Sebastopol City Council
March 21, 2023

City Council
Mayor Neysa Hinton
Vice Mayor Diana Rich
Sandra Maurer
lill McLewis
Stephen Zollman
City Manager
LarrY McLaughlin
lmclaush lin @Citvofsebastopol.org
Assistant City Manager/City Clerk, MMC
Mary Gourley
m gou rley @CityofsebastoPol.org
Gity of Sebastopol

CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
IVIINUTES FOR Regular City Council Meeting of March 2023 As Approved by the City Council at their regular meeting of April 18, 2023 The City Council Regular meeting was held in Person and by Remote/VirtualTeleconferencing Pursuant to Current Brown Act Rules and Regulations.
5:00 om Citv I Resular Meetine
ln Person Location: Sebastopol Youth Annex, 425 Morris Street, Sebastopol, CA 95472 Remote/Virlual Zoom
please note that minutes are not meant to be verbatim minutes and are meant to be the Oty's record of Actions Taken (Approved Motion of Agenda ltem(s))
Callto Order: Mayor Hinton called the Regular Meeting to Order at 6:05 p.m.

RollCall:

Present: MaYor NeYsa Hinton
Vice Mayor Diana Gardner Rich
Councilmember Sandra Maurer - Attend by Remote/Virtual Teleconferencing in Accordance with AB 2449
Cou ncilmem ber Stephen Zollman

Absent: CouncilmemberJill McLewis (Excused)
Staff: City Manager/City Attorney Larry McLaughlin
Assistant City Manager/City Clerk Mary Gourley
City Engineer Mario Landeros/GHD Toni Bertolero
lnterim Fire Chief Jack Piccinini
Planning Director Kari Svanstrom
Police Chief Ron Nelson
Public Works Superintendent Dante Del Prete
SALUTE TO THE FLAG: Mayor Hinton led the salute to the flag.

P ROCLAMATI O N S/P R ESE NTATI O N S :
o Proclaiming and Recognizing March 30,2023 as lnternational Day of Zero Waste 2023 Reference Order Number: 2023-070
STATEMENTS OF CONFLICfS OF INTEREST: Conflicts of interest may arise in situations where a public official deliberating towards a decision, has an actual or potential flnancial interest in the matter before the Council. In accordance with state law, an actual conflict of interest is one that would be to the prlvate financial beneflt of a public official, a relative or a business with which the Councilmember is associated. A potential conflict of interest is one that could be to the private financial benefit of a Councilmember, a relative or a business with whlch the Councilmember is associated. A Councilmember must publicly announce potential and actual conflicts of lnterest, and, in the case of actual conflict of interest, must refrain from participating in debate on the issue or from voting on the issue and must remove themselves from the dais.
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There were no stated Statements of Conflict of lnterests.

PUBLTC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA (FIRST COMMENT PERIOD):

UptoTwenty(20) MinuteTimeLimit(TwoMinutesforuptotenspeakers). Additional publiccommentwill beheldattheendofthe discussion and action items for up to an additional twenty (20) minutes. Mayor has discretion to allow for additional time beyond the 20 minutes allocated for public comment dependent upon the subject matter or number of speakers. process for calling on Speakers: Mayor or designee shall ask for public comment as follows: Speakers to be called on in an alternate manner (One speaker in person to be called on first; then one speaker remote to be called on second with additional speakers to be called on in the same manner) based upon the time limit.

Meg commented as follows;
. My name is Meg Mizutani, and today I'm speaking on behalf of SebastopolWorld Friends. o We are all volunteer nonprofit that organizes Sebastopol sister city programs' . Asyou all know, we have two sistercities, two here in Ukraine and Tokyo, Japan' o Today I would like to let everybody know about our upcoming events event, our friendship celebration, where sushi meets borscht.
o lt will be on April 23rd at Saint Stephen's Church here in Sebastopol. . Once a year, we hold this event to invite our friends, family, and supporters to come together and celebrate our community and our sister cities and their cultures. o We're thrilled to bring this back.
o We took a break for a couple of years during the pandemic. It's been too long. o We will have cultural entertainment by taiko drummers and Ukrainian dance ensemble' o We ask everybody to register ahead of time because the space is limited. Please visit our website. Look for Sebastopol World Friends or pick out a flyer on the way out. o The highlight of this year's event is the celebration of 30 years of sister city relationship with our sister city here in Ukraine.
r Our work is more important than ever today, and we cannot do it alone. We would like to recognize our community's tremendous support of our friends in Chyhyryn, our sister city, and our work and our vision World peace, one friend at a time. So hope you can join us' Linda commented as follows:
o On the issue of waste, it is very peculiar that a majority of the last City Council, two of whom are still on the City Council promoting all this waste
o lt is a , waste of our money, waste of our health
r Discussed the wireless water meters, both the water electric and the gas meters, all of which is made out of plastic and functions on pulsed electromagneticfields allof which is non-recyclable, and has short lived functions on lithium batteries and cobalt, again, last only 5 to 7 years and emits a dangerous radiation to all living all bio biologicalthings, the birds, the bees and the rest of us, too. o The waste that you are wasting is our lives and our money by allowing this kind of policies of wireless devices to be affixed to our houses and now under our streets and sidewalks. r The other thing that needs to be done, the City Council and the public needs to know what has happened to you, Sandi, and your ability to speak out on this issue of wireless water meters and the rest of it. You have been gagged, aPParently.
o lwould appreciate it. Larryif you could make it knowntothe restof uswhatyou'vetold apparently, Sandy, what her position that she can no longer participate and had to give up, ownership of the EMF safety net.
o Please make it public what is Sandy's position is on her ability to speak out on these issues.

Martha commented as follows:
o I'm upset that the meters are going in and I had what I thought and our lawyer thought was a really good idea for avoiding any lawsuits on ADA grounds against the city for not protecting citizens when we have opt outs.
o I would like to keep the cement lids as evidence that the meter is not transmitting. r This would save the city a lot of money and for zero waste concerns. Not just tossing the metal and the cement lids that are in the sidewalk already in the landfill seems more consonant with our city's ethos than if we were to go ahead with what Larry told me today and Dante yesterday, that we must honor some contract to do things that are really not in the best interests of Sebastopol or our citizens or our way of thinking about things in the world, like giving a proclamation of zero waste day. o So for someone who's electrosensitive, I need to know where I can and cannot walk now in the sidewalk, now that the meters are going in, when they are the only reason for the plastic lids which are due to replace all of the cement and metal is so that the antenna, the Orion antenna, e if you want to go look at one, go look at lves pool right by where the kids sit waiting for their parents to pick them up after swim lessons.

Kyle commented as follows:
o So at our last meeting, thankfully, our city decided that they would begin recording and providing to the public recordings of our budget committee, the last of our committees that was not being recorded. o Throughout this it was advertised that our website for our meeting calendar would also be kept up to date with the meeting these with these meetings as well. r But however, that's not the case, there are very important Budget Committee meetings and the following week for both the fire budget, police budget and others. But none of those meetings are currently listed on our website meeting calendar.
o So it would be important to if you want community engagement and you want transparency with the public, that you are providing access to those meetings in a in a in a manner that's accessible instead of somebody havingto hunt around and find an old meeting link orfind an old agenda item in ordertofind the zoom link for these types of things.
o I just want to let the public know that those meetings have been going on and the budget is dire' That yes, it is very much in, in flux. Things are changing. There's decisions getting made along the way, but we're talking about like SZ million in the hole. That's insane compared tothis ongoing in the red forthe last three years, four years that we've seen.
o So I encourage the public to please come and, and participate in the budget meetings that are happening and have your voices be heard.

City staff reported on the Budget Committee schedule.
o I apologize to the public if that's the case, but we will be talking to the person that works for the city whose job it is to make sure that happens'
o Just by a quick glance, a person can go to the city website, click the button that says meetings, and it looks like a previous meetingwas uploaded, butthere is nofuture meetings indicated.

Vice Mayor Rich commented as follows:
r Just to interject, if our assistant city manager could at least provide us with the date and time of the next scheduled Budget Committee meeting
o I'd like to make sure the public is aware that from here on out, the various agendas for each of those meetings will include a posting of a document that lists all of the upcoming meetings.

There are there are steps in the works to make sure that all of those meetings are fully posted. But thank you to the member of the public for making us aware of this part of it. We're trying to do our best in the midst of a changed climate, but it's nice to know the public is keeping an eye on that for us also.

City staff provided the information for the upcoming budget meetings Councilmember Maurer commented as follows:
e I just wanted to respond to something that Linda Berg said o That is that the Fair Political Practices Commission, the FPPC, has determined that I do have a conflict of interest with the subject of EMFs for a period of one year, and that's because of my position with the EMF safety network.
r The year end would be ending January Ls1,2024'
CONSENT CALENDAR: The consent agenda consists of items that are routine in nature and do not require additional discussion by the City Council or have been reviewed bythe City Council previously. These items may be approved by one motion without discussion unless a member of the City Council requests that the item be taken off the consent calendar.

The Mayor will read the consent calendar items; ask if a Councilmember wishes to remove one or more items from the consent calendar; and then open public comment to the members of the public in attendance. At this time, a member of the public may speak for up to three minutes on the entire consent calendar and request at that time that an agenda ltem or items be removed for dlscussion lf an item or items are removed from the consent calendar, the item shall be placed at the end of the regular agenda ltems unless otherwise determined by the Mayor or Mayor Pro Tern.

Councilmembers may comment on Consent Calendar items or ask for minor clarifications without the need for pulling the item for separate consideration. ltems requiring deliberation should be pulled for separate consideration and shall be placed at the end ofthe regular agenda items unless otherwise determlned by the Mayor or Mayor Pro Tem.

Mayor Hinton read the consent calendar.

Mayor Hinton asked if any Councilmember wanted to remove a consent calendar item.

Vice Mayor Rich commented as follows:
o I had a question that I'm hoping can just be answered without pulling the item' r it's regarding item number three. lf I could just from staff confirm that any costs that might be associated with ethics training for our citizen appointees to our committees and commissions would be covered by the city?
City staff commented as follows:
o There is free training that we will be utilizing through CIRA, which is our Joint Powers Agency for insu rance
r We would be sending that information to the Boards and Commissions and Committees. lt's a free course. They just log in, create an account and do their ethics training. There would be no cost.

