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2014/11/10 City Council MinutesWN MINUTES OF THE JOINT SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY OF ROHNERT PARK City Council Rohnert Park Financing Authority Successor Agency to the Community Development Commission Monday, November 10, 2014 Rohnert Park City Hall, Council Chamber 130 Avram Avenue, Rohnert Park, California CITY COUNCIL /RPFA /SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE CDC JOINT SPECIAL MEETING - CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Mayor Callinan called the joint special meeting to order at 5:00 pm, the notice for which being legally noticed on November 6, 2014. Present: Joseph T. Callinan, Mayor Amy O. Ahanotu, Vice Mayor Gina Belforte, Councilmember Jake Mackenzie, Councilmember Pam Stafford, Councilmember (absent after 6:15 pm) Absent: None Staff present: City Manager Jenkins, Assistant City Manager Schwartz, Deputy City Attorney Visick, City Clerk Buergler, Director of Public Safety Masterson, Senior Analyst Atkins, Development Services Director Ponton, City Engineer Pawson, Human Resources Director Perrault, and Finance Director Howze. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Led by Andy Durkee. 3. PRESENTATIONS B. Military Banner Program Update by Andy Durkee Andy Durkee provided a verbal update on Rohnert Park's Military Banner Program. A. Mayor's Certificate of Recognition: Honoring Andy Durkee for his Dedicated Service to the Community Regarding the Military Banner Program Mayor Callinan read and presented the certificate to Andy Durkee. City of Rohnert Park Joint Special Meeting Minutes November 10, 2014 for City Council/Rohnert Park Financing Authority /Successor Agency Page 2 of 7 4. PUBLIC COMMENTS Norman Mushnick expressed concern regarding the lack of affordable housing for special -needs seniors in Rohnert Park. He requested the City include the Senior Center in its public outreach program. Requested that the City create, fund, and implement a program in the Rohnert Park Housing Element for special needs. Kai Petersen spoke in support of Norman Mushnick's comments. Jeannine Scannell expressed concern over Section 8 housing availability in Rohnert Park and urged the City to encourage landlords with Section 8 obligations to meet those contractual obligations. 5. CONSENT CALENDAR A. Approval of Minutes for: B. Acceptance of Reports for: 1. City Bills /Demands for Payment Dated October 14, 2014 2. Successor Agency to the CDC Bills /Demands for Payment Dated October 14, 2014 3. RPFA- Cash Report for Month Ending August 2014 4. Housing Successor Agency- Cash Report for Month Ending August 2014 5. Successor Agency- Cash Report for Month Ending August 2014 6. City- Cash Report for Month Ending July 2014 7. City- Cash Report for Month Ending August 2014 C. City Council Resolutions for Adoption: 1. 2014 -135 Authorizing and Approving the Purchase of Two (2) Public Works Light -duty Trucks in the amount of $48,100.08 2. 2014 -136 Approving Elimination of Payroll Specialist and Accounting Technician Positions and Creation of New Blended Position of Payroll /Fiscal Specialist, Associated Job Description and Salary Range in the Finance Department 3. 2014 -144 Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Amended Administrative Agreement for the Collection of Assessments for the Sonoma County Tourism Business Improvement Area 4. 2014 -145 Authorizing and Approving Landscape and Stormwater Facilities Maintenance Agreements for the Amy's Kitchen Project 5. 2014 -146 Authorizing and a Public Improvement Agreement with University District LLC and Vast Oak Properties L.P. for the Vast Oak Property Phase 1 In -tract Sewer Improvements and Finding this Project Covered by the Updated Final Environmental Impact Report the University District Specific Plan Project as Amended 6. 2014 -147 Approving the Notice of Completion for the Eastside Trunk Sewer Phase lI and Directing the City Engineer to File the Same 7. 2014 -148 Authorizing and Approving the Second Amendment to the Antenna Site License Agreement with New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC, for a Telecommunications Tower Located at Benicia Park, 7471 Bernice Avenue (APN 143 -160 -008) and Finding Such Action Exempt from CEQA City of Rohnert Park Joint Special Meeting Minutes November 10, 2014 for City Council/Rohnert Park Financing Authority /Successor Agency Page 3 of 7 8. 2014 -149 Authorizing and Approving (1) Administrative Services Agreement — Flexible Benefits, (2) Mutual Business Associate Agreement and (3) A City of Rohnert Park Flexible Benefits Plan with Healthcomp, a Third Party Administrator, to Administer Health Flexible Spending Accounts and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts o T 2014 150 n tl ,,.frog „n,a nppr-o ing Changing City of Ro hneft D�rlr zar Medicare Ret;ree DreseFiptio Drug Plan Vendor f'ro,,� G�VS/C cr einar� to Effective r °b "' y 1, � (PULLED by Callinan) ACTION: Moved /seconded (Belforte /Stafford) to approve the Consent Calendar. Motion carried unanimously by the following 5 -0 vote: AYES: Belforte, Mackenzie, Stafford, Ahanotu, and Callinan, NOS: None, ABSTAINS: None, ABSENT: None. C. City Council Resolutions for Adoption: 9. 2014 -150 Authorizing and Approving Changing City of Rohnert Park Medicare Retiree Prescription Drug Plan Vendor from CVS /Caremark to Express Scripts Effective February 1, 2015 City Manager Jenkins presented the item. Recommended Action(s): approve the resolution which authorizes and approves changing the City of Rohnert Park Medicare Retiree (65 +) Prescription Drug Plan vendor from CVS /Caremark ( "Caremark ") to Express Scripts, a Medical Part D plan, effective February 1, 2015. ACTION: Moved /seconded (Callinan /Stafford) to approve Resolution 2014- 150. Motion carried unanimously by the following 5 -0 vote: AYES: Belforte, Mackenzie, Stafford, Ahanotu, and Callinan, NOS: None, ABSTAINS: None, ABSENT: None. 6. CLOSED SESSION A. Mayor Callinan made the closed session announcement pursuant to Government Code §54957.7 and Council recessed to Closed Session at 5:35 pm in Conference Room 2A to Consider: 1. Conference with Legal Counsel — Anticipated Litigation - Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Government Code §54956.9(d)(2): (One Case) 2. Conference with Real Property Negotiators (Government Code §54956.8) Property: 309 Burton Avenue (APN: 143 - 252 -005) City Negotiator: Darrin Jenkins, City Manager Negotiating Parties: Kristen Kern, julie Souza, Peter Hall, Brook Terhune, Phil Holt, or Berth., Medina (Souza and Medina are considered rescinded) Under Negotiation: Price and Terms City of Rohnert Park Joint Special Meeting Minutes November 10, 2014 for City Council/Rohnert Park Financing Authority /Successor Agency Page 4 of 7 B. Reconvened Joint Regular Meeting Open Session in Council Chamber at 6:15 pm C. Mayor's Report On Closed Session (Government Code § 54957.1) No reportable action. Council member Stafford left the meeting at 