Live Blog From April 26 City Council Meeting: Council OK's Tobacco Store, City Nonprofit, Agrees to Study "Downtown" SMART Station

5 p.m. City Council meeting begins. About 20 people are present at Council chambers.

5:05: Mayor Gina Belforte issues a proclamation for the Rancho Cotate Cougars Varsity Wrestling Team for their "outstanding 2010 wrestling season." The Cougars took the North Bay League championship. Belforte also recognizes the first week of may as "Affordable Housing Week," the entire month of May as "National Building Safety Month," and May 12 as Bike to Work Day.

5:16: Chief Brian Masterson presents a report that a group of anonymous police officers took on a project to fix the Copeland Creek bridge. The group of about 25 police officers are interested in other projects, including another bridge behind Evergreen Elementary that needs to be fixed. 

Masterson reports that last night's "" fundraiser at Applebee's raised a few thousand dollars for Special Olympics. 

5:25: Finance Director Sandy Lipitz begins the third quarter budget update. Revenues went from $19.8 million in 2010 to $19.7 in 2011, Lipitz reports — $1.6 million of the revenues in 2011 are from Measure E.

Lipitz says that property taxes are not keeping up with budget estimates this year, but sales taxes are doing well citywide. Lipitz said Rohnert Park could be $400,000 over sales tax budget estimates by the year's end.

5:35: Liptiz reports that the Community Center, the Senior Center, city swimming polls and the Spreckels Performing Arts Center are all losing money this year. The sports center is the only recreation facility making moey. Total we budget to lose $286,266 and we've actually lost $271, 204, Liptiz reports.

But the numbers in reality are much worse. Director of Public Works John McArthur says the city's structures are crumbling and have been in need of repairs for many years.

5:40: Lipitz reports so far city revenues were projected to be $15.7 million and they were actually $15.9 million, but about $63,000 of that was from the Southeast Specific Plan — a one-time payment, she says. The city would have been under budget without the Southeast Specific Plan monies.

"It's just a reflection of what's happening in the economy," said City Manager Gabe Gonzalez. "There's still a lot of work to be done."

Lipitz reports that projected expenditures this year were $21.4 million, and they actually came in at $20.1 million.

The total projected budget deficit for 2011 is $1,041,123, Lipitz says. That's not including deferred maintenance, however.

5:45: So, Lipitz reports that the city's budget deficit went from from $2.4 million this year to $1 million for 2011.

Gonzalez said it'll likely be 10 years before the city is fiscally solvent.

Some of the 2011 goals include developing a strategic plan for Rohnert Park, and setting up a fund for the city's unfunded retiree medical liabilities.

6:03: Cathy Slack from Maverick Media reports that the Friday night Farmers Market will this year will last 18 weeks instead of six.

6:05: The City Council approved an official opposition to a possible realignment from Gov. Jerry Brown to shift adult parolee programs from the state to the city level. 

Belforte said with 225 parolees in Rohnert Park, the city faces an obligation of paying about $5.5 million a year.

"My concern is here we are looking at a budget and we don’t know if the state is going to grant us any money, so is this supposed to comeout of our general fund?" Belforte asked.

Masterson said no decisions have been made yet.

6:11: Planning and Building Manager Marilyn Ponton presents an appeal by Tareq Alrehani to open up a tobacco store at Raley's Town Centre.

The Planning Commission last month. 

The project is consistent with chapter 8.32 of the Rohnert Park Municipal Code, Ponton states. It would meet gross revenue requirements, it would primarily sell tobacco, tobacco products and tobacco paraphernalia, it would prohibits people under 18 and wouldn't sell food. Alrehani would also be required to post a sign prohibiting people under 18.

Our code says this use is a conditionally permitted use, Ponton said. 

6:20: Ponton said the council has three options: grant the appeal and approve the project, affirm the decision to deny the project or modify the decision and impose new conditions.

6:24: Alrehani said he'd like to answer any questions the council has.

Kirstie Moore, from Codding Enterprises, which owns Raley's Towne Centre, said Alrehani is a "local business man who is just trying to make a living." He's owned a similar business in Sebastopol for six years, she said. 

The council voted 4-1 to grant the appeal without any modifications to the conditional use permit. Vice Mayor Jake Mackenzie voted against it only because he said he wanted the business owner to have no tobacco-related signage in the windows.

I don't want to have anyone saying I'm against business, Mackenzie said.

6:43: "I would like to thank you all for your time tonight," Alrehani said. 

6:47: Lipitz introduces proposal for a new electronic freeway sign to replace the current Spreckels sign that currently stands alongside Highway 101.

