexibility can't exist in a way where um the community can Fulfill the desire and the vision. Um, but I did want to ask charlie to provide some context to this Because I know he's done this uh and many other jurisdictions Happy to and thanks for having us here today It's interesting because you guys both of between the two of you have covered really everything I think it needs to be said about this issue But there's an irony here about flexibility, which is the current general plan has an over promise for both housing at 36 000 units and Retail commercial industrial at something like 10 times what is actually feasible That you'll see the change to to the new general plan and it's it's interesting To have discussions with developers about santa rosa, you know, there's been some reluctance as you get away from the bay to take risks in in other communities And I think it's actually the over promise of the current general plan about The future and how many rooftops how many people buying goods, you know looking for goods and services Have been out there for so long. I actually think that the kind of smaller umbrella Of the next general plan will actually be reassuring to the development community because it's much more realistic about what can happen and And and one one way to look at this is, you know, we talk about 24 000 new homes But 7 000 of those are already baked into the downtown specific plans stationary specific plan 11 500 are just on the ground commissioner dug and asked about, you know Could you actually go to places where entitlements exist and remove them? I mean Theoretically through a transfer development rights program, including from the wildland or of an interface. Sure You could move units or potential for new housing or other services from You know risk prone areas into downtown, but in general, you know, these are people with single family homes or single family lots It's not really a kind of a convenient or feasible public process to tell them if they it can't develop So what's really left in these areas of change is less than 5000 new housing units, which doesn't sound like a lot But if you go to those neighborhoods like south park or benna valley, it doesn't take a lot of change to really make an existing thorough affair into a real neighborhood main street and you're right Councilmember Sawyer, it's pretty subtle and it only takes it but it takes a catalyst, right? So even on the neighborhood main street where you may have One-story buildings just to go up to that second story Even if it's already allowed by zoning requires somebody to take that risk and to build the build a building and to change from one use to another so I think The answer to your question is this this general plan will be highly flexible and will allow people to pivot But there is a marketing piece to this at the at the end of the process where you really try You want to use the general plan to try to attract The type of development the community wants that the council is willing to prove that neighborhoods want to see By by letting people know that these neighborhoods are places that are open for change To to benefit the community and specifically by having a place nearby To walk to to bike to the wheel if you're in a wheelchair Because really when you bring it up back to environmental justice and equity And and climate change just shortening those trip lengths that people need to take every day Getting things closer to where people already are makes the hugest difference I was a real skeptic over the last couple of years about whether this 15 bmt reduction statewide Would really get us to these carb targets of 1990 pollution levels by 2030 and it's working I was just down in Los Angeles the other day and I mean you really can actually see People it's pretty hard when you get off the freeway from stopping to traffic to think people are really driving less But overall we really are driving less And things having having neighborhood kind of centered services where What you need on a daily basis is just closer to you Even if you're driving in a single-occupant vehicle is making a huge difference and I think that The tenor of this general plan and the definition of these areas of change and the fact that the change within them Is not drastic, but it's still significant is really going to create that flexibility that you're looking for And I think you're right ultimately though We do we do have to start reaching out to the development community And engaging them in getting excited about what can happen Lot by lot parcel by parcel block by block in San Jose. That's a good point. Thank you very much Councilmember sweatel Thank you, mr. Mayor. Thank you for the presentation. I really do also appreciate all the planning commissioners Really cut down my questions Amy you had said earlier out Towards oakmont the widening of highway 12 I can make some assumptions as to why the community members might want that But could you give us some feedback as to why that that was a priority for those community members? Yes, thank you so much. Um, it was overwhelmingly Related to becoming a more resilient and safe community, especially for oakmont But also that whole rink and valley region And um, so that was one part of the identification. Um, and I will say the farmers lane extension was also Uh, one of those pieces that was carried forward in order to increase the opportunities for evacuation planning as well So with that it ties into another, um, undeveloped piece of property The shanae property that recently Has been purchased and there's no comment on that. So how would that undeveloped property and again, i'm specifically thinking of Expanding the roadways on shanae for evacuation purposes. How does that play into this plan for a development that is Is very infant stages We have no, um foreseeable projects related to the shanae property So at this time the general plan is silent on that issue. And so that is something that if you all want to see Um, a a change there or something move forward. We can certainly incorporate it But at this time, um, we are not identifying any Change related to land use for that shanae property Because it is within a wildland urban interface. Um consistent with the community's vision. Um, we are not, um for As part of this process, um suggesting any increases in development potential there Okay, and then on slide 13 talked about fortifying the community and I get a lot of the ones about against wildfires The questions I have is about earthquakes and I saw on the map that there's this area called and how a violent shaking zone How is that defined and what impact does that have on those that the existing buildings in that violent shaking zone and Future developments, what impact would that have on any development in those areas? Yes, thank you for that. I'm going to respond, but I'm going to have the The team check me also and please um back me up But so that violent shaking zone is not new that is Considered an alpas preola zone. So it is an area that surrounds A prominent fault zone and that is our rogers creek fault Which is projected to have a major earthquake For getting the years, but in the next 30, I believe of something 7.0 and larger and So that stretch of santa rosa Has been and is known to been within to be within that area where it could have violent shaking and We do have building codes in place for new development that does require Very strict standards for development and those have been in place for quite a while But in these areas, there is potential for additional grant funds programs and opportunities to Really look at the existing infrastructure Not just homes, but even city infrastructure as well and I'm going to see if anyone else wants to add to my comments I would only just support that there's there's grant funding available for seismic retrofits And often if there's a change in tenancy even of One commercially used to another sometimes the building code will require that to kick in based on the number of occupants or Right now if occupants are there a day and night so It's a little bit scattershot depending on what people want to do with their property, but in general Unreinforced basement buildings have a Path to getting funding and working with the city to to do the retrofits You've often seen the star holds on the outsides of the buildings and you know x beams of steel inside But it's a good point. I I'm sure there are a number of buildings Near the fault that probably could benefit from a program like that And that's certainly could be a policy in the general plan for the city to work with property owners to try to achieve those seismic retrofits Great, thank you And then my last question someone had mentioned it from the planning commission regarding the cip project and prioritization How do you see this plan once it's adopted intersecting with the development of council goals future council goals? Well, I will give you my opinion, but I'll ask director hartman to weigh in as well But I will say the general plan is really a tool to to show what is the community's vision and And really review the prioritization of goals and funding For basically anything that you would like to see in the city So it is your vehicle to be able to realize the city's vision and to use it In prioritization not just with planning efforts, but all types of funding So now that we're entering into the looking at environmental justice and equity and health I see potential for Looking at funding in a different way and maybe prioritizing funding or infrastructure needs Within our communities that have been underserved So there are a variety of different potential ways to To go our existing general plan as charlie noted is very cumbersome So that it is very challenging for different departments to be able to decipher the vision out of the I think we have like 700 policies or something It's very large and we do general plan consistency on the the cip projects And individual departments are also required to do general plan consistency as well So it is a goal internally that we create a succinct document that is More able to be utilized for Prioritization for funding or for your goal setting in the future as well Great. Thank you Yeah, I was just going to add if you want my councilmember so The way I look at The general plan versus the council goals is the general plan is as amy outlined It's every action of the city takes shall be found consistent with the general plan to a long range vision comprehensively for the community And in it there's some computing policies at times, right? And so it is our framework for making decisions as a city The and it's long term the big difference with council goals as I understand them those help us set priorities So within all of that comprehensive plan Whether it's climate protection or housing or community engagement and equity What are the priorities that the organization can pursue in the near term? And so it's not about consistency. It's about prioritization of work and allocation And making sort of key moves to move our general plan forward Very specifically Based on our our representation through the council. So that's how I see them interplaying over time councilmember Fleming Thank you, and thanks to everybody who participated in the huge amount of work They went into to bringing us to where we are today my question is relatively Hopefully short and to the point which is Did we take a look at how infrastructure? Has a nexus with economic sustainability and our equity goals in terms of the densification that's proposed here in Will it did we look at will it reap economic benefits in terms of reducing draws on infrastructure per person per door per household? Let me ask you As you're asking about the infrastructure and its connection to equity and if there is a economic driver to Identify in certain components Right. Well, what I see here is a plan that proposes Neighborhoods where one could meet most of their needs without necessarily getting in a car or if they get in a car Without necessarily taking a very long trip And what I'm curious to know if staff has weighed in and done an analysis if this will lead to Reduction in infrastructure costs over the long run And if so, how we could reinvest those funds in upstream investments or providing just better infrastructure For our community I see that's a great question. I'm going to see if Andrea or charlie would be able to Uh weigh in on there. Sure. Happy to it is. It's a really good question. It's actually several questions at once, but I think I think the balance is between the ability to save capital funds in the future by not having to recreate or expand infrastructure like major roadways or sewer lines or water lines, but in favor of Creating equity in places where it, you know, communities have been underserved specifically Like on the south in the southwest corner of the city Sidewalks, right? Like around rosenland high school. We know kids Have a hard time walking to school when it's hot. There aren't a lot of shade trees. The sidewalks aren't finished. They're not continuous So I think in general you're correct that the expenditures Over time even to create equity will be smaller increments smaller amounts of money It it costs less to build four or five blocks of sidewalk than it does to build a new four lane road or six lane road So I think I think overall you're actually correct that by concentrating The growth and these, you know, kind of relatively small but hopefully building Infra increments of growth in the neighborhoods and the investment in the neighborhoods will be much more efficient than Trying to carry large amounts of traffic across the city in a in a more Spread out pattern because that kind of infrastructure will be much more expensive, especially roads and water and sewer lines So overall it gives you the it gives you the flexibility and the power as a council To prioritize as as director hartman is saying the places where you want to spend money And I think you can spend money much more efficiently to Create equity where it hasn't existed as opposed to kind of serving this widespread kind of single-occupant vehicle based infrastructure that's been much more the pattern in the last 20 or 30 years That sounds like a bright future councilmember rogers Thank you First I would like to thank you guys for all the hard work that you put into to making this it looks pretty thorough I just had a few questions if you can help me One would be The percentages that you gave as far as respondents were concerned was That was just based on the number of respondents we had not necessarily looking at Um Comparing it to our actual population Do you understand my question? Yes, that is correct. We were only using the data from the survey. We actually um had uh in Papers where we requested data from people who we met in person But we don't have the full um the full responses because not everyone responded the the Demographics so that's the most accurate information that we have and uh where we actually got everyone from um our pop-ups and um Where we directed our pop-ups and our um events uh to go to so yes, that is correct Okay, so when we say um that the the asian The asian population. I think you were at like two Right, yes, so their overall population within our city Is very low so that could in fact be a good portion of Our asian residents correct that is that is correct And I think uh, we have some communities that were not proportionately Represented in the survey The the reason that I mentioned the the demographics was to just um Like share that uh, we have been doing better than we did in the previous um engagement set and uh, particularly I think for the latino community it was 21 percent while we know More than 33 percent of the community is latino So we could say that's the disproportionate as well as the black or african-american community because we have one percent in the survey and two percent In the in the general population. Yeah, this was just the representation of what we um the the demographics of survey respondents Um, and then also I would like to ask about the areas of change um That was based on community feedback. So if community If community members in a certain area um, did not get feedback then that would not be reflective in the plan Is that correct or no? Correct. Um, the areas of of change Did originate from the community and also our market study. Um, and I will say we have had some comments and requests to Have additional areas of change. Um, I did note a few through the comments And and your late correspondence. There was also a request related to oakmont So i'll just use that for um an example where um a sector of that community is really interested in creating an area of change in oakmont um And that was not identified in this preferred alternative because when we did our engagement work on the alternatives We heard that the community was not wanting any increase in density In our wildland urban interface and oakmont is located in that area. So um, this is reflecting what we heard from the community Based on this round of engagement. We are hearing Some interest in creating that area of change in oakmont. Um, so that is a question Yeah, I think you'll hear for some folks from oakmont today and that will be Something we'd like to hear from you all on if you'd like to entertain that So, you know, the community has shifted as we've gone along But the preferred alternative before you is really representing what we heard in the Alternatives phase so and then we'll be amending the preferred alternative based on the conclusion of today And lastly The area around corporate center parkway in north point with the development of the va kaiser and the county offices Was that looked at for being uh more walkable and bikeable and having that alternative means of transportation safely Due to the number of additional Cars that will be coming in and out due to those developments I will say that did not come out through our last set of engagement But that is certainly something that we can add based on your direction. Thank you councilmember mcdonald Thank you mayor. Thank you so much to staff for all their work on this excellent presentation today I think some of the stress that goes into doing a general plan is to make sure that we actually have all the Information that we need to have in there But the flexibility As councilmember soyer was saying so that we can make changes as things come up in a community And that that to me is one of those things that i've seen in the last general plan We were doing some building in the wui You know the we didn't have the updated environmental impact reports based on the fires of 2017 and 2020 So is there a way that we can add language that if there's repeat natural disasters or or issues In specific areas in the city of santa rosa that we're able to adjust The general plan more nimbly because that was some of the concern we've had Of recent around a potential building specifically In those wui areas, so i'll start with that question to see if there's a way to have that flexibility added in the general plan Are you asking if there would be potential to decrease? development opportunity in areas if later down the line that was At the desire sort of yes So i know that you say that you don't want to Be able to do that, but the concern would be if if things change So if this general plan is 20 years old and in between all of that We've had two or three Different let's just use fires as an example Is there a way that we can go back and make sure that we're using updated e irs as opposed to the old E ir which was what we're currently using now Sure, and i just wanted to note that our existing general plan Did have an environmental impact report prepared And that report is still valid and it did actually identify The wildfire risk our general plan does include a safety element that identifies wildfire earthquake flooding All of the natural disasters that unfortunately were prone to And then we also have a hazard mitigation plan that was in place Prior to the fires as well So our planning um has taken into account a lot of these risk factors um in the past And our continued to be the environmental impact report continues to be valid today What we're doing is really um checking in with the community to see what needs to be updated What needs to be changed? And it is on top of mind now that we have been through some of these disasters, unfortunately And does that change the perspective of how we develop or move forward in the future? and so um The the areas that are identified for development capacity Under our existing general plan existing land use existing zoning um to remove that potential would actually be um Not desirable legally um because it would be considered um taking someone's Economic opportunity from that property So there are some limitations on what we can do In the future as far as limiting development potential that may already exist But we can look to see what could happen beyond what's already allowed So we're really looking at that delta of what could occur and what the community wants to occur Beyond what's already allowed So i'm not sure that answers your question, but it um So there is a little bit of a limit on the type of flexibility we have to um for an individual property owner Whether they can develop or not develop in the future Okay, thank you. Um, so I know that um councilmember schwedhelm mentioned evacuation routes and building in areas that Potentially can bottle next so if we're using highway 12 as an example or schenate road as an example Do you cite specifically some um separate exit routes or additional exit routes in areas that have been impacted by a fire in this general plan? Are you looking for feedback from council to to add um some specific areas that we may have heard of concern or see concern in Um, we are happy to take input on anything Related to these areas and specific to evacuation routes We do have existing evacuation routes And that is an area that we will be looking at as we update the circulation And safety elements of this plan, but we are we would love all input But Thank you. And then my last question is really around um zoning So I understand that this general plan it goes from here to then maybe policies and zoning But if we were to consider around some of the downtown area or i'm going to cite specifically oakmont with having like a mixed use zoning um opportunity in their downtown area Would it behoove us to add that language today or give you that direction? Or is that part of um this this iteration or would that be the next one? Yes, we would love that direction now. Um, because then we could draft it appropriately for the next round Great. Thank you so much. Thank you Mr. Vice mayor Thank you, ma'am For myself, I'm looking at rosalind and how quickly it is growing and I'm also thinking about moorland and actually to commissioner operecki Thank you for bringing up the annexation topic. I do look forward to having that discussion uh going back to rosalind the traffic and and you know, although district one my district isn't Is it or doesn't have the propensity for wildfires such as the eastern part of our city? But we do have definitely the concentration or the need for traffic Viability and access to both highway 12 and 101 and as the city continues to grow as rosalind continues to grow I'm hoping that that's being taken into account in in the general uh plan of 2050 Yes, thank you for that comment. Um, it is of most importance that we are assessing the amount of growth in the infrastructure necessary to support that growth um, so I would say for rosalind in particular We do have a specific plan that was adopted a few years ago that Does look at a lot more detail on how that can be implemented But the areas of change identified as part of the general plan are looking a little bit closer to see what What aspects of a complete community are necessary? And so, um, I would be curious if you feel that we've identified the correct areas that are in, um The particular areas where we need greater investment for infrastructure because the one, um area that we've heard, uh Related to this from rosalind specifically is the gaps and sidewalks the need for a bike and pedestrian infrastructure and And those areas are, um We think identified but we want to make sure that they're they're fully identified um, and so the other the other piece of that is really moving people to so they don't feel they need to have a car Um, and being able to use different modes to be able to circulate within their neighborhood I think i'll refer to to the special zoning that's been applied to both west herne as well as burbank which is the urban uh zoning which to my understanding doesn't require the sidewalks and maybe looking at the growth of those areas and really the change of of needs of the of the residents there, um I guess that my my ultimate question would be What conversations are having are being had with both caltrans and department of transportation in regards to our plan of 2050 That's a great question. So we do plan on working with caltrans and um other transportation Um entities moving forward So that will be part of drafting the policies to make sure that What we're preparing is is feasible Thank you And I do want to applaud entire staff and as well as our planning commission for the great work that they're doing to Having the vision of what the needs of san rosa will be looking forward or will live the the longevity Lens that's being applied. Thank you Thanks so much council and planning commission We'll go ahead and go to public comment on this item. I do see a number of folks Who are here in the chambers? We are running a little bit behind. So just while Folks are doing public comment on this as a little bit of context We're probably Another half hour on this item that we're going to take a 10 15 minute break Then we have the requests for a Uh, I look at the cruising ordinance. We're probably about I don't know 45 minutes out from that Which then puts us if you're here for the consent calendar At least an hour out if you're here for the dog item We're probably looking at an hour and a half And if you're here for project labor agreements, we're probably looking at at least two and a half hours Until we get to that item just so folks can kind of plan a little bit With that, let's see if there are any hands on zoom We'll start with natalie Did we lose natalie? No, can you hear me up there you are they updated me as a panelist, which is now Okay, my name is natalie balfour. I'm speaking on behalf of airport business center today So we just have one suggestion for the Preferred alternative In addition to the housing land use changes that staff has proposed We suggest that a housing overlay be added to properties in business parks We first became aware of this housing overlay concept during the county's airport area specific plan update When the consultants proposed one for the airport business center business park The idea is that a housing overlay allows property owners to retain their properties existing land use But also gives them the flexibility to build housing in the future if they want to This will promote the construction of live work housing Which increases the walkability and bike ability of the area reducing the environmental impact from vehicular travel And aiding in the achievement of carbon neutrality that was spoke of earlier today Adding a housing overlay to business parks will will help the city reach its housing goals Without being prohibitive on the landowners As this pertains directly to airport business center We are purchasing a piece of property in the north point corporate center And we're interested in developing developing it into housing Adding a housing overlay to business parks will allow us to construct this housing While still allowing our neighbor properties to retain their business park land use designations So today we are asking that the planning commission and council Give staff the direction to incorporate housing overlays for properties and business parks Into the draft general plan. Thank you for your time and consideration Thank you so much natalie I don't see any other hands on zoom. Is there anybody in the chamber who is here to give comment on our study session today? If you'd like to go ahead approach the podium Mayor roger's uh city council members and planning commissioners. I'm jess marzak president of oakmont's board of directors Thank you for the opportunity to share oakmont's long-term plans and we hope that these plans are included in the general plan update Development of oakmont began in 1963 and was zoned as a plan development Since that time 59 years ago the zoning designation has never changed oakmont is currently going through a long-term planning process to determine what our community will look like in 2030 2030 I guess it's the same thing And i'm sure the community will decide that certain of the buildings in our central area will need to be renovated Build were torn down In addition to commercial in addition commercial buildings in oakmont have changed little in the last 20 years And i am aware of several building owners who would like to update their properties We are asking for an update of our zoning designation for oakmont's central area as well as the commercial buildings that surround that area Oakmont has been working with santa rosa city planners for the last several months And through these discussions. We believe it is time to change the zoning designation The new zoning designation. We are asking for is cn or neighborhood commercial And general plan designation to mixed use to allow for our long-term continuing development This zoning update will help streamline any future land use Changes desired by oakmont or our commercial property owners saving us in the city time and precious resources Oakmont is deeply concerned about evacuations during wild during wildfires. We only have one exit route 12 Which is two lanes in both directions with 5 000 residents It is not surprising that evacuation times in the 2017 nuns fire and the 2020 glass fire Exceed exceeded two hours We only lost eight houses. Thanks to the heroic effort of the fire teams Had we faced the tubs fire winds in 2020 It is easy to imagine that skyhawk and oakmont would have burned like coffee park And oakmont residents could have died in their cars on route 12 as happened to residents of paradise in the campfire We commend amy lile and her team for taking the time to listen to oakmont resident needs and for making evacuations a priority in the preferred alternatives We ask the planning commission and city council to recognize that oakmont evacuation times have to be an important part of any approval Now as well as a critical part of the master plan Station seven is a critical critical element in the health of oakmont and its thousands of elderly residents We hope the new general plan strength Strengthens availability of this important first responder team Therefore, we hope a final element of the plan will be to include the fire department's deployment plant Plan adding a new fire station near skyhawk Thank you so much service and time Thank you We have anyone else in the chamber who is providing comment All right. Do we have any pre-recorded voice mails? Yes, we do have one pre-recorded voice mail I'm not sure what's happening with the audio on that but let me see if we can fix that Thank you for your patience City council, my name is june jeter And I want you to address these concerns About the uh city growth plans soon to be approved I am a long line precedent of santa rosa. I know what it's like to long for a home What I don't know nor I presumed as the city council know Is where we will get water electricity and well maintained roads For the thousands of new housing units Members of the city council, please address these problems and concerns and seek solutions Thank you All right, and I'll look back to the chamber. Is there anybody else who would like to give public comment on this item? Okay, seeing that I'll bring it back Madam chair, would you like to walk the planning commission through your final comments? Sure So let's go ahead and start With commissioner carter for any comments you might have Thank you chair weeks. Thank you Staff for the excellent work you've done here. I'll try to keep my comments brief I think opportunity right here As we move into the phase to make more real the citizen Santa Rosa I would suggest using the plan Some of these that we've talked about And to clarify whether the air change is where the prior Implementation elements is or there are other That will continue to need infrastructure improvements I do know her public discussion today there's a notable lack of symbols and South east quadrant of the the would like more that area of farmers land extension the areas of change cars areas of change that quadrant in the city. I think we need closely with that I think we also need closely at the safety element the all the discussion situation now to me that more than Expand the way 12 through does my take on yourself I'm sorry to interrupt but I um you're cutting in and out and I'm having a hard time hearing. Yeah I'm using a different my zoom and it's like It's not taking me Let's see Maybe move on What do you see? If you sit closer, I don't know if that helps. I know there was a problem Uh a while back with that also so I don't know which I don't know what can help Thank you uh commissioner sysco um, I'm very very impressed with the the level of outreach and input that's um Been made to Create the preferred alternative and again, you know staff as always has done an amazing job um I'm I'm very satisfied with the preferred uh alternative and the areas of change that have been Promoted by the community um I think some of the other comments that we've gotten really have to do later with when the land use Designations in the zoning things become more specific So I don't think I would add anything to the areas of change. I don't think there's anything prohibiting The area of oakmont being looked at Without designating it an area of change Or the or the southeast greenway So I'm satisfied with with what's here. I'm definitely very happy to see that we aren't Tinkering with the downtown station area plan because I was very satisfied with that and My biggest concern is roberts avenue and I want that to happen um, though there's other specific things that I'll be looking for When we do have the the general plan in its Draft form coming forward that are specific to land use particularly the Of things that have been brought up along the way on planning commission Issues so I look forward to seeing that and Good job community and good job staff Thank you really fast madam chair I'm gonna go ahead pause for a moment It appears we have one more person who was trying to provide public comment But was outside because of the capacity limit of the chamber So if the planning commission is okay, I'm going to go ahead bring that person in Let them give comment before we continue to give direction and comments to staff It's all good on your right hand side. There's a A remote for you to raise that up so we can hear you a little bit better in the microphone Is that correct? Yeah, please give your comments. This is on the forward plan for the planning of the house Okay. Thank you very much Uh What is missing from this plan is the number 50,000 And that's how many new residents that 24,000 new housing units to be built by 2050 would bring to santa rosa When I attended the april meeting at the steel community center with 30,000 units were proposed The consultants acknowledged that it would increase the population by about 70,000 so 6,000 less bring it about 50,000 And that the resources for this population is not available He it was determined we may not have the money to increase sewer capabilities We know about the water situation with the drought Once a housing unit is built and connected You can't shut it off unless they you know pay their bill Uh public transit is part of your program, but the city Transit is inadequate partly because we live in a 20th century world where we're not merging our Transit systems to get rid of overhead and put more buses on the street So unless you're doing that you're gonna not have the buses to do what you want especially downtown Less administrative costs mean more buses on the street and we see the This playing out in the public education system with too many school districts You're relying on smart and that's unfortunately A train system that seems to be running on fumes and I say that sadly because they've done a good job of building it But they don't have the money to finish it and I don't see residents in the two counties Voting to extend the sales tax in 2029 when it ends So what do you what what do you do? Our political people in sacramento are not delivering the money that we need here in the county Recently state senator nancy skinner of berkeley got 290 million dollars Allocated for oakland to build the infrastructure for the new a's baseball stadium You know and i've asked why can't we get 40 million dollars to finish the winter station? i'm told there's rules and regulations, but as we know there's politics uh Case of good politics is down in santa clara county where they had another bus A train uh going the bar to san osa Similar situation sales tax could not build it 2011 they got a check from the obama administration for $760 million to finish the line that would that would pay for the end of the line to cloverdale Uh You want to go vertical? And urban downtown good idea