 Can you hear me? Yes, we can hear you going to get well Nice Great relief to my back I love offense So I'd like to ask the interpreter currently in the Spanish Channel to commence translation of the meeting for those just joining the meeting live translation of the meeting or live translation of Spanish is available and Members of the public or staff wishing to listen in Spanish can join the Spanish Channel by clicking on the interpretation icon And the zoom toolbar it looks like a globe once you join the Spanish Channel We recommend you shut off the main audio so you only hear the Spanish translation interpreter. Will you please restate this in Spanish? Welcome everyone to our February 27th 2024 Santa Rosa City Council meeting it is now 132 and we will be starting our meetings in a quorum madam Deputy city clerk. May you please call the roll? Thank you mayor councilmember Rogers here councilmember Ocrepki here councilmember McDonald councilmember Fleming Here councilmember Alvarez Vice mayor staff here mayor Rogers present let the record reflect all council members are present with the exception of councilmember McDonald and Alvarez Thank you. We will now proceed to item 3.1 conference with legal counsel about existing Litigation item 3.2 conference with legal counsel about existing litigation and item 3.3 conference with labor negotiators Madam deputy city clerk. Can you please facilitate public comment on these items? We are now taking public comment on closed session items 3.1 3.2 and 3.3 if you are in the council chamber I would like to comment but have not provided a speaker card or your name Please make your way to the podium. You will have two minutes and a countdown timer will alert at the end of the period As you approach the podium, please set your name for the record if you choose to do so Please go ahead when you're ready I'm James Duncan I'm not going to repeat the points in the letter. I sent the council yesterday I'm going to repeat what a man told the city council many years ago when the council was first considering the Jennings Avenue rail crossing He said he knew a family that lived a short walk from the crossing When the son and daughter went to the JC They rode their bikes and walked through the Jennings crossing on their way to their classes and their student jobs at the JC The mom in the family was a bookkeeper and started Taking classes at the JC to learn about computerized bookkeeping She went on at the JC to go from being a student to being full-time faculty at the school she also Rode her bike or walk through the Jennings crossing to her job at the JC for years That man told the council then that keeping the Jennings crossing open was important That it was the only link between the two sides of our neighborhood Which is otherwise split by the smart rail line and the council got it and Directed staff to move forward on getting the approval from the California Public Utilities Commission That man was me That family is mine But the crossing has been closed to all the families in our neighborhood for years now This council must direct staff to do whatever is necessary So as to get the CPUC approved Jennings crossing built and reopened. Thank you so much Thank you. I'm seeing no additional speakers on this item Thank you and with that we will recess into closed session Okay, welcome everyone to our February 27 2024 Santa Rosa City Council meeting It is now 402 and we will be reconvening our meeting seeing a quorum madam Deputy city clerk. May you please call the roll? Thank you, mayor Councilmember Rogers here councilmember O'Crepkey here councilmember McDonald Councilmember Fleming here councilmember Alvarez Residents vice mayor staff here mayor Rogers president let the record reflect all council members are present with the exception of councilmember McDonald Thank you Before we start our meeting. I just wanted to let everyone know that 16.1, which was our scheduled public hearing For the bunya bunya tree removal appeal will be continued to a date uncertain So if you are here for that item We will not be having that today that public hearing today And with that we will move on to item 6, which is our report on closed session madam city attorney Thank You madam mayor council members We had three items on your agenda for closed session There is no reportable action taken in closed session on item 3.1 or 3.2 item 3.3 Did not happen it was on the agenda, but there was no closed session on that item Thank You madam city madam city deputy clerk. Can you please facilitate public comment? She that's gonna stop me like all so dina no disrespect if I say Okay, thank you. May you please conduct public comment on this item We are now taking public comment on item 6 if you are in the council chamber and would like to comment But I've not provided a speaker card or your name Please make your way to the podium. You will have two minutes and a countdown timer will alert at the end of that period Seeing no speakers approach the podium for public comment Thank you, we have no Proclamation for today, so we'll continue to item 8, which is our staff briefings madam city manager Thank You mayor and good evening members of council So item 8.1 is the FEMA flood risk mapping project for the Santa Rosa Creek watershed So a staff could come to the podium and introduce themselves. Thank you Give us just one second while we get this presentation up Good afternoon, mayor Rogers and members of the council and Claire Myers the stormwater and creeks director not director manager Lawn Peterson director of communications and intergovernment relations and Gabe Osborne director of planning and economic development We are here today to discuss FEMA's flood risk mapping project for the Santa Rosa Creek watershed The federal emergency management agency or FEMA is Responsible for mapping our country's flood risk and for helping communities develop strategies for improving resiliency And FEMA has identified Santa Rosa Creek watershed for a map update So I'm here with Gabe and Lawn today today will provide you an overview of the project including what it is as well as the project benefits and impacts We'll also go over FEMA's project timeline and how Santa Rosa water planning and economic development and The communications and intergovernmental relations office are working together to ensure a really comprehensive public outreach So let's start by explaining the foundation of this project. What is flood risk mapping? simply put FEMA's maps Are areas that show a high likelihood of flooding more specifically FEMA uses modeling data to Identify flood hazard areas that have a 1% annual chance of flooding Also known as a 100 year flood flood mapping creates a series of statistical lines that identify on a parcel by parcel basis flood risk within a watershed So these areas are designated as special flood hazard areas In this case FEMA is developing maps for the Santa Rosa Creek watershed You can see the boundaries of this watershed on the map on the screen. The boundaries are in purple And the analysis includes Santa Rosa Creek and all its key tributaries Which encompass most of the city of Santa Rosa as well as some unincorporated portions of Sonoma County Why is this important? Because in order for the city and for property owners to make decisions on how to best mitigate risk We need to know what that risk is Mapping areas at high risk for flooding can help property owners make decisions about things like land use purchasing appropriate insurance to mitigate losses in a flood event and Helping us at the city identify capital improvement projects to better protect our community So why now why are we doing it now? Because flood risks change over time and new and better data become available When new flood risks and data are identified FEMA starts the process of updating the flood maps There's no set timeline for revising flood maps and revisions typically occur when more accurate engineering information Becomes available either through a FEMA funded re-study or when a community makes new information available to FEMA So when we look at the impacts of this project Really what happens? Ultimately FEMA will create maps and those maps will identify a number of parcels that fall within a map special flood hazard area That's also referred to is a high flood risk area and those properties that are identified in the boundary They're they're really two main impacts the first has to do with development standards and requirements So at the local level we do not restrict development in a special flood hazard area There's just specific requirements associated with that So typically development has to raise what's referred to as a finished floor area one foot above the flood hazard area In addition to that they have to also have to analyze the impacts to placing a structure and displacing water in that flood Area so there's special studies that go along with development proposals These become fairly robust if it's vacant land and the development is large In addition to the development requirements for individuals currently occupying property or owning property There's potentially additional insurance requirements insurance is optional in a special flood hazard area in most situations if a property owner has a government-backed loan it becomes required and In certain situations lenders may also have specific requirements that trigger flood insurance Temporary and ongoing impacts through this process. It's really a long journey We'll go through to get these maps amended there will be initial impacts up front really with communication Developing FAQs assisting the community with understanding roles and responsibilities with the federal government and local requirements As the flood maps are adopted the responsibility really shifts to the planning and economic development team to Manage the flood area from a development standpoint and the additional workload associated with that process so in addition to impacts that are also benefits the Singular largest investment that most people will make in their lives is associated with purchasing a home or property and this helps those Individuals assess the risks associated with that and make sound decisions on where to live where to build and how to protect their investment on The government side or the local jurisdiction side once we can unidentify the impacts and identify the source of the impacts It helps inform capital projects so we can develop long-term solutions for mitigating those impacts identified in this study And at this point I will hand the presentation back to Claire to discuss the timeline So the FEMA flood risk mapping is a multi-step multi-year process That includes FEMA coordinating with local officials technical staff and the public Gabe and I'll walk you through each of the steps in FEMA's process that you see here And it's important to note that throughout the process the city also will need to communicate with a large number of stakeholders As well including FEMA local officials regional partners and especially our impacted community members So to help our community navigate FEMA's project a comprehensive outreach plan was developed by Ciro Santa Rosa water and planning Which lawn will go over as well So step one Is discovery FEMA is currently wrapping up this first phase of the project