Sebastopol News
Election Results Updated Nov 22@1:18pm
These numbers represent 4090 ballots from the 5584 registered Sebastopol City voters: 73% of voters. This count was done today (November 22) at 1:18pm. Go to the Sonoma County Registrar of Voters for full details. Click here for the latest Press Democrat article on the election results. For all results, including downloadable summaries and details, go to the link above for the Sonoma County Registrar. In the sidebar you'll see the downloadable documents. When is the vote expected to be certified? Let's just say that the Sebastopol City Council expects to seat the three new Councilmembers at the December 6 meeting.
Election Results Updated Nov 18@1:31pm
Here are the election results for campaigns of particular interest to Sebastopol voters. This is the count as of 1:31pm November 18 from Sonoma County Registrar of Voters. Go to the Sonoma County Registrar of Voters for full details. This represents 68% of the ballots sent to Sebastopol registered voters (3825 of the total 5584 ballots). Click here for the latest Press Democrat article on the election results. For all results, including downloadable summaries and details, go to the link above for the Sonoma County Registrar. In the sidebar you'll see the downloadable documents.
Election Results Updated Nov 15@12:57pm
Updated at 12:57pm November 15 from Sonoma County Registrar of Voters. Go to the Sonoma County Registrar of Voters for full details. This represents 2652 of the total 5584 ballots sent to Sebastopol City registered voters.
Deva Proto, our Sonoma County Registrar of Voters, told the Press Democrat she expects the next batch of results to be posted this Friday. Here's today's PD article. In an earlier article she projected a total final return of 70% or more. That would suggest there are over 1200 ballots that still need to be counted from City of Sebastopol voters. The source of these ballots, according to Deva Proto in the earlier article, is mail in ballots not yet received, plus ballots dropped off on election day.
Election Results Updated@4:20pm. Holding Steady.
Updated at 4:20pm November 11 from Sonoma County Registrar of Voters. Go to the Sonoma County Registrar of Voters for full details. This represents 2106 of the total 5584 ballots sent to Sebastopol City registered voters.
Deva Proto, our Sonoma County Registrar of Voters, told the Press Democrat she still expects a final ballot count upwards of 70% of all registered voters. See PD Article here. That would mean another ~1000 ballots to be counted from City of Sebastopol voters. The source of these ballots, according to Deva Proto, is mail in ballots not yet received, plus ballots dropped off on election day.
Election Info for Sebastopol (6am today)
Is there more still to come? Yes. At the very least, the mail-in ballots placed in the mail on Election Day but not yet received by Sonoma County Registrar of Voters will need to be counted. And there's the mail in ballots dropped in the box in front of Sebastopol Center for the Arts on Election Day.
Another fun workday...neither rain nor sleet nor...
Okay, so today was a scheduled workday for the Sebastopol Service and Action Coalition. Yes- local service clubs working together to help someone in need. This time we were at a home on Spring Hill School Road. Did the rain discourage this group? No way!!!
(Click on the title of this post for more photos.)
Ballots Returned - How Many So Far?
You can get up to date information on the number of ballots returned at this link. You can even sign up to get daily reports sent to your email inbox. This doesn't provide any actual voting results, but does give you the total number of ballots that were mailed out and the total number returned...for any jurisdiction.
As an example, here are City, County, and State reports as of November 3, 2022.
Coffee, Pastries, plus more? Redbird Bakery!
Redbird Bakery in The Barlow. Yum! In the former Village Bakery space. Indoor seating or sit outside in the shared food court space. Breakfast, lunch, coffee drinks and GREAT pastries.
(Click on the title above for more photos.)
Calling all acorn gatherers!
Acorns! Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue, here I come! Drop off at 403 Meechan Rd, 9-5 daily.
Halloween Dino Fun
My dog Arya seems none-too-happy with her Halloween costume. But she sure is darling, right??!! And she definitely loves her pack walks with Bonehemian Wags! Thank you Jessica Gollnick for all the happy dogs. Can you find the costumed ones in the group photo? Happy Halloween everyone!
Ken Foley has questions
Ken Foley served as mayor of Sebastopol in the 90's. He emailed the five candidates running for City Council with a series of questions. He wanted to know more about them before he cast his votes. Sadly, only one of the five responded. Mayor Slayter and I independently submitted our answers. Dale Dougherty of our local Sebastopol Times did a series of articles that capture all of this. Informative and interesting, if I do say so myself.
(Click on the title above for the full post, including links to the articles in The Sebastopol Times)
KRCB Interviews of the Candidates for City Council
Check out the KRCB Interviews of Stephen Zollman and Sandi Maurer. The other three candidates were invited to be interviewed but did not respond despite multiple efforts by KRCB to reach out to them.
Ron Nelson is our new Chief of Police!
Read the Sebastopol Times Article here.
Consider subscribing to the Sebastopol News. This is local news, written by locals who know our town. Definitely worth supporting.
Facts Matter - Horizon Shine's operations $0 & 0% of the City's Budget.
