Agenda-Item-Number-1-DRB-Interviews-w-attachments — Sebastopol City Council, January 20, 2026

CITY OF SEBASTOPOL CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEM REPORT FOR MEETING OF: January 20, 2026
=========================================================================================== To: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
From: Victoria Henkel, Permit Technician
Subject: Design Review/Tree Board Interviews
=========================================================================================== RECOMMENDATIONS:

The item is to request that the Council conduct interviews for the three open positions on the Design Review/Tree Board.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

DESIGN REVIEW/TREE BOARD – 2 YEAR TERM
The Design Review Board meets on the 4
th Tuesday of each month at 3:30 p.m. at the Sebastopol Youth Annex, 425 Morris Street, Sebastopol, CA. Appointments are for two years, and the term ending date for the current vacancies is December 31, 2027.

BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION:

Municipal Code Chapter 2.32, Design Review Board states for Members and Terms as follows:

The Board shall consist of five members or such other number as the City Council shall, from time to time, determine by resolution, but in no event less than five members. The Board members shall serve a term of two years or until their successors are appointed. Initially, three members of the Board shall be appointed for two years, and two members shall be appointed for one year. Thereafter, the terms shall be staggered in accordance with their expiration dates. In making the appointments, the City Council shall select, insofar as possible, the following:

A. Two persons, at least one of whom shall be a licensed architect and at least one of whom shall be a licensed landscape architect.

B. One person who may be any of the following: architect, landscape architect, building designer, building contractor, landscape contractor.

C. Two persons not in subsection A or B of this section.

D. One alternate who may be in subsection A of this section or who possesses a particular expertise in the area of design, land use patterns, urban development or other related fields to serve at any meeting or on any matter in the absence of a Board member, or in the event a member has a conflict of interest.

E. In the event suitable candidates satisfactory to the City Council in the above categories are not available to serve, the City Council may then select any person or persons in their discretion. All terms of office shall terminate December 31st of the last year of the term of appointment.

The current Design Review Board members are listed below (vacancies are highlighted)

MEMBERS TERM ENDING DATE CATEGORY
Lars Langberg, Chair 12/31/2025 Category A
Melissa Hanley, Vice-Chair 12/31/2025 Category C
Christine Level 12/31/2025 Category C
Lynn Deedler 12/31/2026 Category B
Christian Macke 12/31/2026 Category A
Marshall Balfe (Alternate) 12/31/2026 Category D
Agenda Item Number: 1 Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: January 20, 2026
1 of 25
The City Council received applications from the following individuals for the three openings on the Design Review/Tree Board.

APPLICATIONS CATEGORY
Lars Langberg Category A
Melissa Hanley Category C
Blake McDowall Category C
Dustin Deason Category B
Please note: An applicant has applied for Category B. There is currently no vacancy for Category B. There are openings for Categories A and C. Per the Sebastopol Municipal Code Chapter 2.32.020 (E), if suitable candidates satisfactory to the City Council in the above categories are not available to serve, the City Council may then select any person or persons in their discretion.

Interviews for the applicants are scheduled as follows:

DESIGN REVIEW BOARD INTERVIEW:

Design Review Board (Three Seats Open)
The following interviews will start at 6:00 pm:

Applicant Name Category:

Lars Langberg Category A
Melissa Hanley Category C
Blake McDowall Category C
Dustin Deason Category B
STAFF ANALYSIS:

The City received four applications within the time period for the three openings. This item is for the Council to conduct interviews for the three vacancies on the Design Review Board.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH:

This item has been noticed in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act and was available for public viewing and review at least 72 hours prior to scheduled meeting date.

FISCAL IMPACT:

There is no direct fiscal impact associated with the recommended action tonight.

RESTATED RECOMMENDATION:

1. Conduct interviews with the four applicants

OPTIONS:

None. Consideration of appointments will be considered later in the agenda.

ATTACHMENTS:

Applications (redacted)
APPROVALS:

Department Head Approval: Approval Date: _1/13/26__
CEQA Determination (Planning): Approval Date: _1/5/2026_ Agenda Item Number: 1 Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: January 20, 2026
2 of 25
The proposed action is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Administrative Services (Financial) Approval Date:___1/13/2026__ Costs authorized in City Approved Budget: ☐ Yes ☐ No  N/A Account Code (if applicable) ___________________________ City Attorney Approval: Approval Date: __N/A_________
City Manager Approval: Approval Date: __1/13/2026____
Agenda Item Number: 1 Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: January 20, 2026
3 of 25
Agenda Item Number: 1 Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: January 20, 2026
4 of 25
Agenda Item Number: 1 Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: January 20, 2026
5 of 25
Agenda Item Number: 1 Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: January 20, 2026
6 of 25
Agenda Item Number: 1 Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: January 20, 2026
7 of 25
Agenda Item Number: 1 Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: January 20, 2026
8 of 25
Agenda Item Number: 1 Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: January 20, 2026
9 of 25
The Board shall consist of five members and the City Council shall select, if possible, the following:

A. Two persons, at least one of whom shall be a licensed architect and at least one of whom shall be a licensed landscape architect.