except if you look at san francisco They did that it brought in the tech sector the biotech sector Great industries to grow to meet your needs except it drove up the cost of housing Not just lower but uh middle income earn is you know, uh lost out. Thank thank you, sir Okay, thank you. Thank you very much for the opportunity much appreciated of course I'll go ahead bring it back and chair weeks. Go ahead if you want to keep working through it Yeah, thank you and um, I want to circle back to commissioner carter Since you're having problems with your audio Feel free to send in your comments to staff so that they have it for the record Okay Um, and let's see now we'll move on to commissioner dug in Okay, thank you. Um, also, I want to commend staff as commissioner sisco did for your outreach efforts. It's um I don't think we've ever heard anything that has been as robust on any of our specific plans or other plan updates that As what you've outlined that you've done and all the input you've gotten on the different surveys and pop up Since that's it's really wonderful to to see how much you're getting the community involved And also just the demographics on the age ranges was something that You know, it's it's hard to get the young people involved even though they're the ones who are going to be living in the the new the new developed world um, I'm very much in in Favor of this new preferred alternative I think it's kind of moving from a big town to a small city model Like san francisco that has a lot of different little neighborhood hubs With shops and restaurants and within walking distance of the Distance of the outlying neighborhoods, and I think that that's um a really positive step um and to um councilmember soyer's comment about the development community and The realities on the road I've recently been to a couple of college towns and seen that target in particular as one big retailer Has adapted a model specific to college towns Which is a smaller store with daily necessities. No big outline parking lot And I think if you have enough, um Demand for something The retail retailers will respond and have maybe a smaller footprint store model You know grocery that can be serviced from the larger outlines grocery So anyway, I'm very much in favor of the preferred alternative I like the idea of updating and Updating and wrapping the the Climate action plan into this big general plan update. I think that's a very positive step and also on The topic of connectivity. I think I'm a big pedestrian and bicyclist in the downtown area especially And there is a lot of room for improvement in those two areas And I would urge us to consider protective bike lanes Class of four bike lanes specifically on things like Mendocino, sanderosa avenue, sabastopol road multi-lane arterials and corridors Where the difference in the speed of the moving car traffic is much higher than the moving Bike traffic and I think that would bring people out To ride more bicycles and reduce their vehicle miles traveled And otherwise, I think that's all in my comments. Thank you Thank you Commissioner Krepke Thank you. Um, I too am in favor of this And I think it's a great job by staff. Thank you to the tac the cac And everybody who's participated in this A couple of things for me Just macro level my opinion. I want Mostly feasible with a little bit of aspirational You know, it's good to have aspirational stuff because you never know what's going to happen But we need to be grounded in reality and we're making our decisions um I think that um Getting back to my point on the Annexations, uh, I think that This is the perfect time to kind of look at those. Um, Specifically, you know, the county islands that exist Not to steal the vice mayor's thunder, but Moreland that's been brought up a couple of times And I think anybody that actually, you know, any sort of any developer or builder that's had maybe a pre-application meeting about like Hey, I want to build this development But have an annex into the city or anything like that. I think those are Conversations that we can have and get it done right now I think that, uh In terms of areas of change, I'd like to kind of add one Um to to look at and see if you could come back and that would be basically bluebell and coffee lane the north The northwest bluebell and coffee lanes as they intersect twice Um all the way down to west steel Um, that's an area with a huge residential population that if you have areas there It makes it and make it walkable. It'd be very advantageous Not just from a residential standpoint, but also an economic standpoint, but also from an equity standpoint I'll throw it in there when you have that conversation about the Bellevue smart station Please also throw in the extending the bike path path all the way to city limits north And then one thing I um that was I'm sorry I didn't bring it up earlier But I think would be kind of cool to to incorporate in this would be in Um, uh, what is it area of change number 18 in roseland? If it would be possible to put it in an overlay district in that area Which would limit the design standards Um to something that maybe the residents could Determine what they want it to be like that would also preserve the historical and cultural significance of that area While at the same time kind of screen lighting the bill the ability to fill and develop there So kind of trade one for the other so it's easier to build as long as you get these design standards that reflect the community I think that'd be something that would be beneficial and and I would like to see when you guys come back I think that's everything for me Thank you vice chair Peterson Thank you chair weeks Again tremendous work by the staff and everyone else including the public. This is really an incredibly heavy lift Incorporates a lot of different perspectives. I think very ably um as a general matter Santa Rosa is a beautiful city and it's a beautiful flat city with great weather That would be perfect for bikes and pedestrians I think especially as we're coming up on the Day with the highest number of child fatalities Caused by cars, which is halloween There's a number of benefits Aside from the greenhouse gases to getting people out of their cars And what we hear what we've heard from the public that we hear tonight commissioner duggin We need those class 4 bike lanes who need a way for people to get around the town safely So let me just add my voice to that chorus. We really need class 4 bike lanes to get people out of their cars I think in terms of aspirational versus sort of realistic I would aim for Aspirational Um, this is an agenda of abundance. We're going to have plenty of housing and jobs We're going to get people out of their cars and I think if we start to plan around that We will get there. Um, so in that sense, you know, maybe there's issues with smart that are out of our control but if we plan for A station on belview It's much more likely to happen than if we don't so so that's that's my vote there and then Finally just some odds and ends On the water issue, you know, california's population has doubled since 1990 and its water usage has not It's not the cities that are using the water. We have enough water for development Um, you know, it's the vast majority is ag Uh in industry. So, um, I would caution community members. Don't let the water issue get in the way of building the housing We so desperately need Uh, finally, you know, maybe give with one hand and take with the other Great to have all the input but uh in the equity section Uh, well, I think it's important to have community input What we've seen up and down the state is that community input can bog projects down that need to get built So I think as it's good to have as long as it's not a sort of procedural check on projects happening. So, um Just I guess my my word of caution there, um, from what we've seen in the past in california, but In general, absolutely fantastic work. I think it'll make, uh, You know, when we get there, uh, it'll make santa rosa a much better city for everyone Thank you. Uh, well, I'd like to just start off by thanking my fellow commissioners for their Attendance here today and also their as usual thoughtful comments Um Regarding this, um, and I'm gonna be the sixth voice and saying thank you to staff for Uh, great job on this so far and I know the end product will be great. Um, the community outreach has been phenomenal. Uh, and Um, I can't remember. I think it might have been commissioner dug and talked about, you know Involving young people and I think that that was great to have that kind of uh connection um I Am anxious to see the policies and the land use designation. Um, I think the, um Areas of change are fine. Um, because a lot of the other things we were talking about, um Will evolve when the land use designations Come forward and come back to us. So, um, I have no other comments. And so I'll turn it back to you Mayor rogers Thank you so much chair And I'll kick it over to councilmember rogers to start our comments Thank you, mayor. Um, I will keep it short and sweet hopefully. Um, I Again want to thank you guys for all the work that you have done. This is great. Um A little concerned Thinking that maybe my district didn't participate as much because I do see that there are Some things that we could address in my district um Mainly the the sidewalks and the bikeable um Bikeable pathways that are Um protected so, um And I would like to say that I believe the community outreach Um was great and you did a great a great job at that But if we see something I think we just need to address it Rather or not, we have the community input to do so if we see that something is not safe or if something needs to be addressed Um, no matter where it is. I think that we should just Address it So that would just be my comments. Thank you Thank you councilmember mcdonald Thank you, mayor. So, um, I really appreciated what uh commissioner sisco said around oakmont and the zoning But I I still would like to be pretty clear about that that I want to make sure that oakmont Um has the opportunity to have a mixed use zoning in their downtown in the surrounding areas as a gentleman Said they'd been working on some of those so if we can add that to this plan I'd appreciate that as well as a second exit out of oakmont as they stated This is safety issue. They were there for two and a half hours trying to exit in the last fire And so anything we can do to accomplish a sex exit out of oakmont would be great I know you mentioned something about caltrans, but I'd like it in the general plan if we could The expansion of highway 12 or in addition to that potentially a bike lane Along highway 12 that might be a more protected use that could be widened potentially for the opportunity if cars needed to use it or Or our safety vehicles needing to get into oakmont for protection So I think that might be an easier route than actually widening highway 12 So I'd like to just have those added in there And then we had a comment about housing overlay and mixed use zoning in our business parks area And I think that that's a smart idea to add that In the general plan and the reason I say it is anything that we can do to help promote the opportunity For additional housing or mixed use zoning so that we can not only accomplish our housing goals But making it easier to cut through some of that red tape that we find it so difficult For developers to be able to do in the city. Um, I'm in favor of so I'd like to add that in here as well And uh, I think that just about covers everything that I had on my list. Thanks All right. Thank you so much council member fleming Thank you, and uh, one thing I forgot to mention earlier is how fun it was to see this big map at the chops teen center And to see the young people and their families Really interacting with this and talking about video games and sim city and so forth So the outreach wasn't just um, you know perfunctory. It was effective and engaging Um, and you know, I I don't think that there's much left to be said that hasn't already been said. I think commissioners, um dug in and um The vice chair peterson really encapsulated the majority of my comments But what I want to speak to is the why we're doing this We're doing this so that we have a community that works for our children As they grow up in a community that is financially feasible equitable and um, is carbon neutral And one that we can afford and this is if we are able to do this We're able really what we're talking about is getting people out of their cars into their bikes into these 15 minute communities In having complete streets and having community groceries and no more food deserts if we're able to do that We're going to cut down on a lot of our overhead as a city Both is from what we expend on our infrastructure But also what we as a broader community spend on dealing with challenges social challenges that arise from not providing Effectively for our population and so to that end i'm in full support of this and I i'm just looking forward to seeing it Not be shelved. I know that it won't be under our strong administration And we are going to see this implemented. Thank you Thank you councilmember. Let's go to councilmember schwettel Thank you, mr. Mayor. Uh, yeah, I won't be redundant. I'm you know my expectation for this whole process is that it was fair um and very inclusive and you've been modeling that all of city staff and the consultants that we've been um Employed and all the questions from the planning commission and council. I'm really appreciative of this Um, I also don't want us to rest on our laurels continue with the outreach This is another step in that process. So let's just continue and move forward And if we do talk about the aspirational versus the reality check, I always tend to Lean more towards the reality. What can we actually accomplish so the documents actually mean something? So that's the only feedback, but I really appreciate where we are and where we're going. Thanks Councilmember Sawyer Thank you, mayor and thank you to the planning commission. You always bring a an element of knowledge that is so important to this body So thank you for for weighing in Um, I really don't have too much more to add or very little to add other than I do Appreciate the comments from the airport business centers Request for additional flexibility. I assume that will um that will be taken care of during the discussions around zoning and land use designations I look forward to the evolution of the areas of change. I think that that's you know, it's one of those Opportunities that I'm sure it will change that map will will adjust Based on on needs and realities I would know when with the continued input of the technical advisory committee and the community at large and the development community and future councils This plan will take off and make santa rosa an even more attractive Place of the city to live. So I'm looking forward to the future. Thank you Thank you councilmember and I'll wrap it up just by thanking staff as well and everybody who's participated in this process I think if we're talking about where we lean on the Realistic versus aspirational. I'm about as far to the aspirational side as you can get Uh, which works very well with our with our council having all of those perspectives represented I did hear questions about is the climate change 2030 goals realistic the answer is yes I also heard uh The premature demise of of the smart train Which was actually in my councilmember comments for later today to report that Thursday and friday of last week they hit Both days their new post-covid high in terms of ridership So it is one of those if you plan for What you need People start to adjust and start to be able to utilize it and what we know is whether it's protected bike lanes Whether it is secondary evacuation routes from oakmont We don't really have a choice. We have to plan for it and figure out how to make it happen Uh, and so i'm very supportive of of the comments around oakmont as well And I do a councilmember swear agree More flexibility for mixed use Zoning sounds like a fantastic way for us to move some of this this project forward With that i'll check with staff and see did you get the input today that you need? Moving forward if you could just reiterate to the public what the next steps are that'd be great Of course, thank you so much. We really appreciate all your comments and uh, we will be moving this forward So we will prepare a revise preferred alternative And then our next phase will actually be having specific conversations on general plan policy and you'll also see um a Meeting related to our environmental impact report So those will be upcoming in this this winter. So we will Thanks to your comments be able to look forward to the next steps Okay, so council with that we're going to take a 10 ish Minute break. I know we've been going since since two o'clock When we come back. I actually if it works for the public with so many people here I think we move straight to our consent calendar To have that discussion and then move into our report items We can come back and do councilmember report outs and some of that Issues a little bit later once the public's had a chance to to review some of the items But that we'll be back in about 10 minutes. Thank you Oh I Know All right, folks, I'm going to go ahead bring us back Council members make your way back to the dais, please Madam city clerk, can you please call the roll and re-establish our quorum? Yes. Thank you mayor Councilmember schwedhelm here councilmember soyer here Councilmember rogers present Councilmember mcdonald here Councilmember fleming here Vice mayor alvarez present mayor rogers Here let the record show that all councilmembers are present Okay, madam city manager. Let's go ahead jump to our consent calendar Items 12 Thank you. Item 12.1 is a resolution armored vehicle Excuse me armored rescue vehicle purchase item 12.2 is a resolution approval for fire department to purchase five type one engines Item 12.3 is a resolution approval of agreement for election services item 12.4 a resolution Acceptance and appropriation of grant funds from the burn discretionary grant grants program. Excuse me Item 12.5 is a resolution master agreement and program supplements for state funded transit projects Item 12.6 is a resolution city bus modified holiday service Item 12.7 is a resolution waiver of bid and approval and issuance of a purchase order for two ford f 150 police responder vehicles to hansel ford in santa rosa california item 12.8 is a res resolution ratification of a side letter to the memorandum of understanding for unit two Establishing a city sponsored wellness program for employees in unit two firefighting item 12.9 ordinance adoption second reading Ordinance of the city council of the city of santa rosa amending title 10 and adding chapter 10 26 To the santa rosa municipal code regarding reckless driving exhibitions Here and after referred to as side shows Uh and that ends the con the that is the end of our consent items. Thank you Great. Thank you so much madame city manager council given the Volume of questions that I received on item 12.1 I'm going to go ahead and pull that one off of consent and allow us to have a separate conversation with the chief about it Before moving forward tonight Items 12.2 through 12.9 Does council have any additional Additional items they'd like to remove from consent or any questions about those items council members what on I have a question on item 12.8 For whoever be the appropriate one my question is um I'm a big fan of the wellness programs in one of the metrics it says to reduce absenteeism And i'm wondering if we have a system in place to capture that um Desire result because is that the right amount of funding to achieve those type of results? I just want Or I hope that something is in place so that we are capturing that data to see if this is a great investment Or if we need more for this type of effort Uh, thank you for council member sweatham. I will either punt this to HR director or the fire chief if either are on the line Promoting the fire chief now Chief cregan are you on? That's westrope chief westrope I'm sorry Okay, he's being promoted now Good evening. I'm here rogers and members of council scott westrope fire chief in the city of santa rosa Thank you for the question council member schwethelm So we obviously monitor all of our statistics very closely in our data sets related to absenteeism and How our personnel are functioning and doing so not only do we monitor it and tell the staff we monitor on a daily basis through risk management as well So we can really keep close track of How long our employees are off what they're off for? Whether it's for physical injury or behavioral health emergency or injury, whatever the case may be So we do have the systems in place to monitor that for the fire department We will continue to monitor that and As I said before any solution that we can apply if it affects one person or changes one person's outcome Within the fire department will make that investment This is no different So we really think this is going to be a good benefit. We will continue to monitor our data sets as far as personnel and Absenteeism and why they're absent on an ongoing basis throughout this process Great. Thanks for that information any additional questions from council members Mr. Vice mayor. Thank you, ma'am uh, this is actually This is actually for item 12.9 the the site show for Chief cregan Yes, sir Good afternoon, sir How are you doing? Doing well hopefully you're doing the same My question for you is is and we spoke about this last time in regards to restorative justice as being one of the options for for enforcement And when when I afterwards I went home and I thought about well, who's driving these vehicles? and it's not going to be really A 12 year old or 16 year old uh, and I'm wondering what restorative justice options are therefore for a 25 year old a 26 year old Would be my first question to you sir So it's one of the things we are exploring so right now we talked about we have the pilot program through sinica That's what juvenile probation in sinica and that's just for juveniles We are still working through a process with another group called restorative justice and that's uh A program that we've been to do a little bit more holistic Approach for juveniles for low level non-violent offenders We don't have one in existence and we've never had one for sinoma county But actually I have had discussions with our public defender brian morris and our da elect carla rodriguez About looking at the possibility of that for the young youth of our young adults from 18 to 25 For low level offenses, but to be really clear. That's just been conversations and we're going to start that with da elect Carla rodriguez when she takes office in january. It's something i'm definitely interested in exploring at this point What options we have as officers can? Give written Warnings to the people and we may do that in some cases each situation by their own on a first case scenario So we have some options like that of getting a written warning But frankly it comes up to officer discretion based on the facts of each one of the unique circumstances And the involvement of the suspect in that case Absolutely, I do appreciate that and and specifically i'm speaking of of a spectator More than I am of a driver or or even a sponsor or Or organizer So i'm hoping that there is that type of discretion being used by our police officers, which I do appreciate chief And my second question is for city attorney We've heard a lot of about You know the freedom of expression or or even the comment that could be made on Online social media if you know if I tell my friend, hey, you know that there's going to be a sideshow On sabbatical road, for example How will that be classified as a violation or crime being committed as in in essence you are kind of promoting The sideshow by informing another that there's going to be a sideshow Has there been any conversation in regards to any any infringements on On any any freedom of speech sort of for as an example I am not concerned about violations of freedom of speech It's going to very much depend on the circumstances on what was said There's going to be You know, it's not going to be a straightforward analysis and I don't know if the chief wants to weigh in as well Thank you senator Yes, vice-mayor I think each one is important that Especially for spectators and when you're talking about the promoting organizing that officers And ultimately our city attorney our district attorney are going to look at the totality of the circumstances So just making a comment about oh, there's one right here is a big difference and actually Promoting encouraging and gathering people there. So that's a big difference I think is what the intent of that communication and the intent of the promoting whether it be through social media Or some other means and so um, I think that's one where hopefully that we'll see our officers have a discretion But then ultimately there's an independent lens that looks at it before they file those decisions In all cases in a criminal case will proceed to a judge to be able to ultimately make that decision So there's multiple layers of review in there to make sure that Just an innocent comment on social media is not being criminally charged I appreciate that a lot and I'll have you know, my mother will be very happy to hear such a thing Her her business is actually located on the corner sub-basic road in west avenue And uh, she texts me any there's another side show So I'm happy to hear that she will be criminalized for such a text. Thank you chief Absolutely any other questions from council members Councilmember rogers. Thank you. I just had a question about 12.8 And I I wanted to say that I think mental health And wellness is important for all of our employees So my question is did all of the units have The ability to negotiate this within their contract, but some decided not to do so Councilmember rogers. Yes all the other units were able to have this in their contract or actually it was negotiated in their contract This was the last unit that we needed to complete And Amy Reeves our hr director is on the line if she has anything else to add No, I don't sitting manager. Thank you Thank you All right chief. I've got one more question for you and that's on well for now. That's on item 12.7 So Cattadis cut the ribbon on their electric tesla Uh, why aren't we yet able to electrify our police fleet? I guess is the question It's something that we'll certainly look at and exploring. We have a much larger city geographically with our 42 square miles in the small city of Cattadis So that's one thing to consider but we'll continue to explore that right now. These two vehicles were for Trucks and right now. I know ford is working on some trucks, but there's here. There's still a ways down the road So we have an immediate need for some of our operational needs to get the two pickups But we'll continue to look at the opportunities of electrifying our fleet as The capacity builds not only for the charging stations here in the city But of building patrol vehicles that can withstand a 12 of 15 hour shift driving across our large city All right. Thank you so much chief. Let's go ahead and go to public comment on items 12.2 through 12.9 And I know that with our pre-recorded voicemails. We might get some for 12.1 So we'll listen to them now, but then we'll also open it back up for a public comment on 12.1 after From from live comments. So if you have a comment on The consent calendar with 12.1 polled I see nobody rising in the chambers We do have a hand All right, let's go to our pre-recorded voicemails Hi, my name is Allegra Wilson and I live in Santa Rosa I am calling on item 12.1 And I asked the city council not to approve the purchase of the armored rescue vehicle And We've already I think many of us shared our opposition to srpd being given more military equipment Or to even be keeping the military equipment that they already have Military equipment should not be used in our citizenry as it is Whenever they deem fit and the city has already had to pay out millions in lawsuits because of the Miss use of force on that on the part of the srpd Many of us still remember just a couple of years ago when teams were pepper sprayed when All types of barricade rounds and other so-called less legal rounds were used against the public And this is just another case Of the police department asking for more equipment that they may or may not even be trained how to use And I strongly oppose this I oppose it also because the proposed method of payment is via civil asset forfeiture Which is basically a way of taking Resources from the community and putting it into the police coffers Please do not approve this We don't need it the police do not need it And if they are worried that they do need it then they should perhaps Learn better tactics for how to deal with the public Thank you very much Mayor some of these might be for 12.1 But there was no way to separate them out without knowing which item you were going to pull So do you want us to go ahead and continue? Yeah, let's go ahead listen to the all of the pre-recorded voicemails right now. Okay. Thank you Thank you for taking my call. My name is allen wolves and I am a santa rosa resident I'm calling to speak on agenda item 12.1 and to raise my objection to the proposed purchase of a bearcat armored vehicle Which is being billed as a rescue vehicle even though it has additional gun ports on the purchase order Santa Rosa's official policy of usage of this type of vehicle states that it shall not Generally be used in times of civil unrest or protest And then detailed scenarios which can be which it can be used during those times including shop fired Suspected violence with firearms and the word et cetera That last et cetera clause is the same type of clause that attorney general bond's office used in determining that his office will not Investigate the killing of david playa. Chavez telling him arms when he had a rock When a rock falls nowhere near the list of weapons that are clearly defined in ab 1506 The legislative findings of ab 451 show that military equipment does not improve public safety Which seems like it would be a no-brainer because weapons of war have no place alongside the word safety And the posse comatose act Prevents military personnel from carrying out domestic law enforcement actions Given the logic behind that act it would make absolute sense to extend that ban to weapons of war as well Also very concerning is the usage of civil asset forfeiture funds in order to pay for this vehicle Police can and do seize assets from civilians And if they say it was part of the drug war the civilians have little recourse to get their property back There's no protection of the judicial system behind this and they don't get the right to a trial Just last year we discovered that the head of the ronopark public safety department led guilty to conspiracy to commit extortion For seizing 3.6 million dollars between the years of 2013 and 2018 under the civil asset forfeiture provisions We found out in this case how much was illegally seized, but we have no idea how much more is out there just unreported It would be absolutely immoral to use the money From this to fund military equipment that would be then used against our civilian populace. Thank you Hi there, my name is michael toton. I'm a resident of santa rosa and i'm commenting on item number 12.1 purchase of the military rescue vehicle um I would like to ask you to not purchase this armored rescue vehicle as it's being built law enforcement agencies around the country have a decades long history of asking for more military equipment They tend to play to the public's fears by considering only worst case scenarios, which in this case is an active shooter situation and don't consider the detrimental impacts and overall public well-being Military equipment harmful to the community erodes public trust and police Look at the legislative findings supporting ab 481 which show that militarized gear does not improve public safety Rather it results in increased risk of civilian deaths risk to civil rights and liberties And physical and psychological harm to community members Many of the upgrades on this vehicle such as gun ports are clearly meant to be used for violence and not strictly for rescue While this purchase is being billed for active shooter situations We should remember that sometimes toy guns are misidentified as what happened when a sheriff's deputy killed andi lopez That wasn't s rpd, but it could happen with s rpd militarized equipment may also be used to in crowd dispersal Like we saw with jord floyd protesters And while the city's use policy states that the vehicle should not generally be used for cloud control I feel that this policy is not very Specific it's a bit big. It says that it can be used when violence is merely threatened Um, and it's far safer for law enforcement to not have the option to misuse this equipment than to rely On using this this on the policy use alone for protection Um, and it's upsetting to me that this is being used for through civil asset forfeiture funds Which I believe are I believe aren't constitutional and it is Essentially a property that's taken from the community without due process And this is going to be used to further harm civil liberties Um, so please remember that the desire for police accountability still exists in this community and I ask that you deny this purchase Thank you Hello, my name is Carl Tinnenbaum and I'm a resident of sabastopol Although I may not live in Santa Rosa I have family and friends there and I conduct a fair amount of business and social activities in Santa Rosa I'm speaking out to express my strong opposition to consent item 12.1 The resolution to purchase an armored rescue vehicle There is no compelling need or rational basis for the possession or use And possible misuse of such a piece of equipment Santa Rosa and Sonoma county are not in war zones. They're peaceful communities of primarily law abiding citizens During a period of time the law enforcement is trying to improve their image and tactics nationwide Using community policing as the model it makes no sense to want to arm the Santa Rosa police department with this type of military hardware The state that the equipment will help in the preservation of life during violent or potentially violent encounters and enhanced community Safety is a bit disingenuous and a reach considering the warlike nature of this vehicle In arguing for the purchase of the armored rescue vehicle The police department attempts to justify the purchase by stating that with 61 Confirmed active shooter incidents in the united states last year An armored rescue vehicle is an invaluable tool that can be used to rescue victims get them to a position of safety Assistive providing immediate medical assistance provide officers Protection and allow safer and additional options to deal with any potential threat What the police department fails to include in that statement Is how many of those active shooter incidents were terminated by the use of an armored rescue vehicle This would have greatly bolstered their argument if the numbers support this rationale We're two years removed from the horrible damage that was inflicted upon residents citizens and protesters during the george void protests at the hands of the santa rosa police department Several people were maimed and the county's paid out in excess of 2.1 million dollars to settle claims This was due to poor supervision and management officers during dangerous weapons Using dangerous weapons improperly My question is this when will we learn our lesson santa rosa does not need to spend $300,000 on an armored vehicle. Thank you. My name is joseph persico calling in reference to item 12.2 I am saddened to hear that the police department wants to purchase an armored rescue vehicle I am saddened that we are so scared of each other in sonoma county to think that an arv is necessary The same goes that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure If police officers and the rest of the general public Do not want to live in fear of our potentially violent neighbors Then please use the money proposed for the arv to fund school guidance counselors Mentor programs for young men and women and neighborhood community centers where young people can spend time without having to spend money While in the company of adults who can actually relate to them I understand officers may fear for their own safety on occasion But is there not any alternative to this vehicle? There must be Ultimately any money spent on an armored armored vehicle does absolutely nothing To reduce crime or prevent crime. Do we want more community? Or do we want to look like we are at war on our own streets? Please consider the possibility that you Council members could be the visionaries seeking an actual long-term solution to sonoma county's problems And please bear in mind police officers often Reasonable fears will not magically Disappear just because they can serve a warrant from behind an armored shield In this the 21st century. We now know how to keep young people from going down the wrong path Thank you That ends the recorded public comments Okay I will check one more time to see if there's any additional comments on items 12.2 through 12.9 All right, I'll go ahead bring it back. Mr. Vice mayor Thank you, mayor. Our move item is 12.2 Through 12.9 with the exception of 12.1 as instructed