Issues
Goals and Priorities for Santa Rosa
As a member of the City Council, Jeff Okrepkie is working to improve the quality of life of Santa Rosans by focusing on:
Housing affordability and fire recovery/resiliency
As the co-founder of Coffey Strong, Jeff helped streamline the rebuilding process for fire survivors. He’s also approved new affordable and middle-income housing, and, recognizing the hurdles facing prospective homebuilders, is pursuing operational efficiencies from the City Planning and Building Departments to bring the cost of new housing construction down.
Homelessness and mental health services
There are far fewer homeless individuals in Sonoma County today compared to when Jeff was first elected to the City Council. Jeff recognizes that eradicating homelessness is a tall order, but through comprehensive services that have proved successful in reducing chronic homelessness, Jeff hopes to keep the number of homeless individuals in our community down long-term. Federal policy changes could pose future challenges, but up to this point here at home, Jeff is working to reduce illegal camping along our streets, creeks, and in neighborhoods, while prioritizing community safety and security for Santa Rosans.
Recreational opportunities for children and families
As a husband and father of two who lives in walking distance from Coffey Park, Jeff enjoys the amenities offered close to his family’s home. He recognizes other areas of District 6 lack easy access to parks and recreational opportunities, something he is working to address and improve upon as a member of the City Council.
Climate change and the environment
When it comes to the environment, Jeff knows we must be at the forefront of environmental stewardship to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the use of renewable energy resources from the transportation and energy sectors. As a fire survivor, Jeff has also seen the real-world, devastating impacts of climate change in our own community and across the State of California over the last decade, emboldening his commitment to make climate action a priority.
As a member of the City Council, Jeff has supported the city’s work on a comprehensive Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategy, continued investments in replacing fuel-burning public transit buses with all-electric buses, and approved the final funding to build a bicycle and pedestrian pathway that will safely connect cyclists and pedestrians through a new bridge over Highway 101 at Edwards Avenue (near Dick's Sporting Goods at Coddingtown) and Elliott Avenue (near the SRJC dorms on the other side of the freeway). Construction on the bridge is getting underway, and will create a safer, more environmentally-friendly alternative for cyclists and pedestrians in the JC and Coddingtown neighborhoods.