 And we are live and it is being recorded at this time. Excellent. Thank you very much. So I will call the meeting to order and ask our recording secretary. Ms. Cleary, if you could call the role, please. Member Sawyer. Here. Council Member Alvarez. Present. Council Member Fleming. Council Member Fleming. Here. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. And members of the public may view and listen to. The meeting as noted on the city's website and as noted on the agenda. Members of the public wishing to speak during item. Three public comment or during the public hearing items will be able to do so by utilizing the raise hand feature. The public comment. The public comment. The public comment. Their future, their hand or, sorry, typo. Our pressing number nine on their note, the wording can be adjusted, but not the content. That was, that was a special message to me. I think we've covered that this is all covered under the Brown act. And it does offer an ability of the public to weigh in. And then we'll move on to item number nine. Thank you. Thank you. Council Member. Chair Sawyer. It's, if you're joining my phone, it's star nine. Star nine. Thank you. That's my glasses. Not number nine. Star nine. And excuse me. And we have already taken the role. Public comes to anyone who'd like to address the subcommittee on items, not on the agenda. So we'll move on to the agenda. There are no hands raised at this time. All right. Thank you very much. So then we will move on to, on to the agenda. And with, with new business, the 3.1. Miss Della Rosa, would you like to introduce that item? Yeah. So, um, I thought what I'd do since this is our second, um, meeting of the economic development subcommittee, I think a year with the economic recovery task force, I thought it would be helpful to go over, um, where we were with the task force. Um, so we can talk about, um, efforts that were, we, uh, we've been doing and how we use the task force, how we talked about, um, uh, next steps or what this count, the council members or the subcommittee rather interested in how we accept new items to consider. So I think we had such a great, uh, task force. I think we were able to be both responsive to, to the pandemic, but also, uh, continue to move forward on, uh, other council priorities. So, um, so that's just, I was just going to go through that. And then maybe we can have a discussion about, um, what you'd like to see brought forward here, um, how we want to have these discussions now that we're a community. So we had, um, a very long list of things that we, uh, we put onto our economic recovery task force. Um, we accepted anything, any idea from anywhere, um, throughout the entirety of, of what, when we met, um, by the time we ended that, that, uh, task force in December, uh, it's culled down to, um, um, um, what we were able to accomplish is pretty much seen on this slide. Um, they're ongoing programs, but I'll go through them. So, um, actually council member Alvarez, just before you joined, um, the council, uh, uh, uh, gave us, um, authorized $2 million for a childcare support pilot program. Um, that we've. Started the first phase of, um, that we've started the first phase of that pilot program, which is a cash infusion just to try to get, uh, to try to retain, uh, as many. Child care businesses as we could to the other side of the pandemic. Um, and then the second phase was to expand capacity and, and, um, and, uh, get more facilities, uh, uh, built within Santa Rosa. So what happened with this one, if you'll recall is that we've lost almost 50% of our childcare businesses in Santa Rosa. The majority of childcare is done through family, uh, home care. Um, whether it's licensed or unlicensed, the registration, uh, the registered, uh, childcare providers. Um, the first five, um, the first five, um, as well as, uh, we've doubled the number of training, uh, slots that four C's provides. Um, and so we just sort of did a pass through of about $600,000, uh, to these two nonprofits to be able to stabilize the businesses. Um, to these two nonprofits to be able to stabilize the businesses. What's coming next, and we've only just started to have this conversation, is what does this next phase look like with the rest of the money, the $1.5 million. And I'd like to keep this task force as the primary task force, through which we sort of vet these ideas as we develop this program. So what we're looking to do is bring in more partners from the outside to leverage the funds with grants. It's sort of you use it and then that program is done and we want to see how we can expand the remaining million five that we have in the program. So that it sort of regenerates itself or we can eat it out as long as you possibly can. Yeah, I'm usually unusual for somebody like for a panelist to jump in here but I just want to, can I just add a couple of things. Yeah, actually it would be super helpful if you guys jump in throughout this whole thing. Yeah. You know, first of all, Eddie, just for your edification is like, this is perhaps like the thing that has happened on Council that I'm most proud of that. This is the biggest win, win, win for both business, the business community, families, children, it's an intergenerational like cross sector anti poverty program that helps women and women of color and in particular. And it's just something that I'm really excited about and what I'm, my greatest hope is that it doesn't just end up being this one and done type of thing but that. You know, as the pandemic allows and, and as if you know we move out of that that this is somehow like something that we can expand to become more regional effort and something that other jurisdictions partner with us and maybe we're able to get more funding from philanthropic organizations. So there is, you know, the Chamber of Commerce has been doing a lot on childcare for a long time and I know there's some interest, you know, with supervisor Hopkins around this stuff so I'm hopeful that that we can take this on the road that we can garden more support and that this is not just the beginning of our community but the beginning of a municipal movement toward, because one of the things that's, you know, takes forever is like building housing and we should do that. But the second, you know, biggest economic driver after housing is childcare and it can largely be mobilized very quickly with the right investments and so I hope my excitement is not too overwhelming but I just wanted to put an exclamation point on this one and thank her for her awesome leadership on this and John for sharing my vision and, and I just can't wait to see what happens. And this might be a question for the city attorney, not to put city attorney Burke on the spot but you know what we did so well in the task forces is is it was a sort of a working group and if we're looking to get into the development or to understand how this is rolled out in the community. It's interesting to me what what roles you guys play in that and through a subcommittee can we do that can there be because of all of our items. It's this one where we, if we want to leverage the funds we need access to, you know, understanding what the county is doing, and that might be elected to elected. I think that's a good question because, you know, education, understanding the value, understanding the necessity, understanding the needs of not only the children, I mean there are, there are this this affects in a positive way. So, it's so many levels and the one thing that I needed was education, and at the same time that we're hearing it discussed nationally, we're hearing it discussed locally. And I'm wondering if if we have gaps that need to be filled in the in education and that and where where are the supervisors when it comes to this topic. And I think, ascertaining their positions could help us as more more regionally as we as because it is a regional issue. And I think that we need to look at anything that we do just like we look through a climate change lens. I think that as we as we make decisions and in this in this subcommittee that we look through that very important lens of child care and make sure making sure that we're not reversing course and losing the ground that we have gaps in. In this in this topic. So, it probably once once we determine some good questions and to ask our county comrades that we do make some kind of contact with them and find out if there are areas that we can