[00:00:01]
IN PROGRESS.[CALL TO ORDER]
EVERYONE.UM, THIS IS THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE PETALUMA CITY COUNCIL IN PETALUMA, COMMUNITY DEVELOPER DEVELOPMENT SUCCESSOR AGENCY FOR MONDAY, JANUARY 5TH, 2026.
AND, UH, IF YOU WISH TO PROVIDE COMMENT TO ANYTHING ON, UM, ON TONIGHT, UH, PLEASE FILL OUT A SPEAKER CARD AND THEY'RE LOCATED AT THE FRONT OF THE ROOM HERE.
AND DO WE ALSO HAVE A STACK IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM AND, UH, TURN THEM INTO OUR CLERK HERE IN THE FRONT OF THE ROOM.
UH, I'D ALSO LIKE TO ASK THAT EVERYONE NOTE, OR, UM, THOSE AT HOME LISTENING, UM, THAT WE DO CONCURRENT TRANSLATION SERVICES.
AND THEY'RE AVAILABLE FOR THIS MEETING IN SPANISH IN A VARIETY OF OTHER LANGUAGES.
AND TO ACCESS THE TRANSLATIONS ONLINE, THERE'S A LINK IN THE AGENDA PACKAGE.
SO WHEN YOU TURN ON THE COMPUTER AND PULL UP THE AGENDA FOR TONIGHT, YOU'LL SEE A LINK WHERE YOU CAN GET RIGHT IN THE TRANSLATION SERVICES.
AND THEN IN ADDITION, WE HAVE A QR CODE IN THE ROOM IF YOU WANT TO ACCESS IN THAT WAY.
WITH THAT, LET'S HAVE OUR ROLL CALL FOR THE EVENING.
LET'S ALL STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
ALLEGIANCE TO THE PLEDGE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
AND A MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEASE.
[AGENDA CHANGES AND DELETIONS (TO CURRENT AGENDA ONLY)]
LIKE TO, UM, START WITH, UH, CHECKING IN OUR AGENDA AND AGENDA CHANGES AND DELETIONS.THIS IS WHERE I LOOK UP AND DOWN THE COUNCIL DIOCESE AND ASK IF ANYONE, UH, HAS ANYTHING THAT, UH, THEY SEE AM, MISS.
I'D LIKE TO INVITE OUR CITY ATTORNEY IN RIGHT NOW.
I'D ACTUALLY LIKE TO PROPOSE IN ADDITION TO TONIGHT'S AGENDA.
UM, SO BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, UH, SECTION 5 4 9 5 4.
HAD A NICE HOLIDAY AND, AND IS STARTING OFF A HAPPY NEW YEAR IN 2026.
UM, SO I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST IN ACCORDANCE TO SECTION 5 4 9 5 4 0.2 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE, WHICH IS PART OF THE BROWN ACT.
UM, AND WHICH GENERALLY REQUIRES LEGISLATIVE BODIES SUBJECT TO THE ACT TO POST AN AGENDA THAT CONTAINS A BRIEF GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF EACH ITEM OF BUSINESS TO BE TRANSACTED OR DISCUSSED AT A MEETING OF THE BODY, INCLUDING ITEMS TO BE DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION, UM, THAT THOSE BE POSTED AT LEAST 72 HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING, UM, IN THE CASE OF A REGULAR MEETING.
HOWEVER, THAT SAME SECTION IN SUBDIVISION B PARAGRAPH TWO PROVIDES THAT THE LEGISLATIVE BODY MAY TAKE ACTION ON ITEMS OF BUSINESS THAT ARE NOT ON THE POSTED AGENDA, ON A DETERMINATION BY TWO THIRDS VOTE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE BODY PRESENT AT THE MEETING, OR IF LESS THAN TWO THIRDS OF THE MEMBERS ARE PRESENT A UNANIMOUS VOTE.
UM, THAT THERE'S A NEED TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION, AND THAT THE NEED FOR ACTION CAME TO THE ATTENTION OF THE LOCAL AGENCY SUBSEQUENT TO THE AGENDA BEING POSTED AS REQUIRED.
SO IN VIEW OF THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND THAT THE COUNCIL MOVE TO ADD AND BY A ROLL CALL VOTE, ADD A CLOSED SESSION TO TONIGHT'S MEETING AGENDA, UM, TO OCCUR AT THE END, UM, OF THE AGENDA AFTER THE OTHER BUSINESS ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA TO DISCUSS A LAWSUIT THAT HAS BEEN FILED AGAINST THE CITY OF PETALUMA AND ALSO THE CITY OF MORGAN HILL TODAY IN THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA.
BASED ON A FINDING THAT THERE'S A NEED FOR THE COUNCIL TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION CONCERNING THE CASE IN THE FORM OF DIRECTION TO STAFF, AND THE NEED FOR ACTION CAME TO THE ATTENTION OF THE CITY ONLY HOURS AGO TODAY WHEN WE WERE NOTIFIED OF THE CASE, WHICH HAS NOT YET BEEN SERVED ON THE CITY.
THE AGENDA DESCRIPTION OF THE CLOSED SESSION ITEM I'M RECOMMENDING BE ADDED TO TONIGHT'S MEETINGS WOULD, WOULD READ AS FOLLOWS, CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL, EXISTING LITIGATION PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH ONE OF SUBDIVISION D OF SECTION 5 4 9 5 6 0.9 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE.
THE NAME OF THE CASE IS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA VERSUS CITY OF MORGAN HILL, CITY OF PETALUMA CASE 5 2 6 DASH CV DASH 0 0 0 5 6 DASH BBL F AND THE
[00:05:01]
US DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA.UM, I THINK, UH, THAT'S, UM, KIND OF A FIRST FOR ME IN, UH, MY SEVEN YEARS ON COUNCIL THAT, UH, WE'D HAVE TO ADD AN ITEM, A CLOSED SESSION LIKE THIS AT THIS TIME.
SO, UM, LET ME ASK ONE FOLLOW UP QUESTION.
IS, UH, IS THIS, THIS IS A VOTING MATTER.
WOULD ROLL CALL VOTE LIKE YOU, LIKE YOU NOTED? YES.
AND, UM, IS, SHALL WE OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? OR IS IT NOT SUBJECT TO PUBLIC COMMENT? UM, YOU'RE, YOU'RE, WE CAN ENTERTAIN PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE ITEM, UM, IF THE COUNCIL WISHES.
I GUESS YOU, YOU KNOW WHAT, I GUESS WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST IS, UM, THAT THE COUNCIL DELIBERATE, IF THERE ARE MORE QUESTIONS FOR ME, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ADDRESS THEM.
UM, BUT I'M GONNA BE A LITTLE CIRCUMSPECT RECOGNIZING THAT THIS IS FOR CLOSED SESSION, BUT I THINK PROBABLY BEST TO RECEIVE COMMENT ON IT.
IF THE COUNCIL, UM, ADD THIS ITEM TO TONIGHT'S AGENDA AS I'M RECOMMENDING, IT'LL BE ADDED TO THE END OF THE MEETING.
AND BEFORE WE CALL IT, THAT WOULD BE THE RIGHT TIME TO HEAR, TO HEAR IF THERE'S PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE WE GO INTO CLOSE SESSION.
SO, MODIFICATIONS OF THE AGENDA, DON'T, UH, I'LL, UH, REQUIRE I DON'T PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD.
USUALLY WE JUST ACCEPT THEM AND MOVE ON.
AND, AND ONCE THE ITEM'S ADDED, IT'LL BE PART OF TONIGHT'S BUSINESS.
AND THEN SUBJECT OF, OF, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC COMMENT, JUST LIKE WE RECEIVE WHEN WE HAVE, UM, CLOSED SESSIONS THAT WE'VE AGENDIZED TYPICALLY IN THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING.
SO I THINK THAT'LL BE THE RIGHT TIME.
DID ANYONE ON COUNCIL HAVE A QUESTION OF THE ATTORNEY? UH, COUNCIL, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DI CARLY, UM, IF THE CITY HASN'T BEEN SERVED YET, HOW CAN WE NEED TO HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING TONIGHT ABOUT IT? BECAUSE WE'VE, UM, RECEIVED PRESSING INQUIRIES ABOUT THE LAWSUIT.
I'VE REVIEWED A COPY OF THE LAWSUIT.
IT'S BEEN F I'VE CONFIRMED IT'S BEEN FILED TODAY.
UM, AND I'D LIKE TO RECEIVE COUNSEL DIRECTION REGARDING THE CASE SO WE CAN FOLLOW THAT DIRECTION IN RESPONSE.
AND, AND MAY I ADD THAT OUR NEXT MEETING IS THREE WEEKS, NOT OUR TYPICAL TWO WEEKS.
IT'S A FULL THREE WEEKS OUT OUR, OUR NEXT ACTIONABLE OPPORTUNITY.
SO IT'S JUST MY RECOMMENDATION, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S WHY I'M MAKING THAT RECOMMENDATION.
YEAH, NO, I, I UNDERSTAND THAT.
I'M JUST SAYING WE, I MEAN, WE COULD ALWAYS HAVE A QUICK SPECIAL SESSION ABOUT IT, YOU KNOW, AND GIVE THE PROPER NOTICE AND EVERYTHING AND, BUT JUST, OKAY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? UM, WITH NONE AND, AND, AND, UM, MOVING OVER TO OUR CLERK, WE'D LIKE TO HAVE A ROLL CALL.
I'D ACTUALLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU, UM, ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
THERE'S A REALLY GOOD IDEA THERE.
UM, SO, UM, I'M LOOKING FOR A MOTION FROM COUNCIL.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION FOR THE CLOSED SESSION.
A MOTION BY CATER THOMPSON AND A SECOND BY A VICE MAYOR NOW BAR.
SO THAT IS AGAIN, THAT WE'LL BE ADDING A CLOSED SESSION AT THE END OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED ITEMS FOR THE EVENING.
[GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT]
BACK UP TO OUR NEXT ITEM FOR THE EVENING, WHICH IS GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.AND, UH, DURING GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT, THE PUBLIC'S INVITED TO MAKE COMMENT ON ITEMS OF PUBLIC INTEREST THAT ARE WITHIN THE CITY COUNCIL'S SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION, AND THAT ARE NOT LISTED AS THE CURRENT AGENDA.
PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON, AND DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF PERSONS WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL TIME WILL BE ALLOCATED IN EQUAL SHARES TOTALING NO MORE THAN 20 MINUTES.
IF WE HAVE MORE THAN 20 PEOPLE WISHING TO SPEAK, THE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS WILL BE HEARD AFTER THE LAST BUSINESS ITEM OF THE AGENDA.
UH, WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THE CLERK IN HERE NOW TO HELP US OUT.
WE DID RECEIVE 28 GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS, AND THOSE HAVE BEEN POSTED ONLINE.
AND AT THIS TIME I WILL START A 32ND CLOCK FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.
SO DURING THESE 30 SECONDS, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SHOULD BRING THEIR SPEAKER CARDS TO MY DESK IF THEY HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE.
SPEAKERS RECEIVED, SPEAKER CARDS RECEIVED AFTER THIS TIME MAY NOT BE ACCOMMODATED.
WE HAVE NINE SPEAKER CARDS AND, UH, DIVIDED THAT INTO 20 MINUTES.
WE'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES, PLEASE SET THE CLOCK AT, UH, TWO MINUTES PER PERSON.
AND, UM, I'D LIKE TO INVITE UP JOHN HANIA
[00:10:01]
TO SPEAK FIRST TO BE FOLLOWED BY, UH, TOM GAFFEY.WELL, FIRST OF ALL, HAPPY NEW YEAR AND HOPE THIS YEAR WILL BE BETTER FOR EVERYBODY.
THE WHAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT TONIGHT IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU JUST SAID, KEVIN.
YOU DON'T HAVE A POLICY OF WHEN PEOPLE TURN THEIR CARD IN.
IF I COME IN HERE AND I WANT TO PAY MY WATER BILL AND THERE'S FIVE PEOPLE ONLINE, I DON'T GO FIRST, BUT YOU SEEM TO HAVE AN ISSUE WITH ME.
SO WHY DON'T YOU TELL US WHAT THE POLICY IS, HOW YOU'RE GONNA CALL THE CARD.
ARE THEY BY NUMBERS OR ARE THEY, ARE THEY BY YOUR DISCRETION? SO LET US KNOW WHAT IT IS.
YOU, YOU MENTIONED IF THERE'S OVER 20 CARDS, YOU CARRY 'EM UNTIL THE END OF THE MEETING.
SO WHO'S GONNA STAY TILL THE END OF THE MEETING? THE FIRST CARD OR THE LAST CARD, OR IS IT BY YOUR CHOICE? SO THEN THE SECOND THING, NOW YOU'RE GIVEN 32ND FOR PEOPLE TO TURN THEIR CARDS IN FOR AGENDA ITEM.
THE SUPERVISOR MEETING, THEY DON'T DO THAT.
THEY DON'T EVEN TURN CARDS IN.
AND PLEASE, IF I PASS OUT, MY SUGAR LEVEL IS REALLY LOW.
SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU GO TO A SUPERVISOR WHEN THEY OPEN THE MEETING, ANYBODY WALKS UP THE LINE, THEY GET THEIR TIME.
BUT HERE, PALOMA IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.
WHY IS THAT? SO IF SOMEBODY IS SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE AND THEY HEAR SOMETHING AND THEY WANNA SAY SOMETHING, THEY CAN'T TURN THEIR CAR IN BECAUSE YOU DECIDE THAT'S IT.
YOU GOT 32ND TO TURN YOUR CARDS IN FOR AGENDA ITEM, AND THIS IS NOT COOL.
SO PLEASE GIVE US YOUR POLICY SO WE ARE AWARE.
TOM GAFFEY TO BE FOLLOWED BY CLAUDIA AARON ROSS.
I THINK PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY KNOWS ME.
UM, YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA START OUT SAYING SOMETHING I NEVER EXPECTED TO SAY.
WHEN I STARTED GOING TO OBSERVE THE, UH, GPAC COMMITTEE MEETINGS, I WASN'T EXPECTING TO, TO FIND THE BEST RESULTS.
UH, THE FACT THAT I AM HERE SAYING THAT EVEN THOUGH I'M NOT A FAN OF OUR SYSTEM, OF YOU BEING USING THE M GROUP TO, UH, ASSIST US IN PLANNING OUR CITY, HEATHER AND HER GROUP DID A WONDERFUL JOB WITH THE CREW, SO GREAT, THANKS TO THAT.
WE HAVE THE MEETING, LAST MEETING, AND EVERYTHING WAS GOING GREAT AND IT STILL IS GOING GREAT.