6:15 pm 7. PUBLIC HEARING: (NO EARLIER THAN 6PM — Noticed 10/31/2014) Consider Appeals of Planning Commission Certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report, Certification of the Partially Recirculated Final Environmental Impact Report, Approval of the Site Plan and Architectural Review Application, and Approval of the Sign Program Application for Walmart Store Expansion Project Director of Development Services Ponton presented the item. Leonard Reporting Services, license No. 11599, provided transcription services. Reporter's Transcription attached. Consultants Grant Gruber and Greg Tonkovich, Michael Brandman Associates, and Zack Matley, W- Trans, were present. Recommended Action(s): Deny the appeals and affirm the Planning Commission's decisions to certify the Rohnert Park Walmart Expansion Project Final Environmental Impact Report ( "Final EIR ") and Partially Recirculated Final EIR ( "PRFEIR ") and to approve the Site Plan and Architectural Review and Sign Program applications (collectively, the "Entitlements "). This action would result in the approval of the Walmart Expansion Project. In order to take this action, the following motions were required: A) Adopt Resolution Denying the Appeals to the August 14, 2014 Decisions, Certifying the Final Environmental Impact Report and Partially Recirculated Final Environmental Impact Report, Adopting Statement of Overriding Considerations and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program for a Walmart Expansion Located at 4625 Redwood Drive, Rohnert Park, CA. B) Approve Resolution Approving the Site Plan and Architectural Review for a Walmart Expansion Located at 4625 Redwood Drive, Rohnert Park, CA. C) Approve Resolution Approving the Sign Program for a Walmart Expansion Located at 4625 Redwood Drive, Rohnert Park, CA. Assistant City Attorney Visick discussed the process, addressed the Atwell Appellants' objections to the noticing process, and provided possible options: 1) Offer a continuance as requested from the Atwell Appellants to address any concerns they have about prejudice from the notice they were given. a. Continue tonight's hearing to a date certain at least 30 days out and take testimony tonight from anyone who cannot attend; or b. Continue tonight's hearing to a date certain at least 30 days out and take no testimony. 2) Do not continue the hearing and move to the merits of the issues presented by the appeal tonight. City of Rohnert Park Joint Special Meeting Minutes November 10, 2014 for City Council/Rohnert Park Financing Autliority /Successor Agency Page 5 of 7 Hearing Opened Pertaining to the Option of Continuing the Public Hearing 6:23 pm Those in favor of continuing the public hearing: Lorin McCann; Rick Luttmann prefers a date after the holiday's; Marty Bennett, Co -chair of North Bay Jobs with Justice, spoke to the request for a 30 -day extension to respond to the appeal, Nancy Atwell's agreement if certain conditions were met, the appeal extended beyond the period required by the municipal code, objection to the project on the basis of the General Plan, and prefers the first or second Council meeting in January; and Nancy Atwell (appellant) spoke to her agreement to extend the response time if she were provided a 30 day advance notice of the hearing date and supports a date in January. Hearing Closed 6:31 pm ACTION: Moved /seconded (Callinan /Mackenzie) to continue the Public Hearing to January 13, 2015 and take testimony from those who want to speak tonight. Motion carried unanimously by the following 4 -0 -1 vote: AYES: Belforte, Mackenzie, Ahanotu, and Callinan, NOS: None, ABSTAINS: None, ABSENT: Stafford. Hearing Opened Pertaining to the Appeals 6:40 pm In Support of Dente t�ppeal: Jo Caulk stated she likes to shop at expanded Walmart stores; they provide additional employment and bring business to town; Kelly Scullion, Director of Rohnert Park Chamber of Commerce, stated Walmart is a chamber member and supports the community; Catherine Sullivan, Walmart Store Manager, spoke to her experience as an employee; Chris Simmons, Walmart employee, spoke to his experience as an employee and thinks it is even easier to walk and bike to the store now that the underpass is open and Walmart is a regional draw which is good for economic growth; and Tina Hansen -Keys, Walmart employee, spoke to her experience as an employee, and feels Walmart is part of the community and an expansion will a serve Rohnert Park as it grows. In Opposition of Denying the he Appeal: Barbara Gurry stated Walmart has sufficient stores serving Rohnert Park; Rick Luttmann stated this project is a regional project, expressed his thoughts regarding the company and the neighborhood store in Mountain Shadows, and thinks a General Plan violation exists; and David Bailey expressed this thought regarding the company and does not think it will create jobs or support the community. Hearing Closed 6:56 pm Councilmember Mackenzie stepped away from dais 6:57 pm and returned 7:02 pm 8. Health Action Update for Discussion and Direction Assistant City Manager Schwartz presented the item. Recommended Action(s): Receive report and provide direction. City of Rohnert Park Joint Special Meeting Minutes November 10, 2014 for City Council/Rohnert Park Financing Authority /Successor Agency Page 6 of 7 Public Comment in support of raising funds to provide health services in Rohnert Park: Robin Bowen, Executive Director of the Child Parent Institute, and Pedro Toledo, Acting CEO of the Petaluma Health Clinic and President of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. ACTION: City Council supported staff involvement with a goal to obtain funding for health services for Rohnert Park. (Stafford Absent) 9. Consideration of Amending the City Council Protocols City Manager Jenkins presented the item. Recommended Action(s): review and discuss potential amendments to the City Council Protocols and provide direction to amend the Protocols and bring back for adoption by resolution. ACTION: Continued to December 9, 2014. 10. STANDING COMMITTEE / LIAISON REPORTS A. Standing Committee Reports B. Liaison Reports 1. Water Advisory Committee, 11/3 City Engineer Pawson reported on the briefing received regarding the August 24, 2014 Napa earthquake response; Rohnert Park fared well in the gallons consumed per day (GCPD) state report; and the region (Sonoma Marin Water Saving Partnership) won the 2013 EPA WasterSense Excellence Award. 2. Golf Course Oversight Committee, 11/4 Mayor Callinan reported the Committee, by vote, agreed something needs to be done on the South Course on the 4th and 6"' hole to replace the bridge. Course Co is looking to the City to take action. Mayor Callinan would like the City Manager to look into what can be done to replace the bridge. C. Other Reports 11. COMMUNICATIONS Mayor Callinan announced the City's Veterans Day celebration at the Community Center at 11:00 am. Mayor Callinan attended a presentation at an elementary school and distributed a communication he received from a student. 