by you and way further reading of the text second We have a motion and a second madam clerk. Can you call the roll? Councilmember schwaitham. Aye councilmember soyer. Aye councilmember rogers. Aye Councilmember mcdonald. Aye councilmember fleming. Aye vice mayor alvarez. Aye Mayor rogers. Aye that motion passes with seven ayes Okay, and then we have item 12.1 that we pulled off consent chief Do you want to give an overview of the item? And I know you've received a number of different questions And so if you could help us to answer some of those before Councilmembers ask questions and we'll do councilmember questions public comment and then discussion Absolutely So thank you, uh mayor rogers and council. My name is john cregan I'm the chief of police here in the city of santa rosa And I absolutely understand some of the community concerns Regarding the use of an armored vehicle But I think we have to slow down and get some of the like realistic like understanding of what this vehicle is How we can use it for some of the safety and protection of our community And very importantly the safety and protection of the police officers here for the city of santa rosa Who out and serve every day and some of the things uh as we learned in our city is growing this year It's been a a busy year for the santa rosa police department And I was just reviewing some of the statistics Comparing last year to this year and for the first nine months of this year We saw 291 shootings reported in the city of santa rosa And those aren't separate incidents for multiple different people Those are 291 specific incidents Where our dispatchers received information calls regarding shots fired and officers responded to those calls And found evidence related to there was some type of a shooting that occurred here in the city of santa rosa And we've seen just this for in the first nine months of this year that we've seen An increase of firearms seized in the city of santa rosa We seized 189 firearms just this year in the first nine Uh months of this year and that's an 80 increase from 2021 the first nine months We've seen ghost guns 63 of those 189 guns were ghost guns. It's 117 Increase so without a doubt we're seeing more firearms and I've ever seen in my 23 years Uh here locally here in the city of santa rosa Then we're starting to compare what can we do when we see active shooter situations across our country And as the chief of police I step into the role in saying what are we doing to make sure that we have the tools to be able to safely respond Whether it be an active shooter situation Whether it be a high-risk search warrant or a barricaded subject Or whether it be some of the preparation for natural disasters that our city faces on a regular basis What are some of the tools that we may need to be able to uh safely carry out those duties? And this is where we're seeing the best practices that we're seeing across the country Is to have this armored rescue vehicle and the armored rescue vehicle when it comes down to it Is what I would describe most importantly is like an armored transport vehicle or armored ambulance Even going into some of these active shooter scenes and we're an officer And even our fire paramedics can be able to go into an active shooter scene And if there's down students teachers Community members to be able to put them in this vehicle and extract them to that scene to a casualty collecting point Where they can be safely evaluated by our medical staff and be able to receive life-saving treatment We also see many times where we've made changes with the santa rosa police departments Swap practices where we're slowing things down and we're using more de-escalation And one of those is when we're serving a high-risk search warrant Instead of making a dynamic entry into that residence and going down and and busting down the front door entering that residence We're using the armored rescue vehicle to pull up there in front of the house For our staff members to be able with a position of safety Be able to call out and use our pa or our lrad system to be able to connect with people in the residence Clearly identify ourselves as santa rosa police officers and have them safely exit the residence To be able to be contacted by our officers and we're seeing that it decreases our chance Uses of force in those situations and that's really important to us And we're seeing also in the times where we have subjects who are barricaded in those residents And maybe it's a domestic violence situation Maybe it's someone who has family members that they're holding and they're armed with a firearm And we're able to have our hostage negotiators be able to safely Interact with those individuals who are at a point of crisis in their life Often we see narcotics and alcohol being introduced to those scenarios And it's important for us to be able to have those conversations for the safety of our staff and for the safety of those inside that Residence so for us it's important that we have this It's also really under important understand that this is not a tank. This is the linko g3 is what we're Proposing to order is not designed for the military It's actually designed specifically for civilian law enforcement agencies and it's on it's basically a ford f550 chassis So like the structure of a big ford pickup truck With armored walls that we can go into these scenes where we won't be able to have our staff Indered by rounds that can be coming at them for whether it be at an active shooter scene or some type of a barricaded subject So I just want to kind of lay the foundation for that But at the same time acknowledge some of the community concerns of this and say this is something that I feel Is critically important and be able to Respond to an active shooter respond to high research warrants and be prepared for our community and for the officers in our department Be able to safely do their job This is something that we're going to use very cautiously with our community though before we deploy this tool We're going to have special training for our officers. It requires a lieutenant or hires authorization to activate or to use this Tool out in our community And it's something that we're going to be very cautious about And we're really going to work to not lose the trust in our community about and I know that we did lose some trust Over the last couple years and that lays heavy on my heart as the chief of police to make sure that Our policies our procedures our training that we don't lose that trust of our community Which is important tool. So that's just a brief highlight and I would love to hear any specific questions from our council All right. Thank you so much chief. I'll start with questions from council members council members anybody The council member rogers go ahead Okay, uh, hi chief. Thank you for being here um Can we talk a little bit about where the funds are Coming from and what those funds can actually be used for first question Absolutely. So when we started weighing the prospect about the need for this vehicle And obviously it is expensive for everything with shipping tax all the vehicle it comes out to approximately 387 thousand dollars. So that is a large ticket price So we started evaluating some of the things and one of it is these asset forfeiture funds And there were questions raised about that and to be clear There's been some dramatic changes in the law with how asset forfeiture Is collected in the state of california and actually in it's senate bill 443 and governor brown passed that and went into law in january of 2017 and it greatly restricts how funds can be taken and it talks about the judicial process that is part of that So if it's under 40 thousand dollars, you're required to have a conviction related to Narcotic cells or human trafficking if it's over 40 thousand dollars It goes through another process where either the individual Does a legal disclaimer for that property or it's a court order that goes before a judge Articulating the specific facts of that case before those funds can be Taken and it has again have that nexus to narcotic trafficking or cells or human trafficking It has to have that nexus that you're able to articulate before an independent judge to seize those funds So that's what this this money has been collected of over the years Of of narcotic related activity primarily what there are that checks and balances those funds There's a lot of restrictions from both the federal and the state on this But the funds primarily have to be used for narcotic related enforcement or education of our officers And this tool will be used for serving high research warrants Some of those are related to weapons and narcotics. So that'll be one of the possible tools for this Armored rescue vehicle, but as we talked about there are a host of opportunities And it's it's laid heavy on my heart as the chief of police to make sure that we don't wait until after We have some type of catastrophic incident on our streets of Santa Rosa where we have Not the ability to safely go in and rescue and extract Down community members that have been injured are one of our police officers just injured on a track you've seen So it's important for me to have this tool to be able to make sure that we can respond appropriately and safely for all So it is my understanding that we have currently access to an armored vehicle Um, my question is is that a correct understanding and how often have we used that armored vehicle and in the past Five years and what situations did we have to use that vehicle Santa Rosa police department? So our council when we did our AB 41 the police militarization presentation in june of this year council did approve us to use the Sonoma county sheriff's Department's armored rescue vehicle, which is the only actually like lingo g3 bear cat that we have in existence in the county of Sonoma So we do have access, but that access is limited. So the access is we have to make a call from the sheriff's department We don't have the keys to that vehicle We have to call their get their supervisor get someone from the SWAT team notified Get one of their trained deputies who will drive to the scene and their agreement that we have with the sheriff's department is Our staff doesn't utilize the vehicle that they'll send sheriff deputies to be able to use that vehicle and Join us in our operation. So there's a significant delay in that There's also some complexities when you have an outside agency Involved with our tactical teams and our patrol teams. So those are some of the complexities with it We don't currently have a very clear understanding how many times we've used that vehicle over the last years Going forward now with ab 481 we will record now And that's one of the requirements that we would record every time we use an armored rescue vehicle And we report out in a community meeting and report out in our annual report To our city council and our community. So we'll have an accurate it does say in the staff report that we've had So and this was through july when we were preparing the staff report july and august That we've had 13 deployments of our SWAT team or special weapons and tactics team here in the city of santa rosa So the arv is a tool that many times on these SWAT deployments is at least Access and is available in cases where we're turned into some type of a shooting scene Are whether we need one of our officers rescued on there But the clear answer is we have access, but it's limited and I strongly believe it doesn't meet the needs of our department at this time So just listening to the steps that you just told us about if you can Guestimate how long do you think it would take for us to actually Go through those steps and have the vehicle on a scene if we need the vehicle I would say oftentimes it could be an excess of an hour by time an officer Our sergeant is making that request We make a call we get a supervisor at the sheriff's department We get someone who's trained and has expertise to drive it then they respond to the scene And an hour when you have an officer laying in a backyard bleeding out from a Handgun round or a rifle round is a really long time the same thing with a community member My goal is that we would have this vehicle here at the santa rosa police department with our staff trained Uh and having the expertise to be able to deploy this vehicle in an emergency Dramatically cut down the the time frame and also I think their strong advantage is to having santa rosa police officers Interacting with other santa rosa police officers on one of these operations. And I believe it's a really a tremendous safety aspect of having that All right, if you guys bear with me, I think I have two more questions Um, one of my questions is why do we need a vertical gun port upgrade? And what exactly is that used for? That's a really good question. And honestly, that's that's poor wording by Linko to put that on the thing the gun port sounds very militaristic and sounds like Potentially that you would be putting a long gun out of this gun port window But in reality is that's just like a jargon term in there that really isn't necessarily appropriate The gun port isn't designed isn't trained by our staff to take shots from inside the vehicle And in reality is if you look on the side of the vehicle They're they're all armored, but it has like a little sliding like little window basically that opens And what we would use that for is for communication with someone standing outside the vehicle So like an example to the illustrate is that you have the armored vehicle in front of a house where there's an armed or barricaded suspect inside Uh, the SWAT operator could be standing on the opposite side of the vehicle away from the threat and could be communicating With some of the SWAT operators inside of the armored response vehicle They could also pass equipment to each other through that but it's not designed to be able to Point a firearm such certainly shoot a firearm That's not what our staff would be trained to do on it and another thing to be really clear This vehicle has no weapons in it. All it is is a transport vehicle. So there's no Weapons attached to the vehicle. There's no weapons designed to be fired from the vehicle All it is is literally an armored transport vehicle for bringing our staff safely to a scene being able to negotiate with Armed suspects are be able to extract Community members are downed officers away from a scene to receive lifesaving medical care And uh, lastly chief I'm not sure if you have these numbers, but I wanted to know If we had this vehicle during the george floy protest, would it have been used? um, if yes, how many of our officers were Hurt during The protest and how many civilians were hurt during the protest To make us deploy this vehicle if we did have it and your answer would be yes to the the question It absolutely would not be deployed for a crowd control device or for certainly peaceful demonstrations or first-member protected As it's the states in the policy the only time that we could ever interpret it being used in a in a protest situation as a violent protest where firearms are actively being used in the protest And that's for the protection of the the protesters there and the community members and for officers in the scene Are for explosives. Those are the only two a match like where you have live explosives being detonated in a In a protest site situation It's not going to be used and our policy specifically talks about it and as a chief of police I can ensure that we will not be using it as a crowd control method Funneling crowds or any type of other things that I think that doesn't meet the expectations of our community And certainly doesn't meet the expectations of me as chief of police Thank you very much for taking the time to answer all my questions, chief. Absolutely Thank you councilmember mr. Vice mayor Thank you, mayor chief fireworks are those considered to be explosive devices that would require this vehicle to to make its presence And in a little bit of context the the protest protests that we had here in san rosa. I believe there were fireworks being used Yes, I don't believe that would fit into the spirit of the policy to say that having Roman candles or some type of other fireworks being displayed that we would utilize an armored response vehicle and This this the vehicle is not going to be it's not designed for its primary use for coming out for crowd control I think the three primary uses when I look at it is negotiating with armed Suspects who are barricaded on high-risk search warrants Evacuating community members or officers from harm in an active shooter scene and lastly in natural disasters Whether it be floods which we've used it here in the city of san rosa bar flooding on yulupa avenue last year Mudslides fires and earthquakes. Those are the three primary uses and the crowd control situation Certainly not with fireworks would not be one of those uses And you also stated that no weapons would be discharged From within the vehicle would that also include gas Uh Weapons or or tools that we have in our possession And I guess I I'm looking at how to justify asking my community that we are taking on another Uh military grade weapon or vehicle And and you're stating that you will not use this for the the freedom of expression Or protests as long as and correctly stated as long as there aren't active shooters or or fire weapons being discharged So when I go back to my community, you know, I want to tell them that we've received 291 calls Of service in regards to weapons. We've collected 189 Guns some of them being ghost guns And I'm wondering how can this vehicle? Diminish those numbers But this is more reactive vehicle than it is a proactive approach to community policing So so Ultimately, I'm looking at what happened in the in the protest last times where we have trained officers who Used the wrong type of ammunition who made Choices that could have been better And what I'm hearing from you And please correct me if I'm wrong Is that this vehicle is going to be used in the situations to transport extra diet Those who are injured this vehicle will not be used to deter our public's right to Democracy if I could take it to that level Absolutely, I can I can say emphatically that it's not going to be used to diminish people's first amendment rights to peacefully protest Under no circumstances will it be used in those incidents? But I think it's this and really important as I weigh the public safety of our community to make sure That we don't wait until we have an active shooter and we're not able to respond To a school or to a business here in the city of santa rosa and that we don't have the means to safely extract or bring Patients who are wounded and are dying there On those facilities to bring them to a triage point I think it's critical that we have this tool And this is the safest way for our staff to be able to go and do that And I think it's really important for me when we talk about we said this year We've had so far 10 homicides in the city of santa rosa just in the first 10 months of this year six of those 10 homicides involved the firearm. So those are the realities of what santa rosa Officers are facing and these are the realities as the leader of this organization that I need to prepare Our staff to be able to handle So I will take on the responsibility and will be held responsible if our staff misuses this equipment And I'm going to ensure that we have the proper Training protocols and procedures that we do use this properly and we use it with restraint in our community And we continue to build back the trust at our community here in santa rosa Just a little bit ago. We had a discussion about our general plan of 2050 looking into the future And I understand your commitment to really protecting all all community members of santa rosa The person that follows you our our Our Future chief What guarantees can there be that he or she Will not use this vehicle in a form that you would have never intended for Well, what guarantee can we give the public that that's not what this vehicle is for now today or tomorrow? That's a great question and and some of the things that we have accountability comes with the state legislation on ab 481 That we're going to be this will be part of the ab 481 Uh package and ordinance that we have but we're going to be going by law with ab 41 Do a community at least one community meeting a year where we publicly talk with our community about the Police militarization equipment that we have that falls under the legislation We talk about the deployment and then we'll also come before publicly before city council and report out on Every time that we use this armored response vehicle and I'll be responsible to talk about that We used it appropriately and publicly get questions about that We're going to talk about each one of the police militaries of which equipment items that we have So those are two things that our community and our council can hold me and our department Accountable that we're properly using this equipment and if we're not properly using this equipment Those are one of the options to be able to remove that from our tools chief, I appreciate The transparency that you give not only council, but the city of san rosa and your commitment to protecting us Uh sometimes from ourselves, uh, so I do appreciate your your Your strategy your your your mythology and in and protecting and serving sir. I appreciate that. Thank you Thank you, sir Thank you chief So what i'm also hearing from some of the comments or questions from the public and council members is Perhaps this would be a good study session item for the public safety subcommittee To walk through what the parameters are and And just make sure that everybody is comfortable as well moving forward or just to check in from time to time on it And so perhaps we can have that conversation with the with the chair as well Let me see if we have any additional public comment on item 12.1 Eric do you want to get started? Um Yeah, thank you very much. My name is eric frazier and i'm resident of san ariza head up a neighborhood group And uh first and foremost the uh safety and security of our law enforcement officers Um is at the top of the list so when we sort of set our priorities of things that that Really is at the top of the list And especially when you are considering an armored vehicle to keep them safe in the case of a active shooter Then you know, that's pretty important now having said that though. I have my reservations That they come from uh number one You know as much as I'd like to believe the information that's offered forward by the chief Um, I don't and that's because whenever we go to audit this information That comes from the police department or code enforcement. It's always Not right. It's always It's just it's just not right. It's usually exaggerated. It's all bent out of shape And unfortunately, I saw that same exaggeration when he was talking about the vehicle That's already located in the city of san ariza at the sheriff's department Where he claims that it takes an hour to mobilize that I really don't believe that would be the case And so that's unfortunate that this my thoughts Contribute to the skepticism that we have about confident policing in the city And to me, this just sort of adds to our worry It doesn't it doesn't detract from it. It it creates a situation where You wonder if this vehicle is is really meant to be like a parade piece or something or When we already have a vehicle in the in the city limits located in the city limits with trained operators And the expense that went into that. I'm not sure why we need that duplicate vehicle You know, there just isn't enough data that comes forward as to how the the vehicle was that the sheriff's department has I already used on occasion in the city for the city The center was a police department It's Perhaps my memory is failing me, but I believe that that vehicle was in fact utilized during the george floyd demonstrations by the county Up by the jc And it was used to quell First amendment rights and the meeting of people and so on and so forth. So, you know As much as I'd like to have complete faith in our city administration and our police chief I have some lingering doubts unfortunately, but keep in mind though that the protection of our law enforcement officers I carry deep within my heart and I want to be sure that that is in fact our first priority. Thank you Thank you, eric. Are there any other comments in the chamber? All right, let's go to public comment on zoom. We'll start with will You have an outdated version of zoom We're going to need you to update that so you can we can give you permission to speak Or we could also will if you want to call in We also can have you give comments on the phone Let's go to susan Susan you also have an outdated version of zoom So as the mayor said you too can call in or update your zoom All right, let's try margaret Margaret you too have an outdated version of zoom Feel free to call in you can hit star nine to raise your hand Or you can update your zoom All right, let's pause for a couple of moments here and give them a chance to call in Okay, looks like susan's ready Okay, I didn't didn't do anything with my zoom either interesting In the 1930s a susan lamont Santa Rosa In the 1930s my great grandfather worked to keep guns out of the hands of law enforcement officers He rightly predicted that they would be used to kill unarmed people I'm sure if a police chief had been asked do you intend to Kill unarmed people with these guns he would have said no A number of years ago in petaluma One of these vehicles was used to serve a subpoena in the middle of the night The father of the person being subpoenaed was terrified tried to defend his home and the vehicle set the house on fire During the george floyd protests as has been mentioned Santa Rosa police mistakenly used projectiles that were not intended to be used on humans Causing great harm So what could possibly go wrong here? The claim is not a military vehicle, but that's the look of it And militarization of law enforcement does not protect people or prevent crime It often has the consequence of making the people the enemy So if a vehicle is needed to get into areas during natural disasters then buy something specifically for that And why has crime increased? Because of increased social and economic precarity If money is to be spent it should be spent to alleviate that suffering that should be the focus Mr. Persico who called early called in earlier His ideas were excellent about What we can do for young people So that their futures are better and that they know how to deal with them better So if you have any spare cash lying around, please use it to uplift people This is the best way to prevent crime And thank you for having created the in-response program But this new effort is a step backward. Thank you Thank you, Susan We had the other two join Resident 5 180 if that is you will can you dial star 9 to raise your hand if you wish to speak? I don't see any other raised hands All right, we'll give it just one more minute to see if we can get those two back I want to give them an opportunity to speak if they would like And just for the record for any other callers that are Um In zoom. I was just informed that zoom did just do an update yesterday. So you may have to update your Um version of zoom There's will Okay, let's go to will hello. Can you guys hear me now? Yes, we can All right. Hi I would like to say that I am deeply opposed to the militarization of all the police departments and especially that of within Santa Rosa If this was truly a rescue vehicle, then we would not need to buy surplus military equipment We could contact one of the many local contractors that are available to do this And we could design a vehicle that was built specifically for a purpose Of rescuing people When the chief of police was speaking he spoke repeatedly of not breaking down doors But waiting outside with this armored vehicle and that the entire purpose of this vehicle Was to essentially wait out and draw the fire of those who might be inside of a building He also wanted a comment that he wanted to protect police officers by waiting to respond to events until he was properly equipped to do so And he specifically mentioned that school shootings were a part of this So i'm just curious here. Are we going to have another uval day in Santa Rosa as we wait for an armored vehicle to make the way or are we expecting our police officers to respond to individual civilians and protect those individual civilians Or is the life of a police officer worth more than the civilians that they swear to protect? If we were really interested in protecting people We could buy the armored vehicles from the post office I don't know if you guys know this or not But if you look at the doors of a post office vehicle those little go karts that drive around Those doors are about an inch and a half thick and armored So if the chief of police would like to have an arm armored vehicle I don't understand why we can't go to the post office and buy one of their vehicles I'm sure that they would be happy to oblige with their budget crisis Additionally the amount of training that it would take to have these police officers Doesn't seem to measure it with what the chief of police is stating By saying a simple lieutenant Can Authorize the use of this vehicle And I understand that there are going to be some sort of policies and procedures But i'm not necessarily sure that a lieutenant Is going to be fully up to date on all of these policies and procedures Nor is that lieutenant going to be held responsible in any sort of manner Because of the immunity that police officers naturally receive So i'm just very very curious here Why does the chief of police want a vehicle that he doesn't actually need and will Provoke the exact response that he is trying to avoid Thank you Thank you And then did we see our third person pop back up? All right, I'll go ahead and bring it back Chief, did you want to answer any of the questions from public comment or respond to anything that you heard? Yeah, I can just very clear one thing to clarify is this is not a surplus military equipment as we said it's not Designed for the military it's designed specifically for civilian law enforcement So certainly not we don't participate at the santa rosa police department in the 1033 Program and get any surplus military equipment here. So I think that's one very important distinction to make that it's not part of that and What we'll do continue to do is build in the trust with our community And I think we'll have those Accountabilities of annually reporting back to our city council annually at least one time holding also a community meeting to get feedback and continue to talk through whether it be Forums to the city council public safety subcommittee are other things that we can do to continue to engage our community And how we're utilizing this tool and how we can continue to make improvements to our policies and procedures All right, thanks chief any additional comments or questions from the council All right, mr. Vice mayor. Would you like to make a motion? Thank you, mayor. I move item 12.1 and we further reading of the text second Motion in a second. Madam clerk. Can you please call the roll? Can I clarify that was councilmember mcdonald making the second? Yes, it was. Thank you Councilmember schwethelm. Hi councilmember soyer. Hi councilmember rogers Hi Councilmember mcdonald. Hi councilmember phleming. Hi vice mayor alvarez Uh, I make this eye with great reservation Uh chief I I hold you to your words that this will not be used against the public You know in their expression and the right to In the right to express themselves So that that is an eye And mayor rogers. I that motion passes with seven eyes Okay It's well beyond five o'clock. So we'll go to our public comment for non agenda items If you have a comment that is within the jurisdiction for the city of santa rosa, but is not on tonight's agenda Go ahead and either approach the podium or hit the raise hand feature on your zoom Go ahead, eric We'll give you a second here for the Projector to kick on. Okay. Thank you very much Thank you very much. Yes, eric frazier again. Thank you for allowing me to speak Tonight's city council meeting. I wanted to give as I usually do an update on short term rentals So there's a few things on today's list one is of course There's a survey out from the city of santa rosa about short term rentals It's another one of these half baked leading surveys. It's not real actual scholarly research But there it is available for you to participate in Uh an update on the str permits and process Over the last month, uh, there's only been nine additional ones issued So there continues to be 113 in plan review the oldest one going back to november of last year. Basically You're playing with these str permit applicants. You're setting them up for failure Through this permitting process. It's really quite embarrassing actually that you go to the extent to do this But um, you know, that's that's where we're at in this thing furthermore as I noticed before that people Are getting citations from code enforcement files over frivolous matters and then code enforcement sends those notifications out to Essentially the wrong address. They don't send it to the business address. They send it to the site as address And of course most of these trumped up Complaints are against non-hosted rentals Now just to be clear some of the complaints are strs that are operating without the benefit of a permit or in the permitting process Uh, you know, certainly there can be some Understanding of somebody who's waiting eight nine ten eleven twelve months for their permit that they paid for up front The check was cash But you know, this is just an example of how again people are being abused Taxpayers are being abused by the str urgency ordinance Lastly, I wanted to bring up The uh, if you go back to the original urgency ordinance, I know there's been two of them now So the original 15 pages of urgency ordinance We we had a chance to sort of process some of that information We've been in touch with the uh The researchers that were behind the marketing sciences article that was called out as a whereas in the urgency ordinance and The first they were sort of amused and honored that the city of santa rosa would use their research But then they were appalled because clearly the city did not even read the research They did not even understand the need to have facts that underpin str policy So it's just sort of uh, you know, now they're interested in studying how strs played a role in emergency response How they play a role in economic development and how they're not really a problem So I can't wait until we mature out of this sort of political mode. We're in and strs. Thank you very much for your time Thank you, eric. Is there anybody else who'd like to provide comment in the chambers All right, let's go to zoom with michael when this is michael's atone. Um I'm you know, i'm disappointed by the previous vote, but I also just want to draw some attention to current use of srpd and How it's conducting itself in our community, um about two weeks ago several, uh, you know residents of the corporate center parkway living in their rvs had their rvs towed and Um, they lost everything that they own um, it's You know, I don't think that it's going to be possible for them to get those their possessions back And I know, you know, just personally like I've I've worked with people to try to get their belongings out of tow And it's extremely difficult and I believe that this is an intentional tactic that's used To try to you know force people out of certain areas Um at the risk of losing all your belongings Um, I would love to see some of the money that does exist go to helping people get their registered their rvs registered rather than towing them because Uh, that's a far more humane use of resources and I believe that having an unregistered vehicle is not um such a drastic crime that You know, it it deserves the amount of punishment that is currently inflicted on people Um, that's my current comment. Thank you Thank you michael Do we have any pre-recorded public comments? No, we don't okay Uh, I just saw a hand pop up. We'll go to rock hell Good evening. Can you hear me? Yes, we can Okay, my name is rachel sanchez and I would like to bring up The no cruising ordinance. I am a member of the sonoma county lorator council And I don't believe it was on the agenda today But I just wanted to bring that to light to talk about that. Um, if possible and further meetings Um, I feel that it was created to invite us as a community We are a diverse group of people from all areas professionally and personally Who only want to be accepted in our community our sonoma county um, we do various things for our community and um, I think that if This could be removed that would help us greatly because we are Family oriented and only want to do positive things and I would like to change the light on that And this has been passed in sacramento and san jose. So that's something that I would like To bring more light on thank you very much No, thank you so much rachel and we actually do have that a little bit later in the agenda We put it off towards the end because we have other items But we'll remember those comments when it comes up a little bit later And I saw two hands disappear. So I imagine they were probably speaking on the same thing Let's go ahead bring it back and madame city manager. Let's go on to item 14.1, please