CITY OF SEBASTOPOL CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEM REPORT FOR MEETING OF: September 17, 2024
=========================================================================================== To: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
From: Don Schwartz, City Manager
Subject: Priority Setting – Supplemental to September 3, 2024 Agenda Report =========================================================================================== RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the Council establish priorities for the next five months prior to the February goals workshop.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Most well-run cities conduct annual sessions with the City Council to establish or at least revisit their goals and priorities. This was common in Sebastopol, but has not occurred here in at least five years. Priority setting promotes alignment among the Council, Commissions, Board and Committees, and staff on where time and resources should be focused. Goals and priorities are often the basis for an annual work plan.
The Council approved funding for a consultant to conduct a goals and priority setting workshop for February 2025. Selection of a facilitator is underway with options being brought to the full Council at this same meeting. In the meantime, it is helpful for the Council to consider its priorities so that we can focus on them until the February session.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION:
The Council’s priorities should be driven by the Council’s goals. This City Council as a whole has not adopted a set of goals and priorities. Goal setting by its nature tends to take a longer-term perspective, often two years or more.
Cities often pursue these goals with a set of priority projects or initiatives that together move toward achieving the desired goals.
One of the more common challenges local governments face is balancing the needs and desires of the City Council and community with available resources. While this is often most evident with budget and funding decisions, staff time is another resource.
The Council has requested a discussion and opportunity to provide direction on the City’s priorities for the next five months, before a February 2025 Goals and Priority Setting Workshop. Staff agree that it is important for us to work on what the Council as a whole considers most important. Many ideas arise from Councilmembers, the community, and staff. Having the full Council set priorities allows us to focus on what the Council considers most important.
This increases the opportunities for success by addressing the highest priorities before moving on to lower priorities. The purpose of this item is setting priorities for the next several months. One way to think about this is what do you want to focus on for the immediate future?
We anticipate revisiting priorities as part of a goal-setting process in early February of next year. It is common and appropriate to have such a session early in the term of new and/or returning Councilmembers, and to review goals and priorities at least annually and adjust if and as needed. Thus, while the focus of this item is relatively shortterm, we encourage the Council to consider priorities in the context of the long-term. One way to think about this item as well as the upcoming discussion is what do you want to be different two years from now? In addition to the interests of the Council, community, and staff, the capacity of the organization is a crucial part of setting goals and priorities. While setting high standards and challenging goals can be motivating,setting unrealistic expectations can be de-motivating and counterproductive. Finding the right balance is a constant challenge.
Agenda Item Number: 9 Agenda Item Number: 9
City Council Meeting Packet of: September 17, 2024
STAFF ANALYSIS:
The Council has already established numerous initiatives that are essentially serving as Council priorities. This includes several added in the recently-adopted budget. The attachment to this report includes several categories of projects or initiatives that are underway or anticipated to start (and in some cases finish) within the next six months.
With the City in a fiscal emergency we know there is particular interest in opportunities to generate new revenue, which staff have discussed with the Budget Committee. There are numerous efforts related to revenue generation underway, several related to economic development. The efforts include:
1. Sales tax measure
2. Renegotiate Library lease
3. Pursue grants
4. Consider consolidating the Planning Commission and Design Review Board to streamline processing of development applications
5. Consider reallocation of Planning/Community Development staff time to revenue-generating activities
6. Pursue Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District (EIFD)
7. Processing application and possible Development Agreement for the Barlow Hotel There are also several revenue-generating ideas planned for implementation next year. These include:
1. Update user fee schedules to better cover costs
2. Review development fees (for water, sewer, parks, traffic, drainage)
3. Consider a trench cut ordinance to better recover costs of work affecting our streets
4. Review the formula business ordinance outside of downtown
5. Creating an economic development strategy
It is worth noting that other than the sales tax, few if any of these options are likely to result in major increases in revenue in the near future.
