Healdsburg City Council
Meeting
March 16, 2026
SMART for the Future:
A 30 Year Extension, Without Raising Taxes
SMART: More Than a Train
Connecting The North Bay
Essential: Provides reliable transportation for students, seniors, and workers.
Connective: A backbone for the North Bay’s "multi-modal" network.
Climate & Community:
• Reduces carbon emissions by taking cars off the road. • Enhances local bike/pedestrian infrastructure through the multi-use pathway • Connects residents to jobs, healthcare, and education across Sonoma and Marin.
Supports Livable Communities
• Provides access to opportunity; 31% of riders have household income under $60K • Helped communities win over $133M in Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities grants Protecting Our Investment:
Continuing Vital Transit Without Raising Taxes
The Big Picture: This measure does not raise taxes. It reauthorizes the existing public revenue stream for SMART.
The Impact:
• Ensures the long-term survival of the North Bay’s only passenger rail and multi-use pathways.
• Record usage: Ridership/use estimate = 1.4M riders/1.2M pathway trips in FY26 • Reduced vehicle trips by 920K in FY25; carried 23M+ passenger miles Regional Benefit:
• Surging ridership: Nearly 30% growth in the last year • Provides a viable alternative to the congestion of the Highway 101 corridor. • Free fares for youth and seniors- farebox recovery has increased along with these new users
Built in accountability
• The SMART Initiative is on the ballot in June 2026 and is:
• Independent: Funds are audited annually by a Citizen’s Oversight Committee and spent only on SMART.
• Locally controlled: Decisions are made here in the North Bay, not in Sacramento or Washington D.C.
• A force-multiplier: SMART makes us a self-help region and has brought over $735m in grants to our region.
Broad Community-Based Support
SMART is Locally Controlled and Widely Endorsed
Broad Coalition Support:
• Voters: Over 71,000 signatures collected—3 months ahead of schedule. • Labor: North Bay Labor Council, OE3, SEIU1021, et al
• Environment: Sierra Club, Marin and Sonoma County Bicycle Coalitions. • Business: North Bay Leadership Council, Local Chambers of Commerce (Santa Rosa, San Rafael, Petaluma).
QUESTIONS?
2025 Annual Update
March 16, 2026
Jason Boaz – Fire Chief
Current
Staffing
14 FTE
FIRE
Fire Chief
Division Chief / Fire
Marshal
Fire Inspectors (2) Office Assistant II
A Shift
Fire Captain
Engineer
Firefighter
B Shift
Fire Captain
Engineer
Firefighter
C Shift
Fire Captain
Engineer
Firefighter
Reserve Staff (9)
Incident
Statistics
Call Volume
By Year
FIRE
1851 1831
2072 2097 2051
1866
0 500
1000
1500
2000
2500
2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Incident
Statistics
Year Over Year
FIRE
Overlapping
Calls
FIRE
Overlapping Calls
TOTAL CALLS
2ND CALL
OVERLAP
3RD CALL OVERLAP
1866
125
4 Incident
Statistics
Response
Heatmap
FIRE
Incident
Statistics
FIRE
Response
Times
FIRE
Incident
Statistics
FIRE
WEEKLY AVERAGE
Incident
Statistics
FIRE
Incident
Statistics
FIRE
Contract
Services
Fitch Mountain
3-Square Miles
FIRE
25 CALLS
FOR SERVICE
Contract
Services
Sotoyome
65 Square
Miles
FIRE
142 CALLS
FOR SERVICE
Contract Area
Calls
FIRE
0 50
100
150
200
250
300
Sotoyome Fitch Mountain Total
201
41 242
163
64 227
211
50 261
218
47 265
130
61 191
142
25 167
2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Strike Teams - 2025
Mutual Aid
Incidents: Glenhaven - Lake - Gifford - Picket - Garnet All cost for equipment and personnel are reimbursed through prearranged agreements with Cal OES Fire
Prevention
Overview
FIRE
Inspections and Plan Reviews
CUPA Program
Adopted New Fire Hazard Severity Maps
Adopted New CA Fire and WUI Codes
Weed Abatement
Vegetation Management – 60 ACRES RX BURN
Build out New Wildfire Mitigation Software
Investigated all fires in COH
Presented at numerous Community Meetings
Prevention
FIRE – Over 4000 Parcels Inspected for Weed Abatement.
2025 Inspections
CUPA
State Mandate
Construction
Business
468
110
115
351
CUPA
FIRE
Vegetation
Management
FIRE
Vegetation
Management
FIRE
Vegetation
Management
FIRE
Vegetation
Management
FIRE
Vegetation
Management
FIRE
Vegetation
Management
FIRE
Vegetation
Management
FIRE
Vegetation
Management
FIRE
Vegetation
Management
FIRE
Vegetation
Management
FIRE
Technology
FIRE
Technology
FIRE
Sends real-time digital alerts to drivers when fire apparatus are responding to emergencies. YTD 13,644 Vehicles notified Alerts appear in navigation apps like Waze and Apple Maps warning drivers to slow down and move over.
