Santa Rosa Council Deterred Public Comment Amidst Drastic Budget Cuts
City staff were unable to provide live public comments regarding budget cuts while scheduled to work their day jobs
I sent the following letter to Council, the City Manager and City Attorney this morning, but did not receive a response:
Good Morning,
While I unfortunately missed yesterday's budgeting study session, I had the opportunity to attend the non-agenda public comment period during the regular afternoon calendar.
It was upsetting to hear the remarks made by City Staff represented by Teamsters 856. Your staff has felt excluded from sharing the feedback on the budgeting process. Because they are scheduled to work while the study sessions take place, how can they genuinely be included? Written comments submitted to Council often go ignored and stakeholders should have the opportunity to provide verbal public comments.
For reference, I have attached the agenda for the County of Sonoma's annual 3-day budgeting session. Per the agenda, comments on the budgeting session are allowed every single day, even though the presentations are split over a 3-day period. Because the County of Sonoma has permitted their staff multiple comment periods, why has the City of Santa Rosa refused to offer the same opportunities. How does exclusion align with the City's newly adopted equity policy?
While this does not serve as an official Cure & Correct letter, I am seeking a response from the City's legal team regarding the following:
Per Lozano Smith Attorneys at Law:
Each regular meeting agenda must provide an opportunity for public comment on any agenda item and on any item of interest to the public within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body. For special meetings, the agenda must provide an opportunity for members of the public directly to address the legislative body concerning any item on the agenda; comments on items not on the agenda need not be allowed.
Based on The Brown Act, the City's attached agendas for May 6 & 7, 2025 present a potential violation of the Act. Legally, public comments should have been permitted for the study session on both days. In lieu of sending an official Cure & Correct Letter to the District Attorney, I am requesting for Council to hold an evening public comment period following the study session at a future date before officially taking action on budget cuts.
Thank you & God Bless.
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Kindest Regards,
Adina Flores
The full presentation for the FY 2025-26 Budget Session may be viewed here:
Department reductions are projected as follows:
I provided public comment at yesterday’s Council Meeting to advocate against the reductions to the critical services in our fire department:
Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.
-Proverbs 31:9