Cotati City Council
Agenda Staff Report
Item type: REGULAR AGENDA (ACTION)
To: City Council
Subject: CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING FOR STRATEGIC COORDINATION WITH
SONOMA STATE UNIVERSITY AND THE CITY OF
ROHNERT PARK
Date: January 14, 2025
Written by: Damien O'Bid, City Manager
Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council authorize the Mayor to sign the Memorandum of Understanding with Rohnert Park and Sonoma State University.
Background
The City of Cotati (City) actively collaborates with both Rohnert Park and Sonoma State University whenever there are items of mutual interest. Below are some examples of on-going City collaborations on projects or programs:
Sonoma State and Rohnert Park
- SAFE (Mobile Mental Health Crisis Response Team)
Sonoma State University (SSU)
- Police Dispatch Services
Rohnert Park
- DocuPet animal licensing
- Animal Shelter Services
Additionally, since the tenure of past SSU President Mike Lee, SSU has been hosting semiannual “community partners” meetings with Cotati, Rohnert Park and a variety of other public agencies in Sonoma County. The intent of the meetings is to host a dialogue, build familiarity, and begin to explore areas where there is mutual interest and potentially build on the existing collaboration.
Analysis/Discussion
SSU, Rohnert Park and Cotati already work together to advance projects or programs that serve our common community interests. However, these collaborations have been largely ad-hoc, dependent on individuals in each entity proactively reaching out to initiate conversations to see if there is common interest.
The proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is intended to formalize our commitment to meet together on a regular basis to build on the existing collaborations and proactively discuss our individual opportunities or challenges. By building this familiarity, it will raise our collective awareness and likely lead to new and deeper communication, coordination and potentially collaborations. The intent is that rather than exist as an island, we can actively work in partnership to leverage our collective resources and use that multiplier effect to improve our communities.
If the MOU is approved by Cotati and Rohnert Park, the intention is to have a joint signing ceremony at Sonoma State University on February 28, 2025.
Financial Considerations
The MOU requires some time commitment to continue to meet with Rohnert Park and SSU, but the agreement is non-binding, so there is no commitment of funding or time beyond the regular meetings.
Environmental Issues
Where it can be determined with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA review.
This general rule can be applied to activities which could be subject to the CEQA process, but which logic dictates should not be subject to CEQA review. Therefore, based on the information provided above, the proposed resolution is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 14.03.021 of the CEQA Guidelines in that there is no possibility that the activity may have a significant impact on the environment.