Total Survey Responses: 236
Theme Definition Theme Timeline Preference Count
Support for locally-owned businesses, opposition to
chains/formula businesses, preserving Sebastopol's
unique identity
Preserve Local Character / Anti-Chain /
Small Business
Short-term 42
Concerns about traffic flow, parking availability, oneway vs two-way streets, bike lanes, pedestrian safety Traffic / Parking / Street Configuration Short-term 26 Potholes, road repaving, sidewalk repair, deferred
maintenance, water/sewer infrastructure Infrastructure Repair / Roads / Sidewalks Short-term 20 Concerns about transients, trash, graffiti, public drug use, making downtown feel safe and welcoming
Downtown Cleanliness / Safety /
Homelessness Short-term 16
Concerns about rising housing costs, ADUs, density,
attracting young families, rent control
Housing Affordability / Development
Density Mid-term 14
Support for parks, community events, public art,
festivals, gathering spaces Public Spaces / Parks / Events / Arts Short-term 13 Specific focus on filling empty commercial buildings,
especially Rite Aid, CVS, Redwood Marketplace, Barlow
adjacent lot
Vacant Space Reuse / Rite Aid / CVS /
Barlow Lot Mid-term 11
Tension between catering to tourists vs. serving local
residents' needs Tourism vs. Resident Balance Short-term 10 Support for local artists, music venues, cultural events, creative placemaking Arts / Culture / Creative Economy Short-term leaning Mid-term 9 Concerns about city spending, tax rates, consultant
costs, budget deficits Fiscal Concerns / Budget / Tax Rates Short-term 8 190
Goal 1:
Community
Vitality
Top 10
Theme Definition Theme Timeline Preference Count
Concerns about unhoused individuals in public spaces,
drug use/sales, encampment removal, and linking
homelessness to public safety
Homelessness Enforcement / Public
Space Management / Drug Activity
Short-term 24
Calls for stricter enforcement of speeding, red lights, reckless driving; traffic cameras; pedestrian safety at crosswalks
Traffic Enforcement / Speed Control /
Traffic Safety
Short-term 22
Requests for officers on foot/bike, beat cops, visible
presence downtown, community engagement beyond
emergency response
Police Visibility / Community Policing /
Foot Patrols
Short-term leaning Midterm 18
Responses indicating satisfaction, "doing well," "keep it up," or that public safety is already adequate
Status Quo / Satisfaction with Current
Services Mixed (Short & Long-term) 17
Concerns about ambulance/fire response times, EMS
access, 911 coverage, rural response, ER/urgent care
access
Emergency Response Times / Fire
Services / EMS / 911
Short-term leaning Midterm 14
Calls for adequate police staffing, funding, chief
retention, council respect/support for department
Police Staffing / Funding / Retention /
Council Support Short-term 13
Specific discussion of bike lanes (pro/con), cyclist
safety, bike/pedestrian conflict, dedicated bike routes Bike Infrastructure / Bike Lane Debate /
Cyclist Safety
Mid-term leaning Longterm 11
Concerns about fire service merger, local control of fire department, transition to Gold Ridge, volunteer reliance Fire Department Structure / Local Control
/ Gold Ridge Transition
Short-term leaning Midterm 9
Focus on reducing property crime, violent crime rates,
theft, shoplifting, holding offenders accountable
Crime Reduction / Accountability /
Property Crime Concerns Short-term 8
Calls for mental health/substance abuse alternatives to policing, crisis response teams, de-escalation
resources
Mental Health / Crisis Response
Alternatives / inResponse
Short-term leaning Midterm 7
171
Goal 2: Public
Safety
Top 10
Theme Definition Theme Timeline Preference Count
Overwhelming focus on road conditions: potholes,
repaving, patching vs. full repair, PCI scores, Bodega
Hwy, county road coordination
Roads / Street Repair / Potholes /
Repaving / PCI
Short-term 58
Concerns about park conditions, Ives Park specific
improvements (fence, pool, pathways), green space
preservation, playgrounds, public gathering areas
Parks / Public Spaces / Ives Park /
Gathering Places
Short-term leaning Midterm
18 Discussion of bike lanes (pro/con), separated bike
routes, Class I trails, Apple Blossom/Gravenstein trails, cyclist-pedestrian safety
Bike Infrastructure / Bike Lanes / Trail
Connectivity / Cyclist Safety
Short-term leaning Midterm 14
Focus on sidewalk repair, connectivity, tripping hazards, crosswalk signals, pedestrian safety, walkable
downtown
Sidewalks / Pedestrian Infrastructure /
Crosswalks / Walkability Short-term 12
Concerns about aging water/sewer systems, water
purity, rate reductions, sewer project costs,
inflow/infiltration
Water / Sewer Infrastructure / Utilities /
Water Rates
Short-term leaning Midterm 11
Debate over one-way vs. two-way streets, traffic
calming, bypass routes, gridlock, highway coordination
(12/116)
Traffic Flow / Street Configuration / TwoWay Debate / Bypass Short-term 10 Requests for more parking, parking garages, off-street
solutions, parking management, access to downtown
businesses
Parking Infrastructure / Off-Street
Solutions / Downtown Access
Short-term leaning Midterm 9
Concerns about infrastructure funding, budget deficits, fee increases, fiscal transparency, CIP implementation
Fiscal Management / Budget / Fees /
Transparency Related to Infrastructure
Short-term leaning Midterm 9
Discussion of library, senior center, community center
conditions, relocation proposals (Rite Aid), facility
upgrades
Municipal Buildings / Facilities / Library /
Senior Center / Community Center Mid-term 8
Concerns about vacant buildings, derelict houses, redtagging, code enforcement, private property maintenance
Vacant / Derelict Property / Code
Enforcement / Building Maintenance
Short-term leaning Midterm 7
181
Goal 3:
Infrastructure
Top 10
Theme Definition Theme Timeline Preference Count
Overwhelming focus on council needing to listen to
residents, respect public input (especially on
traffic/housing), and reflect community will in decisions Council Listening / Responsiveness /
Public Input
Short-term 23
Concerns about budget deficits, wasteful spending
(consultants, studies, pet projects), fiscal responsibility, and tax/fee management
Fiscal Management / Budget / Spending /
Waste
Short-term 20
Responses indicating satisfaction with current
organization, "think we do this well," "good," or
"maintain the organization" Status Quo / Satisfaction / "Doing Well" Mixed (Short & Long-term) 10 Responses indicating confusion about the goal
definition, "not sure what this means," or providing
minimal/non-substantive feedback (reflects survey
design clarity)
Unclear / Confused / "Don't Know" /
Survey Clarity
Mixed (Short, Mid, Longterm) 15
Calls to hire/permanentize City Manager, fill vacant
positions (Planning Director, Admin Services), and
address staffing levels City Manager / Staffing / Vacancies / HR Short-term leaning Midterm 11
Focus on rebuilding public trust, accountability for
decisions/staff, transparency in budgeting/process, and closing the feedback loop
Transparency / Accountability / Trust /
Communication Short-term 10
Specific structural reform proposals: elected mayor,
term limits, council expansion, ballot measures for
major decisions, meeting process changes
Governance Structure / Reform (Mayor,
Term Limits, Ballot) Mixed (Short & Long-term) 7
Requests for more town halls, neighborhood outreach,
small group discussions, and proactive community
engagement beyond council meetings
Community Engagement / Outreach /
Town Halls
Short-term leaning Midterm 6
Concerns about staff competence, salaries too high,
need for audits, firing underperforming staff, and
building department user-friendliness
Staff Competency / Performance /
Salaries / Audits Short-term 5
Specific complaints about hiring consultants, wasting
money on studies, and relying on external advice over
internal staff/community input Consultants / Studies / External Advice Short-term 4 135
Goal 4:
High
Performance
Organization
Top 10
Theme Definition Theme Timeline Preference Count
Overwhelming focus on achieving balanced budgets,
eliminating deficit spending, living within means, and
fiscal responsibility as foundational to all other goals Budget Balance / Deficit Concerns /
Fiscal Discipline
Short-term 32
Calls for new revenue streams: hotel/TOT taxes, parking fees, tourist taxes, property tax reform, county revenue share, and tax burden concerns
Revenue Generation / Tax Policy / Tourist
Taxes / TOT
Short-term leaning Midterm
28 Strong emphasis on reducing wasteful spending,
eliminating consultant contracts, cutting "pet projects," and prioritizing essential services
Spending Cuts / Waste Reduction /
Consultant Criticism Short-term 24
Specific focus on building hotels (Rite Aid/CVS sites), generating TOT revenue, and leveraging tourism for
fiscal sustainability
Hotel Development / Lodging
Infrastructure / TOT Revenue
Short-term leaning Midterm 18
Support for locally-owned businesses as economic
drivers, opposition to chains/big box stores, and keeping revenue circulating locally
Local Business Support / Anti-Chain /
Small Business Focus Short-term 14
Calls for transparent budgeting, public reporting of
expenditures, searchable payment databases, and clear
communication about fund usage
Fiscal Transparency / Accountability /
Budget Reporting Short-term 12
Emphasis on hiring competent City Manager/Finance
Director, filling vacancies, and professional leadership to restore fiscal health
City Manager / Staffing / Leadership for
Financial Management
Short-term leaning Midterm 10
Focus on building rainy-day funds, reserve studies, multiyear planning, and preparing for economic shocks (earthquakes, recessions)
Reserves / Emergency Fund / Long-Term
Financial Planning
Mid-term leaning Longterm 9
Discussion of balancing tourism benefits with resident
needs, capturing revenue from day-visitors, and
avoiding over-dependence on seasonal tourism
Tourism Balance / Visitor Revenue
Strategies / Day-Tourism Fees Mid-term 8
Specific concern about water/sewer funds being used
for general fund, calls for separate utility district (SUD), and rate accountability
Water/Sewer Fund Transparency / Utility
District Spin-Off
Short-term leaning Midterm 5
177
Goal 5:
Long Term
Financial
Sustainability
Top 10
Theme Definition Theme Timeline Preference Count
Overwhelming focus on supporting locally-owned
businesses, opposing chains/big box stores (especially
Grocery Outlet), and keeping revenue circulating locally Local Business Support / Anti-Chain /
Small Business Focus
Short-term 42
Specific focus on filling empty commercial buildings,
particularly Rite Aid, CVS, Redwood Marketplace, and
reducing vacancy rates
Vacant Space Reuse / Rite Aid / CVS /
Building Fill
Short-term leaning Midterm
22 Concerns that traffic flow, parking availability, and street configuration (one-way vs. two-way) directly
impact business viability and customer access
Traffic / Parking / Infrastructure (Business
Impact) Short-term 20
Calls to loosen regulations, streamline permitting,
reduce fees, and remove bureaucratic hurdles for
business owners Regulations / Permits / Fees / Red Tape Short-term 16 Focus on leveraging tourism, building hotels for TOT
revenue, and balancing visitor economy with local
needs Tourism / Hotels / TOT / Visitor Revenue
Short-term leaning Midterm 15
Concerns about high commercial rents, landlord greed,
rent control, and affordability for small businesses to occupy spaces
Rent / Landlord Issues / Commercial
Affordability Mid-term 13
Calls for clear economic strategy, hiring Business Dev
Manager, council accountability, and proactive
leadership on economic issues
Council / Strategy / Leadership /
Business Dev Manager
Short-term leaning Midterm 11
Link between downtown cleanliness, safety
(homelessness), and aesthetic appeal to economic
success and business attraction
Downtown Vitality / Safety / Cleanliness /
Environment Short-term 9
Responses indicating satisfaction, confusion about the
goal, referring to previous answers, or lacking
substantive feedback
Status Quo / Unclear / "See Previous" /
Blank
Mixed (Short, Mid, Longterm) 8
Specific tension or comparison between the Barlow and
Downtown areas, calls for better connection, or
criticism of Barlow's impact on downtown Barlow vs. Downtown Dynamics Mid-term 6 176
Goal 6:
Economic
Development
Top 10
Theme Definition Theme Timeline Preference Count
Overwhelming focus on council needing to listen to
residents, respect public input, rebuild trust, and reflect community will in decisions
Council Listening / Responsiveness /
Public Trust
Short-term 22
Concerns about budget deficits, wasteful spending
(consultants, studies, pet projects), fiscal responsibility, and tax/fee management
Fiscal Concerns / Budget / Spending /
Waste
Short-term 18
Concerns about traffic flow, parking availability, oneway vs two-way streets, bike lanes, pedestrian safety, and bypass routes Traffic / Parking / Street Configuration Short-term 16 Concerns about unhoused individuals in public spaces,
drug use, encampment removal, downtown cleanliness,
and linking homelessness to public safety/economic
vitality
Homelessness / Downtown Safety /
Cleanliness Short-term 14
Support for locally-owned businesses, opposition to
chains/big box stores (especially Grocery Outlet),
preserving Sebastopol's unique identity
Local Business Support / Anti-Chain /
Small-Town Character Short-term 13
Concerns about rising housing costs, ADUs, density,
attracting young families, rent control, and demographic shifts
Housing Affordability / Development
Density / Young Families
Mid-term leaning Longterm 11
Focus on road repair, potholes, sidewalk maintenance,
pedestrian safety, and deferred infrastructure
maintenance
Infrastructure / Roads / Potholes /
Sidewalks Short-term 10
Specific feedback about Ives Park: fence, pool,
landscaping, events, creek daylighting, and general park maintenance Ives Park / Public Spaces / Parks / Trails
Short-term leaning Midterm 9
Specific comments about council infighting, egos,
meeting demeanor ("miserable"), and organizational
culture/drama Council Behavior / Culture / Drama / Egos Short-term leaning Longterm 8
Responses indicating satisfaction, gratitude for council work, love for Sebastopol, or "keep doing what we're
doing"
Status Quo / Satisfaction / Gratitude /
"Love Sebastopol" Mixed (Short & Long-term) 8
147
Anything Else
What's on your mind about this goal? For this goal, what would success look like if achieved? How soon should the City focus on this? Too many food venues (restaurants and food trucks) pooring out polluting smoke -- Including the Ives park Wednesday summer music event.
Also the city is letting people burn their wood stoves and fire places causing air pollution. All of this makes life difficult for those of us with asthma. Daily inhalers have a limite to their effectivness and have negative side effects. Short-term (0-12 months) Make public spaces clean and safe.
If I went downtown and it were clean and there weren't crazy people screaming or riding skateboards around with nunchucks Short-term (0-12 months) Citi Character
Sebastopol would be leading the way in local community driven experiments in education, art, food production, health. Short-term (0-12 months) Maintain and enhance public spaces for people to enjoy. Clean parks and restroom facilities. Thoughtful landscaping. Short-term (0-12 months) The roads are very bad. We all know where like everywhere. Our vibrants city is dangerous to bicyclists and adds expense to any cars suspension. There is also defered maintanance on most of our infrastructure. I see that we do a good job on the Arts and Peace, but wonder what we do when the roads become impassable.m Fix the Streets and Infrastructure to make it a vibrant Community. Get your budget ballanced as it looks like the economic winds seem to be drifting away from money from the State and Federal GOvernment. Short-term (0-12 months) Traffic & Parking
2 Way Streets and at least one additional city parking lot that will accommodate all the people driving that need to park in town Short-term (0-12 months) The downtown needs cleaned up and maintained as such
A beautiful downtown where transients aren't hanging around constantly. I eat lunch in the square and am constantly faced with homeless men hanging around and behaving in appropriately and/or drunk/high. Paying attention to how the city looks and what attracts visitors to our city should be real top priority of the city council instead of the last. Not allowing properties to continue to be in decline. Pay more attention to how the city looks to be in decline and less time worrying about attracting more people to the city who don't pay taxes or contribute to the tax base. Short-term (0-12 months) Preserve rural small town atmosphere. No large bldg construction. Short-term (0-12 months) Goal 1: Community Vitality
Sebastopol is a pretty great place to live. I’ve worked here for 50 years and lived here for 46. Raised kids, participated in important public projects, and care a lot. Right now, there might be some difficult conditions for businesses downtown, but they are not in the purview of the City to rectify. The City should concentrate on things it CAN control.
Attracting new businesses that are attractive to City residents would be a start. Many of us are older. We don’t need tattoo parlors, or “lifestyle” gurus.
We need basic services, food we can afford, clothing and shoes, etc. Short-term (0-12 months) Street cops on the beat like early days. Stop pulling over drivers for minor infractions. Community pride. Short-term (0-12 months) Help support local businesses by enhancing the ability to naturally see them through traffic reconfiguration, parking availability, financial support, etc. Create space for al fresco dining on the sidewalks by reducing street parking and expanding sidewalks for both walking and dining. A vibrant town with less business turnover, more local use. Short-term (0-12 months) Preserve more of unique character. Don't keep throttling the traffic, making it difficult to get anywhere through town, driving away customers for local businesses. Be real that the town is on a freeway. Don't try to slow the traffic down to make it cuter. It doesn't! It will cost us local businesses - and CHARM. When people can easily get where they want and easily park, that's what makes a relaxing day! And don't turn rural Ives Park into a paved urban park, replacing redwood trees with scrawny suburban trees. Yuk! Fulfill the Sebastopol General Plan dictate of traffic and parking that are NOT rated "F". Stop steamrolling over those standards. Keep out high-volume tarffic store chains from downtown, e.g. Grocery Outlet. I feel like I'm watching an episode of how to kill a small charming town! Keep the charm that we have in Ives. Short-term (0-12 months)
Protect our freedom. Typically increase safety means lose of freedoms
Teach resilience self sustainability seed keeping more community gardens and events Short-term (0-12 months)
I worry that "preserving it's unique character" will get in the way of making Sebastopol a great place to live. Making the city a wonderful place for young families can't be possible if we are catering to the way things have always been.
Schools that don't close, family friendly businesses making a home here, well paved roads, Short-term (0-12 months)
kerp 1 way streets one eay streets Short-term (0-12 months) Economic Sustainability and actual public service. Baseline things like roads, parks, infrastructure.
A city with enough revenue to sustain itself, thriving, peopled restaurants, beautiful parks and landscaping, more families and quality of life. Short-term (0-12 months) Keeping sebastopol affordable and able to stay multigenerational and vital Demographics that reflect cultural and economic diversity Short-term (0-12 months) provide better transportation via bus extended hours during high traffic days hours- more regular runs and extended hours. Traffic is so has that walking across town is not plesant in the exhaust from traffic. small towns should be buzzing with local pedestrians. Alsoworking towards decent affordable housing for all. Locals are being priced out.
Public parking on the outskirts of town where tourisits and out of town residents can park and ride shuttle. possibly near bloomfield road, one park and ride lot near the laguna, and one on the north netry tpo town near lucky's. run shuttle every 20-30 minutes for efficiency and to lessen the parking and traffic issue in town. a shuttle once per hour should be going to and from the coast on weekend in high season/ weekends to also less traffic in Sebastopol.
Thsi could be in cooperation witht the rest of the county. Short-term (0-12 months) Maintain the small town character, support local businesses, keep Main St. alive and attractive
No franchises, make Main St. the focus of Sebastopol, not the Barlow.
Support of businesses that people want to visit, not tattoo parlors and nail salons and interior decorators. Parking expanded, senior center expanded Short-term (0-12 months) Healthy active business focus. Focus on maximizing current partners within the community to continue cultivating the Goals of Sebastapol
Healthier Business's and keeping community dollars within the community vs spending outside Short-term (0-12 months)
Have community minded gathering places, regular community events and community themed places of interest.
a large green (not cement or asphault) place in the center of the town. A place that can host a wide array of events. A place with Sebastopol history honored. Short-term (0-12 months) Maintain an active community that provides shopping,
entertainment and economic growth for the community.
The Community is actively doing much of that now with facilities that people can actively enjoy and predominately local owned businesses. Short-term (0-12 months) Support the arts, build class one trails to connect the parks/community with minimal motor vehicle interface. Daylight calder creek and build arts, dining and entertainment along creek in core, daylight to the laguna. Apple blossom trail along it up to the top/school. Gravenstein trail through Laguna would allow biking walking without danger of hwy, much more pleasant and sense of place/peace. Affordable housing is needed for younger residents and service workers, artists…
Vibrant dining, art galleries and viable music venues along daylit creek with a pleasant biking/walking path network to get to and fro. Short-term (0-12 months) Bring in businesses to empty building that people will actually shop in. All buildings open with goods people want and plenty of shoppers in town. Short-term (0-12 months) Better balance between tourism and current residents needs.
More focus and support for locals, including aging population. I'm a 44 year resident who lives downtown. I no longer can ride bikes, walk everywhere. I need to be able to drive to the market, etc. When I drive, have to cross Main at Calder or Willow. The plan to reinstitute 2 away traffic concerns me. Short-term (0-12 months) Make Sebastopol a place you can shop for your basic needs.
You could buy underwear, everyday clothes, shoes etc without having to drive to another town. Short-term (0-12 months)
Roads repaved and repainted, sidewalks repaired or installed where there is dirt, pathways at Ives park (trip hazard) Make Sebastopol safe to drive or walk. Lower the speed limits. Short-term (0-12 months) I think we need a community garden and more edible landscaping A big plot where all are welcome to plant their items and fruit trees put in on our streets and in the park. Short-term (0-12 months)
How to continue to serve the whole community Including teens, seniors and ethnic diversity in decision making Short-term (0-12 months) Enhancing it as a great place to live, not a place to drive through, is important. I do not want to preserve its current character as a place to drive through.
Downtown would be calm, quiet, and safe. The old, young, and disabled could get around town without stress. Short-term (0-12 months) Sebastopol’s vitality depends on maintaining a healthy balance of local businesses and thoughtful development. Our 2016 General Plan emphasizes supporting existing businesses and avoiding an oversupply of similar uses that could weaken the local economy.
With several grocery stores already serving the downtown area, the community should carefully consider whether another grocery store strengthens Sebastopol or simply divides the same customer base. The former Rite Aid site may also present opportunities for uses that provide broader community benefit, such as community space, recreation, or youth programming.
Success would mean maintaining a vibrant local economy with a balanced mix of businesses that serve residents while supporting existing local merchants. Development decisions would align with Sebastopol’s General Plan and strengthen the town’s unique character rather than oversaturating existing categories of businesses. Short-term (0-12 months) I do not think Sebastopol is a "great place to live"
Less traffic, more tolerance for people with conservative views, people are not very friendly - they're self-absorbed. Cost of living is super high. Short-term (0-12 months) Agree Less un housed, less crime Short-term (0-12 months) Balancing Sebastopol as a city for residents and not just catering to tourists
This is interwoven with the infrastructure and local business goals -- the city is getting expensive for locals and hard to navigate with traffic and parking during some seasons Short-term (0-12 months)
no chain stores no chain stores Short-term (0-12 months) Dropping the city shopping tax rate to 9.5/9.0 cents encouraging folks to come here to shop. Responsiveness towards All the business owners in Sebastopol. Short-term (0-12 months) Unify downtown with the Barlow and traffic safety
Instead of a hotel on the downtown sight build a plaza that would serve both business areas. Forget the hotel. I am open to the two traffic idea after hearing the feedback as to the pros and cons of two way. Slowing down the traffic on So Main St. It is like a speedway out of town for some motorists. Short-term (0-12 months) I'm pleased to see small improvements like the new trash cans, but the city has a long way to go to enhance the vitality of Sebastopol.
The homeless, trash and graffiti are always present and decrease the charm of Sebastopol.
To me success would be a town free of transients, graffiti, trash, abandoned newspaper boxes, flyers on nearly all utility poles, etc. Short-term (0-12 months) Sebastopol has the 2nd highest tax rate in California and can barely afford to fund itself. Mismanagement of city funds by council is to blame.
Hire consultants for all funding decisions since the judgement of the people elected is so pathetically and consistently terrible Short-term (0-12 months) Sebastopol looks down and out. Too many homeless people and criminal types. Landscaping is bad. Vacancy downtown.
Clean up the streets and get the bums out. Turn the Rite Aid site into a hotel.
The town needs a hotel. Turn the empty CVS into a hotel. Tell hotel developers that Sebastopol wants more hotels. Short-term (0-12 months) Attract young people Better balance of young & old people Short-term (0-12 months) improving traffic flow for those that are transiting the city by establishing better traffic flow on highway 12 and 116. smarter traffic signals and coordination with the state that controls these highways. Short-term (0-12 months)
Fix the roads. The quality of the roads and the traffic congestion on Bodega.
Sebastopol is a great community but the roads are horrible. Fix those and its unique character will be appreciated more by happier people - because we won’t be angry from all the potholes. Short-term (0-12 months) Fix the roads. Fix the infrastructure. Put as much energy into the pavement as is done for crosswalks.
Find a decent contractor that knows how to repave roads with better quality asphalt. And then hire them. Short-term (0-12 months)
Work on getting businesses to fill stores where people really can shop in town. Filled stores Short-term (0-12 months)
I think "preserving [Sebastopol's] unique character" is a goal that leads mostly to downtown businesses closing because individuallyowned businesses can't afford the exorbitant rent and overhead while catering to a very specific and privileged niche.
Open up downtown to more types of businesses. The formula business ban is outdated, classist, and caters to a very small subset of people who favor "character" over things like affordable shopping and food options. Short-term (0-12 months) see traffic control Short-term (0-12 months)
Sebastopol used to be a great place to live - not anymore. For years the city councils have been more concerned about the homeless (and no they are not from Sebastopol) than the taxpaying citizens or the downtown shopkeepers. The unique character of the city is on the chopping block with Condo ADU's approved with no design requirements. We are on the brink of disaster with our 100+ year old sewer pipes and water tanks.
Stop spending so much time on pet projects or getting the city in the middle of issues that don't apply to the safety and security of our tiny city, such as time wasted on chickens and Gaza. The city council had the opportunity to add common sense minimum requirements to the Condo ADU issue and either didn't care or did not understand what was at stake. That issue should be brought back to council. Now that the fire department issues are resolved do nothing until the police are fully funded and the water and sewer issues are taken care of. Short-term (0-12 months)
Make downtown more walkable/pedestrian friendly
Would love a square similar to healdsburg. Maybe remove parking lot from existing square to make pedestrian friendly Short-term (0-12 months) Continue investing in downtown revitalization and businesses to make Sebastopol a destination and promote local economy Business friendly, improved downtown esthetics, programs to help lease vacant spaces, address better traffic & walkability, increase safety Short-term (0-12 months) too much traffic and hard to park downtown no more grocery stores downtown. This is ridiculous. Short-term (0-12 months) Make sure we have traffic safety to run our errands, visiting local purveyors
We can trust traffic rules to prevail in some of the crazy intersections along the downtown area Short-term (0-12 months)
The town needs a VISION that celebrates what is unique about it today and into the future, holding dear what built it to what it is today
businesses thrive and are supported, people enjoy
walking/socializing/shopping/enjoying downtown, tourists feel drawn to the vibrancy of Sebastopol Short-term (0-12 months)
agree with goal maintain ,change when needed Short-term (0-12 months) Sebastopol has a lot of potential to be a great place, but struggles with downtown vitality due to the conditions of the public realm a socially and economically thriving community Short-term (0-12 months) Increasing revenue to support public safety, public spaces and roads. Safe clean public spaces and nice roads Short-term (0-12 months) Safety, community support
I think just making sure that I’m safe around town. I also think there should be emphasis on maintenance and civic improvement. Short-term (0-12 months) Embracing the new influx of residents from Silicon Valley while balancing the quirky character of the old timers
Downtown and Barlow are thriving with visitors and residents while keeping all chains and box stores from those locations. Short-term (0-12 months) Focus is well stated Fewer "formula businesses" Short-term (0-12 months) Bring back our fire department!!!! Having a fire department in town !!!!! Short-term (0-12 months) Too many new apartment buildings going up; too much traffic Stoppage of new apartment buildings, particularly the one replacing the Mormon churxh Short-term (0-12 months)
Get rid of bike lanes and have give room to restaurants for put door seating It would make shopping downtown easier Short-term (0-12 months) Not enough fun places to go More to do in the evenings, including outside Short-term (0-12 months) The city could enforce the rules already in place. Ie., signs aren’t supposed to be temporary or plastic in nature. Hire a Bus Dev/Chamber of Commerce type person to attract unique
businesses to the area.
Tidy storefronts and unique merchants filling the retail spaces. Respect the No Formula Businesses ordinance. Short-term (0-12 months) Improve walkability and parking Improved economic growth Short-term (0-12 months) Reduce and limit the amount of business advertisement sign and flags all around town. So many random flags and sign look awful. Short-term (0-12 months) About me: I have 2 small children. My wife and I moved to Sebastopol from Marin. We are working professionals. For us, the most valuable elements of Sebastopol's identity could/should be:
The Arts, Wine Country Lifestyle and California small town charm.
Although these qualities are present today, they are only mildly to moderately observable. In many places (with the exception of the Barlow area) these elements are being overshadowed by what appears to be a town in decline, choking on traffic congestion and not family friendly. Enhancing the potential characteristics (art, lifestyle, charm) across the greater town seems to be a low priority and not nearly focused on to the degree that they need to be. In my opinion (and it is shared by many recent/last 10 year, newcomers I know) there seems to be a concerning over focus on applying meager town resources toward low income(and homeless)
populations rather then laser focusing on increasing revenues, increasing value and creating jobs. Much of which could be related to making the town much more attractive to tourism. This town MUST increase it's ability to raise revenue to improve infrastructure and it isn't going to get there by way of the property tax receipts from retirees. It will also not get there by allowing visual disrepair to dominate the town center. The visible homelessness within the parks, on main streets at the post office is partly a product of this town's own making. What the town needs is a renewal. Healdsburg is a model for success. Emulate it. In conclusion, the notion of "preserving" a character (that is getting fainter by the year due to neglect) needs to be replaced by by boldly and assertively building a character. Character is in the eye of the beholder. It's not a memory, it's what you can physically see and observe today.
Ordinances that required upkeep and removal of junk in visible puc spaces and along highways leading in and out of the town. A dramatic reduction in traffic on BOTH the main streets and the interior neighbor hood streets which are being overrun by non citizen cut through traffic (much of which does not obey speed limits). No visible homeless in town parks or near businesses. An overall drive to restore the town main areas toward charm, toward arts(be an art capitol) and lifestyle business districts, beautify the parks(they are downtrodden and need more trees and green ares), and away from low income aesthetics. Build on the successful music festivals with robust art, food and other festivals in and around the town center. Get those hotels going. Stop resisting the development of positive art and cultural tourism.
Success is when Sebastopol rivals Healdsburg as a destination for art, food, wine country lifestyle and overall happyness. Success is not when Sebastopol is seen as a declining, poverty stricken city at the crossroads between 2 super highways and surrounded by the most beautify region outside of Tuscany, Italy. Sorry to be so direct, but we desperately want to see this town thrive and blossom, and all we seem to spend time on is low income issues , not positive growth. Short-term (0-12 months)
Part of maintaining character is staying modern and relevant to appeal to visitors and attract younger people to live here to sustain the character.
Reliable power and internet are a must. These are basic needs and it’s salt in the wound that we live in such a well-off, prosperous state. Paving and expanding all the main roads like Bodega Hwy all the way out of the city since it leads to so many homes, and is one of the few ways for visitors to access the water. Arterial roads should not damage your vehicle from potholes, and you should need a newer car to sustain them. Short-term (0-12 months) no grocery outlet another local option Short-term (0-12 months) Downtown traffic is terrible Re-establish 2 lanes coming into town on 116 Short-term (0-12 months) Stop closing traffic lanes for bike paths no one uses. This not Holland Petaluma hill rd two lanes Short-term (0-12 months) Grocery outlet proposal
Keeping the downtown’ unique character. Encouraging a place for teens to engage in the community Short-term (0-12 months)
Short-term (0-12 months)
Do more to make it easier for young people to live in Sebastopol Easier to build higher density housing, less red tape, more less expensive places to live (condos, apartments, available to purchase not just rent) Short-term (0-12 months) Stop bringing in large ugly businesses that don’t support the community. Ie little Caesar’s and grocery outlet. Who is getting they pay off to go against the 2017 plan for the city? Small businesses only. Short-term (0-12 months) Crummy park Fix up Ives Park Short-term (0-12 months)
A healthy and happy community is vital for any sucess in anything. Happy people walking around feeling safe. Short-term (0-12 months) Safe, tech free spaces for children; beautification of main streets with plants Educated community on harms of tech; more teen focused fun Short-term (0-12 months) Raise the volume of sales and reduce sales tax rate to the lowest in Sonoma County to inpire persons to shop in Sebastopol.
