4903-8318-9132 v1
"We Care for Our Residents by Working Together to
Build a Better Community for Today and Tomorrow."
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE ROHNERT PARK CITY COUNCIL & ROHNERT
PARK PLANNING COMMISSION WILL HOLD A JOINT SPECIAL MEETING Thursday February 5, 2026
Open Session: 5:30 p.m.
MEETING LOCATION: COMMUNITY CENTER MULTIPURPOSE ROOM
Address: 5401 Snyder Ln, Rohnert Park, CA 94928
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: The Rohnert Park City Council welcomes your attendance, interest and participation at this special meeting. This meeting will be live-streamed on the City’s YouTube Channel. The video recording will be available on the City’s website for later viewing.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: Provides an opportunity for public comment on the Draft General Plan 2040 (limited to three minutes per appearance with a maximum allowance of 30 minutes with time limits subject to modification in accordance with the adopted City Council Protocols. Speakers are encouraged to complete a Public Comment card and submit it to the Clerk at the time of the meeting. This helps ensure an orderly and efficient meeting, but it is not required.
Members of the public may also provide advanced comments related only to items listed on this agenda by email at [email protected] Comments are requested by 3:00 p.m. the day of the meeting, but can be emailed until the close of the Agenda Item for which the comment is submitted. Email comments must identify Agenda Item Number 2 in the subject line of the email. The emails will not be read for the record but will be provided to Council and the Planning Commission. Please note that all e -mails are considered to be public records and subject to disclosure under the California Public Records Act.
Agendas and minutes may be viewed at the City's website: www.rpcity.org.
RIGHT TO APPEAL: Judicial review of any city administrative decision pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure Section 1094.5 may be had only if a petition is filed with the court no later than the deadlines specified in Section 1094.6 of the California Code of Civil Procedure, which generally limits the time within which the decision may be challenged to the 90th day following the date that the decision becomes final.
CITY COUNCIL GOALS: On May 14, 2024, the Rohnert Park City Council adopted the following multi-year broad goals (listed below in no particular order):
1. Long Term Financial Sustainability 3. Planning and Infrastructure
2. Community Quality of Life 4. Organization Well Being
1. CITY COUNCIL/PLANNING COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING - CALL TO
ORDER/ROLL CALL
City Council:
(Adams_____ Giudice______ Rodriguez_____ Elward_____ Sanborn______) Planning Commission
(Austin-Dillon_____Campbell_____ Orloff_____ Epstein____Lam_____) 4903-8318-9132 v1
2. STUDY SESSION REGARDING THE DRAFT ROHNERT PARK GENERAL PLAN 2040 A. Staff Report
B. Public Comments
C. Council/Commissioners Questions and Comments
3. ADJOURNMENT
NOTE: Time shown for any particular matter on the agenda is an estimate only. Matters may be considered earlier or later than the time indicated depending on the pace at which the meeting proceeds. If you wish to speak on an item under discussion by the Council which appears on this agenda, please refer to page 1 for more details on submitting a public comment. Any item raised by a member of the public which is not on the agenda and may require Council action shall be automatically referred to staff for investigation and disposition which may include placing on a future agenda. If the item is deemed to be an emergency or the need to take action arose after posting of the agenda within the meaning of Government Code Section 54954.2(b), Council is entitled to discuss the matter to determine if it is an emergency item under said Government Code and may take action thereon.
AGENDA REPORTS & DOCUMENTS: A paper copy of all staff reports and documents subject to disclosure that relate to each item of business referred to on the agenda are available for public inspection at City Hall, 130 Avram Avenue, Rohnert Park, California 94928. Electronic copies of all staff reports and documents subject to disclosure that relate to each item of business referred to on the agenda are available for public inspection at https://www.rpcity.org/city_hall/city_council/meeting_central.
Any writings or documents subject to disclosure that are provided to all, or a majority of all, of the members of the City Council and Planning Commision regarding any item on this agenda after the agenda has been distributed will be made available for inspection at City Hall and on our website at the same time. Any writings or documents subject to disclosure that are provided to the City Council during the meeting will be made available for public inspection during meeting and on our website following the meeting.