PROJECTS/PRIORITIES THAT ARE REQUIRED BY LEGAL and/or CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS:
Based upon review of the current projects and priorities, staff is presenting these 9 items as top priorities for the next five to six months. These priorities are mostly the result of legal and/or contractual requirements that the City is obligated to perform. It is recommended that the City Council not remove or change these projects.
The items are listed in alphabetical order and not in any order of significance.
1. Affordable rental housing Monitoring - Contract with County for monitoring
2. Employee Negotiations
3. Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District (EIFD)
4. Fleet Assessment (This is assuming that the City Council approves the Contract Amendment). This is proposed as a priority due to the upcoming retirement of the Public Works Superintendent.
5. Fire-related matters:
a. Reorganization/Consolidation
b. Station Assessment
c. Evaluation of Expanded Coverage Options
6. Housing Element Implementation (Mandatory Requirements). Requirements needing to be completed within the next six months include:
• Package of Zoning Code Updates to Implement 7 Housing Element Programs that have been Prioritized by HCD, including Missing Middle Housing, By-Right Housing, Reasonable Accommodations, and Adoption of a Workforce Housing Overlay. This is a large effort.
Agenda Item Number: 9
Agenda Item Number: 9
City Council Meeting Packet of: September 17, 2024
• Develop an administrative list of additional sites already zoned for housing • Contract with the Community Development Commission (CDC) for monitoring affordable rental units. • Confirm with the CDC that they have re-established a 1st time homebuyer program that we can use for credit against our housing requirements.
• Formalize with the Sonoma County Land Trust an allowance for on-site inclusionary requirements to be met or partially met through the Developer’s donation of parcel(s) to the land trust, who then works with the developer to build out the donated parcel while the land trust retains it and ensures continuing affordability, including the monitoring. The costs would be on the participating developer, not the City. The formalization process could be as simple as a memo. If not, it would be a Code change with the larger package.
• Continue Fair Housing Programs, including updating City website and Planning Commissioner Training
7. Public Education/Outreach for Sales Tax Ballot Measure U. This is ongoing and will be completed by November 2024 Election.
8. Solid Waste Hauler Procurement: This is ongoing and is anticipated to have a contract to the City Council for discussion by December 2024.
9. Sustainable Transportation Grant
A list of all items with more detailed information and timelines is attached to this report.
ADDITIONAL INITIATIVES FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION AS PRIORITIES FOR THE NEXT 5 TO 6 MONTHS:
Council has presented staff with just under 30 additional projects that require staff time which are outside of day to day operations. All are listed below. There is insufficient staff time available to complete all of them in the next five to six months. Staff seeks Council direction on which ones to prioritize, and which ones to leave for consideration in February when the Council completes its Goals and Priorities Setting Workshop.
These are presented here in three groups. Group 1 includes 12 initiatives with staff’s recommendation that these be prioritized for this short term five to six month period.
The second and third groups staff recommends be left for consideration in February due to insufficient available staff time to address them. Group 2 includes three items that have full Council support, and Group 3 includes 12 that have at least one councilmember’s support but have not yet received full Council support.
Staff recognizes that the Council may determine a different set of initiatives to prioritize for this next five to six month period.
However, staff urges the Council to not add any projects to the priorities list recommended by Staff without removing comparable projects for the assigned Departments. Project are usually not inter-changeable among Departments given the expertise required for particular issues. If projects are added, we ask that the Council recognize that some projects may be delayed due to additional workload of added priorities.
These items are listed within the three groups and not in any order of significance.
Group 1: Council Approved Initiatives that Staff recommends be prioritized for the next 5 to 6 months; These have been started and are intended to be completed within the next six months. It is recommended that as these items are in process, the City Council not amend this list and allow the completion of the items.
1. City Council Protocols (This would be individual policies coming before the City Council with the estimate completion of a City Council Protocols and Procedures Handbook June 2025). Individual policies are proposed to be submitted to the Council within the next year with an estimated completion date of a full Agenda Item Number: 9
Agenda Item Number: 9
City Council Meeting Packet of: September 17, 2024
Council handbook by June 2025 with the understanding that this project could take longer depending on completion of individual policies.