of discovery This is the phase in which FEMA gathers local flood data and institutional knowledge From local agencies. They do this in close coordination with the community Really to prioritize future mapping and risk assessment and mitigation planning assistance So the city of Santa Rosa Sonoma water and Sonoma County have been working closely with FEMA To provide them with data from our Santa Rosa Creek flood study That was recently completed and FEMA will use the data from our local study as well as their own data In their analysis We are just entering FEMA second phase of the project analysis and mapping During this phase FEMA will use the information they gathered during discovery along with their own data to develop preliminary flood maps For Santa Rosa Creek watershed Like I said, they won't just use our city's flood study They will do their own analysis to determine the exact extent of what they determined to be the flood plain The analysis and mapping phase is estimated to take about a year to complete Once the maps are generated they're released in a few different phases The first is the preliminary flood map release that first review stays with the local jurisdictions So the city staff will have the opportunity to comment on the final map We anticipate Sonoma water is whether the and the County of Sonoma are doing the same that information is then compiled into the review the map at that point once that review commences goes public and We're anticipating at this point that the preliminary map release to the public will be summer of 2025 and That likely will be when the vast majority of the community inquiries come in So we'll prepare our community engagement strategy for that time That will involve hosting community meetings with FEMA and city staff to answer questions An important piece to this stage of the review is a 90-day appeal period that FEMA opens up in many Situations with a study of this level it is fairly high level So it may miss out on very unique localized situations that exist property to property So a property owner will have the ability to provide their own technical Analysis that identifies those and potentially changes the findings It is important to note that that is not something that is very easy for a property owner to generate it likely will require very technical assistance civil engineering firms to do hydrology hydraulic analysis and We'll need to make sure we give the community the appropriate amount of information up front and time to be able to operate within that 90-day window Once the maps are finalized FEMA will sends out a letter of final determination That will include the effective data the new flood maps At that point most of the information including new flood maps move over to the FEMA website and directing most of the Community inquiries associated with that go to the FEMA's website We also have the opportunity really at that point to partner with our federal partners both FEMA and the national flood insurance program to do workshops to talk people through this Because that that's pointed actually does affect those properties and moving forward We will be enforcing the requirements from a development standpoint at that point It's also important to note that FEMA does have a letter of map amendment process Once the maps are developed they are developed based on information that's known at the time of development and that information can change For example of capital projects change drainage patterns or something else changed this mathematical calculation in that study FEMA does offer an opportunity to submit a letter of map amendment very similar process to the appeal period to change that mapping in a More localized area so that opportunity does present itself long term And then we're anticipating that our maps will go into effect spring of 2026 through spring of 2027 somewhere in that time frame And at this point I will hand the presentation over to Lon and he will discuss communications and outreach Great. Thanks gay appreciate it So given the impacts to the community and while it is FEMA's project We understand that we need to get out in the community and both educate and inform them Of exactly what the impacts are for this project So our strategic approach is to collaborate with our partners, which is FEMA the county and Sonoma water We've defined our audience as the residents as well as future developers and while there's an effort currently to do to Citywide outreach once the list becomes more targeted. We will do specific Focus outreach to anybody that's within the list once FEMA develops that We've already created a web page at srcd org slash FEMA flood mapping We've also have a brochure that's done in both English and Spanish. You guys have this delivered Anybody in the audience that wants one they are available up at the dais right up here You can pick that up before you leave this evening. This is also on our website in addition to FAQs and multiple Audiences Internal communications why we developed talking points for both staff as well as council, which will share to the city manager We also created opportunities for the community to stay informed by creating a distribution list via email through the city's website Which again you can find at the website I just mentioned you can sign up for key updates So as things progress in this project given it's a multi-year project you will we will inform the community in that Way and then as mentioned we will also be out in the community in person and online Holding education sessions in partnership with FEMA as this project involves And so just wanted to make sure you guys are aware of that one Some of this stuff isn't defined as the dates because it's not defined yet But we do have a robust communications plan to address as we move forward with this project next slide I'll leave this up for the remainder of the This presentation so this has FEMA's informations you can both in their website email and or phone number and then it has the information as I mentioned for the city is doing in Part in our engagement efforts in partnership With that that concludes the staff briefing and we're available to answer questions Thank you very much for that information looking to council to see if there are any questions council member o'Cruppy Thank You madam mayor I appreciate the The attention to Insurance issues when it comes to flood insurance it can be very cost prohibitive at times Has there been any thought to including? Somebody from the national flood insurance program As part of this outreach just in case there is a change it and just so everyone's know that as a FEMA backed program That is not a private insurance carrier, so it's a government program So I don't think there would be any conflict in the city working with them But have you had any consideration of that? Yes, absolutely, and as I think we get into the final Mapping so we really understand the boundary. It's not moving anymore One of our engagement tactics involves workshops that includes the national flood insurance program And it is that opportunity to partner with our federal partners and make sure people are fully informed on what it means To be with inside that boundary. Great. Thank you Are there any additional questions seeing none madam deputy city clerk may you please facilitate public comment on this item? We are now taking public comment on item 8.1 If you are in the council chamber and would like to comment but have not provided a speaker card to your name Please make your way to the podium I'm seeing no public speakers on this item Thank you moving on to item 9, which is our city manager city attorneys report Madam city manager. Can you please kick us off? Yeah, thank you I just want to remind the public that the police department is hosting a community meeting March the 6th Located at the utility fields office, which is 35 stony point road from 6 to 8 in this meeting We're looking for feedback to incorporate into the police department's three-year strategic plan. Thank you Madam city attorney. I'm sorry. I have no report at this time. Thank you Madam deputy city clerk. Can you please facilitate public comment on this item? We are now taking public comment on item 9.1 if you are in the council chamber It would like to comment, but if not provided your name or a speaker card Please make your way to the podium. You will have two minutes and a countdown timer will alert at the end of that period I'm seeing no one at the podium for public comment on this item All right moving on to item 10, which is our statements of abstention by council members Councilmember O'Cruppy Yes, I'll be abstaining from item 13.1 is coordinated projects installations as a client of mine Seeing no additional abstentions 13.1 council member O'Cruppy and We will be moving on to our mayor and council members reports councilmember O'Cruppy Thank You madam mayor This past week and I attended the engineering contractors association installation and awards Always a great opportunity to spend time with those that develop our roads bridges and as well as the pads of which are buildings and houses are built upon upon and on February 20th, we had the school safety ad hoc committee where we met no action was taken at that time At that meeting and then I met with the safe campus alliance on February 22nd to listen to their concerns and their input on the matters around Santa Rosa the city of Santa Rosa and schools councilmember Fleming Yes On Wednesday a week ago Almost two weeks ago Wednesday. We met them the Metropolitan Transportation Commission met and gave direction to staff around the very housing finance bond and the direction was to proceed with The bond but come back for labor standards and then the following day We met with the north bay league of cities where I was there on behalf of the city of Santa Rosa and Metropolitan Transportation Commission and if anybody has any questions or wants to discuss this bond, please do reach out councilmember Rogers Thank you so much mayor last week you actually today in today's paper You may see an editorial that's talking a little bit about smarts Ridership it was a big thing for us to hear that over 2023 smart actually exceeded its previous high for ridership for an entire year The previous high was 2018 obviously pre-pandemic It was a great opportunity for us to talk about things that we have been changing or things that are coming on the smart line And we'll say we also had a presentation that included information about how rain Impacts our ridership that actually we see ridership drop pretty substantially when it's raining outside So this last month was the first month in a year that we did not exceed exceed the previous years high for Ridership for that individual month. We do expect that to rebound but all and all good things happening at smart I just want to say thank you to everybody who's been working on that Vice mayor step Thank You Madam mayor On the 22nd of this month. I was I've said in on the Russian River water said watershed association meeting We approved the work plan for for 2024 2025 We also heard a report on Santa Rosa's Streets to creeks program Which is protecting our waterways from particulates as well as other hazards Our city staffers Nick Sudano and Sean McNeil did a nice job I see that Sean has escaped