CITY OF SEBASTOPOL
CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEM
Meeting Date: September 19, 2023
To: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
From: Kari Svanstrom, Planning Director
City Administration
Subject: Planning Commission Interview
Recommendation: That the City Council Interview Applicant for Opening on the Planning Commission (This opening is for the following: Resident and/or owner of Business within the City) Funding: Currently Budgeted: ☐ Yes ☐ No Not Applicable Account Code: [Fill in Account Number]
Costs authorized in City Approved Budget: ☐ Yes (Finance Initialed _____) ☒ No (Finance Exempt) INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE:
The item is to request Council to conduct the interview for the one opening on Planning Commission due to the resignation of Linda Kelley from the Planning Commission, and consider making an appointment later in the agenda.
BACKGROUND:
PLANNING COMMISSION – 3 MONTH TERM
The Planning Commission meetsthe 2
nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. at the Sebastopol Youth Annex, 425 Morris Street, Sebastopol, CA.
DISCUSSION:
The interview to be conducted tonight is to fill one opening on the Planning Commission for a term ending date on December 31, 2023 to fill the remainder of Linda Kelley’s appointment, as she resigned mid-term. The City Clerk noticed the vacancy in the Press Democrat, City Hall Bulletin Board, and various other media outlets and received one application.
20-minute interview for the applicant is scheduled as follows:
PLANNING COMMISSION INTERVIEWS
Planning Commission (One Seat Open)
6:00 pm Seth Hanley Resident
Agenda Item Number 1 Agenda Item Number 1
City Council Meeting Packet of September 19th, 2023
PUBLIC NOTICE:
This item was noticed in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act and was available for public viewing and review at least 72 hours prior to schedule meeting date.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The proposed action is exempt ☒ Yes ☐ No from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
GOALS:
This action supports the following City Council Goals and General Plan Actions:
Goal 5: Provide Open and Responsive Municipal Government Leadership PUBLIC COMMENT:
As of the writing of this staff report, the City has not received any public comment. However, if staff receives public comment public comment from interested parties following the publication and distribution of this staff report.
Such comments will be provided to the City Council assupplemental materials before or at the meeting. In addition, public comments may be offered during the public comment portion of the agenda item.
Municipal Code Chapter 2.24, Planning Commission states for Members and Terms as follows:
A. The Commission shall consist of five members.
B. The members of the Commission shall be from among residents of the City of Sebastopol or shall be the owner of a business within the City of Sebastopol and a resident of one of the following school districts:
Twin Hills, Sebastopol Union, and Gravenstein Union, and up to one person who is not in one of the above categories, but who is a resident of the area served by one of the following school districts: Twin Hills, Sebastopol Union, and Gravenstein Union, may also be appointed. Members shall be appointed by a majority of the members of the City Council. A majority of the members the Planning Commission shall be residents from within the City limits at all times.
C. Members shall serve at the pleasure of the City Council, and may be terminated without cause, by a majority of the City Council.
D. Members shall not serve for more than four years unless reappointed by the City Council E. ln the event new Commissioners are appointed by reason of any increase in the number of the F. Commission, they shall serve for such period of time as to provide for as close to equal a number of G. commissioners being selected each year as possible.
H. Final determination of the length of the term of new members shall be determined by the City Council.
I. All terms of office shall commence on January 1st of the year of appointment.
J. The current Planning Commission Members are as follows:
PLANNING COMMISSION TERM ENDING DATE RESIDENT AND/OR BUSINESS IN TOWN Evert Fernandez, Chair 12/31/2023 Resident
Paul Fritz, Co-Chair 12/31/2024 Resident
Kathy Oetinger 12/31/2023 Lives Outside City Limits/in zip code Deborah Burnes 12/31/2024 Resident/ Business in town
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no direct fiscal impact associated with the recommended action tonight.
Agenda Item Number 1 Agenda Item Number 1
City Council Meeting Packet of September 19th, 2023
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the Sebastopol City Council conduct the interview for the opening on the Planning Commission and make an appointment later in the agenda.
