Late Correspondence (Uploaded 08-20-2024) — Santa Rosa City Council, August 20, 2024

From: [email protected]
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 4.1, Capital Improvement Program Prioritization Date: Saturday, August 17, 2024 8:43:09 PM
Dear Councilmembers,
I strongly support the effort to establish a process for prioritizing transportation infrastructure projects using clear criteria based on our
community’s goals and values. In particular, I urge the City to adopt a “fix it first” approach that will:
● Deprioritize costly, unnecessary road-widening projects; ● Repair and enhance the existing transportation network; ● Increase multimodal transportation options;
● Improve safety and accessibility for all users; and,
● Enhance cultural and economic vibrancy.

Thank you,
Barbara Phillips, SRJC neighborhood

From: Mojo Tchudi
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 4.1, Capital Improvement Program Prioritization Date: Sunday, August 18, 2024 8:51:27 AM
Dear Councilmembers,
I strongly support the effort to establish a process for prioritizing transportation infrastructure projects using clear criteria based on our community’s goals and values. In particular, I urge the City to adopt a “fix it first” approach that will:

Deprioritize costly, unnecessary road-widening projects; Repair and enhance the existing transportation network; Increase multimodal transportation options;
Improve safety and accessibility for all users; and,
Enhance cultural and economic vibrancy.

For example, Hoen Ave between Hoen Frontage and Sonoma desperately needs to be repaved! Thank you,
Michael Tchudi
Bennett Valley
From: Rick Coates
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Capital Improvement Program Prioritization Date: Sunday, August 18, 2024 10:37:44 AM
Attachments: CIP.pdf
Rick Coates
Executive Director
EcoRing
Promoting
EcoTourism and Green Travel.

It's the Journey not just the Destination!
Please consider the environment before printing this email.

Promoting Ecotourism and Green Travel
P.O. Box 195, Cazadero, CA 95446
www.ecoring.org

April 24, 2024

[email protected]

Re: Capital Improvement Program Prioritization

Dear Council Members:

EcoRing is a nonprofit organization that promotes ecotourism and green travel in the North Bay.

Our Partners are businesses in the tourism industry in Sonoma, Marin and San Francisco counties. We also advocate for the infrastructure that would allow tourists to travel safely without their automobiles using rail transit and bicycle paths.

Tourists arriving by SMART and by bicycles should experience a safe, bikeable and walkable Santa Rosa. Consequently we encourage the CIP to prioritize the completion of a user friendly bicycle and pedestrian network before any money is spent on widening or extending roads. As we all should know by now, widening roadways only increases traffic and traffic speeding which endangers drivers, cyclists and pedestr ians. It is counter- productive.

Sincerely,

Executive Director
[email protected] or 707-632-6070
[email protected]

From: AL Wellman
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 4.1, Capital Improvement Program Prioritization Date: Sunday, August 18, 2024 12:45:54 PM
Dear Council members,
As you prioritize transportation infrastructure projects within CIP funding limitations, I encourage you to recognize the environmental importance of reducing vehicle miles traveled over short distances by increasing pedestrian and bicycle safety including the following two locations.
1st - A sidewalk is required along the north side of Mount Olive Drive between Brigham Avenue and the pedestrian access to the south end of Green Way so students living southwest of Brook Hill School can safely walk to and from classes.

Private vehicles parked on the road shoulder at that location presently force pedestrians to choose between walking out in the traffic lane or in the roadside drainage ditch. 2nd - The sidewalk along the north side of Bennett Valley Road from the intersection with Gordon Lane should be extended eastward from adjacency to highway 12 at least to the Waterfall Towers driveway so pedestrians living east of the fairgrounds can safely reach Farmers Lane Plaza.

Access to the Plaza's drug store is important to the
health of resident pedestrians who are presently required to walk in a narrow bicycle path which is often obstructed by rapidly growing acacia tree branches.

