Rohnert Park Braces for Strong El Niño as Creek Permits Lag

Rohnert Park's public works team told the City Council on Nov. 10, 2026, that a strong El Niño winter is likely and that the city's creek work started late because a state permit arrived late. In the same special meeting, the council passed two 5-0 roll-call votes, previewed a street banner pilot with Sonoma State and heard organized pushes from city workers and tobacco-control advocates.

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• Storm warning: More than 83% chance of a strong El Niño January through March 2027
• Banner pilot: 2027 test year with Sonoma State, and veterans' banners are stalled in the meantime
• Ordinance 999 introduced 5-0, replacing a fee report the city never produced
• SEIU 1021 presses on pay, citing members working side jobs and talent leaving for nearby cities
• Tobacco-free coalition urges ending all sales, with an ordinance expected back around February or March
• Vice Mayor Jackie Elward says farewell as she heads to the state Assembly

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Flood Season Arrives Ahead of Schedule

Why it matters: Areas around City Hall, RPX West and the business parks are flood-prone. The city says its creek work is paid entirely from the general fund.

Where things stand: Public Works Director Mark Hendersen opened with the forecast: a "greater than 83% chance of strong to very strong El Niño pattern January through March 2027." The core risk is backwater. "The high Laguna de Santa Rosa levels can slow creek drainage," Hendersen said. When the Laguna rises, local creeks cannot empty into it.

The city cleared vegetation on several creeks. Sonoma Water handled sediment removal after delays in getting a streambed alteration agreement, the state permit that creek work requires from Fish and Wildlife. "We got a final stamped agreement September 8th," said Amanda Bunte, General Services Operations Manager. That date shortened the window for work before the rains.

Hendersen also recalled a 2024 force main break, a failure of a pressurized sewer line: "We lost about 16,000 gallons of raw sewage." The city spends about $250,000 a year on creek work contracts. Sandbag stations are at the Callanan Sports and Fitness Center and a new Burton Rec Center site, and the city has more than 6,000 sandbags on hand.

The council presses for coordination: Councilmembers asked about property owners, Heimbach Creek, Coleman Creek and flooding on Snyder Lane. "Has there been conversations with the property owners?" asked Councilmember Samantha Rodriguez. Chief Rick Navarro replied, "We are doing community outreach with those areas that are vulnerable to flooding." Rodriguez also suggested working with the school district on sandbag access. Vice Mayor Jackie Elward asked whether flood-prone areas near the golf course had been cleaned before this winter. Mayor Emily Sanborn directed residents to Sonoma Water's stream maintenance program.

Councilmember Gerard Giudice called for a comprehensive hydrology study. Without one, he said, "we're reacting rather than we're planning ... strategically long-term."

The money question: "This work is funded through the city's general fund," said City Manager Marcela Piedra. She noted that gaps on private and county land have no dedicated funding.

Public voices: Public commenter Steve Keith asked whether the agencies involved in Laguna flooding have a task force or phone tree. Another commenter praised the staff's storm response and connected it to retention: "We have folks on our staff here who are 35% or more below market."

What's next: No action was taken. Staff will continue outreach to property owners and to Sonoma Water about Heimbach Creek.

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Banner Pilot Moves Forward While Veterans' Banners Wait

The basics: City code already allows civic-event banners. Staff wants a year of logistics data before writing a formal policy. "We need a better understanding of a lot of logistical components of it," said Senior Analyst Kevin King.

Where things stand: Under the pilot, the city would install hardware by year-end. Sonoma State would hang two-sided banners, about 30 inches by 6 feet, in December. "2027 is the entire year we're going to test this out," King said. A policy would return around August or September. Proposed locations include Rohnert Park Expressway, East Cotati Avenue and part of Broadway.

Giudice asked, "Has this gone through Planning Commission yet, or will it go through Planning Commission?" King answered, "It has not gone through Planning Commission yet, no." He added that the banners would be exempted under the sign program.

The other side: Andy Durkee, Program Coordinator of the Rohnert Park Armed Forces Banner Program, said "84 banners have been installed in the past 15 years." Eight were removed this year, and he said the program has stalled. "What do we do in the meantime?" he asked.

Councilmember Susan Hollingsworth Adams supported special treatment for the university: "I think they ought to have special dispensation here because of that relationship." She also asked that the armed services banners be factored in. Jeff Keating, Associate Vice President for Strategic Communications at Sonoma State University, backed the pilot as a way to guide visitors to campus.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: No vote was taken. "This is just a department head briefing," Piedra said, and she promised to follow up with Durkee. Councilmembers urged grandfathering the Armed Forces banners. Sanborn said, "I appreciate that you've approached this as a pilot."

