Summary

Santa Rosa City Council (Mar 24, 2026) — Council minutes record permit upholds, water rate recommendation, housing and infrastructure actions

Santa RosaMar 24, 20264 min read

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The Council met in City Hall (Council Chamber) and: denied two appeals and upheld a Planning Commission approval for a 24‑bed community care facility at 5761 Mountain Hawk Drive; introduced an ordinance adding Chapter 13‑40 to clarify that civil immigration enforcement is not a city purpose and to limit disruptive uses of City property; directed its Water Advisory Committee representative to support Sonoma Water’s proposed FY 2026‑27 Water Transmission budget and rate increase; accepted the General Plan and Inclusionary Housing Annual Review for 2025; approved multiple consent items including major street and facility contracts and budget appropriations; extended the local homeless emergency; and adopted housing‑element and massage regulation ordinances on second reading.

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Key decisions

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Denied two appeals and upheld the Planning Commission’s approval of a Minor Conditional Use Permit for a 24‑bed Community Care Facility at 5761 Mountain Hawk Drive (PLN25‑0136) — RES‑2026‑026.
Introduced (first reading) an ordinance adding Chapter 13‑40 to the Santa Rosa City Code to: (1) establish that civil immigration enforcement is not a city purpose; and (2) prohibit use of City property that would disrupt operations or discourage access to City services (ordinance introduced as amended).
Approved directing the City’s Water Advisory Committee (WAC) representative to vote yes on Sonoma Water’s proposed FY 2026‑27 Water Transmission System budget and rate increase (an 8.21% wholesale rate increase from $1,400.86 to $1,515.87 per acre‑foot was identified in the staff report).
Waived the joint study session requirement and reviewed/accepted the General Plan and Inclusionary Housing Annual Review Report for 2025.
Approved consent items including: award of Contract No. C02263 (Calistoga Road Pavement Rehabilitation and Utility Improvements) to Argonaut Constructors ($10,592,049 award; 20% contingency authorized); award of Contract No. C02554 (Galvin Courts Renovation) to Argonaut Constructors ($4,239,254.55 award; 15% contingency authorized); waiver of competitive bid and purchase order for Turnstone Data for parking analytics; and contract/amendment approvals for other city services.
Authorized appropriations and contract amendments on consent, including continued legal services (Second Amendment to PSA with Van Dermyden Makus Law Corporation and appropriation request) and funding adjustments to support the Laguna Treatment Plant disinfection improvements project (regional wastewater enterprise funds appropriated).
Approved a 2026 service contract with the Santa Rosa City School District to provide summer youth programs (District to provide $72,019 for program operations).
Extended the proclamation of a local homeless emergency (Resolution extending Resolution No. 28839).
Adopted on second reading: an ordinance implementing the 2023‑2031 Housing Element and state law (ORD‑2026‑003) and an ordinance amending City Code Chapter 20‑49 on massage regulation and registration (ORD‑2026‑004).

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