Thank you,
Albert Wellman

From: Tanya Narath
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 4.1, Capital Improvement Program Prioritization Date: Sunday, August 18, 2024 5:24:42 PM
Dear Councilmembers,

I strongly support the effort to establish a process for prioritizing transportation infrastructure projects using clear criteria based on our community’s goals and values. I have reviewed the proposed list of organizing values for prioritization criteria described in the staff report and feel that they are an excellent starting point for discussion and feedback. I am very interested in seeing the results of applying the draft proposed methodology to the list of CIP projects.

From the list of proposed values, I would place the highest priority on the categories of Equity, Environment/Sustainability, and Health and Safety. I ask that closing gaps in our active transportation networks (bike, pedestrian, transit) be explicitly included as a metric to ensure that we are investing in creating complete networks that are safe, convenient, and accessible for users of all ages and abilities. For example,

Project contributes to the completion of the city’s user-friendly public transit network, low-stress bike network, and/or low-stress pedestrian network.

Project contributes to the completion of the city’s user-friendly multimodal transportation networks.

As a regular commuter to downtown Santa Rosa by bike and walking, I experience the challenges of safely navigating the gaps in our current active transportation network. The first part of my commute on a narrow class II bike lane on Stony Point is nerve-wracking, with cars rushing by at 40+ miles per hour. In contrast, the recent lowering of speed limits downtown combined with the new buffered bike lanes on 7
th Street and Mendocino Avenue have made
the final leg of my daily commute feel safer and less stressful. Changing how we prioritize using our limited transportation funding is critical to implementing more of these safety and connectivity improvements.

I also support Bikeable Santa Rosa’s request to adopt a “fix it first” approach that will:

Finally, I thank you for your strong support of the city’s Vision Zero program and willingness to stand up for the importance of slowing speeds and creating safer infrastructure for walking, bicycling, and rolling.

Sincerely,

Tanya Narath
District 7 resident

From: Erica Mikesh
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 4.1, Capital Improvement Program Prioritization Date: Sunday, August 18, 2024 6:46:51 PM
Dear Councilmembers,
I strongly support the effort to establish a process for prioritizing transportation infrastructure projects using clear criteria based on our community’s goals and values.

In particular, I urge the City to adopt a “fix it first” approach that will:

Thank you,
Erica Mikesh
JC Neighborhood
From: Erica Mikesh
To: Sprinkle, Rob; Wilson, Torina; Oceguera, Alexander; Hennessey, Dan Cc: Bikeable Santa Rosa; City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Sebastopol Road Safety near Cesar Chavez Language Academy Date: Sunday, August 18, 2024 7:01:43 PM
Good evening,
I am writing as a parent and teacher of students at Cesar Chavez Language Academy (CCLA) on Sebastopol Road. I am a regular bike commuter as are my children. I recently switched schools as a teacher and am now biking to CCLA from the JC Neighborhood. Previously I was biking from the JC Neighborhood to Comstock Middle School and passed by Steele Lane Elementary School everyday.

I appreciate the traffic calming work that has been done to make Steele Lane Safer for all modes of transport.

My family and I bike to CCLA via the Joe Rodota Trail and get off at Stony Point and then have to cross Sebastopol Road.

We have tried multiple methods of crossing Sebastopol Road and have settled on crossing it at the stoplight at Stony Point. In the past my kids and I have used the eastern flashing crosswalk, however, there have been multiple near misses where we have almost been hit while crossing even when there was a crossing guard.

This past week I
was right behind a middle school student who pressed the flasher, then walked into stopped traffic heading eastbound, and when he got to the westbound traffic, he did not look up from his phone and a car slammed on its brakes and came within feet of hitting him.

This was the
same day as the fatal accident at Lombardi and Sebastopol Road.

Please work to address this issue before another tragedy occurs. I would be happy to ride our route with you sometime if you are interested. Alexander rode with me last year to Comstock and doing so helped me revise my bike route.

All my best,
Erica Mikesh
JC Neighborhood

From: Nathan Spindel
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 4.1, Capital Improvement Program Prioritization Date: Sunday, August 18, 2024 8:11:19 PM
Dear Councilmembers,
As a District 2 small business owner whose employees and customers use active transportation, I urge the City to prioritize investment in transportation projects.

