Santa Rosa City Council adopts multiple consent items, accepts Prop 47 grant, approves Jennings Avenue rail crossing agreements, and appoints interim city manager

2:30 P.M. - CLOSED SESSION

4:00 P.M. - REGULAR SESSION

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING BY ATTENDING IN-PERSON FROM COUNCIL CHAMBER AT 100 SANTA ROSA AVENUE, SANTA ROSA. THE PUBLIC CAN ALSO VIEW OR LISTEN TO THE MEETING LIVE AT: 1. HTTPS://SANTA-ROSA.LEGISTAR.COM/CALENDAR. CLICK ON THE "IN PROGRESS" LINK TO VIEW; 2. VIA ZOOM WEBINAR BY VISITING HTTPS://SRCITY-ORG.ZOOM.US/J/84471867952, OR BY DIALING 877-853-5257 AND ENTERING WEBINAR ID: 844 7186 7952; 3. COMCAST CHANNEL 28, AT&T U-VERSE CHANNEL 99; AND 4. VIA YOUTUBE AT HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/CITYOFSANTAROSA Public Comment may be made live during the meeting In-Person from Council Chamber or submitted in advance via email at cc-comment@srcity.org by 5:00 p.m. the Monday before the City Council Meeting. IN THE EVENT A COUNCIL MEMBER PARTICIPATES REMOTELY BASED ON JUST CAUSE OR EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES PURSUANT TO AB 2449, THE CITY WILL ALSO ALLOW FOR PUBLIC COMMENT THROUGH THE ZOOM LINK OR DIAL-IN NUMBER ABOVE.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL E-MAILS SENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL ARE CONSIDERED TO BE PUBLIC RECORDS AND SUBJECT TO DISCLOSURE UNDER THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC RECORDS ACT. DEADLINES AND ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTION FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ARE SET FORTH BELOW. COUNCIL MAY RECESS DURING THE EVENING FOR BREAKS.

PUBLIC HEARING MATTERS WILL BEGIN NO EARLIER THAN 5:00 P.M.

MATTERS ON THE AGENDA MAY BE TAKEN OUT OF ORDER.

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

2:30 P.M.

CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL

REMOTE PARTICIPATION UNDER AB 2449 (IF NEEDED)

ANNOUNCEMENT OF CLOSED SESSION ITEMS

CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION (Paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Government Code Section 54956.9) Clare Hartman v. City of Santa Rosa, et al. Sonoma County Superior Court Case No. 24CV02546

CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION (Paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Government Code Section 54956.9) Cindy Gemignani, as Conservator of the Estate of Daryl W. Titus, et al. vs. City of Santa Rosa, et al. Sonoma County Superior Court Case No. SCV-270898

RECESS CLOSED SESSION(S) AND RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER AND VIA ZOOM.

STUDY SESSION - NONE.

4:00 P.M.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF ROLL CALL (IF NEEDED)

REPORT, IF ANY, ON STUDY AND CLOSED SESSIONS

PROCLAMATIONS/PRESENTATIONS - NONE.

STAFF BRIEFINGS

COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT PLAN UPDATE This is a standing item on the agenda. No action will be taken except for possible direction to staff.

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM STATUS UPDATE Staff will provide an update of projects currently in the Capital Improvement Program. No action will be taken except for possible direction to staff.

CITY MANAGER’S/CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORTS

STATEMENTS OF ABSTENTION/RECUSAL BY COUNCIL MEMBERS

MAYOR'S/COUNCIL MEMBERS’ REPORTS

MAYOR'S/COUNCIL MEMBERS' SUBCOMMITTEE AND LIAISON REPORTS (AND POSSIBLE COUNCIL DIRECTION TO BOARD REPRESENTATIVE ON PENDING ISSUES, IF NEEDED)

Council Subcommittee Reports

Sonoma County Transportation and Climate Authorities (SCTCA)

Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) - Water Advisory Committee

Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG)

Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District Advisory Committee

Sonoma Clean Power Authority (SCPA)

Zero Waste Sonoma (formerly known as Sonoma County Waste Management Agency (SCWMA))

Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA)

Sonoma County Homeless Coalition

Renewal Enterprise District (RED)

Public Safety Subcommittee

Other

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

November 18, 2025, Special Meeting Minutes.

November 18, 2025, Regular Meeting Minutes.

CONSENT ITEMS

MOTION - FIRST AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT NUMBER F003153 WITH BEST BEST & KRIEGER LLP FOR CONTINUED LEGAL REPRESENTATION RECOMMENDATION: The City Attorney recommends that the Council, by motion: 1) approve the First Amendment to Professional Services Agreement Number F003153 with Best Best & Krieger LLP increasing compensation by $45,000, for a total contract amount not to exceed $145,000, for continued legal representation in the matter of Cornerstone Communities II, LLC v. City of Santa Rosa, et. al., Sonoma County Superior Court Case 25CV06089; 2) authorize the City Attorney to execute the agreement; and 3) appropriate $145,000 from unassigned General Funds to the City Manager’s professional services budget to fund the legal services in Cornerstone through trial.