B. One person who may be any of the following: architect, landscape architect, building designer, building contractor, landscape contractor.

C. Two persons not in subsection A or B of this section.

Which category is being applied for? (Check all that apply)  A
 B
 C
 D
Name:

Home Address, City, State and Zip Code:

Home Phone Number: __________________
If appointed, do you want this number to be visible to the public? □Yes □No
Work Phone Number:

If appointed, do you want this number to be visible to the public? □Yes □No
Facsimile Number:

If appointed, do you want this number to be visible to the public? □Yes □No
E-Mail Address:

If appointed, do you want this address to be visible to the X
Melissa Hanley
419 Florence Ave
Sebastopol, CA 95472
415 920 3279
X
415 525 9179
X
N/A [email protected]
Agenda Item Number: 1 Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: January 20, 2026
10 of 25
public?
□Yes □No
Are you a registered voter in Sebastopol?
□Yes □No
If so, for how long?
Do you hold a current business license from the City of Sebastopol? □Yes □No
If so, for how long?
Have you attended a meeting of this body? When?
Have you served on, interviewed for, or applied for this body previously? □Yes □No
If so, when?
Present Employer:

Job Title:

X
X
11 years X
Yes. I have been a member of the DRB since 2022. X
Yes. I have been a member of the DRB since 2022. Design Blitz Co-Founder and Architect Agenda Item Number: 1 Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: January 20, 2026
11 of 25
Have you previously served on any governmental bodies or held elected office? If so please list position held and dates:

Please list civic or charitable organization to which you belong or have belonged:

Have you been an officer in any of these organizations? If so, please list position held and dates:

What special interests, skills and talents would you bring to this board, commission, or committee? Please list any college, professional or vocational schools you have attended with major subject studied, dates and any earned degrees:

Yes. I have been a member of the Sebastopol DRB since 2022.

American Institute of Architects (AIA), International Institute of Interior Designers, American Society of Interior Designers Yes. AIA Board of Directors, Dir. of Chapter Affairs 2008-2012 As an architect, business owner and 6th generation Sebastopol local I can bring a unique blend of strong Sebastopol roots paired with modern economic insights. I established my firm with my now husband in 2009 and have grown it into a thriving concern with two locations, having won over 150 design awards and having been published in over 500 periodicals both domestic and international. My portfolio includes over 5 million square feet of built work in the Bay Area with another 1 million SF built in the greater Los Angeles metro and several built projects across Canada, the UK, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and Australia. I have been named in the SF Business Times top 50 under 50 and lectured across the US on issues of design, women in design and business and the future of work in a post-pandemic world. I also make a very good grilled cheese sandwich.

University of California, Berkeley 2006
BA Architecture
Minor City and Regional Planning
Agenda Item Number: 1 Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: January 20, 2026
12 of 25
Please list any special awards or recognition you have received:

Please state why you would like to become a member of this board, commission or Committee, including what specific objectives you would be working toward as a member of this body:

Are you associated with any organization/employment that might be deemed a conflict of interest in performing your duties if appointed to this position?
□Yes □No
If yes, please state name oforganization/employment:

Design Awards (last five years only)
- Confidential Venture Capital Firm / IIDA NorCal Honor Award Winner, Work Medium (2025) - Poms & Associates LABJ Inside the Valley, Best New Headquarters (2024) - L’Oréal West Coast HQ ASID Focus Award, Diversity (2024) - L’Oréal West Coast HQIIDA NorCal Honor Awards Winner, Work Large (2023) - L’Oréal West Coast HQIIDA SoCal Calibre Winner, Work Large & People’s Choice (2023) - Verizon Yahoo! Interior Design Magazine Best of Year Honoree (2022) - Lucid Studio Fashion SQ IIDA NorCal Honor Awards Finalist (2022) - Saatchi & Saatchi IIDA NorCal Honor Awards Finalist (2022) - Astrazeneca IIDA NorCal Honoree, Heal + Long View (2021) - ABP Capital IIDA NorCal Honor Awards Winner (2020)
I am thrilled to be considered for this post. I am 6th generation Sebastopol native and my husband and I moved back to Sebastopol in 2014 as soon as finances would allow. We love it here and, while our business takes us to places all over the world, coming 'home' always means being here. We've recently welcomed our first child and are even more motivated to contribute where we can towards making Sebastopol a wonderful place for our daughter to grow up. I am particularly driven to create housing options for people who, like me, who grew up here but now find themselves priced out of the market as adults. I hate seeing my peers leave the town (and often the state!) for cheaper options that better support their financial goals. Sebastopol is a very special place and part of what makes it so special is the generations-deep commitment to the area and to the community. I want to work to make it possible for my peers to come back home and contribute to the next generation of Sebastopol. I've enjoyed my time on the DRB over the last several years and would love to continue contributing to the community. X
X
I am a current DRB member.

