From: Mishelle Weaver
To: Mary Gourley
Cc: Kevin Kilgore; Dante Del Prete; Lawrence McLaughlin Subject: Parking Ordinance
Date: Tuesday, February 01, 2022 11:13:31 AM
Dear Council Members,
The public comment that the council chose to post by Kate Haug exemplifies one of the many amazing qualities Sebastopol houses. The fact (if her numbers are right) that Sebastopol has 1 transient bed per every 55th resident is really an awesome statistic to even get to say Sebastopol has. However, comparing this statistic to surrounding cities is a rhetorical tool - it does not matter that the surrounding cities would need "x" amount of beds to match Sebastopol ratios, Sebastopol is a free agent gracefully and proactively setting the standard who need not worry of the lack thereof in consideration of its forward growth.
It is asked that the 4 separate paragraphs on explaining numbers regarding neighboring cities out of the 15 paragraphs she has spaced out not be taken into consideration on the topic of a parking ordinance. While comparison serves its purpose in shining a light on how well Sebastopol is doing in the department of human compassion it is believed that it is being used to amplify the simple message of "We're nice to people and you should be too." but serves no purpose in making a valid point against where people park their vessels of transportation.
M(r)s. Haug in her 11th paragraph brings attention to a number of $72,000 being paid to a homeless outreach coordinator "who works solely on behalf of a limited population of under 100 people.", she then goes on to say Sebastopol is carrying "an outsized burden in terms of funding and supporting transients" while simultaneously calls on neighboring cities to follow-suit. This acts as a wonderful call to action that should be pursued by those she calls on none the less- but to call Sebastopol's efforts of loving and helping those in society who are presently struggling a "burden" is frankly turning your nose upwards to compassion. That comment should be disregarded in making a decision on a parking ordinance as M(r)s. Haug uses it as a transition to make money based arguments in defense of her stand point against the parking ordinance.
This parking ordinance has no referral to defund the homeless outreach coordinator and where the council has already appointed money to should be of no concern. This is not about our unhoused neighbors- this is about recreational vehicles being parked in certain places at certain times.
M(r)s. Haug raises the topic of city revenue through the statement that "until we have enough revenue to fully fund our police, fire, public works departments, city services, road and sidewalk repair we should not extend any more funding to transient services and accomodations." While I didn't see her map of city budgeting and how recreational vehicle parking relates to so many departments, I agree that monetary energy and the energy of those in said job forces should be preserved for matters of importance and that their time, the city's time and the courts time need not be bothered by an influx of tickets that come out of thin air because an ordinance was passed that effects people who are merely and innocently passing through with no awareness of city ordinances.
If one wants to weigh in on the economic value behind such a decision one would imagine every avenue of revenue being open would be most beneficial including staying open and welcoming to those exploring and passing through. When I spent time here as a transient almost a year ago I personally spent my earnings at stores such as Milk and Honey, Copperfields books, Two Dog Night Creamery, local thrift stores and the farmers market. Had I been met with hostility I would not have been so encouraged to stick around. However my presence as a then transient and now resident should not be based on my monetary contributions.
M(r)s. Haug expresses fear towards transient folk and what their assumed activities could be in paragraphs 12 & 13 but there were no statistics provided of an observed uptick in crime associated with an observed uptick on the parking of perceived transient vehicles. It is believed that those statements were created to enhance a narrative that drives a fear based prerogative- and anything done in fear or fear driven is not done with clarity and does not uphold the statesmanship that a council is trusted to uphold in pursuit of a just and righteous community.
It is asked that the statements made in paragraphs 12 and 13 be disregarded unless they're met with practical statistics directly linking vehicles that belong to transient people and where they park to direct crime. It is believed that tracking these numbers would be difficult as one would have to survey where Recreational Vehicles are parked during the time of a crime and it would need to be proven that the defendant does own the suspected Vehicle paired with a city wide observation of the amount of recreational vehicles present during an uptick in crime reported. But linking and tracking recreational vehicles and crime only encourages profiling without cause. Which is very blatantly what M(r)s. Haug attempted to do.
If ever an observer comes by the town square on a Sunday afternoon, shortly after the transient farm & artisan folk pack up shop for the day, they'd be met with an eclectic and exotic resonance of sounds that encourage community expression, gathering and entertainment. Which to drive the value that being welcoming of transience holds, Sebastopol would not have exposure to such a treat if not for someone at some point in history being curious about the world and popping in to bask in foreign sounds.
Among the lines of these heart-felt qualities is a charming atmosphere and whimsical energy that floats the downtown economy. Most of the Barlow, a hot spot for shopping and tourism, houses the same spirit of this whimsical, romantic, ambience that continuously lures travelers of all kinds to visit- and then revisit. Many of the shops & restaurants blatantly wear the cloak of transient energy and encourage worldly travelers to stop in, enjoy and explore the town and its enriching qualities - restaurants such as the Gypsy Cafe for example. Take a walk down North Main St and an observer will discover many stores who's theme is inspired by and rides on a feeling of belonging to the world and letting the world and its gifts be a part of the coming and going of life and its treasures.
This cocoon of safety, softness, love, art, health and creation that those who've come before have kindled into a place to raise families that M(r)s. Haug and the respected council members' love is heavily inspired by travelers and their world view.
To look at the foundation of an integral part of Sebastopol’s identity, which consist of the people who've found home and value in their transient essence, and create a hostile greeting of unsuspected tickets encourages the beginnings of a fare-well parting of this genuine transient energy that brings blessings of change, gifts and perspectives.
Transient folks bring the world with them, they are the wind that graces your face on a stale Summers day, they bring the energy of curiosity and discovery, and for those like me they bring love for what's been built & a desire to be a part of an uplifting forward moving and loving society.
They are the people that house the spirit that Sebastopol has come to wear and reflect back onto its people and is obviously inspired by.
It is believed that M(r)s. Haugs email was motivated by an underlying disdain for homelessness as seen in her first defensive statement in paragraph 7 and reiterated in different ways through-out the rest of the email and not is motivated by a personal issue or actual concern with recreational parking. There were no real arguments made in defense of why Recreational Vehicles shouldn't be able to park where other cars park during business hours- the email only gave correlations between recreational vehicles and people who she called transients and gave shady characteristics to while referencing the unhoused population. Numbers were thrown out that don't reference how stores are affected and M(r)s. Haug failed to provide statistics for her only attempt at making a direct point in regards to the vehicles and crime- if the stats exist and can be justly proven that'd provide a meatier defense.
It is also believed that the choice to post that public comment is a chance to reflect on where the motivations of the council's choices lay in making decisions like this.
Recreational Vehicles used for traveling are simply here and gone. No reason to fret. What an individual attaches to the idea of what it brings is all choice, perspective and story-telling.
It is asked that the council consider simply putting this topic of recreational vehicle parking to rest and not put extra energy into making the police officers and courts spend their time and city money on topics as arbitrary as where people passing through park their vehicles.
This is a decision that will chronicle the changing and shaping of Sebastopol’s future atmosphere, economy and attitude towards welcoming in the new and holding space for those passing through.
Change is inevitable and to choose change that sees and encourages a gentle welcoming reality of gratitude for those who simply wish to travel through unaware of city ordinances is a choice I'm sure no one will regret.
With Optomism,
Mishelle Weaver
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