A robust Sebastopol business community and a city coffer filled with tax revenue. Short-term (0-12 months)
Some of the gathering spots, such as the town plaza, are uninviting because they are dominate by homeless people.
Families and locals hanging out and mingling here instead of a bunch of transit men with their backpacks. Short-term (0-12 months) Sounds good but vague Route traffic around downtown. Repave most streets due to potholes. Short-term (0-12 months) Support the planning departments goals for revising the planning ordinance to improve walk ability support to the design review boards work to revise the sign and ordinance to eliminate digital signage. Short-term (0-12 months)
Leave the one way traffic in place Improve and increase walking trails Short-term (0-12 months) That Sebastopol regards its roots as a crossroads, and that it is still and will be so for some time to come, a crossroads town. Sebastopol needs to acknowledge the percentage of commerce generated by non-residents, not just visitors in leisure activity. Short-term (0-12 months) No more corporate businesses downtown. Safe walkable
crosswalks 1st, especially between downtown and the Barlow and CVS. More townspeople and tourists willing to hang out. Short-term (0-12 months) Make downtown cuter with landscaping. Enlist seniors to help. And as a way to engage with others. Have more events and music Downtown would be much cuter. More flowers and landscape. Nail salons signage is tacky more events and more appealing Short-term (0-12 months) Not enough fun places to go More to do in the evenings, including outside Short-term (0-12 months) Some of the growth or development inn Sebastopol seems too focused on bringing in tourists. I understand seeking customers from outside Sebastopol, but hate to see that happen at the expense of those that live here and try to support local businesses. Thriving businesses that serve local residents not just catering to tourists. Short-term (0-12 months) The Main Street vitality is my primary interest. Absolutely no formula businesses.
Again, no formula businesses. Create a walkable route from the Barlow to Main Street using plantings, signage and a defined sidewalk. More public art including building murals. Hire a dynamite downtown chamber of commerce manager to create more events and create a sense of destination and family fun in a walkable down town. More benches, Short-term (0-12 months) create a Youth Bond a new financial instrument for capitalizing initiative of young people with ideas and aspirations yet no capital! a local 'faculty' will walk with them and train
a million dollar bond issue to begin America was founded via Subscription from citizens a Bond Short-term (0-12 months)
Sebastopol used to be the place where people would slow down and take it easy. Now it’s congested with traffic and everyone is racing to something Reduce all speed limits in residential neighborhoods to 25mph Short-term (0-12 months) I am worried about the Grocery Outlet coming to town. Big box stores diminish the character of our unique town. It may also increase traffic congestion and noise.
Finding a use for the empty building that enhances our quality of life, providing necessary services or enhancements to the community. Short-term (0-12 months) Local business is what gives Sebastopol its unique character.
Support local business. Adhere to established policy of disallowing chains. Short-term (0-12 months) Wallking-friendly to encourage more retail sales; further uses of the town square (more scheduled music, fairs, etc.); enlage square (eliminating adjacent parking
More people circulating; less need for vehicles; level of exciting environment as attraction and actual sales for retail Short-term (0-12 months) Short-term (0-12 months)
Support for local businesses
More attention paid to featuring local businesses, a more vital chamber of commerce, Downtown Association, a way to connect investors with our local bussinesses Short-term (0-12 months)
cocnnect Thee Barlow to downtown. Install. lighting and walk ways to encourage people to walk between the two areas and eliminate the separation.
wide walkways, good lighting, and welcoming signage between Barlow and Main Street. Build the hotel planned for the empty lot across from thee square. Short-term (0-12 months)
Develop a park in the area behind Sunridge School at the corner of Evan Avenue and Maytum. I believe this area has already been designated for a possible future park.
Sebastopol needs more green spaces. This could be just a simple park with lots of green space, trees, picnic areas, and play space. Short-term (0-12 months) Actively supporting local businesses, farms, and makers in town.
Car-free, walkable, and free events for locals to attend.
Locals being able to attend and patronize our neighbor’s businesses rather than being outnumbered and bought out by visitors and tourists. Short-term (0-12 months) Sebastopol is uniquely positioned in west county with wineries, apple orchards, beautiful views, small town vibe with historical buildings etc. - Part of the attraction is the Patrick's sculptures scattered throughout which give this town more character that clearly appreciates the arts. To increase the vitality of Sebastopolwe should focus on the next generation and young families. There are a lot of senior citizens that do not like change. The two way street is a good effort for change and help traffic. We need to attract tourism to help our small businesses survive. and make sebastopol a place people want to visit year round with vibrant eateries, art, parks, etc. Support local producers (food, wine, craft, design, experiential art). Create more year-round economic anchors (studios, maker spaces, small-scale production hubs).
Protect independent businesses from being priced out. Promote agricultural tourism without turning it into Napa-style overcommercialization Invest in public art, installations, and experimental spaces. Support local galleries, performance venues, and festivals. Invest in small public gathering spaces (plazas, pocket parks). the plaza current state is an embarrassment where all the homeless hang out. Doesn’t feel comfortable walking there with family.
Downtown has consistent weekday activity driven by locals, not just tourism Independent businesses are opening and staying open, not turning over rapidly There’s a strong presence of creative, remote, and small-scale production work. Public art remains experimental, local, and evolving—not overly curated Spaces exist for artists to make, not just sell The town retains its sense of humor, weirdness, and edge. Residents can run errands, meet friends, and access services without driving everywhere Safe, connected bike and pedestrian routes are actually used Public spaces feel active but not crowded. Development projects reflect community input, not just compliance. Less housing developments that are giant and ugly - prefer cottages, small multifamily—without disrupting neighborhood character.
Sebastopol avoids becoming a second-home / wealth enclave Short-term (0-12 months)
1. Community Vitality: In my understanding, the the remaining 5 listed goals ARE the very foundation of what makes a community vital: safety, economic (development) resilientce and stability; reliable infrastucture to support community safety, interactions, and recreation; and leadership that is trusted and transparent and encourages and invites public engagement and participation. The Goal, as was defined in the April 25 goal setting session, does not include (many of) the foregoing. Instead it includes things that are appearance upkeep based (labyrinth, dark lighting, supporing community activities and festive events, beautification efforts and graffiti removal and landscaping. Of THAT list, I support beautification efforts such as installing flower baskets along Main street and Petaluma Avenue, and along Healdsburg Ave North up to the rise in the road. This would be a welcoming site to people entering the town and a pleasant last image for those leaving. Once installed, these could be maintained by a volunteer beautification committee or undertaking by a local service club etc. Remove the hideous chainlink fence in Ives Park.
Installed flower baskets, an established volunteer system for maintaining. the fence in Ives park removed. Short-term (0-12 months) I'm concerned by the phrase "preserving it's unique character." It is often used as an excuse to stop change, especially higher density housing.
To be successfull there would be enough housing of all levels to bring down the high cost to live in Sebastopol. Mid-term (1-3 years) Need specific economic development strategies and measure able goals
New locally owned businesses, increased commercial diversity, climbing sales tax receipts Mid-term (1-3 years)
The huge empty lot next to the Barlow. Please consider doing something there, make it open for families, etc. - other than that ensuring downtown and Barlow businesses thrive, family friendly events, downtown hangout area that’s family friendly, beautifying businesses especially the huge concrete bank, restaurants staying open, parks unkept. Thriving and beautiful downtown and parks Mid-term (1-3 years) The lack of parking and the general unfriendliness of traffic along the two blocks of Downtown. The proposed changes to two-way may help, but the city's determination to reduce and eliminate parking shows a serious lack of concern about people with mobility issues. Secondly, I'd like to see the city embrace our identity as a center for arts, letters and music, with more financial support to those items, since they bring visitors.
Parking for disabled individuals would be available close to actual businesses. There would be more public parking lots and more, not fewer spaces along the city's main streets. The city would encourage and financially support art/music and literary events beyond the ones it already acknowledges. How about an annual book fair? What about the letter press How about the pre-pandemic Street Printing festival? Why not consider partnering with the private businesses like Retrograde and Hopmonk who already offer innovative programming? I know we want to be a wine center.
Wine goes great with books, art and music. Mid-term (1-3 years) ghjķ getting rid of bike lanes Mid-term (1-3 years)
We lost a lot of businesses during Covid. It would be great to bring in businesses that matter to west county. The Barlow is great but expensive. All the newer businesses are high end and not as family friendly. Even events like the apple blossom fair and Apple fair have gotten so expensive it is too much for a casual weekend outing I’m neither for nor against big box stores however Sebastopol cannot support itself. We have to go to Rohnert Park or Santa Rosa for basics. So the goal would look like have businesses that can provide essentials and be affordable to the working class families. In addition to the businesses we need to manage traffic and parking which are both difficult right now. Mid-term (1-3 years) Strong downtown biz, better parking to go to these biz’s better parking and easing of traffic Mid-term (1-3 years) Fill Rite Aid with a bowling alley or skate. Things for kids to do. Robust use of facilities. Mid-term (1-3 years) Traffic
Eliminate one-way lanes and bicycle lanes. We avoid downtown because its impossible to navigate in a car. Mid-term (1-3 years)
Fill in the vacant commercial spaces with family housing and community assets. The Rite Aid space and Redwood Market Space should be family housing. The Redwood Market Place could be developed into family housing with a Library/Community/Senior Center built into the design. The Council needs to be more proactive with landlords and developers.
Zero vacant commercial spaces. Family housing infill in downtown and along 116 at Rite Aid and Redwood Marketplace. Mid-term (1-3 years) Staying young and and promoting healthy physical activity choices for all ages A place to play pickleball in Sebastopol, the #1 sport for all age groups. Mid-term (1-3 years) Make the existing Whole Foods a great restaurant location and move the existing Whole Foods to The Rite Aid location for a better parking.
People love to gather in restaurants and then go shopping, locals as well as visitors from other areas. Mid-term (1-3 years)
Don’t let this get in the way of housing downtown and
redevelopment. Preservation for the sake of preservation is stagnation. 4 stories is not scary in the downtown core. More housing downtown. Ives park upgrades. Upgraded civic centers. Mid-term (1-3 years) The city is getting overly developed. It has lost its “small town Charn”. I am against the proposed hotel owned by Healdsburg Hotel. That space should be a bought and made into a park for the city Less congestion. That hotel is wrong. Sebastopol is not like Healdsburg Mid-term (1-3 years) The vitality of Ives Pool, the Senior Center, the Sebastopol Center for the Arts
The pool’s deck would be resurfaced, the pool itself resurfaced and eventually enlargened. Mid-term (1-3 years)
I think about gathering spaces in public art I also think about supporting our teens with a vibrant team center
Success for the school would mean that opportunities for people to connect or be affordable Mid-term (1-3 years)
Keep the small town character Keep doing what we’re doing Mid-term (1-3 years) Keep the small town character Keep doing what we’re doing Mid-term (1-3 years) Economic opportunity
Sebastopol is an accessible place to live and work for moderate income households Mid-term (1-3 years)
No chain stores, more bike lanes Mid-term (1-3 years)
Unique Character? You mean radical left and alienate anyone who is different? Yes! Such a great place to live. Only came back to care for my elderly parent. Accept all people, not cater to a certain demographic. Mid-term (1-3 years) Mid-term (1-3 years)
Stop the gentrification and healdsburgification. No more bourgeois trash. Encourage growth that supports people of all economic situations. Not a single new wine bar, tasting room, or financial adviser in the downtown. Mid-term (1-3 years) it's hard to maintain the community character when so many large developments are in process. Keep supporting arts, farmers market, peace town etc
Slow down the additions. Stop the Valentine proposal- you need to make too many infrastructure changes to make it work (road widening, new lights etc) Mid-term (1-3 years) Improving the town square and adding green space to downtown.
A town square that doesn’t feel run down. Converting empty lots downtown to mini parks. Mid-term (1-3 years)
Togetherness Maintain support for parks, concerts, community events Mid-term (1-3 years) Good goal
Streets and some aspects of parks are on the shabby side. Repair, repave, spruce up, beautify. Mid-term (1-3 years)
Increase the amount of public art within the City Limits High quality public sculpture, street/walkway art, and wall murals, including on private property, which could benefit from a tax break. Mid-term (1-3 years) Gathering places outdoor cafés, acoustic music venues (not amplified), Mid-term (1-3 years) Following the "locally owned" business ordinanceis a good place to start. I hear it touted, but it certainly isn't sustained.
Give current box stores end of lease notices. Whole Foods out of the central plaza, replaced by the likes of Fircrest, Andy's or Community Market. Strong boundary lines on where chain stores can enter- perhaps from Ace Hardware to Roundtable. Mid-term (1-3 years)
It would be nice to become the best city with resturants, parks, shopping. The place to "go" Non stop tourism Mid-term (1-3 years) Create a "real" town square, support small businesses More diversity in local businesses, more family-oriented businesses Mid-term (1-3 years) Vibrance of Main Street Businesses and shops that meet community needs on a daily or weekly basis. Mid-term (1-3 years) Cultural infrastructure. Sebastopol has creative energy but lacks sustainable venues and gathering spaces. We're losing
opportunities to be culturally relevant because we don't have the physical infrastructure or support systems for arts, music, and community programming. The town's character depends on who shows up and what they create - that requires places to do it.
A thriving local arts and cultural scene that isn't dependent on wine tourism.
Venues that can sustain themselves. Neighborhood-level connection through regular gatherings and mutual aid networks. Young families choosing to stay because there's something here worth being part of. Mid-term (1-3 years) Support business - relax chain store regulations - work closely with the chamber of commerce in a positive manner - add color and art to downtown
All store fronts occupied - help the hotels mover forward - offer a TOT tax holiday if they open by a defined date - more professional murals - support chamber of commerce financially Mid-term (1-3 years)
Preserve Sebastopol! We have lived here for over 20+ years and we would like to continue to see this committee not give in to more corporate interests. To not fill in every single open space with more houses and density. Address the traffic congestion going through town. Less traffic congestion, open spaces converted to parks. Mid-term (1-3 years) Increase its tax base Bring more tax revenue Mid-term (1-3 years) Mid-term (1-3 years)
community gathering spaces sidewalk cafes Mid-term (1-3 years) Keep big stores like grocery outlet out. Prioritize cleanliness, safe conditions, events and activities for all ages. People of all ages out and about in Sebastopol; friendly, Mid-term (1-3 years) Mid-term (1-3 years)
I love that this is a place where I can see neighbors downtown and talk to them. But we are a minority who can afford to live here. Plus this is a car dependent town.
More euro. People in the street drinking coffee or beer, salmon in the Laguna, people riding bikes instead of driving. Mid-term (1-3 years) Place people enjoy to live improve places to enjoy to live Mid-term (1-3 years) Continue wonderful events like the apple blossom festival, and make the down town more walkable, engaging Parklets, outdoor seating areas, improved planting down towh Mid-term (1-3 years) Mid-term (1-3 years)
Has someone actually defined what the "Unique Character" is? Address vacant businesses in the downtown area, promote walkability between the current thriving commercial areas. Mid-term (1-3 years) Free music in the public space No more NimbyN Mid-term (1-3 years) We need to appeal to young families. We are an older community Community Center and like spaces turned into yours sport arenas- batting cages, volley ball courts. Etc… Mid-term (1-3 years)
More low income and affordable housing, rent control.
Service workers, nurses, caretakers, teachers and low income families can afford to live here. Mid-term (1-3 years)
More Interaction and support for all the diverse cultures in our area Mid-term (1-3 years) I have lived in Sebastopol for only 4 years but I see it is losing its sweet hometown appeal encourage more small business, keep out big box stores! Lots of successful small businesses not having to compete with big bigness Long-term (3-5 years) Community vitality would have housing and community buildings like the community cultural center and the senior center in the right aid and Redwood market spaces. Is
Do you have family housing that is built in the Redwood marketplace and Rite Aid location so that families could have easy access to shopping schools and trails. For the downtown to be clean and feel safe. Long-term (3-5 years) Bringing businesses to town that people will actually shop in. Plenty of stores and plenty of parking. No empty stores. Long-term (3-5 years) Support local businesses - there are plenty of chain stores and restaurants in surrounding communities. Get rid of some of the chain grocery stores - and encourage the locals. Provide more access and parking to those locals
NO Grocery Outlet, maybe get rid of some of the other chains. Expand parking and widen roads. NOT bike access - this is NOT a biking community! People here are older, some are driving in from rural areas. Long-term (3-5 years) n/a n/a Long-term (3-5 years)
Traffic is a huge concern. There are possibly two hotels going in downtown, without parking for all the rooms. It is unclear how the guests will be getting there except by car. This will increase traffic.
We already had traffic issues and overflow parking in the old rite aide and that is with businesses closed in main steeet Small localized businesses filling Main Street. NOT large chains. Long-term (3-5 years) walkability, laguna improvements/expansion, ragle ranch improvements/expansion, economically inclusive small businesses increase housing density, more front yard businesses, more sidewalks, sidewalk improvements, all crosswalks with crossing button, laguna/ragle ranch trail improvements, connect laguna to joe radota trail, use eminent domain to increase size of laguna wetlands preserve, lobby the county to use eminent domain for ragle ranch, tax breaks for small locally owned front-yard business, Long-term (3-5 years)
No big box stores or big fast food chains Keep Sebastopol as a place of moral integrity as a community Long-term (3-5 years) As a Black person I do not feel welcome in public spaces White people and people of color vocalizing and pushing back on racism in our schools, markets, and restaurants Long-term (3-5 years) What kinds of businesses do we want and need to support our community?
A balance of businesses that serve our Sebastopol community while also having businesses that support out of town visitors. Long-term (3-5 years) Enhance downtown people shopping downtown, ditching online shopping Long-term (3-5 years) Mental health Space, resources, jobs Long-term (3-5 years) Long-term (3-5 years)
no new construction!! no added congestion as its hard enough to drive thru town now!!! Long-term (3-5 years) Despite it’s small footprint CoS has multiple living experiences, with large mid century housing areas, two very traffic heavy CalTrans operated highways, a downtown, the old town and larger, quieter areas on the west side. ’Unique character’ is therefore arguably referring to the older architectural areas of the city from a visitor’s perspective which have historical context, plus downtown and the Barlow. From a residential perspective CEQA plus certain urbanist factions push hard to cram more high density housing units into the city limits, whether ADU’s or new construction. This is going to quickly dissipate the city’s ‘unique character’ if allowed to continue as the city’s underground infrastructure, water supply, roads and emergency services are going to be overwhelmed. The city is well know for its green spaces, gardens and sense of space, all of which are now endangered.
Enhancing the City of Sebastopol residential community’s vitality requires green canopy spatial preservation of ‘a great place to live’ with much less focus on urbanization and with a tight grip on new construction architectural appropriateness. Developing downtown as a community and tourist hub is a priority. Long-term (3-5 years)
Keep big chains out of Sebastopol Better small town feel Long-term (3-5 years) Keep it a special place to live and for visitors/tourists too. Keep businesses local and patronized. More variety of locally owned businesses. Keep streets safe, walkable and in good repair.
Success would include the planning department listening to the responses to populous surveys and input. Long-term (3-5 years)
Lower priority compared to others As it currently is but less expensive housing Long-term (3-5 years) Less development Less development Long-term (3-5 years) Goal is not making Sebastopol a worse place to live and to negatively affect the quality of life for existing citizenry by effecting changes to only support business and construction projects that over build without support maintance of infrastructure.
Any suggestions to any changes be fully considered from Sebastopol citizens' who are aware of the long term trends that affect Sebastopol. Long-term (3-5 years) no chain stores local businesses get supported Long-term (3-5 years) More walkability and protection and further growth of our green spaces More trees, less large and boldly lit business signs, enhancing our sidewalks Long-term (3-5 years) New small businesses, more affordable housing, city wide events Long-term (3-5 years) Stop punishing businesses that want to locate here. It's no wonder the city is on the verge of bankruptcy. You have to encourage businesses why make people go all the way to Santa Rosa to shop at a discount grocery store? This is Nimbyism and hypocrisy.
Welcome new businesses interested in paying taxes here, don't discourage them. Long-term (3-5 years)
Nice public spaces. Parks, public squares Long-term (3-5 years) Please stop trying to turn Sebastopol into a wine country tourist destination!
Many fewer tourists. Tourism helps a very small % of residents and negatively impacts the rest of us. Long-term (3-5 years)
WIth the infill of Sebastopol ready to be built out, it is time to fix the streets and the water and sewar service. Make a plan prioritize it above the rest of the problems. Long-term (3-5 years) Enhance the look
Improve Ives Park with beautiful trees and shrubs. Enhance entry adjacent to SCA. Long-term (3-5 years)
Do not allow outside chains into town. This includes Grocery Outlet. Do not allow for multi-story hotels or office buildings. Do not allow Sebastopol to become another Healdsburg. It will price out those who grew up here.
Stable local businesses. No year-over-year increase in the number of tourists to town. Families staying in town/the area rather than having to move away due to high housing prices. Long-term (3-5 years)
Keep it small. Much l8ke today. Long-term (3-5 years)
Long-term (3-5 years)
STOP SPENDING SO MUCH MONEY. We are in debt, I can't run my household this way. Cancel vanity projects.
A balanced budget. We don't have a vital community if you keep taxing us to death. Long-term (3-5 years)
Support schools, volunteer organizations Improve travel to and from schools Long-term (3-5 years) We need more diverse demographics - more families with school age children. Right now retirees seem to dominate. Schools are closing. Housing is out of reach for most young families.
More affordable housing - rental and home ownership - made possible through a community housing trust. Schools reaching maximum enrollment. Long-term (3-5 years) The timing of this survey is premature, I think. AI's use is not yet known, maybe wait a year or so. The budgeting aspect could be "off" of estimates because of current federal government mayhem.
Revitalize Wake this city up for the evening rather than putting it to sleep This survey is almost impossible to fill out. I have tried several times and keep getting stuck make a survey that is simpler to fill out and you might get some more responses.
This is too opaque and too subjective to the whims of Council members so I don't see this as a goal at all.
Keeping our lovely city comfortable and safe for everyone Theme Definition Theme Timeline Count
Support for locally-owned businesses, opposition to
chains/formula businesses, preserving Sebastopol's unique identity
Preserve Local Character / Anti-Chain / Small Business Short-term 42 Concerns about traffic flow, parking availability, one-way vs twoway streets, bike lanes, pedestrian safety Traffic / Parking / Street Configuration Short-term 26 Potholes, road repaving, sidewalk repair, deferred maintenance, water/sewer infrastructure Infrastructure Repair / Roads / Sidewalks Short-term 20 Concerns about transients, trash, graffiti, public drug use, making downtown feel safe and welcoming Downtown Cleanliness / Safety / Homelessness Short-term 16 Concerns about rising housing costs, ADUs, density, attracting young families, rent control Housing Affordability / Development Density Mid-term 14 Support for parks, community events, public art, festivals, gathering spaces Public Spaces / Parks / Events / Arts Short-term 13 Specific focus on filling empty commercial buildings, especially Rite Aid, CVS, Redwood Marketplace, Barlow adjacent lot Vacant Space Reuse / Rite Aid / CVS / Barlow Lot Mid-term 11 Tension between catering to tourists vs. serving local residents' needs Tourism vs. Resident Balance Short-term 10
Support for local artists, music venues, cultural events, creative placemaking Arts / Culture / Creative Economy Short-term leaning Mid-term 9 Concerns about city spending, tax rates, consultant costs, budget deficits Fiscal Concerns / Budget / Tax Rates Short-term 8 Specific discussion of bike lanes, cycling safety, pro/con debates Bike Infrastructure / Bike Lane Debate Mid-term leaning Long-term 8 Programs and infrastructure for specific age groups: teens, young families, seniors Youth / Family / Senior Focus Mid-term 8 Sidewalks, crosswalks, pedestrian safety, walkable downtown Walkability / Pedestrian Infrastructure Short-term 7 Specific feedback about Ives Park: fence, pool, landscaping, events, creek Ives Park Specific Improvements Mid-term 6 Concerns about welcoming people of color, diverse demographics, inclusive decision-making Diversity / Inclusion / Racial Equity Mid-term leaning Long-term 6 Specific discussion of hotel proposals, TOT revenue, lodging needs Hotel Development / Lodging Debate Short-term leaning Mid-term 5 Calls for strategic planning, metrics, business development strategy Economic Strategy / Measurable Goals Mid-term leaning Long-term 5 Concerns about tacky signs, flags, landscaping, making downtown visually appealing Visual Aesthetics / Signage / "Cuteness" (Emergent) Short-term 4 Specific concerns about school closures, youth programs, schoolrelated traffic/safety Schools / Education Support (Emergent) Mid-term leaning Long-term 4 Criticism of council decision-making, listening to residents, transparency Council Process / Governance / Accountability (Emergent) Short-term 4 Support for community gardens, fruit trees, edible landscaping Community Garden / Edible Landscaping Short-term 3 Concerns about mental health resources, social support, crisis response Mental Health / Social Services Short-term leaning Long-term 3 Concerns about smoke, pollution, wood stoves, asthma Air Quality / Environmental Health Short-term 3 Public transit, park-and-ride, shuttle services Transportation / Bus / Shuttle Short-term 3 Specific support for Calder Creek daylighting, Gravenstein/Apple Blossom trails Creek Daylighting / Trail Projects Short-term 2 Concerns about freedom, self-sufficiency, community resilience Personal Freedom / Resilience Short-term 2 Discussion of police visibility, enforcement approach, community policing Policing / Safety Approach Short-term
2 Responses indicating satisfaction with current direction or "keep doing what we're doing" Status Quo / Satisfaction Mid-term 2 What's on your mind about this goal? For this goal, what would success look like if achieved? How soon should the City focus on this? There shoud not be unhoused people living outdoors where the public is. A high % of this population is selling drugs. The issue should be delt with instead of being accepted. Short-term (0-12 months) We need more police officers, more foot patrols around downtown, the plaza and Ives park.
No crazy homeless people and no drug dealing and no sketchy people hanging out. Short-term (0-12 months)
Back to 2 way street 1970 street plan Short-term (0-12 months) The Sebastopol police are great, kind and helpful. Safer driving on certain roads, slower on Lynch, and community policing. Short-term (0-12 months) Firefighters and police. An ER in town would be great. Part of why I moved here 22 years ago.
Fast response with well trained professionals. This is already the case. Goal is to maintain. My family member with autism has been treated GREAT when interacted with. THANK YOU. For the ER, success would be having it.
Significaosuccess would be more urgent care in town. Short-term (0-12 months) You can not have a safe city with no adequate fire and safety officers.
Direct money to this issue as when I walk daily from Ragel to Downtown and back I see scary stuff and folks all over the downtown. Joe Redota Trail scares my wife and I see by seeing few pedestrans that I am not the only one. Short-term (0-12 months) Necessary to mitigate risks due to climate change. Fire and flooding resilience. Short-term (0-12 months) I am happy with the change to the Sebastopol Fire Department and I believe response time has already improved. I believe it will continue to do so. I don't have enough interaction with law enforcement to have an opinion. Short-term (0-12 months) Sebastopol needs to support an honor. It’s police department. For city council to acknowledge the police department and all their hard work. Short-term (0-12 months) Goal 2: Public Safety
Fund the police department to be fully staffed.
Transients wouldn't be on the corner of the post office, the corner of main street or in the square or at the entrance to Safeway or wandering around city hall and the library, in the lucky's plaza or wandering the streets screaming.
This is on a daily basis. It never ends. Having enough police to do this. The homeless liaisons have not improved this situation since they were hired. it's a waste of tax money. No metrics reflect a change in the situation. I'm afraid to walk the Joe rodota trail because of the people living on it. Why does it have to be like this here. Short-term (0-12 months)
crack down on homeless no broken vehicke Short-term (0-12 months) I am satisfied with public safety. N/A Short-term (0-12 months) Serious crime is too high.
Violent crime rate(corrected for population) at least equal to other small cities in the county Short-term (0-12 months)
People speed through between Brookhaven and the elementary school twice a day down Murthy Ace. Almost impossible to get in and out of driveway safely or to cross the street. Speed bumps or more officers giving tickets so people know it is not ok. Short-term (0-12 months) Cops on the street dealing with real problems.
They would know what's going on. Where the fentanyl and heroine is being sold. Short-term (0-12 months)
See my previous comment See previous comment Short-term (0-12 months) Clear all encampments Stop allowing "homeless" drug users to live on the streets. Short-term (0-12 months) disband city PD contract police services from SCSO Short-term (0-12 months) Teach self defense Less fear more freedom Short-term (0-12 months) I worry about ambulance response times in our rural communities Better roads, fire prevention Short-term (0-12 months) Council needs to support first responders and police officers. There is a lot of suspicion from Council regarding Public Safety officers.
Council needs to be more supportive and honor the work of First Responders.
Council giving enough money to the Police Department and being respectful to the Police Department. Short-term (0-12 months)
Lowering criminal activity Good those found guilty accountable Short-term (0-12 months) people drive dangerously. put in speed cams and red light cams safe driving Short-term (0-12 months) Based on available data, Sebastopol has the highest recorded property crime rate per 1,000 residents (22.63) in Sonoma County, closely followed by Santa Rosa (22.35). While Santa Rosa has a higher total volume of crime due to its larger population, Sebastopol's smaller population results in a higher per capita rate.
Wikipedia Wikipedia +2 Key crime data for Sonoma County cities:
Sebastopol: 22.63 property crimes per 1,000 residents. Santa Rosa: 22.35 property crimes per 1,000 residents.
Having the lowest rate in Sonoma county. Stop coddling junkies and mentally unstable people that contribute zero to the town. Short-term (0-12 months) My concern is the lack of mental health, substance abuse service alternatives for our police to utilize. use or creation of a service such as inResponse Short-term (0-12 months) We are a safe town. Too much money goes to police and fire already. Status quo Short-term (0-12 months)
Get police out of cars and patrolling on foot all over town. More visibility and fewer problems around town. Short-term (0-12 months) The wicker response to an emergency the better. Quicker response to emergency. Short-term (0-12 months) I don’t believe there is a public safety issue other than racist attacks and definitely no reason for sirens to go screaming down Main Street every 10 minutes Bring down the volume or stop with the sirens altogether Short-term (0-12 months) Make it easier for women to report assaults Everyone feels safe Short-term (0-12 months) Appropriate coverage of law enforcement and fire departments Seeing the officers engaging with citizens and more presence in neighborhoods Short-term (0-12 months)
Very important to improve the safety of our roads. We are a terribly unsafe place for anyone not protected by thousands of pounds of steel and airbags.
The old, young, and disabled would be able to move around town without stress or danger. Short-term (0-12 months)
Transients and public drug use. Emphasis on removing this through engagement with community. Short-term (0-12 months) I think this is a great goal.
I think our new Police Chief is doing a great job. If this was achieved, people would actively support law enforcement. Short-term (0-12 months) In town fire station, more police visibility Same as above Short-term (0-12 months) safer traffic and crosswalks not so many pedestrian accidents Short-term (0-12 months) Enough police officers to respond to Crime ie. Thefts at Safeway.
The high schoolers make it Scary to shop at Safeway if you are an elder. Safety all over town would increase. Short-term (0-12 months) More enforcement of speed limits on Main Street. Ticket loud exhaust vehicles, particularly at night. If necessary, create excessive exhaust noise laws. Drivers respect speed limits, fewer accidents. More peaceful city. Short-term (0-12 months) Traffic safety first and less bike lanes. Hardly used in the downtown. A place where I feel safe walking and slow down vehicle traffic.
Hopefully residents and visitors would find it more appealing to spend more time downtown. Short-term (0-12 months)
Traffic is terrible Police should enforce speed limits, red light and stop sign runners Short-term (0-12 months) I'd like to see more of a focus on public safety. the town square is frequently populated by people with mental illness and/or addiction issues. On almost any day you can observe drug use and and drug sales in our downtown. Our police are usually invisible. I spend everyday in downtown Sebastopol and I can go for weeks without ever seeing an SPD officer. the roads through town often resemble a drag strip with extremely loud cars driving at high speeds. This occurs every day yet our police do nothing about it. We have transients roaming our streets yelling and threatening residents.