12. MATTERS FROM /FOR COUNCIL A. Consideration of canceling the December 23, 2014, Regular City Council Meeting ACTION: Moved /seconded (Mackenzie /Belforte) to cancel said meeting. Motion carried unanimously by the following 4 -0 -1 roll call vote: AYES: Belforte, Mackenzie, Ahanotu, and Callinan, NOS: None, ABSTAINS: None, ABSENT: Stafford. City of Rohnert Park Joint Special Meeting Minutes November 10, 2014 for City Council / Rohnert Park Financing Authority /Successor Agency Page 7 of 7 13. PUBLIC COMMENTS Mr. Goldberg requested Council agendize reinstating the senior and veterans discount on utility bills previously available. 14. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Callinan adjourned the joint special meeting at 8:10 pm. l nne Buergler, City Clerk rty of Rohnert Park ! E Amy O. Ahanotu, TWayor City of Rohnert Park 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 CITY OF ROHNERT PARK CITY COUNCIL - -- 000 - -- MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2014 JOINT REGULAR MEETING REPORTER'S TRANSCRIPT OF PROCEEDINGS FOR AGENDA ITEM No. 7 CONSIDER APPEALS OF PLANNING COMMISSION CERTIFICATION OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT, CERTIFICATION OF THE PARTIALLY RECIRCULATED FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT, APPROVAL OF THE SITE PLAN AND ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW APPLICATION, AND APPROVAL OF THE SIGN PROGRAM APPLICATION FOR WALMART STORE EXPANSION PROJECT CITY OF ROHNERT PARK 130 Avram Avenue Rohnert Park, California 94928 REPORTED BY: KATY LEONARD, CSR Certified Shorthand Reporter License No. 11599 LEONARD REPORTING SERVICES, INC. (415) 312 -9040 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 I N A T T E N D A N C E --- 0Oo - -- MAYOR JOSEPH T. CALLINAN VICE MAYOR AMY 0. AHANOTU CITY COUNCIL MEMBER GINA BELFORTE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER JAKE MACKENZIE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER PAM STAFFORD - (Excused early due to illness) CITY MANAGER DARRIN JENKINS ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY MATTHEW VISICK INTERIM DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES MARILYN PONTON CITY CLERK JOANNE BUERGLER GRANT GRUBER, FIRSTCARBON SOLUTIONS, INC. GREG TONKOVICH, FIRSTCARBON SOLUTIONS, INC. ZACHARY MATLEY, W -TRANS DEBORAH E. QUICK, ESQ., MORGAN, LEWIS & BOCKIUS LLP ERIC CRABB, DESIGN ENGINEER, PACLAND - -- 000 - -- LEONARD REPORTING SERVICES, INC. (415) 312 -9040 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 STAFF REPORT PUBLIC HEARING COUNCIL DELIBERATION PUBLIC HEARING COUNCIL DIRECTION I N D E X - -- 000 - -- - -- 000 - -- PAGE 5 10 17 23 37 LEONARD REPORTING SERVICES, INC. (415) 312 -9040 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 P R O C E E D I N G S - -- 000 - -- MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2014 AGENDA ITEM No. 7 6.13 P.M. MAYOR CALLINAN: We are moving on to Item No. 7, the Public Hearing. Mr. City Manager, Staff Report. CITY MANAGER JENKINS: Yes. Mayor and Council, this item is to consider Appeals of Planning Commission Certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report, Certification of the Partially Recirculated Final Environmental Impact Report, Approval of the Site Plan and Architectural Review Application, and Approval of the Sign Program Application for Walmart Store Expansion Project. And we have our Director of Development Services, Marilyn Ponton, here to give the report. MAYOR CALLINAN: Thank you. Before we do that, though, I just forgot -- I wanted to mention, we have -- Council Member Pam Stafford went home sick tonight. So, if anybody was wondering. I hope she feels better. LEONARD REPORTING SERVICES, INC. (415) 312 -9040 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Okay. Thank you very much. STAFF REPORT INT. DIR. OF DEV. SVCS. PONTON: Thank You, Mr. Mayor, and good evening, Council Members. Before I make the presentation, I would like to introduce the staff that is with me this evening. Member of our environmental team, Mr. Grant Gruber and Mr. Greg Tonkovich, and Mr. Zack Mately. So, they are available for questions if need be. So, I wanted to introduce who was here at the staff table tonight. This evening, I'd like to make a presentation regarding the appeals of the Planning Commission Certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report, Certification of the Partially Recirculated Final Environmental Impact Report, Approval of Site Plan and Architectural Review, and Approval of the Sign Program. These approvals were heard and submitted for Council consideration by the Planning Commission in August of 2014. I will just give you a brief overview of the Project, as you've heard it some years ago. Additional requests for 35 -- approximately 35,000 square feet of LEONARD REPORTING SERVICES, INC. (415) 312 -9040 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 the building area to the existing Walmart facility on Redwood Drive. The addition would expand the store to include food service, pharmacy, photo area, groceries, separate loading docks, stock areas, and expansion of the garden center. It would also include outdoor seasonal sales. The store operation hours would increase to 24 hours a day, and employment would increase approximately an addition of 85 jobs. So, that's a little background on the project itself. This evening, we are considering two matters. The first appeal is from Mr. Mark Wolfe, and I'll briefly touch on what those issues were. The appeal cited three areas of deficiency that were related to noise analysis in the EIR relating to project- specific and cumulative noise impacts, a question on where noise measurements were taken as far as the Project study, and noise standards, how they apply to hotels on Redwood Drive. The second appeal from Ms. Nancy Atwell on behalf of a group of appellants, including Matt Weinstein, Ms. Jones, and Ms. Craven, and herself, related to Project -- proposed Project inconsistencies to General Plan related to urban decay impacts. LEONARD REPORTING SERVICES, INC. (415) 312 -9040 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 ASST. CITY ATTORNEY VISICK: Thanks, Marilyn. So, after the appeals were filed, the City requested relief from the requirement under its Muni Code that it needs to hear the appeal within 60 days. We asked both appellants for that relief. The Sierra Club and Sonoma County Conservation them the Atwell appellants -- Nancy Atwell and the other appellants with her -- agreed but asked for 30 days notice of the appeal hearing. The City sent out notice of tonight's hearing on October 24th, and several days later, we received from the Atwell appellants an objection as to the amount of notice that was given. So, the first question that the Council needs to address tonight is whether to offer a continuance as it has been requested by the Atwell appellants to address any concerns that they have about prejudice from the notice that they were given. LEONARD