Community Advisory Board

VIRTUAL MEETING - City of Santa Rosa PARTICIPATION INFORMATION BELOW Community Advisory Board Meeting Minutes Wednesday, April 27, 2022 6:00 PM 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/88233408141, OR • BY PHONE BY DIALING 877-853-5257 AND ENTERING WEBINAR ID: 882 3340 8141. 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 (4/26) 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 6:04 p.m. Member Square left the meeting around 8:20 p.m. City of Santa Rosa Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 10 Community Advisory Board Meeting Minutes April 27, 2022 Present: 9 - Chair Leslie Graves, Vice Chair Jorge Inocencio, Board Member Cherie Barnett, Board Member Robin Bartholow, Board Member Kirstyne Lange, Board Member Steve Rahmn, Board Member Damion Square, Board Member Beth Steffy, and Board Member Sarah-Jane Wiseman Absent: 3 - Board Member Candice Richardson, Board Member Andrea Rodriguez, and Board Member Calum Weeks 2. PUBLIC COMMENTS Pat Kuta made a request that CAB members receive City email addresses. Judy Kennedy made public comment regarding her grant application and stated that she was here to answer questions when discussing the application for the Rainbow Flag Crosswalk. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES February 23, 2022 Regular Meeting Minutes. Public comment: none. A motion was made by Board Member Bartholow and seconded by Vice Chair Inocencio to approve the February 23, 2022 meeting minutes. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7 - Chair Graves, Vice Chair Inocencio, Board Member Barnett, Board Member Bartholow, Board Member Lange, Board Member Steffy, and Board Member Wiseman Absent: 3 - Board Member Richardson, Board Member Rodriguez, and Board Member Weeks Abstain: 2 - Board Member Rahmn, and Board Member Square 4. CAB ANNOUNCEMENTS Member Bartholow announced that the Sonoma County Farm Bureau will host the inaugural 2022 Water Summit on May 10 and 11. Over two days, attendees will explore the unique and complex water-related issues facing agricultural producers in California. Member Lange announced that the Sonoma County Black Forum hosted a food drive in Santa Rosa for the community. She also announced that she is part of the planning for the Juneteenth event at MLK Park. Member Rahmn announced that the Adopt a Park event at Coffey Park hosted 150 people who helped pick up trash in the neighborhood. It was overall a successful City of Santa Rosa Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 10 Community Advisory Board Meeting Minutes April 27, 2022 event. He also announced that the Flea Market on Santa Rosa Avenue is moving to where the KMart use to be. He also attended The Marylou event in March. Finally, he mentioned that he Is going on bike rides in various neighborhoods with his family and encourages others to do the same to get to know different parts of Santa Rosa. Member Barnett announced that May is bike month and encourages everyone to ride their bikes. Member Steffy announced that she attended the Earth Day event at Courthouse Square. She encourages other CAB members to participate at community events with City staff. Chair Graves announced that she attended the Adopt a Park event in Coffey Park as well. She also announced that on May 1, there will be a march for immigrant rights that starts in Roseland Village. Her final announcement was to congratulate Mayor Rogers on his wedding. Public Comments: none. 5. STAFF UPDATES Staff gave several updates this month: Marylou Lowrider Patrol Car The Marylou Lowrider Patrol Car Celebration and Ceremony held on Saturday, March 26 and was attended by 500-600 people. Since the unveiling, the car has been taken out to the Health and Wellness Fair at Elsie Allen High School. The car is scheduled to be at the following events: Sonoma County Lowrider Council Cinco de Mayo BBQ on 5/7 from 2-5 at Doyle Park; the South Park Ice Cream Social and Public Safety Day on 5/14; Wildfire Ready on 5/21 at Courthouse Square; the Sonoma County Pride Parade on 6/4; the Peggy Sue Car Show and Cruise on 6/11; and the MLK-Juneteenth Community Festival on 6/18 at MLK Park. City Manager Town Hall Meeting April 30, 10am at Finley Community Center. The City Manager will discuss her first 100 days in her position, listen to community concerns and gather feedback on pressing issues facing Santa Rosa residents. Community members are encouraged to email their questions prior to the meeting: communityengagement@srcity.org Wildfire Ready Saturday, May 21 from 11am-2pm in Courthouse Square. City of Santa Rosa Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 10 Community Advisory Board Meeting Minutes April 27, 2022 To continue helping the community prepare for wildfire season and in alignment with National Wildfire Awareness Month, the City of Santa Rosa’s Fire Department and Office of Community Engagement will hold Wildfire Ready, a one-day