This occurs daily. The citizens of Sebastopol deserve better from our law enforcement.
Succes would be a town that doesn't feel like we're living in a wild west movie where criminals run amok and the police are powerless to do anything about it. Short-term (0-12 months)
Traffic is terrible Police should enforce speed limits, red light and stop sign runners Short-term (0-12 months) Community presence youth programs Programs, youth involvement Short-term (0-12 months) Public safety has a bloated budget for what they achieve. Police fail to arrest and provide evidence for convictions
Defund the police and fund the community. Housing healthcare and food aid keeps people from committing crimes Short-term (0-12 months) Sebastopol has a hard time keeping their Police Chiefs. Either figure out how to retain good cops or contract out to the sheriff's office. I like the current Chief. I read the police logs and there is a lot of bad stuff that happens. Don't let the Chief go. It seems that Council always gets into fights with the Police Chiefs and they leave which is bad for residents.
Keep the current Chief. More funding for police. Shut down Elderberry Commons. Reduce homeless population. Short-term (0-12 months) Pedestrian safety Fewer pedestrian injuries Short-term (0-12 months) Start ticketing people driving recklessly , blocking intersections and vehicles stopped in a cross walk. I am 1000% supportive of our safety officers. Not sure Short-term (0-12 months)
stronger enforcement of traffic laws speeding is a huge problem. traffic cameras to support local police efforts Short-term (0-12 months) Short-term (0-12 months)
Get violent homeless people out of the square Have more police watch or cameras Short-term (0-12 months) The 2025 citizen survey identified public safety (police, fire service) as the number one community priority. We have the highest crime rate in Sonoma County, massive homeless servicing challenges that take up enormous amounts of time and money plus significant traffic management issues. The city has successfully transitioned fire service to Gold Ridge and we currently have a very community minded police chief so we are in reasonable shape for the basics.
The state/county must take much more responsibility for funding homeless services. The city budget cannot cover the costs in time and money for the endless problems, whether police or public works. We need clear disaster preparedness planning. Short-term (0-12 months)
Get police out of their cars and visibly walking around town Seeing police on Main St, in the Barlow, and at Safeway when school is out. Short-term (0-12 months) It is unfortunate for the taxpaying citizens that the police have to spend half their time on the homeless. The police should be fully funded at all times. The police are fully funded and given what they need. Short-term (0-12 months) Seems safe Keep it up Short-term (0-12 months)
decrease overuse of fire dept, first responder "over response" to non emergency calls
donot send entired fire truck/numerous personnel to a "repeat caller" address-i.e. some one has fallen (again) with no injury, caregiver requesting help to"get person back to bed. Save costs of unnecessary "trips" Short-term (0-12 months) I think first responders have been great at their jobs, but often cannot do much. Clean up and remove homeless / loiters
Remove homeless and encampments around town. There are a lot off of Joe Rodota Trail. These public spaces should be safe and inviting for the tax paying residents, not free housing Short-term (0-12 months) Fire planning - fire response adequate fire prevention and protection Short-term (0-12 months) agree you are doing it well Short-term (0-12 months)
Support
Maintain adequate staffing for Police Department; collaborate with new fire service provider Short-term (0-12 months)
This is a number one priority and has been for many years. We need to have continuity with police staffing. Lately, Council seems at odds with the Chief, which is not good. The Council has driven out two prior Chiefs, which leaves citizens vulnerable to gaps in training and knowledge. Sebastopol should contract with the Sheriff's office if the current Chief moves to another position.
Having a functioning police department that was fully staffed with a Chief that remains in place for at least 5 years or contracting with the Sheriff's Office so the individual views of Council Members do not hinder public safety staffing and continuity. Council Members are rude and disrespectful to Sebastopol's Police Department. In addition, there should be the same surveillance rules that are used by the County. Short-term (0-12 months)
It would be nice to have an emergency room, make cross walk lights brighter. Many cars don't stop. Patrol High School road more often.
Too many people speed down that street while school is in session. brighter lights, better traffic patrol Short-term (0-12 months) Continuing to bolster safety w/in City Limits, especially for pedestrians.
Step up patrols of speeders entering/exiting downtown in excess of speed limits Short-term (0-12 months)
Maybe more police and patrols? More security without having an ICE state Short-term (0-12 months) Clean Sebastopol of the homeless trash Short-term (0-12 months) Warm downtown up with lighting, energy. Attract small businesses that attract all generations
More patrons coming out, staying out and enjoying a warm and inviting atmospere Short-term (0-12 months)
Don't change our traffic flow keep roads the same!!!! It would be a waste of money and would make it more dangerous for pedestrians Keeping traffic flow the same Short-term (0-12 months) Too dense a population will make public safety harder to enforce.
Big building projects are ugly and use up precious open space. Don't build more apartment buildings and use up precious open space. Short-term (0-12 months) Bike lanes are a joke Get rid of boke lanes Short-term (0-12 months) Road conditions and bike/pedestrian safety Well maintained streets and sidewalks, slower speeds for cars Short-term (0-12 months) There is a bike lane but people ride their bikes on the sidewalks. The older people will get hurt. Citations would be handed out for riding bikes on sidewalks. Short-term (0-12 months) Making sure the police and fire depts are taken care of. A safer and better place to live Short-term (0-12 months) Any increase in funding should go to firefighters and EMTs. I don’t see the need to increase support to police. Has there been an uptick in crime? Our nickname is PeaceTown.
Trimming or removing all trees, scrub and brush from power lines until they can be put underground. Widening all the roads and removing curves so emergency vehicles can better access homes. Short-term (0-12 months) Pedestrian Safety
Too many cars are blowing through the metered crosswalks after the light has started flashing. Need cops siting on some of those crosswalks and ticketing if need be so the word gets out that it will not be tolerated. I understand non lighted crosswalks being easily missed but the lighted ones there should be no excuse for a motorist ignoring and going through them. Short-term (0-12 months) Emergency preparedness at the neighborhood level. Fire, earthquake, and grid failure are real risks here. First responders matter, but community resilience means neighbors knowing each other and having plans before emergency services arrive.
Neighborhood-level POD networks could be part of the city's safety strategy.
Every neighborhood has an active preparedness network. Residents know their neighbors. Clear communication channels exist that don't depend on internet or cell service. Short-term (0-12 months)
Clean Sebastopol of the homeless trash Short-term (0-12 months) Make pedestrians a priority - flashing yellow is good - flashing red is misunderstood - Replace flashing red crossings with flashing yellow Short-term (0-12 months) Short-term (0-12 months)
Pot holes and unsafe road conditions, homelessness
Sebastopol is praised for its innovative approach to homelessness and has no vacant positions in the public safety/first responders departments. Short-term (0-12 months) Better enforcement of speed limits. Better side paths for walkers, rather than forcing us to walk on streets where drivers are reckless and dangerous. Safety for pedestrians. Short-term (0-12 months) Better, safer bike lanes
Bike riders could get anywhere within the city limits on a bike, safe safely and quickly Short-term (0-12 months)
People need to feel safe in order to walk around town and enjoy our sweet town People walking around and enjoying the town Short-term (0-12 months) Opportunities for the broader community to be trained in an array of climate resilience best practices
750 community leaders - teens and adults - trained in resilience and disaster preparedness with a strengthened network of responders Short-term (0-12 months) As a BH&O RESIDENT I experience very positive 1st
responderscrossing 116 at the 2 major intersection with those 1 block long trucks and thru traffic during weekends and commuter times freaks me out. Many older folks would feel more relaxed. Short-term (0-12 months) No traffic enforcement. People speed and run red lights. Where are they Less crazy drivers , less speeding Short-term (0-12 months) Road conditions and bike/pedestrian safety Well maintained streets and sidewalks, slower speeds for cars Short-term (0-12 months) Safety of people and property. minimal crime incidents, fast response to 911 Short-term (0-12 months) Retain one-way streets: South Main and Petaluma Ave.
Access to homes and business driveways is safe and efficient with wide 2- lane streets. If changed to 2-way traffic on each street, ALL traffic must come to a halt when a car backs into or out of a driveway. Short-term (0-12 months) How about Sebastopol police officers that walk the beat to get the town to get to know them. Short-term (0-12 months)
Opportunities for the public to meet the police firefighters; tours of police station and fire house Short-term (0-12 months)
Improving cell phone service in the South Jewel St. area. During power outages it gets really bad. Knowing that in an emergency we can get help. Short-term (0-12 months) Cars and trucks drive way too fast on Main Street especially at 4:00- 6:00 Main Street traffic calming should be implemented as soon as possible. Short-term (0-12 months) Provide beat cops, especially around known problem areas, like in front of Safeway where too many teens hang out and Short-term (0-12 months) I'd like to know about the time spent on different kinds of calls by police and fire A yearly graph present to the city council with trend lines Short-term (0-12 months) We’re doing a good job with this Short-term (0-12 months) Since the incident at Safeway with teens harassing and attacking women, I am concerned about shopping there alone.
Teens need a free, safe, and engaging place to gather after school. What about the Rite Aid building? Short-term (0-12 months)
Public safety and supporting first responders should always be top of mind. Continued, ongoing support. Short-term (0-12 months) Visible police presence (officer on foot visiting the downtown area as a friendly reminder of service; includes Safeway during peak teenage hours)
Realistic perception that the police is actively involved with community as a resource and literally included with reidents and visitors Short-term (0-12 months) Do not allow boomers who are off their medication’s to protest and stop traffic on Main Street
This would be accomplished with a Republican governor, Chad Bianco, who I’m voting for Short-term (0-12 months)
Make sure component parts are working together-e.g fire, police, ambulance. Seamless response to safety issues. Short-term (0-12 months) Many streets in Sebastopol are in dangerous condition and could cause accidents. Repave the streets that are in the worst condition. Short-term (0-12 months) Power lines are in dire need of maintenance. West Sonoma County has numerous lines that are compromised from leaning tree limbs onto public roads. Incredibly unsafe. Address these issues ASAP before summer fire season. Short-term (0-12 months) et the drifters, druggies and homeless out of our small town. We cannot give away free food at the library and narcan distribution - this is enabling and attracting these types of people. I was very disappointed the city council backtracked on their decision when they got some heat. Do not feed stray cats or they will not leave.
People with drug addictions need rehab services, narcan is a bandaid. The square plaza often has vagrants around which is highly unattractive and feels unsafe to walk. We do not want this to turn into the Tenderloin San Francisco or San Rafael when we have young families moving here and Senior citizens are also at risk.
When I read the police calls email - there are often complaints of people yelling in the streets. This mental health increase is going to make our community suffer, scare families and tourist away.
People will not visit or spend money and this hurts us all. Get the homeless out of Sebastopol NOW! We need more safe sidewalks and crosswalks for families. There are so many people who walk down Huntley adjacent to Florence and people speed down that street with no stop signs and no sidewalks. There are two schools in close proximity and the drivers are speeding and there is no where safe to walk. We need more sidewalks and cross walks with signals. The police should be out giving tickets to speeders and people who do not stop at stop signs. My family has nearly been run over a handful of times mostly be elderly drivers speeding. We need the police patrolling and even revoking more licenses. DUIs, etc. Make our streets safer and clean them up. there are many cars that are parked around sebastopol that never move. Often times I see campers by Libby Park where people use the bathrooms to freshen up. This is next to a school. We need to clean up our Not seeing homeless in the downtown square and around. Seeing police officers more visibly, more sidewalks, crosswalks with lights and slowing down traffic on the streets. Less seniors driving that should not be driving.
More regular DUI checkpoints overall. Short-term (0-12 months) Increase police visibility throughout town to 1) reduce speeding/enforce speed laws by increasing police roving patrol or stationary monitoring of speeds along these roads. (speeds are out of control on Main and Healdsburg north with too many slammed brakes and close calls) and 2) increase public engagement with police officers by establishing a foot patrol through town, the town square and Ives Park (this will increase trust and confidence that the community is being watched over, and instill safety to our visitors). Enforce zero public drug use laws.
Increased presence of officers downtown at least three days a week, including one weekend day (this could be scheduled when stats show highest probability for effective engagement). Visible presence of speed monitoring during at least 2 morning and afternoon commute times, and at least one week end day afternoon. Reduced public use of illegal drugs. Short-term (0-12 months) Study out-sourcing police services A public report and fiscal analysi Mid-term (1-3 years) Ensure adequate staffing for fire and police staff to cover all 911 calls within 5 minutes 911 calls answered quickly. Create a lift-assist team if it would save the city $ Mid-term (1-3 years) Accessibility for bike riding around town would be helpful. We don’t have much of a shoulder let alone a bike lane. It would also be helpful to have bike lockers to store bikes if you ride into town and want to go into a local business to shop.
Wider shoulders with a lane for bikers and bike lockers downtown to store bikes while shopping. Mid-term (1-3 years)
Local police and fire are an important part of the community. Make sure they are visible, enforcing laws and society. We do NOT want to turn into a city full of e-bike and e-scooter chaos, unsafe roads, etc. Visible law enforcement as part of the community. Mid-term (1-3 years) Make downtown more walkable and inviting. More parking off street. Mid-term (1-3 years) Make the first responders visible, in the view all the time, get to have the citizens know them. They would be at events to mingle with everyone. Mid-term (1-3 years) Reducing the biggest danger we actually face: car dependence Bringing back viable public transit options Mid-term (1-3 years) Keep ICE out of the community. Take aggressive stance on remaining a peace town. Listen to women affected by Soft Medicine and other predatory business owners. No ICE or Flock cameras. Bicycle Police. Mid-term (1-3 years) Medical care locally 5 more local physicians Mid-term (1-3 years) leave bike lanes. they provide way to get out of car in trafic and will be more used as ebike become more populat. bike should be encouraged
no dead people exiting their cars, and bikes replace cars and goblwarming is set back. Mid-term (1-3 years)
Restart Citizen's Academy. I had a WONDERFUL experience when I attended some years ago. Emergency preparedness days? Maybe even Practice evacuation drills?
other than "us vs. them" feeling that is unfortunately prevalent with citizens when relating to SPD. More feet on the street. Really appreciate a smile and wave, rather than stony faces not engaging at all, as officer drives by. Makes such a difference. Mid-term (1-3 years)
Fix roads so EMS can easily make it across town (fix potholes). Help homeless
Open another space like horizon shine for homeless parking that is out of site from tourist, and partners with programs to get people who want help with their addiction and mental health immediately support. Mid-term (1-3 years) Add more police officers.
Better control for theft, drug use, homelessness, speeding in town and being able to handle calls in town. Mid-term (1-3 years)
Sebastopol feels like a pretty safe place to me.
people feel safe as they go about their lives and know the city will be able to respond promptly in an emergency Mid-term (1-3 years)
Seems like lots of money has gone to this already Mid-term (1-3 years) Pedestrian and bike safety downtown
Decrease in both total number and severity of pedestrian and bike related accidents in city Mid-term (1-3 years)
Families are concerned if not scared by the many wandering vagrant men around the town. We highly support the police department, and think they need more resources. Another major failing of over focus on low income issue as opposed to raising revenues. Same goes for the fire department. Police should be visibly seen and part of the community at all times. They need to be seen at schools. There should police on mountain bikes. The town is nearly crippled by traffic .. and many commercial and other vehicles break speed limits through the interior neighborhood streets. Solution to multiple problems : use traffic cameras and issue automated citations (used in many towns, cities in the US and Europe). Raise money by catching speeders that cause unsafe streets. Give the money to the police and fire department. In general, the main streets in the town are highly intimidating because of traffic. And once the 2 way streets are in plce(I support this) .. there will be a new problem with unsafe cut through traffic.
Get ahead of the problem and raise revenue by catching the offenders.
stated above. Time for th town to modernize traffic control and use this income (plus more from increasing business revenues from tourism) to increase financial resources in the police and fire dept. Increase the police budget, increase the staff and cover more of the town. Let's be honest, there are a lot of desperate people starting to live in the woods, in campers and other places visible walking around Sebastopol. Many show up from places like Santa Rosa. St Vincent de Paul in San Rapheal caused a huge influx of new homeless to that town as they began providing food and more. It was a magnet not a solution. Mid-term (1-3 years)
We have a very good Police Chief, and the merger with Gold Ridge seems to have been a success Updated police cars, the old ones are a joke Mid-term (1-3 years) Increased capacity and support for emergency management work as a part of public safety. Mid-term (1-3 years)
Mid-term (1-3 years)
Figure out how to get our fire department back. Spending a little more money for a fire department dedicated to the city of Sebastopol just makes sense City control of the Sebastopol Fire Department Mid-term (1-3 years) show appreciation of police, fire people a special day honoring them Mid-term (1-3 years) I feel that Sebastopol is quite safe, but anything that can be done to support first responders is good. Sebastopol is pretty successful here already. Mid-term (1-3 years) Ask first responders for what they want. First responders feel supported. Mid-term (1-3 years) Mid-term (1-3 years)
Feel safe Keep safe like it is now. Mid-term (1-3 years) no suggestions Mid-term (1-3 years)
Definitely support citizen focused emergency response training. In a disaster it is we, the citizens, who can help out. Self reliance is the foundation of a stable citizenry.
Sponsor and support local emergency response training through Meet Your Neighbors. Mid-term (1-3 years)
Mid-term (1-3 years)
Safe places to walk, bike Sidewalk, bike lane on Ragle Road Mid-term (1-3 years) Road safety for pedestrians and bicyclists Reduce speed limits Mid-term (1-3 years) Making sure the transition to Goldridge Fire Department serves us well. Adressing the homeless issue. Police respond to
disturbances, but nothing happens.
City Council watchdog for fire services. Creating a navigation center for homeless individuals and emergency temporary housing with services.
Priority to working homeless families. Mid-term (1-3 years) Sebastopol Police, EMTs and Firefighters are fabulous. Continued support and recognition that reliance on volunteers can be problematic.
Well staffed organizations with plenty of young folks to replace those facing retirement. Mid-term (1-3 years)
This is always a priority but I am not aware of this being an issue.
Response times stay good, community continues to respect it's first responders Long-term (3-5 years)
Make fire fighters and police a number 1 priority. A good number of paid employees 24/7 Long-term (3-5 years) I think our Public Safety infrastructure is in pretty capable hands.
Gold Ridge has experience and longevity in the larger community and should do a good job for us, for Fire Services. I’m impressed with our new chief of Police, who seems dedicated, and intelligent.
Let it ride.
Let it ride, we might be close on this one. If things go sideways, be prepared to reconsider. Long-term (3-5 years)
Not a lot. Seems pertty safe to me. Really not sure Long-term (3-5 years) More interaction with first responders in community activities so that they get to know us and us them in non emergency situationslike beat cops. The friendly neighborhood officer.
Community interaction (like beat cops) so that we get to know our first responders and they us during non emergencies. Long-term (3-5 years) Defund the police
Reallocate police department funding toward social services, community programs, and alternative public safety initiatives. That includes crisis response teams, community members trained in de-escalation and conflict mediation, and investments in affordable housing, homeless services, substance abuse treatment, youth mentorship, and job programs. Long-term (3-5 years) Officers walking or riding their bikes around town. Good visibility and community connection.
Have an officer engaged with public at street level on foot or bike whenever possible Long-term (3-5 years)
Traffic seems to be an issue. this is a long term and expensive issue to resolve easier routes in downtown, including parking issues. Long-term (3-5 years) all good Long-term (3-5 years)
Demilitarize the cops. Barnie Fife. Long-term (3-5 years) Lots of sirens lately, is that cuz Gold Ridge is coming from far away? Policing seems on track. Maybe get the CHP to give tickets on 116 and slow traffic
slower traffic (which will probably come fast once the unwanted 2way downtown streets are enacted) Long-term (3-5 years)
Feels pretty safe here already. Long-term (3-5 years)
Very important The town would feel like it did 10 years ago. Long-term (3-5 years) Manage the influx of populations imported by various housing projects to manage traffic, real community bonding to form long range commitment that is not commercially motivated.
Less theft, fewer car break ins, less shoplifting from local stores, more traffic control of speeders, less harassment of people walking in town from aggressive youth and unhoused people. Long-term (3-5 years) we are already doing great
continue to be a city where chairs can be left outside a restaurant overnight unchained, and the postoffice lobby is open 24/7 Long-term (3-5 years) bypass for 116 Llano Road or some such Long-term (3-5 years) Supporting and growing our ability to remove unstable people from our streets.
Continuing our efforts to get support to homeless populations while more effectively removing threats from dangerous people in our communities. Long-term (3-5 years) This is always good but as more housing gets built this will become more of a concern. I think it’s already good Long-term (3-5 years) Dedicated bike lanes off the main road all thru town and to Cotati.
None of this sharing the road with agro cars and debris. Free up room for first responders to move about.
Bring back a train to the Russian River from Cotati up Hwy 116. Maore parking on the outskirts of town, making it more people friendly. Pocket parks for businesses! Long-term (3-5 years)
use sonoma county sheriff maybe no sebastopol police - too much money for the services rendered Long-term (3-5 years) Increase number of first responders More dedicated fire fighters Long-term (3-5 years) Long-term (3-5 years)
It’s great. Don’t focus too much on safety. Boomers take up too much oxygen with their reliance on safety. Spend less money on it. Long-term (3-5 years) I feel very safe in Sebastopol. More of the same. Long-term (3-5 years) Create better traffic patterns. Renew discussions of two bypass routes. Less traffic daily. Long-term (3-5 years)
Long-term (3-5 years)
Merge the Sebastopol Police with the County.
Crime would go down and would work in tandem with the Sheriff in the Unincorparted areas, with the SO seeing the whole picutre. Sebastopol has a poor police department, and the money will dry up with the economic collpase on the horizon. Long-term (3-5 years)
Economize A ballanced budget Long-term (3-5 years)
I’m ok with this. NA
This is the bottom of Maslow's pyramid and should always be a priority no matter what survey, goal setting, priorities, year it is...every year ongoing not a special call out of a potential goal.
I think Sebastopol does enough
Doing a good job
It’s fine as is.
We have enough. All those unused bike lanes and a ton of lights and crosswalks
I think we are already doing a good job
Theme Definition Theme Timeline Count
Concerns about unhoused individuals in public spaces, drug use/sales, encampment removal, and linking homelessness to public safety
Homelessness Enforcement / Public Space Management / Drug Activity Short-term 24 Calls for stricter enforcement of speeding, red lights, reckless driving; traffic cameras; pedestrian safety at crosswalks Traffic Enforcement / Speed Control / Traffic Safety Short-term 22 Requests for officers on foot/bike, beat cops, visible presence downtown, community engagement beyond emergency response Police Visibility / Community Policing / Foot Patrols Short-term leaning Mid-term 18 Responses indicating satisfaction, "doing well," "keep it up," or that public safety is already adequate Status Quo / Satisfaction with Current Services Mixed (Short & Long-term) 17 Concerns about ambulance/fire response times, EMS access, 911 coverage, rural response, ER/urgent care access Emergency Response Times / Fire Services / EMS / 911 Short-term leaning Mid-term 14 Calls for adequate police staffing, funding, chief retention, council respect/support for department Police Staffing / Funding / Retention / Council Support Short-term 13 Specific discussion of bike lanes (pro/con), cyclist safety, bike/pedestrian conflict, dedicated bike routes Bike Infrastructure / Bike Lane Debate / Cyclist Safety Mid-term leaning Long-term 11 Concerns about fire service merger, local control of fire department, transition to Gold Ridge, volunteer reliance Fire Department Structure / Local Control / Gold Ridge Transition Short-term leaning Mid-term 9 Focus on reducing property crime, violent crime rates, theft, shoplifting, holding offenders accountable Crime Reduction / Accountability / Property Crime Concerns Short-term 8 Calls for mental health/substance abuse alternatives to policing, crisis response teams, de-escalation resources Mental Health / Crisis Response Alternatives / inResponse Short-term leaning Mid-term 7 Specific focus on pedestrian injuries, crosswalk enforcement, flashing signals, walkable downtown Pedestrian Safety / Crosswalks / Walkability Short-term 7 Discussions of disbanding SPD, contracting with Sheriff, defunding, police reform, structural changes Police Department Structure / Reform / Contracting / Defund Mixed (Short & Long-term) 6 Specific debate about one-way vs two-way streets, bypass routes, traffic flow changes, street design Traffic Configuration / Street Layout / Bypass / One-Way Debate Short-term leaning Long-term 6 Calls for council to publicly support, fund, and respect police/fire; concerns about council-chief relations Council Support for First Responders / Governance Short-term 5 Focus on neighborhood preparedness, disaster planning, climate resilience training, Citizen's Academy Community Emergency Preparedness / Climate Resilience / Training Short-term leaning Mid-term 5 Concerns about teen harassment, need for safe youth gathering spaces, after-school programming Youth Safety / Teen Behavior / After-School Programs Short-term 4 Specific concern that poor road conditions (potholes, narrow roads) impede EMS/fire response Infrastructure for Emergency Access / Road Conditions (Emergent) Short-term 4 Calls to publicly honor, appreciate, and support morale of police/fire/EMS personnel First Responder Appreciation / Recognition / Morale (Emergent) Mid-term 4 Specific mention of keeping ICE out, maintaining Peace Town designation, related policy concerns Immigration Policy / Peace Town / ICE Concerns (Emergent) Mid-term 2 Focus on making it easier for women to report assaults, feeling safe in public Sexual Assault Reporting / Women's Safety Short-term 2 Calls for local emergency room, more physicians, urgent care access Medical Care Access / Local Physicians / ER Mid-term 2 Concern that increased density/housing projects strain public safety resources Development Density / Housing Projects Impact on Safety Long-term 2 Concerns about public safety spending, budget allocation, "bloated budget," economizing Budget Concerns / Fiscal Management Related to Public Safety Mixed (Short & Long-term) 3 Concern about racist attacks, equity in policing approach Racial Equity / Policing Concerns Short-term 1 Suggestion to teach self-defense as public safety strategy Personal Safety Education / Self-Defense Short-term 1 Request for public reporting on police/fire call types, time allocation, trend data Transparency / Data Reporting / Call Analytics Short-term 1 What's on your mind about this goal? For this goal, what would success look like if achieved? How soon should the City focus on this? Roads - the roads are in terrible shape, some of the worse in the Bay Area Fix the roads Short-term (0-12 months)
City is doing well Stop lights by plaza confusing Short-term (0-12 months) Schools, parks and businesses, public services. Invest in kids sports.
Not sure about grocery outlet. Reconsider that. Focus on the downtown plaza and parks and the library. Short-term (0-12 months)
Repair the streets, especially the city side of Fircrest Ave. keep the water clean and the streets swept weekly. Less bumps and potholes Short-term (0-12 months) Sebastopol has some of the worst roads in Sonoma County Fix the roads before you keep building bike paths Short-term (0-12 months) Fix the streets and water and sewer. Smooth sailing on my bike. Short-term (0-12 months) Ives Park needs to be repaired. The rotary has a beautiful plan for Ives Park and it is fully funded the city should support that.
The fence in Ives Park needs to be replaced. We need to have better connecting sidewalks and sidewalks. Need to be repaired. Short-term (0-12 months) Repair our roads and make more parking. Fewer bicycle lanes. Good roads, ample parking. Short-term (0-12 months) Some of the streets are in terrible repair, fix the potholes the cracks, the sinkholes, and some of the stop signs are obstructed by trees. Repave the streets trim, all trees that are obstructing traffic signs Short-term (0-12 months) Fix the roads! Fix the water infrastructure. Reduce the water rates, they're ridiculous. Stop worrying about the library, it's owned by the county. Act like you care about these items and stop with the pet projects. spending money on a labyrinth isn't something that benefits all the tax paying citizens of the city. we don't need soccer fields or parties. Just fix what our taxes are meant for.
Smooth roads, lower water rates, no frivolous spending on projects not benefiting everyone. Billing customers appropriately and not forgetting to bill people like what came to light recently. Short-term (0-12 months) fix the streets no potholes Short-term (0-12 months)
I think Sebastopol has been doing a pretty good job of this. Na Short-term (0-12 months) Need more information. Be more informed Short-term (0-12 months) Maintain police dept and public services like road maintenance Low turnover in each dept Short-term (0-12 months) Goal 3: Infrastructure
In the time since the Streets study was done 6 more streets went from poor to very poor (0 useful life left)
City ideas not have the worst PCI score in the county. An actual plan incorporates water sewer repairs and has financing. Short-term (0-12 months) Our roads are HORRIBLE. Focus on road repair. Right now, the city is focused on spending a fortune on bike access for a tiny number of people. This is ridiculous - this is not a biking community. Focus on better roads, better traffic flow, safety for pedestrians, and repair existing roads.
Focus on the needs of the vast majority of this community, improve roads, improve traffic flow, NO BIKE LANES - this just destroys everything for 99.9% of the community. Short-term (0-12 months)
Public Infrastructure has been neglected for the past 10 years or so.
Time to get on it. Water and sewer systems, and streets are all deteriorating. Get serious about implementing the Capital Improvement Plan. Short-term (0-12 months) Concentrate on bringing civil servants into the public eye. Citizens who can recognize the city’s organization Short-term (0-12 months) paved streets instead of pothole patchwork already stared Short-term (0-12 months) Potholes Incentivize schools and childcare to attract young families Short-term (0-12 months) Sebastopol needs to fix its roads and sidewalks. The Council needs to help Ives and should approve the Rotary Plan for Ives Park. The Rotary Plan is fully funded. When is the City going to replace the fence in Ives?
For roads to move from "Poor Condition" to "Good Condition" through road repair. To fix sidewalks so they are not tripping hazards and to connect sidewalks so there aren't gaps for pedestrians. Short-term (0-12 months) one way streets. build safe and separate bike lanes if we had one way streets and safe bicycle infrastructurre Short-term (0-12 months) I’d like the city to be able to intervene when houses in sebastopol sit vacant with utilities cut off for months or years. I’d like no derelict houses in Sebastopol
The house on my block would be red tagged and the owners would be required to sell or care for it Short-term (0-12 months) See first answer- More public transportation and safe and health walking areas . working normal hours does not allow for public transportation use, nor can one work in santa rosa or oterh local towns while using bus. the hours are too limited and do not go to the south side of town very often
more busses more often for those who work out of town, and in town during service hours Short-term (0-12 months)
I am completely against building on every square inch in the town.
Particulary the last open space we have now (where the hotel project is proposed) so that the infrasture would include open space. Grass, park beches, trees, walking paths, gardens. Upgrade, moderize and improve places where people gather. Like the Gazebo, tha ball parks, the playgrounds.
A glorious huge open space (instead of a hotel) where people can gather, visit and meet. Act on it immediately and have it last forever. Short-term (0-12 months) Give us more safe bike options
Bike routes separated from highways that allow us to get around without danger Short-term (0-12 months)
Upgrade our parks. And keep up on water sewer and roads. See above. Short-term (0-12 months) Class I bike trail network to reduce traffic and pedestrian fatalities.
Continuous sidewalks on south end of town. Local power COOP to ditch PG&E.
A bikeable community with increased ridership, 20%+ shift for in town trips to move modes to cycling. Short-term (0-12 months)
Making local traffic patterns support local need1s. Not creating new goals based on diminishing local support infrastructure. Also, maintaining local infrastructure. Sidewalks that are buckled, paths in parks that are uneven or broken, make walking more hazardous.
Also, any new businesses needs for parking be assessed.
If the two way traffic plan is implemented, the ability to cross or turn on to the main arteries south of Hwy. 12 must be addressed. Right now the traffic is stopped by lights at Hwy. 12 for Main going south and by the light at Lynch going north on Petaluma to allow some breaks. At busy times you have to rely on the kindness of strangers. Also, the Bodega Avenue clogs coming into town are a problem. It seems to have recently (since the merger of services) to have driven the EMT vehicle to drive through local neighborhoods with siren blaring.
