Cotati council directs staff to pursue natural‑surface option for Laguna De Santa Rosa path

Cotati — The Cotati City Council on Sept. 9 directed staff to pursue a natural‑material resurfacing for the Laguna De Santa Rosa class‑1 multiuse pathway after a staff presentation and public comment. Engineering technician Henry Babitz told the council staff’s recommendation was “to replace the asphalt with natural material,” citing lower long‑term maintenance, a cooler surface, and the ability for city crews to perform future upkeep.

The project area described by staff covers about 2,200 feet and is 8–10 feet wide in the project zone. Babitz laid out three design options: repair and resurface the existing asphalt; remove asphalt and install a compacted aggregate natural surface over a rock base; or a longitudinally split path separating bicycles and pedestrians, which staff said is not feasible because the corridor lacks the typical 14‑foot width needed for two separated travel lanes.

Council members pressed staff on construction details and accessibility. Babitz said areas with tree‑root intrusion would be managed with root barriers and that aggregate surfacing “has to be compacted adequately” so it does not deform under wheels; he cited ADA guidance for natural pathways that requires surfaces not leave impressions from wheels or feet. When asked about usage, staff referenced a local count used for a nearby segment that found pedestrian dominance: “It’s 95% pedestrians” in a sample observation, with a Thursday ten‑hour count showing 125 pedestrians and 7 cyclists.

Public commenters including nearby residents and volunteers supported the natural option for safety and habitat reasons but urged attention to wheelchair and mobility‑device access. One Zoom commenter who identified herself as Laurie Alderman told the council, “We with disabilities love asphalt. Rocks and uneven surfaces cause falls, like, with my walker,” and urged careful material selection and engineering.

Council members said they were persuaded by the safety and maintenance arguments and by staff assurances about ADA compliance. Council member Harvey said she was “comfortable with moving to a natural material,” noting the corridor is used primarily by pedestrians and can be made safer if cyclists reduce speed on a looser surface. Council member Sparks emphasized requiring bidders to demonstrate experience with natural pavement projects.

Staff described the anticipated schedule as a winter design period, bidding in early spring and construction in April–May, with on‑the‑ground work expected to take a couple of months. The council did not take a formal recorded vote on the design direction but confirmed consensus and staff reported, “We have a direction” to proceed with design and bidding for the natural‑material option and to include contractor experience requirements in the procurement documents.

Next steps: staff will finalize design documents, incorporate ADA performance specifications, draft bid requirements requiring demonstrated experience with comparable natural pavement projects, and return to council for award of the construction contract.