MOTION - FIRST AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT NUMBER F003096 WITH ATKINSON, ANDELSON, LOYA, RUUD & ROMO FOR CONTINUED LEGAL SERVICES RECOMMENDATION: The City Attorney and the Human Resources Director recommend that the Council, by motion: 1) approve the First Amendment to Professional Services Agreement Number F003096 with Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo increasing compensation by $100,000, for a total contract amount not to exceed $200,000, for continued legal services; and 2) authorize the City Attorney to execute the agreement.

MOTION - APPROVAL - GENERAL SERVICE AGREEMENT F003152 FOR TREE SERVICES RECOMMENDATION: The Finance Department recommends that the Council, by motion, approve a two-year General Services Agreement Number F003152 with California Expert Tree Solutions Inc., DBA California Tree Solutions, San Jose, California, for tree services for a total amount of $300,000, and authorizes the Purchasing Agent make non-substantive changes to the Agreement, subject to approval by the City Attorney, and execute the Agreement. This item has no impact on current fiscal year budget.

MOTION - ORDINANCE INTRODUCTION - ORDINANCE ENTITLED: ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA AMENDING CHAPTERS 11-08 AND 11-20 OF THE SANTA ROSA CITY CODE TO UPDATE STAFF DELEGATIONS AND TITLES AND REMOVE REQUIREMENT OF COUNCIL APPROVAL TO INSTALL MIDBLOCK CROSSWALKS, ROAD UNDULATIONS AND OTHER TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES RECOMMENDATION: The Transportation and Public Works Department recommends that the Council: 1) introduce an ordinance revising staff delegations entitled Chapter 11-08 and Chapter 11-20 of the City Code; and 2) approve a motion to rescind Council Policy Number 000-14, Policy of the City of Santa Rosa Relative to the Use of Road Undulations for Traffic Control. This item has no impact on the fiscal year budget.

RESOLUTION - ACCEPTANCE OF FUNDING FROM THE PROPOSITION 47 (PROP 47) GRANT PROGRAM RECOMMENDATION: The Police Department recommends that the Council, by resolution: 1) accept grant funds in the amount of $1,693,820 from the Board State and Community Corrections (BSCC) through the Proposition 47 Grant Program; 2) approve a Standard Agreement with the State of California Department of General Services; 3) authorize the City Manager or designee to execute award documents and any additional documents for administration of the grant; and 4) authorize the Chief Financial Officer to appropriate $1,693,820 of grant funds to a project key. This item has no impact on current fiscal year budget.

MOTION - WAIVER OF COMPETITIVE BID AND APPROVAL OF AGREEMENT WITH BUCKELEW PROGRAMS RECOMMENDATION: The Police Department recommends that the Council, by motion, waive competitive bidding pursuant to Section 3-08.100(d) of the City Code and approve a three-year Professional Services Agreement, with Buckelew Programs, a California non-profit organization, with an amount not to exceed $1,575,000 and authorize the City Manager or designee to make non-substantive changes to the Agreement, and execute the Agreement. This item has no impact on current fiscal year budget.

RESOLUTION - EXTENSION OF PROCLAMATION OF LOCAL HOMELESS EMERGENCY RECOMMENDATION: The Housing and Community Services Department recommends that the Council, by resolution, approve an extension of Resolution No. 28839 which formally proclaimed a local homeless emergency within Santa Rosa. This item has no impact on current fiscal year budget.

ORDINANCE ADOPTION SECOND READING - ORDINANCE ENTITLED: ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA PREZONING THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 2299 BRUSH CREEK ROAD TO THE RURAL RESIDENTIAL (RR-20) ZONING DISTRICT, ASSESSOR’S PARCEL NUMBER 182-030-031 - FILE NUMBER ANX24-001 RECOMMENDATION: The Planning Commission and Planning and Economic Development Department recommend that the Council approve the second reading and adopt an ordinance to prezone the property located at 2299 Brush Creek Road to the RR-20 (Rural Residential) zoning district, consistent with the Very Low Density Residential General Plan land use designation. This ordinance, introduced at the November 18, 2025, Regular Meeting, passed by a 6-0-1-0 vote (MacDonald absent).

PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA MATTERS

REPORT ITEMS

REPORT - JENNINGS AVENUE BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN RAILROAD CROSSING REAL PROPERTY LICENSE AGREEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION AND FUNDING AGREEMENT WITH THE SONOMA MARIN AREA RAIL TRANSIT DISTRICT AND APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS TO CONSTRUCT THE CROSSING BACKGROUND: On September 20, 2016, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued Decision No. 16-09-002 granting the City’s application for an at-grade crossing of SMART’s rail line at Jennings Avenue. Since that date, staff for the City and SMART have been in protracted negotiations over the terms and conditions of a Real Property License Agreement under which SMART would allow the City to utilize its property to construct an at-grade bicycle and pedestrian crossing of the rail lines at Jennings Avenue. RECOMMENDATION: The City Manager’s Office recommends that the Council, by motion, approve and delegate authority to the City Manager to negotiate and execute both the Real Property License Agreement and Construction and Funding Agreement in substantially the same form as the attached drafts, subject to approval as to form by the City Attorney, and return the executed agreements to the SMART Board of Directors for consideration. This item has no impact on current fiscal year budget.