Also, better planning than what created CVS traffic problem. Trying to leave the parking lot in any direction into the current traffic pattern is difficult, especially going north. Every pattern seems to want you to go east...to leave town. Allowing that to be built in that location was not good infrastructure planning. Also, repairing sidewalks in downtown area, paths in public parks.
As to parking, the former riteaid parking lot has taken some of the pressure off but, depending on what goes in, parking will issues will return. We already see people parking all day in neighborhoods and walking downtown to work. Short-term (0-12 months) Encourage new businesses in long empty spaces, develop new downtown parking and continue to upgrade playgrounds
More vibrant business, better access to downtown and more enjoyment of parks Short-term (0-12 months)
Our infrastructure needs to be oriented towards safe living in town, not fast driving through it.
Lanes would be narrow, parking would be greatly reduced and charged for, sidewalks and protected cycling infrastructure would abound. Short-term (0-12 months) The city currently has very limited hotel capacity, which limits overnight visitors and the spending they bring to local businesses.
Addressing lodging needs while maintaining a balanced mix of businesses would strengthen community vitality and better align with the General Plan. Additional hotel zoning and faster approval. Short-term (0-12 months) Salaries for some city staff too high for city of this size Raise and salary increases should not be left to city council. Should have more taxpayer involvement or better checks and balances. Short-term (0-12 months) Pot holes on streets Safe streets throughout town Short-term (0-12 months) Ives Park could be a gem, and it's got a dumb layout, boring landscape and aging infrastructure. The town plaza same.
Study other cities' nicer parks and spruce up our green spaces. More bicycle access, lanes and parking/racks Short-term (0-12 months) bad roads.
Let the community members nominate roads to repair and if they don't get chosen an explanation as to why and what action could happen. Also it would be nice if the people could have a experiment and see what two way road changes would do it they were temporary and just set up with cones Short-term (0-12 months) The shape of the streets The streets would be resurfaced Short-term (0-12 months) N/A N/A Short-term (0-12 months)
Streets are in terrible condition Fix potholes Short-term (0-12 months) Our streets and sidewalks are in terrible shape and need to be repaired asap.
Success would be driving on streets such as Palm Ave without bruising your kidneys. Short-term (0-12 months)
Streets are in terrible condition Fix potholes Short-term (0-12 months) Safe spaces, family centers Soft medicine, rite aid utilized Short-term (0-12 months) The streets and parks are in poor condition. It’s a small city but since sebastopol councils keep throwing all the money at police and “volunteer” fire departments the state of the public land is embarrassing. The water system is obviously crucial and of course neglected to the point of near failing Defund the police and fund the community Short-term (0-12 months) The town looks bad. Bad sidewalks, minimal planting, weeds, messed up roads. Fix it up.
Fixed roads, smooth sidewalks, beautiful parks with lots of flowers and trees.
No trash on the streets. Clean windows downtown. Short-term (0-12 months) Improve roads Short-term (0-12 months)
fix the roads! drivable streets! Short-term (0-12 months) Short-term (0-12 months)
Road quality
Pave Bodega Hwy in the city, reconfigure the roads so the keep clear doesn’t take as much space (except by fire stations) work with schools to find alternative pick up locations so there is not as much traffic on roads at school pick up. Short-term (0-12 months)
Fix the roads. I’ve stopped driving through town because it’s destroying my alignment. There are so many potholes it’s ridiculous.
Repave Bodega Highway from Main Street to Watertrough. Stop saying it’s outside city limits. It’s not. It’s not Sonoma County that should do it. It’s the city of Sebastopol. Short-term (0-12 months)
We need a YMCA in the previous CVS location.
A space that supports a healthy, connected community through activities across all ages. Including an indoor pool. Short-term (0-12 months) The infrastructure is falling apart. The sewers are just about ready to start spewing sewage through the holes in the streets, the water is questionably safe as the tanks are old, and our roads are the worst in the county. The public works people are trying to keep up but it's like shoveling sand against the tide. Again, instead of taking care of infrastructure (which should be one of the top 3 issues of a city) the city councils of the past and present have put other less important issues before this.
Stop stealing money, illegally, from rate payers to use in the general fund and use it ONLY for water and sewer because that's the LAW. Put energy to water and sewer, police, and roads before doing almost anything else. Short-term (0-12 months) repair roads roads are repaired-pot holes fixed Short-term (0-12 months) Library could use a facelift, same with public parks. Turn Main street to a two way or find ways to divert traffic out of downtown so downtown is pedestrian friendly, not a constant traffic jam with loud cars Short-term (0-12 months)
potholes fewer potholes Short-term (0-12 months)
Roads, Roads, Roads- potholes, potholes, potholes - FIX THE ROADS as a priority PLEASE!
Fewer tires we need to replace on our cars. Every road should be like Kennedy Rd. Short-term (0-12 months)
The aging infrastructure in town.
Visible improvements to the quality of our streets, upgrades to the community center and the pool. Instead we patch the streets, replace single beams in buildings, and spend money on realigning our one way streets. Short-term (0-12 months) streets are not in great shape, although biking and pedestrian infrastructure are often worse. I want the city to prioritize biking and walking with less emphasis on vehicular transportation more people would bike and walk on their daily movement through town Short-term (0-12 months) Sebastopol has a terrible and huge road issue. Roads are terrible, some of the worst in the Bay Area. Roads need to be fixed. In addition, the Planning Commission keeps talking about walkability and bikeability and there are two great projects - The Apple Blossom Trail and Gravenstein Trail - yet, these are not being pursued even though they have a ton of community support. The two-way street concept is completely idiotic and will create huge traffic jams and green house gasses and was not supported by the majority of the people. Why does Council and the Planning Commission refuse to listen to the public. They want separate bike/walking trails and they don't want two way streets downtown.
Fix the roads, support the Gravenstein and Apple Blossom Trail, support the Rotary Ives Project. Get rid of the Planning Commission as they just seem like ego maniacs who want to force their ideas on the City even though most people do not support them. No one wants Creek Naturalization in Ives and no one wants two way streets downtown. Listen to the people who live in Sebastopol. Short-term (0-12 months)
Streets & restrooms need work Better maintained streets & improved public restrooms Short-term (0-12 months) Better roads, better maintenance of brush and fire hazards, attention to traffic issues. Short-term (0-12 months)
Stop putting off what is essential to the best functioning of this small town
Consistent follow through. Spending out tax dollars how they are meant to be spent. Like a business should, reinvesting! Short-term (0-12 months) Bring back our fire department Having a fire department in town Short-term (0-12 months) The sewage infrastructure project is too expensive. Composting toilets are cheaper and much more water saving. Legalize composting toilets. Short-term (0-12 months) Finish paving and maintain all county roads. Use a contractor who will do the job right- with fog lines and consistent edges. More shoulders for other forms of transport Roads would be safer and not so car-centric Short-term (0-12 months) Roads should be a number one piroity Short-term (0-12 months) Improve street maintenance, insure high quality water supply for the future, continue with excellent public works department Streets that are safe to drive on (I know this is being done now), perhaps an additional water well to replace the one taken out of service years ago. Short-term (0-12 months) Improving roads and sidewalks
Replacing major neighborhood thoroughfares and upgrading Ives parks. This would give families another great reason to come into town and support local businesses. Short-term (0-12 months)
Traffic flow, gridlock. I always avoid dowtown Less waiting time at lights, less gridlock Short-term (0-12 months) Take action on Ives park modifications focusing on serving PEOPLE - have a long term plan for city hall using the macitence yard on Morris street
Expanding and enhancing area around the Ives stage - maybe under grounding a portion of the stream in that area. Discuss a possible design for city hall on morris street with incremental future additions for the community center and senior center Short-term (0-12 months)
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1. Better side paths for walkers, rather than forcing us to walk on streets where drivers are reckless and dangerous. 2. Road pavement rehabilitation rather than just re-filling pot-holes over and over. 1. Safer side walks or paths. 2. Pavement rehabilitation. Short-term (0-12 months) I don't agree with two way streets Short-term (0-12 months) Very imortant, better parking away from the main street The roads would be smooth and parking would be easy, but not necessarily encuraged. Short-term (0-12 months)
It seems like the city is unable to maintain the park and greenspaces that we have. Planting areas are often weedy and full of litter, making them unattractive. Also, some ofite main street sidewalks are really dirty. It makes me not want to go downtown.
Well-maintained planting areas, clean sidewalks, a place that looks care for instead of shabby. Short-term (0-12 months)
Roads need improvement. Traffic management so that highways don’t interfere with downtown traffic. Smooth roads. Smooth traffic flow. Short-term (0-12 months) This should be the city Council‘s number one goal. Sebastopol‘s infrastructure is crumbling beneath our feet and needs immediate restoration work. We should stop spending our time, energy, attention, and money on needless studies for projects that will never come to fruition. Instead, we need to be focusing on fixing our city water system, sewer system, and roads. A city that can survive the next 100 years. Short-term (0-12 months) Cleaner sidewalks in downtown. Power washing every 2 to three months. Short-term (0-12 months)
More bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure! A European cycle city Short-term (0-12 months) Sebastopol is a crossroads town
The ideal is that Sebastopol embraces is role as a crossroads town. Those of us who pass through daily find pleasure in the charm of a thriving welcoming small town as we travel along our way Short-term (0-12 months) Roads are a disaster, many are. Strout street is terrifying. Bettwr roads. Short-term (0-12 months) street repair, sewer, water repave all damaged roads, increase maintenance budget to Short-term (0-12 months) For starters, stop defunding already existing services, like the Senior Center! Short-term (0-12 months)
I'd like to understand the costs and priorities of the PW department reporting on goals and accomplishments on a regular basis that is easy to find Short-term (0-12 months) We really need a full time, 24-hour emergency clinic in town.
Access is now closed on weekends. Short-term (0-12 months) the most pressing infrastructure change needed is traffic abatement.
The timeline that the city has to develop the 2way street program should be accelerated. Six years (or whatever the plan was) is far too long. Short-term (0-12 months) Maintain status quo Maintain status quo Short-term (0-12 months) Creation of more identified large parking areas with emphasis upon use (signage, publicity, word of mouth); a sense of there is a here, HERE. I think that a rejuvenated town square would encourage identification that we are an active, vibrant and welcoming city. Enhancement and additional use of town square. Short-term (0-12 months) Road safety: fix Bodega Highway as it crosses Atascadero Creek.
The numerous potholes and bumps are a hazard. New paving on both sides of the bridge at Atascadero Creek. Short-term (0-12 months) The state of our roads and sidewalks are abysmal! Firstly its a safety issue for both pedestrians and cars. Secondly it just looks terrible and signifies a struggling city and is not an attractive look if you want to attract more visitors.
All the sidewalks in residential and downtown areas would be repaired. Roads would be resurfaced and all potholes eliminated. Short-term (0-12 months) Pot holes, sick trees
Continue to repair roads, remove mistletoe from trees or remove the trees before they die Short-term (0-12 months)
Roads Significant improvements in road maintenance on county roads Short-term (0-12 months) make sure then cross walk signs all work along Main St and Healdsburgg ave Short-term (0-12 months)
Power lines being in the way, see prior comment. Fix em before they come down! Short-term (0-12 months) More support for the senior citizens who live in town
Support the senior center and do not change streets back to 2 way and get rid of parking areas downtown Short-term (0-12 months)
Well functioning and safe facilities and services. Continued provision of support for infrastructure. Short-term (0-12 months) Lifecycle Asset Management (Not Reactive Fixes). When you drive in certain cities, you can see your tax dollars at work. The roads are paved without potholes, the landscaping is manicured and maintained, the buildings get inspected regularly and meet all code. The smog building on main street has had a ramshackled roof for as long as I can remember. This should not be allowed in any town - it is unsafe and the business should be closed until it's fixed. We need to upgrade our facilities - everything is dated and needs some modernization without losing charm. Need to improve and be proactive or disaster resources - flooding, fires, power outages, etc.
When you drive into this town, you do not see ramshackled buildings / roofs (Smog station), junk cars, boats that never move and littering our streets and parks. There are sidewalks paved for busy pedestrian streets that also has schools (Huntley St). Short-term (0-12 months)
Repair the roads. They are disaster. It makes getting around town difficult and dangerous. Paving instead of patching. Short-term (0-12 months) Keep up with inflation. Increase fees by small amounts yearly instead of waiting and having a bit hit. The budget is balanced while addressing all infrastructure needs. Mid-term (1-3 years) The city needs to not have a budget deficit so that basic services, infrestructure, and roads can be kept up, with a solid emergency fund. A budget that can cover basic needs. Mid-term (1-3 years) Create list of projects and initiatives to enhance commercial core experiences published list A published list of projects with private incentives Mid-term (1-3 years) Supports all goals.
When stretched to extremes our infrastructure continues to ably support achieving all goals. Mid-term (1-3 years)
Sebastopol needs a moratorium on infrastructures and traffic improvement Moratorium on infrastructure Mid-term (1-3 years) Many sidewalks are very old, cracked, nonexistent and dangerous for many. Sidewalks repaired. Mid-term (1-3 years)
Roads As previously mentioned, allow traffic to flow again. Mid-term (1-3 years) revitalize Ives Park Pool invest in the swimming pool Mid-term (1-3 years) Parking garage instead of a a hotel Better parking available Mid-term (1-3 years) Roads. Our roads should be stellar Smooth roads throughout Sebastopol Mid-term (1-3 years) Get rid of franchises, limit nail salons and tattoo parlors, have support for small businesses that truly support our community. funding and parking for the senior center.
A charming downtown like Petaluma, lots of parking and walking and great shops and restaurants Mid-term (1-3 years)
We have plenty of grocery stores. People can go to Santa Rosa or Rohnert Park if they need something from a grocery outlet.
I would like to see the facilities that are vacant become places to gather for health and vitality for all ages Mid-term (1-3 years)
The city is not even maintaining its garbage cans in the street. For months two garbage cans are broken in the HopMonk parking lot also how can the city increase housing with failing infrastructure sewer and water Don’t build more housing with failing infrastructure. Mid-term (1-3 years) Fix the roads and remove bike lanes. Add another lane for traffic on Petaluma and Healdsburg Avenues Smooth roads, moving traffic and more parking Mid-term (1-3 years) This is necessary for quality of life.
Roads need to be improved. I appreciate the focus on bike lanes but feel like that is catering to the very few. Making the streets through downtown two way is ridiculous, especially if the study says its going to increase traffic. Mid-term (1-3 years) quality better architecture Mid-term (1-3 years)
After # 5, this should be the top priority. Building and Maintaining our infrastructure is the original and main purpose of government. Paved streets, maintenance/repairs to sewer system. Mid-term (1-3 years) More library support
Programs designed to bring together people from all walks of life including seniors, children, homeless Mid-term (1-3 years)
Municipal buildings around Sebastopol are piecemeal. The fire district has bought the Ceres building. The Library and Senior Center are jewels right where they are. Move City offices somewhere and let the Library take over the City Hall space. I'm not sure how the Sr. Center can grow. Move to the Rite Aid building.
I am not in favor of Grocery Outlet and would love to see the city acquire that property. Rite Aid used for city purposes/senior center Mid-term (1-3 years) n/a n/a Mid-term (1-3 years)
Repair streets Smoother, quieter roads Mid-term (1-3 years) reducing Potholes. The numerous mysteriously vanishing
sidewalks.
Tires to not be in danger when driving around town. Through routes for pedestrians be more consistent and not chopped up. Mid-term (1-3 years) We don’t have ‘high-quality infrastructure, facilities, and services’ - we have roads that are graded ‘very poor’, old and degraded sewer systems, leaky storm drains that are also blocked with silt and a water supply system that relies on pumping water uphill to two reservoirs.
Upgrading core infrastructure should be an extremely high priority and strong efforts should be made to find funding at federal, state and county level. A strong argument can be made that any CEQA housing new build requirements should be underpinned with infrastructure grants before we can proceed as we appear to be maxed out. Our roads are in a shocking state that also shocks the pipes underground as vehicles pass over them. All the core city infrastructure needs major work. Mid-term (1-3 years)
Fix the roads and sidewalks No pot holes or raised walkways Mid-term (1-3 years) Ives park looks terrible and doesn't have to. Families and senior use that park.
Pave the pathways. Improve the fences next to Calder creek. That would help the Art Center's allure Mid-term (1-3 years)
Make sure we have groceries, pharmacies, etc. within reach No one has to go out of the area to obtain essentials Mid-term (1-3 years) Good
Work towards pro-active maintenance of critical infrastructure--streets, water, sewer; enhance level of maintenance for existing buildings; ensure adequate and responsive public services staffing Mid-term (1-3 years) This should be on-going proactive maintenance rather than waiting for things to fail. Fix the street surfaces with long lasting repairs rather than wasting time and money patching every year. Add pickleball courts to the park system.
streets with potholes would be fully repaired rather than patched. Pickleball courts are important for fitness for all, especially seniors. Mid-term (1-3 years) It's a tall order, but keep streets well paved. Fewer potholes and deteriorating pavement Mid-term (1-3 years) The infrastructure is mess. Think about the majority of people's needs, not the one person or small group that needs attention Better parking Mid-term (1-3 years) get rid of the horrible concrete channel which is falling apart on Calder creek in Ives park demolish the concrete and restore the creek Mid-term (1-3 years) Transit Transit running often during the day and evening to north bay cities and SF Mid-term (1-3 years) Inadequate public spacex
New improved library, senior center, and community center (not in the flood zone), decent meeting space for Council Mid-term (1-3 years) The water purity and infrastructure seems poor and outdated. A shuttle to drive the low income inhabitants to low cost grocery stores that don’t fit Sebastopol’s characteristics.
Drill a new more modern well and/or clean up/dismantle the old well. Obtain a USDA/State grant combination at no cost to the city. Get beams and bring in volunteer tree drivers for the grocery commuters. Mid-term (1-3 years) Needs work. Have a more centralized location for facilities and services Better organization and staffing for city services Mid-term (1-3 years) Forcing PGE to modernize the grid and placing power lines underground. Public bathrooms downtown and at the Barlow are needed. Businesses being encouraged to stay open later to encourage commerce and to give residents and visitors options after 7pm. Reliable power and internet Mid-term (1-3 years) Areas with buried cable cannot get access to Sonic because Xfinity has a lock on them.
Look into legislation to make it that Xfinity has to share the underground cable so we can have competition. For example my neighborhood on Gwendolyn Pl the cable is buried and I believe solely owned by Xfiniity and because of that Sonic cannot access to lay their line. Thus we pay more for Xfinity because their is no competition. An neighbor on Litchfield has a choice between Sonic and Xfinity and thus cheaper options. Mid-term (1-3 years) Water resilience and internet connectivity. Both are critical infrastructure that determine whether Sebastopol can weather the next decade.
Reliable broadband that isn't dependent on a single provider. Water systems that account for drought cycles. Mid-term (1-3 years)
More fiscal transparency A quarterly or yearly repot Mid-term (1-3 years) Potholes and unsafe road conditions, clean public facilities Public parks and bathrooms are clean and well kept, roads are safe for pedestrians, bicyclists, and cars. Mid-term (1-3 years) Dyer Road needs paving desperately, and Graton Road needs no-dumping sign Mid-term (1-3 years)
Inadequate public spacex
New improved library, senior center, and community center (not in the flood zone), decent meeting space for Council Mid-term (1-3 years) Seems our streets are the most in heed of upkeep. Other infrastructure may need ongoing maintenance. Our streets need major repairs. Roads that are redone rather than just patched up indefinitely. Mid-term (1-3 years) Improve the facilities Improve the facilities Mid-term (1-3 years) Mid-term (1-3 years)
supporting city owned buildings as well as encouraging private landlords to maintain their buildings
Fully functioning and well maintained buildings especially in the downtown area Mid-term (1-3 years)
Reduce Heat Island effects, provide shade and canopees Tree survey Mid-term (1-3 years) Many of our streets need repair. More public bathrooms. More water conservation on public properties.
Continue street repair schedule with goal to make lasting improvements, not temporary fixes. Replace lawns at all government and public service facilities. Mid-term (1-3 years) Trail projects and creek restoration projects should not be top of the list UNLESS they can be fully funded with mostly outside funds and only in equal priority to real city infrastructure needs. I am a huge proponent of both having worked in that field for 38 years, but real service infrastructure in much more important in Sebastopol (perhaps trails and creeks should fall under the Community Vitality goal...). TOP priority should be road resurfacing – our roads are in horrible shape. You have a list and survey of the conditons of the roads in town and have identified which are not currently eligible for your patch program since they require whole resurfacing. Start with that list to DEVELOP a PLAN for funding road resurfacing. We have the highest tax rate in the state and must prioritize the tax increase for this type of infrastructure. Resurfacing would do many things including reducing dust and dirt from erosion caused by tire wear, reduce the noise of tires on rutted roads, and present a renewed feel to the city. (Personally because I live there) I like to see Highway 116 fully repaved at least from covert lane through down town.
A detailed plan/outline for approaching this work including what fund sources might be available, who the partners would need to be (jurisdictional and or sphere of influence) and a plan for lobbying the necessary entities in Sacto and the County to emphasize our needs if the current high taxes in town can’t cover it. Mid-term (1-3 years)
traffic & evacuation routes
Breakthrough solutions that might seem radical right now. We need a robust outreach program to discuss real numbers (tourists, residents, commute, and evacauation). We need to work with county and state partners to get adequate roadways for all of our needs. Long-term (3-5 years) Library.
Fantastic, beautiful library. But keep the landscaping exactly how it is the landscaping is perfect. Long-term (3-5 years)
Fix the cracked, uneven, broken sidewalks and improve as many of the city streets as you can given obvious financial restrictions.
Safe walking areas, safe driving areas that would welcome visitors without fear that they break an axle. Long-term (3-5 years)
There is very little in the way of mental health adjunctive services such as peer run sites for people to go.
A peer run service for people who need extra support in their day with mental health and advocacy. Long-term (3-5 years)
We seem pretty structured. No ideas Long-term (3-5 years) I hear old sewer system needs addressing Education Long-term (3-5 years) What’s on my mind is that the city is going to be bankrupt within 3-4 years. This one isn’t solvable because you wasted tax payer money on inane projects, most of which were harmful to revenue. Duh.
You declaring bankruptcy is probably the only hope given you are so antirevenue with your policies. Long-term (3-5 years) Public recreation center, more sidewalks, more crosswalk lights/signals, SMART connection, park expansion, burbank farm improvement, museum improvements,
Build a rec center, increased requirements for sidewalks on new builds and/or new owners, start with adding crossing lights to every existing crosswalk and build more, trail improvements so that parks are useable in wet season, expand parks and trails (eminent domain) so that hikers can spend more time there, separate farm from museum, replace current Western Sonoma County Historical Society leadership, expand experiment farm park (eminent domain), lobby for Santa Rosa to Sebastopol SMART connection for distant future. Long-term (3-5 years)
Traffic in downtown town New ideas for mitigation of jammed up traffic downtown Long-term (3-5 years) Facilities are getting outdated. Need to start to slush fund money and/or invest to build out new public facilities and/or gathering spots More active facilities for youth/young adults Long-term (3-5 years) The country roads are trashed and potholes all throughout town Getting our back roads cleaned up Long-term (3-5 years) Some streets need repaving, not just repeated patching. Thinking of Fannen between Petaluma and Main for instance. Less jarring streets, reduced patching costs. Long-term (3-5 years) Fix roads Good roads Long-term (3-5 years)
You can afford a lot more of this if you stop wasting so much money on cops. Long-term (3-5 years)
Find more off street parking for downtown. Get out of housing business esp. for homeless, IMPROVE ROADS.
Driving on smooth surfaces, better walkability if an off mainstream parking shifted cars from Main Street. Long-term (3-5 years)
Keep roads and water in order Well maintained roads Long-term (3-5 years) Downtown bypass
Future plans and campaigning to develop a bypass road/highway to Sebastopol downtown--address this w/ proper agencies(CalTrans, County, et al). Long-term (3-5 years)
Stop wasting money The town would look like it did 10 years ago Long-term (3-5 years) Road quality Decrease in pothole and poor road reports Long-term (3-5 years) Make asphalt paving safe, maintain roads, fix ruts and pot holes-- general road maintance since roads in town are in bad shape.
I would like to walk across the road in front of my house without twisting my ankles in the fissures and ruts! It's getting personal! Long-term (3-5 years) Protect our schools from losing their neighborhood connections by consolidating. Keep our elementary schools small Long-term (3-5 years) road repair better roads Long-term (3-5 years)
Long-term (3-5 years)
Potholes
Figuring out a longer term solution to maintaining roads. Not quick/temporary fixes Long-term (3-5 years)
Fix Sewer and Streets and Water Supply.
Clean water, bikes safe for bikes and pedestrians, and clean water and a good sanitation system as Sebastopol becomes built out over the next 10 years. It will need more capacity with ADUs and Apartments. Long-term (3-5 years) With the well being redesigned I think we’re in good shape Fill pots holes and install sidewalks in all residential neighborhoods.
Strengthen relations with Sonoma county to care for those roads in county areas Long-term (3-5 years)
Fox broken stuff to lower cost due to inflow and infiltration of water to sewer. Fox potholes. Lower cost over long-run. Long-term (3-5 years) Use resources wisely to maintain what6 we have. Nothing new Same as before Long-term (3-5 years) We're doing good here.
Compare Sebastopol to any town in Marin, Healdsberg, Sonoma, other towns. It seem far behind and outdated in infrastructure. Past choices on roads, sidewalk areas and much more has led to a really uneven and sometimes baffling hodgepodge of semi complete areas of the town. It seems more the result of an attitude then a plan. Our road has no sidewalks in some spots, partial sidewalks in other spots. It has places that desperately need stop signs or speed bumps. It is at times unsafe for pedestrians. We have seniors, children, handicapped neighbors that need to contend with the patchwork. All of which costs money .. the problems all lead back to seeming lack of business and city planning expertise, vision or will to take action(raise taxes, creative business support) the past few decades. ..
Replace leadership in the building department. Start over. Raise revenues, repair, restore and resource departments properly
No comments
Encourage taxpaying businesses to locate here, rather than having vacant storefronts.
The community center is falling apart, do something Remodel the community center Theme Definition Theme Timeline Count
Overwhelming focus on road conditions: potholes, repaving, patching vs. full repair, PCI scores, Bodega Hwy, county road coordination
Roads / Street Repair / Potholes / Repaving / PCI Short-term 58 Concerns about park conditions, Ives Park specific improvements (fence, pool, pathways), green space preservation, playgrounds, public gathering areas
Parks / Public Spaces / Ives Park / Gathering Places Short-term leaning Mid-term 18 Discussion of bike lanes (pro/con), separated bike routes, Class I trails, Apple Blossom/Gravenstein trails, cyclist-pedestrian safety Bike Infrastructure / Bike Lanes / Trail Connectivity / Cyclist Safety Short-term leaning Mid-term 14 Focus on sidewalk repair, connectivity, tripping hazards, crosswalk signals, pedestrian safety, walkable downtown Sidewalks / Pedestrian Infrastructure / Crosswalks / Walkability Short-term 12 Concerns about aging water/sewer systems, water purity, rate reductions, sewer project costs, inflow/infiltration Water / Sewer Infrastructure / Utilities / Water Rates Short-term leaning Mid-term 11 Debate over one-way vs. two-way streets, traffic calming, bypass routes, gridlock, highway coordination (12/116) Traffic Flow / Street Configuration / Two-Way Debate / Bypass Short-term 10 Requests for more parking, parking garages, off-street solutions, parking management, access to downtown businesses Parking Infrastructure / Off-Street Solutions / Downtown Access Short-term leaning Mid-term 9 Concerns about infrastructure funding, budget deficits, fee increases, fiscal transparency, CIP implementation Fiscal Management / Budget / Fees / Transparency Related to Infrastructure Short-term leaning Mid-term 9 Discussion of library, senior center, community center conditions, relocation proposals (Rite Aid), facility upgrades Municipal Buildings / Facilities / Library / Senior Center / Community Center Mid-term 8 Concerns about vacant buildings, derelict houses, red-tagging, code enforcement, private property maintenance Vacant / Derelict Property / Code Enforcement / Building Maintenance Short-term leaning Mid-term 7 Responses indicating satisfaction with current infrastructure, "maintain status quo," or no specific recommendations Status Quo / Satisfaction / "Doing Well" / No Changes Needed Mixed (Short & Long-term) 7 Calls for expanded bus hours, shuttle services, park-and-ride, SMART connection, regional transit coordination Public Transportation / Bus Service / Shuttle / Regional Transit Mid-term 5 Concerns about power line safety, PG&E modernization, internet competition (Sonic/Xfinity), broadband reliability Utilities / Energy / Internet / Power Grid / Broadband Mid-term 5 Mentions of heat island reduction, tree surveys, composting toilets, drought-resilient water systems, climate adaptation Environmental / Climate Resilience / Heat Island / Tree Canopy Mid-term leaning Long-term 4 Specific concern that poor road conditions impede EMS/fire response; evacuation route planning; emergency vehicle access Emergency Access / Evacuation Routes / Road Conditions for First Responders (Emergent) Short-term 4
Calls for proactive (not reactive) infrastructure maintenance, lifecycle planning, PCI tracking, multi-year capital planning Proactive Maintenance / Lifecycle Asset Management / Long-Term Planning (Emergent) Mid-term leaning Long-term 4
Concerns about weedy planters, dirty sidewalks, trash, litter, landscaping upkeep distinct from major infrastructure repair Visual Aesthetics / Cleanliness of Public Spaces / Landscaping Maintenance (Emergent) Short-term 4
Discussion of limited hotel capacity, lodging needs, TOT revenue, hotel zoning, balancing tourism with infrastructure Hotel / Lodging Infrastructure / Tourism Capacity Short-term leaning Mid-term 3 Specific focus on facilities for age groups: playgrounds, pickleball courts, senior center, youth sports infrastructure Youth / Family / Senior Facilities / Programming Infrastructure Mid-term 3 Requests for published infrastructure project lists, prioritization frameworks, public reporting on PW department goals Strategic Planning / Published Project Lists / Prioritization Framework Mid-term leaning Long-term 3 What's on your mind about this goal? For this goal, what would success look like if achieved? How soon should the City focus on
this?
Make the goals manageable so that people will want to fill these positions. Meegings should not go over aloted time. Short-term (0-12 months) Council focus on public safety, infrastructure and practical solutions.
Council stop spending time and money on ideas and programs that have no relevance to the majority of the population. Council focus on public safety, keeping downtown clean, getting homeless people out of public spaces and getting new fence in Ives. Short-term (0-12 months)
Hire a city manager Professional leadership with a vision Short-term (0-12 months) Council not in touch with community Talk to the citizens not just the loud voices Short-term (0-12 months) Financial instability leading to mistrust
Ensuring our city is financially sound, not charging residents arbitrary fees (sewage) to help cover the cost of poorly used funds by city officials. Short-term (0-12 months) Why did we spend all the cal trans grant money and still not come up with a plan for downtown? Being more decisive, while not wasting money Short-term (0-12 months) When I see the public works I see many more hands than seems needed. How about you audit your finances at the Center for the Arts, and why we need folks making bank more than a basic police officer or fire fighter. And at a deficit to boot.
Become professional and straighten out this mess. Been here since 1985 and Sebastopol is like Otis Elevator, that is supposed to go up and down. Our town is always going down. Short-term (0-12 months)
Hear public’s needs and opinions The Will of the people will be reflected the actions of the city Council Short-term (0-12 months) Fill existing vacant positions like city manager.
The city would respond rapidly and comprehensively to residents' need without overloading one person who is working two jobs. Short-term (0-12 months) I’m not certain I’m not certain Short-term (0-12 months) Council seems like they have more niche interest and don’t seem to be connected to the needs of the town. We did a community survey a year and a half ago that said people, prioritize roads, and public safety Fix the roads and support the police. Short-term (0-12 months) City Council will actually listen to citizens advice. Shorter meetings and feed back to letters. Short-term (0-12 months) Goal 4: High Performance Organization
The finance dept. doesn't seem to know what they're doing.
Competent employees who are held accountable. Why can't the city employ competent financial people?!
