Live Blog From Tuesday, August 9 City Council Meeting

5 p.m. Mayor Gina Belforte presents a proclamation to honor and pay tribute to Art Condiotti (1921-2011) as "one of the most prominent builders in the North Coast."

5:010: Mark Sandler, a program manager from the Regional Climate Protection Authority, reports on a program aimed at upgrading 250 houses (in D Section and some in Santa Rosa) to make them more energy efficient. 

The program, funded largely by federal funding and in part by the city of Rohnert Park, uses rebates, incentives and financing to make homes in D Section more energy efficient. The idea is to use a contractor from the authority and upgrade a home, and implement those changes in other area houses that are similar.

We chose D Section in Rohnert Park because it had building and demographic characteristics that fit in with the program, Sandler said.

Vice Mayor Jake Mackenzie, also chair of the climate protection authorithy, said the program "is one aspect of what we're trying to do to reduce energy consumption and reduce cost savings to individual residents."

"It's one of these things when we're actually starting to see something happen," Mackenzie added.

5:25: City Council unanimously ratified the labor agreement with the Rohnert Park Public Safety Officers Association. 

"It has not been easy" councilmember Amy Ahanotu said.

"THis is a historic moment in Rohnert Park," Mackenzie said. 

"I'm mindful of the fact that it's going to be difficult for some people," Mayor Gina Belforte said. 

5:30: City Manager Gabe Gonzalez presents the proposal to donate $5,000 — half of which would be paid back in fundraising — for the Rohnert Park for the city's 50th celebration scheduled for Sept. 15, 2012. Half of it would be for the event, half to reserve Wonderbread 5.

"We have been working on this since October of last," said Robin Miller, on the committee. 

Wonderbread 5 came for the Windsor Town Green recently, Miller said, and the event drew 10,000 people. 

"I think this is a very reasonable request," councilmember Pam Stafford said. 

"It's a worthwhile expenditure," Ahanotu said. "I fully support what you're doing."

Callinan said he supports the event.

"Fifty years is a big celebration for the city," he said.

"It is totally appropriate," Mackenzie said. "We should play a role in this celebration."

5:40: Council unanimously passes agreement to donate $2,500 to reserve Wonderbread 5.

5:45: Stafford said she asked 25 people if the City Council should do anything to commemorate the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 and all of them said they don't think it's a good idea.

I talked to some people also, Ahanotu said. He said he didn't want the event to get misconstrued by the public.

"I agree," Callinan said.

The council said instead they would dedicate a City Council meeting to honor those who died on Sept. 13.

6 p.m. We would like to be able to sit down with our new superintendent, Robert Haley, to talk about what's going on in the community, Stafford said.

Mackenzie said it's important to start sounding out and working with the school district.

"As economic development becomes more and more important to us, we've got to have the school district be attractive to people ... and have it help relocate people here."

6:05 p.m. Police Chief Brian Masterson announces today the Public Safety Department promoted three officers. 

6:10 p.m. Council recesses to close session to discuss ongoing litigation regarding Pacific Sanitation vs. the city of Rohnert Park.