1969/12/02 City Council MinutesRMWC PARK CITY COUNCIL MI OM
December 2, 1969
The Council of the City of Rohnert Park met this date in
regular session commencing at 8:40 p.m. in the City Offices,
435 Southwest Boulevard, Rohnert Park, with Mayor Rogers
presiding. The meeting was originally scheduled for 8 :00
p.m., but due to the lack of a quorum it could not convene
until 8:40 p.m.
Call to Order Mayor Rogers called the meeting to order at approximately
8 :40 P.M.
Roll Call Present: (3) Councilmen Hopkins, Roberts and Rogers
Absent: 2 Councilmen Buchanan and Smith
Staff Present: City Manager Callinan
Others Present: Ken Cummings, Pau. Golis, John Kauffman,
Bart Mizell, Dr. Lauren Anderson (arrived
&Q}, and Mrs. Reba Roberts representing
the Central County Clarion.
Business License Bart Mitchell reviewed the Rohnert Park Chamber of Commerce'
Discussion recent action relative to form$mg a committee to study the
possible abolition of the City's business license tax and
its replacement with an energetic program of membership
recruitment by the Chamber of Commerce. He made mention
and filed with the City, a copy of a petition signed by
most of the merchants in the shopping center which indicated
that they would pledge payment of :membership dues to the
Chamber.
A lengthy discussion was held concerning the possibility
of eliminating the business license tau; or having the
City retain the business license tax and paying the Chamber
of Commerce the equivalent of the business license tax or a
percentage of same, or possibly a percentage of the City's
sales tax receipts. During the discussion several members
of the Chamber representatives indicated that the tee•
ing tJ the Chamber of a source of income frm the City met
with their approval and would enable the Chamber to effective
ly plan a program.
Under direct questioning, members of the Council present
indicated that they would not vote for elimination of the
business license tax even regardless of the pledges for
membership that the Chamber might have. Council members did
indicate that they might be willing to contribute either
100% or most of the business license taxes collected by the
City provided the Chamber gave evidence of plans to conduct
effective Chamber activities. It was suggested that possibly
the City in granting any funds to the Chamber might require
the Chamber to raise additional matching funds and not
solely rely on the City for funds.
Adjournment
a vu-.-Tem—D i
December ?9 196o page -f)
Aftor the Council's expressions of willingness to cooperate
with the Chamber, and willingness to allocate business
license to funds to the Chamber, the discussion was ended
with the understanding that the Chamber representatives
would report back to the Board of Directors of the Chamber
and return to the City Council with a specific program and
a firm request.
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 10905 P.M.