Stop increasing the pay of incompetent employees and start holding people accountable for the jobs they've been hired for. Short-term (0-12 months) there is no accountanibilit at City Hall firing staff that screw up and don't do their jobs well Short-term (0-12 months) N/A More Low income housing Short-term (0-12 months)
Reach out to the community, not just a small number of highly organized people. The vast majority of this community doesn't WANT bike lanes, they want traffic flowing better, roads fixed, and parking for the downtown businesses. Skip the bike lanes and listen to the majority of the community. Short-term (0-12 months) Get a real City Manager. Fill the vacant Planning Department Director position. Get an Administrative Services Director who knows how to do it. This department has been dysfunctional for more than 10 years.
A real City Manager would know better how to manage a City Council that is basically composed of the “most popular community volunteers”. Their intent is good, but they should not be steering the ship. That’s what a competent, experienced manager would be doing. Probably the last one tried to do it and got fired for his efforts. Short-term (0-12 months) Stop doing stupid things like spending money on reversing the one lane roads. Zen and more money to be used on important stuff Short-term (0-12 months) n/a n/a Short-term (0-12 months)
Sorry, but I think Ana Kwong is not the right person for that role. We need accuracy and valuing what's special about this city. And its people. Including volunteers. Better staffing. Smarter planning, including roads and buildings. Short-term (0-12 months) Desnt make sense Idk Short-term (0-12 months)
I'm dying to know if Little Caesars was an accident or intentional If it was intentional, change the rules to make it easier for businesses instead of spending time and money "investigating" to keep a vocal minority happy. If it was an accident, upgrade your systems for transparency and organization Short-term (0-12 months) Council needs to listen to residents and business owners. Council gets distracted by a lot of issues that don't have anything to do with Sebastopol. Council doesn't listen to residents like with the two way streets. The majority of people don't want two way streets.
Council not make decisions because of their personal belief system or politics but for the benefit of residents and business owners. Stop wasting time and money on things like Narcan Boxes and Two Way Roads. Just fix the roads. Short-term (0-12 months)
the voice of the people was ignored in putting in 2 way streets that onlt a few wanted
if the people were listenex to instead of wealthy developers and the chaberon of commerce Short-term (0-12 months)
This would require the city council to actually listen to the 100s of tax payers when we voice the obvious about revenue losing policies and wasteful pet projects that none of asked for. If you only treated tax payers even half as good as you treat outside agitators, special interest consultants and druggie, mentally unsound freeloaders we’d be rubbing our eyes in welcomed disbelief.
Focussing on revenue producing policies and actually listening to tax payers.
What a novel concept. Short-term (0-12 months)
I’d like our city council to fund the community center You started kicking in for the cummonity center again Short-term (0-12 months) This is accomplished by focusing on other goals and having tangible results in those areas. You will know at election Short-term (0-12 months) City Controller reports
Every City Controller should be required to have a public, searchable database of payments. See the Los Angeles Controller for an example. Short-term (0-12 months) We don't need a bigger or better city hall, We need better vision and accountability.
A city council that was really responsive and active to the needs and character of our town Short-term (0-12 months)
This is not in my area of knowledge. I am the wrong one to ask this. Short-term (0-12 months) Not exactly sure what you mean by this. Seems like the city is pretty efficiently run already.
Image of our city council regionally is terrible. Do better to be proactive and have civil debates and l let go of pet issues and focus on the whole. Short-term (0-12 months) Wasting time again on traffic changing Sebastoool back to two lane instead of one way. That was studied to death already. IRS a waste of energy and most likely won’t improve anything Stop the process Short-term (0-12 months) City could improve digital security and help train the community on preventing scams. No more city hacks or ransoms. Short-term (0-12 months) Listen to your citizens. Collaboration with citizens Short-term (0-12 months) Again, more focus on needs of locals, wealthy and not so wealthy.
We do not need to become a little Healdsburg to succeed.
Allow and encourage businesses that meet local needs. Encourage traffic systems that allow for local traffic patterns as much tourist traffic.
Encouraging/allowing businesses that meet local needs. Right now we have to leave town to buy many basic items (socks and underwear, for example) because our businesses are focused on tourist and elitist stores. Assessing local needs and balancing them with tourism and outside financial involvement in our planning. Short-term (0-12 months)
I agree People are more involved and feel good about what’s happening in our town Short-term (0-12 months) Trust can increase is Sebastopol is financially healthy.
Public infrastructure would be less expensive per person if we built less for drivers and more for people with higher density housing. Sebastopol would then me financially healthy. Short-term (0-12 months)
There seems to be a long-standing lack of trust between the community and city leadership, which surfaces even in this survey.
For example, it is unclear how this survey was communicated to residents. Additionally, events like Little Caesars Pizza and the surprise announcement regarding Grocery Outlet joining our business community have contributed to community concern and confusion.
City leadership that listens to the community and is available to input while adding more communication to local events that affect us all. Short-term (0-12 months) City government seems to be flailing. Recent things (Little Cesars - I'm not even opposed to Little Cesars) have been missed without any seeming accountability Government employees would actually be held accountable. Short-term (0-12 months) More community involvement in decisions City council members would be more transparent. Short-term (0-12 months) I think that many items really need to be on the ballot instead of being decided by the city council
ballot measures on all ballots that are of interest to the community. Stop using expensive and ineffective consultants. High school students would often do the work much better Short-term (0-12 months)
i don’t know what this means idk Short-term (0-12 months) A big Sebastopol party with potluck, music, and people from all walks of life. The homeless population would feel comfortable attending Short-term (0-12 months) N/A N/A Short-term (0-12 months)
City Council has in general performed well in a vital but somewhat thankless task. However, the disparity between public comments and Council votes on the ongoing redesign of the downtown streets concerns me. Council members most vital role is to represent the public in its entirety, for representative democracy to function. I am concerned Council members are taking activist roles, albeit with good intentions, but are going against the majority of citizens by reducing traffic capacity through the downtown.
City Council members demonstrate that their first priority is acting as democratic representatives of all citizens. Putting any downtown street changes up for popular vote on a regular ballot, prior to implementation, would demonstrate their commitment to full democracy. Short-term (0-12 months) Since I try to stay informed, I really don't have a comment for this goal. The Sebastopol Times a an asset to the community for their local articles to keep us informed.
More citzen awareness. Not sure about the city government if that is part of the organization issue. Short-term (0-12 months)
City council should be more open to residents opinions. Just because we elected them doesn’t mean they can make decisions regardless of public opinions expressed at council meetings.
Changing from Recology to Sonoma Recovery was more difficult and expensive for our businesses. Council decided otherwise. Also the move back to 2 way streets is a total waste of money and don’t make anything better!
Council members should be open to change minds based on new information and public opinion Short-term (0-12 months)
The City Council frequently does not listen to the desires of the people when it comes to issues like the return to two way streets, accessory dwelling units, and homeless shelters
Success would look like a city government that is more interested in the basics of governance such as public safety, infrastructure, economic vitality, etc instead of pursuing things that the residents don't want. Short-term (0-12 months) City council should be more open to residents opinions. Just because we elected them doesn’t mean they can make decisions regardless of public opinions expressed at council meetings.
Changing from Recology to Sonoma Recovery was more difficult and expensive for our businesses. Council decided otherwise. Also the move back to 2 way streets is a total waste of money and don’t make anything better!
Council members should be open to change minds based on new information and public opinion Short-term (0-12 months)
Since the city council is always majority white people who are desperate to stroke their ego and flex power hire consultant firms for all decisions
Decisions could be made that actually make sense are grounded in reality that help the public instead of benefitting a few white people Short-term (0-12 months) The City seems like it is failing. There is no City Manager. Council makes bad decisions like 2 Way Streets. Council doesn't get a hotel to fill in the huge vacant spaces. Council seems to be bad at retaining employees like Police and Fire. The City would have nice streets, a hotel downtown and would be safe. Short-term (0-12 months) Short-term (0-12 months)
Don’t trust the city management or council
Actually do for the people of this town. Listening to us. Stop spending money we don’t have. Short-term (0-12 months)
Interact with community members about issues More opportunities for small group discussions Short-term (0-12 months) City council and police seem to be hiding
Get them out to talk to people, like Sundays in the park. They need to Listen and speak so we know them and trust them Short-term (0-12 months) From what I see and hear, there is a huge issue of public trust in this city. People are upset that the city council's have such power and know so little about what they are doing. People are really upset about the planning commission having such an "interesting" hold over the city council by voting for 2 way streets when the public was overwhelmingly against it. It is questionable that the city is being run fiscally appropriately.
I'm not sure there could be success with this issue unless the staff reports are more specific so the council knows exactly what they are voting on. There should be more discussion about the important issues for instance with the Condo ADU's there was almost no discussion for something that really impacts the uniqueness of the city and the property values. At the meeting following the Condo ADU vote, one council member actually said, "I didn't know we voted for that". And that about says it all. Short-term (0-12 months) Transparency and Tough Decisions
No back room dealings, reasoning for decisions explained, and don't push issues down the line. Short-term (0-12 months)
always happy and grateful community Short-term (0-12 months) the fact we have not had a city manager for over a year, or a fully functioning planning department for 2 years is problemmatic. City staff vacancies must be filled by competent people
The city would be fully staffed by people who are qualified to do their jobs and able to communicate progress with the community Short-term (0-12 months) Council needs to listen to the people who live in Sebastopol and not take up all these niche issues that are brought to Council by nonprofits that are just trying to promote their single issue causes.
Sebastopol has gotten stuck with a lot of bad policies and programs like Elderberry and Gravenstein Commons because Council got suckered by some slick talkers like Hopkins and Tibbetts. Council needs to stop playing the fool for hucksters that use the City's resources without reimbursement. Council make practical and economically viable decisions. Short-term (0-12 months) Keep asking for public input on initiatives, such as two way streets, but then take the input into account when making decisions rather than choosing the least popular option.
I'd feel like I actually have some input into my community. Right now there is little trust. Short-term (0-12 months)
Lots of issues in this area as administration & city council have public trust issues Better fiscal management Short-term (0-12 months) Hmm, (not all) but the majority of city council becomes more relatable
Success would mean this group of city servants makes a concerted effort to actually care, rather than just playing a power-trip role and looking absolutely miserable at CC meetings Short-term (0-12 months)
Keep our fire department
Prioritize public safety by keeping a fire department using our tax payer dollers to keep us safe instead of wasting our money on changing traffic flow which would make our town unusable. Short-term (0-12 months) Anticipate financial needs sooner. Thing outside the box for money savings, such as legging composting toilets. Council is open to innovative ideas to save money Short-term (0-12 months) Inadequate staffing All positions filled, especially DPW and City Manager Short-term (0-12 months) Bring the money back that was set aside for the retirement funds and plan for retirement funding over a longer period so the funds can be used for city needs now. Money grabs to set aside funds for retirement versus using an investment strategy over time would increase public trust. The financial presentations should provide real data. The explanations for line items don’t convey a sense of accuracy. Stop allowing formula businesses into the retail spaces downtown. Halt new low income housing projects. There are more per capita in Sebastopol than most or all other cities in Sonoma County. It’s imbalanced with the characteristics desired.
Sales taxes wouldn’t be 10%, the financials would show a surplus and the public would have confidence in the financial information presented at meetings. Short-term (0-12 months)
Improved city website. More transparency on how budget is being used /where funding is going, new businesses coming in. Ensure any corruption and bribery is reported and criminilized No more chain store surprises. Support small businesses, walkability, parking. Short-term (0-12 months)
More town halls in specific neighborhoods for outreach and feedback
Council members get to know each neighborhood and the specific requests for these areas. With a plan to implement to Short-term (0-12 months) term limits for council members The best person for the job and if they fail, vote in new ones Short-term (0-12 months) This town seems very disorganized and not very data driven. Only recently have we seen an attempt to use surveys like this to understand citizen sentiment. The council needs to listen to commissioned experts. The town needs to better use and
understand analytics. The town does not communicate effectively with the citizenry. To do so it needs to greatly increase ways that citizens can access analytics about the town and ways to give feedback 24/7. Surveys like this need to happen more often and there should be a dedicated online hub for 24/7 community discourse about the town. It's 2026. The few people that sown up for council meeting are often the most engaged .. but they are a tiny fraction of the amount of people that would actually provide feedback if there were a central web home for all citizens.
A robust, contemporary social media hub is created and a campaign across the town to use it. Short-term (0-12 months)
Appoint Mary Gourley as the permanent City Manager Appoint Mary Gourley as the permanent City Manager Short-term (0-12 months) Closing the loop between community input and city decisions.
When residents engage, they should be able to see how their input was weighed - and why decisions went the way they did.
A clear, accessible record connecting community feedback to outcomes.
Residents understand the reasoning behind decisions, even when they disagree. Short-term (0-12 months)
Spend money wisely. City management has failed public trust Public scrutiny before massive spending Short-term (0-12 months) Be more fiscally responsible - hire a good city manager and hold them accountable - stop city council from micro managing The city manager is the continuity of city operations - council hires and fires but should not be micromanaging Short-term (0-12 months) Financially stable Short-term (0-12 months)
Less expensive studies and better in house ‘ staff ‘ reports Saving city monies Short-term (0-12 months) Short-term (0-12 months)
Stop bringing in big businesses. Be transparent. Short-term (0-12 months) We need to change the way our city council operates and have an elected mayor. The rotating mayor means that no single person can set the direction/agenda which means no single person is responsible for executing on the direction. This means we have a committee of camels that is not effective at all. Also, I continually hear from city Council members that they rely on the direction of the city manager and that is why we are currently in the situation we are in. I want to hear more personal responsibility for oversight and quality assurance of the data that is being presented to the council.
We need to be able to vote for a single person in charge who can set an agenda that the public can vote on and support and drive that agenda to execution. Short-term (0-12 months)
Stop hiring consultants to make decisions. Very wasteful. Less money wasted on outsiders Short-term (0-12 months) Inadequate staffing All positions filled, especially DPW and City Manager Short-term (0-12 months) Short-term (0-12 months)
This is unclear. What organizations? If you're talking about the City Council, then quit thinking that 4-5 people shoukd get to decide huge issues, like revamping the highways that run thru town, instead of putting such issues to a city- or even county-wide vote! Short-term (0-12 months) Listen when feedback is given Prioritized community feedback over personal vision Short-term (0-12 months) This should be an ongoing goal. Ongoing improvement. Short-term (0-12 months) Council members are part of a team, not individual egos. Work as a team and get off political push buttons. Short-term (0-12 months) Residents should have say in some decisions made by the City Council What company collects trash, rates, etc. Short-term (0-12 months) no idea what this means. Avoid jingoistic language. Short-term (0-12 months) More bike lines, really? Is there such a demand that we can’t do without? Short-term (0-12 months)
Listen to constituents when we give feedback — thinking of the new 2-lane vs 1-way on Main Street — and how the public voted but final verdict went against majority’s preferences. Listen to your constituents!! Short-term (0-12 months) City council to really hear the residents Lisen to all residents with an open mind Short-term (0-12 months) I love that these surveys are coming out to public and asking for input. I think that is a step in right direction. An organization that reliably turns strategy into results through clear priorities, disciplined execution, capable people, and transparent
accountability. The city follows through on stated priorities and Decisions informed by data + community input + professional judgment.
Building credibility through execution, not promises. City council doesnt bend for developers and take any money because it is desperate. Thinks long term strategy not short term fixes. What is the next generation of our city like? Short-term (0-12 months) The planning commission needs to get on the same page as the city council and not approve new construction that will be contested and waste our money Short-term (0-12 months)
Your top priority must be to engage better with your constituency as a governing BODY. It is known that the vast majority of residents do not engage with you during the council meetings and those that do are the same 7 or fewer time and again. There are others who have stopped engaging because it has been clear that the council does not HEAR when people speak. In one ear and out the other. The just completed traffic survey is one recent example: the community survey should support for one option, yet you some hybrid that had not been suggested by the experts hired to advise you. Other examples relate to the abhorent process used to approve the trailer park and then the Commons. The public wanted neither and yet, here we are. Open forum public meetings – not part of an agendized council meeting – would be a great way to welcome input and show trust in US to engage with you, and that you are open to listening.
These could be two fold: to deeply engage with us on critical decisions you need to make (to ‘slow down major council decisions’, part of your priority list) and to provide a forum for public questions and comment and possible discussion on things important to us. These could be as needed for big decisions, or if more general public imput, twice yearly. These general meetings should be a presetnation by the city to us, but a “come with your questions” session. At least 2 "come with your questions" sessions schedule and one held. Short-term (0-12 months) This is not clear. If you mean being responsive and efficient, great.
This should always be the case. Self audit if necessary and revise as recommended. Turn around times would be good for permits, responses would be prompt. Mid-term (1-3 years) Stop trying to make this city look like Mill Valley because it’s not.
Focus more on the people that work here and live here. Making it a tourist attraction doesn’t really work if you can’t get through town. Mid-term (1-3 years) I know nothing No infighting. Focus on Swbtown not personalities Mid-term (1-3 years) Look to other similar size cities for what works Visionary, informed leadership with creative & original solutions Mid-term (1-3 years) This is no a sexy issue, but it sure matters. I'mS shocked when talking with friends how they somehow assume all the council members etc. are pulling in big salaries. It's so dumb. and SO inaccurate!
Successful communication letting folks know about what the various committees are up to. Honestly don't know how to make this happen. I read the Newsletter , But not sure everyone does. It must be awfully discouraging. Mid-term (1-3 years) expand the city council
add a youth member and a senior member appointed by the city council has non-voting members Mid-term (1-3 years)
If majority of public doesn't want 2 way streets. on Main St- DONT SELECT THAT CHOICE.. don't ask for opinion and then discard results. Better budgeting is needed.
This is an ongoing problem. For public services, hire so that excessive OT isn't needed. Pay attention to ongoing maintenance needs when budgeting. Focus should be long AND short term Mid-term (1-3 years)
It appears the city is in a transition phase with Mary Gourley acting as both city manager and clerk. We are understaffed/using temps/consultants/lawyers at leadership levels while slowly emerging from the Larry McLaughlin crazy councils era.
Organizational effectiveness is hamstrung by the electorates preference for naive, inexperienced councillors over those with practical prior experience, often driven by single issue obsessions.
City staff are overworked and there is a leadership vacuum caused by the crushing workload requirements of California cities law and regulations. Councillors are frequently eating into city staff time over poorly thought through directives. CoS council is a notorious laughing stock within a 100 mile radius
Let the city staff run the budget, make all the major decisions and bring them to council for comment and ratification. Focus on hiring leadership. Stop wasting time on councillor pet projects and focus on the basics. Mid-term (1-3 years) I feel like this is earned by delivering on the practical objectives do the other things and this will happen Mid-term (1-3 years) Good
Transparent governance; appropriate delegation of responsibilities to departmental City staff in support of their professional knowledge and to relieve burden on Council members. Mid-term (1-3 years) not sure not sure Mid-term (1-3 years)
Continue or increase communications and access to resources Leverage technology and promote dialogue Mid-term (1-3 years) Serve everyone - the most good for the most people
Dont spend a forthune on the homeless. We had a good solution with the RV parking on the lot on 116 and you pushed them out for a few apartments Mid-term (1-3 years) Mid-term (1-3 years)
Mid-term (1-3 years)
Is your office over staffed? It often feels as though we have too many salaries for a small town.
The fees would be reduced, the arborist would be fair and the tree ordinance would be followed. It seems crazy to ask us for more tax money to pay your salaries. Mid-term (1-3 years)
A network of community stewards who have reach into most pockets of the community so communication can flow easily and personally and all are accounted for Mid-term (1-3 years)
Mid-term (1-3 years)
Hire Mary as city manager. Hire active transportation planner Positions filled with people who live in town Mid-term (1-3 years) Maintain the organization Keep the organization Mid-term (1-3 years) Too many consultants and reports are paid for. We need to find dedicated people to hire.
I think there are many experts and volunteer organizations who could provide staff and the council with "alternative reports' on different issues. Mid-term (1-3 years) The city has made a lot of errors of judgement in the past costing time, money and ineffectiveness
Correct the issue with the infrastructure, roads, downtown aesthetics , homelessness and wacky projects and restore public trust in good decision making focusing on the most urgent priorities Mid-term (1-3 years) Improve effectiveness of city government and agencies Improved and well maintained website Mid-term (1-3 years) Focus on Sebastopol as a town of the people and for the people.
Community first, grassroots is alive, welcome and encouraged always in Sebastopol Long-term (3-5 years)
sebastapol has strong organizatoins - not worried about this aspect success Long-term (3-5 years) Not sure what this means Unsure Long-term (3-5 years)
Stop approving chain stores against the will of the people Stop going against what people voted for Long-term (3-5 years) No idea what this really means or how it would be measured No unexpected departures of staff or reports of poor behavior Long-term (3-5 years) Have longer time speech limits for public comments, without continuous interruptions. Be more transparent as to meeting times of city council and planning commission as the general public is still quite unaware of where to get this information if they have a concern.
More informational access and input from the public that needs to be asssisted with sources of information about their City of Sebastopol government Long-term (3-5 years)
Think we do this well Continue with transparency Long-term (3-5 years) make the building department more user friendly the staff would work with you to help you navigate the regulations Long-term (3-5 years) good communication
follow up with individuals impacted by fire, crime, etc. about results, resolution Long-term (3-5 years)
Transparency in decision making, city council drama
Decision makers are known and loved by a wide cross section of Sebastopol citizens. They are thoughtful and considerate in their decision making and people trust them. Long-term (3-5 years)
Long-term (3-5 years)
Sebastopol is mismanaged, has been and ever will be. Impossible with folks living in a dream and bubble. Long-term (3-5 years) Stop using buzz words. Spend less. Long-term (3-5 years) This is what our leaders should focus on. It is a leadership issue that needs to be tackled to build trust and when trust is built, OE follows. Much like safety, leadership should always be focusing on building trust - it isn't a special goal for the year. It is in every action and decision - build trust.
No Comment
I don't know what this means.
A brochure highlighting the locations of public art throughout the city and neighboring locale; further use and public perception of the community center; more frequent and scheduled activities; emphasis upon library and city hall as bonafide city service buildings as accessible as a focus upon the city as a "center".
Theme Definition Theme Timeline Count
Overwhelming focus on council needing to listen to residents, respect public input (especially on traffic/housing), and reflect community will in decisions
Council Listening / Responsiveness / Public Input Short-term 23 Concerns about budget deficits, wasteful spending (consultants, studies, pet projects), fiscal responsibility, and tax/fee management
Fiscal Management / Budget / Spending / Waste Short-term 20 Responses indicating satisfaction with current organization, "think we do this well," "good," or "maintain the organization" Status Quo / Satisfaction / "Doing Well" Mixed (Short & Long-term) 10 Responses indicating confusion about the goal definition, "not sure what this means," or providing minimal/non-substantive feedback (reflects survey design clarity) Unclear / Confused / "Don't Know" / Survey Clarity Mixed (Short, Mid, Long-term) 15 Calls to hire/permanentize City Manager, fill vacant positions (Planning Director, Admin Services), and address staffing levels City Manager / Staffing / Vacancies / HR Short-term leaning Mid-term 11 Focus on rebuilding public trust, accountability for decisions/staff, transparency in budgeting/process, and closing the feedback loop Transparency / Accountability / Trust / Communication Short-term 10 Specific structural reform proposals: elected mayor, term limits, council expansion, ballot measures for major decisions, meeting process changes Governance Structure / Reform (Mayor, Term Limits, Ballot) Mixed (Short & Long-term) 7 Requests for more town halls, neighborhood outreach, small group discussions, and proactive community engagement beyond council meetings Community Engagement / Outreach / Town Halls Short-term leaning Mid-term 6 Concerns about staff competence, salaries too high, need for audits, firing underperforming staff, and building department userfriendliness Staff Competency / Performance / Salaries / Audits Short-term 5 Specific complaints about hiring consultants, wasting money on studies, and relying on external advice over internal
staff/community input Consultants / Studies / External Advice Short-term 4 Mentions of website improvements, digital security (hacks/scams), online hubs for feedback, and technology modernization Digital / Tech / Website / Cybersecurity Short-term leaning Mid-term 4 Specific comments about council infighting, egos, meeting demeanor ("miserable"), and organizational culture/drama Council Behavior / Culture / Drama / Egos Short-term leaning Long-term 3 Concerns about decision-making process, Planning Commission alignment, and specific project approvals (chains, housing) Decision Making / Process / Planning Commission Short-term 3 What's on your mind about this goal? For this goal, what would success look like if achieved? How soon should the City focus on this? This is the most important thing, all else flows from this. Neglecting to keep up with inflation, makng development difficult, not budgeting for infrastructure all impact this.
you would have a balanced budget. Infrastructure needs would be met. Fees would meet demand. Keep up with inflation. Short-term (0-12 months) Council needs to stop wasting time and money on programs that do not generate revenue.
Council make Sebastopol clean and safe. Clean up Ives. Tell the Rotary to proceed with their project. Stop chasing Creek Naturalization as the City doesn't have the money. Keep downtown clean. Short-term (0-12 months) Sewage extra charge is too much and ridiculous Cost of living considered based on income etc, balance the budget Short-term (0-12 months) Stop spending money on consultants Staff should be able to see what costs are available. Short-term (0-12 months) Why do we have so many school districts in Sebastopol?
Combining the schools into one district. Begin sharing resources. Taking all the money wasted on superintendents and put that towards reading support and emotional support. Short-term (0-12 months)
Costs to the city keep rising. I don’t see how income in a small city can keep up. Income from surrounding area. Short-term (0-12 months) Take care of the budget no matter how much the COuncil will not act like adults that are sober.
Why lordy why is this impossible. I always ask folks in shops where they live and have yet to hear that one of this folks lives in town due to costs. Short-term (0-12 months) Supports all goals. Fiscally resilient government despite macroeconomic downturn. Short-term (0-12 months) Practicing fiscal and financial responsibility City council with stay within its budget Short-term (0-12 months) Staff and canceled need to be 100% focused on revenue,
generating projects. There should be no time spent on ideas or programs that do not generate revenue.
Council meetings would be talking about businesses, ways to cut costs, and land development that generates money for the city. Short-term (0-12 months) A balanced budget. Trim city business employees. A balanced budget Short-term (0-12 months) More accountability on where the money is going. The city is on fire department was not able to sustain itself on its own. Where did all the money go?
A breakdown of what money goes towards what resource, where it comes from and why it is working or why it is lacking. Short-term (0-12 months) Goal 5: Long-Term Financial Sustainability
We deserve to have people who know what they're doing in the finance dept. That doesn't seem to be the case. Take care of the things taxes are meant for. Roads, water pumps/pipes, sewer.
Stop making excuses for not taking care of what we pay our taxes to fund.
Spend as much as you can on roads, safety and items related to supplying water. Short-term (0-12 months)
N/A N-A Short-term (0-12 months)
Don’t waste money on studies! Better use of public funds Short-term (0-12 months) Recurring tax revenues exceed operating expenses, projected deficits covered up by paying retirement from reserves.
Grow revenue or cut expenses. Probably have to separate cost centers like parks and Recreation into separate district. Governed by a board rather than council and funded by separate tax and fees. Short-term (0-12 months) Don't know. No idea Short-term (0-12 months)
This community is built on local businesses, organic farming, and rural living. Many older residents who support the local businesses. Improved traffic flow, improved parking, support of LOCAL business. Short-term (0-12 months) An experienced City Manager with a competent Finance Manager (aka Admin Services) will have a big task before them but these are the skills required to right the course. A plan to achieve financial sustainability and organizational stability. Short-term (0-12 months) Don’t waste money on new traffic flow. Happiness for all residents. Short-term (0-12 months) Support local businesses. Get traffic and parking BETTER so people want to come downtown and shop, and it's not a stressful experience. Do that by avoiding high-traffic Grocery Outlet if possible. Not throttling traffic with that crazy 2 way street plan. Did you read why it was changed to 1 way? Not with huge businesses that bring in more traffic than the streets can handle. And NOT with big parking garage. That is not Sebastopol character.
Traffic and parking become sane. Supporting local businesses becomes easier. It's relaxing to go downtown. We keep our city's small town charm and character. That brings financial support. Not killing the goose that laid the golden egg. Short-term (0-12 months)
…. Llll Short-term (0-12 months)
better accountability at city hall stop the ‘mistakes’ Short-term (0-12 months) This is only possible if we attract young families Young families flock to Sebastopol Short-term (0-12 months) too many consultants no more consultants, volunteers do the work with ais Short-term (0-12 months) Spending Reel in the spending, do NOT increase the budget Short-term (0-12 months) Be transparent about where our sales tax money is going, We suffer the most for the high sales tax and don't experience any improvement in the quality of our town
put all money issues on line for all to see, not to have to go to a meeting to find out. Short-term (0-12 months)
continue to cultivate local business's so that money can be reinvested in community events/buildings/structures and facilitiesStronger success rate in local business ownership, keeping community members shopping in town vs leaving to Santa Rosa Short-term (0-12 months) Create sensible, affordable, reasonable revenue streams to help the city sustain itself. Logical taxes. Short-term (0-12 months) Fill the vacant commercial buildings. Encourage business to come to Sebastopol instead of discouraging them. Give incentives. Ie vacant Longs building. Vacant Rite Aide
Viable businesses. Also Riley Building that city permitted and changed city growth lines and now it’s got vacancy’s. Short sited planning Short-term (0-12 months) So many places, organizations, & businesses don’t have budgets that work for them. We would have a budget that works for the city with an emergency fund. Short-term (0-12 months) No more public Art sponsored by the City. No more survey. No 2- way roads change Invest in the things we see! Improve the street lights. Short-term (0-12 months) Property taxes are too high and should be reevaluated, especially for seniors Lower the extra taxes or eliminate all the school bond tax for retirees Short-term (0-12 months) What factors have contributed to Sebastopol’s current financial challenges, and how can the city address them to strengthen community services and sustainability? Balanced budget. Short-term (0-12 months) Stop spending money Especially on studies Short-term (0-12 months) Use the tax money that the city brings in for the stated reasons instead of just using it as if it was for the general fund a lower water and sewage bill Short-term (0-12 months) use local people save money Short-term (0-12 months)
Seems to me the other goals all depend on this one. We need to live within our means even if that means cutting back or eliminating desirable activities. We can't do every thing for everybody. A balanced budget every year. Short-term (0-12 months) The city does not live up to it’s financial obligations The city would have a fund for longer term planning Short-term (0-12 months) N/A N/A Short-term (0-12 months)
Financial stability is important of course Don’t waste money on studies to tell people what they already know Short-term (0-12 months) Celebrate what's great about Sebastopol. Arts Culture history, music the people! All of the above. Short-term (0-12 months) Financial stability is important of course Don’t waste money on studies to tell people what they already know Short-term (0-12 months) Defund the police and fund the community
Stop throwing millions of dollars at a fee people in a department that doesn’t protect people Short-term (0-12 months)
There are two giant vacant spaces - Rite Aid and the Old CVS. These should be hotels. Sebastopol needs hotel revenue.
Council and City staff get out there and talk to hotel developers. See if you could get a developer interested. Maybe a more midrange hotel for people who don't want to spend $500 a night in Healdsburg. Short-term (0-12 months) Allow more fast food, I mean the city loves Starbucks, so allowing chains is allowed. . Generate more sales tax, and keeping locals home rather than heading east. Short-term (0-12 months) increase City revenue taxing visitors, not residents. expanding tot taxes enforcing short-term rental laws Short-term (0-12 months) Tax tourists more. Fundraiser money specifically marked for road infrastructure projects from people outside city limits that drive those roads daily. Lots of rich homes and people that would probably pay to get roads fixed instead of constantly paying for fixing alignment
Flyers to rich neighborhoods, out reach to schools to send kids home with flyers for fundraising, out reach to seniors through art center, senior center, and local grocery stores. If the city doesn’t have the money maybe the rich people in the county will. Short-term (0-12 months)
The city is currently on a path to bankruptcy given the meager property tax revenue percentage the county return to the city. Sales tax is maxed out at the highest permissible level, making CoS one of the most expensive places to buy things in Sonoma County. The only path to financial sustainability is via tourism, including greater efforts to attract retail store visit attractors. The Barlow is probably a life saver at this point, we need a lot more similar development and to greatly discourage homeless loitering downtown. The fact no hotel has been built to replace the Sebastopol Inn that was lost to county homeless housing speaks volumes about the city’s investment attractiveness.
