HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026/02/20 City Council Agenda Packet - Special Meeting-111'1n'
"We Care for Our Residents by Working Together to
Build a Better Community for Today and Tomorrow. "
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NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE ROHNERT PARK
CITY COUNCIL WILL HOLD A SPECIAL MEETING — STUDY SESSION
on Friday, February 20, 2026
Open Session: 9:00 AM
MEETING LOCATION:
Oxford Suites, Redwood Ballroom 2
67 Golf Course Drive W, Rohnert Park, CA 94928
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: The Rohnert Park City Council welcomes your attendance, interest and
participation at this special meeting. This meeting will not be televised or broadcasted.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: Provides an opportunity for public comment on items listed on this agenda,
(limited to three minutes per appearance with a maximum allowance of 30 minutes allotted per
comment period, with time limits subject to modification by the City Council in accordance with the
adopted City Council Protocols). Speakers are encouraged to complete a Public Comment card and
submit it to the Clerk at the time of the meeting. This helps ensure an orderly and efficient meeting, but
it is not required.
Members of the public may also provide advanced comments by email at publiccomment@rpcity.org
Comments are requested by 8:00 a.m. on the day of the meeting, but can be emailed until the close of
the Agenda Item for which the comment is submitted. Email comments must identify the Agenda Item
Number 2 in the subject line of the email. The emails will not be read for the record but will be
provided to Council. Please note that all e-mails sent to the City Council are considered to be public
records and subject to disclosure under the California Public Records Act.
City Council/RPFA agendas and minutes may be viewed at the City's website: www.rpcity.org.
PUBLIC HEARINGS: Council/RPFA may discuss and/or take action on any or all of the items listed on
this agenda. If you challenge decisions of the City Council or the Rohnert Park Financing Authority of
the City of Rohnert Park in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else
raised at public hearing(s) described in this agenda, or in written correspondence delivered to the City of
Rohnert Park at, or prior to the public hearing(s).
RIGHT TO APPEAL: Judicial review of any city administrative decision pursuant to Code of Civil
Procedure Section 1094.5 may be had only if a petition is filed with the court no later than the deadlines
specified in Section 1094.6 of the California Code of Civil Procedure, which generally limits the time
within which the decision may be challenged to the 90th day following the date that the decision becomes
final.
SIMULTANEOUS MEETING COMPENSATION DISCLOSURE (Government Code Section
54952.3): Members of the City Council receive no additional compensation as a result of convening this
joint meeting of the City Council and the Rohnert Park Financing Authority.
CITY COUNCIL GOALS: On May 14, 2024, the Rohnert Park City Council adopted the following
multi -year broad goals (listed below in no particular order):
1. Long Term Financial Sustainability 3. Planning and Infrastructure
2. Community Quality of Life 4. Organization Well Being
1. CITY COUNCIL JOINT SPECIAL MEETING - CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
(Adams Giudice Rodriguez Elward Sanborn_
2. DISCUSSION AND DIRECTION REGARDING CITY COUNCIL STRATEGIC
PRIORITIES
A. Public Comments (limited to this agenda item only) - No earlier than 9:00 a.m.
B. Facilitated Workshop on Strategic Priorities
C. Council discussion and direction
3. ADJOURNMENT
NOTE: Time shown for any particular matter on the agenda is an estimate only. Matters may be
considered earlier or later than the time indicated depending on the pace at which the meeting
proceeds. If you wish to speak on an item under discussion by the Council which appears on this
agenda, please refer to page 1 for more details on submitting a public comment. Any item raised by a
member of the public which is not on the agenda and may require Council action shall be automatically
referred to staff for investigation and disposition which may include placing on a future agenda. If the
item is deemed to be an emergency or the need to take action arose after posting of the agenda within
the meaning of Government Code Section 54954.2(b), Council is entitled to discuss the matter to
determine if it is an emergency item under said Government Code and may take action thereon.