resource fair open to all community members. The City, along with participating organizations, will provide event participants with information about wildfire preparedness, including: individual and family preparedness; home and property preparedness; emergency alerts and notifications; evacuation zones for Santa Rosa residents; mental health and other wellness resources; disaster resources for neighborhoods; and more. Hearn Avenue Complex: Community Assessment RFP Update The Office of Community Engagement (OCE) received six proposals for the Hearn Community Hub Community Needs Assessment and Collaboration Project. The purpose of the needs assessment and collaboration project is to gather community input and participation in the development of the multi-use site identified and acquired by the City of Santa Rosa and the Sonoma County Library. Key outcomes of the project will be to provide input and data to the City Council on possible uses including a library, a multicultural community center, an aquatic center and a community or neighborhood park. Next steps include evaluating and selecting the consultant. Start date for this project is set for July 1, 2022. More information to come. Multicultural Roots Project (MCRP) Update For the month of April, the MCRP team is highlighting stories of lowriders in Sonoma County and lowrider culture. For May, the project will shift gears and highlight stories in honor of Asian American-Pacific Islander (AAPI) Month. The project team is also working with staff from the Arts in Public Places Program to feature the Multicultural Roots Project at the Finley Community Center starting in August and running through September. We are also inquiring about utilizing space in City Council Chambers to share stories on a monthly basis. DEI Spaces City Council approved use of $150,000 in PG&E settlement and ARPA funds for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Spaces Mini-Grant Program. The goal of the DEI Spaces Mini-Grant is to support BIPOC community groups in accessing and securing spaces that create diversity, equity and belonging. Eligible applications include events, classes, workshops and projects that celebrate cultural wealth and educational opportunities for the community around diversity, equity and belonging. All events, classes, workshops and projects must be free to participants. OCE staff has developed the program and application process and it is currently being reviewed by the City Manager and then will be sent to the City Attorney’s Office for review and approval. OCE staff will review, evaluate and make funding recommendations to the OCE Director who will make final selections. If there are any CAB members interested in reviewing and evaluating applications with OCE City of Santa Rosa Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 10 Community Advisory Board Meeting Minutes April 27, 2022 staff, please let us know. Public comments: none. 6. SCHEDULED ITEMS 6.1 2022 Q1 COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT GRANT APPLICATION SELECTIONS Annette Arnold thanked the CAB and stated she was happy the board approved Ice Cream Social and Safety Day Event. Public Comment: Gregory Fearon made a public comment regarding the South Park Coalition's application, stating they asked for $200 for a stereo. He mentioned that the stereo can be provided and that anyone needing to rent a sound system can do so through Community Action Partnership (CAP). A motion was made by Member Steffy, seconded by Member Lange, to approve the applications for the Rainbow Flag Crosswalk Project, the South Park Ice Cream Social and Public Safety Day Project, and the Water Trailer Purchase Project. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 9 - Chair Graves, Vice Chair Inocencio, Board Member Barnett, Board Member Bartholow, Board Member Lange, Board Member Rahmn, Board Member Square, Board Member Steffy, and Board Member Wiseman Absent: 3 - Board Member Richardson, Board Member Rodriguez, and Board Member Weeks REPORT - COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM 2022 Q1 APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDING BACKGROUND: On January 5, 2022, the Community Advisory Board (CAB) released the 2022 Community Improvement Grant Application for Quarter 1 to the public. The application period closed April 4, 2022. The CAB received four applications for funding, totaling $9,140. The projects are as follows: 6th Annual Railroad Square Music Festival (The Lost Church) Ice Cream Social and Safety Day (South Park Coalition) Purchase of Water Trailer (Circuit Rider Community Services) Repaint Rainbow Flag Crosswalk (Brew & LGBTQ Network) RECOMMENDATION: The Office of Community Engagement recommends the City of Santa Rosa Meeting Minutes Page 6 of 10 Community Advisory Board Meeting Minutes April 27, 2022 CAB fund all four project applications for this grant period. Chair Graves pulled the Railroad Square Music Festival