Vice Mayor Rich commented and would and the ethics training would be the same ethics training that we as City Council members are required to.

City staff stated that is correct, it is the same training as required by the City Council Planning Commission and anyone in the conflict of interest code currently.

Mayor Hinton opened for public comment on consent calendar items only. a
Kyle commented as follows:

. So, in particular regarding the human resources contract, I've been a long time critic of the way that our city uses contract services rather than hiring employees' r Discussed the lack of institutional knowledge, the high turnover like we're seeing on this item. . lt says that has notified the city that the agreement between us and the city will be terminated on March 10th. However, what's not noticed is or was not mentioned is when did actually notify the city. So how much notice was given? What would the workload currently consist of if we chose not to go with a new contractor?
o Remember, we're about 52 million in debt.
r The agenda item references in itsgoalsthefollowinggoals. Six Maintain a highlyqualified staff thatworks to provide services to serve and protect the residents, visitors and business of this community. And then as well. Action five Practice an open door policy and city programs and actively engage and encourage participation from all individuals regardless of ethnicity, race, religion, class, disability, sexualorientation and gender.
o However, in the list of services that are being contracted is absent the professional development work that would help maintain a highly qualified staff, nor the regular employee training that would encourage a diverse employee poolwhere such professionaldevelopment and training opportunities discussed in either the call for proposals or were there negotiated discussions that actively excluded these important opportunities from being included in the contract?
Linda commented as follows:
o That is interesting ethics when it's applied to our mayor and vice mayor who continue to not take responsibility for bullying and getting rid of our very highly qualified and sought after police chief o I do not know if it is a matter of ethics or stupidity, but it's not the kind of thing that we need to have on the City Council.
o lt's playing out time and time again with I'm sorry to say, both the mayor and the and the vice mayor r We've got this water meter issue which there is not going they're not going to be put in because they don't work.
o At some point here in the relatively near future, the next couple of weeks, probably, they're going to figure it out that they don't work.
o I've been down there multiple times and looked atthe components and they're like pieces of something you'd get out of a cracker Jack box. They are not recyclable. The end point, the antennas and stuff are just not going to work on multiple bases and none of it is recyclable. o lt doesn't take that much effort for any of you City Council persons to go down to the public works and look at the components or talk to Dante about how things are going. Ask for a report, that's what a responsible mayor or vice mayor would do.
o So time and time again, they're wasting money.
. Speaking of money, this is a multi-million the 52.2 million boondoggle. Plus the Sf 'ZSw that's gone to the shyster cowboys that are just pushing this as far as they can. r I hope that you'll take responsibility and start figuring out how to get our money bac and not spend it on stupid, stupid stuff
Mayor Hinton commented as follows:
o Just to address a couple of members of the public, one is, as indicated in the staff report, we made a change with our H.R. contract. My understanding is that was due to hire expenses by the previous contract.
o As pointed out in the staff report, not to exceed 585,000. That's quite a savings. Human Resources (HR) very complicated. I advocated for this position when I first got on council back in 2017, and I continue to

think this is a really important position for our city and not something that we have staff to keep up on and keep up on current laws.

City Manager/Attorney Mclaughlin commented I might add is that the person who's now assuming those duties was the main person who provided the advice earlier with the previous Human Resources (HR) consultant.

Mayor Hinton commented as follows:
o lt does look Iike we put out request for proposals and reviewed. o Currently to address a member of the public. I think I heard the word bullying by myself and the vice Mayor, ethics training and some notation about a previous involvement by us in our previous police chief deciding to go to work for another job in Rohnert Park' o I can assure the public that the vice mayor and I have, she has noted publicly, and I will continue to note that we had nothing to do with our previous police chief leaving to go to work for another city. That was his choice and we wished him well.
o We are very happy with our new police chief sitting right in this room and I continue to find that kind of speech and barrage on our character not okay in our City o We are the city of Peacetown
Vice Mayor Rich commented there was also a question about training and orientation, and it might be worthwhile to get confirmation from our city administration that training and orientation for employees is handled by each department that is happening'
City staff commented that is correct. Each department maintains their own training and does mentorship and advocacy for training for their employees.

MOTION:

Councilmember Zollman moved and Vice Mayor Rich seconded the motion to approve Consent Calendar ltems 1, 2,3,4,5, and 6.

Mayor Hinton called for a roll callvote. City staff conducted a roll callvote.

VOTE:

Ayes:

Noes:

Absent:

Abstain
Councilmembers Maurer,Zollman, Vice Mayor Rich and Mayor Hinton None
Councilmember Mclewis
None
1,. Approval of City Council Special Meeting Minutes Closed Session for Meeting of March 6,2023 (Responsible Department: City Ad ministration)
City CouncilAction: Approved City Councilspecial Meeting Minutes Closed Session for Meeting of March 6,2023 Minute Order Number: 2023-071'

2. Approval of City Council Meeting Minutes for Meeting of March 7 ,2023 (Responsible Department: City Administration)
City Council Action: Approved City Council Meeting Minutes for Meeting of March 7,2023 Minute Order Number: 2023-072

3. Resolution for AB 1234 Reporting Requirements Adopting lmplementation of Measures for NonCompliance with AB 1-234 Ethics Training. This policy will formalize an Ethics policy for those required per Government Code, City's Conflict of lnterest Code, as well as Require City's Committees that are not listed in the City's Conflict of lnterest Code to Take Ethics Training; and approve that language be included in all Commission, Board, and Committee applications "A person holding a position on a Commission, Board or

Committee must obtain formal AB !234 Ethics Training within 30 days of appointment and bi-annually thereafter" so that applicants are aware of the requirement during the application process. (Responsible Department: City Ad ministration)
City Council Action: Resolution for AB 1234 Reporting Requirements Adopting lmplementation of Measures for Non-Compliance with AB 1234 Ethics Training. This policy will formalize an Ethics policy for those required per Government Code, City's Conflict of lnterest Code, as well as Require City's Committees that are not listed in the City's Conflict of lnterest Code to Take Ethics Training; and approve that language be included in all Commission, Board, and Committee applications "A person holding a position on a Commission, Board orCommittee must obtain formal AB 1234 Ethics Training within 30 days of appointment and bi-annually thereafter" so that applicants are aware of the requirement during the application process' Minute Order Number: 2023-073
Resolution Number: 6520-2023

4. Approval of Letter of Support from the City Council to the Sonoma County Library Commission for Advocacy of Library Positions by use of surplus Measure Y Funds. (Requestor: Councilmember Zollmanl Council's Liaison to the LibrarY)
City Council Action: Approval of Letter of Support from the City Council to the Sonoma County Library Commission for Advocacy of Library Positions by use of surplus Measure Y Funds' Minute Order Number: 2023-014

5. Approval of Contract to Muchmore than Consulting, LLC (MTC) For Human Resources PersonnelServices ( Responsi ble Depa rtment: Ad m i n istrative Services Di rector) city councilAction: Approval of contract to Muchmore than consulting, LLC (MTC) For Human Resources Personnel Services
Minute Order Number: 2023-075

6. Approval of a Resolution Authorizing staff to submit a Grant Application to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) for a Priority Development Area (PDA) Grant for Workforce Housing Overlay/F lex Zoning project ( Responsi ble De pa rtment: Pla n ni ng) CityCouncilAction: Approvalof ResolutionAuthorizingstaffiosubrrriiaGrantApplicationtotheMetropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) for a Priority Development Area (PDA) Grant for Workforce Housing Overlay/F lex Zoning project
Minute Order Number: 2023-076
Resolution Number: 652I-2023
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/PRESENTATIONS: NONE
PUBLIC HEARING(s):
7 . Consideration of an application for zoning ordinance amendment request from the applicant 421- Group on behalf of Regen West, an existing cannabis manufacturing business located on Morris Street, to amend the City of Sebastopol's Cannabis Ordinance to allow "Cannabis Retail Delivery" within the lndustrial (M) districts of Sebastopolas a permitted use where it is currently not allowed. The amendment will update the Cannabis Ordinance Section 17.360 to include the changes recommended by staff and the Planning Commission on this item and Finding This ltem is Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b) (3) (Responsible Department: Planning) Associate plannerJohn Jay presented the agenda item recommending the City Council Consider an application for zoning ordinance amendment request from the applicant 42LGroup on behalf of Regen West, an existing cannabis manufacturing business located on Morris Street, to amend the City of Sebastopol's Cannabis Ordinance to allow "Cannabis Retail Delivery" within the lndustrial (M) districts of Sebastopolas a permitted use where it is currently not allowed. The amendment will update the Cannabis Ordinance Section 17.360 to include the changes

recommended by staff and the Planning Commission on this item and Finding This ltem is Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b) (3).

Mayor Hinton called for a break al6:44 pm and reconvened the meeting at 6:49 pm' Mayor Hinton asked Councilfor questions.

Vice Mayor Rich commented as follows:
o Thank you for the presentation and for your patience through that unpredictable series of events. . My questions are related to a couple of items. First. Can you help us understand how many cannabis manufacturing facilities do we currently have in the city of sebastopol? Director Svanstrom commented we have somewhere between 6 to 8, probably more around six. We have a couple of licenses that we have issued, but I don't believe they've actually built out and started manufacturing yet.

Vice Mayor Rich commented do we have any limitation on the total number of licenses that we could issue for manufacturing of cannabis?
Director Svanstrom commented as follows:
o We do not have a limit on that, although if there were an issue through the there is in our cannabis ordinance, there are criteria related to overconcentration. o So if we felt that way at a staff level, we would direct that to the Planning Commission for further review. o That is allowed for our regular manufacturing permits as well. o I will note that our manufacturing zone what part of town and which properties we're talking about (Morris Street, that does include the public works building, a vacant parcel along Abbott Avenue, there is a cannabis manufacturing in there, but that is the limit of our industrial zoning in townr This zoning amendment is restricted to that in manufacturing is restricted to the industrial zones. o We do not allow them in the commercial zones.