The City of Sebastopol spent $0 on Horizon Shine's operations last year and $0 is budgeted this year. The Village was funded by the County. The operations of Horizon Shine are costing 0% of the City Budget.
Source: The Sebastopol 22-23 Budget. You’ll find only one financial item about Horizon Shine, and that’s the City acting as a pass-through for a County grant designated for Horizon Shine. No City discretion there because it’s not the City’s money.
(Click on the title above for the full posting, including specific page locations in the City Budget, and including also an 10/31/22 update with answers to related questions.)
Alice in Wonderland Scavenger Hunt Anyone?
Scavenger hunt in Santa Rosa. So fun. My first time doing a Cluedupp game. We signed up our group online, loaded the app onto our mobile phones, reported to a starting point (in this case the plaza in Santa Rosa), and then followed the clues and moved through the game until we finally "found" Alice! It was a great way to be outside, walking and laughing together. No, we did not do costumes, but next time we will. One of the most fun parts of the day was seeing all the people (lots of them) wandering Santa Rosa's downtown in Alice in Wonderland costumes. I'm definitely a fan now.
(Click on the title above for more fun photos)
Work Party - Let's hear it for community!
This past weekend I joined a neighborhood work party here in Sebastopol. Service Clubs (Sebastopol Rotary Club, Sebastopol Sunrise Rotary, Lions Club) partnered with neighbors to help a property owner clear out-of-control vines and bushes that were creating a potential fire and safety hazard. Even Sebastopol's own Steve Brown (from the Building Dept) joined the effort. It was great to be doing a productive project together. Hard work, but so worth it.
(Click on the title above for more photos.)
Oct 26 Latte Art Throw Down
(For full details, click on the title above.)
Do I have to cast three votes?
No, you do not have to cast three votes. There are three open seats on the Sebastopol City Council. Five candidates are vying for those three seats. The three candidates who get the most votes will win. Please vote only for those you feel are the best, whether that's one, two, three (or none at all). This will maximize the chances of the candidates you believe are best getting elected. Do not dilute your voice with an “extra” vote that will only reduce the chances of your preferred candidate(s) prevailing. Voters do not have to cast three votes (or any at all actually).
Sandi Maurer - Vote for her!!
Sandi Maurer: A passionate, articulate, community-minded person who is well-prepared, approachable, and loves our town? Yes!
Check out Sandi Maurer's website here, and her endorsements here. You can see her artwork on her artist's page here.
To those who know Sandi only through her advocacy against smart meters, cell towers, or similar technology (EMF issues), I can only tell you that I am convinced Sandi Maurer is not a one-issue person. (Full disclosure here, I have no problems with this technology..Sandi and I are on opposite sides on this issue.) To my astonishment, this amazing woman has won me over, and shown me that her passion and interests are for the community at large, not just for the one issue she's tackled so far.
Sandi Maurer's core motivation is to improve our community. She is fearless and articulate and honest. She is funny and accessible and compassionate, and will do the work that is needed to get a job done correctly and efficiently. Voting for her is the right thing to do for our community's future. I invite you to join me in casting a vote for Sandi Maurer for Sebastopol City Council.
Stephen Zollman - Vote for him!!
Stephen Zollman - A social environmental justice candidate with an MBA & JD? Perfect!
Donate? Endorse? If you agree that Stephen is an excellent candidate, please consider endorsing him and donating (any amount is meaningful!). To be added to Stephen's endorsement list, email his campaign team at woodyhastings@gmail.com To donate to Stephen's campaign, click here (every donation counts!).
- Leverage partnerships with county, state, and federal governments to support Sebastopol needs
- Secure affordable housing
- Ensure stability go out fire and emergency services
- Improve safety by pairing mental health services with law enforcement
- Accelerate actions to address the climate crisis and build community resilience
- Support local businesses and create opportunities for youth
Numbers Matter - What are we spending on the unhoused?
The short answer: ~$150,000 out of our $12.5 million budget for 22-23. Do I wish it were less? Of course. Am I VERY pleased its not more? Yes! Are we getting quality service for that $150,000? Yes again.
(For the full post, including a link to the City budget, click on the title above.)
ArtStart Mural!
On October 18 I attended the dedication of the "World of Good" mural. It's beautiful, and the story of how it came to be in the midst of Covid (and post-Covid, as we like to call it) is fascinating.
(Click on the title above for the full post.)
Decision-Making, Disagreement, and Debates
The current Sebastopol City Council is a great example of five people who frequently disagree, and argue their positions passionately, and in my opinion produce better outcomes as a result. Are you looking for proof of this active debate? Feel free to review any of the Sebastopol City Council meeting video recordings to witness our many (!!) disagreements and debates and our very healthy decision-making.
(For a case in point - click on the title above.)
What are those tracks?
Tomales Bay is beautiful. Less than an hour away, and full of natural wonders. How about a little tracking exercise. What are these tracks? Marten? Otter? Guesses? Email drich@cityofsebastopol.org.
(Click on the title above for the full post.)
