Oct 05, 2026 City Council

AND LET'S STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND WHICH THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, AND LIBERTY REGION JUSTICE FOR ALL.

IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

AND, UH, TONIGHT WE'RE GONNA START BY LOOKING UP AND DOWN THE DIOCESE TO SEE WHETHER ANYONE WISHES TO ALTER TONIGHT'S AGENDA, NOT SEEING ANY SUGGESTIONS TO ALTER, WE'LL ADOPT THE AGENDA AS PRINTED BY A CLAIM.

[AGENDA CHANGES AND DELETIONS (TO CURRENT AGENDA ONLY)]

AND,

[ Domestic Violence Awareness Month]

UM, LET'S MOVE INTO, UH, THE, THE, UH, FUN STUFF, THE PROCLAMATIONS FOR THE E EVENING.

AND I'D, UH, I'D LIKE TO INVITE DEB SHAVER FROM THE, UH, FROM THE YWCA, UH, ONE OF THEIR BOARD MEMBERS TO, UM, BE THE RECIPIENT OF OUR, UH, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH PROCLAMATION, WHICH READS, WHEREAS THE CITY OF PETALUMA RECOGNIZES THAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AFFECTS ONE IN FOUR FAMILIES, AND THAT NEARLY ALL OF US KNOW SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN A VICTIM OF ABUSE, AND THAT THE CRIME OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VIOLATES AN, AN INDIVIDUAL'S PRIVACY, DIGNITY, AND SECURITY BASED ON THE SYSTEMIC USE OF EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL, SEXUAL, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC CONTROL OR ABUSE.

AND WHEREAS SINCE 1976, THE YWCA SONOMA COUNTY HAS BEEN A SINGULAR AND VITAL RESOURCE FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS EXPERIENCE VIOLENCE IN THE PLACE WHERE WE SHOULD ALL FEEL THE SAFEST INSIDE OUR OWN HOME.

AND WHEREAS WE RECOGNIZE AND PAY TRIBUTE TO THE YWCA'S FOUNDERS, STAFF, BOARD MEMBERS, AND DIRECTORS, AND THE VOLUNTEERS FOR THEIR 50TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR.

AND WHEREAS THE YWCA OPERATES CINEMA COUNTY'S ONLY CONFIDENTIAL SAFE HOUSE SHELTER IN SONOMA COUNTY'S ONLY 24 7 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CRISIS HOTLINE.

AND WHEREAS YWCA'S COUNSELING SUPPORT SERVICES OFFER TRAUMA-INFORMED INDIVIDUAL AND SUPPORT GROUP THERAPY FOR VICTIMS OF TRAUMA AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, INCLUDING THE CHILDREN AT YWCA'S CHILDCARE CENTERS, SERVING ONE OF OUR MOST VALUABLE POPULATIONS, CHILDREN FROM INFANTS TO FIVE-YEAR-OLD, AND WHEREAS ONLY AN INFORMED COMMUNITY CAN END THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE, WE ARE ENCOURAGED TO LEARN ABOUT THE YWCA'S PROGRAMS AND SUPPORT THEIR VISION FOR EVERY FAMILY IN SONOMA COUNTY TO LIVE HEALTHY, PRODUCTIVE LIVES AND BE SAFE IN THEIR OWN HOMES.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT I, KEVIN MCDONALD, MAYOR OF PETALUMA, ALONG WITH ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE PETALUMA CITY COUNCIL, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER, 2026 AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH IN THE CITY OF PETALUMA.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

NO, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

THE YWCA REALLY APPRECIATES THIS PROCLAMATION BY THE CITY OF PETALUMA.

AGAIN, THIS IS OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY, AND, UM, NOT ONLY DO WE FIELD MORE THAN 3000 CALLS A YEAR FOR A 24 HOUR, UM, HOTLINE, BUT WE ALSO PROVIDE 5,500 BED NIGHTS A YEAR VIA OUR SAFE HOUSE IN SANTA ROSA FOR FAMILIES LOOKING TO GET INTO SAFETY OUT OF THEIR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, UH, SITUATIONS.

UM, ADDITIONALLY, WE ALSO, UM, RUN THERAPY SERVICES FOR BOTH THE CHILDREN AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DOMESTIC, UH, VIOLENCE.

AND THIS IS REALLY A CRITICAL ISSUE, NOT ONLY IN OUR COUNTY, BUT AS WELL AS THE UNITED STATES.

WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE, UH, DOMESTIC HOMICIDES AS WELL AS, UH, VIOLENCE ASSOCIATED, UH, WITH, WITH THIS CONDITION.

AND AS LONG AS THE CITY OF THE COUNTY OF SONOMA NEEDS US, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO PROVIDE OUR SERVICES.

SO I HAVE LEFT SOME PAMPHLETS WITH CAITLIN WITH INFORMATION ON ALL THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE, AND WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT THE BROADER SONOMA COUNTY, UM, UM, INDIVIDUALS WITH BOTH THEIR PRIVATE DONATIONS AS WELL AS OUR GOVERNMENTAL

[00:05:01]

DONATIONS.

SO, AGAIN, ON BEHALF OF THE YWCA, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND THANK YOU.

[ Fire Prevention Week]

UM, ALSO, TONIGHT WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION FOR FIRE PREVENTION WEEK.

SO WE'D LIKE TO INVITE FIRE MARSHAL AMY CGE TO THE PODIUM TO ACCEPT, TO MAKE REMARKS THE THE PROCLAMATION READS, WHEREAS THE CITY OF PETALUMA AND ITS FIRST RESPONDERS ARE COMMITTED TO PROTECTING SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF ALL THOSE WHO LIVE IN AND VISIT OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THE FIRE PREVENTION, PREPAREDNESS AND PUBLIC EDUCATION.

AND WHERE, WHEREAS FIRE REMAINS A SERIOUS PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY, AND THE GROWING USE OF LITHIUM ION BATTERIES IN EVERYDAY DEVICES PRESENTED INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT FIRE SAFETY CONSIDERATION.

AND WHEREAS LITHIUM ION BATTERY POWER, MANY EVERYDAY RECHARGEABLE DEVICES, INCLUDING SMART PHONES, TABLETS, LAPTOPS, POWER TOOLS, E-BIKES, E SCOOTERS, TOYS CAN OVERHEAT, IGNITE AND EXPLODE WHEN DAMAGED, MISUSED, OR IMPROPERLY CHARGED.

AND WHEREAS THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION HAS HIGHLIGHTED THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH LITHIUM ION BATTERY FIRES AND THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT SAFE USE, CHARGING AND STORAGE OF LITHIUM ION BATTERIES AND BATTERY POWERED DEVICES, WHEREAS SAFE CHARGING PRACTICES CAN SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE RISK OF LITHIUM ION BATTERY FIRES IN HOMES AND IN COMMUNITIES.

AND WHEREAS SAFE CHARGING PRACTICES INCLUDE USING THE CHARGING CORD AND EQUIPMENT PROVIDED WITH A, UM, UM, DEVICE OR APPROVED BY ITS MANUFACTURER CHARGING DEVICES OF HARD, UH, ON HARD FLAT SURFACES AWAY FROM COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS, UM, MONITORING BATTERIES FOR WARNING SIGNS SUCH AS EXCESSIVE HEAT SWELLING, AND UNUSUAL ODORS DISCONNECTING DEVICES WHEN A CHARGE IS COMPLETE.

AND CHARGING LARGER DEVICES SUCH AS E-BIKES, SCOOTERS IN SAFE LOCATIONS AWAY FROM EXITS AND ESCAPE ROUTE.

WHEREAS IN 2026, FIRE PREVENTION WEEK THEME CHARGE INTO FIRE SAFETY.

SAFE CHARGING IS A SUPERPOWER.

REMINDS RESIDENTS THAT SIMPLE RESPONSIBLE CHARGING PRACTICES CAN HELP PREVENT FIRES, PROTECT HOMES, AND KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AT I KEVIN MCDONALD, MAYOR OF PETALUMA, ALONG WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE PETALUMA CITY COUNCIL, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER FOUR TO 10 2026 AS FIRE PREVENTION WEEK THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF PETALUMA AND URGE ALL RESIDENTS TO LEARN ABOUT AND PRACTICE SAFE CHARGING HABITS.

THANK YOU, TEAM.

PRESENTATION AND, UM, UM, FOR A REMINDER TO THE PUBLIC, UH, WE USE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT TO ASK QUESTION OR TO, UH, MAKE COMMENT ON THE PRESENTATION

AND, AND IF I COULD JUST SAY A THANK YOU FOR TELLING US THE THINGS WE KNOW WE SHOULD BE DOING, SO MUCH AS COMMON SENSE.

I'M READING THIS AND THANK YOU.

IT'S A GOOD REMINDER.

UM, THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

FIRE PREVENTION WEEK IS A GOOD REMINDER THAT, UM, SOME OF THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT WE DO IN THE FIRE SERVICE OCCURS BEFORE AN EMERGENCY EVER HAPPENS.

AND THROUGH PREVENTION, EDUCATION, AND, AND SIMPLE EVERYDAY CHOICES, WE CAN STOP FIRES OR PREVENT THEM BEFORE THEY EVER START KEEPING OUR RESIDENTS BUSINESSES AND FIRST RESPONDERS SAFE.

THIS YEAR'S THEME CHARGE INTO FIRE SAFETY.

SAFE CHARGING IS A SUPERPOWER, IS ESPECIALLY TIMELY.

LITHIUM ION BATTERIES ARE NOW PART OF OUR EVERYDAY LIVES AND SIMPLE PRACTICES, SUCH AS USING THE RIGHT CHARGERS, WATCHING FOR DAMAGED OR OVERHEATING BATTERIES, AND KEEPING LARGER DEVICES AWAY FROM EXITS AND COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS CAN MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE.

WE'VE RESPONDED TO MANY FIRES ATTRIBUTED TO LITHIUM ION BATTERIES THIS YEAR, AND WE HOPE TO REDUCE THAT MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS HOLIDAY SEASON COMING UP.

FOR THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO CELEBRATE, I'D LIKE TO INVITE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO REACH OUT TO THE FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU WITH THEIR LITHIUM ION BATTERY RELATED QUESTIONS.

TELL US WHAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT PURCHASING, WHETHER IT'S AN E-BIKE, E SCOOTER, POWER TOOL, TOY, LAPTOP, PHONE, THE LIST GOES ON.

AND LET US HELP YOU ESTABLISH SOME SAFE GUIDELINES FOR USING THAT IN YOUR HOME, IN YOUR BUSINESS.

WE WOULD MUCH RATHER HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH YOU BEFORE ANYTHING HAPPENS THAN MEETING YOU BECAUSE SOMETHING HAS ALREADY GONE WRONG.

WE ARE THE BUILDING RIGHT ACROSS THE PARKING LOT HERE NEXT TO CITY HALL, AND WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU.

I WANNA RECOGNIZE OUR FIRE PREVENTION STAFF AND ALL OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS WHO WORK EVERY DAY TO MAKE PETALUMA A SAFER AND MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION AND FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF FIRE PREVENTION AND PUBLIC SAFETY AND PETALUMA.

AND THANK YOU ALL.

TONIGHT WE HAVE A

[ Measure M - Parks For All -Investment and Impacts Summary]

[00:10:01]

AS WELL AS THE MATTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST.

SO IF YOU DO HAVE A COMMENT ON THE PRESENTATION, DON'T FORGET, YOU CAN USE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THAT PERIOD.

UM, AND TONIGHT WE ARE, UH, JOINED BY OUR PARK AND RECREATION, UH, DIRECTOR DREW HALTER TO TALK TO US ABOUT MEASURE M UM, PARKS FOR ALL INVESTMENT AND IMPACT SUMMARY.

SO, UM, TAKE IT AWAY, DREW.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

GOOD EVENING.

MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL STAFF COMMUNITY.

UM, I AM JOINED HERE BY, UH, KAT REISINGER, OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION, AS WELL AS JEN SANTOS, OUR, UM, SUPERINTENDENT OF PARKS AND OPEN SPACE.

SORRY, THAT WAS A FUN MOUTHFUL.

UM, SO WE'RE EXCITED, UH, TO BE HERE.

UM, WE THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE, UH, A REALLY GREAT TIME TO BRING WHAT HAS BEEN, UM, AN ABSOLUTE, UM, CRITICAL ASSET AND TOOL FOR US OVER THE PAST SIX PLUS YEARS, WHICH IS MEASURE M AND, UH, KNOWING, UH, THAT ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT THERE WILL BE, UM, A DECISION FOR VOTERS OF SONOMA COUNTY TO REAUTHORIZE THIS MEASURE MEASURE.

SO WE, UM, THOUGHT IT REALLY TIMELY TO BRING THIS FORWARD TO YOU ALL TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THIS HISTORICAL INVESTMENTS HAVE MEANT FOR US IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND SO HERE WE GO.

SO, TO BRING US ALL THE WAY BACK, UH, REALLY BRIEFLY, MEASURE M WAS DUBBED PARKS FOR ALL BACK IN 2019.

THIS WAS A SONOMA COUNTY VOTER APPROVED SALES TAX MEASURE, ONE EIGHTH OF A CENT, UH, WHICH PROVIDED DEDICATED FUNDING, TWO THIRDS OF WHICH WOULD GO TO REGIONAL PARKS.

THAT'S SONOMA COUNTY REGIONAL PARKS.

UH, AND ONE THIRD WOULD THEN BE DIVIDED, UH, AMONG THE NINE CITIES IN SONOMA COUNTY BASED ON POPULATION.

SO THE TWO THIRDS OF REVENUE THAT GO DIRECTLY TO SONOMA COUNTY REGIONAL PARKS.

UM, THIS WAS PRETTY, UH, THIS WAS PRESCRIBED IN THE LEGISLATION AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THOSE WOULD GO, YOU KNOW, IT'S BASICALLY SPLIT IN THIRDS FROM THERE, UH, INTO MAINTENANCE ACCESS IMPROVEMENTS AND TO PROTECT NATURAL RESOURCES.

UM, BUT, OH, SORRY.

BUT THE REST OF THE FUNDING, THE ONE THIRD THAT WAS THEN DIVIDED AMONGST THE CITIES, YOU KNOW, IT WAS REALLY LEFT UP TO THE CITIES TO DETERMINE, UM, HOW THEY SAW THOSE INVESTMENTS BEST BEING, BEING SPLIT.

SO FOR PETALUMA, AGAIN, THIS IS A SALES TAX.

SO WE'VE SEEN THOSE, UM, THOSE GROWTH, UH, WHEN THE FIRST, UH, IMPROVEMENT APPROVED MEASURE IN 2019, SINCE TODAY.

BUT ON AVERAGE, WE WERE LOOKING AT ABOUT 880,000 RIGHT NOW, TODAY, PER YEAR.

SO THE FIRST YEAR OF MEASURE M WAS LARGELY DEDICATED TO GOING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, UM, AND REALLY HELPING US PRIORITIZE HOW, UH, THIS INVESTMENT WOULD BE SPENT.

UM, I, UH, IT'S KIND OF A, A, YOU KNOW, COME FULL CIRCLE MOMENT FOR ME.

I, YOU KNOW, I JOINED THE CITY IN 2013, SO, UM, ABOUT HALF MY CAREER HERE HAS BEEN SPENT PRIOR TO MEASURE M.

UM, SO I GOT TO REALLY SEE, YOU KNOW, FROM THE GROUND UP WHAT, UM, THIS, UH, TOOL COULD USE AS A LEVERAGE TO REALLY SET OUR DEPARTMENT, UM, UP FOR SUCCESS.

AND THAT FIRST YEAR WAS A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, CHECKING INTO THE COMMUNITY THAT REALLY HADN'T BEEN CHECKED IN WITH FOR A LONG TIME.

UH, AS MANY OF THE COUNCIL PROBABLY REMEMBER, YOU KNOW, PRIOR TO, UH, THIS PASSING, YOU KNOW, EACH YEAR IT SEEMED LIKE WE WERE GETTING FURTHER BEHIND IN OUR DEFERRED MAINTENANCE, UM, PARKS MAINTENANCE WAS, UM, UNDER PUBLIC WORKS, RECREATION SERVICES WAS UNDER CITY MANAGEMENT.

SO THERE WAS A LOT OF JUST CARE AND FEEDING THAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN, UM, TO BRING US BACK TO A UNIFIED DEPARTMENT SO THAT WE COULD START HAVING SOME OF THESE KIND OF LONG RANGE PLANNING CONVERSATIONS.

SO YOU FAST FORWARD THROUGH 2019, UM, WORKSHOPS, COMMUNITY MEETINGS, SURVEYS THAT REALLY ENDED UP LANDING, WHICH WHAT WE WERE REALLY PROUD OF, UM, WHICH WAS SEVEN PRIORITIZED CATEGORIES OF INVESTMENT FOR WHICH PETALUMA WOULD THEN LOOK AT THE MEASURE M UM, REVENUE SOURCE, UM, FOR FUTURE EVERY YEAR TO GO BACK IN TO SEE HOW WOULD WE INVEST THESE FUNDS.

SO SEVEN IS WHAT WE CAME UP WITH THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORTED AND, AND BROUGHT TO COUNCIL.

SO THESE ARE KIND OF THOSE, WE CALL IT LENSES OR BUCKET BUCKETS AND, UM, CATEGORY A RIGHT OFF THE BAT, YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY, FOLKS FELT, YOU KNOW, STRONGEST THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR WALKING PATHS, OUR CONNECTIONS, OUR BIKE TRAILS, OUR ACCESS, UM, THERE WAS SO MUCH NEED THERE ACROSS OUR 48 PARKS, OUR MILES OF TRAILS, UM, THAT THIS WAS WHAT WE FELT WAS A, WAS WAS A PRIORITY.

AND THEN IT GOES DOWN FROM THERE.

NOW, IT'S NOT TO SAY THAT ANY GIVEN YEAR, UM, YOU KNOW, THE INVESTMENT

[00:15:01]

MAY BE, YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, UM, CATEGORY E, YOU KNOW, RECREATION AND AQUATIC FACILITIES, YOU KNOW, ONE GIVEN YEAR.

WE MAY SEE A MAJORITY OF INVESTMENT IN THAT YEAR.

UM, BUT THE INTENT HERE IS OVER THE COURSE OF THE 10 YEAR MEASURE TO REALLY SHOW, UM, AND CHECK IN WITH THE COMMUNITY SHOWING THAT WE'RE SPENDING IT AND LEVERAGING IT ACROSS THESE CATEGORIES IN THE WAYS THAT THE COMMUNITY REALLY FELT WAS IMPORTANT.

SO THE NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES, WE'RE JUST GONNA GO THROUGH SOME OF THE, THE, THE REALLY KIND OF TRANSFORMATIONAL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS IN OUR PARKS, UH, THAT WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF ACCOMPLISHING IN THE LAST SIX YEARS.

SO FOR THIS SLIDE, YOU KNOW, OUR PLAYGROUND REPLACEMENT PROGRAM, WE WERE AVERAGING A PLAYGROUND REPLACEMENT EVERY THREE YEARS.

UM, WE'VE GOT 28 PLAY STRUCTURES AMONG OUR PARKS.

SO WE WERE FALLING BEHIND.

UH, WE HAD A STALLED PROGRAM FROM 2008 TO 2014, SO WE HAD SOME CATCHING UP TO DO.

UM, BUT WITH MEASURE M UH, COMBINED WITH SOME OTHER, UH, SOURCES, WE WERE ABLE TO REPLACE A PLAYGROUND A YEAR.

UM, AND WE'RE REALLY PROUD TO SAY WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE PRETTY CAUGHT UP, AND WE'RE NOW PRIORITIZING OUR NEXT ROUND OF PLAYGROUND REPLACEMENTS.

KNOWING THAT WE HAD A, SOME VERY CHERISHED PLAYGROUNDS IN THE MID, MID NINETIES, THAT ALL HAPPENED AT THE SAME TIME, IT SEEMS LIKE.

SO WE'RE EXCITED TO TACKLE THOSE IN THE NEXT ROUND.

UM, THE LUC CASEY MULTIUSE FIELD TURF, UH, REPLACEMENT WAS COMPLETED THIS PAST YEAR.

UH, AGAIN, A THIRD GENERATION FIELD.

UM, IT GETS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF USE.

SO REALLY PROUD THAT WE'RE ABLE TO USE MEASURE M TO LEVERAGE TO GET THAT FIELD DONE.

OUR PEDAL, THE COMMUNITY BASEBALL FIELD, IS ANOTHER GREAT EXAMPLE.

THE SIX RECONSTRUCTED TENNIS COURTS AND THE FOUR NEW DEDICATED PICKLEBALL COURTS.

THAT WAS DONE IN THE FIRST YEAR, UH, OF MEASURE M INVESTMENT, WHICH REALLY ALLOWED US TO PREPARE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY AS, UH, COVID YEARS CAME ABOUT, ABOUT US, AND WE SAW THE RESURGENCE IN PICKLEBALL.

UM, WE WERE READY.

THEN THE MIDDLE IS REALLY ILLUSTRATIVE OF WHAT WE SEE IN A LOT OF OUR PARK SYSTEM, WHICH IS, UM, YOU KNOW, KIND OF SOME NON-EXISTENT PATHWAYS THERE, OR, OR, OR MAYBE, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE TOO EARTHY FOR MOST.

UM, BUT WHAT A DIFFERENCE IT MAKES, UM, BY JUST BEING ABLE TO GO BACK THROUGH AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THOUGHTFULLY RESIGN AND MAKE SOME OF THESE CONNECTIONS SAFER.

AND WHAT THAT DOES TO ACTIVATE SPACES AND PARKS, SECOND SHEET OF, UH, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, UM, AGAIN, IS MEANT TO, UM, DISPLACE THE BROAD DIVERSITY OF THE SPENDING.

SO WE'VE GOT OUR OUTDOOR CLASSROOM IN THE UPPER RIGHT, WHICH WHILE WE, UH, LEVERAGED A GRANT FROM THE STATE TO, TO ULTIMATELY GET THAT PROJECT APPROVED, UM, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THE OUTREACH WE DID, AND WITH THE PETALUMA WETLANDS ALLIANCE, THERE WAS SOME EXPANDED ACCESS THAT WE, WE KNEW WOULD MAKE FOR A BETTER PROJECT.

AND WE USED SOME MEASURE M TO GET THAT.

ACROSS THE FINISH LINE, WE HAVE THE SENIOR CENTER PARKING LOT RECONSTRUCTION.

THIS IS A MULTI-DEPARTMENTAL EFFORT, WATERFIELD OFFICE, PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS AND REC.

UM, BUT I MEAN, IT STARTED TODAY IN EARNEST, SO, UM, AVOID THAT PARKING LOT FOR NOW.

BUT IT'S GONNA BE A BEAUTIFUL PARKING LOT IN THAT, AMONG ALL THE PARKING LOTS IN THE CITY, THAT IS A SMALL WORKHORSE.

AND THE MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAM, THE, I RIDE THE REDWOOD EMPIRE FOOD BANK, THE SENIOR CENTER, AND NOW THE SKATE PARK THAT I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO DELIVER ON THAT FINISH AND DONE BEFORE THE SKATE PARK OPENS THE POOL REPLASTERING, THAT WAS ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT WAS SOLELY FUNDED BY, BY MEASURE M, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A 50 METER POOL.

THAT WAS, UH, ALSO, AGAIN, IN LONG OVERDUE NEED OF REPLACEMENT.

AND WHAT A DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE, THE KENNELWORTH PARK REVITALIZATION PLAN.

AGAIN, PART OF THAT WAS GRANT FUNDED, BUT, UM, AGAIN, MEASURE M WAS ABLE FOR US TO NOT JUST LOOK AT THE PARK, BUT EXPAND THAT SCOPE TO LOOK AT THE SURROUNDING TEEN CENTER LIBRARY ACCESS, AND REALLY COME UP WITH A, UH, A MASTER PLAN.

WE'RE VERY PROUD OF, UH, WHICH IS CONTINUING TO SEEK GRANT FUNDING FOR THAT PROJECT.

AND THEN LASTLY, THE SKATE PARK IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

THAT PHOTO WAS ACTUALLY TAKEN TODAY BECAUSE THAT'S HOW EXCITED WE ARE.

WE KEEP TABS ON IT.

UM, BUT IT, THE SHAPING AND THE SHOCK REED IS, IS UNDERWAY.

IT'S, IT'S ON TRACK.

AND, UM, AGAIN, ONE OF THOSE REALLY, UM, UH, PREDOMINANT THEMES WE HEARD ABOUT IN THE, IN THE EARLY OUTREACH WAS THE SKATING COMMUNITIES NEED FOR, FOR A NEW FACILITY.

SO THE NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES, WE'RE GONNA WALK YOU THROUGH SOME OF THE NUMBERS.

UM, THIS ILLUSTRATION REALLY IS MEANT TO SHOW, YOU KNOW, THE CORRELATION BETWEEN MEASURE M AS IT RELATES TO OUR GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.

SO THE ORANGE HERE IS OUR GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTIONS, PARKS AND REC, ESSENTIALLY, AND THEN THE BLUE, UH, WHICH IS THE MEASURE M FUNDING SOURCE.

SO THERE'S A COUPLE OF TRENDS OR THEMES THAT REALLY STICK OUT TO ME HERE.

UM, YOU KNOW, ONE, THERE'S A PERCENTAGE THAT YOU CAN SEE OF OVERALL,

[00:20:01]

UM, SPENDING AS IT RELATES.

SURE.

BUT YOU REALLY START TO SEE, I THINK PETALUMA DOUBLING DOWN ON INVESTMENT INTO PARKS ONCE MEASURE M UM, REALLY BECAME A TOOL THAT WE COULD LEVERAGE.

SO I'M REALLY PROUD HERE WITHIN PETALUMA TO SAY, HEY, WE KNEW PARKS WERE IMPORTANT, BUT WE REALLY DIDN'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE TOOLS, THE ASSETS OR THE BELIEF IN OURSELVES THAT WE COULD CARRY THROUGH WITH A LOT OF THESE PROJECTS, UH, STAFFING, ET CETERA.

AND SO WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS, YOU KNOW, MEASURE MI, I FEEL HAS REALLY BEEN A CATALYST FOR THAT GROWTH IN THE GENERAL FUND.

UM, AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO A LOT WITH IT.

UM, BUT AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE IT, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT A CHERRY ON TOP.

IT'S, IT'S REALLY BEEN THE CATALYST FOR US TO BE ABLE TO, UM, INVEST ACROSS THE PARK SYSTEM.

SO IF YOU GO BACK IN THAT, AND YOU, YOU, YOU THINK OF THE BLUE PORTION FROM THE PREVIOUS SLIDE.

SO THAT'S BROKEN OUT HERE WHERE WE, WE KIND OF SHOWED MEASURE M YEAR AFTER YEAR AS IT RELATES TO HOW, WHAT WAS THE PERCENTAGE THAT WE USED FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS VERSUS, UM, YOU KNOW, INCREASING OUR STANDARD OF MAINTENANCE.

AND THEN THAT ORANGE AREA IN THE MIDDLE, UM, WHICH HAS REALLY BEEN OUR SUPPLY SUPPLIES AND SERVICES, UH, WHICH JEN CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT LATER, BUT WE WANTED TO SHOW YOU, I MEAN, YEAR AFTER YEAR, YOU CAN SEE CAPITAL.

THERE WAS SUCH A NEED THERE, UM, ESPECIALLY KIND OF IN THE FIRST FEW YEARS.

UM, AND WE MAY CONTINUE TO SEE THAT FOR A LITTLE WHILE, UM, BUT REALLY WANTED TO SHOW IT TO YOU HERE AS SAYING, HEY, WE ARE REALLY INVESTING A LOT IN THE CAPITAL, BUT MAKING SURE, UM, THAT WE'RE ALSO IMPROVING KIND OF OUR BASELINE SERVICES, WHICH IS OUR, OUR MAINTENANCE, ALL OF THE CAPITAL PROJECTS, UH, THAT WE HAVE, UH, UM, BEEN ABLE TO PULL TOGETHER OR ACCOMPLISH OR SHOWN IN THIS SLIDE.

SO JUST MEANT TO ILLUSTRATE, UM, YOU KNOW, OUR CITY, ACROSS OUR CITY REALLY TRYING TO SHOW, UM, YOU KNOW, THROUGH A BROAD STROKE, WHICH PARKS HAVE BEEN IMPACTED.

UH, NOW WE'VE GOT A LOT MORE PARKS TO GO.

UM, AGAIN, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING THAT WORK, BUT WANTED TO KIND OF SHOW YOU HERE AS A VISUAL WHERE, WHERE THESE PARPS ARE THAT HAVE BEEN MOST IMPACTED.

SO I WILL TURN IT AT THIS POINT TO KAT REISINGER TO TAKE US THROUGH KIND OF WHAT MEASURE M HAS MEANT THROUGH GETTING OUR AQUATICS PROGRAM OFF THE GROUND.

KAT, THANK YOU, DREW.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

HAPPY TO BE HERE.

AQUATICS IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART.

FUN FACT, I'VE BEEN A CERTIFIED AMERICAN RED CROSS LIFEGUARD FOR 27 YEARS.

