Healdsburg City Council
Meeting
January 20, 2026
City Manager’s Report
City Council, January 20, 2026
Public Comment
on Non Agenda
Items
---
Comentarios del
público sobre
puntos no
incluidos en la
agenda de la
reunión
3 City Council Protocol
Remote Participation
City Council, January 20, 2026
Background
FY 2025-26 Adopted City Council Goal
Update the City Council’s Governance Protocols
August 4, 2025 – City Council subcommittee:
Council Member Mitchell
Council Member Kelley
October 20, 2025
Update to City Council
City Council direction regarding ballot measures
Progress Made
Item
Gender neutrality
Protocols for receiving & disseminating written public comments City Council correspondence
Minutes (timing)
Rules of recusal
Voting on non-resolution items
Public hearing process
City Council goals (updates)
Meeting Agendas
• Content and order
• Placing items on the agenda
• Minutes (format)
• Removing items from Consent Calendar
Proclamations
Policy on ballot measures
Language regarding districts
Recommendation
Continue with traditional, in-person and written public comment Remote Participation - History
March 2020: COVID-19 necessitated remote participation November 2021: Healdsburg instituted hybrid meetings
2022: AB 2449 amended the Brown Act allowing for participation under “emergency circumstances”
October 2023: Healdsburg discontinued remote participation due to disruptive & hate-filled comments happening to cities across the region 2025: SB 707 amendments to the Brown Act – 2 main categories Expands and clarifies procedural and participation requirements Expands access and applies to “eligible legislative bodies” Remote Participation – Purpose of Exploration
Why Explore?
1. Expand Public Engagement
2. Flexibility for City Council Members
Remote Participation –Other Agencies
Jurisdiction Stream Meetings Allow Live Remote
Public Comment
Guidelines for
Removal
Cloverdale X
Cotati X X
Healdsburg X
Petaluma X X
Rohnert Park X
Santa Rosa X
Sebastopol X X X
Sonoma X
Windsor X X
Remote Participation –Concerns
Technical Challenges & Reliability Issues
Reduced Meeting Decorum & Engagement
Security & Disruption Risks
Equity Concerns Related to Technology Access
Administrative & Staffing Impacts & Added Risk
Recommendation:
Continue with traditional, in-person & written public comment With this recommendation meetings would:
Continue to be conducted fully in person
Maintain the status quo for traditional teleconferencing for City Councilmembers
Public participation will continue to be encouraged through:
In-person public comment
Written public comment (email or physical correspondence) Next Steps
Subcommittee & Staff:
• Compile recommended changes for City Council review
• Estimated to bring back to City Council by March 31, 2026 Public
Comment
Comentarios
del público
Draft On-Demand
Micro-Transit Shuttle
Workplan
City Council, January 20, 2026
Background
October 2023 –Adoption of Healdsburg’s Climate Mobilization Strategy (CMS)
Phase I: Years 1 – 3
Subsequent Phases: Years 4 - 7
Phase I Includes the following Transportation-related items:
T-2.4: Improved routes & schedules
T-2A.1: Review of on-demand door-to-door shuttle
T-2A.2: Develop & implement a micromobility policy
Update: T2.4*
Improved routes and schedules
*Status as presented to City Council on September 15, 2025 Route 60
• New stop at North Village
• Operational
• Shelter constructed in 2024
Route 67
• Working with SCT on potential bus charging station
• Bus owned and operated by Sonoma County Transportation (SCT) • Some delays due to leadership changes at SCT
Update: T-2A.1*
Conduct review of on-demand door-to-door shuttle
*Status as presented to City Council on September 15, 2025 Q1 2024
• Conducted research & outreach regarding on-demand services • Pilot project
• Estimated cost $1.8 million annually
• Estimated cost $65 per ride, in 2024 dollars
Q2 2024
• Staff submitted a congressional funding request for $1.44 million • Funding was not received
Update: T-2A.2*
Develop and implement a micromobility policy
*Status as presented to City Council on September 15, 2025 No Update
• T-2A.2 is based on findings of T-2A.1
• Will not take place until the feasibility study is complete Discussion
November 17, 2025
• City Council interest in on-demand (microtransit) shuttle services Tonight
• Staff presentation of draft workplan to further evaluate feasibility of on-demand services
• Seeking City Council direction
Draft Workplan – 3 Phases
Phase I • Information Gathering
Phase II • Plan Development & Options
Phase III • City Council Presentation & Consideration
Phase I – Information Gathering
2 – 3 Months
February 2026 – March/April 2026
Phase I: Informational Gathering
Stakeholders
Desired Outcome: Identify and evaluate demand (ridership analysis) Key Questions:
• What services are currently provided (hours/location)? • What is the current use/demand?
