Proposal to Contract Law Enforcement to County Stuns, Maddens Rohnert Park Residents at Annual Easter Egg Hunt

A police-sponsored Easter Egg hunt became an impromptu forum Saturday for a controversial proposal to contract-out Rohnert Park police and fire services.

It started when Dave Welch, an officer with the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety, asked a crowd of more than 300 Rohnert Park residents who showed up Saturday morning for a kids Easter egg hunt for their help.

“We need your help, the city of Rohnert Park is proposing a deal to contract out police services to the county,” Welch said while standing over a field filled with candy. “We’re asking you to write your City Council members and let them know how you feel.”

“This is contrary to everything you voted for when you passed Measure E last year,” Welch said to residents, as he held a copy of the April 24 Press Democrat over the crowd, in which an article was published about the developing proposal . “This would send your tax dollars out of the city and to the county.”

City Manager Gabe Gonzalez stressed that he is just looking at the cost.

"I don't have an agenda, I'm just trying to figure out how we can make things better for the taxpayer," Gonzalez said. "We have an obligation to the taxpayer to let them know where their dollar is going." 

Meanwhile, following Welch's speech, the real business at hand — the Easter egg hunt — took off. Kids, from two-year-olds to teenagers, scattered out over City Center Park collecting handfuls of candy in search of the prized golden egg — the reward was, you guessed it — more candy.

Crowds of Rohnert Park residents gathered in small groups, some were talking Easter plans, some mulled the idea of contracting out law enforcement to the county following Welch’s speech. The majority said saving local jobs was the most important thing.

“I do not think we should contract our police services out,” said Christine Matzen, a Rohnert Park resident who has raised her kids here. “We had such a fun time today, and the police do all kinds of stuff like this — we need to keep it here. They know how the city works and they know who the bad guys are.”

“So many of the police are from here, and they’re raising their kids here. Rohnert Park is a small community, and they’re a part of it,” Matzen added.

Melissa Phillips, 32, who has lived in Rohnert Park for nine years and has three kids, said contracting out law enforcement was a “terrible idea.”

“Our community needs to be able to help ourselves; we need to keep our services here,” Phillips said.

Barbara Van Valkenburg, a Rohnert Park resident, said she’s dead set against it.

“We’re not going to get much protection from the sheriffs, they have so much else to worry about,” she said.

Some parents in the crowd were just happy to have a community event like the Easter egg hunt to bring their kids to.

“This is a tradition, we come every year,” said Rohnert Park resident Amy Mahoney. “It gives our kids a sense of community and togetherness.”

“This is a great way for the kids to celebrate Easter,” said Brian August of Rohnert Park, who brought his three kids out for the first time.

Welch said the egg hunt was paid for by the Rohnert Park Public Safety Officers Association.

“We do more than that too: the toy drive, the Santa float, we sponsor sports teams, all those community events,” he said.

Gonzalez confirmed late Saturday that he has hired Matrix Consulting Group, an outside firm headquartered in Palo Alto, to study the cost of the police services Rohnert Park currently provides, and weigh it with a county proposal. The firm was paid $9,500.

It’s important to emphasize, Gonzalez said, that if the city’s biggest cost is police and fire, that’s where he has to look. Out of the city’s $26 million 2010-’11 in expenditures, police and fire cost $15.5 million, he said.

Gonzalez added that by using an outside firm to conduct the study, he can be assured that it's fair and unbiased.

“I can’t stress enough that nothing has been decided,” Gonzalez said. “I’m new here, so I am simply evaluating what it costs the city for the service we currently provide — I have an obligation to the taxpayer to do that, to let them know where their dollars are going, and I’m going to disclose it — the good, the bad and the ugly.”

Welch scrutinized Gonzalez because he said he wouldn't provide a copy of the county’s draft proposal so the Rohnert Park Public Safety Officer’s Association could examine the county’s submission during their labor talks. He also said public safety helped the city get Measure E passed.

"We went into Measure E with good faith after being assured by the council the funds would stay in Rohnert Park," Welch said.

“It was because of us that Measure E passed,” he added. “We used our money for the campaign, it was our $30,000. If Rohnert Park starts contracting out, then what? Our tax dollars go to the county.”

“At the end of the day, we just want to see the proposal, we’re willing to negotiate,” Welch said. “I find it kind of funny that this all surfaced the day our union went into contract negotiations — it looks like a heavy-handed scare tactic.”

Gonzalez said he isn’t violating any laws.

I am aware of the fact that we’re in labor negotiations, I have consulted with our attorney, and I am not in violation of any labor laws,” he said. “I am simply looking at what it costs, and when I have something to present, I’ll share it with everybody.”

Welch handed out flyers throughout Easter egg hunt, and asked residents to sign up for an email list for updates on the issue.

The flyer stated the proposal would “break the promise of Measure E,” 71 police officers would lose his or her jobs, it charged that discussions are being held behind closed doors between the city manager and the City Council, Rohnert Park’s crime rate may increase and it would mean the end of the Easter egg hunt.

“The City Council and the city manager are considering a proposal that would eliminate your local police and firefighters by contracting the … services to the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department. If this proposal happens, it would have major consequences for Rohenrt Park,” the flyer stated. “Keep Rohnert Park safe by funding local police and fire protection,” it continued.

“No one is losing their jobs,” Gonzalez said.

Rohnert Park Patch contacted each councilmember on Easter to get their take.

“We have absolutely no information, we haven’t discussed it, we haven’t seen any proposal,” said councilmember Pam Stafford. “This is Gabe’s job as a city manager to give us complete information, he doesn’t have that yet.”

“The rumors are a little bit frustrating,” said Mayor Gina Belforte. “What’s important is that no decision has been made. The council doesn’t know anything yet.”

“The City Council has made no policy decision on items relating to this budget,” said Vice Mayor Jake Mackenzie.

Rohnert Park begins its budget workshops May 10 at 10 a.m. at City Hall. The workshops are open to the public. Stay tuned to Rohnert Park Patch for updates.

Gonzalez said Rohnert Park is facing more than $60 million in deferred maintenance costs, and the city has already made massive cuts to other departments. The estimated $1 million deficit, in reality, is much worse than it seems.

"I inherited a $100 million deficit, between deferred maintenance and unfunded liabilities," Gonzalez said. "We can turn it around, but we need to look at everything and it's going to take time — we didn't get here overnight."

Guy Miller, Rohnert Park's Recreation Services manager, confirmed that the city's facilities are crumbling. 

"Almost all of our facilities are in need of repair," Miller said.

View the slideshow of the Easter egg hunt by clicking on the photos to the right.