AGENDA REPORTS & DOCUMENTS: A paper copy of all staff reports and documents subject to
disclosure that relate to each item of business referred to on the agenda are available for public
inspection at City Hall, 130 Avram Avenue, Rohnert Park, California 94928. Electronic copies of all
staff reports and documents subject to disclosure that relate to each item of business referred to on the
agenda are available for public inspection at
https://www.rpeity.org/ciiy_hall/city_council/meeting_ central. Any writings or documents subject to
disclosure that are provided to all, or a majority of all, of the members of the City Council regarding
any item on this agenda after the agenda has been distributed will be made available for inspection at
City Hall and on our website at the same time. Any writings or documents subject to disclosure that are
provided to the City Council during the meeting will be made available for public inspection during
meeting and on our website following the meeting.
CERTIFICATION OF POSTING OF AGENDA
I, Sylvia Lopez Cuevas, City Clerk, for the City of Rohnert Park, declare that the foregoing agenda was
posted and available for review on February 18, 2026, at Rohnert Park City Hall, 130 Avram Avenue,
Rohnert Park, California 94928. The agenda is also available on the City website at www.rpcity.org
Executed this 18t' day of February, 2026, at Rohnert Park, California.
Sylvia Lopez Cuevas
Office of the City Clerk
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Reflection on Vision, Mission, &
Values
Review Four Broad Goals
Review Key Department --
Accomplishments
Review Department Work Plans
Review Priorities for FY 2025=26
• Establish Council Priorities for FY
2026=27
• Strengthen the team
Our Vision,, Mission and Values
• Vision: Rohnert Park is a thriving,,
family friendly community that is a
safe, enjoyable place to live, work
and play.
• Mission: We care for our residents
by working together to build a
better community for today and
tomorrow.
Values:
• Integrity
• Fiscal Responsibility
• Communication
• Innovation and Creativity
• Collaboration
Reflecting on Our Vision,, Mission, and Values
taff continues implementing vision,
values
mission and
_eadership Team recommends retaining existing
vision, mission and values and reinforcing them
Many new staff just now learning our vision,
fission and values — consistency will be important
1
Adopted Four Broad Go;
Ong Term 4
40 41
Community Planning and
0
Provide for long
term financial
health and
sustainability with
sufficient
resources for our
valued community
services.
,7
Provide for public
safety, develop
the downtown,
address housing
and the needs of
the unhoused,
offer community
enrichment
opportunities, and
foster an overall
high quality of life.
Provide for long
range planning
and well -
maintained
infrastructure,
including facilities,
streets, parks and
utilities.
a
Drganizatic
Be an employer of
choice to attract
and retain talent,
provide for sound
internal systems
to support City
services.
11
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m ishments��.��
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Departments' Accomplishments
City Clerk
• Developed and implemented new business
process for contract routing and processing
• Implemented new Commissions, Committees,
and Boards module to streamline process
• Continued professional development
Public Works
• Meet mandated reporting deadlines for utility
and environmental compliance
Public Safety
• Developed Acting Sergeants for succession planning
• Filled two vacant Sergeant positions
• Implemented Acting Captains for succession
planning
• Conducted an in-house Engineer Academy
Human Resources
• Concluded labor negotiations with four bargaining
units
• Launched recruitments for over 20 positions, both
regular and temporary
• Implementation of over $20 million in capital Expanded health benefit open enrollment
improvement projects process/health and wellness fair
• Developed a new health benefit premium cost
• Completed mandated Cross Connection sharing structure; controlling employee costs
Control Policy Plan
Departments' Accomplishments - continued
Development Services
.
.
.
.
.
.