REPORTING SERVICES, INC. (415) 312 -9040 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Council has three options for how to address this issue. The first would be to continue the hearing -- tonight's hearing to a date certain at least 30 days out, but to take testimony tonight from anyone who would not be able to attend the further hearing. The second would be to continue tonight's hearing to a date certain at least 30 days from tonight, and then continue the entire hearing that date, not take any testimony tonight. And then the third would be to not continue the hearing, and move to the merits of the issues presented by the appeal tonight. The City Attorney's Office would recommend to the Council that it deliberate on whether to continue the hearing first before reaching issues having to do with the merits of the appeal. To that end, the Council should limit the testimony and public comment to the issue of whether or not to issue a continuance and take testimony from the appellants and the Applicant and hear public notice limited to that issue, then bring that -- bring this matter back to the Council to make a determination about whether to continue the hearing, if so, what date to continue the hearing to, and whether to take testimony and comment tonight, or whether to continue the entire LEONARD REPORTING SERVICES, INC. (415) 312 -9040 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 hearing out to that further date. MAYOR CALLINAN: Okay. So, the first thing we need to do is decide if we want a continuance or not; correct? ASST. CITY ATTORNEY VISICK: Correct. I would suggest that the Council limit testimony and public comment to just that issue. MAYOR CALLINAN: So, do we open public comment first to that, or do we decide first or -- ASST. CITY ATTORNEY VISICK: Initially -- MAYOR CALLINAN: So, we're going to open public comment for that; is that what you're saying? ASST. CITY ATTORNEY VISICK: Initially, I would expect that the appellants and the Applicant for the Project would be able to offer any testimony on that issue. Not to give prejudice on that, the best thing is to follow that. MAYOR CALLINAN: Okay. And I do have two of those cards here, I believe, so I'm going to go ahead and open the Public Comment then. LEONARD REPORTING SERVICES, INC. (415) 312 -9040 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 PUBLIC HEARING MAYOR CALLINAN: And as you just heard, I've got many cards here, so I'm going to try to weed through these and try and decide who is exposed -- opposed to or for Walmart. We're talking about the continuance now first; correct? ASST. CITY ATTORNEY VISICK: Correct. MAYOR CALLINAN: So -- and as I read your name, I'm going to go ahead and read your name first. And then, if you want to come up and say a couple of words about continuance or not, that's fine. But if you oppose it or you're for it, if you want to hold those comments, then we'll come back to those; okay? So, instead of me trying to guess if that's what you're wanting to talk about, I'm going to go ahead and read your name, and then you make that call. If you want to come up and speak, you're welcome to speak on that certain item. So, we're gonna go with Barbara Gurry. MS. CURRY: I'm here. MAYOR CALLINAN: Okay. Did you want to speak on this or no -- on us having a continuance or not? LEONARD REPORTING SERVICES, INC. (415) 312 -9040 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 So, it's not about -- you're not going to come up and say, "I oppose Walmart," "I'm for Walmart." It's just about us deciding if we want a continuance or not, and if you have any comments on that. MS. CURRY: No, I don't. MAYOR CALLINAN: Okay. Very good. Thank you. Jo Caulk. MS. CAULK: No comment on this. MAYOR CALLINAN: No comment. Okay. Thank you very much. Lorin McCann. MS. McCANN: I'll say a couple words. MAYOR CALLINAN: All right. Thank you. And just state your name and your address for the record, please. MS. McCANN: Sure. Lorin McCann, 4816 Fairway Drive. And I'll just say that I would like to have a continuance. We kind of found out about this last minute. I know several family members wanted to be here as well, but there was such little notice that they weren't able to be here. So, I would just like to put it into the record that we would love to see this extended to a reasonable amount of time. MAYOR CALLINAN: You got it. Thank you very LEONARD REPORTING SERVICES, INC. (415) 312 -9040 11 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 much for your comments. So, next, Kelly Scullion. Is Kelly -- MS. SCULLION: No comment. MAYOR CALLINAN: No comment. All right. Rick Luttmann. MR. LUTTMANN: Thank you. I'm Rick Luttmann at 917 Dorine Avenue in Rohnert Park. I strongly support the proposal to continue this hearing to a later date, at least 30 days out and preferably after the holidays, because there are many people who are going to be distracted by the usual holiday activities. I think there's both a legal and a practical reason for this continuance. We've heard the story from the Assistant City Attorney about Ms. Atwell's appeal and the legal complications that arise from that respecting the agreement with her. There are many, many people and organizations in Sonoma County that -- as well as Rohnert Park that oppose this Project, and there's not very many of them here tonight because we had very short notice. Even our attorney is not able to be here tonight. Bear in mind that a few years ago when this matter came up before, we had 2500 people in Rohnert Park fill out postcards opposing the Project. There are LEONARD REPORTING SERVICES, INC. (415) 312 -9040 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 many organizations -- the Sierra Club and the Sonoma County Conservation Action have been mentioned. There's also Jobs With Justice. There's North Bay -- the North Bay chapter of Jobs With Justice. There's several units from Sonoma State. The Associated Students have spoken about this. So has the Academic Senate, and so has the California Faculty Association. All these voices would benefit from having a larger amount of time before the scheduled hearing so that they could prepare to be here. Thank you. MAYOR CALLINAN: All right. Thank you, Mr. Luttmann. Marty Bennett. MR. BENNETT: Yes. My name is Marty Bennett. I live at 19167A Robinson Road in Sonoma, and I'm cochair of North Bay Jobs With Justice. I have a very brief prepared statement on this specific issue. One of our members, Nancy Atwell, who will address you in a minute, on August 25th filed an appeal to the City Council of the Planning Commission's approval of the revised EIR. And that was on August 25th On September 5th, Planning Director Marilyn Ponton requested of Ms. Atwell a 30 -day extension to LEONARD REPORTING SERVICES, INC. (415) 312 -9040 13 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 respond to the appeal. On September 11th, as requested, Ms. Atwell replied that we would permit an extension as long as the City, quote, confirms our ability [sic] for