SANTA ROSA CITY COUNCIL AGENDA AND SUMMARY REPORT
REGULAR MEETING
CITY HALL, 100 SANTA ROSA AVENUE
MARCH 16, 2010
2:30 P.M. (MAYOR’S CONFERENCE ROOM, ROOM 10)

1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL

2. ANNOUNCEMENT OF CLOSED SESSION ITEM(S) AND ADJOURNMENT TO CLOSED SESSION(S) IN MAYOR’S CONFERENCE ROOM (ROOM 10, CITY HALL)

PUBLIC COMMENT ON CLOSED SESSION ITEMS
Prior to adjournment into Closed Session, the public may speak up to 3 minutes on items to be addressed in Closed Session.

2.1 CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS

Agency Designated Representatives:  Greg Scoles, Deputy City Manager, Fran Elm, Human Resources Director and Chris Sliz, Employee Relations Manager.
Employee Organizations:  Santa Rosa Firefighters Association – Local 1401 (representing City Employee Unit 2); Operating Engineers Local 3, Maintenance and Utility System Operators (Employee Units 3 and 16); Santa Rosa City Employees Association (Employee Units 4, 6, 7); Santa Rosa Police Officers Association, (Employee Unit 5); Service Employees International Union Local 1021, (Employee Units 8 and 14); Public Safety Management Association (Employee Unit 9); Santa Rosa City Attorneys’ Association (Employee Unit 17), Santa Rosa Management Association (Employee Unit 18).

Unrepresented Executive Management, Middle Management, and Confidential Employees (Employee Units 10, 11 and 12).

2.2 CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION

(Subdivision (a) of Government Code section 54956.9)
City of Santa Rosa v. George and Karen Dib, et al.
Sonoma County Superior Court Case Number SCV 246184

2.3 CONFERENCE WITH CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR

Property:             1400 Burbank Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95407
                            APN 125-331-001
Agency Negotiator: Marc Richardson, Director of Recreation, Parks and Community Services
Negotiating Parties:  SBRI 1400 Burbank, LLC
Under Negotiations:  Price and terms of payment

2.4 CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR

Property: 983 Sonoma Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
               APN 009-171-029
Agency Negotiator: Josh Maresca, Right-of-Way Agent
Negotiating Parties: Housing Authority of Santa Rosa
Under Negotiations: Price and terms of payment

2.5 ADJOURN CLOSED SESSION(S) AND RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER

3:30 P.M. (CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER)

3. STUDY SESSION

3.1 WATERWAYS ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND CITYWIDE CREEK MASTER PLAN UPDATE

Santa Rosa’s Waterways Advisory Committee plays a critical role in protecting the city’s creeks and waterways through review of proposed development projects and advising decision making bodies and staff on waterways-related issues. While the committee still reviews proposed developments adjacent to city waterways, this year brings a renewed focus on prioritizing and implementing Santa Rosa’s Citywide Creek Master Plan. This study session is designed to inform the Council of the Committee activities as well as provide updates on creek restoration projects.

4:00 P.M. (CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER)

4. ANNOUNCEMENT OF ROLL CALL

5. REPORT, IF ANY, ON STUDY AND CLOSED SESSION(S)

6. PROCLAMATIONS/PRESENTATIONS

6.1 PRESENTATION – SECTION 8 HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER 2009 HIGH PERFORMANCE AWARD

6.2   ADJOURN TO AND RECONVENE AT VETERAN’S MEMORIAL LOCATED AT SONOMA AND SANTA ROSA AVENUES

6.3 PRESENTATION – FLAG PRESENTATION FROM JOHN CROOKER, VIETNAM VETERAN

6.4 RECONVENE IN COUNCIL CHAMBER

PUBLIC COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS:  Except for public hearing items, comments from the public will be allowed on all agenda items at the time each item is called. Comments on public hearing items may be made when the hearing is opened.

PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS:  Comments from the public on non-agenda items will be heard under Agenda Item 12.

7. STAFF BRIEFINGS -- NONE

This time is reserved for City staff to brief the Council on departmental issues of interest.  No action will be taken on these matters except to possibly place a particular item on a future agenda for Council consideration.

8. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – MARCH 2, 2010 REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

9. STATEMENTS OF ABSTENTION BY COUNCILMEMBERS

10. CONSENT ITEMS

10.1 RESOLUTION -- FIRST AMENDMENT TO EXTEND THE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT TO IMPLEMENT ENERGY INDEPENDENCE PROGRAM

This resolution, recommended by the Utilities and City Manager’s Departments, approves the extension of the Agreement with the County of Sonoma regarding our participation in SCEIP while appropriate staff endeavor to forge an amendment establishing equitable disposition of the resulting carbon credits which are consistent with our green house gas reduction goals.

10.2 ORDINANCE ADOPTION – ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 10-32 – “POLITICAL CAMPAIGN REPORT REQUIREMENTS” TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS FOR INDEPENDENT CAMPAIGN EXPENDITURES

This ordinance, introduced at the March 9, 2010 regular meeting, amends Chapter 10-32 “Political Campaign Report Requirements” to include additional disclosure requirements for independent campaign expenditures.

11. REPORT ITEMS

11.1 REPORT -- SONOMA COUNTY WATER AGENCY – 2010/11 WATER TRANSMISSION SYSTEM BUDGET – SECOND REVIEW

BACKGROUND:  This item gives the Santa Rosa City Council another opportunity to discuss the Sonoma County Water Agency budget and rate increase request for fiscal year 2010/11 and to provide direction to Santa Rosa's Water Advisory Committee's representative prior to the Water Advisory Committee meeting on March 22, 2010.

RECOMMENDATION: The Council may make a recommendation regarding the City's subsequent vote at the Water Advisory Committee meeting.

11.2 REPORT -- EXTENSION OF MEASURE O FISCAL CRISIS

BACKGROUND:  On February 10, 2009, the Council made a finding that a fiscal crisis existed under City Code Section 3-26.120 (D) as it related to the City’s finances.  This action allowed the City to use Measure O reserve funds to maintain General Fund-funded Police and Fire services during the fiscal crisis period.  The City negotiated with the Police and Fire unions on a plan that uses a combination of Measure O funds and employee concessions to maintain Police and Fire services.  The finding of fiscal crisis by the Council established an 18-month fiscal crisis period, which is set to expire on    August 10, 2010.
The economic conditions that existed when the Council made their finding of fiscal crisis on February 10, 2009 still exist today and will continue to exist beyond August 10, 2010.  In fact, they have arguably gotten worse.  General Fund revenue projections were reduced by $5 million for the Fall Financial Update, and another $5 million for the Mid-Year Financial Update.  Sales tax and property tax declines, indicative of a poor economy were significant factors in those reductions.  If historic trends hold, our local economy will lag behind the national economic recovery by over a year.

This proposed action will require six affirmative votes of the Council.

RECOMMENDATION:  It is recommended by the Finance Department that the Council, by Resolution, extend the fiscal crisis period as relates to the use of Measure O funds to June 30, 2011.

11.3 REPORT -- BUDGET DEFICIT REDUCTIONS MEASURE: MARCH 16, 2010 GENERAL FUND DEFICIT REDUCTION ITEMS

BACKGROUND:  The City’s General Fund currently has a structural deficit approximating $16 million annually.  City staff has been meeting to identify budget deficit reduction options.  The FY 2010/11 Budget Deficit Reduction Options first presented at the January 12, 2010 Council meeting totaled $6.5 million in ongoing savings for the City.  Since then we have received several other deficit reduction options from departments, bringing the total to $6.9 million.  Because of the rapid increase of the deficit, it is suggested that the implementation date for most of the items on this list be moved up to April 30, 2010 so that the City can begin saving on these items as soon as possible.  The name of the list was changed to the March 16, 2010 Budget Deficit Reduction Options list to reflect the date the options would be presented for approval by Council.

RECOMMENDATION:  It is recommended by the Finance Department and the City Manager’s Office that the City Council, by resolution, 1) direct staff to implement, following the meet and confer process, the March 16, 2010 budget deficit reduction measures to be effective no later than April 30, 2010; and 2) for those options on the March 16, 2010 Budget Deficit Reductions Options list with a specific start date after April 30, 2010, direct staff to implement, following the meet and confer process, those options to be effective no later than stated start date.