Homeless Count Down in Sebastopol
Twenty-eight (28) is the true count, for all practical purposes, of those who are on the streets in our town. The official count is 78 in the 2022 Sonoma County Point in Time Count, but the 78 includes those who are at Elderberry Commons, Robinson House (for vets), and Horizon Shine. They are considered homeless because they are not in what the County considers "permanent" housing. Backing out those numbers leaves 28 truly sleeping rough in our town. Not great, admittedly, because no-one likes the idea of even 28 people living this sort of uncertain, unsafe life. But 28, in a town of ~7500 people, at a time in history when there is truly no solution for the homelessness issue is, sadly, OK.
(Click here for the full post, including a link to the Sonoma County Point in Time Count for 2022)
Eagle Scout Rhone Thomas
I was honored to be present today as Rhone Thomas of Sebastopol's Troop 27 was recognized as an Eagle Scout. For those wondering who puts up the flags that we often see lining Main Street in Sebastopol: It’s Troop 27, including this new Eagle Scout Rhone Thomas. Congratulations Rhone!
The Parking Ordinance
Question: Did I support the parking ordinance?
Answer: Yes, I was an advocate and a supporter of the parking ordinance, and yes I did vote for it. I felt it was a necessary step to reclaim Morris Street and surrounding areas (including the Laguna de Santa Rosa) for use by the community at large. Given that we were opening the RV Village and giving the RVs that had been in the Morris Street encampment a place to have shelter, I was OK with it.
(Please click on the title above for the full post, including a link to the parking ordinance.)
Three City Councilmembers Retiring
In December the City of Sebastopol will lose three City Councilmembers who have in many ways driven policy in the City for decades. Sarah Glade Gurney has served on the Council for 18 years (since 2004), Patrick Slayer for 12 (since 2010), and Una Glass for 6 (since 2014). They leave a legacy of service to the citizens of Sebastopol. Many of the current policies that define the town reflect their efforts and their vision. Their contributions are enormous, and span a variety of interests, both local and regional. For full details the best bet is to review their biographies, posted on the City's website. Click here for Sarah Glade Gurney's bio, here for Una Glass' bio, and here for Patrick Slayter's bio.
Fire Dept FAQ!
Get all the answers to all the questions. Background, facts, links to documents. The Fire Department FAQ is available online HERE!
Key Points:
- There is no consolidation underway at this time.
- The City is waiting to receive the results of a study that will provide recommendations about the best path forward. The study results are expected in late November.
- The study is considering two key options: (1) an independent fire department and (2) consolidation with Gold Ridge Fire Protection District, and is also looking at all other available options
- The volunteer firefighters and other stakeholders were interviewed the week of September 28 as part of the process.
Read the full FAQ. The future of fire and emergency services in our community is a priority topic. Inform yourself!
Get updates: Sign up HERE on the City's website to get updates. Select "Fire Services Delivery Study." You'll get notices of City meetings (including City Council meetings and a planned Town Hall).
Lynda Hopkins - Wow!
(Click here for the full text of this post.)
Candidate Forum for Businesses Tuesday@7pm
SDA Sebastopol City Council Candidate Forum for Businesses. See article in The Sebastopol Times (link below). Tuesday October 11 at 7pm. Location is Soft Medicine Sanctuary (186 N. Main St). Note from Michael Carnacchi of the Sebastopol Downtown Association: This forum is for business owners and their interests. (He made it clear that space is limited.)
Conversations
This post is an update to my Oct 7 post, titled "Crickets. Nothing. Not a Peep," I've realized that the Oct 7 post was really about conversations. So this is where I am on this topic now, as a result of developments yesterday. It was a day filled with conversations with a ton of different people: at the grocery store and downtown running errands, on my block walks for Stephen Zollman and Sandi Maurer, at the Sunrise Rotary fundraiser I attended in the evening, and even answering emails when I got home. Most (especially the block walk conversations) were really wonderful and inspiring, but some later in my day were a bit...well...challenging. What I realized as I ended my day, is that all of those conversations are important, as a human being and especially as an elected City Councilperson. Conversations aren't always comfortable, in my experience, but all of them are worth having...because all of them help us understand one another better. Conversations are about speaking and listening. And I got a lot of that yesterday in Sebastopol. That's my idea of a good day in our town
Key Takeaways:
- Sebastopol is fabulous (weather, people, everything)
- Providing facts is the right thing to do
- The variety of opinions and perspectives in this town is a strength
- I am rock solid in my decision to endorse Stephen Zollman and Sandi Maurer for Sebastopol City Council
- I need to accept that the other candidates do not want to have conversations with me right now
And...finally...yes, conversations (at the right time) are essential for the health of this town.
(Please click on the title above for the full post.)
Stephen Zollman - A social environmental justice candidate with an MBA & JD? Perfect!
Larry McLaughlin is retiring...
Larry McLaughlin has been an amazing City Manager/City Attorney for Sebastopol. For 35 years he has been on staff, as City Attorney first, and then adding on the City Manager role. I will miss him more than I can say. Larry's skills and experience were substantial, but for me it was his character that made working with him so wonderful. He was an honest, kind, organized, approachable leader with a heart of gold. He provided stability and reassurance to all, and he always dealt with whatever came at him with complete equanimity. Sebastopol has been fortunate to have him, and I will miss him greatly.