application for separate discussion. She stated she had a concern that the applicant was asking for a $2,500 grant from the CAB but was already receiving City funds per their application budget. Staff stated that the Community Promotions funding provided by the City for large events was not taking place this year and was not sure what City funds they meant. Members asked if the application could be held until the following month so that staff had time to find out what funds these were. It was decided not to hold the application until May 25 because the event was scheduled to take place on June 12. Staff was able to find the answer: the funds listed in the budget as City funds are specifically from the "Out There Santa Rosa" Program and are only to be used for program purposes and not for event costs. Public Comment: Gregory Fearon stated that he would like to see that when the CAB gives a grant to someone think of the climate and the environment. Take notes, be bold and be a model of how not to pollute. Buy a power system and loan it out. A motion was made by Board Member Barnett, seconded by Board Member Steffy, to approve the Railroad Square Music Festival application. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 9 - Chair Graves, Vice Chair Inocencio, Board Member Barnett, Board Member Bartholow, Board Member Lange, Board Member Rahmn, Board Member Square, Board Member Steffy, and Board Member Wiseman Absent: 3 - Board Member Richardson, Board Member Rodriguez, and Board Member Weeks 6.2 COMMUNITY PRESENTATION: SANTA ROSA TOGETHER Santa Rosa Together Presentation Outline. Provided for information. Cecile Querubin, member of Santa Rosa Together (SRT), presented SRT's idea for a council of neighborhoods. SRT is advocating for the CAB to become a council of neighborhoods, building an infrastructure for a local democracy. SRT believes a robust network of neighborhoods would empower CAB members and would build capacity for CAB members to lead groups through dialogue and problem solving. This concept would build stronger neighborhoods and would allow community members to be more actively engaged in what happens in their neighborhoods and local government. SRT would like to see City Council adopt an ordinance that creates a council of neighborhoods. City of Santa Rosa Meeting Minutes Page 7 of 10 Community Advisory Board Meeting Minutes April 27, 2022 The CAB provided SRT feedback on their proposal. This feedback included: - The CAB is a group of volunteers and members volunteer in a variety of ways. How does a council of neighborhoods look realistically given that members already dedicate so much time volunteering already? - Neighborhoods are not as actively engaged due to the pandemic. There needs to be work to help revitalize or restructure neighborhood groups before jumping to something like a council of neighborhoods. - The Seattle model has over 50 employees for their programming, which Santa Rosa does not have. - This model does not embody the diverse lifestyles that folks live here in this community and doesn't recognize differences of lived experiences people have. For example, there is an assumption that folks are not civically engaged because they don't know about things - they may just have to work one or two jobs to maintain their households. When you break the disparities down, there is an impact on our communities of color. Most of these folks are trying to just get by day-to-day, survive and thrive. Lived experiences are different and access is different. - This would tax the CAB and the City knowing that their priorities have been on addressing the issues mentioned above. - There is already a division between the homeowners (the haves) and renters (the have-nots) in many neighborhoods across the community. Those "haves" are in a better position to engage and participate and it is troubling if those leading this kind of effort are making the decisions for the "have-nots" in their neighborhood. - There is a lot of racism and systemic injustice that exists in our community and city. - Until we figure out how to elevate, support and amplify those needs, a model like this just glosses over the fact that there are people who don't have their essential needs met. - Most precious resource is time and creating a council of neighborhoods puts the responsibility on the neighborhood and challenges and taxes time, which many don't have. It takes a lot of social capital to create and maintain a neighborhood group and unless the work is paid for, it will not be sustainable in our community. - We need to increase our capacity to do community engagement right now. - There is a concern about equity: not everyone identifies with their neighborhood. - Don't want to have community versus neighborhoods. - Could decrease CAB's role and impact in the community. Public comment: none. 6.3 CONTINUATION OF CAB STRATEGIC PLAN REFRESH CAB Strategic Plan and Draft Objectives List. Provided