2. Classification and Compensation Study. This is ongoing with Proposals received and will be evaluated by staff. (It should be noted that the Staffing Assessment Study proposed in the FY 24 25 budget was recommended to be reviewed during the upcoming mid year budget review process)
3. Community Center Fire Safety. This is underway with an agreement in process.
4. Community Center Master Plan
5. Emergency Operations Center Assessment
6. Review Staff Support for Climate Action Committee
7. Review Staff Support for Public Arts Commission
8. Consider consolidating Planning Commission and Design Review Board
9. Budget tracking and reporting: The Council has repeatedly expressed interest in and the City should have the capacity to generate quarterly reports on the status of the budgets, including the General Fund and Enterprise Funds (Water and Wastewater). This project would build that capacity. This represents the first part of the Management Review of Administrative Services approved by the Council with the FY 24-25 budget. Staff have discussed this topic with the Budget Committee.
10. Review structure of Department budgets: Staff suggest that the second part of the Management Review include a review of the structure of budgets for certain departments, particularly Public Works and Engineering. This is in part because the Departments will be merging, and in part because parts of the Public Works budget are very complex and require substantial staff time to support. We plan to assess the value generated by that time compared to the level of effort. We hope to complete this work before the retirement of the Public Works Superintendent. Staff have discussed this topic with the Budget Committee.
11. Water Master Plan: Staff will be sending out an RFP for an engineering firm to prepare the Water Master Plan in the next two or three months.
12. Staff recommend adding homelessness to Group 1 as a priority for the next several months. This could include:
• Developing a set of FAQs discussing the city’s response to homelessness, including enforcement limitations and strategies, and the state of the ACLU lawsuit, to be provided to the community through communication channels including social media, the press and posting them to a section on our city website.
• Creating a dedicated section of our website to provide information about our responses to homelessness and links to resources available.
• Holding a workshop with City Council to educate and inform, and answer questions about applicable laws, regulations, and enforcement abilities as they relate to the homeless. • Holding a Town Hall type meeting to inform and educate regarding our response to homelessness, and to allow the public to ask questions and air their concerns. • Investigating the allocation of County-wide resources to ensure Sebastopol is receiving our share.
Additionally, there are some things that are happening or might soon happen that could affect homelessness:
• We expect the jail to soon have expanded ability to book misdemeanor arrestees as they increase staffing, which has been extremely limited due to jail staffing shortages. • Potential Impacts should Proposition 36 pass. Proposition 36 modifies some of the judicial penalties from Proposition 47. It would restore sentencing for a third conviction of a petty theft to a felony and the third conviction for possession of hard narcotics such as heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl could result in it being charged as a treatment mandated felony. • Conducting a Citizen’s Academy and the potential for recruiting volunteers to complement Officers patrolling downtown, similar to a downtown ambassador program.
Agenda Item Number: 9
Agenda Item Number: 9
City Council Meeting Packet of: September 17, 2024
• The County is exploring creation of a West County Mobile Support Team (MST) which would replicate a SAFE-like program and possibly be managed by an independent entity. Other cities have found that about 15% of individuals served by these programs are experiencing homelessness.
Group 2: Council Approved Initiatives that Staff recommends be considered at the February 2025 Goals and Priority Setting Workshop:
These items have been approved by the full Council but given the relative importance of the items in Group 1, and in recognition of the realities of limited staff time, staff is recommending that these items be considered in February.
1. Association of Bay Area Government (ABAG) Priority Development Grant: This project is still in the writing of the RFP stage. Staff is hoping to have the scope finished and RFP out by the end of the calendar year. The proposed scope of work for the PDA grant would review the zoning along Highway 116 commercial corridor to review and revise how the city regulates these areas to provide more flexibility for housing to be developed. As the city is currently working on the Sustainable Transportation Grant through Caltrans there is a possibility of combining these two grant opportunities as their focus area overlaps.
