Congressman Mike Thompson, representing California's 4th Congressional District was on hand to celebrate the new construction of Northern California Public Media’s new 24000 square-foot headquarters in Rohnert Park with Darren LaShelle, President/CEO of Northern California Public Media and Margaret McCarthy, Chair of the Board.
Photos Page 2 and 3: Redwood Gospel Missions held a well attended ribbon cutting at their new Super Thrift Store in Southwest Shopping Center, Rohnert Park. Special thanks to Lisa Orloff and the Rohnert Park Chamber of Commerce
To subscribe to receive this publication directly to your inbox, click here. To
Pick up your library holds from the library’s convenient 24hour BiblioBox locker!
A ribbon cutting was held at the Rohnert ParkCotati Regional Library
Will Rohnert Park go “back-to-back” with “business Friendly” titles? Only the people can tell us! Vote now!
City Hall will be closed to honor Presidents Day City offices will reopen on Feb 18th 2025
A therapeutic art-making workshop series facilitated by local artists Come purchase some art and change lives
Neighbors Organized Against Hunger is excited to announce a series of Dine & Donates at Mary’s Pizza Shack during the month of February!
Business
Friendly
In addition to a concierge service designed to assist business owners from concept to completion and beyond, Rohnert Park has dedicated itself to reshaping its permitting programs to ensure a smooth and simple beginning for any company willing to start here -Marcela Piedra, City Manager
Rohnert Park is thrilled to announce that voting is now open for the Best of the North Bay 2025 awards! We're incredibly proud of our vibrant business community and after taking home the "Best Business Friendly City" award in 2024, we're eager to see our local stars recognized once again.
This year's awards are extra special, marking the 50th anniversary of the North Bay Bohemian's Best of the North Bay.
To celebrate this milestone, they've added 22 exciting new categories, including "Best Place to Work," which recognizes the fantastic employers we have here in Rohnert Park. They've also expanded the dining categories, so you can show some love for your favorite Rohnert Park restaurants – from casual eateries to upscale dining experiences. Plus, with more home improvement categories, it's the perfect opportunity to highlight the businesses that help keep our community looking its best. Whether it's a favorite coffee shop, a trusted auto repair shop, or a community-focused non-profit, let your voice be heard! Support the Rohnert Park businesses you love and help them shine. Vote now at BEST OF THE NORTH BAY
GOREQUESTAPP UPGRADE!
Are you a GoRequest user? Then it’s time to upgrade to Reach Rohnert Park! Download it in your phone’s app store and let us know what we can fix.
You can also report issues directly on the City’s website: REPORT ISSUES HERE
If you need to report any non-emergency issue around the city, do so in our newest app: Reach Rohnert Park!
FLOODEDSTREETS
STREETLIGHT PROBLEMS
Neighbors Organized Against Hunger (NOAH) provides FREE food every Wednesday from 4-6 PM at their location on Snyder Ave in Rohnert Park.
They are a community-driven organization, relying on the generosity of local schools, churches, service groups, and individuals to keep pantry shelves full.
How You Can Help:
Donate Food: NOAH can provide donation barrels for your business, school, or event – they’ll even deliver and pick them up when they're full! You're also welcome to drop donations directly at the pantry any Wednesday after 12 PM. Donate Money: Support NOAH with a tax-deductible cash donation through our website: noahfoodpantry.org. Pizza Fundraiser! Join us at Mary's Pizza Shack in Rohnert Park on any Monday in February! Mary's will donate 20% of your meal back to NOAH (just present the flyer).
For more information, please find them on Facebook at NOAH.
Thank you for helping us make a difference in our community!
ROHNERT PARK RESTAURANT?
We asked you in January...what is your favorite Rohnert Park restaurant and why. We’re getting ready for Sonoma County Restaurant Week, so let’s see the results!
DONT FORGET SONOMA COUNTY RESTAURANT WEEK!
Mark your calendars, foodies! Sonoma County Restaurant Week is just around the corner, running from February 24th to March 2nd, 2025. Let's show the rest of the county what we already know: the best restaurants are right here in Rohnert Park! Don't forget to ask your favorite local eateries if they're participating in this delicious celebration of Sonoma County's vibrant culinary scene. This is the perfect opportunity to rediscover your go-to spots and maybe even find a new favorite.
Find out more here:
SONOMA COUNTY RESTAURANT WEEK
This is a wonderful opportunity to support our local restaurants and contribute to a thriving Rohnert Park economy. By dining out during Restaurant Week, you'll not only enjoy delicious meals at special prices but also play a key role in sustaining our vibrant small business community.
2024-2026 SMALL GRANTS AWARDEE ANNOUNCEMENT!
