Summary

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

Santa RosaDec 2, 20254 min read

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At its December 2, 2025 regular meeting the City Council approved consent items including amendments to legal services agreements and contracts for tree services; introduced a traffic-calming/code delegation ordinance; accepted $1,693,820 in Proposition 47 grant funding; approved a three-year agreement with Buckelew Programs; extended a local homeless emergency proclamation; approved agreements to advance an at‑grade bicycle/pedestrian crossing at Jennings Avenue with SMART; adopted dynamic pricing for Bennett Valley Golf Course non‑resident fees; and appointed Lori Ann Farrell as Interim City Manager effective January 2, 2026 with an employment agreement and ordinance setting salary.

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Approved Consent Agenda items 13.1–13.8, including: First Amendment to PSA F003153 with Best Best & Krieger LLP (total not to exceed $145,000) and First Amendment to PSA F003096 with Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo (total not to exceed $200,000).
Approved two‑year General Services Agreement F003152 for tree services with California Tree Solutions for a total of $300,000.
Introduced ordinance amending City Code Chapters 11‑08 and 11‑20 to update staff delegations and remove requirement for Council approval to install midblock crosswalks, road undulations and other traffic calming measures.
Adopted Resolution RES‑2025‑185 accepting Proposition 47 grant funds of $1,693,820 and approved related Standard Agreement and appropriation of funds.
Waived competitive bidding and approved a three‑year Professional Services Agreement with Buckelew Programs not to exceed $1,575,000.
Adopted Resolution RES‑2025‑186 extending the proclamation of a local homeless emergency.
Approved and delegated authority to the City Manager to negotiate and execute the Real Property License Agreement and Construction and Funding Agreement (substantially in attached draft form) with the Sonoma‑Marin Area Rail Transit District (SMART) for the Jennings Avenue bicycle and pedestrian at‑grade crossing, and to return executed agreements to the SMART Board.
Appointed Lori Ann Farrell as Interim City Manager effective January 2, 2026, approved an employment agreement, and introduced an ordinance establishing a monthly salary of $24,266.66 ($291,200 annually) and other compensation and benefits.
Adopted Resolution RES‑2025‑187 establishing new and revised Bennett Valley Golf Course fees implementing dynamic pricing for non‑resident players effective January 1, 2026.
Adopted second reading of Ordinance ORD‑2025‑019 prezoning 2299 Brush Creek Road to the Rural Residential (RR‑20) zoning district (ANX24‑001).

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