the room so I'll compliment Jennifer work on the excellent presentation from her team It's clear that that Santa Rosa is really setting the standard for the county in in the space of keeping our creeks clean From especially from particulates, and then we heard an additional report on wastewater and sediment tracking for the lagoon to Santa Rosa Also in the 22nd I attended the Sonoma County ag and open space meeting We had a land stewardship update that had a special focus on grazing Which gave me an opportunity to report out on on Santa Rosa's Particular interest in expanding grazing in our community with with a special focus on the southeast Greenway I enjoyed giving that report And then there was also an election of new officers And then on the 14th there was a there was a community meeting Focused on illicit massage businesses in the community This was a group that was convened by it by an active community member a shout-out to Curtis Bennett He brought together about 50 community members business owners several members of or several my colleagues here in the dais as well as a great representation from Center with the police to talk about potential problems that we're having with illicit massage businesses in the community It's clearly it's clearly an issue for some of our neighborhoods In the next step the action item that came out of that meeting was actually that this was going to be Agendized at the public safety subcommittee, and I'm looking to my colleague councilmember O'Crepkey. I believe that's April 23 April 23 at 9 a.m. Open to the public any who are interested in that meeting should should by all means attend the public safety subcommittee, thank you customer Alvarez Yeah, I just want to form the community that tomorrow the 28th at 6 30 There will be an in-person meeting in South Park at the head start building with myself and the South Park community I hope that the neighborhood will come out and ensure the concerns as well as their ideas. Thank you Thank you, and I will just end it with on the 16th mayor and council members association of Sonoma County legislative committee Met and while there we were able to get an update from the Sonoma clean power CEO so that was very nice and informative And I've also been able to send a host of community events for a black history month and for other Reasons and also visit the Santa Rosa French American Charter School last week, which was a lot of fun So if your students came home and told you I was there it is the truth And I've been getting a lot of Texas and emails So it was my pleasure to be there, and it was a lot of fun And with that we will go to our madam deputy city clerk for public comment on this item Thank you mayor We are now taking public comment on item 11.1 if you are in the council a chamber I would like to comment but have not provided a speaker card or your name Please make your way to the podium And seeing no public comment on this item Thank you We will now move on to our next item, which is item 12 approval of minutes We have one set of minutes for February 6 2024, which was a special meeting counselor. Are there any corrections to the minutes? Seeing none madam deputy city clerk. Can you please facilitate public comment on this item? We are now taking public comment on item 12.1 if you were in the council chamber I would like to comment, but have not provided a speaker card or your name. Please make your way to the podium seeing No public comment on this This is public comment on item 12.1, which is our Meeting minutes for February 6th. Okay, perfect seeing no comment We will Keep going on to item 13, which are our consent items Madam deputy city clerk. Can you please read the consent items? Item 13.1 is a resolution approval of second amendment to blanket purchase order number 166103 with coordinated project installations incorporated for office furniture installation Relocation and delivery services item 13.2 is a resolution delegation of authority to execute project work orders issued under existing master agreements for professional services Item of 13.3 is a resolution waiver of bid and issuance of blanket purchase order to Hansel Ford Santa Rosa, California for replacement Ford police interceptor utility vehicles item 13.4 Ordinance adoption second reading ordinance of the council of the city of Santa Rosa Correcting a clerical error in ordinance ORD 2023 016 By renumbering the hazardous vegetation and fuels management chapter within the Santa Rosa city code as chapter 9-32 item 13.5 Ordinance adoption second reading Ordinance of the city of Santa Rosa amending title 9 of the Santa Rosa city code by repealing chapter 9-24 pertaining to administrative enforcement of COVID-19 public health orders in its entirety adding a new chapter 9-24 pertaining to the inspection maintenance and registration of real properties which exist as un-maintained vacant lots or which contain vacant or abandoned buildings and amending section 18-20 .302.4 of the Santa Rosa city code Item 13.6 Ordinance adoption second reading Ordinance of the council of the city of Santa Rosa adopting a zoning code text amendment to title 20 of the Santa Rosa city code section 20-4 2.0 6 0 community care and health care facilities to exempt senior care facilities from the community care facility over concentration limitation and spacing requirement and section 20-70 020 glossary to modify the definition of community care facility to allow palliative care and end-of-life medical treatments for senior care facilities file number PRJ 23-016 Thank you I'm bringing it back to council to see if there are any questions for the consent items and seeing none madam Deputy City Clerk may you please conduct public comment? We are now taking public comment on consent items 13.1 through 13.6 If you are in the council chamber it would like to comment But if not provided a speaker card or your name, please make your way to the podium You will have two minutes and a countdown timer will alert at the end of that period as you approach the podium Please state your name for the record if you choose to do so first step will be calling Tests Caldwell Oh, Santa Rosa City Council and community members. I would like to speak on 13.3 in regards to the 3.5 million being allocated for new police vehicles These police vehicles that are going to be replaced are deemed as being eligible for replacement not necessarily in need of replacement I think that our police department has a disproportionate amount of our city's funds and that 3.5 million could go to much better community practices and policies that would mitigate the need for such policing so instead of Replacing already fine and working police vehicles that are frankly better than the vehicles of many of the community members who these police police I think that these funds should be put towards something else So I would really like you to not approve the allocation of the three and a half million dollars to give them 60 more Replace 60 police vehicles with 2025 model Ford interceptors Additionally, I think that waving the competitive bidding is Not a good practice as it puts the community members of the city of Santa Rosa at a disadvantage because we're not able to Find different prices. I think that this is kind of circumventing some of the aspects of Policy and regulation that are really important in communities, especially for such a high price tag Additionally, I live in a neighborhood that is pretty heavily policed I live in Miss Fleming in your neighborhood I see cops every single day and their vehicles are pretty darn nice they work pretty darn well and I don't think that we should be replacing them just because they're able to be replaced I think that we should be replacing them when they need to be replaced. Thank you Do we have any additional comment on 13.1 through 13.6? Thank you. Please go ahead when you're ready Hi, yes. Thank you. My name is Alan Wolves and I Basically just like to second everything that test said I am opposed to the spending of three point five million dollars on new police vehicles in the first place and If getting them is a requirement. I am also opposed to that being a no-bid contract to a single company I think we should shop around and figure out a way to spend the least amount of money on that as possible We already spend a lot of money on SRPD and we spend a lot of money on their vehicles We got them a tricked out lowrider. I saw recently they just got a very expensive looking Tricked out Ford F-150 patrol vehicle. I do not know why the police department needs a tricked out F-150 It's a ridiculous way to spend our money So I'm opposed to that and I am also opposed to doing that as a no-bid contract. Thank you Thank you. Do we have any additional commenters on this item? It looks like we have no additional Public speaking on this item Thank you, vice mayor stop. Can you please make a motion? I'd like to move that we approve items 13.1 through 13.6 and wait for the reading the text We have a motion made by vice mayor stop and a second by council member Madam city attorney We did have a recusal on 13.1 and while there are several different ways you could go about it It's my understanding that the practice That the city has undertaken before is that in that situation you would have a vote on the balance of the consent calendar first and then you would take the item 13.1 in this case separately a council member who has a conflict with 13.1 would then His vote would be recorded as a recusal on that second motion. You're correct. He just forgot. Let's try it again. Vice mayor All right, let me see if I got this straight So I'd like to make a motion that we approve items 13.2 through 13.6 and wait for the reason reading the text still second We have a motion made by vice mayor staff and a second made by council member Rogers For 13.2 through 13.6 Madam deputy city clerk may you please call them up council member Rogers Council member O'Crepkey hi Council member McDonald is absent and council member Fleming Hi council member Alvarez vice mayor staff hi Mayor Rogers hi the motion passes with passes with six eyes with council member McDonald absent All right, I smear stop I'd like to make a motion that we approve item 13.1 and wait for the reading the text Second we have a motion made by vice mayor staff and a second made by council member Rogers for 13.6 21 Madam deputy city clerk may you please call vote Council member Rogers hi council member O'Crepkey has recused Council member McDonald is absent council member Fleming hi Council member Alvarez hi Vice mayor stop hi Mayor Rogers hi the most in motion passes with five eyes with council member McDonald absent and council member O'Crepkey recusing Thank you Moving on it is too early for item 14. We will not take a public comment on non-agenda matters until 5 o'clock We have no report items. We have no public hearings being as though 16 Point one has been continued to a date uncertain Item 17 is our written communications We have none and that leaves us with the end of our agenda for item 18 But I cannot take that until 5 o'clock so we will take a short break until 5 o'clock and we will be right back Thank you so much. All right seeing that it is 501 and I'm seeing a quorum we will now begin our meeting madam deputy city clerk may you please call the roll Thank