His retirement announcement is here.
An article in the Community Voice is here.
Sandi Maurer Endorsements - Sierra Club, North Bay Labor Council, Sebastopol Tomorrow!!!
VOTE FOR SANDI MAURER FOR SEBASTOPOL CITY COUNCIL!
Is Sandi Maurer a one-issue candidate?
Answer: My conclusion is that Sandi Maurer is not a one-issue candidate. Her knowledge and interest and ideas on City issues are broad. Her passion on one issue will not, in my opinion, get in the way of her greater public service to the community.
Sandi and I are on opposite sides of the EMF (smart meters, cell towers, etc) issue. I have to be blunt about that. I am not at all worried about EMFs. She is intensely worried. We disagree. Surprisingly, I have found that this disagreement on a topic that is passionately important to her, does not distract from or get in the way of our discussions on other topics. I have realized that her interests, knowledge, and ideas go way beyond the EMF issue. She has won me over, despite my hesitation, and convinced me that she has the qualities it takes to represent the people of Sebastopol as a City Councilperson. And yes, I am endorsing Sandi Maurer for Sebastopol City Council.
(Please click on the title above for the full post.)
Stephen Zollman & Sandi Maurer
This post is about the candidates I am endorsing for Sebastopol City Council in 2022: Stephen Zollman and Sandi Maurer. I believe they are the best choices. Please consider supporting them..but most importantly make sure that you do your homework to vote for whichever candidates you feel are best for our town. As a reminder, these are my personal notes. They do not represent the official opinions or positions of the City of Sebastopol or of the Sebastopol City Council.
STEPHEN ZOLLMAN & SANDI MAURER rise to the top for me in all categories. I feel strongly that they have the qualities needed to serve our community. I’ve watched the Candidate Forum, done my research, and met with both of them. I’m convinced that they love this town and will honor the values we hold dear, and that they aren’t afraid to do what’s needed to make our town an even better place for all those who call it home. I believe they will be accessible and listen, will do their homework, and will be brave and courageous in their decision-making. I am convinced that compassion and consideration for all will be a driving force for them, but that they will also be pragmatic and practical. I firmly believe that they are the very best choices for our City Council in 2022. I encourage you to join me in voting for Stephen Zollman and Sandi Maurer.
(Please click on the title above for the full post.)
Very excited to endorse Sandi Maurer for Sebastopol City Council!
I am excited to endorse Sandi Maurer for City Council. She is fearless, principled, completely focused on the good of the community, an instinctive researcher who knows the value of preparation, and compassionate about all people, yet pragmatic and realistic. She has already informed herself about City policy, meeting with department heads and diving into the details of City Council decision-making. This is a candidate who has already proven herself ready and willing to do what's needed to make excellent policy decisions for this town. For more information, check out Sandi Maurer's website. Endorse her, make a contribution if you're able, or offer to host a campaign sign. Most importantly, vote for Sandi Maurer!
Very Excited to Endorse Stephen Zollman for Sebastopol City Council!
I am excited to endorse Stephen Zollman for City Council. He has the skills, experience, community-oriented mindset, and compassion that we need to lead Sebastopol into the future. I'm convinced that he'll build partnerships and will be pragmatic and caring. Check out Stephen Zollman's website. Endorse him, make a contribution, or offer to host a campaign sign.
What are the qualities of a good City Councilperson?
Who Do I Support for City Council? I've been asked about who I would support for City Council. I have endorsed Stephen Zollman but I am still researching the other candidates.
Will I Offer Further Information on Who I Support? Yes, absolutely. I need to do my research (because that's what I do). I've reached out to all the candidates and asked to meet with each. I'm genuinely curious and interested in each of these people who has taken the very honorable step of running for City Council.
My Suggestions For Every Voter? For now, I suggest that everyone watch the September 21 Candidate Forum Video, which is embedded in my September 20 posting and can also be accessed on You Tube HERE. Also, take a look at the links I posted on September 20, and consider each candidate in terms of the following qualities. This is my personal list that I'll be using to evaluate each candidate.
I am looking for candidates who have good character, will be relationship builders, will be team players and strong communicators, will be emotionally mature, will be fearless, will be accessible, will be compassionate, will be critical, pragmatic, visionary thinkers, will be prepared, and will understand City finances.
(Please click on the title above for the full post.)
Check out the Candidates for Sebastopol City Council
There are five candidates running for three Sebastopol City Council seats. Inform yourself about each one, so you can make a meaningful vote on November 8th.
CANDIDATE FORUM:
Here's the recording of the Candidate Forum held on Wednesday evening, Sept 21@6:30pm. The recording is also available on You Tube HERE and on Facebook Live HERE.
(Please click on the title above for more information on each candidate.)
Police Chief Kilgore departs...Interim Chief Nelson is on the job!
