Proponents of an initiative to limit hotel development in Sonoma say they have gathered about 25 percent of the signatures needed to qualify the measure for a special election.

The permit for a new Santa Rosa wine and beer shop cost its owner $14,230, an amount he called ‘ungodly’ last week. Now the operator of a coffee stand in Rincon Valley is buzzing over what she contends is a similarly ridiculous cost for a permit to serve customers at a drive-thru.

Two more Santa Rosa residents have thrown their hats in the ring for the City Council seat left vacant by Susan Gorin’s election to the county Board of Supervisors.

Santa Rosa voters will decide Nov. 6 whether or not to enact the most sweeping change to the city’s political landscape in generations.

In 1996, Santa Rosa voters approved binding arbitration to resolve disputes in contract negotiations with police officers and firefighters. Now, the city’s Charter Review Committee is trying to decide whether to leave the system unchanged, modify the rules or eliminate binding arbitration completely. What do you think the city should do?

A group dominated by Santa Rosa City Hall insiders has been selected to explore ideas for improving how city government operates. The Charter Review Committee, appointed last week, has 21 citizens charged with suggesting changes to the city’s by-laws to be put before voters next fall.

Democratic State Sen. Noreen Evans’ increasingly bare-knuckles political style is earning her blowback from members of her own party, some of whom nearly derailed two of the senator’s bills that affect fishing interests on the North Coast. Political observers say Evans is playing a risky political game with her bruising style amid speculation that she will enter the race to replace outgoing Sonoma County Supervisor Valerie Brown.

Given Santa Rosa’s dire financial situation, why isn’t the city going for a tax measure on the June 8 ballot? Here’s one explanation: Two of the area’s most respected political consultants told city officials last month that they didn’t stand a chance of success.