With a fantastic turnout, this meeting was so full of observations, suggestions and nascent planning, that I will only briefly summarize.

Newly elected City Council members Veronica Jacobi and Susan Gorin were asked to describe their goals and how we might help make them real. Veronica asked for help on setting budget priorities, how to be effective with strategy, how to make green building mandatory, and suggested that groups work together as alternating “Leaders and Foot Soldiers”. Susan wants to works with us on strategies for alternative transportation, water conservation and funding for affordable housing. She asked that research in other cities and counties be shared about what has worked there, such as where integration of affordable housing with market rate units has been achieved.
Duane DeWitt reported on the successful participation of Sonoma State University students on issues in Roseland, and suggested we pursue such help from students.

We discussed the development review process, and where we must “catch” projects that need work before they’re approved, which means focused monitoring of Planning Commission and Design Review Board agendas.
We discussed checklists for development such as one Steve Rabinowitsh described having been approved while he was on the Council (where is it now?), which included LEED certification, climate protection components and green building. Fred Kreuger suggested framing a Citizens’ Vision of how the city should grow, and then report on how city leaders adhere to that vision.

The City 20/30 Vision process was described as too general and generic. Jack Swearingen of the Northwest Neighborhood Association expressed frustration with his area’s pattern of development and the inability to get any action from appointed or elected officials to acknowledge and do something about it. Anne Seeley suggested promoting a public meeting with the Council to look at the area-wide planning deficits before the 7 projects still in the pipeline are approved for the area.

Julia Prange of the Accountable Development Coalition, of which CCSR is a member organization, spoke to us about the profound effects that the Station Area Plan now being studied would have on downtown and Roseland. The draft EIR will be considered on May 24 at the Planning Commission and July 17 at the City Council meeting. Julia listed the ADC’s concerns in 4 areas: Affordable/mixed income housing, Green design and building standards, safe pedestrian-oriented streets and improved bicycle and transit usage.

Anne E. Seeley