Listening and Learning: District-Based Community Meetings Insights

Santa Rosa City Council, in partnership with the Community Advisory Board (CAB) and City staff, recently hosted five district-based community meetings to hear directly from our community about their priorities and concerns. A total of 84 participants shared valuable input that will help guide future planning and decision-making.

These meetings were held across multiple districts and promoted widely through City Connections, the City's website, and social media platforms to ensure broad community awareness.

Throughout the meetings, community members emphasized the need for affordable, senior, and middle housing options. They also stressed the importance of balancing growth with infrastructure upkeep-such as sidewalk repairs, traffic safety improvements, and safe evacuation routes in case of natural disasters. Other priorities included green spaces, family-friendly areas, and solutions for parking challenges.

Community members also called for resilience hubs that provide improved communication for elderly and non-English speakers during disasters. Deep concerns were expressed for our immigrant community and for our unhoused neighbors.

The conversations made clear the desire to maintain a thriving city that welcomes new families while allowing current residents to age in place.

Overall, the meetings fostered dialogue and were instilled with the spirit of working together towards building a thriving Santa Rosa. We thank our community for their time and input. Your voices matter-and they are helping shape the future of our City. We will continue to provide updates on how community input will inform upcoming initiatives.