that we can support them or they can support us in during while we work through the challenges that we're going through. And specifically in Santa Rosa so I, I think it's a it's something we need to be aware of, but for me it was that there was a fairly steep learning curve and understanding the importance because I don't have children. And so I don't understand that I don't understand some of those challenges but I certainly understand them now thanks to Councilwoman Fleming. That's, it's really been a interesting journey for me, and I'm hoping that that and I think that the council, the full council seems to understand the value and the necessity of being very mindful of the and the necessity of being very mindful of childcare in our city. And I think that looking at it at how the county is viewing it will be will be very, very important for us as we move forward. I agree with you john, I'm a council member swear I think that we that we, we can all you know dig in and you know I think if we reach out to our supervisors. And you know the ones who are our supervisors to but if we talk to them as a group. Not only will we be able to get their positions but but if they hear from a few of us they'll also, it will be more on their minds as they go into their year. Priorities. The other thing that I'm wondering is, you know, if there's a way for us to share our enthusiasm and our experience with other groups as those opportunities come available if there's rotary clubs or, you know, other chambers of groups around the area or anything like that. Right so I don't know if you could keep an eye on stuff like that so that we could speak with them and share our passion for this because I think there's kind of nothing like having you know, I mean here I am with two guys without kids who, you know are fully on board right so and, you know, both business owners from different communities within Santa Rosa so I think that we have a powerful message to share, if we can get in front of some folks. And I think, okay, that helps us sorry counselor over us, we're going to speak. I'm just going to really just support the comments that have been made by fellow council members. And you stated very clearly, as business people as two men without children, we definitely understand the points that childcare represents to our economy as a whole. For myself, for my employees that we have children, especially pre COVID and now post hopefully post COVID. Childcare is absolutely vital to not only the family structure, but our local economy as well. So you definitely have my support and I do appreciate the practice that my fellow council members took to address the issue of childcare. And now during the pandemic and now as we hopefully see the light, even more so, so I definitely appreciate their efforts that have been put forth. And there was I'm sorry to mean to interrupt there's there's something that we need to make sure that we don't lose track of COVID has helped us put a very bright light on childcare, because for a number of for a number of reasons. And once that bright light on COVID starts to dim somewhat, we need to make sure that we keep that keep that bright light shining still on childcare and there are there are bright lights shining on other issues as well that will be that will continue post COVID. But this is one of those that could easily lose some of its attention. Once parents go back to work for a variety of reasons so we will, I think it's, it will be really important that we keep this in front of our councils, and keep it in front of the of our of our county partners, because we can easily start to lose ground as the as the necessity might possibly start to wane a little bit, at least the perception that it's no longer as necessary as it was before so we're, we have some work to do and making sure that it stays in front of the on stays on on on the a list for issues to be aware of. And to your point, john. Sorry, council members. You know what, I'm fine with john. I mean, what I'm what I'm not sure about is protocol of whether we have to call each other by our title. I think for the purpose of the supplement. My first name I'm comfortable with. Yeah, but you Eddie. I'm going to go. More, more of a ramp, you know that the dialogue that we had before but so to your point john I think that it's about perception from the economist that I've heard there's going to be long term economic and workforce scarring, especially for women and people of color. And so, and what we know is that the key to our long term economic growth involves really investing in those groups. And so if, if we hold a special spotlight on it it's like you know before the tubs buyer there was a housing problem well before cobit there was a childcare problem. And I think we've done a pretty good job as a council of keeping in mind that the housing problem, you know, persist even though we've rebuilt most of our stock where we're doing everything we can and so I think that if we can hold childcare like that, you know and I have this vision of, this is going to sound crazy but of one day having, you know, childcare, like in the form of summer camps throughout the city of Santa Rosa. And they're all based on ability to pay, and that you know we might not be able to one fell swoop solve the housing crisis but what an attractive place to live and work with Santa Rosa be it between the school systems and the city park and the government that you had a place safe place to put your child you're out and that that we would really become even more of an economic powerhouse so I know I get really excited and I would apologize for it but I think that it's really important so I think it's a beautiful vision. It's a beautiful vision universal childcare. Why not right. And what it means to our labor force, I mean especially for myself and district one, where we do have a large population of labors. I mean this this would definitely answer the question that's been at the forefront pre code. So it definitely answers a lot of the needs that my community in district one has so no definitely. It's a beautiful vision, and I would love to work alongside of each of you to attain that, especially with contribution from businesses and really understand that we're actually as business owners we're profiting from our labor force, not having to deal with this extra cost or extra extra issues every morning, when it comes to our child care. Well we used and summer camps you know I remember going to summer camp here in Santa Rosa, and I think that there's I'm not sure if there's that much focus. Currently on summer camps I'm not sure about the age requirements I mean what the, what the challenges might be, but I remember having a great time and even though we were probably a little bit older and I'm not sure what age group we can, we can, you know, create a summer. I'm not sure that something could be created that will attract kids of a younger age. So, I think that I love the idea and I think it's something that we could continue to look at as as one of the options, because it's, you know, it's that time of the year and those summer camps, regardless of the age of the child can be something that can be life changing. If nothing else a great memory maker so I think we should, you know, I think we should pursue it. Okay, so, um, city attorney Burke had mentioned that, obviously, if fall three of you are going out and doing more than it would be covered under the brown act but if individually or two of you are doing something we bring it back to the committee then that that works. And so listening to this conversation which is inspiring. You know, I think that the main things are as we develop this program so staff will come back to vet these program development elements here to the subcommittee, but the big questions are leveraging the funds, leveraging the political support. And I think that's where I hear I'm hearing you guys are willing to play in that space. And doing so in conjunction with the supervisors another thing that's interesting. Council member farming, being on the red as we, because one of the second phase pieces of this program is again that new facility development and rehab rehabilitation. We're not only just losing the providers but we're losing the spaces that are eligible for people to be in, given the state requirements. And so that's that other piece of it so so we'll bring that back to you guys. And I captured the