REPORT - APPOINTMENT OF INTERIM CITY MANAGER, APPROVAL OF EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT AND INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING SALARY OF THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER BACKGROUND: City Manager Maraskeshia Smith has announced her resignation. The City will be conducting an extensive open recruitment for her replacement. It is anticipated that the recruitment could take six months or more. To ensure a smooth transition and uninterrupted City operations, the City Council seeks to appoint an Interim City Manager to serve in the position until a new permanent City Manager is found. RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the Council, by resolution, appoint Lori Ann Farrell as Interim City Manager effective January 2, 2026, and approve an Employment Agreement with Ms. Farrell. It is further recommended that the Council approve the first reading and introduce an ordinance entitled ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA ESTABLISHING MONTHLY SALARY OF $24,266.66 ($291,200 ANNUALLY) AND OTHER COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS FOR THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER EFFECTIVE JANUARY 2, 2026.

PUBLIC HEARINGS

PUBLIC HEARING - BENNETT VALLEY GOLF COURSE FEES - DYNAMIC PRICING FOR NON-RESIDENT GOLF FEES BACKGROUND: In response to questions by both Council and staff following the new two-year fee schedule adopted by Council on May 6, the City Manager’s Office and Kemper Sports Management, LLC, the City’s contract operations and maintenance company, wish to propose additional fee adjustments for non-resident players by implementing a Dynamic Pricing fee schedule. Kemper Sports Management, LLC presented the Dynamic Pricing proposal to Council in a study session on November 4, 2025. RECOMMENDATION: The City Manager’s Office recommends that Council, by resolution, approve the Dynamic Pricing fee schedule for non-resident golf fees at the Bennett Valley Golf Course effective January 1, 2026. This item has no impact on current fiscal year budget.

WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS - NONE.

PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA MATTERS

ANNOUNCEMENT OF CONTINUED CLOSED SESSION ITEMS, RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION IN THE MAYOR’S CONFERENCE ROOM, RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS [IF NEEDED]

ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING

UPCOMING MEETINGS

UPCOMING MEETINGS LIST

*Did not appear on the preliminary agenda. **Quasi-judicial or adjudicative action, ex-parte communication disclosure is required.

The Open Government Ordinance was adopted by City Council in December 2020 (ORD-2020-018) and amended in July 2021 (ORD-2021-007). These ordinances added and amended Chapter 1-10 to the City Code to codify the City of Santa Rosa's commitment to embrace a culture of open government to ensure public trust, engage the community, and establish a system of transparency, public participation, and collaboration. To view a full versions of the Open Government Ordinances go to http://srcity.org/OpenGovOrdinance and http://srcity.org/OpenGovOrdinanceAmend. To request paper copies of the Open Government Ordinances contact the City Clerk's Office at 707-543-3015 (TTY Relay at 711) or cityclerk@srcity.org.

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Any writings or documents provided to a majority of the City Council prior to this meeting regarding any item on this agenda, excluding closed session items, are available for public review in the City Clerk's Office, Room 10, City Hall, 100 Santa Rosa Ave, during normal business hours.

REPORT - APPOINTMENT OF INTERIM CITY MANAGER, APPROVAL OF EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT AND INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING SALARY OF THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER BACKGROUND: City Manager Maraskeshia Smith has announced her resignation. The City will be conducting an extensive open recruitment for her replacement. It is anticipated that the recruitment could take six months or more. To ensure a smooth transition and uninterrupted City operations, the City Council seeks to appoint an Interim City Manager to serve in the position until a new permanent City Manager is found. RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the Council, by resolution, appoint Lori Ann Farrell as Interim City Manager effective January 2, 2026, and approve an Employment Agreement with Ms. Farrell. It is further recommended that the Council approve the first reading and introduce an ordinance entitled ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA ESTABLISHING MONTHLY SALARY OF $24,266.66 ($291,200 ANNUALLY) AND OTHER COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS FOR THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER EFFECTIVE JANUARY 2, 2026.

Approved on: December 16, 2025 /s/ Dina Manis, City Clerk

The time not being 5:00 p.m., Mayor Stapp moved to Item 15.1 on the agenda.

The time being after 5:00 p.m., Mayor Stapp returned to Item 14.

Approval of the Consent Agenda

Mayor Stapp called Item 6.

Council Member Alvarez joined the meeting at 2:31 p.m. Mayor Stapp adjourned closed session at approximately 3:47 p.m. and reconvened to the regular session at approximately 4:00 p.m.