Completed over 4,000 building inspections and over 100
planning inspections
Completed General Plan 2040, including EIR for public review
Updated various zoning, building, and code compliance
codes
City beautification efforts
Completed required reports to State (General Plan, Housing
Element)
Awarded $28 million grant from State Homekey+ to
construct 72-unit permanent supportive housing
Finance
Adopted Balance Budget
Up-to-date on required financial reporting
Professional training and cross -training to staff
Continued education on ERP/Munis product enhancements
Updated Water Rate and Sewer Rate Study
Community Services
• Developed a subsidy program to expand opportunities for
youth participation in recreation and performing arts
education program
• Completed three components of a future financial
sustainability policy
City Manager's Office
• Led Departments in meeting Council's Strategic Goals &
Priorities
• Negotiated Preliminary Term Sheet with CenterCal for
downtown project
• Held Priority Setting Workshop with Council & City staff
• Enhanced Emergency Preparedness Efforts
• Updated City's Website
• Upgraded various IT networks
• Deployed a modern service desk portal to improve issue
submission and tracking process for City employees
• Provided administrative support to Rohnert Park Foundation
City Manager
Highlights of
Departments' Key
Work Plan Items
Departments' Key Work Plan Items
City Clerk Public Safety
• Records management (training, updates to •Staff retention and increase staffing
policies, reducing paper) •Prepare 5-Year Strategic Plan
• Preparing for Nov. 2026 election •Replacement of frontline engine 9984
• Coordinate and host Brown Act training for •Start design process for station 2 remodel
Council, Commissions, Committees., and
Boards Human Resources
Public Works • Recruit and onboard four Department
• Continue implementing capital improvement Directors
projects and deferred maintenance projects • Update to City Personnel Rules and
• Continue meeting mandated reporting Regulations
deadlines • Update labor and employment specific
• Administer newly adopted Cross Connection policies
Control Policy Plan • Work with CIRA to transition from REMIF
• Maintain grant deadlines for awarded projects Health Plan to CIRA pool
Departments' Key Work Plan Items - continued
Development Services Community Services
• Fill staff vacancies Adopt a Financial Sustainability Policy for Parks and
Recreation
• Implement General Plan 2040 0 Develop and implement a comprehensive social
• Continue ordinance and code updates media plan for Community Services that addresses
the specific needs and goals of each of the three
• Update Department website divisions
• Complete Homekey+ project
City Manager's Office
• Provide required reports to State (General Plan, •Assist Council in achieving strategic goals &
Housing Element) priorities
Finance Provide project management for downtown
• Increase communication efforts
• Adopt balance budget 0 Oversight of implementation of General Plan 2040
• Meet financial reporting schedules •Support Rohnert Park Foundation
• Continue to improve and establish controls to 0Upgrade various IT networks
minimize financial risk 0Complete migration to City's domain to the CA.GOV
extension (per Assembly Bill 1637)
• Staff training and cross training
Priorities for FY 2025-26
e
Downtown
FY 25m26 Infrastructure and
Council Beautification
Priorities
Emergency
Management
Downtown
Key Priority Accomplishments
Infrastructure &
Beautification
Emergency
Management
■ Removed several dead trees at
■ Adopted Parks and Recreation
■ Developed list of non-profit
the site per the recently
Master Plan
resources to support
completed tree study
■ Completed various capital
community in event of
■ Approved Preliminary Stage
improvement projects (ex.
emergency
Y
Term Sheet Negotiations with
Southwest Blvd; signal
■ Held communitymeetings
g
CenterCal Properties, LLC
improvements at Laurel Drive
■ Held EOC exercise activation
■ Coordinated three community
and Petaluma Hill Road; street
■ Attended Emergency
resurfacing )
meetings to seek feedback on
Purchased sewer line camera
Preparedness Fair at Valley
site plan design and other
inspection vehicle for Public
Village Mobile Home Park
important aspects of the
Works
■ Rohnert Park Foundation
project
Updated various building
adopted Victim Relief Fund
standards, fire, and code
Policy
compliance codes
■ Joint "Great Shake Out"
■ Approved agreement to install
exercise with school district
solar panel canopies at various
and City of Cotati
City facilities.
Council Feedback
Do current
priorities
reflect
council s
interests7
?