item 14.1 is a report amendment to chapter seven dash zero four of the santa rosa city code expanding the definition of vicious dogs Assistant city attorney adam able will lead the discussion. Thank you Good evening, uh, mayor and council members. Can you hear me? Yes, we can uh So as you know, my name is adam able assistant city attorney As one of the city's litigators the issue before you is one I know well having tried roughly three dozen Of these vicious dog related cases diverted with many more having settled out of court As a brief roadmap of my presentation the aim of my proposed amendments to chapter seven of the center as a city code Is to enhance public safety plain and simple and with that brief intro, let's proceed to slide two So in 2006 the city council adopted ordinance three seven nine six section four Establishing a program for the control of potentially dangerous and vicious animals That incorporated chapter nine of division 14 of the food and ag code Next slide, please In 1989 the california legislature adopted food and ag code chapter nine After concluding that one potentially dangerous and vicious dogs Had become a serious and widespread threat to the safety and welfare of the citizens of the state To the number and severity of these attacks were attributed To the failure of owners to properly register, combine and control their aggressive dogs And third the regulation and control of aggressive dogs Was necessary as the then existing laws were inadequate to deal with the threat to public health and safety posed by these animals Next slide, please The food and ag code statutes which are incorporated into our city code by reference Define what constitutes a potentially or dangerous a potentially dangerous or vicious dog Address the disposition of these dogs once the animal has been properly designated as either potentially dangerous or vicious Provide a model provision for municipalities to follow And finally and relevant here Permit a city to adopt its own program for the control of potentially dangerous And vicious dogs that may incorporate all Part or none of this chapter in other words the city can tailor its ordinance as council deems Fit and necessary thus the proposed amendments are consistent with state law Next slide, please Over the years the city has seen a surge in the number and severity of attacks by dogs against individuals and or Their domestic animals due to owners's failure to confine And control their aggressive dogs again, as I said in my intro I know this firsthand having prosecuted Many dozens of these cases on behalf of the city For over seven years now and the number of cases I receive From Sonoma county animal services have been Increasing year by year Next slide, please The proposed amendments to the santa rosa city code Would redefine potentially dangerous and vicious animals to give the city attorney discretion to seek a vicious designation on a dog that When unprovoked kills one or more domestic animals, let me give you some context here Under our city code as currently constituted a dog can for example escape from its home And go on a rampage and no matter how many neighborhood pets it kills The consequences are limited to a potentially dangerous designation And the dog's immediate return to its owner Over the years Most of those who have lost a pet at the hands of an aggressive dog Have requested from me that we strengthen our ordinance and hold the dog owner more accountable They also want some form of justice For their loss Here the proposed amendments would enhance public safety and place greater accountability on owners who fail to properly Confine and control their aggressive animals Next slide, please The proposed revisions include Redefining potentially dangerous and vicious animals giving the city attorney Discretion to seek a vicious designation on a dog that when unprovoked kills a domestic animal With the ability to seek a vicious designation for example The dog can then be seized and impounded immediately Penning the outcome of a hearing and potentially removed Permanently from its home or even euthanized in the right circumstance Thereby enhancing public safety I have also proposed broadening and amending the enclosure definition to ensure a dog deemed potentially dangerous or vicious Is properly confined at all times when on the owner's premises in order to prevent the animal from escaping Notably absent from our code as it is currently written Is an enclosure definition for a dog deemed potentially dangerous Having a clear definition will make prosecution of these cases Easier again enhancing public safety Next slide, please It is recommended by the city attorney's office that the city council introduce an ordinance to amend city code chapter 7-04 Section 7-04.010 To give city attorney discretion to seek a vicious designation On an animal that when unprovoked kills another domestic animal and to broaden the definition of a secure enclosure Again to protect the public health safety and welfare next slide, please That's all I have so i'm happy to take any questions Thank you so much adam. I'll look to the council to see if anybody has questions on the item councilmember soyer Thank you mayor. I'm curious about whether or not the words vicious or kills or maims Another domesticated animal and or whether that would tend to dilute the language Councilmember, I'm not sure I understand your question Right now the way the code is written If a dog gets loose and kills another domestic animal it can only rise to potentially dangerous So what we are recommending is that we'd be given the discretion So if another dog gets loose kills one or more domestic animals depending on the circumstances We have the ability to go into court and in the right circumstance Seek a vicious designation which would then immediately remove the dog pending the outcome of the hearing Which will lead to greater public safety. I'm not sure if that addresses your question or not councilmember Well, perhaps I didn't make myself clear. I I I guess that for as a as a former dog owner if one of these dogs got loose and Basically maimed my dog and that forced the vet to remove one of its legs Didn't kill it, but maimed it Um, would that How could we have that rise to the same level of severity as a as the dog that was killed because that's like the final I mean the final final is killing it, but what about maiming it? We certainly could the way I have proposed the amendments Um, it would only potentially go to vicious if the dog Using your hypothetical Severely maimed your dog. For example, didn't kill it, but it sustained a severe injury. I mean, it's certainly uh council's discretion If they would like to give my office authority Where a dog is severely injured to rise to the level of vicious just like In a situation under our code if a human being is severely injured that rises the vicious If it's a minor injury that rises to potentially dangerous. So we certainly can include a severe injury or the maiming of a domestic animal To rise to vicious if that's what council desires Thank you for that. I would assume that there would be a veterinarian that would be called to bond to For for that proceeding to state emphatically that that a particular animal was maimed To a degree that would that would rise to the rise to the level of severity that would create this designation for the culprit Yes council member and we would probably want to include In our code a definition a generic definition Of what is a severe injury to a domestic animal because we have exactly that language Where it relates to a human what uh, what is considered severe versus less than severe So we would want to include some type of definition, but yes, uh, ultimately a vet may need to Make a determination if in fact it it rose to a severe injury to another animal Thank you Council member Fleming Yes, thank you. Mr. Abel and thank you for your work in the community and City attorney's office, you know a tremendous amount of work and outreach has gone into this I think to council member Sawyer's point it might be helpful if you could Talk about the definition of what kind of injury against even a human being could be Sustained without an animal at currently being deemed vicious So so under thank you council member under our code as it relates to A human and what distinguishes between when I prosecute a dog owner under a potentially dangerous definition Or designation versus a vicious generally speaking under our code Anything greater than three stitches or any Significant scarring You know something that would constitute multiple doctors visits Would constitute a severe injury as opposed to a few scrapes or bruises that may have resulted in a You know single doctor visit, but certainly didn't relate to any type of surgical procedure or Or sutures or stitches. So I mean I need to do some analysis Probably talk to even the county vet and determine what he or she Feels rises to the level of a severe injury to another domestic animal, but that's certainly something I could easily research Okay, thank you. I was just trying to get you to explain that it's it's not something mild. It's pretty serious Correct. Thank you Any other questions council? so Mr. Abel as as you May or may not know I can't remember if we've talked about this my wife Fosters dogs typically ones that have been abused And I'd be sleeping on the couch tonight if I didn't ask you to explain to the public What further consequences there are on the dog owner? Who may have mistreated the dog may have led to some of the Behavioral issues is the only repercussion that they get that they lose their dog Uh, yes, generally speaking and depending on the circumstance Uh, you know depending on how severe it is under our city code I can request that the owner of the dog if I see misbehavior from the dog owner I can request that the dog owner be precluded from Owning any type of animal For three years If in fact, there's any evidence of animal abuse I have the ability To prosecute that as a misdemeanor In criminal court. In fact, I'm I'm I have a case right now During the heat spell where a dog was in a car Where the temperature registered was 140 degrees and I'm going after them for animal abuse So, uh, yeah, depending on the circumstance, I could go after him or her on the misdemeanor, but uh, other than that Yes, the the consequence is that he or she or they May lose their dog Potentially the dog may be euthanized and like I said, they may be precluded from ever owning another animal for at least three years All right, I appreciate that. Thank you so much Let's go to public comment on this item If you'd like to provide comment go ahead and please approach the podium And if you're on zoom go ahead to hit the raise hand feature and we'll come to you once we're done here in the chamber Hello, my name is matthew malek This happens all the time in san rosa These are the words etched in my mind when I think of the killing Of our family member dale our cat in his own backyard earlier this year Our neighbor's cab bell was also slaughtered That same evening while in its own backyard This happens all the time in san rosa These were the words spoken to me over the phone when we returned home from watching dale die at the vet This is a quote from an experienced animal control officer A professional representing this city After that awful nightmarish event To me the city of san rosa was telling me this happens all the time here get used to it That was the tone I heard on the phone I'm here today to state to you council members that these killings do not have to happen all the time in san rosa You have the power to bring constructive change to our animal code by voting Yes for the proposed amendment described in this item 14.1 of tonight's agenda This amendment will begin a process to address a public safety issue that has plagued san rosa apparently for many years It will not be the cure-all Solution to these attacks But it will certainly help target and address problem animals in our community Before more damage is done to other families and their furry family members from these predators I personally hope to work with our council member fleming Supervisor gore and with animal control on future ideas to improve safety Licensing and response procedures I believe animal control to be woefully underfunded and this should be of great concern to both the city and the county With expected growth in our population We can only assume our pet population to increase as well In my opinion the current animal code And licensing procedures are not equipped to protect the safety of our human and pet populations Please start rolling this evening by voting yes to approve this amendment And to keep deaths like dales and bells from happening All the time in san rosa The city deserves better Thank you Thank you, sir Eric Yes, thank you Bellow and I are here to also recommend that you support this When I first read it it just seemed to be The just a few minor rule changes that didn't really have a lot of substance And with council member Sawyer suggestion now I feel a little bit safer that this will have This law will have some real teeth no pun intended But just the same I don't think it goes far enough The enforcement issue is huge Uh, here was a great opportunity to really understand the issue and train residents on what to do In a vicious dog attack how to protect themselves how to protect their pets Um, and it's sort of it really fell short of that unfortunately. So even though I of course, um Support you passing us today and I know bellow does too Um, I'm a little sad that it just Just didn't really go far enough and that we're still all at risk But thank you very much Thank you, Eric Are there any other comments in the chamber? I see no hands on zoom. Did we have any pre-recorded voicemails? There are no pre-recorded voicemails for this item Okay, I'll go ahead and bring it back council member Fleming. This is your item Yes, thank you. Um, it is my uh Through honor to bring forward an ordinance of the council of the city of san aroza amending san aroza city code title seven animals chapter seven dash Zero four to give city attorney discretion to seek a vicious designation on an animal that when I'm provoked Kills another domestic animal and way further reading of the text second We have a motion from council member Fleming and a second from council member rogers Uh comments Council member Sawyer mayor does that include my um addition? I'm happy to add um that when I'm provoked kills and or Kills or maims another domestic animal Thank you And wait for the reading of the text second still stands. Okay Council member sweater Thank you, mr. Mayor. I just want to recognize Mr. Abel your passion in this area You're a wonderful representative of the city and the city attorney's office and your passion bringing this forward is very much appreciated By not only the whole council by the entire community. So thank you Thank you council member. I appreciate that Any other comments council member Fleming? Yes, um, mr. Abel You know rarely in this position do you hear So many positive comments about the dedication outreach empathy And just going above and beyond I mean all of our staff go above and beyond all the time But to make such an impression that I heard from so many constituents really says so much about your dedication as well as your Technical knowledge of the law the sheer number of cases that you prosecuted You know, I I hope that you take to heart. What a sincere. Thank you the community has expressed to me And then I'm passing on to you, you know, your body of professional knowledge on this exceeds Well exceeds what would normally be asked of the city attorney. So thank you very very much I appreciate that council member. I'm just trying to follow all of your leads. I love this city. So I love doing my little part Council member rogers um, I just wanted to take the opportunity to also thank mr. Abel and For me, I will be voting yes And um, I would like to do an remembrance of dale I was able to speak to his owners and it really touched my heart And it also touches my heart to know that you are not the only one So for anyone else that has lost their pet or has gone through something like this. I am very sorry I'm sorry that it has taken us this long, but I'm also very proud of this council that we're addressing the issue now Thank you council member and I want to express my my thanks to and Uh condolences for for folks who have gone through tragedy to bring this to this council And I'm glad that we'll be sounds like passing this tonight I also want to thank council member fleming for her leadership on the issue and and adam I just can't say enough about what I've heard from the public on your dedication on the issue issue an item as well With that, let's go ahead and call the vote Council member schwethelm. Aye council member soyer. Aye council member rogers. Aye council member mcdonald. Aye council member fleming. Aye Vice mayor alvarez. Aye mayor rogers. Aye that motion passes with seven eyes All right. Thank you everybody Thank you Good to see bella Madam city manager. Let's go on to item 14.2 Item 14.2 is extension of city bus unlimited rides for youth pilot program and participation in a countywide program And I see our transit planner already on the screen Yuri yeah, I did there you go. Thank you. Thank you City city manager council. Can you hear me? Yes, we can Great. Thank you very much for this opportunity to speak with you tonight. Uh Uh mayor and council. I'm Yuri coslyn transit planner uh in the transit division and transportation public works I'm here to present on a funding plan to extend city buses unlimited rides your free youth program Next slide. Thank you The program was adopted by council as you might remember uh an initiated and initiated began on in july 2021 as an 18 month pilot The benefits of the program have been attested to by school administrators youth advocates and youth themselves Which we'll see later on in the presentation The benefits include increased riders This program has increased youth ridership by 150 in the last six months alone Reducing household expenses for families making is by making the fare free We've had qualitative evidence About how it has improved school attendance from students themselves The city bus has increased its profile within the community By by Changing you know by by being involved in this by being involved in how the students Make their way just to school and extracurricular activities Um and equity is improved by providing low income families with an unlimited access to a mode of transportation These benefits are possible through collaborations with the school school districts and youth advocates these uh collaborations have occurred in the initial uh initiation of the program And it's how students became aware of the program was through school by communicating through schools Um in the implementation of the program we've worked with schools to ensure students Have had their ids which they get their school ids uh working through some behavioral issues that are bound to come up when uh When we have a whole bunch of young people congregated in one location and then um working through uh, you know overcrowding on the buses or uh bell time related issues These all have we've coordinated all this with the schools And then as well working with schools on in the valuation of the program getting the surveys out To the students and families themselves Next slide So staff has looked into ways uh for how the program works. We've looked into ways to remove barriers to getting students on board Youth you do not need to live in Sonoma county. Um, you just need a Any but any students can ride But uh, so they can ride anywhere at any time that that we that's city bus operates So youth 9th through 12th grade need to show an id This requirement is simply um to make it so that uh drivers, you know In high school, it may be difficult for drivers to know that they are youth So we asked for an id for 9th through 12th grade But again doesn't have to be students that live in santa rosa. It just needs to be a high school id But youth grades 8th and under 8th grade and under do not need to show an id at all. We do have uh Drivers will say, you know, what what what what grade are you in or what school do you go to? But essentially the students 8th grade younger just get on and ride Um And um the the the program is financed through for the lost fair revenue through the bay area air quality management district They have a transportation fund for clean air grant that we that we have uh the council has directed us to use for this this program Next slide So here's our exciting ridership you know free Your free program is you see the gray slide there the pre-pandemic youth ridership it was about 200,000 is what we estimated and that and in 18 19 was just under 200,000 and then uh in the First full year of the program Which is we're able to look at now starting in july 21 through end of 22 We almost had 250,000 rides So 50,000 more rides And you can see there the the blue line is kind of shows how that how that ridership has grown Since coming back from the pandemic um The highest ridership month in the year if we can get you to lean in a little bit. It's kind of hard to hear you wouldn't you fall back Great, I will do As you can see in may of 21 we had uh over 30,000 rides in that month and uh here in august And we we now have ridership in for september of 22 We've exceeded that that ridership in from last may And so we're we're we're we're just just above that in a monthly as a monthly high um so essentially Like like said earlier ridership for the program You know in the first three months of the program Um You know our ridership Exceeded the pre-pandemic level so a big jump and then in the last six months. We've had over we have a hundred An average of 150 of the pre-pandemic level ridership. So the program is really Really taken off and it's something that we're really proud of Next slide So as as part of our commitment to uh Benchmarking this program and understanding its value, you know, we we we had uh Had youth surveys that we held as I said We worked with the schools to make sure that that got in the hands of the students and the family We had significant input Six school sites shared the surveys directly with their students along with the santa rosa city schools and the libraries also made it available To students when they were visiting libraries messages went out digitally as well as we held in person Opportunities for students to fill out their surveys So just just to recap for for the ridership in 21 22 it's almost 250 000 for the surveys We had about 745 surveys As you can see 159 of those were in spanish um And the surveys also showed us that Before the program we have about 26 never never rode city bus And now uh since the program has come in place about 34 of the respondents ride five or more days a week And about 31 said they would ride more if their route had more frequency or the We also know that uh from the surveys that 50 percent Of those Students use the bus not 50 percent use it to go to school 50 percent of trips are for school and 50 percent of the trips are for extracurricular activities then After after school activities sports activities Going locate to locations with their friends So we can see that this program is not just exclusively for getting to school, but it's very much of Providing some freedom for the youth to be able to move around and engage in our community And some of our the stats that really stood out for us We're around improving attendance those who complete a survey 73 percent said that The year you are free program allowed them to improve their attendance And then the the the goal of the funding is to improve air quality and The families that families and students who respond to the survey 78 percent of them thought that The program helped them their families to reduce car trips All very important important qualitative and quantitative data for For how this program is impacting our community Next slide, please Um It's amazing how how it's impacted our community and all the comments are received in the survey Here are just a few of the comments, but there were many students and families that had a lot of very You know wonderful things to say about the program. So just to read from the slide One student said if the bus wasn't free, I don't know how to get to school or I or see my family another student said it's great. It helps a lot when my parents can't get me Another student said I'm a teen mom and I appreciate this program very deeply It allows me to still continue school It increases my motivation to go and makes things a lot easier that one was particularly Appointing and then the last one that we'll share is a student said keep the buses free kids need it. I need it Times are hard and the bus helps me get to school And then we have some other students that gave us hand notes I'll I'll feel good stuff Next slide, please So the proposed next steps and that's why we're here tonight You know short term We we're Seeking council's direction to extend city buses your free pilot program for six months Right now it expires at the end of december. So it'd be from january through june Using approximately 135 000 in additional funds from the transportation fund for clean air grant, which is what's currently Which has funded the last 18 months of the program So and then and then shifting into a longer term Plan because this is this is the type of program that we'd like to see what kind of tools we can use to to maintain it We've identified A path to making the program permanent One is is is uh, you know and hot off the presses. Um the um Sonoma uh Sonoma county was able to review uh At their at their session a proposal To use the sonoma county climate resiliency fund for to extend this program for a two-year pilot in uh fiscal year 25 24 and 25 that was heard today and uh moved forward by um the sonoma county um supervisors and commissioners um So that that that's great news and that's that's that's an that's an opportunity that will uh, we're asking council tonight to um To support support our application as part of that For the sonoma county climate resiliency fund There is an opportunity to go beyond That funding using go sonoma sales tax is beginning in fiscal year 26 So we're keeping an eye on that But at this time we are looking for council to extend for the six month period and then um Support the climate resiliency fund for additional two years after that Next slide So what is the sonoma county climate resiliency fund? It's uh, it was established in 2021 by the sonoma county board of supervisors as part of the pgne settlement um through sonoma County sonoma county transportation authority and the future of transit process a joint proposal Of a two-year pilot providing free transit for youth on city bus Sonoma county transit and pedaluma transit would begin um in july 1st 2023 and run through June of 25 There's a couple new components to it one would be essentially allowing adults to Ride with the youth for the first three weeks of each semester. So You know for for for students that it might be the first time they're riding Or students that maybe parents that are unsure about what it's like riding on the bus They want to see it with their students. So this would kind of allow students and adults to Ride for this for first three weeks of a semester So and the the so the climacy resiliency funds would basically serve as a bridge to the 2026 measure gd's Sonoma funds, which may allow us to continue the program um, the application for For the climate resiliency fund was approximately Nine hundred thousand and as projected provide 1.3 million rides over two years um as part of this proposal city bus as part of the climate resiliency fund was Uh matching funds and as part of the application for the three operators city bus as uh Was proposed to use our climate our our transportation for clean air funds as a match as as part of the match to make the the um Proposal to the supervisors um meet their criteria Uh next next slide um, so It's a bit of a moot moot point that you know, we want to make sure that we can continue this program With with council direction and so we've identified some other potential Funding, you know, we can continue to use the transportation clean air If we if we didn't if we didn't use the climate resiliency funds But a lot of these programs that we have are critical for other, you know programs including our electric bus purchases But we'll I mean these type of programs, you know, we'll continue to look for other Partnerships that may be available Um into the future But this is these are kind of the pieces that we know at this point can can carry this program through Next slide please So it is recommend recommend to conclude is recommended by the transportation and public works department The council by resolution extend the unlimited rides youth your free pilot program um For tk through 12th grade youth through june 30th 2023 And approve the city's participation in The county-wide unlimited ride for youth program for two for a two-year period beginning, um July 1st 2023 Um, if if award if awarded funding from the Sonoma county climate resiliency fund And with that i'll take questions thank you so much yuri and Rachel as well. Thank you so much for the data It's really helpful for us to see the impact that these programs are having and I know every time I talk at scta I get to kind of brag about what we're seeing as a result Let me see if there's any questions from council members Council member rogers I did have a quick question and thank you yuri and rachel and to your team For your out-of-the-box thinking And going to get money that we really need to help our community My question was how long will the loss fair revenue be reimbursed by the bay area air quality management district If we are not to get the funding from the county of sonoma Yeah, I might jump in on this one yuri if you don't mind I think because I I know yuri's not quite as familiar with that funding source as I am so you know We do we we have had Board of Supervisors action today to approve the allocation of climate resiliency funds to this county-wide fair free program for youth So it looks like that will move forward If that was not the case we would we would have That we've identified so far about another half a year worth of tfca funds Which is basically equivalent to what we've put forward as matched for the crf funds proposal to the county The other tfca funds we currently have are dedicated as local match for our electrification projects that are federally funded So, you know, there's there's two different polls on those funds If something went sideways with the crf funds, you know, I think we could take a second look at How we want to prioritize those tfca funds I think our interest and has been and continues to be How to establish continuity with this program? We also could look at our low carbon trans transit operations program funds from the state as a potential way to continue this program if we were short of funds Again, those funds or funds were allocating towards electric bus purchases. So we have to really think about the prioritization there, but those are two Options we could have to continue but again As Yuri discussed looks like the crf funds have been approved and we will have the ability to move forward with that two-year pilot program countywide Thank you. It looks like there's multiple ways for us to move forward with this program and I know with your team You guys will find a way because it's a great program. Thank you All right cast member mcdonald the question Well more of a couple of comments We know that when children have busing to school that they're less likely to be late And so we know tardiness is also a way for them to lose those instructional minutes, which are critical for them making up specifically over the last couple of years with the New test results that just came out recently in the newspaper. We know that children have a lot to recover from so I feel Pretty strongly that if the city can help in any way To support parents and kids getting to school and that's the other big component of this is You know when kids have a way to get to school parents can get to work on time And so it helps our entire system And so I just want to thank staff for making sure that this has been able to continue to look for that funding source I would like to look at a longer term Plan so that we are able to continue this because we have seen it and then any statistics that we see From the school on their ADA increase would be helpful I think for data and s in the future So that we can be aware and that's something that we can look for funding from the legislature specifically at the state When they're looking at busing and transportation and needing money that could come in And partnerships to me are the way to go on something like this So many schools have lost their school Transportation they've had to cut it from their budgets, but when they can work with the city There's sometimes ways that we can find funding So I would be interested in looking at that And I also want to point out that I like the Allowance of the adult to ride with the children to school for the first three weeks of each of this semester So I think that there's a comfort that we can create when parents have the opportunity And then I think you also have an opportunity to show parents how easy it is to ride our buses Because there is a level of comfort there and as we grow in santa rosa I think this is a way for us to promote a better green use of of kids riding to school on a Public transportation as opposed to getting their own cars So thank you again for the presentation and for your creativity and finding resources for us to continue the program Thank you councilmember Let's go to public comment on the item if anybody in the chamber would like to provide comment Go ahead approach the podium And I see we have one hand on zoom Let's go to cow I don't think ken's hand was up. I think we're going to call him There we go. Good evening mayor rogers Vice mayor alvarez and council members. I'm actually here to take in my My personal capacity as a resident of the jc neighborhood Really to express my strongest support for this program Well, I suspect they'll be very little to to probably no opposition. I still feel compelled to To speak today to the value of programs like this. I mean at the end of the day These types of programs they're their equity Their climate And they are most certainly An absolute alignment with the community that we are envisioning in the preferred alternative for the city's general plan update There's a lot of value in in these types of programs and I just like to say I really appreciate councilmember mcdonald's comments I I think you know letting the parents, you know, join the kids as well Is a really great opportunity To to drive more traffic into our public transit and and really help I think support You know Building out kind of that that spine that backbone that we've created with the smart train So I would really just take the opportunity tonight to to strongly encourage Each and every one of the council members to please support the six month extension and when the time comes certainly Please also support the two-year extension as well. And and with that, I just like to thank you very much for your time Thank you for being here and have a wonderful evening Thanks cal. So I'll go ahead and bring it back councilmember schwedhelm. This is your item Thank you, mr. Mayor I'd like to move a resolution of the council of the city of san aroza Approving the extension of city bus unlimited rides youth your free pilot program and participation in a countywide program and wave further reading the text second Motion from councilmember schwedhelm and a second from councilmember rogers. Is there any additional comments councilmember? Thank you, mr. Yes, I would just like to add that I'm very appreciative of this coming forward and because I think it really is establishing and changing habits that will Really lead us well into the future for a lot of the youth who never saw this as an option We've removed barriers and I think that will pay us Pay it forward for decades to come. So i'm very excited this is coming before us. Thank you Councilmember rogers I just want to say something that was not mentioned Is that the schools are able to utilize this program to take the children on field trips that they otherwise would not be able to afford due to The lack of funds for transportation So this is going far beyond just people Being able to get to school But it's a matter of enriching their Their experience by going into our community and learning what we have in our community. So thank you Yeah All all the good stuff has been said. Um, what I gotta say is thank you to the bus operators for your willingness to deal with increased volumes of teenagers um, I'm sure it's the highlight of your morning and evening and Your commitment on a serious that was funny. I know but on a serious note Your commitment really does build our the future that we are trying to achieve here And you know, you may not know how much we appreciate each and every one of you But but your your service is noted. Thank you All right, madame city clerk, let's call the vote. Thank you, mayor councilmember schwedhelm. Hi councilmember soyer. Hi Councilmember rogers. Hi councilmember mcdonald. Hi councilmember fleming. Hi vice mayor alvarez Mayor rogers. Hi that motion passes with seven eyes All right, we're