I support establishing a process for prioritizing infrastructure projects based on community goals. I advocate for a "fix it first" approach that will:
- Focus on repairing existing infrastructure
- Increase multimodal options
- Improve safety and accessibility
- Enhance cultural and economic vibrancy
Please ensure the criteria include closing gaps in transit, sidewalk, and bicycle networks, making them safe and accessible for all users.

Thank you,
Nathan Spindel
Business owner in District 2

From: Andrew Rich
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 4.1, Capital Improvement Program Prioritization Date: Sunday, August 18, 2024 8:23:30 PM
Dear Councilmembers,
I strongly support the effort to establish a process for prioritizing transportation infrastructure projects using clear criteria based on our community’s goals and values. In
particular, I urge the City to adopt a “fix it first” approach that will:

Thank you,
Andy Rich, saint rose district
From: Michelle Klimek
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 4.1, Capital Improvement Program Prioritization Date: Sunday, August 18, 2024 8:27:44 PM
Dear Councilmembers,
As you finalize the criteria which will be used to make CIP funding decisions, please include among them either of the following:
“Project contributes to the completion of the city’s user-friendly public transit network, low-stress bike network, and/or low-stress pedestrian network.” “Project contributes to the completion of the city’s user-friendly multimodal transportation networks.”
Thank you,
Michelle Klimek
Santa Rosa
(Mission & Montgomery)
From: Minona Heaviland
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 4.1, Capital Improvement Program- please prioritize supporting multi-modal projects Date: Sunday, August 18, 2024 8:45:12 PM
Dear Councilmembers,
As you finalize the criteria which will be used to make CIP funding decisions, please prioritize projects that contribute to the completion of the city’s user-friendly public transit network, low-stress bike network, and/or low-stress pedestrian network.

I would like to praise the re-striping projects that were implemented by Transportation & Public Works this summer- the re-striping of 4th Street, and the lane reduction on Steele Lane to add bike lanes has been a huge improvement for the safety and enjoyment of people walking and biking on or crossing any of these streets. In addition, I think it has increased safety for vehicular traffic without significantly slowing travel time. I'm in full support of Transportation & Public Works implementing more of these "quick build" projects that improve road safety and quality of life for everyone in Santa Rosa.

Please support these needed changes to improve the safety and uses of our street network for people in many modes of transportation, particularly prioritizing people that are outside of single occupancy vehicles. These changes will support more people using our streets and supporting local businesses.

Many thanks for supporting the City staff in moving forward these needed changes to support mode shift, and quality of life in Santa Rosa.

Minona Heaviland
Santa Rosa Resident
From: Zinnia Bruland
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 4.1, Capital Improvement Program prioritize quick build projects Date: Sunday, August 18, 2024 8:58:42 PM
Dear Councilmembers,
I'm an 8th grade student at Santa Rosa Middle School, and I would like it to be safer for me and my friends to be able to ride bikes or rollerblade to Santa Rosa High School next year.

Please support the City in funding "quick build" projects that will make the streets safer for young people getting around.

Thank you,
Zinnia Bruland

From: Michael Lipelt
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] CIP Prioritization
Date: Sunday, August 18, 2024 9:13:37 PM
Dear City Council Members,
Subject: Item 4.1, Capital Improvement Program Prioritization Dear Councilmembers,
I strongly support the effort to establish a process for prioritizing transportation infrastructure projects using clear criteria based on our community’s goals and values. In particular, I urge the City to adopt a “fix it first” approach that will:

Thank you,
Michael Lipelt
District 4 Resident

From: Julia Lockett
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 4.1, Capital Improvement Program Prioritization Date: Sunday, August 18, 2024 9:25:26 PM
Dear Councilmembers,
I strongly support the effort to establish a process for prioritizing transportation infrastructure projects using clear criteria based on our community’s goals and values. In particular, I urge the City to adopt a “fix it first” approach that will:

Thank you,
Julia Lockett, Montgomery Village Area Resident
From: Malinda Painter
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 4.1, Capital Improvement Program Prioritization Date: Sunday, August 18, 2024 10:13:55 PM
Dear council members:

As you finalize the criteria that will be used to make CIP funding decisions, please consider including:
“Project contributes to the completion of the city’s user-friendly public transit network, low stress bike network, and/or low stress pedestrian network.” It is important to me that sidewalks, bike lanes, and paths are fixed with more continuous ramps, curbs, and fewer barriers and that public transit is prioritized.

