SCC
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center
April 7, 2026
Honorable Mayor and City Council
City Hall
7120 Bodega Avenue
Sebastopol, California 95472
Dear Mayor and City Council Members:
Our Board first learned of a formal proposal for City Council's consideration of small format soccer fields in the parking area behind the Community Center's Youth Annex on Friday, April 3.
This provided us little notice of a project that would significantly impact parking resources for the Youth Annex and Main Hall, and for large events and festivals at the Community Center.
I sent an email regarding the proposal that I believe was provided to the Council, but this morning I did not see it in the attachments to the staff report, so l am reiterating my concerns in this letter.
We certainly acknowledge the benefits of local soccer programs, and active recreation generally, which we also provide. However, this location does not appear appropriate for the proposal.
Besides serving visitors to the Laguna Preserve, the parking area also serves the Youth Annex, Community Center, Wischemann Hall and baseball fields on a daily basis. In addition, this parking area is a critical resource for the Community Center for large events and festivals. At our larger events, attendees park in the lot; at some festivals, vendors and others part in the lot for multiple days. Its elimination will adversely impact the Community Center operations, reduce convenient parking (which is a concern to some attendees) and force parking into other areas of the community. We do not support removal or reduction of this resource.
The concept also appears to be in direct conflict with the City's adopted Laguna Park Master Plan. The Master Plan, which envisioned and guided development of the present-day Laguna de Santa Rosa Wetlands Preserve, specifically called for development of a parking lot at this location to serve the Preserve. See Item 9, page 24 of the Volume 1 of the Master Plan, which Sebastopol Community Cultural Center
SCCC dedicates itself to celebrating and fostering the culture, enrichment, and well being of the community 707-823-1511
www.seb.org
9. New Parking Lot: A new parking lot is proposed for the area adjacent to the ampnitheater and renovated ponds. This new 69-space lot will provide additional parking for the proposed passive- and nature-intensive uses as well as parking for the proposed Teen Center. In addition, it will make up the 17-space deficit that currently exists at the park.
The Master Plan was developed to protect the special qualities of the Laguna de Santa Rosa, including from otherwise desirable uses- believe prior to its adoption there were proposals for ballfields and other uses for City-owned Laguna areas; the intent of the Master Plan was to draw a line and substantially limit urban development in the City-owned Laguna lands. The City's 2015 Laguna Wetlands Preserve Restoration and Management Plan reiterated these In addition, my recollection is that the City developed the parking area with a special state grant in one of the phases of Laguna Preserve development. I do not know if that funding imposed any legal restrictions on future removal of the improvements, but if my memory is correct about a grant that funded the development of the area, removal of the parking area may violate the spirit of that grant; in any case, if the City further considers the proposal, any grant-related legal concerns should be reviewed.
We appreciate your consideration of our concerns.
sincerey, un Webste
Kenyon Webster
President, Sebastopol Community Cultural Center Board of Directors Sebastopol Community Cultural Center
SCCC dedicates itself to celebrating and fostering the culture, enrichment, and well being of the community 707-823-1511
www.seb.org
EIN 94-2915229