vision of universal childcare and let's work towards that. Our recreation department summer camps are included in opportunities that we're pursuing. So the next one is, you know, it's more straightforward is the pursuit of revenue opportunities. The one thing that we're pursuing at this point through the, which will go through council is the formation of an enhanced infrastructure finance district so I'm not sure if that's going to go through this committee I have a feeling it's more would go through the long term finance subcommittee, but I just want you to be aware that there are elements or sort of sub projects from an EIFD that will be tracking, because the infrastructure finance district affects the development of the areas in which we form that financial district and that's a tax increment financing effort. But the other thing that we've brought either through the downtown subcommittee or through this subcommittee is the develop as the creation of community benefit districts. These are assessment districts. So I've talked with Council Member Alvarez about this, the potential of something like this in Roseland. Currently we have one as you know, in a railroad square area and downtown area. But my co-worker Rafael Rivera is looking and working with businesses in the Roseland area to see if we could do that as well, a benefit district there. And this just enables people through a financing mechanism that the city has to participate in but it enables neighborhoods, usually commercial districts to have funding to reinvest into their specific districts. So if you guys have any questions. The other thing is with our real estate manager, Jill Scott, and with our parking district manager, Kim Nado, we've identified city properties in the downtown that aren't part of the public private partnership for a civic center that we're going to pursue development on. So specifically we've identified lots 10 and 11, which are the small parking lots on Fifth Street and one of the, potentially one of the communities in the downtown to release them to do an RFQ for affordable housing. We have to follow the state surplus land act. And so it's going to be a phase thing and we'll be bringing that and discussing it through the economic development subcommittee for what that development looks like. Merges with the infill development projects, including the, the exclusive negotiation agreements and the disposition and development agreements. So right now, we only have one ENA with cornerstone properties on lot to which is that the lot behind that building. We're really fast tracking to get that done in the next six months. So that's something that's also going to be coming back here. Rosalind initiatives. We met with council member Alvarez. You know, we have a downtown subcommittee we have an economic development subcommittee with Rosalind being our other sort of main downtown type of area where we have economic development capacity. You know, I have an interest in, in having sort of a standing item on Rosalind issues here, if it makes sense, because I think we need to begin really putting a concerted effort and focus on a development and needs in the Rosalind area, similar to how we do with the downtown. And so I just wanted to see how you felt about that being vetted through this subcommittee. I'll jump in here. I mean, we've got, we have a subcommittee, or we have a, a, what we have highlighted railroad square. We have naturally highlighted the downtown, because it is the, the virtual and physical core of the city. But I think that it's, we are well beyond the time of necessity for to have a bright light and shining on Rosalind. It is a, it is a cultural center. It's, it's, it's like, it would be, I can't imagine the city of San Francisco not shining a bright light on Chinatown, and I can't imagine the city of Santa Rosa not shining a bright light on Rosalind. It deserves, it deserves that kind of attention. Now, where to focus that how exactly what kind of body is is best used so that they can be nimble and be able to quickly identify the priorities for that, for that area. I think it's, it's a natural, it's, it's our, it's our Latin quarter, and it's, it's a natural to have some, some really some great attention paid to that, not in addition to the annexations. You know, I think that it's, it's a natural to, to pay particular attention to that district. It'll do nothing but help the, the residents and the business owners of that area and the entire city. Well, what could I possibly add to that. And, and very well stated, and it's absolutely, in my opinion, the fastest growing economic sector of Santa Rosa and you're absolutely right, john. As center as a Santa Rosa, I would love to see every sector of Santa Rosa be the strongest, it can possibly be economically, culturally, so we can all be stronger together so so thank you for those comments. Victoria. I can't add to that I agree with what you both said. Yeah, so it's a quest, the question is going to be how to what, what to implement, what is the, because I, it's kind of the getting the getting the, what do you call it the ENAs or the E and ENAs. Can you benefit districts. The benefit districts can be laborious. And I, and I'm wondering how we, how do we kick it off without waiting for while while we are assuming there's a desire to have it, you know you've got to determine the desire. But in the meantime, how do we best shine that light on on what what that community is asking for as far as priority and we would need to, you know, first of all, ascertain that you know what are the what are the needs. And then allow them, allow those most affected to prioritize them and then allow this subcommittee to help implement and have a broader conversation with with three council members. Yeah, I'm sorry. There's no, it's, I just I'm adding because I realized john when you called them earlier you asking a question, and I don't have the exact answer I do think that hopefully that the, that the body of work for that lies in this group, because, but I do think that we ought to be thinking about the right strategy and the right roll out and almost having like a coming out party or something, some sort of, not like a specific event but like a, an, you know, a promotion or an unveiling or some sort of effort around this and maybe you know, as I was when things start to open up a little bit more in the fall about like rediscover, you know, Rosalind's wonderful as it is it's not like you know anybody's discovered it but making sure that it gets the same love and attention in a way that fits Rosalind. So I can work with Rafael on developing what this call that item on our economic development subcommittee agenda looks like, you know, because there are certain things like he spent a lot of time working on mobile vending, for example, and and micro entrepreneurship and creative reuse of space out there. So there are current things like how do you keep the economy or access to the economy going during coded or what was lacking in terms of policy that are specific to the area that where the infrastructure looks different. So, you know, as I'm thinking about this and hearing you it's like, I like this idea of, of, you know, sort of, I don't know, announcing that, you know, we've got something going that we're putting this this presence there. But then it's looking at the surface needs and then digging deeper because I think over time, it's a question of infrastructure it's a question of, of, of how, over the next number of years, we're looking at some of the land issues that are there because it's been it's not been invested in for so long. And I think that's going to be as we develop that or we talk about it, we can hit the surface needs, and then the underlying needs and I think it's the question of identifying the underlying needs, and then how does that look within a broader city work plan. I do think you guys will probably end up having to talk about that in not maybe not this year's priority setting but next year's setting, for example. And there's a lot, there's a lot of great points being made and I wish I had more experienced as a councilman and really in local government to to ascertain a better plan. And the truth is, I would definitely be depending on my fellow council members to, to educate me on the resources that are available to to the community. And, and I believe the coming out the announcement that it's a new day is a phenomenal idea. It's