Attachments:
Application materials
Agenda Item Number 1 Agenda Item Number 1
City Council Meeting Packet of September 19th, 2023
PLANNING COMMISSION APPLICATION
NAME: _____________________________________________________________
Office Hours: Monday - Thursday - 7:00 am - 5:00 pm (closed 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm for lunch) Closed every Friday
Instructions:
Use this form to apply to serve on any of the City of Sebastopol’s Boards, Committees or Commissions.
Please complete the entire form. If a question does not apply, please note as not applicable. Please deliver completed form, by the date and time due, to the City Clerk. All applications will be reviewed by the City Council. Please note your information will not be made public unless otherwise indicated. If appointed, you have a choice whether you wish to have your contact information made public.
Name: SETH HANLEY
Home Address, City, State and Zip Code:
419 FLORENCE AVE., SEBASTOPOL, CA 95472
Home Phone Number: 415.525.9181
If appointed, do you want this number to be available to the public? NO
Work Phone Number: 415.525.9179
If appointed, do you want this number to be available to the public? NO
E-Mail Address: [email protected]
If appointed, do you want this address to be available to the public? NO
Are you a registered voter in Sebastopol?
YES
If so, for how long?
9 YEARS
Do you hold a current business license from the City of Sebastopol? NO
Board, Commission, or Committee being applied for?
PLANNING COMMISSION
Agenda Item Number 1 Agenda Item Number 1
City Council Meeting Packet of September 19th, 2023
PLANNING COMMISSION APPLICATION
NAME: _____________________________________________________________
Design Review Board Supplemental Questions:
Which Category are you Applying For?
Category A
□ Licensed Architect
Have you attended a meeting of this body? When?
NO
Have you served on, interviewed for, or applied for this body previously? NO
Present Employer: DESIGN BLITZ
Job Title: CO-FOUNDER, PARTNER, ARCHITECT
Have you previously served on any governmental bodies or held elected office? NO
Please list civic or charitable organization to which you belong or have belonged:
AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS (AIA)
INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INTERIOR DESIGNERS
Have you been an officer in any of these organizations? If so, please list position held and dates:
AIA, REDWOOD EMPIRE CHAPTER, BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2007 - 2012 What special interests, skills and talents would you bring to this board, commission, or committee? AS A LICENSED ARCHITECT, WITH NEARLY 25 YEARS OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN THE
US, AND OVERSEAS, I BRING DESIGN EXPERTISE AND A BROAD PERSPECTIVE ON URBAN PLANNING. AS A RESIDENT OF SEBASTOPOL I HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN BOTH SUPPORTING, AND HELPING TO GUIDE, THE COMMUNITY’S DEVELOPMENT. MY WIFE AND I CO-FOUNDED OUR AWARD-WINNING DESIGN FIRM IN 2009, AND TOGETHER WE HAVE GROWN THE BUSINESS TO 4 LOCATIONS ACROSS THE U.S. THE ECONOMIC REALITIES OF
DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESS OWNERSHIP ARE PART AND PARCEL OF OUR WORK AND THIS LENS WILL ALSO BE OF BENEFIT TO A POSITION ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
Agenda Item Number 1 Agenda Item Number 1
City Council Meeting Packet of September 19th, 2023
PLANNING COMMISSION APPLICATION
NAME: _____________________________________________________________
Please list any college, professional or vocational schools you have attended with major subject studied, dates and any earned degrees:
LEEDS METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY, LEEDS, U.K. 1994-1997:
BA (HONS) ARCHITECTURE (RIBA 1)
OXFORD BROOKES UNIVERSITY, OXFORD, U.K. 1998-2000:
GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN (RIBA 2) LICENSED TO PRACTISE ARCHITECTURE IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: CA, CO, AZ, UT.
Please list any special awards or recognition you have received:
FULL LIST OF DESIGN AWARDS AND PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.
Please state why you would like to become a member of this board, commission, or Committee, including what specific objectives you would be working toward as a member of this body:
I’D LIKE TO PUT MY EXPERTISE TO USE IN SUPPORT OF MY COMMUNITY, AND ACTIVELY PARTICPATE IN CONVERSATIONS REGARDING DEVELOPMENTS THAT IMPACT THIS CITY. I’M
MOTIVATED BY THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARISE FROM MOVING SEBASTOPOL FORWARD, WHILE ALSO RESPECTING SEBASTOPOL’S UNIQUE CHARACTER.
