Santa Rosa meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Santa Rosa approves Starbucks drive-thru, care facility expansion

The Santa Rosa Planning Commission approved a Conditional Use Permit for a Starbucks pickup store with drive-through and walk-up service at 131 College Avenue in a 4-2 vote on Aug. 13. The permit allows demolition of the former auto repair building and construction of a 1,280-square-foot restaurant with no seating, operating from 4 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. One commissioner was absent.

Planning Commission approves Starbucks drive-thru

The commission's 4-2 decision on Aug. 13 also included approval of the July 9, 2026 meeting minutes as submitted. The commission held a study session on the South Santa Rosa Specific Plan draft preferred alternative but took no action on the plan.

Zoning Administrator approves care facility and coffee shop

The Zoning Administrator on Aug. 13 approved two permits:

• A Minor Conditional Use Permit to expand a Residential Care Facility for the Elderly at 2364 Melbrook Way from six to nine residents (Resolution ZA-RES-2026-031).
• A Minor Conditional Use Permit and Minor Design Review for a drive-through coffee shop (7 Brew Coffee) at 2249 Santa Rosa Avenue, including extended hours and site improvements (Resolutions ZA-RES-2026-032 and ZA-RES-2026-033). The second permit was approved as amended.

Other recent meetings

Several other meetings occurred in the past two weeks, but no decisions have been published yet.

• The Economic Development Subcommittee met Aug. 10 to receive informational updates on the quarterly economic development report, the strategic plan implementation, Planning's Express Permitting Program, and the federal Opportunity Zone program. No action items were scheduled.
• The Budget Review Subcommittee met Aug. 10 to hear a presentation on Santa Rosa Water's revised miscellaneous fees and charges. The subcommittee was asked to recommend the fees for the Board's consideration at a public hearing on Aug. 20. Public comment closed Aug. 9.
• The City Council met Aug. 18 with an agenda that included a real property exchange for the City Hall campus, a $3,779,141 contract for Downtown Connectivity, a $22,534,460 state grant for the Water Consolidation Project, and two public hearings on water waste regulations and storm water charges. Minutes have not yet been published.
• The Board of Public Utilities met Aug. 20 and considered recommending a $2,683,593 state grant for the Park Royal Consolidation Project, a public hearing on revised Trucked Waste Program tipping fees, and loan applications for the Fulton Road Sewer Lift Station Relocation Project. No minutes are available.
• The Long-Term Financial Policy and Audit Subcommittee cancelled its Aug. 13 meeting; next meeting is Sept. 10.
• The Design Review and Preservation Board cancelled its Aug. 20 meeting; next is Sept. 3.
• The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board cancelled its Aug. 20 meeting; next is Sept. 17.

Coming up

The Housing Authority will meet Aug. 24 to consider loan extensions and funding allocations, including a $172,250 loan extension for Kay Mar Mobilehome Park, up to $177,000 for repairs at Stony Point Commons, and $2,000,000 for Ponderosa Village Phase II and $1,642,571 for Caritas Homes Phase II. It will also consider revisions to the Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan.

The Zoning Administrator will hold a public meeting Aug. 27 to consider a Minor Landmark Alteration Permit for siding and window replacement at 634 Wheeler St. The Planning and Economic Development Department recommends approval; appeals are due within 10 days of the decision.

Cancelled upcoming meetings: Board of Parks and Recreation (Aug. 26, next Oct. 28) and Planning Commission (Aug. 27, next Sept. 10).

City Council advances sales tax measure, approves infrastructure contracts

The Santa Rosa City Council voted 6-0 on July 28 to introduce an ordinance and adopt a resolution that would ask voters to replace the current half-cent Measure Q sales tax with a one-cent tax on the November 3, 2026 ballot. The council also approved several infrastructure contracts, a housing grant application, and a fire department weed abatement report.

City Council actions

At its July 28 meeting, the council took the following actions, all by 6-0 votes:

• Introduced an ordinance to replace the half-cent sales tax with a one-cent tax.
• Adopted a resolution to submit the sales tax measure to voters on Nov. 3, 2026.
• Approved a $1.18 million total contract for the Santa Rosa Avenue at Bellevue Avenue traffic signal.
• Authorized a $30 million Homekey Plus grant application for Caritas Homes Phase II.
• Appropriated $4.44 million in state grant funds for the Robin Way Water System Consolidation Project.
• Accepted a $750,000 donation from Sonoma Land Trust for the Southeast Greenway Master Plan.
• Confirmed the Fire Department's report on weed and rubbish abatement costs.
• Appointed Vincenzo Signoretti to the Design Review and Preservation Board.

Other recent meetings

Several other bodies met during the past two weeks, though most items were on agendas without published minutes yet.