Chief Kilgore has submitted his resignation and will leave in August. That's the not-so-good news. The really-great-news is that our Interim Chief will be the fabulous Lieutenant Ron Nelson, who has been in charge of the Police Department's Operations Division since he was brought on board in the Fall of 2020. We're definitely in good hands with Interim Chief Nelson!
(Please click on the title above for the official Sebastopol City News Release.)
We Need City Council Candidates! File by Aug 12.
Three terms expire this year: Sarah Glade Gurney's, Patrick Slayter's, and Una Glass's. Will they run again this year? Should you put your name in the hat? Maybe to the first question and YES to the second! Click on the title above to read the full post.
Fire Department FAQ
Please note this FAQ reflects my personal opinions only. As is true throughout my website, I am speaking on my own behalf only, not on behalf of the full City Council or the City of Sebastopol.
1. Why is there a need to make changes in our fire department?
Our fire department is underfunded and understaffed. Our volunteers do an amazing job of serving our community, but there's only so quickly they can respond when they are coming from their homes. We need newer equipment and improved facilities and changes in our staffing model. We need to navigate a more secure financial future for the fire department, and to make sure it's a future that will ensure quality services for the community.
Additional Questions Answered in the Full Post:
2. How is the City Council going to get advice on the best options for the fire department?
3. Is the City Council planning to eliminate funding for the fire department?
4. Is the Firehouse at Bodega and Jewell going to be closed?
5. Has a decision been made about the future of the Fire Department?
6. Will the Volunteer firefighters be included in the assessment being done by Matrix?
7. When will the Matrix study be final?
(Please click on the title above for the full post with all questions answered.)
SebWalks - Monthly Walking Fun
Join Sebastopol Walks on the last Saturday of each month at 9am at the Plaza, to spend the morning walking and chatting and (always) learning something new about our town. Here's the calendar of all the walks: Sebastopol Walks 2022 Schedule. Don't miss the fun!
By the Numbers: The City's Budget is final and published.
If all you want is to leap right into the pages of the 2022-23 Sebastopol City Budget, click HERE. For more information read the full post.
For details about the very involved public meeting process this year, click on the title above.
See the Video - Services to the Unhoused
Sebastopol's Ad Hoc Committee for the Unhoused held a Town Hall on June 30th to report out on services to the unhoused. The full meeting was recorded, and can be seen HERE. The Town Hall presentation included a video highlighting interviews with formerly unhoused who are now residing at Park Village Mobile Home Park, Elderberry Commons, and Horizon Shine RV Village, all in Sebastopol. A question and answer sheet was published after the Town Hall, and can be seen HERE.
Tue Mar 15@6pm City Council Meeting - What's on the Agenda?
(Please click on the title above for my list of all items on the March 15 Agenda.)
Tue Mar 1@6pm City Council Meeting - What's on the Agenda?
(Please click on the title above for my list of all items on the March 1 Agenda.)
Parking Ordinance FAQ (Update: Ordinance Passed)
2/24/22 Update: Ordinance Passed: Last night, the City Council passed the new parking ordinance, as proposed, with no changes. See final signed ordinance HERE. It will be effective on March 26, 2022. Participation by the public was substantial, with voices heard both in support and in opposition. The Council recognized that there would likely be a need to "tweak" the ordinance in the future, and specifically requested that the following be brought back to the Council: (1) Clarifying language stating explicitly that the 72 hour exception in residential zones allows RVs that are visiting residents to remain in place for 72 hours, and (2) A proposal (including staffing cost) for a permitting process for the City Council to consider.
Original 2/23/22 Post:
Questions:
- What are the terms of the parking ordinance?
- Why do I support the parking ordinance?
- Where will visitors to our town be able to park their RVs and similar vehicles be able to park?
- Why do we have to prohibit RVs and similar vehicles from parking in commercial/industrial areas during the day?
- Why can’t we let RVs and similar vehicles owned by residents or their visitors park in the neighborhoods?
- Would a permit system provide more flexibility?
- Why can't we have a permit system?
- What will happen with the vehicular unhoused that didn't get into the RV Village?
- Why can't we limit daytime parking in commercial/industrial, but allow it in residential areas?
- Is there 100% support for allowing residents and their visitors to leave their RVs and similar vehicles parked in front of their homes?
- Why can't Sebastopol set up more RV Villages inside the City limits?
- How will the parking ordinance be enforced?
- When will the parking ordinance go into effect?
- How can you make your opinion about the ordinance known to the City Council?
Please click on the title above for my personal answers to the questions above.
Proposed Parking Ordinance - Summary
Second Reading is on Feb 23: The second reading of the parking ordinance is Wednesday February 23@6pm. Click here for the full staff report. Note the ordinance would go into effect 30 days after the second reading.
Info for Attending Feb 23: If you'd like to attend the February 23 meeting, here's the Zoom Link. You can also go to the City Council Meeting Page for full information (with agenda, reports, and zoom link).
Please click on the title above for my summary of the proposed parking ordinance.
Wed Feb 23@6pm City Council Meeting - Parking Ordinance Second Reading!