Vice Mayor Rich commented can you enlarge a bit on the concentration piece? My impression is that the Planning Department has discretion to deny additional manufacturing licenses if there's some sort of concentration factor that's met.

Director Svanstrom commented as follows:
o That is correct
o We don't have any specific requirements'
o lt is part of the kind of the overall sense of things' o I know when recreational cannabis was first legalized, there was a lot of concern in especially cities that had a large amount of warehousing in terms of potentially potential cannabis businesses pushing out other manufacturers because they would be able to and in some cases they were able to pay a lot more per square foot for leases'
r So there was a lot of I think some cities did see a lot of that. Sebastopol has not seen that' r Like I said, we have I think it's four buildings where we do have cannabis manufacturing amongst all the various buildings in our industrialzones.
r There certainly is a balance to be made there. I don't think that we're at that at this point.

What we're seeing in the cannabis industry and I think the applicant can probably speak to this better than I can, is that there if you've read the news, the press Democrat, there has been a lot of economic pressures on legal manufacturers with the legalization and the various tax structures.

This application was brought forth by the applicant to try to prop up and support their existing businesses and help them get some additional revenues.

So obviously this would support the existing businesses. lt would also potentially generate additional sales tax revenue because the local sales tax measure from the city would be collected if for any deliveries within town made deliveries outside of town are subject to. We would be able to collect if they were able to do the.

Vice Mayor Rich commented as follows:
o Questioned if the buffer rules that would apply this retail. o lt sounds like the recommendation is that those buffer rules, for instance, that protect specific school zones would not apply in the manufacturing area, would not apply to this addition that's being proposed tonight.
r Do we have any if those buffer zones were if those buffer rules were applicable, would it prevent any of our current manufacturing facilities from taking advantage of this ability to deliver? Director Svanstrom commented as follows:
o Displayed the map
o Discussed the manufacturing zone and Analy High Schooland would be an impact o Discussed Johnson Street. Those are not cannabis manufacturing. ln fact, there's not at this point. lf they were to develop, obviously that would be an issue since they're right across from the school. o lf there is a business, I believe in 400 Morris Street or 380 or 4OO, which could potentially be impacted.

They are within 600 ft as the crow flies, but not as one would walk, because of the fencing and whatnot at the rear ProPertY line.
r lf you visit our cannabis businesses on a fairly regular basis, they don't have cannabis in their title' o They're more like office buildings or places that you're not actually going to walk into a retail at all' They're kind of closed businesses, just like most of the industrial businesses are in that zone' Vice Mayor Rich commented as follows:
o This is a final questions
o lf you or law enforcement in the room or someone could confirm, could respond to the question about whether there have been any concerns about the cannabis manufacturing facilities that we have on Morris that we should be aware of any concerns about students interactions o Anything that would cause us hesitation about expanding their use through this retail delivery suggestion Chief Nelson commented from law enforcement's perspective in the City of Sebastopol, I'm not aware of any issues that have arisen with the manufacturing industry that we have here in town, and I have no concerns regarding the modification of the city ordinance'
Director Svanstrom commented as follows:
r I would concur with that.
o When we do visit, there are card key entries and I will say they are not large. r I believe some had tours for council members a couple of years ago' o Our manufacturers are nowhere near on that scale. They are literally about four people or so max in the building and region less can probably talk to how many folks they have at one time, but they're much O
a
a

smaller operations. They're more of the craft side of things, if you will. lt's not like someone's going to get lost. lf someone happened to enter the building, they would be noticed immediately.

Mayor Hinton commented as follows:
r I'm going to launch into my questions'
r since I've been elected, obviously, we helped craft this ordinance. o Kari can you refresh our memory why was delivery not allowed in the district in the first place Director Svanstrom commented as follows:
r I was not here when it was originally crafted.
o I do know Linda Kelly may be able to speak to this actually on the Planning commission' r But I do know that the planning commission and reviewing delivery only permits because they did review one a couple years ago, which they denied because it was in a commercial zone, but adjacent to residential on three sides.
o The commission at that time was discussing, well, why this is basically delivery and logistics. r Why would this not be allowed in a manufacturing zone? I suspect delivery only was anticipated that it would kind of function with retail or have a retail kind of feelto it. o But the delivery as we've seen with delivery only with the pandemic and a lot of other delivery services popping up, it really doesn't have any sort of storefront mechanism to it. o Even the existing cannabis retail stores that we have, their delivery operations are kind of segregated off in a separate part of their building as they're as they're doing that. e So I think that's the only thing I can think of is they maybe thought it was going to be more retail focused Mayor Hinton commented as follows:
r I do actually remember some of that discussion'
r Vice mayor asked about buffers to schools'
o Just to refresh. So there's 6 to 8 manufacturing. You said if there were basically an overrun or is manufacturing now an administrative does it even go to the planning commission or do they just come into city hall, do their applications and the planning department can approve those? o I'm just wondering who decides what overconcentration is.

Director Svanstrom commented as follows:
o Overconcentration is determined. Would be determined by the Planning department. r For a manufacturing permit that doesn't include the retail component, which obviously it can't because it's not allowed in the zone. But manufacturing permits are up to a certain size. I think it's 5000 SF are permitted by the planning Department through an administrative permit. That said, we routed out to all of the city departments, including city management, police, fire and building, so that we do have other department heads looking at the applications. But that would be determined by the planning Department.

Mayor Hinton commented so the retail and the delivery were in our ordinance originally and that was set. But the planning Department has always just done administrative review for the manufacturing and the industrial' Director Svanstrom commented I believe that was an effort by the city to normalize cannabis businesses as a rightful kind of industry in the manufacturing zone.

Mayor Hiton commented as follows:

. I saw on the staff report that it said their hours of operation were discussed and they kind of deferred like their state hours of oPeration.
o So we don't see a reason to set them.
o But it never mentioned what the state's hours of operation are. r So for delivery business, what would be the hours of operation for these businesses? Because there will be cars, Right? Going back and forth delivering.
r I'd like to know what the hours are and so we can determine whether we really should relook at that in our ordinance here.

Associate Planner Jay commented I don't remember the exact hours.

Mayor Hinton commented as follows:
o Can I assume because I don't know how cannabis is being paid for these days, but we've obviously seen in the newspaper about hits on other areas of the county.
o There was a lot of discussion when we originally talked about approving cannabis retail and delivery services, about large amounts of cash. Of course, everybody has Venmo these days. o lsthat large cash an issue still in these businesses? I'm curious aboutthat because I rememberthat discussion when we originally approved our cannabis delivery, there was a lot of people talking about that issue
Director Svanstrom commented as follows:
r Stated that was certainly an issue especially at the beginning, a concern. o I do know from some of the site visits we've done that debit cards are very often used so that it is cash less.
r I will defer in terms of the current technologies to the applicant, lhe 421' Group because I know they will know even more so potentially what the what the split between a cash versus a electronic payment and how in particular this this applicant intends to set that up. . They may they may have information on that.

The applicant commented as follows:
r I do not represent 421 Group
. I actually work for the Resourcery which is region West. o I'm the president. My name is Mitcho Thompson.
r Discussed cash and stated this was actually more towards dispensaries and actually more towards back in the day when we couldn't get bank accounts.
r We actually have a bank account here in town, so we not going to rely on cash. o We can use cards and things like that or checks and things.

Mayor Hinton commented as follows:
. I appreciate that. I just wanted to clarify that.
o When we discuss delivery business before and the sales tax implications to our city do you have an estimated split? Because this zone is really close to Highway 12 o I would think that it could be viewed as competition to our retailers right in town. o ls there any estimates from a projection about what sales tax revenue, 50% maybe, or anything and maybe the applicant has an idea'

He obviously probably has a business plan because sales tax revenue, as we've heard earlier, is very important to the city.

Those are the types of businesses that that for sure we want to encourage. So I'm just kind of curious about that as well.

Director Svanstrom commented as follows:
r I'm not sure on the split. I do know that the manufacturers that have spoken either at the Planning Commlssion, either as the applicant or a couple of the other businesses, I believe they're here tonight and they can probably speak to it. They are smaller craft and the limits businesses, so they're not going to be stocking, you know, what can of craft or some of the Iarger folks in Santa Rosa would be stocking or what our retail stores would be stopping stocking in that kind of a way. They've described it as they would be able to do that through this. But they the intent is more that they can selltheir products and the products from some of the localfarmers. So it would be a more limited basis of that. That said, what the split would be between within the city versus not in the city. I'm not sure. There's a lot of land in West County and obviously Sebastopol is a lot closer to West County than Santa Rosa's in terms of.

Mayor Hinton questioned if the applicant was on the meeting.

Director Svanstrom commented they are here. We have Andrew and Craig f rom 42L Group, Mitcho from the Resourcery Region West.

The applicant commented as follows:
o Discussed tax and what percentage is estimated that would be in town buyers versus out of town buyers for
o I don't really know yet because this is kind of a new territory. o But it willtellyou that if we don't have this ability, other cities do. Othertowns do have that ability. o So the local tax will go to their towns.
o So if we get to do this and keep the money local, that'd be great.

Mayor Hinton commented the City has three delivery permits now The applicant commented as follows:
o Stated we do but they are they're tied to dispensaries and we're more we're smaller. o We deal with as was said, small farms.
r The delivery permits that these delivery permits other towns are granting them as well. Santa Rosa can just drive down the highway. And so if we have this ability again, we can keep thattax local.

Chief Nelson commented as follows:
o From the. Cannabis ca.gov, which is the state website regarding the cannabis industry. r Regarding the hours, it says retailers can sell cannabis goods between 6 a.m. and L0 p.m.. o Delivery drivers must return to the retail premises no laterthan 10 p.m. and cities or counties can set more restrictive hours.

