MEMORANDUM
DATE: February 25, 2026
TO: Lori Ann Farrell, Interim City Manager
Jason Nutt, Assistant City Manager
FROM: Dan Hennessey, Director of Transportation and Public Works (TPW) Department Gabe Osburn, Director of Planning and Economic Dev elopment (PED) Department
SUBJECT: DOWNTOWN PROJECTS UPDATE
Through on-going discussions between City departmen ts, the Downtown Action Organization (DAO), and the City Manager’s Office, the City has been exploring opportunities to improve designated park and public spaces in Downtown Santa Rosa. These efforts aim to enhance the vibrancy, safety, and functionality of downtown’s public realm, which would strengthen the quality and usability of downtown public spaces for residents, visitors, and businesses.
On August 19, 2025, during a CIP update, City Council provided feedback indicating a desire for additional functionality for families and children, as well as aesthetic improvements in the area.
The following opportunities are proposed to advance these goals, along with details about how they will be funded and who will be responsible for implementation.
Courthouse Square
Improvements considered for Courthouse Square include:
• Play Panels (Led by PED) – New interactive sensory play panels were install ed in November by the Planning and Economic Development Department via funding from the City Manager’s Office.
• Ruth Asawa Panels and Fountain Reconstruction (PED) – Re-pouring of the panels for bronze casting is moving forward with the support o f previously dedicated one-time funding. The fountain will be constructed by a private developer through a park impact fee agreement. The Art House development (620 7
th Street) received a full credit for its
associated park impact fee in exchange for constructing the fountain. The City continues to engage downtown stakeholders to determine if the fountains will return. If fountains would not return, that opens up the possibility for a permanent stage area supporting events in Courthouse Square, to which the panels could be affixed
• Storage Enclosure (TPW) – Additional storage in Courthouse Square may be a dded to support activation items for events. The location w ould need to be determined, though both existing kiosks are under evaluation for re-or ganization of existing uses. Currently, the DAO stores items in a facility on Ross Street, creating challenges for event organizers.
In recent years, street closure barriers have been left out adjacent to the kiosks. • Updated Trash Cans (TPW) – TPW has a grant from Zero Waste Sonoma and Measu re M dedicated to park maintenance that will be utilized to put more aesthetic and functional garbage, recycling, and compost garbage bins throughout the Courthouse Square, Fourth Street and Comstock Mall areas. TPW has confirmed the cost effectiveness of using solar- powered compacting trash bins to better serve downt own and is working to purchase.
Additional discussion with the DAO is underway rega rding a potential call for art to wrap them, as detailed later in this memo.
• Remove Native Pollinator Art (DAO) – The DAO has removed these art installations, with one remaining on a utility box that will be covered when wrapped. • Utility Box Wraps (PED) – Existing City-owned utility boxes in Courthouse Square will be wrapped utilizing imagery representing the history of Courthouse Square. The project will run through the City’s public art program, and decisions regarding design will be reviewed and approved by the Art in Public Places Committee.
• Uplighting for the Sycamore Trees (DAO/TPW) – The DAO and TPW have worked together on a sustainable tree-trimming program usi ng department staff to evaluate the potential for decorative lighting on and across the sycamore trees in Courthouse Square.
TPW recently completed the renovation of the uplighting, which is currently operational.
Downtown Sidewalks and Fourth Street
Improvements considered for Fourth Street include:
• Decorative Span Lighting (DAO) – The DAO will lead and coordinate the installatio n of span lighting between redwoods across Fourth Street.
• Planters (DAO/TPW) – A number of different planter types with differe nt levels of flora exist along Fourth Street. These will be reduced an d clustered at corners by TPW and repainted and replanted with native species by the DAO. • Sidewalk Parklets (TPW) – TPW will install curved benches/landscaping at sidewalk bump outs at two additional locations to create space for enjoying food/drink along Fourth Street. • Remove Broken Fountain (TPW/DAO) – TPW is exploring options both for reactivating the water feature in front of La Rosa or removing t he fountain and replacing it with a combination bench/planter to better utilize the space.
• Traffic Poles (TPW) – TPW will powdercoat the lighting and signal pole s on the 600 and 700 blocks of Fourth Street black, and the existing pedestrian scale-lighting poles will be spraypainted black to match existing poles on Jeju Way. • Pedestrian Lighting (DAO/TPW) - The DAO and TPW will work together on a broader downtown lighting plan, including Fourth Street nea r Courthouse Square and at the US- 101 underpass, which will include affixing pedestri an-scale lighting on existing lighting poles, with a particular emphasis on supporting the upcoming Entertainment Zones pilot.
• Updated Trash Cans (TPW) – TPW has a grant from Zero Waste Sonoma that will be utilized to put more aesthetic and functional garba ge, recycling, and compost garbage bins throughout the Courthouse Square, Fourth Street and Comstock Mall areas. TPW is exploring the cost effectiveness of using solar-pow ered compacting trash bins to better serve downtown. Additional discussion with the DAO is underway regarding a potential call for art to wrap them. Garbage receptacles will also be strategically relocated to provide more sidewalk space.
• Bike Racks (DAO/TPW) – Many different types of bicycle racks are locate d on Fourth Street. These will be strategically relocated by TPW to create more space for pedestrians while providing safer locations for cyclists to park.
• Empty Tree Wells (DAO) – There are no plans for future planting, and the DAO will lead their removals or reuses through fill materials or mosaics/other artistic flourishes.