BUT WHEN IT GOT TO THE LAST PART, THE, UH, CENTER CORE AREA, UH, AND THE COUNCIL DECIDED TO, UH, GO ABOVE WHAT THE GPA GROUP HAD RECOMMENDED AND RECOMMEND FOR EIGHT STORIES.
I THINK THAT'S SPECIOUS THINKING.
AND I, AND I'M HOPING WE DON'T DO THAT.
IT STARTED WITH BRIAN SAYING, IF THIS IS ABOUT HOUSING, THEN LET'S GET SERIOUS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WHICH IS GOOD.
BUT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT HOUSING.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S ALWAYS GOTTA BE ABOUT LIVABILITY IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THE COMMUNITY OURSELVES.
AND I THINK PLACING, UH, PACKING IN EIGHT STORIES, UH, OF, OF APARTMENTS, WHICH WE ALL KNOW COULD GO TO 120 FEET UP TO 11 STORIES MAYBE.
HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD THAT BE? 500 PEOPLE THAT WE'D BE TALKING ABOUT PACKING INTO THE CITY CORE WHERE THERE'S ALREADY HIGH TRAFFIC AND HIGH BUSINESS GOING ON.
UH, AND I THINK THAT'S NOT A GREAT IDEA.
UM, JANICE CORRECTED ME AND THANK YOU FOR THAT, JANICE.
I THOUGHT IT ALSO WAS INCLUDING THE CVS LOTS AND ALL THAT.
IT'S NOT, IT'S JUST INCLUDING THE SMART LOT, WHICH KIND OF MAKES US EVEN STRANGER.
WHY ARE WE PICKING ON THIS ONE PIECE OF PROPERTY RIGHT IN THE CENTER OF THE CITY? I KNOW IT'S NEXT TO THE SMART TRAIN STATION, BUT WE'RE BUILDING APARTMENTS NEXT TO ANOTHER TRAIN STATION AND THEY'RE NOT GOING ABOVE SIX STORIES.
I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO GO ABOVE SIX STORIES HERE.
I THINK WE CAN KEEP IT AT EIGHT STORIES.
IS THAT IT? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AARON ROSS TO BE FOLLOWED BY JODY JOHNSON.
UM, I ACTUALLY CAME TO SPEAK ON THE SAME MATTER THAT MR. GAFFEY CAME TO SPEAK ON.
UM, JUST A FEW OTHER POINTS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ADDED THE EIGHT STORY SECTION AT 10 30 AT NIGHT WHEN THERE WAS HARDLY ANYBODY LEFT IN CHAMBERS.
INSTEAD OF DOING IT THE WAY THEY SAID THEY WERE GONNA DO IT WITH INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY AT THE GPAC MEETINGS, THERE WAS NO INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY ON THE EIGHT STORIES, AND I DON'T WANNA HEAR ONE MORE TIME FROM ANY MEMBER EXCEPT ONE, UH, THAT THIS IS A PROGRESSIVE MOVE.
THERE'S NOTHING PROGRESSIVE ABOUT IT.
JUST BECAUSE IT'S DIFFERENT DOES NOT MAKE IT
[00:15:01]
PROGRESSIVE.PROGRESSIVE IS A POSITIVE MOVE.
THIS IS A NEGATIVE MOVE FOR THE COMMUNITY OF PETALUMA.
MOVE FOR A TOWN THAT HAS SMALL ROADS THAT WAS MEANT FOR A SMALL TOWN.
AND NOW YOU WANT TO ADD EIGHT STORIES.
AND I'M SURE THAT IN MANY PEOPLE'S MINDS IN PARTICULAR, A FEW, THIS IS ONLY THE FIRST OF THE EIGHT STORY BUILDINGS THEY'D LIKE TO PUT UP, WE'RE NOT BUILT FOR THAT.
THAT'S NOT WHAT PETALUMA'S ABOUT.
IT DOESN'T SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
JODY JOHNSON SHOULD BE FOLLOWED BY TIM PORTUS.
HAPPY NEW YEAR'S CITY COUNCIL AND CITY STAFF.
OUR PETALUMA MOBILE RESIDENTS ARE AWARE THAT MANY STRIDES HAVE BEEN MADE TO SECURE PROTECTIONS OF THEIR RIGHTS AS MOBILE PARK RESIDENTS.
THE MRL LAW OF THE STATE AND THE DEFINED RENT STABILIZATION ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PETALUMA HAVE CLARIFIED THE INTENT OF THE ORDINANCE ORIGINALLY CREATED IN 1994.
WE BELIEVE WE COULD SPEAK FOR ALL THAT.
WE ARE READY TO GET BACK TO THE BUSINESS OF LIVING IN PEACE AND THE CITY CONCENTRATING ON OTHER PRESSING ISSUES.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, EVEN THOUGH ENHANCED AND CONCISE INTENT OF EACH PART OF THE RENT STA RENT STABILIZATION ORDINANCE WERE MADE, LAWS ARE ONLY AS GOOD AS ENFORCEMENT OF VIOLATIONS.
WE HAVE EN LARGE INVESTMENT GROUP PARK OWNERS WHO THUMBED THEIR NOSE AT VIOLATIONS AND DOUBLE DOWN TO BREAK EVEN MORE LAWS AND ORDINANCES.
A YOUNGSTOWN CURRENT SALE OF FOR BELL AND NOW TWO OTHERS LISTED PARK PROPERTIES ARE BEING SOLD AS ALL AGE WITH A WHOPPING GROUND RENT OF $1,875.
GROUND RENTS ON FOUR BELL WENT PREVIOUSLY FOR $720.
THE CLARIFICATION OF VACANCY CONTROL ON AUGUST 4TH.
URGENCY ORDINANCE AS IT PERTAINS TO THE 60 DAY NOTICE OF TERMINATION OF TENANCY, WHICH IS CREATED WITH A RESIDENT INTENDING TO SELL, WAS JUST A CLARIFICATION OF THE INTENT OF THE ORIGINAL VACANCY ORDINANCE.
WE REMIND ALL PARK OWNERS THAT THIS REVISION, WHICH WAS RETROACTIVE, MAKES THE SETTING OF GROUND RENTS TRIPLE THE AMOUNT UPON SALE UNLAWFUL UNLESS THERE WAS AN EVICTION OR THE MOBILE HOME WAS REMOVED AND A NEW ONE PLACED ON THAT LOT.
THAT LAW HAS EXISTED FOR YEARS, BUT PARK OWNERS USED IT AS A LOOPHOLE TO GOUGE AND CAPRI TOW TRUCKS THROUGHOUT THE HOLIDAY, PREYED UPON RESIDENTS JUST MERELY DROPPING OFF SOMETHING AT THEIR HOUSE OR RUNNING IN TO GET A FAMILY MEMBER QUICKLY.
TOW TRUCKS LIFTED THE CAR AND DEMANDED $600 TO RELEASE THE CAR OR MAKE A RESIDENT COLLECTED IN THE TOW YARD.
THIS IS ABUSE ON TOP OF PARKING STILL NOT RESTORED AFTER MAKING THE ENTIRE PARK OF FIRE LANE.
THANK YOU TIM PORTUS TO BE FOLLOWED BY JANICE BARKER.
CONTINUE TO PILE UP FOR CAPRI RESIDENTS AND PARK OWNERS INTENT ON BLEEDING.
RESIDENTS DRY IN LEGAL FEES UNLESS THE RESIDENTS GIVE UP THEIR HARD FOUGHT RIGHTS IN LITTLE WOODS WHILE DELIVERING A HOLIDAY MESSAGE, IT IS TRULY HARD TO TAKE THE SUFFERING AND OF LOSS OF PARKING THE TOW TRUCKS, THE FEAR OF THE PARKING FAR AWAY, AND THEN LOOKING AT A FENCED BACK COMPLETELY EMPTY FOR OVER A YEAR.
NOW ITS ABUSE, CLEAR AND SIMPLE.
AND EVERY VIOLATION, NOTICES, OR LETTER IS MET WITH ATTACKS ON THE CITY AND ON THE RESIDENTS.
THEY SEE ENFORCEMENT AS A JOKE.
IMAGINE WHAT WOULD BE DONE TO A RESIDENT WITH ANY VIOLATION THAT WAS NOT REMEDIED.
THEY WOULD BE EVICTED IN A VERY SHORT WINDOW OF TIME.
TODAY WE TURN OUR IN PETITIONS FROM LITTLE WOODS RESIDENTS RESTORE PARKING WITH ANY LEGAL MEANS AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY.
AND TO ALLOW RESIDENTS TO HAVE PERSONAL TRASH SERVICE.
EVEN IF CANS ARE MOVED TO THE FRONT OF THE PARK FOR COLLECTION DAYS AS LEADERS AND PROTECTING THE MOST VULNERABLE AND KEEPING SENIORS AND FAMILIES HOUSED IN A MOBILE HOME THEY OWN IT'S TIME WE FIND THE SOLUTION TO STOP THE ABUSE AND RESTORE A LIFE WITHOUT HARM TO OUR PETALUMA MOBILE RESIDENTS UNITED TOGETHER.
AFTER THE COURAGEOUS PATHS TAKEN BY BOTH, BOTH RESIDENTS AND THE CITY ITSELF, WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT THE RIGHT PATH FORWARD HAS BEEN PRESENTED.
THIS PATH WILL NOT EVER INCLUDE RESIDENTS GIVING UP THEIR HARD FOUGHT PROTECTIONS OR THE CITY GIVING UP THE INTENT OF WHY A RENT STABILIZATION CLOSURE AND BANKRUPTCY CONTROL ORDINANCE REVISED AS TO INTENT WAS NEEDED.
FINALLY, OUR HUMBLE MOBILE HOME PARKS RESIDENTS ARE NOT ASKING FOR A HANDOUT FOR LAWFUL POSITIONS IF PARK OWNERS HAD NOT VIOLATED LAWS.
THANK YOU JANICE PARKER, TO BE FOLLOWED BY KELLY WALKER.
[00:20:06]
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY.IF PARK OWNERS HAD NOT VIOLATED LAWS, ORDINANCES, OR RESIDENCE RIGHTS, THIS WOULD NEVER, THIS WOULD NEVER HAVE COME TO THIS PARK.
OWNERS SPECIFICALLY LARGE INVESTMENT GROUPS KNEW THAT THEY WERE BULLYING, KNEW THAT THE PROFITS, THEY COULD REALIZE FOR THEIR INVESTORS KNEW THE RSO AND THE CLOSURE PROCESS KNEW THE ZONING BEFORE CLOSING ESCROW.
NO LARGE INVESTMENT GROUP OR ANY INVESTOR WOULD BUY A PROPERTY BELIEVING THAT THEY WERE NOT MAKING A PROFIT.
GREED AND GOUGING WERE THE ONLY THINGS CHECKED BY RESIDENTS AND THE CITY AGAINST THESE LARGE INVESTMENT GROUP PARK OWNERS, OUR MOBILE HOME PARK RESIDENTS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR DUE DILIGENCE AND THE COURAGE IT TAKES TO OPEN THE CITY UP TO LITIGATION WITH SIX ARBITRATION WINS TO APPEAL WINS TO LAWSUITS AGAINST THE CITY.
THE COURT OF LAW THEMSELVES ARE TELLING THE COMMUNITY THAT THESE FRIVOLOUS LAW LAWSUITS HAVE NO MERIT.
JUST BECAUSE A BUSINESS SCREAMS THAT THEY DESERVE MORE DOES NOT MEAN THAT THERE IS TRUTH TO ANY OF THE, THOSE FALSE NARRATIVES.
JUST BECAUSE YOU SCREAM, RANT, OR PERJURE YOURSELF, TRUTH FINDS A WAY.
AND THE CITY OF PETALUMA IS A MODEL TO THAT.
PETALUMA MOBILE RESIDENCE UNITED.
THANK THANK YOU KELLY WALKER TO BE FOLLOWED BY CHANTEL ROGERS.
CHANTEL ROGERS TO BE FOLLOWED BY MAUREEN SHAW.
I'M HERE TO EXPRESS SERIOUS CONCERN ABOUT PROPOSED CHANGES TO DOWNTOWN DENSITY, HEIGHT, AND ZONING RA REGULATIONS.
SPECIFICALLY, THE COUNCIL IS CONSIDERING USING ROOFTOP ACTIVATION AS A MECHANISM TO EXCEED ESTABLISH HEIGHT LIMITATIONS.
WHAT'S MOST TROUBLING IS THE TIMING.
THESE PROPOSALS EMERGED AFTER THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD CLOSED, AND WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.
THIS CIRCUMVENT THE TRANSPARENT PLANNING PROCESS ARE COMMUNITY DESERVES HEIGHT LIMITS AND ZONINGS EXIST FOR IMPORTANT REASONS.
THEY SHAPE OUR CITY'S CHARACTER, MANAGE INFRASTRUCTURE CAPACITY, AND REFLECT COMMUNITY VALUES.
ANY MODIFICATIONS TO THESE FUNDAMENTAL REGULATIONS SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO FULL PUBLIC REVIEW AND INPUT NOT IN INTRODUCED AFTER THE COMMUNITY HAS ALREADY HAD ITS SAY.
THE WAY THIS STARTED WAS COUNCILMAN SHRIVE SAID, YOU KNOW, IN EUROPE THEY PUT SOME, UM, GREEN ROOFS ON OR MAYBE SOME EXERCISE EQUIPMENT.
AND BRIAN O JUMPED IN AND SAID, OR RESTAURANTS, NOW WE ALL KNOW WHAT THAT REFERS TO, RIGHT? THAT'S THE EKN PROJECT.
AND I WOULD SAY THAT IF YOU HAVE ROOFTOP ACTIVATION, THEY, I IMAGINE WOULD IMMEDIATELY PULL THEIR FOUR STORY, UM, PROPOSAL SO THAT THEY COULD PUT IN A FIVE STORY PROPOSAL, INCLUDING ROOFTOP BAR OR MAYBE A RESTAURANT UP THERE.
ORIGINALLY THIS WAS TALKED ABOUT FOR THE DOWNTOWN CORE.
AND COUNCILMAN BARNACLE IMMEDIATELY SAID, I WANT IT CITYWIDE.
SO UNILATERALLY, YOU GUYS ALL VOTED TO INCREASE THE HEIGHT OF EVERY SINGLE PROJECT IN PETALUMA BY A FLOOR, BY A STORY, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT A ROOFTOP ACTIVATION IS.
NO, UH, UH, CONTRACTOR IS GOING TO BE LIKE, OH YEAH, LET ME PUT A COUPLE OF, UM, SUN CHAIRS OUT THERE FOR THE RESIDENTS.
IT'S GONNA BE ABOUT COMMERCIAL ACTIVATION AND THAT IS ANOTHER FLOOR.
AND SO PLEASE CONSIDER IF BRINGING THAT BACK AND HAVING THE PUBLIC'S INPUT.
