[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6506752,"mediaKeyId","5560362-dcec98c45fcadce481d72f0fa42ec17b","parentId",5560362,"title","City staff opens discussion on entertainment zones for downtown events; key issues include boundaries, policing and waste","audioSeconds",1078,"startMs",3691000,"endMs",4769000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5560362-dcec98c45fcadce481d72f0fa42ec17b&start=3691&end=4769","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5560362-dcec98c45fcadce481d72f0fa42ec17b/thumbnail_3691000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6506752/Santa-Rosa-City/Sonoma-County/California/City-staff-opens-discussion-on-entertainment-zones-for-downtown-events-key-issues-include-boundaries-policing-and-waste","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6506752-ca4be6f94fbc4db2f73447cdc0a6a385/orig.mp4?Expires=1770495659&Signature=EqbxEnKK-1dytliKYSgXyA8R59nPE5xBM3i94NRK6cp3jxG0z2eJDOVimIBrolJgTR7eSntY6B3rA1~BoWbY8NoxZAzLXYFMx3ao4zWS4HPdBrm8g3sPzKECZe1ez6DGaEACSfzhWXrN7BBTCH45VdOk65ZKM5AuriKx2r0mJfYD8mlOVnjsasA~rzWFSF6Bnlf9eP6zMh~i56zlOh4R75pJ79C7xBw6lFbVLgiMm0ROqKu9r5cWU7cFQGgN-Xg45Rzp5yIzF5xWBb-OxSJ2m25ukEa8zu0xi3b~Fxzc28CNlb6Oz8VQYlzN-WSBh-ZJLbLXK97kRAw7ju4vdhizJQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Santa Rosa, CA","date","2025-08-12T05:48:50Z","article","Planning and economic development Director Gabe Osborne briefed the subcommittee on entertainment zones, a state‑enabled tool that lets licensed businesses permit the outdoor consumption of alcohol within defined boundaries.

Osborne said the state law (identified in the meeting as Senate Bill 969) permits local jurisdictions to create a district where alcohol sold by participating brick‑and‑mortar businesses can be consumed outdoors within an established boundary. He explained the principal policy design choices the city must make: district boundaries, days and hours of operation, permitted containers (the city would prohibit glass or metal containers under preliminary law‑enforcement guidance), and business participation requirements, such as wristbands or ID checks to prevent sales to minors.

Osborne identified likely candidate areas: Courthouse Square and its adjacent side streets, Railroad Square (the Fourth Street corridor), and the Brickyard Center (including the BREW venue). He said the city could adopt a single unified district or multiple subdistricts. He emphasized that the district’s boundaries and hours are local decisions and that the program must be coordinated with law enforcement for policing and signage at boundaries.

Council members asked whether an entertainment district would differ from the existing practice of permitting alcohol inside time‑limited events (for example, the Wednesday night market). Osborne explained a key difference: a permitted event authorizes beverage consumption for the specific event footprint; an entertainment district would provide a standing, boundary‑based allowance permitting any qualifying participating business within the boundary to permit outdoor consumption under the district rules.

Committee members and stakeholders raised operational concerns: potential noise complaints and enforcement of the noise ordinance; policing resources and costs for boundary enforcement; container restrictions and sustainability concerns (plastic versus recyclable/compostable options); and whether districts should start conservatively for special events before expanding. Several members recommended beginning with event‑based pilots and clearly defining signage and hours. Osborne said formal adoption would likely require full council action to amend local code and that expansion or contraction of boundaries would be a public process.