Agenda Item Number: 1 Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: January 20, 2026
13 of 25
Is there any other information that you feel would be useful to the City Council in reviewing your application and materials provided with the application? What do you think qualifies you to be appointed to this board/committee/commission? Are there particular issues you think the board/committee/commission should concentrate on? How should community comments be integrated into the board/committee/commission decision-making process?
My husband and I are passionate about renewable energy. We have invested in solar and batteries for our home along with electrical vehicles and are evangelists for 'the electric life'.

We are (slowly) converting the family farm on Ferguson Rd to a hop farm from Christmas trees and are thrilled to have our hops in seasonal beers at Crooked Goat. Our connection to the agrarian part of Sonoma County is a wonderful counterpoint to the hustle and bustle of our corporate lives.

We love living on Florence Ave. We routinely describe ourselves as 'the Godzilla house'. We bought the house in 2017 and have finished a substantial renovation (apologies to our long-suffering neighbors). We love the property specifically because we were able to convert a garage to an ADU in the back for my mother-in-law. I am thrilled that Sebastopol has adopted much more owner-friendly ADU requirements to help with our housing requirements.

My proven track record in starting and running a successful business gives me the perspective and knowledge to make logical, economically viable decisions. My portfolio of award winning projects demonstrates my capabilities in design. I have never had an administrative warning from CAB or any other legal concern with my license which demonstrates my technical capabilities and professional standard of care. My and my family's long-standing residency in Sebastopol and continued commitment and investment in / to the town. Additionally, I have been a board member since 2022 and have served as Vice Chair for my current term.

I have recently joined the tree board sub-committee to rewrite the tree ordinance to bring it up-to-date and in compliance with state law. I think I bring a common-sense approach to items like this that come before the board and often speak in support of home owners and small business owners who are trying to do the right thing despite an often complicated (and expensive!) bureaucratic process. I would love for us to focus on simplifying our city processes to encourage more compliance and engagement from the public. In addition to the tree ordinance I would like to focus on updating the sign ordinance to better protect Sebastopol's unique and creative character and avoid a plethora of digital signage or signnage that is not in keeping with the town's existing character. Finally, I think we all should be looking for ways to future-proof the city to ensure viability for the next generation. This means looking not just as housing but at business opportunities for local business, infrastructure to support the needs to support a growing population, improving opportunities for smart density while ensuring a responsible environmental footprint.

I engage with public / community comments on projects regularly. I see these folks as the 'boots on the ground' for the project and their feedback / input as germane data points that would likely be difficult or impossible for us as the designers / committee to otherwise obtain. The ability to directly engage with those affected by the task is as important as how we engage with them. Respect, patience, and an inquisitive mind are fundamental. The beauty of our democratic process is that allows everyone an equal say which can, of course, be messy. The goal is to ensure we suss out the relevant information through a questioning dialog and leave everyone at least feeling heard (if not happy with the decision).

Agenda Item Number: 1 Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: January 20, 2026
14 of 25
If appointed, how would you handle it if another board/committee/commission member vehemently disagrees with your comments on a regular basis?
How would you handle a situation where a proposal comes before your board/committee/commission that the City staff finds consistent with City policies and standards, but that you personally do not support?
I certify that I have thoroughly read and understand all material in this application.

Applicant’s Signature :

Applicant’s Name (PLEASE PRINT):

Date:

The same way that I deal with any conflict as it arises in the complex projects that I undertake as a professional. Disagreement is a opportunity for refinement in opinion and solutions. I strongly align with the concept of re-thinking to ensure that ideas are never statically held in the face of new information.

When someone disagrees with me my first question is to ask 'how' they would approach the issue differently to provide for a tactical solution. 'Why' can be subjective but 'how' gets to the nuts and bolts of problem solving. I routinely work on complex projects involving tens of millions of dollars for major international corporations. Conflict is inevitable with so many individuals involved in high-stakes projects.

The fact that 65% of our work on an annual basis is for repeat clients and the largest source of new business referral is from contractors and project managers who like working with us serves as a strong testament to my / our ability to find resolutions.

If someone is, however, obstructive then additional actions need to be taken including alerting the city manager and city counsel to the behavior that is causing undue conflict and obstructing to the process.

I see the role as an advocate for Sebastopol's current and future citizens and not one of personal taste or objectives. However, the role of advocate requires a future-forward lens and that might mean questioning existing policies / standards if they are not consist with the future goals of the city.