OUR LAST SPEAKER IS MAUREEN GOTCHU.
UH, THIS COUNCIL CONTINUES TO IGNORE PUBLIC INPUT.
AFTER EXTENSIVE GOOD FAITH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ON THE GENERAL PLAN, RESIDENTS CONSISTENTLY OPPOSE BUILDING OVER SIX STORIES NEAR DOWNTOWN, DESPITE THE CITY PROPOSED PLAN MEETING ALLSTATE REQUIREMENTS INCLUDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT THE HEIGHT.
DESPITE THE CITY PROPOSED PLAN MEETING ALLSTATE REQUIREMENTS, INCLUDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT THE HEIGHT, YOU APPROVED EIGHT STORY BUILDINGS AROUND THE SMART STATION.
ANYWAYS, WITH THE BONUS DY DENSITY OPTION FOR BUILDING THIS LOCATION CANNOT BE SUPPORTED BY ANY REALISTIC INFRASTRUCTURE IN THAT NARROW OF A SPACE IN THE HEART OF OUR CITY.
IT TOOK 25 YEARS TO ADD ONE FREEWAY LANE.
SCALABLE MASS TRANSIT IS MANY DECADES AWAY.
AND WELL AFTER PLANNED TERM EXPLORATION, WITHOUT A ROBUST LOCAL ECONOMY TO EMPLOY THIS POPULATION, RESIDENTS WILL STILL DRIVE.
[00:25:01]
HERE IS 25 MILES.YOU CAN'T WISH AWAY THESE REALITIES.
THIS DECISION DOESN'T STRAIN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
YOU'RE NOT MAKING BOLD CHOICES.
YOU'RE COLLAPSING THE FOUNDATION OF WHAT MAKES PETALUMA LIVABLE.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, BUT SO IS AFFORDABLE LIVING AND QUALITY OF LIFE.
STOP GOVERNING FROM A SMALL ECHO CHAMBER BASED YOUR DECISIONS ON YOUR CITY'S ACTUAL CONDITIONS AND REALISTIC OUTCOMES, NOT ASPIRATIONS, DISCONNECTED FROM REALITY.
THE PUBLIC SLOPE, CLEARLY YOU CHOSE NOT TO LISTEN.
THAT'S OUR LAST PUBLIC SPEAKER AND WE'LL MOVE TO
[COUNCIL COMMENT]
COUNCIL COMMENTS NOW.AND I'D LIKE TO START OVER ON MY LEFT HERE.
UM, SO FAR FOR ACTUAL MEETINGS, IT'S BEEN PRETTY QUIET THE LAST THREE WEEKS.
HOWEVER, I DID WANT TO COMMENT ABOUT THE, UM, UH, THE, THE LAND USE, UH, PLAN THAT WE PUT FORTH LAST TIME.
UM, I WAS A LITTLE BIT RELUCTANT TO PASS IT AT THAT TIME.
I WAS KIND OF, I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT SOME OF THE HIGHER DENS, ESPECIALLY THE EIGHT STORY THAT WE WERE DOING LATE AT NIGHT.
SO, YES, UH, SO I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
HOWEVER, WE ALREADY, UH, IT'S BEEN VOTED IN FOR THE MOMENT JUST TO HAVE STAFF LOOK AT IT, BUT IT'S NOT SET IN STONE.
WE HAVE TIME TO REVIEW, WE HAVE TIME TO LOOK AT IT.
SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND, UM, ENVISION NOW, OKAY, HOUSING IS A GREAT IDEA.
AND THE PLAN THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE, THE LAND USE PLAN LOOKS MORE LIKE A 2100 PLAN RATHER THAN A 2050 PLAN.
BECAUSE BASICALLY WITH URBAN GROWTH BOUNDARY, WE'RE GONNA BE AT, UH, PRETTY MUCH, UH, WE'RE AT OUR LIMITS ALREADY AND IT HAS BE INFILL.
SO WHAT IS IT GONNA LOOK LIKE IN 2100, NOT JUST 2050? AND WHAT CAN WE ALLOW NOW TO GET TO THAT GOAL? WHICH WOULD, AND SINCE WE HAVE A POPULATION THAT STARTED AT, WHEN I WAS HERE, 30 TO 35,000 IS NOW 60 TO 63,000.
UM, AND IN THAT T PERIOD OF TIME, WE'LL PROBABLY GROW AGAIN BY AT LEAST THAT AMOUNT.
SO WE REALLY NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PUT THAT MANY PEOPLE IN A SMALLER SPACE WITH THE TRANSIT.
SO, UM, I AGREE WE NEED TO REVIEW IT AGAIN AND THAT WE NEED TO RE-ENVISION WHAT THIS DENSITY MIGHT LOOK LIKE AND HOW WE ARE GOING TO ACTUALLY GET, PROVIDE THE WATER, THE ELECTRICITY, THE ROADS TO TRANSPORT THE MOBILITY ALL AROUND THESE PROPERTIES.
SO NOW'S THE TIME TO REALLY LOOK AT THAT AGAIN.
AND, AND I'M SURE WE'LL HAVE MORE DISCUSSIONS.
SO I JUST WANT TO SEE, UH, WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE PUBLIC REVIEW ON IT.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT IT? SEND IT BACK TO THE, UM, VARIOUS OTHER COMMITTEES.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS HIGHER DENSITY THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING? UM, IF WE DO, UH, SIX STORIES AND SOMEONE COMES IN AND SAYS, I WANNA BUILD EIGHT STORIES WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UM, THAT, THAT'S GONNA BE ALLOWABLE BY STATE PRETTY MUCH BY, RIGHT.
SO, UM, WHAT ARE THE OTHER, I DON'T THINK WE, WE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO REALLY REVIEW THE WHOLE THING.
I THINK IT'S, UM, A GOOD IDEA FOR HOUSING.
I LIKE HOUSING, WE WANNA MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT, BUT WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT THE ENTIRE PLAN.
WHAT TYPE OF DENSITY ARE WE GONNA END UP WITH? IT WAS MENTIONED THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE SIX, UH, SIX CYCLES OF HOUSING ELEMENT THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY COVERED, UH, RIGHT NOW.
SO, UH, WHICH IS A PLAN FOR SIX TIMES EIGHT YEARS.
SO WITH THIS PLAN, IT'S REALLY, REALLY LOOKING AT 2100, NOT JUST AT 2030 OR 2040 OR 2050.
UM, SO I, SO LET'S LOOK AT IT FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE COMING BACK.
UM, SO ANYWAY, I I, I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT REVIEWED ONE MORE TIME, UH, AND LET THE PUBLIC SPEAK SOME MORE.
'CAUSE WE ALSO RECEIVED SOME POSITIVE NOTES AS, UM, AS WELL THAT, THAT, THAT PEOPLE DID LIKE THE IDEA.
SO NEEDS PUBLIC MORE REVIEW ON THAT.
UM, BUT JUST WHAT THE OTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP IS THAT I GOT INVITED TO GIVE A TALK ON WHAT THE CITY IS DOING, ALBE AT THE VILLAGE NETWORK, UM, PRESENTED AT THE LIBRARY ON THE 22ND, WHICH IS BEFORE THE NEXT MEETING.
UH, THAT'LL BE AT 1:00 PM AT THE LIBRARY.
I'LL BE REVIEWING, UM, BASICALLY THE CITY FOR THE VILLAGE NETWORK, WHICH IS MOSTLY, UH, FOLKS OVER 55 OR 65.
UM, GROUP THAT HERE, NONPROFIT HERE IN TOWN.
UM, BUT IT'S A PUBLIC MEETING AND EVERYONE'S INVITED TO TO SHOW UP IF YOU LIKE.
ALRIGHT, WITH THAT, I'LL JUST LEAVE IT THERE.
UH, GOOD EVENING AND, UH, UH, WELCOME BACK AND HOPE EVERYONE HAD A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY.
UH, I WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND THE TRANSIT ADVISORY MEETING THAT WAS ON 1216 DUE TO UNPLANNED TRAVEL THAT SAID TAC RECEIVED A FOLLOW UP OPERATING FINANCIAL PLAN PRESENTATION.
THE GOAL OF THAT PRESENTATION WAS TO LAY OUT MORE CLEARLY THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION THAT WILL PLAY INTO THE WORKSHOP THAT'LL TAKE PLACE LATER THIS MONTH.
AS ALWAYS INTERESTED, PARTIES CAN FIND THE PRESENTATION POSTED ON THE C CITY'S WEBSITE ALSO AS AN FYI.
UM, UM, I WANTED TO JUST BRIEFLY NOTE THAT WAYMO HAS RECEIVED STATE AUTHORIZATION TO EXPAND DRIVERLESS OPERATIONS
[00:30:02]
ACROSS MUCH OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, INCLUDING SONOMA COUNTY.THE AUTHORIZATION COMES FROM THE CALIFORNIA DMV, UH, AND FOR PASSENGER SERVICE, THE CPUC, AT THIS TIME, THERE IS NO ROBO TAXI SERVICE OPERATING IN SONOMA COUNTY, C SONOMA COUNTY CITIES, BUT WAYMO IS NOW LEGALLY PERMITTED TO DEPLOY IN THE REGION IF AND WHEN IT CHOOSES.
UM, SHARING THIS AS A FYI, UH, IT LOOKS LIKE WAYMO IS EYEING EXPANSION INTO SACRAMENTO AND SAN DIEGO IN 2026.
AND, UH, LASTLY ON 1217, I PARTICIPATED IN THE PETALUMA HIGH SCHOOL CIVICS FAIR, WHERE I GOT TO SPEND TIME HEARING FROM GROUPS OF STUDENTS ABOUT C CIVIC PROJECTS THEY WERE ENGAGED IN.
I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THE EXPERIENCE AND LOOK FORWARD TO PARTICIPATING IN FUTURE EVENTS.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER DE CARLY.
SO HOPE EVERYBODY HAD A HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVE AND THAT YOUR NEW YEAR IS OFF TO A GOOD START.
I HAVE NOT HAD ANY LIAISON MEETINGS SINCE OUR LAST, UH, GET TOGETHER, BUT, UM, AND I DIDN'T REALIZE EITHER WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE LAST MEETING TONIGHT AT ALL, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, I WOULD SUPPORT IF, YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE MORE MEETINGS TO TALK ABOUT LAND USE AND I CERTAINLY STAND BY ALL MY COMMENTS THAT NIGHT.
UM, I'LL JUST MAKE A FEW COMMENTS ON THE LAST MEETING AS WELL.
I'VE CERTAINLY BEEN THE TARGET OF A LOT OF IR FROM THE COMMUNITY.
UM, SO TO THE POINT OF ROOFTOP ACTIVATION, THAT'S A ZONING CODE ISSUE.
SO THE ZONING CODE IS KICKING OFF RIGHT NOW.
THERE'S GONNA BE AMPLE TIME TO BE EN ENGAGING IN THAT.
WE WERE SAYING WE WANTED THAT TO BE LOOKED AT THROUGH THE ZONING CODE.
UM, SO IT'S, UM, DIRECTION FOR LOOKING AT THE ZONING CODE.
IT'S NOT A FINAL POLICY, UM, TO THE POINT OF EIGHT STORY BUILDINGS.
UM, IN MARCH OF 2025, THE BRIEFING BOOK THAT WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE GENERAL PLAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE, TOM ACTUALLY INCLUDED EIGHT STORY BUILDINGS AROUND THE STATION.
UM, AND WE WERE THE ONES THAT BROUGHT IT BACK.
AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION WAS THE ONE WHO SAID, I THINK YOU GUYS GOT IT WRONG.
IT WAS AGENDAS FOR EVERYBODY TO READ, TO COMMENT ON.
IT WASN'T SOME LATE NIGHT BE UNDER THE, UNDER THE RADAR THING AS IT'S BEEN PORTRAYED, UM, TO MANY.
UM, AND I KNOW BECAUSE I'VE GOT EMAILS OF PEOPLE SAYING THAT THIS WAS SOME, LIKE, DARK ROOM, YOU KNOW, SMOKE MIRRORS THING THAT WE DID.
IT WAS IN THE STAFF REPORT FOR CRYING OUT LOUD TO LOOK AT THAT.
OUR COUNT, OUR PLANNING COMMISSION PASSED A RESOLUTION SIX TO ONE SAYING, I THINK YOU NEED TO RE-LOOK AT THIS.
UM, IT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN A SURPRISE TO ANYONE WHO READ THE STAFF REPORT THAT WE WERE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT THAT AND MAKING A DECISION ON IT ON, I'LL JUST SAY, UM, PUBLISHED ONLINE, THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
UM, SO, AND THEN I, I'LL JUST TO THE PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT LIVABILITY, UM, IN THE LAST 15 YEARS, OUR COST OF LIVING IN PET OR THE THE COST OF HOUSING IN PETALUMA HAS TRIPLED.
UM, IF YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT LIVABILITY, LIKE THINK ABOUT, UM, HOW MUCH PEOPLE ARE PAYING FOR HOUSING RIGHT NOW.
AND SO WHEN WE'RE UP HERE TALKING ABOUT TRYING TO BRING MORE HOUSING TO THE TOWN AND INCREASE SUPPLY SO THAT WE CAN BRING DOWN THE COSTS AND DO THAT, UM, LIKE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.
AND YOU CAN ROLL YOUR EYES AT IT IF YOU WANT, BUT THAT'S, THOSE ARE THE POLICY CHOICES THAT WE'RE WORKING ON AND TRYING TO PUSH FORWARD WITH.
UM, AND I, I THINK THAT IT'S, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY.
WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ON SOCIAL MEDIA COMBATING EVERYTHING, BUT NONE OF THAT STUFF WAS DONE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
AND, UM, QUITE FRANKLY, THAT'S THE JOB OF THE COUNCIL IS TO TAKE INPUTS FROM MULTIPLE DIFFERENT, UM, SOURCES AND MAKE POLICY DECISIONS FOR THE CITY.
UM, I THINK, UH, THAT, UM, I THINK NOBODY WAS HAPPY WITH IT.
I CERTAINLY DON'T THINK THAT WE GOT ENOUGH DONE.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, THAT'S WHAT, UM, POLICY MAKING IS.
YOU CAN'T GET EVERYTHING YOU WANT.
YOU GET, UM, YOU TALK ABOUT IT AND YOU DEBATE IT IN PUBLIC, UM, AND YOU MOVE FORWARD.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CATER THOMPSON.
I DIDN'T HAVE ANY LA LIAISON APPOINTMENTS DURING THE HOLIDAYS AND I JUST HOPE EVERYBODY HAD A GREAT HOLIDAY 'CAUSE I CERTAINLY DID SPEND A LOT OF TIME WITH MY FAMILY.
WELL THANK YOU VICE MAYOR NOW.