AQUATICS WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ATTRACTED ME TO APPLY FOR THE POSITION, THANKFULLY, AND I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE TALKING ABOUT AQUATICS AND HOW IT REALLY, TO ME IS OUR BEST EXAMPLE OF WHAT MEASURE M INVESTMENT LOOKS LIKE WHEN ALL OF THE PIECES COME TOGETHER.

THIS YEAR, MEASURE M HELPED MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR THE CITY TO BRING OUR TWO AQUATIC FACILITIES BACK UNDER THE CITY OPERATION AND BUILD TOWARD A TRULY YEAR ROUND AQUATICS PROGRAMMING AT TWO FACILITIES.

MEASURE M BUILDS MORE THAN JUST INFRASTRUCTURE.

IT BUILDS A PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES FUNDING FOR TWO FULL-TIME POSITIONS, OUR RECREATION SUPERVISOR OVERSEEING AQUATICS AND A PARKS MAINTENANCE POSITION FOCUSED ON OUR POOLS, OUR PART-TIME AQUATICS, WORKFORCE TRAINING, SUPPLIES AND SERVICES.

AND WE'RE SEEING THE DIRECT IMPACT OF THAT INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THE PARTICIPATION NUMBERS THAT YOU SEE HERE ON THE SLIDE.

THAT'S WHY WE BELIEVE AQUATICS TELLS THE MEASURE M STORY.

SO WELL, WE'RE INVESTING IN THE FACILITY, WE'RE INVESTING IN THE PEOPLE, AND WE'RE INVESTING IN ACCESS.

IT'S AN INVESTMENT THAT REACHES CHILDREN, LEARNING TO SWIM, FAMILIES, CAMPS, ADULTS EXERCISING, SENIORS STAYING ACTIVE, AND OUR REGIONAL AQUATICS WORKFORCE.

A HIGHLIGHT THAT FROM THIS YEAR, FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME, PETALUMA HOSTED THE CALIFORNIA PARKS AND RECREATION SOCIETY DISTRICT ONE SURF AND TURF, AND THE BAY AREA PUBLIC POOL OPERATORS ASSOCIATION, LIFEGUARD GAMES, WELCOMING MORE THAN 150 LIFEGUARDS, 26 LIFEGUARD TEAMS, AND OVER 20 ORGANIZATIONS FROM ACROSS THE ENTIRE BAY AREA AND THROUGH OUR OWN TRAINING PROGRAM IN-HOUSE 76 AQUATICS PROFESSIONALS EARNED OR RENEWED CERTIFICATIONS RIGHT HERE IN PETALUMA, WE'RE LOOKING AHEAD TO OPPORTUNITIES LIKE JUNIOR GUARDS AND EXPANDED SWIM LESSONS SCHEDULE, AND MORE SPECIAL EVENTS AND EXPERIENCES AT OUR POOLS, BUILDING ON THE TYPE OF CREATIVE PROGRAMMING WE'RE ALREADY INTRODUCING WITH EVENTS SUCH AS OUR FLOATING PUMPKIN PATCH COMING UP ON OCTOBER 17TH, AND THE DIVE IN MOVIE.

ULTIMATELY, THE INVESTMENT ISN'T SIMPLY IN TWO POOLS.

IT'S AN INVESTMENT IN WATER SAFETY, RECREATION, WELLNESS, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, ACCESSIBILITY, AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION.

AND THAT'S WHY AQUATICS HAS THE ABILITY TO TOUCH VIRTUALLY EVERY PART OF THE PETALUMA COMMUNITY.

THANKS TO MEASURE M.

AND WITH THAT, I HAVE THE PLEASURE TO TURN IT OVER TO JEN SANTOS.

THANK

[00:25:01]

YOU, KAT.

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

AND SO WE'VE HEARD FROM OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS, AND WE'VE HEARD FROM RECREATION, AND THE THIRD PART OF THAT STOOL IS OUR PARKS MAINTENANCE TEAM.

THEY ARE REALLY, YOU KNOW, TOGETHER WE PROVIDE THE FULL PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT PROVIDING THAT LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT'S REALLY NEEDED TO KEEP OUR PROGRAMS AND OUR CA CAPITAL PROJECTS ROLLING.

UM, ONE OF THE THINGS YOU CAN SEE ON THIS SLIDE IS A, IS A RARE, UM, OPPORTUNITY TO SEE OUR ENTIRE PARKS MAINTENANCE STAFF TOGETHER.

UH, IT'S, IT'S HARD TO GET THEM ALL IN THE SAME PLACE AT, AT ONE TIME.

THEY'RE REALLY BUSY PEOPLE.

AND, UH, THE THING THAT YOU CAN THINK OF WITH PARKS FOR ALL WITH THIS PICTURE IS THAT THERE ARE TWO PEOPLE MISSING FROM THIS PHOTO.

SO, KAT MENTIONED ONE OF OUR STAFF THAT WE'RE ABLE TO ADD WHERE THE PRIMARY FOCUS IS ON AQUATICS MAINTENANCE.

UH, BUT THAT PERSON ALSO SPLITS THEIR TIME WITH THE REMAINDER OF OUR PARK SYSTEM.

AND SO ADD TWO PEOPLE TO THAT, UM, PHOTO.

AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT WITH, UH, PARKS FOR ALL, AND WE'RE REALLY HAPPY TO HAVE THAT THERE.

UM, IT MAY NOT SEEM LIKE, AND WE ALSO HAVE TWO SEASONAL STAFF AS WELL THAT AREN'T PHOTOGRAPHED THERE, BUT I WANTED TO SAY TWO PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, IT MAY NOT SEEM LIKE A LOT, BUT IT'S SUCH A HUGE DIFFERENCE TO OUR TEAM, ESPECIALLY WHEN, UM, YOU THINK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE LARGER PROJECTS OUT THERE THAT ARE EASIER TO DO WITH TWO OR MORE PEOPLE THAN JUST BY YOURSELF.

YOU CAN LOOK AT OUR TRENCHING FOR IRRIGATION AT LUCCHESE PARK.

THAT IS, UM, YOU KNOW, NOT ALL IRRIGATION PROJECTS ARE CREATED THE SAME.

THIS IS DEFINITELY ONE OF THE LARGER ONES THAT WE UNDERTOOK.

AND, UM, HAVING THAT EXTRA PERSON THERE, WE HAD THREE PEOPLE FOR THIS.

WE HAD OUR, UH, KUBOTA TRACTOR THAT IT'S IN THE SIMILAR, UH, NEARBY PHOTOGRAPH RIGHT THERE FOR THIS PROJECT.

THOSE MATERIALS AND THOSE EXTRA STAFF ALLOW US TO QUICKLY TAKE CARE OF THIS, UH, YOU KNOW, MAJOR IRRIGATION PROBLEM, ALLOWING THE REMAINDER OF OUR STAFF TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON OUR DAY-TO-DAY SAFETY AND, UH, PARKS MAINTENANCE NEEDS.

IT'S A, IT'S A HUGE IMPROVEMENT FOR US.

UM, ONE OF THE THINGS WE ALSO DO, UH, WE'RE ABLE TO ADD WITH OUR MEASURE AND PARKS FOR ALL IS THE MULCHING OF PLAYGROUNDS.

UH, WE'VE GOT A PHOTO OVER THERE THAT'S KIND OF FUN.

THEY ACTUALLY, WE ACTUALLY BLOW IT INTO OUR PLAYGROUNDS FROM A BIG TRUCK.

UH, FUN FOR ME ANYWAY, FOR SURE TO WATCH THIS .

AND THIS IS NOT ORDINARY MULCH.

THIS IS A TYPE OF MULCH THAT'S CALLED FIRE BAR.

IT'S AN ENGINEERED WOOD FIRE BAR THAT IS PLACED DOWN FOR A FALL ATTENUATION FOR OUR PLAYGROUNDS AND FOR PETALUMA, WE WERE ABLE TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF TIMES WE DID THIS COMPARED TO PREVIOUS YEARS BEFORE MEASURE M.

SO WE WERE ABLE TO DO THIS AT LEAST ONCE ANNUALLY.

WE WERE ABLE TO REMOVE SAND FROM SOME PLAYGROUNDS AND PUT THIS IN, WHICH IS A MUCH BETTER FALL ATTENUATION FOR OUR PLAYGROUNDS.

SO THAT JUST MEANS IF SOMEBODY'S FALLING, THEY'RE GONNA BOUNCE INSTEAD OF BREAKING ARM, HOPEFULLY.

AND, UM, KEEP ON PLAYING, WHICH IS WHAT WE, WHICH IS WHAT WE WANT.

SO THIS WAS A, A GREAT IMPROVEMENT FOR US.

UM, AND, UH, IT ALSO HELPS IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN OUT TO THE SWINGS AND YOU SEE THAT BIG DIP BELOW THEM, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO AVOID, IS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE CAN KEEP THESE PLAYGROUNDS FULL.

UM, ANOTHER THING WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT WE DON'T HAVE A PHOTO FOR THIS, BUT I'LL TALK ABOUT IS OUR IRRIGATION UPGRADES, WHICH ARE KIND OF THOSE UNSEEN THINGS.

WE HAVE OUR WEATHER TRACK CONTROLLERS, WHICH IS A SMART IRRIGATION CONTROLLER.

THIS IS A FANTASTIC THING THAT, UH, MEASURE HIM HAS BEEN ABLE TO SUPPORT, ALLOWING US TO, UH, USE IRRIGATION CONTROLLERS THAT, UM, BRING ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION LIKE WIND, RAIN, HOW MUCH SUN, AND HELP US AUTOMATICALLY CONTROL HOW MUCH WATER IS GOING TO OUR TREES AND LAWN AND SHRUBS SO THAT WE CAN BE MORE EFFICIENT WITH OUR IRRIGATION SO WE CAN CONTROL IT REMOTELY.

AND IT, IT PROVIDES A BETTER, UM, A BETTER WAY FOR US TO MANAGE OUR, UM, ENVIRONMENT.

SO WE'RE HOPING IN THE FUTURE TO ADD MORE OF THOSE THROUGHOUT OUR PARKS, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO AT LEAST PUT ABOUT 30 OF THESE OUT, WHICH IS FANTASTIC.

UM, ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS TOO I WANTED TO MENTION IS THAT OUR SEASONAL STAFF, WHEN YOU THINK OF SEASONAL STAFF, TWO SEASONAL STAFF, UM, THEY REALLY DO SPEND A, AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF TIME HELPING US IN SPRING AND SUMMER WHEN WE REALLY NEED IT.

WHEN YOU SEE THOSE WEEDS OUT THERE, WHEN YOU SEE, UH, THINGS GROWING REALLY FAST, THAT'S WHERE WE WANNA USE THOSE FOLKS.

AND THEY'VE BEEN A HUGE HELP FOR US WITH THIS, UH, WITH THIS MEASURE.

UM, THE OTHER THING WAS, OF COURSE, OUR FABULOUS GRAZING PROGRAM.

IT'S, IT'S AN AMAZING PROGRAM.

WE'RE GRAZING OVER 300 ACRES THIS YEAR, AND WE HOPE TO KEEP, KEEP THAT GOING.

UM, THIS IS A FANTASTIC WAY TO MANAGE, UH, WHEATS FOR FIRE REDUCTION IN HARD TO REACH PLACES, AND WE GET SOME GREAT ECOLOGICAL BENEFITS FROM OUR SHEEP AS WELL.

AND THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST, UM, IT'S OUR LITTLE THINGS.

THE, THE, THE TRASH CANS, THE RECYCLINGS,

[00:30:01]

THE LITTLE SIGNS DOG AREA, UPDATED INFORMATION TO PEOPLE THAT'S OUT THERE.

THOSE ARE THE OTHER THINGS THAT MEASURE IS SUPPORTING FROM A MAINTENANCE STANDPOINT IN OUR, IN OUR PARKS.

AND WE, WE REALLY LIKE TO, UH, HAVE THAT WHEN YOU NEED IT.

I DON'T ALWAYS THINK ABOUT IT, BUT WHEN IT'S THERE, IT'S, IT'S FANTASTIC.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, ON OUR UPPER RIGHT, I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT ALL THE DRINKING FOUNTAIN IMPROVEMENTS WE'RE MAKING, UH, WITH MEASURE M AND UP THERE IS ONE OF OUR OLDER DRINKING FOUNTAINS.

SO OUR, OUR STAFF THAT AREN'T BUSY DOING OTHER THINGS ARE HELPING TO IMPROVE THOSE.

AND WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO, UM, IMPLEMENT WHERE WE CAN.

AND AS FUNDING IS AVAILABLE WITH THIS MEASURE A DRINKING FOUNTAIN THAT IS FOR, UH, PEOPLE FOR DRR REGULAR DRINKING, FOUNTAIN WATER BOTTLE FILLER, AND OUR DOGS, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU NEED IT, IT'S A REALLY GREAT THING TO HAVE.

AND SO WE'RE GONNA KEEP DOING THAT IN OUR MAINTENANCE SECTION, AND I'LL TURN IT BACK TO DREW.

THANK YOU, JEN.

OKAY, SO WE'RE IN THE HOME STRETCH.

UH, WE WANTED TO ALSO SHOW, YOU KNOW, A VISUAL, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A, KIND OF A DEMONSTRATION OF THE, THE REALLY BROAD, YOU KNOW, STRETCH OF WHAT MEASURE M TOUCHES.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY HARD TO QUANTIFY, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY, YOU KNOW, SMILES YOU GET IN A PLAYGROUND, HOW MANY HIGH FIVES YOU GET ON THE, THE WAY TO THE SOCCER FIELD.

BUT, UM, THERE ARE SOME NUMBERS AND I'M, I'M REALLY PROUD THAT WE'RE STARTING TO BUILD, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST THE, THE CASE FOR, FOR PARKS, UM, BUT THAT WE, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE REALLY RESPONSIBLE AND, AND BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF THESE FUNDS, UH, AND, AND THE COMMUNITY IS, IS BETTER SERVED FOR IT.

SO, YOU KNOW, JEN MENTIONED THE MULCH IN ITS OF ITSELF.

UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY, IT'S A LOT OF MULCH WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT NUMBER.

UM, BUT THEN YOU ALSO LOOK AT WHAT IT MEANS TO TOP DRESS EVERY YEAR, 27 PARKS, NOT PICK AND CHOOSE A FEW PARKS THAT ARE GONNA GET IT AND, AND THOSE THAT AREN'T.

UM, SO THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FROM AN EQUITY STANDPOINT.

UM, ANOTHER ONE OF THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE FEEL, YOU KNOW, IS THE MOST EQUITABLE IS THE, THE HOURS, 11,000 PLUS HOURS ANNUALLY THAT WE GET TO INVEST BACK IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH MAINTENANCE.

AND THAT MEANS THAT TOUCHES ALL THE PARKS.

UM, THOSE ARE WORKERS THAT ARE GOING TO GO OUT AND, AND GO OUT THROUGHOUT THE DAY COMPLETING WORK ORDERS OR WORKING ON THOSE PROJECTS, UM, WHEREVER THE NEED IS.

SO I WANTED TO PULL THOSE OUT, UM, SPECIFICALLY.

AND THEN LASTLY, YOU KNOW, OVERALL, UH, CITY PETALUMA, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE INVESTED, UH, JUST OVER 6 MILLION SINCE 20, UH, 19 USING THE MEASURE M LEVERAGE, UH, AS A, AS A SOURCE.

SO SOMETHING TO BE VERY PROUD OF, UM, AS WE LEAVE HERE.

SO, LOOKING AHEAD, ONE OF THE REASONS IT'S BEEN SUCH A CRITICAL TOOL FOR US IS IT'S REALLY CHANGED THE NARRATIVE SO THAT WE CAN START LOOKING AT MORE PREDICTABLE MULTI-YEAR CAPITAL PARKS PLANNING, WHICH HAS BEEN CRITICAL FOR US.

IT'S A, IT'S A MUSCLE WE'VE HAD TO LEARN AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO LEARN.

UM, LEVERAGING GRANTS AND PARTNER CONTRIBUTIONS WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO REALLY GO AFTER NOW FOR THE FIRST TIME GRANTS THAT WE CAN, WE CAN MATCH.

UM, AND ALSO JUST MAINTENANCE CAPACITY.

YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST THE STAFFING HOURS, BUT THE SUPPLIES, THE EQUIPMENT TO GO OUT AND DO THE THINGS.

UM, BEFORE, YOU KNOW, CONTRACTING OUT OR SERVICE PROVIDERS, WERE, WERE THE ONLY OPTION AVAILABLE TO US.

AND OFTEN THOSE ARE THE FIRST CUTS THAT, THAT WE MAKE WHEN TIMES ARE TOUGH.

SO I WANTED TO LEAVE YOU WITH THAT.

UM, AND BEFORE WE GET IT BACK TO YOU FOR QUESTIONS, UM, WE, WE ARE JOINED TONIGHT BY BERT WHITAKER, UM, THE DIRECTOR OF SONOMA COUNTY REGIONAL PARKS.

SO, UM, INVITED BERT TO SPEAK HERE TONIGHT.

UM, REALLY WE, IT'S HARD KEEPING BERT AWAY FROM THINGS LIKE THIS.

UM, BUT, UH, BERT, IF YOU WANNA KIND OF TALK ABOUT, UM, REGIONAL PARKS, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT THE MEASURE M HAS BEEN AND GO, GO FROM THERE.

THANK YOU, DREW.

I'M BRETT WHITAKER, THE DIRECTOR OF SONOMA COUNTY REGIONAL PARKS.

AND, UM, YEAH, IT'S A PLEASURE TO GET THE INVITATION TO COME DOWN AND, UM, CERTAINLY RECEIVED THIS PRESENTATION.

IT DOESN'T HELP ME FEEL ANY YOUNGER.

UM, BUT I'VE BEEN THROUGH AN AGENCY WORKING WITH THE COUNTY FOR MOST OF THAT TIME, AND SEEING A PARK SYSTEM AND THE NEEDS OF A COMMUNITY THAT DESPERATELY LOVES THEIR PARKS.

THEY GROW, THEY GET MORE COMPLICATED, THEY GET OLDER, THEY HAVE NEEDS FOR REINVESTMENT.

IT'S INTERESTING TO BE, YOU KNOW, IN SOME CASES I'M RESURFACING TENNIS COURTS FOR THE THIRD OR FOURTH TIME SINCE I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE COUNTY.

UM, BUT REALLY JUST THIS IDEA OF MEASURE M UM, OF THE CITIES, THE NINE CITIES IN THE COUNTY COMING TOGETHER AND BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, ASKING THE VOTERS TO SUPPORT US IN CREATING A LONG RANGE VISION, UM, HAS REALLY BEEN HIGHLY EFFECTIVE.

AND IT'S BEEN A REAL JOY AS A LEADER OF REGIONAL PARKS TO BE WORKING WITH OUR NINE CITIES.

UM, THIS PARKS FOR ALL IDEA IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN REALLY EVOLVING RAPIDLY, BUT PRE 2018, I KNEW I PROBABLY AT LEAST BUMPED INTO IT A PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION

[00:35:01]

EVENT.

MOST OF THE CITY LEADERS, UM, WE TALK MONTHLY NOW, AND THERE'S ALL SORTS OF INTERESTING CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE SORT OF PARKS AND REC MOMENTS OF PARKS, AS WELL AS THE NUTS AND BOLTS THINGS THAT COME UP WHERE WE ALL NEED HELP AND CAN LEVERAGE OFF EACH OTHER'S WORK.

AND I'VE CERTAINLY APPRECIATED OVER THE YEARS ALL THE CONVERSATIONS AT THIS COUNCIL, UH, TAKING THESE ISSUES AND LISTENING CAREFULLY TO YOUR COMMUNITY AND THE SCIENCE AND THE FACTS AND THE NEEDS, AND REALLY TRYING TO COME UP WITH A, A GOOD STRATEGY TO SUPPORT THOSE PARKS NEEDS.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

OUR COUNTY SYSTEM HAS NOW GROWN TO 60 FACILITIES AND NEARLY 20,000 ACRES.

UM, AND THAT'S REALLY EXCITING AND OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.

UM, AND REALLY PLEASED TO SEE THESE MEASURE M DOLLARS COUNTYWIDE AMONGST THE, THE 10 ENTITIES.

UH, ABOUT $70 MILLION HAS BEEN SINCE SPENT SINCE 2018 WITH VERY SIMILAR STORIES AT THE SONOMA CITY COUNCIL AND THE HILLSBURG CITY COUNCIL OF HOW THESE DOLLARS HAVE HELPED, UH, REALLY LEVERAGE AND SUPPORT AND STABILIZE THAT FUNDING FOR OUR PARKS AGENCY.

SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR, UH, GIVING ME A FEW MOMENTS HERE.

ALSO, JUST WANTED TO QUICKLY RECOGNIZE OUR DISTRICT TWO, DISTRICT TWO MEASURE CITIZENS OVERSIGHT APPOINTEE.

DAN LE IS ACTUALLY WITH US OVER HERE IN THE EVENING, DAN, I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS GONNA CALL HIM OUT.

UM, UH, BUT WITH THE TAX, UM, CAME CITIZENS OVERSIGHT AND WE'VE GOT A QUARTERLY DISCUSSION WHERE WE WORK WITH MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, UH, TO TALK ABOUT THE PROJECTS THAT ARE HAPPENING, TO TALK ABOUT THE ANNUAL REPORT AND HOW WE'RE SHOWCASING AND, UM, TO REALLY MAKE SURE THERE'S AS MUCH TRANSPARENCY AS POSSIBLE AND HOW THESE INVESTMENTS ARE BEING MADE ACROSS THE COUNTY.

SO THANK YOU.

I'M AVAILABLE AND CERTAINLY HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE THEM.

THANK YOU, BURT, AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MAYOR, BACK TO YOU.

GREAT PRESENTATION.

LOVE TO SEE IT WHEN PARKS ARE MAINTAINED.

UM, SO COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS TONIGHT? COUNCIL MEMBER SCHIBS? UM, FIRST I JUST WANNA, UH, HIGHLIGHT, UH, SOMETHING THAT HOPEFULLY FOLKS MAY HAVE MISSED A PHENOMENAL JOB THAT YOU'RE DOING IN GETTING ALL THIS WORK DONE, AND YOU SAW AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF MONIES COMING IN AND THE LEVEL OF WORK THAT HAS HAPPENED.

UM, THE QUESTION IS, HOW ABOUT THE NUMBERS OF ACTUAL STAFF? BECAUSE I, MY IMPRESSION, I, I SUSPECT A LOT MORE WORK IS GETTING DONE AND A LOT MORE MONEY IS BEING SPENT.

A LOT OF THINGS ARE HAPPENING WITH EITHER THE SAME OR VERY SMALL INCREASE IN STAFF.

SO, UH, HOW DO WE DO THAT? I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION.

UM, YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY, AS YOU SAW, YOU KNOW, THE GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTIONS IN PARKS AND RECREATION HAVE ALSO, YOU KNOW, KEPT PACE AS MEASURE M WE'RE HERE.

SO, UM, WE TALKED ABOUT THE MAINTENANCE STAFF, BUT YOU KNOW, WE ALSO HAVE NEW POSITIONS ON THE RECREATION SIDE TOO.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE EXPANDED, YOU KNOW, OUR ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM, OUR, OUR, WE HAD A MANAGEMENT ANALYST NOW WHO'S NOT HERE TONIGHT, UM, BUT SHE WISHES SHE COULD BE WHEREVER YOU ARE, NICOLE.

UM, SO IT'S NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, THE MAINTENANCE TEAM, IT'S REALLY THAT FULL SERVICE AROUND THEM, AROUND US THAT ARE ABLE TO GET THE WORK DONE.

AND THAT'S JUST BEING RESPONSIVE TO RESIDENTS, THAT'S BEING, YOU KNOW, PUTTING INVESTMENT INTO THE OUTREACH THAT WE DO AROUND PROJECTS, WHICH WASN'T A MUSCLE WE HAD BEFORE.

I JUST, UH, PUT, UH, A NOTE ON THAT.

HOW MANY FOLKS WAS ON THE MAINTENANCE STAFF IN 2019 WHEN MEASURE M FIRST STARTED? AND HOW MANY MAINTENANCE STAFF DO YOU HAVE NOW, JUST FOR COMPARISON TO THE LEVEL OF WORK AND THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF STAFF INCREASE? JUST FOR THE MAINTENANCE PART, WE CAN GET YOU THE EXACT, UM, I WOULD SAY I THINK WE MOVED FROM SEVEN TO 10, UM, SEVEN MAINTENANCE WORKERS, UM, TO 10 MAINTENANCE WORKERS WITHIN ABOUT THREE YEARS.

UH, SO BETWEEN 2019 AND 2024.

UM, AND NOW WE'VE GOT ONE MORE THAT'S SPLIT BETWEEN AQUATICS AND PARKS, SO THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER ONE.

SO FOUR.

JUST, JUST TO POINT OUT THE, UH, HOW EFFICIENT YOU'VE BEEN WITH STAFF TIME TO GET ALL THAT WORK DONE.

THEN, UH, A SECOND LAST QUESTION HOPEFULLY IS, UM, ON, UH, ASSUMING WE, WE ARE GOING TO GET MEASURE M PASSED AGAIN, UM, UH, FOR ALL THE GOOD WORK THAT'S BEING DONE HERE, THE CITY AND, AND THE COUNTY, UH, CAN WE SOMEHOW GET INCLUDED SOMEHOW IN THE MEASURE M FUNDING AND THE WORK A, UM, A COMPLETE MASTER PLAN FOR WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH PARKS? I THINK THAT'S STILL MISSING.

AND PARTICULARLY, UH, WHAT'S MISSING IS A LAFFERTY PARK MASTER PLAN.

I WAS WONDERING IF, IF THOSE COULD BE FUNDED, UH, WITH MEASURE M COMING FORWARD? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I, I THINK THERE'S, UM, LEAST A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS UP HERE AS WELL THAT YOU HAVE SAT OR, OR ACTUALLY THREE WHO HAVE SAT ON THE PARKS AND REC COMMISSION WHO'VE BEEN CALLING FOR MASTER PLANS.

UM, SO I THINK THEY'LL ALL ECHO YOUR, YOUR SENTIMENT AND YEAH, WE'LL BE TAKING, UM, YOU KNOW, FUTURE PLANNING EFFORTS, INVESTMENTS ACROSS THE COUNCIL AS WE DO FOR EVERY FISCAL YEAR, UM, AS PART OF THE BUDGET WORKSHOP.

UM, WE'VE STARTED THAT MASTER PLANNING PROCESS.

UM, NOW WE'VE GOT AN AD HOC COMMITTEE, I THINK WE MEET ON WEDNESDAY.

UM, SO WE'RE GONNA START THAT EFFORT

[00:40:01]

NOW.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING, UM, BUT WE'RE EXCITED TO BE, UH, YOU KNOW, GIVING UPDATES TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT OUR PROGRESS.

AND, UH, UM, AND LAFFERTY RANCH IS THAT, UM, THE PARK AREA UP THERE IS, UH, ARE WE GONNA BE WORKING MORE IN GETTING THAT DEVELOPED? YOU KNOW, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION TOO.

I MEAN, IT'S NOT, UM, ISOLATED WITH MEASURE MI WOULD SAY, UH, OR A FUTURE MEASURE, BUT MORE SO, YOU KNOW, HOW, UH, YOU KNOW, THE COUNCIL AND COMMUNITY WANTS TO PRIORITIZE OUR UPCOMING WORK PLAN.

I WOULD SAY THAT WOULD BE A GOOD, GOOD TIME TO TALK ABOUT LAFFERTY.

NOW, UM, THANK YOU STAFF.

UM, I, UM, AT ALL THE PARKS, I FEEL LIKE DAILY AND THE FAIRGROUNDS, LET'S TALK ABOUT WHEN WE KNOW WE'RE GONNA BE MASTER PLANNING THE FAIRGROUNDS SOON, BUT HOW DOES MEASURE M MONEY HELP OUR FAIRGROUNDS? I KNOW THE SENIORS ARE USING IT DAILY FOR THEIR CLASSES, AND THE, THE STAFF WAS ALL THERE PREPPING THE FAIRGROUNDS BEFORE OUR FAIR.

SO HOW DOES MEASURE M MONEY WORK, UM, IN ASSISTING THE FAIRGROUNDS? I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION.

UM, YOU KNOW, FEEL FREE TO, TO CHIME IN JEN OR KAT, BUT, UM, WHAT I LOOK AT THE FAIRGROUNDS, YOU KNOW, ONE THING THAT WE REALLY TAKE TO HEART IS, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE DO TO STEWARD THE PROPERTY NOW AND TO REALLY LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR THE UPCOMING YEARS OF, OF THE FAIRGROUNDS MASTER PLAN.

SO WE'RE REALLY, YOU KNOW, HAVE BEEN AVOIDING, YOU KNOW, ANY MAJOR CAPITAL PROJECTS, UM, REALLY LET THAT PLANNING EFFORT PLAY OUT.

BUT WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING IS BUILDING OUR MAINTENANCE CAPACITY, AND, AND YOU SAW THAT FIRSTHAND DURING THE FAIR.

UM, SO AGAIN, IT'S HITTING IN THOSE AREAS, HAVING THE, THE PERSONNEL TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO ISSUES, LEAKS, UM, MOWING, NOT CHASING CATTLE YET, BUT THINGS LIKE THAT ON THE PROPERTY AND HAVING MORE OF A PRESENCE ON THE PROPERTY WITH OUR PARKS MAINTENANCE TEAM, UH, IS WHERE WHAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON FOR NOW.