The Rohnert Park Foundation Board of Directors met on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, to review a remarkable pool of applicants for the 2024-2026 Rohnert Park Small Grant Program. The Board faced a challenging task, with 23 applications totaling nearly $210,000 in proposed nonprofit work aimed at enriching the Rohnert Park community.
After careful deliberation, the Foundation Board is thrilled to announce the grant recipients and eagerly anticipates seeing these diverse and impactful programs come to life The awarded projects represent a wide spectrum of community needs and initiatives, demonstrating the vibrant spirit of Rohnert Park.
The Rohnert Park Foundation extends its deepest gratitude to the Federated Indians of the Graton Rancheria. Their generous support is absolutely essential to the success of this program and makes this vital community investment possible
This year's funded projects include initiatives focused on:
Enhancing STEM education through robotics programs
Beautifying our local parks and green spaces
Addressing food insecurity within our community
Providing immersive educational experiences in music and poetry
Raising awareness and providing education on post-traumatic stress disorder
Supporting safe and sober graduation celebrations for our youth
Offering valuable workforce training programs for teens
You can find a complete list of the awarded nonprofits and their projects HERE.
The awarded projects are slated to begin in February 2025 and will continue through June 30, 2026 We look forward to sharing updates on the progress and positive impact of these initiatives in the months to come
www.reallygreatsite.com
NEW BUSINESS
Rohnert Park recently celebrated the grand opening of the Redwood Gospel Mission (RGM) Thrift Store, joined by city leaders including City Manager Marcela Piedra, Vice Mayor Emily Sanborn, and Councilmembers Susan Adams and Samantha Rodriguez. Special thanks to Lisa Orloff and the Chamber of Commerce for organizing the ribbon cutting.
The store, packed with clothing, furniture, and more, marks a valuable addition to the community. RGM, a longstanding Sonoma County support organization, sees the thrift store as a way to provide affordable goods, offer free items to those in need, and promote recycling. "We set up our thrift stores so that we could meet needs in our community, both for affordable goods and recycling,” explained RGM CEO Jeff Gilman.
1
(707) 578-1830
Website: http://rgm.org/
NORCAL PUBLICMEDIA ONTHE M O V E
Big News for Local Media
Rohnert Park is getting a fantastic new addition! Well, sort of. Northern California Public Media (NorCal), the force behind KRCB-TV and KRCB 104 9 FM, has broken ground on a major expansion The event was well attended, with 4th District Congressman Mike Thompson, Mayor Gerard Giudice, Vice Mayor Emily Sanborn, Councilmembers Susan Adams and Samantha Rodriguez, City Manager Marcela Piedra, and Director of Development Services, Alicia Giudice all wielding golden hammers to mark the occasion.
A Growing Community Partner
This new, much larger building on Professional Center Drive will house stateof-the-art studios, meeting spaces, and a community event lobby. Holly Construction of Santa Rosa is handling the renovations, with design by Bisbee Architecture+Design. This expansion underscores NorCal's commitment to serving the community.
Celebrating Milestones
NorCal is approaching its 40th anniversary (KRCB-TV launched in 1984!) and 30 years of NPR on KRCB 104 9FM This new facility will ensure they can continue providing valuable programming for years to come.
Building for the Future
"This will help the next generation of public media innovators," says NorCal CEO Darren LaShelle, emphasizing their dedication to education, diversity, and bringing people together NorCal is committed to staying connected with audiences across all platforms, ensuring public media remains a vital resource for our community
1
ROHNERT PARK TREES GET A PASSING GRADE!
HealthyTrees,HealthyCommunity
Our community deeply values the health of our trees, and a recent comprehensive analysis provides a valuable overview of their condition in public areas. The assessment revealed that over 90% of our more than 16,000 trees are in fair or better condition, a testament to our commitment to urban forestry This impressive finding comes after the City Council authorized a comprehensive tree inventory and assessment by Davey Resource Group in November 2023 The resulting report, delivered in October 2024, provides vital data for future planning and management of our urban forest.
It's important to recognize that this inventory provides a snapshot in time The tree population is constantly changing due to removals, natural failures, and emerging threats like the Mediterranean Oak Borer and the Invasive Shot Hole Borer, as well as existing challenges like drought and Sudden Oak Death This information is still crucial for managing our urban forest and planning for the future.
Page 20
InventoryandKeyFindings
ARBOR DAY 2025 GET INVOLVED!
Join our volunteer tree planting event Saturday, March 8th, 9 am-12 pm (rain or shine)
Colegio Vista Park (1290 Southwest Blvd.).