PS: The Ad Hoc Committee for the Unhoused will be submitting a full Report at the March 15 City Council meeting.
Horizon Shine RV Village Launched!
The Horizon Shine RV Village in Sebastopol is up and running. All 18 RV dwellers are on site, plus the on-site resident manager Ben Peterson. The project manager Hector Gutierrez is on the job also, case managers are working one-on-one with residents, the place is neat and tidy, with portalets, trash and garbage organized, and an overwhelming sense of security and hope for a brighter future. What a wonderful contrast to the situation we saw on Morris Street! Wow. Sebastopol really stepped up for the unhoused. Lots of credit to St Vincent de Paul - they bought the land and leased it for this use - and to Sonoma Applied Village Services, the amazing nonprofit operating the Village. I am so proud of my community.
(Please click on the title above for more photos.)
Tue Feb 15@6pm City Council Meeting - Question: What's on the Agenda?
PS: The Ad Hoc Committee for the Unhoused intended on submitting a full Report at this February 15 meeting, but we were told there simply wasn't enough time to accommodate that item. Please look for the report on the March 15th Agenda.
(Please click on the title above for my list of all items on the Feb 15 Agenda.)
Horizon Shine RV Village: Fencing? What will it look like?
St Vincent de Paul, owner of the property, is installing a really attractive redwood fence for the Horizon Shine RV Village. This is the conceptual drawing. Installation should be complete by next week. Nice, right??!! 
How about the Safe Overnight Parking Plan - How is that going?
RV Village - What's the deal with the lawsuit?
In an order dated February 1, 2022, Judge Arthur Wick of the Sonoma County Superior Court dismissed the case, stating that: "Petitioner's request for relief at this time is denied in its entirety." The case, as can be seen from the pleadings included in the full posting, challenged the RV Village on the basis of various counts related to CEQA, zoning, and notices.
(Please click on the title above for the full posting, including links to all the pleadings.)
Community Art Project - Submit your proposal!
(Please click on the title above for full text of this posting.)
Horizon Shine RV Village - Why are there RVs on the site already?
That's an excellent question. It has an excellent answer. Once again, the reality of making the right decision in a not-so-perfect situation faced us. Did we choose the right not-so-perfect option? Most definitely.
(Click on the title above for the full posting)
Meet the Candidates for Sonoma County Sheriff
There are four so far who are vying to be elected as Sheriff of Sonoma County. Inform yourself. See the Press Democrat article here. And remember to VOTE!!
(Click on the title above for more info, including video interviews.)
Tue Feb 1@6pm City Council Meeting - Question: What's on the Agenda?
Answer: As usual, there's LOTS on the agenda. (Let's hope we get done before 10pm this time.) Highlights on the topics list: Locals Who Make a Difference Award for Jim Pacatte, Healthcare for All Resolution, Apple Blossom Parade (April 23!), Calder Creek Restoration options presented (yes, one affects Polley Field), Mid-Year Budget Adjustments, Report from the Committee for the Unhoused...and yes, there's more!
(Please click on the title above for my list of all items on the Agenda.)
Why is the parking ordinance (second reading) not on the Feb 1 agenda?
There's the practical answer, and then there's my personal opinion on what would have happened with the vote if the item had remained on the February 1 agenda. As you'll see when you read the full posting, it's probably best that it's not being considered until February 15...
The first RV dwellers arrive at Horizon Shine, the RV Village operated by Sonoma Applied Village Services.
(Please click on the title above for full text of this posting.)
Lawsuit Filed to Prevent RV Village
This is a statement by me, as one elected City Councilperson. I do not speak on behalf of any other City Councilmember , and certainly not on behalf of the full City Council. This statement and the views and opinions it reflects are mine only.
The City learned January 21 that a lawsuit was apparently filed*, seeking to prevent the RV Village at 845 Gravenstein Highway North from moving forward. The lawsuit requests various types of relief, ranging from an order that would temporarily delay the RV Village, to one that would set aside the RV Village decision entirely. One of the claims supporting delay is that "It will not harm the public interest for the Morris Street settlement to stay in its current location as the status quo while the Court resolves this Petition.” This is a claim that may not ring true for those who are neighbors and business owners in the Morris Street area and have suffered the consequences of that situation, as well as those who have seen first hand the distress being experienced by the unhoused population struggling to survive there.
*1/27/22 Update: Note that the City has not received or been served with an official endorsed file-stamped copy of the lawsuit. What has been received is a document that appears to be final but carries no official indication that it has been filed with the court. This is most likely a result of Sonoma County's current electronic filing system, which was implemented as a result of the pandemic, and causes some delays in the Court's filing system.
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The RV Village is Moving Forward!!
The First Village Council for Horizon Shine, Sebastopol’s RV Village. Ben, Elightza, Ronda, Israel, and Steve.
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Best Books of 2021
Click on the title above for a personal perspective and for a beginning list of Best Books of 2021.
Family - The Best Part of Holidays
Community Church Warming Center - It’s SO cold outside!