Mayor Hinton opened the public hearing
Jacob commented as follows:
o So I've been working in this industry for many years
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a I've also been a local member of Sebastopol for the past ten years, and I really wanted to make a point that local manufacturers in Sebastopol really need to have some sort of delivery method. We have to remember that not everyone has the same access to these services. A delivery service would be so beneficialfor all these locals. Delivery services are already happening in other towns such as Santa Rosa, as Mitchell mentioned, which is why now is the time we should push to keep delivery local. Just like manufacturing and other industries such as wine, meats, solar panels, etcetera. Us locals require access to these products. Allthe local manufacturers shouldn't be treated any differently. By allowing these delivery services, we can help local businesses stay afloat and support our local economy.

Omar commented as follows:
. My name is Omar Figueroa. l'm a local.
o Resident.
o A parent, home owner, small business owner, job creator. r l'm doing this voluntarily.
o I don't represent anybody who is an applicant or who would benefit. o I don't have a dog in this fight. I'm just a local resident. e I'm here to ask you to please permit all licensed Sebastopol cannabis manufacturers and distributors the ability to add delivery to their allowed uses in industrial zones. o The economy and the supply chain are being strained and this addition will help significantly. o On top of this, the cannabis industry is in turmoiland any supportyou can give our local businessesto diversify their revenue streams is good for our local economy and helps these local businesses survive. r I urge you to expedite this process to help our local cannabis businesses succeed.

Mitcho Thompson commented as follows:
. My name is MitchoThompson and I'm the president of the sorcery and we are the applicant. We're right down the street.
r lf you have notseen ourspace, Iwould be delighted togiveyou a tour. o Most of the points are being made about the fairness of this other industries and as we talk about working towards becoming a legitimate industry, which we are, we're way different than when things started here in SebastoPol.
. I just want to say thank you though, and I hope that you guys move forward with this and would be very helpfulto a lot of us.
o We are the industry is changing right now and it's interesting climate and we want to be here for a while Yarrow commented as follows:
r First of all, I'm in favor of letting cannabis manufacturers and distributors that are venues in Sebastopolto allow delivery with their industrial uses.
o The way I look at this is an industrial business would be allowed to deliver to its customers. There is no transaction that s happening on site. And so I think that allowing this use is consistent with the those Zonings.
r The other thing I think, and this I think is the most important thing' o Deliveries are occurring in Sebastopol anyway. No city can stop that. o The only question is whether we're going to empower local businesses to do that, that have already stood up the cost and burdensome regulation to be able to have a regulated cannabis business. o Currently, those delivery services are coming from other towns into our town. o I don't think the question is how much business are our brick and mortar dispensaries going to lose because they've already lost that business to the delivery services that are coming into our town that are

providing a convenience and a service to residents who don't feel like either a going to a brick and mortar dealing with traffic or maybe they don't want to be seen as cannabis users publicly.

I had my kids say I saw the principal at soulful and like, Hey, I'm happy the principal uses cannabis, but I can understand that some people are in positions of prominence where delivery is a more discreet way for them to get their legal cannabis.

I just am really encouraging you guys to allow some flexibility around the.way in which these businesses operate during this uncertain time and to understand that delivery is happening and this is a way for Sebastopol to get a bigger benefit as well as reduce the carbon footprint. lf the only way I can get delivery cannabis currently is to have a vehicle schlep from either Cotati or Santa Rosa or petaluma and come into town, there's more wear and tear on our roads, which are pretty bad for a county in northern California as well as the carbon'
Kyle commented as follows:
o I don't want to deter too off track here, but l'm just thinking about the timeline of what this business has experienced.
o l,m seeing a planning commission report from November 2022.1'm seeing that here it is now in March. So we're talking about a five month long process for a business to not yet even be established within our city at a time in which our budget is in shambles.
r Our revenue generation is shot'
o I'm hoping that we can use this as an example of recognizing that we as a city should be looking at ways and simplifying and expediting the process for our local businesses to get established across all industries, not just cannabis.
r I understand the complexities regarding cannabis, but that I've in the last few months spoke to multiple soon to be business owners because they're not quite established yetthat are in the somewhere in the process within the citY.
o That a reoccurring theme is that the city is very slow in its process of permit issuance, going through all the steps and hoops that they have to jump through in order to become established. o So let's take this as an opportunity of recognizing that we need to make some changes regarding this particular issuance.
o I'm a little concerned in particular about concealed carry, and maybe this is a moot point now because the good cause, because of the Supreme Court ruling in NewYork Rifle and PistolAssociation versus Brewing, which required an applicant to establish good cause, r Maybe that's out the door now, but I am concerned about the about if we are increasing the amount of concealed carry licenses that we would have in our city as a result of increased delivery of cannabis.

Zach commented as follows:
. My name isZach Guerinoni. lam one of the manufacturers here in Sebastopol. o As many of the previous commenters have said, the industry is in quite a flux right now. o This option of adding delivery to our existing businesses is it's a method for us to stay afloat. lt's a way for us to reach direct to consumer with the constraints that are happening in the supply chain right now. o lt's very difficult as a cultivator manufacturer to survive because we require a third party distributor that essentially holds all of our finances in their hands.
o Much of the industry is based on a consignment modelthat really requires us atthe manufacturing and cultivation level to wait for all of the work to be done by our partners down the supply chain and hopes that revenue comes back to us.
r Allowing us the ability to deliver will allow us the ability to reach our customers to directly have a better control over our supply chain and our finances and hopefully allow us to survive the next year so that we a
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can be productive members of the community because it's been it's been tough to tough to be here and we're just hoping to survive.

Linda commented as follows:
o Thanked Mitcho for support and sponsoring TikTok Tuesday for over four years which was a, of support and advocacy group
o We were trying to save lives
r lt occurs to me that more cannabis is just what we need because Council policies are making us sicker and sicker with exposure to wireless radiation assault
r We are a growing number of people that have cancer.
r AS A matter of fact, afull5% of Sonoma County's Population is newly diagnosed with cancer every year' We can thank our City Council for the proliferation of wireless devices, water meters and so forth o For people like myself who are computer free and cell phone and we're being cooked alive, can you tell me exactly what the location is there near Morris Street o I'm way interested in knowing what the industrial area is. ls the Barlow lndustrial? ls the Barlow an industrialarea.
r So if you could answer those questions, I would appreciate it.

Hearing no further comments, Mayor Hinton closed the public hearing.

Mayor Hinton responded to public comment as follows:

Address of the applicant: 115 Morris Street
Manufacturing M Around Morris Street By Barlow and not in Barlow So as the map was shown earlier, as part of our presentation, there's also a property over kind of behind the feed store where I believe there's a tow truck and a welding company. So for the member of the public that asked those questions.
uncil n or Deliberat
There were no further comments
MOTION:

Councilmember Zollman moved and Vice Mayor Rich seconded the motion to approve application for zoning ordinance amendment request from the applicant 42IGroup on behalf of Regen West, an existing cannabis manufacturing business located on Morris Street, to amend the City of Sebastopol's Cannabis Ordinance to allow "Cannabis Retail Delivery" within the lndustrial (M) districts of Sebastopol as a permitted use where it is currently not allowed. The amendment will update the Cannabis Ordinance Section 17.360 to include the changes recommended by staff and the Planning Commission on this item and Finding This ltem is Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b) (3)' As amended:
(4) permitted with an administrative permit when such uses are co-located with manufacturing use and comply withcriterialistedinSection tT.360.OT5.Retailerdeliveryonlyusesthatarenotcolocatedwithamanufacturing use are subject to Section 17.360'100.

DISC ON
Mayor Hinton commented as follows:
o I have a few things that I'd like to note

. One is I've noted that the city of Santa Rosa does not go along with state sponsored times and instead has a 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. delivery window.
r I'm interested in possibly setting a delivery window that seems reasonable nine, eight or something, such as not leaving it necessarily up to the State to determine our ordinances for our delivery. o I'm interested in tying the first recommendation from the Planning Commission was to tie the delivery to our current manufacturing businesses and not allow an unlimited amount of delivery. o I'm interested in in discussing that.
r l,ve never liked to just put no number on anything and I would be open since we have a delivery permit that isn't part of zone, I don't see why it wouldn't be. We could have a delivery alone that's not being utilized by someone.
r Maybe we could add even a couple of deliveries that aren't tied to manufacturing. But I'm not comfortable with the unlimited that's that came up kind of as a second recommendation, I think, from the Planning CommisSion.
o I wanted to discuss that as well.
o I do note that City of Cotati, which we're compared to frequently, has a cap of seven manufacturing, and I don't know what their cap is on delivery or whether those are tied to the manufacturing, but generally there is some sort of number and it just seems like this ordinance is kind of wide open o Sales tax for delivery, we wouldn't be getting tOO% of that because they're going to be driving Santa Rosa, which is fine. I want to support our cannabis businesses and our partners, but l'm a little uncomfortable with no delivery and leaving the hours loosey goosey.
o I would also recommend that we open up that one delivery only and maybe add a couple to it and include the zone.
o Is there any way to incorporate some of these things
r Are my colleagues inclined to discuss that or are we moving forward.

Mayor Hinton commented as follows:
o Well, it matches Santa Rosa, and I haven't done a large amount of research, but it does appear that other cities have put some of these little nuances in there.
o I'm interested in Sebastopol putting some nuances in before we pass just a' o I think the questions were the hourly limitation. And then should there be a max on the number of manufacturing licenses that also allow retail delivery? o Then also how many retail only we might want to do delivery only or delivery only. We already have one.

But my understanding is lt's not good in the M section, if I understand that.

Vice Mayor Rich commented as follows:
e I'm happy to discuss those suggestions'
o I would really appreciate hearing from Mitcho Thompson on the two suggestions that you've made, the one being the 9 to t hourly limitation, which actually within our little town does make some sense to me.

Director Svanstrom commented as follows:
o For a standalone delivery license?, you are correct. We have three in town. o Two have been issued to the existing retail.
o So one is remaining and has been for about five years and it has not been issued o The way this ordinance is written is that it would be allowed in the manufacturing zone, subject to use permit approval by the Planning Commission.

Mayor Hinton commented we have one that now we're expanding it and it could be in the manufacturing zone for delivery only.

