HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026/03/10 City of Rohnert Park Foundation Agenda Packet
CITY OF ROHNERT PARK FOUNDATION BOARD
SPECIAL MEETING NOTICE AND AGENDA
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT A SPECIAL MEETING
will be held on March 10, 2026
Open Session: 5:30 p.m. or soon thereafter recess of the Rohnert Park City
Council/RPFA/Successor Agency to CDC Joint Regular Meeting
MEETING LOCATION: CITY HALL - COUNCIL CHAMBER
130 Avram Avenue, Rohnert Park, California
SIMULTANEOUS MEETING COMPENSATION DISCLOSURE (Government Code §
54952.3): Members of the City Council receive no additional compensation as a result of
convening meeting of the City of Rohnert Park Foundation.
Members of the public are encouraged to observe the meeting on Cable Channel 26, by visiting
meeting central on our website https://www.rpcity.org/city_hall/city_council/meeting_central or
at our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/CityofRohnertPark
PUBLIC COMMENTS: Provides an opportunity for public comment on items not listed on the
agenda, or on agenda items if unable to comment at the scheduled time (limited to three minutes
per appearance and a 30 minute total time limit, or allocation of time determined by Presiding
Officer based on number of speaker cards submitted). 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 send advanced comments to publiccomment@rpcity.org. Comments
are requested by 3:00 p.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 in the subject line of the email. The emails will not be read for the record but will
be provided to Board. Please note that all e-mails sent to the Board are considered to be public
records and subject to disclosure under the California Public Records Act.
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 Board which appears on this
agenda, after receiving recognition from the Chair, please walk to the rostrum and state your
name and address for the record. Any item raised by a member of the public which is not on the
agenda and may require Board 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), the Board is entitled to discuss the matter to determine if
it is an emergency item under said Government Code and may take action thereon.
AMERICAN DISABILITY ACT ACCOMMODATION: Any member of the public who needs
accommodations should email the ADA Coordinator at adacoordinator@rpcity.org or by calling
707-588-2224. Notification at least 72 hours prior to the meeting will enable the ADA
Coordinator to use her best efforts to provide reasonable accommodations to provide as much
accessibility as possible while also maintaining public safety in accordance with the City
procedure for resolving reasonable accommodation requests. Information about reasonable
accommodations is available on the City website at
https://www.rpcity.org/city_hall/departments/human_resources/a_d_a_and_accessibility_resourc
es
AGENDA REPORTS & DOCUMENTS: Paper copies of all staff reports and documents subject
to disclosure that relate to each item of business referred to on this 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 on
https://www.rpcity.org/city_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 Board
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 Board during the meeting will be made available for
public inspection during meeting and on our website following the meeting.
ANNOUNCEMENT: Please mute pagers, cellular telephones and all other communication
devices upon entering the Council Chamber.
1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
Adams:____Giudice:_____Rodriguez:___Vice Chair Elward:____Chair Sanborn:___
2. PRESENTATIONS
3. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OR TREASURER BRIEFINGS
4. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Persons wishing to address the Board on Foundation business on any consent calendar items
or items not listed on the Agenda may do so at this time. Each speaker will be allotted three
minutes. Please see page 1 for information on how to submit comments.
5. CONSENT CALENDAR
All items on the Consent Calendar will be considered together by one or more action(s) of
the Board Members of the City of Rohnert Park Foundation unless any Board Member or
anyone else interested in a consent calendar item has a question about the item. Board
Motion/Vote:
Adams:______ Giudice:______ Rodriguez:______ Elward:______ Sanborn:______
a. Approval of City of Rohnert Park Foundation Special Meeting Minutes, February 24, 2026 (This
is not a project under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA))
6. ACTION ITEMS
A. CONTINUED FROM FEBRUARY 24, 2026: Consider Forming an Ad Hoc Committee to
review the activities of the City of Rohnert Park Foundation and appoint two Board of Directors
to the Ad Hoc Committee (This is not a project under California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA))
1. Staff Report
2. Public Comments
3. Board Discussion
7. COMMUNICATIONS/MATTERS FROM OR FOR THE BOARD
Copies of communications may have been provided to the Board for review prior to this
meeting. Board Members desiring to read or discuss any communication may do so at this
time. Prior to agenda publication, any Board Member may place an item on this portion of
the agenda. Upon the concurrence of two Members, the item may be added to a subsequent
agenda for deliberation and action. In accordance with the Brown Act, at the Board meeting,
Board Members may not add items hereunder, except for brief reports on his or her own
activities or brief announcements regarding an event of community interest.
