1 City of Santa Rosa Economic
Development Subcommittee Meeting
June 2025
Agenda
1. Call to order and roll call
2.Remote Participation
3. Modifications to the Agenda
4. Announcements
5. Approval of Minutes
6. Public Comments
7. Matters held in Committee
8. Partner Reports
9. Department Reports
10. Future Agenda Items
11. Adjournment
City of Santa Rosa Economic Development Subcommittee
Meeting April 2025
8. Partner Reports
City of Santa Rosa Economic Development Subcommittee
Meeting April 2025
9. New Business Items
9.1 Economic Development Strategy Implementation Plan Update
9.2 Business Attraction, Retention and Expansion Update
9.3 Entrepreneurship and Small Business Update
9.4 Economic Vibrancy and Resiliency Update (Events)
9.5 Community Investment Update (Art & Culture)
9.6 Metrics and Indicators
9.7 Other Updates or Announcements
City of Santa Rosa Economic Development Subcommittee
Meeting April 2025
9.1 Economic
Development
Strategy
Implementation
Plan Update
City of Santa Rosa Economic Development Subcommittee
Meeting April 2025
9.1 Economic Development Strategy
Implementation Plan
Update on plan implementation – Scott Adair, Chief Economic Development Officer City of Santa Rosa Economic Development Subcommittee
Meeting April 2025
9.2 Business
Attraction, Retention
and Expansion Update
City of Santa Rosa Economic Development Subcommittee
Meeting April 2025
9.2 Business Attraction, Retention and
Expansion
Report on ICSC activities – Scott Adair, Chief Economic Development Officer Report on film tourism and attraction – Scott Adair, Chief Economic Development Officer Report on Permit Ready program – Gabe Osburn, Director of Planning and Economic Development City of Santa Rosa Economic Development Subcommittee
Meeting April 2025
9.3 Entrepreneurship
and Small Business
Update
City of Santa Rosa Economic Development Subcommittee
Meeting April 2025
9.3 Entrepreneurship and Small Business
Report on North Bay Biz, “Best of North Bay” Award – Scott Adair, Chief Economic Development Officer Results of downtown activation survey and business meetings - Rachel Beer, Program Analyst City of Santa Rosa Economic Development Subcommittee
Meeting April 2025
City of Santa Rosa Economic Development Subcommittee
Meeting
Street Activation
Tasks Completed:
• Explored impacts of pedestrianization in other communities • Conducted discussions with business owners, support agencies, commercial real estate brokers, and property owners in the downtown area
• Received input from a local community action group
• Released a community survey to the general public
• Hosted business meetups with downtown business and property owners • Conducted a business specific survey
Street Activation
City of Santa Rosa Economic Development Subcommittee
Meeting
Tasks Pending:
• Infrastructure analysis on impacts of street closures • Traffic and parking analysis
• Cost and revenue analysis of street closures
• Submit findings to City Council, ask for further direction, and encourage public comment Street Activation
City of Santa Rosa Economic Development Subcommittee
Meeting
Findings to Date:
Community survey:
• Focus on improving walkability safety and outdoor seating options • Accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists
• Concerned about decreased parking availability
• Majority of respondents report they would increase their downtown visits if streets became more pedestrian- friendly
Business survey:
• Access and parking concerns
• Few businesses have a desire to use outdoor space
• Most oppose or are undecided about fully closing 4th Street to vehicles, though some are open to it if it's well- planned and beneficial.
Business concerns :
• Business operations and logistics – deliveries, accessibility for customers • Desire to have infrastructure improvements to support any potential closure • Safety concerns – bicycles, crime, unhoused
• How the space will be programmed and used
Staff observations:
• Pilot Program to start
• Confusion over downtown stakeholders, roles, and responsibilities • Many businesses we invited that had differing views did not attend the meetups or complete surveys
9.4 Economic
Vibrancy and
Resiliency Update
City of Santa Rosa Economic Development Subcommittee
Meeting April 2025
9.4 Economic Vibrancy and Resiliency
Downtown activation strategy update - Rachel Beer, Program Analyst -Pop Up Program (Shipping Containers)
-Theater Alley project (Comstock Mall)
City of Santa Rosa Economic Development Subcommittee
Meeting April 2025
Downtown Activation Strategy
City of Santa Rosa Economic Development Subcommittee
Meeting
Pop Up Program
• Shipping Containers – Activating spaces for entrepreneurs, artisans, and small businesses Comstock Mall
• Beautification
• Outdoor Busking
• Public Art
• Wayfinding Signage
• Safety – Blue Light Phone Poles
9.5 Community
Investment Update
City of Santa Rosa Economic Development Subcommittee
Meeting April 2025
Ruth Asawa Panels
Importance of Ruth Asawa for the Santa Rosa community: Ruth's vision emphasized hands-on, inclusive arts education rooted in community values and equity. She had a cultural and historical impact for the bay area and beyond.
Ruths work is centered on community, resilience, and innovation. - Discussion of status, next steps, and temporary options Ruth Asawa Panels – Current Status
- Digital scanning executed; foundry contractexpired
- Council item June 17: New contract with updated cost for 3d printing, casting, patina and finishing. Additional funds from CHS reunification and Public Art Fund to be used.
- Approval of digital edits needed by Ruth Asawa Family, exploring donating original panels once poured.
- Printing and casting estimated to begin summer, can take6 + months.
Updated Panel layout
- To continue moving forward with this project, we have moved to no cavity in the structure for the panels, allowing us to do a wall mount on concrete or if needed a temporary display.
- This will also allow for less room for error, and the ability to pour thepanels before the final structure is built. Panels will shrink 2-3% during process - Example front village scene measurements
Alternative and temporary display and
options
Possibility of doing a temporary display as we await final structure.
Additional items
• Starting July 1, 2025, City is managing all events in Courthouse Square (previously contracted out to Chamber).
• Events will start paying for Courthouse Square rental starting July 1, 2025 (previously free under Chamber blanket permit)
• Arts and Events Specialist full time position
• Upcoming projects:
o revisit event Fee schedule
o signature events / application process
9.6 Metric and Indicators
One Stop Shop Update – Rachel Beer, Program Analyst
City of Santa Rosa Economic Development Subcommittee
Meeting April 2025
9.7 Other Updates and Announcements
Entertainment Zones – Gabe Osburn, Director of Planning and Economic Development CUP and VBL Update – Gabe Osburn, Director of Planning and Economic Development Tourism strategic planning – Scott Adair, Chief Economic Development Officer SRTBIA update – Scott Adair, Chief Economic Development Officer USL update – Scott Adair, Chief Economic Development Officer City of Santa Rosa Economic Development Subcommittee
Meeting April 2025
End Department Report
Public Comment
City of Santa Rosa Economic Development Subcommittee
Meeting April 2025
10. Future Agenda Items
City of Santa Rosa Economic Development Subcommittee
Meeting April 2025
Adjourn
City of Santa Rosa Economic Development Subcommittee
Meeting April 2025