Rohnert Park officials on Tuesday hurriedly took possession of 15 properties from the city’s redevelopment agency, hoping to protect them in the event the state moves to eliminate the agency.
“We’re protecting the people of Rohnert Park,” said Councilwoman Pam Stafford.

In 2007, Rohnert Park officials cut in half the amount the city needed to cover the costs of medical benefits it offered retired employees. Overnight, the city’s unfunded liability went from $56 million to $27 million – at least on paper. But that gain has since evaporated. Today, the unfunded liability stands at $53.2 million – principally because the city failed to start putting away money it had promised its retirees and current workers.

An independent political committee funded by Codding Enterprises, one of Sonoma County’s most prominent developers, played a dominant role in Rohnert Park’s City Council election last year, campaign finance reports show. The Protect Rohnert Park committee spent $62,309, nearly as much as the $70,567 spent by all six candidates together.

Rohnert Park officials have asked the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office how much it would cost to take over the city’s police services. The inquiry, which has upset many in police ranks, is part of an investigation into achieving savings by contracting out any number of city services,

Rohnert Park officials are ramping up a campaign to convince residents that sewer rates must be raised to avert financial disaster. They will take that message to residents Tuesday in a meeting called to discuss the rates, which voters in 2008 rolled back to 2006 levels.

UPDATE 7 AM: Mayor Pam Stafford and Rohnert Park Chamber of Commerce chaiman Amy Ahanotu were elected to the Rohnert Park City Council on Tuesday.

They have ended up on opposite sides of the campaign. But viewed through their major votes on the city’s planning commission, the differences between Rohnert Park City Council candidates John Borba and Amy Ahanotu are relatively slight. The fifth candidate in the race, Roger Schwanke, has run a low-key campaign. Part 3 of our series looking at the Rohnert Park council race.

Rohnert Park Mayor Pam Stafford heads into Nov. 2 seeking re-election with both the boost and drag of a long record for voters to assess and judge. A review of her votes and statements since 2006 displays a willingness to make some unpopular cuts and take some minority stands. Today, a closer look at one of the candidates in the Rohnert Park council race.

Mayor Pam Stafford has been the target of five hammering attack mailers so far in this election for Rohnert Park’s City Council, more than any other council candidate.

There has been no shortage of drama in the Rohnert Park City Council race. A blizzard of attack fliers. The re-emergence of a controversial former city manager. The disappearance of one candidate from the campaign trail amid personal troubles. And there’s still three weeks ’til Election Day. Today, we turn the WSC spotlight on the campaign in Rohnert Park.