City Council: Golf Course Lease, Designating Downtown, Disposal Contract

5:05 p.m. Kristen Reeder, the education outreach director for Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue gives an update on services the organization provides to the community. Some include:

• Wildlife rescue for sick, injured or orphaned animals.
• Helping the community with safely getting rid of healthy wild animals that may be in your home, such as bats, skunks or pigeons that may be trapped in attics, sheds or a playhouse perhaps. The organization will humanely help any animal in need.
• For help or more information contact wildlife rescue at 707-526-9453.

5:20: Mayor Gina Belforte announces the week of Sept. 26-30 as childhood obseity and fitness week.

Lynne Conde, a local public health advocate, said data will be released soon on childhood obesity in Sonoma County. She spoke on behalf of Joseph Clendenin regarding healthy eating, fitness and academic performance.

Conde said in Sonoma County, 43.5 percent of children between the ages of 5 and 11 are overweight or at risk of being overweight.

Councilmember Amy Ahanotu said he'd like to see this type of outreach continue in the county, in Rohnert Park and in the schools here.

5:30: "This is a topic that should be of concern to all of us," said Vice Mayor Jake Mackenzie.

Mackenzie said as Rohnert Park develops, the city should look at how to create a more walkable, liveable community were residents are encouraged to walk and bike for transportation.

6 p.m. The City Council considered awarding Rohnert Park Disposal, Inc. the sole contract for garbage collection and processing. Since 2001, two companies have done the services — Rohnert Park Disposal and the Ratto Group.

Councilmember Pam Stafford said the Solid Waste Advisory Group, which she sits on, spent a lot of time on deciding who to recommend for this bid. Vice Mayor Jake Mackenzie said the Request for Proposal process was very complete.

Stafford said the committee is recomending Rohnert Park Disposal, Inc. becasue the franchise fee is higher than anyone else has offered to pay the city, the rates would be the lowest for customers, there is less staff time required to administer one contract and the city asked for companies bargaining for the contract to pay an award fee (which Rohnert Park Disoposal agreed to).

6:35: The council dows need to make a decision before the existing contracts expire, said City Attorney Michelle Kenyon. The contracts expire Oct. 31.

6:37: I think the city has done a good job making this process as open as possible...I think we need to make a decision, said Councilmember Amy Ahanotu.

6:40:  Council votes unanimously to reject three other applications (including the Ratto Group, M&M Services and Industrial Carting).

Mackenzie said given the city's fiscal condition and request for proposal process, he supports awarding the contract to Rohnert Park Disposal.

"I believe we've done this properly," Mackenzie said.

Belforte said she considered whether it's good for the city and the residents.

"Yes," she said.

6:42: The council voted unanimously to award the contract to Rohnert Park Disposal.

6:45: Building and Planning Manager Marilyn Ponton updates the City Council on select goals set forth in the city's general plan, which was adoptd in 2000. The mandatory elements of the plan include:

• Land Use
• Transportation
• Open Space
• Environmental Conservation
• Health and Safety
• Noise
• Housing

Ponton said regarding land use, significant strides have been made including approvals of Sonoma Mountain Village as a growth area, approval of the Southeast Specific Plan and University District, and progress on the Wilfred Dowdell Plan.

She also said the city has made concerted efforts to maintain public open space while conserving the natural environment — for example, along the city's five creek systems.

Other progress has been made, she said, in developing pedestrian and bicycle paths throughout the city.

The work on implementing the city's General Plan is done in collaboration with the Department of Pubic Safety, the Department of Public Works and Parks and Rec.

"We have come a long way," Ahanotu said. "We still have work to be done."

Mackenzie said the council has to look at the general plan and ask, looking ahead 20 years, "are we satisfied withour polices."

"Progress is being made but we need to be absolutely ready to respond to the demands of the future," he said.

7:05: Eydie Tacata presents the propoasl to outline a Priority Development Area in Rohnert Park — which would give the city access to funding for development activities within the area.

Essentially, it would act like a redevelopment zone, and allow the city to access regional transportation and development monies to develop a core, or

.

Ahanotu asked if the State Farm property included in the development area, and if it's beneficial to start thinking about development in the area.

Tacata said that would allow the city to develop a plan, collect public input and apply for grant funding for activities in the area.

7:15: Mackenzie said outlining the planned development area speaks to ongoing conversations amongst the City Council and the public, regarding the , the , Rohnert Park's central city vision, and finding money to develop the area.

"These are going to be real dollars," Mackenzie said.

Council gives direction for the city to complete the Priority Development Area application and bring final resolution back to council for adoption Sept. 27.

7:25: Linda Babonis, the city's housing and redevelopment manager (and ) recommends the council adopt the redevelopment continuation bill — otherwise known as AB 27, signed in June by Gov. Jerry Brown — which allows the city to keep the redevelopment agency going.

The city previously a little over $4 million.

"If we are granted, we could pay as much as $3 million," Babonis said, which would allow agency to continue projects and programs that by council.

7:30: Council votes unanimously to approve the continuation bill.

7:50: City Manager Gabe Gonzalez proposes a work session for a 2010-11 year-end financial report and a 2011-12 cash emergency preparedness plan for Oct. 11. The time is tentatively sent for 4:30 p.m.

8 p.m. Council considers a request by Courseco, Inc. The Foxtail Golf Course management firm, to renegotiate its existing lease agreement between the city and CourseCo.

Stafford, Ahanotu and Belforte all report that they live within 500 feet of the golf course, so the City Attorney draws random names to decide who will vote on the item. Councilmember Joe Callinan was present.

Mackenzie, Stafford and Belforte were the three councilmembers to hear the matter.

Gonzalez said in 2001 the city entered in to a lease agreement with CourseCo. He said CourseCo. still owes the city $157,000 for rent and interest payments.

According to a staff report, the city collected $150,000 for base rent each year between 2004 and 2010. For the next four years, until 2015, the rent would go up to $175,000. In addition, the city's redevelopment agency has made loans to CourseCo. for renovating the course.

Tom Isaak, of CourseCo., said all along the 101 Corridor there's been a sequence of failures of public golf courses, including three in the last year.

"We desire foxtail not be under that kind of stress," he said. "Economically the lease is unsustainable for us."

Isaak said he and his partner each invested $350,000 each year for the last 10 years to for upkeep, which he also said is unsustainable.

Golf course operators said they want to sit down with the city manager to renegotiate its lease.

CourseCo. operates 20 other public golf courses, mostly in northern California.

Staff recommends an analysis of renegoitating the agreement, Gonzalez said.

I was invoved in the history of negotiations with the golf course, Mackenzie said.

"It's part of the city of Rohnert Park ... it is extrememly important that we take this matter seriously," Mackenzie said. "I would hope that this analysis be back in front of this group of three within a month."

8:15: I think we should execute it quickly, Belforte said.

"You have been good partners," Belforte said to golf course managers."But I don't want the situation to drag on any longer."

8:18: Meeting adjourns.