UM, THANK YOU FOR THAT ANSWER.

ALSO, WITH OUR ACTIVE SENIOR COMMUNITY, THEY'RE, THEY'RE LOOKING TO, UH, SEE PICKLEBALL COME BACK TO THE FAIRGROUNDS.

HOW CAN YOU ANSWER THAT QUESTION? THE COMMUNITY'S ASKING, YOU DIDN'T KNOW YOU'RE GONNA GET GRILLED ON THE HOLE OF THE PARK BUDGET TONIGHT.

TOOK US 40 MINUTES TO TALK ABOUT PICKLEBALL AND WE'RE THERE AGAIN.

UM, IT'S VERY POPULAR.

YEAH, NO, IT'S, UH, IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I WOULD SAY I WOULDN'T ISOLATE JUSTICE SENIORS.

UM, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO IS PILOT PROGRAMS. PICKLEBALL IS, AGAIN, ONE OF THE ONES, WE BUILT THE FOUR COURTS AND IMMEDIATELY, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY WANTED EIGHT.

SO WE'RE, WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO DO THAT.

UH, I THINK WHAT, UM, WE'VE BEEN FOCUSED ON IS MOVING SOME OF THE COURTS INDOORS TO THE EXPO HALL OVER THE WINTER.

SO WE'RE GONNA BE RELEASING SOME, UH, COMMUNICATIONS ON WHAT THAT KIND OF PILOT SEASON WOULD LOOK LIKE, UH, TRYING TO GET SOME LEAGUE PLAY AND SOME DROP IN.

SO WE'RE EXCITED TO SHARE SOME UPDATES ON THAT SOON.

UM, BUT YEAH, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE CAN DO IN THIS INTERIM WHILE, WHILE MAKING SURE WE, WE, WE SET OURSELVES UP FOR A SUCCESSFUL PLANNING EFFORT.

AND I DO WANNA REMIND EVERYBODY THAT WE HAVE YOU GUYS TO THANK FOR THE KAVANAUGH POOL UPGRADES THAT WE'RE MUCH NEEDED AND, UM, IT WAS IN JEOPARDY AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT BACK.

THE COMMUNITY REALLY APPRECIATES THE, THE KAVANAUGH POOL.

UH, COUNCILMAN CATER THOMPSON.

SHOULD I JUST HAVE, UM, SOME COMMENTS? WHAT I'VE NOTICED IS I'LL USE BOND PARK AS AN EXAMPLE.

THE BIG HOLES AREN'T THERE ANYMORE, AND SO KIDS CAN ACTUALLY PLAY AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THE WATERING WITH THE RECYCLED WATER AND IT'S MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

UM, BUT I ALSO WANNA JUST GIVE SOME KUDOS TO YOUR DEPARTMENT.

UM, I HAD CONTACTED YOU BECAUSE THERE WAS A TRASH CAN MISSING, UM, AND IT WAS DONE IN LIKE TWO DAYS AND THE PUBLIC REALLY APPRECIATED THAT.

AND OTHER THINGS THAT I HEAR PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW, WE'VE DONE A MASTER PLAN FOR KENNELWORTH PARK, WHY ISN'T IT MOVING FORWARD? AND THAT'S A LITTLE FRUSTRATING FOR PEOPLE, UM, AND I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT OVERALL, PEOPLE ARE REALLY HAPPY WITH THE PARKS.

BIG DIFFERENCE FROM SIX YEARS AGO TO NOW.

BIG DIFFERENCE IN FOUR YEARS, ACTUALLY THREE YEARS, BECAUSE WHEN I FIRST CAME ON THE COUNCIL ALMOST FOUR YEARS AGO, ALL THOSE, UM, THE ADOBE WAS JUST TREACHEROUS.

AND SO I JUST WANNA THANK YOU, YOUR, YOU AND YOUR STAFF, AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ALWAYS THINK THE STAFF WHENEVER WE SEE THEM WORKING, 'CAUSE THEY'RE REALLY WORKING HARD.

AND THEN LAST WEEK I TALKED ABOUT THE DUCK POOP AT, UM, AT LUCCHESE PARK.

AND SO I MET THIS WOMAN DOWN THERE AND THERE WAS A MAINTENANCE WORKER AND HE WAS CLEANING EVERYTHING.

[00:45:01]

AND SO WE HAD A REALLY GOOD CONVERSATION, WALKED AROUND AND LOOKED AT THINGS, AND THEN I STARTED TALKING ABOUT THAT.

I WOULD ASK YOU A FEW QUESTIONS AND THEN YOU POPPED AROUND THE CORNER, SO IT WORKED OUT PERFECT.

AND SO THE THREE OF US HAD, YOU KNOW, JUST A GOOD CONVERSATION OF WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH OUR PARKS, AND I THINK SHE WAS PRETTY PLEASED WITH THE DIRECTION WE'RE GOING.

AND WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT, I'LL JUST USE LUCCHESE PARK AS AN EXAMPLE BECAUSE OF ALL THE CHANGES THAT ARE HAPPENING, WHICH ARE GREAT.

I GOTTA SHUT THIS THING OFF BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO, SORRY'S GONNA TALK TO ME IN A SECOND.

HANG ON.

SHE'S GONE.

UM, THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT MASTER PLANS IS A CHALLENGE BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY PARKS, BUT LUCCHESE WOULD BE A GREAT ONE FOR A MASTER PLAN SINCE THE SKATEBOARD PARK IS GONNA BE THERE AND WE'RE JUST HAVING ALL THIS NEW ACTIVITIES THERE.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES THERE.

AND JUST TALK ABOUT MORE JUST TO LEARN HOW THAT PARK WAS WATERED ORIGINALLY AND WHERE WE'RE GONNA BE WITH IT IN THE FUTURE.

'CAUSE PEOPLE REALLY, UM, APPRECIATE THAT.

AND I JUST APPRECIATE THE DIFFERENCE IN, I'M JUST GONNA SAY THE THREE YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN WATCHING, IT'S A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN MEASURE M WAS THE REASON.

AND SO I REALLY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO, UM, SUPPORT MEASURE H, WHICH IS THE TAX EXTENSION BECAUSE IT MAKES IT THAT WE CAN MAKE IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR SENIOR CENTER.

WE CAN MAKE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PARKS.

UM, PEOPLE WANT, UM, SAFE EQUIPMENT FOR THEIR KIDS.

AND SO I THINK OVERALL THE PUBLIC IS PRETTY HAPPY AND THEY HAVE SEEN THE CHANGES.

AND SO JUST THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND ACTUALLY THANK THE VOTERS FOR VOTING IN MEASURE M AND PLEASE SUPPORT MEASURE H.

COUNCIL MEMBER BARNACLE.

UM, IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I WAS ON THE PARKS AND REC COMMISSION, BUT I CAN REMEMBER GOING BACK THAT EVERYTHING WE DID WAS N FUNDED AND PART BY MEASURE M AND FUNDED BY, IN PART BY MEASURE M.

SO, UM, TRULY IT IS, UM, UH, IT'S, IT'S NICE TO SEE THE RECAP.

I WOULD JUST, MY ONE REQUEST TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WATCHING THAT ARE RUNNING THE CAMPAIGN, I'VE OBVIOUSLY STRONG SUPPORTER OF IT, IS TO CONTINUE TO REITERATE THAT THIS ISN'T A NEW TAX.

UM, THAT THIS IS ABOUT CONTINUING THE, THE LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY SEEING.

UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK SOME OF US WERE ON THE COUNCIL DURING THE LAST DROUGHT AND IT WAS NOT A FUN TIME TO BE ON THE COUNCIL WITH PEOPLE.

UM, BUT IT'S A MUCH BETTER TIME TO BE ON THE COUNCIL WITH PARKS RIGHT NOW THAT WE'RE NOT GETTING THE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GETTING SMALL COMPLAINTS INSTEAD OF, UM, THERE'S MASSIVE TRIP HAZARDS EVERYWHERE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO IT'S, UM, THE PARKS ARE IN MUCH BETTER CONDITION TODAY THAN THEY WERE WHEN I GOT ON THE COUNCIL.

UM, AND I JUST THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO REITERATE THAT THIS ISN'T A NEW PARK, UM, THAT VOTING AGAINST THIS IS, YOU KNOW, VOTING TO BASICALLY DEFUND OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT BY A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.

SO, UM, I HOPE WE, UH, WE CONTINUE TO DRIVE THAT MESSAGE HOME.

UM, THANK YOU.

JUST ABSOLUTELY NEED THIS.

SO, UH, UH, YEAH, I APPRECIATE THAT, THAT THE PARKS ARE IN BETTER SHAPE NOW THAN THEY'VE BEEN IN A LONG TIME.

UM, I REMEMBER IN 2012, UH, SOME OF US RAN A, UH, BOND ELECTION, TAX ELECTION TO IMPROVE THE PARKS.

AND, UM, POOL WAS A BIG COMPONENT IN THAT, AND WE GOT 60 SOMETHING PERCENT.

WE COULDN'T GET THE MONEY FOR THE CITY THAT WE NEEDED, BUT WHEN M CAME ALONG, WE DID GET THE MONEY, WE DID FIX THE POOL, WE DID BUILD FIELDS, WE DID A LOT OF GOOD STUFF WITH THAT.

UM, BUT EVEN AT THAT TIME IN 2018, WE VOTED ON THIS, I THINK, UM, PARK MAINTENANCE WAS IN PUBLIC WORKS, RIGHT? IT WAS STILL IN PUBLIC WORKS.

IT WASN'T UNTIL AFTER WE STARTED GETTING THESE REVENUES THAT WE STOOD UP A ACTUAL PARKS DEPARTMENT FOR MAINTENANCE.

AND, UM, AND MEASURE M DOES LET US LEVERAGE FOR GRANTS, AND IT'S REALLY FUN TO SEE LIKE MORE MONEY IN GENERAL FUND BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE PUT THE GRANT THAT WE GOT BECAUSE WE HAD THE MEASURE M MONEY.

SO IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GROWING, UM, CITY MONEY, BUT REALLY IT'S M LEVERAGING US INTO GRANT OPPORTUNITIES.

AND, UM, SO THANKS TO, UH, THE, THE MEASURE M TEAM AND THE, UH, COUNTY STAFF THAT WORKS ON THAT.

AND I LOVE THE RANGE OF USE.

I MEAN, IT'S DISCRETIONARY MONEY, IT'S WHATEVER WE PRIORITIZE THE COMMUNITY PRIORITIZES.

SO THINGS LIKE MASTER PLANS FOR LAFFERTY, THE CITY, THE WORK ON THE FAIRGROUNDS, IT'S ALL ELIGIBLE.

SAD PART IS, IT'S NOT ALL UNLIMITED.

SO, UH, WE HAVE A WISHLIST THAT'S LONGER THAN OUR GRANT LIST AND OUR, UH, MEASURE U LIST.

AND OUR MEASURE MI MEAN, WE, WE HAVE MUCH MORE ASPIRATION FOR THE FUTURE, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE AREAS WHY WE'RE TRYING TO GROW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY AND IMPROVE THE CITY BUDGET.

BUT ALL THESE DECISIONS COME UP TO US AT THE BUDGET TIME OF YEAR, AND THAT'S HOW WE DECIDE WHAT THE REAL PRIORITIES ARE.

'CAUSE WE APPROVE THE BUDGET.

UM, BUT THIS IS SUCH THE FUNDAMENTAL REVENUE.

[00:50:01]

UH, I HOPE EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY SUPPORTS THE RENEWAL MEASURE.

H AND SO, UM, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR BEING, AND I HOPE YOU'LL STAY FOR A FEW MINUTES TO LISTEN TO ANY GENERAL COMMENT THAT MIGHT ARISE ABOUT PARKS AND WE MOVE INTO THAT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, TEAM.

UM, SO, UH, THAT DOES MOVE US

[GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT]

INTO GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE EVENING AND DURING GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT, THE PUBLIC'S INVITED TO MAKE COMMENTS ON ITEMS THAT ARE OF PUBLIC INTEREST WITHIN THE CITY COUNCIL'S SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION THAT ARE NOT LISTED ON THE CURRENT AGENDA, PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE LIMITED UP TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON.

DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF PERSONS WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

TIME WILL BE ALLOCATED IN EQUAL SHARES, TOTALING NO MORE THAN 20 MINUTES WITH EQUAL TIME ALLOCATED TO IN-PERSON AND ZOOM REMOTE.

UM, COMMENTERS, IF THERE ARE MORE THAN 20 COMMENTERS, ADDITIONAL COMMENTS WILL BE HEARD AFTER THE LAST BUSINESS ITEM ON THE AGENDA.

SO I'D LIKE TO PASS IT OVER TO OUR CLERK TO START OUR MESSAGING AND START OUR CLOCK.

AT THIS TIME, I WILL START THE 32ND CLOCK FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.

DURING THESE 30 SECONDS, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ATTENDING IN PERSON SHOULD BRING THEIR SPEAKER CARDS TO THE CLERK'S DESK.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ATTENDING ONLINE SHOULD RAISE THEIR HAND VIRTUALLY THOSE ATTENDING VIA PHONE SHOULD PRESS STAR NINE TO RAISE THEIR HAND.

SPEAKER REQUESTS RECEIVED AFTER THIS TIME MAY NOT BE ACCOMMODATED.

WE HAD SEVEN GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS BEFORE THE MEETING AND THEY'VE BEEN POSTED ONLINE.

SO WE HAVE SIX CARDS WITH US TONIGHT, AND WE HAVE TWO, UH, HANDS UP IN OUR ZOOM AUDIENCE.

AND SO WE HAVE A, A GRAND TOTAL OF EIGHT.

SO, UH, I'D, UH, I'D LIKE THE CLERK TO SET THE CLOCK AT TWO MINUTES.

UM, FOR EACH SPEAKER, OUR FIRST SPEAKER, UM, IT WILL BE CHRIS PARKER TO BE FOLLOWED BY JENNIFER BOYLE.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY STAFF.

ON SEPTEMBER 30TH, THE GOVERNOR SIGNED ALL 4G SMOL SPONSORED BILLS OF PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE TO OUR RESIDENTS IS AB 25 96, WHICH THE CITY ALSO SUPPORTED AS IT RELATES TO THE ATTEMPTED DEGRADATION OF A SENIOR MOBILE HOME PARK.

WITHIN OUR FIVE SENIOR PARK DESIGNATED PROPERTIES COVERED BY THE CITY'S SENIOR PARK OVERLAY AB 25 96 CODIFIES PROTECTION PROTECTIONS CONSISTENT WITH THE EXISTING FEDERAL HOPA RE REQUIREMENTS AND EXISTING LOCAL SENIOR PARK OVERLAY PROTECTION.

YOUNGSTOWN MOBILE HOME PARK, ONE OF THE FIVE SENIOR PARKS COVERED BY THE OVERLAY HAS BEEN MARKETED, SOLD, AND REPRESENTED SINCE 2023 AS AN ALL AGE PARK.

HOWEVER, RESIDENTS MAINTAIN THAT YOUNGSTOWN HAS BEEN A SENIOR PARK SINCE 1989, AND THAT THERE IS NO COURT ORDER DETERMINING THAT YOUNGSTOWN IS ANYTHING OTHER THAN A SENIOR PARK.

THERE'S ALSO SIGNIFICANT NEWS REGARDING ARBITRATION WITH THE TWO, WITH TWO ADDITIONAL ARBITRATION DECISIONS ISSUED BY A DIFFERENT ARBITRATOR.

THE OWNERS OF LITTLEWOODS, CAPRI, AND COUNTRYSIDE PARKS WERE DENIED THEIR SEVENTH AND EIGHTH ATTEMPTED ARBITRATION INCREASES.

THAT BRINGS THE TOTAL TO EIGHT ARBITRATION AWARDS RESULTING IN ZERO INCREASES.

THE ARBITRATIONS, THE ARBITRATOR'S DECISIONS FOUND BASED ON THE FINANCIAL ANALYSIS AND THE PARK OWNER'S RECORDS PRESENTED THAT THE REQUESTED INCREASES WERE NOT WARRANTED.

OUR MOBILE HOME PARK RESIDENTS CONTINUE TO AWAIT SEVERAL IMPORTANT MATTERS, INCLUDING A DEC UH, A DECISION ON THE, IN THE SENIOR, UH, PARK OVERLAY TRIAL.

TRIAL CREDITS FOR OVERCHARGES THAT HAVE ACCUMULATED OVER THE YEARS THE RETURN OF THE RELOCATION REPORT, A NINTH ARBITRATION PROCEEDING AND OTHER MATTERS AFFECTING OUR COMMUNITIES.

TIME UP JENNIFER BOYLE TO BE FOLLOWED BY JODY JOHNSON.

GOOD EVENING, E EVERYONE.

UH, OUR MOBILE HOME PARK RESIDENTS CONTINUE TO AWAIT SEVERAL IMPORTANT MATTERS, INCLUDING A DECISION IN THE SENIOR PARK OVERLAY

[00:55:01]

TONIGHT WE ALSO WANT TO ADDRESS A STATEMENT MADE BY A DISTRICT ONE CANDIDATE WHO WORKS FOR A MOBILE HOME PARK OWNER.

IN RESPONSE TO RECEIVING A NEWSPAPER ENDORSEMENT, THE CANDIDATE STATED IN PART, BEING A MOBILE HOME PARK ONSITE MANAGER GIVES ME THE UNIQUE EXPERIENCE OF KNOWING HOW TO COMMUNICATE AND WORK WITH BOTH OF THE TENANTS AND THE PROPERTY OWNERS.

AS A CITY, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, I WILL USE MY EXPERIENCE TO BRING ALL PARTIES INVOLVED TO THE TABLE TO NEGOTIATE A REASONABLE AND LONG-TERM SOLUTION.

LEAVING THE PARK OWNERS OUT OF THE CONVERSATION HAS LED TO UNNECESSARY LAWSUITS, DELAYS, AND ADDITIONAL STRESS THAT ALL COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED.

HAD THIS SITUATION BEEN HANDLED PROPERLY, WASN'T HAND HANDLED, UM, IMPROPERLY, WE THE MOBILE HOME RESIDENTS ATTACH OUR FORMAL FACTUAL RESPONSE.

IN SHORT, RESIDENTS STRONGLY DISPUTE THE ASSERTION THAT PARK OWNERS HAVE BEEN LEFT OUTTA THE CONVERSATION, OR THAT LAWSUITS AND DELAYS OCCURRED BECAUSE PARK OWNERS WERE EXCLUDED, EXCLUDED.

OUR DOCUMENTED EXPERIENCE IS THAT PARK OWNERS HAVE REPEATEDLY PARTICIPATED IN STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS, COMMUNICATED WITH CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY STAFF.

THANK YOU JODY JOHNSON, TO BE FOLLOWED BY TOM CHAMBERLAIN.

DOWN SUBMITTED LETTERS AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS, INCLUDING MEETING ONE-ON-ONE WITH CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS OUTSIDE THIS CHAMBER AND HAVE THAT CITY COUNCIL MEMBER BRING BACK DEMANDS, PARTICIPATED IN ARBITRATION AND LITIGATION AND ADVOCATED FOR CHANGES TO THE CITY'S RENT STABILIZATION ORDINANCE.

THE RESIDENT'S POSITION IS THEREFORE STRAIGHTFORWARD.

PARK OWNERS HAVE BEEN HEARD.

THEIR PARTICIPATION HAS BEEN EXTENSIVE.

THE FACT THAT THEIR REQUESTED OUTCOMES WERE NOT ADOPTED DOES NOT MEAN THEY WERE EXCLUDED FROM THE PROCESS.

THEIR POSITIONS HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED BY RESIDENTS, ATTORNEYS, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY STAFF, COURTS, AND ARBITRATORS.

IN MULTIPLE INSTANCES, THE REQUESTING REQUESTED OUTCOMES WERE NOT ACCEPTED.

RESIDENTS BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN BEING EXCLUDED FROM A PROCESS AND PARTICIPATING IN A PROCESS IN WHICH ONCE REQUESTED OUTCOME IS REJECTED.

FINALLY, WE ARE PROUD TO LIVE IN PETALUMA WHERE WE BELIEVE OUR CITY COUNCIL'S DECISIONS ARE BASED ON FACTS, EVIDENCE, AND THE LAW NOT ON A PERSON'S WEALTH, INFLUENCE, FINANCIAL RESOURCES OR MISINFORMATION THAT MATTERS DEEPLY TO RESIDENTS OF OUR MOBILE HOME PARKS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO MAY NOT OTHERWISE HAVE THE RESOURCES OR POLITICAL INFLUENCE TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD.

WE APPRECIATE THE CITY COUNCIL AND CITY STAFF FOR CONTINUING TO PROVIDE RESIDENTS WITH LISTENING EARS, AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE AND A MEANINGFUL VOICE IN MATTERS AFFECTING ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY.

RESPECTFULLY, MOBILE PARK RESIDENTS HERE IN PETALUMA.

THANK YOU CHANTELLE ROGERS TO BE FOLLOWED BY RICK FAITH.

THANK YOU TOM CHAMBERLAIN, TO BE FOLLOWED BY CHANTEL ROGERS.

GOOD EVENING ONCE AGAIN.

I'M BACK ABOUT ANIMAL SHELTER ISSUES.

TONIGHT'S ISSUE, A TRIPLING OF SERVICE PROVIDER COSTS, AND A $300,000 BUDGET BUST ON PAGE SEVEN OF THE STAFF.

STUDY ON ALTERNATIVES, A COMPLETE BLANK ALTERNATIVES.

HOW ABOUT JOINING THE MARIN ANIMAL SERVICES? JPA? HOW ABOUT CLOSING THE ANIMAL SHELTER AND LIKE CLOVERDALE PAYING SONOMA HUMANE, $115,000 PER YEAR TO USE ONE OF THEIR EXISTING SHELTERS.

HOW ABOUT LIKE RONER PARK AND THE CITY OF SONOMA? ESTABLISH A LOCAL NONPROFIT SUCH AS PET'S LIFELINE.

HOW ABOUT LIKE SEBASTOPOL, CITY OF SONOMA AND CLOVERDALE EXPANDING THE POLICE ROLE TO INCLUDE ANIMAL CONTROL FIELD SERVICES TO THE CITY? THIS IS NO LONGER JUST ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL.

THIS IS DERELICTION OF DUTY, THE COUNCIL, AND WE TAXPAYERS RELY UPON YOU.

ONE OTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION, WE, WE HAD TALK ABOUT THE PARKS HERE AND MEASURE M AND MEASURE H, UM, AND ADDING OF THE STAFF AS A RESULT OF, OF MEASURE MI HOPE THERE'S A PLAN.

IF MEASURE H DOESN'T PASS, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO THESE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN BEEN HIRED? THANK YOU.

BYE-BYE.

[01:00:01]

GOOD EVENING.

I WENT TO THE LATEST SPECIAL PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING.

THE ZONING PRESENTATION ITSELF LASTED AN HOUR AND 18 MINUTES AND COMPRISED 45 SLIDES.

HERE WAS WHAT WAS INVOLVED.

QUOTE, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS INCLUDE AMENDMENTS TO THE FOLLOWING ZONING ORDINANCE CHAPTERS 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 11, 12, 24 26 AND 28, INCLUDING NEW SECTIONS.

1.0 6, 0 4 0.0 6 0, 24 0.045, AND 24.120.

IT WILL INCLUDE REPEAL AND REPLACEMENT OF IMPLEMENTING ZONING ORDINANCE, CHAPTER FIVE, DISTRICT REPEAL AND REPLACING OR IMPLEMENTING ZONING ORDINANCE CHAPTER 27, IN THE ADDITION OF NEW IMPLEMENTING ZONING, CHAPTER 29, MAKE MICRO BUSINESS.

THERE'S MORE, BUT YOU GET THE POINT.

THIS WAS A VERY DENSE, VERY COMPLICATED MEETING WITH A LOT OF INFORMATION.

THERE WERE 21 DECISION POINTS.

NOT ALL SIGNIFICANT, BUT SOME WERE.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS AGENDA.

IDA HAPPENED BEFORE ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION FROM THE COMMISSION.

THEY METHODICALLY WENT THROUGH EACH CHAPTER AND A LOT OF POTENTIAL CHANGES CAME UP THAT HAD NOT BEEN DISCUSSED BEFOREHAND.

AND WERE NOT SUBJECT TO PUBLIC COMMENT, LIKE CHANGING THE NUMBER OF UNITS SUBJECT TO INCLUSIONARY HOUSING, CHANGING SETBACKS CONSIDERING ALLOWING AN INCREASE IN HEIGHT TO 60 FEET FROM 45.

IN SOME AREAS, THESE DISCUSSIONS BY STAFF AND COMMISSIONS WERE NOT AN AREA THAT THE PUBLIC COULD GIVE FEEDBACK ON.

IT FELT LIKE SIGNIFICANT DECISIONS WERE BEING CONSIDERED OUTSIDE THE GENERAL PLAN AND COMMUNITY CONSIDERATION OR INPUT.

THERE WERE SIX PEOPLE UP ON THAT DAY, AND THE FUTURE OF DEVELOPING PE DEVELOPMENT IN PETALUMA FOR DECADES WAS IN THEIR HANDS.

BEING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL GENERALLY FOLLOWS THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS.

LET'S SLOW IT DOWN.

IT'S FIVE YEARS LATER.

IT WOULD BE A SHAME TO RUSH IT NOW.

THANK YOU, RICK.

FAITH TO BE, UM, IT IS OUR LAST IN PERSON SPEAKER, AND THEN WE'LL GO TO ZOOM.

GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR.

CITY COUNCIL PERSONS.

I WANNA THANK EVERYBODY FOR, UH, BEING PART OF MY POLITICAL FORUM THAT WE'VE HAD AT THE SPEEDWAY.

WE'VE HAD COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, CATER THOMPSON, MR. MAYOR HAS COME OUT AND, UH, VISITED WITH ME.

UM, COUNCILWOMAN, UH, NOW HAS COME OUT AND SPOKE, AND I HAVE AN INVITATION OUT FOR COUNCIL MEMBER SCHIBS AND ALL POLITICAL PEOPLE ARE ALL PEOPLE THAT ARE LOOKING FOR ELECTION ARE ARE INVITED BECAUSE IT IS ELECTION SEASON, LET'S FACE IT.

AND THE, THE FAIRGROUNDS AND THE SPEEDWAY ARE HOT TOPICS.

UM, I DO, AND JUST IN THE INTEREST OF BEING TRANSPARENT, I DO HAVE A OCTOBER 13TH MEETING WITH CITY STAFF.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN COMMITTED TO WHOEVER'S ON THIS DAIS AND WHOEVER IS PART OF STAFF OF WORKING TOGETHER.

AND I'LL CON COMMIT TO DO THAT.

BUT I AM LOOKING FOR MORE THAN A TWO YEAR OFFER, WHICH IS CURRENTLY ON THE TABLE.

AND I'M LOOKING FOR A WAY TO NEGOTIATE FURTHER A, A LONG-TERM AGREEMENT.

I WOULD SAY A MINIMUM OF FIVE YEARS.

IT'S VERY HARD TO PUT IN THE IMPROVEMENTS AND HAVE A RETURN ON INVESTMENT ON A TWO YEAR OFFER.

AND AGAIN, IT IS A POLITICAL HOT TOPIC, AND THAT'S WHY I'VE TAKEN ON THE POLITICAL FORUM OF HAVING EVERYBODY COME OUT AND SPEAK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE FAIRGROUNDS AND THE SPEEDWAY.

IT'S JUST NOT THE SPEEDWAY.

I'M NOT THE ONLY TENANT.

AND LASTLY, I, I'LL BRING UP THE FACT THAT I'M HEARING THAT THERE'S A FAIRGROUNDS MASTER PLAN AND WHO'S ON THAT COMMITTEE IS WELL, I'LL VOLUNTEER AND I I TO NOT BE A PART OF THAT CONVERSATION.

I WAS NOT A PART OF THE CONVERSATION OF DEMOCRACY NOW.

AND I COULD BE HONEST, THAT STONE, UM, RACETRACK'S BEEN THERE FOR 65 YEARS.

I'VE OWNED IT FOR THE LAST 15.

IT IS THE ONLY PROFESSIONAL, PROFESSIONAL SPORTING VENUE ON A WEEKLY BASIS IN SONOMA COUNTY.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE CORPORATE PARTNERS, THE SPONSORS, THE COMPETITORS, MY STAFF AND ME.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

MANAGED AND I WISH THAT ALL OF YOU ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES SITTING UP ON THE DAIS WOULD LOOK OUT AT MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE AND CHECK YOUR TIMING.

AND NOW WE'LL PIVOT OVER TO ZOOM AND, UH, MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU CALL OUT THE NAMES? YES.

WE HAVE TWO ZOOM COMMENTERS.

IT'S GONNA BE S KIRKS FOLLOWED BY TIM S KIRKS.

GO AHEAD AND UNMUTE.

UM, THINK, UH, THANKS SUSAN.

KIRK'S PUT IN, ACTUALLY, I LOWERED MY HAND, BUT SINCE SHE WENT AHEAD AND CALLED ON ME AFTER I LOWERED IT, UM, I WAS THINKING OF MAKING THIS COMMENT AND THEN I DECIDED NOT TO.

BUT SINCE YOU CALLED ON ME, I WILL.

UM, YOU KNOW, I WISH YOUR MEETINGS WERE JUST BETTER

[01:05:01]

AND I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT THE, UH, THE PRESENTATION BY THE PARKS DIRECTOR AND HIS STAFF AND ALL OF YOUR QUESTIONS GOING DOWN THE LINE, AND FRANKLY, MOST OF THEM SOUNDED LIKE REELECTION OR ELECTION CAMPAIGN ADVOCACIES FOR A PRESENTATION ABOUT, UM, BRINGING THE PARKS FOR ALL MEASURE BACK TO THE VOTERS AND ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO VOTE FOR IT.

UM, IT JUST TOOK UP A LOT OF TIME.

I MEAN, IT WAS, SO, IT WAS LIKE ALMOST 40 MINUTES.

YOU'VE GOT, UH, BUR WHITAKER THERE FROM REGIONAL PARKS.

HE'S BEEN WORKING ALL DAY, CAME DOWN TO THIS MEETING TO, YOU KNOW, ADVOCATE FOR HOPING THAT PEOPLE WILL VOTE FOR IT.

I JUST WISH YOU HAD STAYED FOCUSED ON WHAT THE ISSUE WAS, NOT USED IT FOR ALL OF THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE, AND, UH, BEEN CONSIDERATE OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE IN THE PUBLIC LISTENING TO YOU.

AND I REALLY WISH YOU WOULD BETTER MANAGE YOUR MEETINGS.

BYE-BYE.

TIM, PLEASE GO AHEAD AND UNMUTE.

TIM, IT'S NOW YOUR TURN TO SPEAK.

IF YOU COULD PLEASE GO AHEAD AND UNMUTE YOURSELF.

DO WE HAVE AN INDICATION THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN? NOT GONNA HAPPEN.

WE DON'T HAVE AN INDICATION AT THIS POINT.

MOVE IT BACK UP AND HAVE THE COUNCIL WEIGH IN ON COUNCIL ACTIVITIES IN THEIR LAST, UH, SINCE OUR LAST MEETING, WHICH WAS SEVEN DAYS AGO.

WELL, UM, LACKING THAT, WE APOLOGIZE TO TIM.

WE REMIND EVERYBODY THAT WE TAKE COMMENTS IN EMAILS AND THAT'S DISTRIBUTED TO ALL OF COUNCIL AND POST IT AGAINST THE AGENDA.

SO, UM, YOU KNOW, SORRY THAT THE ZOOM IS NOT, UH, CONNECTING TONIGHT, BUT, UH, UM, WE DO WANT TO HEAR ALL THE PUBLIC INPUT.

AND, UM, THAT BEING OUR LAST SPEAKER, WE'LL CLOSE, UM, GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT AND, UH,

[COUNCIL COMMENT]

SO, UM, STARTING WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER BARNACLE TONIGHT.

YES, THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

UM, AS MS. ROGERS SAID, WE DID, UH, HAVE OUR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING.

UM, IT WAS THE SECOND PART, UM, OF WHAT HAS BECOME A THREE PART, UM, PUBLIC HEARING ON THE, UH, ZONING CODE UPDATES BECAUSE IT IS SUCH DENSE TOPIC.

UM, IT HAS BEEN NICE TO HAVE TIME AND SPACE BETWEEN THE MEETINGS SO THAT, UM, THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAVE ON THE DAAS CAN, UM, STAFF CAN GO BACK AND, UM, DO RESEARCH BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT COME UP IN THE MIDST OF THAT SORT OF THING FROM BOTH THE, THE PLANNING COMMISSIONERS AND, UH, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

UM, AND SO THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO GO BACK AND DO, UM, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONAL RESEARCH AND THINGS LIKE THAT, UM, AND COME BACK.

AND SO, UM, IT'S, UH, I THINK WE ARE, UH, DRAGGING IT OUT FARTHER THAN WE HAD ORIGINALLY HOPED.

BUT IT'S, UH, WORLD WORTH IT BECAUSE IT IS, UM, THERE'S A LOT OF CONSEQUENTIAL DECISIONS IN THERE, UM, BUT I THINK IT'S MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

UM, ON THE OTHER NOTE, UM, I WENT TO THE SONOMA COUNTY BICYCLE COALITION GALA A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

I DON'T KNOW IF I MENTIONED THAT ALREADY.

UM, BUT TWO OF OUR ADVOCATES, BRUCE AND PETE, GOT ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR, UM, FROM THE SONOMA COUNTY BICYCLE COALITION.

UM, SO THAT WAS NICE.

UM, THEN, UH, MAYBE I'M STEALING A LITTLE BIT OF, UH, OTHER PEOPLE'S THUNDER.

UM, WE GOT HELEN PUTNAM AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE FROM THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES.

UM, IT WAS REPORTED IN THE PETALUMA VOICE, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT PETALUMA HAS GOTTEN THIS AWARD.

AND, UM, BRINGING THE HELEN PUTNAM AWARD BACK TO PETALUMA FOR, UM, OUR SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOLWORK IS, UH, OBVIOUSLY NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART BECAUSE I CAN, UH, REMEMBER BRINGING THAT UP IN MY FIRST GOALS AND PRIORITIES MEETING WHEN IT WAS REALLY JUST GOALS.

AND THERE WAS 250 OF 'EM, AND NOW WE'VE GOT 10 PRIORITIES AND, UM, AND WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS ON 'EM AS A RESULT.

AND THEN, UM, FINALLY, JUST WANT TO GIVE A BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR CITY MANAGER, PEGGY, WHO WAS, UH, AWARDED THE, UM, A CAREER OF EXCELLENCE, I THINK IT WAS, UM, FROM THE WOMEN LEADING GOVERNMENT, UM, UH, ASSOCIATION.

AND SO, UH, QUITE AN ACCOMPLISHMENT AND I THINK, UM, WELL EARNED AS WELL.

SO THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER CATER THOMPSON.

I TOO WANT TO, UM, CONGRATULATE OUR CITY MANAGER ON THAT AWARD.

THAT'S, UM, QUITE

[01:10:01]

A PRESTIGIOUS AWARD, AND SHE IS WELL RESPECTED THROUGH THE ENTIRE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOR HER EXCELLENCE.

AND I JUST WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT PEOPLE ALWAYS SAY, OH MY GOD, SHE'S YOUR CITY MANAGER WHEN YOU GO TO CONFERENCES, AND I HAVEN'T HAD ANY MEETINGS.

SO I'M GONNA END WITH THAT.

THANK YOU VICE MAYOR.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

I DON'T HAVE ANY, UH, LIAISON UPDATES, BUT, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU KNOW, REGARDING THE FAIRGROUNDS.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK OUR CITY MANAGER WHY THEY'RE ONLY BEING OFFERED TWO YEAR EXTENSIONS, BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT'S KIND OF A BASIC BUSINESS PRACTICE TO GO FOR FIVE TO 10 YEAR EXTENSIONS OR CONTRACTS.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T REALLY INVEST HEAVILY IN YOUR OWN INFRASTRUCTURE, UM, ON A TWO YEAR BASIS.

SO THAT'S REALLY PROHIBITIVE OF, OF ANYBODY BEING SUCCESSFUL LONG TERM.

AND, UM, YOU KNOW, SO I, I THINK, I THINK AS A COUNCIL, WE SHOULD PROBABLY LOOK AT DIRECTING STAFF TO LOOK AT LONGER TERM CONTRACTS.

AND I'D REALLY LIKE TO KNOW WHAT, WHAT OUR CO WHAT MY COLLEAGUES THINK ABOUT THAT TOO.

SO ARE YOU ASKING A QUESTION RHETORICALLY, OR, OR, UM, ARE YOU, I THINK THERE'S MOVING TOWARDS, UH, UH, SUGGESTING COUNSEL ADDRESS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR WHAT THE CITY MANAGER HAS TO SAY, BUT THEN I THINK WE SHOULD ALSO LOOK AT DIRECTING AS WELL.

AND OBVIOUSLY BASED ON THAT ANSWER, O OBVIOUSLY DIRECTION'S NOT OPEN TO US WITHOUT, UH, NOTIFICATION OF THE PUBLIC ON THIS.

THEY ARE STAKEHOLDERS, THEY'RE PARTNERS.

AND, UM, AND IT BECOMES BROWN ACT TO GO TO, UM, ANYTHING OTHER THAN EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT TO IT, UH, TO, TO THE IDEA THAT YOU'RE SAYING.

UM, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO LET THE CITY MANAGER MAKE THAT, UM, REPLY TO YOUR QUESTION.

RIGHT? AND SO THAT'S ANOTHER QUESTION.

ADD ONE MORE.

NO, NO, IT IS ALL THREE.

BUT I, I'LL SAY ONE MORE BEFORE SHE REPLIES.

UM, YOU KNOW, I WOULD, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THAT DIRECTION AND OBVIOUSLY WE CAN'T DO THAT TONIGHT, BUT I THINK THAT WE DO NEED TO DO THAT VERY SOON BECAUSE THOSE TENANTS ARE ON BORROWED TIME RIGHT NOW OF LESS THAN THREE MONTHS BEFORE THEIR CURRENT CONTRACTS EXPIRE.

AND THEN, UM, I AM CURIOUS TOO, AS TO WHY TENANTS ARE NOT BEING CONSIDERED STAKEHOLDERS IN THE PROCESS AND WHY THEY'RE NOT PART OF THE FAIRGROUNDS MASTER PLAN.

THAT DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT.

I MEAN, THEY'VE, THEY'VE BEEN THERE FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.

UM, THEY SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THAT.

SO I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHY THEY'RE NOT INCLUDED.

OKAY, PLEASE.

SO A LOT OF ASSUMPTION THERE.

UM, VICE MAYOR, I WOULD SAY THAT, UM, WE ARE NOW NEGOTIATING BASED ON COUNCIL DIRECTION, A TWO YEAR EXTENSION BASED ON THE FIVE YEARS THAT WE HAVE PROVIDED THE TENANTS.

SO WE GET THE MASTER PLAN DONE AND GIVE FOLKS MORE CERTAINTY ONCE WE'RE DONE WITH THE MASTER PLAN.

AND ALL THE TENANTS ARE INVOLVED WITH THE MASTER PLAN, AND WE'VE ENCOURAGED THEM TO PARTICIPATE WHEN WE HAVE THE MEETINGS.

SO, WELL, I'VE SPOKEN TO SEVERAL TENANTS AND NONE OF THEM HAVE INDICATED THAT THEY'VE BEEN INVITED TO BE A PART OF THAT.

AND THEN ACTUALLY ALL THE, ALL THE COMMUNICATIONS THAT WE'VE REC THAT WE'VE SENT OUT HAVE INDICATED THAT WE WANT THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MASTER PLAN MEETING.

AND THEN I DON'T RECALL BEING DIRECTING STAFF TO ONLY MAKE IT TWO YEARS.

AND, AND I THINK WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR IS, IS TO DELVE INTO A SUBJECT THAT'S DEEPER THAN WE'RE ALLOWED TO COVER RIGHT NOW.

SO I SUGGEST TRYING TO MAKE IT PART OF THE AGENDA AND, UM, YOU KNOW, SO WE, WE CAN HAVE CONVERSATIONS, UM, AND PERHAPS WE'LL CALL THAT A MASTER PLAN UPDATE, UH, AT A FUTURE, UH, COUNCIL MEETING.

BUT WE'RE A LITTLE CONSTRAINED ON TO ANY FURTHER.

AND, UM, I UNDERSTAND THAT, AND I WILL, AND YOU'RE, UH, MOVING INTO, UH, AREAS THAT CAN'T BE RESOLVED IN, YOU KNOW, AT THIS TIME, DIFFERING MR. WE NEED TO SORT THE DATA.

MR. MAYOR, MAYOR, I WANNA GIVE SOME, GET SOME UPDATES ON WHERE WE'RE AT.

THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

UH, I HAD SOMETHING BRIEFLY TO ADD, UH, THANK YOU IN RESPONSE.

I, SORRY.

CITY ATTORNEY SPEAKING.

YEAH, THANK YOU.

UM, TO, IN CONSISTENT WITH WHAT OUR CITY SHARED, THE, UM, THREE YEAR TERMS AND TWO YEAR EXTENSION IS COMPLETELY CONSISTENT WITH THE DIRECTION THE COUNCIL GAVE US WHEN WE WERE WORKING THROUGH THE WHOLE, UH, FAIRGROUNDS TRANSITION PROCESS, THE CITY, UM, REASSUMING OWNERSHIP AND CONTROL, UM, CONTINUING WITH THE OFFERING OF THE FAIR, THE MASTER PLANNING, THE INITIATING OF, UM, NEW USES AT THE FAIRGROUNDS, THE OPENING IT UP FOR MORE PUBLIC ACCESS, ET CETERA.

SO WE'RE STILL FOLLOWING AND CONSISTENT WITH THAT COUNCIL DIRECTION THAT WE RECEIVED.

OBVIOUSLY, THE COUNCIL COULD, IN THE FUTURE CHANGE OUR DIRECTION, BUT THAT'S WHAT'S GUIDING US PRESENTLY.

MONTH OF OCTOBER IS OUR WEAR PINK.

AND, AND I, I THINK FOR CLARITY, IF WE COULD DOCUMENT THAT IN AN EMAIL TO, UM, ALL COUNCIL ABOUT WHERE WE STAND ON, UH, OR WHY WE'RE DOING THE STEPS WE'RE DOING, IT WOULD BE GREAT.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.

NOW, UM, I DON'T HAVE ANY MEETINGS TO REPORT ON, BUT I DID WANNA DO A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE

[01:15:01]

AND OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT OF, UH, PERSONNEL THAT WAS HERE WAS ALL WEARING PINK OH, ON THEIR SHIRTS FOR THE MONTH.

UH, IT'S RIGHT, IT'S A PINK RIBBON ON THANK YOU , THEIR SHIRTS TO INDICATE HOW WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE, UM, ADVOCATE FOR EARLY DETENTION AND EDUCATION AND SUPPORT THOSE AFFECTED BY THE DISEASE.

AND I DID SPEAK TO TWO GOVERNMENT CLASSES, AND IT'S REFRESHING TO TALK TO THE FUTURE VOTERS OF PETALUMA.

COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER QUINT.

YES, THANK YOU.

UM, I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY THIS PAST WEEK TO PARTICIPATE IN, UH, THE, UH, CIVICS CLASSES AT, OR I GUESS CIVICS AND ECON CLASSES AT PETALUMA HIGH SCHOOL.

IT'S PROBABLY MY THIRD TIME DOING IT, AND IT'S A REAL JOY.

I I REALLY DO ENJOY, UM, THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

UM, I, OVER THE WEEKEND, I PARTICIPATED IN AN AMERICAN LEGION BOYS AND GIRLS STATE OR TORICAL AWARD CEREMONY, SO THAT WAS PRETTY COOL.

WE HAD EIGHT STUDENTS FROM THREE HIGH SCHOOLS IN PETALUMA THAT WENT TO SACRA, SPENT A WEEK IN SACRAMENTO LEARNING ABOUT CIVICS, THE CONSTITUTION THEY COMPETED.

UM, AND, UH, IT'S A, IT'S A, IT'S A THING THAT THE AMERICAN LEGION'S BEEN SUPPORTING SINCE LIKE THE 1930S.

IT'S A, IT'S A REALLY COOL THING.

UM, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE CITI ON THE HELEN PUTNAM AWARD.

I, UH, ALSO SHOUT OUT TO BRUCE AND PETE FOR BEING RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR HARD WORK.

CONGRATULATIONS TO CITY MANAGER ON HER AWARD.

AND THEN LASTLY, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO END WITH SAYING, UM, FORTUNATELY FOR ME, IT'S NOT AN ELECTION YEAR.

I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT, BUT I'M ALSO A, A BIG SUPPORTER OF THE RACETRACK.

UH, SO MR. FAITH, IF YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU AND I HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT IT, UM, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, OFFLINE WOULD LOVE TO, TO GET WITH YOU.

AND, AND I PERSONALLY WOULD ADVOCATE, UM, FOR THE RACETRACK IN THE MASTER PLAN.

AND I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT, UH, I THINK IT'S, UM, IMPORTANT CULTURALLY FROM A HERITAGE STANDPOINT.

UM, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, AND QUITE FRANKLY, WHEN, YOU KNOW, THE TIMES THAT I'VE BEEN THERE, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ATTEND.

THERE'S VERY FEW THINGS IN PETALUMA THAT, THAT MANY PEOPLE ATTEND ON A REGULAR BASIS.

AND, UH, AND I THINK IT'S GREAT FOR OUR CITY.

I KNOW ABOUT HALF THE TOWN MIGHT DISAGREE BECAUSE OF THE NOISE, BUT, UH, PERSONALLY I'M OKAY WITH IT.

COUNCIL MEMBER SCHIBS.

WE ARE DOING HERE TO PREPARE.

I HAVE A REPORT AND, AND A STATEMENT TO FOLLOW UP, PLEASE.

UM, IN THE REPORT SECTION, UM, I WENT TO THENO COUNTY TOURISM, UH, ANNUAL REPORT, UM, FOR THENO COUNTY.

AND, UM, I DID WRITE UP A, A FULL REPORT OF, UH, OUR PARTICIPATION THERE AND DID PASS THIS ON TO STAFF.

BUT THE MAIN POINT IS, UH, TOURISM IS A HUGE BUSINESS, AND THAT'S THE AREA THAT WE NEED TO EXPAND FOR OUR ECONOMY AND FOR TAX BASES AND PROVIDING, UH, WORK FOR OUR BUSINESSES HERE LOCAL.

AND IT'S GONNA BE SHIFTING TO MORE SERVICES THAN PRODUCTS.

UM, BUT THAT IS WHERE WE NEED TO GROW THE MOST TO, UH, INCREASE OUR ECONOMY.

SO THAT'S THE MESSAGE FROM THE TOURISM INDUSTRY, UH, AT THE NORTH BAY WATER ASSOCIATION THERE.

UM, UM, JUST UPDATE.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A, A SECOND ROUND OF SMALL GRANTS.

UH, UP A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS WILL BE GIVEN AWAY TO, UP TO, UH, MAYBE SIX DIFFERENT, UH, AGENCIES AT, UH, UP TO $15,000 EACH.

SO THE NEW CYCLE IS STARTING, CAN BE APPLIED FOR, UH, COMING UP HERE IN A COUPLE MONTHS.

UM, BUT THIS IS WHERE THE CITY CAN JOIN IN WITH AND PARTNER WITH.

UH, WE HAVE SEVERAL, UH, WATERSHED, UM, NONPROFITS WITHOUT PARTNERSHIP, WE CAN ACTUALLY GO AFTER A COUPLE OF THESE, UH, SMALL GRANTS AND, AND GET A LOT DONE HERE, RIGHT LOCALLY.

WE GOT ONE ALREADY FROM LAST, UH, LAST CYCLE.

AND I'M HOPING TO GET EVEN TWO OR THREE THIS COMING CYCLE.

'CAUSE I, WE THINK WE'RE THAT GOOD.

UM, JUST A, UH, SORT SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS.

UH, THIS IS THE WEEK WITHOUT DRIVING FOR, FOR ELECTEDS AND OTHERS.

SO, UM, LET'S GET ON OUR BIKES AND WALK, UH, AND BUS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND GET OUT OF OUR CARS.

THIS IS THE WEEK TO DO IT.

THAT'S THAT ONE.

THEN I WANT TO TAKE NOTICE TO THE, THERE WAS A, UH, EMAIL FROM THE CITY.

HOPEFULLY EVERYONE IN THE PUBLIC CAN GET ON THAT EMAIL LIST TO GET REGULAR OUTPUTS, BUT THERE WAS, AT THE LAST MEETING, THERE WAS A DISCUSSION ABOUT, OKAY, WHAT IS, WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR THE SUPER EL NINO? AND I HAVE HERE THE, AND IT IS 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, LIKE EIGHT PAGES OF WHAT THE, THE CITY IS DOING, UH, HERE IN TOWN TO PREPARE FOR THE SUPER EL NINO.

IT'S A HUGE AMOUNT OF EXTRA EFFORT THAT'S BEING DONE BY OUR STAFF.

AND I LIKE TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE TAKE A LOOK AT OUR LAST, THIS EMAIL THAT JUST CAME OUT JUST RECENTLY.

UM, AND, AND, AND LOOK AT THE LEVEL OF WORK THAT

[01:20:01]

IT'S PHENOMENAL.

UM, THEN THERE IS JUST ALSO NOTICE THE, THAT I UNDERSTAND THE BALLOTS ARE TO BE MAILED TODAY FOR ALL VOTING ON EVERYTHING.

UM, AND IT'S A BIG ELECTION.

AND JUST NOTE THAT THERE IS A HUGE NUMBER OF PROPOSITIONS AND MEASURES ON THIS BALLOT COMING OUT.

SO, UM, PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO STUDY ALL THESE THINGS.

OKAY, THAT'S AS FAR AS THE REPORT GOES, BUT I DO HAVE A STATEMENT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE.

ACCORDING TO BOTH NEWS, LOCAL NEWSPAPERS, FIVE OF THE CURRENT COUNCIL MEMBERS WANT ME OFF THE COUNCIL WITH THE MAIN REASON BEING I WASTE TIME ON THE DAIS.

AFTER FOUR YEARS ON THE COUNCIL AND OVER 30 YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE DOING A, A HUGE VARIETY OF THINGS, I REALLY HAVE TO REFUTE THAT CLAIM.

I AM TRAINED AS A SCIENTIST AND A RESEARCHER TO UNCOVER MISSING INFORMATION, ADD NEW IDEAS, IMPROVE PROCESSES, AND CHALLENGE THE NORM.

AS A TEACHER, I HAD TO ENSURE THOSE STUDENTS LEARN BY HAVING THEM GIVE BACK FEEDBACK WITH CRITICAL THINKING.

I HAVE WORKED REALLY HARD TO READ ALL THE MATERIALS, RESEARCH THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION, ASK QUESTIONS AHEAD OF TIME, DIG DEEP INTO CRITICAL AGENDA ITEMS, AND ASK MORE QUESTIONS DURING COUNCIL MEETINGS, BECAUSE I WANT TO GET TO THE POINT.

UM, STAFF DOES ALL THE HEAVY LIFTING IN CREATING THE AGENDA, MAKE THE PRESENTATIONS, PROPOSE THE WORK TO BE DONE, AND STAFF FOLLOWS UP WITH THE ACTIONS AFTER WE KIND OF GIVE OUR APPROVAL.

STAFF DESERVES THE CREDIT FOR MOST OF ALL THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS WE'VE, THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING THIS LAST EIGHT YEARS.

ACCORDING TO OUR CITY CHARTER.

OUR JOB ON COUNCIL IS TO GIVE, TO GUIDE STAFF SET POLICY WHEN THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES, AND IMPROVE ON WHAT THEY RECOMMEND NOT TO JUST RUBBER STAMP THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS.

I ASK QUESTIONS THAT CAN TAKE TIME FOR STAFF TO ANSWER, TO UNCOVER MISSING INFORMATION AROUND THE WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, AND WHY.

ESPECIALLY THE WHY I PROVIDE INFORMATION FROM MY RESEARCH AND BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE.

I MAY, I MAY VOTE THE SAME AS THE MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS MOST OF THE TIME, BUT DO SO AFTER CLARIFYING THE PROS AND CONS OF DECISIONS.

I HELP MAKE OUR, OUR DECISIONS MORE TRANSPARENT, AND I OFFER ALTERNATIVE IDEAS, AND I PROVIDE A LOT OF ADDED VALUE IN THE WORK THAT I DO HERE ON THE DAY.

I DISAGREE WITH THE MAJORITY ON A FEW AGENDA ITEMS BY KEEPING AN OPEN MIND AND LISTENING TO THE PUBLIC.

YOU CALL THIS WASTING TIME.

I CALL IT DOING MY JOB.

I AM NOT THE PROBLEM WITH OUR LONG MEETINGS, AND THERE ARE LOTS OF OTHER WAYS WE CAN DO BETTER THAN WHAT WE'RE DOING UP HERE.

THAT'S THE END.

THANK YOU, .

I DO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING UP THE EL NINO, UM, EFFORTS THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN MAKING AND THAT, UH, UH, WE PUBLISHED IN THE CITY NEWSLETTER AND, UH, AND THAT THAT'S AVAILABLE, UM, BOTH ONLINE AND IF YOU SIGN UP, DIRECT MAIL TO YOU, EMAIL TO YOU, UH, AND YOU DO WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE CITY FOR WINNING THE HELEN PUTNAM AWARD.

AND THAT'S A BIG DEAL, AND I THINK WE MIGHT BE SEEING THAT AT A FUTURE MEETING, THE ACTUAL AWARD.

UM, AND I, I ATTENDED THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION BOARD MEETING TO HEAR THEIR SUGGESTIONS FOR, UH, BETTER PETALUMA.

AND I RODE MY BIKE TO THE EVENT, AND, UH, I ATTENDED THE, UH, GRANT BAZAAR AT THE FAIRGROUNDS.

IT'S ONE MORE GOOD THING THAT'S, UH, OCCURRING AT THE FAIRGROUNDS NOW.

AND I RODE MY BIKE TO, TO THAT EVENT.

UM, I PROVIDED A PROCLAMATION FOR A PETALUMA BUSINESS THAT HIT 50 YEARS, UH, THIS YEAR, AND RODE MY BIKE TO THAT EVENT ALREADY AND ATTENDED THE OPENING OF A NEW BUSINESS DOWN UNDER AND RODE MY BIKE TO THAT EVENT.

UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S INTERESTING THERE IS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO BOTH RECRUIT THE DOWN, DOWN UNDER, IN CANNABIS.

WE'RE TRYING TO RETAIN BUSINESS, THE 50 YEAR BUSINESS.

AND, UH, IT TAKES EFFORT ON BOTH ENDS FOR US TO SUCCEED AS A CITY, UH, ATTENDED THE PUBLIC PETALUMA PEOPLE SERVICES FUNDRAISER.

UM, IT JUST BY WAY OF SAYING IN THE RUMMING DAYS, WE'RE GONNA NEED EVEN MORE OF SOCIAL SERVICE SUPPORT AND THAT COMES FROM NONPROFITS.

SO I HOPE YOU'RE ALL, UM, DOING WHAT YOU CAN TO SUPPORT THAT.

UH, I MADE OPENING REMARKS, UH, AT, UH, DIA DE MUTOS EVENT, MARTOS THIS EVENT THIS WEEKEND.

UH, I REPRESENTED PETALUMA AT THE SANTA ROSA JC PRESIDENTS ADDRESS ON THE STATE OF THE JC AND THEIR MEASURE ON THE BALLOT MEASURE AB ALSO IMPORTANT, UM, AND LIKE MANY ON THE COUNCIL, UM, I SPOKE AT PENDULUM HIGH SCHOOL, UH, AT THEIR GOVERNMENT CLASSES, AND, UH, AND, UM, IT'S JUST BEEN A BUSY, BUSY WEEK.

SO, UM, THAT'S MY REPORT OUT.

THE ANNUAL PETALUMA PRIDE FESTIVALS THIS WEEKEND AT THE FAIRGROUNDS, UH, SATURDAY FROM 12 TO FIVE.

AND I'LL PASS IT TO THE CITY MANAGER

[CITY MANAGER COMMENT]

FOR THEIR REPORT OUT.

THANK YOU MAYOR, COUNCIL AND COMMUNITY.

UM,

[01:25:01]

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT THE PETALUMA FAIRGROUNDS.COM.

ZERO WASTE WEEK IS OCTOBER 10TH THROUGH THE 17TH, AND THERE ARE EVENTS EVERY DAY, UH, THROUGHOUT THE NORTH BAY TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF WASTE AND WAYS TO LIVE A MORE ZERO WASTE LIFESTYLE.

EVENTS INCLUDE THE REUSE HUB, HUB OPEN HOUSE, AND ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY ON OCTOBER 14TH AT THE PETALUMA OUTLET MALL.

TOURS OF RECOLOGY MATERIAL RECOVERY FACILITY, UM, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM 10 30 TO NOON AND MANY MORE EVENTS.

CHECK OUT THE CALENDAR EVENTS AT NORTH BAY ZERO WASTE WEEK.ORG.

UM, I'D LIKE TO RESPOND TO MR. CHAMBERLAIN'S COMMENTS.

UH, STAFF DID EXPLORE AND REQUESTED TO JOIN MARIN JPA, BUT THE JURISDICTIONS WERE NOT INTERESTED IN ADDING A, AN ADDITIONAL JURISDICTION.

THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT IMPACT ON SERVICE.

UM, AND WE DID, UM, ASK IN OUR REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL WITH THE HUMANE SOCIETY, THE DIFFERENCE IN COST BETWEEN CLOSING OUR, OUR SHELTER AND LEAVING IT OPEN.

AND IT WAS VERY NOMINAL, UH, DIFFERENCE, I BELIEVE $25,000.

UM, BRIAN, IS THAT CORRECT? SO THE, THE JUICE WASN'T WORTH THE SQUEEZE ON THAT ONE.

UM, LIKE I SAID, $25,000 DIFFERENCE DIDN'T REALLY MAKE THAT MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE IN SERVICE, AND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD A FACILITY IN THE SOUTH COUNTY, UM, AND TO MR. FAITH.

UM, NOT ONLY ARE YOU, UM, GOING TO BE INVITED, AND IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY FOR THE MASTER PLAN, UM, HEALTHY DEMOCRACY PROCESS ENVISIONED THE, THE SPEEDWAY IN AT LEAST TWO OF THE THREE VISIONS FOR THE, FOR THE FAIRGROUNDS.

UM, I DON'T BELIEVE THE SPEEDWAY'S GOING ANYWHERE ANYTIME SOON.

UM, WE ARE JUST FOLLOWING, UH, COUNCIL DIRECTION.

WE WANT TO GET THE MASTER PLAN SO WE CAN GET A LITTLE MORE CERTAINTY FOR FOOTPRINT.

WE'VE GOT A PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITY BEING BUILT, UM, AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, UM, WE'RE ALL WORKING TOGETHER TO TRY AND WORK THAT OUT.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOU'VE COME TO THE TABLE.

UM, LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING OUR CONVERSATIONS, UM, BECAUSE WE WANNA GIVE THE SPEEDWAY AND ALL OF OUR OTHER TENANTS SOME CERTAINTY.

SO THAT CONCLUDES MY COMMENTS.

THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH FOR ALL THAT, UH, CLARITY.

UM, BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE, UM, TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER OR VICE MAYOR DECAR, YOU HAD ONE MORE THING YOU WANTED TO ADD? I DID, I FORGOT, I FORGOT ABOUT SOMETHING.

AND THIS IS A, A POINT OF CLARIFICATION FROM PLANNING COMMISSION THE OTHER DAY.

THERE WAS A, A STAFF NOTE LEFT IN ONE OF THE REPORTS THAT SAID, TALKED ABOUT OPPONENTS, AND I HOPE THAT WASN'T CALLING THE COMMUNITY OPPONENTS, BUT I WANTED TO GET SOME CLARITY ON THAT AND C BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE CALLING OUR COMMUNITY THAT.

AND, AND, AND I THINK THAT'S, UH, GONNA HAVE TO BE, UM, DEFERRED TO, UH, PLANNING STAFF.

I MEAN, I ASKED THAT QUESTION AT THE, AT THE MEETING AND, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER BARNAL.

YEAH, I BROUGHT UP THAT QUESTION.

IT WAS ASKED BY PART OF OUR LEGAL STAFF, AND I ASKED, UM, SPECIFICALLY, UM, WAS THIS, UH, REFERENCING MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY OR WAS IT REFERENCING, UM, LIKE SOMEONE WHO WOULD FILE A LEGAL CHALLENGE AGAINST US? AND, UM, IF SOMEONE FILES A LEGAL CHALLENGE AGAINST THE CITY, THEY ARE THEREFORE OUR OPPONENTS BECAUSE ABSOLUTELY WE, UM, DON'T WANT TO BE VIEWING MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY AS, AS OPPONENTS.

AND THEY DID CONFIRM THAT THAT WAS THE, UH, THAT WAS THE, THE CONTEXT THAT WAS AROUND THAT COMMENT.

WELL, WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO CLASSIFY THE COMMUNITY THAT WAY, BUT I MEAN, WHAT IF THE COMMUNITY TOOK LEGAL ACTION, WHICH, YOU KNOW, THEN THEY WOULD BE OUR OPPONENTS BECAUSE THEY'RE CHALLENGING US, BUT THAT'S A HUNDRED PERCENT.

WE DON'T CLASSIFY OUR COMMUNITY THAT WAY AS A, AS A WHOLE.

AND THAT WAS, UM, IT TRACKS WITH THE, THE NATURE OF THE COMMENT, THE PERSON WHO MADE THE COMMENT AND, YOU KNOW, THE, THE SUBJECT THAT WAS BEING COMMENTED ON.

SO, UM, I, UH, BUT THAT'S, I ASKED THAT QUESTION AS WELL.

UM, ANY COUNSEL NEEDING ANYTHING DISCUSSED QUESTIONS, LET'S TAKE IT OVER TO PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE CONSENT CALENDAR AT THIS TIME.

APPRECIATE THE CLARITY ON ALL THAT.

MOVING TO CONSENT CALENDAR,

[CONSENT CALENDAR]

IT'LL START A 32ND CLOCK.

DURING THESE 30 SECONDS.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ATTENDING IN PERSON SHOULD BRING THEIR SPEAKER CARDS TO THE CLERK'S DESK.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ATTENDING ONLINE SHOULD RAISE THEIR VIRTUAL HAND.

THOSE ATTENDING VIA PHONE SHOULD PRESS STAR NINE TO RAISE THEIR HAND.

SPEAKER REQUESTS RECEIVED AFTER THIS TIME MAY NOT BE ACCOMMODATED.

WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER

[01:30:01]

FOR A CONSENT CALENDAR.

NICHOLAS HARRIS.

HI, UH, GOOD EVENING COUNSEL.

NICHOLAS HARRIS, UH, MAKE THIS QUICK, UM, QUESTION IS ON, UH, THE MEASURE H PARKS RESOLUTION, BUT A LITTLE MORE BROAD THAN THAT.

UM, UH, IF THE MEASURE H PASSES, THERE WILL BE NO SUNSET ON THAT REVENUE STREAM, UM, WHICH IN PRACTICE HISTORICALLY HAS ALLOWED, UM, CITIES, UH, LIKE PETALUMA TO BOND REVENUES INTO LONG-TERM DEBT.

SO I'M CURIOUS IF, UM, THE MEASURE H WOULD BE ALLOWED TO BE BONDED, THE, UH, REVENUES BE BONDED, UH, OR, YOU KNOW, LEASE REVENUE OR SOME OTHER LONG-TERM, UH, FINANCING VEHICLE, AND WOULD THAT BE DONE UNDER EXISTING LAWS WOULD NEED TO BE DONE UNDER A LAW CREATED BY THE CITY UNDER THE POWER OF THE CITY TO ENACT LAWS? AND THEN JUST, I THINK KIND OF MY KEY QUESTION IS, IF, IF THE ANSWER TO ANY OF THAT IS YES, UH, WOULD THE, WOULD THE PUBLIC ALWAYS, UH, BE, UM, REQUIRED TO VOTE ON AND APPROVE A BOND FOR LONG-TERM DEBT, UH, RELATING TO, UH, MEASURE H REVENUES FOR RECREATION? UH, TYING IT SORT OF BACK TO, UH, YOU ALL UP THERE AND POLICY? UH, I THINK IT'S A IMPORTANT QUESTION, UM, BECAUSE THE ANSWER DEPENDS ON IF THIS REVENUE CAN BE TIED UP INTO CAPITAL PROJECTS AND KIND OF NOT BE FLEXIBLE IN THE FUTURE.

AND I THINK THAT'S AN INTERESTING POLICY QUESTION.

IF THE COUNCIL WOULD WANT TO COME UP WITH SOME SORT OF RESOLUTION, UM, TO SORT OF EITHER SAY ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, LIKE, YEAH, HEY, WE'RE TO BOND THIS AND PUT IT TOWARDS A PROJECT, OR NO, WE THINK RECREATION NEEDS FLEXIBILITY OF FUNDING.

WE DON'T WANT US OR A FUTURE COUNCIL TO TIE IT UP.

ATTORNEY CAN FIND IT RIGHT NOW.

THAT WAS OUR LAST SPEAKER AND NO HANDS, UH, FROM ZOOM.

SO WE CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND, UM, I'D LIKE TO ASK FOR AN ANSWER FROM CITY ATTORNEY IF THAT'S POSSIBLE ON THIS MEASURE.

UH, JUST, UH, THE, THE VERY TECHNICAL OF IS THIS REVENUE STREAM A BONDABLE REVENUE STREAM? AND THEN WE'LL BRING IT BACK UP TO COUNSEL AND CASE COUNSEL WANTS TO WEIGH IN ON WHETHER, UM, THAT'S A PREFERRED ACTION OR A, A, A PRO AN ACTION TO BE PROHIBITED.

UM, SO MR. ATTORNEY IS, DO WE KNOW IF, UH, THESE FUNDS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR SOME SORT OF BOND? UH, THANKS, MR. MAYOR.

I, I DON'T HAVE AN AN, I APOLOGIZE.

I'M, I'M REVIEWING THE MATERIALS IN THE AGENDA AND I'M NOT SEEING, UM, A, A BASIS FOR ANSWERING THAT, BUT WE CAN LOOK AT IT FURTHER AND GET BACK TO THE COUNCIL.

YEAH, I THINK THAT WOULD BE GREAT, UM, BEFORE WE, UH, TO KNOW THAT BEFORE WE, UM, ENTER ANY FUTURE EXPENDITURE, UH, PLANS.

UH, SO I, I THINK IT ISN'T NECESSARILY TIMELY.

I MEAN, IT MIGHT BE INFORMATIVE FOR ANY COUNCIL MEMBER TONIGHT, BUT, UH, I, I THINK AS WE GO TO EXPENDITURE PROGRAMS, THAT'S A, A GOOD CONSIDERATION IN THE BUDGET.

AND THE MA THE MATERIALS REFER TO THE, UM, PROPOSED MEASURES MAINTAINING THE STATUS QUO.

SO IF THAT'S A POSSIBILITY IN THE FUTURE, THAT WOULD SUGGEST IT'S A POSSIBILITY NOW, BUT AS I SAID, WE'LL BE HAPPY TO LOOK AT THAT AND GET YOU SOMETHING MORE SPECIFIC.

YEAH, I WOULD, UH, I WOULDN'T DOUBT THAT IT IS A FUNDING STREAM YOU COULD BOND AGAINST.

I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH PARK MONEY THAT WE, WE NEED THIS TO BE A DISTRIBUTED FUND.

AND I, UH, I DON'T EXPECT THE COUNCIL WOULD DO THAT, BUT THAT'S NOT THE SAME AS, SAME AS SAYING THEY COULDN'T DO THAT, UH, VICE MAYOR YOU WANTED TO WEIGH IN.

UM, YEAH, I ACTUALLY HADN'T CONSIDERED THAT.

AND I WONDER IF WE SHOULD BE POSTPONING TO THE NEXT MEETING, UM, THIS RESOLUTION TILL WE, TILL WE KNOW THAT.

'CAUSE THAT IS KIND OF A BIG DEAL, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S COME UP WITH MEASURE U AND MEASURE H AND UM, YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC'S HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.

AND SO I THINK FOR US TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION, YOU KNOW, I DON'T, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO, BECAUSE, UM, OUR PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT, I MEAN, THEY, THEY USE EVERY DOLLAR OF THAT RIGHT NOW AND THEY COULD USE TWICE AS MUCH OR MORE, YOU KNOW, TO CONTINUE TO MAKE ALL THE UPGRADES THAT THEY DO TO THE PARKS AND HAVE THE STAFF THAT THEY DO AND, AND REALLY MAKE THE PARKS AS NICE AS THEY ARE.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE LIKELY THAT A DISTANT FUTURE COUNCIL, IF IT WERE POSSIBLE, THE BOND, YOU KNOW, WOULD CONSIDER THAT.

BUT PARKS AND REC MIGHT, MIGHT NEED THAT MONEY.

YOU KNOW, IT ENDS UP BECOMING PAYMENTS.

SO I DON'T KNOW, I THINK MAYBE IN THE INTEREST OF BEING MORE INFORMED ABOUT THIS DECISION, WE SHOULD CONSIDER JUST TABLING IT UNTIL WE KNOW THAT ANSWER, UNLESS CITY

[01:35:01]

WELL, AND, AND I THINK THE QUESTION IS, IS IT POSSIBLE, AND I WOULDN'T PUT IT, UH, I WOULDN'T SUGGEST IN PLEASE ADDRESS THIS, UH, ISN'T IT LIKELY THAT ANY REVENUE SOURCE THAT'S CONSTANT IS POTENTIAL FOR A BONDING SOURCE, OR IS THERE A STRUCTURE? YEAH, WE'RE TRYING TO FIND THE ORDINANCE LANGUAGE, BUT I DID WANT TO JUST MENTION THAT IN, UH, OUR OTHER MEASURE H UNFORTUNATELY, WE MAY END UP WITH TWO MEASURE HS IN SONOMA COUNTY, UH, THAT IS SPECIFICALLY TO FUND FIRE IMPROVEMENTS AND SERVICES.

THAT MEASURE DOES HAVE A SPECIFIC PARAGRAPH THAT, UM, THAT SPECIFICALLY AUTHORIZES BONDING OF THE REVENUES TO CONSTRUCT FACILITIES, ET CETERA.

SO IF THIS ONE DOES ALLOW THAT WITH SPECIFIC LANGUAGE, I WOULD EXPECT THAT IT IS BONDABLE.

IF IT DOES NOT INCLUDE THAT, THEN IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE QUESTIONABLE.

AND SORRY, AS STAFF, UH, PATRICK CARTER TO THE SAME MANAGER, UM, I WILL CONFIRM THE, UM, ASSERTION THAT WAS MADE THAT THIS DOESN'T HAVE A SUNSET DATE.

DATE, THAT IS CORRECT.

SO THAT DOES OPEN UP THE, THE POSSIBILITY FOR AN ONGOING REVENUE SOURCE AS OPPOSED TO A TIME LOADED LIMITED ONE, WHICH MAY NOT BE BONDABLE.

SO ONE MORE, I THINK PIECE IN THE POSSIBILITY FOR THAT, AND I'LL GIVE YOU GUYS ANOTHER 30 SECONDS BEFORE I ASK THE COUNCIL.

AND CAN WE ASSUME IT NOT FINDING IT IS THE SAME, IS IT NOT BEING PERMISSIBLE? NO.

? YEAH.

NOW, AND JUST, I'LL JUST SAY LIKE THE, I'M INTERESTED IN THE QUESTION, UM, BUT THE ANSWER I DON'T THINK WOULD CHANGE WHETHER, I FEEL LIKE THE COUNCIL AS A BODY SHOULD SUPPORT THE MEASURE, SO THAT'S WHY I'M MOVING IT TONIGHT.

SO BASICALLY WE'RE NOT GONNA FIND AN ANSWER HERE.

SO I THINK IT'S A QUESTION FOR THE COUNCIL AS TO WHETHER THEY CONSIDER THIS A, UH, SIGNIFICANT RISK, UM, THAT, UM, WE WOULD HAVE SIGNIFICANT NEEDS FOR THIS MONEY AND VOTE FOR A BOND, UM, FOR A SPECIFIC PARK IMPROVEMENT.

AND WITHOUT FULL AWARENESS THAT THAT'S IN FACT THE DECISION THAT THE COUNCIL AT THE TIME, UM, MEANS TO MAKE AT WHATEVER TIME LENGTH THEY PULL THE BOND FOR.

I DON'T FIND THAT TO BE A REAL RISK WITH ALL OF OUR DISTRIBUTED PARK NEEDS THAT WE HAVE.

ANYONE ON COUNCIL WANNA WEIGH IN ON THAT? UH, LACKING A SECOND, UH, UH, COMMENT ON THAT.

UM, I'D LIKE TO LOOK FOR A MOTION AT THIS POINT.

COUNCILLOR BARNACLE.

I'LL MOVE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR, AND I DO APPRECIATE THE COMMENT.

UM, THANK YOU FOR RAISING THAT.

I'LL SECOND THAT.

SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY BARNACLE AND A COMMENT BY CATER THOMPSON, I MEAN A SECOND BY CATER THOMPSON.

AND, UH, WE HAVE ONE MORE COMMENT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DI CARLY.

YEAH, UM, KIND OF DEPENDING ON WHETHER THE CITY ATTORNEY'S ABLE TO FIND IT VERY, VERY SOON.

UM, YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE, LIKE I WANNA SEE MEASURE M, MEASURE H BE SUCCESSFUL, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY OUR PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT NEEDS IT, BUT THAT IS KIND OF A VERY CRITICAL PIECE OF INFORMATION.

AND I FEEL LIKE IF THE REST OF THE COUNCIL WANTS TO MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT KNOWING THAT I WOULD BE MORE COMFORTABLE WITH ABSTAINING AT THIS POINT, NOT BEING FULLY INFORMED ON WHAT IT IS.

AND MAY I ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY AND, AND ABSTENTION IS A POSSIBILITY ON THIS, UH, VOTE.

IT'S A, A ROLL CALL VOTE FOR THE, UH, CONSENT CALENDAR.

I MEAN, IT'S TANDEM AMOUNT TO A NO, SO, BUT I'M, I'M SORRY, I'M, I'M DOING A BAD JOB AT MULTITASKING RIGHT NOW.

COULD YOU REPEAT, COUNCIL MEMBER DI CARLY HAS ASKED, UH, OR HAS SUGGESTED THAT, UH, HE WOULD ABSTAIN IF NOT, IF THIS, IF ISSUE IS NOT CLEAR, MAKE CLEAR AT THIS TIME UNDER COUNCIL RULES, AN ABSTENTION IS COUNTED AS A YES VOTE.

I'M, I'M HAPPY TO AMEND THE MOTION AND MAKE IT, UM, MOVE ITEMS ONE THROUGH THREE AND WE CAN TAKE IT SEPARATELY IF THAT'S, UM, THANK YOU.

MORE COMFORTABLE IS THE SECOND ORDER? YES.

AND, UH, MAY WE HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE ON ONE TO THREE.

MOTION PASSES ON ONE THROUGH THREE OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR.

ALL RIGHT.

I'M HAPPY TO MOVE ITEM FOUR

[4. Resolution in Support for Measure H (Parks) on the November 3, 2026 General Election]

UM, SO I THINK IT'S A, A WORTHWHILE QUESTION TO ASK.

IT'S JUST, UM, I DON'T THINK IT'S A REASON TO WITHHOLD OUR SUPPORT FOR THIS, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE CAMPAIGN'S MOVING AND, UM, IT'S, IT'S TIME TO, TO MAKE OUR VOICE HEARD.

I'LL SECOND THAT.

TO PUBLIC, UH, HEARINGS MATTER FOR CONSIDERATION.

MOTION BY BARNACLE.

SECOND BY CATER THOMPSON BARNACLE.

AYE.

CATER THOMPSON? YES TO CARLY ABSTAIN NOW.

[5. Public Hearing and Action to Adopt a Resolution Confirming the Cost of Abatement of Hazardous Vegetation and Rubbish and Confirming Approval of the Forwarding of Unpaid Bills to the County Assessor’s Office for Collection as Assessments]

WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT

[01:40:01]

ON OUR ITEM FIVE AND ACTION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION CONFIRMING THE COST OF ABATEMENT OF HAZARDOUS VEGETATION RUBBISH CONFIRMING APPROVAL OF THE FORWARDING OF UNPAID BILLS TO THE COUNTY ASSESSOR FOR COLLECTION AS ASSESSMENTS.

AND TO HELP US WITH THIS AGAIN, UH, OUR FIRE MARSHAL AMY SIGE.

AMY, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

HELLO AGAIN.

SO, JUST A LITTLE RECAP ON OUR WEED ABATEMENT PROGRAM.

THIS YEAR, 691 PROPERTIES WERE ISSUED NOTICE THROUGH THE CITY'S HAZARDOUS VEGETATION AND RUBBISH ABATEMENT PROGRAM.

OF THOSE 691 PROPERTIES, 682, PROPERTY OWNERS ABATED THE HAZARDS THEMSELVES AND ONLY NINE ULTIMATELY REQUIRE ABATEMENT BY THE CITY'S CONTRACTORS.

THAT MEANS NEARLY 99% OF THE PROPERTIES NOTICED ACHIEVED COMPLIANCE WITHOUT THE CITY'S CONTRACTED ABATEMENT.

AND IT'S ALSO A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT FROM OUR OVER THREE YEAR AVERAGE OF 29 PROPERTIES REQUIRING CITY ABATEMENT FOR THE NINE PROPERTIES WHERE THE CITY DID HAVE TO PERFORM WORK, INVOICES WERE ISSUED TO RECOVER THE DIRECT ABATEMENT COSTS AND APPLICABLE ADMINISTRATIVE FEES.

AT THE TIME THE STAFF REPORT WAS PREPARED, SEVEN PARCELS HAD NOT PAID, REPRESENTING JUST OVER $10,000 IN OUTSTANDING COSTS SINCE THE STAFF REPORT WAS PREPARED.

HOWEVER, OWNERS REPRESENTING FIVE OF THOSE SEVEN PARCELS HAVE REACHED OUT TO MAKE PAYMENT.

SO, WHILE TONIGHT'S ACTION FORMALLY CONFIRMS SEVEN ABATEMENT, UH, ASSESSMENTS IDENTIFIED IN THE REPORT AT THIS POINT, WE ANTICIPATE THAT ONLY TWO WILL ACTUALLY REQUIRE THE COUNTY TO ENFORCE COLLECTION THROUGH THE PROPERTY TAX PROCESS.

TONIGHT'S PUBLIC HEARING PROVIDES AFFECTED PROPERTY OWNERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE ANY OBJECTIONS REGARDING THE COST OF ABATEMENT.

FOLLOWING THIS HEARING, STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT COUNSEL ADOPT THE RESOLUTION CONFIRMING THE COST REPORT AND FORWARDING OF THE UNPAID ASSESSMENTS TO THE COUNTY.

WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

AND WE HAVE NO HANDS ON ZOOM.

UM, ANY QUESTIONS FROM STAFF FROM, UH, COUNCIL, THEN MOVING IT TO, UH, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE ITEM, PLEASE, UH, INVITE OUR PUBLIC IN AT THIS TIME.

I'LL START THE 32ND CLOCK.

DURING THESE 30 SECONDS, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ATTENDING IN PERSON SHOULD BRING THEIR SPEAKER CARDS TO THE CLERK'S DESK.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ATTENDING ONLINE SHOULD RAISE THEIR VIRTUAL HAND.

THOSE ATTENDING VIA PHONE SHOULD PRESS STAR NINE TO RAISE THEIR HAND.

SPEAKER REQUESTS RECEIVED AFTER THIS TIME MAY NOT BE ACCOMMODATED.

WE HAVE ONE PUBLIC, UH, COMMENT.

IT'S FROM CHANTEL ROGERS.

UM, PLEASE PROCEED TO THE PODIUM AND HAVE THE FLOOR.

HI.

AND I'M SORRY, I DON'T HAVE, I THOUGHT THAT THE, UM, THAT THERE WOULD BE THE SAME PRESENTATION AS THE INFORMATION THAT WAS ONLINE WAS GONNA COME UP HERE, AND IT, IT DIDN'T, BUT, UM, I WAS A LITTLE CONFUSED ABOUT THE, UM, THE FINANCES RELATED TO, UM, THIS ABATEMENT.

UM, IT HAD A CERTAIN NUMBER OF PEOPLE AND THEN LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU WERE GONNA BE COLLECTING LIKE $11,000, BUT IT SHOWED THE COST IS SOMETHING LIKE 45.

SO THERE WAS A, UM, A BALANCE OF MAYBE $35,000 OR SOMETHING.

AND I, SO I, I, I WAS, YOU KNOW, SIGNIFICANTLY CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT WE ARE, UM, ACTUALLY CHARGING PEOPLE WHO NEED TO HAVE THIS ABATEMENT AND WHAT THE CITY IS PICKING UP.

UM, AND, UM, UH, THERE WAS ALSO, UM, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE TERM, SOMETHING BURDENED, UM, STAFF COSTS.

AND SO PRESUMABLY THAT'S, UM, YOU KNOW, UM, SALARY PLUS BENNY'S AND, AND ALL THE KIND OF THAT KIND OF THING.

AND FOR THE, UM, POLICE CHIEF, IT WAS LIKE 358,000 DO $58 A, YOU KNOW, AN HOUR.

AND SO I WAS WONDERING, WELL, YOU KNOW, COULD THAT WORK HAVE ONLY BEEN DONE BY HIM? 'CAUSE IT WAS LIKE 90 HOURS.

DO YOU GUYS, DID YOU LOOK AT ALL THAT STUFF THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT? AND IT JUST, TO ME, IT SORT OF DIDN'T ADD UP.

IS THIS THE, IS THIS THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY THAT WE CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN, UM, FOR COSTS FOR THE CITY AND COSTS FOR CITIZENS WHO, WHO EXPERIENCE THIS, UM, ABATEMENT EFFORT? UM, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, IS IT, IS IT POSSIBLE TO SORT OF RECONCILE THOSE NUMBERS SOMEHOW? THANK YOU.

[01:45:02]

WE HAVE NO HANDS THAT CLOSES, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT.

AND, UH, THE REFERENCE WAS MADE TO ATTACHMENT TWO OF THE STAFF REPORT AND THE STAFF REPORT.

AND, UH, WOULD YOU CARE TO, UM, ADDRESS THAT PLEASE? UH, FIRE MARSHAL.

YES, ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

UM, WE TRIED TO BE EXTREMELY TRANSPARENT IN THIS, UM, CHARGE AND EXPENSE SHEET.

AND WHAT THIS SHOWS IS THAT THE WEED ABATEMENT PROGRAM IS NOT A, A COMPLETELY COST RECOVERY PROGRAM.

WHILE WE DO RECOVER COSTS RELATED TO THE DIRECT COST LEVIES TO THE CITY BY OUR CITY CONTRACTORS FOR THE ABATEMENT COST OF EACH PARCEL, THERE ARE MANY PORTIONS OF THE PROGRAM THAT WE DO NOT RECOVER COSTS FOR.

THOSE INCLUDE THE STAFF TIME TO ACTUALLY GO OUT AND PERFORM THE INSPECTIONS OF THE, OF THE PARCELS, MANY OF WHICH ARE COMPLIANT OR BECOME COMPLIANT BEFORE CITY INTERVENTION.

UM, MUCH OF THAT INVOLVES, UH, MY TIME SPENT PERSONALLY CONTACTING THE PROPERTY OWNERS WHO ARE FACING ABATEMENT TO TRY TO MOTIVATE, UM, PROPERTY OWNER ABATEMENT.

UM, AND IT ALSO INCLUDES PHYSICAL COSTS SUCH AS PRINTING AND STUFFING AND MAILING ALL OF THE NOTICES AND SOME OTHER ACTUAL PHYSICAL ITEMS RELATED TO THE PROGRAM.

SO WHILE WE DO RECOVER, THE CITY CONTRACTOR COSTS LEVIED TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS, THERE ARE MANY OTHER PORTIONS OF THE PROGRAM THAT ARE, UH, FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY THAT ARE NOT, UH, WE DO NOT ACTUALLY RECEIVE COST RECOVERY FOR THANKS.

THAT MAKES PERFECT SENSE THAT WE RUN THE WHOLE PROGRAM AND WE CHARGE THE BAD ACTORS FOR THE BAD PART, BUT THE PROGRAM IS SOMETHING THAT'S JUST A BASIC CITY SERVICE.

SO THANKS FOR THAT CLARITY.

UM, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON COUNCIL? UM, COUNCIL MEMBER SCH RIBS? UM, JUST A QUICK ONE ON THIS ONE.

UM, WHEN THEY, WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GOES OUT AND PUTS OUT A FIRE, DO WE CHARGE THEM FOR THEIR TIME, UH, FOR THE HOUSE DEBT THAT WE'RE BURNING? DO WE CHARGE THEM FOR THE TIME WE HAVE OR ALL THE, THE INSPECTIONS THAT WE DO? MOST TYPICALLY NOT THAT NOT, OKAY.

SO THIS IS A PREVENTION PROGRAM, CORRECT? THIS ISN'T A COST RECOVERY PROGRAM.

JUST WANNA MAKE THAT CLEAR.

GOOD POINT.

MOTION.

ANYONE? MOTION.

WE HAVE A MOTION FROM CATER THOMPSON SECOND AND A SECOND FROM NOW.

AND WE HAVE A ROLL CALL.

MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND THANK YOU FOR KEEPING OUR CITY SAFE.

AND OUR, UH, NEXT

[6. Introduction (First Reading) of an Ordinance Amending Chapter 15.17 of the Petaluma Municipal Code, titled “Water Conservation Regulations”]

ITEM IS, UH, FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 1517 OF THE PETALUMA MUNICIPAL CODE TITLED WATER CONSERVATION REGULATIONS.

TO HELP US AT THIS TONIGHT, WE HAVE, UH, LAURA LUM, OUR ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES ANALYST, AND DANIELLE FAVELA OUR WATER SERVICES AND CONSERVATION MANAGER.

AND TAKE IT AWAY LADIES.

UM, THIS EMERGENCY ACTION THAT WAS TAKEN IN JUNE, 2022, UH, REALLY SET IN MOTION ASSEMBLY BILL 1572.

JUST A SECOND WHILE I PULL THIS UP.

HERE WE GO.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER, AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

UM, MY NAME IS LAUREN LUM.

I'M AN ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES ANALYST WITH WATER RESOURCES AND UTILITIES.

TONIGHT WE ARE HERE TO REVIEW THE NON-FUNCTIONAL TURF POTABLE WATER IRRIGATION BAN AS ESTABLISHED BY CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY BILL 1572.

SO I'LL COVER THE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND OF THE ASSEMBLY BILL.

I WILL DEFINE NON-FUNCTIONAL TURF.