definitely the right time for that to happen, especially with the with elections and being really just welcomed into the city of Santa Rosa for the first time ever. So I definitely see the point that we have actually it's a great opportunity for us to really hit that ground running. I just, as a businessman, you'd expect me to know exactly what we want exactly what we don't want, but it sounds like the word community empowerment is very very a strong word that that really tells what what I want to be the goals to be. And that is really to empower the community. What that means to me is really a lot of meetings that involves the community, even more so than us saying hey, welcome, I definitely want to sit down with each and everyone of my community members to make sure that they're included in the conversation, because that seems to be the biggest deterrent from involvement in the past is not welcomed or included or listened to within the community. So it's definitely a lot of listening sections that I see in my in my future. So the beginning part of that I mean there was a there was a lot of community outreach during the annexation conversations. And I think there may be, we could probably glean a fair amount, even though now the information is a couple of several years old. There were probably some continuing fear issues and needs that were that were well identified during the annexation process that can help us at least begin those conversations so we're not starting from square one. We put a lot of information about what the how the community in Roseland saw their future. And I think we need to, you know, wherever we can take advantage of the information that was provided during that very, I think it was a pretty robust public outreach program. So let's, you know, take it off the shelf, and, and re look at that potentially before we, and maybe with some maybe some things will jump out at us maybe, maybe not but it would be a great place to start I think one way or another. And I think the thing that's interesting is that we asked it during the fires like literally, we were still in the EOC. Yeah, in the annexation happen. And then, you know that the rebuild etc took a long time. I think you know the everything that's interesting to me is that. And then if we look at the downtown including Robert Square and the courthouse square areas. They have direct access to three council members through the downtown subcommittee. This would be that access to a committee for for those businesses as well for those residents as well and I think that sort of. I think that'll be helpful. And you know co that has also changed the landscape. So, there may be some things that are going to bubble up to the surface. Now that weren't bubbling up during the annexation and I think we need to be mindful of that even if some of these things are temporary, you know we can, we, I think we need to be remembering where we are today as opposed to where we were during the fires and kind of, you know, be just take take advantage of wherever we can the information but also understand that there will be new new new challenges and issues that need to be discussed before coming up with a game plan. And I just want to add, because, you know, counselor over is, I mean, we're also making it up as we go along we just will, we will develop this together and discover the tools together. I mean just so you know your, your email is on. Yeah. Yeah, so we'll, we'll develop that jointly. I think Raphael and I will take the first crack it's sort of like how do we define this or he's out there. All the time he has weekly meetings multiple meetings each week I think with business organizations and residents of that area. And, and we can figure out with the community and through you as well how how to roll that out. Raphael is definitely my dad's best friend, since about five years ago, if not maybe even more. So anything. Hey, where's Rafael, I don't know that. I'm like, if you know Rafael I work with him that's how I say, um, but that's how, um, that's how so on some of these other things again that mobile vending and the out there program we identified that there's not equal access to some of the technologies that we're implementing that might be good for so many other places, but again because the infrastructure was was is not equal out there. It's just different we weren't able to implement some of these things. So we're going to continue doing like the out there as our inside other programs so we've got that's web based. But would it be possible to you know when you guys started talking about Raphael I just had a little light bulb go off about that beautiful event that that you guys put on that he really spearheaded in our courtyard for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. So thinking about, you know, as we, maybe one aspect of as we shine this light and it sounds like there's some consensus around this is a good economic initiative but also just sort of picking up on you know a lot of things got the bandwidth from the where really sort of probably pushed aside some of the welcoming that we would have done. And so that event made me think about like well, what other ways can we bring, you know, do more things like that but also perhaps when we can have events in person, it would be like to have like some subcommittee meetings in Roseland community spaces, and to, you know, because I don't think we've ever as a city done that you know sometimes like boards and commissions will meet at Finley Center or whatever but would it be possible for us to, I don't know what space exactly but to have this meeting be. Why not have this meeting be held in Roseland on a quarterly basis. I love that idea. I mean or even like I had this idea of like ages, I mean years and years and years ago which was like I mean, I think that to be announced a special meeting so that we can say where they are because otherwise they're usually in the same place but we should be out in the community and to have a greater access. We've elevated Rafael to this I don't know if you have anything to add or any thoughts on it but otherwise we will continue to work together on that. But yes, I think we should be out in the community. That's a great idea. I even hope that one day we can have a city council meeting in Roseland. I think that definitely builds off your, your, your comment Victoria I would love to see that happen. And it's really a testament to the people that is there and we're, we're inviting everybody to participate. It's, it's ever so important. Yeah, it's hard for me to see why it wouldn't be, you know, advantageous but then again I, you know, come up with a lot of ideas that don't in the end seem advantageous so we'll see. I think this would be though. I think this would be great. I mean Rafael do you want to give an example like when you pulled in the county and did even in COVID we had an outdoor safe community meeting and do you want to talk about that. Yeah, really quick so I think everyone there is just hungry for a greater connection a greater engagement so definitely I think they will welcome the idea I think as long overdue. I believe we can find a particular spot where we can hold some of these meetings some of these gatherings, etc. So the collaboration between the county and the metote group and the city was just tremendous. And I'm really glad that it came together in unity under the pandemic and under the restrictions under the where we had to disinfect all the chairs and tables. We had a gathering there we provided a training to the food vendor operators on how to get their permits and such, and how to go through the process so they wouldn't be any confusion but what I really enjoy was just a connection with the county folks as well as the other 10 entities who were involved and we made it happen so working together, good understanding communication and that expectation that we were there just to to to improve the process which was really was the beautiful outcome of it. And just out of that outcome we've been having regular meetings with county folks where our planners are involved, where Bill is involved where other folks are involved. But we're there's one coming up where they want to do a follow up on on the metote outdoor dining project. They want an update on the farmers market. And we also are working with the I'm also working with Andrew triple and money on a brochure to provide that comprehensive