gonna take a quick 10 minute break and then we'll come back for item 14.3 Thanks for holding on to Thanks All right, welcome back everybody Madam city clerk, please call the roll Thank you, mayor councilmember schwedhelm here councilmember soyer here councilmember rogers Councilmember mcdonald here Councilmember fleming here Vice mayor alvarez president mayor rogers here let the record show that all councilmembers are present All right, madame. I excuse you mr. Assistant city manager item 14.3. Please Thank you, mayor vice mayor members of the council jason nut assistant city manager I'm going to be joined by our city attorney su gallagher and virtually by our assistant city attorney jessica mullen The three of us will be providing you with information to talk about project labor agreements And where we've come from what we're intending to do The recommendation. Oh next slide, please The recommendation that we have and I just want to point this straight up front is we want to adopt a policy tonight That's the key get a policy in place. We want to be able to have the city manager with delegated authority to make adjustments to the draft Template agreement that we have that's part of exhibit b And also provide the city manager with the opportunity to make amendments to the policy moving forward in an effort to expedite change That's to the benefit and within the spirit of council Council's intent and we'll talk more about that as we go through this And so those are the the primary pieces it will help ensure that we are investing our capital improvement program Dollars wisely with the benefit of reinvestment in our community Next slide, please So when we came to you back in july We had and got council concurrence on three primary objectives for why we would institute a project labor agreement policy for santa rosa one was To really focus on enhancing the the highly skilled employees within this community And helping to grow those high that highly skilled workforce With the benefit of providing a more diverse equitable community Throughout giving more opportunity to a broader range of individuals And and companies within our within our sphere of influence And it was also to reduce the carbon footprint meaning we want to keep local local We don't want to start importing employees importing Folks from out of the area because that increases the carbon footprint that we put Utilizing our capital improvement dollars And in the end the whole purpose is to reinvest capital improvement dollars back into our community with a positive Investment and that helps us grow our local workforce, but at the same time grow our economy by reinvesting locally next slide in july Through the course of the study session staff asked council a series of questions after we gave you quite a big long presentation With that council provided us directed feedback Individually On what you felt your position would be on a number of items and these items are listed in front of you Generally speaking the majority of the council informed us that when it came to the scope of the pl PLA policy we should be looking Inclusive it should include all projects. We shouldn't be looking at a project by project basis, but more of a blanket style approach We also heard from a majority of the council that we should be looking to Establish a set of five million dollar threshold for where a project labor agreement would apply We heard from council that it was okay to consider and incorporate some level of exemption To define a project type that may be to the benefit of the city or the community depending upon the various conditions Of that project and we'll get into more detail on some of these items as we go a little deeper it also defined local labor and said that local Is going to be consistent with individuals and companies that occur or exist in Sonoma marin napa menesino and lake counties. It's those five counties We had generally identified that that was about an hour of commute In order to bring that in and that seemed like a reasonable distance to consider local local And that is the workforce that we want to focus in on It was also as a part of that An indication from council that the primary focus was going to be on craft labor and that there was going to be a Professional component that we could consider as part of an exempt Organizational structure within the PLA agreement again, we'll talk more about that moving forward We did present an idea on local higher percentage And we talked about that being the community workforce agreement generally speaking council indicated An approval for moving forward with some form of community workforce agreement Staff had presented a 30 percent at that point and In general we heard that that was an okay starting spot But we may want to make adjustments as we learn more about how project labor agreements and Are working in our community over the course of time And then we discussed the concept of some of the other things that could happen if we get into a Negotiation relating to a specific PLA agreement If something didn't work out would we have the authority to make adjustments or make conditions within the city's purview And that is one of the delegations that we're looking for toward the end Relating to if negotiations fail and we don't want to stall a project because negotiations failed That we got general concurrence that we were that was okay for us to contemplate what that might look like And then lastly when we talked about what a policy return or revisit date could could could look like Staff presented three years predominantly for the basis that It was the window that we were looking at from a project perspective Council had concerns and expressed interest in having that be a five-year return and revisit date It's not a sunset date With the idea that by that time we might have more data To be able to present so those were the pieces of feedback that that staff heard back in july and between july and today we've been working hard communicating with various labor groups communicating with Contractors with other sub contractors with other labor and union associations to try to come up with the best possible policy that fit within What we presented the feedback that we received from council and the feedback that we received from each of those organizations In the in the meantime, so please next slide So the question then is where did we land and what is being presented? So in the staff reported in the policy We did take all of the console all of the feedback into consideration and we landed on a series of recommendations One is that the scope of p of the PLA would in fact be all projects not not project by project It would include both vertical and horizontal And it would not specify Or isolate either of those two project types From a threshold perspective, we heard quite a range Now again what we heard from a majority of council was a five million dollar threshold We heard originally from the north bay trades council that they were requesting a one million They have since changed that to request that a half a million And we heard from uh, and so we tried to do our best by Meeting somewhere in the middle and middle for us was a three million dollar threshold That's what's being presented to you But that was staff's attempts to take the direction that we received or the majority direction We received from council the Feedback and comments that we received from the north bay trades council And the communication that we received from other entities that are involved in project labor agreements and the delivery of projects And we felt that this was a a fair and reasonable place to land given all of that feedback When we started talking about project types We did end up on a few different places We decided that it was definitely going to be a focus on craft trade Our policy says it's craft trade and it's consistent with collective bargaining agreements that those craft trade workers Are are aligned with That this project labor agreement would not alter or enhance or adjust an existing Collective bargaining agreement that exists. That's not the intent the intent was to provide a space for unionized and signatory companies To provide that high quality high level skill set to our projects We also started looking at a series of other exemptions and I know exemptions can be a scary thing But there's sometimes reason why we want to contemplate that One is there are certain project types such as slurry seal such as sewer linings Where there is no unionized density in our local definition In fact, most of those come from central valley And it seems inappropriate for us to identify not only a local workforce hire component But also to require that those companies coming from out of our area Be signatory or unionist affiliated There are we've identified a series of project types that fit that and and so that is Really going to be one of our focus and you'll see a little bit more as we get deeper into the the policy itself, but And you'll see in the policy we outline a few specifics and those two being some of the the key ones We also looked at whether a special conditions Special conditions could be emergency situation in an emergency. We want a contractor to arrive I don't want to worry about whether or not That contractor has signatory affiliation. It'd be great if they did But at this point it's about mobilizing our community to get the communities Back in shape and to manage the emergency and disaster that we're currently working through There are also Opportunities where funding is prohibitive for us to go through the process of identifying and And approving a project labor agreement and with some of those funding Opportunities we want the opera. We want the ability to be able to bypass or exempt that project from a project labor agreement for example Right now the federal transit administration does not recognize project labor agreements as a reasonable As a reasonable delivery product They like us to go with a more traditional model If we had a project that fit the needs Or fit the criteria of a project labor agreement meaning above three million dollars Staff would be making the recommendation that that project would be exempted Or we for or we potentially forfeit the funding from the federal transit administration This is an area that the county realized when they were doing their run wakes when they were doing their airport projects FAA also does not recognize project labor agreements as a primary method of delivery And so we want to be cognizant that at at this point there are specific Funding entities and there may be in the future that limit our ability to utilize that delivery method and we want councils Approval to identify those as an exemption should those funding issues arise And then lastly there are certain categories of workers and work types that we believe are inconsistent for our particular area One of those areas relates to trucking In our particular community as we've had discussions the predominant number of vehicles out on the street that provide delivery of raw materials to and from a site Is is non signatory as non union affiliated and therefore Given the feedback and information we've heard from the community here in sonoma County as well as counties adjacent to us We are recommending that that that that be that some of those specific work types be exempted from the policy itself Next slide, please We're we're sticking with the local labor definition relating to the five counties immediately Including sonoma immediately adjacent to sonoma We're also sticking with the community workforce agreement Concept of local higher percentage at 30 percent We feel that's a reasonable starting spot for us to get into a project labor labor agreement and determine when we're utilizing that agreement How we can benefit our local employees We would like to incorporate an escalation factor onto the Onto the threshold as Our world continues to increase through inflation. We would certainly like to see our Threshold remain the same And the same would be relating to some index And we would like to revisit that, but we would like to get an approval to move forward by indexing that threshold And then the last suggestion relates to the project labor agreement term and revisit date The intent right now is to start the program on january 1st 2024 And utilize a three-year Now the question that is this is one of the areas we've deviated from council's Recommendation or at least the majority of the council again looking at our outlook We've looked three years into the future We know that we have approximately 10 projects that fit within the threshold And actually moving to 3 million that increases We believe that we'll have fairly significant data Within that three-year period to be able to provide council with updated information that could give council An opportunity to revise the policy to best fit the feedback and information that we're seeing I won't I don't have a strong opinion on this particular one And so I'd be happy to have further discussion about that Next slide So I mentioned earlier that one of the areas of concern is if we reach somewhat of an impasse as we're negotiating a specific agreement And there may be a number of other reasons why relating as you see here, whether it's emergency or exigent circumstances or We've got that funding source that could be an issue But but this is an area that we think there's reason For council to give authority to the city manager to exempt a specific project There are just Potential ramifications If we don't provide that exemption that could create either significant delay in a project And we may not want that delays to have a tendency to come with increased cost Or if it results in as I mentioned earlier if we're looking at a particular funding source That doesn't approve of the use of project labor agreements. We could lose it We could potentially lose that funding source and that opportunity Next slide please So the recommendation of a three million dollar threshold With a 30 local workforce beginning on january the first 2024 We believe based on the descriptions that you see in the in the exhibit a which is the policy in the draft policy document We believe that that would provide us with the greatest ability to utilize signatory unionized labor to be able to enhance our local workforce by reinvesting a significant amount of capital improvement program funds Into that workforce with the benefit that that local workforce will help us By purchasing local and reinvesting those dollars locally that it's part of that circular economy We are substantially Requesting that there be exclusions for trucking hauling cm and inspection Some of the professional managerial work in certain project categories as I mentioned earlier Next slide We also want to make sure that that rather than needing to come to council for any potential amendment or or adjustment We're recommending that you delegate authority to the city manager to make those adjustments and amendments We think that would expedite our ability to be able to be flexible Especially in this first period of time to best utilize project labor agreements to The benefit of our skilled labor workforce as well as to ensure that our projects are being delivered In a timely way with the best possible product on the back end That's what we're looking for right is we want to deliver high quality projects to our community And we believe that there could be areas Along the next couple of years that the city manager may want to make adjustments In an effort to streamline some of those activities Um, I there is nothing in the works today. This is purely an opportunity rather than returning to council prematurely in advance of the The return date where we might not have enough data or information to warrant any change to the policy itself Next slide please So i'll return back to the recommendations We'd write we would like council to consider adopting the policy and Utilizing the center was a school district agreement as the base agreement for us to begin negotiating with the Entities such as north bay trades council We'd like the opportunity to delegate to the city manager the ability to negotiate that agreement Um And we'd like the opportunity to have the city manager have delegated authority to make amendments for operational purposes moving forward Before I conclude i'd like to to see if Assistant city attorney mullen has anything to add or if there's something she would like to Add incorporate into the discussion jessica. You're muted All right. Thank you. I apologize. Um, good evening council Thank you assistant city manager Not I think one thing that I just did want to clarify briefly is that the intent here is that we would adopt the council policy On the project labor agreement changes to that policy would come back to council for amendment The delegated authority that we're seeking for the city manager here is really directed at the kind of in the weeds operational elements of this particular program so With respect to the details of the project labor agreement itself and then also any operational policies and Procedures that we developed to be able to kind of incorporate this into our existing cip program Which is pretty document heavy as is so I just wanted to to make clear that The policy piece that is exhibit a to your staff report is really That's kind of the council umbrella document and that further changes to that would require us to come back Thank you. Jessica. I will say council The assistant city attorney has worked extremely hard to try to craft this in a way that we think fits All needs and I've been very pleased to work with her on this project. It's she's developed a very good program and next slide And we are all here to answer questions All right. Thank you so much. Mr. Assistant city manager. I'm going to see if there's any questions from the council councilmember rogers City manager or assistant city manager net. I do have a quick question It's on slide seven bullet four Can you give me another example of a negative impact on project? delivery Yeah, I think this goes back to the concept of if we reached impasse with the particular Unions that we were negotiating with and we're not able to come to an agreement or an arrangement that then turned into a delay in a project that could Put into jeopardy funding sources or could put into jeopardy other tangential Community needs That would be an example assistant city attorney. Malin. Do you have any additional? comments Thank you assistant city manager and council member rogers I think it's a good question because I think what we're not trying to do here is create exceptions or opportunities for staff to Manipulate the process or not be able to not use project labor agreements as broadly as we get council direction to do I think what i'm thinking about negative impacts I'm specifically thinking about, you know, if there's situations where there's a change order or some element of a particular project That we'd be able to kind of piggyback on existing work that's happening and it would happen to involve kind of a One of these categories of work like the slurry seal or the pipelining that assistant city manager not was talking about Where we don't necessarily have an excellent Union density kind of here locally That would be something where it would then lead to potentially the budget issues or the delay issues that would We want to be able to have some flexibility at the staff level to be able to make decisions That would keep the project on track So I think that that's intended to just provide a little bit of that flexibility in that particular circumstance for example And i'm sorry you said staff level so uh, who on the staff other than the city manager would be able to make that determination So the way that I um, sorry. Oh go ahead assistant senior manager. I didn't mean to jump in there No, please please proceed Okay, so the way that I've um the way that I crafted the policy is that it delegates the authority in terms of some of the Exceptions to the director of transportation and public works or designee that tracks with kind of the city council's policy on on On uh change orders um in some of in some instances However, that was sort of my initial draft on this particular policy Another way to potentially slice it should you feel so inclined or feel like more council oversight is necessary Is to define that authority between kind of major projects which come to you for a per review and approval And minor projects, um, which are done at the staff level So, um, but for the time being when you look at exhibit a those decisions are made By the or the authorities delegated to the director of transportation and public works Would it be out of the normal realm to have the city manager review? Those projects and not come to council initially Um review the projects The exceptions or the projects themselves ones that we believe would be a negative impact on project delivery So I think that I actually so I think in that It's a good question. So I'm taking a second to just sort of digest it because the way that our current structure is For project approvals There's that division between major projects which you all approve At the city council level and then minor projects which are approved at the staff level like city manager or designee Now, I think that it would not necessarily be unusual For the city manager to decide on a case by case basis About these kind of more project specific items with respect to an issue like a project labor agreement Because that's kind of an aspect of the project Rather than approval of kind of a dollar value of the contract I'm not sure if i'm answering that that clear. I think that you could do it either way And I think that either way is consistent with Authority that I think city managers typically have And and I'll just jump in councilmember rogers that I I think as you're hearing from Assistant city attorney molland I either would be reasonable under this Our concern would be more if we brought had if we had to bring to council Every time to make that call and that decision to utilize the exemption But that would be a suggestion if this if the city manager had been delegated that authority They would hear directly from the director of transportation and public works That would come with a recommendation and then they would make the call at that point And as um assistant city manager that was speaking it also made me think about a waiver of competitive bidding Is another kind of element that we have in our code with respect to purchasing and that actually tracks So the the entity that approves the contract is the entity that then approves the waiver of competitive bidding So that is kind of a different philosophical approach than what i'm proposing here in the policy So basically you have to kind of go back to the entity that approves the contract to get the approval So that is another way to structure The use of the exemptions as well Um the way it's worded i'll just say the reason behind my questioning is a negative impact on project delivery Could mean anything and I could say anything is a negative impact on project delivery That is the the reason for for my questioning and I don't want someone to have the sole discretion other than the city manager um and the council to say that something has a negative impact on project delivery councilmember sweatel Thank you. Mr. Mayor. Thank you jason for the presentation on um It's slide 17. We haven't seen it but the online version There is a slide that showed example projects over five million dollars july 23 through july 26 Do we have an updated one with uh example projects over three million now that that number is changed Councilmember, unfortunately, I do not have an updated one at that point. Um, and so, uh, the The list that you have there and and Ms. Williams, uh, it would be the last slide in the deck We'll bring it up so wall cheese Do you have something you want to say adam city attorney? I think when we bring up that chart, um I do believe that it has the category of three million to five million and then five million and And above the project list only identifies projects that are greater than five million. There is a slide prior to that I I added these to the slide deck for a conversation Uh, if we needed to but I didn't feel they needed to be part of the presentation This the slide uh here this particular slide shows all of the projects that we identified In july as being projects greater than than the five million dollars. Um, if we go one slide prior You'll see this was also a slide we showed back in july if you look on the right hand side at the gray wedge There are additional projects that we would anticipate that exist between that three and five million albeit they're there we would expect them to be small Given the type of projects that we have coming forward and the rate of inflation that actually may be increasing as we move forward and and so, uh, this right now is a a Calculated inflation from the prior Program that we had the 2015 to 2020 We went through and created an inflationary and projected The type of projects that we would have coming forward based on this based on prior project types And so that's how we came up with this But I couldn't tell you with any detail what additional projects specifically could be added to the list that you see at the At that last slide And then can you share with me how this would work because I know A lot of times we we get an estimate city estimate We estimate it's going to be let's say three million bucks and a lot of times we'll have all the Applications some are below and some are above for those borderline cases. How do we resolve that or how would we deal with those type of cases? We would base the decision to move forward with a project labor agreement based on the engineer's estimate And so if the engineer's estimate comes in above the threshold determined by the policy Then that's the product that we would use through the through the project If in some cases we see A bid come in below the engineer's estimate that would be then below the threshold Our intent would be to continue to move forward with a project labor agreement because that's the way we would have set up the rfb So again doing the worst case scenario and that may this may go within the purview of the city manager authority Let's say it's a 2.5 million engineer estimate, but all the bids come in over three million What happens we would proceed with a project labor agreement. We'd be negotiating We'd be negotiating with the lowest bidder after or as a part of the award So you'd have to almost start the process over and we wouldn't start the process over It's all part of the negotiations relating to the the agreement itself. And I see uh assistant city attorney Mullen wants to chime in I think I did want to just quickly chime in because I think that I just wanted to bring it back to what assistant city manager Not had mentioned which is the it's the Engineers estimate that drives whether or not the PLA is used So if the engineers estimate is 2.5 and then the bids all come in as some of them do way over Three million dollars then that one would be below the project threshold. So there would not be a PLA included in that particular Project is the way that this is currently drafted now and in the hopeful circumstance where the engineers estimate is You know 3.6 million and then they all come in wonderfully at 2.5 million That would have a project labor agreement but because it's all driven and tied to that engineers estimate great That's helpful using that baseline And then um, I think it's good Jason you you'd mentioned the federal transit administration. They don't recognize plas and you mentioned some other entities I hadn't heard that the first presentation. What's interesting. Do we Apply for grants from some of those entities and does it have an impact on our competitiveness if we're looking for grants from Some of these agencies that don't recognize plas Yeah, this is this is one that we put in there only because we know it exists It doesn't mean that we actually have received any funds or that we've applied for any funds at that level That would create a problem It is potentially feasible for us to apply for Federal transit assistance for a capital improvement project to rebuild the transit mall for example If that exceeded 3 million dollars, we would we would want to exercise this exclusion because as it stands right now The fta does not recognize project labor agreements There are i'm not aware of any other grants that we've submitted for that have that difficulty In fact, most other grants actually Identify that project labor agreements are a reasonable and appropriate method of delivering projects. So There are some there are very few Areas that we run into this challenge and the two that i'm most keenly aware of right now are the fta and the f a Federal aviation administration and the federal transit administration Okay, thanks. That's helpful and then i might have asked this the first time in july The accountability aspect of the local hire 30 percent because i believe the presentation mentioned some cities the local hire was You know if they're going for 30 percent, there's only 10 percent. Tell us what how how would the city san rosa deal with that? jessica, do you want to give that a shot? Sure, sure, and i think that um the way that we're structuring the policy is to set the overall threshold, right? And so i think we want to use 30 percent as a target because we talk to um contractors We talk to contractor groups You talk to northbay trades council and all of them have been extremely helpful in telling us that that threshold is correct Now when we think about the pla agreement itself and what provisions we put put in there in terms of enforceability There are different ways to approach that so you can approach it where the city takes a very, uh, aggressive Rural in monitoring compliance with that particular 30 threshold or you can also frame the 30 threshold as more of a best effort You know, we reached out to these particular Union halls or they were not able to provide it So i think that the enforcement element will be an an aspect of the pla agreement itself And i think that that the reason why from my perspective I would i've kind of reserved it and crafting this particular staff report an item For that particular area Is because i think it it will probably vary a little bit with respect to staff capacity to be able to monitor that either independently or hire a third party Consultant to assist with that particular monitoring But i think the other element of this that is going to be an easy win for us at the staff level Is the prevailing wage documentation and kind of the data we get from that In terms of kind of payroll and where people are located. I think that we will be able to at least Do kind of a cursory monitoring of how closely we're hitting those targets and whether 30 is truly the sweet spot And if it's not then that 30 is an element of the policy that we need to return to council to address and adjust Supportingly yeah council member. I will say as we've as we communicated with others in the area We didn't feel that 30 was going to be a difficult threshold to achieve And so we we felt comfortable putting that in there as a starting spot So it's more than a suggestion our expectation is it'll be at least 30 is what i'm hearing Okay, thank you. Yes council member flamen Yeah, I have a couple of questions one is about And it may have been covered in your responses to council member schwedholm, but You said that the faa has an issue using project labor agreements and other and the fta as well Has that changed since the biden administration has come in and issued their pro project labor agreement Executive order Yeah council member flamen great question and and this is one of the weird nuances at this point of project labor agreements Both the obama and biden administrations have issued executive order stating that project labor agreements should be used For projects as a as a reasonable way of delivering them Fta and faa my understanding in talking to entities that have tried to go through this is that The executive order didn't adjust or amend their actual policy document that guides the Distribution and the award of the projects and therefore since their governing document was not amended that they're not going to Assume that the executive order supersedes their their policy So so that's the feedback that can change With you know a policy redirection with either of those two agencies Okay, that's helpful and then the other question was about With whom to the potential to slow things down by not besting the exemption policy with the city manager Um, what would it look like if it were to say come to the city council on a consent calendar on a regular basis? What what's the worst case scenario that you see? In terms of slowing down a project by having some level of council review I'll say I would hope it's a six week Delay right it takes us that long to get on to a typical council agenda And my hope is that that would be the predominant delay in this It just reduces a little bit of the nimbleness that we think we could see by having The city manager be delegated that authority Okay Are there other Boys that you think that it could be achieved like having the city manager and the city attorney both sign off on it Or something like that to make sure that it complies with the spirit of Of whatever ordinance may be passed I think our recommend I will I see the assistant city attorney looking to to respond to let her go first Thanks assistant city manager. Not so I think that um, I think that a dual role Is appropriate and for exemptions we take from competitive bidding at the staff level It's usually a staff level recommendation and then our office reviews it for compliance with The policy itself and I think from my perspective when I think about the delay Certainly I'm extremely sensitive to the issue that council member rogers raised about not having an exemption So big that you could drive a truck through it. Um, which I realize is one of the exemptions but The idea here being that If you do a solicitation and you determine that it is going to because no one bids Or there's some issue where it is going to cause a big delay Um to the particular project Then if you have to go back to council and get a waiver of that particular pla requirement Um, then you have to rebid it without the pla. I think that that's where I get a little bit nervous about delays That could also be at the edge of the construction season. So I apologize so much and tell him ev says, uh, hello And it's time to go to bed I totally agree. Thank you Council member swerver. Did you have one? question, okay council member mcdonald Thank you. I have a couple of questions here on item 4.3.1 The language says, um specifically be inconsistent with state federal and other public funding source requirements If that language was left in there wouldn't that Proclude us from having any issues with the federal transit program money. I'm just curious if that would cover that So I think that the goal would be that that would allow for a situation where if there's a change in administrations and The philosophy around pla is changes because we are in kind of a three-year term here where there could be an election One way or the other then yes, that would address that federal issue And then the other regional issue is just some I think about like mtc Or um, you know some of the regional transit agencies that we get funding from so that's intended to capture that So just by having that in there We wouldn't have to worry about staff having to do any type of waivers on anything because that language is Included in the ordinance and it wouldn't preclude us from receiving that funding. Correct That's exactly right and that's that's the goal Great and then under 4.3.2 Is there a reason specifically that that language was used in this ordinance? If you could tell me it specifically says there is an emergency other Urgent need to protect health safety and welfare or other How do you say that word? That's a good legal word. I'm sure Oh, the ex is it exigen in that particular one? I'm trying to I can't pronounce yet. Thanks for that In circumstances. Thanks for spotlighting my dyslexia tonight. I appreciate it I apologize for that It's not your fault. Uh, can you tell me why that language was used specifically? So that language is used specifically just because we do occasionally have um and Assistant city manager net will probably be able to give you a very concrete example that I would not be able to give but the idea here is that if there's like a pipe name break or There's work that just has to be done now because it's you know flooding highway 12 or something We do have some on-call contracts and on-call work That we don't necessarily want to have the PLA be an overlay on that particular work We want to be able to just do it quickly. So that's why that's incorporated there Whether or not that's something we can make work in the future I think is something we're certainly open to But I think for now we would feel more comfortable if that was excluded or we had the authority at the staff level to exclude Great, then I have a couple more questions if we added language somewhere in the policy that said If if we want projects over a certain amount, right if we choose a specific amount And that goes out in all of our rfps say If any project over x amount based on what we agree to tonight with the PLA Would we have to come back and bring