Ending: The committee expressed general support for exploring entertainment zones while asking staff to return with cost estimates for signage and policing, an outreach plan for participating businesses, and proposals on container standards that account for the city’s zero‑waste goals.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Santa Rosa Economic Development Subcommittee August 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Planning Director Gabe Osborne briefed the subcommittee on state‑authorized entertainment zones that would allow licensed businesses to permit outdoor alcohol consumption within locally defined boundaries.","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},6506756,"Santa Rosa staff proposes four small pilots to activate vacant downtown space; committee favors renter education",1155,2312000,3467000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5560362-dcec98c45fcadce481d72f0fa42ec17b&start=2312&end=3467","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5560362-dcec98c45fcadce481d72f0fa42ec17b/thumbnail_2312000.jpg","/articles/6506756/Santa-Rosa-City/Sonoma-County/California/Santa-Rosa-staff-proposes-four-small-pilots-to-activate-vacant-downtown-space-committee-favors-renter-education","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6506756-6af58954afdc10cf26caf6e5a676a01f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770495659&Signature=MK8jtCgCGUnr7LtV4DhrLyUcT28fLeg09M9cbPblYFIHyidlpd8QvkudqQDNVIFwqkLdlqHLPr5UYNXqEIoVf4MhvcplWhCVRRYTYJlFMEVITtTAtmTQg~3Te1ftgwXKPVmKF4Ijux6cC7FyXRxVvX9r6ta1toN2OZwuVeKMGyCpu5ufcYbbmro47pyrppYll6054CBy2Yhg0uWtaOh29l8ALXc8yT7fK-E2RGf-7od2cXpcG~d5hMrFkF~p2jxKAHJBDHhfuPDtT7-wHpotxF~y-NNM-wGwh7jAO~fGEzf5MzY90fpKwpGDVRDBdlAS~x9lExpmwWreWozTSj3qHQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City planning and economic development staff presented four pilot strategies to encourage activation of vacant commercial space in Santa Rosa’s downtown and sought the Economic Development Subcommittee’s prioritization.

Staff said available funding for a pilot is limited: approximately $50,000, potentially up to $100,000 if other implementation funds are reallocated. The options presented were (1) a landlord recovery fund to reimburse owners for retenanting losses, (2) a commercial renter education program to prepare new entrepreneurs for leasing and build‑out, (3) a facade improvement grant pilot focused on exterior beautification, and (4) a vacant‑unit infill grant program to subsidize short‑term activation under temporary permits.

Staff outlined basic program mechanics. For example, the landlord recovery fund was described as a capped resource (staff suggested $5,000 per instance to allow up to 10 awards from a $50,000 pool) to cover costs such as retenanting commissions, permit fees or improvements if a new tenant vacated early. Staff noted the ARPA‑funded facade program that preceded this pilot awarded about $1.1 million across 45 grants, and said a new pilot would have to be much smaller and likely limited to cosmetic improvements to broaden eligibility.

Public comment came from AJ Trombetta, representing the Railroad Square business development committee and identifying himself as a downtown property owner. He told the committee that many older downtown buildings face heavy repair costs and that even modest grants — “even $10,000, even something for paint” — would be helpful.

Among committee members and downtown stakeholders who spoke, a commercial renter education program was the most frequently recommended first choice. Supporters said education can reach many prospective tenants with limited staff dollars, reduce landlord risk by improving tenant preparedness, and produce longer‑term occupancy success. Several speakers recommended conditioning facade grants on lease‑up or activation requirements so public dollars produce durable public assets rather than temporary private improvements.

Staff responded that a renter education pilot could be inexpensive to deliver and scaled to more participants than the other pilots, because it relies mainly on staff time and classroom capacity rather than per‑project capital awards. Staff said they would return with a pilot framework incorporating member feedback, including eligibility requirements to ensure participants have “skin in the game.”