Provides early warning up to about 1 mile away from responding emergency vehicles.
Helps reduce collision risk and improve responder safety during emergency responses.
Automatically activates during responses on Healdsburg Fire Apparatus.
Technology
FIRE
Digital wildfire risk assessment system used by HFD inspectors to evaluate homes and properties to help make more wildfire safe. Conducts Wildfire Mitigation Assessments and home hardening inspections using iPads in the field.
Generates standardized reports and progress tracking for property owners.
Provides data and mapping tools to identify community wildfire risk trends. Sonoma County wide adoption.
Supports Healdsburg’s efforts to reduce wildfire risk and improve community resilience. *2025 Council Goal
Community
Engagement
FIRE
• COPE - Citizens Organized to Prepare
for Emergencies
• Healdsburg High School Interns
• Downtown Puppy Parade
• Holiday Toy Drive
• Bucket Brigade Blood Drive (Since
2008, HFD has helped collect over
1000 units of blood)
• St. Patrick's Day Parade
• Twilight Future Farmers of America (FFA)
Parade
• Merry Healdsburg
• National Night Out
• Dia De Muertos
• HUSD – Grade School Field Trip
• Halloween on the Plaza
• Multiple Community
Preparedness Presentations.
• SR JC Academy
• HFD Open House
• Wildfire and Earthquake Expo
Community
Engagement
FIRE
Community
Engagement
FIRE
Standards
of Cover
FIRE
Contracted with AP Triton to conduct study
Three Components:
1. Standards of Cover (Data Collection)
2. Community Risk Analysis
3. Strategic Plan (Fire Department Specific)
Progress:
1. Data collection, GIS and Mapping
2. Community and internal surveys
3. Internal meetings with staff
Next Steps:
1. Strategic Planning session
2. Draft report
3. Recommendations
4. Budgeting/Planning for Measure H
*Report is about 60% complete
*Presentation to Council at future meeting
Space
Utilization
and
Condition
Assessment
Study
FIRE
Contracted with The KPA Group
Includes both Fire Department and Police Department
Three Main Components:
1. Facility Conditions Assessment
2. Space Utilization Study
3. Cost Estimating
Study includes deferred maintenance needs to be addressed at Station #1 Also includes capital projects to improve use of space for current needs and future growth
*Measure H revenue can be explored to fund enhancements/improvements at the Fire Department
Study will be completed in the next couple of months and will be presented to council at a future meeting
Resiliency
and
Wellness
FIRE
First Responders Resiliency, Inc. is a program developed to decrease stress and enhance resiliency in first responders.
• Providing First Responders with the necessary skills to improve resiliency. • Developing programs to aid First Responders in their physical, emotional, and relational well-being.
• Training First Responders how to implement these techniques on the job and in everyday life.
• Early resiliency education for First Responder candidates. • Encouraging those who have retired, or have served, to become mentors or peers.
Healdsburg Fire Department is working with First Responders Resiliency, Inc. To "Beta Test" a resiliency program for the entire department over the span of 90 days.
When this program is complete, Healdsburg Fire Department will be designated as the First Resilient Department in the country!
Program will begin in the next few weeks and will include resiliency training across all shifts and all personnel. Participation is voluntary, but we expect full participation.
Looking
Ahead
FIRE
Engineer Promotional exam
Firefighter recruitment
Completion of SOC/Planning for Measure H/Staffing Station #2 Resiliency Program
New Type 1 on order from Pierce
Facilities conditions assessment study
Continue vegetation management work- Prescribed Burns Wildfire Mitigation Assessments -Fire aside – (in addition to weed abatement) Onboarding of new Reserve Firefighters from the Academy Questions
Public
Comment
—
Comentarios
del público
City Manager’s Report
City Council, March 16, 2026
Public Comment
on Non Agenda
Items
---
Comentarios del
público sobre
puntos no
incluidos en la
agenda de la
reunión
49 City Council Protocols
City Council, March 16, 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
January 20, 2026
City Council direction regarding remote participation Background
City Council Subcommittee Meetings
September 3, 2025
September 30, 2025
October 23, 2025
January 7, 2026
January 29, 2026
March 2, 2026
March 9, 2026
Recommendation
Provide feedback to subcommittee and staff on:
Recommendations presented in the staff report
Other areas the City Council may consider
Updates
THREE CATEGORIES
Type Occurrences
Administerial 7
Reflect Current Practice 20
Updated or New Language 18
Updates -Administerial
Agenda Section Topic Summary of Update Page #
Old New Redlined
ALL Gender Neutrality Updated document to reflect gender neutrality All I.E. N/A Closed Sessions Removed, covered in Brown Act: Closed Sessions 6 I.F. N/A Study Sessions Removed, covered in Brown Act: Special Meetings 6 I.H. I.F. Attendance Removed last ¶, duplicative of Section II.C. 6 II.G.5. N/A Public Hearings –General Removed section, duplicative of Section IX 11-13 I.X.B. N/A Rights of Interested Persons Removed language, duplicative in other provisions 20 XIV.A. N/A Council/Staff Relations Removed language, not necessary in protocols 26 Updates – Reflect Current Practice
Agenda Section Topic Summary of Update Page #
Old New Redlined
I.A. Rosenberg’s Rules of Order Reflect current practice 5 I.B. Regular Meetings Reflect current practice 5
II.D. N/A Order of Business Reflect current practice 8
II.E. II.D. Agenda Content & Order Reflect current practice 8-10 II.E.4 VII.A. Approval of Minutes – Moved to Section VII.A. Reflect current practice 8 II.E.7 II.D.6. Public Comments Reflect current practice 9 II.F. II.E. General Procedure for Presentation/Discussion of Agenda Items Reflect current practice 10
Updates – Reflect Current Practice (con’t.)