Director Svanstrom commented as follows
o That is correct
r I might suggest if the question is how many delivery only that is certainly something we could look at such time that our existing permits have been issued.
o At this point, they haven't even been issued'
Mayor Hinton commented we could just keep that one for delivery only that has never been issued in five years' Director Svanstrom stated that is correct and to focus on the manufacturing.

Mayor Hinton commented lthink our remaining questions are an hourly limitation and whetherthere should be a cap on the total number of manufacturing licenses that also permit delivery. Correct. All right. Mitchell Thompson.

The applicant commented as follows:
o I'm just speaking for us at the Resourcery and not for all because we're asking this for all of us. r I'm not going to be there at 630 in the morning. We have regular business hours, and so maybe a 9 a'm' would be appropriate and maybe to 10 p.m.'
o That seems pretty reasonable and fair to me, but I certainly would not want to be out there early in the morning creating a lot of traffic or anything.
o This is all done not in just automobiles. lt's in like State licensed vans. They're safe. They wouldn't be rolling out a lot but it is going to be going out and making deliveries and coming back.

Vice Mayor Rich commented what about putting a cap on the number of licenses? The applicant commented as follows:
o I think it would be putting a cap on the number of manufacturing companies, and there's only so much room, so I don't really know.
. Again, might not be the person to speak to that because I keep thinking, if they're legitimate, why not? But at the same time, how many can we fit in there? So there's only a certain amount of room where manufacturing is permitted. That would come from the Planning Commission first o lt would go there and they would be able to determine that.

Mayor Hinton commented right now it's just under an administrative review. So right now it's being determined in our planning department and question what were their thoughts.

Director Svanstrom commented are we talking about limiting the number of manufacturing or limiting the number of delivery only that that the manufacturing businesses can have? Mayor Hinton commented as follows:
r What l'm suggesting is every manufacturer should have the ability to deliver. o But I'm curious where right now, it's only requires administrative review so it doesn't go to the planning commission unless you raise it to the Planning commission level. o I'm asking you, what do you think is an appropriate number?

a When would you bring it to the Planning Commission?
Director Svanstrom commented as follows:
o I believe it is six operating right now.
o lt's hard to tell because there are some manufacturers that are literally 400 SF operations. e ls that the same as a whole building and you could have one business with four buildings. o lt's not as simple as a number. lt is about the proportion of industrialspace and making sure that our other manufacturing uses aren't being pushed out.
o lt is a little bit difficult for me to answer. I do know that one of the businesses was very vocalwhen we had the encampment of RVs down on Morris Street who on 400 Morris Street. I had a lot of conversations with him due to his vacancies that he had in that structure and one of their the smaller cannabis businesses in there actually expanded to have some additional space. r ln some ways economically that's actually helping him out as a business owner or as a property owner o So I'd hate to say let's put a limit on it and then have a lot of industrial space sitting vacant. We have a vacant parcel on Abbot Street that's never been developed yet.

Mayor Hinton commented as follows:
. l'm not as concerned about the number as I am tying, I think the delivery to the manufacturing busi nesses.
. Then as you point out that our this current proposal does open up that delivery single delivery permit to the manufacturing zones, which we have not even had an applicant for in the last five years. r I would feel if somebody's going to invest in a manufacturing business, then to give them a delivery permit to enhance their business makes complete sense to me.

Vice Mayor Rich commented as follows:
. Could we ask Chief Nelson to respond to the question about timing? . ls there any advantage to going 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. versus, for instance, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.? . Can we ask about the comment regarding armed concealed carry issues with these with delivery people
. Do they carry guns in the car?
Chief Nelson commented as follows:
r I'm not aware of any delivery drivers that have CCW permits. o I can address concealed carry permits within the City of Sebastopol. o Our department has no issued concealed carry permits and it would be extraordinary and some really unique circumstances for me to even consider issuing one. I generally refer them to the sheriff. So it's not something I want to actively engage in.
o ln regards to the hours, it does make 9 a.m. at the earliest start time does make a lot of sense to me because of traffic concerns, because of kids going to school. They have a late start now at B3O' Not that kids are going to be ordering up and expecting a delivery, but there is pedestrian traffic out on many of our streets and we want to avoid conflict with that.
o Asfar as the 10 p.m. versus 9 p.m., I don't have a Iot of heartburn eitherway. lthinkthere's a lot of businesses that stay open until 10 p.m.
r l'd be more concerned if State law doesn't allow it. lf our State allowed it to be midnight or 2 a.m. coinciding with bar closing and things like that, that would cause me more concern. But on the on the nighttime hours, I have less concern than I do in the early morning hours.

Vice Mayor Rich commented you would feel comfortable with a 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and we would just include that in our ordinance
Chief Nelson stated I am comfortable with that.

Vice Mayor Rich commented as follows:
r l'd be happy to agree to that hours change.
r Just to add some general comments, the opportunity to support our local businesses and the cannabis businesses, especially the small businesses that we have in town, I think that's excellent. o I also want to compliment the commenter who made the observation that is really very compelling, which is that there are deliveries happening here in Sebastopol. We just aren't getting any percentage of we're just not maximizing the percentage of the sales tax that we might receive. r lthink all in all, it's a wonderful move and a wonderful proposaland really appreciate the Planning Commission taking allthe effort and the applicant making allthe effort to expand these opportunities for our businesses.

Mayor Hinton commented before we modify, would that also because I'm trying to read where it says about that if we do delivery tied to the manufacturing versus an unlimited proposal, I saw kind of both in the PowerPoint. So I'm not sure where it saYs that.

Vice Mayor Rich commented my understanding was that the proposal is that the ability to make these deliveries be made available to those who have manufacturing licenses. ls that correct? Director Svanstrom commented as follows:
o That is correct
r What this table the change in the table allows this P/C4 is what we're looking to change it to, which is permitted with an administrative permit when uses are co-located with manufacturing and comply with the criteria listed.
o And those are the criteria that it's no more lhan 20% of the space or 500 SF, those types of things that John went over, that's the Permit.
o Delivery Retail delivery only uses that are not co-located with a manufacturing use are subject to section 17 three 60.1OO, and that is the requirement for that. They would have to go through the Planning Commission for that one remaining delivery only permit' Councilmember Maurer commented I just want clarity on the change of the time. Are we saying from 9:00 until 10 p.m., is that the change
Mayor Hinton stated that is correct
MOTION:

CouncilmemberZollman amended his motion and Vice Mayor Rich seconded the amended motion to approve application for zoning ordinance amendment requestfrom the applicant 421.Group on behalf of Regen West, an existing cannabis manufacturing business located on Morris Street, to amend the City of Sebastopol's Cannabis Ordinance to allow "Cannabis Retail Delivery" within the lndustrial (M)districts of Sebastopolas a permitted use where it is currently not allowed. The amendment will update the Cannabis Ordinance Section 17.360 to include the changes recommended by staff and the Planning Commission on this item and FindingThis ltem is Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b) (3). As amended:

(4) permitted with an administrative permit when such uses are co-located with manufacturing use and comply with criteria listed in Section 17.360.075. Retailerdelivery only usesthat are not co located with a manufacturing use are subject to Section 17.360.1-00.

Hou rs 9amto10pm
Mayor Hinton called for a roll callvote. City staff conducted a roll callvote.

VOTE:

Ayes:

Noes:

Absent:

Abstain
Councilmembers Maurer,Tollman, Vice Mayor Rich and Mayor Hinton None
Councilmember Mclewis
None
City Council Action: approve application for zoning ordinance amendment request from the applicant 421" Group on behalf of Regen West, an existing cannabis manufacturing business located on Morris Street, to amend the City of Sebastopol's Cannabis Ordinance to allow "Cannabis Retail Delivery" within the Industrial (M)districts of Sebastopol as a permitted use where it is currently not allowed. The amendment will update the Cannabis Ordinance Section 17.360 to include the changes recommended by staff and the Planning Commission on this item and Finding This ltem is Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b) (3). As amended:
(4) permitted with an administrative permitwhen such uses are co-located with manufacturing use and comply wrth crite ria listed in Section 1l .360.075. Retailer delive ry on ly uses that a re not co located with a manufactu ring use are subject to Section 17.360.100.

Hours: 9 am to 10 Pm
Minute Order Number: 2023-077
ordinance Number: 1147 (First Reading and lntroduction) REGULAR CALENDAR AGENDA ITEMS (DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION):
g. Discussion and Consideration of approval of Work Plan for Fire Services as Recommended by the Ad Hoc Fire Committee (Requestor: Ad Hoc Fire Committee/Responsible Department: lnterim Fire Chief) lnterim Fire Chief Jack piccinini presented the agenda item recommendihgthe City Council Discuss and Consider approval of Work Plan for Fire Services as Recommended by the Ad Hoc Fire Committee.

Mayor Hinton asked Council for questions.

Mayor Hinton commented as follows:
o I will just add, as a member of this ad hoc committee, myself and Councilmember Mclewis, we basically did all take notes from that meeting and just simply with the support of our city manager, assistant city manager, um, list all the items and try to cover everything. o We are letting the Council know that both myself and Councilmember Mclewis work during the day, so our lnterim Fire Chief is taking the lead on many items o The lnterim Chief has invited us to attend any meetings that we see fit to join. r We have agreed as kind of a subcommittee team that that he's going to notify us of how those priorities rank for the for the subcommittee so that we can be involved throughout the process but letting him take the lead as the expert in the field. So anyway with that you have seen the work plan as part of the staff report.

Councilmember Zollman commented as follows:
o First thank you for all of the work and thank you to the members of the Ad Hoc Committee. o What I have seen is developing a strategy to address immediate staffing challenges and then under the task, do not see how that staffing increase is going to be. o How they're going to be paid, because that was one of the major concerns that I had had in reading the Matrix report, was the fact that, however, the volunteers, through stipends, have been paid in the past, that's not been in compliance with the FLSA'
r I don't see that being considered as a task to be reported out on. As far as how the interim how the volunteers through stipend program are going to be paid, whether through 1099, whether it was through accounts payable that was recommended by Matrix, because I did see that when we meet on Tuesday through the Budget Committee, there are a whole bunch of added positions that are anticipated to be f illed.
o lt does seem like time is of the essence to be able to get some type of report back on how these volunteer stipends will be Paid.
r I'm hoping that that will be addressed in the progress report to the full Council on May 3rd. lnterim
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Chief Piccinini commented as follows:

So with regard to that, the task there is a task that says provide staffing options and strategies with different options.

