Dear Council Members and City Staff,
I’m writing a public comment in regards to the City’s goals.
The following are goals which I hope the City implements:
1) Financial viability and growth by concentrating on the following:
A) Cleaning up downtown and dedicating a Public Works employee every day downtown, in parking lots, parks and in the commercial corridor to clean up trash, graffiti, stickers, power wash the sidewalk, clean windows. Show tourists and business owners that the City cares about downtown.
B) Institute a blight policy so that businesses cannot have blight and homeless encampments on their property.
C) Dedicate at least 6 hours per week reaching out to business owners and commercial landlords to make positive contact and to fill vacant storefronts. Survey the local businesses. Let business owners know the City wants their business to be successful.
Let commercial property owners know that the City wants vacant storefronts filled.
D) Connect the Barlow to downtown. As the City works on the hotel, the City should also work on itself to make sure sidewalks and the town square are connected to downtown. The Barlow cannot do the work that needs to be done by the City. 2) Fix infrastructure
A) Use Measure U money to fix roads. There is a huge outstanding road debt and Measure U is the only source to fix the $18,000,000 and counting road debt.
B) Make simple upgrades to Ives Park. Ives park is the center piece of downtown and is the site of many public events. It is in horrible condition. Prioritize ADA compliance and upgrading the decades old fence. The City should be able to complete these two, simple projects for under $500,000. Make this a priority above all other capital improvement projects.
3) Update Water Pricing to Benefit Community
A) The current water pricing is damaging our community and our green spaces and is poorly structured. Revisit water pricing so that there is an annual infrastructure fee and a single tier for water usage. This would dedicate funds to fixing the water and sewer infrastructure and not punish people for using water. Water is necessary for our urban canopy and for healthy gardens. Sebastopol has plenty of water and people and schools should be encouraged to have robust green spaces. 4) Fund Public Safety
A) Fully fund the police department.
B) Complete the merger of Fire Services with Gold Ridge.
C) Implement collaboration between Analy, the Santa Rosa PD and Sherriff’s office to stop the flow of fentanyl and drug sales in Sebastopol, around the high school and on the JRT.
D) Remove the needle exchange from the Teen Clinic to reduce the amount of addicted IV drug users coming off the JRT into Sebastopol for needles.
E) Establish evacuation plans.
F) Work to get Cash Bail reinstated for people caught with Fentanyl with the intent to sell Fentanyl.
5) Petition the County for reimbursement for
A) Low income housing that pays extremely low or no income tax – there are over 500 units and more is being built. I have already sent in a list. The Planning Commission should have a list. Sebastopol is the largest provider of low income housing in West County by far. It also has the most homeless beds per capita in Sonoma County.
Citizens should be reimbursed for this as it represents lost income and increase of unfunded City Services and unfunded infrastructure.
B) The senior center as this is a West County resource.
C) Elderberry Commons as this community will require more intervention by Police and other city staff.
D) Ives pool as this is a West County resource.
6) Cut any programs that do not directly serve niche populations who may or may not be taxpaying entities in Sebastopol
A) Stop paying mortgage, upkeep and insurance on Park Village as this is run by West County Community Services. They are a nonprofit and can raise funds from a variety of sources including grants and private donors. They also collect rent from their tenants.
B) Stop paying for a homeless outreach coordinator. This position has very low or minimal results. West County Community Services should be able fund this position if it is of value to them. Citizens of Sebastopol have paid for this and there has been an increase in the homeless population not a decrease.
C) Stop funding the senior center. The senior center has a big membership base. Many members do not live in Sebastopol. Encourage the County to fund this as it serves the entire West County.
7) Cut funding for Climate Action Committee if the CAC is unable to set 3 and complete three tangible goals such as garbage pick up, planting and maintaining a schoolyard garden, or helping businesses with their recycling. The CAC should not be funded with tax dollars unless they produce tangible, visible benefits which are positive for the residents of Sebastopol. There is absolutely no reason why the CAC should be a City supported, Brown acted committee unless they really produce results for the citizens who are paying for their group.
8) Disband the Public Arts Committee as they take up time and the City does not have the expertise or funding to maintain and preserve a public art collection. Remove this developer fee or set up a new fee that is dedicated to the maintenance of public spaces.