HAPPY NEW YEAR'S TO EVERYONE AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT ON SUCH A BLUSTERY A RAINY DAY.
UM, SINCE OUR LAST COUNCIL MEETING AS COUNCIL MEMBER QUAINT, QUINT MENTIONED, I TOO HAD THE PLEASURE OF VISITING PETALUMA HIGH SCHOOL BEFORE THE WINTER BREAK.
I LISTENED TO STUDENTS PRESENT THEIR FINAL PROJECTS COVERING DROP X AS BATHROOM SAFETY, RIVER AND STREAM CLEANUP, GRADUATION HAT, DECORATIONS AND MORE.
I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR DEDICATION TO MAKING OUR COMMUNITY EVEN BETTER.
[00:35:01]
COUNCIL MEMBER CA THOMPSON AND CITY STAFF IN THE RAIN FOR THE GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY AT A CORONA NORTH SMART STATION.IT'S ALWAYS EXCITING TO SEE OUR CITY PLANNING FOR FUTURE HOUSING NEEDS AND EVEN MORE EXCITING WHEN WE'RE ACTUALLY BUILDING NEW HOUSING AND INCLUDING MUCH NEEDED AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES.
LAST SATURDAY I ATTENDED THE NORTH BAY GUNS AND HOSES ICE HOCKEY GAME AT LUMA ICE AT THE FAIRGROUNDS.
THIS FUN COMMUNITY EVENT HAS RAISED AND DONATED NEARLY $300,000 TO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY CAUSES.
IT WAS A GREAT TIME CHATTING WITH OUR CITY AT PETALUMA POLICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY STAFF, BOTH ON AND OFF THE ICE.
A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR PARKS AND RECREATION STAFF FOR CREATING ANOTHER WONDERFUL LUMA ICE SEASON.
HAVING IT INDOORS BROUGHT BACK SO MANY GREAT MEMORIES, UH, FROM MY CHILDHOOD WHEN WE USED TO ROLLER SKATE THERE ON A WOODEN RINK.
MEMORIES LIKE THAT ARE TRULY PRICELESS.
AND IF ANYBODY WANTS TO TALK TO ME DIRECTLY ABOUT OUR DECISION THAT WE MADE AT THE LAST MEETING, THIS IS NOT MY FIRST RODEO AT THE GENERAL PLAN, AND I'LL BE WILLING TO SIT DOWN AND TALK TO ANY ABOUT ANYBODY ABOUT HOW WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT OUR FUTURE IN PETALUMA WHEN WE MAKE THE GENERAL PLAN.
BECAUSE MY COUNSEL IN 2008, WE MADE SOME MISTAKES AND I'M ALWAYS WILLING TO SIT DOWN AND TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT HOW WE NEED TO DO IT RIGHT.
YEAH, I, I, UM, HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYBODY.
AND, AND, UM, I JUST WANNA TOUCH ON, ON ONE THING YOU SAID, IT IS SO FUN TO, UH, WALK THROUGH TOWN AND HAVE ALL THE PEOPLE SAYING GOOD THINGS ABOUT LUMA ICE AND, AND JUST HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE GONE AND HOW MANY ACTIVITIES AND HOW MANY NONPROFIT BENEFICIARIES AND THINGS.
SO, YOU KNOW, UM, KUDOS TO STAFF FOR PULLING THAT OFF.
REALLY, UH, APPRECIATE OUR SECOND YEAR OF IT HERE.
AND THEN, UH, IN ADDITION, UM, UH, ON THE 16TH I WAS, UM, REPRESENTING THE CITY AT OUR BLUES, THE BLUE ZONE VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION NIGHT.
AND THE CITY IS A PARTNER IN THIS.
AND, UH, BLUE ZONES IS CHANGING PETALUMA.
UH, THEY'VE GOT OVER 6,000 PARTICIPANTS NOW, AND THAT'S PRETTY GOOD GROWTH RATE OF, UH, CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE IN TOWN.
UH, ON THE 17TH, UH, THE COUNTY'S CONTINUUM OF CARE BOARD, THE FEDERAL, THE HOMELESSNESS BOARD, UM, UH, AT THAT MEETING, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED HOW THEIR HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS, UH, PRACTICES ARE THROWING, UH, ANOTHER CHALLENGE AT US AND ANOTHER COURT CASE AT US THAT, THAT THE COUNTY IS, UH, LEADING THE FIGHT AGAINST ON THAT.
BUT BASICALLY IT WILL RESULT IN PEOPLE BEING PUT ON THE STREETS.
AND SO IT'S A BIG STEP BACKWARDS FOR ALL THE EFFORTS THAT THE CITY AND THE COUNTY HAVE MADE IN TERMS OF REDUCING HOMELESSNESS.
UM, AND ON A HAPPY NOTE ON THE 18TH, THEN I WAS ABLE TO GO TO ROTARY, UH, GINGERBREAD HOUSE MEETING, REPRESENT THE CITY AS THE JUDGE OF GINGER.
YOU KNOW, A LOT IMPORTANT THINGS COME WITH BEING MAYOR.
UM, AND THEN, UH, ON THE 19TH, SO THAT'S 16, 17, 18, 9 ON THE 19TH, UM, UH, WITH, UH, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL AS NOTED, UH, WE WERE GROUNDBREAKING AT THE MERIDIAN STATION AND I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE CITY STAFF WHO HELPED BRING IN SO MUCH GRANT MON IT OVER $30 MILLION OF GRANT MONEY WAS BROUGHT INTO THAT PROJECT TO HELP MAKE THAT WORK.
AND PART OF THAT WAS, UH, BECAUSE OF SOME OF OUR, UH, PLANNING STAFF, HEATHER HINES AND HER TEAM, UH, OUR HOUSING STAFF, KAREN AND HER TEAM, BUT ALSO, UH, WITH OUR LEGAL TEAM CLEARING WHAT OTHERWISE WOULD BE HURDLES IN SECURING FUNDING.
UH, WE HAD, UH, GREAT ASSISTANCE OUT OF OUR LEGAL OFFICE AS WELL.
SO THE WHOLE TEAM, UH, IS HELPING MAKE THAT HOUSING HAPPEN.
AND THEN, UM, THE, UH, FOURTH ANNUAL HOLIDAY LIGHTED BIKE PARADE WENT, WENT OFF, WENT OFF WITHOUT A HITCH, EXCEPT A LITTLE BIT OF RAIN, MAYBE.
UH, SO A BIG SHOUT OUT TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND, AND INCLUDING THE CHIEF AND ASSISTANT CHIEFS BEING OUT THERE ON THEIR BICYCLES
SO, UM, AND, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE FOLLOWING THIS, A SURVEY OUT FOR, UM, SONOMA COUNTY LIBRARIES AND PETALUMA LIBRARY, WHAT YOU WANT FROM THE LIBRARY.
AND SINCE OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM IN SONOMA COUNTY IS THE FIFTH MOST USED IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, APPARENTLY SONOMA COUNTY, UH, HAS OPINIONS AND HAS USE OF THEIR LIBRARY.
I HOPE YOU'LL CHECK IN WITH THAT SURVEY.
AND, UH, UM, AND WITH THAT, I HOPE YOU ALL HAD A, UH, UH, A GOOD NEW YEAR'S WELCOME BACK AND PASSING IT TO OUR
[CITY MANAGER COMMENT]
CITY MANAGER NOW.THANK YOU MAYOR COUNCIL AND OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, I HAVE A NEW SKATE PARK UPDATE.
UM, WHILE THE PROJECT IS NOW OUT TO BID, UH, WE ARE, UM, DOING A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR LUC CASEY SKATE PARK PUBLIC ART, UM, WHICH IS NOW OPEN.
WE INVITE ANYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE.
UM, YOU CAN REVIEW DETAILS, REQUIREMENTS AND APPLY.
JUST GO TO OUR WEBSITE AND LOOK UP SKATE PARK ART
[00:40:01]
IN THE SEARCH BOX AND THE, UM, SUBMISSIONS ARE BEING ACCEPTED THROUGH JANUARY 31ST.ALSO, OF NOTE, NOT ONLY DID WE HAVE LUMA ICE GOING ON AT THE FAIRGROUNDS, BUT FROM JANUARY 2ND THROUGH THE FOURTH, UH, THE PAR, THE FAIRGROUNDS HOSTED, UM, 33, UH, YOUTH AGES EIGHT TO 18 PART, THEY PARTICIPATE IN KETTLE CAMP.
IT WAS A HANDS-ON LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOCUSED ON LIVESTOCK CARE, SHOWMANSHIP AND AGRICULTURAL STEWARDSHIP.
THEY USED THE LARGE CATTLE SHOW RING AND BARN TWO AND CAMPERS.
YES, THEY CAMPED, UH, LEARNED DIRECTLY FROM EXPERIENCED CLINICAL ADVISORS AND THE EXCITEMENT TRAVELED FAR AND WIDE, UH, WHILE MOST PARTICIPANTS WERE LOCAL.
UH, THIRD CAME FROM AS FAR AS YUBA COUNTY, A P*****K PINES IN SAN JOSE.
UM, MANY OF THE PARTICIPANTS WE EXPECT TO SEE BACK AT THE PETALUMA FAIR IN JUNE.
AND THAT CONCLUDES MY COMMENTS.
AND THAT BRINGS US TO OUR CONSENT
[CONSENT CALENDAR]
CALENDAR FOR THE EVENING.AND I SEE THERE ARE 12 ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR FOR THE EVENING.
AND, UH, I'LL NOTE THAT ITEM NUMBER 10, UH, WAS REMOVED FROM THIS AGENDA, UH, TO BE CONSIDERED AT THE JANUARY 26TH.
AND ITEM 10 IS, UH, AWARD OF CONTRACT AND THE COMPLETION OF IN THE RELEASE OF RETENTIONS FOR THE MCDOWELL AT SOUTH POINT EMERGENCY WATER MAIN REPAIRS.
UM, SO WE'LL SEE THAT AT THE END OF THE MONTH.
AND, UM, AND THEN I'LL ALSO NOTE, UH, THAT I GET TO INVITE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CATER THOMPSON IN.
AT THIS POINT, I'LL BE RECUSING MYSELF ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.
AND ITEM NUMBER EIGHT IS RAINIER THE WATER, UM, SERVICE REPLACEMENT AND, UM, OTHER WORK DONE.
RECUSAL IS ONE OF THOSE STANDARDS WE ALL HAVE TO BE CONSCIOUS OF, OF WHEN WE ARE, UM, LIVING TOO CLOSE TO.
UM, DO I NEED TO LEAVE THE ROOM? AND YOU DO NOT AS IT'S ON THE, THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
UM, AND WE'LL JUST TAKE THEM AS SEPARATE ITEMS. SO AT THIS POINT, DOES ANYONE, UM, WISH TO SPEAK ON ANY OF THE ITEMS BEFORE I GO TO PUBLIC? COMMENT ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR? COUNCIL MEMBER DE CARLY, I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.
UM, EXHIBIT A IS NOT ACTUALLY LISTED ON THERE, WHICH IS THE SAFETY PLAN.
SO I'M NOT SURE IF WE SHOULD BE VOTING ON THAT TONIGHT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE ACTUAL DOCUMENT WE'RE VOTING ON.
DO I HAVE GINA OR PAUL AVAILABLE? THERE'S GINA
I AM LOOKING RIGHT NOW TO SEE WHAT WAS INCLUDED IN WHAT WAS NOT.
UH, DAN COHEN, SH IF HE'S NOT IN THE CHAMBER, SHOULD BE ON, UH, AS A ZOOM PANELIST.
DAN, ARE YOU ON? THIS IS FOR, UH, ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.
I THOUGHT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT A DIFFERENT ITEM.
UM, YEAH, I DO NOT SEE IT AND I, UM, I AGREE.
IF IT'S NOT POSTED, UH, WE MAY NEED TO BRING THAT BACK.
IT'S THE RESOLUTION IS, IT'S LISTED THERE, BUT THE RESOLUTION IS WHAT'S ACTUALLY LINKED.
I'M SEEING A STAFF REPORT AND ATTACHMENT AND ALSO AN EXHIBIT, WHICH IS THE REPORT I'M SEEING THAT IF THE EXHIBIT IS MISSING EXHIBIT, YEAH, IF YOU OPEN IT, EXHIBIT A IS, IS NOT THERE.
OH, IT LOOKS LIKE EXHIBIT A IS A REPEAT OF THE RESOLUTION, RIGHT? YEAH, IT'S, AND SO, UM, THE QUESTION IS, IS THIS A TIMELY I, UH, ITEM, UM, TIME SENSITIVE, OR IS IT POSSIBLE TO, UM, UH, TABLE THIS ITEM? I WOULD, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE, UM, THAT WE TABLE IT AND BRING IT BACK WITH, WITH THE APPROPRIATE ATTACHMENT.
SO, UM, THAT SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT, UM, MODIFICATION AND EMOTION THAT HAPPENS TO GET MADE HERE AS WE GO INTO THE REST OF THIS CONVERSATION.
SO ON ITEM NUMBER 11, UM, WITH, WITH THE STREAM GAUGES, DOES SA STAFF SUSPECT ANY CONTAMINATION IN THE LOCATIONS WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE ADDING GAUGES? BECAUSE I KNOW THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE GAUGES WILL BE MEASURING, UH, ARIANA'S HERE AND SHE'LL TAKE, THAT SHORT ANSWER IS NO
UM, NO, WE'RE NOT ANTICIPATING ANY CONTAMINATION.
[00:45:01]
UH, IT'S MOSTLY TO DO BIOLOGICAL MONITORING.THE PARAMETERS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT ARE FOR STREAM AND HEALTH FOR THE FISH BIOLOGY.
AND THEN FOR OUR PARTICULAR INTEREST, WE'RE LOOKING AT DISCHARGE VELOCITY MEASUREMENTS TO HELP OUR FLOOD FLOODING PREPAREDNESS.
AND THEN, UM, I AM, I AM CURIOUS HOW THAT SORT OF DATA WILL HELP MODELING FOR FLOODING AND, AND WHAT SORT OF BENEFIT THAT WILL BE TO, TO RESIDENTS, BECAUSE WE CAN KIND OF, YOU CAN KIND OF SEE WHEN A FLOOD IS COMING, YOU KNOW, AND I UNDERSTAND YOU CAN MODEL EVERYTHING AND STUDY EVERYTHING TO DEATH, BUT FOR A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS, I JUST WONDER THE, YOU KNOW, IF THAT'S WORTHWHILE.
UM, SO WE DO HAVE THE MODELS THAT WE'VE DONE THAT ARE PART OF THE FLOOD RESILIENCY FRAMEWORK THAT LOOKED AT THE SEA LEVEL RISE IN DOWNTOWN PETALUMA.