CERTIFICATION OF POSTING OF AGENDA
I, Sylvia Lopez Cuevas, City Clerk, for the City of Rohnert Park, declare that the foregoing agenda was posted and available for review on February 2, 2026, at Rohnert Park City Hall, 130 Avram Avenue, Rohnert Park, California 94928. The agenda is also available on the City’s website at www.rpcity.org Executed this 2nd day of February, 2026 at Rohnert Park, California.
Sylvia Lopez Cuevas
Office of the City Clerk
4905-5451-7643 v1 1
Mission Statement
“We Care for Our Residents by Working Together to Build a Better Community for Today and Tomorrow”
CITY OF ROHNERT PARK
City Council and Planning Commission Joint Study Session Meeting Date: February 5, 2026
Department: Development Services
Prepared by: Barry Miller, Planning Consultant
Agenda Title: Study Session on Draft Rohnert Park General Plan 2040 RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Convene a joint City Council/ Planning Commission study session on General Plan 2040, including an opportunity for public comment, and provide direction.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Rohnert Park is preparing to initiate public hearings to consider adoption of General Plan 2040. Upon adoption, the new General Plan will replace the existing General Plan 2020, which was adopted in 2000. An Environmental Impact Report (EIR) has been prepared for General Plan 2040 and will be considered concurrently with the Plan.
1. Link to the Rohnert Park 2040 General Plan Draft Environmental Impact Report
2. Link to the Rohnert Park Draft 2040 General Plan
Adoption of the General Plan requires at least one public hearing before the Planning Commission, which will review the EIR and General Plan and make a recommendation to the City Council by resolution. The City Council will also conduct at least one public hearing to consider the Planning Commission’s recommendation and take action on its own adoption resolution.
Given the complexity of the General Plan and the multi-year effort involved in its preparation, staff has scheduled a study session in advance of the public hearings. The study session is intended to familiarize Councilmembers and Commissioners with the General Plan, provide an opportunity to ask questions and offer direction to staff, and receive public comment prior to the formal public hearing process. No action will be taken at the study session. 4905-5451-7643 v1 2
OVERVIEW:
A PowerPoint presentation is attached to this report. It will be delivered by staff during the study session in a series of segments (or “modules”), with opportunities for City Council and Planning Commission questions and comments following each module. The presentation is organized as follows:
• Introduction and Overview: Describes the purpose and organization of the General Plan, applicable legal requirements, and the Plan update process and timeline. An opportunity for public comment will be provided following this segment. • Module 1: Presents the overall vision and guiding principles for the General Plan, along with the Community Development Element and Economic Development Element. • Module 2: Covers the Circulation Element, the Public Facilities and Services Element, and the Climate Change Element.
• Module 3: Covers the Racial, Social, and Environmental Justice Element, the Health and Safety Element, and the Resource Conservation Element.
• Module 4: Covers proposed changes to the Land Use Map, anticipated future zoning changes, and the Environmental Impact Report (EIR).
Each module will include a 5–7 minute presentation followed by approximately 20 minutes of City Council and Planning Commission questions and feedback.
The presentation will be delivered by Barry Miller and Jim Harnish. Mr. Miller is a consultant working with the City to facilitate and manage the General Plan adoption process. Mr. Harnish is a principal at Mintier-Harnish and has served as the lead consultant on the General Plan Update since 2018.
Following the study session, staff will schedule the first Planning Commission hearing to consider a recommendation on the Environmental Impact Report and General Plan 2040 (tentatively March 12, 2026).