2. Expanded Economic Development (staff is currently working on some Economic Development efforts such as: Barlow Hotel application and Development Agreement, consolidating the Planning Commission/DRB, EIFD Project, and improving relations with the business community). This item would be reviewing additional economic development items. This could include working with the Chamber or other organizations to support events that they organize to create economic vitality/welcoming of tourists/increasing activity in the city.
3. Pursue other revenue options reflecting recommendations from the Budget Committee, beyond those already underway. Staff already plan to initiate several of these activities early next year, and we are hiring a Community Development Director who will have lead responsibility for economic development which is a part of revenue generation.
Group 3: Initiatives Presented by Councilmembers, but not Currently Council Approved, which Staff recommends be considered at the February 2025 Goals and Priorities Setting Workshop:
These items have been proposed by one or more councilmembers, but have not yet received full Council support.
1. Arts and Wellness Market in the Redwood Marketplace parking lot
2. Assist in filling vacancies at Redwood Marketplace (This could also be combined with economic development and working with the Chamber to support pop up events in these locations)
3. Clean up of Downtown by doing the following:
a. freshly painted and landscaped town Square
b. The pathway in Ives Park brought up to ADA compliance and a new fence c. Graffiti & sticker removal
d. Garbage pick up on Main Street and the commercial corridor e. Power washing sidewalks, window washing and new benches along Main Street f. Decorating during the holidays
4. Event to celebrate Sebastopol based on our community strengths
5. Increased transparency: Publicly reporting quarterly updates on the status of infrastructure.
6. Increased foot presence of police officers downtown.
7. Light up Sebastopol - Holiday lighting competition with prizes
8. Quarterly reports on storm water infrastructure for transparency.
9. RFP for IT support
10. RFP for Public Communications Contract
11. Teen Memorial Labyrinth - Repair or Relocate
12. SAFE
Agenda Item Number: 9
Agenda Item Number: 9
City Council Meeting Packet of: September 17, 2024
INITIATIVES THAT ARE ON HOLD OR INACTIVE:
The City currently has projects that are on hold or inactive as noted below. The Council has the discretion to amend the list below to make any of these items a priority project or projects. The items are listed in alphabetical order and not in any order of significance.
1. Barlow Townhomes Final Map and Housing Agreement: Planning Department will reach out to the developer on status of the Housing Agreement; The final map will be going through the Engineering Dept.
2. Calder Creek Naturalization: Note that we may have an opportunity to pursue a grant from the Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District that would provide local matching funds for a state grant. The funds would be used to modify Calder Creek consistent with the master plan for Ives Park. We would need to ensure that this project aligns with drainage/flood control work in the area.
3. Evaluation of Records Management System
4. Hazard Mitigation Plan
5. Library video surveillance
6. Sewer Master Plan
Consideration of Day to Day Operations:
Day to day operations should be considered when the Council is determining the priorities for the next six months. Day to day operations include requirements to process applications for development, such as the Canopy project, Gravenstein Commons, Huntley Square, and the proposed hotel at the Barlow; each of these projects requires substantial staff time to process the application from receipt to completion. Other examples are contract management such as Map Your Neighborhood; completion of the Annual Financial Audit; Request for Proposal for Auditor Services; Review of County projects for impacts to Sebastopol; such as Sonoma County Transportation Authority (SCTA)/Fulton Road project, and Capital Improvement Projects as approved by the Council during budget hearings. The vast majority of staff time is spent on day to day operations – probably over 90% and a majority of management time is spent managing these operations. Sebastopol lacks the administrative and analytic staff common in other cities, which provides greater capacity to take on initiatives. Thus, this work is often conducted by the department heads, some of whom have multiple duties.