AND A LOT OF THE INPUTS FROM THAT USED HISTORICAL DATA.
SO THIS WOULD GIVE US MORE ACCURATE UPSTREAM DATA.
UM, AND JUST TO POINT OUT THAT IT IS A HUNDRED PERCENT GRANT FUNDED, SO THIS DOESN'T COME FROM ANY CITY FUNDS.
NO, I UNDERSTAND IT'S GRANT FUNDED, BUT I I ALWAYS STILL LOOK AT IT AS TAX DOLLARS.
UM, AND ONE MORE QUESTION I HAVE ABOUT IT.
YOU KNOW, DO WE, BECAUSE THIS DATA'S GONNA BE GOING TO THE STATE, YOU KNOW, AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE KNOW WHAT THE STATE'S GOING TO DO WITH IT.
ARE THERE ANY POTENTIAL NEGATIVE IMPACTS WHERE THE STATE COULD BE COMING DOWN ON THE CITY OR IMPOSING CONTROL IN SOME WAY? OR, OR COULD THE CITY EVEN BE DOING THAT ON THE COMMUNITY? UH, IT IS OPEN SOURCE DATA.
SO PART OF THE REQUIREMENT OF THE GRANT IS THAT WE HAVE A RADIO TRANSMISSION THAT, UM, ALLOWS THE WATER QUALITY AND THE STAGE, WHICH IS THE LEVEL OF THE RIVER, UM, CAN BE PICKED UP BY NOAH OR ANYBODY ELSE WHO WANTS TO USE THE DATA.
I DON'T ANTICIPATE, ESPECIALLY IN THE LOCATIONS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, THAT THERE WILL BE ANY REGULATORY IMPLICATIONS OR USE FROM ANY OF THE STATE AGENCIES THAT WE WOULD SEE.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER REBS, UM, JUST, UH, TWO, TWO COMMENTS.
UM, ONE ON ITEM NUMBER, UM, FIVE, JUST SO THAT EVERYONE NOTES THAT.
UM, WE'RE LOOKING AT A TIME CHANGE FOR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS MEETINGS TO START AT SIX RATHER THAN SIX 30 TO ACCOMMODATE THE FOLKS SO THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE AN EARLIER START TIME.
SO, UH, MAYBE WE CAN HAVE AN EARLIER END TIMES ALSO WITH THAT.
SO JUST AS A NOTE SO PEOPLE RECOGNIZE THAT FOR THE NEXT MEETING, UH, IF THIS GOES THROUGH, WE'LL BE MEETING AT SIX, NOT SIX 30.
UM, THE OTHER ONE IS NUMBER ITEM NUMBER 11, UH, JUST TO KIND OF THE COMMENT, THE, UM, THE GAUGES, WHICH I, I ASKED ABOUT, AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE HIGH QUALITY GAUGES.
THEY'LL BE REPORTING THINGS FOR FLOODING AND THINGS.
HOWEVER, UM, THE ONE THING, THE CONCERN IS E COLI FROM, UH, THE RANCHES.
UM, 'CAUSE THAT IS THE ONE THING THAT HAS BEEN NOTED FOR OUR POLLUTION WITHIN OUR RIVER.
HOWEVER, THAT'S NOT AN AUTOMATIC THING.
IT'S MORE OF A CONSISTENT, UM, GOING OUT THERE AND ACTUALLY COLLECTING AND ACTUALLY HAVE TO LOOK AT IT BECAUSE E COLI, YOU HAVE TO ACTUALLY LOOK AT IT PHYSICALLY RATHER THAN, IT'S NOT AN AUTOMATIC THING YOU CAN DO WITH A LITTLE, UM, LITTLE DEVICE IN, IN THE RIVER, UH, ON A CONSTANT SURVEILLANCE.
SO I JUST WANTED TO ADD NOTE TO THAT, THAT IT'S WHY WE'RE NOT DOING THAT PROBABLY.
AND, UH, UH, YOU MAY WANNA TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DOING FOR LOOKING AT THE E COLI THAT THAT'S BEING COMPLAINED ABOUT BY THE STATE.
YOU CAN'T DO E COLI IN REAL TIME.
IT HAS TO BE SAMPLED IN A LAB.
UM, AND OUR STORM WATER PROGRAM DOES DO SAMPLING, UM, AROUND THE WATERSHED IN RESPONSE TO THE T MDLS FOR BACTERIA.
CHELSEA, YOU COULD PROBABLY SPEAK TO MORE OF WHERE THAT IS, BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT AS WELL.
I JUST WANNA MAKE A NOTE OF THAT, THAT, THAT, UH, WE ARE DOING THAT.
COUNCIL, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CATER THOMPSON FOR CLARIFICATION ON NUMBER SEVEN, WHAT'S ACTUALLY MISSING IN THE STAFF REPORT? 'CAUSE THERE IS AN EXHIBIT THERE, IF THERE IS AND THERE'S, BUT IT'S A RESOLUTION.
SO THERE'S, THERE'S A SAFETY PLAN THAT'S MISSING.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DI CARLY, UM, I'M TRYING TO PULL UP YOUR QUESTION FROM THAT GOT EMAILED TO US EARLIER, JOHN, BUT I, THAT WAS A CONCERN OF MINE.
IS, IS ANY OF THIS DATA GONNA BE MONITORING, YOU KNOW, RANCHES OR AGRICULTURE, UM, IN, IN RELATION TO COLINE? NO.
THIS PROGRAM IS ONLY LOOKING AT, UH, REAL TIME WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS IN LIKE PHYSICAL PARAMETERS IN THE CREEKS.
SO NOT A COLI AND NOT ANYTHING THAT WE ARE UNDER REGULATORY AUTHORITY ABOUT.
SO THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN HOLD AGAINST US IN RELATION TO THESE PARTICULAR GAUGES.
UH, BUT WE ARE MEASURING FOR A COLI, UM, BOTH UPSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM OF OUR CITY, AS I UNDERSTAND TO KIND OF, KIND OF TARGET WHERE THAT'S COMING FROM IN RELATION TO THE PLACES THAT WE ARE
[00:50:01]
UNDER T MDLS FOR PATHOGENS.BUT YOU CALL I ASIDE, THERE'S NO OTHER, UH, CONTAMINANTS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FROM ON RANCHES N NOT IN THIS PROGRAM, NO.
UM, LET'S, LET'S GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS A, ON WHOLE CONSENT CALENDAR.
WE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY COMMENTS AHEAD OF THE MEETING, BUT IF ANYONE, AND I DON'T HAVE ANY CARDS YET, BUT IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR, THIS IS THE MOMENT.
AND, UH, NOT SEEING ANYONE, UH, RESTING FORWARD TO SUBMIT A CARD, WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM AND BRING IT, UH, BACK UP TO THE, UH, COUNCIL.
AND, UM, I'LL MAKE A MOTION AND, UH, WAIT ONE SECOND.
WE HAD THE, THE, UH, QUESTION PART, BUT I DID WANT TO DELVE INTO THE COMMENT PART JUST TO, TO MAKE THIS LITTLE STATEMENT BEFORE WE GO.
AND, UM, I DID WA UH, WANNA SUGGEST THAT OF THE MANY THINGS WE'RE DOING TONIGHT, WE ARE CHANGING OUR VICE MAYOR.
AND SO I WANT TO CONGRATULATE IN ADVANCE, UH, HOPEFULLY OUR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DE CARLY AS NEW VICE MAYOR, AND ALSO TO SAY FAREWELL TO OUR EXISTING VICE MAYOR AS THEY SWITCHED, UH, TEMPLATE, TEMPLATE, UH, PLACARDS IN FRONT OF THEMSELVES.
UM, BUT I HAVE RELIED ON KAREN EXTENSIVELY THIS YEAR, UH, AT MANY, MANY FORMAL AND FUN ACTIVITIES, UH, IN THE PAST YEAR.
AND SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR ME AND FOR THE CITY.
AND, UM, I NOTE ALSO THAT THE, THE SONOMA COUNTY MAYORS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS ASSOCIATION HAS AN APPOINTMENT TO MAKE ON THE COUNTY CHILDCARE PLANNING COUNCIL, WHICH I THINK WE'RE GONNA ANIZE INTO OUR NEXT MEETING.
UM, AND I'M JUST HAPPY TO NOTE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER NOW HAS PUT IN FOR THAT POSITION AND, UM, ALSO, UH, THAT AS WE APPROVE OUR ASSIGNMENTS, LIAISON CHANGES RIGHT NOW.
UM, UH, KAREN HAS VOLUNTEERED TO TAKE THE ASSIGNMENT FOR THE CONTINUUM OF CARE, THE HOMELESSNESS COALITION BOARD.
SHE WAS DENNIS OSA CASE'S ALTERNATE, UH, PRIOR TO THAT.
UM, AND SHE UNDERSTANDS JUST HOW, UM, HOW MUCH RESPONSIBILITY AND EFFORT GOES INTO, I MEAN, A LOT OF EFFORT GOES INTO THAT POSITION.
AND SO, AGAIN, A BIG THANKS TO KAREN.
AND, UM, AND THEN ALSO I DID WANNA NOTE THE SIX O'CLOCK, UH, CHANGE.
I'M VERY GLAD TO SUPPORT THE CHANGE, THE 6:00 PM MEETINGS TO IMPROVE AND ENSURE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITY.
SO, UH, WITH THAT I'M LOOKING FOR A MOTION AND, UM, AND I THINK THE FIRST MOTION WOULD BE FOR THE BULK OF THINGS, AND IT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE TABLING THE ITEM SEVEN.
SO IS, OKAY, SO I HAVE, SO IT'S FOR 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 11, AND 12 IS THE MOTION CORRECT? THAT SOUNDS RIGHT TO ME.
NOW WE NEED A SECOND, A SECOND AND A.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY CATER THOMPSON AND A SECOND BY QUINT.
[8. Resolution Accepting Completion of the Rainier Avenue Water Service Replacement (C67502536) and Urban Recycled Water System Expansion (C66402554) Projects by Team Ghilotti, Inc. and Authorizing Release of Retention]
THE ITEM THAT COUNCIL MEMBER CATER THOMPSON IS RECUSING, WE, WE'D LIKE A MOTION FOR THAT AND THAT I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION.MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THAT'S, AND I'LL SECOND THAT MOTION.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION ON ITEM EIGHT BY THE VICE MAYOR, SECONDED BY SHRIVES.
AND MAY WE HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE ON THAT.
KATE THOMPSON IS RECUSED DI CARLY? YES.
MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY WITH ONE RECUSAL.
SO THAT BRINGS US TO OUR PUBLIC
[13. Introduction (First Reading) of an Ordinance Authorizing the Acquisition of Permanent Public Reclaimed Water Line Easements Associated with the Adobe Road Recycled Water Pipeline to Support the City’s Recycled Water System Expansion]
HEARINGS AND MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION THIS EVENING.AND WE HAVE A FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING.
WE NEED TO PUT YOUR, OH, LET'S TAKE A MOMENT.
AND, AND THIS ITEM, THIS ITEM 13, IS AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ACQUISITION OF PERMANENT PUBLIC RECLAIM WATERLINE EASEMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ADOBE ROAD RECYCLED WATER PIPELINE.
AND, UM, TO HELP US OUT WITH THIS, WE HAVE, UH, LUCAS PEREIRA, ASSISTANT ENGINEER, AND JONATHAN
[00:55:01]
HELLO.COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M LUCAS PERERA, AN ASSISTANT ENGINEER IN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
SO WANTED TO INTRODUCE YOU GUYS TO THE ITEM THAT WE HAVE ON THE AGENDA, THE EASEMENT ACQUISITION FOR TWO EASEMENTS THAT WE HAVE FOR, UH, ACQUISITION, BASICALLY FOR RIGHTS FOR US TO ACCESS OUR RECYCLED WATER PIPELINE THAT WAS RECENTLY CONSTRUCTED AS PART OF THE ADOBE ROAD RECYCLED WATER PIPELINE PROJECT.
YOU GUYS SAW THAT ITEM A FEW MONTHS BACK.
UH, SO THE EASEMENT IS LOCATED AND SONOMA COUNTY OUTSIDE OF CITY LIMITS.
IT'S BASICALLY ON ADOBE ROAD HEADING TOWARDS SONOMA.
UH, ONE EASEMENT IS INSIDE THE PRONI FARMS PROPERTY.
MOST OF YOU PROBABLY KNOW THE PROPERTY.
THEY HAVE THE PUMPKIN PATCH, CHRISTMAS TREE FARMS. AND THE OTHER PROPERTY IS THE KLINE VINEYARDS JUST ADJACENT TO PRONI FARMS. THESE ARE COST EASEMENTS THAT WE COORDINATED WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERS WAY BEFORE CONSTRUCTION.
WE GOT INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THEM TO ACQUIRE RIGHTS FOR THE PORTIONS OF THE PROPERTY SO THAT WE COULD INSTALL THE PIPELINE.
UH, AND THE REASON WHY WE WAITED UNTIL CONSTRUCTION WAS COMPLETED TO ACTUALLY EXECUTE THE EASEMENTS, ACQUIRE AND RECORD THEM IS DUE TO THE RISK THAT WE HAD THAT DURING CONSTRUCTION UNFORESEEABLE CONDITIONS WERE GONNA COME UP, THAT WERE GONNA FORCE US TO MOVE THE PIPELINE EITHER OUTSIDE OF THE EASEMENT BOUNDARIES THAT WE HAD, AND THEREFORE, HAD WE RECORDED THE EASEMENTS BEFOREHAND AND WE MADE CHANGES, WE WERE GONNA HAVE TO AVOID THOSE EASEMENTS AND THEN DO NEW ONES.
SO WE BASICALLY DID AN AGREEMENT BEFOREHAND.
PROPERTY OWNER SIGNED THE EASEMENTS.
WE'RE NOW JUST WAITING FOR THAT EXECUTION PIECE, WHICH IF YOU GUYS APPROVE, WE WOULD THEN HAVE OUR CITY MANAGER SIGN THE DOCUMENTS AND THEN WE CAN RECORD THOSE EASEMENTS SO WE HAVE THOSE RIGHTS FOR THE FUTURE.
UH, LET'S SEE, LOCATION, I THINK I COVERED THE, THE REASON AGAIN FOR THE RIGHTS SO WE CAN HAVE ACCESS OUR PIPELINE FOR FUTURE REPAIRS AS NEEDED.
ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU GUYS MAY HAVE? YEAH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ANY, UH, QUESTIONS OR, UH, AND WE'RE GONNA ROLL QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS KIND OF INTO THIS AND, AND, UH, SO WE DON'T GET CONFUSED ANYMORE.
DID YOU VICE MAYOR, DO, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? NO, I DID NOT.
I THOUGHT, THOUGHT I SAW A HAND UP.
