[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6656236,"mediaKeyId","5334494-35b9190acd6ec4cab9586bdd3aef4f06","parentId",5334494,"title","Santa Rosa council adopts Active Transportation Plan, prioritizing safety and 200 miles of bike routes","audioSeconds",2706,"startMs",6780000,"endMs",9486000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5334494-35b9190acd6ec4cab9586bdd3aef4f06&start=6780&end=9486","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5334494-35b9190acd6ec4cab9586bdd3aef4f06/thumbnail_6780000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6656236/Santa-Rosa-City/Sonoma-County/California/Santa-Rosa-council-adopts-Active-Transportation-Plan-prioritizing-safety-and-200-miles-of-bike-routes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6656236-76222d2fc28786334ecb33faa304080c/orig.mp4?Expires=1776322234&Signature=D~PbJgHihEk9~edyuTxo0TWkt6bWIPlZepPhbxYlXquglSYZhZAGZRxCK6fm0VoOSsgx742XAKq0goRb4negeNpmxk1SkQruByMtT8EA42xgJOLR-eE1hUWh27LnIjSyl-OgivhiHAaFvAgw~6Kn9en-KIGIS6Z~9S5S60NGgt-BQgqvDOzylmwir3EyO3kLVdB0gyQ~EqV6SjfODnn4FH7v8w4qvCam~JvhRTtf0ZZ5xETqUceiz6q9nTTXh6sqiP06qw0ywrCZBlfQ-C9~s0VkWKk6~IMtE3aOJ1qNJySHpr-6CdJkHlvPCftcnbCGF266kReNwRCivWcFKQqhdg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Santa Rosa, CA","date","2025-07-09T03:53:53.767Z","article","Santa Rosa City Council voted to adopt the city’s updated Active Transportation Plan after months of community outreach and technical review, approving a roadmap for new sidewalks, protected bike lanes and shared‑use paths intended to make walking and bicycling safer and more accessible.

The plan, presented by Transportation Planner Torina Wilson and consultant Mauricio Hernandez of Alta Planning + Design, lays out nearly 200 miles of proposed bike routes, roughly 80 miles of upgraded sidewalks and a program of education, enforcement and “quick‑build” pilot projects. Councilmember McDonald moved to adopt the resolution; Councilmember Rogers seconded the motion. The council vote was 6-0.

City staff and advocates said the ATP is important because it shifts project design toward a “safe systems” approach that treats safety as the default for all projects and explicitly prioritizes improvements in areas of equity need.

Wilson told council, “this feels like this is my Super Bowl,” describing the plan as the product of two years of outreach and technical work and saying the document emphasizes safety for “people of all ages and abilities.” Consultant Mauricio Hernandez said the team combined collision and stress‑level analyses with two public engagement phases and an interactive web map to develop recommendations.

The plan’s recommendations range from intersection “spot” improvements (RRFBs, high‑visibility crosswalks, pedestrian bulbs) to major corridor upgrades with protected bike lanes and shared‑use paths. Staff said the full build‑out cost of the plan’s network elements is approximately $750 million; that figure excludes some intersection spot‑improvement costs that must be scoped project‑by‑project.

Wilson told council staff will pursue grants and seek cost savings by pairing active‑transportation work with pavement maintenance and other capital projects. “We have an endless list of projects,” she said, “but prioritization and finding cost savings — for example, adding bike lanes when we repave a street — will help deliver more projects sooner.”

Community speakers representing bicycle, transit and neighborhood groups told council the plan is a rare opportunity to reduce vehicle miles traveled, improve public health and expand transportation choices. Thea Hensel, chair of the Southeast Greenway campaign, said the plan is “clearly a road map for safer transportation for biking and walking in the city.” Adrian Covert of Santa Rosa YIMBY called the plan “a watershed moment for mobility.”

Council members stressed equity and school connections in their comments, asking staff to ensure priority projects reach neighborhoods with the greatest safety needs and to coordinate ATP projects with Safe Routes to School efforts. Several council members and speakers pressed staff to use available pavement and maintenance timelines to add bike and sidewalk work at lower marginal cost.

The resolution adopted directs staff to implement the plan as a policy guide and to pursue funding, including grants. Staff said they will post project prioritization and progress on the city’s CIP/dashboard and continue community outreach as designs move forward. Councilmembers voiced broad support for the policy while acknowledging the multi‑year, grant‑dependent nature of funding and construction.