You mayor one moment councilmember Rogers here councilmember O'Crepkey here Councilmember McDonald is absent councilmember Fleming Councilmember Alvarez present vice mayor stat your mayor Rogers Present let the record reflect all council members are present with the exception of councilmember McDonald all right now we will begin our Last item of this evening and that will be item 18 public comments on non agenda matters And I will hand it over to madam deputy city clerk We are now taking public comment on item 18 18 non agenda matters This is a time when any person may address the council on matters not listed on this agenda But which are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the council also as a reminder We are only taking in-person public comment as noted on the agenda If you are in the council chamber and would like to comment But if not provided a speaker card to your name, please make your way to the podium You will have two minutes and a countdown timer will alert at the end of that period as you approach the podium Please state your name for the record if you choose to do so also as we call you Please line up at the at the two podiums. So if you are next you're ready to go First up we're gonna have Alan followed by Jason and then Jesse Hi, yes, thank you My name is Alan Wolves and I again come to you to plead that you take up and pass the ceasefire resolution a Couple of you have given some quotes to the press Democrat about the process that I'd like to address Council member staff said the feedback he received in conversations. He's had with people on different ends of the discussion Including from the sizable Jewish congregations in his district has quote really cemented my stance that this is an issue that at present There is not broad consensus on There is not absolute consensus on this no I don't believe there will ever be because Zionists believe that even Acknowledging the existence of Palestine is anti-semitic The Institute for social policy and understanding did a poll that just recently came out which you can read at ISPU org Slash ceasefire which found that 63% of the general public supported ceasefire and only 16% opposed it Among Jews 50% support a ceasefire and only 34% opposed I would definitely call that a broad consensus myself Santa Rosa Council member Jeff Krepke said that supporting resolution could alienate a segment of the community or emboldened others who Disagree with the resolution to act out He sees the back and forth between speakers at February 13th council meeting as a microcosm of what he worries could happen if the council Supports a resolution Council member a Krepke what evidence do you have of this actually happening anywhere? The back and forth between speakers that you've seen so far is what will continue if you do not pass a resolution What back and forth have you seen from our dear neighbors in Qatadi who passed theirs over a month and a half ago? Where's the anti-semitism there which we've been assured will happen anywhere that passes a ceasefire resolution? Steps said Monday. He's unsure if there's a way to move forward at this point There is absolutely a way to move forward put the ceasefire resolution on the agenda vote on it pass it. Thank you Thank you. Next up is Jason followed by Jesse and then Miles He's the projector if that's okay, please Is the projector yes hold on one moment Yes, while we're working on getting the lectern going. Let's have that Jesse go ahead and go and We'll work on on calling you next Jesse, please go ahead when you're ready. Hello council members. My name is Jesse Christensen I'm here to urge you today to act on behalf of the defenseless civilians of Gaza who are facing the most horrific Coordinated attack on a civilian population in our lifetime by one of the most advanced militaries in the world I volunteered in the West Bank in 2005 as part of the international solidarity movement We were there to assist Palestinians as they harvest their olives in their fields because they get attacked regularly by Israeli settlers We tried to act as a buffer and Intervene when possible and act as witnesses when necessary. I stayed in Palestinian homes as well as Israeli homes And while I was there I traveled on the segregated road systems that are designed for Israeli settlers And I witnessed the daily harassment that Palestinians have to go through when they pass through Israeli checkpoints The people in Gaza are starving and using animal feed to bake bread and eating weeds to put something in their stomachs Most hospitals have been destroyed or run out of supplies and the generators have run out of fuel Doctors are performing surgeries without anesthetic and by flashlight Disease and infection are going untreated and claiming lives while there's no clean water and aid trucks are deliberately being blocked From bringing in food medicine and fuel Critical patients are dying for lack of electricity There's no power limited communication because Israel has targeted the civilian infrastructure Untold numbers remain missing and are buried under the rubble This is deliberate and it is genocidal Reporters doctors and medics are being targeted and killed Schools and hospitals are being destroyed bakeries are being bombed ambulances bombed mass incarceration and torture are being used Dehumanizing language people calling them human animals I urge you to call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire. I urge you to be on the right side of history Thank you. Let's Jason one moment Thank you. Please go ahead when you're ready Please go ahead when you're ready Thank you. Hi, my name is Jason last Thursday four months into the current round of ethnic cleansing and genocide Joe Biden finally Found the spine to say the overwhelming majority of Palestinians are not Hamas and Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people So that's for those of you who are still confused about what is going on in the Middle East This is partly about a system of power and what you are allowed and not allowed to say the truth does not change Only our awareness of it This is why we're here because of failed leadership at the top at the very basic level We want to know that we live in a safe and sane community But what we are finding is exactly what Aaron Bushnell said is he was walking towards the Israeli Embassy in Washington This is what our ruling class has decided will be normal He did what he did is an emblematic of how we feel No one is listening to the majority of the American people So what are we doing those of us who've those of you who've lost your humanity in this critical moment are turning your back on the collective Well-being Maintaining and perpetuating the ruling class interests. This is exactly what our civil rights leaders were addressing The other reason we are here is because of the people in our community who prefer things the way they are at best They are traumatized indoctrinated and choosing fear over love humanity and justice and not only are they willing to show up and repeat lies And misinformation they offer nothing no concessions Hamas October 7th has Israel done nothing wrong Revealing their lack of authenticity in the end They are making a choice and by letting them impede you are making a choice if we must condemn Hamas in Order to pass a ceasefire resolution then we must also condemn the conditions from which they arose Condemn the Hamas Charter condemn the Likud Charter. That's justice a single standard State violence was bad in Nazi Germany But fine in Gaza and the West Bank if you continue to choose to support this annihilation of the Palestinian population of Gaza Then you do not get to ever pretend Thank you. Next step will be miles followed by Gary and then Perry Miles go ahead. Good evening My name is Miles Sarvis-Wilburn. I work as a Stewardship field specialist for land paths I also serve on the board of directors of the Sonoma County Beekeepers Association and Sonoma County acts of kindness and I'm here for the second time. I don't normally come to these and frankly I don't want to be here right now. I'm tired and I'm content to let you do your work and let the people who come here often Hold you accountable but I came here for the first time on the 9th of January and I Grievingly let you know that 10,000 Palestinian children were dead and asked you to just do the basic thing and say that Hey, that's not right that should stop call for a ceasefire and you haven't done that and it's 54 days later and 2660 more children have died which is a lot of children and That comes out by my math to 49 children per day that you could have said shouldn't have died but are now dead and I tell you this because just today I worked with 61 children from Hidden Valley School along Mark West Creek teaching them about post-fire rehabilitation and It's really hard to look at them and try to provide the best education that I can when my leadership is Telling them that they don't really care because there is no difference between the children in Palestine and the children here and Your silence speaks to me of complicity and I don't like it and frankly You know, I don't get a lot of strength and courage from you I'm getting cowardice and I'm getting silence and I don't think that there's a lot of integrity in that and I don't want that in my city council Thank You next step will be Gary Gary followed by Perry and then Jordan. I'm Gary Huntsman Thank you for being here everyone I've been troubled by the Appration of the Palestinian people for longer than I care to remember An Opportunity lies in each of our hands. Let's not act from a place of fear as do the oppressors and the aggressors Let us not cower, but let us stand up Courageously as would Gandhi Nelson Mandela Martin Luther King Rosa Parks Maya and countless others and This is what they would have us to do as they would imagine seeing the corpses of babies and Children having been laid on to your own living room floor Feel your own humanity rushing into yourself Take action Call for a ceasefire now Don't squander this opportunity and later regret your inaction Thank you Next is Perry followed by Jordan and then Tariq if you'd please line up at the podiums if not will move Tariq then Jen Okay, I'll skip is Is is Perry Perkins Jordan Pari Okay, Tariq Jen Miller Stan, okay, please go ahead and announce your name If you choose to do so Tau Kanana lived here in Santa Rosa and just took five I talk about You you say this is not a local issue And you say we can't do anything about it anyway It was it was made local. It was brought home on Sunday afternoon when a US Airman Stood on the sidewalk and poured gasoline on his head Let himself and fire that's our children our Children are seeing what's going on We're putting blood on their heads That's what's happening and we tell them We can't do anything about it We tell them Be quiet be polite mind your own business and just Go along with your business You say we can't do anything about it Every one of us can do something We can stand up and say it's enough Every one of us if we stand up and you stand up and you stand up and we all stand up together Somebody will listen to us Madam mayor if I may Excuse me ma'am We need to make sure that we are respecting everyone's right to speak if you would like to put your name in and