UM, YEAH, JUST FOR, FOR CLARITY AS TO, UH, THE, THE PIPELINE ITSELF IN THE DESCRIPTION, IT'S RECYCLED WATER.
IT, WHEN WE WATCHED IT GO IN, UH, GO BY THERE AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK, IF NOT TWICE OR THREE TIMES, UM, IT WAS PRETTY LARGE PIPE.
AND SO IS, UM, IT'S GOING TO ACCOMMODATE BASICALLY TWO LARGE VINEYARD AREAS.
UM, IS THAT A FULL CAPACITY OR IS THERE ADDITIONAL CAPACITY THAT COULD BE GAINED AS, UM, THAT AREA MAY BE GROWING? UM, AND COULD THE PIPELINE BE EXTENDED OUT? SO JUST LIKE, SO, JUST NOT FOR THE EASEMENT ITSELF, BUT, UH, WHAT'S THE, WHAT DOES THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE FOR THIS PIPELINE? UM, JUST SO WE ANSWER THAT RIGHT NOW.
UH, I WAS GONNA SAY, CURRENTLY THE PIPELINE EXTENDS BEYOND THE EASEMENTS.
THEY, IT BASICALLY STILL TERMINATES IN FRONT OF THE PINI PROPERTY FARMS. THE EASEMENT IS JUST ON THE SLIDE THAT'S CLOSER TO PETALUMA, CLOSER TO THE THREE WAY INTERSECTION BETWEEN FREIGHTERS AND ADOBE.
SO WE DID EXTEND IT, UH, IT'S ABOUT 5,000 FEET, BUT IT DOES EXTEND ALONG ADOBE ROAD AND WE JUST TERMINATE WITH THE INTENT TO, IN THE FUTURE, EXTEND TO, UH, AN EXISTING RECYCLED WATER ALSO PIPELINE THAT WE HAVE ON TONS OF LANE.
SO WE BASICALLY CREATE A LOOP IN OUR SYSTEM.
SO THERE IS AN INTENT FOR, WE'RE JUST CURRENTLY WORKING ON THE PLANNING PHASES FOR THAT SECOND PHASE, IF YOU WILL.
UH, I DON'T HAVE TIMING PER SE, BUT WE DO HAVE PLANS TO EXTEND IT AND BASICALLY CREATE A LOOP IN OUR SYSTEM AND THAT, THAT WOULD OPEN THE OPPORTUNITY, I THINK, FOR FUTURE DEMAND AND ACCESS TO RECYCLED WATER FOR VINEYARD THAT ARE THERE NOW OR VINEYARD THAT MAY COME IN THE FUTURE.
JUST SO I KNOW THERE'S, THERE IS A, A LARGER MASTER PLAN IN PLAY HERE THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
UM, AND I APPRECIATE, UH, STAFF, UM, AL ALWAYS ANSWERING ALL THE QUESTIONS THE COUNCIL PUTS IN AND BEING ABLE TO POST THEM TO THE WEBSITE AT A TIME FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE ALL, UM, ALL THE KIND OF QUESTIONS THAT DO COME UP.
AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT CAME UP, UH, THAT I PUT IN THERE WAS, WHEN IS THE RECYCLED WATER MASTER PLAN COMING? BECAUSE FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW I'VE BEEN ASKING BECAUSE, UM, AS YOU NOTE, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DEMAND INCREASE, BUT THERE'S ALSO, UM, YOU MENTIONED CAPACITY, CAPACITY BEING DIFFERENT THAN DEMAND.
AND, UM, MY CONCERN WAS, YOU KNOW, WHERE IS THE WATER TANK? WHERE IS THE LOOPING, HOW DOES THE PRESSURE STAY UP DURING HIGH TIMES OF SERVICE? AND DO WE HAVE THE RAW WATER SUPPLY FOR IT DURING THOSE PERIODS? AND I, THE ANSWER I THINK WE POSTED ONLINE IS WE'LL HAVE A MARCH READING.
IS THAT, IS THAT RIGHT? THE MARCHES WILL ALMOST FINALLY, YEAH.
WE'LL TAKE THE TEASING TOO BADLY, BUT FINALLY SEE WHAT, WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE RECYCLED WATER'S.
[01:00:01]
IT WILL BE THE INTEGRATED WATER MASTER PLAN AND THE RECYCLED WATER MASTER PLAN.IT'S A, UM, A A LOT OF PLAN ALL IN ONE EVENING TO INCLUDE WATER AND RECYCLED WATER.
AND SO, UM, BUT I'M, BUT I'M REALLY GRATEFUL THAT IT'S COMING, UH, TO COUNCIL.
UM, WERE THERE OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEMS OR COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? THEN, UH, LET'S PIVOT TO, UM, PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE ITEM, AND I'LL PASS IT TO OUR CLERK HERE.
UH, WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY COMMENTS AHEAD OF THE MEETING, UM, BUT THIS IS THE MOMENT TO MAKE COMMENTS.
DOESN'T LOOK LIKE WE HAVE ANY TAKERS.
WELL, UH, WE HAVE OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT AND NOT SEEING ANYONE MOVING FORWARD.
WE, WE WILL NOW, UH, CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE ITEM FOR THE EVENING, AND, UM, BRING IT BACK TO COUNSEL FOR A MOTION.
I'LL MAKE THE MOTION SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY CATER THOMPSON TO I'LL SECOND AND A SECOND, UM, BY COUNCIL MEMBER NOW.
AND SO, UH, MAY WE HAVE A ROLL CALL, VOTE PLEASE.
AND, UH, THANK YOU STAFF FOR BEING HERE.
[14. Public Hearing to Levy an Annual Assessment for Fiscal Year 2026 for the Downtown Petaluma Business Improvement District and Resolution Establishing the Levy for the 2026 Annual Assessment for the Downtown Petaluma Business Improvement District]
TO ITEM 14, WHICH IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO LEVY AN ANNUAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 26 FOR THE DOWNTOWN PETALUMA BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, AND A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THAT LEVY FOR THE, UH, DOWNTOWN PETALUMA BUSINESS BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.AND TO HELP US WITH THIS, WE HAVE NANCY SANDS, OUR SENIOR, UH, MANAGEMENT ANALYST.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
AND CONGRATULATIONS, VICE MAYOR DECAR.
UM, I'M NANCY SANDS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT ANALYST IN THE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, AND JOINING ME THIS EVENING FOR QUESTIONS, UM, AND PRESENTATION.
UM, ARE BRIAN O OUR DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND MARIE MCCUSKER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PETALUMA DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION, WHICH MANAGES THE PETALUMA DOWNTOWN BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT AND OUR, UH, WONDERFUL CITY CLERK.
UM, CAITLIN IS GONNA BE HELPING ME WITH THE, UM, WITH THE PRESENTATION TONIGHT.
UH, THIS EVENING FOR THE BENEFIT OF COUNCIL AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, I WILL BE GIVING A BRIEF PRESENTATION, UM, THAT WILL REVIEW THE ACTION NEEDED FROM COUNCIL TONIGHT.
DESCRIBE THE ROLE OF BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS IN CALIFORNIA, AND PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT PETALUMA'S DOWNTOWN BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, AS WELL AS, UM, THEN OPEN UP, UH, THE, THE FLOOR FOR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL.
TONIGHT, UH, WE ARE ASKING COUNCIL TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH A LEVY FOR THE 2026, UM, ANNUAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE DOWNTOWN, UM, PETALUMA BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
THIS IS ACTUALLY THE SECOND STEP IN A PROCESS TO COLLECT ASSESSMENTS.
UM, THE FIRST STEP HAPPENED AT THE COUNCIL MEETING ON DECEMBER 15TH, 2025.
UM, AND THAT INCLUDED, UH, THAT, THAT WAS THE COUNCIL REVIEWED THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND APPROVED IT, AND SET THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR TONIGHT.
IF THE COUNCIL APPROVES OR ADOPTS THE RESOLUTION TONIGHT, UM, THIS WILL ALLOW THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH ITS ASSESSMENT, COLLECTION AND ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR.
AND WE'RE GONNA GO TO THE NEXT ONE AFTER THAT.
SO, WHAT IS A, UM, BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, UH, IN CALIFORNIA? UM, THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT IS A TOOL, IT'S A SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHIC AREA WHERE, UM, EXTRA FEES OR ASSESS OR ASSESSMENTS ARE COLLECTED TO FUND SUPPLEMENTAL SERVICES AND IMPROVEMENTS BEYOND WHAT A, A MUNICIPALITY WOULD PROVIDE.
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS ARE REGULATED BY THE CALIFORNIA STREETS AND HIGHWAYS CODE, AND THEY, THEY OPERATE AS A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, AGAIN, BETWEEN A MUNICIPALITY LIKE OURSELVES, A CITY, UM, AND, UH, AND, AND THE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT THAT IS OVERSEEN BY, UH, AN INDEPENDENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS THAT MANAGES THE BUDGET, MAKES DECISIONS ABOUT ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS, AND THEN COORDINATES, UM, THE PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES.
IN CALIFORNIA, THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS BASED ON THE TYPE OF ENTITY BEING ASSESSED.
AND THAT INCLUDES, UM, BUSINESSES, A BUSINESS
[01:05:01]
IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT THAT ASSESSES BUSINESSES, ONE THAT ASSESSES PROPERTY OWNERS, AND ONE THAT IS RELATED TO TOURISM.AND, UM, OUR PETALUMA DOWNTOWN BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT IS A BUSINESS BASED BID THAT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2000.
UM, IT, IT'S MANAGED AND OVERSEEN BY THE PETALUMA DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION, AND ALL BUSINESSES WITHIN THE BID BOUNDARIES ARE REQUIRED TO PAY, BUT THE ASSESSMENT AMOUNTS DEPEND ON THE TYPE OF BUSINESS AND THE LOCATION WITHIN THE BID.
AND, UM, RIGHT NOW THE NUMBER OF BUSINESSES IN THAT IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT IS, IS ABOUT A LITTLE OVER 550.
SO WHERE DOES THIS FEE OR THIS ASSESSMENT GO? UM, AS YOU, AS THE COUNCIL SAW LAST MONTH, UM, THE, UM, BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT HAS A BUDGET.
IT'S BUDGETED ABOUT $64,000 FOR 2026.
IT'S, UM, THOSE MONIES ARE ALLOCATED IN DIFFERENT AMOUNTS TO ADMINISTRATION ABOUT 20%, WHICH COVERS THE COST OF COLLECTING THE ASSESSMENT, INCLUDING MAILING PROCESSING, BOOKKEEPING, SO FORTH, AS WELL AS SOME STAFF TIME THAT ARE USED FOR BID MEETINGS AND BID ACTIVITIES.
UM, 20, ABOUT 27% IS, IS SPENT ON SECURITY.
SO THE SECURITY SERVICES ARE, IT'S A DRIVE THROUGH SERVICE SEVEN NIGHTS A WEEK.
UM, THE, THE DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION AND THE BUSINESS OPERATING FOR THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT RECEIVES DAILY REPORTS REGARDING GRAFFITI.
UH, THEY THEN ALERT, UH, REBUILDING, UM, TOGETHER PETALUMA OR THE CITY.
UM, THE REPORTS ALSO INCLUDE INFORMATION ABOUT PROPERTY DAMAGE AND OR OTHER PROPERTY RELATED INFORM, UH, ISSUES.
UH, ABOUT 23% OF THE FUNDS COLLECTED ARE SPENT ON MARKETING, PROMOTION AND PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING EVENTS SUCH AS SHOP SMALL SATURDAY, SANTA'S RIVERBOAT ARRIVAL, THE HALLOWEEN TRICK OR TREAT OPEN HOUSE AND SHOPPING STROLLS.
AND, UM, THE BID FUNDS ARE LEVERAGED WITH OTHER FUNDING SOURCES, FOR EXAMPLE, THE PDA BUDGET OR VISIT PETALUMA TO GET MORE VALUE FROM RADIO ADS, DIGITAL MARKETING AND SOCIAL MEDIA THAT PROMOTE THESE ACTIVITIES.
AND, UH, ABOUT THE LAST 30% IS SPENT ON, ON BEAUTIFICATION EFFORTS, AND THAT INCLUDES THE BIGGEST EXPENSE IN THAT CATEGORY IS THE INSTALLATION, REMOVAL, AND STORAGE OF BANNERS AND HOLIDAY DECORATIONS.
FUNDS IN THIS, UH, CATEGORY ARE ALSO USED FOR THE, UM, BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT'S ANNUAL CLEANUP DAY, WHICH IN 2025 BROUGHT OUT THE GARDENING CLUB, REBUILDING TOGETHER PETALUMA, UM, THE PDA AND NUMEROUS COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS, INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, UM, AND THAT CLEANUP DAY INVOLVED REPLANTING PLANTERS, CLEANING GRAFFITI, AND JUST A GENERAL DOWNTOWN CLEANUP.
SO OUR NEXT TWO SLIDES ARE JUST SOME PHOTOS SHOWING, UM, YOU KNOW, SOME GREAT PHOTOS AND, AND SOME OF THE MARKETING MATERIALS THAT GO OUT.
UM, THIS YEAR, UH, SOME OF THE HOLIDAY DECORATIONS, UH, THAT THE CITY PURCHASED LAST YEAR, THE, UH, FOR, UM, WATER STREET, THE, UM, LIGHTS AND GARLAND AND THE, UM, OTHER HOLIDAY DECORATIONS THAT WERE ON NORTH WATER STREET, THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT TOOK ON THE COST OF INSTALLATION AND STORAGE, UM, FOR THOSE DECORATIONS.
ANOTHER VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT IS THE MEETINGS AND BUSINESS SUPPORT THAT HAS PROVIDED AMONG THE, UH, BUSINESSES THAT ARE IN THAT DISTRICT.
THERE ARE MONTHLY MEETINGS, UM, EVERY THIRD TUESDAY AS WELL AS EACH QUARTER.
THERE'S AN E EVENING SOCIAL EVENT.
UM, LAST YEAR, YOU KNOW, THOSE MEETINGS INCLUDED PLANNING FOR ACTIVITIES SUCH AS ARTS ALIVE AND THE SEASONAL EVENTS.
SOME OF THE BUSINESS SUPPORT THAT WAS OFFERED DURING THOSE MEETINGS INCLUDED THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER CAME OUT AND PROVIDED A PRESENTATION AS WELL
[01:10:01]
AS, UH, THE BUSINESS OWNERS THEMSELVES PROVIDING MARKETING SUPPORT AND ADVICE TO EACH OTHER.AND THEN THE CITY ALSO ATTENDS THOSE MEETINGS.
LAST YEAR WE DID PRESENTATIONS AND, AND WERE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS TO DISCUSS THE PARKING STUDY, COMMUNITY POLICING, AND, UH, PARKLETS.