• What are the needs or gaps?
Potential User Groups:
Hotel guests & visitors Healdsburg workforce
Residents Affiliate organizations
Healthcare facilities Schools
Major employers in the area
Phase I: Informational Gathering
City of Healdsburg Documents
Desired Outcome: Identify & evaluate current City documents Key Question:
• What is considered or required in documents such as Development Agreements (DA) & Environmental Impact Reports (EIR)
Identified DAs and EIRs
Enso (North Village)
Montage (Saggio Hills)
Appellation (North Village)
Phase I: Informational Gathering
Case Studies
Desired Outcome: Identify & evaluate other programs
Key Questions:
• What have others done?
• What are the expenses?
• Where did/does the funding come from?
• What is the ridership?
• What are the hours?
• What are the successes?
• Where can the programs be improved?
Phase I: Informational Gathering
Case Studies (continued)
Initial list of identified programs to research:
City of Petaluma (LumaGo)
Napa Valley Transportation Authority (NVTA)
SMART
Richmond Move
Palo Alto Link
Phase I: Informational Gathering
Partners (may overlap with Stakeholders)
Desired Outcome: Identify potential partners
Key Questions:
• What services do they currently provide (locations/hours) • What is the use?
• What are the costs to run?
• What do they charge?
• Is there interest in partnering with the City?
Initial list of potential partners:
Enso Other Hotels
Montage SMART
Appellation Affordable Housing Sites
Phase I: Informational Gathering
Funding Partners
Desired Outcome: Identify & evaluate potential funding options Key Questions:
• What funding is available?
• Are there limitations on how funds can be used? Ongoing or one-time? Initial list of potential funding partners
Sonoma County Transit (SCT)
Sonoma County Transportation & Climate Authority (SCTCA) Affordable Housing & Sustainable Communities (AHSC) – Saggio Hills Grant Funding Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
Other grant and state funding opportunities
Phase I: Informational Gathering
Service Options
Desired Outcome: Identify & evaluate service providers
Key Questions:
• Who can provide the service?
• What is the estimated cost of the service?
Initial list of identified service providers
Via
Mimi
Remix
Waymo
Self-funded option
Phase I: Informational Gathering
Analyze Current Service Options
Desired Outcome: Identify & evaluate current service options Key Questions:
• What is available?
• What is the current ridership?
• What are the limitation for each option?
• Are there overlapping efforts?
Initial list of identified service options
Route 60 Route 67
Ride-shares such as Uber/Lyft Women Driving Women
Drivers Assisting Seniors in Healdsburg (DASH)
Phase II – Plan Development & Options
2 – 3 Months
April/May 2026 – June/August 2026
Phase II: Plan Development & Options
Operational Plan Considerations:
• Service area: where would the shuttle operate and to what boundary? • Hours of operation
• Number of vehicles needed to provide adequate coverage • Ridership eligibility
• Costs to ride
• Discount programs
Desired Outcome: Provide information to determine the feasibility & potential launch of an on-demand service
Phase II: Plan Development & Options
Additional Considerations
Integration analysis: How would on-demand service complement or compete with existing routes and services?
Risk assessment: Vendor reliability
Funding sustainability
Demand fluctuation
Operational Plan Considerations (continued):
• Direct costs to service provider
• Costs incurred by the City to manage the program
• Availability of one-time and ongoing funding
• Allocation of responsibility amongst partners for program administration Phase III –City Council Presentation & Consideration
Estimated: July/August 2026
Presentation to City Council
Feasibility of an on-demand service
City Council Discussion & Direction
Provide direction to staff on Draft Microtransit Workplan Alternatives
Direct staff to not work on the on-demand program
Delay working on the on-demand program
Return with more information to assist the City Council in determining how to proceed
Public
Comment
Comentarios
del público
CITY COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE TO
INTERVIEW SENIOR CITIZEN
ADVISORY COMMISSIONAND PARKS
AND RECREATION COMMISSION
APPLICANTS
City Council Meeting
January 20, 2026
Recommended
Action
Consider appointing Council
Subcommittees to interview the
applicants for the Parks and Recreation
Commission and the Senior Citizen
Advisory Commission.
Background
Deadline to apply to both Commissions was
January 7, 2026.
Four applications were received for the Parks
and Recreation Commission and the Senior
Citizen Advisory Commission.
Questions
Public
Comment
Comentarios
del público