Joint Study Session
City Council and Planning Commission
February 5, 2026
2 ▪ Prepare Commissioners/Council members for
upcoming public hearings
▪ Facilitate Council and Commission questions
and feedback prior to hearings
▪ Review proposed Map changes
▪ Invite public comment
▪ Outline next steps and expectations
3 Introduction and Overview 15 min
Initial Public Comment Period TBD
Discussion Modules
1 Vision/ Community and Economic Development 20 min
2 Circulation/ Public Facilities and Services/ Climate 20 min 3 Racial, Social, and Environmental Justice/
Health and Safety/ Resource Conservation
20 min
4 Land Use Map (future zoning changes) and EIR 20 min
Final Public Comment and Next Steps TBD
▪ The General Plan is Rohnert Park’s
vision for the future and its
“blueprint” for decision-making
▪ Required by State law ▪ Long-term (20-year span) ▪ Comprehensive in scope and area ▪ Organized into topical “elements” ▪ Contains goals, policies, implementation programs
4 5
General Plan
Policies
5 Existing
Conditions
2 Project
Initiation
1 Visioning &
Issues
3 Alternatives
4 Publication
and
Adoption
10 Housing
Element
8 Working Draft
2040
Plan
6 Admin Draft
EIR
7 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
Refinement
of Drafts
9 YOU ARE HERE
▪ Farmer’s Markets
▪ Founder’s Day (2018) and I Heart Rohnert Park
▪ Community Workshops
• Town Hall Meeting on Issues
• Visioning Workshop
▪ BPAC/ Parks & Rec Study Sessions
▪ Planning Commission Study Sessions
▪ City Council Study Sessions
▪ Tribal Consultation
6 More than 1,000 residents
have participated in this
process over the last 8 years!
7 General
Plan 2040
Housing
Element
2023 - 2031
Primary relationship
(local element
meets statutory
requirement)
Secondary
relationship (local
element addresses
topic)
▪ Housing Elements are prepared on an 8-
year cycle set by the legislature
▪ Bay Area jurisdictions were required to
complete their Elements by 1/31/23
▪ Element is subject to certification by State
▪ Many prescriptive requirements for data,
analysis, and maps
▪ Level of detail and timing means this
Element is a “standalone” document in
most cities
8 9
▪ Updated baseline data and revised forecasts, looking to 2040 ▪ Respond to regional, national, and global trends, issues, and technology ▪ Comply with new state laws and mandates
▪ New vision, incorporating plans from 2000 to 2025 and community input ▪ New elements:
• Racial, Environmental and Social Justice
• Climate Change
• Economic Development
▪ Updated General Plan categories and Map
Each element includes a
list of action programs,
including: ▪ Related policies ▪ Responsible parties ▪ Timeline 10 11
▪ Final EIR (late February)
▪ Planning Commission (PC) hearing: March 12, 2026
• Consider resolutions recommending (1) Council certification of EIR and (2) adoption of General Plan
▪ City Council (CC) hearing: April 14, 2026 (tentative) • CC to consider PC recommendation (2 resolutions)
▪ Multiple hearings of each body may occur
▪ PC and CC consider public testimony at each hearing
▪ Changes may be made before adoption
Questions or Comments on:
▪ General Plan requirements?
▪ Planning process?
12 Vision
Community Development
Economic Development
“Rohnert Park is a thriving,
family friendly community
that is a safe, enjoyable
place to live, work and play”
14 COPELAND CREEK TRAIL
The Plan begins with a “framework” that includes:
• Vision statement
• Guiding principles
• Overview of Eight Focus Areas where change
is expected
15 ▪ Most change in 2025-2045 will occur
in these areas
▪ Plans for most of these areas have
previously been vetted and analyzed
▪ General Plan provides a framework
and describes the vision for each area
▪ Plan includes growth forecasts for
each area and city as a whole
▪ Includes General Plan Map
▪ Presents 2040 growth forecasts
▪ Provides policies for major land uses:
• Residential
• Employment and Retail
• Downtown
• Special Areas
▪ Addresses community design and
aesthetics
16 The 2040 Plan includes policies for a new
Downtown
▪ Redevelopment of former State Farm site
▪ Covered by Priority Development Area
Plan (Adopted 2016)
▪ Walkable destination and transit hub
▪ Variety of jobs, housing, shopping, and
services
17 ▪ New General Plan Element
▪ Establishes economic development as a
priority and aligns community
development goals with ED goals
▪ Incorporates and updates Rohnert Park
Economic Development Framework
▪ Addresses business retention,
expansion, attraction, and tourism
18 ▪ Quality of Life and Fiscal Resiliency
• Support a healthy economy and quality of life through a resilient, diversified tax base. ▪ Healthy Business Environment
• Promote businesses that sustain and diversify the economy and provide high-paying jobs for residents
▪ Strengthen Retail Centers
• Help retail centers adapt to trends and become stronger and more vibrant ▪ Strengthen Downtown
• Evolve Downtown into a thriving regional destination of activity and commerce ▪ Strengthen Targeted Business Districts
• Improve key commercial areas as drivers of the local economy 19 Questions or Comments on:
▪ Vision and Framework?