haven't please do so I need to make sure that everyone is respecting others rights to speak if we can't do that My suggestion to the mayor will be that we Take a brief recess and try it again. We need you all to follow the rules We want to hear what you have to say, but we need you all to follow the rules Madam Deputy clerk did the last person get to finish their public comment? Yes, so next up we have P. E. R. I Perkins and then followed by Jordan and Then Jen Yes, please go ahead when you're ready. My name is Bree Perkins Thank you Good evening everyone. My name is Bree. I'm a Sonoma County resident And I wanted to thank you all for the opportunity to speak this evening Tonight, I'll be reading a tribute To refat a la rear. He was killed on December 9th of 2023 along with some of his family members The tribute is from we are not numbers They mourn the death of a beloved teacher friend colleague and family member Refat was a 44 year old Renowned poet and professor of comparative literature and a creative writing at the Islamic University of Gaza His poem I must if I must die let it be a tale posted on November 1st or shadowed his death and Evoked hope that widespread death and destruction in Gaza would not be in vain Here's the following poem If I must die you must live to tell my story to sell my things to buy a piece of cloth and some strings Make it white with a long tail so that a child somewhere in Gaza While looking to have it while looking heaven in the eye awaits his dad left in a blaze and bid no one for well Not even his flesh not even to himself Seize the kite my kite you made flying up above and thanks for a moment an angel is there Bringing back love if I must die let it bring hope let it be a tale I'd like to just urge you all to please consider Supporting a ceasefire resolution by both putting it on the agenda and immediately passing it. Thank you Next up is Jordan followed by Jen and then Stan Moving on to Roberta Summer Please go ahead when you're ready. Good evening. Is this working? Okay. Thank you for your public service. Oh Can we restart the time? I want to thank you for your public service. My name is Jen Miller. I am Jewish. I am a resident of Santa Rosa We have heard from some city leaders that is really important to have local synagogues on board with our ceasefire resolution We welcome and support that I believe that the voices from synagogues are important. However, I want to share something from my heart with you about the Jewish community Singin synagogues are not the sole representatives of the Jewish community Especially on the matter of a ceasefire resolution before the city council Jewish identity is broad. It is a culture and a religion like any community is not a monolith Many of us are connected to synagogues. Many of us only practice rituals at home Many of us come from a very rich secular tradition and we are all Jewish and we are all Jewish enough Please listen to us Jewish voices for a ceasefire in Santa Rosa and our county have spoken We are crying. We are begging you We have come from very different viewpoints, but we find unity around a call for a ceasefire resolution We have a letter from 164 Jewish people calling for a ceasefire resolution in Santa from Santa Rosa and surrounding cities our local rabbi Irwin Keller Has shared his own support for a resolution 47 people gathered in Petaluma for a ceasefire visual from the Jewish community last Saturday and on a national level we have rabbis for a ceasefire Jewish voice for peace If not now many organizations many faith leaders including 1,000 black pastors Thank you. Please support a ceasefire Thank you Next up will be Stan Roberta and then summer Please go ahead. My name is Stan Rudman and I think there should not be a resolution But if there's going to be a resolution it should include the fact that the hostages should be released Call attention to the atrocities that Hamas Conducted and should be Hamas should surrender immediately That's the only way there could be a Resolution to has any effectiveness for peace in the future people talked about non-violence Mentioning Martin Luther King and Gandhi actually if only the Palestinians and the Hamas people had used that principle There wouldn't be this problem, but instead of non-violence immediately after Gaza was released from occupation by Israel in 2005. What's the first thing that? The Palestinian Authority Hamas did after they became after they came elected in 2007 They started sending rockets into Israel Thousands and thousands of rockets what country would allow that no country did would but Israel actually Accepted the rockets and a few times they had incursions in and they have a peace treaty a peace and then Hamas then violated sending more rockets and the last thing I want to say is about the children Israel is not trying to kill children Israel is trying to kill Hamas fighters and when Hamas fighters fight and Shoot at Israeli soldiers then they respond back and if if they're in a building and the building collapses That's only because Hamas fighters were there firing on Israel, and I'm sorry that's happened I'm sorry the children have died But the blame has to go with Hamas completely. Thank you Next up is summer followed by Tess and then Elizabeth Yes, I had called for Roberta so you can line up at the next one and then well actually go ahead right now I don't see anyone lining up Go ahead Roberta when you're ready Thank you. I Just want to comment on the Jewish community that almost 90% of Jews in the Bay area support Israel The 10% that don't are here and there they aren't in the mainstream and I think they're kind of ignorant of the history of this endeavor I Would like the council to be aware of buzzwords that are applied to Israel And they're the aren't Israelis awful their racist genocidal apartheid and white colonists slaughtering indigenous people I Would just like to say that like Jesus. I am an indigenous person of Israel I May be white, but half of Israelis are people of color Jesus was not in Palestine It was not even a name or a word when he lived if So if you are going to do it Going to talk about Israel, please think of some alternatives to the buzzwords. I Prefer that you not pass the resolution I think you have a lot of problems in our community and I would like you to use your energies Towards solving them. Thank you Thank you. Next up is summer followed by Tess Hi, my name is summer abzuchalic. I'm a Palestinian American and I live here in Santa Rosa in district 5 I'm here to make a comment in favor of a ceasefire resolution This genocide inflicted on Gaza by us funded Israeli military is unprecedented because we can see it happening in Real time and not only can we see video evidence daily of unimaginable horrors We also can correspond with people in Gaza What would you do if you were corresponding with someone in a Nazi concentration camp who is facing starvation and Rationing bread made of animal feed to feed their children You would do anything in your power to make it stop Here are words from a writer in Gaza who asked me to pass along his words If we say like this for another week, I think we will start seeing people die from starvation and mass There's nothing left here Healthy people are getting sick and sick people are dying to die from the bombs is better than to die from this hunger At least with airstrikes you die right away So I work in in food justice in 2020. I helped start a free meal program I'm passionate about about cooking and feeding people and right now Israel is an intentionally starving Gaza Especially the north The US has the power to enforce a ceasefire. We're here so that Santa Rosa can be clear We want peace and diplomatic solutions It does matter what we do here at the city level We must take a stance to call for the simplest most peaceful thing to save lives, which is a ceasefire now. I Also like would like to quote one of these Really nice handmade Flyers quotes and sitting in front of you all now. We must learn to live together as brothers or we will perish together as fools. I Hope you don't all sit up there as fools any longer Thank you. Who next is tests followed by Elizabeth and then To Reese Please go ahead when you're ready. Thank you. Hello, Santa Rosa City Council. My name is Tess. I live in council member Fleming's district I want to start today by reading a short letter Named learning nursing under the fire in Gaza by for us era fat. She's age 22 My name is for us era fat 22 in September I set out to achieve my dream of becoming a nurse beginning my studies at the Islamic University of Gaza Only a month later life took a devastating turn and I was forced to learn under fire At the beginning of the war or shall I call it genocide? I was training as a nurse at al-shifa the biggest hospital in Gaza So it was natural to keep going helping people especially kids both medically and psychologically I stayed at the hospital non-stop for over 40 days surrounded by Israeli tanks Those days are a blur. I focused only on my work although. I was also lonely Hungry and traumatized one time I encountered a little girl the sole survivor of her family She was so in shock that she couldn't tell us her name and no one was there to care for her She was bleeding from her head and needed an x-ray, but a queue of others awaited their turn When I was finally able to enter the exam room with her the doctor asked what is this girl's name my response? Unknown 44 he was puzzled until he realized there were 43 others just like her nameless from shock and alone When I was forced to leave al-shifa and relocate to the south I brought along some medical supplies and medications that I believed would be useful with each passing day more Individuals arrive and set up tents using the minimal restroom facilities and resulting in the spread of more germs and viruses I began spreading the word about my presence and offered myself as a resource It is mentally and physically draining, but this is my calling introduce and pass the ceasefire as Thank you. Next up is Elizabeth followed by Therese or Therese that's kneeling and I've lived in this country most of my life. I was born in Louisiana Israel is a military puppet of the United States war machine We give eight hundred billion dollars a year to the war machine about 350 billion a year goes to making weapons. I Heard today on Berkeley radio that we have given 100 billion to the Ukrainians um This empire is corrupt It is the largest military empire in the history of the planet We have 900 military bases in 70 different countries In murdering the Palestinian people American weapons are being used We have also given them three point eight billion dollars a year for quite a while They are our military puppet and as people we need to talk the truth What else can I say killing and starving people is blatantly immoral Maybe I'll just end it there. Thank you Next up is Therese followed by Susan and then my apologies if I'm saying this wrong in who we in Huey Please go ahead when you're ready My name is Therese Morganum Walrath, and I am a Palestinian American living in Santa Rosa for over 40 years I'm a refugee from the 1948 war in Palestine when the modern state of Israel was created most of our families had to flee Palestine because of violence and massacres committed against us and over half