X
Melissa Hanley November 6, 2025
Agenda Item Number: 1 Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: January 20, 2026
15 of 25
Agenda Item Number: 1 Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: January 20, 2026
16 of 25
Agenda Item Number: 1 Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: January 20, 2026
17 of 25
Agenda Item Number: 1 Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: January 20, 2026
18 of 25
Agenda Item Number: 1 Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: January 20, 2026
19 of 25
The Board shall consist of five members and the City Council shall select, if possible, the following:

A. Two persons, at least one of whom shall be a licensed architect and at least one of whom shall be a licensed landscape architect.

B. One person who may be any of the following: architect, landscape architect, building designer, building contractor, landscape contractor.

C. Two persons not in subsection A or B of this section.

Which category is being applied for? (Check all that apply)  A
 B
 C
 D
Name:

Home Address, City, State and Zip Code:

Home Phone Number: __________________
If appointed, do you want this number to be visible to the public? □Yes □No
Work Phone Number:

If appointed, do you want this number to be visible to the public? □Yes □No
Facsimile Number:

If appointed, do you want this number to be visible to the public? □Yes □No
E-Mail Address:

If appointed, do you want this address to be visible to the x
Dustin Deason 501 Pleasant Hill Rd. Sebastopol, CA707-480-5883 x x
707-480-5883 N/A [email protected]
Agenda Item Number: 1 Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: January 20, 2026
20 of 25
public?
□Yes □No
Are you a registered voter in Sebastopol?
□Yes □No
If so, for how long?
Do you hold a current business license from the City of Sebastopol? □Yes □No
If so, for how long?
Have you attended a meeting of this body? When?
Have you served on, interviewed for, or applied for this body previously? □Yes □No
If so, when?
Present Employer:

Job Title:
x
x
+10 years x
off and on depending on jobs. No x
Brandywine Builders/Self Employed CEO
Agenda Item Number: 1 Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: January 20, 2026
21 of 25
Have you previously served on any governmental bodies or held elected office? If so please list position held and dates:

Please list civic or charitable organization to which you belong or have belonged:

Have you been an officer in any of these organizations? If so, please list position held and dates:

Board of Cloverdale Performing Arts center to
help obtain and disperse CDC funds:
-2008
-CYO Coach
-Little League Coach No -Experienced Builder ~25 years
BA - Theatre Arts from Humboldt State University with
a minor in Teach English as a Second Language
Agenda Item Number: 1 Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: January 20, 2026
22 of 25
Please list any special awards or recognition you have received:

Please state why you would like to become a member of this board, commission or Committee, including what specific objectives you would be working toward as a member of this body:

City policy directs all appointed, advisory body members not to vote on matters where there exists a potential conflict of interest such as property ownership near a project, or a financial relationship with the applicant. Would you be willing to abstain from voting if such a conflict arises? □Yes □No
How did you hear about this opening?
-To be a larger part of the community in an area where
I hold some expertise.
-Received thanks from the Sebastopol Rotary for donating the labor to construct the platform currently in Ives Park. x It is possible that I could have a project
that would come before the board. x
-From Christine Level
Agenda Item Number: 1 Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: January 20, 2026
23 of 25
Is there any other information that you feel would be useful to the City Council in reviewing your application and materials provided with the application? What do you think qualifies you to be appointed to this board/committee/commission? Are there particular issues you think the board/committee/commission should concentrate on? How should community comments be integrated into the board/committee/commission decision-making process?
N/A
I have a broad experience in construction over the last 25 years including lot/land development, entitlements, and working with governmental agencies.

I have also worked within the context of larger groups and have been subject to the Brown Act.

Also, I really love Sebastopol and would like to contribute to this City and its community.w N/A
-Depends if there is any legal bearing to the comments, or potential value. It is important that community voices are heard and also important to follow the law.

I assume that there is already a process in place for this.

Agenda Item Number: 1 Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: January 20, 2026
24 of 25
If appointed, how would you handle it if another board/committee/commission member vehemently disagrees with your comments on a regular basis?
How would you handle a situation where a proposal comes before your board/committee/commission that the City staff finds consistent with City policies and standards, but that you personally do not support?
I certify that I have thoroughly read and understand all material in this application.

Applicant’s Signature :

Applicant’s Name (PLEASE PRINT):

Date:

Dustin Deason
12/10/2025
-Disagreements make better decisions. I would fully expect there to be a wide range of opinions about projects. Fact finding and broadening the conversation can often lead to disagreements. I believe this is a healthy part of the process. -If someone was unprofessional or disrespectful, I would talk directly to that person and/or talk to the chair. There is a big difference between "vehemently disagrees" and "unprofessional or disrespectful." -My understanding of the position is that the Board makes recommendations. x
Agenda Item Number: 1 Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: January 20, 2026
25 of 25

Sebastopol City CouncilJanuary 20, 2026

Sebastopol City Council
January 20, 2026