Greetings!
The monthly meeting of the Santa Rosa City Council Downtown Subcommittee is always a good place to gain some insight into what the City is up to. The most powerful group in the City is the downtown business owners, and their Downtown Business District executives have gotten a subcommittee of the Council to meet with them once a month to hear the various departmental staff to deliver reports on what they are doing for the downtown.
Today's meeting included reports from:
Economic Development - Staff reported on a number of activities: bollards on the north and south end of the plaza are coming in three weeks, no street closings until the restaurants can open more robustly, planning is occurring on a "seasonal ice rink", frustration is still continuing over the grass in the infield of the plaza (artificial grass is being suggested), businesses are alarmed at the potential impact of more homeless as the weather heats up in the square, and more art is being organized and cleaned up at the garages, Julliard Park, and the Fish Sculpture.
Public Safety - Staff reported that vandalism in Railroad Square (broken windows and spraypaint) is being addressed, Street Plus teams are working the homeless community (only marginally successful), and that mental health and addiction services are needed to make shelters and other interventions more effective. Jack Tibbetts asked why those they were contacting were reluctant to go into the shelters. Staff reported that a significant portion preferred the more private and outdoor placements like what was operated at Finley Park. Staff also reported that they will be posting eviction notices under the 101 freeway next week, and acting on the notices the following week.
Transportation & Public Works - Staff reported that the cleanup of the Prince Memorial Greenway was almost complete, resulting in the removal of hundred of tons of waste, graffiti, and burnt-out culverts and storm drains. John Sawyer asked if the installation of closed circuit cameras was being considered, and staff said they feared that repair costs would exceed value.
Parking District - Staff reported that the fee waivers for parking (free on weekends, evenings, and overnights) was costing the City, and that the policy would expire either when the County moves to the next least restrictive color, or June 30th, whichever comes first. Staff would be approaching the Board soon to ask that the end date be June 30th, and that the City explore using some federal CARES Act funding to backfill the current losses.
Events Planning - Staff reported that event permitting was suspended, and that they were making sure that those in the waiting room for new event permitting knew that the staff needed at least 30 days to process any new permits.
Paul Schwartz asked in public comment if shade trees could be added to the plaza, and how he could obtain information about the downtown public properties the City wanted to sell.