General Comments About Priorities for the
Coming Year
Current priorities are
still relevant
Strong emphasis on
making progress on the
downtown
Infrastructure is a main
priority (beautification,
city facilities, other)
CouncilI riorities for
e
Establishing Council's Top Priorities for
71
the Coming Fiscal Year
Three or Four
CI
0 0
0
Setting the
City Up for
Success
•Do not take
staff time away
from
established
priorities and
Departmental
work plans
•Once decisions
are made.,
support them
and the
implementation
involved
Emergency
(natural disaster,
pandemic, civil
unrest)
� New multi -agency
opportunity that
• cannot be delayed
0. MvIlzr.
New outside
funding
opportunity that is
time sensitive
Community safety
issue that must be
addressed in near
term
Changes in laws or
mandates
Questions and
e
LISTENING BLOCKS
In the book, The Art of Listening, by Jud Morris, he lists what he calls the
"10 Non -Building Blocks of Listening." They are as follows:
Evaluation, Judgment
We are so busy planning our attack or criticizing the other's message that we
often do not hear what is really being said?
Jumping to conclusions
We jump to conclusions, filling in our own details before the other person has had
a chance to explain him or herself.
"We're all the same"
We assume that other people think as we do.
Attitude, the closed mind
We "tune out" people with whom we do not agree.
Lack of attention
We let our minds wander, giving in to other external noises or distractions.
Wishful hearing
We tend to hear just what we want to hear, or expect to hear.
Excessive talking
We interrupt or dominate the conversation so that the other person doesn't get a
chance to adequately express his or her ideas.
Unclear words
We fail to find out what the other person means by the particular words s/he
chooses.
Lack of humility
We feel that we must express our superiority by speaking or contradicting the
other.
Fear
We avoid listening with understanding because we are afraid that the other
person may challenge some long -held belief. We are afraid to be threatened by
a new idea.
APPLICATION
Which of the "non -building" blocks do you use? List them and briefly
explain.
Which of the "non -building" blocks does someone you know use when
you are talking with him/her? List them and briefly explain.
2. Following any request to place an item on the agenda, either during a
council meeting or by the Mayor, the City Manager will be responsible for
placement of requested items on the agenda after evaluation of all requests
for, among other things, time -sensitivity, the number of items already
agendized, and any effect the item may have on Council -established
priorities.
H. Standard Adjournment
The City Council will not hear any new agenda items past 11:00 p.m. without a
majority vote of the City Council. If agenda items remain after 11:00 p.m., City
Council may extend the meeting with a majority vote, a special meeting may be
scheduled, or the items may be deferred until the next meeting.
III. RULES OF CONDUCT
A. Rosenberg's Rules of Order
Except as provided herein, other rules adopted by the City Council and applicable
provisions of state law, the procedures of the City Council will be governed by
the latest revised edition of Rosenberg's Rules of Order, which are appended
herein for reference. In addition, a summary entitled "Rosenberg's Rules of Order
at a Glance" is appended as well to assist Councilmembers with making motions
for Council reference and convenience.
B. Powers and Duties of Presiding Officer of City Council
Participation
The presiding officer may move, second, debate, and vote from the chair.
2. Seating Arrangement for City Council
The presiding officer will, following each Council election of officers and at such
other time as the presiding officer deems it necessary, establish the seating
arrangement of the members of the Council. The Vice Mayor will always be
seated immediately next to the Mayor.
Motion to Be Stated
The City Clerk will verbally restate each motion immediately prior to calling for
the vote. The presiding officer in their discretion may publicly explain the effect
of a vote for the audience, or they may direct a member of the city staff to do so
before proceeding to the next item of business.
4. Signing of Documents
The presiding officer will sign all ordinances, resolutions, contracts, and other
documents necessitating their signature, which were adopted, unless they are
unavailable in which case the signature of an alternate presiding officer may be
used.