We'll plant 20-25 trees near the playground. Bring gloves and a water bottle. Tools and snacks provided
The inventory, conducted following a Request for Proposals issued in July 2023, cataloged 16,027 community trees in Rohnert Park. These trees provide an estimated 513.4 acres of canopy cover, representing nearly 11.5% of the city's land cover. While 178 unique species are represented, Coast Redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) make up 32% of the total, exceeding recommended diversity guidelines. The inventory also identified 419 trees (2.6%) recommended for removal and 1,241 trees (7 74%) requiring either removal or pruning due to deferred maintenance. Despite these challenges, our community trees provide significant annual benefits, including diverting 1 million gallons of stormwater runoff, removing 3 3 tons of air pollutants, and sequestering 151 tons of carbon.
R o hnertPark Ani
Where Friends Beco
INTERE VOLUN OR FOS
The Animal Shelt volunteers for the
Front Office
Wednesdays 1:00 p m
Kennel Assistan
Wednesdays 9:00 a.m.
Foster Care Kittens, p and rabb
If you’re intereste please complete
If you’re intereste foster parent, sub
MEET YOUR CITY COUNCIL
The Rohnert Park City Council is elected by the Rohnert Park voters to serve for four-year terms There are five members of the Council, including a Mayor and a Vice Mayor.
The City Council adopts goals and policies during Council meetings to set the direction for the City. The Council approves and adopts the City's Financial Plans, General Plan and the Capital Improvement Plan
The City Council appoints the City Manager, the City Attorney, and members of City Commissions, Committees, and Boards.
To find your district, please click here and simply type in your address at the top-right search bar of the interactive map.
CITYCOUNCIL MEETINGS
The City of Rohnert Park welcomes your participation at City Council meetings at 5:00 p m , on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month.
If you are interested in learning about issues going on in your own backyard, community events, and other hot topics, please feel free to watch on Cable Channel 26, YouTube, or by clicking here.
Come get involved!
Want to receive email notifications when agendas are posted? Subscribe here.
UPCOMING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
Tuesday, February 11, 2025 | 5:00 p.m.
Rohnert Park City Council Chambers
130 Avram Avenue, Rohnert Park
Tuesday, February 25, 2024 | 5:00 p.m.
Rohnert Park City Council Chambers
130 Avram Avenue, Rohnert Park
Sign-up for agenda posting notifications
Visit Meeting Central here to sign-up for email updates
Review Agenda Materials
Visit Meeting Central at here to view agenda materials for upcoming and past meetings
Attend the meeting in-person or watch live from home
Meeting Central YouTube Cable Channel 26
Provide Public Comment
Provide public comment in-person during the meeting or from home by emailing your comment to publiccomment@rpcity.org
WELCOME COMMISSIONERS,COMMITTEES,& BOARDMEMBERS
For the past few months, the City Clerk’s Office has been on a mission to fill 17 spots on our city’s Commissions, Committees, and Boards… and what a ride it’s been! From October to December 2024, we advertised these opportunities far and wide, ultimately receiving plentiful applications from passionate community members.
On January 14, 2025, the Council confirmed 12 new appointments, and we’re thrilled to welcome Jake Mackenzie, Jan Ogren, Vincent Bunker, Tramaine Austin Dillon, Fanny Lam, Brenda Smith, Tim Campbell, Carla Taylor, Steve Keith, Debby Mentz, Anna Mitsunaga, and Ty Mooney. Mayor Giudice expressed heartfelt thanks to these appointees for stepping up to serve, sharing excitement for the fantastic work ahead. The new members will be officially installed and sworn in soon in the next few weeks.
Got questions? Email cityclerk@rpcity.org or ca 707-588-2227. If you prefer, swing by the City Clerk’s Office at 130 Avram Avenue, Rohnert Park, CA 94928, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Let’s keep building a brighter future together and apply now at https://www.rpcity.org/cit y hall/commissions comm ittees boards or scan the QR code above
We also want to give a big shoutout to our outgoing members, Tim Hensel, Brooke Lewis Davis, Chris Borr, Alice Kibwaa, and Jim Pekkain, for their incredible service and lasting contributions. You’ve truly left a mark on our city. Thank you!!!
Thank you to every Rohnert Park resident who applied to make a difference in our community. Your passion and dedication help build the vibrant, thriving Rohnert Park we all love
#CONNECT
JOIN OUR TEAM!
Looking to apply for a new position, or know someone interested in joining our team?
Check out our latest open positions! Click here to learn more or apply.
LATERAL PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER
$7,541.99 - $10,722.37 Monthly Open until filled
PART-TIME ANIMAL SHELTER ASSISTANT
$18.00 - $21.00 Hourly Open until filled
PART-TIME COMMUNITY SERVICES COORDINATORCAMP DIRECTOR
$21.00 - $24.00 Hourly
Open until filled PART-TIME COMMUNITY SERVICES LEADER