Agenda Section Topic Summary of Update Page #
Old New Redlined
II.G. II.F. Public Comment Reflect current practice 10-11 III.B. Power and Duties of Presiding Officer Reflect current practice 13-14 V.C. Interruptions Reflect current practice 15
V.F. Decorum and Order, Audience Reflect current practice 15 VII.C. N/A Reading of Minutes Reflect current practice 18 VIII.C. Enactment of Ordinances
- Reflect current practice
- Remove duplicative language
- Remove duplicative language – Brown Act
19-20
Updates – Reflect Current Practice (con’t.)
Agenda Section Topic Summary of Update Page #
Old New Redlined
IX.D. IX.C. Public Hearings – Presentation of Evidence Reflect current practice 22 IX.E. IX.D. Public Hearings – Continuances Reflect current practice 22-23 IX.G. IX.F. Public Hearings – Record of Hearing Reflect current practice 23 XII.A. & XII.B. Correspondence Reflect current practice 25 XIII.A. Requests for Information Reflect current practice 26 XV. City Boards, Commissions, and Committees Reflect current practice 27 XVII. Stationary Use and Related Guidelines Reflect current practice 28 Updates –Updated/New Language
Agenda Section Topic Summary of Update Page #
Old New Redlined
I.G. I.E. Meeting to be Public - Updated language to be more concise 6 II.A. Preparation of Agenda & Agenda Packets
- Updated language to reference Brown Act
- Removed language not relevant to how
the Council governs itself
6-7
II.B. Placing Items on the Agenda
- Added: purpose
- Changed: from majority to concurrence of
one other Councilmember
- Reflect current practice
7 II.C. Teleconferencing/Remote Participation
- Updated language to reference allowable
participation as permitted by the Brown
Act and the American with Disabilities Act
7-8
Updates –Updated/New Language (con’t.)
Agenda Section Topic Summary of Update Page #
Old New Redlined
II.E.8. II.D.7. Consent Calendar Items
- Changed: majority to any
Councilmember may request in
item to be removed from Consent
9 II.E.9. II.E.8. Public Hearing
- Updated language to be more
concise
- Cross reference Section IX
9 II.E.10.
II.E.11. II.D.9. New Business and Old Business - Combined into one section titled, “Business Items” 9-10
IV.A. IV. Correspondence
- Reflect current practice
- Consistent with new Brown Act
Requirements
14 Updates –Updated/New Language (con’t.)
Agenda Section Topic Summary of Update Page #
Old New Redlined
VI.A. Voting Procedures - Updated to clarify supermajority 16 VI.C. Conflict of Interest - Updated to reflect legal
requirements for recusal 17
VII.A. Preparation of Minutes
- Updated to reflect that Action
Minutes shall serve as the official
record
17 N/A VII.C. Minutes
- Reflect current practice
- Added: approval of minutes to be
placed on Consent Calendar within
60 days of the meeting
18 Updates –Updated/New Language (con’t.)
Agenda Section Topic Summary of Update Page #
Old New Redlined
VIII.A.1.
VIII.A.2. Ordinance & Resolutions - Added definition of Ordinance- Added definition of Resolution 18 IX.C. IX.B. Public Hearings –General - Added language outlining process - Reflect current practice 20-21
X.D. Proclamations - Added maximum number per
meeting 24
XI.G. City Council Goal Setting - Updated to bi-annual reports 25 N/A XVIII.A. District Elections - Added new language regarding district elections 29
N/A XVIII.C. Positions on Ballot Measures - Added language 29-30 Recommendation
Provide feedback to subcommittee and staff on:
Recommendations presented in the staff report
Other areas the City Council may consider
Next Steps
Subcommittee & Staff:
• Update to reflect City Council Direction
• Bring back on Consent Calendar for Adoption
Public
Comment
Comentarios
del público