C. Rules of Decorum
1. Council Efficiency and Productivity. The City Council is to ensure that
organizational functionality is maintained and enhanced for the benefit of the City.
Council members are encouraged to act in a manner that supports and advances
City Council Protocols Page 6 of 30
Amended 812612025 by Reso No 2025-064
the functioning, productivity, and efficiency of the City and the City Council as a
whole.
2. Courtesy and Respect. Courtesy and respect for each individual
Councilmember's interpersonal style and individual points of view will be a
standard of operation. All City Councilmembers will respect each other's right to
disagree. All City Councilmembers will expect a high degree of decorum and
courtesy during City Council meetings in interactions between and among
Councilmembers, from Councilmembers towards the public and staff, and from
the public towards Councilmembers and staff. Councilmembers and staff will be
polite, even under tense situations, and will refrain from impolite or disrespectful
remarks and body language at public meetings either towards a City
Councilmember, staff or the public.
3. Respectful Interactions on Dais. No Councilmember should use their seat
on the Council dais in a disrespectful and inappropriate manner. Nor should a
Councilmember state a point of view in a negative manner which includes:
personally attacking another Councilmember, staff or member of the public;
walking off the Council dais or leaving any meeting in anger or disgust;
emphasizing a political point of view solely for the purpose of playing to the
audience unrelated to the issue before the Council; using the dais for a strictly
personal purpose; addressing the media for political purposes rather than
addressing the Council as a body; purposely misstating the facts of an issue for
political purposes; or monopolizing discussion time in a manner that does not
facilitate or further deliberation, general understanding or bring the issue to a
conclusive decision.
4. Use of Electronic Devices. Councilmembers are permitted to use laptop
computers and other electronic devices such as iPads to access electronic agenda
packets while in session. However, while the Council is in session, to satisfy due
process requirements, Councilmembers shall give their sole attention to the
proceedings and shall refrain from using electronic devices such as computers,
cell phones, pagers, PDAs and other electronic devices for the purpose of sending
or receiving external communication unless an emergency or extraordinary
circumstance exists.
5. Applicability to Committee, Commissions, Boards, and Staff. Committee,
Commissions and Board Members, and employees will observe the same rules of
order and decorum applicable to the City Council.
6. Conduct of Speakers. No person shall engage in behavior during a meeting
of the City Council that actually disrupts, disturbs, impedes or renders infeasible
the orderly conduct of the meeting. The Mayor, in consultation with the City
Attorney, may silence any person's microphone, remove, or cause the removal or
silencing of any individual for disrupting the meeting, after providing the
necessary warning pursuant to California Government Code Section 54957.95.
D. Rules of Debate
Getting the Floor
Every Councilmember desiring to speak will first address the presiding officer,
gain recognition by the presiding officer, and will confine themselves to the
question under debate, avoiding personalities and indecorous language.
Cit}l Council Protocols Page 7 of 30
Amended 812612025 by Reso No 2025-064
Tips for Better Communication
PREREQUISITE #1
Take responsibility for your words and acknowledge the outcomes that ensue
from them.
PREREQUISITE #2
Be willing to accept the hearer's reaction to your words without becoming
defensive.
❑ Know what your intentions are.
When communicating with someone, be aware of your intentions in the
communication because it will affect the outcome. It is always optimal to start from a
place of good will.
❑ Be sure that you and the other person involved in the
communication mean the same thing.
Always clarify your understanding before moving on to the next thing.
❑ Know when and how to let the other person know what is going on
inside you (your inner process).
There are times when it is helpful, even critical, to express what is going on for you,
relevant to the interchange.
❑ Respond rather that react to the person with whom you are having
the dialogue.
Responding means to speak or act "in response to"; in other words, to answer or
acknowledge what has been said, rather than to express an emotional reaction to a
communication. Responding instead of reacting is important to effective
communication.
❑ Practice active listening.
Active listening is a total involvement in the process of dialoguing with the other
person. It means to further communication through clarifying rather than interpreting.