• **Housing Authority (July 27):** The body considered extending maturing loans for California Programs for the Autistic's Benton House ($30,899.53) and Community Support Network's Dutton Homes ($128,000), and discussed subordination of loans for Aston Avenue Apartments ($558,071). No decisions were reported.
• **Public Safety Subcommittee (July 28):** Approved the April 21, 2026, regular meeting minutes. The rest of the meeting consisted of presentations from the Police and Fire Departments.
• **Art in Public Places Committee (Aug. 3):** Agenda items included a $20,000 contract for Martín Zúñiga's *Las Sincuenta Monarcas* project, a 2027-2029 Temporary Art Walk plan, and design options for the Brookwood Roses Mural. No decisions were reported.
• **City Council (Aug. 4):** Agenda items included allocating $1,496,623.27 in CDBG-DR funds for the Coffey Park and Fountaingrove Neighborhood Road Disaster Recovery Project, extending the High-Density Multi-Family Residential Incentive Program to Aug. 31, 2031, renewing the state Prohousing Designation, extending the local homeless emergency proclamation, and a briefing on the Community Empowerment Plan update. No decisions were reported.
• **Board of Public Utilities (Aug. 6):** Agenda items included a professional services agreement with Catalyst Group not to exceed $441,979 for a Laguna de Santa Rosa water quality study, a sodium hypochlorite supply bid with Pioneer Americas LLC not to exceed $600,000, a $175,000 amendment to a liquid alum purchase order with Chemtrade Chemicals US LLC, a recommendation for Storm Water Enterprise charges of $43.52 per Equivalent Residential Unit, and an update on the Water Supply Alternatives Plan. No decisions were reported.

Cancelled meetings

The following meetings were cancelled:

• Climate Action Subcommittee (Aug. 5)
• Design Review and Preservation Board (Aug. 6; next regular meeting Aug. 20)
• Open Government Task Force Implementation Subcommittee (Aug. 6; next regular meeting Oct. 1)

Coming up

The Long-Term Financial Policy and Audit Subcommittee meeting scheduled for Aug. 13 has been cancelled. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Sept. 10, 2026.

Santa Rosa advisory board approves two community grants; Council set to weigh $30M housing grant

The Community Advisory Board approved two $2,500 Community Improvement Grants at its July 22 meeting, the only local board with finalized actions in the past two weeks. Several other Santa Rosa bodies met or were scheduled to meet on items ranging from a $30 million housing grant application to a proposed Mister Car Wash, but minutes for those meetings have not yet been published.

Community Advisory Board — July 22

The board voted 5-0 to approve a $2,500 grant for EFZM Engage's Vince Harper's South Park Day & Night Festival and 5-0 to approve a $2,500 grant for the Sonoma County Library Foundation's Roseland Regional Library Mosaic Sculpture. The board also received presentations on police surveillance technology and a greenway connectivity study, and approved June 3, 2026 draft minutes as amended.

City Council — July 28 (agenda only)

The Council agenda listed several financial items, though minutes have not been published and no outcomes are confirmed:

• Authorize application for up to $30 million Homekey Plus housing grant
• Award traffic signal contract (Contract No. C02283) for $1,180,705
• Accept $750,000 donation from Sonoma Land Trust for the Southeast Greenway Master Plan
• Approve legal research agreement with West Publishing for up to $174,432
• Approve $1,000,000 blanket purchase order for Bigbelly waste receptacles

Study sessions on transit-oriented communities and the CityBus short-range plan were also scheduled.

Housing Authority — July 27 (agenda only)

The Housing Authority was scheduled to consider extending three maturing loans:

• California Programs for the Autistic's Benton House loan: $30,899.53
• Community Support Network's Dutton Homes loan: $128,000
• Aston Avenue Apartments loan subordination: $558,071

A pending development pipeline update and approval of June 15, 2026 draft minutes were also on the agenda.

Planning Commission and Zoning Administrator — July 23 (agenda only)

The Planning Commission was scheduled to hold a public hearing on the appeal of a denied Massage Establishment Certificate for a business at 4908 Highway 12, with an expected resolution denying the appeal. The Zoning Administrator was set to consider a Minor Conditional Use Permit and Minor Design Review for a new Mister Car Wash at 2700 Santa Rosa Avenue, on an approximately 0.84-acre site with a 4,700-square-foot building.

Public Safety Subcommittee — July 28 (agenda only)

The subcommittee was scheduled to hear the Santa Rosa Police Department's response to recommendations from the OIR Group Independent Police Auditor's 2025 Annual Report. Updates from Chief Cregan (Police) and Chief Westrope (Fire) were also on the agenda.

Cancelled meetings

The July 23 Tourism Business Improvement Area Advisory Board meeting was cancelled; its next meeting is September 24, 2026.