any proposed hearing date before setting the hearing, and notify us quote. The City did extend the period to process the appeal beyond the 60 -day period required by the City Municipal Code. However, Ms. Atwell and our coalition appeal. We received a voice mail on October 24th -- Mr. Luttmann did -- from the planning staff about the November 10th City Council hearing. And finally, we do have major objections to the Project, particularly on the basis of the General Plan. We do feel failure to provide the 30 -day agreed upon advance notice deprives our coalition of a fair hearing and our ability to adequately present our objections to the Project. So, we do urge you to please continue this and reschedule it for at least 30 days out. We would prefer LEONARD REPORTING SERVICES, INC. (415) 312 -9040 14 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 January, because we think the holidays are so challenging for folks to come to meetings, and many people are out of town. So, our preference would be the first or second meeting of January. Thank you. MAYOR CALLINAN: And did you get that for the record; right? So, our next witness, Debra Avanche. MS. AVANCHE: No comment. MAYOR CALLINAN: No comment. You got it. Myrna Spiegler. MS. SPIEGLER: No comment. MAYOR CALLINAN: No comment. Dave Bailey. (No response) MAYOR CALLINAN: No Dave Bailey, so no comment. Okay. Nancy Atwell. MS. ATWELL: Hi. Nancy Atwell, Gary Court, Rohnert Park. First, I want to say I thank staff who have been very helpful and professional, and I very much appreciate that. This is all new for me. As Marty said, on September 11th I sent and responded to a request for an extension of the hearing, LEONARD REPORTING SERVICES, INC. (415) 312 -9040 15 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 and I agreed to it with the stipulation that -- that I would be provided 30 days' advance notice of the hearing date so I could prepare. Having had no response on that, other that -- I assumed and counted on a 30 days prior to prepare. As also stated, there hasn't been time to get to other people who are interested in this issue and to mobilize them and to have them be here tonight. There just wasn't the time. I think it should be extended at least 30 days, and I'd like to comment at this point, in extending that, I'm fine with the January dates, but I have concerns if the 30 days is right in December, that's right in the middle of a whole bunch of holiday seasons. It's holiday season for a lot of different religions and et cetera, and families and so forth, and it might be hard for people to attend at that point. So, I would request in a continuance that it might be to January, your choice of dates. So -- there's just no time to mobilize. Thank you very much. MAYOR CALLINAN: All right. Thank you. Beth Craven. MS. CRAVEN: No comment. MAYOR CALLINAN: No comment. All right. LEONARD REPORTING SERVICES, INC. (415) 312 -9040 16 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 So, nobody else filled out a card, so I'm going to go ahead and close Public Comments. COUNCIL DELIBERATION MAYOR CALLINAN: So, I guess we need a motion or a decision on either to continue or move forward tonight. ASST. CITY ATTORNEY VISICK: I would recommend that Council bring back and deliberate about which of the options they would prefer -- whether to continue; if to continue, then to what date; and whether or not to take testimony and public comment on the merits of the appeal tonight, or to postpone all testimony and comment on the merits of the appeal until the continued date. MAYOR CALLINAN: Okay. Got it. Okay. So, we're looking for some motions here. And I'm going to go ahead and make a suggestion, and maybe Council can confirm or not confirm. I think that with what we have to deal with tonight, it's something that's been going on for a long time. We've been working on this for -- well, since I was a Planning Commissioner a long time ago. So, I don't think that the dilemma is if we do it tonight. LEONARD REPORTING SERVICES, INC. (415) 312 -9040 17 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 I think that we give the opportunity to move this forward for at least 30 days. And I do agree with Ms. Atwater [sic], December is probably not a good month for any of us, including City Hall staff. I don't think it would be fair to our City Hall staff to ask them to come back in that time of year. So, I would think that we would move it to our first meeting in January. And that is January 13th is that correct? But I would like to hear all the comments that are -- people that are here tonight, if there are some comments that people have to make, because for some unknown reason they may not be able to make our January 13th meeting, and I'd like it for the record. If there are some comments that they want to make, we can address that tonight or at least listen to them and have it on for the record. So, I'll go ahead and make that motion that we move this or ASST. CITY ATTORNEY VISICK: Continue. MAYOR CALLINAN: -- continue. Kind of silly to continue, because to me, continue means let's continue on tonight, but that's not what we're doing. If we are going to continue on, I would make a motion that we continue till January 13th, but we LEONARD REPORTING SERVICES, INC. (415) 312 -9040 18 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 listen to all the comments of anybody that wants to speak tonight. COUNCIL MEMBER MACKENZIE: I'll second that motion, Mr. Mayor. MAYOR CALLINAN: All right. Any conversation? Any comments from anyone? COUNCIL MEMBER MACKENZIE: Yes. MAYOR CALLINAN: Okay. Mr. Mackenzie. COUNCIL MEMBER MACKENZIE: I think the suggestions that were offered to us by our Assistant City Attorney laid out the possibilities that were in front of us. I think we've heard from appellants that they would at least in terms of the process and when the hearing should be continued to -- that a date in January would be preferable to them. I think this shows that we, if we approve this motion by selecting the date of January 13th, remove any shadow of a doubt, that the City Council wishes to make certain that the appellants have the proper time to marshal the arguments and the personnel that they might like to have testify in front of us. So, I'm very comfortable with the first part of the motion, the second part of the motion, and just in exactly the same tenor, make certain that those LEONARD REPORTING SERVICES, INC. (415) 312 -9040 19 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 people who have come and, I'm sure, at, not discomfort, but, you know, with some difficulty to rearrange their schedules to be here for an evening hearing -- that if they so wish, they can testify on this matter tonight in the properly assembled Public Hearing with the Court Reporter making sure that their comments are properly noted. And then they will not have any need to come back and testify on January the 13th, and they will also have the ability, as one of our public commenters stated, to notify