By Jennifer Sawhney

The seven-member Petaluma City Council will hone in on the vision of future developments around the Petaluma North Sonoma-Marin Area Transit station, and is set to approve a multi-million dollar contract to build the Public Safety Facility at the Petaluma Fairgrounds site.

Petaluma City Council’s next meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Monday, July 6. Here’s what’s on the upcoming agenda:

• Proclamation: Parks & Recreation Month
• Consent Calendar (6 items): 
  • Previous meeting minutes
  • Upcoming tentative agendas
  • Resolution to purchase and install transit shelters
  • Resolution to levy an annual special tax for the Riverfront Community Facilities District
  • Resolution approving the end of the Hardin Tank Recoating project
  • Adoption of an ordinance amending appropriations from the previous fiscal year
• Workshop: 
  • A staff presentation on the proposed vision of the development plan in the vicinity of the Sonoma-Marin Area Transit’s Petaluma North station and the preparation of its environmental impact report. The vision focuses on three areas: create a walkable “transit village” with retail and housing around the train station to include more multimodal travel connections; develop a health care district by integrating pathways, existing retail and possible workforce or senior housing near the Petaluma Valley Hospital; and connecting both along an improved 2.5 mile corridor of N. McDowell Boulevard.
• Public hearings and matters for consideration:
  • Resolution awarding a design and build contract for the fairground’s Public Safety Facility to Alten Construction for $51.6 million. The building is intended to house the headquarters for the police and fire departments, a new fire station, and an emergency operations center.
  • Resolution ordering the removal of hazardous vegetation and rubbish on public and private properties to reduce fire risks. The fire department is also ordered to remove the vegetation if property owners fail to do so.
  • Resolution ordering tax levies to residents of 42 subdivisions to fund landscape improvements for those who live in what are known as “landscape assessment districts.”

Tentatively scheduled for the upcoming July 20 City Council meeting:

Consent calendar:

• Previous meeting minutes, tentative agendas for upcoming meetings
• Resolution approving an amendment to the joint exercise of powers agreement with Sonoma County Waste Management Agency
• Resolution amending the impact fees tied to the reconstruction or replacement of existing residences.
• Resolution authorizing the purchase of a new truck chassis to be used with an asphalt patcher
• Authorizing the completion of the emergency re-roof at the Beverly C. Wilson hall at the fairgrounds
• Resolution approving a dual funding agreement with the Sonoma County Transit Authority for the “Sonoma County Multijurisdictional Safe Routes to Schools, Parks, and Transit Demonstration and Supplemental Planning Project” funded by a federal grant. The project will support fund “active transportation improvements” including upgraded bike lanes, roundabouts, median changes and other road adjustments, according to the request for proposals.
• Resolution modifying and extending affordable housing loans for a senior apartment complex on Vallejo Street.

Public hearings, matters for consideration: 

• Resolution to accept the Spirit of Petaluma Beacon as a gift for the city’s public art collection.
• First reading of an ordinance approving the city’s acquisition of a permanent easement on Lynch Creek Trail from Sonoma Water
• Introduce an amendment to the city’s “Alarm Systems” chapter in the Municipal Code.
• City response to the Sonoma County Civil Grand Jury report on animal services (Read Petaluma Voice’s story about the Civil Grand Jury)

Other upcoming city meetings:

• Historic & Cultural Preservation Committee meeting, 4 p.m., July 7
• Senior Advisory Committee meeting, 9 a.m., July 9
• Climate Action Commission meeting, 6 p.m., July 9
• Planning Commission meeting, 6 p.m., July 14

All of the meetings will be held at 11 English St. More information on the specific agendas and how to access meetings virtually can be found at cityofpetaluma.org/meetings.