From: Tom Boag
To: Diana Rich; Mary Gourley
Subject: RV Village on Hwy-116N, Parking Regulations
Date: Monday, January 31, 2022 2:45:54 PM
To the Mayor and City Council of Sebastopol, CA,
Subject: RV Village on Hwy-116N, Parking Regulations
Responding to Diana Rich email 22/01/28 21:26 - "blunt" "compassion" Compassion: I think I have demonstrated my compassion with a number of ongoing projects I have managed or assisted for many years. I like real solutions. I too am horrified to see people living in the most desperate circumstances of crummy old trailers, no utilities, cords draped all over the place, tarps over leaky roofs, trash and waste spread around - I am sure that many of those unfortunate enough to have to live there would agree with other area businesses, homes, bike-riders, recreational users of the Laguna area that the situation is ugly and sustained way too long. Some of the Barlow businesses letters detail the impact on their businesses, fears of assault to their employees, drug periphenalia, trash, abused/overloaded restrooms - Many of businesses/residents of the Hwy-116N location think this impact will only move over. A few at zoom meeting said it is already happening.
Planning: Why can you not do a little long-term planning - rather than a couple months of "ad-hoc" before a rushed decision - and consider alternate solutions (e.g., less trafficked locations, zoning changes, occupancy of existing housing) that might actually start to re-integrate the homeless people into a community. WCCS, Burbank Housing, and many other cities have examples of long term solutions that work.
Ghetto: I think, however, that you are creating an equally poor mini-ghetto solution with the (already ugly) RV Village/845 Gravenstein Highway/"Horizon Shine" with with cheap fencing, locked gates, gravel. This is not a real trailer park but a non-solution to the residents' needs. Imagine living in an old trailer, in winter cold or summer heat, with (by definition) no utility connections, no power-except for cellphones, no sewer hookups, or even water-except in buckets. No escape except for tents. Improvised generators, handling of gasoline, cords, manual emptying of holding tanks - dangerous, inhuman - this is little or no better than Morris Street. (Social services can be delivered either place.) In addition to interfering with the considerable traffic on Hwy-116N, there will be a hazard to all RV residents that might want to "cross the street to Taco Bell" or other businesses.
Topping off the poor conditions are locked gates, shelter-like-curfews, isolation, security lighting - What kind of life is that? Communication: As stated in my previous emails to you, a main objection to the present rushed plan is an apparent lack of communication with Hwy116N businesses and nearby residents - compared to plenty of letters from Barlow interests - apparent in the attachments to staff reports you provided me. No time? Furthermore you appeared to hustle the decision only after a few alternate location "studies" - declaring the situation an emergency (maybe in Barlow minds) when really the "emergency" seemed to qualify for SVDP-SAVS pressure to meet a State funding deadline -- really? (Why does this qualify for already limited COVID funds?) Is "emergency" the way to get around safety and health codes for what is really not a "trailer park" but just a temporary parking lot. What is SVDP planning later? ("Gold Key").
The SAVS zoom meeting seemed to emphasize an "it's already been decided" tone - a surprise for some.
Litigation: So - Surprise! - your failure to ask around the neighborhood has apparently annoyed/scared some of the new "neighbors" - likely people who are as compassionate as you are about helping people who want real improvement, not just "look good" expensive state-funded projects for nonprofits. Some of these people, feeling that they are not being listened to, take what you call the "American" way and file lawsuits. However that is decided, you have created a division or polarization that will, for long, keep all eyes on RV Village and its unfortunate "on display" residents - looking for things to complain about, rather than helping out. What a waste this is - a real failure.
Parking, Second Wave: I hear the threats of Una Glass at the 1/16 meeting that she (and I guess you) will not support final passage or will change her vote on parking plans if the RV Village is delayed - yet it is recorded in council handouts that the RV Village may not be occupied until the new parking regulations are approved and it is further noted by City ManagerAttorney Larry McLaughlin that there is no reason an acceptable parking regulation cannot go ahead. How about a little showing of faith? It seems likely that, without Chief Kilgore's proposed parking ordinance, a move of trailers from Morris to Hwy-116N will very quickly invite a back-filling of the Morris, and maybe other, curbside trailers. So maybe this is anticipated in Una Glass' also-stated two-year goal of having a bunch of similar RV Villages up and down Highway 116. This could really get bigger than the majority of Sebastopol residents want without Chief Kilgore's proposed regulation. I agree with you that we do not want to throw people out without supplying some accomodation - show compassion - but we all know the impass of moving existing trailers once they are in place.
Consider: Your official responsibility is to all your constituents, the residents and businesses of Sebastopol. Have you surveyed or even told them? Any mention in city water bill enclosures? Do businesses and residents really want to do this -- or do they fear their business, property values or support taxes might be affected? Do they agree that Sebastopol take on a major share of Sonoma County homeless support? Are we getting a reputation as a easy-target or as a community that can come up with long term solutions and programs?
Tom Boag, Sebastopol Resident, Property Owner