Politics & Government

City Council: Public Art Coming, New Speed Limits, Update on Economy

Check back tonight for live updates.

5 p.m. Meeting convenes. About 15 people are here.

5:10 p.m. Cordel Stillman, of the Sonoma County Water Agency, briefs the City Council on Community Choice Aggregation — the abiltiy of cities and counties to purchase electricity on an open market, rather than just using the standard utility — PG&E.

On average, rates are 20 percent lower, Stillman said. PG&E rates are expected to increase about 4 percent by 2020, he said, but asserted that predicting energy rates is a "bit like predicting the weather."

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

About eight percent of 218,000 electric service accounts are in Rohnert Park, he said. Santa Rosa accounts for most of the ratepayers. Energy savings must hit 33 percent by 2020, according to a federal mandate.

Stillman said the water agency expects to hit that level, and studied savings approaching 85 percent,.

In addition, Stillman said, if Community Choice Aggregation were undertaken, the local economy would be impacted. Stillman anticipated an increase in construction jobs (between 100 and 1,500), and more fees collected by municipalities.

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

The Sonoma County program "could reduce green house gas emmissions and increase the use of renewable energy by 2020," according to a water agency report. Future steps include informing City Councils in Sonoma County on the feasibility of the program, polling residents, exploring a partnership with Marin Energy Authority and determining the costs of implementation.

Stillman said another report will be given in six months.

The Council expressed concern about the loss of jobs to PG&E, an increase in cost to county residents and what it would take to opt out, should the city choose to.

5:30: Council hears a teaser on this weekend's Arts & Crafts Fair, now in its 32nd year. So far, according to event organizers, the city has raised $9,200 in revenue, and vendors have nearly sold out the Community Center, the venue.

Nearly 3,000 people attend the fair annually, over a two-day period, and revenue has doubled over the last three years.

This year, on sale will be food, wine and mimosas, jewelery, pottery, stained glass and things like artisan soaps and lotions. The fair is Friday and Saturday. ATM is available on site. Revenue is projected to go over $10,000.

5:37: Council hears the Fiscal Year 2011 review.

Officials said the city's economy is showing signs of slow growth and economic recovery.

Citywide revenues came in at $19.7 million, down slightly compared to 2010, at $19.8 million. Yet, expenditures have decreased $2 million from last year. In 2011, the city spent $25.2 million on services, and projected budget deficit of $2.9 million for the current year.

However, the city’s actual deficit is $445,314, according to a staff report, roughly $2 million in savings.

Property tax: intake has decreased roughly six percent from 2010. According to the city’s finance department, the city collected $2.6 million, slightly lower than projected.

Sales taxes, which according to the numbers, are essential to the local economy, came in nearly a million dollars over the anticipated $7.4 million this year — a 5.2 uptick from 2010 numbers. Total sales taxes were $8,237,144 this year; $1.8 million came from Measure E.

A review of the city’s recreation facilities show that the Callinan Sports and Fitness Center is the only of the city’s three facilities that didn’t lose money this year. The sports center made an $8,748 profit, while the Community Center lost more than $26,000 and Senior Center lost $54,593.

Upkeep of the city pools cost about $230,000 in city money, and community events, such as Tasty Tuesdays, totaled $12,000 in losses.

Spreckels Performing Arts Center lost the most of any recreation center this year, costing the city more than $72,000 in expenses.

Despite a 400,000 deficit, the city this year was about $1.5 million under budget in projected expenses. Expenditures were the following: $8.6 million in “general government,” $14.6 million in public safety and $1.9 million for public works.

However, said officials, "we're not there yet."

"It should paint a better picture financially of where we're headed," Gonzalez said. "Focusing on managing and controlling the cost internally."

"It's encouraging," said Councilwoman Pam Stafford.

"This ... shows the hard work that the staff really has put into running the city," said Councilman Amy Ahanotu. This shows "policies put in place to make sure we live within our means."

Ahanotu raised questions about the community services that have lost money, but said they provide services that are essential to the citizens of Rohnert Park. He pointed that although facilities such as pools and the Community Center cost the city money, they cost less than originally projected.

Vice Mayor Jake Mackenzie echoed Ahanotu's concerns.

Mackenzie said it's important to realize that although the services aren't sustainable, they remain an important asset to the city and its residents.

