Councilmembers, city staff, and residents,
Since March of 2023, Councilmember McLewis has been absent from at least ten regular council meetings, as documented in the official record. Most recently, July 15 and August 5, 2025. No other council member has anywhere near this many absences during this time.
These absences were not from minor or procedural sessions. They occurred during some of the most important actions this body has taken over the past two and a half years, including:
● Adoption of capital improvement plans and city budgets, including fire safety funding for the Community Cultural Center.
● Decisions on major development agreements, such as Hotel Sebastopol. ● Amendments to sewer service charges and council protocols. ● Approval of public works reorganizations, labor contracts, and sales tax collection implementation. ● Consideration of public safety measures like the annual fireworks show.
When a councilmember is repeatedly absent, the public is left without representation, and the remaining members of this body carry the additional weight of decision-making.
State law is clear: a council seat may be vacated if a member misses 60 days of meetings without permission.
While individual absences may sometimes be excused, the pattern here, stretching across multiple years and requiring repeated retroactive excuses, shows an ongoing inability to fulfill the responsibilities of office.
For the sake of accountability, transparency, and fair representation of our community, I urge this Council to recognize the extraordinary number of documented absences and take appropriate action to address whether Councilmember McLewis can continue to serve effectively.
Thank you,
Kyle Falbo