AREAS OF PARTICULAR INTEREST ARE HOUSING (INCREASING AND IMPROVING) AND SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES AS THEY ADAPT TO NEW MARKET CHALLENGES.
Are you associated with any organization/employment that might be deemed a conflict of interest in performing your duties if appointed to this position?
NO
City policy directs all appointed, advisory body members not to vote on matters where there exists a potential conflict of interest such as property ownership near a project, or a financial relationship with the applicant. Would you be willing to abstain from voting if such a conflict arises? YES
How did you hear about this opening?
PAUL FRITZ, EXISTING PLANNING COMMISSIONER
Is there any other information that you feel would be useful to the City Council in reviewing your application?
Agenda Item Number 1 Agenda Item Number 1
City Council Meeting Packet of September 19th, 2023
PLANNING COMMISSION APPLICATION
NAME: _____________________________________________________________
MY WIFE AND I LIVE ON FLORENCE AVENUE (THE ‘GODZILLA HOUSE’). WE ARE SOLAR POWERED (INCLUDING OUR CARS). WE RENOVATED OUR HOUSE IN 2020 AND CONSTRUCTED
AN ADU AS PART OF THE RENOVATIONS SO WE HAVE DIRECT EXPERIENCE OF BUILDING IN SEBASTOPOL. IN ADDITION TO ARCHITECTURE, WE ALSO GROW HOPS AT MY WIFE’S FAMILY FARM ON FERGUSON ROAD, AND THESE ARE SOLD TO LOCAL BREWERIES.
Applicant’s Signature :________________________________________________ Applicant’s Name (PLEASE PRINT): SETH HANLEY
Date: 07.27.23
Agenda Item Number 1 Agenda Item Number 1
City Council Meeting Packet of September 19th, 2023
PLANNING COMMISSION APPLICATION
NAME: _____________________________________________________________
PLEASE ANSWER QUESTIONS BELOW AND SUBMIT WITH THE APPLICATION:
What do you think qualifies you to be appointed to this board/committee/commission? NEARLY 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN ARCHITECTURAL PRACTISE, INCLUDING RUNNING A SUCCESSFUL DESIGN ENTERPRISE FOR 14 YEARS, COMBINED WITH LIVING IN AND LOVING THE CITY OF SEBASTOPOL.
Are there particular issues you think the board/committee/commission should concentrate on?
PLACE-MAKING AND ECONOMIC VIABILITY OVER THE LONG TERM, WHICH INCLUDES BALANCING HOUSING WITH BUSINESS AND JOBS.
How should community comments be integrated into the board/committee/commission decision-making process?
COMMUNITY OPINION MATTERS, AND IF IT IS REASONED AND INFORMED, THEN IT CAN HELP SHAPE THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS. THAT SAID, DECISION MAKING AT THIS LEVEL MUST SERVE THE GREATER COMMUNITY INTEREST, AND REPSECT THE BROADER LEGAL CONTEXT.
If appointed, how would you handle it if another board/committee/commission member vehemently disagrees with your comments on a regular basis?
CONSENUS BUILDING IS PART OF ANY LEADERSHIP POSITION, AND I’D SEEK TO RECONCILE RECURRING DIFFERENCES WITH A FELLOW BOARD MEMBER PRIVATELY. THAT’S NOT TO SAY THAT SPIRITED CONVERSATION, EVEN DISAGREEMENT SHOULD BE AVOIDED. THIS IS AT TIMES IN PUBLIC INTEREST PROVIDED IT IS RESPECTFUL. THAT SAID, PERSONAL HOSTILITIES SHOULDN’T PLAY OUT PUBLICLY, AND IT’S IN THE COMMUNITY’S INTERESTS FOR COMMISSIONERS TO FIND ALIGNMENTS ON POLICY WHERE POSSIBLE.
How would you handle a situation where a proposal comes before your board/committee/commission that the City staff finds consistent with City policies and standards, but that you personally do not support?
CITY POLICIES AND STANDARDS CANNOT BE DERAILED BY ONE INDIVIDUAL WITH A DIFFERING PERSONAL OPINION, OR AGENDA, INCLUDING ME.
Agenda Item Number 1 Agenda Item Number 1
City Council Meeting Packet of September 19th, 2023