2006/08/22 City Council MinutesCITY OF ROHNERT PARK SPECIAL MEETING/WORK SESSION MINUTES FOR:
Rohnert Park City Council
August 22, 2006
Tuesday
The City Council for the City of Rohnert Park met this date in a Special Meeting/Work Session to
commence at 5:00 p.m. at the Rohnert Park City Hall, 6750 Commerce Boulevard, Rohnert Park,
with Mayor Smith presiding.
SPECIAL MEETING/ WORK SESSION:
Call to Order: Mayor Smith called the Special Meeting /Work Session to order at 5:02 p.m.
Roll Call: Breeze, Flores, Mackenzie, Vidak - Martinez, Smith
Staff present for all or part of the Special Session: City Manager Donley, Assistant City Attorney
Whelan, Assistant City Manager Schwarz, Director of Community Development Bendorff,
Building Official Bruck, Housing and Redevelopment Project Manager Ellena, Management
Analyst Tacata, Director of Public Works /City Engineer Jenkins, Senior Engineering Technician
Pedroncelli and Videographer Beltz.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Cooper Nicks, Monte Vista Elementary School, led the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Smith
PRESENTED Cooper with a magnet and a card.
MAYORAL PROCLAMATION:
Mayor Smith READ AND PRESENTED a Mayoral Proclamation to City Manager Donley in
honor of his receipt of the Coast Guard Reserve Officer of the Year Award. City Manager Donley
thanked Council for the recognition.
UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCES:
No members of the public were interested in speaking.
SUSTAINABILITY ORDINANCE:
Council consideration to receive and file the report and provide direction on measures reviewed and
presented for this item:
1. Staff Report: Director of Community Bendorff shared opening comments. Building Official
Bruck reviewed the contents of a Power Point presentation, and staff responded to Council
questions and comments.
2. Public Comments: Mayor Smith called forward members of the public interested in commenting
on sustainability matters.
Rohnert Park City Council SPECIAL MEETING/ WORK SESSION Minutes (2) August 22 2006
a. Geof Syphers, Codding Enterprises' Chief Sustainability Officer for Sonoma Mountain
Village, 101 Ross Street, No. 6, was recognized and shared comments on aspects of the
proposed Sustainability Ordinance, including Energy Efficiency, Construction and
Demolition Debris, Climate Neutral, and Rubberized Asphalt. He recommended that
Council consider Greenhouse Gas Assessments on large projects, and he suggested that
Universal Designs such as flush thresholds be required only for a certain number of homes.
He offered his assistance to Council regarding any Title 24 matters. Mr. Syphers responded
to Council questions and comments.
b. Charlie Carson, North Bay Homebuilders' Association, was recognized and reiterated
concerns about water in Sonoma County. He discussed the need to educate existing
residents about water conservation, and he called for staff to work with developers on water
conservation strategies for new developments.
c. Andrew Sloan, 7279 Belita Avenue, on behalf of Sonoma State's Associated Students,
Environmental Affairs division, was recognized and commended Council for its dialogue
with the public on Sustainability matters. Staff responded to his inquiry regarding a City
Sustainability Ordinance for the University District.
d. Randy Poole, Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA), was recognized and commended the
City for its efforts. He indicated that SCWA is looking closely at various water projects and
power sources, as well as at the use of biodiesels.
e. Ken Wells, Executive Director of Sonoma County Waste Management Agency ( SCWMA),
was recognized and recommended that staff consider dividing construction debris from
demolition debris. He noted that SCWMA staff is available to assist the City in fine- tuning
the handling of waste products in the community.
f. Armando Navarro, Environmental Technology Center at Sonoma State University, was
recognized and pointed out that there are several models of Green Building at SSU. He
noted that he has a great deal of experience working with the City of Berkeley with regard to
energy conservation for commercial buildings, and he offered his assistance to Council
g. Barbara Greene, Lancaster Avenue, was recognized and commended Council for its efforts
towards a Sustainability Ordinance. She noted her experience regarding certain aspects of
Title 24. She expressed concern about the amount of construction debris that is ending up in
local creeks, and she called attention to small energy grants for individuals and small
builders.
h. Amy Rider, 7105 Camino Colegio, KEMA Green Building, was recognized and suggested
that, in terms of Green Building, dwelling units per acre be considered, as opposed to total
units.
3. Council discussion /direction /action: Councilmember Breeze thanked staff for its efforts. She
provided a brief update on matters at Rohnert Park Disposal such as the purchase of a new
double- loader. She expressed support for the tiered system, and she noted that Rohnert Park has
been a leader in the use of reclaimed water. Councilmember Flores called attention to global
warming and the depletion of fossil fuels, noting that lots can be done to combat those issues.
He commended the use of reclaimed water, and he urged the City to move forward in crafting a
Sustainability Ordinance modeled after such ordinances as in the City of Berkeley and the City
of Santa Monica. Councilmember Mackenzie thanked staff and called attention to the
Rohnert Park City Council SPECIAL MEETING/ WORK SESSION Minutes (3) August 22 2006
opportunities the City has with such an ordinance. He noted support for the City's Sustainability
Ordinance on the County level, as well as from projects such as Sonoma Mountain Village. He
stated that the City is working hard to create a Walkable Community and to implement the
Ahwahnee Principles. Vice Mayor Vidak- Martinez stated that leadership must come from the
local level to deal with the global problems of climate change and oil depletion. She anticipated
that the City's Sustainability Ordinance will be subject to fine- tuning in the future. She
expressed support for several ideas, including energy retrofits for existing homes, carbon neutral
homes, awards for businesses and homeowners to create and foster examples of sustainability in
the community, and universal design aspects such as grab bars and flush thresholds. Mayor
Smith thanked staff and members of the public for attending this evening's Work Session. He
commended the City of Santa Monica for leading the way in sustainability, and he stated that
Rohnert Park .is now on the cutting edge to become another leader in sustainability. He also
called attention to the worldwide crisis of fossil fuels as a national security issue. At the
conclusion of Council discussion, Council CONCURRED to direct staff to move forward in
creating a Sustainability Ordinance.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, Chairperson Smith ADJOURNED the Special Meeting/Work
Session of the City Council at 6:35 p.m.
ty Leonard
Certified Shorthand Reporter
C.S.R. 11599
Smith
Mayor
City of Rohnert Park