What's next: Banners go up in December, and a policy is expected around August or September.

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Ordinance 999 Retires a Report the City Never Wrote

Why it matters: The ordinance responds to a June 2025 Sonoma County Civil Grand Jury finding and changes how the city sets and reviews fees.

Where things stand: Chapter 3.32 of the municipal code, adopted in 2004, required an annual cost recovery report. Finance Director Betsy Howze acknowledged "the city had not been completing the annual cost recovery report required under the existing provisions of the city's muni code."

She pointed to tight budgets: "The city has reduced costs by freezing 18 positions, making 5 workforce reductions, and reducing contract services." The city also has three interim department heads.

The ordinance replaces the report with a council-adopted policy. That policy will cover the fee process, standard templates, calculation methods, annual escalators and subsidies. It also removes fixed payment thresholds. "The hope being that we will study fees every 5 years, but the CPI will help keep the fees up to date," Howze said. CPI, the consumer price index, would serve as the annual inflation adjustment.

Giudice called the delay "perfectly acceptable and very understandable." No members of the public commented.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The council introduced the ordinance and waived the first reading on a roll call. For: 5 (Adams, Giudice, Rodriguez, Elward, Sanborn). Against: 0. Absent: 0. Developers and permit applicants should watch the building and planning fee studies, which are already underway.

What's next: A second reading is still required. Fee policy will return to the council, and community services input is due in January.

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Organized Voices: City Workers and Tobacco Opponents

Labor: The council's closed session covered labor negotiations, and there was nothing to report. In public comment, SEIU 1021 members made their case. Brendan Betts, a SEIU 1021 member and bargaining negotiator, said staff are the ones who respond to floods. "I feel like we proposed something to you guys that was fair and equitable," he said.

Kevin Arnold, SEIU 1021 Field Representative, said that if the Measure K results hold, the general fund will be in better shape. "I really, really thank and appreciate all of those who came out in support of Measure K," he said. He cited a union survey showing 66% of members work side jobs. He also said talent is leaving for Petaluma, Novato and the county, and that health costs will rise. In his closing remarks, Giudice described Measure K as consistent with council goals.

Tobacco: Members of the Tobacco-Free Sonoma County Community Coalition asked the council to go as far as possible. Ricardo Adam asked the council to "adopt the most protective tobacco retail license ordinance possible." He cited vaping in schools, nicotine pouches and the city's 26 tobacco retailers. He pointed to Mill Valley and Corte Madera as examples.

Coalition Chair Pam Granger asked that "Rohnert Park pass the strongest possible ordinance ending the sale of all tobacco and nicotine products." She argued a full ban would:
- remove advertising and normalization,
- end the cycle of updating the ordinance for each new product, and
- reduce litter and fire risk.

What's next: Staff plan to meet with the advocates, and the ordinance is expected back around February or March.

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Farewells Reshape the City's Representation

Giudice marked a milestone: "It is the first time in the history of Rohnert Park that we've had representation at the state legislature." In her farewell, Elward said, "I'll be the first Black person ever elected to represent Sonoma or Marin Counties in the state legislature." She also said Rohnert Park will remain her home.

The council honored Assemblymember Damon Connelly, who cited $45 million secured for Sonoma State. He said Rohnert Park "will no longer be technically in my district" but that he will keep supporting the city.

Supervisor David Rabbitt, District 2, arrived after his proclamation was read. "I'm the longest-serving District 2 supervisor in over 100 years," he said. He listed pension reform, SMART, Sonoma Clean Power and water management among his accomplishments. Sanborn emphasized the value of regional partners: "We can't get anything done as one city."

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Minor Items

• Consent calendar passed 5-0 by roll call, including up to $460,000 for five replacement vehicles.
• Ordinance 998 adopted on consent, implementing state rules on watering nonfunctional turf.
• Two Petaluma contracts renewed: the People's Services Center through 2028, and gambling treatment at reduced fees.
• AED for Sunrise Park: Sonoma County Fire District would own and maintain the defibrillator. Ayes were heard on the voice vote, but no result was announced.
• The 12U All-Stars were honored for the league's first Cal Ripken World Series appearance.

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Looking Ahead

Dr. Raquell Holmes of Sonoma State thanked the city for supporting the NASA Space Apps Challenge hackathon on campus, set for Nov. 14-15.