2021/03/11 Planning Commission Minutes
Minutes of the Planning Commission Meeting
of the City of Rohnert Park
Thursday, March 11, 2021
6:00 P.M.
130 Avram Avenue, Rohnert Park
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Orloff called the regular meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Led by Chairperson Orloff.
3. ROLL CALL
Present: Daniel A. Blanquie, Commissioner
Tramaine Austin-Dillon, Commissioner
Fanny Lam, Vice Chairperson
Marc Orloff, Chairperson
Charles Striplen, Commissioner
Absent: None.
Staff attending via Zoom Video Communications: Planning Manager, Jeff Beiswenger,
Recording Secretary, Jennifer Sedna and Consultants Della Acosta and Kari Zajak.
Staff present: IS Analyst, Mike Son.
4. PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
5. CONSENT CALENDAR - ADOPTION OF MINUTES
5.1 Approval of the Draft Minutes of the Planning Commission Meeting of February
11, 2021.
ACTION: Moved/seconded (Blanquie/Striplen) to adopt Minutes of the Planning
Commission Meeting of February 11, 2021.
Motion carried by the following unanimous (5-0-0) roll call vote: AYES:
Austin-Dillon, Blanquie, Striplen, Lam and Orloff; NOES: None; ABSTAIN:
None; ABSENT: None.
6. AGENDA ITEMS
6. AGENDA ITEM S
6.1 STUDY SESSION - City of Rohnert Park -General Plan EIR Scoping
M eeting
Planning Manager, Jeff Beiswenger, introduced the item and answered questions from
the Commission, including: wildfire prevention; open space/parks focus and surveys;
access to emergency services; who will be performing 8250 under CEQA; if a General
Plan workshop will be held for residents; and, pedestrian-related issues.
Consultants Della Acosta and Kari Zajak joined the meeting to present the item and
answered questions from the Commission, including: the nature of the wildfire analysis
to be done under CEQA and if the unincorporated areas around the City will be included
in the analysis as well.
Public Comment: Kimberly Finale expressed support for healthy living in the City,
concerns about aging sidewalks and the wall on Southwest, and other pedestrian-related
issues such as parked RVs. Maria Hensel expressed concern that there was not the ability
to join the meeting via a link and that the California Tiger Salamander habitat south of
the SOMO Village should be protected open space and not developed.
Meeting recessed at 6:33 p.m.
Meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m.
6.2 PRESENTATION - City of Rohnert Park - Receive the Annual Status of the
General Plan for Calendar Year 2020
Planning Manager, Jeff Beiswenger, presented the item and answered questions from the
Commission, including: when the Annual Report will be filed; how this information is
shared and how the public is engaged; if the goals of the 2020 update can be modified;
adding enhancement goals in streetscapes and habitat sections; the consequences to not
reaching the regional housing allocation goals and if the numbers are inclusive of the
Five Creek very low units;
7. ITEMS FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION
Commissioner Austin-Dillon asked when public comments are discussed and how the
concerns are addressed. Commissioner Striplen stated that the roundabout at Southwest
has received support from business-owners. Vice-Chair Lam and Chair Orloff expressed
concern about the RV issue in regards to pedestrian safety. The Commission requested a
Code Compliance update at a future meeting.
9. ITEMS FROM THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICE STAFF
Staffperson Beiswenger noted the Council voted not to change the composition of the
SOMO Design Review Board so Vice Chair Lam will not be serving on that Board.
10. ADJOURNMENT
Chairperson Orloff adjourned the regular meeting at 7:24 p.m.
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Marc Orloff, ChairpJon