8. ADJOURNMENT
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 March 5, 2026, at Rohnert Park City Hall,
130 Avram Avenue, Rohnert Park, California 94928.
Executed this 5th day of March, 2026, at Rohnert Park, California.
Sylvia Lopez Cuevas,
Foundation Recording Secretary
MINUTES OF THE CITY OF ROHNERT PARK
FOUNDATION BOARD SPECIAL MEETING
February 24, 2026
Rohnert Park City Hall, Council Chamber
130 Avram Avenue, Rohnert Park, California
1. CITY OF ROHNERT PARK FOUNDATION BOARD SPECIAL MEETING -
CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
Chair Sanborn called the Special Meeting to order at 6:32 p.m., which was legally noticed on
February 19, 2026.
Directors Present: Emily Sanborn, Chair
Jackie Elward, Vice Chair
Susan H. Adams, Director
Directors Absent: Gerard Giudice, Director
Samantha Rodriguez, Director
Staff present: Executive Director Piedra, Deputy Legal Counsel Murphy, Treasurer
Howze, Director of Community Services Bagley, Director of Public Safety Mattos,
Acting Director of Public Works Hendersen, Interim Director of Human Resources
Rankin, Senior Analyst Carey, Information Systems Operations Manager Cotter, and
Recording Secretary Machado.
2. PRESENTATIONS
None.
3. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OR TREASURER BRIEFINGS
None.
4. PUBLIC COMMENTS
None.
5. CONSENT CALENDAR
A. Approval of City of Rohnert Park Foundation Special Meeting Minutes, January
13, 2026
ACTION: Moved/seconded (Adams/Elward) to approve the consent
calendar.
Motion carried by the following unanimous 3-0-2-0 voice vote:
AYES: Adams, Elward, and Sanborn, NOES: None, ABSENT:
Giudice, Rodriguez, ABSTAINS: None.
6. REGULAR ITEMS
A. Consider Forming an Ad Hoc Committee to review the activities of the City
of Rohnert Park Foundation and appoint two Board of Directors to the Ad Hoc
Committee. City Manager Piedra presented this item. Recommended Action: 1. By
Item 5.A.
City of Rohnert Park Foundation Board Special Meeting February 24, 2026
Page 2 of 2
Minute Order, form an Ad Hoc Committee to work with City staff to review the activities
of the City of Rohnert Park Foundation. 2. Appoint two Board of Directors to the Ad Hoc
Committee.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: None.
ACTION: Moved/seconded (Sanborn/Adams) to bring this item to a future
agenda when all directors are present.
Motion carried by the following unanimous 3-0-2-0 voice vote:
AYES: Adams, Elward, and Sanborn, NOES: None, ABSENT:
Giudice, Rodriguez, ABSTAINS: None.
7. COMMUNICATIONS/MATTERS FROM OR FOR THE BOARD
None.
8. ADJOURNMENT
Chair Sanborn adjourned the Foundation Board Special Meeting at 6:37 p.m.
_____________________________________ __________________________________
Elizabeth Machado, Recording Secretary Emily Sanborn, Chair
City of Rohnert Park Foundation Board City of Rohnert Park Foundation Board
ITEM NO. 6.A.
