City Hall, Council Chamber
100 Santa Rosa Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
City of Santa Rosa
Economic Development Subcommittee
Regular Meeting Minutes - Final
9:00 AMMonday, December 8, 2025
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Chair Okrepkie called the meeting to order at 9:01 AM.
Rollcall
Chair Jeff Okrepkie, Committee Member Eddie Alvarez, and Council Member Victoria Fleming
Present: 3 -
2. REMOTE PARTICIPATION UNDER AB 2449 (IF NEEDED)
None.
3. MODIFICATIONS TO AGENDA
None.
4. ANNOUNCEMENTS
None.
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
5.1 Draft Minutes - October 13, 2025.
Approved as submitted.
Chair Okrepkie opened and closed public comment.
6. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Chair Okrepkie opened and closed public comment.
7. MATTERS HELD IN COMMITTEE
None.
8. PRESENTATIONS
8.1 PRESENTATION - ECONOMIC INSIGHTS WITH DR. ROBERT
EYLER, SONOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
City of Santa Rosa
Regular Meeting Minutes
December 8, 2025Economic Development
Subcommittee
Regular Meeting Minutes - Final
Receive a report out and presentation on the current state of the economy from Dr. Robert Eyler, Sonoma State University.
Recommended Action: Information and Discussion.
Chief Economic Development Officer Scott Adair introduced Dr.
Robert Eyler.
Dr. Eyler presented.
Dr. Eyler responded to Committee Member inquiries.
Chair Okrepkie opened and closed public comment.
Committee Members provided comments and feedback.
9. PARTNER REPORTS
None.
10. ACTION ITEMS
10.1 MOTION - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT QUARTERLY REPORT
Receive a copy of the draft economic development quarterly report.
Recommended Action: The City of Santa Rosa Economic Development Division recommends that the Economic Development Subcommittee approve the draft economic development quarterly report for publication.
Program Analyst Rachel Beer presented.
Chair Okrepkie opened and closed public comment.
Committee Members provided comments and feedback.
Committee Members approved the Quarterly Report for publication.
11. DEPARTMENT REPORTS
City of Santa Rosa
Regular Meeting Minutes
December 8, 2025Economic Development
Subcommittee
Regular Meeting Minutes - Final
11.1 REPORT - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Receive a staff report on Economic Development Implementation Plan progress from the Economic Development Division.
Recommended Action: Discussion.
Staff Beer presented.
Planning and Economic Development Director Gave Osburn
responded to Committee Member inquiries.
Chair Okrepkie opened and closed public comment.
Committee Members provided comments and feedback.
11.2 REPORT - PLANNING AND LAND USE PROJECTS
Receive a staff report from the Economic Development Division on Coordination with the Planning Division on Planning & Land Use Projects, including Entertainment Zones and Conditional Use Permit (CUP) changes.
Recommended Action: Discussion.
Deputy Director of Planning Jessica Jones, Staff Adair, and Staff Osburn presented.
Chair Okrepkie opened and closed public comment.
Committee Members provided comments and feedback.
11.3 REPORT - DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION STRATEGIES
Receive a report from the Economic Development Division regarding current downtown initiatives and activation strategies including:
· Ross Street Pilot
· New Commercial Renter Program
· Asawa art and ongoing fountain/stage conversation.
· Park impact fees and scope development for improvements in City of Santa Rosa
Regular Meeting Minutes
December 8, 2025Economic Development
Subcommittee
Regular Meeting Minutes - Final
Courthouse Square, 4th Street, Je-Ju Way, Comstock Mall, Julliard Park.
Recommended Action: Discussion.
Staff Adair presented.
Staff responded to Committee Member inquiries.
Chair Okrepkie opened and closed public comment.
Committee Members provided comments and feedback.
12. OTHER UPDATES
12.1 REPORT - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT UPDATES
Receive a report from the Economic Development Division regarding:
USL
· Creative Corridor
· Parking fees and impacts to businesses
· Art & Culture initiatives
· Events
· Downtown play panels
· Business Concierge Program.
Recommended Action: Information Only.
Staff Adair and Arts and Culture Coordinator Meredith Knudsen presented.
Staff responded to Committee Member inquiries.
Chair Okrepkie opened and closed public comment.
Committee Members provided comments and feedback.
13. COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
13.1 DISCUSSION - COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
City of Santa Rosa
Regular Meeting Minutes
December 8, 2025Economic Development
Subcommittee
Regular Meeting Minutes - Final
Review and discuss assignments accepted by, or given to, individual Subcommittee members-whether made by the Chair, initiated by the Subcommittee, or requested by staff-for the purpose of performing activities, research, outreach, or other actions outside of regular meetings that support the work program and priorities of the Subcommittee.
Discussion.
Recommended Action: Discussion.
Staff Adair discussed the possibility of Committee Assignments for members of the Economic Development Subcommittee.
Chair Okrepkie opened and closed public comment.
Committee Members provides comments and feedback.
14. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Staff adair reported on potential agenda items for a future agendas.
Committee Members provided comments and feedback.
15. ADJOURNMENT
Chair Okrepkie adjourned the meeting at 10:29 am.
Approved on: February 9, 2026
/s Jack Reynolds,
Recording Secretary