We clearly need hotels, which will in turn bring in more retail stores. We need to pressure the county to provide a greater percentage of property taxes. We need to minimize low income housing that puts a strain on city finances while providing no tax income. We need leadership hyper focused on financial growth strategies Short-term (0-12 months)
Stop spending money we don’t have Short-term (0-12 months) Keep a balanced budget and bring in businesses that will generate tax revenue. Full stores Short-term (0-12 months)
Once again, favoring "unique character" over sustainable and realistic business practices is a trap that leads to provincialism and lost revenue.
Sebastopol needs to cater to its entire community, not just the boomer refugees from the psychedelic 60's. By prioritizing a narrow interpretation of the city's "character" over its growth, we have been frozen in time and class, locked into an inflexible ecosystem of crystal shops, yoga studios and expensive boutiques with no room for evolution or modernization. Short-term (0-12 months) This city hasn't been fiscally sound for many, many years which is why they are stealing money from the water and sewer rate payers.
If the city had to pay us back, the city would be bankrupt. In fact, it may be if the hotel doesn't get built.
We need a fiscally responsible person in the city manager position and in charge of the finance department. Short-term (0-12 months) Short-term (0-12 months)
This should be the MAIN focus
council would actually engage accountants and MAKE HARD DECISIONS to curb expenses Short-term (0-12 months)
Promote small business' and the local economy. So many great businesses close down after a year because of high price points and not enough customers. Hard to fix the first issue, but promote tourism and new housing to help sustain a customer base.
More hotels & airbnbs for visitors, more events, more housing starts to grow population Short-term (0-12 months)
Keep up the concentration on this. same Short-term (0-12 months) This one is concerning. We have already pulled the lever to the max on taxes. If we could help business to thrive and build a boutique hotel, this helps us establish a platform for long-term financial sustainability. Without it, the city will continue to slowly die. Short-term (0-12 months) The cities struggle to remain financially solvent, and lack of planning for known expenses in the future. Balanced budgets, investments in infrastructure, planning for the future. Short-term (0-12 months) Solvency Make the Sebastopol budget sustainable Short-term (0-12 months) important taxes reasonable based on accurate property values Short-term (0-12 months) The city needs to encourage redevelopment of low value properties.
The city's financial resource is its land, and much of it is not being utilized effectively
the city will have enough money to fund services and infrastructure maintenance Short-term (0-12 months)
Generate more revenue. Get a hotel on the Rite Aid site. Get a hotel in Redwood Marketplace. Piazza is not going to build a hotel until it sees Sebastopol getting cleaned up and the homeless people out of the town square. Homeless people are in the town square doing drugs in the middle of the day. No one is going to build a hotel with $500 a night rooms across the street from a park full of homeless people. Also, if the two way streets get implemented, there will also be a giant traffic jam there and no one will build a hotel in front of a giant traffic jam.
For Sebastopol's revenue to be more than its expenses. Currently revenue is under expenses and the City is headed toward bankruptcy. Short-term (0-12 months) Fund City Staffing for volunteer committees
For example, allow staff to serve the needs of the Public Arts Committee, and others, to be able to return to monthly meetings. This will allow greater accomplishment of goals. Short-term (0-12 months)
Same as goal 4 Short-term (0-12 months)
Better financial management, less attention to petty issues. Also more state and grant funding. Financial security, reserves, fewer bond measures Short-term (0-12 months) Rich boomers of a 60 should be paying more school tax Short-term (0-12 months) Short-term (0-12 months)
Stop making decisions that are not productive to the majority of this city. Care more, plan better, spend less.
Consideration of all businesses, not just a select few. Sincere/genuine interest from those seeking to stay in their positions. Short-term (0-12 months) Wasting less of our money on changing the flow of traffic and instead prioritizing public safety by bringing back our fire department Leaving the roads the same and having a fire department in town Short-term (0-12 months) See previous answer Innovative ideas that are money saving such as composting toilets Short-term (0-12 months) balance the budget a balanced budget Short-term (0-12 months) The empty lot for the hotel complex Get it built! so the City has TOT revenue and a connected downtown core Short-term (0-12 months) Improve appeal and aesthetics to attract more shoppers. Police should enforce ticketing for traffic violations, especially in residential neighborhoods with high traffic (Valentine, pleasant hill Ave, Florence, Washington, Huntley. Bring back more Gravenstein apples. Higher taxes for chain stores. Short-term (0-12 months) Tax the wineries! They should be supporting the community not destroying it.
Sebastopol hS the funds needed to strengthen community services and build resilience Short-term (0-12 months)
not wasting any funds that do not help the majority more money in our budget Short-term (0-12 months) It seems our town has no plan how to achieve that. If it did, I assume it would obsess less on low income / social issues and more on creating the conditions that lead to making the town attractive to new, identity aligned, businesses, entrepreneurs and incoming homeowners, families (that increase the tax base). The town should increase taxes explicitly to target toward aim of restoring the town and building infrastructure for positive business .
Don't be afraid to ask the voters to support this again. Get more serious about this.
The town becomes a top destination for tourists and the businesses that will support them, property and business values rise, more revenues taken in Short-term (0-12 months) The City is almost dead broke due largely to prior City Council's failure to adequately fund reserves and encourage sources of revenue appropriate for the City
Put much more money into reserves, do everything possible to get at least 2 new hotels built in City limits which will generate more tax income Short-term (0-12 months) Creating an effective short term and long term vision for financial security and growth.
More communication, updates on what’s working, a cushioned budget that allows for road/sidewalk repair Short-term (0-12 months) Rich boomers of a 60 should be paying more school tax Short-term (0-12 months) Property tax payers are still paying for Palm Drive Hospital- not existent! Have the previous health care board take financial responsibility Short-term (0-12 months) Encouraging new businesses - city manager should be tracking expenses and make sure they are justified Relaxing regulations - give city manager AUTHORITY Short-term (0-12 months) Short-term (0-12 months)
Stop trying to do too much. You do not have the money or skills.
Stop using consultents who are impractical.
Stop trying to do too much. You do not have the money or skills. Stop using consultents who are impractical. Short-term (0-12 months) Short-term (0-12 months)
Short-term (0-12 months)
Short-term (0-12 months)
See prior comment about city Council being personally responsible for oversight of their staff’s work. Short-term (0-12 months) Stop spending on consultants. Prioritize infrastructure. If downtown was cuter perhaps more business would come. Nail salons and tattoo parlors on main streetare dragging our city down More business that people want to go to like galleries, the Gather store etc Short-term (0-12 months) The empty lot for the hotel complex Get it built! so the City has TOT revenue and a connected downtown core Short-term (0-12 months) lack of reserve funding and road repair funding improving reserves, prioritize infrastructure spending Short-term (0-12 months) Short-term (0-12 months)
change form of management to paid mgt Short-term (0-12 months) Financial stability should always be a priority Continuous financial stability Short-term (0-12 months) I am concerned that the City Council has no long term financial plan. If it does then the public should be shown what it is.
City Council in conjunction with Sebastopol Times (or similar publication) to publish the Council's economic five year plan. Short-term (0-12 months) Find a way to Increase and/or handle the city budget .
The city would be able to address the other stated objectives eg infrastructure issues. Short-term (0-12 months)
Taxes. Empty storefronts Why shop in Sebastopol when it's got the highest taxes? Short-term (0-12 months) Realistic risk assessments Increase rainy day funds Short-term (0-12 months) Create a place for young families Short-term (0-12 months) Better budget overview. Why has our city not changed the business license fees in many years.
Enable the staff member who handles business licenses to join other cities in the Calif. Business tax association. See what every other city is doing. Short-term (0-12 months) Find additional ways to raise revenue - increasing property taxes on second homes, VRBO properties; attracting businesses offering good paying jobs. Robust community services, clean streets, fully staffed municipal services Short-term (0-12 months) We have to get out of deficit spending. A balanced budget. Short-term (0-12 months) This town needs tourism and people spending money in our community. We also need to balance across property tax, sales tax, fees, and intergovernmental funding. Ongoing revenues cover ongoing operating costs. Encourage sectors that generate consistent tax revenue (not just seasonal spikes). We should charge for parking - minimal $1-2 an hour will provide some income to the city. Police giving parking tickets, fines, etc. Our town needs to increase revenue and these are minimal ways
A budget that is not in deficit every year. Better financial planning to improve reserves over time - looking at 5 years ahead. Getting more tax dollars, target grants for infrastructure, climate resilience, and transportation grants. Short-term (0-12 months) We cannot be a NIMBY town and expect to grow and thrive as a community. We should embrace tourism and not be against everything new and different
Sebastopol would be more open to being part of a larger and more accepting county Short-term (0-12 months)
5 Transparancy around the generation of and uses for the water and sewer funds. The W& S funds have been inappropriately used to bolster the general fund and there are still concerns in my mind about the use of this tax increase to ‘backfill’ past expenditures. To avoid the future concerns (to much mingling of accounts) I would like to see the water and sewer department spun off to a separate Sebasatopol Unility District (SUD) where we can know what is generated and spend on this most vital infrastructure. The established oversight committee could in addition to reviewing the fund, they could (perhaps working with a consultant hired by the city) help to guide this spin off. As our rates continue to increase (the hookups and sewer charges – a fixed element in the equation – are the driver behind the cost increases, not water consumption), you must be able to be accountable separately for the funds and not ‘as a percentage’ of the overall general budget.
0 - 12 mos to develop a plan for exploring the real possibility of spinning off the water and sewer department to the SUD. With a 1 -3 year timeframe for initiating implementing the effort. Short-term (0-12 months) What could Sebastopol offer the region that is exciting, new and unique? Increased commercial activity. New local business expansion Mid-term (1-3 years) Their is little accpuntabikity withbudget planning.
Get a City Manager and Finance Director who know how to analyze programs and cut costs Mid-term (1-3 years)
disband PD contract with Sheriff Mid-term (1-3 years)
Council needs to concentrate all their time and effort in terms of bringing revenue into the City. The City needs to get a higher percentage of property tax from the County. The needs to get reimbursement for all the services Sebastopol provides from Permanent Supportive Housing to Low Income Housing to the Senior Center.
For the City to get more revenue from the County for all the services Sebastopol provides. The City should get $1,000,000 per year to make up lost revenues due to Permanent Supportive Housing and Low Income Housing and to support Ives Pool, the Senior Center and Community Cultural Center. Mid-term (1-3 years) You might have thought about this one 15 years ago when you started pillaging water rate payers, closing hotels, and running the town down while torching dollars on petty feel-good virtue signaling and oddly corrupt feeling hotel sales. You now don’t have a chance in hell. Bankruptcy is not an if, it when. Mid-term (1-3 years) Develop and maintain a tax base while maintaining the "small town" feel of Sebastopol
Continue developing a small business model in the central area while encouraging tax producing endevors in outlying areas. Mid-term (1-3 years) Be prudent. Seek grants. Make our tax dollars go far. Get that hotel built.
No more tax increases. Get suatinsbkebefore the new sales tax expires. Or get the hotel buoy and more housing to add property taxes to the roles. Mid-term (1-3 years) Build hotels, hospitality and entertainment/festival grounds to bring tourists to come here for music and arts. We need to lean into our community strengths of excellence in music and arts.
Encouraging entertainment with public venues and regular shows.
Sebastopol festivals such as trashlants and more draw people from near and far to spend money locally and promote Sebastopol as a cultural destination. Mid-term (1-3 years) Get more businesses and you’ll get more tax $$. Balanced budget and money used to improve our city. Mid-term (1-3 years) As gas prices increase folks are looking to have needs met closer to home. As the economy sours, Sebastopol needs to look at providing a sustainable local economy over chasing the tourist market or we will lose our town. I have watched this play out in Sedona where the drive to grow tourism has driven out many residents, made local home ownership drop as SRT groups have bought homes and reduced the ability for locals to rent or buy, restaurants and stores have become increasingly more expensive. It fortunately still has a few local focused pockets, but tourism has created a traffic nightmare. Many folks who work in the area can no longer live there, but have to drive in from other communities. Is this the goal for Sebastopol? It seems like it is. A better balance of businesses between tourism and local community needs. Mid-term (1-3 years) Citizens need to know what it will take to maintain the city in good working order well into the future. Repeated budget shortfalls make one wonder if this is known.
The City determines to the best of its ability all costs to maintain infrastructure, services, etc. to a high quality level. Compare to available revenue, then if a shortfall exists, seek public support for additional revenues, and explain consequences if such revenues are not available. Mid-term (1-3 years) Really look at priorities compared to spending. Do they match? Is it more important to invest in things like parks or housing and workforce? The community will rally together for park projects--just ask them. The same cannot be said for investing in social services programs to benefit the poor and working class.
Less investment for a while in the nice to haves, more investment in supporting struggling families, adults, and seniors. Mid-term (1-3 years) Taxes New policies, low income, affordability Mid-term (1-3 years) Really great to be climbing out of financial disaster of last year of two. Great that emergency fund is pretty healthy. But shush. one sizable earthquake and we are big fat trouble Especially with current administration in DC. All more reason to be on good financial footing. I know, easier said than done! Mid-term (1-3 years) Mid-term (1-3 years)
You seem to be using permits to balance the budget- what's the long term goal since this is a one-time, unsustainable income stream?
I could drive streets where I couldn't tell I'd entered Sebastopol by the increased potholes. Budgets would be balanced Services would be running smoothly Mid-term (1-3 years)
Money spending, Budget control
Just because there is money in the bank doesn't mean the city has to spend it.
Don't spend money projected to be realized someday in the future. Be responsible Mid-term (1-3 years)
if current operations aren't financially viable, change has to be made Funds for all the things Mid-term (1-3 years)
Adopt multi-year budgeting rather than doing everything with onetime money that is then not maintained. Create a 3-5 year action plan. Reduce deferred maintenance rather than backlogging everything. Encourage more tax efficient revenues by prioritizing businesses that generate strong sales tax. Invest in events that bring in visitors.
Sebastopol would provide a transparent dashboard to show residents the budget, priorities, and plans for maintaining roads, and other infrastructure.
We would see a bump in events and businesses that bring revenue. Mid-term (1-3 years) Stop the huge tax burdens from growing. My taxes and bond portions reduced Mid-term (1-3 years) Currently the financial sustainability looks bleak especially after losing $1M to a phishing scheme and moving several million dollars to the side for employee retirement. Spending money to change the direction of traffic seems frivolous at this time. Bringing in a Bus Dev Manager to attract u pique and viable businesses to fill the retail spaces seems most financially sound before adding expenditures that are nice to have.
Retail spaces would be filled and the For Sale/For Lease signs would be minimal. Revenues would be organically improved and the sales tax would be lowered. Mid-term (1-3 years)
Our area needs to appeal to young people to move and flourish here, and to visitors to keep coming back. Steady and continuous improvements to infrastructure Mid-term (1-3 years) too much money goes to policing, not enough for parks, etc also, we have done enough for homelessness for the size of our city Mid-term (1-3 years) Day visitors generate impacts but not proportional revenue. People come for wine tasting and dining, use city services and infrastructure, and leave. Mechanisms exist in other communities to capture value from day tourism - parking fees, tasting fee structures, event impact fees - without depending on overnight stays or TOT alone.
Revenue streams tied to actual visitor activity, not just hotel stays. Day tourism contributes to the infrastructure it uses. New funding supports cultural and community priorities rather than just backfilling deficits. Mid-term (1-3 years) If people can afford to live here then they would contribute more to the long-term financial success. Making sure young families have access to affordable rental places, programs to help 1st time homebuyers . More families moving to Sebastopol Mid-term (1-3 years) Bigger taw base Possible tourist revenue? Mid-term (1-3 years) Doing more to bring businesses to Sebastopol that will increase tax revenue. Figure out how to get the hotel projects going. 2 (or more) vibrant, beautiful hotels in downtown Sebastopol Mid-term (1-3 years) our financial sustainability is nested within larger systems that are not looking responsible balanced budget, set aside funds for emergencies Mid-term (1-3 years) We need healthy reserves and to be looking well into the future in terms of financial stability. Don’t spend down now at the expense of tomorrow.
We have significant healthy reserves that we continue to build. We have a system for ranking expenditures and oversight from different groups to identify where we might be wasting money. We are continuously investing in the community which includes a reserve fund. Mid-term (1-3 years) You asked us for emergency tax money to pay your salaries with no accountability for how it is to be spent. Don't ask us for more tax money- work within the budget allotted. Mid-term (1-3 years) The economic development of the town is directly related to the financial health of the community. Focus on grassroots level economic development, and building the livelihoods of small business owners. Consider a grant for economic development of cohorts of business leaders. Flourishing bioregional economy. Mid-term (1-3 years) Mid-term (1-3 years)
There is more than enough money, tax billionaires Mid-term (1-3 years) Build that hotel! Create/support a live theater group that attracts the luncheon dinner crowd. A bit more income for small businesses and a boost for the arts. Mid-term (1-3 years) Mid-term (1-3 years)
Keep the financial stability People enjoy to live here Mid-term (1-3 years) Maintain balanced budget Balanced budget Mid-term (1-3 years) Very important. Being able to deal with emergencies and unexpected financial situations. Mid-term (1-3 years) More festivals 1-2 large scale music festivals per year in the county areas Mid-term (1-3 years) Signage, marketing, activiites.Our library excels at providing so much, and to include the city hall as its adjacent partner would help to emphasize a city center feeling. Mid-term (1-3 years)
Have a plan and follow it. Balanced budget. Mid-term (1-3 years) Need to make sure that the city and county remain solvent—not in debt Annual budget with revenue that covers costs Mid-term (1-3 years) Supporting local businesses - we are the backbone of the county for food. Allow more funding for local grants. Allow more funding for local grants and assistance applying for them. Mid-term (1-3 years) High taxes on high end tourism
I'm very concerned about tourism and Airbnb taking $ away from locals. BUT if we can make it a major source of revenue, then we should balance it out. The surcharge tax on transient rentals might need to increase to 6-7%% (is it only 2% now?). I feel if we are leaders in local, community education & organization, then we can also get investors, freeing up tax money for infastructure. We could offer robust classes for which we charge, lease rooftops for solar, and rent event space (Rite Aid?). Long-term (3-5 years) I read weird stuff-Sebastopol allowing rotary club to build on top of redwood tree roots-everyone wants the dirt/grass-seb city council ignores public, hotel going in downtown/minus zero parking, turn one way roads back to two way, heaven forbid we have a affordable grocery store for locals because it would hurt overpriced local grocers-stop coming iow weird ideas-start learning to balance a checkbook #1-oppose plans that don’t come from the community of Sebastopol, allow locals access to affordable food not everyone here is a millionare
Stop dingbat ideas-stop focusing on tourism and focus on LOCALS , fix the damn roads already, halt the assassin or rotary club project-Ives park should t be THEIR anniversary project, focus on fiscal responsibility -how to stop being in debt-no the hotel revenues WILL MOT get us out of debt-starting to hate living here Long-term (3-5 years)
I know this is vital to everything this. Sadly, I have no idea how to achieve it. Positions would be filled, streets would be repaired. Long-term (3-5 years) Promote and protect small business Support small business Long-term (3-5 years) No comment, can’t get rid of filled in circle. Do not wish to respond. Long-term (3-5 years) We all, from the us govt down, need long term stategic planning Revised and better city strategic plans, that focus on environmental sustainability and balance growth with mindful growth Long-term (3-5 years) Support local businesses by keeping large chains and big box store OUT of Sebastopol. If someone want to support morally corrupt businesses, they will have to shop in a different local city.
Sebastopol maintains a very special character that separates it from other cities in the area. It’s clean, green, morally responsible to local businesses and citizens. We stand for something more than just profit and growth. We stand for sustainability and responsibility. Long-term (3-5 years) same answer as the previous topic same answer as the previous topic Long-term (3-5 years) I am not an expert. Be careful with money. ? A balanced budget? Long-term (3-5 years) Stop spending money on stupid shit. A city that doesn't spend money on stupid shit. Long-term (3-5 years) Live within means Long-term (3-5 years)
cut the fat, no new hires! fiscal situation improved! Long-term (3-5 years) Wean yourself from the teat of modern policing. No drones, no flock, no military gear. Long-term (3-5 years) Long-term (3-5 years)
Certainly
Relatively conservative on expenditures; diverse sources of revenue; creative economic development; net consistently in the black. Long-term (3-5 years) Stop spending money we don’t have Less spending and more saving Long-term (3-5 years) Why didnt we pass the vacant business tax? Seems in city interest to have active businesses Decrease in business vacancy rate, stabilization of revenue Long-term (3-5 years) Long-term (3-5 years)
Stop investing in expensive short-sighted social experiements like Horizon Shine, which was millions for only a couple of years, then the homeless, after 2 suicide and many public safety calls, went defunct anyway. Then, the City was threatened with a lawsuit to continue some kind of housing. Also, poorly executed housing plans where poor are kicked out of housing because they were supposed to be farm workers. Also, housing, such as behind Riley, that was supposed to be for first time homeowners and working middleclass from Sebastopol, that actually became million dollar plus housing for a more financially privileged class of outsiders.
Transparent and responsible followthrough of programs that are not social experiments, but are based on reality-based economics! Long-term (3-5 years) less money wasted on PR studies, so-called public art, etc. not sure Long-term (3-5 years) Why do we have such a high sales tax? This drives patrons to other towns. Tax in other ways if necessary. Tax land lords that leave store fronts vacant. Places should not sit empty just because of land lord greed. Long-term (3-5 years)
A plan that has short term, middle, and long-term goals, so that people can see early results, while still aiming for greater results in the future. Long-term (3-5 years) Eliminate bias against doing commerce in city limits, you'd think it was a crime.Eliminate bias against doing commerce in city limits, you'd think it was a crime. Long-term (3-5 years)
Work to transform CA's property tax system.
Everyone pays their fair share for property tax, not based upon when you bought. Long-term (3-5 years)
Pay your bills and plan to fix the Citys infrastructure as the City gains population. Impossible with folks always in the dark. Long-term (3-5 years) Boosting commercial success in the downtown seems like a great way to achieve this. What is the outlook for the luxury hotel coming on-line?
A continuation of unique services and events targeting the local population should be maintained while also welcoming in a transient tourist population with alternative offerings. Long-term (3-5 years)
Rich homeowners over 60 should be paying the most school tax to ensure the future of our community is there Make the boomers pay more tax Long-term (3-5 years) Long-term (3-5 years)
Do we have a reserve study? Does anyone know what that is? Live within our means. We are out of debt. Long-term (3-5 years) Theme Definition Theme Timeline Count
Overwhelming focus on achieving balanced budgets, eliminating deficit spending, living within means, and fiscal responsibility as foundational to all other goals
Budget Balance / Deficit Concerns / Fiscal Discipline Short-term 32 Calls for new revenue streams: hotel/TOT taxes, parking fees, tourist taxes, property tax reform, county revenue share, and tax burden concerns
Revenue Generation / Tax Policy / Tourist Taxes / TOT Short-term leaning Mid-term 28 Strong emphasis on reducing wasteful spending, eliminating consultant contracts, cutting "pet projects," and prioritizing essential services Spending Cuts / Waste Reduction / Consultant Criticism Short-term 24 Specific focus on building hotels (Rite Aid/CVS sites), generating TOT revenue, and leveraging tourism for fiscal sustainability Hotel Development / Lodging Infrastructure / TOT Revenue Short-term leaning Mid-term 18 Support for locally-owned businesses as economic drivers, opposition to chains/big box stores, and keeping revenue circulating locally Local Business Support / Anti-Chain / Small Business Focus Short-term 14 Calls for transparent budgeting, public reporting of expenditures, searchable payment databases, and clear communication about fund usage Fiscal Transparency / Accountability / Budget Reporting Short-term 12 Emphasis on hiring competent City Manager/Finance Director, filling vacancies, and professional leadership to restore fiscal health City Manager / Staffing / Leadership for Financial Management Short-term leaning Mid-term 10 Focus on building rainy-day funds, reserve studies, multi-year planning, and preparing for economic shocks (earthquakes, recessions) Reserves / Emergency Fund / Long-Term Financial Planning Mid-term leaning Long-term 9 Discussion of balancing tourism benefits with resident needs, capturing revenue from day-visitors, and avoiding over-dependence on seasonal tourism Tourism Balance / Visitor Revenue Strategies / Day-Tourism Fees Mid-term 8 Specific concern about water/sewer funds being used for general fund, calls for separate utility district (SUD), and rate accountability Water/Sewer Fund Transparency / Utility District Spin-Off Short-term leaning Mid-term 5 Calls for higher property tax share from county, reimbursement for services (homeless housing, senior center), and state/federal grant pursuit Property Tax / County Revenue Share / Intergovernmental Funding Mid-term 5 Concern that high housing costs drive out young families/workers, reducing tax base; calls for affordable housing to sustain long-term revenue Housing Affordability / Demographic Shifts / Young Families Mid-term leaning Long-term 5 Responses indicating satisfaction with current fiscal direction, "financial stability is important," or "keep doing what we're doing" Status Quo / Satisfaction / "Doing Well" Mixed (Short & Long-term) 4 Responses indicating uncertainty about how to achieve financial sustainability, "no idea," or minimal/non-substantive feedback Unclear / Confused / "Don't Know" / Blank Responses Mixed (Short, Mid, Long-term) 11 Specific debate about defunding police vs. fully funding public safety, and how public safety spending impacts overall fiscal health Police/Fire Funding Debates / Public Safety Budget Allocation (Emergent) Short-term leaning Long-term 4 Calls for formal multi-year budgeting processes, public dashboards showing budget priorities, and structured financial planning frameworks
Strategic Planning / Multi-Year Budgeting / Dashboard Reporting (Emergent) Mid-term 4
Specific mentions of pursuing state/federal grants for
infrastructure, climate resilience, and transportation to supplement local revenue Grant Funding / State-Federal Revenue Pursuit (Emergent) Mid-term leaning Long-term 3 Suggestions to use parking fees, traffic fines, and code enforcement as modest but consistent revenue streams Parking Fees / Fines / Enforcement as Revenue (Emergent) Short-term 3 Specific proposal to consolidate Sebastopol's multiple school districts to reduce administrative overhead and redirect funds to student support School District Consolidation / Education Funding Efficiency (Emergent) Short-term 2 What's on your mind about this goal? For this goal, what would success look like if achieved? How soon should the City focus on this? Given what is beyond a local comunities control makes this difficult. Do what you can to turn permits around quickly, reduce entitlement times, reach out to attract business.
Low commercial vacancies, new business opening and thriving, new infill housing is developed as much as possible, redelopment where needed. Short-term (0-12 months) Don't use pot farms to increase tax base. A ready made drug should not be accessibe in the fields and open areas. Short-term (0-12 months) Council needs to focus on creating a viable business environment, which means parking for cars and safe environment for visitors.
Council needs to deal with all the homeless people downtown. New businesses opening up that generate sales tax. A hotel. Short-term (0-12 months) Create a private-public Econ Development entity, with seed funding and grant-writing capabilities An active resource for biz expansion and retention Short-term (0-12 months) Whole Foods needs a better spot. Use the redwood market place as a refuge drop off free
People need more space to park for WF. Mattress and other large trash wouldn’t get dumped. Check out how Montana does free dump stations. Short-term (0-12 months) This is extremely important to me
Businesses could stay in the Barlow and downtown and actually sustain and thrive Short-term (0-12 months)
More non chain businesses and restaurants. A high end hotel.
A few highly rated restaurants like Healdsburg. An entertainment venue that would work well for expensive weddings Short-term (0-12 months) There is a crumbling downtown.
It will never return to what it was in the 80s and eary 90s. No jobs just look at Oreilly another foolish move by our fair town. Sits vacant. Short-term (0-12 months) Traditionally Sebastopol has been horrible at economic
development, which is why the cities in terrible financial shape.
Council is acted your responsibly with its land use and relationship to businesses. They gave away a hotel to the county, which has longterm repercussions.Take it’s fiduciary duty seriously, and needs to start making decisions that do not harm the cities financial Short-term (0-12 months)
Actively work on filling empty buildings with businesses people will actually shop in. Bring in some major businesses to the outskirts of Main St A bustling business economy that will bring in tax dollars. Short-term (0-12 months) Goal 6: Economic Development
We do not need a discount grocery store in the middle of town.
Discount retailers attract more discount retailers. The city needs to be cleaned up and less transients in order to be attractive to new businesses.
No more chains downtown. Cleaned up downtown and attractive to new businesses. I do not see how a two way road will help this. That's a waste of time and money. Short-term (0-12 months)
It seems that while businesses have gone out, it has left empty buildings that aren’t being repopulated because the rent is too expensive. This will not help our town thrive.
Drawing the public into town with local affordable businesses that can sustain both as a result of adequate business flow and affordable rent. Short-term (0-12 months) No big corp. businesses Enforce policy Short-term (0-12 months) Encourage biz to establish in town more tax dollars coming in Short-term (0-12 months) If you want economic development you need someone in charge and a plan. Sebastopol has neither. I’m sure two way streets 15 years from now will be the answer. (NOT)
I would say we need help from organizations like ROTARY, but they just found out what happens if you bring cost effective pragmatic ideas to planning…get crushed under the machinery of “little government” Short-term (0-12 months) Again, this is a community of local businesses - support this concept. Do not let Grocery Outlet, Walmart, and other corporate interests destroy the community businesses. In the long run, this hurts everyone. Stop approving big businesses that hurt the high quality local businesses. Short-term (0-12 months) See above. First things first. Success would equal business growth. Short-term (0-12 months) Develop a city based lottery to have economic growth Money overflowing the cash box. Short-term (0-12 months) Don't change the downtown street direction on Petaluma or Main St, Remove bike path, return streets to 2 lanes Short-term (0-12 months) Support local businesses. Get traffic and parking BETTER so people want to come downtown and shop, and it's not a stressful experience. Do that by avoiding high-traffic Grocery Outlet if possible. Not throttling traffic with that crazy 2 way street plan. Did you read why it was changed to 1 way? Not with huge businesses that bring in more traffic than the streets can handle. And NOT with big parking garage. That is not Sebastopol character.
Traffic and parking become sane. Supporting local businesses becomes easier. It's relaxing to go downtown. We keep our city's small town charm and character. That brings financial support. Not killing the goose that laid the golden egg. Short-term (0-12 months)
Support small business funds to help elders Stronger communities Short-term (0-12 months) Is something like Soft Medicine really better for our community than a Little Caesar's? Sebastopol doesn't just have to be a mecca for the hippiest among us to be locally driven, economically stable, and small business friendly A broad diversity of local businesses Short-term (0-12 months) The City and Council need to actively engage landlords and business owners to fill commercial vacancies. The City and Council need to make downtown attractive and safe so people want to open businesses in Sebastopol. No commercial vacancies. Short-term (0-12 months) downtown will be ruined with 2 way streets the strip malls oitside downtown were gone Short-term (0-12 months) Listening to them for a change. And organizing all of your remaining 3-4 years of financial solvency on listening to businesses and organizing as many proactive hyper-revenue-focused policies as possible. It will require you to actually study other cities such as Petaluma and Healdsburg, and cities that actually court tourists and don’t have smug nimby posturing, which seems to be a struggle for you. Petaluma. Short-term (0-12 months)
Help businesses
Do everything in your power and budget to help businesses in town stay in town; police should respond immediately to crime, parking should be ample, sidewalks kept clean, ease regulations are that are just red tape Short-term (0-12 months) As a local small business for 18 years we are a huge part of the community and I would like to see some support for us staying in business as nonlocals move in and price us out.
Main St. would become attractive for both locals and tourists with shops that appeal and serve the community Short-term (0-12 months) Continue to support local
current status. Sticking to the local plan. Seeing local business entrepreneurs be successful and maximizing their particular income streams. Short-term (0-12 months) Support and strengthen the chamber Of Commerce
Unity and wide ranging agreeable population of willing participants in the chamber. Short-term (0-12 months)
Rents are expensive- tax vacant commercial properties as a blight.
