Community Advisory Board

Office of Community City of Santa Rosa Engagement 637 First Street Community Advisory Board Special Meeting Minutes - Final Wednesday, December 15, 2021 6:00 PM SPECIAL MEETING 6:00 P.M. PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54953(e) AND THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE HEALTH OFFICER OF THE COUNTY OF SONOMA, COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN THIS MEETING VIA ZOOM WEBINAR. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING BY: • BY ZOOM BY VISITING https://srcity-org.zoom.us/j/86796186459, OR • BY PHONE BY DIALING 877-853-5257 AND ENTERING WEBINAR ID: 867 9618 6459. THE MEETING WILL BE LIVE STREAMED AT HTTPS://SANTA-ROSA.LEGISTAR.COM/CALENDAR. CLICK ON THE "IN PROGRESS" LINK TO VIEW. THE MEETING CAN ALSO BE VIEWED ON COMCAST CHANNEL 28, AT&T U-VERSE CHANNEL 99, AND AT HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/CITYOFSANTAROSA Public Comment may be made live during the meeting via Zoom or submitted by 5:00 pm, the Tuesday (12/14) before the CAB meeting via e-mail at communityengagement@srcity.org or via recorded voice message at 707-543-3080. Recorded voice message comments will played (up to 3 minutes each) at the time that Agenda Item is discussed during the CAB meeting. Email public comments will be provided to all CAB members prior to the meeting. 1. CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL Meeting called to order at 6:04pm. Member Richardson joined at 6:10pm. City of Santa Rosa Special Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 6 Community Advisory Board Special Meeting Minutes - Final December 15, 2021 Present: 9 - Chair Leslie Graves, Vice Chair Jorge Inocencio, Board Member Manny Baldenegro, Board Member Cherie Barnett, Board Member Robin Bartholow, Board Member Steve Rahmn, Board Member Candice Richardson, Board Member Andrea Rodriguez, and Board Member Damion Square Absent: 1 - Board Member Beth Steffy 2. PUBLIC COMMENTS None. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES November 17, 2021 Special Meeting Minutes. A motion was made by Board Member Rahmn, seconded by Board Member Baldenegro, to approve the November 17, 2021 special meeting minutes. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7 - Chair Graves, Vice Chair Inocencio, Board Member Baldenegro, Board Member Barnett, Board Member Rahmn, Board Member Richardson, and Board Member Steffy Abstain: 3 - Board Member Bartholow, Board Member Rodriguez, and Board Member Square 4. CAB ANNOUNCEMENTS Members Bartholow and Rodriguez introduced themselves to the CAB. Member Barnett (Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition) announced that there are community bike rides happening all over Santa Rosa. One such ride is Taco Tuesday which takes place every Tuesday starting at Humboldt Park. There will be a Christmas Lights Ride on Sunday, Dec. 19. The group raised $900 to give away bikes to children in Santa Rosa. Member Rahmn announced that the Coffey Park neighborhood will have their Christmas car parade on Saturday, Dec. 18 at 6pm. Chair Graves announced that she attended the Mayor's meeting with other City board and commission chairs. It was announced at the meeting that there will be an active creek cleanup held on the first Saturday of each month. The meet-up location is at Olive Park. She also announced that the Mayor stated that if boards and commissions start meeting in person in 2022, members have to be vaccinated or have a negative COVID test in order to attend in person. There is a question out as to whether the City will provide free testing for board and commission members and we are waiting on a response. Finally, Chair Graves suggested the CAB’s City of Santa Rosa Special Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 6 Community Advisory Board Special Meeting Minutes - Final December 15, 2021 struggles to meet quorum be referred to as an “appointment or roster issue” to better reflect that the Board has not had a full roster of 14 members for the entire year of 2021. This was welcomed by other chairs. Public Comment: none. 5. STAFF UPDATES Community Empowerment Plan Update Multicultural Roots Project - Project staff need community members who are interested in joining the project advisory group. The group will begin meeting quarterly and will provide feedback to staff on project implementation, story ideas and outreach. If you or anyone you know is interested, please contact Danielle. Marylou Lowrider Patrol Car: - The artwork is underway and nearing completion. Once the artwork is done, it will get a final clear coat and then will be off to have the SRPD logo placed on the doors. - Remaining items include stereo installation, tire and rim installation and the upholstery upgrade. - Completion is estimated by the end of January. Open Government Update - The Subcommittee is on hold temporarily as the City Attorney and City Clerk focus their attention on the Charter Update and redistricting. The Subcommittee will reconvene in late February. Community Improvement Grant Update - Q2 Projects Complete: EAHS Mural and Community Matters Safe School Ambassadors - Q3 Projects Complete: Santa Rosa Dia de los Muertos Other Items - Vince Harper’s memorial service is scheduled for Dec. 16 from 3-7pm at the Finley Community Center. - There will be an opportunity for community members to say a few words of remembrance and then after the program, there will be food provided. - In lieu of flowers, his family is asking donations be made to the SRJC, which has set up a scholarship in his name. Public Comment: None. 6. SCHEDULED ITEMS City of Santa Rosa Special Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 6 Community Advisory Board Special Meeting Minutes - Final December 15, 2021 6.1 UPDATE ON CITY CHARTER REVIEW PROCESS Director