▪ Community Development?
▪ Economic Development?
20 Circulation
Public Facilities and Services
Climate Change
22 Page
▪ Road network and street classification
▪ Transportation demand management
▪ Street design and safety
▪ Pedestrian and bicycle circulation
▪ Public transit
▪ Parking
▪ Freight rail and goods movement
23 Page
New Focus on:
▪ Reducing Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT)– to reduce
greenhouse gases
▪ Reducing auto dependency/ supporting multi-modal travel ▪ Designing streets for all modes of travel (“complete streets”) ▪ Improving safety, especially for cyclists and pedestrians ▪ Facilitating transit improvements and connections
▪ “Right-sizing” parking requirements
▪ Responding to evolving technologies
Plan retains Level of Service (LOS) for planning purposes 24 ▪ Parks and recreation
▪ Water supply and conservation
▪ Wastewater collection and treatment
▪ Stormwater management
▪ Solid waste and recycling
▪ Law enforcement
▪ Fire and EMS
▪ Electric and gas utilities
▪ Telecommunications
▪ Schools and libraries
New Focus on:
• Sustainable City operations
• Partnership / consultation with Federated
Indians of Graton Rancheria
• Park maintenance focus
• Stormwater quality measures
• Water use efficiency and recycled water use
• Public Safety improvements / community
policing strategies
• Emergency response and preparedness
• Utility services / communications
modernization
25 Westside Fire Station
▪ New General Plan Element
▪ Includes goals, policies, and programs
implementing Rohnert Park’s climate priorities:
• Transition away from fossil fuel
• Collaborate on climate issues
• Achieve zero net emission
• Accelerate adaptation, resilience, mobilization
• Educate and engage residents
▪ Provides context with data on past, present, and
future greenhouse gas emissions
▪ Addresses adaptation as well as GHG reduction
26 ▪ Greenhouse Gas Reduction
1. Provide leadership in climate change mitigation and adaptation
2. Ensure clean emissions free energy for new development and retrofits
3. Continue municipal efforts to reduce GHG emissions
4. Promote renewable energy production
5. Implement energy efficiency programs
6. Increase EV use and infrastructure
▪ Climate Adaptation
7. Identify and prepare for climate change impacts
8. Enhance adaptive capacity of manmade and natural systems
9. Promote a high standard of air quality to protect public health 27 ▪ Develop framework for adopting EV technologies and improving EV infrastructure
▪ Establish a staff “green team”
▪ Implement food recovery programs
▪ Implement organics collection ordinance and organic
waste disposal program
▪ Expand tree cover
▪ Provide incentives for electric appliance use
▪ Consider building electrification ordinance
▪ Add on-site battery storage at public buildings
▪ Streamline review of micro-grid systems
28 Questions or Comments on:
▪ Circulation?
▪ Public Facilities and Services?
▪ Climate Change?
29 Racial, Social, and Environmental Justice
Health and Safety
Resource Conservation
31 ▪ New General Plan Element ▪ Environmental justice means the fair treatment of people of all races, cultures,
and incomes with respect to environmental
laws, regulations, and policies
▪ SB 1000 requires EJ Elements in the
General Plans of any jurisdiction with a
“disadvantaged community”
▪ In 2021, Council provided direction to
expand this scope to include racial and
social justice, and include an RSEJ Element
▪ Racial and Social Justice
1. Support equity, inclusion, and access to opportunities
2. Respect, protect, and promote civil and human rights
3. Broaden income and employment opportunities
▪ Environmental Justice
4. Ensure land use decisions benefit all and do not create disproportionate burdens based on race, income, location
5. Ensure access to healthy food, education, green space, health care ▪ Civic Engagement in Public Decision-Making Process
6. Fully engage the public in City decision-making
32 ▪ Social and racial justice survey
▪ Clear and inclusive outreach materials
▪ Expand City recruitment to attract diverse candidates ▪ Support bias training for public safety staff
▪ Maintain Civilian Police Academy
▪ Engage the community in new, innovative ways
▪ Support an annual career and job fair with local employers ▪ Audit of local regulations re: healthy foods
▪ Equitable distribution of capital projects
33 34
• Emergency preparedness
• Wildfire
• Earthquakes and geologic hazards
• Flooding
• Air quality
• Noise
• Hazardous materials
New Focus on:
▪ Emergency communication and coordination
▪ Extreme heat events (cooling centers)
▪ Disaster relief and post-disaster reconstruction
▪ Wildfire preparedness and defensible space
▪ Emergency vehicle access
▪ Noise protection through site planning
▪ Reducing hazmat incidents
35 ▪ Historic resources
▪ Tribal cultural and archaeological
resources
▪ Habitat and biological resources
• Plant and Animal life
• Creeks and riparian areas
• Tree planting and preservation
▪ Open space
36 New Focus on:
▪ Tribal consultation and protection of tribal
cultural resources (new goal)
▪ Historic sites and structures
▪ Sensitive project design in areas with
endangered plant and animal species
▪ Native plants and fire-resistant landscapes
▪ Tree planting and urban forest
▪ Water conservation
▪ Creek protection
37 ▪ Consultation with Native American tribes is required by AB 52 (CEQA) and SB 18 (General Plan)
▪ The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria (FIGR) is an important community partner and has been engaged
throughout the process
▪ 12 consultation meetings were convened, including five in 2025
▪ Draft Plan and EIR reflect extensive input from FIGR, primarily around survey requirements and treatment of
resources on development sites
▪ Policies and programs related to tribal cultural resources are primarily in the Resource Conservation Element
38 Questions or Comments on:
▪ Racial, Social, and Environmental Justice?
▪ Health and Safety?
▪ Resource Conservation?
39 Land Use Map and Future Zoning Changes
Environmental Impact Report
41 2020 Plan 2040 Plan
42 • 2020 Plan designated half of
Southwest Boulevard area for
commercial and half for mixed use.
• 2040 Plan designates entire area as
mixed use.
• 2020 Plan designated 5150 Snyder (4
ac) and 5435 Snyder (1.2 ac) as
public/institutional.
• 2040 Plan designates sites as high
density residential (Housing El. sites)
• 2020 Plan designated NW Specific
Plan, Wilfred-Dowdell, and Central
RP “triangle” as regional commercial,
mixed use, and/or industrial
• 2040 Plan designates these areas as
Business Park
▪ Allows office, industrial, and institutional uses
▪ Intended to provide more flexibility for
development
▪ Supports more employment and revenue
opportunities
▪ Helps balance job and housing growth
▪ Attract higher paying jobs
▪ Responds to changes in FIGR reservation
boundary
43 44
Future zoning changes will be needed for
General Plan consistency and Housing
Element implementation
▪ 5150 Snyder Lane (St. John’s Church)
(Public/Institutional to High Density Res)
▪ Southwest Blvd west of Commerce
(Neighborhood Commercial to Mixed Use)
▪ Business Park areas (see map)
▪ Minor “clean-up” items to reflect existing uses
▪ Residential neighborhoods
▪ Other commercial and industrial areas
▪ Other area plan, specific plan, and special focus areas • University District
• SOMO Village/ Willowglen
• Northeast
• Stadium Area
• Southeast
• Canon Manor
45 ▪ General Plan Update is a “project” under CEQA
▪ Draft EIR has been prepared, with mitigation
measures to reduce impacts
▪ Some impacts may remain “significant and
unavoidable,” even after mitigation
▪ EIR comment period was 11/21/25 - 1/16/26
▪ City is preparing Final EIR with responses to
comments
▪ Council Resolution adopting the EIR will include
Findings and Statement of Overriding
Considerations
46 EIR Topics
• Aesthetics
• Air quality
• Biological resources
• Cultural and historic resources
• Energy
• Geology and soils
• Greenhouse gas emissions
• Hazardous materials
• Hydrology and water quality
• Land Use
• Noise
• Population and housing
• Public services and recreation
• Transportation and traffic
• Tribal cultural resources
• Utilities
• Wildfire
Questions or Comments on:
▪ Land Use Map and Future Rezonings?
▪ EIR?
47 Upcoming Public Hearings
▪ Planning Commission (March 12)
▪ City Council (April 14) - tentative
48 Submit Comments on Plan to [email protected]
Visit the website: www.envisionrp.com
Joint City Council and Planning Commission Study Session * February 5, 2026