The City is in the midst of numerous transitions, partly at the Council level and also in executive management. By the end of 2024, the odds are good that fewer than half of the staff in executive-level positions will have been in their positions for over a year. Historical knowledge is key in maintaining the history of the City and key decisions, and with the departure of department directors, we expect our capacity to decline for some time. As we go through this transition and our budget challenges we need to assess and create appropriate staffing to include retention for current staffing. As noted above, the Staffing Assessment Study is to be reviewed during the mid year budget review.
Thus, staff ask that the Council consider both the ambitious nature of the scope of work identified as priorities, and staff’s capacity. The City’s executive team unanimously concur that we cannot complete all initiatives listed in this staff report in a quality way in the coming months. We also believe that adding projects before completing or removing some puts creates risk of delay or failure. As stated earlier, staff recommends that the Council not add any projects to the list without removing comparable projects or if priorities are added, that some current projects may be delayed.
Some final notes – Because ideas and opportunities arise throughout the year, it is appropriate to have a way for the Council to consider these and compare them to established priorities. We recommend that creating a process for this be included in any new version of the Council’s protocols.
Additionally, goals and priorities can be useful in evaluating the performance of the City Manager. While the goals for that position are typically not identical to City-wide goals, the two are often related.
Agenda Item Number: 9
Agenda Item Number: 9
City Council Meeting Packet of: September 17, 2024
COMMUNITY OUTREACH:
This item has been 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.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this item.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council approve the recommended priorities for the next six months as proposed by staff as follows:
1. Affordable rental housing Monitoring - Contract with County for monitoring
2. Employee Negotiations
3. Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District (EIFD)
4. Fleet Assessment (This is assuming that the City Council approves the Contract Amendment). This is proposed as a priority due to the upcoming retirement of the Public Works Superintendent.
5. Fire Reorganization/Consolidation
a. Station Assessment
b. Evaluation of Expanded Coverage Options
6. Housing Element Implementation (Mandatory Requirements)
7. Public Education/Outreach for Sales Tax Ballot Measure U
8. Solid Waste Hauler Procurement
9. Sustainable Transportation Grant
And Direct Staff to Continue with Group 1 projects noted below:
1. City Council Protocols (This would be individual policies coming before the City Council with the estimate completion of a City Council Protocols and Procedures Handbook June 2025).
2. Classification and Compensation Study (It should be noted that the Staffing Assessment Study proposed in the FY 24 25 budget was recommended to be reviewed during the mid year budget review process)
3. Community Center Fire Safety
4. Community Center Master Plan
5. Emergency Operations Center Assessment
6. Review Staff Support for Climate Action Committee
7. Review Staff Support for Public Arts Commission
8. Consider consolidating Planning Commission and Design Review Board
9. Budget Tracking/Reporting
10. Review of Departments’ budgets, especially Public Works and Engineering
11. Water System Master Plan
12. Homelessness
And
Review remaining priorities during the February 2025 Goals and Priority Session; OPTIONS:
1. Review the attached list of priorities as submitted and confirm that they reflect your priorities, and if not, provide direction to staff for changes. If there are changes to the proposed list, it is recommended that additions, if any, to this list be considered only if there is a removal of a comparable project for the assigned department.
2. Not set priorities at this time and direct staff to work with Facilitator to include these with the February 2025 Goals and Priority Setting Workshop
Agenda Item Number: 9
Agenda Item Number: 9
City Council Meeting Packet of: September 17, 2024
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Draft Priorities Spreadsheet with Detailed Information APPROVALS:
Department Head Approval: Approval Date: 8-26-2024
CEQA Determination (Planning): Approval Date: 8-26-2024 The proposed action is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Administrative Services (Financial) Approval Date: 8-26-2204 Costs authorized in City Approved Budget: ☐ Yes ☐ No N/A Account Code (f applicable) ___________________________ City Attorney Approval: Approval Date: N/A
City Manager Approval: Approval Date: 8-26-2024
Agenda Item Number: 9
Agenda Item Number: 9
City Council Meeting Packet of: September 17, 2024
CITY STAFF RECOMMENDED PRIORITIES FOR SEPTEMBER 2024 – FEBRUARY 2025 / SUPPLMENTAL TO ORIGINAL AGENDA ITEM OF SEPTEMBER 3, 2024
PRIORITIES
Responsible Department Project Level of
Effort*
Status Expected
Completion
Notes
1 Planning Contract with County for Monitoring
Affordable Rental Housing
Low Not started End of 2024 Funding is approved in the FY 24 25 budget for monitoring.