WE WILL GO OVER THE COMPLIANCE TIMELINE, OUR OUTREACH STRATEGY, AND OUR RECOMMENDED ACTIONS.

SO TO START US OFF, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE A QUICK REVIEW ON WHERE WE WERE FIVE YEARS AGO TODAY.

UH, SO IN 2021, CALIFORNIA WAS IN AN EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT, UH, WHICH STARTED IN APRIL OF 2021.

BY JUNE, 2022, THE CALIFORNIA STATE WATER RESOURCES AND CONTROL BOARD ADOPTED AN EMERGENCY REGULATION TO ELIMINATE WASTEFUL USES OF WATER IN ORDER TO PRESERVE CRITICAL WATER SUPPLIES.

THIS PLACED A BAN ON COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, AND INSTITUTIONAL PROPERTIES FROM USING POTABLE WATER TO IRRIGATE NON-FUNCTIONAL TURF.

WHILE THE DROUGHT ENDED IN APRIL, 2023.

[01:50:02]

SO ON, UM, OCTOBER, IN OCTOBER, 2023, ASSEMBLY BILL 1572 WAS PASSED AS A STATE LAW PROHIBITING THE USE OF POTABLE WATER TO IRRIGATE NON-FUNCTIONAL TURF LOCATED ON COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL INSTITUTIONAL PROPERTIES, INCLUDING THE COMMON AREAS OF HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS.

THE PURPOSE IS TO ELIMINATE THE USE OF POTABLE WATER TO IRRIGATE NON-FUNCTIONAL TURF, AS IT IS DEEMED A WASTEFUL PRACTICE AND INCOMPATIBLE WITH STATE POLICY RELATING TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND WATER CONSERVATION.

THIS BAN DOES NOT APPLY TO SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES OR CEMETERIES.

UH, AND THE BAN WILL BE PHASED IN BEGINNING JANUARY 1ST, 2027 THROUGH JANUARY, UH, 2029.

SO FIRST, UH, WOULD LIKE TO DEFINE NON-FUNCTIONAL TURF.

NON-FUNCTIONAL TURF REFERS TO ORNAMENTAL LAWN THAT IS NOT USED FOR RECREATION.

SO THIS IS LAWN LOCATED IN STREET RIGHT OF WAY AND PARKING LOTS, AGAIN, NOT, UM, FOR RECREATIONAL USE OR GATHERING SPACES.

ON THE FLIP SIDE, FUNCTIONAL TURF, UH, IS LAWN THAT IS WITHIN A RECREATIONAL USE AREA, MEANING IT IS LAWN USED FOR SPORTS PARKS, EVENT SPACES, PLAYGROUNDS, PICNIC AREAS, AND PET EXERCISE.

THE RECREATION CAN BE FORMAL OR INFORMAL, MEANING IT CAN BE A DESIGNATED CITY PARK OR JUST A PLACE OF GATHERING AND A PLACE OF PLAY.

UM, THE PROPERTY OWNER DESIGNATES THE USE OF THE LAWN AS EITHER RECREATIONAL, THEREFORE FUNCTIONAL OR NON-FUNCTIONAL.

SO WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BAN POTABLE WATER IRRIGATION? SO THE STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL INSTITUTIONAL PROPERTIES AND HOA COMMON AREAS TURN OFF, UM, THE POTABLE WATER IRRIGATION.

SO NON, UH, POTABLE IRRIGATION CAN CONTINUE.

THOSE AREAS ARE EXEMPT AND AREAS, UH, LIKE CEMETERIES AND SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES, THOSE ARE ALSO EXEMPT.

BUT I JUST WANNA BE REALLY CLEAR THAT, UM, THE BAND DOES NOT REQUIRE LANDSCAPE CONVERSION OR TURF REMOVAL.

IT ONLY REQUIRES THAT THE POTABLE WATER IRRIGATION BE SHUT OFF BY THE COMPLIANCE STATE, AND THERE ARE SOME EXCEPTIONS TO THE USE OF POTABLE WATER.

UM, SO YOU CAN CONTINUE TO USE POTABLE WATER TO IRRIGATE TREES TO MAINTAIN TREE HEALTH.

UM, AND IDEALLY THE TREES ARE PLACED ON SEPARATE IRRIGATION ZONES.

SO LIKE IN THE BOTTOM PICTURE, IF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE LAWN CAN BE COMPLETELY ISOLATED AND TURNED OFF WHILE LEAVING THE IRRIGATION ON TO TREES AND SHRUBS ON THAT RIGHT SIDE, THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD WANT TO SEE.

UM, BUT THERE ARE PLACES LIKE IN THE ABOVE PICTURE WHERE THE TURF AND THE TREES MAY BE ON THE SAME ZONE, AND THEREFORE THE IRRIGATION CAN CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THAT TREE HEALTH.

UM, AND THEN IN ADDITION TO MAINTAINING TREES, UM, AS AN EXCEPTION TO THE POTABLE WATER IRRIGATION BAN, UH, POTABLE WATER CAN BE USED TO, UM, ADDRESS HEALTH OR SAFETY.

UM, SO WHEN NECESSARY FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY, THE LAW REQUIRES THAT ALL PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS REVISE REGULATIONS BY JANUARY 1ST, 2027, AND THAT WE COMMUNICATE THOSE REQUIREMENTS TO OUR CUSTOMERS BY THAT DATE.

ADDITIONALLY, STARTING JANUARY 1ST, 2027, THE IRRIGATION BAN WILL GO INTO EFFECT FOR CITY OWNED PROPERTIES, PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC COLLEGES.

UH, BEGINNING JANUARY 1ST, 2028, THE BAN WILL GO INTO EFFECT FOR ALL COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL PROPERTIES.

AND ON JANUARY 1ST, 2029, THE LAW WILL GO INTO EFFECT FOR THE COMMON AREAS OF, UM, HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS.

IN ADDITION TO TURNING THE POTABLE WATER IRRIGATION OFF TO NON-FUNCTIONAL TURF AREAS, PROPERTY OWNERS WITH MORE THAN 5,000 SQUARE FEET OF IRRIGATED LANDSCAPE MUST SELF-CERTIFY COMPLIANCE WITH THE STATE WATER RESOURCES AND CONTROL BOARD BEGINNING JUNE 30TH, 2030 FOR THE CII OR COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL INSTITUTIONAL SECTOR.

AND THEN JUNE 30TH, UH, 2031 FOR HOAS.

[01:55:02]

WE ARE AWAITING GUIDANCE FROM THE STATE WATER BOARD REGARDING THE SELF-CERTIFICATION FORM AND PROCESS.

SO ONCE WE KNOW MORE, WE WILL BE SURE TO COMMUNICATE, UH, WITH THE AFFECTED PROPERTY OWNERS ON THE PROCESS FOR HOW TO SELF-CERTIFY WITH THE STATE WATER BOARD.

THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES HAS PROVIDED THE CITY OF PETALUMA WITH SPATIAL IMAGERY DATA FROM 2020 TO SUPPORT, UM, THIS EFFORT.

SO THEY HAVE PROVIDED, UM, SPATIAL IMAGERY OF LOCATIONS WITH POSSIBLE NON-FUNCTIONAL TURF WITHIN OUR SERVICE AREA.

UH, THE MAP IS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC TO VIEW THEIR PROPERTY BY SEARCHING BY THEIR ADDRESS, AND THE MAP IS USED AS A SCREENING TOOL TO HELP US UNDERSTAND WHICH PROPERTIES MIGHT BE AFFECTED BY THE BAN.

WE ENCOURAGE PROPERTY OWNERS AND MANAGERS TO REVIEW THEIR PROPERTY AND TO REACH OUT TO US IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

AS AN OVERVIEW OF OUR OUTREACH STRATEGY TO DATE IN MAY, WE UPDATED OUR WATER RESTRICTIONS WEBPAGE TO INCLUDE INFORMATION ON THE UPCOMING BAN.

IN AUGUST, WE CONTACTED ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND HAVE MET WITH SCHOOL FACILITY STAFF TO DISCUSS, UH, THE RESTRICTIONS AND OPTIONS FOR COMPLIANCE.

IN SEPTEMBER, WE SENT POSTCARDS TO ALL COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL PROPERTY OWNERS, AND WE HAVE PROVIDED INFORMATION IN THE COMMUNITY UPDATE NEWSLETTER.

AND MOST RECENTLY, AS OF LAST WEEK, WE SENT OUT TARGETED LETTERS TO PROPERTY OWNERS AND TENANTS TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THEIR PROPERTY MIGHT CONTAIN NON-FUNCTIONAL TURF AS IDENTIFIED THROUGH THAT STATE.

UM, SPATIAL DATA.

OUR APPROACH TO COMPLIANCE IS TO PROVIDE EDUCATION, OUTREACH AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN ORDER TO SUPPORT VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE.

WE ARE OFFERING ONSITE ASSISTANCE TO CUSTOMERS TO UNDERSTAND WHETHER THE TURF IS FUNCTIONAL OR NON-FUNCTIONAL.

WE ARE ALSO IDENTIFYING ANY APPLICABLE EXEMPTIONS AND GIVING GUIDANCE, UM, REGARDING COMPLIANCE.

WHILE THE CITY WILL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE THIS PROHIBITION LOCALLY, IT IS ON THE PROPERTY'S OWNER'S OWNER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO COMPLY WITH THE STATE REQUIREMENTS AND THE STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD RETAINS STATEWIDE REGULATORY OVERSIGHT AND ENFORCEMENT.

WE WILL TAKE A SIMILAR APPROACH, UM, AS WE DID DURING THE DROUGHT, UM, WHERE WE REALLY LED WITH THAT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND OUTREACH AND EDUCATION AS A WAY TO DRIVE, UM, THIS VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE.

IN ADDITION, UM, WE TO THE ONSITE MEETINGS, UM, THAT WE ARE OFFERING WITH PROPERTY OWNERS AND MANAGERS.

WE ARE ALSO OFFERING OUR MULCH MADNESS PROGRAM.

SO THE CITY OFFERS A LAWN CONVERSION PROGRAM, UM, FOR QUALIFIED WATER CUSTOMERS TO RECEIVE, UM, THE SHEET MULCHING MATERIALS, SO CARDBOARD, COMPOST AND MULCH AND DELIVERY ALL FOR FREE.

AND WE ARE ALSO WORKING WITH, UH, DAILY ACTS TO PRO, HOST AND PROVIDE WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS.

UM, UM, SORRY, JUST A SECOND.

UM, SO YEAH, AND MOST RECENTLY, UM, SEPTEMBER 26TH, UM, DAILY ACTS HOSTED AN EVENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH US, UH, TO SHARE INFORMATION TO OUR MULCH MADNESS PARTICIPANTS ON THE PROCESS OF SHEET MULCHING, AS WELL AS CONVERTING IRRIGATION FROM SPRAY TO DRIP AND MAINTAINING LOW WATER USE LANDSCAPES.

AND THEN ALSO JUST THIS LAST SATURDAY, THEY HOSTED, UM, A FIRE AND WATERWISE LANDSCAPING WORKSHOP TO EDUCATE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON FIREWISE AND WATERWISE PRINCIPLES.

UM, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH DAILY ACTS AS, UM, AS OUR PARTNER ON PROVIDING OUR OUTREACH AND EDUCATION.

WE HAVE ALSO BUDGETED FOR LANDSCAPE CONVERSIONS WITH DAILY ACTS, UM, AS PART OF THIS EFFORT TO REALLY PROVIDE, UM, ASSISTANCE TO OUR WATER CUSTOMERS.

IN ADDITION TO THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING WITH DAILY ACTS, WE ARE ALSO MEMBERS OF THE SONOMA MARIN SAVING WATER PARTNERSHIP AND PLAN TO WORK WITH THEM TO HOST A WORKSHOP FOR HOAS AND HOA PROP, HOA PROPERTY MANAGERS, UH, TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS REGULATION AND AS WELL AS OUR PROGRAMS AND OUR RESOURCES TO SUPPORT.

SO OUR GOAL, UM, IS TO SUPPORT OUR WATER CUSTOMERS WITH EDUCATION AND TECHNICAL

[02:00:01]

ASSISTANCE TO REACH THIS FULL VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE.

TO FURTHER ILLUSTRATE HOW NON-FUNCTIONAL TURF IRRIGATION BAN CAN LEAD TO REAL WATER SAVINGS, UM, I WANNA SHARE A CASE STUDY FROM MARTIN FARMS HOA IN 2023 WITH THE HELP OF MO, THE MULCH MADNESS PROGRAM AND THE DAILY ACTS LAND RESILIENCE PARTNERSHIP.

MARTIN FARMS, HOA CONVERTED 2,500 SQUARE FEET OF NON-FUNCTIONAL LAWN IN THE FRONT OF THEIR PROPERTY.

UH, THEY ALSO SWITCHED FROM SPRAY TO SPRAY IRRIGATION TO DRIP PLANTED NATIVE POLLINATOR FRIENDLY PLANTS, AND ADDED TWO RAIN GARDENS AND PLANTED A COUPLE OF TREES.

AS A RESULT, THIS NEWLY CONVERTED LANDSCAPE SAVES OVER 70,000 GALLONS OF WATER PER YEAR WITH ADDITIONAL SAVINGS EXPECTED AS THE PLANTS BECOME ESTABLISHED.

SO THIS FURTHER ILLUSTRATES, UM, REALLY THE IMPACT THAT THIS, THAT THIS BILL CAN HAVE AND, UH, THE WILLINGNESS OF OUR, OF OUR WATER CUSTOMERS TO REALLY BE PROACTIVE, UM, AND TAKE A LOOK AT THEIR, THEIR LAND USE AND THEIR IRRIGATION PRACTICES AND LOOK FOR WAYS TO CONVERT.

UH, LASTLY, I WILL NOTE THAT OUR CURRENT WATER CONSERVATION REGULATIONS ALREADY BAN NEW TURF ON COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL PROPERTIES, UH, FOR THOSE WITH MORE THAN 500 SQUARE FEET OF LANDSCAPE, AND ANY ALTERED OR CHANGED LANDSCAPES WITH MORE THAN 2,500 SQUARE FEET THAT ARE SUBJECT TO PLAN REVIEW MAY NOT HAVE TURF, UM, FOR THAT LANDSCAPE ALTERATION.

WE ALSO PROHIBIT PLANTING TURF IN AREAS OF 10 FEET WIDE OR LESS, WHICH REALLY MEANS THERE'S NO NEW LAWN IN MEDIANS, RIGHT OF WAYS PARKING LOTS FOR THESE AFFECTED CUSTOMERS.

UM, AB 1572 REALLY JUST EXPANDS UPON OUR EXISTING EFFORTS TO LIMIT TURF FOR OUR CII PROPERTIES AND PROMOTES WATER USE EFFICIENCY TO ENSURE LASTING WATER SUPPLIES FOR OUR REGION.

STAFF RECOMMENDS REVISING SECTIONS OF THE PETALUMA MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 15.17 BY JANUARY 1ST, 2027 TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE REQUIREMENTS AND INCORPORATE THE REQUIRED BAN ON IRRIGATING NON-FUNCTIONAL TURF WITH POTABLE WATER.

WE ALSO RECOMMEND UPDATING THE CITY'S LANDSCAPE WATER USE EFFICIENCY STANDARDS FOR CONSISTENCY WITH THE STATE'S MODEL, WATER EFFICIENT LANDSCAPE ORDINANCE, AND CLARIFYING THE CITY'S AUTHORITY TO ADMINISTER AND ENFORCE THE CHAPTER.

THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE ALSO INCLUDES MINOR ADMINISTRATIVE AND ORGANIZATIONAL REVISIONS TO IMPROVE CLARITY AND CONSISTENCY THROUGHOUT THE PETALUMA MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 15.17.

AND WITH THAT, UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH AND YEAH, HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS.

I LOVE IT WHEN THE STATE THROWS SOMETHING DOWN AND WE HAVE TO CHANGE ALL OUR CODES TO ACCOMMODATE COUNCIL MEMBER CATER THOMPSON.

I JUST HAVE A QUESTION.

SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOAS, THEY HAVE TO CONVERT, THEY HAVE TO, UM, SO IT'S THE HO A COMMON AREAS AND IF THE, THOSE AREAS ARE DEEMED NON-FUNCTIONAL.

SO IF THOSE ARE NOT AREAS THAT ARE GOING TO BE USED AS PICNIC AREAS, THEY'RE NOT USED AS PET EXERCISE AREAS, THEY'RE NOT A PLAY SPACE.

SO IF THERE'S A SPACE THAT IS LAWN CURRENTLY BEING IRRIGATED THAT IS NOT FUNCTIONAL, SO PURELY MAINTAINED FOR AESTHETIC REASONS, THEY NEED TO TURN THE IRRIGATION OFF.

THAT'S WHAT THE BAND REQUIRES.

SO IF YOU HAVE A WELL, AND YOU'RE NOT USING PUBLIC POTABLE WATER, THEY ARE EXEMPT.

SO ANY UM, NON POTABLE WATER, UM, USER IS EXEMPT OR IN THAT CASE, UM, WELL WATER THAT WE'RE NOT PROVIDING.

AND I'M THINKING OF THE PARK PLACE CONDOS, WHICH WE'VE TALKED, TALKED ABOUT BEFORE.

CORRECT.

SO PARK PLACE IS EXEMPT, SO THAT IS EXEMPT.

OKAY, THANKS.

WHERE WATER IS GONNA BE MUCH MORE OF A CONCERN MUCH SOONER THAN US UP HERE.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER SHRIVES? UM, YEAH, HAVING DONE A LITTLE BIT OF THIS MYSELF, UM, OVER MANY YEARS, UM, SO I'M LOOKING AT A COUPLE DIFFERENT, UH, AREAS THAT WHY ARE WE DOING THIS? WE HAVE, UM, I UNDERSTAND OUR EDUCATIONAL AND TRYING TO ENCOURAGE AND DO THINGS AND BE AS HELPFUL AS POSSIBLE TO MEET STATE RULES.

I'M NOT QUITE GETTING TO THE POINT OF WHY WE ARE CHANGING OUR ORDINANCES, PUTTING INTO LAWS AND MAYBE POSSIBLE ENFORCEMENT LOCALLY, BECAUSE THE STATE IS DOING THIS MOSTLY 'CAUSE OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, NOT 'CAUSE OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

WE'RE IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

THIS, THE, THE STATE RULES ARE REALLY GOING TO BE IMPOUNDING AND INFECTING, UH, WHAT THE BEHAVIORS DOWN IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

[02:05:01]

SO WHY AS A CITY ARE WE CREATING ORDINANCES AND RULES AND REGULATIONS AND DOING ALL THIS ENFORCEMENT OF TYPE THINGS TO COMPLY WITH A STATE THAT'S REALLY DESIGNED FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, NOT US.

UM, BECAUSE I'M LOOKING AT COSTS.

UM, 'CAUSE THERE'S LOTS OF WATER SAVINGS.

I AGREE.

BUT THERE'S LOTS OF COSTS ALSO INVOLVED.

UM, AND, AND JUST THE MAINTENANCE OF IT TURNS OUT LAWNS ARE THE CHEAPEST LANDSCAPE TO MAINTAIN FOR GETTING THE GREENEST COLOR THAT'S BEEN KNOWN FOR MANY YEARS.

IT'S THE LOWEST COST OVERALL.

YOU, YOU TAKE OUT THE LAWN, DO SOMETHING ELSE, UH, YOU ACTUALLY INCREASE YOUR TOTAL COST FOR LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE OVER TIME A LOT MORE.

ESPECIALLY WITHOUT, ESPECIALLY WITHOUT ANY HERBICIDES TO CONTROL ALL THE WEEDS.

SO YOU'RE GONNA END UP WITH WEEDY SPOT OR BARE GROUND IF YOU MOW, UH, JUST BEAR, IF YOU'RE JUST GONNA MOW IT AND NO WATER, YOU END UP WITH BARE GROUND OR YOU END UP WITH WEEDS OF VARIOUS TYPES.

SO, UM, I REALLY NEED TO SEEK OUT ANSWERS TO WHY WE ARE TAKING THIS MUCH EFFORT ABOVE AND BEYOND EDUCATION AND MOVING INTO RULES AND REGULATIONS.

I DON'T SEE THE POINT.

I THINK THAT'S A LEGAL QUESTION THERE.

YES.

UM, AND, AND THE ANSWER, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, COUNCIL MEMBERSHIPS, THE ANSWER IN THIS CASE IS BECAUSE THE LAW IS ACTUALLY MANDATING THAT WE DO THAT AND IT'S NOT MAKING THE DECISION THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN NORTHERN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

SO AS, AS THE, UM, PRESENTATION NOTED IN THE STAFF REPORT DOES TOO, UM, LEMME GET YOU THE RIGHT SECTION, UH, SECTION, UM, IT'S ACT CHAPTER 2.5, SECTION FOUR OF THE BILL WOULD AMEND SECTION TEN SIX OH EIGHT 0.14 D AND IT SAYS, WATER PUBLIC, I'M SORRY, PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM SHALL, WHICH INCLUDES THE CITIES SHALL BY NO LATER THAN JANUARY 1ST, 2027, REVISE THEIR REGULATIONS, ORDINANCES THEIR POLICIES GOVERNING WATER SERVICE TO INCLUDE THE REQUIREMENTS OF SUBDIVISIONS A AND B AS REVISED BY THE BOARD PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION C AND SHALL COMMENCE THE REQUIREMENTS TO THEIR CUSTOMERS ON OR BEFORE THAT DATE.

SO, UM, SO THE SHORT ANSWER AND, AND THE ACCURATE ANSWER IS THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY BEING MANDATED BY THE STATE LAW TO TAKE THESE STEPS AND TO CHANGE OUR REGULATIONS.

AND I, I WANTED TO ADD, BECAUSE WE ALSO GOT SOME PUBLIC INPUT ABOUT THIS TO, UM, SO THAT'S A DIFFERENT QUESTION FROM A, A CHARTER CITY QUESTION.

THE, THE ISSUE OF A SOVEREIGN, A DIFFERENT SOVEREIGN IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA MANDATING THE DIFFERENT SOVEREIGN, THE CITY OF PETALUMA EXERCISE ITS LEGISLATIVE POWER IN A CERTAIN WAY, DOES RAISE CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS, BUT THEY'RE NOT THE SAME AS THE HOME RULE QUESTIONS.

AND THAT'S, THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT DISCUSSION.

UM, IT'D BE ONE THING IF THE STATE REGULATED PURPORTING TO DO THAT, UM, AND HAVE EFFECT IN OUR JURISDICTION AND FOR US TO TRY TO USE OUR CHARTER CITY POWER TO REGULATE DIFFERENTLY WITH RESPECT TO MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.

WE CAN DO THAT, BUT NOT WITH RESPECT TO STATEWIDE CONCERNS.

AND SO WE HAD A, A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC SAY, WELL USE, USE YOUR CHARTER CITY POWER TO REGULATE DIFFERENTLY.

I, I, I DON'T THINK THAT'S, THAT'S AN OPTION WHEN WE ACTUALLY HAVE A, A MANDATE FROM THE STATE LAW TO, TO, TO REGULATE.

UM, WHAT I WILL SAY THOUGH, AND THAT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION FROM, FROM A AL STANDPOINT, IS JUST BECAUSE WE REGULATE DOESN'T MANDATE THAT WE ENFORCE OR BRING A PROSECUTION ACTION.

AND THAT THAT PROSECUTORIAL DISCRETION AND ADMINISTRATIVE DISCRETION IS SO IMPORTANT.

AND WE USE IT, EXERCISE IT IN OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY ALL THE TIME BECAUSE THE GOAL IS COMPLIANCE, NOT NECESSARILY PUNITIVE ACTION.

AND WE ALWAYS ARE FOCUSED ON COMPLIANCE FIRST.

SO THERE ARE USUALLY SOME OPTIONS THERE.

SO EVEN IF, AND ASSUMING THE COUNCIL DIRECTS THAT WE DO AS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW, MAKE THESE REGULATORY CHANGES THAT STAFF HAVE PREPARED AND DESCRIBED VERY WELL, UM, THAT THAT DOESN'T FORECLOSE OUR OPTIONS OF OBTAINING COMPLIANCE IN THE VARIOUS WAYS WE TRY TO COM OBTAIN COMPLIANCE WITH, WITH, UM, WITH AFFECTED, UM, YOU KNOW, PROPERTY OWNERS AND LESSEES AND INSTITUTIONS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.

SO, OKAY.

JUST SAID, WE, WE DON'T REALLY INTEND OF DOING THE ENFORCEMENT OURSELVES, BUT WE ARE GOING TO REGULATE AND EN ENCOURAGED AND DO THIS AS BEST WE CAN.

SO THE, SO THAT, AGAIN, THIS IS FOR THE CLARITY OF WHY WE'RE DOING THIS, UM, BECAUSE I'M ALL ABOUT SAVING WATER AND, AND THEY PLENTY KNOW I'VE DONE THE MULCH, I'VE DONE ALL THE, THAT WORK, A LOT OF IT MYSELF.

UM, BUT THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VOLUNTARY AND THEN A REGULATORY ENFORCEMENT ISSUES AND HAVING THE STATE FORCE THIS DOWN ON THE ENTIRE STATE INSTEAD OF JUST ALLOWING US TO DO THIS DISTRICT OR, OR COUNTY BY COUNTY, WHATEVER.

SO IT FEELS LIKE A LITTLE BIT OF A BULLYING FROM THE STATE LEVEL AND NEEDS A LITTLE BIT OF PUSHBACK.

AND I WAS WONDERING, IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN, UH, DEMONSTRATE ANY FORM OF PUSHBACK EITHER IN DELAYING OR OUR STATEMENT, LIKE WE

[02:10:01]

IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN PUSH BACK ON THIS REGULATION? UH, IT, IT, IT WOULD NOT, IT, I WOULD NOT BE RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OR THE CITY TAKE A POSITION OF OPEN NON-COMPLIANCE OR DEFINES OF THE STATE LAW.

BUT THAT'S SHOCKING.

YES.

I I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, THAT WHY, WHY WE'RE DOING THIS.

'CAUSE I'M ALL IN FAVOR OF WHAT WE'RE DOING.

UH, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THE THE WHY IS CORRECT.

ALL RIGHT.

UM, THANK YOU.

OTHER QUESTIONS? VICE MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

UM, I'VE GOT A HANDFUL.

SO AT, AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR PRESENTATION, AND I WAS WONDERING THIS AS I READ THE MATERIAL, BUT YOU TALKED ABOUT SHUTTING OFF, UH, POTABLE, POTABLE WATER AND REPLACING IT WITH WHAT EXACTLY? NON-POTABLE OR, SO THE, THE LAW REQUIRES THAT THE POTABLE WATER IRRIGATION JUST BE TURNED OFF.

SO THE, THE LANDSCAPES THEN WOULD BE TERMINATED, YOU KNOW, AND THEY CAN, THEY CAN CONVERT, BUT THAT DOESN'T, IT'S NOT REQUIRED TO CONVERT.

AND THEN HOW MUCH WATER IN GALLONS OR ACRE FEET ARE WE EXPECTING TO SAVE THROUGH DOING THIS? WE HAVE NOT DONE ANY CALCULATIONS.

THAT'S A REALLY GREAT QUESTION.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DO AND PROVIDE AND I MEAN, IT WOULD BE A GROSS, UH, ESTIMATE, BUT SOMETHING THAT WE COULD LOOK INTO.

YEAH, NO, I'D APPRECIATE THAT.

OF COURSE.

AND HOW WILL THIS IMPACT REVENUE TO THE WATER DEPARTMENT? BECAUSE I THINK WE'VE SEEN IT AT LEAST ONCE THIS YEAR ALREADY, BUT OUR CITY'S VERY GOOD AT CONSERVING AND SAVING WATER.

UM, BUT WHAT WE SAW WAS IN THOSE EFFORTS, YOU KNOW, THEIR RATES WENT UP.

SO ARE WE LIKELY TO SEE RATES GO UP FOR RATE PAYERS BY ELIMINATING ALL OF THIS? UM, ALL ALL OF THIS LANDSCAPING, IRRIGATION? I DON'T FORESEE THIS PARTICULAR STATE MANDATE IN ANY WAY BEING A REFLECTION ON OUR RATES.

IT'D BE SEPARATE.

WELL, NO, I MEAN, THEY'RE TIED.

SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE TIED TOGETHER THOUGH, BECAUSE AS WE ELIMINATE, UM, YOU KNOW, I FORGET THE NFTS, AS WE ELIMINATE NFTS, IT'S, I MEAN, IT'S GOING TO DROP, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE USING.

SO OBVIOUSLY THE WATER DEPARTMENT, EVERYBODY'S GONNA NEED TO MAKE UP FOR THAT.

SO WE WOULD SEE AN INCREASE.

UM, AT THIS TIME, AS DANIEL MENTIONED, WE HAVEN'T DETERMINED HOW MUCH, UM, WATER SAVINGS WE WOULD GET AND TO BE ABLE TO REALLY ESTIMATE HOW MANY, HOW MUCH, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH THIS WOULD, UH, REDUCE OUR WATER REVENUE.

WE DO PLAN TO KICK OFF A NEW UTILITY RATE STUDY, UM, IN THE SUMMER OF NEXT YEAR.

AND THAT RATE STUDY, UM, WILL DETERMINE WHAT OUR RATES WILL LOOK LIKE AT, AT THAT TIME.

