From:
To: City Council
Cc:
Subject: Community Center CIP funding
Date: Tuesday, July 2, 2024 12:14:48 PM
Dear Mayor and City Council:
I learned today of this evening's CIP agenda item, which includes critical questions for the future of the Sebastopol Community Cultural Center, which operates on property owned by the City of Sebastopol. As landlord, the City has significant responsibility for SCCC's buildings.
I have family visiting today from out of state and out of the country, and will not be able to attend the meeting, but as an SCCC Board member and Sebastopol community resident, I wanted to provide comments about the item for your consideration.
The staff report states that the Building Official has determined that the SCCC main hall must be shut down within 90 days of notice for fire-safety related issues.
Shut-down would have a devastating impact on SCCC, and would require either termination of all operations or other radical actions. This would be a huge loss to the community.
There would also be a near-term substantial cost to the City as owner of the building: the building would not be able to be occupied, and demolition is likely to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Not to mention loss of the many classes and events conducted in the Main Hall, and eliminating critical revenue needed to continue SCCC's operations.
The staff report notes that funding for the repairs would come from the restricted flood mitigation fund and thus does not impact the City's General Fund.
I strongly urge you to approve the inclusion of the $70,000 amount for safety repairs in the CIP.
Secondly, I ask that you also support the $85,000 SCCC Master Plan: it is past time for the City Council, SCCC and community to wrestle with SCCC's future.
As SCCC's landlord and as community leaders, please act today and approve inclusion of these funds in the CIP.
Thank you.
-Kenyon Webster, Secretary, Sebastopol Community Cultural Center