that item back to staff or anyone or that's a blanketed um We can include that in our rfps that if your bid comes back at x amount of dollars You will be subject to be part of a PLA. Isn't there a way to do that? So that we don't have to worry about oh, it's over this amount It's just our blanketed policy If you're bidding on a project and it comes in over 500 000 dollars, you're going to be part of a PLA Mm-hmm Because it seems like there's confusion around it should come back to staff. It should go to city manager So just a clean we're going to put it in our rfps. We're going to put it in this policy I I remember I'm I'm I think I'm we're happy to go ahead and make some statement that says any project that exceeds the threshold Whether whether as part of an engineer's estimate or following the award associated with the award of of bid Then you know if it's it exceeds that threshold that a project labor agreement will be associated with it I I feel like that might be able to clean up some of this who goes to what just based on our language Because if it's just part of that rfp that might be helpful And if it's part of this ordinance tonight, and I'm not sure where that could potentially be inserted But I'd be interested in that just for clarification And then as far as our own agendas goes You know if something had to come back to us if the item's already been seen this is more of a clarification I know that it typically does take us six weeks But if there was a reason that we were just revisiting an item Wouldn't we have the authority to say this is going back on based on just how we brown act and Notify our meetings. I mean if there was really something that was timely And use of money so we didn't delay projects. Is there a reason we have to go through? I mean, I feel like sometimes we're just It's our own process. We're our own bosses on this other than just letting the public know Well, there are two pieces to that one is Our open government ordinance, which requires the preliminary Agenda being on the preliminary agenda and then the final agenda and there is an exception for if there are Um urgent circumstances that arise You know after the prelim prelim agenda was published so we can work with that But the other thing is just practical. Um, our timelines in order to get something onto the agenda Goes through quite a process So the staff has to prepare the materials and then it goes through and gets approvals from Our office from finance from environmental review and that does take some time so Can we turn something around? quicker than six weeks In exceptional circumstances we can But the six weeks is is is the usual The usual minimum required. So I appreciate that clarification on that And then that's it for my questions Councilmember rogers I just had one one additional question. It's a 4.3 0.1 b Have a substantially negative impact on public works project delivery including the ability to deliver such Public works projects on time and on budget for instance due to time sensitive funding requirements or permits or entitlements What differs from some from us having a PLA to not having A PLA that would interfere with that and it seems Some of those would only be discoverable during a project after we've already stated who would Whose bid would I don't know what's the correct terminology, but um, that that seems kind of inconsistent Rather or not we have a PLA Well, I'll just say that councilmember we would we would hope that we wouldn't have this instant We would hope that during the course of the negotiation with a particular contractor We would be able to sail right through caused us to delay completion of the project that impacted our summer programs Where we could not utilize a project labor agreement and have that start earlier because of the negotiation period again I mean, I don't know if that's going to be an issue. All I'm saying is That is a potential scenario where if we see something coming Or if we see that there's a particular time threshold that we have to accomplish something by Or if we believe that the particular Contractors that could be moving forward and bidding on that project couldn't deliver in a timely way To meet the needs of that particular funding source Then this would give the opportunity for us to Through the city manager make a recommendation that we might pull that particular project off of the list For utilization of a project labor agreement Jessica, did I do okay I I think that that's an excellent summary and a very specific example There's just two additional things that I will add So one is that as we look so what we're looking at balance here as we sort of develop this in addition to three The three key policy objectives that council has laid out is a lower threshold And broad coverage of projects, right? We want the threshold to be a little bit lower at three and we want to try and cover every city project As we can not do this on a project by project basis Which means that the exceptions you see in 4.3.1 End up being a little bit broader Just to be sure that we're not being imprecise and we have a little bit of wiggle room To ensure that this will work well with our capital improvement Program the other thing I will just share as a As an option or an opportunity here is I know that with respect to contracts or even sometimes sole source waivers Staff that has the discretion to do that at the staff level can sometimes come back to council On a quarterly or an annual basis and report out on how often the exemption has been used Just to make sure that council has a feel for is staff appropriately Calibrating their interpretation of the project or the this this particular exception section Making sure it's harmonious with the other sections that clearly state that we want broad application of plas Like these exceptions have to be read in that context that our default setting is to try to use the plas Um, lastly, I would say that I would hope Um that our staff if there is a time limitation To certain projects or funds needed needed to be used that we would get on it right away Um instead of waiting when we are in that time crunch Where we would not be able to use the plas as the council would wish so that would be my only Any additional questions from council? All right, let's go to public comment then I've got a list of folks who are in the chambers If you haven't had a chance to sign up with julie guzzi up at the top, please do so just so that we have it In order. We're going to start with john followed by michael alan Yes, sir I'll try to talk loud and close it all right Uh, can't get get right up against the microphone everybody All right, is this good? Can you hear me fine? Yep? Okay Um, yeah, thank you mayor council staff It's been a pleasure working with all of you on this process I've got a stack in notes here I and they just kind of changed every two minutes over the last I don't know hour here, but I just wanted to explain who I was first of all My name is john medina. I'm a business agent with sprinkler fitters local 483 And I'm also the president on north bay building construction trades council Uh with me tonight are several others That are within the building trades representing their members. Some of them are online. Some of them are here This is a long time standing that we've been working over Talking about this pla. This is something we've done With several cities jurisdictions school districts even santa rosa city schools We've done this with santa rosa junior college Maybe it's late and I've been doing a lot of meetings the last two nights But I seem to be a little confused on this process I you know, I was hoping that we were In a process of negotiating this pla, which um, I believe we're close But it sometimes it feels like it's just we're far away. Some of these matters seem to be pretty distinctive as far as this threshold You know We've we've asked for all the projects list for a while now We never did receive all of the projects from the last 10 years or the last or the upcoming we we did receive Uh these nine projects over the next three years that are over five million And obviously there's one of them that I believe that's an actual building Um, this is not enough for attention for people Like uh jocelyn who you'll hopefully hear from tonight. That's in the crowd That's trying to find a career in the building trades and started with the tip program Um, it's not enough for my guys that are at home. Uh, there's 900 jobs, I believe we'll hear some numbers that we've done our own reports just from pulling from um, the past 10 years To have nine jobs to come in the next three years is not a work retention It's almost seems like it a waste of everybody's time I hate to say that but I know we're working hard to come to a great agreement Something we can all agree on something that works for the city and this community Um, we need the retention. We need ways and pathways for young people to come into these careers We need to have people working here and not commuting to san francisco and further We need to have these retention and those jobs done right by skilled and trained workforce. We're there. We're very close I think the council's close. I think you know working with jason and jessica. We've been very close I want to continue this process I think we just need to iron out a few more things and we're going to get there and uh, I can't wait to show this opportunity to this council and the future councils And to this community of what this is going to do for this community with this pl a so thank you Thank you john. We'll go to michael allen followed by jocelyn michael allen president Emeritus of the north bay labor council and of course secretary treasure for the north bay trades Um, it's hard to cover what needs to be done, which where staff was given 15 20 minutes With two minutes being given here or three minutes. So I'm going to go through this very rapidly But basically we've been proposing the threshold of somewhere in the neighborhood Of 200 000 dollars going in which was what we ended up with the city of san aroza schools After some deliberation and talking with management and representatives We we did come to a place where maybe we could agree to something in the 500 000 range Maybe up to a million But we did not have the information we needed. So what we did is we did our research over What has been done for the last 10 years for san aroza? And what we discovered is is that more than half of the city's projects were under 500 000 dollars And uh below the threshold So essentially, um, there are very few projects over two million three million Over a 10-year period maybe six or nine if we were going to have a labor agreement for Community workforce agreement for five years. There might be one or two projects Which is not really enough to reach our goals for training For the apprenticeship program for pre-apprentice to basically raise up people from Into the middle class by getting high paying jobs and good paying jobs with a skilled workforce The last time I came to you I announced to you that we trained 92 of the successful reprentices in california Well, guess what now? We're at 94 percent 94 of all the people trained in the skilled trades come out of the a of l c i o And that takes work it from employers who understand that the higher your threshold The the more you're diminishing the opportunity for those who need that rope to the ladder to the middle class So when you start talking about three million dollar thresholds two million dollar thresholds You're really foreclosing opportunity for a large number of your community. And it's really not the way we're going to go or to agree with I would point out to you that we were ready to meet on multiple occasions and the city attorney's office There was family issues illness. And so we didn't have as many discussions I I tend to tell you that um The only exclusion to craft work that makes sense is where you have a manufactured warranties those kind of exclusions. We're willing to do We want Here's something i've learned doing labor relations for 45 years labor relations for 45 years We want to negotiate a relationship with you of trust and respect Where it works for our community. We share that bond between us The you at the dais city staff ourselves We want something that's going to be effective and works for everybody because those are the best agreements And I will close with this. I was made an honorary lowrider member tonight and i'm very grateful Thank you, michael. We'll go to jocelyn followed by frank. My name is jocelyn prez I am a san rosa resident. I currently hold a leadership leadership position as at an automotive shop as an automotive technician I am asking for increased access to apprenticeship programs to help people like me and those that will come after me Growing up in a low income household has caused me to think wisely about my career choice College was not a viable option for me I had to help raise my siblings while my parents were away at work working long hours to put food on the table I've also had to endure long shifts to help support us all So in 2020 I began exploring a career in the trades last year I graduated from north bay tip, which is a free apprenticeship program Which introduced me to the many trades in the building and construction industry It also gave me many vital certificates and skills that are beneficial when applying to such programs It's worth mentioning that most apprenticeships lead to a six figure income and are tuition free Here I got to know many others in my community who are pursuing a similar path After graduating I applied to the elevator constructions union in san francisco And I am currently number 43 on the wait list out of 750 people who applied This is a life changing opportunity And it would put me in a position to do things that no one in my family has had the freedom to do Such as buy a home or end the cycle of living paycheck to paycheck On top of the many benefits that come with these apprenticeship jobs I take any opportunity to engage in outreach to educate the youth women minorities and other disadvantaged people that such careers exist So skilled tradesmen and women are valuable members in our community But we need more apprenticeship job openings, particularly here in san aroza and neighboring counties to help people like me and many others I know firsthand the many doors that can be open with programs like these And that is why I am incredibly passionate about this topic Thank you for your time Thank you jocelyn we'll go to frank followed by jack buckhorn Good evening council. Thank you for your time My name is frank cuneo. I'm the director of the north bay trades introduction program I was born in san aroza and worked most of my career in the trades and later in apprenticeship Apprenticeship is an awesome way to train skilled workers It's just an awesome way And in a state registered apprenticeship a new apprentice starts with a contract Laying out how they will be trained over the course of their apprenticeship from day one until they become a journey person And because they don't pay tuition For people that come from challenging means it is a great way to to forge a path to a sustainable career The north bay tip seeks to introduce and prepare disadvantaged local people For the apprenticeship of their choice In our first three cohorts this year, we graduated over 30 women And we have and have high numbers in other disadvantaged groups The stage is pushing To increase job opportunities for apprentices You at this moment have a great opportunity to also do this in san rosa Jocelyn Perez who just spoke to you Is a san rosa north bay tip graduate Now ranked about at about 95 percent of the other applicants that she competed with For the elevator constructors apprenticeship This program is very competitive, but she scored high Your action on this policy Could make the difference to make jocelyn and apprentice soon I urge you to take this opportunity to help Generate as many apprentice jobs in san rosa as you can And this means considering some of the items that michael allen mentioned And also john In closing i want to thank jocelyn who is also a san rosa jc Student trying to get ahead and be even better prepared for her apprenticeship She took time to come here today between work and school She's not getting paid for it, and I wish her all the best. Thank you Thank you frank. Let's go to jack followed by matty Well, good evening, honorable mayor rogers Council members and staff. My name is jack buckhorn executive director of the north bay labor council and resident of san rosa Today you have the opportunity to shape and design a project labor agreement policy That will leverage san rosa's capital improvement dollars to help meet the city's goals of enhancing our highly skilled workforce Please consider amending the staff recommendation of a three million dollar threshold and vote to support a much lower threshold By supporting a low poa project threshold Local disadvantaged communities will have more opportunities To start middle-class careers in successful union joint apprenticeship programs Union apprenticeship programs create pathways to the american dream And they do it with a proven track record of diversity equity and broader inclusion in the workforce According to the california labor workforce agency a cabinet level agency to coordinate workforce programs Adopting a poa policy is a best practice They recently published a report called advancing apprenticeship in california a five-point action plan The action plan seeks to grow and expand access to traditional Construction apprenticeships for women and disadvantaged communities One of the action steps is to quote leverage and educate stakeholders on project labor agreements A mechanism that supports workforce diversity and publicly funded projects added You might have read a misguided editorial on poas in today's pd The editor opines that poas create an unlevel playing field for contractors With the basic premise that poas discriminate You have heard these arguments before from anti poa forces. That's such as the abc or the cfc We unfortunately see this type of misinformation in many forms In today's public discourse on important topics We have all learned that spreading misinformation in public is not against the law But if you do so on a court of law, there are real real consequences Here is what the abc told the california supreme court with regard to this Discrimination argument in the landmark san francisco airport case that decided the legality of public sector poas The abc expressly acknowledges that psas By its terms exclude no contractor union or non-union from bidding on the airport project further the psc Exacts from contractors no commitment towards the union on other projects has no effect on contractors parent companies Subsidies or affiliates and does not apply to a contractor's managerial supervised role Uh educational or clerical staff In conclusion, I would ask that you support a robust poa policy to move society forward with equality Equity and taxpayer accountability. Thank you. Thank you jack. We'll go to matty followed by chris Good evening council members and mayor I I wrote the same one thing that tends to get overlooked is the discussion Of the way plas helped minorities and women, but we heard a lot about that tonight So I'm glad to see that Two-thirds of apprentices are people of color joint apprenticeships train 94 percent of female construction workers The joint pla provides opportunities for minorities women and also veterans 68 of the overall membership of the building trades affiliated locals are minorities in sonoma county that number's even closer to 70 Our north bay tip program the trades introduction program Has placed a heavy focus on recruiting women and minorities specifically minority females Into the apprenticeship program and prioritizes grant funding that they may need along the way specifically those that are single mothers And are focusing on transitioning to another career. You heard from jocelyn tonight. She's a good example Partnerships between the joint apprenticeship programs and the community college districts including sr. JC I mean that apprentices are dual enrolled and their apprenticeship classes count towards college credits Many graduate the apprenticeship programs not only debt free But with pension and health care for themselves and their families So I guess I'm I'm advocating that you lower that threshold That three million dollar threshold is going to cut out a lot of those people a lot of those underserved areas Women veterans people of color from getting apprentices apprenticeships So please consider doing that. Um, and this is just the right thing to do. Thank you Thank you maddie. We'll go to chris followed by john mackin taggart Hello, good evening mayor Vice mayor council and staff I am here tonight as a parent of two children in santa rosa and would like to talk about the opportunities That are in this PLA for apprentices I personally know about the apprenticeship opportunities For our local youth that don't choose to go to college And that checks a box for me as a dad because not not everyone has that ability Additionally Working locally is another concern. I want my kids to live close To raise their families close So I could be the best grandpa. I could be to their families I don't want them to have to leave california To find a job or just to have a living wage or just to be able to afford to live Also, we know that having health care for your whole family is also a part of the apprenticeship programs And that is a huge bonus for me far too often health care hardships come from employers Who don't provide for their workers and their families? The joint apprenticeship programs take care of that Now the bad news You need to lower the threshold Too high of a threshold Is too few jobs period The project needs to be Five years not three and it needs to start as soon as possible Thank you council congratulations jocelyn Great news and go fillies Thank you Thanks chris. We'll go to john followed by jared And it's taken everything in me not to respond Good afternoon. Good evening council Um, thanks for the time. Thanks for the opportunity to come speak before you How my name is john mackin tigers. I am very fortunate. Um, that I am Looking enough to serve the men and women of ibe w local 551 as their business manager Um, that makes me very special, right? I'm an inside wireman electrician a journeyman wireman and um, so So what does that mean? Well, it means that I have an opportunity to Feed my family to buy a home here locally to have health care to have a pension How did I get that? How did I get so lucky? Well a long time ago when I was working two jobs I had an opportunity to get into an apprenticeship program in january of 1996 That opportunity fell in my lap because it did a little work to get to where I got uh, take a test interviewed And then I got a job Working for a local contractor and I still didn't realize what I had when I had it Now I do of course, you know a couple years into my apprenticeship We realized that my middle son had a terminal illness And it uh, knocked our family flat We realized too then that health care was going to be critical to us. Uh, moving forward We've been very lucky To have health care throughout my career I mean again, what makes me special that I have health care that I have a pension plan That I have a wage that allows me to live here in sonoma county Comfortably instead of working two or three jobs or not having health care and still working two or three jobs And I'll answer that question for you. Nothing. There's nothing special about me. I got lucky All we want is for everyone to have what we have That's all we want. We don't want to exclude anybody All you have to do is apply Taking pass the test and if there's opportunity you've heard it already if there's opportunity We will put you to work and then there's nothing stopping you to getting to 62 Our motto is You get you to 60 or 22 will get you to 62 We have a plan in place a structured plan in place that takes you from zero to 62 It's an apprenticeship program What comes with the apprenticeship program is opportunity The superintendent of schools for sonoma county said recently at a web meeting a workforce investment board meeting He said that 70 of the kids graduating this year and next year that was last year by the way So it was last year seniors and this year seniors 70 of them do not see a future for themselves here in sonoma county There is no opportunity they see so what is already in play is not working Something drastic needs to happen something drastic needs to change You can't keep going saying status quo is working. It's not When the superintendent of schools says that 70 percent of the kids are moving Or do not see a future for themselves here. It's on us all of us. You especially as elected officials to act You have to step up and do something that nobody has ever done before. This is your moment. This is your time. Thank you Thank you john. Let's go to jared Hello Hey, uh, thank you for the opportunity to come and speak tonight. My name is jared mum I'm an inside journeyman wireman with ibw local 551. I'm a santa rosa resident wins a high graduate apprenticeship graduate What john just said there, you know a vast majority of Young people not seeing a future here in sonoma county. That is a very large part of my experience a Lot of people that i graduated with do not live here anymore. They live any place else. They live in sacramento They live in oregon. They fled, you know because it takes a lot to make it I am another person that got insanely lucky in that I Was able to earn a position in an apprenticeship program Because of the apprenticeship program. I was able to earn a fair wage. I had health care I graduated that program when I was like 25 26 years old I graduated that program with more in my retirement than most grown adults You know people in their 50s have in america today and honestly that just knowing that frightens me for the country Um I was able to stay i'm able to support my wife. I'm able to support my daughter right and when I look around at My co-workers. I feel proud because I know that they have that same thing I haven't heard it yet tonight. I'm sure that at some point in the future I'll be hearing it. I keep hearing people talk about plas and how they're uh A solution looking for a problem, right? I talked to a lot of electricians. I talked to a lot of people on job sites I'm talking to kids on job sites who aren't trainees aren't apprentices aren't journeymen They're not being supervised No health care. I'm telling him. Hey, dude. You forgot to turn the screw righty tidy your stuff's falling apart fix that But before somebody catches it And i'm a taxpayer and I help fund that project. I don't feel good about that This is good for our community. I think you can see that when you look around and you see You know the percentage of people in the room that actually showed up here tonight supported Most of us didn't have to drive too far to get here and that's the whole point It's it's all about all about local work local workers, right? I spent a lot of my career driving past big projects Wondering why is that sacramento doing that project? Why not me? Why not my classmates? And I got to tell you people have asked me. Hey, like how long do you spend on a project as an electrician? Yeah, sure some of them are big some of them are multimillion three five ten million dollar projects A lot of them you're there for two hours A lot of them you're there for a couple days. You're in you're out you make the magic happen and you go home And that's it. So again, my name is jared. I support this bill. I hope you do too. Thank you Thank you jared Is there anybody else in the chambers who'd like to speak? All right, let's go to zoom. We'll start with ken followed by joe Can you hear me now? Yes, we can Great. Thank you for this opportunity to speak with you. My name is ken meller business agent organizer for iron workers local 378 I've got some tough things for you to hear There's a lot of disinformation in the charts that you presented tonight You know for one you're talking about a timeline. Do you want to start in 2024? But the list of jobs you presented was 23 to 26 so out of we started in 24 How many of those jobs would actually be available for local workers? In your presentation, you talk about a more skilled and trained local workforce You talk about more diverse equitable workforce. You talk about lower greenhouse gas emissions by having local workers work Work locally None of that is going to happen when you take away jobs from the potential list You know, if you lower that threshold to three dollars, you'd have a much more equitable job pool to try this out with by putting a three million dollars If you look at the historical relevance of the projects that you've had over the last 10 years that excludes 90 to 95 Of the projects So how are you going to get a good look at a PLA and how it works when you exclude all these projects? uh, you talked about Hold on. Let me look at my notes here. You talked about negative impacts of a PLA Let's look at the negative impacts without a PLA The sole purpose of a PLA is worker protection One of the biggest problems in the construction industry has waged that When you have a PLA, you know, people say oh, it's not equitable because less contractors will bid it Well, that's because those contractors steal from the workers Let's stop that Put a PLA in place and protect those workers. That's all we're asking Give them a chance let local workers work locally Sorry, I get worked up about this because I hear all the lies all the time and it's so disconcerting and so disparaging it's It's too much misinformation out there. If you'd give it a chance it would work wonders You'd have great projects built by great people from the local community We're talking about Leaving wage jobs with benefits and not benefits for the worker but benefits for the whole family How many people get that this day and age not many? But if you're a get into a union you can do it And a lot of people say it's too hard to get into a union But let me tell you My union apprenticeship is opening year-round Monday through Friday Anybody can come down and sign up and get started I will personally walk through them through the process find a contractor for them to go to work for and help them get started The only requirement we have is you have to be 18 years old state law. I can't get around that Come down to sign up. We'll help you get started. Get that job that you always wanted pay for your family Have benefits for your family. That's all we're asking Thank you for your time. Have a great night. Thank you. Kenny. We'll go to joe followed by nicole Hello, can you hear me now? Yes, we can All right. Yeah. Hello. My name is joe lubis. I am a policy analyst with associated builders and contractors northern california chapter I am just here today. I mean, I've heard a lot of you know abstract things about PLAs do this do that, but I'm just here to present some facts about how plas have costed the community Uh, we look here in the north bay. There's the marin community college district They had their new me walk center the indian valley campus. Um, it was originally contracted for 23.3 million Um, there were several change orders that which raised the cost of 36.2 million And also increased the completion date from august 27 2021 to december 15 2021 Uh Here, um locally in sonoma county Uh, there was uh the the lindley center for stem education project at the santa rosa junior college There were some architectural issues of structural design for failed tie downs and An anchor failure which caused an increase in architectural costs but Also, we we were told that this helps local workers. Well, I find that interesting because there's the Across the bay at the contra costa community college district The physical education and kinesiology complex renovation and addition Uh was contracted to tomsen builders located in nevato, which is not An east bay local contractor. So contra costa community college lost their local work Uh, furthermore, there were various change orders that increased the price that increased the price to 31.2 million when it was estimated at 22.5 That means it cost 8.7 more Million more than the estimate. Uh, also 38 percent in short PLAs cost the community They cost local workers Just I urge you to reject it. Thank you Thank you, joe. We'll go to nicole followed by rob Good evening, mayor and members of the santa rosa city council nicole garing with citizen builders and contractors I've been advocating for fair and open competition for workers for 16 years Uh, I want to thank you for taking a look fairly at this project labor agreement But it it is a little bit disturbing about how this agreement applies to the craft workforce Well, the craft workforce in santa rosa is over 80 non-union so in determining this verbiage I hope that you have reached out to the local contractors and their workers and ask them what they thought about being excluded from being able To work in their community. I know they they've built many quality projects over many years They as well do not want to commute over the bridge in order to go to work. They want to work at home They want to feed their families as well and you know a public works project or the local government such as yours should give everybody Opportunity all of the taxpayers should have the opportunity to work on these projects. I would suggest that you Increase that threshold most general contractors based there can do 7 to 10 million dollar jobs So you should increase that or or exempt them exempt them in the pl a so they can continue to work and build their community Another option for your policy is to have a three bidders per trade if you don't get three bidders per trade You should bid without Did that trade without the pl a you need to make sure that your local community Is working on your projects and i'm not sure where you got the 30 number If you did a local survey of your local community to see who's actually working on your projects I would assume that would be much higher. You should have a local higher of 80 You should also look to see how many people are in the union hiring halls Is there are there enough workers there in order to complete your jobs? Finally the apprentices many of our state and federally approved apprentices Came to our program because they weren't able to get into the union pipelines And so I think what we need to do is be talking about how we can increase more pipelines and add more apprenticeship programs So more people can have opportunities. We should not limit this to just one program only which are the joint unions There are other people as well who are trying to make the living in a career for themselves in a pathway So I would urge you to increase the threshold change the policy to add three bidders per trade or bid without the pl a And also allow all of the company's workers to use their workforce. Thank you for your time Thank you. Nicole. We'll go to rob followed by william Uh, good evening. Can you hear me? Yes, we can Yes. Well, um, my name is rob barcy and I am the training director and administrator of the local 551 electrical union apprenticeship program Which is located right here in santa rosa I'm also graduate of the program Our program has been training and graduating electrical apprentices for over 70 years I'm here tonight to speak for our current and future apprentices Our program currently has a diverse and inclusive population of 88 students We are proud to be able to say that our student population is about 50 percent minority and 50 non minority And I would like to point out that a good number of our students have graduated from the santa rosa school district Additionally, all of our apprentices are registered s rjc students and earn college credits towards a college degree Now that number of 88 local apprentices directly translates 88 local apprenticeship families We would like to be able to offer apprenticeship opportunities to twice that number of local residents and their families And local project labor agreements can help us to move towards that goal Apprentices and graduates of our program earn a living wage and are able to live in the area Purchase homes here start families here and send their kids to schools here and someday to retire here comfortably More local projects covered under a project labor agreement with local hire and local apprenticeship language Increase the local job opportunities and in turn increase the number of local apprenticeship opportunities We may be able to offer to apprenticeship applicants in our community We constantly strive to be able to offer the most apprenticeship opportunities to our local residents as possible PLAs will help us with that Local project labor agreements ensure a level playing field for all contractors in the bidding process Ensuring that all of those working on the project earn a living wage and benefits and help provide work for local residents I thank you for the time to speak tonight Good night Thank you rob. We'll go to william followed by wade Go ahead william Hi, my name is william of local uh, sprinkler fitters 43 um I'm just here to talk about the PLA uh I was hearing a lot of things going on with the PLA and i've been part of this project with the PLAs for a few years now and hearing How they're going to put it into effect? and what i'm catching out of this is that Uh thresholds so high that we can't really get into PLAs when we're realizing