Sidewalk gaps should be prioritized like on Hwy 12 between Middle Rincon and Blue Jay where I see children walking and biking on the side of the hwy to get to Whited Elementary
School. It would be even better if a direct separate path could be completed along Austin creek (there is already a path partially there) with a crosswalk across Middle Rincon. Hopefully, the new housing development at Calistoga Rd and Hwy 12 also includes the completion of the sidewalks and better and safer crossings at this intersection and perhaps a linkage to the future planned trail along Santa Rosa creek. All new development should contribute to the active transportation plan through paths and sidewalks.

The paths could be an excellent network and used more if they were prioritized and the 2018 active Santa Rosa transportation plan is a good starting point.

Thank you for the recent improvements along Sonoma ave near downtown, the pavement and the bike lanes are better than they were.

Thank you,
Malinda Painter
Rincon Valley, District 3

From: Adrian Covert
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Support for the Capital Improvement Program Update Date: Monday, August 19, 2024 12:12:32 AM
Dear Mayor Rogers and Council members,
On behalf of Santa Rosa YIMBY, I write to share our enthusiastic support for TPW Director Hennessy's framework for re-prioritizing city resources for capital improvement projects. The city's current capital improvement framework is irrational, unaffordable, and is ineffective at prioritizing projects that improve quality of life while helping the city move closer to achieving its climate, emissions, and VMT goals. I respectfully request your support for this approach and look forward to the discussion at Tuesday's study session.

Best,

Adrian Covert
Santa Rosa, CA
From: Chris Guenther
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Letter on Item 4.1, August 20 Council Mtg Date: Monday, August 19, 2024 5:30:15 AM
Attachments: Letter-CityCouncil-FixItFirst.pdf
Please see attached.

Thank you,
Chris
Chris Guenther
Co-Lead, Bikeable Santa Rosa
m. 415-265-9378
bikeablesantarosa.org
August 18, 2024
Santa Rosa City Council
100 Santa Rosa Ave
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Dear Council Members,
We are writing on behalf of the hundreds of supporters ofBikeable Santa Rosa, a grassroots, all-volunteer campaign dedicated to making Santa Rosa’s streets accessible to users of all ages and abilities.

As you consider the criteria being outlined by staff this week as part of item #4.1, we are asking that the City adopt a “fix it first” approach to our transportation spending that prioritizes the repair and improvement of existing infrastructure and deprioritizes road-widening projects.

We are pleased to see the proposed criteria in the staff report, as they are generally in line with a fix-it first approach. We do recommend one additional metric to be added or further clarified under a number of the priorities, namely:

Project contributes to the completion of the city’s user-friendly public transit network, low-stress bike network, and/or low-stress pedestrian network. or, more briefly
Project contributes to the completion of the city’s user-friendly multimodal transportation networks.

This metric is appropriate to be included under almost all of our city’s priorities: Equity / Investment in Historically Underserved Communities; Environment / Sustainability; Improvement Compared to Existing Condition; Community Investment / Economic Prosperity; and Health and Safety. In fact, it is precisely because investments in multimodal options help us toward all our major priorities that explicitly ranking proposed transportation CIP projects on this metric is important.

In addition, we’d like to stress three points pertaining to the proposed criteria:

1. Road widening does not reduce traffic congestion. Study after study has shown that adding automobile lanes does not have the intended effect of reducing traffic, but rathergenerates additional vehicle miles traveledin both the near term and the long term. bikeablesantarosa.org • [email protected]

2. Road widening is expensive to deliver, and expensive to maintain. Road widening would add to our infrastructure maintenance burden at a time where our existing streets are in need of repairs and safety improvements. Road widening may also reduce the city’s base of taxable property.

