Page 29 - Sonoma County Gazette - January 2018

ANNEXATION cont’d from page 28
Sawyer was on city council for the most recent prior attempt and said that this was accomplished, due in large part, to the work of Carrillo and former Assistant City Manager Chuck Regalia.
The final agreement includes several complicated tax-sharing formulas as well as cost-sharing infusions of funds to help the city take over management of the Roseland area.
“The tough part was figuring out property taxes,” Deborah Lauchner, Santa Rosa’s chief financial officer said. “We negotiated about everything: Mowers for Public Works? We dropped that one. Could we rent one? We had to find different solutions.”
Throughout 2017, the city lay the groundwork in anticipation of the takeover of the area, purchasing equipment and assessing the need for employees to do the work necessary to serve new residents.
For the police department, the city purchased eight police cars as well as radios, uniforms and other equipment needed. Staffing increases included one sergeant, four police officers one detective and two dispatchers. Finance, fire, Transportation and Public Works and Animal Control also required new staffing.
Storm drain inspection equipment and cleaning for approximately 43,000 feet of pipes alone will cost about $350,000.
To offset those costs, the county has agreed to provide $790,000 in startup costs as well as ongoing capital investments of $662,000 for a period of 10 years. Additionally, there will be an annual subsidy of $550,000 in addition to the tax disbursement.
“We originally asked for $1.3 million, but settled for $790,000,” Lauchner said. “For capital improvements, we asked for $18 million, but settled for $6 million for streets. ... We’re hoping when we do street work, it will increase property values in the area.”
Evolution of a neighborhood
Sawyer said the successful negotiations bode well for the future, with Roseland finally taking its place in Santa Rosa proper.
“We had support of the staffs (both city and county) and it was fitting
we moved that neighborhood to the next step in its evolution,” he said. “All neighborhoods evolve and there is an important cultural aspect to this. It was time to bring Roseland under the Santa Rosa banner.”
He added that the fears of many residents uncomfortable with change were in large part allayed by a massive outreach on the part of the city.
“Residents were not convinced it would be in their best interests,” Sawyer said. “We had to convey realistic expectations. It’s not going to happen overnight and could take decades perhaps.”
The City of Santa Rosa will host a Roseland Community Celebration on Saturday, Jan. 20, from 12-4 p.m. at the Roseland Neighborhood Village and Community Center, 779 Sebastopol Rd. To get involved, contact the Office of Community Engagement at communityengagement@srcity.org
For more information on what to expect from annexation, go to srcity. o r g /3 7 1/ R o s e l a n d - A r e a - A n n e x a t i o n .
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