Rents come down and commercial space is fully utilized. Build more dance halls with sprung floors for rentals that are affordable. Arts and entertainment opportunities abound and Sebastopol is a music destination. Experiential arts and entertainment venue in place of Rite Aid or other corporate garbage. Short-term (0-12 months) Bring in more businesses Full stores Short-term (0-12 months) Fill empty buildings with new businesses and schedule new festivals Sebastopol would be a popular destination for tourists Short-term (0-12 months) Local businesses need more patrons.
More people would live in and near town and town would be a safer, more pleasant place to be. Lots more people plus lots more foot traffic means far more patrons for local businesses. Short-term (0-12 months) Identifying business needs in our community rather than reacting to short term vacancy concerns. A no vote on the Grocery Outlet CUP Short-term (0-12 months) Allow drive through service to allow easier access for disabled body folks‼️ See above comment Short-term (0-12 months)
The city council is not doing it's job
provide the people of sebastopol a chart that shows what kinds of businesses that can open in town and what the criteria is to be considered. Don't just let nationwide businesses open with just an apology-oops we made a mistake. once again this information should be available to everyone. Grocery outlet is not a good tenant for the downtown area. who encouraged them in the first place?? Short-term (0-12 months)
Big “Roll Back the Tax” Advertsement Campaign
Financial windfall for downtown businesses- people will drive for a cut in taxes right now. Just to feel that little difference. Roll backfor the most financially difficult time of the year for downtown businesses. Short-term (0-12 months) This is a small town that can not offer everything to everyone. Hense a trip to SR or Amazon. I support stores downtown but some don't appeal to me. I am a senior who doesn't need to buy more stuff.
There is a nice selection in the downtown and Barlow for personal and gift items. More revenue for the city. Don't most small towns struggle with this? Short-term (0-12 months) Support local businesses
Listen to business owners needs and preferences. They asked to keep Recology Short-term (0-12 months)
Support local businesses
Listen to business owners needs and preferences. They asked to keep Recology Short-term (0-12 months)
Policies, regulations, permits Loosen, make easier to start less hoops Short-term (0-12 months) If you want more money try investing in public spaces and increase parking. People can’t shop here if there is no where to park and walking around is difficult More walkable community Short-term (0-12 months) The City needs to attract more businesses and fill vacancies, especially in big areas like Rite Aid and old CVS. Hotels in downtown and on 116 North Short-term (0-12 months) Local businesses NOT BIG CHAINS Having all small local businesses and a town that is there for them Short-term (0-12 months) Recruit businesses and provide more parking People shopping in town. Able to find a parking spot Short-term (0-12 months)
1. Stopping Grocery Outlet from coming to downtown. Converting Rite Aid property into market rate housing, retail, and public space.
A beautiful 4-story condo complex, with underground resident and business parking, retail stores, restaurant, and an area for public art and seating. Short-term (0-12 months) See previous answer. Short-term (0-12 months)
Support tourism Short-term (0-12 months)
See previous. More tourism & small business growth more hotels, more housing for new residents Short-term (0-12 months) YES! This speaks to both goal 1 and goal 5. Six is the path we absolutely must follow NOW.
Survey the business owners = ask what they need = then do it. Make a plan to address the issues and involve a business person to help enable a PLAN. Short-term (0-12 months) agree , nothing too big or outside of our small town charm arena development without chaos Short-term (0-12 months) Sebastopol has failed at economic development. Prior Council's took what would have been a middle class town with sufficient revenue and drove it into the ground. Now current Council needs to figure out how to dig out of a revenue hole. Hotels would be the fastest way. Start pitching the Redwood Market Place and Rite Aid as hotel sites. Start meeting with local hotel developers. Get the homeless people out of downtown. Increased revenue to meet the City's expenses. Short-term (0-12 months) More focused ne Needed on downtown businesses, Barlow Short-term (0-12 months) I think it’s great. Maybe a little easier parking downtown, events to target local businesses. Short-term (0-12 months) Tax the rich fucking boomers tax away tax away! Short-term (0-12 months) Short-term (0-12 months)
Combination of previous answers works well for this one as well.
That titles (CC members, not all, but most) do not matter, action/progress/inclusivity for ALL taxpaying businesses does Short-term (0-12 months) Leaving roads the same
By changing roads and eliminating parking spots it makes the down town less usable help businesses by leaving things the same Short-term (0-12 months) Concern for non profits such as senior center and community center. How to support?
Include in budget more financial support for senior center and community center. Short-term (0-12 months)
Make it easier to shop and dine in downtown
Success would be popping down town anytime of day and have ease of shopping/dining Short-term (0-12 months)
yes...deal with the ridiculously high rents that are forcing small business to leave sebastopol. We are losing our local businesses quickly work with landlords to rein in greed and keep our long term businesses here. Short-term (0-12 months) Too many cute businesses
Get some stores that sell real gods, like kitchen ware, shoes. Fewer big box stores Short-term (0-12 months)
Bring back a Bus Dev Manager and recruit businesses that fit Sebastopol’s unique character.
Financial stability would improve, the retail spaces would be filled, lots of visitors would come to the city to shop and dine. Short-term (0-12 months) Improve walkability and parking. Consider taking down the old rite aid for more parking. Small business incentives. Support the arts and music. Improve our parks. Support some short term rentals and tourism taxes. Outdoor seating for restaurants.Pet friendliness.
Small business incentives. Better landscaping. Makers markets. More visitors. Short-term (0-12 months) bring in more mom and pop business no empty store fronts Short-term (0-12 months) Outlaw chain and big box stores Short-term (0-12 months) To support economic development you need a clear strategy of what type of development you want to see happen or increase. This aligns with the Character/Identity question. Enhance and support arts, lifestyle, charm, festival and community culture -. Business need customers and patrons, you need to increase visitors, you want and need to target the right kind of visitors (I contend that this is wine country lifestyle enthusiasts, both regional and visitors from afar), The Barlow's realtive success is a model that is not yet optimized but clearly has great qualities and should be spread more widely across the town and public spaces. brings in visitors with income to spend. Healdsburg has mastered this kind of evolution.
Mill Valley is another good example. Make Sebastopol a top center for Arts, Music, Food, Wine, Wellness, Crafts, Antiques, Dance, Films ..more .. Find ways to get interesting people to visit then potential set up businesses here. You can increase economic development if you support, expand and better *communicate* (marketing the town) Sebastopol's identity as a friendly location for all this, you should be finding / encoraging proven
organizers/organizations to help, you should get very current on using online and social media methods to achieve these goals - enlist some young people !!!
Personally, I think we need to greatly alter the make up of the town council - or the current town council needs to start demonstrating that they can modernize there approaches - the demographics or this town are going to shift a great deal across the next decade as the aging generation becomes replaced by new, younger families. You need to set the town up for it's next chapter of growth - Short-term (0-12 months)
Allow businesses to make their own decisions with minimal restrictions, and encourage them to stay open later More places to go in the evenings instead of just bars Short-term (0-12 months) Fill vacant businesses
Get businesses into buildings such as Jaspers which has been vacant for far too long. It's a good restaurant location. We need another Italian restaurant.
Do what you have to do to incentive someone coming in there. Short-term (0-12 months) The City Council has never adequately supported local businesses Making Sebastopol a place where visitors want to stop and spend money. The local population alone cannot sustain our local businesses. Short-term (0-12 months) Tax the rich fucking boomers tax away tax away! Short-term (0-12 months) Relax regulations Change the ban on chain stores to a variance approved by planning dept Short-term (0-12 months) You built the Barlow that is a failure for locals. Rents are too high and the business keep failing because of that. Just for tourist and took business from downtown
Stay out of the way. You alrady hurt them with the highest sales tax in the state and the garbage contract Short-term (0-12 months)
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I have been very disappointed that the council has sought to cut their way out of budget crisis rather than grow their way out cutting the budget is a short-term solution to a decades long festering problem unless the city council can start to support economic growth by encouraging business development in the City Of Sebastopol the city will dissolve .
A variety of strategies could be implemented to encourage economic develop development in the downtown core, including tax relief zones permit offsets are an investment in public relations for the downtown core. It was very shortsighted at the downtown business beautification branch that allowed local businesses to apply for a small grants to offset storefront renovation.
Every little bit helps small businesses, and this small grants went a long way towards encouraging small businesses to improve their sore fronts in our downtown core. It was a shame that the city council couldn’t see the value to this. Short-term (0-12 months)
Short-term (0-12 months)
Is Sebastopol interested in a broader, more inclusive scope of what is a desirable business? A grocery store that moderate and lowincome customers flock to is facing strong pushback. It’s a grocery that many who must use the crossroads would stop at. Short-term (0-12 months) Too many cute businesses
Get some stores that sell real gods, like kitchen ware, shoes. Fewer big box stores Short-term (0-12 months)
If the 2-way streets happen, very likely this will negatively affect businesses along this road. Bicycle use is needlessly prioritized over business growth and residential use. Retain one-way streets Short-term (0-12 months) Seems very tied to goal #1. I don’t see them as separate. Short-term (0-12 months) Have our town know. In the county and through tourism as a great place to shop Small businesses thrive Short-term (0-12 months) Short-term (0-12 months)
Stop interfering with local business - there's already too much regulation in Sebastopol as to who can & can't have a business that's inconsistent (look at the Little Caesar's fiasco). Short-term (0-12 months) reduce fees and regulations lower amount fees and regs Short-term (0-12 months) Grocery Outlet could be devastating for our local grocery stores. We already have seven and don't need any more.
Don't allow Grocery Outlet to damage local businesses and the unique quality of our town. Short-term (0-12 months)
Allow “fast food” options in the downtown. Short-term (0-12 months) Be supportive of established businesses Short-term (0-12 months) SALES, SALES, SALES for retail business. Connecting the Barlow to downtown with a major identify of how to walk from one to the other; visual (signage, markeing within stores), to provide visibiity to both areas. Right now, the Barlow acts like its own city. They could be asked to do much more in faciliting their visitors to include downtown. Signs in each of their stores reminding that there's also mich more just down the street. A visual awning to connect both? Agreement from Barlow to truly participate; less reliance upon social media and online visibility. Actual, printed material is still enjoyed and used. And kept for reference. Short-term (0-12 months)
Short-term (0-12 months)
I already spoke to this in the question on how to keep Sebastopol's unique characher See my answer to no. 1 Short-term (0-12 months) Keep downtown accessible! Keeping all parking spaces on Main St!!! Short-term (0-12 months) Position as a center for creative culture + sustainable agriculture + local craft. Maintain a balance between retail, food, services, and creative uses. Attract creative professionals (designers, producers, artists). Support businesses that offer classes, workshops, tastings, events Encourage hybrid models (retail + experience + community space). Activate Underused Spaces (Low-Cost Entry Points). Encourage pop-ups, incubators, and short-term leases Convert vacant storefronts into rotating retail or gallery space.Get rid of the drive up bank tellers and create more parking for small businesses in that area. Streamline permitting, licensing, and inspections (clear timelines, fewer handoffs) Create a “small business concierge” function inside City of Sebastopol Pre-approve common use cases (e.g., outdoor seating, pop-ups, temporary events). Promote creative and agricultural experiences tied to local identity. Create more parking for local businesses - get rid of drive through bank teller on Sebastopol Ave and make that a parking lot for local businesses. Wasted space as it currently is.
Low commercial vacancy and high business retention. A diverse mix of independent businesses (not interchangeable with other towns) Consistent local foot traffic throughout the week Entrepreneurs choose Sebastopol because it’s supportive and aligned with their values. Revenue circulates locally, strengthening the broader community. Growth happens without eroding character. Invest in walkability, lighting, seating, and landscaping.
Expand outdoor dining and pedestrian-friendly zones. Create small plazas and gathering points Short-term (0-12 months)
Help to get the proposed Hotel (not the Barlow) built. we need overnight tourists in town (not at the edge at the Fairfield). We need TOT. we need increased sales tax. We don't need more tattoo and nail parlors. Consider incentivizing the hotel folks to spur them to build. Perhaps reduced tax payments to the city for 2 years? or reduced permitting fees/process? the city would benefit in the long run from increased TOT and immediately from increased sales tax.
Local businesses would benefit from increased sales. A plan to incentive the hotel business to build the hotel. Short-term (0-12 months) I would love to see more support for small businesses, artists and health/wellness professionals Short-term (0-12 months)
Becoming a leader socially & economically
Same as sustainable Question. I'd like to see us be innovators in small scale success. Renting event space (Rite aid), renting rooftops for solar, offering classes for fees, and creating training programs for civic engagement (for which we can charge a fee). PS: the how soon should we start on this is a tough question. Start visioning NOW, get feedback & supporters 1-3 years, set goal of implementation 3-5 years. Mid-term (1-3 years)
Stop spending. Stop unnecessary development Stop the hotel, plans to make 2 way streets-over-focus on tourism, Mid-term (1-3 years) Generally, the city seems inconsistent in its approach to local business growth. I am not aware of a detailed policy statement about the kind of businesses the city wants. I know for sure that they don't want "chain" stores, although they have allowed in several, and they don't like drive-thrus. (I don't know why).
Generally, I can't see the pattern by which exceptions get made for some and not others. Going clear back to the Barlow and CVS, it seemed that two set of standards were applied. Generally, the down town merchants seem to get much less support than the town's "shopping district," the Barlow. (I'm pleased to see the Barlow is becoming more than tasting rooms.
Sustainable businesses; retail, manufacturing, arts, services, hospitality, and health care, would all be welcomed, and encouraged, maybe even supported with incentives. Of course locally owned would be a priority. Mid-term (1-3 years) Don’t limit franchises from opening in Sebastopol. Encourage reasonable rent for empty businesses like the old Longs Drugs.
Fewer empty storefronts. A sporting goods store. A place to hang out late in the evening that does not serve alcohol. Mid-term (1-3 years) Well, it seems like some local businesses aren’t able to do well because of high space rent and again traffic issues where you can’t get to their business and if you get there there’s nowhere to park Someway to sustain local businesses financial aid, so they don’t have to be driven to another town. Also fix the traffic problems. Mid-term (1-3 years) Your running people oit of town by raising taxes lower taxed Mid-term (1-3 years) support affordable housing rent control Mid-term (1-3 years) Very curious what your goals will be here. Not chains. Keeping sebastopol local charm Mid-term (1-3 years) People who are Physically Active are more likely to commune in the daytime hours and spend time in restaurants and shopping areas spending money.
People come from town to town to play Pickleball, and provides lots of opportunity to meet with friends. Mid-term (1-3 years)
Help current businesses. Sales taxes are too high in Sebastopol now, garbage rates have hiked for businesses. Be pro active. Find ways to save money for businesses.
Help for businesses rebates. Incentives to come to town to open businesses in vacant buildings. Don’t just cater to the wealthy developers and business owners. Help the little guys Mid-term (1-3 years)
Again, support Sebastopol businesses that provide local needs as much as attracting outsiders to come into town. I really don't know many locals who go to the Barlow other than the community market. As tourism Sebastopol and flows, so does economic viability. There needs to be a better balance.i can't afford to eat at many of the restaurants or shop at many of the stores in town as things have changed in the town and the economy. More encouragement of locally focused businesses, restaurants, etc. Mid-term (1-3 years) not so many tattoo places…. family friendly business Mid-term (1-3 years) How do you say this is an amazing area to visit and we get a lot of money from tourism. We look toward economic development. I would like us to remember working families in the community or struggling to make ends me and have trouble accessing affordable housing.
To me, this means supporting small businesses and having spaces and opportunities for moderate low income people to feel at home here too Mid-term (1-3 years) Build something in that empty lot across from the square A world class sculpture garden (not Patrick Amiot) Mid-term (1-3 years) reducing sales tax. continuing to keep large predatory capitalistic corporations from establishing businesses here. finding a way to reduce sales tax. Mid-term (1-3 years) Mid-term (1-3 years)
Allow businesses to be profitable
Give business incentives. Give them a couple of years of operation to get to the full tax level Mid-term (1-3 years)
In order to support local businesses, don't let grocery outlet in and dump the idea of 2 way streets. It is insane to think that people are going to sit in gridlock trying to turn left all over downtown and say, "Gee, I think I'll try and find a parking space and shop." It's tough because the barlow is newer, more welcoming, and doesn't have tatoo parlors. They spruce it up during the holidays. The downtown isn't. Mid-term (1-3 years) Very hard to park to go to downtown stores new parking lot maybe where Jasper OFarrels was Mid-term (1-3 years) Small business, local owners not huge business franchises should thrive in our community Viable community with local businesses thriving Mid-term (1-3 years) Walkable downtown with local businesses
Thriving downtown business district with local business owners (No chain stores) Mid-term (1-3 years)
Agree
Strong partnerships/relationships/consultation with business community.
Creation of new Business Improvement District for all downtown and 116 corridor. Support for making Sebastopol a restaurant/hotel/arts destination. Mid-term (1-3 years) the local businesses are the economic engine of our city and need to be successful
businesses feel supported by the city and they thrive, helping the city with its bottom line Mid-term (1-3 years)
Make it easier for cafes and retailers to secure a permit for business. Increase foot-traffic, Invest in marketing and tourism. Fill vacant storefronts. Encourage smaller affordable spaces for business.
We'd see a bump in small locally owned businesses, fewer vacant store fronts and an increase in local artisans, sustainable goods, and tourism destinations for food, wine and agriculture. Mid-term (1-3 years) promote businesses with a quality, practical nature interdependent, useful businesses Mid-term (1-3 years) Keep it local, help with rent controls on local commercial spaces to encourage more small local ownership of businesses and services Growth in our community. Reducing empty commercial spaces Mid-term (1-3 years) Lower housing costs, small business loans, incentives for local businesses and non commercial owned properties Stronger community that supports each other Mid-term (1-3 years) Businesses that meet a need
A Main Street with businesses that provide a service or product used by the larger community on a daily or weekly basis. Also pressure on larger retailers to improve their facilities (i.e whole food, cvs, etc) Mid-term (1-3 years) Sebastopol's economy is stagnating, and "preserving character" can't become code for blocking everything new. Character comes from who shows up and what they create - it's not a museum piece.
The creative economy, local food culture, maker and trades businesses reflect who actually lives here. Support should go to businesses rooted in place that build forward, not just preserve backward.
Local businesses thriving without depending on wine tourism traffic. Young entrepreneurs able to start and stay here. A town that evolves while staying genuine - not frozen in nostalgia or sold out to chains. Mid-term (1-3 years) Get CVS out! They sued the city! Not essential! The building looks like a prison. More independent stores Mid-term (1-3 years) We have many teenagers in this town that do not spend their money here because there is nothing for them to do. Instead they go to Santa Rosa or Petaluma to have fun and spend their money on food and entertainment.
I think the old CVS would be an ideal location for a bowling alley /entertainment hub it has Mary's Pizza Shack already attached and it could be a gathering place for not only teenagers but seniors as well (hello wine country senior bowling league?). Mid-term (1-3 years)
Mid-term (1-3 years)
Lower rents and vacancy tax!
Redwood shopping center filled by whatever means necessary. Come on do something about that underutilized area, Mid-term (1-3 years) Mid-term (1-3 years)
It seems rents may be too high because of business turnover. Work with the Chamber of Businesses to stabilize rent. Mid-term (1-3 years) I'm not sure what is meant by "local business growth." More business or grow the ones we have? But it sounds like a good idea. Usure Mid-term (1-3 years) Reduce business turnover downtown. Make a more walkable downtown. Find a way for high rent to be reduced. Mid-term (1-3 years) If you build a world class town the economy will develop itself Mid-term (1-3 years) Follow the above suggestions.A An even more friendly, walkable artistic community. Mid-term (1-3 years) Keep the business and improve others Bring new ways Mid-term (1-3 years) Do not remove parking down town, input community funding programs to decrease rents for businesses Insentivize small businesses Mid-term (1-3 years) Full support to local businesses while KEEPING NATIONAL CHAINS OUT OF THE CITY. Support food trucks in town, perhaps on an every weekend basis. Continue support for Peacetown Concerts WITH MORE FOOD TRUCKS parked along the sidewalks.
A firm NO to any chain that seeks to enter the city limits. No development at the edges of town to accommodate chain or box stores. Mid-term (1-3 years) Need to help small businesses remain here Most new small. Businesses able to be successful and remain in Sebastopol Mid-term (1-3 years) Most businesses in town earn most their annual. profit doing the Winter Holiday season. Our town does very little to promote Sebastotpol as. a Winter Holiday shopping. or sightseeing destination.
Significantly increased pedestrian traffic in Nov and Dec; Creativee events too attract tourists and ccojntty residents to visit Sebastopol from Nov-Dec; lower rate of businesses closing along Main St. Mid-term (1-3 years) It is disheartening and unfair seeing our local businesses put out of their rented spaces because they cannot keep up with rent (Cofield Cheesemaker, for example).
Services like grant writer classes would be beneficial, as well as more local grants available Mid-term (1-3 years)
Affordability. A mix of price range in shops and services offered. Mid-term (1-3 years) Businesses in town.
Mostly non-chain stores. A few chains are ok. We could use one more drive through fast food with Taco Bell being the only one. But mostly I think the current level of scrutiny of chains is good. Long-term (3-5 years) Be choosey Select only the businesses that will promote Sebastopol’s downtown charm Long-term (3-5 years) The businesses seem to be doing well. Continued diversity is businesses. Long-term (3-5 years) Front-yard businesses, higher housing density, mixed-use zoning We have front-yard businesses but we should have more and we should make it easier for more people to start them. I am tired of people who live in a CITY complain about traffic, construction, parking, noise, etc. in order to halt new construction, mixed use zoning, and increased housing density. Obviously things need to change and the NIMBYs are holding us back. Long-term (3-5 years) See my last comments. Sebastopol stands for sustainable economic development
Community supports local businesses and local businesses support the community. Long-term (3-5 years)
More housing downtown. Wallets in our shops. Long-term (3-5 years) I understand that there are rules about drive-thru establishments enlarge chains, but one of the biggest most destructive chain sits right in the middle of town off of the town Square why is there a Whole Foods in our town? Whole Foods is owned by Amazon. Keep our grocery stores, family owned or non-billionaire owned Long-term (3-5 years) Make it affordable for non-tourist businesses to open in Sebastopol More shops and services that sell/offer useful things Long-term (3-5 years) Find a business to occupy the empty buildings (CVS and RiteAid.
Don’t be redundant in the businesses that are allowed. A mistake was made by allowing CVS to relocate downtown.
A thriving business in these big empty buildings. ? Theater productions? Indoor pickle ball? Indoor soccer? What is possible? Long-term (3-5 years) Our city definitely needs further economic development but not with businesses such as Grocery Outlet which will harm, not improve our local economy. Sebastopol's downtown business are vital to our economic vitality but who wants to come here to spend money when our downtown is overrun with transients, drug users and crazy people.
Success would look like what Sebastopol used to be, a small town with unique charm and a vital downtown free of chain stores and criminal bums. Long-term (3-5 years) Support businesses that support local interests and needs. Support businesses that draw locals of all kinds into town. Encourage growth of businesses that serve the Latino community. Stop catering exclusively to white people with money, and tourists.
A lot more working class and not like the segregated monolith of affluent whiteness that it is now. Long-term (3-5 years)
Fix roads and parking businesses may thrive. Build a parking structure downtown. Long-term (3-5 years) shifting the small hotel to long term homeless housing took a TOT source away and added big liabilities. If you want tourists, where should they stay?
Either get a hotel back online or pivot from a tourist economy and start supporting other industries. Long-term (3-5 years)
Lower taxes for small businesses in town Lowering taxes and spending less Long-term (3-5 years) Vacant business space Lower vacancy rates, fewer business turnovers Long-term (3-5 years) The retail rents are too high in the Barlow. Greed appears to rampant. The Barlow is marketed to the public like Disneyland for the tourist-class. There is nothing in it for citizens actually from Sebastopol.
Make Sebastopol user friendly for cars with traffic flow (not planning the twoway streets--that didn't work before! So why would it work now with the traffic flow on from two highways. Make a parking friendly town, more stores that have to provide for daily living needs of citizens of Sebastopol. The greed of landlords is rife--and probably will continue to make things worse. Long-term (3-5 years) avoid franchise stores and keep monies local not looking like sacramento Long-term (3-5 years) support diverse local agriculture make it easy to grow food Long-term (3-5 years) To keep the business growth local. Enforce the ban on big box stores. Make permitting easier for small business owners. Have a committee to support new business owners with mentoring by others.
Very few vacant storefronts, majority businesses are locally owned and operated. Lower unemployment rates that other towns our size. Long-term (3-5 years) Stop bringing big businesses in. Long-term (3-5 years)
Stop punishing and insulting businesses that want to locate here.
Stop requiring so many hearings and reviews of every tiny detail involved in locating here
Success would mean a more vibrant, competitive and attractive retail environment Long-term (3-5 years)
dynamic business environment Long-term (3-5 years)
Why? Who does Economic development benefit? The underpaid employees? The tourists? Sebastopol needs to get out of the economic development game. Long-term (3-5 years) The small shops and there lack of size will never be the backbone of Sebastopol. Look sat Oreillys sitting dark with no one wanting the space. If this was a Hotel you would at least have had income.
Impossible in a small City with no labor pool. Cant even take care of a ballances budget and crumbling infrastructure. Long-term (3-5 years) Every business seems to have different needs, but I think organizing different "shopping" evenings or days with themes would help. Long-term (3-5 years) Please don't become a Healdsburg.
Our community should be considered 1st. Priority development allowances or set asides for local business people to succeed should trump outside development. Long-term (3-5 years)
Provide businesses that are not geared towards 30 something yuppie expenditures Get rid of all the Asian foot massage places on Main Street Long-term (3-5 years) Promote local business growth like yoga and health. More opportunities for personal develoment Long-term (3-5 years) Definitely need to support local businesses but this can be better achieved if the other issues are dealt with eg improve
infrastructure, attract more tourism, and improve the downtown aesthetic More upscale stores, build the hotels Long-term (3-5 years) A few big money interests control this town. Resist them. Keep the town small Long-term (3-5 years)
Make the arts a central feature of our economy to add to tourism draw, create jobs, develop a new generation of artists, and add beauty to our streetscape.
Create affordable living/work space for artists, fund artist-in-residence for music, visual arts, skilled crafts with workshops for locals and visitors. Long-term (3-5 years) My previous answer covers this.
See previous
Soften barriers to new businesses Reduced empty store fronts Be more open to new business that want to open in Sebastopol Theme Definition Theme Timeline Count
Overwhelming focus on supporting locally-owned businesses, opposing chains/big box stores (especially Grocery Outlet), and keeping revenue circulating locally
Local Business Support / Anti-Chain / Small Business Focus Short-term 42 Specific focus on filling empty commercial buildings, particularly Rite Aid, CVS, Redwood Marketplace, and reducing vacancy rates Vacant Space Reuse / Rite Aid / CVS / Building Fill Short-term leaning Mid-term 22 Concerns that traffic flow, parking availability, and street configuration (one-way vs. two-way) directly impact business viability and customer access Traffic / Parking / Infrastructure (Business Impact) Short-term 20 Calls to loosen regulations, streamline permitting, reduce fees, and remove bureaucratic hurdles for business owners Regulations / Permits / Fees / Red Tape Short-term 16 Focus on leveraging tourism, building hotels for TOT revenue, and balancing visitor economy with local needs Tourism / Hotels / TOT / Visitor Revenue Short-term leaning Mid-term 15 Concerns about high commercial rents, landlord greed, rent control, and affordability for small businesses to occupy spaces Rent / Landlord Issues / Commercial Affordability Mid-term 13 Calls for clear economic strategy, hiring Business Dev Manager, council accountability, and proactive leadership on economic issues Council / Strategy / Leadership / Business Dev Manager Short-term leaning Mid-term 11 Link between downtown cleanliness, safety (homelessness), and aesthetic appeal to economic success and business attraction Downtown Vitality / Safety / Cleanliness / Environment Short-term 9 Responses indicating satisfaction, confusion about the goal, referring to previous answers, or lacking substantive feedback Status Quo / Unclear / "See Previous" / Blank Mixed (Short, Mid, Long-term) 8 Specific tension or comparison between the Barlow and Downtown areas, calls for better connection, or criticism of Barlow's impact on downtown Barlow vs. Downtown Dynamics (Emergent) Mid-term 6 Specific calls for non-bar evening activities, teen spaces, bowling alleys, entertainment hubs to keep spending local Youth / Evening / Entertainment Infrastructure (Emergent) Mid-term 5 Focus on arts, culture, and creative industries as primary economic drivers and attractors for visitors/residents Arts / Creative Economy / Cultural Driver (Emergent) Mid-term leaning Long-term 5 Specific mentions of desired/undesired business types: Grocery Outlet, tattoo parlors, fast food, drive-thrus Specific Business Types (Grocery / Tattoo / Drive-Thru) Mixed (Short & Long-term) 5 Discussion of housing density, mixed-use zoning, and residential growth as linked to economic vitality and customer base Housing / Density / Mixed-Use (Economic Link) Long-term 4 Anything else you'd like the Council to know?
1. Actually fix potholes
2. Hide the homeless (and give them services at the same time)
3. Do fundraisers with people that technically do not live in Sebastopol- but are supported by its roads and stores - either soliciting private money or work with the county supervisor to get more money to fix the city infrastructure that supports them.
4. Change traffic flow and re-assess that keep clear on Bodega Hwy. also traffic is only gonna get worse on that road with all the new residential construction.
Maybe those contractors can re-pave the road or pay a special fee that goes to fix the road.
6. Try to get a Kaiser office In Sebastipol on the west side of town. If someone needs to go to doctor they have to deal with all the Sebastopol traffic and the santa rosa traffic. We have old retired people here that always need to go to doctors. It would also be nice to have an emergency room someone in west county. People who need immediate help need to go 30-40 min on bad roads to get help (that’s more of a county problem- and why are we still paying for palm hospitals on property tax if we don’t actually have a hospital available to us)
A lot of us that live and work here have difficulty doing business here because everything is so expensive.
Accountability of decisions would be great.
Affordable housing is probably the most important thing you could possibly focus on.
Landlords are preventing new developments and colluding with each other to set artificially high rents. Housing is the largest expense for young adults and is most likely the primary reason why Sebastopol has a steadily increasing median age of 50+. Pretty soon more than a third of the city will be above retirement age. We are allowing the development of this city to continue favoring older, wealthier residents, with no indication that it will change anytime soon.
Approve more hotels and commercial development and increase tourism and housing or you’ll never make it.
Between walking the trail every day, speaking with neighbors and friends in the city what I have found is that most people are fed up with:
- councils not listening to the citizens of Sebastopol but listening to special interest groups who don't live here and then vote in a way that is not in the best interest of the city.
- many council members coming to the meetings ready to vote before any public comments are even made - get that a lot.
- and even when lots of public comments are made concerning topics, they are disregarded.
In the last number of years I have heard:
- No point in being involved, it doesn't matter anyway. - I don't bother filling out a survey, they don't pay attention to it. - I'm embarrassed to live here now.
- These people don't know what they are doing.
And, in the meetings I attend with county officials, I'm tired of Sebastopol being the laughing stock of the county.
City canceled act responsibly and needs to focus their time on issues that directly relate to people who work and own businesses in Sebastopol. Council needs to stop wasting staff time and council meeting time on projects and ideas that are brought to them by people and organizations that do not have anything to do with Sebastopol and represent different political agendas from outside the city. People who live in Sebastopol need to have their fundamental needs men which are public safety, roads, and infrastructure.
City council in past 10 years has increased my water bills, parcel tax. They have increased the salaries of city employees for this small city. These are just a few of the items causing our city to have a deficit. I am a senior citizen in a fixed income, that has always loved our town. Council has ruined it.
Council needs a reality check. Why do they spend so much time on stuff that doesn't matter. Why spend time and money on two way streets when everyone knows that's a terrible idea and will just create traffic. Can Council do something about Ives? Ives is an eyesore and it's in the middle of town. Also why does Sebastopol have so many homeless people? I was driving into town on the 12 and there was an abandoned homeless cart full of junk and then a bunch of homeless guys smoking pot in the town square. Then another homeless guy on a skateboard. Why so many? I don't see this many when I go to other towns in Sonoma County. It makes it feel like Sebastopol's low rent and sleazy.