education to the to the vendors and the brochure is going to be both in English and Spanish and it's just another form of engagement that we're out of the effort from just being out there, getting to know the businesses and the community and building that trust, which is greatly needed. I think the biggest takeaway for us it's, you know, again, access is critical. And we talk a lot in the city or like in this in the world right now about, you know, diversity equity and inclusion but access. We don't have any of it if you don't have access. And so that is what we're trying to address in these ways. And it does fall my shoulders. Now as a newly elected in representative area. It's really shown the people of district one that there's a reason for them to come out and speak up. Yeah, there is someone that's listening so it does fall my shoulders. Yeah, yeah. And you're not alone. And we are there to support you on this. Okay, so I do want to make sure that we do it. Face to face, because otherwise and we could. We could say we're in Rosalind right now who'd know we weren't so it's kind of we need we need our faces in this in this whatever it takes to get that meeting together and Raphael when you're out in the community be looking around for, for great spaces maybe the one you use before. And so that we can do this with with the proper social distancing, but have our bodies in Rosalind, not just our heads. Yes. And then I'm going I absolutely love the idea Council member plumbing of being out there having special meetings and not just in Rosalind but in other areas as well as showing up. I think it's great. You know, the just to get off the slide. And we do have ongoing covered response stuff again, rough as leaving the Latinx community recovery and communication elements of it. We're continuing to address right away use options you guys I think the very first meeting of of the year was waving or reducing fees related to having to move businesses outside. And in this open and out the outdoor dining. I know Council member funny would like to see four street closed down every year in the summer. But those are the kinds of ideas that are interesting that that we hope to have a life outside of our code response. Next slide. Next slide only. Let's see if I can get up now one back. There are parking lot items. Okay, so on these. So we receive a lot of interest or inquiries or ideas from all sorts of areas and so what we realize in the economic recovery task force is the best way to cash is acknowledge it is to just keep a running list and, you know, to be honest with you some of the things bubble up or down, depending on feasibility. And so these are some of those things I just want to acknowledge, you know, especially because some of these came from other council members that we do hear them and if you see anything on this, depending on capacity of staff, we can move things around it's the first slide is what where where we are forever. So the parking lot idea so a lot of it is pending funding. So there was a request to have for example the working capital for small businesses these. This is something that actually the state and the county have stepped up on there with the county in particular funded grant program, specifically geared toward minority owned businesses that were tended to be left out a little bit more of the state and federal grants. We also recognize that the access to their grants was a little bit lopsided towards the large businesses. So, in this one we have not had the funds or found the funds to do a working capital for small business program within the city. So it remains on the parking lot. We're not opposed to it but we have found that other jurisdictions that are that the county and the state have been stepping into that. So we're in space activation. We're constantly looking at this idea. You know it's on the parking lot because we haven't other than the Mercado, where we're in Roseland, the old Dollar Tree was reused and repurposed. That's kind of the ideal of what we'd like to do but we had a willing partner with the county who is the landlord. One of the ways that we do this is to is to activate the streetscape. We know that there are a number of businesses that have been closed down but how do we use those closed businesses in an interim fashion or even just just to do the facade or storefront somehow activate those. It doesn't necessarily need money so I didn't say it's pending pending funding but it's an interesting idea that pops up one week and an opportunity. So movement is something that does need funding. We brought this up in our regional economic development meeting. I know Windsor is looking, looking at it. But this is grants or low interest loans to help either rehabilitate or to do some kind of new program for businesses at either the facade or interior tenant programs. So I had to have programs like this when we had redevelopment, they're complex. There was, I had an interview with somebody who was doing a master's thesis on this issue. So if it's something that comes up, it is a large program area we'd have to really figure out how to do that. Thank you beta or fat lab we used to have a maker space that maker space closed down there. I've been talking with a couple of businesses who have an interest in doing something similar, especially around manufacturing. I think this if we can get a little bit more time for the ED staff, we can, you know, pursue a partnership on something like this. It doesn't necessarily have to be through a school or a single business but it's an idea that there is a general business community. Policy and regulation development for emerging industries we've kept this one on we saw opportunities around early on around repatriate, how do you say it bringing offshore businesses back in especially for manufacturing, what opportunities exist around this. I think this one we're looking more through the general plan process. So there are opportunities to look at how what industries might be growing and where we might be able to align it with land use or, you know, whatever opportunities within Santa Rosa or Sonoma County. Partner programs, this has been brought up to us a few times we do. Rafael sits on the workforce investment board. We take a rather passive role in training or retraining workers reentering the economy. But, you know, we keep this on because if there's an opportunity for us to play a larger role, we're obviously always interested. Similarly with the COVID working conditions, you know, we haven't identified any but at this point but, you know, an offshoot of this for example was the paid sick leave. So those are ideas sort of broad ideas in that way what needs to be addressed specific to the pandemic, or even outside of the pandemic that the city from a policy standpoint could play a role in. The downtown preservation and economic protection plan this came from one of our council members who proposed a $75 a month fee for any landlord that had property and it has a vacant storefront. And the idea for that was to use those funds to help support a recruitment and retention programs of businesses. You know, to be honest with you. I don't know how many, how much money that would bring in, or the value of that we are have started working with the Chamber of Commerce more aggressively and the downtown action organization specifically on identifying and pursuing businesses to take over vacant storefronts. But running a program that has a fee associated with it has some complications but but it's on here we could certainly look into it if it rose up. And then a policy to the latest when it came up during early on in the pandemic and then was brought up at a recent council meeting again from a fellow council person is the question of capping the percentages charged by food delivery services. We've only heard this request from one business so far. We but we do know that, for example, San Francisco has done it a couple other businesses have done it, and that's like Uber eats, or those types of things that they charge 15%. It's not particularly advantageous to the to our local businesses but we haven't heard it. In the economic development division as a growing concern but we're not opposed to looking at that policy. So those are the things that left over from the task force that are that remain on our list. Are there any questions on that. I do, I do have a question. It's a concern actually the economic