of the population and over half the Palestinian population Long-heart story, but eventually we ended up in Sonoma County Most of my extended family operated small businesses here for decades employing many local people through the years And now we see the genocide happening in Gaza, and we can't stand by and just watch it You are our representatives. We look to you for moral leadership on this issue We want the killing to stop. Of course, we want the hostages returned alive But we also want you to understand that there are that there has been a slow genocide going on against the Palestinian people for a hundred years I'm not exaggerating If the truth is upsetting to you and others in our community All the more reason to study the facts and inform yourself as you can be a so you can be a better judge There are plenty of Israeli historians like Elon Poppe who wrote the ethnic cleansing of Palestine Whose sources are the historical archives in Israel when finally they were allowed to be opened Please do your duty as human beings representing us You were given some power to be used for good up for the good of others Our families in Gaza and the West Bank are being killed by US weapons paid for by our tax dollars And of course, it's affecting us if you are neutral in situations of injustice You have chosen the side of the oppressors Thank you. Next up is Susan followed by in Huey and then Zoe To okay. There we go In 1619 my great great great great great great great grandparents John and Sarah Woodson came to Jamestown from England They lived on stolen land and bought formally free human beings off a Dutch ship that same year Yes, the ship mentioned in the 1619 project in 1644 the Powhatan the indigenous people Resisted they killed John Sarah and another man killed several Powhatan the gun is in a museum in Richmond, Virginia Do I blame the Powhatan? I do not it was their right to resist I'm sure that John and Sarah's sons were traumatized by this. Did they have the right to kill more Powhatan? No, though many take such a path and did they have the right to kill people who had nothing to do with this? Most definitely not. Are you telling indigenous and enslaved people that they had no right to resist? Happy on the plantation and happy on the res Now we are watching while people who had nothing to do with the genocide against Jews in Germany are being Massacred and once again the people of this country including you down there on the dais are sitting on your hands while it happens The United States did not fight in World War two to save Jews far from it There was no quote broad consensus Unquote back then either vice mayor staff and we know the results of that So now many people in local governments are repeating that unforgivable inaction You're worried about tension while people are dying Council member Alvarez may be the only exception. Thank you Eddie One excuse given over and over is the trauma of the Jewish people that trauma is real But it can never be an excuse for letting other people be killed The compensation for that trauma is not the right to commit suicide genocide against someone else We know that sometimes the person who has molested a child will go on to molest other children But we never allow that first molestation to be an excuse for the second Thank you. Next step will be in Huey followed by Zoe and then Andrew Pre-Palestine I repeat Aaron Bushnell pre-Palestine Greetings, my name is in here Lee. I'm grandma or grandmother love to community member in Santa Rosa And I'm first immigrant generation immigrant from South Korea. I Used to tell my family's friends relatives in South Korea. How proud I am I live in Santa Rosa We are progressive. We are liberal, but I am very disillusioned Because of an all ceasefire resolution So the other day Aaron Bushnell the US Air Force service member gave us all good question What would I do? What would I do if I was in Korea occupied by Japan? I would join freedom fighter, which Japan calls me. I'm sure terrorist What would I do if I was in slavery? I would join net turner in 1931 What would I do if I was in Europe during holocaust the World War II? I would join resistance Fighting against the Nazi Nazis are everywhere at this time Nazis are the far right Israel apartheid government This is Palestine this time open holocaust Everywhere the social media. We cannot Say we don't know about and At this point if we can't stand with Palestine. I Don't know when else are we gonna stand up against this? This is not she Israel government. I will repeat again Aaron Bushnell pre-Palestine pre-Palestine Thank you. Next up is Zoe followed by Andrew and then Larry Hello, my name is Zoe. I live in Santa Rosa, California. I've lived in Sonoma County for over 20 years I am Jewish. I'm both culturally Jewish and spiritually Jewish I practice Judaism within my home and I have been attending their shalom for their Shabbat services and I'm Internally grateful to Rabbi Irwin Keller for speaking up on behalf of Palestine and Be half of a ceasefire and I am here to support a ceasefire I'm gonna read a story from we are not numbers and Be prepared to Be prepared to cry. This is a sad one February 13th, 2024 more than 10,000 Palestinian children have been killed in just over 100 days of Israeli Israeli bombardment. That's nearly 100 every day Akram Abu Shamella was one of them. He was born on the on November 2nd, 2020 His mother says Akram was a source of innocence joy and humor in our household On October 26th, three-year-old Akram Accompanied by his two brothers Rahim age 8 and Ibrahim age 5 went to the supermarket to buy some snacks children love snacks But an Israeli airstrike was swift and brutal killing Akram and severely injuring both of his brothers Akram's mother shared Before Akram went to out to the supermarket. He climbed on the dresser and jumped on the bed saying I'm flying. I'm free Then he went out to buy some snacks and he didn't come back Akram was a child of remarkable kindness who possessed a natural sociability Social ability among his favorite activities was riding his bicycle Next next door to Akram Next up will be Andrew followed by Larry and Maribi Santa Rosa City Council I'm Congressional candidate Andrew Engdahl and I've come here to yet again And pour you to join your voice with the Sonoma County Commission of Human Rights the Sonoma County Democratic Party in the California cities of Katari Davis Madera Richmond Alameda Oakland San Francisco Kudahey Long Beach and Ojai and adopting a proclamation that calls for an immediate Israeli Palestinian ceasefire the release of all Hossages and a permanent and just diplomatic solution to this conflict once and for all as we stand here grappling with the significance of this moment I would remind you that nearly all of the two million people who live in Gaza have now been displaced Nearly 70% of the Palestinian population have been forced into the half destroyed city of Rafa to escape the bombings that have ravaged their People since October 7th. It is true that 1200 Israelis lost their lives in an unspeakable act of terrorism But in the aftermath of that tragedy, how else should we describe the fate of an entire people with 30 times their number among the dead? Rafa was a city no larger than Santa Rosa four and a half months ago And now hosts 1.4 million Palestinian refugees, which is more people than the entire populations of Sonoma, Napa, Solano, Yolo, and Lake Counties combined The United Nations reports that 500,000 people so many of which are children are at risk of succumbing to famine due to the ongoing Bombings and blockade of humanitarian aid by the Israeli military How else would you describe this but as the state-sponsored collective punishment of an entire people? We are witnessing a genocide in real time and I would no longer see us complicit in it Tens if not hundreds of thousands of children will die if this is not in put in place immediately in humanitarian aid is rushed to those Who so desperately need it the world is watching what we choose from here and you as our elected officials have a Responsibility to do something about it if you are the leaders that I believe you all to be I ask that you have the courage to Take up a ceasefire resolution for a vote and decide on record which side of the history You will fall upon if there is any justice in this world. You will not let this happen by taking a stand Never again means never again for anyone stand with us in the name of peace love and justice enough is enough Next step will be Larry followed by Maribi and then Giovanni Please go ahead. Yes. My name is Larry handle a resident of West County also a member of Jewish voice for peace I want to associate myself with remarks that Andrew just made He said it perfectly in my opinion the amount you've all We know that the majority of Americans are for a ceasefire We know that at least 60% are for a ceasefire by polls more than 50% of Jews and 70% of Democrats Think about that. I would imagine to that in this county those numbers would be Based on the voting patterns of Sonoma of West County those numbers are probably higher 30,000 people have died over there The infrastructure has been pummeled as obliterated you all watch it on the news It looks like an earthquake. We see these horrible earthquake photos, you know from other parts of the world And it looks like all of Gaza has been totally destroyed by an earthquake But you know what? It's not an earthquake. It's human-caused and you know what else it's not just like a war between two Societies somewhere else in the world. It's ours. We did this We support Israel we supported the creation of the state of Israel and all of its Zionist atrocities since 1917 in the Balfour Declaration certainly since 1948 When the country was formed on the end when the Palestinians were expelled or killed We are complicit not just complicit. We are the main people backing it We look to you as elected officials and we're not just going to city councils Jewish voice for peace and other organizations have demonstrated in Congress City halls governors mansions everywhere in the world. We know it's not just you have this power, but damn it help Bring some justice to the world and turn this country around. Thank you Next up is Maribi followed by Giovanni and then Vera Hello, my name is Mari B. Mendoza. I'm a resident here in Santa Rosa. I've lived here my entire life I live in district two. That's Eddie Alvarez. I Don't have anything really prepared. I'm here in support of a ceasefire resolution I'm for the ending of Massacre and I'm for the ending of killing. I would assume any human would be There is no need to continue to kill millions of children No matter what or not millions, but you know at least Thousands for some ideology. I don't believe that that's okay. I think people who are against the resolution need to look inwards and see why they would advocate for the mass occurring of innocent civilians to continue This podium is stained red probably with some of our fingerprints It's the blood that's supposed to represent the almost 30,000 people who have died at the hands of Israeli occupation forces and at the hands of my tax dollars Everyone here is paying for them to die and we have to go to bed knowing that I have to wake up and go to work Knowing that I don't want to work