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December 2019

City Council now seeking applicants for one Council Vacancy with a Term Expiring December 2020

Council Member Vacancy and Appointment Process
The City Council is seeking applicants for one City Council seat with a term expiring in December 2020. The seat was vacated by Council Member Julie Combs on November 25, 2019, and an appointment to fill the vacancy must be made within 60 days or by January 24, 2020. If the Council does not fill the vacancy by January 24, 2020, the Council must call a special election pursuant to City Charter Section 31. In order to be eligible to hold office as a member of the City Council, a candidate must be a registered voter within the Santa Rosa city limits at the time application documents are filed with the City Clerk. Application documents may be picked up at the City Clerk’s Office and must be filed in person with the City Clerk’s Office no later than 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 18, 2019. READ MORE

Community Input in Council Appointment Process
As part of the appointment process, the Santa Rosa City Council invites Santa Rosa residents to submit interview questions that may be used during the candidate interviews that will be conducted to fill the current City Council vacancy. Questions must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, December 16, 2019. SUBMIT QUESTIONS

Vice Mayor Appointment

City Council appointed current Council Member Victoria Fleming to serve as the next Vice Mayor of Santa Rosa on November 19th. Vice Mayors serve a one-year term in the City of Santa Rosa per the City Charter. Council Member Fleming has served as a member of City Council representing District 4 since December 2018. Council Member Chris Rogers served as Santa Rosa’s Vice Mayor for this past year’s term. LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR CITY COUNCIL

Changes to Metered Parking Hours & Free Weekend Parking in City Garages for Holiday Season

Changes to Metered Parking Operation Hours
The downtown Premium Zone parking meter operation hours have been reduced to 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. This change is effective as of Tuesday, December 3, 2019. The Premium Zone is identified by blue street signs and blue meter stickers and have a maximum time limit of 3 hours. This change is a reduction to the previous Premium Zone metered hours which ran from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. The hours of meter operation in Value Zone parking areas will also soon be changing once new signage and decals arrive and are configured. The hours of operation in the Value Zone are currently 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. but will also be changing to 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. once the signage and decal updates have been made.LEARN MORE

Free Weekend Parking in Downtown City Garages for the Holidays
On December 3, City Council approved free parking in all five City garages for the remaining Saturdays and Sundays in December of this year to support holiday shopping in the Downtown. FIND PARKING GARAGE LOCATIONS ON MAP

Sandbag Filling Station Now Open for Rainy Season

Santa Rosa has experienced its first round of heavy rain this winter, and more is on the way. Is your property rain ready? Free sand and bags are available to City of Santa Rosa residents at the City’s sandbag filling station to help control rain run-off. The sandbag filling station is open 24/7 throughout the entire rainy season (not just during storm events) at the Municipal Services Center North located at 55 Stony Point Road. You must present an ID with a City of Santa Rosa address in order to access the sandbag filling station. Shovels are onsite to use for loading bags. Plan ahead to transport the sandbags in a vehicle you don't mind getting dirty! READ MORE

Roseland Creek Community Park Environmental Report – Comment Period Underway 

In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act, the City has released an Initial Study and Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Roseland Creek Community Park Project. Agencies and interested parties may review the findings of the environmental document and provide written comments by December 18, 2019. The findings prompted a slight modification to the proposed park Master Plan, which is also available for review. READ MORE  

Measure M Funding for City Parks 

The City is making plans to invest Santa Rosa’s share of funding from the 2018 Measure M sales tax for parks. The measure provides dedicated funding for Sonoma County’s regional and city parks for 10 years. A webpage has been established to provide information about the City’s portion of funding, the funding’s potential uses, and to begin collecting community input about how the funding should be used. READ MORE 

Joe Rodota Trail Update

The County of Sonoma is actively developing a plan for resolution of the encampment along the Joe Rodota Trail. City of Santa Rosa staff will relay those plans to the community through additional updates once the plans are determined by the County. An update on the encampment was presented to the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors on November 19th. More information about the staff update, including a recording of the meeting, is available online. LEARN MORE

Funding Approved for Housing First  

In November, City Council approved funding for Catholic Charities’ Homeless Outreach Services Team (HOST) to continue the Housing First Fund. The fund provides incentives to property owners, encouraging them to rent to persons experiencing homelessness. Under the November action, the incentive was also extended to owners who rent to tenants who use Housing Choice Vouchers and other forms of rental assistance. This action comes as part of Council’s comprehensive housing strategy and a recent ordinance prohibiting rental housing discrimination based on source of income. LEARN MORE