preservation economic protection plan $75. And you know you're not really sure how much it would generate what I do know it was a generated a fair amount of anger. And I think there's a there's it's almost, it feels almost insulting to me to have, and I understand I know I know where the count I don't even remember which council member brought it up. I understand what they're thinking about is that if it's going to be if it's going to be an empty space. It needs to be maintained properly how can we make sure that it's not unattractive. So malls use their own ways of, they actually hide the fact that there's an empty space but that's in a mall environment and I'm just wondering, who's doing this, and how well is it working for them. And is there some is there another conversation we can have about kind of beautiful beautification of empty store friends, without smacking somebody 75 bucks because they because they can't find a tenant. There's, it just kind of, it's rubbing me the wrong way. And I, I'd like, I'd like to address the issue of empty store friends, without giving them this what is almost like an irritant, as opposed to an effective way of dealing with the issue. I'm wondering if we could delve into this one either put it on a on a. What are on the on the chalkboard later put it what do you call it's not a chalkboard your parking lot. Yeah, you know put it on put it on the parking lot but having it sit there. And just every time I read it, it just makes me uncomfortable. And I, and maybe because I'm an ex retailer I just, it was the wrong way. Yeah, I mean, what we can do is we can actually take this off. And we replace it with, you know, there's maybe an opportunity to work with public art and see if we can put at least if if we work with the, with the property and at least put art in the windows. You know again something similar to what malls do they, they boarded up in a nice way or they use the storefront. And the other thing we can do is talk with the downtown action organization, I have them sort of expand on what, what that joint program with them is it's identifying it's working with because a lot of times staff we don't know the neighbor or the, the they're knows that they're going out or that there'll be a vacancy in their building. We can we can expand that but we can actually take this off. What do you think committee members. Well what I, first of all, you know, I, I think that you're where you're coming from is the right place that that, you know, we should use more carrot than stick in this environment, or in this situation. I think that there's that every landlord is a different individual or a different corporation. And so you have some who are flat out not great actors people who live outside of the area and don't particularly care that a large piece of real town in downtown is vacant and they're just waiting for conditions to change to sell it, or you know the city's been working with their heirs or whatever you know like the plan is that person's going to, you know, pass on and then, then their children will be compelled to sell it to somebody who will be compelled to rent it I mean, and so that's one extreme and then the other is you know somebody who's like has, you know, real challenges and keeping a tenant for logistical reasons or whatever it is, you know. And so, you know, thinking of them all as like responding well to one intervention is probably unrealistic, where you know some of them, you know like if we just flat out can't get some cranky old man you know, in Marin to rent or sell his building. Could we at the very least entice him to let, you know, like let's say it's on four street let the neighboring business use the space in front as a parklet or some, you know, or, or sidewalk dining or an expansion there up. And then, you know, for the ones who are, you know, more earnest and trying, but have genuine challenges, you know, getting in there, like right he said that they're already trying to do with the Chamber of Commerce and helping to identify potential tenants and the kinds of businesses. And that sounds like that's already happening and then you know the third piece would be like the art for the temporary situations, but I do believe that there are these, you know, more difficult and intractable than the only profit motivated I mean most all landlords are going to be profit motivated which is not a bad thing but some more profit motivated to the point of not being concerned about our community. And those people I'd like to see us have some, you know, some sort of way to deal with and I don't know what the answer is short of a fee or a fine. I think that somebody who's waiting to see their investment go from three to four or five to $7 million is going to respond much to $75 a month, except to you know, start an independent expenditure campaign to take us down or something. That's a great point. I mean it is $75, but I agree with John. It's a little thorn in the side. Had this not been a pandemic environment. I would, I would laugh and agree with this, but even on this economic recovery work plan on the parking lot we see working capital for small businesses we see vacant spaces activation, tenant improvement pilot programs, and we see one detriment to a landlord. And I agree with the economy that we're in and I would, I would actually see the $75 or something laughable, but it would be more than a thorn in the side, the environment that I have no control over. And for that reason I would definitely advocate for for removing that $75 a month, and then in the future, bring it back if needed but in this current environment I can't see that as being a tool that will promote economic recovery. And that night and it's not not to lose sight of our need to mitigate empty storefronts. I think there's there we've got a couple I think we still need to come up with something they've tried it over the years, I think they've tried every, every idea known to or woman to figure out a way to make empty storefronts that have been empty for literally 15 years. I, my business was right next to one of them, nor very close to one of them and they've just got the, the, the tenant improvements were so expensive that they just, they couldn't rent it. But that didn't mean that they couldn't use it they finally did it is being used finally being occupied. After all these years, but I don't want it, I don't want the concept of fall off the edge. I just want this strategy to be something else that might work a little better. And for me it's it's really the timing of the of the environment that we're in right now. But if you're hearing that something's been vacant for five years, because the tenant is waiting for that grandparent to die for the, for the inheritance. It's only being a negative impact on the surrounding businesses that are having that vacant lot a crew webs in the window storefront, and that's not proper for, for any outlook for business community. Yeah, good point. So then we'll, I think what I'm hearing is I can just link it more effectively with vacant space activation and, and sort of take away that $75 month I mean we can put in the back of our minds but, but really put it towards the vacant space activation concept. And raise almost there's a limit that we can I mean again I'm thinking of once COVID is gone. I mean, even if it's even if it's a 5% of whatever the, the, the firm market value or, or, or of the lease, even as a penalty. And then we start seeing, seeing landlords that will look at the 5% and maybe give it as a 5% discount to a potential tenant. There's nothing worse in a shopping center than an empty space, but right now in the COVID era, I would disagree with it but no COVID. I definitely would want to pressure landlords to fill up spaces and that's for the give the entire strip mall. I'm thinking of a model or strip models. Yeah. Okay. Okay. I know there, there are programs that we can look at when that time comes to see, okay. So that was it for that item we went through all of the efforts and thank you very much for the, I got some good notes out of that and I think. I should probably call for public comment do we have Eileen do we have any, any, anyone from the community that would like to speak on item 3.1. We do not have any raised hands at this time. Okay, thank you very much. So let's go ahead and go to 3.2 race. Okay. This one, I mean, could you go to the next slide please. Thank you. So this one is our