Then in the comments section, the report will include the maximum stipends, FLSA issues, whether payments to volunteers can be made through accounts payable, the legality of paying the volunteer prepaying volunteers.

So all of those things that you just referred to, we will be addressing those. ln terms of the urgency there, certainly if one of these items is a matter of urgency, we can bring it back as a separate or independent item, separate from the full report' lf council deems or the ad hoc committee deems that to be necessary or important otherwise, this will be included.

Everything you just asked for will be included in the May update with a final report in June o
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Councilmember Zollman commented as follows:
o I did read it, but apparently didn't read it carefully enough. o Thank you for addressing the whole payment issue.
r Yes I do feel like that is a sense of urgency.
o The fact that, like I said, forthose of us who are serving on the Budget Committee, we have reviewed what's been submitted and will be under consideration on Tuesday's meeting. o lt does look like there are a number of positions that are contemplated being filled. And I don't know what the timing is going to be, but however they're going to be filled, I'm hoping that some decisions can be made about how the payment structure is going to be handled. So I do consider it to be an urgent issue.

City Manager/Attorney Mclaughlin commented as follows:
r I'm just wanted to tell the councilthat we are also examining this question on a legal basis on a separate track and we're working towards that.
o ln fact, this week we have a meeting set up just tomorrow for further legal advice on that subject' o So we have multiple tracks. We have the Budget Committee considering the budget. We have the work of the Ad Hoc Fire Committee, which will consider it, as the chief just indicated and we have a legal review going on as well on a separate but parallel track.

Page21 ol34
Councilmember Zollman commented as a follow up questions when are we going to when will that additional legaladvice be provided toyou and when willthat be available to provided to counsel City Manager/Attorney Mclaughlin commented as follows:
o We're consulting with the attorney tomorrow.
r We were contemplating, I believe, a separate agenda item for that possibly or may be incorporated in this report, as the chief was indicating.

Councilmember Zollman requested the information be presented before the May 3'd status as with the other issues.

Vice Mayor Rich commented as follows:
r Thank you, Chief Piccininifor the presentation'
r Thank you to the Ad Hoc Committee for participating in what looks to be a very organized report that really gives us a sense of what this ad hoc committee will be doing. I appreciate that. o Discussed a typo that is minor, but I think in the section products and deliverables, it was intended to read provide a compact compare and contrast report is that I was trying to figure out what is provide and compact. ls it a term of art? I
o Just want to make sure that given that this was described on the on in the staff report as an item that was not requiring action, are we free to take action? This is a question for our city attorney.

City Manager/Attorney McLaughlin commented as follows:
r lt was clear from all the staff report and the agenda title that action was contemplated in the very title o Don't consider the recommendation line to be affecting that at all. o lt is consideration of approval of the work plan
Vice Mayor Rich commented as follows:
r Just want to make sure procedurally and then the one piece that I didn t see in the mission section is there's a statement.
r The very last one is compare and contrastfinancial implication with different options. lthink a piece that is missing there would be providing a timeline.
o So it's compare and contrast the financial implications with the different options. But I think that timelines that would be involved in the various options, and I think that's probably implied within this. o But I would suggest that that be explicitly stated that we need that. lnterim Chief Piccinini commented as follows:
o There's a task that speaks to that'
o We can easily, with the ad hoc committees agreement, clarify that in the statement Mayor Hinton commented as follows:
o To be frank, of course, these are estimated timelines. e We do believe we can make the progress report to the full council on May 3'd but we have discussed as a committee that we are working as fast as we can and we're all committed to that. But things may change, Vice Mayor Rich commented as follows

. My question is a little different. I see that there's a and I think you understand the question is when we're presented with various options what is the timeline that applies to each of the options? o I understand your reminder here that we're looking at May and June, but things could change o There's a lot of tasks we allget that and I think it s implied within, within the tasks that are listed here. o But we all heard a ton of commentary from the public about a need to have the public engaged in the process.
. I just would like some confirmation. I see that there's a town hall listed, but that there is going to be and I know it's part of your spirit, so I'm and part of your character and intent. But just if you could confirm that there will be engagementwith the public as part of this processthatthe ad hoc committee will be pursuing.
lnterim Chief Piccinini commented as follows:
o This is a proven process that I have used on similar projects. o The nature of the identifying the mission task and end state helps us to identify clearly the stakeholders and when and how they get involved.
o While this is not a report, it is just a framework to help us move forward. o There are a number of tasks where we will bring in groups of, you know, or stakeholder representatives, and that would include members of the public, that would include members of the volunteer firefighters, that would include potentially some other staff members. r We're very, very conscientious about ensuring that we get people involved and we get input from all layers of this this issue.

Vice Mayor commented is I note in the task list, provide the updated Matrix report to council. ls there a is there an expectation that the Matrix report will in some way be modified and resubmitted to us? lnterim Chief piccinnicommented it was and it was I thought it was a part of the council packet. lt was attached to this agenda.

Vice Mayor Rich commented for some reason I thought that this was the Matrix report that had been originally submitted.

Mayor Hinton commented as follows
To just address that we have discovered and review closer review of the Matrix report that some of the statements that were made in that report, as pointed out by the public and others, was accidentally provided by our own city staff to the Matrix consultant team.

We wanted to make clear to the public and make a correction, including taking responsibility where it lies, that some of that information was provided to them.

Then in retrospect, with review by our interim chief and digging in deeperto some stats, we were able to make corrections so that that's we're trying to be fully transparent to the public about why some things were off in that report.

Vice Mayor Rich commented thank you. I appreciate that. So the Matrix report that is attached is an updated version, right? ls there any way for us to identify what the changes were? o
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Mayor Hinton commented I believe they were in the report' Vice Mayor Rich commented my question is whether the updated Matrix report or the staff report in any way gives us an indication of which portions of the report were updated.

City staff commented the corrections are in the report based upon a meeting with the City Manager, lnterim Chief and Matrix.

Vice Mayor Rich commented as follows:
r Don't want to delay our process at all or the action that we need to take tonight. o lwould requestthatwhen the ad hoc returns in Mayorwhenever it is, thatthere be an attachmentthat actually identifies in some way by highlighting or some form so that we and the public know what changes there were between the most recent report on this February 27th update. o Thank you for the update. I really appreciate that effort and appreciate the focus on accuracy' Councilmember Maurer commented as follows:
r One of the requests of the public and their request to hear from Chief Piccinni. o I trust that the town hall that he will be able to speak to the public directly. o There was one item that I had brought to councilthe last time this issue came up, and this was brought from a resident and they asked for the council to look into emergency medical services, cost reimbursement.
o I honestlydon't knowwhatthat is, butthis person seemed very knowledgeable and I'm wondering if we could include that.

Mayor Hinton commented as follows:
o ls there a cost reimbursement I assume they're talking about for medical calls that health insurance or something would reimburse? ls that'
o Emergency medical services, cost reimbursement
Chief piccinini stated we can certainly add that as a task to make sure that gets addressed and is in the final report.

Mayor Hinton opened for public comment.

Oliver commented as follows:
o Nice, very clear work plan.
o Really excellent work.
o I think really important to keep it very simple in my opinion and not be too ambitious with this because there's a lot of moving Parts.
o Just one other point that would be really helpful for the Budget Committee having watched some of the live stream recordings of the past budget meeting discussions. o This is a really clear expectation of what the subcommittee intends to do. r The ad hoc committee, with the fire report, the budget stuff which Councilmember Zollman was kind of concerned about, is very opaque right now.
o I'd like to request that the Budget Committee actually provide some clarity during the next budget meeting next week on, on, on the staffing issues and the pay issues.

Kyle commented as follows:
o I just want to address one of the mission statements that and I think this is this is a fine mission statement, which is to look at updating the fire station specifically for 24 staffing for 24 hour staffing. o However, I just want to make it clear that we do not currently have a 24 over seven staffing model in our fire department, and it is not clear that a24 over seven staffing model is appropriate for the City of Sebastopol in particular.
o lf I reference the report, which would be looking at, say, page 25 of the Matrix report, which is page 30 of the agenda item, which we have time of service.
o Followingthat,if youtakealookonthenextgraphthat'son page26of thereportor3l,youcanseethat it is not necessarily the case that a 24 over seven staffing model would be the most appropriate for the City of Sebastopol, both in a fiscal sense.
o Remember that budget, 52 million in the hole as well as a needs base? o So I would encourage that as we progress forward, that we're not making an assumption that by making the modifications to our fire station to accommodate a 24 over seven, 24 over seven staffing, which should definitely be done, that we are not including this assumption that a2417 staffing model is appropriate for the City of Sebastopol.

Linda commented as follows:
. Very insightful comment as usual, Kyle'
o Pleased to hear from the fire chief.
o I am hopeful that it is leaning towards retaining our independent control of the fire department r I'malsohopefulthatthe townhall meetingwillbeopentoeverybodyandnotjustrepresentativesfrom of the stakeholders
Dorothy commented as follows:
o There are many things that were considered and I'm not sure if I heard just now that you're a that your aim is to decide.
o One of the aims is to decide whether we should have a connection between us and the other fire department or to maintain our independence.
r After hearing everything and considering I think it would be better for us to be independent. o Also who is going to be invited to the Town Hall
Mayor Hinton responded to public comment as follows:
o You see ourwork plan right in the middle, it says hold a town hall meeting. o Basically town hall meetings are generally all members of the public that would like to attend. r The public will have a big chance to learn more and weigh in when we schedule that town hall meeting. e Another member of the public brought up 24 hour possible changes to the firehouse. o While it is part of our mission statement lthink it says specificallystrategiesto address both the short and long term fire station remodel to accommodale 24 hour staffing. o That is one of our tasks to decide what our options are. o So this just this work plan is a work plan that we are going to examine all options and we are going to bring them back to the City Council and the public to weigh in on' r This isn't going to be decided by two people, or our interim fire chief. o lt's going to be decided by our entire city.
o So this is our mission and this is our work plan.