and the oh what I was hearing Is that most of these projects? for The PLAs to kick in are really high And if we could create a threshold where we can have it loaned where we can actually have an opportunity to apply the PLA um like they were talking about earlier so we can have a chance to use apprenticeships And have more local hire. I think that'd be great. And that's something we should really consider um because I myself um Worked here in santa rosa, but for a non-signatory company And I I I had to leave because it wasn't a living wage wasn't a way of life for me. Um just constantly not having benefits or or Traveling so far that it was causing me more in my own pocket to travel and live than it was living wage and so um Yeah, I just would hope that the council would consider this PLA because it it's a really good way of uh protecting the And helping people with families who know or just individuals in the community um I'm a local born and raised here in santa rosa I graduated from Montgomery a little bit about my background. I come from an immigrant family and here and now i'm a father of four great provider because of what the PLA's have brought and um Like I said, just please consider wording it so that way we can have a better chance of using these apprenticeships um and Making santa rosa in sonoma county just an all-around better place um I've worked when there is no PLA's and I can first hand tell you that the only person winning is everyone but the worker or labor with no PLA the worker will I mean, they'll never really benefit from the job they're just work and more than likely get hurt because uh, I I up until now I You know, I I do a lot of um pre caution and pre tasking and all things that prevent Incidents and we take safety very seriously So because the main priorities to have a safe workplace be efficient And give you know our customer what they want best quality service and great Anyways, I just hope you guys would Consider this PLA because it's it's a great thing and it's helping a lot of people. Thank you Thank you, william. Let's go to wade followed by max Did we lose wade? All right, let's go to max and see if wade pops back up Hi, good evening city council. Can you hear me? Yes, we can Great. Hi. My name is max bellelper. I'm the executive director of north bay jobs with justice We're a uh coalition of over 30 community and labor organizations in sonoma county and you know just want to uh For for us. It's really important Uh to to we believe that PLA's can be really helpful for our community Especially when they can cover as many of the projects as possible And you know and for for us as an organization we we do a lot of work with farm workers Who are working on the front lines of wildfires? And so that means that we have a lot of connections with immigrant and indigenous migrant workers and you know, we really see A need in our community to create more good local jobs that can benefit by pock workers And especially workers who have been excluded from good jobs in the past and so You know, we've seen other other people in our community like the Santa Rosa Schools have have done, you know, really good things in terms of making sure that as projects get built there They get built with PLA's and so we just want to make sure that it's heard loud and clear how important it is In the community and especially for creating opportunities for workers who have been excluded in the past And so we hope that you make this This PLA as expansive as possible and cover as many of the projects as possible. Thank you and have a good night Thank you so much max. Let's try Wade again. I saw his name pop back up Okay, are you there? There we go. Okay I figured it out. Sorry That was that was a little complicated So i'm Wade local 483 And you know, I've worked for a non-union company for 11 years doing prevailing wage work primarily and You know all over the Bay Area but hardly ever in Santa Rosa and So long story short is I ended up going union out of all the PLA and PSA agreements that we had and Now my son Has joined the union in the apprenticeship program And I have a 17 year old son as well. That's going to be joining the union when he turns 18 next year and So you can probably imagine How heartfelt I am with having this pass through And with a lower threshold I would I would really Would really like it to be a lower dollar amount Because you know, we want we want to work close to home And you know and even with the non-union companies that are going to come into play with this Is they have the opportunity to even be able to you know use union labor to maintain their households of timelines and stuff like that but The fact the matter is is now that now that I'm union Of course, I'm going to be I'm going to be pro-union All the way and with my kids going union And my son being in the apprenticeship program and having him be in the apprenticeship program close to home would be fantastic instead of driving to Mound view at the google building Thank you Thank you, Wade. We'll go to natalie followed by mico Thank you, mayor rogers and council members My name is natalie higley. I was born and raised in san aroza and i'm a proud member of ibw local 551 Much of what I would like to address has been brought up by others this evening And I appreciate the time that you're all spending tonight listening to us. So i'll try to be brief As others have mentioned a three million dollar threshold is far too high to benefit our community The presentation here today shows that amount to be the smallest slice of the pie As a working mother to me a higher threshold means less opportunity for my family I would not be able to provide for my family without the benefits of my union job I am privileged because of my union job to know that when my daughter is sick at two in the morning I have insurance that allows me to get care for her immediately I do not have to question if I can afford to have her seen I have a retirement plan that allows me to retire with dignity and without being a burden to my child when i'm too old to care for myself When I look at our community and I see the many families that are struggling to survive here living paycheck to paycheck Barely covering their rent and knowing that they'll likely never be able to afford a home here I struggle to understand why we cannot offer them more opportunities This PLA is an opportunity It's an opportunity to use public money to help uplift our community It's an opportunity to provide infrastructure improvements while paying a thriving wage with healthcare for our neighbors It can be an opportunity for our local students to enter an apprenticeship program and start a lifelong career That allows them to provide for their future families without taking on any debt It allows women the opportunity to have financial freedom and stability on their own I would encourage you to consider these families These women and these young people as you move forward And I would encourage you to do this by amending exhibit a To lower the threshold in a way that affords the most opportunity possible to our community Not the least Thank you Thank you natalie. Let's go to mico followed by jt Hello Hello Hey, how's it going? So I'm uh, Jose mico kudos I'm actually here to chime in on another topic, but I want to chime in on this one So, um, I'm from local 324 um I'm a santa rosa resident born and raised I grew up in the uh, roseland in south park area. I was gang impacted um In and out of juvenile hall in and out of prison um At at a point when I I got released in 2009 And I decided to get my life together I was spinning my wheels for all these non-union jobs just Working and working and getting nowhere fast At the point that I really needed it the unions were there and they caught me um, I bought a house in uh, 2020 in december 2020. Um I got medical benefits for me and all my kids. I got a pension and um, you know I feel strongly about the unions and I think that um You know that the Threshold is way too high. I think we need to lower that, you know I got to wake up at four in the morning I got to go to work in redwood city tomorrow and you know, I'm not happy about that But you know, I do what I got to do on my foreman today. I ran work for my company And um, yeah, I feel very strongly about the unions. I think we need to take another look at that And uh, yeah, thank you Thank you. Let's go to jt followed by jonathan Good evening council and thank you for the opportunity to speak on this topic My name is joe tremain, and I'm a business representative for the ivw local five five one electrical workers in santa rosa First of all, I'd like to clarify a few myths that are being sold by opponents to project labor agreements Myth number one PLA projects cost more This is false Look, it's a real simple formula um projects Costs have two major components One being materials and the other being labor Now on the materials it's the same for all the bidders. They're going to go to abc wholesale house to get their parts When it comes to labor the second component under a prevailing wage platform Labor costs are the same whether it's a union contractor or a non-union contractor so That brings me to myth number two PLA's limit contractor participation. Again, this is false. In fact last week Um on 10 18, which is october 18th There was a pl a supported santa rosa city schools project that had a mandatory job log in all 17 different contractors attended and were plan holders for this pl a project That doesn't sound like limited participation to me. That sounds like very reasonable. If not fantastic participation number three myth number three A pl a with a high dollar threshold is as good as a low dollar threshold pl a and that is completely false In fact, the lower the threshold for the pl a the more local skilled and trained workforce can be placed on that particular job On that subject a three million dollar pl a does far less for our local workforce than perhaps 500,000 dollar pl a Significantly less local participation on the higher threshold pl a's is a formula that has always been Please consider these facts when making decisions regarding santa rosa's pl a's. Thank you Thank you. Let's go to jonathan Jonathan, are you able to unmute? Jonathan, I think you are unmuted. Can you hear us? He is unmuted All right. Do we have any pre-recorded voicemail public comments? There are no pre-recorded voicemails for this item. Okay. I'm going to go ahead bring it back to councilmen I saw one hand pop up here at the last second. We'll go to ever before we bring it back Hi, can you hear me? Yes, we can Oh, hi senator sasidi council members As you may know, my name is eric flores And I'm one of the senator sasidi council board members who voted in favor of adopting a project labor agreement In our school district just about a year ago I wanted to say that the level of partnership and cooperation between the building trades in our school district has improved 10 Fold and we look forward to an ongoing relationship with our school districts To ensure students who are interested in the building trades have a pipeline to pursue As an educator myself or over 20 years in sonoma county I am strongly supportive of plas as a means to support student families As you may already know plas create and sustain livable wage jobs here Locally in sonoma county that allow our union member parents to spend more time out of home supporting our students Instead of spending hours and hours commuting to other municipalities like san francisco Or redwood city like we heard heard earlier today for and looking for a compatible wage Now, however having a three million dollar threshold will limit the amount of projects and the ability to train a sustainable workforce I would highly recommend that you rethink and lower the threshold to make sure that You have a dependable and consistent workforce an apprenticeship program that will benefit our local sonoma county residents Thank you for listening. I did raise my hand earlier and for somehow it got lowered And uh, good night Well, thank you ever and thank you so much for your service on the school board as well With that we'll go ahead and bring it back to the council Let's first and foremost see Mr. Assistant city manager if there are any questions or comments that you want to uh respond to from public comment Thank you mayor, but I think uh, I think i'm good at the moment and i'll wait for council comments Okay, are there any additional questions from council members? Mr. Vice mayor Thank you, mayor I'm wondering I know that the schools have a threshold of about 200,000 and i'm wondering why the difference Uh of of three million that we're presenting So based on the information that we've done the research that we've conducted to look at one the project types that we have to the type of Union labor that exists out there having spoken with A number of various contractors and subcontractors in the community We felt that the three million dollar threshold is consistent with what a what a majority of other project labor agreements are on the state look like And it seems to fit As cleanly as we could between the two bell ends right you've got some that are up at the 10 million You've got some that are at the 200,000. We tried to find a happy medium in between That was where the three million dollars were We do know that a majority of our projects are horizontal and a number of the Individuals that you heard from tonight work predominantly on vertical projects Those projects tend to be in the higher range to begin with we don't generally have Lower dollar amount vertical projects. They do happen from time to time But but the predominant vertical projects are are larger whether it's a fire station a community center Renovations to the shelter those projects tend to be at a higher dollar amount when we look at our traditional predominant projects mostly horizontal They tend to be local contractors that are bidding on those And we felt that keeping a threshold in that three million dollar range was reasonable at that point In the past five years, how many projects Has the city centers are produced that would actually be At the three million dollar level Um, I just see the I just see the future ones Miss miss williams. Is there a way that you could pull the Presentation back up and show slide number 12. Yes, we'll get that up. Thank you vice mayor I I'll show you what our last five years have looked like Was it the five years? I thought I must read that I read it as being the future projects So there were two uh two there, uh, this particular slide shows 2015 to 2020 And you can see the project numbers on the left These are the number of projects that exist when within each of those dollar amounts. So the Number of projects above one million dollars was 50 projects Projects below one million dollars for 113 On the project value perspective, and that's why we looked at these in two different ways There's the total number of projects released and then there's the value invested Which is which is different, right? And so if you look at the value invested For projects above the one million dollar or above the three million dollar range, it's a significant increase In or it's a significant percentage of the total If we advance to the next slide and you look at our projection based on the project types as we look into the future Using the same project types that we had for the last five years We look into the future While the number of projects under the one million dollar is larger than the others It's the investment amount To me that was the biggest kicker, right? If I look at 75 percent of the dollar value that the city would be investing That seems significant for me while still providing a balance of Signatory or union and non-union contractors being able to apply And provide A project for their workforce Our data shows that Without a project labor agreement. We're currently at about 70 local workforce And so we feel fairly confident that are that whether it's union or non-union We're in a good place with a local workforce We've got a very healthy union community. We also have a very healthy non-union community And so the thought here was to be able to pick a threshold That invested the greatest amount while still allowing a significant amount of Number of projects to go toward the non-union contractors. I hope that answers your question I apologize if I was a little long winded. No, no, no, it does in fact It was presented to us. So i'm sorry that I did I must have fell asleep for a little bit I I presented these back in july. I I these are just supplemental I do recall. I do recall. Thank you Additional questions All right councilmember mcdonald. Can you please put a motion on the table for consideration? Thank you, mayor I have a couple of amendments to the ordinance that i'm going to be um Doing along with the movement of the resolution. So I move the adoption of the resolution of the council of the city of santa rosa adopt a council policy for project labor agreements and delegate authority to the city manager or designee to negotiate and execute A project labor agreement and to adopt additional policies and procedures To implement the project labor agreement program with the following amendments to the ordinance page one Subject nine strike 2024 and insert 2023 and make conforming changes throughout On page two item four point one point two under project threshold strike three million And insert five hundred thousand On page four Item four point three point one Under a after the word requirements at a period And strike the rest of the wording in its entirety Through b c and the definition of your example Under four point three point two Unless there's a specific reason that language has to be included. I find it to be Um interpretive So I'd prefer to insert. There's is a state of emergency wildfire Or natural disaster Or something that has to be clarified if we have to keep the other wording on that specific 4.3.2 and I would need feedback from legal on that Under page four under four point four terms 4.4 point one effective date to insert 2023 and strike 2024 And under four point four point two Strike that language And insert this policy will be reevaluated after january 2028 And on page five Strike in its entirety four point four point three And i'm not certain if we need to add in the ordinance That our rfp process will add a threshold amount so that all bids received Realize they're part of a pla if the five hundred thousand dollar Threshold needs to be added in this or if that needs to be a separate motion tonight We have a motion. Is there a second? All second okay Let's go into discussion Who wants to start councilmember rogers? Diana you may have gotten a second if I had it in writing and knew Everything that she said right now, but I was trying to jot it down and keep up and I just could not um I do I do want to talk about the implementation date because we are so close to 2023 um a note that I had to self was uh that it was start in january 2023 We would continue meeting with key internal and external stakeholders to refine the pla program and return to council as necessary to to update um, but that we would not start any actual work until the The budget period which would be july of 2023 so not opposed to it starting in 2023 Just want to be a little bit more specific that the work would not start until july of 2023 and in In that way it would also allow For the bidding on projects that might go before or in that six months Um, and so that is what I want to do is to not exclude the pla Within the next eight months or so That we will continue that process and they would have the opportunity to bid But that the work would not start until july Let me see also on 4.2 0.1 I don't remember all of your changes So i'm not sure if you did this but I would like to strike the director of transportation In public works and insert the the city manager Um, and only the city manager I don't think that we need to have a second person if we were just going to have The director of transportation and public work So I don't see where there would be a need to have The city manager and An attorney if we were just going to have someone under the city manager that makes no sense to me, but So that would be another one And I totally agree with the starting point for the The threshold I think those were my Changes, thank you as a point of clarification on 4.2.1 b what you're offering and I think I heard a friendly amendment Were you saying the city manager may waive or otherwise modified this requirement where I a particular construction craft does not have sufficient local presence and then there was some discussion about eliminating this second provision which is Has determined that the contractor has demonstrated to the city's satisfaction That it has made best efforts to comply with the city's local workforce requirement I don't mind having be at all. I just think that it should be changed from the director of transportation and public works in both to The city manager because the city the city manager is Reports directly to us And so the director of public the director of transportation and public works reports to the city manager And so if the city manager does something, I know how to hold them accountable Right away because they're they report to us right the council Um But the director of transportation and public works We really don't have a That I mean we can't do anything with that Just so i'm clear you're asking to strike the director of transportation and public works and insert the word city manager Yes I'll accept the friendly amendment And i'm going to suggest after more discussion that we look at The second component of that which to me seems to potentially undermine Other portions of the policy if somebody making a a best attempt at the local Local hire allows them to not have to comply with the rest of the policy Are you saying under II? Correct strike director of transportation and public works and insert city manager there as well So conforming changes throughout that bullet. I'm saying strike the entire thing for I strike it in the entirety I'd be okay with that amendment as well. That makes sense I'm fine with that Are there any other Comments councilmember rogers Not right now. Thank you Okay, excuse me mayor. Can I ask a quick clarifying question councilmember rogers when you talked about threshold? Were you concurring with the threshold recommendation? In the motion made by councilmember mcdonald Yes, assistant city manager. Thank you. Okay Any additional comments? Mr. Vice mayor councilmember rogers For clarification when you stated the six months Are you foreseeing that that? No project will be accepted within that time period Or how did you come up with the six months? Quite the contrary. So, um, I'm going based on our budget cycle one And the second thing is I wanted to continue the meetings with the key internal and external stakeholders because I believe that to be very important That is why I think it should start in January But that that is so bids can be put in and the conversation continues, right? We're trying to strengthen the relationship so that it's an easier process for us to do what is best for our community Um, and so that is where I came up What that what would it be possible to say that 30 days after the contractual agreement for it to start or would that not benefit The agreement in any way, I think that it is pretty soon I think that we're at the end of the year and I'm just trying to give everyone time so that we can do this and do it, right? um And we can ask but I don't think I think it's a good compromise with With both the the city being able to implement and get it going and also us building the relationships and I would hope that the the building trades and Um, this our staff would be okay with that I don't it's probably not a good terminology, but like buffer period. I do understand. I do understand. Yeah, thank you for the clarification Mr. Assistant City Manager, if I could ask for a little bit more Clarity on 4.3.2 That the motion suggests striking it says there's an emergency. This is an exemption There's an emergency other urgent need to protect health safety and welfare or other exigent circumstances Can you give me a little bit more context around The ramifications of striking that language? Yes, uh, thank you very much, uh, mayor if we have a water main break And it's not as insignificant water main We want that job done now. I don't want to wait while I negotiate a project labor agreement if that particular project results in something far more significant or if there's a sinkhole that erupts or or Our results from a water main break. There are other circumstances out there beyond disaster That could result in difficulty for us if you strike all of that language Okay, is there an ability to have this provision Uh, so right now if an emergency happens Do you have a list of contractors that you call that you've worked with that have been pre-approved to do some of this work? Yes, we do have a pre-approved contract list for emergency services, uh, we also have The opportunity to utilize some on call contracts, uh, and we did both of those during the tubs fire Um, shortly thereafter, we did go to a standard, uh, process of soliciting for contractors once we had the situation stabilized Okay, is there a way to make 4.3.2 compatible with the rest of the policy while also not tying hands To be able to still do the work. Is there a way to get some folks who would qualify under the definitions to be on A list of first people we would call essentially I I guess i'm confused as to why there's consternation over the language when it talks about protecting the public health and emergency activity I mean is that not I guess from our standpoint on the staff perspective That seemed like the perfect reason for us to be able to utilize all the tools in our resource and not have our hands tied If the there is interest if the council directs us to do so We'll have to create some level of negotiation But we may have a difficulty and delay if the circumstance is that large I'm comfortable with the language is proposed so long as we don't see it being abused And I think that that's the biggest concern from folks because it is as The assistant city attorney mentioned written intentionally to be a little bit broad. I'm fine with that So long as we don't see it become an issue And I appreciate that in one additional point. I wanted to raise also sometimes these smaller emergency jobs are going to be below the threshold Anyway, so hopefully the conflicts won't frequently arise And and mayor I I'd like to believe that that staff understands council's direction here And that it's our intent to deliver That what council asks us to do and and and I hope that the work that we've done to date during our emergency and exit Circumstances has demonstrated our our willingness to to follow our rules and policy. I appreciate that We certainly had enough of them to where we can pronounce the word now so Are you comfortable with keeping that language in there then for four with that clarification from staff and certainly with the intent It's because it is ambiguous language. I feel uncomfortable with it. Maybe because I don't know what ex exigent So Unless you feel that there's need to have more of a definition or examples such as like broken water pipe or Something that's causing imminent danger to community members. If unless we need that definition under there But I think if your intent is to just make sure that those are the Circumstances to which you'd enact that emergency and that that wouldn't be abused in any way Certainly then I could be more comfortable with it not feel the need to strike that language or insert the other Although sometimes I think definitions make clarity With our intent from not only council for the direction that we want to go But if if if mayor Rogers if you're comfortable with that I'll remove that Recommendation to strike that language and insert my own I just had a quick question since we're discussing. I know it's late My question is you you mentioned that we had a list having a pl a does that exclude Our local union workforce from being on that list because we have a pl a couldn't we add some of our Um our companies that we know that they go buy pl a's You know that they would abide by what is in the pl a without going through the whole process In a case of an emergency. Am I making sense what I'm asking? Could we expand the list that we have to include? Yes, assistance a city attorney is nodding. Yes and and saying yes, we can certainly do that. I I will state that A majority of our large format contractors are signatory within the county And those are the ones that are most predominantly utilized during emergency circumstances So they already have a a signatory and union workforce Thank you Jason just to clarify too when you say that they already their union Their union contractors already a lot of the ones that are doing that pipeline work like they are are predominantly represented and have union workers already there doing the work is what you're saying So as the second as the second are you comfortable with the amendments that have been proposed? Okay Do we want to Madam city attorney, do we want to take a five minute break? Red line the version and then put it up on the screen and walk through it to make sure that everybody's crystal clear on Where this sits at the moment? I think that would be very helpful. Okay, mayor. All right. We'll take a five minute break then Don't go too far council That's where Please call the roll Thank you councilmember schwethelm here councilmember soyer here councilmember rogers Councilmember mcdonald here councilmember fleming here vice mayor alvarez Mayor rogers here let the record show that all councilmembers are present Excellent. So where we left off was with a motion and a second on the table With a red lined version of the proposed ordinance Can we pull that up and walk through the proposed changes so that everybody's clear on where it sits before we move forward? Is this not the red line? Is there a way to make that a little bit bigger? Is there a way to show the red lining as well? I see that changes have been made, but it's hard to tell where I hear mr. Assistant city manager shouting some instructions He's a word smith Anybody get the joke? She's trying to show the changes first Yeah Okay, madam city attorney. Do you want to walk us through the changes? Start from the top Certainly, mr. Mayor If we start at the top We have changed the effective date To the effective date is changed to January 1 2023 And we will ask for a little bit of clarification on that, but we'll go through all these changes first Then the next change is in The project threshold Let me make sure I'm I'm kind of skipping through pages Is that right? Okay This is on page two on page two the 4.1.2 project threshold Moves from three million dollars to five hundred thousand dollars is the threshold I'll note that this still does remain as the engineer's estimate is the baseline our next page Uh in 4.2 0.1 b A director of transportation and public works is changed to city manager And uh the sub section II is deleted So the that's that section b will read the city manager may waive or otherwise modify this requirement Where a particular construction craft does not have sufficient local presence period the Moving to the next page 4.3.1 Um Is changed so that sections bc and the example are all deleted And because those other sections sub sections are deleted. It's turned into a single sentence Um So that it will be use of a project labor agreement on a public works project May be inconsistent With state federal or other public funding source requirements period the rest of that sentence is also deleted So that um, I'm sorry. I think we missed one Um In the paragraph Right above which is notwithstanding the foregoing the policy will not apply under the following circumstances to public works projects Where and I think the intent was that the city manager reasonably determines That use of the project labor agreement on a public works project may be inconsistent with state federal or other public funding source requirements You can correct me if i'm wrong with that with that understanding Um You had discussion um about the emergency exception under 4.3.2 But it was determined to keep that as it was drafted on 4.4 subsection 4.4 0.2 the evaluation date um, the date is changed from three years of the effective date to after january 1 2028 so the policy will be And I think the preferred word wording was reevaluated by council after january 1 2028 And then section 4 point subsection 4.4 point 3 the expiration date that sentence is deleted And that is the end of the change and I think the um clarification that we would like Is that there was discussion in terms of the effective date of the policy? Is 20 20 january 1 2023? but in terms of when does the Agreement itself need to be in place and when does the work have to start? We heard maybe that that was to be june 30th or july 1st of 2023 But that's where we were we didn't have clarity Yeah, so I think what I heard and what I'm comfortable with is Effective date for the policy is january 1st But then aligning the actual projects and implementation with the new budget cycle and then having it go essentially for We want to Yeah, that's what I heard and that's what I'm comfortable with is aligning The new policy with the budget adoption Okay, so the the effective date of the policy itself will be january 1st 2023 Implementation will begin On on july 1 2023. Yeah, I'll look for nods from colleagues Okay, I I I just have something on that. Why are we waiting? I mean if this is the best thing we're moving to plas. I don't understand why we need to wait till july 1 On a on a PLA agreement. What would be the purpose of that? Six months other than the bidding process takes us a while, but if if the policy says we start january 2023 then we start it. I would give a little bit of explanation. I think the assistant City attorney may want to weigh in as well The agreement has not yet Been finally drafted. What was provided to you was an initial draft Kind of the format that we are using and basing it on But there are significant negotiations and the details of that agreement still to be Still to be made and I know that that will involve Quite a bit of discussions with stakeholders So we would want time to complete that And then to get it into the works And have it ready to go for any projects that go After January, I'm sorry july 1 2023 I completely agree sue and The other element of it too is to be sure that any adjustments to engineers estimates or project budgets Could be made and as part of that budget cycle as well So the budget cycle makes sense to me I guess my question is if we were able to come to these conclusions ahead of time Wouldn't we just want to say no later than July? First to commence because what if we were able to actually get all of these things done in advance Would we be able to then do it prior to where july 1 might be able to Do some work without using a PLA based on our own language So I don't want us to hinder us being able to start that process if we if we can start it prior to july 1 Could I ask a clear vein question? The idea that the PLA would then be attached to the solicitations that occur after july 1st Is kind of the way we envision it the policy takes effect january 1 and then we would have the agreement Be a part of solicitations that occur after that date. That's kind of our thought process here, correct I guess that was my concern is um, why do we need to wait till fiscal year to be able to start solicitation? Wouldn't we be able to do that ahead of time? I I want to make sure that we're able to move to this quicker than perhaps We can I don't I'm not maybe I'm not clear on the actual how long it's going to take you to get to this Yeah, and I'm okay from a legal standpoint in terms of the negotiation of agreement having it be no later than july if we're able to finish it um earlier to get to your point and I'll defer to assistant city manager nut in terms of You know how that might impact the budget cycle or kind of building in any fiscal um considerations If we were to move more quickly Setting setting the implementation data july 1 allows us to have a clean budget cycle moving forward And it's it would be easier to implement in that sense Do we have clarity? I I'm not sure that we have I think at this point It sounds like their majority are comfortable with that. I would not be as comfortable with that specific one, but that's okay Okay, one does not mean yes. Okay. Thank you. And then also just on the one bullet under you had To reconsider and I actually had the word reevaluate and that that was not changed in the document Uh, yes, I I noticed that and I think there was one other that was not in this red line But we will do that. Yeah, that would be a different intent as far as I'd be concerned So I'd like I'd prefer and um would like to use the language reevaluate Okay, I'm gonna change. I have a note of that too as well as the city manager one that you also mentioned You you meant the city attorney's city manager note The where we didn't make the red line change around I believe it was in the exemptions It should be the city manager. I think it's four points Right, yes right up there. So those are the two catches that I have in my Notes to be sure to incorporate on top of this red line if that's helpful Okay Councilor are there any additional amendments to the policy Just looking at city manager underneath