family, friends, and trusted parties of the fact that over 30 days from now, on January 13th, there will be this opportunity. And so, to me, it removes any shadow over the process. The substance of these matters are a completely different subject, and we'll get to them, no doubt, Mr. Mayor. But I think the motion is well stated, and I was pleased to second it. Thank you. MAYOR CALLINAN: Any comments? COUNCIL MEMBER BELFORTE: Yeah. Real quickly. I think that we should continue it. I think LEONARD REPORTING SERVICES, INC. (415) 312 -9040 20 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 And so, since this is kind of a -- in some cases can be seen as a divisive issue, I think that we should go ahead and make sure everybody has the opportunity to speak and be heard. So, I have no problem continuing it. I do think, though, that anybody that wants to testify tonight or speak either for or against Walmart should feel free to do so knowing they don't have to come back a following time, that everything is going to be recorded. We'll be able to reread it. It's not gonna be discarded because it comes back another time. It will be considered for the next meeting that we do have. Since the appellants are saying that January is a good time, I'm fine with January. I think the holidays are a difficult time. It seems that we're actually working and communicating well with one another. I'd like to keep that going. I do want to take into concern everybody's comments that they have. And I don't take it lightly what we're doing. I think it's very important, because this is something that's gonna impact Rohnert Park and our residents. So, to be as transparent and as open as possible, I think it's critical that we go ahead and LEONARD REPORTING SERVICES, INC. (415) 312 -9040 21 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 continue this. MAYOR CALLINAN: Mr. Vice Mayor, do you have any comments? VICE MAYOR AHANOTU: Yes. I do agree with the two Council Members. This is an important process that I want to make sure that everyone's right to expression is protected. So, I'm going to support the date certain, January 13th, that date, and also give anyone here the opportunity today to address Council if that person feels that it's necessary at this time. Also, don't forget that you can always come back the 13th and make your feelings known. So, I do agree with the two Council -- in fact, the three Council Members' protection of free expression. And hopefully, anyone who is here today can come up and address the Council. Thank you. MAYOR CALLINAN: All right. So, it looks like we have direction. I'm gonna make a motion. Before I do, I just -- I want to end it by just saying, we're not leaning one way or another. This is just so we have very clear -- we have clarity. When we come back on January 13th and we LEONARD REPORTING SERVICES, INC. (415) 312 -9040 22 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 make a decision, I don't want to see this come about in front of this Council again. We've been working on this way too long. Way too long. So, I see that there is going to be a decision that night -- yes, no, whatever it. January 13th we can put it to bed. I think that we're gonna -- we're trying to do this to protect both the citizens and Walmart. Walmart has been waiting. It's gonna be three months. It will be five months by the time they get to hear this. So, it's been a while. They are due their process. So -- and I think the citizens are too. So, we're doing this the best we can. So, January the 13th there will be a decision; okay? So, we have a first, a second. All those in favor? (Council Members vote.) MAYOR CALLINAN: We have a 4- zero -1 count. PUBLIC HEARING MAYOR CALLINAN: With that, now, so, I'm going to go ahead and open this back up. We're going to open up Public Comments. So, now, the people that want to speak -- and LEONARD REPORTING SERVICES, INC. (415) 312 -9040 23 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 I don't remember if you're on there or not, but I'm going to go ahead and open Public Comments. So, anybody that wants to speak, if you haven't filled out a yellow card, feel free to fill out a yellow card and bring it forward to our City Clerk. So, I'm going to go back to Barbara Gurry. Did you want to speak now? MS. GURRY: Okay. MAYOR CALLINAN: Okay. So, you go up to the podium and you give your and your address, and you will have three minutes. I don't have a gun behind me, so if you go over, I probably won't shoot you. So, just try and keep it at three minutes. MS. GURRY: Hi. I'm Barbara Gurry, and I've been a Rohnert Park resident for 20 years. I'm here to urge you to reject Walmart's repeated attempt to expand their store. We already have seven stores to serve our Rohnert Park residents right now, which I think is sufficient. They have already -- they recently built a store in the Mountain Shadows Shopping Center, as well they have a store over across the freeway. So, they are well represented in Rohnert Park. So, I appreciate your consideration. This was LEONARD REPORTING SERVICES, INC. (415) 312 -9040 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 all I had time to prepare for today. Thank you. MAYOR CALLINAN: You got it. Thank you very much, Barbara. I'm going to put those in the back of the pile. All right. Next we have Jo Caulk. MS. CAULK: Thank you. My name is Jo Caulk, and I live the 6054 Donna Court, and I'm very happy to be living in Rohnert Park. And I love this city. I would like to see the expanded Walmart be in the future of our city. I have been to an expanded Walmart store in Bullhead City, Arizona, and it was a pleasure to shop there. It was a beautiful store. And at that time, which has been a few years ago, I wished we could have one here. So, I am -- I'm really for it. Now, the second thing, it will provide additional employment. And I took the time to talk to several -- well, many, really, employees at Walmart at various times, and they all seem to be happy working there. So, I feel good about that. And there will be, I think, 85, at least, additional employee people for this new expanded Walmart. Then, I feel that when people come to Costco, LEONARD REPORTING SERVICES, INC. (415) 312 -9040 25 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 they shop other places; okay. When people come to our expanded Walmart, they're going to shop also at other places. So, I feel that this is really an asset to Rohnert Park, because it will bring business to town, and that's what running a city is all about. Thank you. MAYOR CALLINAN: All right. Thank you. Lorin McCann. MS. McCANN: Lorin McCann. I'll hold comments till January. MAYOR CALLINAN: You'll hold comments till January. You got it. Okay. Kelly Scullion. MS. SCULLION: Good evening. My name is Kelly Scullion. I'm at Holly Avenue in Rohnert Park. I am the Director of the Rohnert Park Chamber of Commerce. I found out about the meeting today and still made it. What I wanted to find out is, if I put on public record today, does