Tuesday's City Council Meeting: Labor Negotiations End, Redevelopment in Limbo, Citywide Traffic Report

5 p.m. Jim Gattis, the executive director of Sonoma County Youth and Development, or SCAYD, presents a summary of the nonprofit's Summer Youth Ecology Corps program — a partnership between SCAYD and the Sonoma County Water Agency that employs area at-risk youth. 

Gattis said the program countywide drew 200 kids, 25 from Rohnert Park. . 

5:15: Cordel Stillman from the Sonoma County Water Agency says Sonoma County is studying Community Choice Aggregation — an alternative energy program that would be run by the county. 

Stillman said Community Choice Aggregation could be cheaper, create more energy sources for consumers and be more environmentally sustainable.

He said customers would be given a chance to opt out. A similar model, adopted in Marin, had a 20 percent opt-out rate by local residents, he said. Stillman said the water agency is on track to have a draft proposal for the plan by Aug. 31.

5:25: Sgt. Jason Strauss presents the Department of Public Safety's biannual traffic collision analysis. 

Strauss reported there were 140 traffic collisions so far in 2011. In 2010, the department reported 189 total, 183 in 2009 and 210 in 2008.

Three of the primary causes of the traffic accidents were speeding, unsafe turns and driving under the influence, Strauss said.

Strauss also said there were 628 tickets written so far this year for moving violations. The breakdown is: 202 tickets written for speeding, 143 for talking or texting while driving, 177 for stop sign violations, 65 for drivers failing to obey signs, 38 for unsafe turns, 25 for people driving without a license and eight for driving without lights at night.

5:30: Spreckels Performing Arts Center is making $6,000 annually from renting out facilities, according to a report from Gene Abravaya, the managing director for the theater.

5:35: Guy Miller, the city's community services manager, says this Sunday's Arts and Music Festival is expected to draw between 2,000 and 4,000 people. The first annual event begins at 11 a.m. and lasts till 7 p.m. The festival, held at the Community Center, will feature arts and crafts for sale, beer and wine, local food, free outdoor live music and a kids play area. The event is free and open to the public. Miller said parking will likely be tough.

"We encourage people to come out, listen to some great music," Miller said.

"These are things we should be doing," said councilmember Amy Ahanotu. "Bringing people from outside Rohnert Park — it goes to show what happens when people start to think outside of the box."

5:50: We have concluded all our labor negotiations, said City Manager Gabe Gonzalez. 

The City Council voted 3-0 (Vice Mayor Jake Mackenzie and councilmember Joe Callinan were absent) to approve and adopt labor agreements with the Rohnert Park Employees' Association and the Service Employees International Union Local 1021.

Mayor Gina Belforte, councilmember Pam Stafford and Ahanotu all thanked the unions and acknowledged that it hasn't been easy.

"I do apprciate all the effort everyone put in to this contract," Ahanotu said.

"I know it stings," Belforte said. "I know it has not been an easy time." 

6 p.m. Linda Babonis, the city's housing and redevelopment manager, reports that the city's redevelopment agency, here called the Community Development Commission, is in limbo pending legislation that would clarify whether or not cities are required to pay a lump sum to the state to keep agencies in tact. Cities could also choose to dissolve their respective agencies.

The Rohnert Park City Council has said publicly that they want to keep the redevelopment agency. But, the city Aug. 12 to the Department of Finance, appealing the first-time payment the state says Rohnert Park owes.

The council therefore, while the status of redevelopment agencies statewide are in a holding pattern, voted unanimously to adopt a payment schedule that would continue to pay for the city's current .

6:13: Council meeting adjourned.