RESOLUTION NO. RES-2026-011
RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA ADOPTING THE MASTER PLAN AMENDMENT FOR MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. NEIGHBORHOOD PARK AND THE MULTI-USE TRAIL CONNECTING HENDLEY STREET TO PETALUMA HILL ROAD WHEREAS, Martin Luther King Jr. Park is a 5.38-acre Neighborhood Park and Newhall Pedestrian and Bike Path is a 1.0-acre Trail Park located in the Southeast Quadrant of Santa Rosa at 1208 Hendley Street; and WHEREAS, Martin Luther King Jr. Neighborhood Park, formerly Rotary Park, and Newhall Pedestrian and Bike Path have a master plan from 1973, and Martin Luther King Jr. Neighborhood Park has an amended master plan from 2004; and WHEREAS, three public meetings were conducted from May 2024 to December 2024 to receive community input regarding the design of the Master Plan Amendment; and WHEREAS, eight meetings were held with stakeholder groups, including the South Park Coalition, SonomaCAN, Santa Rosa soccer groups, and the NAACP of Sonoma County; and WHEREAS, staff attended several community events, including the 2024 and 2025 Vince Harper’s South Park Day and Night Festival, the 2024, 2025, and 2026 MLK Day of Service, Santa Rosa’s 2024 Earth Day OnStage Festival, and the 2024 Public Works Week at the Wednesday Night Market to inform the community about the Master Plan Amendment; and WHEREAS, the Board of Parks and Recreation has recommended approval of the Martin Luther King Jr. Park and Trail Master Plan Amendment (Exhibit A) to include a lit basketball court, a lit futsal court, fitness equipment, picnic areas with barbeques, play areas for youth ages 2-5 and 5-12-years-old, a prefabricated restroom, an open lawn area, a central shade structure, a central promenade with picnic tables and front porch swings, a synthetic turf soccer field with lighting, spectator and player seating, and equipment storage, a rehabilitated trail connecting Hendley St to Petaluma Hill Rd, security lighting, shade trees, a renovated multi-use path, raised crosswalks at Milton St and Frazier Ave, park monument signs, site furnishings, and fencing and landscaping around the preschool campus; and WHEREAS, the Master Plan Amendment is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, Existing Facilities, because the project involves improvements and renovations to the existing facilities in the park; Section 15302, Replacement or Reconstruction, because the project includes renovations to the existing sidewalks and internal pathways, security lighting, and reconstruction of the Class I – shared use path; Section 15303, New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures because the project would replace several existing structures and facilities at the park as well as add new small facilities and structures; Section 15304, Minor Alterations to Land because the project site is an existing park that would be redeveloped consistent with the Master Plan; Section 15311, Accessory Structures, because the project would include construction of a new facility for field equipment storage; and none of the exceptions to the exemption under Section 15300.2 apply; and WHEREAS, Council on this date, conducted a public hearing during which it received public comment and recommendations regarding the proposed Master Plan Amendment.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Santa Rosa adopts the Martin Luther King Jr. Park and Trail Master Plan Amendment attached as Exhibit A to this Resolution and made a part herein.
IN COUNCIL DULY PASSED this 10th day of February 2026.
AYES: (7) Mayor Stapp, Vice Mayor Okrepkie, Council Members Alvarez, Bañuelos, Fleming, MacDonald, Rogers NOES: (0)
ABSENT: (0)
ABSTAIN: (0)
RECUSE: (0)
ATTEST: _________________________ APPROVED: ______________________________ City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: ________________________
City Attorney
Exhibit A – Martin Luther King Jr. Park & Trail Master Plan Amendment Reso. No. RES-2026-011
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