City Council

City Hall, Council Chamber City of Santa Rosa 100 Santa Rosa Avenue Santa Rosa, CA 95404 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - Final Wednesday, May 7, 2025 9:00 AM 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Mayor Stapp called the meeting to order at 9:01 a.m. Present: 6 - Mayor Mark Stapp, Council Member Caroline Bañuelos, Council Member Victoria Fleming, Council Member Dianna MacDonald, Council Member Jeff Okrepkie, and Council Member Natalie Rogers Absent: 1 - Vice Mayor Eddie Alvarez 2. REMOTE PARTICIPATION UNDER AB 2449 (IF NEEDED) Council Member Okrepkie announced the need to participate remotely under the just cause provisions of AB 2449 of the Brown Act due to a contagious illness and affirmed that there was no one 18 years of age or older present in the room at the remote location. Council Member MacDonald announced recusal from the Recreation and Parks proposed budget presentation due to a personal relationship. Council Member Rogers announced recusal from the Seasons of Sharing portion of the Homeless Services additional budget reduction considerations due to conflict of interest based on serving as a board member of Community Action Network (C.A.N.), which runs the Seasons of Sharing program. 3. STUDY SESSION (CONTINUED FROM THE MAY 6, 2025, REGULAR MEETING) 3.1 REVIEW OF FISCAL YEAR 2025-26 OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE BUDGET AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM BUDGET It is recommended by the City Manager and Finance Department that the City Council hold a Study Session intended to provide City Council the opportunity to receive information and ask questions related to the City’s overall financial stability and the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 Operations and Maintenance Budget and the Capital Improvement Program budget. This item is provided for Council’s information, and no action is required. City of Santa Rosa Regular Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 8 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - Final May 7, 2025 Day 1, May 6: City Attorney City Council City Manager Communications and Intergovernmental Relations Human Resources Finance Non-Departmental Information Technology Housing and Community Services Fire Department Police Department Day 2, May 7: Planning and Economic Development Recreation and Parks Transportation and Public Works Santa Rosa Water Capital Improvement Program Attachments: Staff Report Presentation Full (Uploaded 05-01-2025) Presentation Day 1 (Uploaded 05-01-2025) Presentation Day 2 (Uploaded 05-01-2025) Late Correspondence (Uploaded 05-06-2025) Presentation Day 2 - Morning (Uploaded 05-08-2025) Presentation Day 2 - Afternoon (Uploaded 05-08-2025) Late Correspondence (Uploaded 05-08-2025) Scott Westrope, Fire Chief, and Sarah Roberts, Administrative Analyst, presented and answered questions from Council regarding the Fire Department FY 2025-26 budget, operational highlights and answered questions from Council. John Cregan, Police Chief, and Pam Lorence, Administrative Services Officer, presented and answered questions from Council regarding the Police Department FY 2025-26 budget, operational highlights and answered questions from Council. Gabe Osburn, Director - Planning and Economic Development, and City of Santa Rosa Regular Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 8 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - Final May 7, 2025 Serena Lienau, Administrative Services Officer, presented and answered questions from Council regarding the Planning and Economic Department FY 2025-26 budget, operational highlights and answered questions from Council. Council Member MacDonald left the dais at 11:14 a.m. Donte Watson, Director of Recreation and Parks, and Jacqui Haman, Administrative Services Officer, presented and answered questions from Council regarding the Recreation and Parks Department FY 2025-26 budget, operational highlights and answered questions from Council. Council Member MacDonald returned at approximately 11:35 a.m. Dan Hennessey, Director of Transportation and Public Works, presented and answered questions from Council regarding the Transportation and Public Works FY 2025-26 budget, operational highlights and answered questions from Council. Jennifer Burke, Director of Santa Rosa Water, and Nick Harvey, Deputy Director of Administration, presented and answered questions from Council regarding the Santa Ros Waters FY 2025-26 budget, operational highlights and answered questions from Council. Dan Hennessey, Director of Transportation and Public Works, presented and answered questions from Council regarding the Capital Improvement Program for FY 2025-26 budget, operational highlights and answered questions from Council. Veronica Conner, Budget and Financial Analyst, presented additional slides based on the discussion had at the Day 1 portion of the study session. Mayor Stapp recessed the meeting at 12:54 p.m. and City of Santa Rosa Regular Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 8 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - Final May 7, 2025 reconvened at 1:21 p.m. All Council Members were present, including Council Member Alvarez, who joined the meeting at 1:21 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENT: Matt Tognozzi spoke in opposition of closing a truck company and proposed budget reductions. Matt Finnegan spoke on union, employee participation and the City process, and in opposition to the personnel cuts from Teamsters and the proposed budget reductions. Sam Hoel spoke in opposition to cutting staffing levels in the Fire Department and the proposed budget reductions. Carl Carr spoke in opposition to the proposed budget cuts. Stephan Dalporto spoke in opposition to the proposed budget reductions. Matt