for information. City of Santa Rosa Meeting Minutes Page 8 of 10 Community Advisory Board Meeting Minutes April 27, 2022 The CAB continued to work on their strategic plan refresh, focusing on prioritizing strategies from the list that was brainstormed in February. Several strategies were combined, as they were similar to one another or lead to the same outcomes. The CAB shortened the list of 14 activities down to 5 and then took a vote on their top three choices. The results were as follows: 1. Reactivate/reconvene neighborhood groups. Facilitate neighborhood groups - how to start a neighborhood group. Use data from Portrait of Sonoma County to recognize issues of inequity and serve community members where they are. Explore the diversity of the community within the areas of interest stated above. - 7 votes 2. Boost CAB's overall engagement with and empower the community in City decision making by reconnecting with community at community events and gather data on how people want to connect with the City. Making a presence in all 7 districts. Use data from Portrait of Sonoma County to recognize issues of inequity and serve community members where they are. Explore the diversity of the community within the areas of interest stated above. - 7 votes 3. Fund block parties with Community Improvement Grant Program (general block party, outside of NF). - 2 votes 4. Document tangible benefits the CAB to share with the community. Develop hybrid tools and make available to educate the public on what city government does and how to access services (Civic 101 videos). Use data from Portrait of Sonoma County to recognize issues of inequity and serve community members where they are. Explore the diversity of the community within the areas of interest stated above. - 8 votes 5. Team building exercises/trainings (internal). - 0 votes Public comments: none. 6.4 UPCOMING EVENTS 2022 Event Schedule. Provided for information. Staff provided CAB with a list of potential tabling opportunities at upcoming community events and asked for volunteers. Members were provided an opportunity to sign up to table at the list of events. The events include: City Manager Town Hall Meeting - April 30 Sonoma County Lowrider Council Cinco de Mayo BBQ - May 7 South Park Ice Cream Social and Public Safety Day - May 14 Wildfire Ready - May 21 City of Santa Rosa Meeting Minutes Page 9 of 10 Community Advisory Board Meeting Minutes April 27, 2022 Railroad Square Music Festival - June 12 MLK Juneteenth Festival - June 18 Roseland Disaster Preparedness Event - August 4 Other potential events listed but not confirmed as of yet were the Live at Julliard concert series (July 17 to August 21) and the LBC Fiesta de Independencia Event and Car Show (Sept. 18). Public comment: none. 6.4 ISSUES OF CONCERN TO CITY RESIDENTS Several issues of concern were brought forth by CAB members. Member Rahmn provided feedback regarding the MySantaRosa app, stating that community members were posting items to the app but not getting responses from City staff. There are also issues with how the app displays information to the public. Staff will follow-up with the IT Department about this issue. Member Steffy brought forth the issue of how dangerous and vicious animals are classified and handled in the City ordinance. She has been working with City staff and other community members to update the City Code after two dogs attacked and killed two cats in her neighborhood. There will be a hearing on the issue at the next Public Safety Subcommittee meeting in June. Will provide more details at the CAB meeting in May. Chair Graves brought up sideshows still a big area of concern. The City is still working on placing dot bots at intersections that have had sideshow activity or other reckless driving activity. Public comments: none. 7. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS A. Continue working on strategic plan, as needed B. Public Safety Funding (Measure O) Presentation (May 2022) C. City's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiatives (Tentative June 2022) D. New City Manager Meet and Greet (TBD - please keep in mind the 4/30 town hall meeting and attend if you can) E. Office of Community Engagement Strategic Plan (TBD) F. Out There Santa Rosa Initiative Presentation (requested by Member Barnett - TBD) Public comment: none. 8. ADJOURNMENT City of Santa Rosa Meeting Minutes Page 10 of 10 Community Advisory Board Meeting Minutes April 27, 2022 Meeting adjourned at 8:54 p.m. A motion was made by Chair Graves, seconded by Vice Chair Inocencio, adjourned: The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 8 - Chair Graves, Vice Chair Inocencio, Board Member Barnett, Board Member Bartholow, Board Member Lange, Board Member Rahmn, Board Member Steffy, and Board Member Wiseman Absent: 4 - Board Member Richardson, Board Member Rodriguez, Board Member Square, and Board Member Weeks 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.