"These are decisions that we make as a city," Mackenzie said. Residents "have a reasonable expectation that they're always available ... even though [services] may not always pencil out to the last dime."

Mackenzie pointed to It's not about a profit.

He said it's important to keep costs as low as possible, but recognize that there are costs to providing these services.

5:55: Mayor Gina Belforte pointed out that although the community organizations are still operating in the red, the operating deficits have gone down more than triple over the last few years.

6 p.m. Darrin Jenkins, a city enginneer, presents a final report on new development fees, set to be voted on tonight. The fees were passed in 2004, updated in 2006 and are being updated again tonight. The fees would pay for things like sewer pipe lines, traffic signals and road widening projects, for example. They are paid for when a new house is built, or a new business comes to town.

"Our General Plan calls for new development to pay their own way," Jenkins said. "The city doesn't subsidize development."

"I think the main thing is to be sure, as we promised citizen back when we adopted the general plan in 2000, ... we would be sure that costs in any additional development in specific plan areas or other areas would be appropriately divided out ... to make sure new developments pay their way," he said.

Mackenzie added that it's the city's policy not to put the burden of paying for new development on current residents.

6:05: Council passes unanimously. Note: Councilman Joe Callinan is absent through the end of the year.

Find details of the new fee schedule, and rates, here or see the attached PDF to the right.

6:10: Council unanimously OK's awarding the exclusive franchise agreements for temporary debris box and roll-off collection services to Rohnert Park Disposal, Inc. and Industrial Carting.

6:11: Lt. Jeff Taylor, of the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety, amends the city code that restricts the sale of alcohol from schools, parks and places of worship. The new ordinance will move the 1,000 feet restriction to 500 feet and eliminate places of worship from restricted uses.

We have churches all over the city, so it doesn't make sense to restrict that, Stafford said.

Council approves unanimously.

6:15: Taylor and city engineer Pat Barnes present a new ordinance that re-examine speed limits on Commerce Boulevard. Speed limits would go up. Drivers in Rohnert Park speed regularly, especially on city throughfares such as Golf Course Drive and Rohnert Park Expressway.

Seems counterintuitive that raising speed limits can improve public safety, Barnes said, but traffic engineers have studied local roads through Rohnert Park, and found that there are less collisions and safety actually improves.

It would get people to go the same speed, and enable public safety to better enforce speed limits.

Mackenzie said it's important to make sure the city has clear and visible speed limit signs.

New speed limits were adopted. They are:

  • Commerce Boulevard between Golf Course Drive and Avram Avenue increased from 35 mph to 40 mph.
  • Commerbe between Avram and Southwest Boulevard increased from 30 to 35 mph.
  • Golf Course Drive from Commerce to Country Club from 35 to 40 mph.
  • Labath from Business Park to Rohnert Park Expressway increased from 30 to 35 mph.
  • Redwood Drive between Willis and City Limits South from 35 mph to 40 mph.

Taylor said the new limits would be in place after the first of the year.

6:30: Robin Miller, of the city's Cultural Arts Commission, presents a plan to raise money for a sculpture commemorating the city's 50th anniversary, coming up in September 2012.

People would be able to purchase engraved bricks to be placed in City Center Plaza, and funds would pay for a public art piece to be located on the corner of Rohnert Park Expressway and Lynne Conde Lane, near the library. The estimated cost to renovate that land is $3,500.

Piece of art would celebrate the city's history, exploring elements of the seed farm. The medium is tin, other recycled materials and would use lighting.

The art would be done by local Sonoma County artist Patrick Amiot. The completed project would cost between $20,000 and $25,000, Miller said. Other art is on display from Amiot in Sebastopol.

6:40: Comments celebrated the artist's light-hearted style, how kids identify with it, and the use of recycled materials.

"I love it," Belforte said. "It's whimiscal, it's light and ... celebrates the spirit of the community."

Council unanimously OK's the public art project. Photos to the right show a smaller model of the proposed public art piece. The actual piece would vary, and be between 14 and 18 feet.

7:05: Council unanimously approves a plan for city employeees to "sell back" a maximum of 8- hours of annual leave or obtain payroll cash equivalent to 80 work hours, to alleviate potential hardship of retroactive bi-weekly pay cycle.

7:06: Mackenzie was voted in as mayor for 2012; Stafford voted in for vice mayor.

7:22: Meeting recesses to closed session.


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