knowing that my tax money is going to kill innocent people That doesn't make me want to work and I do good work. I help people in this community and I still can't find it in myself to go. Of course I go I Won't live if I don't go and get my money But I know that it's going to go kill innocent children and I see it on my phone And when I see innocent children with their craniums blown out Shocked because they lost everyone. They don't have anyone there And I know that I paid for that So please be my representative. Please represent the people who are here saying support a ceasefire resolution That is your job, please Next up is Giovanni followed by Vera and then Jordan Please go ahead. Hi. My name is Giovanni Contreras. I was born and raised here in Santa Rosa, California district 3 I'm here to show support for the ceasefire Resolution we have been pressuring all of our representatives and all levels so and they just really haven't been listening to us So we're really coming to you to just we're begging for your support. So yeah, thank you Except as Vera followed by Jordan and then Mark, please go ahead when you're ready. Hi, I Didn't have anything prepared but Honestly, I could not not come today. I haven't been involved with anything in a very long time and It just it's blowing my mind. This is what's happening I mean a lot of people here are feeling what I'm feeling You know two wrongs don't make a right. That's biblical. We're all Christians, right? Or a lot of us are Two wrongs never made a right So what is this going to accomplish this whole thing? It's just going to make another bigger terrorist group Israel is completely wrong is using the wrong approach Jesus said love your enemy. Are we doing that as Christians? I mean if they had been doing that all along, do you think there would be a Hamas today? there would not and You know what? Palestinians don't want Hamas. They are being terrorized by Hamas Most of the population there does not want Hamas and In fact Hamas and the PLO whoever's in charge of all the aid They're selling it to these people ten times what it's worth I have people there that I'm talking to and they're telling me this so How do they survive now? They've gone from the north to the south and now they're telling them Oh, we're gonna have to bomb the south. Where the hell are they supposed to go then? Where do they go? The buildings all the buildings more buildings have been bombed there then at the end of World War two in Germany already That's that's real destruction in what three months So come on Join us Help the ceasefire, please and so you can go to bed feeling good about it tonight. Thank you Thank you. Next up is Jordan followed by Mark and then Julia. Oh, my name is Jordan And I'm a Jewish Jewish constituent and I'm wondering At what point will you guys change your mind and say something? What needs to happen to Gaza before you will say something? Is there a death toll? 100,000 a million does Israel need to drop an atomic bomb? Do they have to slaughter everyone in Rafa? Do they have to push them into the desert to starve? Do you have to have videos of women being raped? How many more babies have to die? Do you need there to be mass executions? Because many of these things are already happening How many more teachers and educators need to be laid off in Santa Rosa for you to care? How many more youth and mental health services need to go bankrupt and close before you're angry enough about the billions of dollars going to Israel? When will you say? Okay, this is completely out of hand and I know enough of my constituents want this to end and even if this does nothing I'm desperate for it to stop and it can't hurt to make it known with the power I hold Do the synagogues have to say it's wrong? Then will you put out a resolution and if they don't say it's wrong then is it not wrong? And if they're the broad representative moral authority on this matter If they don't say this is wrong. Do they deserve that power? Can I get a raise a hands of people in the audience who are Jewish and for a ceasefire resolution? Can I get a raise a hands if you're not Jewish and for a ceasefire resolution Jews keep your hands up, too, baby We're telling you this is wrong and we refuse to be complicit. Why won't you join us? What is stopping you from screaming at the top of your lungs for this to stop? I don't understand how you can sit on the council the largest city north of San Francisco in California Which is the fifth largest economy in the world and throw up your hand saying this will not matter What certainly will be in effect is if it is if you do nothing at all Thank you. Next up is mark followed by Julia and then Devon she Mark Rudolph. I've been a Santa Rosa resident for 33 years I ask I'm speaking against a ceasefire resolution Nobody wants to see civilians killed, but a call for an immediate ceasefire will not save lives in the long run There was a ceasefire in place on October 6th before Hamas terrorists launched their barbarous invasion of Israel Their goal was to kill as many Israeli civilians as possible Hamas's leaders who stated that October 7th will be repeated over and over again Until Israel is destroyed they absolutely refuse a political solution Knowing that it is clear that unless Hamas's military capabilities are completely destroyed the cycle of Hamas atrocities Followed by Israeli retaliations will continue to repeat itself Hamas is totally responsible for the civilian deaths They have built a system of underground tunnels and fortifications under schools hospitals mosques UN offices and residential structures. They use their citizens as human shields They never built shelters for their people because civilian Palestinian deaths are one of their weapons Many calling for an immediate ceasefire see it purely as a humanitarian act But others are using it as a Trojan horse to delegitimize Israel and ultimately destroy her Not recognizing the right of Jewish people to self-rule in their homeland They vilify her with various libels and distortion As a Jewish citizen of Santa Rosa, I will feel unsafe if a ceasefire resolution is passed October 7th is not the first time Hamas has wantedly murdered Jews And it won't be the last if they're allowed to continue having my hometown pass a resolution that prevents Jews from tactic Thank you. Next up is Julia followed by Devanchi and then Ari Can you hear me? Yes, my name is Julia Rabkin. I am a resident of The unincorporated area in Bennett Valley, but I work for the county. I'm a member of SCI you tend to one And I'm a delegate to the North Bay Labor Council I'd like to read to you tonight the statement that the North Bay Labor Council passed At our last meeting we the members of the North Bay Labor Council mourn the loss of life in Israel and Palestine Recognizing that war hurts workers both at home and abroad and in the labor tradition of international solidarity We express our solidarity with all workers and our shared desire for an enduring peace in the region We urge the AFL CIO to issue a public statement to the Biden administration and Congress Calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire by all parties an immediate safe return of all hostages held by Hamas and Israel The rapid entry of substantial humanitarian assistance into Gaza and the restoration of food clean water fuel Electricity and an end to the supply of offensive weapons by the US to Israel with relevant funding redirected away from weapons and towards essential jobs and services that promote peace and social justice Furthermore we commit to defend the rights of workers and all people to freedom of speech and to promote dialogue and prevent workplace discrimination and retaliation We also urge our congressional representatives Jared Huffman Mike Thompson Alex Padilla and LaFonza Butler to support an immediate permanent ceasefire and for local North Bay jurisdictions to adopt ceasefire resolutions and in my last few seconds, I just say Palestinians have in Partially in response to other things I've heard tonight Palestinians have witnessed countless October 7th over the past couple of decades Next up we have DaVinci followed by Ari and Seth Being part of a speech by Nada Tarbush a Palestinian representative in a recent UN conference Apparently no crime no matter how grave from ethnic cleansing to apartheid settler colonialism to genocide is enough For Israel's allies to say stop When Israel made allegations against UN RWA the UN humanitarian aid agency provided life-saving aid to the starting population of Gaza and before Investigations into these allegations were even concluded those states decided to suspend their aid to the whole organization on the other hand in decades in decades of findings by UN experts Commissions of inquiry fact-finding missions international Palestinian in Israeli humanitarian rights organization The Israel is responsible for war crimes crimes against humanity apartheid and now an unfolding genocide Those states have not engaged in a single re-evaluation of military aid and preferential trade agreements. They give to Israel The double standards are astounding in the midst of these well-documented crimes by Israel Continuing to send weapons cannot be the result of a lack of knowledge No, it is a deliberate choice when made with full knowledge a Deliberate and conscious choice to send arms that will be used against Palestinians and Contribute to the suffering of the Palestinian people even as Israel's massacres continue in full view of the world According to Amnesty International states providing to Israel are violating their responsibility to protect genocide And contributing to war crimes and crimes against humanity. So we need to ask ourselves Why why our states that otherwise claim to champion international law to champion the arms trade Arms trade treaty willing to put themselves in the situation of criminal viability of immorality the situation would Thank you. Next up. We have Devanshi then Seth and then Michael I'm gonna continue the statement. You just heard Indeed demonstrations around the world make it very clear while a small number of powerful states stand with Israel as it pummels Gaza the overwhelming majority of states and world public opinion stand firmly with Palestine with the law and with peace So we ask again to those states who insist on sending arms for what purpose and to what end is the answer apathy Indifference ahead in the sand continuation of business as usual Is it profits the desire to sell your weapons and make defense profits? No matter what the cost legal moral and reputational is it political considerations Or is it ideology emanating from a racist logic whereby different values are placed on different lives People of the global south or of a certain color or nationality are seen as more disposable Less deserving of life less worthy of empathy outrage and the respect of law and respect for the law There is no diplomatic way of calling out racism, and it is time to call a spade a spade To those states who have been and are still sending weapons despite the unfolding genocide taking place in Gaza Despite your knowledge of the facts and of the law. This is your moment of truth Ask yourself will you continue your arms trade with Israel or will you finally? Recognize the damage that your complicity is doing