2 City Management Employee Negotiations High To begin
soon
Contract
expirations are
December
2024
This is a priority but could be extended into the new
calendar year if negotiations are not completed
before contract term expirations.
3 Planning and Ad Hoc Committee Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District
High Ongoing
4 Public Works Fleet Assessment Medium Contract may
be Awarded
September 17
2024
Completion of Assessment to be finalized by
December 2024
5 City Management/Fire Ad Hoc
Committee
1. Fire Reorganization
2. Station Assessment
3. Evaluation of Expanded
Coverage Options
High In Progress June 2025 These are three projects with some overlap. They will be extended into the 2025 Calendar Year with a
completion date proposed of June 30, 2025
6 Planning Housing Element Implementation High End of 2025 State mandate to complete 16 programs (such as zoning changes); 14 remain. Time requirement 200-
300 hours, plus more time for smaller programs.
Must demonstrate meaningful progress to avoid
state sanctions which in worst case could include
invalidating City's Housing Element and General
Plan. This is a two year priority.
7 City Manager Public Education/Outreach for Sales
Tax Ballot Measure U
Medium Set to begin
September
2024
November
2024
City Manager to conduct educational outreach to
various organizations.
8 City Management and Ad Hoc
Committee
Solid Waste Hauler Procurement High On going December
2024 for
Award of
Contract
This is a priority but will be extended into the 2025
Calendar Year with a completion date proposed of
June 30, 2025
9 Planning Sustainable Transportation Grant Medium In Progress Proposed project and funding list due at end of 2025 *Level of Effort: These are estimates of the amount of total staff time required to complete projects.
High = 50 hours or more. Medium = 20-50 hours. Low = less than 20 hours.
Agenda Item Number: 9
Agenda Item Number: 9
City Council Meeting Packet of: September 17, 2024
Group 1: Council Approved Initiatives that Staff recommends be prioritized for the next 5 to 6 months GROUP 1
Responsible Department Project Level of
Effort*
Status Expected
Completion
Notes
1 City Management/Ad Hoc
Committee
City Council Protocols and
Procedures
High Began
Process
June 2025 City Council review policies on an ongoing basis during City Council Meetings
2 Administrative Services Classification and Compensation Study
Low RFPs Out
to Bid
October/November
time frame
Solicited proposals from 8 firms
Closing Date for RFP 8/27/24
Received 3 as of the writing of this report.
3 Public Works/Engineering Community Center Fire Safety Low Quotes submitted
December 2024 Council review for approval to proceed
September 17, 2024
4 Public Works/Ad Hoc Committee Community Center Master Building Assessment Plan
High Starting
soon
June 2025
5 Police Emergency Operations Center
Assessment
Medium Began
discussions
with
Sonoma
County
Office of
Emergency
Services
6 Planning Review of Staff Support/Direction
of Climate Action Committee
Medium In
Discussion
Nov., 2024 Reduced staff support could allow for increased revenue by reallocating staff time
7 Planning Review of Staff Support/Direction
of Public Arts Committee
Low In
Discussion
Nov., 2024
8 Planning Combine Planning Commission and
Design Review Board
Medium In
Discussion
Feb., 2025 Supports economic development by streamlining approval process
9 Admin Services/City Manager Budget Tracking and Reporting Medium Starting Nov.,, 2024 Part of Management Review of Admin Svces 10 Admin Services/City
Manager/Public
Works/Engineering
Department Budget Structure,
especially Public Works and
Engineering
Medium Starting Dec., 2024 Part of Management Review of Admin Svces 11 Engineering/Public Works Water Master Plan High RFP
started
December 2025
12 Homelessness Police/City Manager High Started On-going Assessing changes in law, jail capacity, and other relevant factors. Public education re: City options
for response.
