From: Loretta Castleberry
To: City Council
Subject: Support of Parking ordinance
Date: Sunday, February 20, 2022 10:23:31 AM
Dear Sebastopol City Council:
We again want to show our support for item #1 on the agenda to implement the Parking Ordinance along Morris Street. Our City Manager, Mr. McLaughlin stated at the 1/18/22 meeting, the Parking Ordinance can be implemented immediately without any additional RV Parking.
Noting that the recommendations from every stakeholder at the meetings was that the RV Village and the parking ordinance needed to go together. The Council committed to implementing a City-Wide Parking Ordinance prior to moving any vehicles onto the SAVS Safe Parking Site. There are currently many vehicles on the site and Council has still not approved a Parking Ordinance. The Council needs to uphold its commitment to its constituents.
We listened to an hour-long discussion at the last meeting about making the parklets permanent stating that we want Sebastopol to look welcoming to our patrons. Although we are not against the parklets, it needs to be acknowledged that not all businesses are in favor of them and that about 5 businesses gain useable space without having to pay extra rent.
Where has your support been for the Morris Street businesses? We have been asking for help along Morris Street for over 5 years. Because of lack of City support we have lost Key's Auto Body, Rhyne Design, and the construction company housed across from us. All were contributing to the tax revenue to our City. Revenue you have now lost.
Yesterday we witnessed a man and a woman walking ON the sidewalk down Morris Street. This is a site that we have not seen in over 5 years. We hope that we will soon see the return of Little League players being able to walk or bike to and from their games at their parks. We hope to see patrons of the Community Center walk down the sidewalk to the Barlow businesses after their shows.
We ask that the overflowing dumpster and the porta-potties be removed from Morris Street as they should not be needed and are costig the City $70,000.
It is past time for you listen to your constituents and pass the parking ordinance for our city.
Chip & Loretta Castleberry
Coaches' Corner