1
Meeting Date: February 24, 2026
Department: Administration
Submitted By: Marcela Piedra, Executive Director
Prepared By: Paul Carey, Senior Analyst
Agenda Title: By Minute Order, Form an Ad Hoc Committee to review the activities of the
City Of Rohnert Park Foundation and Appoint two Board of Directors to the Ad
Hoc Committee
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
1. By Minute Order, form an Ad Hoc Committee to work with City staff to review the activities of
the City of Rohnert Park Foundation.
2. Appoint two Board of Directors to the Ad Hoc Committee.
BACKGROUND:
In November of 2008, the City of Rohnert Park (“City”) created a non-profit, charitable corporation
called the Focus Rohnert Park Corporation (“Foundation”). The Foundation serves as a governmental
component unit of the City: It is a legally separate organization for which the elected officials of the
City are financially accountable. In February of 2012, the Foundation officially changed its name to
the City of Rohnert Park Foundation. The purpose of the Foundation is to raise and manage funds in
connection with civic purposes and projects. Foundation bylaws define “civic purposes” as “focusing
resources on and providing funding areas of need in the community of Rohnert Park which enhance
new partnerships with community members, nonprofits, foundations, public agencies, and similar
entities.” The bylaws define “civic projects” as “focusing resources on and providing projects which
sustain or enhance the community of Rohnert Park.”
On January 23, 2024, the Foundation Board established the Rohnert Park Foundation Ad Hoc
Committee for a limited duration of one year. At that same meeting, the Board appointed Director
Samantha Rodriguez and Director Susan Adams to serve on the Committee. These appointments
occurred prior to the adoption of the 2024 to 2026 Small Grants Guidelines. As the Ad Hoc Committee
was created for a limited duration, it was automatically dissolved on January 23, 2025, at which time
the terms of the appointed Directors concluded.
BOARD AGENDA REPORT
ITEM NO. 6.A.
2
This item was presented at the February 24, 2026 Foundation meeting but was continued to allow all
Directors to be present to participate.
ANALYSIS
Since the creation of the Foundation, many community projects have been completed. The Foundation
has been primarily funded with contributions made by the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria
(FIGR) through the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) the City of Rohnert Park has with the
FIGR.
Per the adopted second amended and restated MOU with the FIGR adopted on June 27, 2023, the
Rohnert Park Foundation will be receiving a recurring contribution of $1,330,000 per year. Many
projects, such as the Small Grants Program, fee waivers for community events, and other civic
activities are funded with Foundation funds.
The City of Rohnert Park City Council serves as the Board of Directors of the Foundation. Per Section
4.1 of the Foundation by-laws, the Board of Directors may, by resolution adopted by a majority of the
Directors then in office (provided a quorum is present), create committees, consisting of two Directors.
Such committees shall have such power and authority as may be determined by the Board of Directors.
The differentiating factor in determining whether a standing committee or an ad hoc committee is more
appropriate is contingent upon the anticipated duration of the proposed committee. Ad hoc committees
are formed for a limited time of no more than 12 months and have a specific purpose outlined, whereas
standing committees tend to be more enduring with a broader scope of defined duties.
City staff recommends that the Board of Directors create an ad hoc committee for a limited duration of
no more than 12 months (one year) and includes two Board of Directors. The purpose of the ad hoc
committee would be to:
1. Review the draft 2026/2028 Smalls Grants Guidelines which incorporates lessons learned from
the 2024/2026 Small Grants Cycle.
2. Provide recommendations for the 2026/2028 Small Grants Guidelines and grant cycle.
3. Review work with City staff to evaluate the activities and programs offered by the Foundation.
Staff believe the Board of Directors can form the ad hoc committee by minute order due to its short-
term (ad hoc) assignment.
If it is the Board of Directors’ direction to form an ad hoc committee, the Board may then make two
appointments to the Rohnert Park Foundation Ad Hoc Committee.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Foundation’s recuring contribution receipts has annual COLA. We will receive approximately
$1,470,300 in FY 25-26.
ITEM NO. 6.A.
3
Secretary Approval Date: 2/18/2026
Treasurer Approval Date: 2/8/2026
City Attorney Approval Date: 2/6/2026
Executive Director Approval Date: 2/2/2026