League of American Bicyclists Honors Santa Rosa 

The City has been honored as a Silver-level Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) by the League of American Bicyclists; a designation recognized in only a select group of 102 communities across the country. The award recognizes Santa Rosa for its commitment to creating transportation and recreational resources that benefit residents of all ages and abilities while encouraging healthier and more sustainable transportation choices. Santa Rosa was first recognized by the League in 2015 as a Bronze-level Bicycle Friendly Community. LEARN MORE

Get Your NeighborFest Application in Today 

Want to bring your neighbors together to have fun and build a stronger, more connected community? Apply today for a chance to hold a Neighborfest block party in your neighborhood next year. Neighborfest aims to strengthen social connectedness and resilience, and to prepare neighborhoods for disasters. Applications are due by 4:00 p.m. on January 6, 2020. READ MORE 

Gift Ideas Unique to Santa Rosa 

Scholarship Fund Delivers Giggles & Transformation 

Donations to the Recreation & Parks Scholarship Fund sent kids to camp, taught them to swim and even provided teen swimmers with lifeguard certification courses in 2019! Donations from individuals and fundraising events, such as the St. Patrick’s Day 5K and the Handmade Holiday Crafts Fair, make these opportunities possible and truly do transform lives! LEARN MORE 

Call for Artists: 17th Annual National Arts Competition 

The City of Santa Rosa Public Art Program, in conjunction with the National Arts Program, is proud to announce the 17th annual National Arts Program Exhibition and Competition in Santa Rosa. This program provides local artists of all ages with a forum to showcase their artistic accomplishments and encourages artistic growth through scholarships and awards. This Call for Artists is open to all City of Santa Rosa residents, City employees and relatives of City employees. Registration ends January 10; Early registration is encouraged as entries are limited to the first 200. READ MORE 

Request for Qualifications: Imagine Art in Old Courthouse Square 

The City of Santa Rosa Public Art Program is seeking an artist or team of artists to design, fabricate and install site-specific public art at the north end of Old Courthouse Square near Mendocino Avenue. The artist or artist team selected for this project will create a dynamic public art installation that contributes to a vital, thriving space to connect with each other and with the space. The public art should be forward-thinking and express the innovation, diversity, and engagement of the community, and it should help create a sense of place for Old Courthouse Square in Downtown. READ MORE

Downtown’s Preferred Alternative 

The Downtown Station Area Specific Plan (DSASP) is readying its final preferred alternative. With nearly a year of input from the community, the preferred plan is now in a more form and ready for a final round of community feedback. Once approved, DSASP will help shape the Downtown and surrounding areas to meet modern developer demands and community needs. Read the plan and give your feedback on this vital document which will help shape the City. READ MORE

2017 Wildfires Recovery Updates

Coffey Neighborhood Park Reconstruction is Underway

The first phase of Coffey Neighborhood Park construction is underway! This phase includes development of the southwest corner of the parcel and includes installation of nature-themed playground equipment, playground pathways, and a picnic area. Phase one is expected to be complete and open to the public in late March 2020, weather permitting. Phase two of the project is scheduled to begin as the rainy season ends (tentatively mid-April 2020) with full opening of the park anticipated by late summer 2020. READ MORE 

New Online Street Light Recovery Map

A new mapping tool that identifies the recovery status of city-owned street lights damaged or destroyed in the October 2017 wildfires is now available online. Residents can use the tool to look up the restoration status for each individual street light within the October 2017 burn scar area. Street light repairs are being completed through two Capital Improvement Projects and ongoing repair efforts by City staff. LEARN MORE 

45th Annual Handmade Holiday Crafts Fair 

Sonoma Water Offering Public Tour of Education Center and Fish Ladder  

Holiday Choral Concert

New Year's Fit Swim

Flat Rock Park Volunteer Day    

Saturday, December 14, 9:30 a.m. -11:30 a.m. at Flat Rock Footbridge, 4227 Flat Rock Cir  
Help take care of the Brush Creek Restoration Area and Flat Rock Park. Learn about native California riparian plants and how they provide food and shelter for fish and wildlife. Heavy rain cancels, in light rain the work continues. LEARN MORE

First Saturday Cleanup on Prince Memorial Greenway 

Saturday, December 7, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at Olive Park near 1698 Hazel St
On the first Saturday of every month, help care for Santa Rosa Creek. Volunteers help pick up trash and perform plant care. Tools and refreshments provided. LEARN MORE

Current Job Openings 

The City of Santa Rosa offers great career opportunities with excellent salary, a generous benefits package, including retirement through CalPERS, a competitive leave package, a choice of three health plans, flexible spending program, and top of the line, employer paid vision and dental coverage. 

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