5:00 P.M.

11.4 PUBLIC HEARING – REZONING 5150 SONOMA HIGHWAY - VISTA GABRIELLE SUBDIVISION

BACKGROUND:  On January 14, 2010, the Planning Commission (7-0) adopted resolutions recommending that the Council adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration and Rezone the property from R-1-6 to R-3-18. At this meeting the Commission approved a Tentative Map subdividing the 0.5 acre site into seven (7) residential lots, and approved a Hillside Development Permit to allow the aforementioned subdivision. The proposed rezoning is consistent with the property's Medium Density Residential General Plan designation.

RECOMMENDATION:  The Planning Commission and the Department of Community Development recommend that the Council, by resolution, adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Vista Gabrielle Subdivision at 5150 Sonoma Highway, and introduce an ordinance to rezone the site to the R-3-18 Zoning District.

12. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA MATTERS

This is the time when any person may address the Council on matters not listed on this agenda, but which are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Council.  Each speaker is allowed three minutes.  To address the Council you are requested to complete the yellow Speaker’s Card and give it to the City Clerk.

13. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS (AND POSSIBLE COUNCIL ACTION)

14. MAYOR'S/COUNCILMEMBERS’ REPORTS

15. CITY MANAGER'S/CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORTS

16. [IF NEEDED] – ANNOUNCEMENT OF ADDITIONAL CLOSED SESSION ITEMS(S), ADJOURNMENT TO CLOSED SESSION(S), RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS, IF ANY

17. ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING

*Did not appear on the preliminary agenda. 
**Quasi-judicial or adjudicative action.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

March 23  No City Council Meeting

March 30

Joint Study Session with Planning Commission – General Plan, Growth Management and Housing Allocation Plan
Staff Briefing – Amgen Update
Consent – Procurement of Three Gasoline Hybrid Electric Transit Buses
Consent – Grant from ABC for Shoulder Tap Decoy Program
Consent – Every 15 Minutes Grants
Consent – Contract Extension – Auto Parts Supply
Report – Aggressive Additions to Economic Development Work Plan
Report – Maple Avenue Surplus Sale
Report – Proposition 16: The California Taxpayers Right to Vote Act
Report – CLEAR Act
Public Hearing – Rezoning and Mitigated Negative Declaration - Vistas at Kawana Springs

April 6

Report – TLC Funding of City Projects
Public Hearing – Fountaingrove Lodge Appeal

April 13

Report – Approval of CALTRANS Lease Agreement
Public Hearing – Railroad Square Parking Rate Increase

April 20

Study Session – Spring Financial Update
Consent -- Preliminary Approval of the Subregional 2010/11 Operating and Maintenance and CIP Budget
Report – Work Plan to Consider General Plan Amendments in the Maxwell Court and Sebastopol Road/Roberts Road areas within the Downtown Station Area Specific Plan Boundary

April 27   No City Council Meeting

May 4

Staff Briefing – May is Water Awareness Month
Public Hearing – Authorizing Submission of the 2010/2011 Action Plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

May 18  No City Council Meeting

Pending:

Study Session – Low Impact Development
Consent – Community Media Center Agreement Amendment
Report – Humboldt Street Bike Boulevard Update
Report – Community Media Center Annual Report
Report – Taxi Cab Regulations
Report – Burbank Avenue Utilities Certificate
Public Hearing – Stony Point Road Underground Utility District
Public Hearing – Stony Point Road Reconstruction and Widening Project, Supplement to the Environmental Impact Report

MEETINGS FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 15, 2010

March 17

Luther Burbank Home & Gardens, 9:00 AM, Finley Community Center,     2060 W. College Avenue

March 18

Board of Public Utilities, 1:30 PM, City Hall – 100 Santa Rosa Avenue,    Council Chamber
Design Review Board, 2:00 PM, City Hall – 100 Santa Rosa Avenue, Room 7
Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Board, 4:00 PM, City Hall Annex – 90 Santa Rosa Avenue, Conference Room 7A/B

  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 contacting the City Clerk’s Office at 543-3016 one week prior to the meeting. TDD 543-3063
Meeting information can also be accessed via the internet at http://srcity.org