O No decisions have been made.
ncil Dis Deliberati
Councilmember Maurer commented as follows:
. I appreciate what a member of the public just said about the second mission point, which is to provide potential strategies to address the short and long term fire station remodel to accommodate 24 hour staffi ng.
o I think that as far as I know, that the 24 hour has not been established r I'm wondering if the council would be willing to take out to accommodate 24 hour staffing and just insert the word options instead so it would be "provide potential strategies to address the short and long term fire station remodeloptions period", ratherthan to accommodate 24 hourstaffing. And you can still look at accommodating 24 hour staffing, but you're looking at options rather than coming to a conclusion already that it will be a 24 over seven model.
lnterim Chief Piccinini commented as follows:

I think I understand what Council member Meyer is stating in terms of just adding the word options, and we can certainly do that.
lwantto emphasizethe importance of this item though, because it is right out of the Matrix report.

The consultant's report spoke specifically to the issue of the not being able to accommodate 24 hour staffing and if you recall, proposed 16 hour staffing models because of that.

So this is a critical and important mission statement. We've got to do that.

But I do appreciate council members and the public's reference to, well, we haven't gotten there yet.

We can add the word.
lf the ad hoc committee concurs, we could certainly add the word fire station remodel to accommodate 24hour staffing options so that that part is not clear.

But again, it was very clear in the in the Matrix report that this is an issue that does need to be addressed And as I mentioned, those three core those three items are core issues of the fire department and were validated in the consultants report.

Mayor Hinton commented as follows:
r Let me ask aboul24 hour staffing
. My understanding is if we had, I hate to say boys and girls on at in the in the night, my understanding is that we don't have sleeping accommodations or showers
lnterim Chief Piccinini commented as follows:
o Well, again, I don't want to get into the weeds on that answer bit that is what the report is intended is to identify just exactly those kinds of issues.
o What would it take to accommodale 24 hour staffing?
r So there are the short term options in terms of if we were to do something before a significant remodel, there probably are some things that we could do to help accommodate 24 hour staffing, but not on a permanent basis.
o So again, I don't really want to go into the weeds on that, but that's what needs to be addressed o I feel like the consultant's report was clear on that.

Councilmember Zollman commented as follows:
o Now, I am actually more concerned and I do and would second Council member Mauer's comment and the member from the public that might be the fire department's major goal is to get this to 24 hour' a
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But I don't think that that's been definitively proven or shown by any data that's been presented to this cou ncil.

So I am not okay now with leaving lhe 24 hour anywhere in the goal or as a task moving forward.

Councilmember Maurer commented as follows:
r I just wanted to clarify what my point was in terms of the wording changes, and that would be to remove the language of to accommodate 24 hour staffing and instead have the word options so that part of the second point of the mission statement would read provide potential strategies to address the short and long term fire station remodel options period.
o lf you wanted you could also say including to accommodale 24 hour staffing if you wanted. o lt just felt like it was too definitive that that was the direction that the mission was going. o I just didn t think we were there yet.

Vice Mayor Rich commented as follows:
o I am not willing to have anything in this report that bootstraps us into a decision that 24hour staffing is the appropriate model for this firehouse.
. ljoin Sandi Mauer and Steven Zollman in expressing a concern that any mention of 24hour be put in the mission statement and would instead preferthat that wording be removed. r The City Council will be considering all of the options and those options, we hope, will not be limited to 24 hour staffing options.
o We are expecting to see all the options come before us.

Mayor Hinton commented as follows:
r As a member of the subcommittee, I'm wondering if it's acceptable to this council to take it out of there and put the word options and then pul24 hour staffing models under our task list so that we could address the recommendation by the Matrix report and look at it as an option when we bring back our a n a lysis
r I do think it needs to be looked at.
o I've said many times I don't really know where we're going with this. r lt would have a lot to do with, I think, what direction we end up going, whether we're keeping our local model or we're going towards teaming up with somebody else and financial implications, of course. o Would it feel okay to everybody to move it into a task position as an analysis done on 24 seven staffing and then leave this up in the mission statement as options? Vice Mayor Rich commented as follows:
r Don't we have within the task list an item that provides I'm looking at provides staffing options and strategy strategies with different options.
o lt seems like no matter what the hour, whether it's 24 hours or B hours or whatever the staffing is that is being considered, this City Council will need to know how what those are going to look like. o So is there a way to capture that?
. I appreciate what you're suggesting, Mayor Hinton, but I think it does need to be in the task list, but I'm thinking that it isn't just the24 hour option that needs to be in the task list, so maybe you can help us articulate that.
lnterim Chief Piccinini commented as follows:
r So the task list in terms of staffing and again, I'm a little hesitant because I don't want to all of a sudden go down a different rabbit hole butyourfire department staffing is a critical issue right now. a
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Page27 ot34
. You are embarking upon a threshold of not being able to deliver service. o I hesitate to go down that rabbit hole, but you are going to need to improve your staffing model. o So what is what would be in the works in terms of the task is to identify how do we achieve ultimately getting to 24 hour staffing, career staffing that has got to be on the table and it is time to bring that forward.
r So now does that mean it has to be done this year?
r ln terms of the staffing options, there are strategies to phase in and get us to a place where we do have similar to Gold Ridge, similar to Graton.
r At least two career firefighters on duty 24 hours a day. r That's not going to happen this year. I get that.
. My recommendation is that you consider in the mission of provide potential strategies to address short and long term fire station remodel to accommodate 24 hour staffing. r All's we're saying here is we need to come up with a plan to address it at some point in the future' o Former Slayter, when this was presented in May, spoke to the fact that we need to achieve 24 hour staffing, whether we annex with Gold Ridge Fire District, their goal is to provide 24 hour staffing. Our goal is to provide 24hour staffing at some point.

Vice Mayor Rich commented as follows:
o So I have to interrupt because the City Council's goal is to and request out of this ad hoc committee is for the ad hoc committee to come back with a report that lays out these options correct. o l'm feeling Iike this is this is too early, this is too early to be discussing, to be presenting to us. o I am not prepared. I am not well enough informed at this point without the benefits of your report and the ad hoc committee's report to state that the goal of our fire services is 24 hour staffing. o I cannot conclude that because I don'tfeelthat I have the information. lnterim Chief Piccinini commented as follows:
r You will on June 6th
o That's what l'm submitting to you is that on June the 6th, I will provide you with a comprehensive report that will address strategies of improving the volunteer program, strategies of enhancing the stipend program, strategies of taking a step towards career firefighter and strategies of eventually getting to career firefighters on dutY.

Vice Mayor Rich commented as follows:
. I get that we will get a report on June 6th
. I get that that's what we expect.
o I am just not willing to put in a statement or support a conclusion that we will necessarily, as a City Council, be moving toward 24 hour staffing.
o l'm just as one City Council member not prepared to do that' r That's what we're hoping the ad hoc committee will do.

Mayor Hinton commented as follows:
r We've heard it from three City Council members at this point. o I think we need to we need to change that line in the mission statement and move 24hour staffing down along with other models, because the council's also asked for a timeline. r As we know, 24hour staffing wouldn't happen.
o We have to look at what those timelines we would think that would be and what we can afford in our budget as well with all this consideration.

a I feel fine about moving that out of the mission
Councilmember Maurer commented as follows:
r l'm going to restate probably what I said earlier, but the second point of the mission feels too much like it's just going to go towards 24 hours.
o So that's where I'm uncomfortable.
o What I would be willing to say is after remodel the word options and then the word including accommodaling24 hour staffing, that doesn't exclude any other option. o lt just means that we are looking at all options, including a 24 hour staffing model. o That would be okay with me.
o I just didn't want to limit it to the 24 hour staffing model because I know there were other models on the table, so I would be okay with that language if that was agreeable to the.

MOTION
Councilmember Zollman moved and Vice Mayor Rich seconded the motion to approve Work Plan for Fire Services as Recommended by the Ad Hoc Fire Committee and as amended:

Provide potential strategies to address the short and long-term fire station remodel to accommodate ali options, including 24 hour staffing
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Discussion:

Councilmember Maurer commented earlier I had mentioned the item to look into emergency medical costs reimbursements and that I heard that people were in agreement with, adding that I just wanted to make sure it was part of the motion.

MOTION:

Councilmember Zollman amended his motion and Vice Mayor Rich seconded the amended motion to approve Work Plan for Fire Services as Recommended bythe Ad Hoc Fire Committee and as amended:

Three amendments
o Provide potential strategies to address the short and long-term fire station remodel to accommodate all options, including 24 hour staffing
o provide potential strategies to address the short and long term fire station remodel to accommodate all options, including 24hour staffing, compare, contrast financial implications and timelines with different options.
r Look into emergency medical cost reimbursements.

Mayor Hinton called for a roll call vote. City staff conducted a roll callvote.

VOTE:

Ayes: Councilmembers Maurer,Zollman, Vice Mayor Rich and Mayor Hinton Noes: None

Absent: Councilmember McLewis
Abstain: None
City CouncilAction: Approved Work Plan for Fire Services as Recommended by the Ad Hoc Fire Committee and as amended:

Three amendments

. Provide potential strategies to address the short and long-term fire station remodelto accommodate all options, including 24 hour staffing
r provide potential strategies to address the short and long term fire station remodelto accommodate all options, including 24 hour staffing, compare, contrast financial implications and timelines with different options. . Look into emergency medical cost reimbursements'
Minute Order Number: 2023-078
ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA: Three minutes per speaker for up to twenty (20) minutes total for public comments but can be reduced at Mayor's discretion depending upon the number of speakers or Mayor has discretion to allow for addltional time beyond the 20 minutes allocated for public comment dependent upon the subject matter or number of speakers.