that mean that I am not speaking on behalf of Walmart the next time. MAYOR CALLINAN: No. You can speak at both if you like. MS. SCULLION: Okay. MAYOR CALLINAN: We're just giving everybody tonight here the opportunity in case they can't be at LEONARD REPORTING SERVICES, INC. (415) 312 -9040 26 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 January 13th MS. SCULLION: Oh. Well, then, I can be here in January. I support Walmart, and I will be here whenever they need me. So, do you want me to state my statement twice? MAYOR CALLINAN: You can do whatever you -- MS. SCULLION: So, at the Chamber of Commerce, our mission is to create an environment in Rohnert Park in which businesses can thrive economically, socially, and culturally, and while improving the quality of life in the community. As a local Chamber member, Walmart has continually proven themselves to be a trusted partner we can rely on in our community, actively engaged with local, charitable organizations and important civic causes. We support Walmart's remodel plans and you vote to reapprove Walmart's proposal. Having helped with the ribbon - cutting in the opening of the neighborhood markets, they've done a beautiful job in supporting our community. I shop there. My kids love going. Family shop there, and I've heard nothing but wonderful, brilliant support of Walmart. LEONARD REPORTING SERVICES, INC. (415) 312 -9040 27 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 So, thank you. I look forward to seeing everyone in January. MAYOR CALLINAN: All right. Rick Luttmann. MR. LUTTMANN: Rick Luttmann, and I still live at 917 Dorine Avenue. I'm concerned that the Planning Commission and the City Council last time -- this was considered several years ago -- has taken a very narrow view of what needs to be checked on before such a project like this is approved. The focus is very narrow, and yet there are a great many issues, and they're of considerable significance to residents of the community and by the way of the whole region. It's true that Rohnert Park gets to vote on this because the project is inside Rohnert Park, but it's a regional project, and that's why a lot of groups from Sonoma County are interested in this. There are issues involving what kind of company Walmart is, how it treats its workers, how it treats its suppliers, where it gets its supplies from. And I believe all of these things are important and should be considered. One of the major issues that I haven't heard LEONARD REPORTING SERVICES, INC. (415) 312 -9040 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 much about in the current considerations of Walmart's proposal is the fact that they have now opened a neighborhood grocery in the Mountain Shadows Shopping Center. I think this is very significant, and I think it significantly undermines their case for having a grocery store over in their current facility. Several years ago when we spoke about Walmart's proposal originally, it was we ourselves who pointed out the necessity of having a neighborhood grocery in northeastern Rohnert Park and of having an anchor tenant in Mountain Shadows Shopping Center. Those are important, and now we have one. It's Walmart. Frankly, I wish it was somebody else, but it is there, and now they're still talking about trying to sell groceries a mile away. It's clearly not a neighborhood market over there and -- because there's no neighborhood. Even when the housing that you have already authorized for the northwest corner of Rohnert Park is built, there's going to be maybe a thousand people that live over there. It's not convenient to a neighborhood. It's definitely a regional center, and it in that sense violates our General Plan. We will have more to say about this at the January hearing, but we're very much concerned this is a LEONARD REPORTING SERVICES, INC. (415) 312 -9040 29 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 violation of the -- of both the spirit and the letter of the City's General Plan. Thank you. MAYOR CALLINAN: Debra Avanche. (No response) MAYOR CALLINAN: Myrna Spiegler. MS. SPIEGLER: I will wait. MAYOR CALLINAN: You're gonna wait too. David Bailey. MR. BAILEY: Yes. Thank you very much. 7347 Castillo Court, David Bailey, and thank you very much for giving me a few minutes. I'd like to state my opposition towards Walmart or for any new Walmart stores or anything going on. We've been preaching -- everybody has been preaching buying local, doing sustainable, you know, being together with your community. And Walmart, right now we have consultants that are coming in from out of town. We have other people who are coming in from away. And what we're looking at is we're looking at a group of people who begin to dissolve of inner fabric of a community. And what they do is they go in, and you'll see loss of business. And I'm talking what Robert Reich has been preaching -- Secretary of Labor LEONARD REPORTING SERVICES, INC. (415) 312 -9040 30 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 They dissolve His -- by his numbers, there's an estimate by U.C. Berkeley that of every job that they bring in, ultimately only .7 jobs are truly created by Walmart. So, they come in, and by them dissolving all of the other small businesses, you end up with the a net of .7 employees for every one employee that was there before. Also, when -- Secretary Reich, he said that -- and I'm quoting him on this, so sorry about the -- what he said is that -- and I'm quoting him -- Walmart, America's largest employer, pays workers a median hourly wage of $8.80. It doesn't sound like a really successful, great business that's coming to town. I said that. He didn't. So, it's hardly surprising that most have to rely on Food Stamps and Medicaid in order to lift their families out of poverty. Walmart is the largest one group that has Medical in the State. So, these employees that they're bringing together -- you know, I don't know about these workers, whether they're higher level or whatever, but Medi =Cal is a huge subsidy that Walmart workers get, and that's -- everybody is paying for that. So, ultimately, are we -- bringing in Walmart, the cash flows then go out of the community because they LEONARD REPORTING SERVICES, INC. (415) 312 -9040 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 go to the New York Stock Exchange and to the shareholders, and it doesn't stay local. So, with that, do we have a real -- why would we want somebody like that, like a weed coming into our community sapping out our -- our -- our great talent, and then leaving us with less than when [sic] they originally came from? So, with that in mind, I am very much against it and against having people -- consultants from out of town coming in and getting ready to take the money from us. Thank you. MAYOR CALLINAN: Nancy Atwell. MS. ATWELL: No. I'll wait. Thank you. MAYOR CALLINAN: Okay. Beth Craven. MS. CRAVEN: I'll wait till January. MAYOR CALLINAN: Okay. Chris Simmons. MEMBER OF AUDIENCE: He's outside with his children. MAYOR CALLINAN: You got it. While we're waiting for him, how about Catherine Sullivan? MS. SULLIVAN: Good evening. Thank you for LEONARD REPORTING SERVICES, INC. (415) 312 -9040 32 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 hearing me. Catherine at the Walmart that we I just wante Walmart for 12 years. with Walmart as a job. by. Sullivan. I'm the store manager are actually discussing. d to say, my -- I've been with And a lot people start their jobs It's just something to get them I myself, 12 years ago, started as a holiday weekend cashier, but I decided that I wanted to make a career out of it. And everybody who starts their employment with Walmart has that same opportunity. It's what they decide to make out of it. One of the things I would like to point out is this year, my store is not hiring temporary associates for the holidays. We are hiring permanent associates for the holidays. So, they are not all going to be losing their jobs December 26th as some of our competitors are doing. In addition to which, I have had many, many associates come to me and say, Why should we come and speak, because this has been going on for at least eight years from what I understand. And they don't understand why the community that they support and they live in won't support them when it's something that can help them as well. That's all I've got. Thank you. LEONARD REPORTING SERVICES, INC. (415) 312 -9040 33 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 MAYOR CALLINAN: Mm -hm. Thank you. Chris Simmons, did you make it in here? Yes. There he is. MR. SIMMONS: My name is Chris Simmons. I live off of Golf Course Drive. Been a resident for eight years now. I'm just letting everybody know, I took my time out tonight to get here. Not too happy about having to continue till January -- but I'm gonna speak here and in January -- because it is Veterans' Day. I'm an eight -- I served my country for eight years, and I'm here on behalf of Walmart, because I've been an employee since 2008. I'm a former State Farm employee. I got laid off in 2011. If it wasn't for Walmart, I would have been jobless and have to move out of Rohnert Park. Comments made about money being left -- leaving the community, I shop in Rohnert Park. I love Rohnert Park. Last time I told everybody I shop at Target. I went to Target last week. My money gets spent here in Rohnert Park. It's -- couple points I'm just going to bring up really quick. I read an E -mail from Rick Luttmann pointing out point 3 that accessibility by bicycle and short car trips on foot. LEONARD REPORTING SERVICES, INC. (415) 312 -9040 34 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 From my house, it's about a little over a mile. I can walk. I can ride my bike. There's crosswalks. Now that we have the underpass through Golf Course, it's easier accessibility, and it is a short car trip. It's the same distance as Safeway and everything else. And point 2, he also brought up that it's a regional draw. Well, we want to bring more business to Rohnert Park. And as -- another speaker said that other people are going to shop elsewhere. They are. We brought in 99 Cents Store. Was that not a regional draw, bringing more business in to Rohnert Park? You can go to 99 Cents Store. People are going to go to Target. We also have Big Lots, you know. And so, I support the expansion of Walmart, not just because I work there, but because it's a good economic -- for good economic growth. And, I mean, if it wasn't for Walmart, my family would have had to move out of Rohnert Park. And for the people that are talking about everybody is on Medical and everything, when I lost my job at State Farm, my wife and I did apply for it, and we were denied because we made too much money and we worked too many hours, and that's working part -time LEONARD REPORTING SERVICES, INC. (415) 312 -9040 35 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 jobs. Thank you. MAYOR CALLINAN: All right. Thank you. Tina Hansen -Keys. MS. HANSEN -KEYS: Good evening, everybody. My name is Tina Hansen -Keys. I've been a part of the Rohnert Park community for 43 years. I've worked at Walmart for 23 years. Kind of basically, when I was 16 years old, I used to clean offices' buildings, and there was actually a lay -out of Rohnert Park expanding -- back when I was 16. And I couldn't believe, growing up, when I was like a little kid, how Rohnert Park was going to grow. So, still seeing it grow to this day, because we are now building more houses and everything else like that -- that expanding Walmart to a grocery center would actually help with those homes that are being built in the community. And actually, when other people come in to the town to shop, they will have other resources to go to the movies, go to dinner places, stuff like that. Walmart is not just a box store either. It is part of the town. Growing up here and being with the store so long, I've watched kids grow up and now in college and having kids of their own. And they still LEONARD REPORTING SERVICES, INC. (415) 312 -9040 36 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 come back and, you know, show pictures of their kids and their grandkids and everything like that. Also, with being in the neighborhood, now the seniors who used -- I grew up with their kids, they come to Walmart for exercise. When it's too hot outside or when it's raining, they've actually come and walked the aisles of Walmart. And they actually can tell me where the product is better than I can. So, it's not just, you know, a box store. People come in there to have their coffee and visit and walk around and talk with their neighbors. So, I am for the expansion. Thank you. MAYOR CALLINAN: All right. So, I have no more cards. I'm going to go ahead and close Public Comments. COUNCIL DIRECTION MAYOR CALLINAN: So, with that, I think we have direction, and we're moving forward on to our next item. Is that the way I read it? ASST. CITY ATTORNEY VISICK: (Nods LEONARD REPORTING SERVICES, INC. (415) 312 -9040 37 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 affirmatively) MAYOR CALLINAN: All right. I'm going to go ahead and move on to Item No. 8. (Whereupon, at 6:56 p.m., the portion of the Joint Regular Meeting of the Rohnert Park City Council for Agenda Item No. 7 was concluded.) - -- 000 - -- LEONARD REPORTING SERVICES, INC. (415) 312 -9040 38 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 CERTIFICATE OF REPORTER I, KATY LEONARD, a Certified Shorthand Reporter, hereby certify that the foregoing proceedings were taken in shorthand by me at the time and place therein stated, and that the said proceedings were thereafter reduced to typewriting, by computer, under my direction and supervision; And I further certify that I am not of counsel or attorney for either or any of the parties to said matter, nor in any way interested in the outcome of the cause named herein. DATED: November 30, 2014 KATY LEONARD Certified Shorthand Reporter License No. 11599 LEONARD REPORTING SERVICES, INC. (415) 312 -9040 39