(Posted 7.21.20)

Last week, the City of Santa Rosa received settlement payment resulting from its claim filed in PG&E’s bankruptcy proceedings. The settlement was received following the Bankruptcy Court’s final approval of PG&E’s Plan of Reorganization which included settlements of all 2017 and 2018 wildfire claims. The City’s claim was filed to recoup legal damages and costs resulting from the devastating 2017 wildfires. The City’s final settlement amounted to approximately $95 million after attorneys’ fees were collected.

We know that there are many questions about the expenditure plan for the City’s settlement funds. As has been the intention throughout this long process, the settlement will allow the City Council to allocate funds to aid in recovery projects and programs that help to better protect and support our community when disaster strikes. The Council is committed to a robust public input process to help determine the best way to distribute funds to invest in our community’s recovery and resiliency. For the next steps, the City Council looks forward to the upcoming Council Goal-Setting Session where they will kick-off discussion and provide guidance to staff on what they envision that public input process should include.

The Council Goal Setting Meeting Session will be held over two days – August 3 and 4 – as a virtual Zoom meeting and all members of the public are welcome and invited to participate. More information on the City’s plans for the public input process will be available following the Goal-Setting meeting and posted at srcity.org. Below are details on the Goal-Setting Meeting and how to participate.

Public Comment at Council Goal-Setting: Members of the public will have a chance to provide public comment on August 3 beginning at 4pm. Following all public comments on August 3, the meeting will adjourn and recess until the following morning.

Council Goal-Setting Discussion: On August 4 at 10 am, Council will begin the Goal-Setting discussion. No public comment is planned for August 4, but the public is invited to view the meeting.

Meeting Agenda: The Goal-Setting Meeting agenda will be posted at the following link on or after July 30: santa-rosa.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=746429&GUID=88D7AEC1-86AE-4F38-9889-074D5A6CC309&Options=info|&Search=.

How to Participate in a Public Meeting: Instructions on how to view  public meetings and/or provide public comment during a public meeting can be found here: srcity.org/VirtualParticipation