3. Funding should be prioritized for projects that are cost effective and further City objectives.

Investment in the expansion of transportation choices (public transportation, pedestrian and bicyclist safety improvements, transportation demand management strategies) is a cost-effective way to reduce vehicle miles traveled, while also supporting City objectives like equity, Vision Zero, pollution reduction, and economic vibrancy.

With traffic deaths on California’s roadways increasing and limited funding to draw upon, it is critical that Santa Rosa prioritize spending on effective multimodal options and safety improvements over expensive and ineffective road-widening projects.

Sincerely,
Alexa Forrester Chris Guenther
Co-Lead, Bikeable Santa Rosa Co-Lead, Bikeable Santa Rosa 2 From: Melissa Hough
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Transportation Reprioritization
Date: Monday, August 19, 2024 7:10:51 AM
Dear Mayor Rogers and Council members,
I write to share my enthusiastic support for TPW Director Hennessy's framework for re- prioritizing city resources for capital improvement projects. The city's current capital improvement framework is irrational and fails to support projects critical for improving quality of life and reducing emissions, among other goals. I respectfully request your support for this approach.

Thank you,
Melissa Hosking
Santa Rosa resident
From: Rachel Moore
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Capital Improvement Projects
Date: Monday, August 19, 2024 7:11:14 AM
Dear Mayor Rogers and Council members,
I write to share my enthusiastic support for TPW Director Hennessy's framework for re-prioritizing city resources for capital improvement projects. The city's current capital improvement framework is irrational and fails to support projects critical for improving quality of life and reducing emissions, among other goals. I respectfully request your support for this approach.

Thank you,
Rachel Moore
From: Alexandria F
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 4.1, Capital Improvement Program Prioritization Date: Monday, August 19, 2024 8:07:48 AM
Dear Council Members,
I wanted to share my enthusiastic support for the TPW Director's proposed CIP prioritization efforts!
As you finalize the criteria that will be used to make CIP funding decisions, please include something like the following:
- “Project contributes to the completion of the city’s user-friendly public transit network, low- stress bike network, and/or low-stress pedestrian network.” - "Project contributes to the completion of the city’s user-friendly multimodal transportation networks.”
I strongly support prioritizing transportation projects using clear criteria based on our community’s goals around economic vitality, environment, and public health.

Thank you for your time!
Alexandria
D4
From: Marjorie Stein
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] support TPW Director Hennessy"s re-prioritizing capital improvement projects Date: Monday, August 19, 2024 8:09:17 AM
Dear Mayor Rogers and Council members,
I am writing to you to urge you to support TPW Director Hennessy's framework for re-prioritizing city resources for capital improvement projects. The city's current capital improvement framework fails to support projects critical for improving quality of life and reducing emissions, among other goals. It’s time to prioritize pedestrian, cycling, and transit infrastructure while reducing overall car dependence. I respectfully request your support for this approach.

Regards,
Marjorie Stein
Santa Rosa, 95404
From: Cris Eggers
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] TPW framework for capital improvement projects Date: Monday, August 19, 2024 8:20:00 AM
Dear Mayor Rogers and Council members,
You have my full support for approving TPW Director Hennessy's framework for re- prioritizing city resources for capital improvement projects. The city's current capital improvement framework does make sense as it has ballooned to over 1 billion dollars. Many of the listed projects have gathered dust due to their obseletness or their infeasibility.

Mr. Henessy’s plan focuses on achievable and realistic goals that align with our city’s Vision Zero goals and our commitment to making Santa Rosa’s a liveable and sustainable city. I urge you to vote in favor of his plan as it will result in better maintenance of our existing streets and to move us forward in meeting our stated goals.

Thank you for your hard work and commitment to making Santa Rosa a better city for all.

Sincerely,
Cris Eggers
Santa Rosa
District 4

From: christine hoex
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Cc: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 4.1 Aug 20th SR City Council
Date: Monday, August 19, 2024 8:38:18 AM
Dear City Council Members,
I am writing in regard to 4.1 item Capital Improvement Program Prioritization.