Coming up

• **Aug. 3 — Art in Public Places Committee:** Vote on a $20,000 contract for Martín Zúñiga's Las Sincuenta Monarcas project, the 2027-2029 Temporary Art Walk plan, and Brookwood Roses mural designs.
• **Aug. 4 — City Council:** Consider extending the High-Density Multi-Family Residential Incentive Program to August 31, 2031; allocate $1,496,623.27 in CDBG-DR funds for Coffey Park and Fountaingrove neighborhood road recovery; and extend the local homeless emergency proclamation.
• **Aug. 6 — Board of Public Utilities:** Consider a $441,979 professional services agreement with Catalyst Group for a Laguna de Santa Rosa water quality study, a $600,000 sodium hypochlorite supply contract, and a $175,000 liquid alum purchase order amendment.
• **Cancelled:** Climate Action Subcommittee (Aug. 5), Design Review and Preservation Board (Aug. 6, next meeting Aug. 20), Open Government Task Force Implementation Subcommittee (Aug. 6, next meeting Oct. 1), and Long-Term Financial Policy and Audit Subcommittee (Aug. 13, next meeting Sept. 10).

Santa Rosa Zoning Administrator approves 15-bed elder care facility and wireless facility modification

The most consequential decisions in Santa Rosa over the past two weeks came from the Zoning Administrator, who approved a 15-bed community care facility for the elderly at 170 Sotoyome Street and a rooftop wireless telecommunications facility modification at 2323 Montgomery Drive.

Zoning Administrator approvals (July 9)

The Zoning Administrator adopted two resolutions as presented:

• **Minor Conditional Use Permit** to convert an office building at 170 Sotoyome Street into a 15-bed community care facility for the elderly (resolution ZA-RES-2026-029).
• **Minor Design Review** to modify the existing rooftop wireless telecommunications facility at 2323 Montgomery Drive, increasing the antenna count by three (resolution ZA-RES-2026-028).

Both approvals were adopted as presented, according to official minutes.

Planning Commission study session (July 9)

The Planning Commission held a study session on transportation impact analysis requirements and received a report on public outreach for the Greenway Connectivity Study. No formal actions or substantive decisions were taken. The commission approved the June 25, 2026 minutes as submitted.

Cancelled meetings

Three meetings were cancelled with no business conducted:

• **Art in Public Places Committee** (July 6) — next meeting scheduled August 3, 2026.
• **Long-Term Financial Policy and Audit Subcommittee** (July 9).
• **Design Review and Preservation Board** (July 16) — next meeting set for August 6, 2026.

Meetings held but minutes not yet published

Several bodies met between July 14 and July 16, but official minutes have not yet been published. Agendas indicate the following items were scheduled for discussion or action:

• **City Council (July 14):** Study session on enhancing City revenue (no action scheduled); consent items included accepting $4.6 million from Sonoma County Measure O for the inRESPONSE Mental Health Support Team, approving a $2 million contingency for the Route 101 Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing, and increasing the Geotab vehicle tracking contract by $200,000 (total $950,000). A council member requested a future ordinance on unpermitted food vendors.
• **Board of Public Utilities (July 16):** Agenda included a recommendation to the City Council to appropriate $22,534,460 in grant funds for the Santa Rosa Water Consolidation Project, acquisition of 3875 Skyfarm Drive for relocation of Reservoir 5, a $325,500 software license amendment with ITpipes Opco LLC, and a $13,240.80 Agilent Technologies maintenance amendment.
• **Board of Building Regulations Appeals (July 15):** Scheduled to hear an appeal of an order to vacate 2371 Corby Ave. #15, with staff recommending denial.
• **Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board (July 16):** Updates on Redwood Bikeshare and the Greenway Connectivity Study.
• **Waterways Advisory Committee (July 16):** Presentation on Greenway Connectivity Study outreach, funded by a federal Thriving Communities technical assistance grant.
• **Violence Prevention Partnership (July 15):** Strategic planning workshops on priorities and program brainstorming.

Coming up

• **Community Advisory Board (July 22):** Will decide on two $2,500 community improvement grants — EFZM Engage's Harper's South Park Day & Night Festival and Sonoma County Library Foundation's New Roseland Regional Library Mosaic Sculpture. Also includes a Santa Rosa Police Department presentation on Flock Safety Automatic License Plate Reader technology.
• **Planning Commission (July 23):** Public hearing on an appeal of a denied Massage Establishment Certificate at 4908 Highway 12; expected to adopt a resolution denying the appeal.
• **Zoning Administrator (July 23):** Will consider a Minor Conditional Use Permit and Minor Design Review for a new Mister Car Wash at 2700 Santa Rosa Avenue (approximately 0.84-acre site, 4,700-square-foot building).
• **City Council (July 28):** Will consider applying for up to $30 million in Homekey Plus housing grant funds, accepting a $750,000 donation from Sonoma Land Trust for the Southeast Greenway, a $1,180,705 traffic signal contract, and a $1,000,000 blanket purchase order for Bigbelly waste receptacles.
• **Tourism Business Improvement Area Advisory Board (July 23):** Meeting cancelled; next meeting September 24, 2026.