North, Santa Rosa Police Department Lieutenant, spoke in opposition to the proposed budget reductions and the risk of liability of eliminating the Police Lieutenant position. A.J. Trombetta, Railroad Square property owner, spoke in support of economic development and public safety, and that public safety must be adequately staffed. Melissa Stewart spoke in support of funding the school resource officers back in Santa Rosa City Schools and retain youth programs. Iris Harrell spoke in opposition to the proposed budget reductions to the Fire department. Christopher Mahurin spoke in opposition to the lieutenant position in the Santa Rosa Police Department. City of Santa Rosa Regular Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 8 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - Final May 7, 2025 Janice Karrman spoke in opposition to the proposed budget reductions in the Fire Department and dissatisfaction with the Police and Planning and Economic Development departments. Patricia Seffens spoke in opposition of the proposed budget reductions in the Santa Rosa Police Department, in particular the Police Lieutenant position. Christel Antone spoke in opposition to the proposed budget reductions to the Fire Department. Michelle Rebow spoke in support of funding the school resource officers in Santa Rosa City schools. Sam Crenshaw, Local 1401, spoke in opposition to the proposed budget reductions in the Fire Department, in particular the impacts of Brown-Outs. Heather Chagnon Gruenbaum, Montgomery Education Foundation, spoke in support of funding the school resource officers in Santa Rosa City schools. Jessie Taintor, SRFD, spoke in opposition to the proposed budget reductions to the Fire department, in particular to the proposed Brown-Outs. David Benjamin Gruenbaum spoke in support of funding the school resource officers in Santa Rosa City schools. James Geissinger spoke in opposition to the proposed budget reductions in the Fire department. Renee Rosetti, YWCA, spoke in opposition to the elimination of the YWCA safe house funding. Joel Stras spoke in opposition of the proposed closure of Ridgway City of Santa Rosa Regular Meeting Minutes Page 6 of 8 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - Final May 7, 2025 Swim Center. Jeff Bittner, Teamsters, spoke on the recent loss of critical employees to Sonoma Water due to better wages outside of Santa Rosa, spoke in support of paying attention the Treatment plant. Juan Torres, Sonoma C.A.N., spoke in opposition to the proposed cut of funds to the Season of Sharing program within the Housing and Community Services budget. Jackie Jorgensen spoke in opposition to the proposed budget reductions to the Fire Department. Patrick McDonell spoke in opposition of the proposed budget reductions to the funds to Legal Aid. Brenda Harrington spoke in opposition to the proposed budget reduction of a Lieutenant from the Santa Rosa Police department. Doug Lyons spoke in opposition to the proposed budget reductions in the Fire department. Sergeant White spoke in opposition to the proposed budget reduction of a Lieutenant from the Santa Rosa Police department. John Holt spoke in opposition to the proposed budget reductions in the Fire department, in particular the impacts of Brown-Outs. John Fisher spoke in opposition to the proposed budget reduction in the Santa Rosa Police department. Michael Hilber spoke in support of budget reductions and righting the budget. Garrison Swartz spoke in opposition to the proposed budget reductions in the Santa Rosa Police department. City of Santa Rosa Regular Meeting Minutes Page 7 of 8 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - Final May 7, 2025 Ana Diaz spoke in opposition to budget reductions in public safety and support funding school resource officers. Cassidy Anderson spoke in opposition to the proposed budget reductions in Code Enforcement. Jennielynn Holmes, Catholic Charities, acknowledged the need for budget cuts, and asked for alternative considerations for key homelessness programs like the drop-in center and HOST. Summer Gloeckner spoke in opposition to the proposed budget reductions in Santa Rosa Police department. Margaret Stone spoke in support of keeping the fire station open in Oakmont, and suggested the start of enterprise fundings for building, Planning increase, or a General Plan surcharge. Brian Fix, SRPOA, spoke in opposition to the proposed to the sexual assault unit. Chandler Jordana, Secure Families Collaborative, spoke in opposition to the proposed budget reductions. Brittany Ernst spoke in opposition to proposed budget reductions in the Fire Department. Thea King, Sonoma C.A.N. spoke in opposition to the proposed budget reductions to the Season of Sharing program. Submitted speaker card, but not present during the time of public comment: Sara Roberts (no summary sentence or indication of support/opposition to the item, only noted "Union Process"). Kelly Cresta (no summary sentence or indication of support/opposition to the item). Jenna Cresta indicated opposition to Item 3.1. City of Santa Rosa Regular Meeting Minutes Page 8 of 8 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - Final May 7, 2025 Staff answered questions from Council. Council provided direction to staff. Present: 7 - Mayor Mark Stapp, Vice Mayor Eddie Alvarez, Council Member Caroline Bañuelos, Council Member Victoria Fleming, Council Member Dianna MacDonald, Council Member Jeff Okrepkie, and Council Member Natalie Rogers PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE TAKEN ON THIS ITEM ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2025, AFTER ALL DEPARTMENTS HAVE MADE THEIR PRESENTATIONS. 4. ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING Mayor Stapp adjourned the meeting at 5:23 p.m. Approved on: June 3, 2025 /s/Dina Manis, City Clerk