*Level of Effort: These are estimates of the amount of total staff time required to complete projects.
High = 50 hours or more. Medium = 20-50 hours. Low = less than 20 hours.
Agenda Item Number: 9
Agenda Item Number: 9
City Council Meeting Packet of: September 17, 2024
Group 2: Council Approved Initiatives that Staff recommends be considered at the February 2025 Goals and Priority Setting Workshop:
GROUP 2
Responsible Department Project Level of
Effort*
Status Expected
Completion
Notes
1 Planning Association of Bay Area
Government (ABAG) Priority
Development Grant
MediumHighRFP in
Progress
Partially Implements Housing Element Program
(WH Overlay). Opportunity to combine with
Sustainable Transportation Grant to save costs,
align community input & share background data
2 Planning Expand Economic Development,
including creating Economic
Development Strategy
Will review
once a
Community
Development
Director is
hired.
Current Economic Development efforts include
the Barlow Hotel, consolidating the Planning
Commission and Design Review Board, pursuing
the EIFD, and improving relationships with the
business community.
3 City Manager/Admin
Svces/Building/Planning
Pursue Other Revenue Options (in
addition to expanded economic
development)
High Options discussed w/Budget Committee include
updating user fees, reviewing Development Impact
fees, considering trench cut ordinance, and review
formula business ordinance outside of downtown
*Level of Effort: These are estimates of the amount of total staff time required to complete projects.
High = 50 hours or more. Medium = 20-50 hours. Low = less than 20 hours.
Group 3: Initiatives Presented by Councilmembers, but not Currently Council Approved, which Staff recommends be considered at the February 2025 Goals and Priorities Setting Workshop:
GROUP 3
Project
1 Arts and Wellness Market at Redwood Market Place Parking Lot 2 Assist in Filling Vacancies at Redwood Market Place
3 Clean up of Downtown by Doing the following:
a. freshly painted and landscaped town Square
b. The pathway in Ives Park brought up to ADA compliance and a new fence c. Graffiti & sticker removal
d. Garbage pick up on Main Street and the commercial corridor e. Power washing sidewalks, window washing and new benches along Main Street f. Decorating during the holidays
Agenda Item Number: 9
Agenda Item Number: 9
City Council Meeting Packet of: September 17, 2024
4 Event to celebrate Sebastopol based on our community strengths 5 Increased Process for transparency: Publicly reporting quarterly updates on water and sewer and infrastructure status. 6 Increased foot presence of police officers downtown.
7 Light up Sebastopol - Holiday lighting competition with prizes 8 Quarterly reports on storm water infrastructure for transparency. 9 RFP for IT support
10 RFP for Public Communications Contract
11 Teen Memorial Labyrinth – Repair or Relocate
12 SAFE Program
INITIATIVES THAT ARE ON HOLD OR INACTIVE:
Responsible Department Level of
Effort*
Status Expected
Completion
Notes
1. Planning Barlow Town Homes Inclusionary
Agreement
Low On hold Waiting for applicant
2 Planning/Public
Works/Engineering
Calder Creek Naturalization Medium On hold California Urban Streams Program (CUSP) has reached out about upcoming grant opportunity for
this project. See staff report for more details.
3 City Clerk Evaluation of Records Management
System
Medium Initial
Research
Done/Needs
further details
4 Building Hazard Mitigation Plan High On hold
5 Police/Public Works Library Video Surveillance Low On hold 6 Public Works/Engineering Sewer Master Plan High Not Started Yet
*Level of Effort: These are estimates of the amount of total staff time required to complete projects.
High = 50 hours or more. Medium = 20-50 hours. Low = less than 20 hours.
Agenda Item Number: 9
Agenda Item Number: 9
City Council Meeting Packet of: September 17, 2024