Dorothy commented as follows:
. This is about a smart meter installation of the water' . Smart, smart meters, which PGE sort of followed along and installed their smart meters. r I am an electricalelectrosensitive person and I'm beingverytroubled bythe electric and gassmart meters.
o I feelthat the council's attitude towards the people who are affected by smart meter is not as serious as it needs to be.
. For example, right across the way from the city hallwhere they're installing, a morgue. . My phone wouldn't work because it's a 3G.
' So I sat there. Usually when I leave my house, I think l'm going to be refreshed and have some fresh air and all of this and wake up a little and I sat there and I got sicker and sicker. . lf we do have smart meters for water, people are trying are opting out . There's something also about their coverings which would make it more it would be easier to identify and also with less longer.
. Especially it affects older people to how we can fail to consider the importance of not having smart meters all over the Place.
r I sat there and I was sickened just by the ones that were across the street, and I can't imagine myself trying to live in SebastoPol.
r I don't really know what else I can do but to live here and be exposed every time I want to go downtown and start making little detours.
r I can't do that. I'm just too old and too disabled to do something like that. . So I'm caught and it is very serious'
. You have the power to make changes that would make it better for a lot of people. . They are not just a tin hat people where they're complaining about something that is meaningless if it might be meaningless to some people because they don't experience the effects. . But if you could continue to act the way you are with some cavalier and not really paying attention, it's really going to hurt a lot of people.
. My feeling of trust for the council will is become absent. . We need your help. We need your attention.
ctTy couNctL/ctTy STAFF REPORTS/COMMUNTCATTONS/ANNOUNCEMENTS/FUTURE MEETINGS:

9. City Manager-Attorney/City Clerk Reports: (This will be either verbal or written reports provided at or prior to the meeting).

City Manager/Attorney Mclaughlin reported as follows

Staff has been working with our grant writer. We've met with a grant writer on two occasions and gone through numerous grant opportunities and have selected quite a number that are in process.

Hishwav Safetv lm orovement Proeram (HSl P) Grant funds awarded GHD and WTrans applied for HSIP grants on behalf of the City and was recently awarded:
. 5312,300 for replacement of guardrails on the west end of Bodega Avenue; and c $215,820 for upgrades of pedestrian crossing lights on SR 116 at the intersections at Burnett, Keating, Hutchins and Walker.

District 5 lnfrast re Grant Fundine
GHD applied for infrastructure funding on behalf of the City and was notified that the City is recommended to receive S2OO,0OO in funding for the Analy High School pedestrian crossing improvements at Sunset and Taft Street. This is a new CIP project and will be brought to Councilfor approvalto move forward with design and environmental review.

A nue a H h Street to Robi
The Bodega Avenue pavement repair work was stopped due to weather and ground conditions.-The contractor, Ghilotti Construction, is scheduled to commence repair work on Thursday, March 23. The work should be completed in two or three days.

Sustainable Transpo n Plannine Grant
The grant application was successfully submitted to Caltrans on March 9,2023. We hope to hear if the City is awarded the planning grant in summer 2023.

10. City Council Reports/Committee/Sub-Committee Meeting Reports: (Reports by Mayor/City Councilmembers Regarding Various Agency Meetings/Committee Meetings/Sub-Committee Meeting /Conferences Attended and Possible Direction to its Representatives (lf Needed) on Pending issues before such Boards)
i. (This will be either verbal or written reports provided at the meeting) Councilmember Zollman reported as follows
o First, congratulations to the engineering department and for allthe labor and the successful being a successfu I grant recipient.
o That's really great to hear.
o I attended budget meetings on March 14th and 15th.
o Also on the l-5th attended a Cal Cities focused discussion on fentanyl. I stillthink that it is something that we as a City Council need to keep a pulse on.
o Had a meeting not that long ago with our police chief and he reported one incident, but think it's something that we do need to keep being mindful of.
o On March 16th, I attended a Cal Cities housing element. We were very much celebrated as being one of the few in Northern California that got accredited
r I heard people from across the state with their trials and tribulations and I recognize the fact that it was a huge effort on behalf of all involved in Sebastopol to get ours certified.

One of my appointments is Sonoma County Mayors and Council Members Association was to the ABAG Executive Committee as an alternate. I attended the first meeting in San Francisco on March 16th.

I was recently appointed to Cal Cities Revenue and Taxation Policy Committee and attended that first four hour meeting on the 17th.

Vice Mayor Rich commented as follows:
o When I do these summaries, I always am struck by how many activities all of us have. o I think I have a lot going on and then I listen to Councilmember Zollman o Budget Committee is taking a lot of time. lt's a deep dive. We met a couple of times since the last City Council meeting and looked at an initial rough budget and had a reality check, which is forcing us to take serious, serious looks at our budget for this next year. More will come to the City Council, but anyone who wants to attend those Budget Committee meetings should because you can track what's going on.

It's a lot of work and we have wonderful staff and really glad that they're so prepared to provide the support and input and participate in the discussions and looking forward to our department heads coming in next week. That's really going to be awesome. . My liaison role has taken me a lot of time this last couple of weeks. I attended the Sebastopol Homeless Support Group meeting en March 8th, which is the local advocates discussing various developments in town.
o Then recently much of my time has been taken with working through developments at Elderberry Commons, and I will report out fully on that when our quarterly report comes through with Kari Svanstrom. Elderberry Commons is going through a transition and we are in touch with the county and there are meetings being set to include the service providers at Elderberry Commons and so the city is part of those discussions.
o I also attended in that liaison role on March l"6th, a meeting at ParkVillage with West County Community Services and update on budget there and developments there and a tiny home r The Sebastopolservice and Action Coalition. I attended a meeting there on March 14th and they are moving forward with continuing work projects. lt's an incredible coordinated effort of our service groups that have been in the past kind of siloed.
o The Climate Action Committee was on March 14th.
t ZeroWaste Working Group is moving forward with an eco station and is partnering with Recology and with the community center in order to do a pilot project there, see if we can help people figure out where the heck to put thelr plates and their cups and their so that it doesn't all get diverted back into the waste.

Zero waste Sonoma intended I attended on March 16th as the alternate to Sandi Mauer. o The main takeaway there of interest to the city is that zero Waste Sonoma has selected a grant recipient who will be providing support for events and I'm hoping Gravenstein Apple Fair or the Apple Blossom, something that will provide the use of reusable instead of single use, throwaway plates, cups, that kind of thing.Theywillactuallyfacilitatethewhole use of reusables, which would be great as a pilot project.

They're also doing it at grocery stores and at schools. I think is an opportunity for us and I'll be coordinating with Councilmember Mauer to pass out that information so that she can pursue it. o The ad hoc committee looking at options for city manager, city attorney met a couple of times and I think has a report coming to the City Council in the very near future. r Finallythe Meetyour Neighborhood efforts by SkipJirrels continues. I metwith him and Stan Green, who runs Sebastopol Neighborhood Communications Unit a number of times. They are moving forward to really cement and to solidify, not cement, solidify the grassroots communications process that will rely on radios and both ham radios and GMRs
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Councilmember Maurer reported as follows

. I have very little to say, except that we had a trip planned to Death Valley and a visit with the grandkids in Southern California. They live in San Juan Capistrano.
o Thank you to Diana for covering my spot at the Zero Waste. r I'm back and ready to keep going.

Mayor Hinton reported as follows:
. I attended the SCTA RCPA meeting on March 13th. lt was the first in-person meeting at the offices in Santa Rosa. I'lljust say there was a lot of discussion about being in-person meeting and what other agencies were doing.
. They are going to investigate their subcommittees because the members of the public to try to figure out a way these subcommittees can attend on Zoom when they can't make it on in person more than their just cause allowances.
r Supervisor Hopkins was using one of her just cause allowances because she was home with a sick child and I think a cold herself. So that was an interesting conversation. o For a reminder, Form 7OO forms are due by April 1-st. Everybody's asked for them. I haven't done mine yet.
. They have a lot of grant requests going out. They did have a grant for Caltrans and the amount of 5343,000 requested. lnteresting enough, it was one of these last minute grants that they went ahead and one of their staff members applied for and then got it approved after the fact by the board because they did not want to miss the opportunity.
o We've been we've done that before and have heard from our public on that. But generally speaking, everybody was in favor that they versus miss an opportunity. Go ahead and apply for a grant that's obvious and then get it kind of rubber stamped by the board afterwards. r Their discussion about that was I suppose we could turn down the grant if we won the award r There was a lot of talk about the Clipper Start program. This is a low income program that people can apply for and get discounts using their transportation clipper cards. They also got some grant funding and approved a website update to make transportation connections more efficient. o I did want to make just kind of a comment that I'm so happy that we are getting so many transportation gra nts.
o In mV six years on the council, it feels like we're getting a lot more than we ever got and especially getting more with the use of our consultant who I feel like is doing a great job for us . ljust think sometimes we get sometimes a little bit of public feedback about consultants. r But I do believe, especially based on the grants we've received from an experts in the field that l'm really happy about that and feel like we can we need that for our small city. o These are more grants than we've seen before for sure. o I did want to mention I did have a small quote in the newspaper Sebastopol Times. I did attend a meeting that is written about In the Sebastopol Times, and that meeting was on Thursday evening with Councilmember Mclewis in attendance as well. lt was a business group. Local business owners were invited to hear from both the chamber, the Sebastopol Downtown Association and the Barlow o You could call it a business or owners roundtable meeting. I did attend that. For more on that, you can see my comment in the SebastopolTimes that was quoted.

11. Council Communications Received (lnformation/Meetings/Correspondence Received from the General Public to Cou ncilmembers)
None

t-2. Future City Meeting Dates/Events (lnformational Only): (See City Web Site for Up-to-Date Meeting Dates/Times)
CLOSED SESSION: NONE

ADJOURNMENT OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING
March 21,2023 Meeting will be adjourned to the City Council Meeting to be held April 4, 2023 al6:00 pm' (ln Person and Remote/Zoom Virtual Meeting Format)
Mayor Hinton adjourned the City Council Meeting of March 21.,2023 at 8:57 p.m. to the next regularly Next Regular Scheduled City Council Meeting of April 4,20231n person and zoom virtual meeting format. ln person meeting to be held at the Sebastopol Youth Annex, 425 Morris Street, Sebastopol, Ca.

R ully Subm d,
Assistant City Manage tto