Today, with the temperature projected to dip below freezing, the Community Church of Sebastopol (1000 Gravenstein Highway North) joined forces with SAVS to open a warming center. Friday night and Saturday night, 8pm to 8am. Amazing joint effort pulled together on an urgent basis! Other resources for the homeless in this cold time are HERE.
Old Auld Syne by Phil Lawrence
Compost? Problem? Solution!
Too Much Trash!!! With Way Too Much Food Waste = More Methane = BAD for the planet!
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Where Can I Get My Booster?
There are many options for Covid Boosters. Here's the links. Make sure you try them all. As you can see, there isn't one site that gives you access to all potential booster locations. That makes it a bit awkward to navigate the options, but it does increase the chances of success.
For general information about Covid, the best source continues to be the Sonoma County website (socoemergency.org).
(Please click on the title above for all links to booster appointments.)
City-Wide Parking Ordinance Changes? Mtg Dec 18.
On January 18, the City Council considers a draft parking ordinance. Directions were given to Staff on December 21 to provide an ordinance that met certain basic parameters. If this is important to you, there are various ways you can contribute your input. Please click on the title above.
Calder Creek Naturalization Project
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Morning Sticky Buns. Yummy! The Best. Check out the recipe.
So worth the calories! Plan for next year!
(Please click on the title above for the recipe, courtesy of my husband the fabulous cook!)
Michelle & Micah Sawyer - Our Local Heroes.
Father-Daughter Song for the Holidays. A No Miss.
Local musician Joe Gonzales singing with his daughter. Wonderful. Check out his gig dates on his website.
Mtg Tonight - City-Wide Parking?
Tonight the City Council considers a proposal for City-Wide Parking changes. Now that there's a commitment to move RVs from Morris Street and Laguna Parkway into the RV Village at 845 Gravenstein Highway North, what are we going to do about overnight parking of RVs throughout town? The motivation for the RV Village was addressing the encampment on Morris Street. It's clear that our town doesn't want to have that happen again. So what to do? That's the question before the City Council tonight.
Parking options proposed by the Police Chief:
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Option 1: Adopt an ordinance of no street parking of oversized vehicles (e.g., RVs, trailers, buses, etc.) in residential neighborhoods at any time.
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Option 2: Adopt an ordinance of no parking of oversized vehicles (e.g., RVs, Trailers, Buses, etc.) in commercial and industrial areas between 6:00am and 10:00pm
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Option 3: Adopt an ordinance of timed daylight parking in commercial and industrial areas (e.g., 3-hr. parking)
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Option 4: Adopt an ordinance that incorporates one or more of the above options
Our process tonight will include consideration of the above options, plus others that are produced during the discussion.
Your opportunity for input is tonight. Email mgourley@cityofsebastopol.org with your public comment, and/or attend the meeting. Tonight's meeting starts at 5:30 - zoom link is here. The full meeting information - agenda, documents (see agenda item 8), plus the zoom link - can be found at the City Council meeting page.
FYI, here's the Staff Report laying out the options presented by Police Chief Kilgore.
Plus other topics at the meeting tonight: Cyber-fraud update (1.2 million in City funds); Follow up issue related to smart water meters; City Council appointments to regional and local positions; Joe Gaffney retirement proclamation.
SAVS Resets the Narrative
On Thursday evening December 9th, SAVS (Sonoma Applied Village Services), the nonprofit that will be operating an RV Village for the unhoused in Sebastopol, held a community discussion that was open to the public. At one point close to 100 people were in attendance.
That meeting truly reset the narrative about the RV Village. Recently, with worries and anxiety from neighbors and others, the goodhearted intentions behind the RV Village have become lost. The dominant narrative has been about rules and consequences...really about fears of what might be...but perhaps won't come to fruition at all.
The purpose of this post is two-fold. First, it's to give recognition to.....
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RV Village - Accountability and Enforcement
On December 7, the City Council approved the full Agreement with Sonoma Applied Village Services (SAVS) to operate an RV Village. This document supplemented the Memorandum of Understanding that had been approved by the City Council on November 30th. The Staff Report from the December 7 meeting is HERE. It includes the full Agreement, which incorporates a detailed Scope of Work as Attachment B.
I recommend that anyone interested in the details read through the Scope of Work section of the Agreement. SAVS (the operator of the RV Village) and the Ad Hoc Committee worked hard to incorporate into the Scope of Work section various provisions to address all the concerns raised by School families and by people in the community at large.
The purpose of this post is go through the provisions that I believe address specific concerns raised about accountability and enforcement, because that has been a general concern of neighbors, the Charter School, and the community at large. However, this is not an exhaustive list of all provisions in the Agreement. For those who want to understand the details, a good solid read of the full document is best.
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RV Village & Parking Policy Update
Context for the Proposed Site at 845 Gravenstein Highway North: Morris Street: The unsafe, unhealthy situation on Morris Street is the "why" that explains the decision to move forward with 845 Gravenstein Highway North. Let's not forget how appalling it's become, and the broad section of our population that's been suffering the consequences. Hundreds of complaints have been received from all sectors of the community. This is the inhumane, unsafe, and unhealthy situation that we are facing and need to address, for the unhoused and for our community. This is the situation that demands action.
