Quote of the week: California Community events: Biweekly Poll Question Cotati Coffee with a Cop Focus: Jan. 24, 7 a.m. at Starbucks, “Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Do you think flu shots work? Trump’s EPA 640 E. Cotati Av. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. keeps nerve Just walk beside me and be my friend.” gas pesticide Yes ___ No ___ I don’t care___ Please vote on line at www.TheCommunityVoice.com in use A different way to reach ― Albert Camus your goals in 2018 -- Previous question and it’s results -- Are you good at keepying New Year’s resolutions? Page 5 Page 6 Yes - 8% No - 12% I don’t care - 78% Newspaper of Rohnert Park-Cotati-Penngrove January 19, 2018 - 12 pages RP confident about Suspect wanted to be shot flooding prep By Stephanie Derammelaere that Rohnert Park is well pre- in City Center Plaza shooting With our first real storms of pared for winter storms. the season happening recently, “We [Public Works and the the City of Rohnert Park urges Water Agency] did a lot of work residents to be aware of flooding last year clearing vegetation,” danger and stay informed and says McArthur. “Of course water prepared. Several areas of the can still exceed a channel’s ca- county are at high risk for post pacity and there is not much that fire related flooding. Large wild- can be done about that, but we’re fires significantly reduce the optimistic that the work we did amount of vegetation in an area, will help [flooding this winter]. which usually absorbs rainfall Copeland Creek often flooded and reduces runoff. Therefore, around Commerce Avenue, be- with the ground barren and un- tween Enterprise Drive and able to absorb water, wildfires Avram Avenue, so we’ve re- have historically led to flash moved a large amount of sedi- flooding and mudflow, exacer- ment. That area of the creek was bated by the ash and debris left a choke point and we hope that from the fires. According to the will help the flooding in that United States Geological Survey, area. We did most of that work in wildfire-related flooding and in- the summer into October, so now creased runoff can continue for we mainly just need to respond several years. to plugged storm drains.” Fortunately, Cotati and Rohn- In addition to the preparations ert Park are largely not at risk for done earlier in 2017, having our post fire mudslides and fire re- rains coming so late in the sea- lated flooding as much as other son also helps to minimize po- areas of the county. Neverthe- tential flooding. less, during wet winters the local “For flooding reasons, it’s creeks tend to overflow which good that we’re getting rains so can be especially exacerbated late,” says McArthur. “If it rains this year. a lot in October and November, “Rohnert Park is mostly not at when the trees drop their leaves, The plaza in front of the Rohnert Park Public Safety building was closed off from public access Monday following an officer shooting the risk,” says John McArthur, Pub- all the dropped leaves can clog night before. lic Works and Community Serv- up the storm drains. But by now Robert Grant ices Director. “In any hilly all the leaves have already been topography there could be issues dropped and the heavy rains are By Katherine Minkiewicz ficers immediately called a crisis the officer ran over to the suspect consequently, authorities cannot so we are monitoring upstream not so impactful for street flood- Late Sunday evening Rohnert negotiator. While waiting for the to administer first aid. An ambu- comment on the incident any from Cook Creek and watching ing.” Park Public Safety officers re- negotiator to arrive on scene, of- lance was then staged and trans- further. The investigation is car- for debris from the fires. We are Nevertheless, flooding can sponded to a man firing shots ficers continued to communicate ported the wounded suspect to ried out by the sheriff’s office also monitoring water quality.” still occur and the City of Rohn- outside the RP Public Safety sta- with the man. the hospital. BBB pursuant to the Sonoma County The city feels confident, given ert Park is actively assisting res- tion on City Center Drive, where According to public safety, the “He is expected to survive,” Law Enforcement Chiefs Asso- the preparations they did earlier idents in preparing for winter the suspect was asking to be shot suspect pleaded with officers said Sonoma County Sheriff’s ciation Critical Incident Proto- in 2017 even before the fires hit, ‘Prep’ see page 12 by police. Upon denying re- several times to be killed, saying, Office Sergeant Spencer Crum. col. quests to drop his weapon an of- “Kill me.” Officers