N2 Holdings, the Petaluma-based firm that bid on building the new sign, would assume all the costs associated with running, maintaining and selling ads on the new sign, Lipitz said. N2 Holdings would also be required to take down the current sign.

The sign would be replaced within six months, and would raise $6,000 a month for the city, based on projected revenues, Lipitz reports.

A public speaker said he was going to sue the city if the council approves the project.

"The accident rate doubles for billboards on the road," he said. "This is a dangerous thing you're doing — you have to understand, they're in the business of distracting people."

6:58: As we've reduced our staff, I think this is a great way to provide city services and not take up staff time, said councilmember Pam Stafford. 

"I am totally in favor of this," Stafford said.

I am curious as to whether under this lease agreement the city could insert their own messages, or are we control messages on the sign, Mackenzie asked.

The council will not be permitted to regulate the content, because that is a First Amendment issue, said City Attorney Michelle Kenyon.

7:06: But 10 percent of the sign advertising time is dedicated to city messages, according to the proposal.

7:12: Council OK's the sign and awards the bid to N2 Holdings 5-0.

7:27: John Dunn, assistant interim city manager, outlines the proposal for designating a Rohnert Park 501(c)3 called the City of Rohnert Park Foundation.

Dunn said the nonprofit would be designed to enhance sports, youth, recreational and cultural programs in Rohnert Park. It would allow fundraisers to pay for some city services and arts, music and cultural events.

I think this is a great idea — it gives people an opportunity to contribute to the community and have dedicated funds go where they want them to, Stafford says.

7:30: I think this is something we need as we go ahead with the condition of our funds, hopefully the community will come together and help cover some of the expenses, said councilmember Amy Ahanotu.

7:36: The foundation's finances would be a matter of public record, available through city records, Dunn said. It would be managed by city officials, the city manager and community volunteers who would serve in advisory roles.

7:38: "I think it’s a great way to donate to the city," said councilmember Joe Callinan. "I think it’s great."

7:45: Council voted in favor of the foundation 5-0.

7:49: Darrin Jenkins, the city's director of development services, presents a feasibility study of an alternative SMART station in Rohnert Park.

The station site at Rohnert Park Expressway appears feasiblie if the city owned property ... is available for the station site, Jenkins said.

8:03: "I like this site much better," Stafford said. "How would we pay for this?"

"I support the alternative at this point," Ahanotu said. "We should move ahead and get a better idea of what the cost to the city would be."

Do we have any idea what's going on with State Farm? Callinan asked.

Other than sell it as a development project as is, no, Gonzalez said.

So we're kind of taking a gamble if we move the station? Callinan said.

Jenkins said the additional housing could be a big boost for the area — there are 2,000 at the Rohnert Park Expressway site and 800 housing units at north end site. 

"By moving it, it would be a better origin and a better destination," Jenkins said.

I don't think the benefits outweigh what we're going to get for it, Callinan said. Callinan raised concerns about the costs. 

We're in contract negotiations with our public employees right now, and we're asking them to make cuts, and we asked the residents for a half-cent sales tax —how's it going to look if we spend millions of dollars on this? Callinan asked.

8:16: "I would submit that at this time by requesting a station location we are not committing the city of Rohnert Park to finite amonts of money ... we have an opportuntiy to talk amongst ourselves, we're in part of a process," Mackenzie said.

It would be beneficial to relocate the site to RPX," Mackenzie said.

"I find it very intriguing ... let's continue to have a conversation with SMART ... I don't see anywhere where that's going to cost us a couple million dollars," Belforte said.

"I very much support that station site on Rohnert Park Expressway," Belforte said.

The city OK's a deal 4-0 to further study the costs of the Rohnert Park Expressway site with SMART. Callinan voted against it.

8:30: Dunn presents a report on the Facade Improvement and Commercial Rehabilitation Loan Program. It would fund low interest rate loans for developers who want to redevelop blighted or underused areas in Rohnert Park.

Basically the idea of this program is to have faster turnover, Dunn said.

"This is to dress up and make more attractive or commercial areas in Rohnert Park," Dunn said.

The city would work with the program with the Sonoma County Community Development Commission, and Dunn said the council will see a contract this summer. 

We have always said that Rohnert Park is a business friendly city, and I'm glad we're standing behind what we say, Ahanotu said.

8:39: "This is a step in the right direction that will put us on the map," Ahanotu said.

"I think it's a great program ... we're trying to be business friendly and I think this is a step in the right direction," Callinan said.

I think this is an affordable way for people to clean up those facades and bring more business into Rohnert Park, Belforte said.

Mackenzie reports that a feasibility study is underway for a Sonoma County Community Choice Aggregation energy plan.

9 p.m. Meeting recesses to closed session.