Comstock Mall
Improvements considered for Comstock Mall include:
• Tree Trimming (Parking/PED) – Tree trimming of larger trees has been completed by the Parking Maintenance team and their contractors. Add itionally, the owners of the Bank of America building have requested a license agreement to trim their trees on land that is not owned by the City but is part of an existing access easement. • Tree Removal (Parking/PED) – PED will work to gain a license agreement with t he property owner of the 620 Third Street building. th e Parking Maintenance team and their contractors will remove the shrubs at the back of the building. • Pathway Installation (Parking) – The Parking division has recently installed deco rative green striping along the length of Comstock Mall to brighten the area. • Lighting (TPW) – Many of the lights in the area are not working or do not provide enough light to properly illuminate Comstock Mall. TPW wil l confirm which lights are City-owned and prepare feasible short-term lighting improvements. Some lights are controlled by the Bank of America Building and are turned off; PED will approach the owners of the building about improving those lights/turning them back on.
• Updated Trash Cans (TPW) – The previously-mentioned receptacles will also replace the existing bins in Comstock Mall, pending a sunlight determination to ensure their functionality if solar-powered bins are chosen.
Jeju Way
Improvements considered for Jeju Way include:
• Fountain Conversion (PED/TPW) – Work is currently underway by TPW to restore the functionality of the fountain. Once operational, PE D will work to convert the existing fountain into a drought-tolerant planter and upfit it to commemorate our sister city. • Art Walk Installation (PED) – PED has recently installed two art pieces for a temporary art walk. Additional art pierces have been placed throu ghout the downtown area. Current temporary art installations will remain in place for a two-year period (removal in 2027).
• Relocation of Music Instruments (PED/TPW) - Parks maintenance have removed the music instruments from Jeju Way for relocation to a new location. This change provides additional space for activation.
• Tree Removal and Open Space Concept (DAO/TPW/PED) – Previous concepts have been discussed to make the Jeju Way space more inviting. Three large redwood trees are adjacent to the 725 Fourth Street building, creatin g foundation challenges that are currently being assessed. These trees also block visuals to the murals in the space, create a near-constant dark condition, and are otherwise u ninviting to the area. Concepts in development consider trimming the trees to create more light, reducing the trees to stumps to create seating, or removing them altogether. Re- thinking the space could add permanent seating, a play space for children, a sma ll stage for busking and other performance, and improved/increase mural coverage. These discussions are on-going and would include public engagement before moving forward.
Julliard Park
Improvements considered for Julliard Park include:
• Playground (TPW) – The playground area is underutilized and could u se new infrastructure to encourage additional use. The discussion of a larger play structure in the area was previously discussed at Courthouse Square but is more feasible at Julliard Park.
Courthouse Square is used for a number of different event types that makes a significant permanent structure of scale difficult to install w hile allowing existing programming to continue unimpeded.
• Coffee Kiosk (PED) – PED will explore the possibility to create a small commercial space in the park, determining the desirability of the location for potential vendors. • Wayfinding/Maps (PED/DAO/TPW) – Julliard Park often gets lost as a downtown publ ic space amenity, particularly by those from out of town. The team will develop pole banners, a standalone map, and additional connectivity to do wntown through other wayfinding measures to more directly connect Julliard Park to the rest of downtown.
Resources Available
Park Development Impact (PDI) fees collected from projects in the Downtown Area are preserved for improving dedicated park spaces within each of those specific quadrants. The Downtown Area is roughly defined by Dutton Avenue to the west, SR -12 to the south, Brookwood Avenue to the east, and College Avenue to the north. Developments east of US-101 are in Quadrant 3, and developments west of US-101 are US-101 are in Quadrant 1.
Park spaces in Quadrant 3 that are eligible for spending of PDI fees include Jeju Way, Courthouse Square, Julliard Park, Fremont Park, the Prince Mem orial Greenway, Sonoma Avenue Park, Luther Burbank Home and Gardens, and Comstock Mall. Currently, there is approximately $765,000 of PDI funding available for Quadrant 3 downtown park improvements.
Through a grant from Zero Waste Sonoma, TPW has acc ess to up to $200,000 available to improve trash services and facilities throughout the City.
Art-in-lieu fees are collected from large commercial developments that elect to avoid incorporating the installation of public art within their develop ment proposal. Art-in-lieu fees supported the installation of the temporary art walk and may cont inue to support public art projects within the downtown core. Public art funds are limited and mu st balance the need to ensure an equitable distribution of art across the City. Moving forward, it is anticipated that the art fund can support a small number of utility box wraps in the Courthouse Square area and a future temporary art walk installation.
Economic Development has received one-time funds in previous years to support projects that have the ability to increase economic activity. $25 ,000 of the current Economic Development budget can be dedicated to downtown improvement pro jects and will be granted to the DAO to implement identified projects.
Assessments collected through The Santa Rosa Tourism Business Improvement Area (SRTBIA) can be used to fund infrastructure projects that su pport and encourage tourism. SRTBIA funds have been identified as a potential funding source for the development of a permanent stage in the downtown core. $100,000 of the current SRTBIA fund balance may be utilized to support the construction of a permanent stage. The use of futur e SRTBIA revenue for this purpose must be analyzed through the budgetary process.
Lastly, the DAO has $20,000 in their Project Mainte nance budget for this year, which will go to the planters and maintenance of a few other existing projects (tree trimming, Courthouse Square planters, wayfinding signs). Additional funds would need to be allocated by the board.
Teams will begin implementing these changes immediately.