EIFD AD HOC COMMITTEE REPORT OUT
For City Council Mee�ng of February 6, 2024
The EIFD Ad Hoc was created on December 5, 2023, with Mayor Diana Rich and Vice Mayor Stephen Zollman appointed to it. The Ad Hoc submited a preliminary report on December 19, 2023 and a full report on January 16, 2024. The direc�on from the Council on January 16 was (1) to engage in a formal discussion process with the County (Supervisor Hopkins) to move forward with an EIFD, (2) to consider all possible EIFD boundaries within Supervisorial District 5 including but not limited to a possible full West County Sonoma County EIFD, and (3) to accept $50,000 in County funding (if approved at the January 23 Board of Supervisors mee�ng.
This is a report on developments between January 16 and January 29, 2024, when the report was finalized.
$50,000 Funding for Consultant: On January 23, the BOS supported Supervisor Hopkins’ $50,000 funding request to pay for consultant services needed for the ini�al stages of the EIFD process. In recogni�on of the City’s fiscal crisis, the County has agreed to distribute these funds as one lump sum in advance of services rendered, which is an excep�on to the County’s normal policy of distribu�ng funds a�er services are completed, on a reimbursement basis.
RFP Process: A primary focus of ac�vi�es regarding the EIFD project (in the near term) will be on selec�on of the EIFD consultant. City Atorney Larry McLaughlin will be overseeing this process, and is moving forward with dra�ing and issuing the RFP.
Coordina�on with County: As the the RFP process moves forward, the Ad Hoc will con�nue to be ac�vely engaged with Supervisor Hopkins’ office. Two mee�ngs are currently planned, a premee�ng on Thursday February 20, and an ini�al working mee�ng on March 7. The tenta�ve plan is for the Ad Hoc to con�nue to meet regularly with Supervisor Hopkins and her team.
County EIFD Policy: Sonoma County does not currently have a policy regarding EIFDs. As the Council is aware, the County’s contribu�on toward any EIFD will be voluntary, which makes the development of a County policy of par�cular interest to Sebastopol (or any other jurisdic�ons in Sonoma County that might want to pursue an EIFD). The Board of Supervisors has just begun its discussion about a County policy, with an ini�al agenda item placed on its January 30, 2024 agenda. A summary of the outcome of that discussion is not included here because this report was completed before that mee�ng was held. The EIFD Ad Hoc will report out verbally on this point at the Council mee�ng.
Agenda Item Number: 17b Agenda Item Number: 17b
City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: February 6, 2024