It’s time to prioritize our transportation infrastructure projects by having a fix-it first approach that will deprioritize unnecessary road widening projects. Here is a study on that topic:

A study for the U.S. Department of Transportation Statistics found that, in 2021, 52% of car trips were for journeys of less than 3 miles. Enhanced bike infrastructure would encourage and enable a large share of these trips to be replaced by cycling, which will reduce the need to invest further in costly expansions of road capacity to accommodate cars.

It is important to improve the existing transportation network; increase the multimodal transportation options, improve safety and accessibility for all users, specifically include closing gaps in the transit sidewalk and bicycle networks, ensuring each
is safe, convenient and accessible for users of all ages and abilities.

As the density of Santa Rosa increases the need to reduce cars increases. I grew up in Santa Rosa in the 60s and it was then called the city designed for living. I now live on the outskirts of the city limits but would love to be able to bike into Santa Rosa safely. And I’d like too see a livable city for my grandchildren!
Thank you for your attention this,
Respectably,

Christine Hoex
Santa Rosa 95407

From: Shay Feinstein
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Support for the Transportation California Improvement Program Date: Monday, August 19, 2024 8:59:14 AM
Dear Mayor Rogers and Council members,
I would like to express my support for TPW Director Hennessy's framework for re-prioritizing city resources for capital improvement projects. Our city's current capital improvement framework fails to support projects critical for improving the quality of life for residents and visitors, as well as overemphasizing parking and being car-centric.

Thank you for your time and consideration,
Shay Feinstein
From: Donegan, Anne-Marie
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 4.1: Capital Improvements
Date: Monday, August 19, 2024 9:50:43 AM
Item 4.1, Capital Improvement Program Prioritization
Dear Councilmembers,
As you finalize the criteria which will be used to make CIP funding decisions, please include among them one of the following:

1. Any new project supports better public transport, low stress bike networks, and low- stress pedestrian networks.

2. Any new project contributes to the completion of the city’s user-friendly multimodal transportation networks.

Thank you,
Anne Donegan
West End Neighborhood
Anne Donegan
History Professor
Social Sciences Department
AFA President
Santa Rosa Junior College
I acknowledge that Santa Rosa Junior College is on the traditional territory and homelands of the Pomo and Coastal Miwok People.

From: [email protected]
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 4.1, Capital Improvement Program Prioritization Date: Monday, August 19, 2024 10:19:38 AM
Dear Councilmembers,
As you consider the criteria being outlined by staff this week as part of item #4.1, I would like to ask you to prioritize a ''fix it first” approach to transportation spending. This means prioritize the repair and improvement of existing infrastructure deprioritizes road-widening projects.

Complete the city’s user-friendly public transit network Complete the city's low-stress bike network
Complete the low-stress pedestrian network.

Complete the user-friendly multimodal transportation networks.

Thank you,
Abigail Zoger
District 2
From: Abby Arnold
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Transportation Capital Improvement Program Date: Monday, August 19, 2024 10:52:08 AM
Dear City Council:

I was in attendance on8/6 when your Transportation Director presented the overview of improvements to transit infrastructure. It was so refreshing to hear that your staff has studied the best practices of improvements for pedestrian and bicycle safety, and proposes to implement them here in Santa Rosa quickly.

This will truly save lives, particularly for seniors and children who walk and ride bikes.

I continue to think about how Councilmember Fleming described how her child faces challenges walking about three blocks from school to grandparents.

It takes courage for elected officials to make our streets safe for those who are not in cars. I believe you have the kind of courage it takes to make our public streets useful to everyone, not just those who are able to drive cars.

Let’s slow down and allow everyone to safely enjoy our beautiful city.

Very truly yours,
Abby Arnold
.

Abby Arnold
______________________
(she, her, hers) Here's why

From: Virginia Reuter
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 4.1, Capital Improvement Program Prioritization Date: Monday, August 19, 2024 11:25:19 AM
Dear Councilmembers,
I strongly support the effort to establish a process for prioritizing transportation infrastructure projects using clear criteria based on our community’s goals and values. In particular, I urge the City to adopt a “fix it first” approach that will:

Thank you,
Virginia Reuter
Junior College District
________________________________________________________ Virginia Reuter
Santa Rosa, CA ::

From: Michael Hurley
To: City Council Public Comments
Cc: Michael Hurley
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 4.1, Capital Improvement Program Prioritization Date: Monday, August 19, 2024 12:00:53 PM
Dear Councilmembers,
I have lived and riden my bicycle in beautiful Sonoma Co for over 52 years. In that time frame I’ve seen many good changes that have brought forth in the form of bike safety and additional bike paths created; but we still need to enhance this world class cycling experience by providing more bike trails and paths for future generations to come.