Next: More Information and Process!
- Tue Dec 7@6pm: City Council mtg. Zoom & Staff Report HERE.
- Thu Dec 9@5pm: !! UPDATE!! 12/9 SAVS COMMUNITY MEETING IS VIA ZOOM - Zoom Link HERE.
- Community Advisory Committee: Concerns, complaints, suggestions discussed and solutions developed to address neighborhood and community concerns. Attend the Dec 9 Community Discussion if you are interested in being on the CAC.
(Please click on the title above for full details on the RV Village and Parking Policy.)
Morris Street Changes Since Nov 7
LOCATION CHANGE to 845 GRAVENSTEIN HIGHWAY NORTH. The proposed site for the RV Village intended to provide an alternate location for the RVs on Morris Street (and Laguna Parkway) has changed. The proposal is still largely the same as the one presented to the City Council on October 27, with the Public Works Storage Yard no longer viable, and the new site (845 Gravenstein Highway North) now being presented to the City Council. This location became a real option the day before Thanksgiving, less than a week ago.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT: The City Council considers the new proposed site TONIGHT, TUESDAY NOVEMBER 30, at 6pm. The Staff Report and Zoom Link are HERE. Join us to share your comments, or email your input to City Clerk/Asst City Manager Mary Gourley (mgourley@cityofsebastopol.org). If you start your email with "Dear Mayor and City Councilmembers," Mary will immediately distribute your email to all five on the City Council.
(Please click on the title above for full details of developments since November 7th.)
Morris Street Update
My First Year on the City Council
Wow. It's November 2021. A full year has passed since I was elected to the Sebastopol City Council. It's been exciting, busy, and so worthwhile. Why have I not kept up my news postings here? Because it's been a whirlwind of activity and engagement. How is there time to document activities when life is requiring that you actually fully engage??!! It's been great. However, I post here today because I have decided I need to try to pick up the conversation with everyone once again. Wish me luck!!
Federal Relief Package for State & Local Governments
For the policy wonks who want the full story on upcoming funding. Click on the image below to view the presentation by Cal Cities.
Two Debates on Measures A & B - Videos
#1. Hosted by League of Women Voters.
#2. Hosted by Russian River Chamber of Commerce.
City Council Mtg Summary Feb 16 2021 Meeting
Interviewed applicants for the alternate position on the Design Review Board. Appointed Marshall Balfe. Approved administrative corrections to the Climate Action Committee. Authorized City Staff to submit an application for a One Bay Area Grant. Approved the mid-year budget adjustment. Approved a proposal to move to electronic filing of campaign documents and Form 700s. Received a report on Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) numbers. Received reports from the City Manager and City Councilmembers on City-related developments since the last City Council meeting. (Click on the title above for full details.)
Tax Time Assistance. Resources for Free Help.
United Way: 211 or 800-325-9604/ www.unitedwaywinecountry.org/earn-it-keep-it-save-it/
AARP Tax Help: Sebastopol Center for the Arts (861-1048) / www.aarpca2.org / 707-327-240/ Email Ca2D10@aarpfoundation.org.
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New Police Chief Kevin Kilgore!
Sebastopol Names Kevin Kilgore New Police Chief
We are greater than our differences....a message to take in...completely...
I am so excited to be helping with vaccinations!
Yes, vaccinations are happening! I know because I'm helping at the Petaluma Vaccination Location. It is so wonderful to see hundreds of people in the 70 and over age group get their first doses. Plus we had many Latinos from Petaluma Poultry and Petaluma Bakery come through. The sad but not surprising comment from my experience with this particular group: almost all of them had Covid-19 in November or December. They were SO pleased to be getting the vaccine! It was a wonderful day. Over 250 vaccinated. I can hardly wait to do it again next week!
Covid-19.Vaccine Information
Vaccines - Centralized County Link for Appointments Still in the Works
However, the system is not yet working, just so you know. For example, the County webpage lists local Safeways that are accepting vaccination appointments for 70 and over, but when I clicked through to a local Safeway, it didn't list Sonoma County at all.
So...feel free to sign onto the County central vaccination appointment webpage, but (same old rule here) be patient and don't be surprised if the system seems to not be aligned with what the County is REALLY trying hard to get done. Patience....so hard right now...
Vaccinations Open for West County Over 70 Group on Feb 10, and Over 65 on Feb 15.
Click Here for West County Health Center Website
Sebastopol Walks - Self Guided Walking Routes. Fun!
Sebastopol Walks is on hiatus as a result of Covid-19. But that doesn't stop walkers! Here are maps that you can use for two self-guided walks around town. Fun!!
Little Free Libraries Walk: Download the full map here: Little_Free_Libraries_Map.pdf
Peace Pole Walk: Download the full map here: Peace_Pole_Walk_Map_2021.pdf
Reliable Vaccination Info from Supervisor Lynda Hopkins.
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