AND NOW I JUST WANNA JUST REMIND, UH, WHILE WHY WE'RE HERE IS FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THE COUNCIL TO VOTE ON WHETHER TO, UH, GO AHEAD AND APPROVE THE BI THE BID ASSESSMENT PROCESS.
UM, AND I WANNA OPEN IT UP TO, FOR QUESTIONS.
I THINK WE'RE GONNA, UM, BRING IT UP TO COUNCIL FOR BOTH COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS.
UM, AND, AND, UH, KEEP US ON TRACK HERE.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS? UM, CERTAINLY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS ON EVERYBODY'S MIND THIS YEAR.
UH, IT'S FOCUS OF THE CITY AND OF THIS COUNCIL.
SO WE APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION AND WE APPRECIATE THE, UH, DOWNTOWN BUSINESS EFFORTS AND COUNCIL MEMBER CATER THOMPSON.
I'M JUST CURIOUS IF WE EVER DO SURVEYS TO FIND OUT HOW BUSINESSES, ARE THEY HAPPY OR IS EVERYTHING GOING THE WAY THAT THEY WANT IT TO GO? SO DO WE EVER DO A SURVEY WITH THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT? MM-HMM
UH, UH, I HAVE NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN A SURVEY, UM, TO THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT SPECIFICALLY.
UM, I'M JUST GONNA ASK MARIE MCCUSKER, UH, I KNOW MARIE'S TEAM DOES A LOT OF DIFFERENT SURVEYS, UM, TO, TO COUNCIL, YEAH.
UM, YES, WE DO ACTUALLY SEND OUT OCCASIONAL SURVEYS TO THE BUSINESS COMMITTEE ASKING FOR THEIR INPUT ON, YOU KNOW, WHAT KIND OF EVENTS THAT THEY WANT.
UH, WE DO DO, UM, SURVEYS AFTER MAJOR EVENTS OFTEN.
WE DID LOTS OF SURVEYS REGARDING, YOU KNOW, OVERLAY, ALL THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
SO YES, WE DO, WE DO, UM, AFTER CHRISTMAS, AND ALSO THIS YEAR, WE ACTUALLY ASKED THEM HOW THE PASSPORT PROGRAM WENT LAST YEAR, CAME UP WITH A NEW ONE, WHICH WAS A HEN HUNT, WHICH WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO US TO KNOW WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T WORK.
THAT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD EVEN SEE THE SUR.
I CAN SEND YOU SOME COPIES OF THIS.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SCHIBS, UH, MOSTLY JUST, JUST COMMENTS.
UM, GIVEN IT'S ONLY A $64,000 BUDGET AND HOW MUCH ACTUALLY HAPPENS, I SUSPECT THERE'S LOTS OF VOLUNTEER HOURS PUT INTO THIS EFFORT TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN WITH THE DOWNTOWN.
UM, SO I'M LOOKING AT A, A COST BENEFIT RATIO THAT'S PROBABLY REALLY, REALLY HIGH, UH, FOR THIS.
UM, SO, UH, GIVEN THE, THE, THE VALUE OF THIS, AND THERE'S A COUPLE OTHER PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT THE ECONOMY DOWNTOWN, I THINK, UH, I THINK WE ALREADY SAID THAT THERE'S BUDGET THIS YEAR, AND I THINK WE'RE COVERED FOR THIS YEAR, BUT I WOULD SUGGEST MAYBE NEXT YEAR WE, WE LOOK AT THIS AGAIN, THAT WE LOOK AT THE TOTAL PACKAGE OF ALL THE REVITALIZATION WE CAN DO DOWNTOWN AND MAYBE, UH, COME UP WITH A MORE HOLISTIC APPROACH BECAUSE THIS IS JUST ONE PART OF SEVERAL PARTS.
AND SO PRESENTING THEM ALL TOGETHER AND THEN MAYBE UPPING, UM, THE VALUE AND THE, UH, UM, AND THE, THE COST AND EVEN THE BENEFITS, UH, THAT WE CAN OBTAIN FROM THIS.
SO I'D LIKE TO LOOK AT THAT MAYBE NEXT YEAR, LOOK AT WHAT COULD WE DO MORE? WHAT ARE WE NOT DOING THAT WE COULD DO MORE OF THIS NEXT YEAR? I THINK THAT IF WE PUT THAT IN THE SURVEYS, AND LET'S GET SOME FEEDBACK ON THIS NEXT, GO AROUND THIS NEXT YEAR TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO IN THE FUTURE.
UM, BUT I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT YOU'RE DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
AND, UM, I THINK FOR, FOR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY, I THINK WE'RE GETTING BIG BANG FOR THE BUCK.
AND, AND, UM, COMMENT, NO COMMENT, QUESTIONS, QUESTION.
SO I'VE GOT, UM, WELL, I'VE GOT A FEW DIFFERENT QUESTIONS.
UM, UH, FOR THE SECURITY ASPECT OF IT, HOW MUCH PATROLLING ARE THEY ACTUALLY DOING? BECAUSE I, I BROKE DOWN WHAT THE SECURITY COMPANY GETS PAID PER MONTH, AND IT'S LIKE SEVEN BUCKS AN HOUR, YOU KNOW, TO MONITOR THROUGH THE NIGHT.
SO BASICALLY WE ACTUALLY, UM, WE SHARE, OBVIOUSLY WITH SECURITY, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY, WHICH IS AROUND $17,000 A YEAR.
IT'S A NUMBER OF DRIVE-THROUGHS ON A NIGHTLY BASIS.
SO THEY GO ANYWHERE BETWEEN FOUR, UH, 10 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT TILL 4:00 AM.
UM, SO THEY DRIVE THROUGH ON 15 MINUTE, UM, INTERVALS.
SO THEY HAVE TO GET OUT AND PRESS BUTTONS IN CERTAIN AREAS SO THAT WE KNOW THAT THEY'VE ACTUALLY BEEN THERE.
AND THEN THEY TAKE PICTURES OF CERTAIN AREAS SO THAT THEY CAN SHOW US EVIDENCE THAT THEY'VE BEEN DRIVING AROUND AND THEN THEY, YOU KNOW, TAKE PICTURES OF GRAFFITI OR IF THERE'S A HOMELESS, UM, AN ENCAMP PERSON MAYBE SOMEWHERE THEY WANT US TO BE AWARE OF, NOT THAT WE DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT, WE MIGHT SEND IT
[01:15:01]
OVER TO, UM, YOU KNOW, THE SAFE TEAM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.BUT IN GENERAL, IT'S, UM, IT'S A MINIMAL CONTRACT.
WE HAD TO REDUCE IT BECAUSE THE COST OF SECURITY WAS OUTWEIGHING THE ACTUAL INCOME THAT WAS COMING INTO SECURITY ELEMENT OF THE ASSESSMENT.
AND IT IS SEVEN NIGHTS A WEEK.
AND IF THEY DO ENCOUNTER ANY SORT OF VANDALISM, DO THEY, WHAT ARE THEY INSTRUCTED TO DO? WELL, IT DEPENDS IF IT'S ACTIVELY GOING ON, IT'S RARELY ACTUALLY HAPPENING WHEN THEY ARE WATCHING.
IF THEY SEE IT SOMETHING AS IT'S HAPPENING.
I MEAN, WHEN THEY FIND SOMETHING'S GOING ON, IF THEY'RE ACTIVELY SEEING IT, THEY CALL THE PD.
UM, OTHERWISE THEY TAKE PICTURES OF IT AND SEND US THE INFORMATION.
IF IT IS A BROKEN WINDOW AND IT'S, UM, UH, THERE'S NO ONE THERE, THEY CALL THE PD AND THE PD COME OUT AND DEAL WITH IT.
SO IT'S ABOUT DEFENSIVE PROPERTY MOST OF THE TIME.
BECAUSE I, I AM CURIOUS ABOUT HOW THEY REPORT.
COULD COUNSEL BE SENT, LIKE AN EXAMPLE REPORT FROM THEM, YOU KNOW, TO SEE YEAH.
WHAT EXACTLY THEY'RE, I KNOW NANCY SPOKE ABOUT IT IN YOUR PRESENTATION, BUT, UM MM-HMM
IT, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT BECAUSE IT, WELL, I'LL, I'LL TALK MORE IN COMMENTS, BUT, UM, UH, LET'S SEE.
ON, ON PAGE SIX OF THE REPORT FROM THE DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION, WHAT, UM, THE SIERRA DISPLAY, WHAT EXACTLY IS THAT? BECAUSE THAT'S ABOUT A SIXTH OF THE BUDGET.
SO SIERRA DISPLAY IS THE, UH, COMPANY THAT PUTS UP THE BANNERS AND TAKES 'EM DOWN AND STORES THE DECORATIONS FOR THE YEAR.
SO WE HAVE AN ANNUALIZED BANNER, UM, SYSTEM, WHICH, UM, THE CHRISTMAS TAKES MOST OF THAT.
SO THEY STORE, UM, ABOUT 80 BANNERS.
WE ALSO COVER THE THEATER DISTRICT, AND THEY TAKE THEM DOWN AND PUT THEM UP.
AND OFTEN WE HAVE TO DO REPAIRS BECAUSE THE BRACKETS GET BROKEN BY SOME OF THE, THE, THE TRUCKS.
UM, MANY MOONS AGO, YOU MIGHT HAVE REMEMBERED THAT WE HAD TALLER LAMPPOSTS AND WE HAD ELECTRICITY, AND THEN WE HAD VERY LARGE OLD FASHIONED LIT UP DECORATIONS.
WELL, WHEN WE CHANGED THE LAMPPOSTS, THERE WAS NO WAY OF PUTTING UP ELECTRICITY AND WE HAD TO PUT BANNERS, SO WE HAD TO INSTALL BRACKETS.
SO AT CHRISTMAS WE, UM, AND AS WE GET MORE MONEY, WE PUT MORE UP, WE TRY AND EXPAND THE, UH, DISTRICT, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO DO ALL OF IT.
WE JUST WOULD, WE, WE WOULD HAVE NO MONEY IN THE BID AT ALL.
AND THIS YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO INCORPORATE THE ADDITIONAL ONES ON WATER STREET NEAR BREWSTER'S AND LOWER WATER STREETS.
UM, SO YEAH, MOST OF THE MONEY JUST GO TO THE HOLIDAY DECORATIONS, AND THEN WE PUT UP THE, UM, SUMMER ONES OR, AND WE HAVE THEM FROM, WE USED TO CHANGE 'EM OUT THREE TIMES, BUT WE DO IT TWICE NOW.
BECAUSE THE COST, THE, THE THING WITH THE BID IS GOT NO INFLATION IN IT, SO IT JUST GETS SMALLER.
SO WE HAVE TO REDUCE THE THREE BANNERS A YEAR TO TWO.
AND WE'RE PAYING FOR BANNER STORAGE TOO.
WELL, WE ARE, THE BD IS, YEAH.
UM, THEY ARE USED TO, MOST OF THESE COMPANIES DO STORE BANNERS FOR MANY CITIES.
UM, WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO STORAGE FOR THAT AMOUNT OF BANNERS.
WE, HAVE WE EVER EXPLORED LIKE DIFFERENT CITY BUILDINGS BANNERS COULD BE STORED AT JUST TO TRY TO PUT MONEY IN ANOTHER BUCKET FOR THE BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN OR, UM, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IT COSTS OR NOT.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE NEVER PULLED OUT THE STORAGE ELEMENT OF IT.
THERE'S A COST, YOU KNOW, PER BANNER UP, PER BANNER DOWN, AND THE STORAGE IS USUALLY INCLUDING THAT COST.
BUT I COULD ASK THE QUESTION, BUT IT WOULD HAVE TO FIND A STORAGE UNIT FOR THEM AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THEM HAVING ACCESS TO IT DIRECTLY TO BE ABLE TO KEEP IT NICE.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOTTA KEEP THEM DRY AND, AND HAVE ACCESS TO A STORAGE COMPANY IN A, UM, AN EVENT COMPANY LIKE THIS TO COME IN AND PICK THEM UP EASILY.
AND THEN, UM, SO IN, IN COMBING THROUGH THINGS AND LOOKING AT THE ADMIN COSTS, I KNOW IT KIND OF SAYS IT EVERYWHERE.
THAT'S ONLY 20% OF THE BUDGET.
IF YOU ACTUALLY START TO LOOK AT IT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, YOU KNOW, BID SHARE THAT THERE'S, THAT ALL THOSE LINES AT THE BOTTOM ABOUT BID SHARE OF ADMIN COSTS AND THAT MM-HMM
CORRELATES TO MARKETING, SECURITY AND BEAUTIFICATION.
I MEAN, THOSE, THOSE TO ME STILL SEEM LIKE ADMIN COSTS.
AND IF YOU TALLY 'EM UP, THAT'S, UH, IT'S ABOUT HALF THE BUDGET, UM, GOES TO, TO ADMIN ON ADMIN FOR OTHER THINGS.
WHAT YOU MEAN? SO IF, IF YOU LOOK AT, UH, PROFESSIONAL FEES, CREDIT CARD DISCOUNTS MM-HMM.
AND, AND IF YOU TOTAL THAT UP WITH THE $23,000 OR SO FOR, FOR ADMIN, UM, THAT, THAT'S ABOUT
[01:20:01]
HALF OF THE BUDGET.WELL, UM, BASICALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT OTHER CITIES LIKE PLEASANTON AND EVEN SAN RAFAEL, THEIR CITIES ACTUALLY MATCH THEIR BIDS.
WE ARE ONE OF THE ONLY BIDS AROUND THAT DON'T ACTUALLY HIRE, HIRE A PERSON TO MANAGE THE BID AS THE DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION.
WE'VE ALL, MANY YEARS WHEN WE ACTUALLY HIRE COSTS, WE TURNED OUR ADMIN DOWN TO LIKE 10%, AND WE INCURRED THE COSTS OURSELF, WHICH THE PDA DOES INCUR MOST OF THOSE COSTS THROUGH THEIR STAFF.
SO WHEN WE LOOK AT ADMIN, THAT'S ONLY A VERY SMALL AMOUNT FOR WHEN WE ACTUALLY WORK THE, THE HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE.
AND WE'VE GOT THE TRICK OR TREAT TRAIL, ALL THE COORDINATION FOR THAT.
ALL OF THE MAJOR, THEY'RE NOT THE MAJOR EVENTS, BUT THE MERCHANT EVENTS DOWNTOWN.
UH, WE HAVE STAFFING THAT WORK, THAT IT'S NOT VOLUNTEER LED.
UM, MOST OF THE MERCHANTS DON'T ACTUALLY DO THAT WORK.
IT'S A, IT'S A STAFF MEMBER THAT'S PAID TO DO IT, AND THEN ALL THE MARKETING THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT.