business tax, how we're doing on our, what did I say, it's our 2024 to three sales tax, just super high level as you can expect our sales tax is really down. We are not doing Santa Rosa in terms of our sales tax is lower isn't bouncing back as well as Sonoma County is or statewide is. And again, just as a reminder, we lag when we on our reports for sales taxes six months behind. So this is q3 we'll understand where we are q4, you know, there was a rally of course around Christmas and q4 are the holiday season, but it's been tenuous. I will say the thing that is saving us is a bit of an overstatement but the online sales and our portion that we get back from online sales. It has been somewhat stable and it's thankfully a few years ago there was the Wayfair act where where we used to not get local sales tax didn't come back to us that people were purchasing online. And it does come back to us now. So for the year I think it is a 12% decline from where we are, obviously general retail transportation and food products were hit hard. I will say we've always done really well in auto sales new and use auto sales. We've been higher or on the higher end throughout the state. And that has finally been and we were anticipating that to reduce a little bit again our new and use sales car sales has reduced a little bit as well and so there even those aren't doing very well in this economy. So construction is the one area that we see as somewhat stable if you've been listening to any of the regional economic report or even statewide reports from some of the economists coming out. The housing market has remained stable and for us construction remains stable up here. But that is the high just very high level. We're down we're not bouncing up quite as well but our, but our online sales tax is has been helpful. I have a question. Is that okay. I'm just curious to know, Marisa what you think you know I'm looking at this chart and what's actually most striking to me is what was going on in 2019. You see the queue, what I imagine is like the Christmas bump in Q one, which is the high point on the chart, and then it just starts limiting essentially into the pandemic but a year ahead of time and money. Do we have an understanding what's going on there. I have to look back because I did do a report out and I just you know to be honest with you I, I didn't look back at this point. I can't remember but I can tell you next time, because I did look into it I just can't remember. I think it's really interesting because what you see is like in q3 of 2020, you know you're almost back to where you were at q1. You know pre pandemic. So, Let me go back because I did have I do have notes on that and I just because of what I ended up doing to on this was looking at area by area. And I think we had delved into, you know, downtown kind of like where were our hotspots, and how were they performing year over year and those quarters. So let me go back. Yeah, and I know that you know Santa Rosa, you know that sales tax is just one portion of our revenue and I know this is more of a long term finance wheelhouse but it would be interesting at some point to see one of those slides I've seen them before like the pie chart of like where our different revenues come in and you know what portion of that is sales tax I'm sure john knows all all this stuff inside and out but but it'd be interesting to see that so we can understand like why you know our our Santa Rosa line might lie behind the state and the county but that we're doing other things or we're going to go in terms of our economic development efforts in balancing our portfolio of incomes. Um, I mean can you go to the next slide please. Did you have that next. I'm going to produce a report and then it just magically appears. No, I am just through just the most basic things. And you know, our deputy director of finance Alan Alton is on if he wants to raise his hand we can elevate him but I don't, I think we'd have to go back and take a look at that maybe have him. So to help us give give a better overview, looking back, because I remember in 2019 DNA, we did have a discussion about this. And like I said I did look into it. You know what's interesting too is that we weren't alone. Everyone, they all pretty much followed the same within reason followed the same curve so what was happening to us was happening countywide and in the state so and I'll be I'm glad you asked the question Victoria because I'm when once I became aware of it and really looked at it that is it's an it's an oddity that I would like it. I'd love to hear the explanation to that. And then we'll all go oh yeah of course, but it'll be good it'll be great to hear it. I mean, you know it really sounds like this, this was time period that that really the house has started selling in a coffee parking in the rebuilt fires. The inventory started coming back on. So it surprised me and also furniture was one of the best sellers as people were trying to replenish the couches that they had lost in the fire so to speak. But when it comes to the car sales. I mean the district one that's one of our highest producers as well as with the marketplace. And I can't really say that. At the end of 2019 if you had told me at the end of 2020 I would have said it everybody was was back out in the open after being quarantined and they were more than happy to go shopping and spend their money but that's not the case here is it. You know it might even be able to do we used to have a map from GIS that had sales tax hotspots, and you could see where things were let me talk with our GIS folks and see if I can get that as well. Are there any other sort of economic indicator things that you'd be interested in seeing as we look into this. You know, the next time it'd be interesting to see you know when you answer that question if you could back it up a couple more years just on the chart. Because maybe it just looks like that like all the time you know. Yeah. Okay. Yeah, it certainly is compressed. So, I will do that. Alright, well that's all that I had I'm sorry I don't have, you know, too much information on it. I didn't dig too deep I just want to let you know what we have some of the initial q3 information and I can go deeper. I think that's our last item comes from one last thing I wanted to say on that last one. The slide that's up right now is that, you know, we are not. We're not trailing nearly as badly as their, the region or the state. Right. In our total, you know, sectors so that that gives me some hope. Yeah. And you know, I, you know, it's good to remember to that. That's some accounting, we're pretty diversified up here. I think more so than people think because they hear mostly about tourism and yes, tourism is a huge factor in our economy but we're more diversified I think then than that statement would lead you to believe. And in the historical reports that Council, I'm sorry, the Victoria is asking for it's if we can incorporate and I don't know how you go about doing this, but really how the fire has affected those numbers, both in construction, sells tax revenue from from our local hardware stores and that type of thing. If there's any way incorporate how the fires effect. Yeah, I can. I mean, I will tell you that when we looked into this during fights again and sort of going way back in my mind, and by way back I just mean pre pandemic. But they had better memory memory of it. We actually were really stable after from an economic perspective after the fires. I mean construction, obviously construction was up and that was a leading indicator people were punishing like you pointed out. And actually from a sales tax as I recall did pretty well after that and that's one of the things that could be that, you know, when we were doing the rebuild that you hit a peak and then it began going down. I just can't remember what the notes were from that time. You know, Alan has his hand up so I mean can you can you promote Alan. Hey Alan. So, I'm trying to remember what was the question about the percentage of of sales tax to the whole was, was that the question was on the sales tax revenue reports that you see a steep decline starting at the beginning of from the peak of the beginning of 2019. Yeah, we would have, you know, imagine that it would have started the beginning of the pandemic but it's thought the slide really started before that. Yeah, so, um, yeah, so I did hear that one and and I don't have a good answer