where we struck the the word Public works Sorry, if you can go back to the document. I'm going to need to go back We may want to add in City manager or designee Just so it gives city manager a little bit of wiggle room if if she's unable to To do this I thought the point of the amendment was to make sure that the authority arrested with the city manager That was my point of the amendment mayor Okay And in those instances where the city manager isn't available We'll have an acting city manager that is that can serve in that function Um That might be a good way to word it then city manager or acting city manager Mayor if I could um in consultation with the city manager, she's comfortable with the word or designee Councilmember flamin Yeah, I mean in the Unimaginable event that we had an interim With that also suffice legally if it's acting or interim Okay, I would assume so So do you want I'm sorry on this point city manager? Or acting or interim city manager, or do you want city manager or designee? I'm looking to my colleagues councilmember rogers. Um like it was explained I feel like if the city manager is incapable of Making that decision for whatever reason Um, we have an acting city manager So, um, I do not wish to use the word designee I would be comfortable with the city manager or acting city manager Okay, I'm seeing nodding heads. Okay, so we'll change that throughout Um, and then I noticed um given the discussion on implementation as of july 1 2023 um We'll change the 4.4 0.1 Which is the effective date And instead it'll be the implementation date And it'll be this policy will apply to public works projects solicited on or after july 1 2023 Are there any projects that are that we foresee are going to start between now and then That are like in our budget Yes, there are likely projects that will go out to bid between January and july that Are above half a million dollars Okay, so just clarification my my intention was not um Well, then that just complicates things now doesn't it in my head it does because that is not what I intended Um, I wanted to do the july the july 1st Um to say work starting but not to not to when we go out to bid to not add that people have to um Go under the p. I'm talking out loud assistant city manager I at council member. I I I totally understand. I I do think um, I do think As is recommended by the city attorney's office. We need to provide time to get the documentation complete And approved by all entities And I don't believe that that's going to occur between now and january 1st Okay, thank you I I will say Because I know the level of effort that it's going to take to stand some of this up We're putting the policy in place and then obviously there's additional negotiations that need to happen And so I think it's unfortunate that there's projects that we'll miss but at the same time extending from three years to five years I think is Giving staff a reasonable amount of time to stand this up. I think is is warranted I get it. I just would have to agree with council member McDonald that if we in fact can Get it done or it is done In advance of july 1st that when we go out to bid for projects that we can include Or know that we're doing it under the project labor Agreement because that was what the council if that is what the council decides So are you comfortable with the no later than language? I am Perfectly comfortable with the no later than language. Okay I saw a look from the city attorney. Does that Work functionally Yes, assuming that the assistant city manager does not have budgetary concerns You know what it does to our to our already adopted budget At this point time I haven't actually contemplated a half a million dollar threshold and what that might do For projects that are currently in the pipeline and ready to go to bid at the beginning of the year. So I actually don't have I don't have a particular comment on it at this point in time Other than you know faster we can get language prepared The less delay we have in some of those projects moving out the door So I think the the consensus that I'm hearing is The no later than july 1st language I'm looking for nodding heads Okay, any additional amendments Everyone clear Okay, any additional comments from council members Council members, what um Thank you, mr. Mayor With the new language specifically on area 4.3.1 Striking the subsection c With certain categories and specifically about trucking and hauling Mr. Assistant city manager, what impacts could we anticipate with that? Is there enough? I think the language was density of local workforce in the trucking industry to meet the needs of the city san rosa It's my understanding and talking to our local contractors and local trucking companies that there is not a density Of of unionized companies in our area to fulfill the needs Um, yes, I understand that from a union and labor perspective There are Rebodies to that for those companies that are not currently unionized And whether or not that Suffices for those companies is going to be up to them to make the decision But as it stands right now, it's my understanding that about 90 of the trucks that are on the street are currently with non-signatory companies All right. Thank you Any additional comments council member soyer Thank you, mayor Mr. Nut would that be one of these issues that needs to be ironed out in the next Number of months to come to a final document in negotiations Council member soyer under the rewrite that's here. It would not be ironed out. It would be all Products that exist within a current CBR collective bargaining agreement would be subject to conditions of the project labor agreement This is the would be moot correct Unfortunately, thank you Mr. Assistant city manager Uh Wouldn't section 4.2 point 1 be Cover us in that instance where it now says the city manager may waive or otherwise modified this requirement where a particular construction craft Does not have sufficient local presence I'll defer to that that only goes to the local workforce Requirements. It's not the PLA itself to the extent that there's a If you were looking to maintain that flexibility with regards to the PLA policy itself We would move that subsection b also down to where the exigent circumstances references Repeat that for me so in order to be able to Look at basically kind of maintain this flexibility for like the trucking hauling scenario We would want to be able to allow the city manager to also Have the ability in limited circumstances to waive the PLA requirements more generally Um, and so we would need to take the language from four and I'm pointing at my own screen Which I really is not helpful but 4.2 point 1 b and then copy that and then paste that down into 4.3 right above um The exigent circumstances paragraph Right above here So that if you did that then that would allow staff to have the limited flexibility To in a situation where there's not sufficient local union density to be able to Wave the PLA policy requirements with respect to that particular sub kind of set of work right that subcraft and um, so it's something to consider as we kind of Think about you know getting the training wheels off the policy I think that that's and to the extent that we've recalibrated and staff is relying on that an exception like that too much I think there's a feedback loop between staff and council that that could help Keep us connected about that, but that would be the way to address council members um sweat helms and council members sorriers questions about if there would be flexibility to omit things like trucking and hauling Where we have kind of a little bit of a problem Okay, uh, and I I'd be I'd be comfortable with that If we also then if we start to see that there's Subform of an issue or if it's not working for whatever reason Council can bring the policy back and amend that specific portion if we needed to if uh, if council members are amenable to it So so can I clarify if you don't mind are you uh, I'm open to um, Moving the language down and trying it out or leaving it as is and then coming back I'm open to moving it down and trying it out. And if there's an issue we can bring it back Got it. Okay. I apologize. Thanks And I'm looking to my colleagues to see if there's any objection to that Okay So mr. Mayor what I'll do is under 4.3 um the exclusions um I'll have to kind of restructure it a little bit, but there'll be three exclusions one if it's inconsistent with state federal Or other public funding. These are all determinations by the city manager One inconsistent with state federal or other public funding source requirements Two where a particular construction craft does not have sufficient local presence And then three is uh, there's an emergency Or other urgent need to protect health safety or welfare Okay Any additional comments? Okay, madam city clerk. Can you please call the vote? Um Just to confirm that was moved by council member mcdonald and seconded by council member fleming and correct. Okay Council member schwedhelm no Council member soyer no Council member rogers. Yes Council member mcdonald. Hi Council member fleming. Yes Vice mayor alvarez. Hi Mayor rogers. Hi That motion passes with five ayes and council member soyer and council member schwedhelm voting no Okay Thank you everybody So item 15.1 is our public hearing. We're going to continue that to our November 1st meeting which is next week So we'll keep working through our communications We'll jump all the way back to the beginning of our meeting and thank you everybody for your participation uh, we will We have no staff briefings. We have no proclamations Uh Do we have a city attorney and city manager reports? I have nothing to report this evening. Thank you Okay We have mayors and council member reports. Does anybody have anything to report tonight? I'll keep it short and sweet I just want to send a shout out to Teresa Medina And let her know that one day she too can sit up here and make Decisions for our local Government, thank you Thank you council member. Who else has a report tonight? Okay Um, I'm going to come back to mine in just a moment. I'm looking for my notes We're we're making an appointment to the chair of the personnel board and I want to make sure I do it tonight But I've got to get the information Let's jump to item 10 point 2 point 1 The request for an agenda item regarding city council ordinance number 2 7 1 3 chapter 1 1 dash 1 6 traffic This is the vice mayor's item Uh, if you'd like to provide an introduction on what exactly you're asking council for to add to the agenda Thank you, mayor In essence, I'm asking my colleagues to repeal the cruising Prohibition that has been in effect for over 20 years It's It's an ordinance that I feel Is based out of fear Towards a particular sector of our community Uh, particularly the latino or even more specifically the low rider community Uh, and I'll start by saying That cruises are not side shows Low riders are not sideshow organizers participants Nor are they spectators Low riders do not do donuts We eat them And we live by the motto low and slow Not fast and furious fear Is what associates them And what we have the opportunity to correct tonight To move forward Inclusion equity these things that we speak so greatly about Senator's a cruising ordinance Is based On the fear of not knowing A certain part of our community One that I hope We recognize That is oppressive It's the same community that stepped forward and worked with law enforcement in our former mayor Shroudham to produce the murder of Lou vehicle That is the community that I'm speaking of An organized community The Sonoma county low rider council The california low rider alliance These are organizations that do good work in our community Toy drives school supplies But yet for my youth We've been vilified And all we want to do is show our youth that there's a better way It doesn't have to be a no it has to be better yourself Allow me to tell you More of who low riders are The word low riders songs from the 70s that describe who we are and what we bring to the table We are an art show on wheels is what a low rider is It is a Chicano movement. It is a people It is expression of who we are And what we think of ourselves We shine And we do go low and slow So what I'm asking you tonight to do is to vote To move the conversation forward To demonstrate to a community that they are included That they do matter And there's also the risk that we're taking or that I'm taking by presenting this before us If we don't move this movement forward, then the message is clear We don't matter We should be feared And that is that is something that hope Is not the outcome. Thank you, mayor Thank you, mr. Vice mayor So we do have a motion and a second on it. Let's go to public comment on the item. I think if this isn't To approve anything tonight. It's to add it to the agenda for a discussion So with that, I'll come right here into the chamber first before we go to zoom and then do our pre-recorded messages Hello, my name is Juan Roman. I'm an instructor here at the center of junior college And I will be instructing also at skyline college Low writing has it has always been very very important to me ever since I was a kid It was an outlet that helped me to find who I am today as a man I'm a father I'm an instructor But i'm also a community member with the sonoma county lower outer council sonoma county lower outer council Has made many changes throughout the last couple years there was an incident that happened in 2013 when antelopes was brutally shot and there was a division between us versus them Which is law enforcement And it was through the love and the spirit of low writing that we started bringing community together with the mary lou trust started building We have events where we have police officers at our events And it's peaceful We don't think of it as us versus them if lowrider if As a child if I didn't if I was never introduced into lowriding who knows where I would be We're not those people that Hollywood, you know portrays I'm a family man. I ain't got time for drama And what I like doing, you know with my with my family my friends. I like getting in my car Starting it up driving around town I mean in today's gas price. I kind of you know, I have to think about that but still The love and the passion that we have and that we invoke in in our community. It's strong We're against side shows. We're against Any kind of brutality with it with whether it's community against community or anything We don't We don't provoke Violence we don't you know ask for it What we do ask for safety net Right are we against police? No, we're not What we are against this is any kind of violence or any kind of destruction to our community That is just a little I would say a little seasoning To what lowriding actually is lowering is about love law writing is about passion community culture I mean the list goes on I'm running out of time. Thank you very much for your For years Thank you, sir Good evening city council. My name is david eskbar and My esteemed colleague is pretty humble, but he's he is a major Figure in the lowrider community in santa rosa in general. I want to thank you for your time I want to I know you're tired just like I am but I think this is a critical issue for us as a as a As being part of the lowrider community member. I think that I'm here on behalf of and I and thank you Um Councilman alvarez for bringing this forward. I really appreciate it Um councilman strudel sounds for your you know participation and collaboration with the the lowrider council um, I think the uh, the actual ordinance Was put put in place at another time It was another era and another mindset Currently the sonoma county lowrider council and lowriding in general Um has moved forward in more of a collaborative effort in partnership. I heard the word partnership By councilman mcdonnell mcdonnell today about and how important it is For that relationship We've been building trust with the santa rosa police department. We've been building trust with the department of community engagement here with the city the mary lou was an example of What is possible? In building bridges between community And uh city government I think it's time to Repeal this this ordinance and for us as a lowrider community it actually lowriding is actually part of our healing Are about our inner intergenerational trauma that we've Been through um through whether it's our indigenous pass or Etc We're we're using lowriding as as community healing not only of ourselves, but also also the community um, I want to also thank uh chief cregan and um chief navarro former chief navarro for his efforts In collaboration with the lowrider council and um our charitable efforts in the community um, and so in the spirit um in of continued collaboration Between the lowrider classic cars and lowrider council I I urge you to bring this forward And repeal in the conversation to repeal The ordinance and for us lowriding is part of a community violence A community tool for community violence prevention So um with that I want to thank you and again I want to thank all the other city lowrider councils that are going to be talking in today throughout california on this particular issue. Thank you Thank you Let's go to zoom. We have flavio followed by larane Okay, thank you. Hello city council members of santa rosa My name is flavio. We saw and I am the community outreach liaison to the sacramento lowrider commission And the chair of the california lowrider alliance I would like to speak to you today about your no cruising ordinance in santa rosa In the 80s and in the 90s these ordinances were made to deal with the gang problems that were happening all across california But the problem with that was that it cast a net over a lowriding community that had done nothing But uh cruise and be able to have their culture represented in these cars And so what this did was it racially profiled Brown and black communities all throughout uh california And so when we see these ordinances we see that we are not equal we see that we are not able to move forward Think about uh the signs in the south when you think about the signs in the south, they're gone But the stigma behind white and black only is still there I I would not be surprised if your no cruising signs Are in the brown communities or the black communities or the red lined areas in santa rosa because that's what's happened all throughout california These ordinances were created to divide and to split us apart But I want to share with you that currently cities throughout california are removing these ordinances because they see them for what they were They see them as racially biased ordinances that were created to divide us and You gotta understand that lowriding When someone builds a lowrider They put a lot of time a lot of effort families come together And what we're talking about is investment of monies and times And all of this is done to create a canvas on four wheels And what happens is this canvas on four wheels Is it's taken up and down the boulevard and it's shown as the investment and the pride of a culture and a community The lowriding community in santa rosa has been continuing to invest And invest in your city Understand that when these cars come these cars are an economic engine to wherever these cars go Wherever these cars go finances come in Currently sacramental san jose has removed their ordinances. And let me tell you something in our city We are thriving right now and helping businesses and business districts because we are working together with our city The california lowrider alliance that represents over 14 cities in california Asked you to move forward and remove the no cruising ordinance in your city And bring us together bring healing into your city and work with the sonoma lowrider council to go forward Thank you and have a great evening. Thank you so much. We'll go to lorraine followed by teresa Hi, good. Uh night. I should say um, this is lorraine kenyonis and I am part of the california lowrider council And i'm speaking in favor of cruising and would like to highlight That cruising is not a crime And I would like to see the ordinance repealed there in santa rosa And join in the efforts that is actually a statewide movement currently as flavio mentioned Starting with sacramental and working its way down south here to east l. A where I live and reside But we are unified and showing up in solidarity to show That cruising is not a crime. This is part of our culture. This is Our family time. This is our bonding time as a community and even friends And families join together and we enjoy our cruising And we partake in different community events And we are a big contribution with toy drives or Turkey drives or just having picnics and showing positive Community efforts together And so recently a tool we've used is the resolution written by lucerebus acr 176 And so I would take a good look at that to educate oneself on the contributions of lowrider community and the historic locations of cruising Um, it honors the culture of cruising and the legacy of cruising. And so acr 176 is a good place to start Along with a documentary the great american lowrider tradition written by martin tores And there is several YouTube videos educational videos that can educate oneself On the contributions and culture of lowriding And so it is in fact a racist ordinance and so we want to take time to you know Repeal this ordinance because it is discrimination And one needs to remove that stigma and the ignorance that is attached to that It is a mental health and wellness. Um, you know exercise we go out to cruise and relieve our stress And you know unwind after the hard work week. I'm an educator And so this is a pastime for my family and I to go on cruise And I would like us to make sure to highlight as you guys have mentioned so much the mental health and wellness and how much it plays a factor in our social And well-being and so cruising is that for many of us So I ask that it be respected and that the the ordinance be repealed And that we erase the stigma that has been plaguing our our culture That is related to cruising So I join um with the many who call in today and the council members who have brought that forward today. Thank you Thank you. We'll go to tereza Teresa you're using an older version of zoom Perhaps you could call in that may be So we can hear your comment While we figure that out, let's do our voicemail public comments and we'll come back to you, Teresa My name is Laura Gonzalez and I'm calling in support of item 10.2.1 to the cruising ordinance And we should give the lowrider community a voice let it happen I'm also calling in protest of item 12.2 We do not need an armored rescue vehicle. These are not the mean streets of saluja or Kiev or wherever Santa Rosa, this is not where our money needs to go. We need money spent elsewhere Not on more military grade items for the police force. Thank you All right, my name is jerry thompson with medestal cruisers council on agenda 10.2.1 I agree that uh, there should be a lift on the band of cruising. It's a Culture that has been oppressed over the years and it's social it also shows Discrimination against the lowrider community by lifting this band it shows that you're as a community is willing to Put aside the differences and agree that Things that happened years ago are not currently of things of of current time So I am in favor of you voting and passing and lifting the band on your cruising ordinance 10.2.1. Thank you My name is olivia font seca Representing the sacramental lowrider commission. I am commenting on agenda item 10 dash 2.1 traffic I'm commenting and in support of the santa rosa Lowrider car clubs and the repeal of the ordinance to remove the no cruising signs and ordinance The current no ordinance requires That the city continue to discriminate against a particular Racial group and that is Hispanics and Black americans Lowriding is not a crime It is a right of individuals to be able to ride the streets Of santa rosa and to be able to enjoy their vehicles as they are traveling On the path of these roads Lowriding is not side shows. We do not perform Donuts our squirrel our wheels or endanger the public we are slow and No, hello, my name is laura. My name is jerry thompson with medecino cruisers council My name is marisa rosales. I am calling regarding item 10 dash 2 I didn't know it was an option for us to listen to them all at the same time I am calling regarding item 10 dash 2 dash 1 And i'm calling in support of The council bringing up and opening up for discussion the cruising ordinance in santa rosa can Ma I am A lowrider with the united lowrider coalition And these ordinance are discriminatory. They target a culture an entire culture and latinos to be harassed and Harass and Been pulled over by law enforcement My position is that the vehicle code and the penal code Is a vast enough tool for the police department to Do their duties and fulfill their job? Suffice So I do not believe that your your city needs this ordinance At all it it's like I said obstructs an entire culture from practicing What they love to do lowriding is not just a cultural Experience it is also therapeutic for many people To be able to get in their cars freely without Without fear of being harassed and pulled over by law enforcement For something as innocent as cruising your car or driving your car Thank you for your time. I do hope that your City chooses to do the right thing for their community Thank you and good evening So I see Teresa. My name is olivia. My name is labio. Weasar sflaviohuizar These are comments on the open comment. I am Take down the page Everybody speaking So that'll end our uh voicemail public comments, but I do see Teresa We do have a second slide with voicemail. Oh my apologies My name is Dave Barski And I'm calling to comment on a couple things I've taken a look at what's coming up for this city council meeting And I want to say that I agree 100 percent This item 10.2.1 The one that's about low riders And I also have a disagreement Absolutely with item 12.1, which is about the armored vehicle Armored assault vehicle For here That's all please. Uh, have a great day My name is Teresa Medina. I am the president of metro club. I'm a recruiter of high school And this is a public comment I would like to advocate for the removal of item 13 For the cruising ordinance and it being removed reason being It being a modern-day gym crow logs crow log To target poor brown and black people From freely driving their vehicles as they please I'm a member of the low rider community And I want to be able to drive without being afraid Of being called over because i'm brown and i'm driving a custom vehicle Thank you Hi, my name is Jorge Arias. I am a member of metro club at mario creole high school And this is a public comment I would like to advocate of the removal of item 13 for the cruising ordinance and it being removed reason being It being a modern-day gym crow logs to target poor brown and black people with From freely driving their vehicles as they please Thank you Okay Now let's go to Teresa followed by Roberto Still nothing from Teresa Good evening. There we go. My name is Sorry about that Good evening. My name is Teresa and Sanma Medina. I am currently a junior Junior and the president of metro at mario creole high school I am here today to speak on this cruising ordinance as well as to witness this historical event with the spirit of community involvement And the love of low riding and cruising I have been working on taking this cruising ordinance down This racist ordinance has been around since 1988 It was a way to racially target poor brown and black people Cruising is nothing harmful. It is a way to escape from the stresses our lives bring Even though signs were removed law enforcement officers can still enforce it with this ordinance still being enforced It will give the law enforcement the right to end cause for racially profiling Cities throughout california have began to remove these ordinances. So my question is Why can't we be one of the first cities to remove this racist cruising ordinance? Cruising is not a crime and it has passed my bedtime, but this issue is very important to me. So i'm staying up Thank you Thank you so much Teresa. I think it's passed everybody's bedtime. So we appreciate you being here Let's go to Roberto followed by rock. Howl Good evening My name is Roberto Hernandez and i'm the founder and president of the san francisco low rider council started 41 years ago and I actually lived for several years in santa rosa and um I got um asked by the sonoma county health department To create a low rider because i'm also an artist And work with 21 youth Uh and teach them how to paint and build the low rider as a project to educate 17 schools into numo county on latino culture and art It was one of the most beautiful experiences that i've had in my lifetime as an artist To get paid to get hired by government To create an art piece. That's a moving mural Throughout the years. I have seen the racism of different counties throughout the state of california because I travel a lot with my low rider and go to car shows But today I see that the california highway patrol has built their own low rider And I have had the opportunity to go to the unveiling of that low rider I also have gone to open california To see and witness the unveiling of the oakland fire uh department unveil their low rider As well as the oakland police department unveil their low rider I see low riders and commercials today in movies At the super bowl halftime show they had low riders We have been uh now part of Of having low riders at the recently the warriors championship parade We've been in the san francisco giants world serious championship parade So low riding today is appreciated in so many different ways by mainstream society You have low riders in japan, australia, brazil all over the world today. So today it's a it's a new day You know latinos and our culture is now appreciated at a whole different level. So I urge you as here in the year 2022 to Not live in the dinosaur racist area but come and really join And be part of a community latinos latinos that we are today The main Engine of the state of california and sonoma county and support our culture and our art, which is low riding. Thank you Have a good night Let's go to rock hell followed by resident zero five seven seven Hello, good evening. I'm still here. I just want to uh touch base on this subject Um kind of echo what my brothers and sisters have already said And as I said earlier tonight We are about family and and we are about community um Something that david had mentioned a key point in low riding um in the past here in san rosa Times were different and the way they are now. I believe there has been a big change Um, then what it was back then we are hardworking members of this community of our community and Just like my brothers and sisters said and what I said earlier um I would really Appreciate if we could remove this ordinance um repeal this Because it is uh It is being Racist to a community who has only tried To do good and I would like to keep working together And making it a positive instead of a negative Thank you very much. Good evening Thank you. We'll go to resident five one eight zero Hi, my name is christina romer. Can you hear me? Yes we can Hi, I'm sorry about that. Uh, i'm christina romero from the los angeles the rider community I'm calling in in support of 10.21 Uh to remove the ordinances for low riding in san rosa I echo and ditto everything that everybody said about the lord community and what great people they are and the positive Force that we have in all of our communities across the state And we'd like to be recognized as You know the tax paying constituents That are civil service workers. We're working in education We work at all the local businesses. We're business owners in california creating jobs And I think that it's time that low riding if that is a hobby or a pastime of any anybody in california Is looked at and respected for the art and for the effort and the sacrifice that people put into building these These cars and being able to go out and show them off and Participate in the community is very important to us. We are assets in the community. We are community builders We can be an asset Politically we can be an asset Publicly and we can be an asset to all of our communities and we want to be recognized for that Low riding is a way for us to show the culture And and the the beauty of the culture for For decades and generations and so we want people to see it for the positive Um influence that it has on on all of our community and even the young people in our community that um, you know, maybe Meeting some guidance or some You know direction we offer that to them. And so we just want to Put a positive, uh, you know spin on this now. Please remove the ordinances for cruising Santa Rosa Uh, we want to support your city and support every other city in california that's trying to do the same thing And that's my comment All right, thank you. All right. I'm going to go and bring it back council Is there any additional comment cast member schwedlem? Thank you, mr. Mayor. Um Quite frankly, I was a little disappointed with some of the comments that have been made today having been a patrol officer When we had the cruising it wasn't in a red line district It was downtown Santa Rosa and it totally Totally took all of the police resources to manage that And so i'm in favor of it coming back to council But i would just caution us to use some some heavy language was used here And again having been someone who was patrol officer at the time So I wasn't at the policy level But it was not low riders or people of color that was causing the issue oftentimes It was folks from marine county that just came here for their own reasons And it sounds like it's um, some people have the impression that this was a racist policy because you know What some of our um public commenters made But I think the reality in the downtown Santa Rosa was having a huge impact in the city council had to do something So again, I'm very supportive of let's let's let's have this conversation But let's make it a productive conversation. Why was it put in place back then and do we still need it? Or what adjustments can we can you know as david had mentioned with the low rider? Um, I'm all for that in the strides that we have made How do we make it a win-win and not adversarial because when I hear you know if you don't do this Then we're going to imply it means something else. That's not it Let's create something bring it back to council that works for everyone because there's a definite reason why I didn't realize it was 1988 is when it was implemented But there's a reason for that that the community demanded something be done because it was out of control back then And it was not the low riders back then Thanks House member mcdonald I'd like to say that I was part of the problem because when we were in high school It was actually high school kids that were cruising We had big trucks. They were down there. They'd party. They were under age I don't I don't recall ever seeing it As the low riders down there with us. It was actually high school kids And so I can understand why the ordinance was put in place because I was an offender so Uh, you know in full transparency I really appreciate what council member schwedhelm said because we don't want to open it back up But I think it's really time to have that conversation be sensitive that we are being an inclusive community So I thank you for bringing it forward I think it's a time to have these conversations that we don't have policies in place that Can make it seem like we are um targeting any anyone in our community So I think it's good to bring it forward and have that I just want to appreciate uh the council member Uh, just after her 50th birthday copying to being in high school in 1988 I graduated in 90 and if you do the math it adds up All right with that let's go ahead call the vote councilmember schwedhelm Hi councilmember soyer hi councilmember rogers hi councilmember mcdonald hi councilmember flemming hi vice mayor alvarez hi and I do want to thank terry sumardina for bringing this forward Uh, that's a future leader right there and mayor rogers hi That motion passes with seven eyes Great, uh before we move off of our councilmember reports I do all want to appoint luana Vito as the uh new chair for the personnel board So she'll work with staff to get up and running on that We have two sets of minutes tonight item 11. That's july 12th and july 26th 2022 Uh councilmember mcdonald. I know you said you had a couple of amendments to those minutes I do mayor just um the minutes of july 12th 2022 on page four I apologize for not sending this ahead of time but on page four maddie hershfield spoke in support to project labor agreements it says opposition so with that correction I didn't have anything further in either set of minutes Okay, are there any other changes from councilmembers? All right, we'll show those adopted without objection And working our way through our agenda we As I announced earlier, we continued item 15.1 to next week And then we have our written communications For a our quarterly board commission and committee's attendance report Before we adjourn, let's go to our last public comment for non-agenda matters And see if anybody has any additional comments See no one in the chambers Teresa Is that a legacy hand or do you have an additional comment? And the hand disappeared so I'll go ahead and bring it back. Thank you council We are adjourned