Thank you,
Michael Hurley, Luther Burbank resident
From: Ben Hough
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL]
Date: Monday, August 19, 2024 1:35:36 PM
Dear Mayor Rogers and Council Members,
I am writing to express my strong support for TPW Director Hennessy's proposed framework for re-prioritizing city resources towards capital improvement projects. The existing framework for capital improvements is not effectively aligned with our goals of enhancing quality of life and reducing emissions, among other important objectives. I kindly urge you to endorse this approach.

Your leadership in supporting these necessary changes will be instrumental in shaping a more sustainable and vibrant future for our community.

Thank you
Ben H
From: Jenny Mercado
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 4.1, Capital Improvement Program Prioritization Date: Monday, August 19, 2024 1:48:02 PM
Dear Councilmembers,
I strongly encourage you to establish a process for prioritizing transportation infrastructure projects using clear criteria based on our community’s goals and values. In particular, I urge the City to adopt a “fix it first” approach that will:

I also ask you to make sure the adopted criteria specifically include closing gaps in the transit, sidewalk, and bicycle networks and ensuring each is safe, convenient, and accessible for users of all ages and abilities. I am so happy to see all of the improvements on roads in the city. It would be so wonderful to have nice streets city-wide!
Thank you,
Jenny Mercado

Montgomery Village
District 2
From: Tom Helm
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Downtown"s future
Date: Monday, August 19, 2024 2:06:04 PM
Dear Mayor Rogers and Council members,
I write to share my enthusiastic support for TPW Director Hennessy's framework for re-prioritizing city resources for capital improvement projects. The city's current capital improvement framework does not support projects critical for improving quality of life and reducing emissions, among other goals. I respectfully request your support for this approach.

Tom Helm
Santa Rosa CA
95409

From: Michael Simmons
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Capital Improvement Project Priorities Date: Monday, August 19, 2024 2:17:26 PM
Mayor Rogers and Council members,
I write to share my enthusiastic support for TPW Director Hennessy's priorities for what capital improvement projects the city should use its resources on. I respectfully request your support for his framework.

The city could do more to prioritize projects that would improve quality of life, promote cycling and reduce emissions, among other goals.

Thank you,
Michael Vasudevan
Resident of District 5

From: Kyle Dane
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Capital Improvements Program comment Date: Monday, August 19, 2024 2:42:24 PM
Hello Santa Rosa City,
I am a long-time resident and I wanted to provide my input to help with your prioritization for upcoming and future capital works. I come from the perspective of one who believes: 1. The future of transportation in the city is multi-stream, as in not only single-occupant autos, but also bicycle, pedestrian and public transit and that upcoming spends should lean heavily towards the other 3, NOT autos, since cars have received the lion's share of spending for the last several decades in the City.

2. Strong Towns has the right approach to City finance, as in the City's spends should "pencil out" net positive in tax revenue gained minus money spent.

As such, any prioritization of city spends should lean into moving people around the city in ways that also increase city tax income.

I must admit to not being an expert in what
infrastructure spends increase tax revenues, but my guess is that the best thing the city can do is to focus on the downtown areas of 4th Street, Railroad Square and the Art District as the City's taxable revenue centers, and then work hard to bring residents and tourists there through improved housing and transportation corridors, keep them safe while there and encourage them to spend their money there.

I can see the City moving in the right direction in a lot of ways in recent years, so that's worth pointing out.

The re-formed Courthouse Square was a massively important first step, getting cross-town traffic out of the City's most promising tourist and "third place" area. Now your best bet is to double down on it, making improvements that make it even safer and more friendly to small, tax-paying businesses.