Supporters said the ATP’s mix of network-level projects and smaller, quicker “low‑cost” projects will allow the city to show early wins while pursuing larger corridor investments. Opponents did not appear during the public hearing; multiple residents urged faster delivery in particular neighborhoods such as Roseland.

Staff and council recommended next steps that include applying for grants, advancing high‑priority corridor designs, pursuing quick‑build pilots and integrating ATP priorities into the city’s pavement and capital project schedules. The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board had previously reviewed and recommended the plan to the council.

Implementation details and funding remain the next steps. The plan sets the policy direction and project prioritization; specific design, right‑of‑way and funding choices will be decided as individual projects move from concept to construction.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Santa Rosa Council meeting July 8, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Santa Rosa City Council voted to adopt the city’s updated Active Transportation Plan after months of community outreach and technical review, approving a roadmap for new sidewalks, protected bike lanes and shared‑use paths intended to make walking and bicycling safer and more accessible.","taxTitle","Santa Rosa City, Sonoma County, California","taxId",3913,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6656226,"FEMA releases preliminary flood maps for Santa Rosa Creek watershed; city posts online viewer and alerts owners",85,5855000,5940000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5334494-35b9190acd6ec4cab9586bdd3aef4f06&start=5855&end=5940","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5334494-35b9190acd6ec4cab9586bdd3aef4f06/thumbnail_5855000.jpg","/articles/6656226/Santa-Rosa-City/Sonoma-County/California/FEMA-releases-preliminary-flood-maps-for-Santa-Rosa-Creek-watershed-city-posts-online-viewer-and-alerts-owners","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6656226-93500241679fc66c2c6d9c2d22f9fe93/orig.mp4?Expires=1776322234&Signature=hzp0hgSUk2JVsUWm8tj~kVlaIbwoSDeErqWjE9qT~iUsB9eD05~BC9u~NNssRQE2Zb3tUaLptyG6juf4lMxwv1unytifN9bpwxUa7bOsRwHy9MX7i6dT0~lKhv0hiPZGIC~25AhbJRSKc7bvRmjAOcUDmD6TjCsPBfWGFK~m8ZP423vcUjnPQrZAUYXSFhPvjzRes~cwEM8OVMo4seuku5zuT6orpLRuVyfijhqmDJGv5R-J5kEB6MQ6S67e4cQq6OonIQcyQb0~FqJnplZyVS6~iHR1bRzDC9g18amMiYDXa4-9PGPcc5XQOMP0uuxYiWYyPCMPUdxFMPfVDhBh5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff reported that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has released preliminary flood insurance rate maps for the Santa Rosa Creek watershed and the city has published an online tool so property owners can check their parcel’s draft designation.

The city manager advised council that the map identifies areas that may be subject to heightened flood risk and that approximately 2,500 property owners could see changes affecting insurance and building requirements. To help residents, the city launched an address‑searchable map at srcity.org/femafloodmapping.

Staff said a 90‑day public appeal and comment period is expected during winter 2025–26. The city will notify property owners and plans to circulate details about a virtual community meeting that FEMA and the National Flood Insurance Program will host in September; staff said the city will share the precise meeting date and log‑in information when available.

City staff urged residents to review their property status early and noted the appeal window is the formal period to submit technical objections or elevation data. No regulatory changes were made by the council at the meeting; this report was informational.

Staff asked councilmembers to share the online tool with constituents and said the city will continue to provide technical assistance and links to FEMA resources as the appeal period opens.","City staff told the council FEMA released preliminary maps identifying high‑risk flood zones in the Santa Rosa Creek watershed and launched an address‑searchable map. About 2,500 property owners could be affected; a 90‑day public appeal period is expected this winter and the city will host a virtual FEMA meeting in September.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6656232,"Council votes to repurchase downtown lot after developer misses deadlines amid litigation",3269,7288000,10557000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5334494-35b9190acd6ec4cab9586bdd3aef4f06&start=7288&end=10557","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5334494-35b9190acd6ec4cab9586bdd3aef4f06/thumbnail_7288000.jpg","/articles/6656232/Santa-Rosa-City/Sonoma-County/California/Council-votes-to-repurchase-downtown-lot-after-developer-misses-deadlines-amid-litigation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6656232-2aabc9e37782f29cef9d25068da80889/orig.mp4?Expires=1776322234&Signature=fixX6yAOafhqBRO-ZbGTWe4my1Poy2tRawKmxLbocTKwW7WaZrEyvZuavvJg~Dua92Mp89vgt7LWROgZ4wHi0J10BOn0Ez58q9-xUZ90Mvo-qMImdC9V~Ha96~tlzYpYUcI8B6Lj8tl4pxz6bX35n44qtXGi6d1v5zw~ffP9o13qjKr7CiGZKfQP2Yyk7S7FPd7fWTEMiw-4tRco~QiYRcE1AKIh~d-h7ilav1Ic7fL5-aDXbttg67wZGhbToOd7o~8y0AvrHfCncr47kcuRxJ7gznAXbgXBaPiCH1GaZDoG~IIOfdSvzI5G9eSJExzV1wyxPL6E4091DgEcfaEckw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Santa Rosa City Council voted to repurchase a city parking lot at 410 B Street, moving to reclaim the parcel after a developer missed multiple contract deadlines and litigation among the developer’s partners raised questions about its ability to complete the planned downtown project.