communi- Following the incident, public Crum said that a typical inves- ficer fired his weapon at the cated with the man for approxi- safety issued a Nixle notification tigation into an incident such as suspect, who was then trans- mately one hour as the suspect around 12:04 a.m. asking resi- this starts with collecting evi- ported to the hospital following started to advance towards offi- dents to avoid the area of Rohn- dence and interviewing wit- New businesses the shooting. The incident is cers. Officers tried to move away ert Park Expressway to Country nesses. marked as the seventh officer in- from the suspect to continue the Club Drive, State Farm and Pro- “We interview all witnesses volved shooting to have oc- conversation. fessional Center Drive. The area and parties involved. Officers curred in the department. However, “The suspect began near the City Center Plaza was will also review body cam comeBy Irene Hilsendager to townheight from three to four stories. The incident took place walking towards officers while sectioned off with bright yellow footage and photograph the The newly constructed build- Clearwater at Sonoma Hills will around 10:40 p.m. in front of the disregarding all commands to tape due to police activity. scene,” Crum said, who also ing south of Cal Skate will be a be located east of the intersection main entrance to the building in drop his weapon. The officer ul- For now, the name of both the mentioned these incidents are in- child care center called The of Rohnert Park Expressway and the plaza, according to a RP Pub- timately fired his weapon at the officers involved and the suspect dependently investigated to try Learning Experience. Snyder Lane and south of Med- lic Safety report released on suspect due to fearing for his will not be released as the case is and ensure transparency. “We try The construction work going ical Center Drive. The Clearwa- Nixle. In response to the man’s life.” being investigated by the on in front of Raley’s is the fa- ter at Sonoma Hills project site is desire of wanting to be shot, of- As soon as shots were fired, Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, ‘Shot’ see page 2 cade being finished that wasn’t comprised of two parcels that done last year. propose to construct a two-story, Oxford Inn will be having a 85,815 foot, 90-unit, 14 bed as- new neighbor. It is another Star- sisted living and memory care bucks plus an additional tenant facility. The proposed project space next to them. Opening day will be Phase II of the Oak View Cotati-RP Unified School District is unsure. Senior Residential Project ap- Krispy Kreme is slated to go proved by the city in 2002. into the old El Torito building KG Technologies is located in makesBy Katherine Minkiewicz AP District Honor Roll list which is next to Chick-fil-A. the Triangle Business Area in the The 8th Annual AP District Honor Roll list was released by the In January of 2017, the RP recently approved Central Rohn- AP College Board late last week and the Cotati-Rohnert Park Uni- City Council approved entitle- ert Park Priority Development fied School District landed a spot on the distinguished list, which ments for the Residences at Five Area Plan on State Farm Drive, recognizes school districts across the country for student achieve- Creek. The project is located southeast of Professional Center ment and increase to access to advanced placement classes. within the Stadium Area Master Drive. This is a 1.49 parcel that The esteemed list comprises of 447 other school districts Plan, a 32.8-acre site and the for- has a beautiful 10,000 square throughout the United States and Canada that have, “simultane- mer location of the Sonoma foot building for headquarter of- ously achieved increase to access to advanced placement courses County Crushers Baseball Sta- fices and warehousing for an for a broader number of students and also maintained or improved dium. A portion of the Stadium electronic distribution center, the rate at which their AP students earned scores of three or higher Area Master Plan has been de- which was formerly located in a on an AP exam,” according to the honor roll list. veloped with the Fiori Estates smaller building in Cotati. KG Schools have to succeed in both areas in order to be considered and The Reserve apartment com- designs and manufactures high- for the list, which is compiled through examining several years of plexes. The Five Creek project is quality, ultra-reliable latching re- AP data. Graphic courtesy of the College Board 8th Annual AP District composed of a 135-unit apart- lays that allow clients to manage AP Spokesperson Jose A.