March 27, 2025
Sebastopol City Council & City Staff
7120 Bodega Avenue
Sebastopol, CA 95472
Subject: Consideration of the Sebastopol Area Senior Center’s Space Needs Dear Mayor Zollman, City Council Members, and City Staff:
On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Sebastopol Area Senior Center, we appreciate the opportunity to submit this letter for your consideration as you conduct your upcoming GoalSetting Workshop. We are grateful for the City's continued support and for housing our Center in a valuable piece of city-owned property. However, as the demand for our services continues to grow, we find ourselves in urgent need of a space that better meets the growing senior population and the broader nonprofit community.
In the past year alone, we have recorded over 26,000 sign-ins for services, meals, and classes— an overwhelming demonstration of the Center’s role as a vital community hub. Unfortunately, we are out of space, and many seniors are now on lengthy waitlists for critical programs. Despite our efforts to expand access through off-site collaborations with Wischemann Hall, Dance/Art Space, Soft Medicine, the Sebastopol Center for the Arts, and the Community Center, the growing demand continues to surpass our available capacity.
Our collaborations extend beyond seniors; we work with Analy High School and the Magnolia Project to foster intergenerational connections and youth volunteerism, strengthening our entire community.
Given these challenges and opportunities, we respectfully request that the City Council consider appraising the current Senior Center property to explore whether it could be leveraged for a space that better serves our seniors and potentially other nonprofits also facing facility constraints. A purpose-built or shared facility could create efficiencies, enhance service delivery, and better accommodate the growing needs of Sebastopol’s nonprofit and aging communities. We deeply appreciate your leadership and vision in planning for the City’s future. We look forward to working with you to explore solutions that ensure Sebastopol’s seniors—and the many organizations serving them—have a space that meets their needs now and into the future.
Thank you for your time and consideration. We welcome any opportunity to discuss this further.
Sincerely, With immense gratitude,
Katie Davis, Executive Director Gary Bachelor, Board Chair Jill Ravitch
John Henel
Amy Truong
Alan Beckstead
Catherine Barnard
Dr. Allan Bernstein
Tate Birnie
Brian Ledig
Alice Perlman
Alain Serkissian
Steve Thomas
Board Members: