Politics & Government

Tuesday's City Council Meeting Centers Around Future of Redevelopment

Council will also hear upgrades on streets in concurrence with ADA requirements and appoint citizens to city boards and commissions. Stay tuned at 5 p.m. for our live blog.

Approaching a Feb. 1 deadline, the redevelopment agency at tonight's City Council meeting will take the final steps needed to dissolve the agency — which since it's creation in 1987 has allocated funding from property tax dollars to combat blight, fund affordable housing projects and develop projects within the redevelopment boundary.

The agreed to serve as the redevelopment agency's successor agency, which is charged with paying outstanding bills and turning the agency over to the county.

Gov. Jerry Brown started aboloshing the 400-plus redevelopment agencies last January amid a ballooning state budget deficit, citing a need to keep funding for local schools and public safety.

Find out what's happening in Rohnert Park-Cotatiwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

gives money annually to , including Sonoma County Adult and Youth Development, or SCAYD, Rebuilding Together and the Committee on the Shelterless. In addition, the City Council has inititated plans for further economic development in Rohnert Park and to help fund development activities.

Stay tuned for a in-depth report following Tuesday night's council meeting.

Find out what's happening in Rohnert Park-Cotatiwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The council tonight is also expected to adopt a plan to upgrade sidewalks ramps in Rohnert Park to make them ADA accessible.

The pricetag — nearly $74,000 — is being paid for by the county's redevelopment agency. A portion of the city's gas tax payments would be used to fund the remainder. The project, which includes installing 30 ramps citywide, would be undertaken this summer. Streets slated for upgrade include Adrian and Enterprise drives, State Farm Drive, Commerce Boulevard and East Cotat Avenue.

The council will also appoint commissioners and citizen liasons to boards and commissions in Rohnert Park, including the Parks and Recreation Commission. We'll be following up tonight.

Stay tuned for our live blog starting at 5 p.m. — we'll bring you a play-by-play of the City Council's actions and votes, as we do every meeting.

Included in tonight's agenda is the reported spending for each councilmember. Here's what they spent:

  • Vice Mayor Pam Stafford: $285.02 for Chamber of Commerce events, travel expenses for a meeting with the League of California Cities, Spirit of Sonoma lunch and meetings with the Association of Bay Area Governments.
  • Mayor Jake Mackenzie: $215.90 for mayors, councilmembers meetings, an annual conference in Berkeley and a Chamber of Commerce event.
  • Councilwoman Gina Belforte: $310.90 for an annual conference in Berkeley, Sonoma County Economic Development meeting and Chamber of Commerce events.
  • Councilman Amy Ahanotu: $40 for mayors and councilmembers meetings.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here