1 CITY OF SEBASTOPOL
March 24, 2025 WORKING DRAFT: CURRENT AND POTENTIAL PRIORITIES BOLD ITEMS: STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PRIORITIES
*Level of Effort: These are estimates of the amount of total staff time required to complete projects. In some cases that are very rough estimates, or need further information before we can develop them.
High = 50 hours or more. Medium = 20-50 hours. Low = less than 20 hours.
PROJECTS UNDERWAY AND TO
BE COMPLETED BY JUNE 30,
2025
Responsible Department Project Level of
Effort*
Status Expected
Completion
Notes
All Prepare FY 25-26 Budget High In Process June, 2025
Building/City Clerk/Fire/Public
Works
Move Building Dept. to City Hall High July 1 2025 Record retention/access biggest issue. Staff will request budget adjustment to cover scanning and
other needs. (Depending on when this goes to
Council the scanning may not be completed by
June 2025)
City Management/Fire/Admin
Services/Public Works
Complete fire reorganization
High In Process
July 1, 2025 Need to transfer assets, support employees’ transition, resolve collateral on fire station, etc.
City Manager Enhanced Infrastructure Financing
District – Decision on Resolution of
Intent
Low Ongoing July 1, 2025 Part of economic development efforts; (Council will consider results of financial analysis and resolution
of intention tentatively scheduled for the May 6th
Council meeting)
Community Development Resolve future of Planning
Commission and Design Review
Board
Low In Progress Spring, 2025 Decision may be made by May 2025; but if approved; dissolution will need to occur as well as
municipal code changes) Not sure if that would
happen by June 2025
2 Public Works Solid Waste Hauler Procurement High On going July 2025 Contract Executed with SCRR- Transition will be completed by June 30, 2025.
PROJECTS UNDERWAY AND
LIKELY TO EXTEND BEYOND
JUNE, 2025
Administrative Services Classification and Compensation Study Implementation
High In Process Classification study job specifications to be brought to Council by July 1 2025 for those without fiscal
impacts. Continue work with HR Advisor and CM
to address additional classification changes and
equity adjustments during FY25-26 budget process.
Administrative Services Staffing Study Implementation High In Process Work in progress with HR Advisor and City staff to implement staffing recommendations in recently
amended staffing assessment study as appropriate
with business needs. City will return to Council as
opportunity arises.
Administrative Services/City
Manager/City Clerk
Assessment and then RFP for IT
services
High TBD; Fall
2025
Working on a cost/proposal for
City wide IT audit first (then RFP for IT Services).
Should include determining replacement schedule
and funding for IT equipment, and assessment of
current software and systems. This could include
CIP, Permitting, Records Management System,
and/or Finance software listed elsewhere.
City Management/Ad Hoc
Committee
City Council Protocols and
Procedures
High In Process Ongoing City Council review policies on an ongoing basis during City Council Meetings
Community Development/City
Manager/Building/Public Works
Barlow Hotel High Ongoing Dec., 2025 Current focus of economic development efforts. (Development Agreement will be coming to the
City Council Tentatively scheduled for April 15th
2025)
Community Development Housing Element Implementation High In Progress Dec., 2026 Community Development Sustainable Transportation Grant Medium In Progress Dec., 2025 Proposed project and funding list due at end of 2025
3 Community Development Association of Bay Area
Government (ABAG) Priority
Development Grant
MediumHigh In Process 2026 Partially Implements Housing Element Program; ABAG hiring consultant to start in September.
Police Increased foot presence of police
officers downtown.
Underway Ongoing Direction issued to PD staff to perform foot patrols where possible and this has been occurring. Police
chief is making regular foot patrols of downtown,
the Barlow district, local businesses and stopping to
engage with children and community members.
Police Improve Emergency Preparedness High In progress Will be ongoing The timeline is dependent on the availability of time. We will need consultant assistance to make
significant progress. Scope to include community
preparedness and internal City preparedness,
including updating the Emergency Operations Plan.
Public Works Water Master Plan High Underway Early 2026 Public Works Community Center Master Plan,
Current Phase
High Underway August 2025
Public Works Update leases of City buildings,
including meeting requirements for
greater insurance coverage
High In progress September
2025
High priority leases are those that are expiring this
calendar year or have expired
PRIOR/RECENT
COUNCILMEMBER IDEAS
Responsible Department Project Level of
Effort
Status Expected
Completion
Notes
City Manager Establish regular meetings w/School
District
Level of effort depends on purpose of the
meetings. Staff already meet to discuss issues of
mutual interest.
City
Manager/Administrative
Services
Consider Measure U and/or Enterprise
Fund Oversight Committee
TBD May be addressed by improving public
communications
4 Community Development Arts and Wellness Market at Redwood Market Place Parking Lot
It is challenging for cities to have a significant role in filling vacant retail spaces
Community Development Support “Growing Together” Initiative as part of economic development
High This includes an event and on-going support to
promote local businesses using an approach tried
in other communities. This has been requested by
Councilmember Carter
Community Development Adopt Ordinance allowing ownership of ADUs
This has been requested by Councilmember
Carter. This is part of implementing the Housing
Element.