Ending: With committee direction favoring the renter education program and conditional interest in a facade grant (if conditioned on activation), staff said they would draft a pilot framework and return with implementation details and progress updates.","City staff outlined four pilot options — landlord recovery fund, commercial renter education, facade improvement grants, and vacant‑unit infill grants — with $50,000 available for a single pilot. Committee and public feedback favored a commercial renter education pilot, with facade grants as a conditional second choice.",{"_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},6506760,"Santa Rosa finance staff lays out how local sales tax is collected and shared",952,344000,1296000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5560362-dcec98c45fcadce481d72f0fa42ec17b&start=344&end=1296","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5560362-dcec98c45fcadce481d72f0fa42ec17b/thumbnail_344000.jpg","/articles/6506760/Santa-Rosa-City/Sonoma-County/California/Santa-Rosa-finance-staff-lays-out-how-local-sales-tax-is-collected-and-shared","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6506760-e837a822cd3db1b48439273124189ca2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770495659&Signature=lNzSnfD-0dxQ0p3v2d0boyFex5YvrEc32Tmdfm0zfPdbMpBVn77xd51TH~klEhsz6wo-FX3ilL1UwMglULqqX7Ruo2sTuIpEU4i4DBbmxDeTqM1O~LxNPLgbfl0-NDPwFju8iYREB7mz6OsXPbKcPrOM7zQqwso~TCVXfV~zb6olLFYFNmjFwOyySTIvuLb0ArjgYpFmlyzQXPyeauX4kkMn2ilKf7EyhB6gNS0NSWQQxc1cYhzp1kEGKV4jn2RxxDeSua-VKFfAsssLpkedLqYq47eMri7Lrb2qL5a2D~87SpBKX5pJYhCAkVVLe3KVqeAviFed6YTQt4vC5lWs~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Deputy Director Scott Wagner of the Santa Rosa Finance Department gave the Economic Development Subcommittee a primer on how sales tax reaches the city and what local officials can and cannot control.

Wagner told the subcommittee that for a $100 taxable purchase in Santa Rosa the local government receives $1.75 — a direct city sales‑tax rate of 1.75% — and that sales tax provides roughly 35% to 40% of the city’s ongoing general‑fund revenue. He said the state and county also receive shares of sales tax and that the city’s total combined rate places Santa Rosa “towards the middle” compared with other county cities.

The presentation drilled into three revenue streams: the Bradley‑Burns pass‑through from the state (which Wagner said returns a 1% Bradley‑Burns share to the city), district transaction‑and‑use taxes (TUTs or city measures such as the 0.5% Measure Q and a 0.25% public‑safety measure discussed in the meeting), and county‑pool allocations for transactions without a clearly attributable jurisdiction.

Wagner warned that changes in how online sales are sourced and allocated have reduced local receipts. He used Amazon shipping as an example: if a resident in Santa Rosa buys an item that is shipped from another city, the TUT portion may go to the shipping jurisdiction while the Bradley‑Burns portion is allocated to the purchaser’s home jurisdiction. He said a city‑manager working group via the League of California Cities is studying the issue, but any statutory or administrative fix would take multiple legislative cycles.

The presentation and council questions clarified several practical points: automobile purchases are treated differently because the location of vehicle registration can drive allocation back to the buyer’s city; some changes during the COVID period corrected earlier errors but did not fully resolve the underlying allocation shifts; and the city does not yet have a single, precise dollar estimate of revenue lost to the online‑sales sourcing change.

“The Bradley‑Burns stream comes direct from the state,” Wagner said. “One percent comes directly back to us.”

Committee members asked for more context on the Wayfair decision and the COVID‑era corrections Wagner referenced. Wagner said he could not provide a detailed legislative history from memory and offered to follow up with documentation on the Wayfair case and the COVID‑period reallocation that partially fixed an error.

The subcommittee and staff agreed staff would follow up with more detail on the annual dollar impact of the city’s 0.5% general‑purpose measure and the working group’s efforts to model online sales impacts.

Wagner also noted administrative complexity: the state’s narrow taxable base means California has a relatively high tax rate but excludes many household expenditures taxed elsewhere, such as many services, utilities, and groceries. That narrower base magnifies the importance of what sales are taxable locally.

Ending: Wagner offered to return with follow‑up material and the subcommittee encouraged staff to prepare charts and timelines to help councilmembers and the public understand the fiscal implications and the path to potential legislative remedies.","Deputy Director Scott Wagner explained the composition of sales tax receipts for Santa Rosa, clarified the Bradley‑Burns pass‑through and transaction/use tax differences, and described limits to local revenue driven by online sales and tax allocation rules.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6506748,"Economic development staff reports progress on implementation plan, dashboard and events management",4121,1848000,5969000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5560362-dcec98c45fcadce481d72f0fa42ec17b&start=1848&end=5969","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5560362-dcec98c45fcadce481d72f0fa42ec17b/thumbnail_1848000.jpg","/articles/6506748/Santa-Rosa-City/Sonoma-County/California/Economic-development-staff-reports-progress-on-implementation-plan-dashboard-and-events-management","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6506748-3c2cbae3d840348cee337661b0b49315/orig.mp4?Expires=1770495659&Signature=I7xKXo-e4zMB41VsG40yaTLMBxLVlGhE7-ZwReKDzCF7rFb2f5mSmGzs0b2UDzYq5-TL1~0rl00qP0oRXDO07nujUzPcHEEnVII9GaQwnCpeTFZu08iIwDhYUrvENUspHCpCP4Y3Hc8VhkiI2l~lJ-SIqrezzz7HX7U3a00S3oqzPrcCQOe5uJzwDaFNHOAqQ6jCSaXAi7gNedhsp1E-LrHMLz6gqLDqrNhL~937AZvUsihrfCLXQyalsBLbxKuw7Q1r~Cc9ZvbEf4nu6PoakOVuDjmxe6Vn8x13INSGCsDNgDLcXJyHDD3LVnXk8h3Y~DzjAj~Ke74QvunuhUyARQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Program analyst Rachel Beer and the city’s economic development team updated the Economic Development Subcommittee on progress implementing the council‑adopted 2024 economic development strategy and related operational items.

Beer reported completed and ongoing items across the plan’s pillars. Highlights included executed contracts for a virtual one‑stop business portal and for Placer AI analytics; a completed retail and office sector analysis with a grocery analysis in permitting; strengthened partnerships with the Small Business Development Center, Redwood Credit Union and the economic development collaborative; and ongoing Rise and Thrive and micro‑enterprise programs. Beer said the annual community survey was open through Aug. 15 and that event coordination for Courthouse Square is now handled in‑house with a newly approved events specialist position.

Staff described a draft quarterly economic report intended for public release and an economic dashboard under development in partnership with Sonoma State faculty to make indicators and interpretation more accessible. The draft report pulls metrics such as unemployment, wages, vacancy rates, business licenses, and other community profile metrics.

In program updates staff detailed active recruitment and retention work: a near‑final draft business recruitment plan and a “Why Invest in Santa Rosa” guide to be published once the one‑stop portal is ready; ongoing work with a prospective woman‑owned niche manufacturer looking to relocate and create approximately 20 jobs; broker engagement meetings with about 30 commercial agents; and continued liaison support for businesses navigating permitting, inspections and code compliance. Staff also noted the city’s coordination with Go Local and other partners to promote brick‑and‑mortar commerce.

Arts and events initiatives described included the Asawa panel project moving into production with final family approval, an Art Walk temporary sculpture program with two‑year placements, and a successful Live at Juilliard outdoor concert that drew an estimated 1,300 attendees according to Placer AI mobile analytics. Staff said they had assumed control of event permitting and management for Courthouse Square from the Chamber in July and noted over 40 activations where a temporary stage has been built and removed repeatedly, prompting ongoing discussion about whether a permanent stage is warranted.

Ending: Staff said they will return for deeper quarterly briefings, will present the business recruitment plan when approved by department heads and the city manager, and will continue coordinating cross‑departmental efforts around placemaking, a one‑stop portal, the dashboard and downtown activation projects.","Program analyst Rachel Beer and economic development staff summarized progress on the 2024 economic development implementation plan, a draft quarterly economic report and several program updates including a virtual one‑stop shop contract, Placer AI analytics, downtown activations and arts projects.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City staff opens discussion on entertainment zones for downtown events; key issues include boundaries, policing and waste

Santa Rosa staff proposes four small pilots to activate vacant downtown space; committee favors renter education

Santa Rosa finance staff lays out how local sales tax is collected and shared

Economic development staff reports progress on implementation plan, dashboard and events management