Telles provided the CAB with an overview of the City Charter update process and the Charter Review Committee. The Committee is comprised of members appointed by City Council Members and meets each week. Each Council Member appoints three members to the Committee. The Committee has identified 12 topics to focus on: 1. Directly electing an at-large mayor 2. Rank choice voting 3. Police auditor/oversight committee 4. Pay for Council 5. Climate change 6. Diversity, equity and inclusion 7. Excise taxes 8. Regulation of rental housing 9. Procurement policy reforms 10. Board and commission quorums 11. Removal of mayor or council member for misconduct 12. Two-year budget process The top three items from the list are Council compensation, ranked choice voting, and directly elected mayor. Director Telles will have more detailed information for the CAB at the next meeting. Staff also took time to walk the CAB through the Charter Review webpage. The CAB would like more information on how they can be involved in the Charter Review Process. The CAB would also like staff to let the board know when there are opportunities to participate in the process. Another suggestion was to gather recommendations from other community members and provide them to the Committee. Public Comment: Gregory Fearon made public comment on this item. The Committee and other community members wants to know what the CAB's role is in the Charter Review process. The community's point of view is disappointment that Community Engagement is not involved in the process yet. 6.2 CAB 2022 PRIORITY SETTING DISCUSSION Staff presented information to the CAB on their roles and responsibilities outlined in the City Charter and associated resolutions. Included were several recommendations from staff and other community members for CAB to consider. Director Telles asked if the CAB would like to revisit and revise the strategic plan and what pivots need to be made due to current community issues and climate. She also asked to hear what the CAB needed in order to City of Santa Rosa Special Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 6 Community Advisory Board Special Meeting Minutes - Final December 15, 2021 stay engaged as members. Staff also brought up the CAB Charter focus area that requires the CAB to gather public feedback on Capital Improvement Project (CIP) budget priorities and whether it still makes sense to have that as a requirement in the Charter. Member Barnett provided information to the CAB on the historical context regarding CIP. CAB Members gave feedback on the following items: - Review CAB's section in the Charter and decide what needs to be change. Bring input around Charter Review process to discuss. - Review and revise strategic plan to reflect current community needs and reality around COVID - Dump 4 mandatory meetings per year - Rather than target CIP feedback, look into participatory budgeting - Look into neighborhood council idea Staff would like the CAB to provide a list of materials and tools needed from staff to be successful. Chair Graves requested a list be developed of all the neighborhood and community meetings with days/times and contacts for CAB members to use. Staff stated the CAB developed this several years ago and it is used by City staff. Staff will provide this list to the CAB. Public Comment: Gregory Fearon made public comment on this item. He stated the CAB should eliminate the CIP from their responsibility from the Charter. He also stated that the CAB should make revisions to their part in the Charter so that it aligns with what they want to be doing and what the community needs from the board and the City. PRESENTATION - CAB CHARTER REQUIREMENTS AND STRATEGIC PLAN FOCUS AREAS 6.3 HONORING MEMBER HARPER The CAB discussed ways in which it would like to honor the memory of Member Harper. The following ideas were presented: - An award in his honor: the Vince Harper Award (staff will talk to the Merit Award Committee) - Create a stand alone grant program in his name (request this from the Council) - Rename the CAB grant program in his name - Conduct a day of service and tie into the grant program - Name or rename a park after Member Harper Public Comment: Gregory Fearon made a public comment about this item. The more the CAB gets credible and starts recommending things, the more the City will start taking the CAB seriously. Keep the imagination going. City of Santa Rosa Special Meeting Minutes Page 6 of 6 Community Advisory Board Special Meeting Minutes - Final December 15, 2021 7. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS For January 26, 2022 meeting: - Community Improvement Grant application selection - Continue CAB priorities discussion 8. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:22pm. A motion was made by Board Member Bartholow, seconded by Board Member Rodriguez, to adjourn the meeting: The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 9 - Chair Graves, Vice Chair Inocencio, Board Member Baldenegro, Board Member Barnett, Board Member Bartholow, Board Member Rahmn, Board Member Richardson, Board Member Rodriguez, and Board Member Square Absent: 1 - Board Member Steffy The City of Santa Rosa does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admissions or access to, or treatment of or employment in, its programs or activities. Disability-related aids or services, including printed information in alternate formats, to enable persons with disabilities to participate in public meetings are available by calling (707) 543-4676 one week prior to the meeting. (TTY Relay at 711). Any writings or documents provided to a majority of this meeting body prior to this meeting regarding any item on this agenda are available for public review in the City Clerk's Office, Room 10, City Hall, 100 Santa Rosa Ave, during normal business hours.