not only to countless innocent Palestinian civilians But also to yourselves that to the credibility of the law to international peace and security and finally change course and act responsibly Next we have Seth followed by Michael. I don't know if you can hear me. My name is Seth I'm a citizen of Santa Rosa, and I'm a veteran I'm standing here in support of the Israeli people as well as the Palestinian people who I am not in support of is the fascist right wing Israeli government that as we speak right now is committing war crimes and genocide war crimes that you are supporting with your silence While I was deployed there was one thing we all knew to win We had to win the hearts and minds of citizens that meant respecting them and treating them as people The vast majority of people in Afghanistan were not anti-american Only the bad people were Every bomb dropped every dead child every family member lost brings us further from peace Violence begets violence Every dead child and every dead family member radicalizes people and is likely to cause more harm to the people of Israel If you stand with the people of Israel if you stand with your own humanity If you stand with your constituents visible before you right now, we are not a vocal minority Then I implore you please Please vote to pass a ceasefire It will save lives Israeli lives Palestinian lives human lives, please Next we have Michael. Hi everyone. I'm Michael. I'm from district two and I support a ceasefire resolution I'm going to continue the not a tarbush speech that the previous two speakers started We are here to say that it's not too late to save Palestinian To save Palestine nor is it too late to save yourselves from continued complicity To conclude it is not only a moral duty But also a legal duty incumbent upon all states to impose a two-way arms embargo on transfers of military items to and from Israel We are not asking you to be pro-palestinian Simply to be pro international law the laws that you yourselves have elaborated embraced or committed to To be pro peace pro humanity We do not want special treatment We simply want to stop giving israel special treatment as though it were a state above the law If instead you choose to continue sending weapons to israel as it annihilates the palestinian population of gaza Then you do not get to ever pretend again that you support international law Care about human life or have moral convictions that apply universally I say I thank you That's the end of the speech but what I want to say is that someone needs to Put a ceasefire on the agenda It's going to be one of you. I'm a resident of district two I'm asking my council member mark staff to be that person if I was from any other district I would ask My council member to be that person someone has to bring this up Someone has to put it on the agenda and we have to get this done We need to stop waiting Thank you Thank you. Next up. We have joanna and if there's anyone else wishing to make a comment, please make your way to the podium I'm johanna james a longtime santa rosa resident I already spoke to you at the last two meetings urging you to adopt a resolution in favor of a ceasefire And I had come today thinking I would not speak again that I had already said everything I had to say But as I sat and listened I realized I do have something else to say You are our elected representatives You can see you can hear you can count The majority sentiment here. So I have one question Do you represent us or do you not? Thank you Thank you Please go ahead when you're ready Thank you. My name is thomas A humanitarian crisis suggests beginning this will be nothing short of bangladesh That galvanized the world As we know, I hope you remember my prayer to you Is you correct the air of herons poor design here because When representatives refuse popular sovereignty the result is totalitarianism and war Nothing short of that This is a war. This is a verbal war here right now We don't want it to be a hot war I'm going to correct the record here Palestine The word the way the way they pronounce it is philistine And you know the philistines were there So there have been errors made here not only that Gaza by the hebrew law is a city of refuge According to mosaic law, no one can go there to pursue someone for death even in the face of of Murders or raves or any atrocity of that kind. It's a city of refuge. No one no hebrew person No, june. No, anyone under mosaic law can go there and do that Overwhelmingly the british parliament overwhelmingly supported gaza's ceasefire But the deputy speaker and speaker colluded to prevent the scottish national party Opposition motion to propose a ceasefire and the entirety was was uh by Hook and crook parliamentary shenanigans There was a unanimous vote for the labor party, which is a national party Not a not a true opposition party and they failed to vote and that the parliament was cleared Thank you. Please go ahead once you're ready Raise this up a little bit Hello, my name is rachel marcus. I live in san aroza in um, victoria fleming's district Um, oh and my time hasn't even started yet. I'll wait for that Um, I like many others thought I have nothing left to say that it's all been said But the one thing I want to say is what shape do we contort ourselves into to not see what's going on what What do you have to do to not look at what's happening and to not use every single bit of power that you have To stand up against genocide Many of us including as maybe especially those of us who were raised jewish grew up with the phrase never again And that means never again for anybody. I grew up thinking what would I do in the holocaust? I was obsessed with that and I you know, what are we doing right now? I want to mention aren bushnell who Took the extreme action of lighting himself on fire In front of the u.s. Embassy because the despair of watching the suffering Of the palestinian people in gaza was that unbearable that he had to take that type of powerful action And we can all do something There's no one right way to stand up But don't let people fool you that this is a complicated issue. It is not I have really appreciated the person who spoke earlier who talked about how trauma begets trauma And as a jewish person, I am standing here to say we can heal from our trauma And we do not need to perpetuate this against palestinians And jewish people are not the only people who've suffered and endured a genocide. Unfortunately We happen to be in a the position where Many jews are white and european and the geopolitical forces that be gave us a state And allowed us to perpetuate this genocide against other people and not in my name not in our name and please do something Thank you. Please go home when you're ready Yes, hi, i'm june burshares, and I live in the unincorporated part of the county But I shop in santa rosa And I walk precincts during elections and am asked to donate to your campaigns and I Am an active member of the community in santa rosa for activities here And i'm here to encourage you to act now to bring a ceasefire resolution It really is time. It's past time, but it's certainly time to do it. It's time to act In all the times where it's mattered in history when somebody's done something for justice It wasn't because they waited for a 5-0 vote It wasn't because everybody agreed. It's because it was clear That most people saw what was right and person represented that and acted And you are already following katadi following the democratic party locally Following local labor You should be acting now And I would hope mere rogers would bring this And I would hope others would support major rogers in bringing this If not, I hope others of you need to move. It's time to act You may see what the the council member and cleveland did the single member who was jewish Who spoke out and took a position when the rest of the council couldn't You may need to do that if you can't get your colleagues on board You get one other I don't know I'm not trying to violate the brown act But you need to talk to someone else on the council and you need to move this forward Or you need to stand up on your own and say where you're at And it's only going to get harder as time goes by You're only going to look worse as time goes by you're already following you need to act now We're looking to you to act Please go ahead when you're ready Hi, my name is christie luben and I also didn't come here prepared to speak but it's hard not to speak And I just want to thank all of the people who are here tonight and supported this ceasefire And I've spoken to many of you personally. I know some of you personally and I I want to say that I want santa rosa to lead this effort not follow it And I believe that um santa rosa is a city that can lead I am going to read to you part of the Now kind of revised and proposed resolution It says now therefore be it resolved that the city of santa rosa joins the united nations Amnesty international world health organization world leaders religious leaders and citizens Of the world everywhere and calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire And end to all armed hostilities and the prompt release of all hostages The unrestricted entry of humanitarian assistance in tegaza and the restoration of food water electricity and medical supplies tegaza and respect for international law We want peace We want all people to live in peace. We want israelis to live in peace We want palestinians to live in peace We are not one sided And we are not antisemitic Um And that's all I have to say. Thank you I'm seeing no No one else approached the podium for public comment on this item Please go ahead when you're ready Is this going Move up the move up the mic a little closer to you. Thank you. Hello I also didn't prepare anything to speak. I just rushed here after work We've been keeping count and the the tally is 30 To three in favor of a ceasefire resolution. Thank you If you don't mind Please go ahead when you're ready. Okay. My name is attila negi in santa rosa um I am not sure. I just walked in so I don't know what has been said so far I do want you to pass a resolution about ceasefire And I think The way I see it in the city Is the majority of people want that And there's a minority people who Um Don't agree with ceasefire. They have all types of solutions And they think israel has a right to defend itself Well and occupied people have a right to defend themselves Israel is the occupier So understand that So when you think there's two sides There's one side That oppresses the people And there's the other side Who are freedom fighters? Which is what my people were called in 1956 in hungry Who stood up against an occupying force? Which was uh, so the union So the people were called internationally as freedom fighters And yet to understand that's what palestinians are. They've been occupied for 75 years over 75 years And they are fighting for their freedom So Consider that when you're thinking about You know, basically, uh, what's happening is and justifying a mass murder of palestinians and displacement That's all. Thank you Mayor i'm seeing no additional speakers at the podium for this item Thank you. And with that we will be adjourning the meeting in honor of former Sonoma county supervisor janet Nicholas who recently passed away. Thank you