By a 5-1 vote (Councilmember Benuellos opposed), the council approved a resolution to exercise the city’s call right and repurchase the lot at the contract’s purchase price. The motion was made and carried following staff reports, legal summaries and public comment from people who both supported and opposed the repurchase.

City Real Estate Manager Jill Scott summarized the history: the city entered a purchase and sale agreement with Cornerstone Communities (closing in August 2021) that included post‑closing obligations — notably, entitlement submittals for 410 B Street and building permit submissions for related Cornerstone sites. Scott told council the developer repeatedly missed deadlines; staff granted multiple extensions and sought to renegotiate, but said that after years of no meaningful progress the city’s option to repurchase was appropriate.

Ethan Walsh, outside counsel for the city, informed council that public filings show active litigation between Cornerstone partners alleging misuse of funds and transfers between entities controlled by different principals. Walsh said the litigation raises a realistic possibility that the companies owning the Santa Rosa parcels would lack the resources to complete entitlements or secure financing even if more time were allowed.

Cornerstone representative Pauline Block told council the company disagreed with staff’s view that Cornerstone was in default and asked council to defer any repurchase decision so staff could process entitlements for the combined downtown parcels. Cornerstone and its allies argued the combined, multi‑parcel project (which Cornerstone estimates would create high‑density housing and community benefits) should be allowed to proceed through entitlement and a development agreement process.

Scott, Walsh and other staff described the city’s due diligence: the original contract required entitlement submittals within 18 months after escrow closed; the developer received extensions (approved by the city manager and later by council) but staff said entitlement applications were not submitted in the required form. Staff said the city had expended substantial time attempting to work with Cornerstone, and recommended repurchase to avoid further delay on a critical downtown housing site.

Council debate reflected two strands: some members said the city should be patient and allow the entitlement process and public hearings to proceed because the combined project would be transformative; others said the developer’s repeated missed deadlines, uncertain litigation and lack of clear financing made further extensions risky and costly to the city. Councilmember Benuellos voiced support for more time; others favored clearing title and restarting the procurement to identify a developer who can deliver in a timely way.

The recorded vote: Councilmembers Rogers, O’Krepkie, McDonald, Vice Mayor Alvarez and Mayor Mark Stapp voted to repurchase; Councilmember Benuellos voted no; Councilmember Fleming was absent. Staff said the repurchase price (the contract “call” price) is $1,340,000. If the city completes the repurchase, staff proposed initiating the state Surplus Land Act process and, if necessary, issuing a new request for proposals to identify a developer capable of timely delivery.

Cornerstone and its supporters said the company has invested heavily in downtown and urged continued partnership; Cornerstone’s representatives and consultants said they were prepared to pursue entitlements and a development agreement. City staff said Cornerstone could still compete if they resolve legal matters and submit a viable, timely proposal during any future RFP process.

The council’s action returns the property to city control and opens the path to a new procurement process intended to accelerate downtown housing delivery if Cornerstone does not clear the outstanding issues.","The council voted 5-1 to exercise its contractual right to repurchase a city-owned lot at 410 B Street from Cornerstone Communities LLC after the developer failed to meet post‑closing entitlement and plan submittal deadlines. Council cited years of missed milestones, staff time expended and active litigation among partners as reasons for action.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Santa Rosa council adopts Active Transportation Plan, prioritizing safety and 200 miles of bike routes

FEMA releases preliminary flood maps for Santa Rosa Creek watershed; city posts online viewer and alerts owners

Council votes to repurchase downtown lot after developer misses deadlines amid litigation