for that will will will we will need to do some research. We noticed, or we noticed that that in the quarter right before the pandemic we were starting to see a slight decline. That could have been from auto sales we've been waiting for the auto sales bubble to burst so to speak in our in our area from some time, and it just never happens we're very fortunate that we have a long base in that regard. Plus we have car max so we kind of the new car sales go down. We're kind of hedged with with use car sales there. We can go into a further. I'd appreciate that Alan and the reason why is not just out of like pure curiosity, although I will admit to just being generally curious it's because you know these trends on the graph mirror state and and low and county trends that's not just about us regionally and also because they predate covid if there's some and you know I've heard from multiple economists that our economy is generally fundamentally strong. Unfortunately impacted, you know, certain groups, you know more vulnerable groups more than others but that are economic. The foundation of our economy isn't a good space. I'm wondering, you know if there's any vulnerabilities or weak points that we need to address through this and or our colleagues over in long term finance so that you know we don't end up with a blind spot. Yeah, and we, we will be going over. A lot of a lot of this in the finance subcommittee in the, I think in March, we're scheduled to do a revision to present a revision of the long range financial forecast, and then bring that to the full council in April. So that will be our, our real next chance to look at trends. We should by that time have what we should be able to at that time go back and research exactly what the trends were hitting before the pandemic and now. I think that to the degree that it's, it's possible to have an abbreviated version of those presentations in this group, this group doesn't need the, and John has it over there too. But it doesn't need like the full thing but we need just enough to inform the decisions on economic development policy. No, I totally understand that just wasn't really prepared to do that. This is a wish list thing going forward because I feel like today's kind of been the synergistic meeting of figuring out where we're going to go and how we're going to get there so no expectation that it would have been done today. Yeah, and for what it's worth. A lot of what, you know, to kind of echo to what Ray said earlier is that we, we are fortunate in that online sales have kept us afloat, if you will. You know sales tax is about, you know, 30 little more than 30% of our revenue budget in the general fund and property taxes around 20%. So you're looking at that half of our revenue comes from property tax and sales tax and the general fund. The property tax is strong or property values remain strong so that's a firm revenue source for us. And where the volatility is is in sales tax and which is why we try to diversify our revenue portfolio as much as possible. And all I can say is that if that way fair decision wasn't in place and we, we weren't able to reap sales tax revenues from online sales we would be in a horrible situation right now. But they're still low. They're still below our estimates, but as, as they said at the state, the last meeting I attended. They are, they're bad that they're not as horrible as they thought it was going to be so it's some hope. Thank you. Yep, thanks Alan. Yep. Thank you so much. I think I'll ask the, ask the public if they would like to weigh in or have any questions on 3.2 the 2020 quarter three sales tax report overview do we have anyone Eileen. We do not have any raise hands at this time. Okay, thank you very much and we'll just move on to our next agenda, which is talking about the next agenda. I think I, I, if I'll work with Alan if we can have some kind of version of that we'll look back at the history will definitely have that on the next agenda. Okay. Okay. And the other one was the Roseland will try to flesh out what that looks like on the agenda moving forward. So, you know, I think we, well, we really should not anticipate not meeting what would be our next meeting date, right. So, the second Tuesday, which is March, March night. Okay. So what I'm wondering is if we review where you were you were the, what information you've been able to gather I don't want to spend people's wheels, but I also want them to know that we're dedicated to having regular meetings. So if there is truly a gap in the information that we've asked whether you just haven't been able to get it to put it together or something happens in the interim. I don't, I don't want to spend the council's wheels or staff's wheels, coming up with a meeting just to say we had one. Okay, so just keep us posted if you know we'll, we'll know what to anticipate as we're scheduled to have one the beginning of March and if we, if we need to delay for some reason and, and have a more, what a more effective meeting in April then so be it. Okay. If the if the committee is okay with that. Yeah. I'm okay with that except for the, the thing that we around emergency paid sick leave and tracking the, the protective, hopefully coming soon, the COVID relief package and how what provisions if any might be in that for those tax credits that we said we would track. So, and that would be a reason to definitely to to come together so. Okay, I'll make sure to have that because I can give and I can give you an update in the meantime if I hear anything otherwise but for sure we would want to vet any extension at that March meeting. Right. Well, especially if the, I mean, because we had the EPSL go with the tax credits so if they're extended then, then I don't know that we'll need to take action but we might need to review but if they are not extended. That would be an inflection or a decision point for us. Right. Okay. Okay, I think then there's at least three things on the agenda with another that I'm sort of thinking about the, the vacant space and, and, and that question. Okay, anything else. Okay, so any other staff reports right so that need to be addressed. No, this was incredibly helpful and I'm very, very grateful that you guys are willing to have a merger of a brown act meeting with the economic task force and to be able to have this kind of conversation has been super helpful thank you. And it's nice to know that we can have the same kind of efficacy inside this meeting and still have the lack of formality that some subcommittees find it find it necessary to have so I prefer to have to be on first name basis and where appropriate I know staff is a harder time calling by our first names and I, I understand that. But I'm being able to have this these, these nimble kind of meetings I think is really effective as has been effective for us in the past and I expect it will continue as we move as we move along as a subcommittee as opposed to a task force. And if it's okay with you I think in the next ones we can also elevate any other staff members so again that dialogue can be more, more easily had. So for example I know city attorney Burke is on Claire Hartman Scott moon, just in case there are some input that they may want, we can, we can elevate them if that's a venture. I agree that that was one of the things about the, about the task force that kind of, you know, the thing that that really strikes me and you know I'm glad that the feeling came back this time is how much. And this is going to sound ludicrous but how much fun we had. It doesn't sound crazy. It was fun, but we had a really good time doing it and I think that it that it improved the outcomes. Yes, and I think that having staff where they feel comfortable participating I know it's harder when you're live streaming to YouTube and know that people can watch it and so forth but I really think that you know to the degree that we can just let ourselves go with that workshop mentality. While being open to the public, I think that it's more effective. Yeah, I really helped staff actually create the programs I mean we would never have been where we are with Pete sick leave or the childcare program, had we not had that workshop mentality. Yeah, I agree. And I appreciate everyone embracing that. Yay. Yay. Okay, so I will at this point then we'll adjourn the meeting and we'll, we'll, we'll live council members will see you in a few hours. See you shortly. All right. Thank you.