AND, UM, BY THE TIME OUR RATES ARE, OUR NEW RATES ARE POTENTIALLY IMPLEMENTED, WE WOULD MAYBE HAVE A YEAR OF THE NFT BAN UNDER US TO SEE THE EFFECTS OF THAT.

'CAUSE I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT THAT FOR US TO CONSIDER, BECAUSE WE ALSO HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE BOND MONEY THAT'S NOW GOING TOWARDS THE NEW SEWER SYSTEM, THE PIP SPAIN, UM, I MEAN, LIKE, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE CAN MAKE THOSE PAYMENTS.

POSSIBLE NON-FUNCTIONAL TURF WITHOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, REAL LIKE WE'RE ON THE GROUND, GROUND, TRUTHING IT, AND THEN WE ARE GONNA COLLECT THAT DATA AND SEND IT BACK AND LET THEM KNOW WHERE.

AND SO, UH, LET'S SEE, ARE WE DETERMINING THAT LANDSCAPING IS UNDERUTILIZED STRICTLY ON ZONING? BECAUSE YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD HAVE LAWNS, FOR EXAMPLE, WHERE EMPLOYEES OF THOSE BUSINESSES GO OUT AND ENJOY IT DURING THEIR LUNCH OR PEOPLE WALKING BY OF THEIR DOGS, OR, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE PLAYING ON IT.

AND SO HOW, HOW ARE WE CHARACTERIZING THAT AND DETERMINING WHEN AN NFT IS? SO NFT IS DESIGNATED BY THE PROPERTY OWNER, SO IT IS, UM, TO THEIR DETERMINATION IF THAT SPACE IS A RECREATIONAL USE.

SO IF THEY ARE UTILIZING IT FOR PICNICS, GATHERINGS, HAVING THEIR DOGS PLAY OR JUST WALK, UM, THAT IS A RECREATIONAL USE AND WE WOULD MAKE RECORD OF THAT.

IS THAT ONLY FOR THE PERIOD IN WHICH IT'S VOLUNTARY UNTIL IT ISN'T? I MEAN, DOES THAT EVENTUALLY, WHO EVENTUALLY DETERMINES THAT WITH THESE STATE LAWS COMING? RIGHT.

SO WHAT OUR EFFORT IS TO COLLECT THE INFORMATION FROM PROPERTY OWNERS THAT WILL BE IMPACTED AND THEN RELAY CHANGES TO THE STATE.

SO IF THEY HAVE, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE DONE THE FLYOVER, SO THE STATE HAS INFORMATION ON

[02:15:01]

AND THEN THAT WILL ALSO HELP INFORM THE SELF-CERTIFICATION PORTION.

SO ANY OWNER OF 5,000 SQUARE FEET OF IRRIGATED LANDSCAPE OR MORE, WE'LL HAVE TO SELF-CERTIFY WITH THE STATE WATER BOARD, UM, WHETHER OR NOT THAT IRRIGATED LANDSCAPE IS NON-FUNCTIONAL OR NOT.

BUT WE, WE HAVE, WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED WHAT THAT SELF-CERTIFICATION FORM WILL LOOK LIKE.

SO I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE WHAT INFORMATION THAT PROPERTY OWNER WILL HAVE TO PROVIDE.

WELL, AND I'LL, SO I'LL ADDRESS THAT NOW.

'CAUSE THAT WAS A QUESTION I HAD LATER.

BUT THIS SELF-CERTIFICATION PROCESS FOR BUSINESSES, I MEAN, IT'S HARD ENOUGH TO HAVE A BUSINESS NOW AND ALL THE HOOPS THEY HAVE TO JUMP THROUGH TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THINGS.

WHY WOULD WE NOT TRY TO TAILOR THIS SO THAT THEY CAN AVOID IT OR MAKE IT EASIER FOR THEM? BECAUSE IT'S, AGAIN, IT'S ALREADY SO HARD TO HAVE A BUSINESS THESE DAYS.

WHY THROW SOMETHING LIKE THIS AT THEM? IT SEEMS UNNECESSARY.

I MEAN, THAT REALLY IS UP TO THE STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD.

IT'S THEIR SELF-CERTIFICATION PROCESS AND FORM.

AND IT IS OUR POSITION AND DUTY TO RELAY THAT INFORMATION TO THE WATER CUSTOMERS TO LET THEM KNOW HOW TO NAVIGATE THIS COMPLIANCE AND REGULATION.

AND THEN DOES OUR FIRE MARSHAL HAVE THE BANDWIDTH TO LIKE, LET'S JUST SAY EVERYBODY JUST TURNS THE WATER OFF, GOES TO DIRT AND WEEDS.

DOES OUR FIRE MARSHAL HAVE THE BANDWIDTH TO HANDLE THIS? BECAUSE IT'S, I MEAN, AS WE JUST SAW, ALSO, IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE FOR HER TO DO WHAT SHE DOES NOW.

SHE DOES A VERY GOOD JOB AT IT.

BUT IF, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, WHAT ARE UNTOLD NUMBERS COULD BE ACRES, MORE OF FIELDS, SEVERAL, YOU KNOW, I DUNNO, A HUNDRED, A HUNDRED MORE PROPERTIES FOR HER TO CONSIDER.

UM, I MEAN, CAN SHE HANDLE THAT? AND I KNOW SHE'S NOT HERE, MAYBE THAT'S JUST RHETORICAL RIGHT NOW.

BUT, UM, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO CONSIDER AS WELL.

ARE WE GONNA HAVE TO PAY DAILY ACTS MORE MONEY TO OVERSEE THIS NOW THAT THEY'RE BEING BROUGHT IN TO OVERSEE? WELL, THEY ARE SUPPORTING WITH OUR OUTREACH AND EDUCATION AND SUPPORTING WITH A FEW INSTALLATIONS PER YEAR.

UM, AND THAT IS PART OF OUR, OUR OUTREACH SERVICES CONTRACT WITH THEM.

SO THAT'S WITHIN THE SCOPE NOW.

AND THEY WON'T, WE WON'T PAY THEM MORE OR BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE ADDING TO THEIR PLATE, THEY WOULD ASK FOR MORE.

N NO.

'CAUSE WE'VE HAD THIS DAILY X CONTRACT FOR MANY YEARS NOW, AND, UM, INSTALLATIONS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF THEIR SCOPE OF WORK.

THIS WE'RE JUST GOING TO PIVOT AND INSTEAD OF JUST, YOU KNOW, THE LIBRARY AND OTHER PUBLIC AREAS, WE'RE GONNA PIVOT TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY NFT AREAS THAT WE COULD HELP, UM, CONVERT.

SO SAME SCOPE OF SERVICES, NO INCREASED MONEY ON THIS CONTRACT, JUST PIVOTING TOWARDS MORE NFT RELATED AREAS.

AND THEN, UM, SO ARE WE IN PART BY DOING THIS RIGHT NOW? BECAUSE I KIND OF AGREE, LIKE WHY ARE WE DOING THIS? ARE WE TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE POTENTIAL LOSSES IN WATER WITH POTTER VALLEY IF THAT WHOLE DEAL'S TO HAPPEN? WE'RE BRINGING THIS 'CAUSE IT'S A STATE LAW REQUIREMENT.

YEAH, THIS IS, THAT'S WHY.

IN CALIFORNIA AND NORTH AND SOUTH AS REGARDS WATER CONSUMPTION POLICY, LANDSCAPE POLICY, WATER CONSERVATION POLICY, ET CETERA.

UM, THIS IS INDEPENDENT OF POTTER VALLEY.

THIS IS, UM, ESTABLISHED AND REGULATED BY THE STATE WATER RESOURCE CONTROL BOARD.

AND THIS WAS REALLY BORN OUT OF THE LAST DROUGHT, AS LAUREN MENTIONED EARLIER.

SO THIS HAS BEEN A REGULATION THAT TOOK MANY YEARS TO FORM AND THEN IMPLEMENT.

AND THEN WHAT, I MEAN, YOU TOUCHED ON IT A LITTLE BIT, ERIC, BUT WHAT HAPPENS IF WE JUST DON'T COMPLY WITH THIS? WELL, UM, I, I'LL, I'LL LOOK UP THE REMEDIES.

WE'LL, IF WE DON'T COMPLY, THEN WE'LL BE IN VIOLATION OF THE STATE LAW BECAUSE I, I READ THE, THE, UM, MANDATE ON, UM, WATER SUPPLYING AGENCIES LIKE THE CITY OF PETALUMA.

BUT I, I'M, I CAN LOOK AT THE, AT THE REMEDIES THAT MAY EXIST IN THE BILL.

WELL, I THINK THAT BEING A CHARTER CITY, LIKE WE SHOULD HAVE SOME PUSHBACK, YOU KNOW, OTHERWISE, I'M NOT SURE WHY WE ARE, IF WE, IF WE CAN NEVER CHALLENGE WHAT WE DO WITH THE STATE.

UM, AND, YOU KNOW, SO, SO THE HOME RULE PAR THAT WE WIELD AS A CHARTER CITY ALLOWS US TO, UM, REGULATE DIFFERENTLY FROM THE STATE ON MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.

UM, BUT THERE'S, YOU KNOW, THIS IS STATEWIDE WATER POLICY AS REFLECTED IN STATE LAW AND, UH, UM, THAT DOES NOT PRE SEEM, THAT DOESN'T TO, TO, TO, BASED ON OUR REVIEW, THAT DOESN'T PRESENT STRONG BASIS FOR ARGUING THAT CITY OF PETALUMA IS DIFFERENTLY SITUATED FROM THE OTHER CITIES

[02:20:01]

UM, I WOULD ANTICIPATE, UM, STRONG ARGUMENTS THAT THOSE ARE, UM, STATEWIDE CONCERNS.

AND THAT'S HOW THE CHARTER CITY HOME RULE DOCTRINE WORKS.

UM, UM, SO, YOU KNOW, SOME, THE TRADITIONAL HOME RULE AREAS LIKE, UM, PUBLIC CONTRACTING, LIKE, UM, ELECTIONS, LOCAL ELECTIONS, UM, UM, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS ARE TRADITIONAL, UM, MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS, UM, THAT WE CAN REGULATE AND HAVE REGULATED DIFFERENTLY FROM THE STATE.

UM, UH, AND IT'S REALLY THE COURTS THAT DECIDE WE, THERE'S A, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF, UM, EXAMPLES OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE TRYING TO PRESCRIBE WHAT IS AND IS NOT, UM, A STATEWIDE CONCERN, BUT IT'S REALLY THE COURTS THAT RESERVE THAT DETERMINATION, THAT FINAL DETERMINATION.

BUT WE CAN GET CLUES BASED ON WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE FOCUS AND THE PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION.

I THINK, UM, THE FOCUS OF PURPOSE OF THIS LEGISLATION APPEARS TO BE STATEWIDE WATER CONSERVATION POLICY.

I THINK, UM, SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT WOULD BE WORTH CONSIDERING WHAT ALTERNATIVES ARE BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, BUSINESSES ARE GOING TO LIKE THIS.

UM, I THINK IT'S WORTH CONSIDERING ALTERNATIVES, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WE WERE ENFORCING A NATURAL GAS BAN THAT WAS OUT OF COMPLIANCE, AND THAT WAS DETERMINED TO BE UNENFORCEABLE AND, AND, YOU KNOW, SO I MEAN, WE'VE, WE'VE DONE IT BEFORE.

SO I, I FEEL LIKE IN THIS CASE, WE SHOULD BE CONSIDERING ALTERNATIVES TO THIS.

GOOD QUESTIONS.

UM, UM, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WELL, I THINK YOU WAS ABOUT TO RESPOND TO IT.

I THINK THAT, UM, WHAT YOU'RE STATING IS A POSITION.

IT'S NOT NEEDING LEGAL ADVICE.

YOU'RE SUGGESTING A COURSE OF ACTION.

I'M ASKING FOR ALTERNATIVES.

AND YOU'RE ASKING THAT TONIGHT.

AND IT'S, IT'S OUT THERE.

I'M NOT, YOU KNOW, I, I THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

UM, I, AND IT'S NOT MY PLACE OR DESIRE TO DEBATE POLICY WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS.

IT'S NOT MY, YOU KNOW, I, I DEFER TO YOUR, YOUR POLICYMAKING ROLE.

UM, I JUST READ THOUGH THE DIRECT MANDATE IN THE STATE LAW, UM, FOR WATER SUPPLYING AGENCIES.

SO WE HAVE AN EXPRESS DUTY UNDER THE LAW.

UM, AND IF A MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL WANTS US TO SEE WHAT, WHAT LATITUDE THAT MAY PROVIDE US, I'M NOT SEEING ANY.

BUT WE COULD, WE COULD LOOK FURTHER.

ALL RIGHT.

THAT WAS MY LAST QUESTION.

OH, GOOD.

UM, COUNCIL MEMBER BARNACLE.

YEAH, JUST THREE QUESTIONS.

UM, MOSTLY CON CONFIRMING.

SO THIS IS DRIVEN BY STATE LAW AND, UM, SO US DOING THIS IS BASICALLY, UM, MITIGATING THE RISK THAT WE ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW AND SOMEONE COMES AND SUES US AND FORCES US TO EITHER COMPLY WITH STATE LAW OR, UM, TELL THE CALIFORNIA COURTS WHY WE DON'T HAVE TO COMPLY WITH STATE LAW.

IS THAT ACCURATE? OKAY.

AND OUR ROLE RIGHT NOW IS WE'RE DOING IT IS COMPLYING WITH STATE LAW AND THEN, UM, REACHING OUT TO OUR BUSINESSES TO HELP THEM TO UNDERSTAND THE SELF-CERTIFICATION PROCESS SO THAT THEY'RE NOT IN VIOLATION OF STATE LAW.

IS THAT ACCURATE? YES.

AND DOING OUTREACH AS REQUIRED THROUGH THE STATE LAW.

AND THEN, UM, I ALSO HEARD THE, THE COMMENT ABOUT DAILY ACTS THERE.

UM, AND SO WE'RE ALSO PIVOTING SERVICE PROVIDERS TO HELP BUSINESSES COMPLY WITH STATE LAW TOO.

SO WE'RE, UM, YOU KNOW, MITIGATING OUR LEGAL RISK.

WE'RE HELPING OUR BUSINESS CUSTOMERS UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THEIR BUSINESS.

AND THEN WE'RE ALSO PROVIDING, YOU KNOW, ORCHESTRATING OR RE REFOCUSING OUR CER EXISTING SERVICE PROVIDERS TO TRY AND HELP THEM COMPLY WITH IT AS WELL IS RIGHT.

'CAUSE WE WILL TURN OFF THE GRASS AT A LATER DATE AND THE TREE WILL DIE LIKE IT DID IN THE 22 DROUGHT, OR WE EDUCATING THE PUBLIC TO SAY, HEY, MAYBE YOU SHOULD SEPARATE ANYWAY, THIS IS SEPARATE FROM THE ORDINANCE, I'M SURE.

COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UM, WELL, LET ME JUST HIT MY QUESTIONS BE BEFORE I, UM, COME BACK AROUND.

UM, SO, UM, THIS IS BASICALLY LIKE THE SOFTEST CELL.

I THINK THE, THE LEGISLATORS WROTE THIS KNOWING THE QUESTIONS THAT COUNCILS WOULD BE FACED WHEN THIS ROLLED OUT.

NOBODY LIKES TO BE TOLD A THING.

SO THEY KIND OF DID THIS.

AND THIS IS EDUCATION.

I MEAN, WE'RE, WE'RE DOING OUTREACH EDUCATION AND THAT KIND OF THING, UM, WITHOUT, WITHOUT THAT HEAVY HAND BEING UP THERE.

YOU KNOW, WHO KNOWS THAT THEY WRITE A NEW LAW TOMORROW.

BUT, UM, BUT WE, WE TALKED ABOUT TREES AND, AND, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS I NOTICED IN THE DROUGHT WAS THAT TREES UNCOMMON METERS WITH OTHER LANDSCAPE, THE TREES DIED.

AND, UH, YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW IF IT HAS A SEPARATE SYSTEM, IT, YOU KNOW, THE TREES CAN REMAIN AND THE SEPARATE SY AND THE GRASS PARTS, UH, GO.

BUT, UM, WHAT ARE WE DOING FROM, WE, THERE'S AN EXEMPTION FOR SHARED IRRIGATION, BUT THAT'S NOT REALLY IN OUR INTEREST EITHER.

[02:25:01]

BUT, BUT YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD ENOUGH COMPLAINTS ABOUT TREE DEATH DURING DROUGHT THAT WE HAVE.

DO WE HAVE A PROGRAM THAT ENCOURAGES THEM TO SEPARATE THEIR, THEIR SYSTEMS? UM, WE ARE PROVIDING INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE REGARDING TREE HEALTH.

SO THE BEST WAY TO IRRIGATE TREES IS REALLY TO GET THEM OFF OF SPRAY IRRIGATION AND CONVERT IT TO DRIP AND TO HAVE A, A LONGER CYCLE, UM, FOR THAT IRRIGATION.

WHEREAS THE CURRENT, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S INTER INTERTWINED WITH THE TURF, UM, AND IT'S A POPUP SPRAY HEAD, UM, IT'S NOT AN IDEAL IRRIGATION FOR TREES.

BUT WE'RE ALSO UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE IS A, AN EXEMPTION FOR, FOR TREES, UM, TO GET IRRIGATED THROUGH THIS LAW.

SO, UM, IF THERE ARE TREES BEING IRRIGATED WITH, WITH POTABLE WATER, THOSE CAN CONTINUE, UM, KIND OF REGARDLESS OF, RIGHT.

I, I GET THE COMPLIANCE WITH, UH, THIS NEW RULING, BUT THE QUESTION IS, IS WE HAVE A PROBLEM FROM PREEXISTING.

I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE AN ADDRESS OF THE PREEXISTING PROBLEM.

AND MAYBE IF YOU'RE DOING A LOT OF COMMUNICATION NOW, YOU COULD FOCUS ON THAT, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT ORDINANCE DRIVEN.

UH, MY OTHER QUESTION IS, UH, FOR THE 5,000 SQUARE FOOT AND HOA, UM, ARE ALL THOSE ON SEPARATED IRRIGATION METERS? YOU KNOW, IT MEANS NONE OF THEM HAVE COM.

WHEN YOU'RE AT 5,000 SQUARE FEET, YOU DON'T HAVE COMBINED, UH, INDOOR USE AND, AND, UH, LANDSCAPE USE.

YOU, YOU HAVE DEDICATED METERS FOR ALL THESE PEOPLE, RIGHT? YEAH.

THIS IS REGARDING ALL DEDICATED IRRIGATION METERS.

SO NOT MIXED USE METERS.

DO WE HAVE MIXED USE METERS THAT, UM, COVER BUILDINGS THAT MIGHT HAVE 5,000 SQUARE FEET OR MIGHT HAVE, UM, UM, NON-FUNCTIONING LANDSCAPING? YES, POSSIBLY.

UM, YOU HAVE A WAY EASILY DRESSING THOSE.

I'M SORRY.

IS THAT AN EXEMPTION TO, TO HAVE 5,000 SQUARE FEET AND TO NOT HAVE SEPARATED METERS? IS THERE AN EXEMPTION FOR THAT? LIKE IF IT SAYS YOU SHOULD BE TREATED AS NON-FUNCTIONING TURF MM-HMM .

BUT YOU DON'T HAVE A SEPARATE METER, DO YOU GET A WAIVER? THERE ARE WAYS FOR US TO CALCULATE HOW MUCH ESTIMATED WATER WOULD BE USED ON A MIXED USE METER FOR LANDSCAPE.

SO IT'S GONNA BE A CASE BY CASE BASIS.

IT'S NOT EASILY DETERMINED IN OUR BILLING SYSTEM IF IT'S A MIXED USE METER.

BUT THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE TRACK, UM, EVERY DAY WHEN THESE DO COME UP.

SO WE'RE JUST GONNA DEAL WITH THOSE PARTICULAR CASES AS A, UH, A CASE BY CASE.

BUT FOR SOMETHING WITH OVER 5,000 SQUARE FEET OF IRRIGATED LANDSCAPE AREA FOR CII PROPERTIES, THEY USUALLY HAVE DEDICATED IRRIGATION METERS.

BUT THERE WILL BE SOME THAT ARE MIXED USE THAT WE WILL HANDLE.

THE GIS MAP THAT YOU MENTIONED, I PULLED UP THE WEBSITE.

UM, IS IT, IS THERE A LINK ON THE WEBSITE? MM-HMM .

'CAUSE, UM, DIDN'T WRITE A, IT'S QUITE A BIT OF INFORMATION ON THE WEBSITE AND, UH, THERE IS A LOT THERE.

I DIDN'T SEE A BIG POPUP SAYING MAP HERE.

IT'S, THERE'S A SECTION THAT SAYS MAP AND UNDERNEATH THAT IS A LINK FOR THE MAP, UM, ON OUR, IT'S THE CITY OF PETALUMA.ORG/NFT.

AND THOSE WERE, UM, MY QUESTIONS.

COUNCIL MEMBER SHRI.

FIRST, JUST, UH, UH, SO MAYBE SOME ANSWERS.

I THINK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DI CARLY HAD ASKED ABOUT, UH, WATER SAVINGS.

UM, UH, WHAT, WHAT IS THE POTENTIAL THERE? SO SOME OF THE PRINCIPLES INVOLVED HERE IS THAT, UM, WHEN YOU TRANSFORM FROM GRASS TO, LET'S SAY OTHER PLANTS TO GET THEM ESTABLISHED THE FIRST TWO YEARS, YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE SAVING ALL THAT MUCH WATER IN THE FIRST TWO YEARS.

AND, BUT YOU CAN, AFTER THE THIRD YEAR, UH, YOU CAN GET DOWN TO 10% OF THE WATER USED IN LAWNS TO MAINTAIN THAT NEW LANDSCAPE AS LONG AS YOU'VE MAINTAINED IT REALLY WELL AND DUG ALL IN YOUR WEED MANAGEMENT ALONG WITH IT.

UH, SO THERE'S A HIGH COST IN THE TRANSFORMATION.

UM, AND THERE IS A NO SAVINGS IN WATER FOR THE FIRST YEAR OR TWO PRETTY MUCH.

UM, BUT AFTER THAT YOU GET THIS HUGE SAVINGS.

SO, UM, AND IT TURNS OUT OUR LAWNS IN THE SUMMERTIME, UM, EAT UP CLOSE TO 30 TO 40% OF OUR TOTAL WATER USE IN THE SUMMERTIME, ESPECIALLY IN HOT DAYS.

SOMEWHERE IN THAT RANGE, DEPENDING UPON WHERE IT IS.

UM, JUST LAWNS NOT THE TOTAL LAND, TOTAL LANDSCAPE IS LIKE 50% OF OUR TOTAL WATER USE.

AND THE SUMMERTIME LAWNS ALONE ARE PROBABLY CLOSE TO 25, 30% FOR THAT.

SO REDUCING ANY AMOUNT OF THAT.

SO OUR TOTAL WATER USE, I WOULD ESTIMATE COULD BE AS MUCH AS 5% OF TOTAL WATER USE IN THE SUMMERTIME, UM, IF WE TO IN THIS PROGRAM, WHICH WOULD BE PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL FOR THIS WHOLE STATE DOING THAT.

AND, AND FOR OUR WHOLE WATER PROJECT, IF EVERY MUNICIPALITY DOES THAT.

AS YOU DO THIS, UH, WHEN YOU REMOVE AND SAY YOU, YOU DO NOT FORCE THE TRANSFORMATION INTO NATIVE PLANTS, A LOT OF THE BUSINESSES ARE GONNA GO, OH, MY LOWEST COST IS GONNA BE, I'M GONNA PUT DOWN PLASTIC, KEEP THE WEEDS DOWN SO I DON'T HAVE TO DO THE WEED MANAGEMENT AS MUCH, AND I MAY NOT HAVE TO MOW AS OFTEN, AND WE'RE KEEPING TO KEEP MY COSTS DOWN BY PUTTING DOWN A LAYER EITHER IN, IN ARTIFICIAL TURF OR WEED MATS THAT COULD BE THICK WEED MATS, EVEN RUBBER MATS, WHATEVER.

SO JUST A LITTLE BIT ON THAT.

THE, UM, ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE MAY HAVE THAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT

[02:30:01]

AND THEN, GEE, I DON'T HAVE THAT LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE THEN.

SO IF YOU'RE GONNA DO THIS, WE REALLY NEED TO COMBINE IT WITH RULES AND REGULATIONS ABOUT, YOU MAY NOT PUT PLASTIC DOWN ON THESE LARGE PIECES OF LANDSCAPE.

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

WE NEED TO MAKE THAT AS AN ADDITIONAL RULE IF WE'RE GONNA DO THIS.

SO I JUST WANNA ADD THAT IN.

SO I JUST WENT, CAN WE DO THAT LEGALLY? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

IT CERTAINLY GOES DEEPER THAN THE PRESENTATION ON THE ORDINANCE AND ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCE TONIGHT.

BUT AS A SUGGESTION, STAFF TO, UH, RESEARCH, UH, THE BANNING OF HERBICIDES, THE BANNING OF, UH, PLASTIC FOR, FOR ALL PRIVATE CONSUMPTION WITHIN THE CITY, UH, THAT I THINK MORE GOES TO A PLANNING AND LEGAL, UH, JURISDICTION TO GET ANSWERS ON.

WE'RE GONNA GO THIS FAR.

WE NEED TO AT LEAST DEAL WITH THAT ISSUE.

'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

SO, UM, WE, WE'D NEED TO DO SOME RESEARCH ABOUT POTENTIAL PREEMPTION AND, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE WE REMEMBER WE'VE HAD THE GLYPHOSATE DISCUSSIONS AND, AND SOME OF THOSE KINDS OF MOSTLY IN REGARDS TO PUBLIC TO OUR USE REGULATING OURSELVES.

CORRECT.

WE HAVEN'T REACHED ACROSS AND SAID WE'RE GONNA REGULATE PRIVATE.

CORRECT.

AND THAT HAS BEEN A CONCERN.

AND, AND I DO SUGGEST WHEN WE HIT GOALS, UH, AGAIN, THAT WE TRY AND ADDRESS IT BECAUSE WHILE THIS HAS ALREADY STAYED LONG, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO ROLL IT OUT.

UM, THE POINT YOU BRING UP IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

I MEAN, AS I WALK NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, AND KNOCK ON DOORS, YOU SEE THIS TOO.

WE'RE WALKING THE SAME NEIGHBORHOODS, THERE'S SO MUCH ARTIFICIAL TURF OUT THERE, AND IT'S, IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT, IT, IT KIND OF SEEMS OXYMORONIC TO SAY, WELL, THE, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T USE IT IN A PLAYING FIELD, BUT WE CAN USE IT FOR, UH, DECORATIVE.

I MEAN, IT MAKES NO SENSE.

SO I AGREE WITH YOU THAT WE SHOULD BE ADDRESSING THAT OR FINDING OUT IF WE CAN ADDRESS THAT.

UH, AND WE SHOULD FIND OUT IF COUNCIL WANTS TO MAKE THAT A PRIORITY, THAT'S A BIG LIFT.

IT'S BEYOND THE SCOPE OF WHAT WE CAN DO AT TONIGHT'S MEETING.

ALSO, IF I MAY, I, I, I WAS DOING SOME MORE CHECKING ON THE QUESTION OF PENALTIES.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE, UM, UNDER AB 1572, UM, IT INCORPORATES THE PENALTIES IN SECTION 1 8 4, 6 0.5 OF THE WATER CODE FOR VIOLATIONS, WHICH SAYS THAT URBAN RETAIL WATER SUPPLIERS WHO, UM, VIOLATE, UM, ORDERS OF THE WATER BOARD OR OTHER REGULATIONS OR STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS, AND IN TIMES OF DROUGHT CONDITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN DECLARED, MAY BE SUBJECT TO CIVIL LIABILITY OF $10,000 PER DAY OR A, A NORMAL NON-DRUG TIMES OF UP TO A THOUSAND PER DAY PER VIOLATION.

SO, THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? STAFF, COUNCIL MEMBER? UM, I, I'D FORGOTTEN A QUESTION ABOUT NON-POTABLE WATER.

AND SO ARE WE, WITH THIS GOING ON, ARE WE NOW CONSIDERING TO TRYING TO EXPAND THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ELLIS CREEK TO SEND NON-POTABLE WATER TO THESE AREAS OR OTHER AREAS? WE HAVE NO CURRENT PLAN TO EXPAND THE RECYCLED WATER, THE URBAN RECYCLED WATER SYSTEM AT THIS TIME.

WE WOULD, IF, IF, IF NFT PROPERTIES WERE INTERESTED IN RECYCLED WATER AND WERE LOCATED NEAR AN EXISTING RECYCLED WATER LINE, UM, WE WOULD, UM, ENTERTAIN THAT AND GET AN, GET AN APPLICATION AND DO WALKTHROUGHS AND INSPECTIONS AND SEE IF THEY WERE, UM, COULD CONVERT, BUT NO EXPANSION OF THE, THE CURRENT RECYCLED WATER SYSTEM.

UM, PER OUR RECYCLED WATER PERMIT.

AND IF THEY WERE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT, ARE WE, ARE WE LOOKING AT THAT WATER AND TESTING IT FOR THINGS? I MEAN, I KNOW IT'S RECYCLED, BUT I MEAN, WE DON'T WANT TO PUT ANY CONTAMINANTS OUT THERE.

LIKE IF, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, UM, LOTS OF, UH, YOU KNOW, HORMONE DRUGS AND THINGS THAT COME OUT IN RECYCLED WATERS OR PFAS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, ARE WE GONNA START LOOKING AT THAT? IF, IF ANY OF THESE PROPERTIES THAT HAVE NON-FUNCTIONAL TURF WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT, I THINK WE SHOULD BE.

SO THE RECYCLED WATER COMING OUT OF ELLIS CREEK IS DISINFECT DISINFECTED, TERTIARY TREATED WATER, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST, UM, TREATED RECYCLED WATER, UM, THAT YOU CAN USE FOR ALL, FOR NEARLY ALL USES OTHER THAN FOR DRINKING.

UM, AND WE DO TEST THE RECYCLED WATER REGULARLY, UM, FOR ALL THE REQUIRED PARAMETERS,

[02:35:01]

ARE WE TESTING THOUGH, THOUGH, FOR THINGS LIKE PFAS AND HORMONE DRUGS? THE CITY OF PETALUMA IS NOT TESTING FOR PFAS, IT'S NOT A REQUIRED CONSTITUENT FOR OUR RECYCLED WATER PERMIT NOR OUR HORMONE DRUGS.

AND THERE'S NO STANDARDS THAT HAVE BEEN SET YET FOR LEVELS OF ACCEPTABILITY OR EVEN TESTING REGIMENS.

AND IT IS USED AT, I MEAN, ON OUR EXISTING SYSTEM, WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE PLAYING FIELDS AND OTHER THINGS, BUT ARE, ARE WE CONNECTING HOAS ALREADY ON THAT? ARE WE PROVIDING THAT? BECAUSE I KNOW IN EVERY OTHER RECYCLED WATER SYSTEM IN THE STATE, YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE CONNECTING EVERY OTHER, UM, APPROVABLE USE AND IT'S PROOF FOR EVERYTHING, UH, BUT CONSUMPTION, SO, UM, IT'S, WE SHOULD BE ALREADY, I'M HOPING WE'RE ALREADY WHERE WE HAVE A PIPE HITTING THE HOAS.

WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH SOME HOAS WHO HAVE REACHED OUT TO AND HAVE, UH, PROVIDED APPLICATIONS AND WE'VE DONE WALKTHROUGHS.

AND SO YES, IT IS AVAILABLE FOR HOAS THAT ARE LOCATED NEAR EXISTING CURRENT RECYCLED WATER PIPELINES.

WELL, AND TO YOUR POINT, ERIC, ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO ESTABLISHED, UM, STANDARDS.

I MEAN, I WOULD THINK WE WOULD WANNA KNOW WHAT KIND OF STUFF WE'RE PUTTING OUT THERE.

I KNOW WE DO SOME AMOUNT OF TESTING, BUT I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.

THERE'S, THERE'S NO ESTABLISHED TESTING REGIMEN.

THERE'S NO ESTABLISHED STANDARDS.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD BE TESTING AGAINST WELL, FOR, YEAH, I MEAN, THAT'S THE STATE SETS REGULATIONS ON REGIONAL BOARD SETS REGULATIONS ON, AND, UH, WE'RE, YOU KNOW, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF EVERY BIT OF, OF, UM, THOSE GOOD TESTING RESULTS.

THEY HAVE THE BIG, UH, YOU KNOW, LABORATORIES TO SIDE STATEWIDE STANDARDS, AND THAT'S WHY THIS IS STATEWIDE IS SO THAT ALL EVERYBODY'S IN CONFORMANCE WITH THE SAME POLICY.

THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS.

AND LET'S GO TO GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME.

I WILL START AT 32ND CLOCK.

DURING THESE 30 SECONDS, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ATTENDING IN PERSON SHOULD BRING THEIR SPEAKER CARDS TO THE CLERK'S DESK.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ATTENDING ONLINE SHOULD RAISE THEIR VIRTUAL HAND.

THOSE ATTENDING VIA PHONE SHOULD PRESS STAR NINE TO RAISE THEIR HAND.

SPEAKER REQUESTS RECEIVED AFTER THIS TIME MAY NOT BE ACCOMMODATED.

WE DID RECEIVE ONE ONLINE COMMENT AHEAD OF THE MEETING, AND IT'S BEEN POSTED TO THE ONLINE PACKET.

WE HAVE, UH, NICHOLAS HARRIS TO BE FOLLOWED BY WAYNE RA.

HEY, UH, GOOD EVENING MAYOR, COUNCIL AND STAFF.

UM, AND IF ANY OF MY COMMENTS ARE, UH, HARSH, DON'T TAKE IT PERSONALLY, IT'S, UH, MORE OF THE, UH, SITUATION THAN, UM, WHAT'S GOING ON, UH, WITH STAFF TO THAT END.

UH, I JUST, I, I THINK WE NEED TO BE REALLY CLEAR THAT, UM, WATER RATE PAYERS ARE, ARE PAYING FOR THE CITY'S IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PROGRAM.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY, UH, LATITUDE, UM, TO PARTICIPATE OR NOT PARTICIPATE IN IT.

UM, WHEN I WAS DOING RESEARCH ON THE, UH, STORM WATER AND CREEKS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, I WAS WATCHING A MEETING, UM, SOMETIME 20 18, 20 19.

AND, UH, A CITY, UM, WASTEWATER, UH, EMPLOYEE WAS MAKING COMMENTS, UH, TO THE QUESTION OF, HEY, HOW, HOW COME WE HAVEN'T MADE PROGRESS ON MORE OF THESE FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS? THINGS LIKE THAT.

WELL, THEY WERE VERY CANDID IN THEIR ANSWER IN THAT THE STATE KEEPS IMPLEMENTING PROGRAMS AND THINGS THAT ARE REQUIRING THE STAFF TO FOCUS ON ISSUES AND SUBJECTS THAT ARE NOT REALLY THE HIGHEST CONCERN OF PETALUMA, THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN PETALUMA.

I REALLY WANT TO UNDERSCORE THAT.

AND, AND I UNDERSTAND, UM, THAT IT'S A CONVERSATION.

IT'S SORT OF A BIGGER FIGHT, UM, THAN WHAT'S ON THE TABLE TONIGHT.

UM, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS, UM, THAT WE'RE PRODDING AT THAT.

UM, THE ONLY OTHER THING I JUST WANNA SAY IS I, UH, IN, IN LIGHT OF THE, UH, RUBBISH, THE, THE PREVIOUS ITEM, I MEAN, GREEN TURF IS A REALLY EXCELLENT FIRE PREVENTION, UH, LANDSCAPE MATERIAL THAT'S HAS A BENEFIT.

IT MAY NOT BE THE BEST BENEFIT.

IT'S NOT A POLLINATOR, BUT IT'S STILL A BENEFIT AND IT'S GONNA BE REALLY SAD TO SEE COMMERCIAL LANDOWNERS HAND FORCE TO TURN THAT WATER SUPPLY

[02:40:01]

OFF.

WAYNE STROM, CITY COUNCIL MAYOR, THANK YOU, UM, STAFF FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

UM, AND, UH, LISTENING TO ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS, I HEAR MOSTLY ABOUT, UM, THAT, UH, GRASS IS GONNA BE MADE ILLEGAL IS WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE.

UM, BUT, UH, IF WE'RE TRULY WORRIED ABOUT CONSERVATION, UM, WE HAVE A LARGE AMOUNT OF, UM, DEVELOPMENT THAT'S BEING, UM, COMING FORWARD FROM THE CITY, UH, HOUSING ROADS, AND WE'RE STILL USING NON-POTABLE WATER FOR DUST CONTROL MAINTENANCE, UM, STREET SWEEPERS.

UM, WHY ARE WE STILL, UM, NOT USING, UM, RECLAIMED WATER IF IT'S, IF IT'S CLEAN AND, UM, AS, AS, AS BEING PROPOSED, THEN WHY AREN'T WE USING IT FOR OUR CONSTRUCTION EFFORTS? UM, IT SHOULD BE UTILIZED IF WE'RE THAT WORRIED ABOUT, UM, FUTURE DROUGHT.

AND THEN THE FRONT, THE WEST WING SIDE OF CITY HALL IS STILL GRASS AND IT IS BEING USED FOR SOCCER PLAYERS.

BRINGING IT BACK TO COUNCIL, ANY, UH, COMMENTS ON THE ORDINANCE? COUNCILMAN BARNICLE? YEAH, UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION FROM THE PUBLIC.

UM, IT CERTAINLY IS AN UNFUNDED MANDATE AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.

COMMENTS ABOUT OPPORTUNITY COSTS, UM, MR. HARRIS, UM, AND ALSO MR. ENGSTROM, I AGREE WE SHOULD BE USING NON-POTABLE WATER FOR DUST CONTROL.

THOSE ARE SMALL, LOW HANGING FRUIT OPPORTUNITIES.

UM, I'LL JUST ALSO OFFER A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT THAT THE LAST TIME WE HAD A DROUGHT, WE GOT DOZENS OF EMAILS FROM PEOPLE FURIOUS ABOUT, UH, STILL SEEING MEDIANS LIKE THIS WATERED.

AND IT REALLY, UM, WHEN DROUGHTS DO COME AND, UM, NEIGHBORS ARE BEING ASKED TO TAKE MEASURES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AND THEY SEE WATER POURING INTO THE STREET FROM OVER, OVER SPRAY ON IRRIGATION, THE COST OF THAT, UH, ENFORCEMENT DURING THOSE DROUGHT PERIODS IS SIGNIFICANT.

AND, UM, THE MESSAGE THAT IT SENDS TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ASKING ME TO DO SOMETHING AND THESE PEOPLE ARE BEING EXTREMELY WASTEFUL.

AND IT, UM, LIKE, I MEAN, IT WAS PROBABLY THE NUMBER ONE FRUSTRATION WE HEARD DURING THE LAST DROUGHT WAS LIKE, JUST, WHY IS THIS, WHY ARE THEY WASTING WATER ON THIS MEDIAN EVEN WHERE THERE'S RECYCLED WATER AND IT'S LIKE, THERE'S RECYCLED WATER.

IT'S LIKE, I DON'T CARE.

IT'S A TERRIBLE THING, RIGHT? AND WE WERE LIKE, OKAY, LET'S PUT THIS IS IRRIGATED BY RECYCLED WATER, SO THAT LEAST PEOPLE DON'T FEEL LIKE WE'RE JUST TURNING A BLIND EYE TO THIS, YOU KNOW, UNUSED MEDIAN.

UM, BUT IT'S, I UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION AND ALSO LIKE, UM, WATER'S PRECIOUS AND WE SHOULD BE USING IT FOR THINGS THAT, UM, FACILITATE COMMERCE AND THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, KEEP PEOPLE NOURISHED AND, UM, THOSE TWO USES AND, AND RECREATION TOO.

UM, AND SO, UM, I, IT'S, I DON'T LIKE UNFUNDED MANDATES.

AND ALSO, UM, I APPRECIATE THE, THE THOUGHTFULNESS OF BRINGING IT FORWARD AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY'S EDUCATED ABOUT IT.

AND, UM, UNLESS THERE'S OTHER AMENDMENTS, I'M HAPPY TO MOVE THE ITEM.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY BARNACLE AND A SECOND BY CATER THOMPSON, BUT I'M LOOKING FOR ANYONE ELSE WITH COMMENTS AND COUNCIL MEMBER SHRI.

YEAH, ONE OF THE KEY FACTORS THAT WE NEED TO AT LEAST EDUCATE ABOUT IS, IS THE TRANSFORM AND TRANSITION FROM LAW TO SOMETHING ELSE.

IT TAKES YEARS, UH, TO GET IT DOWN TO, TO GET THE WATER.

NOW WE ARE NOT IN A DROUGHT NOW, BUT WE WILL BE AT SOME POINT.

AND SO IT IS CRITICAL THAT WE MOVE FORWARD AND REALLY HELP PEOPLE DO IT NOW WHILE WE HAVE WATER, UM, SO THAT WHEN WE GET TO THE DROUGHT, THEIR LANDSCAPES ARE, CAN SURVIVE IT.

AND THAT'S GONNA BE A, A HUGE PART OF THE, UM, EDUCATIONAL PART THAT, THAT WE NEED TO AT LEAST LET FOLKS KNOW THAT IT WILL TAKE A FAIR AMOUNT OF MONEY AND WATER TO DO A TRANSITION AND A LOT OF EXTRA LABOR AND WORK, ESPECIALLY HAND LABOR.

SO PREPPING FOLKS FOR THAT AND SAYING FOR THE DROUGHT THAT'S COMING, UM, I THINK IT'S REAL CRITICAL AND I WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND, AND UH, UH, CONTINUE WITH THE VOTE.

THAT'S, THAT'S JUST THE ONE COMMENT I WANTED TO MAKE COUNCIL MEMBER NOW.

UM, THANK YOU.

I JUST WANTED TO USE OUR OWN CITY HALL LANDSCAPING AS A PRIME EXAMPLE.

UM, DAILY ACTS CHANGED OUT THE LANDSCAPING IN FRONT OF THE, UM, EAST WING OF THE CITY HALL INTO, UH, FROM, UH, GRASS THAT HAD DIED DURING THE DROUGHT TO OUR BEAUTIFUL WATER GARDEN, LOW MAINTENANCE, UM, LANDSCAPING.

[02:45:01]

MY GRANDDAUGHTER WAS PLAYING SOCCER ON IT, SO I AM VERY HAPPY THAT THE CITY IS SETTING AN EXAMPLE AND THAT LANDSCAPING TOOK A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS, BUT THEY GOT IT DONE IN LIKE ONE DAY AND IT WAS A BIG AMOUNT OF EFFORT BY A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS.

AND I JUST WANT TO THANK THE CITY BECAUSE WHEN I GOT ELECTED AND SWORN IN, THAT WAS MY BIGGEST COMPLAINT, WAS WHAT CITY HALL LOOKED LIKE.

AND NOW IT'S BEAUTIFUL AND WE'RE LOOKING AT ADDING SOME, UM, COMMEMORATIVE BENCHES AND PICNIC TABLES, AND I SEE STAFF OUT THERE ON THEIR BREAKS WALKING ON THE LITTLE PATH AND THE WATER GARDEN.

I WISH IT WAS MY FRONT YARD.

SO ANYWAY, AND I WILL BE, UH, SUPPORTING THIS ITEM.

POINT, UH, POINT TAKEN HERE.

UM, COUNCIL MEMBER DI CARLY.

SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE TALK A LOT ABOUT THE, THE URBAN CANOPY IN TOWN AND, AND HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS AND HOW THAT HELPS, UM, MAKE PEOPLE FEEL BETTER, PROVIDES MORE SHADE, IT LOWERS THE TEMPERATURE.

AND I, I WOULD SAY ARGUABLY THAT TURF DOES THE SAME THING.

YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S GENERALLY COOLER IN AREAS WHERE THERE'S GREEN GRASS, UH, MAKES PEOPLE HAPPIER.

AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE, I MEAN, WE DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW MUCH WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MAKING NON-FUNCTIONAL TURF, BUT, UM, I THINK THAT WOULD'VE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT TO A LOT OF OUR TOWN.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I ALSO THINK THAT THIS IS GONNA MAKE THINGS HARDER ON BUSINESSES.

AGAIN, I'VE ALREADY MENTIONED IT, BUT THEY HAVE A HARD ENOUGH TIME AS IT IS.

AND I THINK TOO, YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES WHO MAINTAIN THIS LANDSCAPING, AND THOSE ARE PEOPLE THAT CAN'T NECESSARILY AFFORD TO START LOSING CUSTOMERS.

AND, UM, THAT'S, THAT'S GONNA MAKE THINGS A LOT HARDER.

UM, IT WAS MENTIONED, I THINK IT WAS IN PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU KNOW, THAT THIS INCREASES THE FIRE RISK AND YOU KNOW, BECAUSE GREEN LIVING VEGETATION IS MORE FIRE RESISTANT THAN, UH, YOU KNOW, DEAD GRASS, WHICH IS MAYBE WHAT WE'LL SEE A LOT OF IF, IF THIS GOES FORWARD.

AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T, AND IN THE CLIMATE THAT WE'RE IN, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE ROLLING THE DICE ON THAT.

UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK TOO THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS INCREASES THE USE OF HERBICIDES, UM, OR ENCOURAGES IT BECAUSE AGAIN, IF PEOPLE JUST GO TO STRAIGHT NATURAL GRASS AND ALL THE WEEDS THAT COME ALONG WITH IT, PEOPLE ARE GONNA BE SPRAYING MORE HERBICIDES AND YOU'RE GONNA HAVE MORE GLYPHOSATES IN THE SYSTEM.

AND, AND YOU KNOW, LIKE A LOT OF THESE THINGS I'M MENTIONING TO ME SEEM COUNTER TO A LOT OF OUR CLIMATE GOALS.

AND SO THIS, THAT'S ALSO WHY THIS, THIS DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE TO ME BECAUSE I THOUGHT WE HAD THAT CITY POLICY FOR A REASON.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, IF, IF PEOPLE DO WANT TO CONVERT TO DROUGHT RESISTANT LANDSCAPE AND STUFF THAT'S MORE POLLINATOR FRIENDLY, LIKE I'M ALL FOR THAT.

BUT I ALSO BELIEVE IN CHOICE AND, YOU KNOW, IF PEOPLE WANT TO KEEP THEIR LAWNS, BECAUSE EVEN IF IT'S THE SIMPLE FACT THAT THEY ENJOY 'EM AND IT MAKES THEIR PROPERTY LOOK NICER, I THINK, I THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE THAT RIGHT, WHETHER THE STATE SAYS THEY DO OR DON'T.

SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THOSE, THOSE ARE MY MAIN, MY MAIN POINTS TO THIS.

AND SO THAT'S WHY I DON'T, I DON'T SEE MYSELF AS, AS GOING ALONG WITH IT.

UM, YOU KNOW, I I I REALLY THINK IT SHOULD BE PEOPLE'S CHOICES, WHAT THEY DO.

I HAVE A COMMENT, COUNCIL MEMBER DECAR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CATER THOMPSON.

UM, I'VE BEEN THROUGH QUITE A FEW DROUGHTS AND OVER THE YEARS, MORE AND MORE PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN RID OF THEIR LAWNS, BUT THIS DOES NOT AFFECT HOMEOWNERS.

THIS IS LARGE AREAS, BUSINESS PARKS THAT HAVE A LOT OF LAWN THAT NOBODY'S USING, AND IT TAKES A LOT OF WATER.

AND WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR WATER SOURCE BECAUSE WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANT ELSINORE TO HAVE OUR WATER.

AND THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE ILL RIVER.

AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE PROTECT OUR WATER.

IT STAYS HERE IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND IT DOESN'T GO DOWN TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

SO EVERYTHING THAT WE DO TO PROTECT OUR WATER SYSTEM IS VERY IMPORTANT.

AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, HOMEOWNERS ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THIS.

THIS IS LARGE BUSINESS PARKS WITH A LOT OF LAWN THAT IS TAKING UP A VALUABLE RESOURCE, WHICH IS WATER.

AND I'M VERY HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS COUNCIL MEMBER.

CARLY, I DON'T THINK THAT'S REALLY A FAIR CHARACTERIZATION THAT THEY AREN'T BEING USED.

I MEAN, WE DON'T REALLY KNOW THAT.

AND SO I I ALSO THINK TOO, YOU KNOW, SONOMA WATER HAS ASSURED US THAT OUR WATER SUPPLY IS IN REALLY GOOD SHAPE AND WE DON'T HAVE A CONNECTION TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WITH OUR WATER.

SO I'M NOT SURE WHERE THAT COMES FROM EITHER

[02:50:01]

UM, AND, UM, I SEE THIS AS, UM, UM, A, A A GREAT NIGHT TO GET US IN CONFORMANCE WITH THE STATE.

THE STATE HAS DIRECTED A THING AND I, I THINK, UH, WE CAN SEND LETTERS TO OUR, OUR ASSEMBLY MEN'S AND, AND, AND PROTEST IT AND HAVE DIFFERING OPINIONS AND THINGS.

BUT IN TERMS OF STATE LAW, I APPRECIATE THE STAFF PUTTING US IN CONFORMANCE TO STATE LAW.

UM, PERSONALLY, I LIKE THE SOFT TOUCH THAT THE STATE HAS TAKEN ABOUT NOT COMING HEAVY HANDED, BUT SETTING A THING THAT IS REALLY EXACTLY WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER SHRIVES WAS SAYING IS THAT IT'S SETTING THE STAGE FOR THE NEXT, IF YOU SEE IT COMING AND YOU'RE IN A POSITION TO DO THE RIGHT THING, YOU HAVE TIME TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

SO I, I THINK, UM, THE SOFT RUNWAY ON THIS IS WHAT WE WILL NEED FOR FUTURE DROUGHT.

I MEAN, UM, I, UM, I SEE US AS HAVING, UM, WATER CHALLENGES IN THE FUTURE.

I MEAN THERE, THERE, THERE ALWAYS IS.

UM, OUR CLIMATE IS IN A STATE OF FLUX.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE BRINGS FOR US.

SO BEING MORE PREPARED AND BEING MORE, UM, UM, READY FOR THAT IS A GOOD THING.

AND I THINK REGARDING CLIMATE, REGARDING PESTICIDE USE AND THESE OTHER THINGS, I THINK WE HAVE TO FACE OUR PRIVILEGE.

WE LOVE, YOU KNOW, A, A WELL, UM, MANICURED GARDEN THAT'S, UH, MAYBE SUITABLE FOR, UM, CERTAIN HABITATS, BUT NOT FOR OTHER, UH, CLIMATES.

AND WE NEED TO SAY, DOES MY PRIVILEGE, LET ME DO THIS THING? OR IS IT THE RIGHT THING TO DO? UM, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE FUNDAMENTAL, UH, CONCERN I HAVE WITH US HAVING ANY ADDRESS OF REAL CLIMATE, UM, ADDRESSING REAL CLIMATE ISSUES IS THAT WE FEEL THE PRIVILEGE OF, YOU KNOW, UM, DRIVING.

AND SO MAYBE WE DON'T, UM, TAKE A CHANCE TO WEEK WITHOUT DRIVING.

JUST THAT THOSE LITTLE CHALLENGES WE DON'T BECAUSE WE HAVE TOO MUCH PRIVILEGE AND THIS IS A FRIENDLY WAY OF THE STATE GETTING US THERE.

SO, UM, WITH THAT AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBER BARN, LAST COMMENTS.

ONE THING, ONE MORE THING IS THAT IF A, I THINK I HEARD THAT IF A ONE OF THESE TURFS IS USED FOR RECREATION, IF IT IS USED, THEY CAN CERTIFY THAT.

AND SO THEY AREN'T BEING FORCED TO GET RID OF IT.

THEY'RE BEING FORCED TO GET RID OF IT IF THEY ACTUALLY DON'T USE IT FOR ANYTHING SELF CERTIFYING, IT'S ABOUT AS SOFT A THING AS YOU CAN GET.

IT'S ABOUT AS SOFT AS IT GETS.

WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH ALL PROPERTY OWNERS AND TENANTS AND ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS DESCRIBE THEIR USE CASE AND THAT'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO DETERMINE IF ENTITY OR NOT.

WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND AND I'D LIKE TO GO TO THE ROLL CALL.

WE REAL WE'LL REAL QUICK.

I MEAN, HOW, HOW DO WE DETERMINE THAT THOUGH? WHAT ARE THE BALANCE AROUND? IT WANTS TO BE WORKED OUT IN THE PROGRAM SIDE OF THIS, BUT NOW WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW.

WE DON'T.

IT'S THE STATE.

YEAH, WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE.

THEY'RE THE ONES WHO ARE CARRYING IT OUT.

WE'RE NOT CARRYING ANYTHING OUT.

WE DON'T DETERMINE THAT THAT'S THE STATE.

AS NOTED, THEY'VE NOT YET EVEN PUBLISHED A FORM FOR US TO WORK WITH.

THERE'S A LOT DOWN THE ROAD ON THIS IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES.

I KNOW I HAVE A VOTE ON IT THEN.

SO, UM, YOU MAY ABSTAIN AGAIN, UH, IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHY WE'RE VOTING ON IT, BUT I'D LIKE THE CLERK TO, UM, SINCE WE HAVE MOTION AND SECOND TO MOVE TO ROLL CALL VOTE BARNICLE.

MOTION CARRIES WITH SIX YESES AND ONE NO TO CARLY.

AND THAT'S OUR LAST ITEM, MR. MAYOR, I'M SORRY, JUST VERY, VERY QUICKLY, UM, WE'VE BEEN DOING SOME BACKGROUND WORK, UM, REGARDING THE COUNCIL'S QUESTIONS ABOUT BOND ABILITY FOR MEASURE H AND WE, WE CAN'T ANSWER DEFINITIVELY WHETHER, WHETHER THE REVENUE STREAM MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT BE BONDABLE, WHAT WE CAN SAY DEFINITIVELY, BECAUSE WE, WE DID PULL UP THE BALLOT MATERIALS AND ALSO RECEIVE CONFIRMATION FROM THE COUNTY.

THE, THE MEASURE IS SILENT ON BOND ABILITY, UNLIKE THE, THE, THE FIRE PREVENTION MEASURE, WHICH EXPRESSLY ALLOWS IT.

SO WE'D, WE'D HAVE TO RESEARCH THAT, THAT QUESTION.

UM, BUT WE CAN SAY DEFINITIVELY THAT THE MEASURES SILENT ON IT, UNLIKE MEASURE H, WHICH EXPRESSLY AUTHORIZED IT.

'CAUSE I DON'T DISAGREE ONE BIT.

UM, SURE.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER DICARLO, YOU WANT TO, UH, RESPOND TO THE CITY ATTORNEY? UH, YEAH, UH, THANKS FOR CONTINUING TO LOOK AT THAT, ERIC.

I APPRECIATE IT.

UM, BECAUSE IT'S NOT MENTIONED, IS IT, I KNOW YOU CAN'T SAY DEFINITIVELY, BUT IS IT MORE LIKELY THE CASE THAT IT COULDN'T BE BONDED, DID YOU SAY? I'M SORRY? DID YOU SAY IT COULD BE OR COULDN'T BE? I DIDN'T MEAN THAT IT COULD NOT BE BECAUSE IT'S NOT EXPRESSLY WRITTEN IN THERE.

IT'S, I I CAN'T SAY BECAUSE I MEAN, WE JUST HEARD SOME VERY GOOD ARGUMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL AND SOME FROM STAFF ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE HOME, HOME RULE POWER AND PROTECTING IT AND THE IMPORTANCE OF LOCAL CONTROL.

AND THAT'S WHY I'M GLAD WE'RE SO ACTIVE IN THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES BECAUSE THAT'S ITS FOCUS.

[02:55:01]

I I THINK WE SHOULD BE JEALOUS OF THAT AUTHORITY AND OUR CONSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURE IS MEANT TO PRESERVE IT.

UM, BUT YOU KNOW, SO WE DO, WE HAVE EXERCISED OUR HOME RULE POWER TO, TO LEGISLATE ADDITIONAL BONDING AUTHORITY THAT GENERAL LOST CITIES DON'T AND CAN'T.

UM, SO I DON'T KNOW.

I, MY GUESS FOR TONIGHT IS THAT, UM, I THINK IT'S PROBABLY MORE ATTRACTIVE TO THE BOND MARKET WHEN THERE'S AN EXPRESS AUTHORIZATION TO BOND AND WHETHER WE COULD DO IT JUST AS SUCCESSFULLY WITHOUT IT BE ANOTHER QUESTION, I GUESS MAYBE THE MOST IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, CONSIDERATION IN ALL THIS THOUGH IS IT'S CERTAINLY THE CASE THAT WE CANNOT BOND ANY REVENUE STREAM UNLESS AND UNTIL THE COUNCIL DECIDES TO DO IT.

AND IF THEY DON'T DECIDE THAT, THEN WE WON'T EVEN BE EMBARKING ON THAT QUESTION.

SO THANK YOU.

I FINALLY JUST WANNA ADD THAT, UM, AND MAYOR YOU MENTION THIS IS MEASURE M IS PRETTY MUCH IN EVERY, IS INVESTED IN EVERY LITTLE THING THAT WE DO IN PARKS AND REC, OUR PROGRAMMING, OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, OUR OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE.

SO I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO BE ABLE TO ISOLATE THAT KIND OF MONEY AND BONDING, UM, THAT WOULD MAKE THAT MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.

WELL THAT, I MEAN, I KNOW THAT'S NOT DEFINITIVE, BUT THAT REASSURES ME MORE THAT IT WOULD BE THE CASE THAT IT COULDN'T BE USED THAT WAY.

SO I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN REOPEN IT.

I MEAN, I WOULD BE WILLING TO CHANGE MY VOTE.

NO A MEETING'S OVER , BUT, UH, IT'S, IT'S, UH, HELPFUL THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET TO A CONCLUSION ON THAT AND, UH, AND GET YOUR CONCERNS MORE ADDRESSED.

AND WITH THAT, THAT ADJOURNS OUR MEETING FROM THE NIGHT.