SO, UM, THE ADMINISTRATION COSTS DOES NOT COVER ANYWHERE NEAR WHAT IT ACTUALLY COSTS THE PDA TO ACTUALLY DELIVER THE BP, UH, BID.
BUT WE BELIEVE IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT THING TO, TO DO AND ALWAYS HAVE DONE.
SO I, YOU KNOW, PDA ACTUALLY FUNDS QUITE A LOT OF THE BID TO ACTUALLY EXECUTE IT.
UM, SO, AND ALSO PLEASANTON, UM, MATCHES THEIR BID BY 80,000.
UM, AS A CITY, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A LITTLE BREAK HERE AND INVITE THE CITY MANAGER.
I WAS JUST GONNA, I WAS JUST GONNA ADD YOUR CORRECT, MARIE, AND, UM, THE CITY DOES PAY FOR THE RENT FOR THE VISITOR CENTER.
SO WE DO HOUSE PDA, SO THEY DON'T HAVE RENT COSTS.
AND, AND I'M GONNA SUGGEST WE'RE, UM, MAYBE NOT GETTING TO THE, THE RIGHT ANSWER HERE.
I MEAN, I THINK, UH, THE CITY'S ROLE IS TO SUPPORT FROM THE OUTSIDE AND MM-HMM
UH, THE ROLE WE HAVE TONIGHT IS THE ASSESSMENT OF THE BUSINESSES FOR THE BUSINESSES DISCRETION OF HOW THEY SPEND THE MONEY MM-HMM
AND SO THE BOSS IS THOSE BUSINESSES PAYING THE DUES OVER THE BID.
AND WHAT WE ARE IS WE'RE FACILITATING THE ASSESSMENT.
AND SO I'D LIKE TO KEEP US FOCUSED IN, YOU KNOW, STAYING IN OUR LANE A LITTLE BIT AND WHERE WE HAVE SUGGESTIONS FOR HOW THEY CAN BE BETTER, WE TAKE IT OFF THE COUNCIL DI AND DIRECTLY TO THEM WITH THOSE CONCERNS.
WELL, I MEAN, WE'RE VOTING ON APPROVING IT.
YOU KNOW, SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE RIGHT ON THE RECOMMENDED BY THE BUSINESSES SELF ASSESSMENT.
NO, I UNDERSTAND WE'RE THE VEHICLE FOR IT.
BUT I, I GUESS TOO, UM, IT, YOU KNOW, UM, COUNCILWOMAN, JANICE MENTIONED IT THAT, UH, WE DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING TO GO OFF OF AS FAR AS, I GUESS, THE BUSINESS' INPUT IN THIS.
SO, WELL, THEY HAVE A, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT, THEY CAN KNOW ABOUT A PUBLIC HEARING.
THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO WRITE IN.
THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO MAKE COMMENTS.
THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO COME TONIGHT TO ACTUALLY SAY HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THE BID.
UM, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE MONTHLY MEETINGS THAT WE HAVE, WE ACTUALLY MOVE THE MEETING EVERY MONTH TO A DIFFERENT BUSINESS.
WE BRING WHAT THEY WANT TO THOSE MEETINGS.
UM, WE BRING THE PD IN, WE BRING PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY HELP THEM WITH THEIR MARKETING.
WE GIVE THEM EXAMPLES OURSELF.
UM, WE'RE DOING, WE DO, WE ARE VERY ACTIVE.
SO WHAT I THINK I'D LIKE TO DO IS, SINCE WE ARE FOCUSED ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS HERE, AND AS COUNCIL MEMBER SRI'S SUGGESTED HE'D LIKE NEXT YEAR MM-HMM
I HOPE IT'S NOT NEXT YEAR, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS INDEPENDENT OF THIS ASSESSMENT STAGE.
ASSESSMENT STAGE IS A VERY FINITE THING.
IF THE QUESTION IS, IS THE MAXIMUM COLLECTION HERE BECAUSE OF BUSINESS'S ABILITY TO CONTRIBUTE, OR IS IT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT INVITED TO COME UP WITH A BETTER PROGRAM? WELL, MAYBE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS WHAT WE DO IN BETWEEN TO ASSESS HOW OUR BUSINESSES ARE DOING IN TOWN.
SO I THINK WE'RE GONNA LEAVE THAT CONVERSATION FOR THE APPROPRIATE MOMENT, UH, SOONER THAN A YEAR AND, UM, AND TRY AND, UH, COME TO A, IT'S A SELF-ASSESSMENT TOOL TO ACTUALLY MEET SOME OF THE, THE, THE FUN, THE THINGS THAT AREN'T FUNDED BY A CITY, RIGHT? SO DECORATIONS, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, RIGHT.
SOME OF THE BEAUTIFICATION, LIKE PAINTING THE UTILITY BOXES, UM, DOING SOME PODIUMS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, AND IT, IT'S NOT A LOT OF MONEY.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS 20 YEARS AND WHERE I FIRST STARTED IT, IT WAS A LOW COLLECTION.
BUT EVEN WHEN WE GET THE, THE MAXIMUM, IT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE STRETCH THAT THING AS FAR AS WE CAN.
WE APPRECIATE ALL THE GOOD WORK.
UM, BRINGING IT BACK HERE, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER RIZZ, OH, DO WE GO THE PUBLIC COMMENT NOW OR GO TO VOTE? YES.
YEAH, WE'VE DONE COUNCIL COMMENT, WE'VE DONE COUNCIL QUESTIONS, WE'RE MOVING TO PUBLIC.
[01:25:01]
UM, COMMENT NOW, PLEASE.UH, WE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY COMMENTS AHEAD OF THE MEETING.
UM, BUT I DO HAVE ONE CARD IF THERE'S ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO DELIVER A CARD.
AND, UM, SO WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER TONIGHT.
IS IT DARREN KUEN? IT'S, IT IS, I DON'T KNOW HOW, I GUESS THAT, UH, COME ON DOWN.
AND ACTUALLY GIVING KEVIN'S RESPONSE TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DI CARLY, I DON'T WANT TO TAKE YOU GUYS OFF YOUR PURVIEW, BUT I, I KIND OF NOTICED THE SAME THING ON PAGE SIX OF THIS REPORT.
AND I GUESS IT WOULD JUST BE FEEDBACK FROM SOMEONE WHO WORKS WITH SOME OF THE BUSINESSES WHO DO PAY INTO THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS FEE.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I SEE SOME OF THE ADMIN COSTS CREEPING UP INTO THE 46% TERRITORY, JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE'RE GETTING THIS COLLECTIVE POOL OF MONEY FOR THE BENEFIT OF EVERYONE, WE'RE NOT SEEING IT ALL KIND OF GO AWAY TO ADMINISTER IT, RIGHT? TO DO THE BILLING AND SEND THE BILLS AND COLLECT THE PAYMENTS.
WE DON'T WANNA LOSE MOST OF THE, THE CHUNK OF MONEY THERE IN ADMINISTERING THE PROGRAM.
SO, UH, WHETHER OR NOT THAT CONCERN IS IN YOUR GUYS' PURVIEW, I GUESS IS, IS, UM, UH, SOMETHING THAT KEVIN HAS ADDRESSED.
I THINK THE OTHER PIECE OF THIS IS REALLY, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'VE GOTTEN SOME NOTION OF BUSINESS' INVOLVEMENT.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING, THEY CAN COME HERE.
MAYBE THERE'S, I I GUESS TWO AREAS OF FEEDBACK, A WAY TO COMMUNICATE BETTER THE BENEFIT OF THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
I THINK SOME BUSINESSES SEE IT AS A FEE THAT THEY JUST HAVE TO PAY.
THEY'RE NOT, IT ALMOST LIKE A CITY RELATED TAX OR SOMETHING.
THEY DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S FOR AND, AND WHAT THEY'RE GETTING FROM IT.
SO A WAY TO COMMUNICATE BETTER WHAT THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT IS DOING.
MAYBE THAT COMES WITH MORE COMMUNICATION, GETTING THEM MORE INVOLVED IN THIS TYPE OF PROCESS, WHICH IS ALWAYS A BIG ASK.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, I THINK KIND OF IN LINE WITH THAT, FIGURING OUT WHERE CAN WE SEE RESULTS DRIVEN ANALYSIS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SUPER IMPORTANT, THIS KIND OF POOLING OF BUSINESS MONEY TO MAKE A BETTER DOWNTOWN ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERYONE IS A BIG ISSUE.
WHAT ARE THE WAYS WHERE WE CAN TRACK WHAT, WHAT THIS IS RESULTING IN, RIGHT? I MEAN, WE KNOW WHAT DECORATIONS DO AND WE KNOW KIND OF THE AMBIANCE AND SOME OF THE, THE KIND OF ACTIVITY THAT'S OCCURRING, BUT IS THERE A WAY TO FIGURE OUT RESULTS WISE, IS THERE ANY CORRELATION TO FOOT TRAFFIC, ANY CORRELATION TO THE AMOUNT OF BUSINESSES STAYING OPEN? ANY, ANYTHING WE CAN TIE THIS TO, AGAIN, TO HELP BUSINESSES FEEL LIKE THEY'RE INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS.
THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GETTING OUT OF IT.
IT IS A SMALL POT OF MONEY, BUT THAT KIND OF CUTS BOTH WAYS, RIGHT? IT'S LIKE, WELL, IT, HOW CAN WE MAXIMIZE WHAT WE'RE GETTING OUT OF THIS TO MAKE SURE THE EXERCISE IS REALLY WORTHWHILE AND BUSINESSES ARE GETTING THE MOST OUT OF IT? SO, UH, THANK YOU.
AND THAT, UH, CLOSES, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE ITEM AND, UH, I THINK THE SPEAKER MAKES A REALLY IMPORTANT POINT, IS THAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE ENGAGED IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
THE BUSINESS NEEDS TO BE ENGAGED AND UNDERSTAND, UM, HOW THE PROCESS WORKS AND TO ENGAGE WITH THEIR ADMINISTRATOR OF THE BUSINESS, UH, IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR THAT ENCOURAGEMENT TO, UH, ALL BUSINESS AND THE COMMUNICATION, UH, FROM THE CITY STAFF WHERE, WHERE CITY CAN BE THAT FACILITATOR OF COMMUNICATION.
SO AT THIS POINT, WE'RE LOOKING FOR A MOTION, PLEASE.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY SHRIVES AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER NOW.
AND I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS TIME TO THANK MARIE BECAUSE I KNOW THAT SHE WORKS A LOT HARDER THAN SHE GETS PAID FOR, SO THANK YOU.
AND OUR CUSTOMERS THAT COME DOWNTOWN ARE VERY HAPPY AND THE BUSINESSES ALL ARE SO UNIQUE AND TO BRING THOSE TOGETHER IN THE COMMON BID IS VERY HARD TO DO.
AND THEY ALL HAVE DIFFERENT IDEAS ON HOW THEY WANT THEIR BUSINESS ADVERTISED OR THEIR CUSTOMERS BROUGHT IN.
SO I REALLY HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, TAKE, GIVE THE CREDIT TO MARIE, SHE REALLY IS.
AND YOUR BOARD, WHICH IS MADE UP OF DOWNTOWN MERCHANTS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT UP.
AND WE HAVE A, A MOTION BYRES AND A SECOND BY NOW.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH MS. SANDS FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT, MS. KOSKI FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.
AND UH, THAT MOVES US TO OUR VERY LAST ITEM OF THE EVENING.
I KNOW IT DOESN'T SHOW ON THE PAPER AGENDA, BUT WE'VE ADDED IT FOR THE EVENING.
AND BEFORE WE MOVE TO THAT AND I ASK THE ATTORNEY TO INTRODUCE THAT, I DO WANNA REMIND EVERYBODY THAT, UM, OUR NEXT MEETING WILL START AT THE PUBLIC SECTION WILL START AT SIX O'CLOCK.
SO SET YOUR ALARM CLOCKS APPROPRIATELY.
[CLOSED SESSION]
ATTORNEY, WILL YOU INTRODUCE THE NEXT ITEM? UH, THANK YOU MR. MAYOR.SO I'LL, I'LL JUST READ THE AGENDA DESCRIPTION LIKE WE TYPICALLY DO JUST AT THE END
[01:30:01]
OF THE MEETING RATHER THAN AT THE BEGINNING.UM, AND THEN IF YOU'LL BE SO KIND AS TO SEE IF THERE ARE PUBLIC COMMENTS BEFORE WE ADJOURN TO CLOSE SESSION, I'D APPRECIATE IT.
SO THIS IS AN ITEM CONCERNING CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL, EXISTING LITIGATION UNDER GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 4 9 5 6 0.9 SUBDIVISION D PARAGRAPH ONE.
THE NAME OF THE CASE IS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA VERSUS CITY OF MORGAN HILL, CITY OF PETALUMA CASE 5 2 6 DASH CV DASH 0 0 5 6 DASH BBL.
AND IT'S IN THE US DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA.
AND UH, I'D LIKE TO ASK THE CLERK TO OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT IN THIS ITEM AND OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE NO PREEXISTING PUBLIC COMMENTS.
SO IS THERE ANYBODY IN THE ROOM CORRECT? I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY, UH, COMMENTS AHEAD OF TIME AND I DON'T HAVE ANY CARDS YET, BUT THIS IS THE MOMENT AND WE HAVE OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT AND SEE NO ONE STEPPING FORWARD TO, UH, FILL A CARD OUT.
WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND COUNSEL WILL ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION AND WE WILL RETURN, UH, WHEN WE FINISH THE DISCUSSION AND MAKE OUR REPORT OUT, IF ANY AT THAT TIME.
UM, WE ARE NOW ADJOURNED TO CLOSED SESSION.
MAYOR, WE ARE BACK IN SESSION.
SO THE COUNCIL HAS RETURNED FROM CLOSED SESSION AND FORMALLY RECONVENES ITS MEETING AND, UM, THE CLOSED SESSION, UH, WAS HELD.
AND I'D LIKE TO ASK OUR ATTORNEY IF THERE IS ANY REPORT FROM OUR CLOSED SESSION.
I AM JUST IN REAL TIME RIGHT NOW JUST CONFIRMING I DON'T THINK, UM, WE HAVE ANY REPORTABLE ACTION, BUT I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM.
UM, NO, THERE'S NO ACTION TO REPORT TONIGHT.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
AND WITH THAT, UH, WE ARE MOVING PAST THAT, UH, CLOSED ITEM SESSION, MOVING TOWARDS ADJOURNMENT AND, UH, I'D JUST, UH, LIKE TO WISH EVERYBODY A HAPPY NEW YEAR, HAPPY AND PRODUCTIVE COMING YEAR.
AND ALSO, UH, WELCOME OUR NEW VICE MAYOR DI CARLY.