Sunday, December 27, 2015

S.R. Downtown Square Revitalization Presentation - August 2015

This is a presentation given by a group of Santa Rosa business leaders to a City Council Subcommittee in August of 2015 concerning the reunification and revitalization of the city's downtown square.

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Roseland Area Projects Steering Committee Notice from City

Roseland Area Projects Steering Committee Members,

I am pleased to announce that the next Steering Committee meeting and Community Workshop have been scheduled!  Please mark your calendars…and note our new location! 

Steering Committee Meeting 4: 

                Where:                 Roseland Village Neighborhood Center
777 Sebastopol Road

                When:                  Thursday, January 21, 2016
                                                5:30 p.m. social/food
                                                6 p.m. – 8 p.m. meeting

Topic:                    Help us plan for Community Workshop 4

Your attendance is important!  Please respond to this email with a YES or NO in the subject line to indicate whether you will be attending the January 21st meeting.

We need to ensure that a quorum of the Steering Committee members are in attendance (51%), so it is imperative that you respond to this email by January 7, 2016. 

Community Workshop 3:

                Where:                 Roseland Village Neighborhood Center
777 Sebastopol Road

                When:                  Thursday, February 18, 2016
                                                6:00-8:00 p.m. Open House (please stop by any time during these hours)

                Topic:                    Share ideas on potential policy topics (action items) of the Specific Plan.  Get a preview of the draft land use and circulation plan that was prepared based on community input.  Learn about and provide input on the potential annexation.

Please note:  Similar to Community Workshop 3, this workshop will be an open house format, and you are welcome to stop by anytime between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.  There will not be a formal presentation; however, there will be several activities in which we are hoping to gather feedback from the community.

Food and childcare (for children 3 years and up) will be provided, and the workshop will be conducted in both English and Spanish. 

We are asking that all Steering Committee members commit to bringing two people from the community to the workshop.  We are finalizing the flyer for the workshop, and I will send it out as soon as it is ready. 

We are also looking for volunteers to help at the welcome table at the Community Workshop.  We are looking for four volunteers to fill 30 minute time slots, which will allow time before or after for you to participate in the workshop itself.  Please let me know if you are able to help.

Thank you.  We look forward to seeing you all on January 21st.

Jessica

Jessica Jones | Senior Planner
Planning & Economic Development |100 Santa Rosa Avenue, Room 3 | Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Tel. (707) 543-3410 | Fax (707) 543-3269 | jjones@srcity.org


Saturday, December 12, 2015

Santa Rosa Medical Marijuana Cultivation Zoning Code Ordinance, Dec 1st

Greetings!

This is a video of a discussion about the need for Santa Rosa to adopt a new zoning code ordinance by March 1, 2016 in order to retain regulatory authority over the cultivation of marijuana for medical use in the city limits.


Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Affordable Housing Study Session Discussion #2, Santa Rosa City Council

Greetings!


This is a video of a study session discussion on affordable housing development at the Santa Rosa City Council.

Affordable Housing Study Session Discussion #1, Santa Rosa City Council

Greetings!

This is a video of the first study session discussion at the October 20th, 2015 Santa Rosa City Council meeting.

Homeless Services, City Council Discussion

Greetings!

This is a video of a discussion at the Santa Rosa City Council concerning buying a mobile shower to provide for the City's homeless.  In the discussion, th City's homeless services provider explains other services it delivers.

Monday, December 7, 2015

Santa Rosa Downtown Square Reunification, City Council Discussion

Greetings!

For those who missed the conversation concerning reunifying the downtown square in Santa Rosa at the City Council Meeting.


Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Veteran's Day, Nov 11th, 2015

Greetings!

Today, a gathering of politicians, veterans, and other Santa Rosans met at the front steps of the City Hall to honor those who served our country in the many wars fought by the United States.  State Senator Mark McGuire, County Supervisor Shirley Zane, and Mayor John Sawyer spoke briefly to relate what the day meant to each of them, and to preside over the memorials to Santa Rosa's veterans.

Here is a link to a photo album of the ceremony.

Saturday, March 21, 2015

Smart Train - Jennings Ave Crossing Discussion, City Council, March 17th, 2015

Greetings!

On March 17th 2015, the Santa Rosa City Council was asked to address the issues surrounding the impending introduction of the SMART Train across Jennings Ave.



Thursday, March 19, 2015

Proclamation, City Council Meeting, Tuesday, March 17th, 2015

Greetings!

On March 17th, The City presented a proclamation to Kevin Jorgeson:

Thursday, February 12, 2015

City Engagement News

Greetings!

In our efforts to educate residents of Santa Rosa about the workings of local government, I want to announce a new feature of the blog.

As many of you know, the City's website allows us to view the Council in action, either live or by viewing the videotape later.  Those who follow the workings of the Council have often agreed that some presentations and announcements ought to be seen by more than just the regular council watchers.  Information is presented about the City's services, about the people who make the City special, and about issues which the Council seeks widespread community feedback.

So we are going to periodically create a post called "Council Video News".

If you have some time to learn about your City, here are the first presentations which seem to qualify.  The link will take you to the city's video viewer, and begin at the point where the presentation begins.  It won't end until you end it yourself, but feel free to continue watching and learning.


S.R. Affordable Housing Study Session, Oct 20, 2015
Santa Rosa Homeless Services
Downtown Square Reunification
Proclamations: 2015 Chinese New Year - Year of the Ram, Black History Month
Council Member and Mayor Appointments
Award of Community Advisory Board 2014-15 Community Improvement Grants



Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Roseland Map - Annexation and Area Specific Plan

Greetings!

This Google Map contains the boundaries of the proposed Santa Rosa Roseland Area Specific Plan, and those of the areas being considered for the Roseland Annexation.  Check back frequently, as it will also be used to display many other key Roseland resources to be considered in the annexation process.  It can be found in its entirety by clicking on: Roseland Map


Tuesday, January 27, 2015

S.Rosa City Council Goals and Objectives Report

Greetings!

Here are the outcomes for Santa Rosa City Council Goals and Objectives contained in a report to the Council at today's meeting.  I'll be working in the next few days to link to additional explanatory materials:

Goal 1:  (Video, Pdf) Adopted the CEQA report and selected project for Courthouse Square unification;
(Map Location and drawings) Closed escrow for Museum on the Square;
(pdf) Completed workplan and cost estimate to remove uncertainties in land use regulations.
Goal 2:  (example trainings) Continue to invest in employees by providing training programs and mentoring opportunities.
Goal 3: (pdf) Completed workplan and budget to establish the City as a leader in resource recovery;
(pdf) updated Citywide Creek Master Plan
(video, photos, pdf) Completed construction on Phase 1 of Lower Colgan Creek Restoration Project.
Goal 4: (pdf, video of meeting) Continue to develop a strategy for future planning activities for Southeast Greenway.
Goal 5: (pdf, video of meeting) Roseland Annexation workplan and cost estimate completed;
(pdf, video link) Presented Mayor’s Gang Prevention Task Force Annual Report
(pdf of logo) Introduced new name and logo;
(photo, video) Winter shelter approved.
Goal 6: Restored a Community Outreach position to Neighborhood Revitalization Program;
(video) Conducted study session on expanded Smoking Ordinance;

( pdf, profile) Allocated budget for full time Code Enforcement Officer.

Monday, January 19, 2015

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Greetings!

Following up on Santa Rosa's recent receipt of their Open Government Task Force recommendations concerning Brown Act compliance and community partnerships, I will be developing some ideas in the following three areas:

Open Data:  City-Community collaboration to provide access to content concerning our city.

Citizen University: Self-paced learning on Santa Rosa community issues.

Communication Plus: Expanded opportunities for broad-based discussions.

On January 27th, the City Council will be soliciting community comments on how best to use its resources to implement the task force recommendations.  Posts on this blog will hopefully help all of us follow that conversation and decision-making.

The Council will also hear their staff and consultant reports on Roseland Annexation, and solicit comments from its residents concerning its budget priority.  We'll also be following those conversations.




Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Upgrading the S.R. Neighborhood Public Notice Map

Greetings!

Our handy neighborhood public notice map is being improved.  Up to now, public notices have been added to the map as they were added to the City's website.  Usually, the life of a public notice for a specific step along the approval process (temporary use permits at the CDA office, design review application approvals and appeal with the Zoning Administrator, project approvals at the Planning Commission or City Council) is a very short time at each step.  One the notice expired, we took it off the map.

But if the map is to be useful, we should be following the progress of the property or issue.  So we're slightly modifying the way that information is added and displayed.  Chronologically, items will be added to the map (it can hold 2,000 at a time), and each placemark will contain up to 10 links to urls holding information on the item.  That way, anyone can view a large variety of sequential staff reports, blog entries, and social network commentaries.  It will begin to provide a more detailed historical look at our city's proposed changes to its properties and infrastructure.

We're doing it because we believe that earlier and more comprehensive information will improve the possibilities for collaboration within our community.

Let us know what you think of the map as it develops by commenting on this post, or sending me an email (Gregory Fearon).

Friday, January 9, 2015

More Views of Santa Rosa's History

Greetings!

Here are some videos produced by Santa Rosa's citizens in the past:

Santa Rosa, The Hidden City, Part 1, produced by the Cultural Heritage Board

Santa Rosa, The Hidden City, Part 2, produced by the Cultural Heritage Board

Historic Homes of Santa Rosa, produced by Robyn Kasper

Day Tripping, My Town, Santa Rosa, California, by Rosie O'Kelly

Things to Do in Santa Rosa, by Visit Santa Rosa

Location Santa Rosa, produced by Robyn Kasper

The October 1969 Earthquake, Santa Rosa, CA, produced by John Paul Lindsay

Santa Rosa, California, by Superendorsement

Peggy Sue's Cruise, Santa Rosa, 2007, produced by cjhudson87

1906 Santa Rosa Earthquake, Part 1, produced by ShooterDirector

1906 Santa Rosa Earthquake, Part 2, by ShooterDirector

Touring, produced by Downtown Santa Rosa

Where Wine Country meets Beer City, produced by Downtown Santa Rosa

Santa Rosa - The City Designed for Living, produced by Downtown Santa Rosa

Santa Rosa Gang Task Force 2011, produced by the City of Santa Rosa

Nuestra Familia, Santa Rosa Gangland Norte 14 Nortenos, produced by dailiplanet95

Santa Rosa CA Police Chase (after crash), produced by Jordan Manning

Chrome Lotus Fight Santa Rosa, produced by Bihisi Record

Santa Rosa CA Car Meet Limbo 2014, produced by Arti Diaz





Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Learning about Our City

Greetings!

On April 10th of 1906, Santa Rosa experienced an earthquake which is better known as the Great San Francisco earthquake.  This map shows what happened to our city.



We're all probably familiar with the train tracks which are still there on the west side of town, which are currently being restored for our Smart Train.  But did you know that several other tracks existed in town at the time?  

A street that I often drive was originally the tracks of the Santa Rosa's Steam Railroad.  Looking at North Street, between 13th street and 17th Street (Now Pacific Ave), I understand why the Bekins Storage properties have no structures, and why the street is so wide between there and Pacific.  It was the northern end of the route, and the tracks split into several parallel lines to store the locomotives a night.  

I also see that there was a horse trolley from the Horse track at the Fairgrounds which followed Pressley Street out to Petaluma Hill Road, then north on Santa Rosa Ave to around Courthouse Square, north on Humboldt Street to Carr Ave, and then east to the City Cemetery.

There was also an electric trolley which ran from the present intersection of College and 4th Street out 4th to Railroad Square, then south on Railroad Ave (now Wilson Street) and Railroad and Olive Streets to Sebastopol Ave, and then east toward Sebastopol.

The map also details the blocks and buildings which were impacted by the earthquake, and the fire which followed.  

Much thanks to Mike Hargreaves, staff member of the City's Information Technology Department, for developing this historical map in February of 2006.