Public Works Clean up of Downtown Vice Mayor McLewis has requested a downtown walk with businesses
Public Works Teen Memorial Labyrinth – Repair or
Relocate
Low Councilmember Maurer has been working with
SCCC on this item.
Police SAFE Program Low In process Ongoing To monitor County activity TBD Light up Sebastopol - Holiday lighting
competition with prizes
TBD Event to celebrate Sebastopol based on
our community strengths
City Manager RFP for Public Communications Contract
POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL
PRIORITIES
Responsible Department Project Level of
Effort*
Status Expected
Completion
Notes
All Departments Management Review of Financial
Practices
High Consultant
identified
TBD Review of roles, processes, practices to improve
efficiency, reduce errors, improve cost recovery,
etc.
Administrative Services Evaluate software options to
improve budget transparency and
efficiency
High Not started Before FY26-
27 Budget
Season
Could significantly increase public access to City
financial data, and also simplify budget
preparation. If pursued, implementation likely to
5 be complex. Could be part of Management
Review of Financial Practices.
Administrative Services/Public
Works/Community Development
Review fees to pay for impact of
new development
High Not started Will require outside assistance
Administrative Services/City
Manager
RFP for HR Management Medium
Building Update Hazard Mitigation Plan High In FY25/26 End of 2026 State Mandate City Clerk Evaluation of Records Management
System
Medium Initial
Research
Done/Needs
further
details
Modernize records-keeping process and digitize
City records so that each department can access
all official public records and are more easily
retrievable. Initial cost approximately $100,000;
$30,000 increase in annual costs. Substantial
improvements expected to City IT system
Community Development Review formula business ordinance for economic development/new
revenue
Not started Could start w/inventory of existing formula businesses
Community Development Develop Economic Development
Strategy
Not started It would be useful to have a strategic approach rather than addressing ideas one at a time. Should
include participation of businesses.
Community Development/Public
Works
Improvements to Ives Park/Calder
Creek
High Early stages TBD Potential for grants to fund improvements.
California Urban Streams Program (CUSP) may
seek City support for grants for this project.
Community Development/Public
Works
Pickleball Courts Not started Have heard public interest in this topic.
Community Development Apple Blossom and/or other new
trails
Not started Feasibility study would be logical next step; cost would be around $30,000
Community Development Proceed with EIFD and identify
projects?
Would require $25,000 in consultant assistance
plus uncertain staff time (Depending on outcome
of fiscal analysis from Kosmont)
Community
Development/Building/Admin
Services/Public Works
Evaluate replacement of SMART
Gov permitting system
Our current system is difficult to work with,
contributes to inefficient processes, slows the
review of projects.
6 Police/City Attorney Homelessness: Ordinance to restrict sleeping or sitting that blocks public
access to buildings and on sidewalks
Not started
City Manager County-wide allocation of
Homelessness Resources
Low Not started Unknown Council rep to Homelessness Coalition could pursue information on allocation of resources
County-wide
City Manager Pursue New County-wide Lead
Agency for Homelessness
Low Not started Unknown The Board of the Homelessness Coalition has the authority to replace the County as the Lead
Agency for homelessness; the City has a seat on
that Board.
Public Works Sewer Master Plan High In the FY
25/26 CIP
2027 The RFP process will start August 2025.
Public Works Flood Resiliency Master Plan High In FY25/26 TBD Identify flood areas and develop a Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for managing and
mitigating flooding that occurs in the Calder Creek
and the Laguna area.
Public Works Fleet: Develop Replacement Plan &
Electrification of City Fleet and
State Air Board compliance
High Some
funding in FY
25/26 PW
Ops budget
We can likely lease instead of purchase some
vehicles which may be more cost-effective.
State electrification mandate likely infeasible.
Implementation costs likely to exceed $1 million
Public Works Pursue Trench Cut ordinance so
contractors working on City streets
pay for repairs
Not started
Public Works Work w/Senior Center re: Adding
Space
Met
w/Senior
Center
Public Works Follow up to Community Center
Master Plan
Public Works Develop schedule for replacing
major components of buildings, and
determine amount of funding
needed and to be set aside each
year.
This is a best practice in financial management,
typically prepared by consultant w/input from City
staff.
Public Works Assess needs for repairs of City
facilities. Initiate repairs that are
7 most immediate or cost effective.
Including:
a. Senior Center
b. Community Center
c. Library
d. City Hall
e. Police station
f. Other facilities
Public Works/Admin Services Replace CIP Software High CIP budget uses two software packages (Breeze and Springbrook) that do not communicate with
each other. Identify a single CIP budget
preparation and project budget tracking software
so that the communication process is mechanized
and not performed manually.