July 1, 2025
Re: City Council Meeting on June 17, 2025
Agenda Item #14
Dear City Council & City Staff:
On behalf of the Sebastopol Area Senior Center, we’d like to share our support for the formation of an ad hoc committee dedicated to exploring and advancing “The Commons.”
We’ve reviewed the report of the Library Ad Hoc Committee. The concept of the Commons, a space where resources are shared, inclusive, and accessible captures what so many of us are striving for in Sebastopol, particularly with an above-average senior population.
While we are in support of this vision, we also recognize that at this stage, the Commons remains a concept. Bringing it to life will require considerable planning, community engagement, and a substantial financial commitment. This work must be approached with both creativity and discipline.
In the meantime, the Senior Center will continue to pursue potential locations that meet the critical needs of the older adults we serve, who represent roughly one-third of Sebastopol’s population. Until a larger Commons vision is realized, we remain focused on identifying realistic, near-term solutions to our own space constraints, which you are already aware of.
If the ad hoc moves forward, we will identify one to two Senior Center representatives to take part.
Regards,
October 3, 2018
Katie Davis
Executive Director
[email protected]
167 N. High St, Sebastopol, CA 95472 707.829.2440 sebastopolseniorcenter.org Board of Directors
President
Alan Beckstead*
Vice President
Jill Ravitch
Treasurer
John Henel*
Secretary
Colin Ramsay
Immediate Past President
Gary Bachelor
Directors
Catherine Barnard
Allan Bernstein, M.D.
Tate Birnie
Missy Danneberg
Brian Ledig*
Pat O’Connor
Alice Perlman
Jill Ravitch
Alain Serkissian*
Steve Thomas
Amy Truong
*Endowment Trustees
City Council Representative
Stephen Zollman
STAFF
Executive Director
Katie Davis
Director of Operations
Hillary Werhane
Program Manager
Marlo Carreno
Transportation Coordinator
Aubri Lane
Harvest Café
Clint Gandy
The Legacy
Brittany Roney
LGBT Programs
Scotty King
Reception & Resources
Emily Topai
Accounting Manager
Lisa Mathiesen
*all employees listed on website
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