For my money this would involve improved bicycle
paths and parking, protected and shaded pedestrian corridors that all filter people into downtown and many more regular street closures to facilitate walkable street vendor opportunities.

And of course something that reduces the presence and impact of the homeless in that area (difficult, I know). I've mentioned this before, but wouldn't a Northern version of 3rd Street Promenade or Olvera Street be a winner for Santa Rosa? I think it would be massive with the tourist basis we already have with Wine Country visitors. But like I said, I am no expert.

Thanks for listening and I hope that helps,
Kyle Dane
From: jeffrey preston
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] item 4.1 august 20 meeting
Date: Monday, August 19, 2024 2:54:17 PM
Dear Council:

I have lived in Santa Rosa just shy of three years. What became clear to me immediately upon moving here is that Santa Rosa has a driving problem. Speed limits are often too high and there is a culture that has developed consisting of bad driving behavior.

I am encouraged by
the existence of a bicycling and pedestrian advisory panel as well as recent improvements to cycling infrastructure around town.

In prioritizing capital improvements in the future please continue on your path of speed limit reduction and bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure improvements.

Thank you for your service.

Jeff Preston
From: AL Wellman
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 4.1, Capital Improvement Program Prioritization Date: Monday, August 19, 2024 3:02:40 PM
Dear Council members,
As you prioritize transportation infrastructure projects within CIP funding limitations, I encourage you to include red curb painting adjacent to crosswalks. Although California Vehicle Code section 22500(n) prohibits parking within 20 feet of the approach side of a crosswalk, I have observed many vehicles parked within that distance indicating motorists are either unaware of the law or have difficulty estimating that distance.

Painting should be a
relatively low cost means of improving pedestrian safety by increasing the probability of visibility distance sufficient for vehicles to stop before entering an occupied crosswalk.

This is especially relevant to protection of
children with less experience about crosswalk dangers whose shorter stature makes them both less visible to approaching vehicles, and less likely to be able to see over parked vehicles.

Thank you,
Albert Wellman
Civil Engineer

From: David Liebman
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Comments on Study Session for Transportation & Public Works CIP Pioritization Date: Monday, August 19, 2024 3:55:14 PM
Dear Mayor Rogers and Council Members,
I write to share my enthusiastic support for TPW Director Hennessy's framework for re-prioritizing city resources for capital improvement projects. The city's current capital improvement framework is irrational and fails to support projects critical for improving quality of life and reducing emissions, among other goals. I respectfully request your support for this approach.

In addition to the above I have the following comments; First prioritization needs to focus on the following; Maintain Existing infrastructure to lower overall total cost of ownership and eliminate both buildings and infrastructure that is past its life and is not
needed anymore. This requires the City to develop a total cost of ownership annualized operation and capital model for City-wide infrastructure. THis means no new roads, road widening or
highway overpasses.

Second Priority should be building community wealth. This focuses on understanding the taxable value of both property tax and sale tax per acre (taxable efficiency) in relation to annualized operation and capital cost for supporting infrastructure - road, storm drain, water, sewer, sidewalk.

This review will allow the City to lower its overall infrastructure liability especially road liability while building its tax base.

Third Priority is addressing Climate Change through Multi-modal transportation. This focus builds upon the top two priorities because it lowers the impact to overall road infrastructure usage all while increasing alternative modes of transportation which improves quality of life, reduce congestions, allows for higher density housing to address affordable housing needs and lowers Santa Rosas highest source of greenhouse gas which is from single occupancy vehicles.

Thank you for your time and I strongly support the Council's work on this matter! Thank you for your service to the community!
-David
From: Kevin Arnold
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] TPW re-prioritization
Date: Monday, August 19, 2024 4:35:50 PM
Dear Mayor Rogers and Council members,
I write to share my enthusiastic support for TPW Director Hennessy's framework for re-prioritizing city resources for capital improvement projects. The city's current capital improvement framework is irrational and fails to support projects critical for improving quality of life and reducing emissions, among other goals. I respectfully request your support for this approach.

Regards,
Kevin Arnold

Santa Rosa City CouncilAugust 20, 2024

Santa Rosa City Council
August 20, 2024