Council needs to focus Sebastopol and Sebastopol's businesses. They need to say no to projects and ideas that do not generate revenue. Council needs to support the Police Department. Council needs to get a plan together on how they are going to fix the roads.
Council needs to fix Ives Park. Council needs to support the Rotary in their plans for Ives Park.
Council needs to revisit ADU policy so that people who build ADUs contribute money to the City and pay for the infrastructure they use.
Council needs to trim staffing and the budget. Expenses exceed revenue. Council needs to court hotel developers. Council needs to support the Police Department or contract with the Sheriff's Department. Eliminate excess bureaucracy that cost time and money.
Consider eliminating the Planning Commission, the Climate Action Committee and other non-essential commissions which use staff time and create extra work and embark on extraneous projects like Creek Naturalization and Two Way Streets. Focus on the basics - Revenue, Roads and Public Safety.
Council wastes a lot of time and money on issues that do not generate revenue and cost the City money. The focus needs to shift. The City and Council need to say no to pet and niche projects that do not generate revenue for the City. The City needs to be reimbursed by the County for expenses that the County has brought to the City like the expenses associated with Elderberry Commons. The City needs to stop subsidizing Park Village. The City needs to cut expenses so it does not go into debt. The City needs to get a higher share of the property tax money from the County.
Current path is turning us into Napa, do you want to live in Napa? Disengage yourself an un American liberal Democratic politics.
Disengage yourself an un American liberal Democratic politics.
Diversity is lacking here - likely due to this not being affordable for many.
Don’t try to change the roads back to two-way. It’s not necessary! Work with Cal-Trans to build a bypass. Sebastopol is tired of gridlock traffic! Pathways at Ives Park are so bad and need attention before someone sues the City for negligence! I reported the problem last year! Repair the broken sidewalks and Complete the sidewalks all around town!
Paint crosswalks. Install flasher at South Main and Burnett.
Don’t waste taxpayers money.
Find ways to be more sustainable, encourage the community to take care of the town, stop litter in the streets, needs to be a litter campaign in the city about people throwing there cigarette butts in the street.
Sick of seeing this all over the streets.
Get students from high school involved with city littering and beautifying the city.
Encourage groups such as Sebastopol World Friends, support the arts and promote music; host high school and middle school music groups at Ives or other venues. Bring the children forefront and promote community.
Find a solution for public parking downtown. Especially near library, senior center, Copperfields.
Get back to the basics.
Concerned about rotary wanting to beautify Ives park and being turned down because of some long term plan tnat won’t help anybody now and will hurt our music concerts Concerned about fire hazard landscaping and owners who don’t prune forcing senior citizens and others to walk in the middle of the road. I’d like to see the city do something about tnat.
Enforce the building codes to make the town cuter. Neon signs on nail salons are incredibly tacky. Get the community involved in beautifying the town.
Get your minds out of where they are now. Do things that will result in pride of being a Sebastopolian.
How much will it cost to change our streets again?! Will it be worth spending the limited city resources?
I am still unclear as to whether our financial sustainability is based on tourism or local participation - the messaging can be a bit conflicting. We should be independently sustainable first and welcome additional traffic if possible IMO I appreciate all the time council members volunteer
I appreciate you doing this. All the problems are so complex. Little towns can only do so much, given larger content of current disorder, constant chaos and dwindling support from Feds. I wish I had some brilliant ideas!
I do not believe that Sebastopol can turn this ship around. Economic headwinds and expensive fuel and inflaton will not bring tourists. Raise taxes, oh yeah at the limit on that as I still pay for Palm Drive, anonther Genius Move to give it away. As a very large share of coummuters are students in High School removing this burden will free up traffic.
I feel they should, but no guarantees, have already got the gist from my answers.
I would like to reiterate one point, as it feels to be an important point. It is not to be discourteous or insolent. It is to share my experience.
I attended one of the two way street CC meetings, the 4+ hour long one (maybe there was more than one). I watched and listened, with interest as each person, including myself, stood to share OUR opinions on a major subject that would/will directly affect our businesses. I also watched the council and all those who sit behind their protective tables. All but one person appeared to take and interest. Many, at one time or another had heads down into devices. Whether working or not, does not matter when your towns people are there to be heard, not ignored/dismissed. This sent an obvious message, to those of us who took our valuable/limited time, after, and possibly even during our work day (you are there because this is the job you chose) that our time is not appreciated or respected. It appeared decisions had already been made, and the CC was simply fulfilling the obligatory process of this particular meeting, to which I can not get those 4+ hours back. If you want to sit on the CC, at least pretend to give a damn about the business owners/residents of this town. You can b*tch, gripe and grumble behind the scenes (we all do) but when seated in front of the taxpayers, at least pretend to care. It is because of this behavior (and timing) that I do not attend these meetings often. For those of you who know, you know I do not mince words, it is a waste of time and energy, and feels somewhat spurious. I appreciate authenticity, and would hope our CC does as well. Thanks for asking ;)
I hate the project replacing the Mormon church. Please stop that horrible project.
I have lived in Sebastopol for 28 years. For most of my time here, the various City Councils have focused on politics and pet projects over making the City safe and financially sustainable. The failure to do everything possible to keep the hotel across from the Barlow from turning into a homeless shelter was inexcusable, depriving the City of a significant source of revenue.
The City Council should be doing everything possible to get the old CVS building occupied, including taking actions to designate it as a public nuisance, which would make the building owner much more likely to lower rent demands and get it rented out.
The City Council should appoint Mary Gourley as the permanent City Manager. She is far more knowledgeable and competent than past City Managers.
The City Council has chosen a very good Chief of Police. The City's Public Works Department has always provided excellent service.
Bottom line--I want a City Council whose first and foremost responsibility is doing everything possible to make the City financially sustainable and family friendly. I don't want our City turning into another Healdsburg.
I have lived in Sebastopol for all of my 80 years. I love my community, but it has become an expensive place to live. It would be wonderful to be able to shop in Sebastopol for every day necessities. We can buy groceries, gas, medication, & bank, but you have to drive to other communities to shop for clothing, shoes, housewear, hobbies, etc. In the past you could find anything you might need for a reasonable price in town.
I know it's a tough job. So many activities/organizations/programs that we would all like to support. But we simply can't. We are a small city with limited funds and tough decisions have to be made, and you volunteered for the job. Make the hard calls and the citizens will support you.
I like the public arts program. I think it is working to attract people to Sebastopol through Sebarts, the library art displays and the sculptures around town. More attention to the Sebastopol Spire, please.
I live in bodega bay,sebastopol is my tribe , my community , I spend the majority of daily living money in Sebastopol.
I love Sebastopol and am grateful for the hard work of city council and all the public workers
I recently spent a week in Billings, Montana where our kids are in college. I was so, so sad to come home to Sebastopol. The people here are not friendly, the driving is aggressive, its not clean, there are homeless everywhere and its impossible to get anything done because everyone whines about being short-staffed, blah, blah, blah. No one follows through.
Government employees have no accountability. The city gets a study that says if you make the streets two-way again, its going to increase traffic and they decide to go ahead and do that . . . what??? Its ridiculously expensive and I have no idea why. Why is diesel, for example, so much more expensive in Sebastopol than it is in Santa Rosa? Maybe the Council could actually think about what's reasonable for the majority of the people who live here . . . those of us who don't ride our bikes everywhere (we actually do have to drive) and don't shop at Whole Foods. On that note, please approve the proposed Grocery Outlet store.
I stopped paying attention when the Linda Kelly conflict came up. I thought the council must be dysfunctional in the extreme.
I think in general, Sebastopol is a nice town, but I’ve lived here for over 20 years and have slowly watched the charm and diversity erode. I loved the Asian fest in Ives Park but there also used to be a Renaissance fair. There could be a Juneteenth event, there used to be a Cajun festival. I stopped going to the film festival years ago because it too started to become really white washed. I think the people of Sebastopol are gatekeepers who really need to invite more Black people and people of color to the table and give us a voice too.
I think that the two-way design for 116 through town is a big mistake. I was driving there today and there were so many cars and bikers. As our population ages, I think it’s better to keep things simple. Also this time of year has a lot of traffic going to the river, etc. so keeping things simpler for drivers is best.
I think the structure of the Council is set up for bad decisions to be made in a public forum where information is unclear or one-sided. I know that staff is supposed give good reports on "all sides" of an issue, but I don't like to see working in ordinances changed in the middle of a meeting without the kind of thoughtful analysis that time can provide.
Not sure what to do about that, other than provide more funding to council members to hire research assistants?
I would be sitting on the Council if I had the time. You spend too much. Make silly mistakes, like the pizza permit. Allow hotels without adequate parking. ( They developer said that the employees will bike to work. They will be only ones using the bike lanes.
Actually I did see on bike in the bike lane last year. Money and inconvenience wekk spent.
I’m not in favor of changing traffic back to 2 way streets. It’s a huge disruption and cost for questionable benefits.
When the roads were changed from 2 way to one way 30+ years ago, there were far fewer people driving here, and it was still a MAJOR disruption.
I'd love to see more 2 way streets downtown
If Sebastopol can’t get hotel developers to start building it can do more to incentivize developers to build housing. More downtown residents supports Main St businesses, and encourages different type businesses to come to Sebastopol.
I'm an Unincorporated Sonoma County resident in the Sebastopol zip code with a young family, active in local community resilience work and cultural infrastructure formation. My professional background is in systems & governance design and cultural production. I'm happy to be a resource if any of this is useful to the Council's planning.
I'm glad you are asking and am hopeful that the results of this survey will be available on the Sebastopol website. I hope our input isn't a wasted effort as the two-way street initiative was. Sebastopol needs to build trust. Also, it annoys me to see wasteful spending by merely continuing to patch problems rather than investing in longer term solutions. This is wasteful in many ways.
it would have been helpful if there had been a link to the full list of priorities considered at the April 25 meeting to provide depth beyond the general one sentence included for each in this survey. Thank you for this oppty to provide inut.
Its not woke or inclusive if everything is all white, all the time.
Keep 1 way streets, losten tp the people, listen to local small businesses, fire consultants if you are not going to listen to their un influnced decisions,dont listen to the chamber of commerce, ignore the big devalopers, the hotels will never get built, understand the few downtown blocks are nice, hopmonk is great, sebastopol will never be hwaldsburg, wine is so 90s
Keep all big chains out of town.
Keep bugging whoever is in charge to re-route thru traffic ! Keep sending out surveys and solicit feedback. Also, highlight improvements to let residents know the good work you’re completing.
Keep supporting car alternatives. The bike lanes in town are a great start but underutilized because they don't connect to enough longer networks.
More free outdoor live music.
More strategically located parking.
At times it feels like we are getting overrun by tourists and the long-term effects of this path are usually that the city it happens to loses residents and character. Would be nice to keep it livable.
Love the Sebastopol Walks. More gatherings like this to bring people together to get to know the city and what it has to offer!
Maintain Sebto's quirkeyness
Make every effort to bypass the city possibly extend Morris Street to Occidental Road.
BALANCE THE BUDGET
The town has very little crime. Consider having the county run our police department if it saves money. Many other communities do this.
If the Community Center is a drain on finances consider selling it.
Keep Mary as the city manager and do not hire another person.
Do not plan on any hotels being built in the near future the TOT tax just will not be forthcoming so plan to balance the budget without it. No more planning extensions for the owners of the property next to the Plaza. Tell them- Get another permit and build the hotel or sell the property.
Fix Ives Park It deserves to be beautiful.
TheSebastopol Center for the Arts is a real gem keep supporting them and their artwork. maybe more murals in town
Do not waste any city council time on matters that do not affect the city directly we will never influence world affairs.
Make Sebastopol a destination city.
Improve the link between The Barlow and the old city.
Be proactive about filling the Riteaid building.
Make Sebastopol a nice place to live, not a nice place to drive through and/or park.
More technology and stay current with the rest of the bay area most of my answers indicated that I feel these priorities should all happen in the short term. I realize this is not possible, but they are all vitally important to the success of our city. We need to focus on getting our city fully staffed by excellent people that can then support the business community and help grow our finances so that we can thrive My greatest pain point is people driving too fast throughout the town and county areas.
Sebastopol used to be known as a speed trap with strong police presence. When you came to the town you knew to slow down. What happened to this outlook? Missing that small town feel. Thank you for listening.
No
No..local business is key to our town.
Not really. Thanks for asking.
Nothing about environmental goals is mentioned in this survey. We want our town to be a leader in environmental policies. One very easy and inexpensive project would be to become an intentional Dark Sky City that helps migrating birds and insects, as well as plants and other animals, by promoting darkness at night and adding top covers to existing street lights municipally and for private use. This is just one example. https://darksky.org/what-we-do/international-dark-sky-places/ Oh my gosh. This is not a survey that lends itself to obtaining good feedback. I really don't know enough about what you are thinking of/referring to in order to answer the questions for each goal area. I am a program evaluator and researcher, and I design and implement a lot of surveys. If you do not get the kind of response you are hoping for, I would be happy to help you in the future.
I hope I am just an outlier in my thoughts on this survey. Best of luck with it.
Lori Mulholland, MA
Mulholland Research & Evaluation Services
Sebastopol, CA
602.696.2991
One additional thought…
I would love if there was a walkable playground for children from Main Street. I also would champion the use of the Previous Rite Aid building to be used as a “Community Hub” where orograms for elders, children, etc could be housed! Our streets and buildings look run down and in need of maintenance and improvement.
For instance, tacked up signs instead of real signs for the business. Who wants to spend time in a shabby looking place?
Our streets and buildings look run down and in need of maintenance and improvement.
For instance, tacked up signs instead of real signs for the business. Who wants to spend time in a shabby looking place?
Overall, love that the city is doing surveys for public opinion.
We want our town to keep its charm and identity, supporting small businesses and not let in little ceasers and grocery outlet, which is what makes our town unique and attractive.
I'm sure members of the public would prefer a trader joes or good earth any day over grocery outlet. Let's make Sebastopol a destination attracting more grassroots, farmers markets, delicious eateries, wineries, arts & culture.
Let's work on all the ramshackled buildings, temporary signs, broken / no sidewalks in heavy pedestrian areas, remove abandoned vehicles that are in disrepair with expired license plates. These are cluttering our streets and an embarassment - a town that doesnt care or looks the other way.
There is a building on the corner on Petaluma ave as you drive into the town that needs to be torn down and the defunct drive through bank teller on Sebastopol Ave next to Jaspers should be removed and put a parking lot in there - it's wasted space. There needs to be parking nearby for those businesses.
Permit fees to build ADUs are not clear and outrageous with no warning! Just got a final bill for final permit granting over 12 k!! Almost $5k for traffic assessment out in the country!?? Outrageous!
plan infrastructure improvements around outdoor cafes, parakeets, playgrounds Please don’t let Sebastopol become just another city that lets any business in, no matter what the level of moral corruption. Big box stores don’t care about our community, don’t keep money in our community, don’t invest in workers from our community. They change the whole vibe of the city they enter in a negative way. It broadcasts the message “we don’t give a crap, everyone for themselves!” That’s NOT what Sebastopolwas built on. Please don’t let it devolve to this!!
Please don’t let the Food for Less come to town. Where will all the people park ? We don’t need them. Wait for Lucky to go out of business!!
Please prioritize native plants in any landscape project. Thanks for reading my answers and for asking!
Please retain the one-way streets.
Currently, as you drive south on South Main Street, when a vehicle in front of you backs into their driveway, you simply merge into the other southbound lane without stopping.
Imagine what it would be like if there were only ONE lane going in your direction: The vehicle in front of you signals a turn and then backs up into (or backs OUT of) a driveway or parallel parks, COMPLETELY HALTING TRAFFIC in your direction.
Two lanes going the same direction are needed to allow parking for access on both streets.
Priorities:
Parks
Housing
Roads (keep the one way streets don’t waste money and time experimenting) Economic development
Public Safety
Homelessness
Provide supportive and positive feedback and empowerment to the City volunteer committees and their members periodically, not just when a member is outgoing. This includes City Council members, Climate, DRB, PC, PAC, etc.
Public and planning advises against changing traffic patterns. Leave it alone, will create lots of chaos
Quality of life here is really good, but only for the few who can afford it.
Quit making and then revrsinf decisions when there is public outcry! Take controversial decisions slowly and then stick by the decisions. Otherwise, you are cementing your reputation as wishy washy and quick but careless. Establish governing principles for decisions along each main pillar, and refer to those constantly to check your decisionmaking.
Reduce traffic.
Refund the ADU policy recently passed to be able to sell it separately. With all the new development this will lead to more traffic congestion. Remove the bike lanes on Petaluma Ave and regain a lane of traffic.
Sad to see so much emphasis on the Barlow. Worried about downtown stores. With Rite Aid gone now at least there is usually enough parking. Hope it stays that way or another large parking lot is made available for downtown shoppers.
Safety at the Square, my son was hit on his face , and needed stitches, on his nose and and plastic surgery on his eye , for orbital fracture ,on 13 March , he was stuffed in the passenger seat of his own car and was driven
by some man to the Safeway store ,and left without any medical attention for hours,. He was unconscious. Face all bloody, tell a young man and woman saw him , dryed blood by then and called the ambulance,
. The man that hit him was homeless. He’s still in the hospital. It’s been a week. The police are involved now.
Sebastopol Gallery has been a big part of the appeal of Main St. for 18 years, Lost our lease to a non-local business that offers nothing to the community - really we need an interior decorator on Main St.? I would love if the City Council took more notice of what is happening to our downtown, by which I mean Main St., not the Barlow - how could you allow the Barlow signage at the entrance to town be a chain restaurant. You need to keep an eye on the look and feel of the town. The Barlow should have major directional signage for the center of town.
Sebastopol has the community and resources to fundraise around projects for things like parks, beautification projects, and other non-emergency / non-safety net needs.
Sebastopol under invests in low and moderate income household needs compared to neighboring cities. This is creating a feeling of elitism throughout Sonoma County, though I don't imagine that's what most in Sebastopol want (or do they?) Sebastopol is an amazing town with character, good people, and nature. Low and moderate income families and adults should have some accessibility here outside of weekend visits. Invest in homelessness, invest in workforce programs, invest in moderate-income housing.
Encourage new housing projects, and make it known to your community that you're here to support everyone, not bend to NIMBYs who are afraid of the unknown.
Not suggesting building new housing projects in the heart of downtown. I get it. But, Sebastopol is known by neighboring cities as being unfriendly towards homeless investment, housing investment, and unwelcoming to those with lower incomes. Even Healdsburg invests a lot more than Sebastopol in these things, and IT'S HEALDSBURG! Sebastopol is an unique beautiful city
It would be an asset to keep Main Street and the immediate area as such.
I believe the space where the proposed Grocery Outlet is being considered could be a pivotal space for locals and tourists alike.
Sebastopol doesn’t need another grocery store.
I hope for your attention to be creative and financially viable for existing businesses and our community.
Thank you
Sebastopol needs to be a leader in smart growth & smart energy use. It also needs to keep its artistic funky charm. We should be looking at innovative towns around the world & learning from them so that we grow strategically & efficiently. I used ChatGPT to plug in some of the things I've put in the feedback section: harnessing tourism, becoming innovators, focusing on food, civic engagemnt, local / community engagement, music & art, repurposing, etc.
These are the comparably sized towns to which we could look for ideas: Hardwick, Vermont (local food economy); Battleboro, Vermont (art & culture); Traverse City, Michigan (food, wine, tourism); Totnes, England ( a "transition town" model), Todmorden, England (public spaces as edible landscapes); Tomelilla, Sweeden (innovative governance- "doughnut economics" focusing on repurposing); Lewes, England (local economy experimentation).
We should also look at towns that FAILED and learn from their mistakes. Examples: Coos Bay, Oregon, Josephine County (town in Grants Pass, OR), Marfa, Texas, and maybe Taos, New Mexico.
Sebastopol will not be able to handle the ADUs infill and other projects.
Some things that came to life are: Live music, some walkable streets, a vibrant community center, lots of classes for teens to do stuff after school, affordable rent for businesses so that locals can go out without tourist pricing. Beautiful library with more diversity of use of space.
Thank you for seeking stakeholder input.
Start making it so hard to do business in this town.
Stop being so arrogant and LISTEN to what people want - do your job and actually represent the people in the community instead of pursuing your own personal goals Stop embracing idiotic, leftist, California concepts.
Stop grocery outlet. Apologize for little Caesar’s. Adhere to the general plan for the town.
Stop raising sales tax.
Stop spending money trying to change the streets. If it's going to cost the city money, don't do it!.
Find more ways to make money for the city, not more ways to spend money.
Stop the hotel. Create an green open space with no asphalt or cement in the center of the city like Sonoma, Healdsburg, Petaluma, San Francisco, New York City, Vancover (and many, many, many other towns, villages and cities). A destination for locals and visitors to enjoy.
Thank you for all that you do for our city.
Thank you for all the work you do for our community!
Thank you for asking for public input.
Thank you for asking these questions. Your work is complex but not impossible. It requires creativity, maturity, collaboration, and thoughtfulness. Please be aware of your own limitations and those of your group, and solicit support to fill those gaps. Admitting a wrong or a mistake builds trust so much stronger than trying to cover up incompetence.
Thank you for doing this thankless job. I so appreciate the time and energy you give to our city. I live close to downtown and the walkability is very important to me. Safety for pedestrians is top concern. I have had too many close calls and have see pedestrians hit.
Very scary.
But I LOVE SEBASTOPOL.. Moved to the Hessel area in 1971 and have been a resident in town for 23 years.
thank you for the opportunity and your efforts
Thank you for working for a better Sebastopol. We are a wonderful community.
Thank you for your service.
Thank you for your time and considerations.
The biggest issue I have as someone who walks through town everyday is how unkempt and shabby parts of downtown look. Can Public Works keep the sidewalk cleaner (wash dog urine down), pick up litter, keep planters weeded and plants healthy. Can business be required to remote dead plants in planters and keep plants healthy looking? The city is spending more than it receives by like more than $1,000,000 per year. Worst streets in county. Homeless crime is still high and the Commons will make it worse in yet another key commercial area the city depends on for sales tax revenue. You were proud of the 50+ goals last year but you didn’t improve the financial situation, barely a pot hole got fixed even though you committed 40% of measure U to streets two years ago. The biggest street project was “reimagining” downtown streets like they were 40 years go…something that can’t happen for “8-15 years. The most critical work is not getting done because city staff is scurrying around doing Council and Planning Commission pet projects. It is time to focus on a few initiatives that move the needle. Better streets not just pothole repairs, reduce serious crime, get the homeless off our streets and into housing.
The Council does not represent or elicit adequate input from citizens who are longer-term residents. The Council appears to cater to novel and trendy, which causes drift from the well-loved traditional qualities of Sebastopol. Sebastopol is losing the hippy vibe, the freedom and safety that does not come at commercial value, The Council invests in projects to support commercial business interests, while not investing in an original culture that Sebastopol was known for... The Council has taken up too many well-meaning but insubstantial financially risky ventures resulting in indebtedness and inability to provide for public safety and infrastructure maintenance.
The Council must prioritize issues that support a prosperous, vital, and safe city. Past decisions have been detrimental to Sebastopol’s long-term success. The Council’s focus on niche issues that benefit only a few at the expense of the majority is troubling. For instance, the excessive time and money spent on attracting low-income and zero-income residents while neglecting pressing issues like our skyrocketing crime and the fact that many of our streets are crumbling. This Council, and past ones, seem uninterested in making the tough decisions that will ensure Sebastopol’s prosperity. the east entrance into the Whole Foods parking lot should be exit only. It is an accident waiting to happen as cars come around the blind curve to confront slowed or stopped vehicles trying to get into the parking lot. This is a quick fix response to a traffic snarl on McKinley Street.
The money spent on outside consultants, while sometimes necessary since we cannot expect the Council to be experts on all issues, is draining our finances. I feel like the Council leans on consultants, and surveys of the community, but then makes decisions contrary to these recommendations — for example the issue of returning to 2 way streets.
The streets are functional and fairly safe. Why spend money on something that is not broken because we have many broken and decaying buildings, streets, and parks The timeline options you provide are arbitrary. ALL of the categories need work on all timeline options. Pick small achievable immediate goals and concurrently work on the big picture. Be financially responsible in every situation.
My city expenses for living in Sebastopol are growing fast (water/sewer, permits, property tax, sales tax etc) but the value received is declining. This is not sustainable.
There are great examples of daylighting creeks and combining walkways and indoor/outdoor dining.
Music in Ives is compatible with the creek restoration and the trail could feed a lively music, arts and dining mix along the creek path including a redevelopment along the path all the way to the Laguna. Car overpasses and pedestrian underpasses would slow traffic and speed walking safely around town via a network of trail.
Increase our access to the laguna and beautiful views it can present, building the park on the east end of palm avenue with a trail connection (Gravenstein). Include power and a built in stage to face music east and build more benches, grassy knolls and friendly spaces for free music events with a majestic view.
Maybe a hotel at the empty lot north of the cafe du croissants. Or a park. There aren’t enough parks on the south side of town and walking on the highway is unsafe and unpleasant. The sidewalk ends often. It’s bizarre.
There have been multiple broken benches in the Laguna Preserve for years. They should be fixed.
Ives Park should be a jewel. It's hardly that. Support the original Master Plan with flexible implementation to leverage community energy and money--like the Rotary proposal. The creek advocate group did not seem to understand the adverse impacts of their proposal on community event space.
It may not generate a lot of revenue at this point, but consider a ballot measure to raise the TOT. It will pay off in the long run.
Initiate a task force seriously focused on streamlining of regulations--including public bidding requirements/process, encroachment permit/insurance requirements, the tree ordinance, sign ordinance, and other permitting requirements. Requirements could be simplified to reduce costs and time impacts on small businesses and homeowners.
As soon as fiscal conditions allow, start restoring the local non-profit funding that the City cut, to support the work of these key organizations.
They have contributed to the worst traffic conditions in the history of the City.
This community was originally an anti-corporate, pro-organic local ag, healthy, artsy, localbusiness, community. Keep it that way - there is plenty of big city around us in Santa Rosa, RP/Cotati, and further out. Many people in surrounding communities come here to shop and eat - they are DRIVING because they will be returning with groceries, and will spend the day shopping and eating. Screwing up traffic even MORE for a few recreational bike riders is ridiculous! Focus the funding on repairing the roads, improving traffic flow, and making it safer for pedestrians.
This is a great place to live. Let's keep it that way. Thanks for your service.
This is a terrible questionnaire, poorly put together, uninviting and robotic.
Geez, where is the humanity?
Better design needed.
This is NOT a user friendly survey
Confusing‼️
This survey was extremely vague. No specific plans, details or any information. How is City of Sebastopol planning to achieve these vague headline objectives? this was not a useful survey….too vague
town is built on local entrepreneurs, family-owned farms, and other local merchants. The community chose to keep the Sebastopol local small town charm vs going the route of Santa Rosa and building it out. What attracted me to this community is the local charm, small town feel. The need to maximize what we already have is important and a focus on improving facilities and creating places for the youth/young adults. traffic flow and accessibility to downtown businesses needs to be improved. also the safety of driver through Sebastopol is important implementing speed cameras to support local police should be considered.
Unsatisfied with the decisions of city Council to ignore the will of the people.
Use the tax dollars to fix important infrastructure and make the city safer. I voted for the tax increase and want to see the money used for the roads I drive on, equipment that delivers water to my home and making the downtown safer from so many crazy acting transient men. Stop making decisions that lowers the quality of life in the city. I want lower water prices. The increase was insane.
We citizens trust that the City Council recognizes the value of a small town feel. Growth for growth's sake is not a positive goal. Please do not allow Sebastopol to become another Healdsburg. Newcomers might want more glitter; let them go elsewhere. Sebastopol has the feel of a real town, not a tourists destination. Every decision the Council makes has an impact on whether Sebastopol remains Sebastopol or becomes a different town.
You live here because of what Sebastopol is. Don't make decisions that make it something else.
We don’t need 8 grocery stores for a town of 8000 people. It’s absurd.
We need to focus on keeping independent grocery stores in business.
Find ways to keep Sebastopol unique. Incentivize Gravenstein Apple products. I think seeing more Sebastopol t-shirts and the like has been nice. Keep things laid back. Focus on the history, arts, music, fresh culinary experiences, agriculture, farmers. More functional outdoor seating and tables. Tables for chess games, getting people outside.
Way more improvement to landscaping public areas, walking routes. Make it quaint, not modern. Take ideas from cute neighboring towns. What works for them? Have conversations so there is less assumption on what works and what doesn’t.
We need a fire department that should be a priority in a changing world that is more and more dangerous. Changing traffic flow is a waste of tax payer dollers, will make using the downtown impossible especially for those with limited mobility as there will be less access and parking. It will make traffic even worse than it already is and ultimately I plan to completely bypass the downtown by using back roads and side streets. Without parking I will go to a different town that is more accessible to make my purchases and spend my dollers.
We need community work days to bring us all together.
? Bowling alley?
Martial arts?
We need to attract more diversity to Sebastopol, we already know that diversity creates a vibrant pool of access to more ideas and a community that is built on trust and care for each other.
We’ve lived in Sebastopol since 1982. We love our town and try to be supportive in any way we can. I’m sorry to express a negative tone in some of my responses. I know we all want the best for our town. The council works hard as do all the city employees. My only suggestion (stated above in one of my responses) would be to listen to the residents and be willing to change your mind when new information is presented.
We’ve lived in Sebastopol since 1982. We love our town and try to be supportive in any way we can. I’m sorry to express a negative tone in some of my responses. I know we all want the best for our town. The council works hard as do all the city employees. My only suggestion (stated above in one of my responses) would be to listen to the residents and be willing to change your mind when new information is presented.
We’ve spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on studies that were a waste. Ie the study of putting in low cost housing on parking lot when we need more parking not less to support local businesses
While improvements to walking in the core are important, with better sidewalks, etc., the needs of those who cannot walk long distances or need a vehicle to carry things have to also be addressed. I appreciate the refocus on bike lanes, which are rarely used, and trying to facilitate the through traffic on 12 and 116, you will need to address the traffic patterns and perhaps add more stop lights on the North/South patterns if you implemented two way streets to allow local traffic to function. Adding to this, a need to address the increasing issues of parking before drawing in more outside cars (tourists). Currently the amount of cars exceeds the parking lots and spills out into the neighborhoods even when there is no special event.
Why are you so in debt?
What are you doing about water crisis? I see ZERO attention to this in Sebastopol-why? We have tons of tourists-they aren’t informed
Work together. No one wants to hear individual Councilmembers moan about their pet peeves. Work for the City on all levels, healthy living, good economy and realistic goals. No pie in the sky unaffordable dreams.
Y’all are embarrassing and way to proud of your ignorance Yes - focus on ideas to improve our community to bring more young families to live in our town!
You are about to approve 150 housing units or so on two parcels on Valentine ave. Please consider the impacts to our neighborhood. Maybe adjust the density of the Mormon church property.
You have a tough job. You need a good and experienced City Manager to help with the hard decisions. You must keep up with inflation and increase fees as needed while keeping costs in line. I was in your shoes over 25 years ago. We had tough decisions after fees had been neglected for decades. I helped hire two city managers. It is unfortunate that, as well meaning as the city attorney was, he was not a good city manager and you are unfortunately paying for that now. The great recession and COVID were completely outside the city's control. What is in the city's control however, it to improve your PR to the business and development community to increase the local economy, increase housing opportunities for middle income workers and help the city thrive. Sebastopol has a terrible reputation in the development community and a flaky one in the business community outside of Sebastopol. Recognize that and do what you can to counter it. Many citizens want to see the city preserved in amber. It cannot. The community is aging and it is not welcoming for young families and younger workers. You need to turn this around, stat. Do not let those that hate change hold the city back. The most environmental thing to do is grow within city limits and leave the county to nature. I wish you well. I know you want to do what is best, and I support you in this. While I no longer live in town, I own my office on South Main and continue to work in Sonoma County. I had to leave in 2014 because I could no longer afford to live in Sebastopol after 23 years. I had to flee to Oregon but I come back often.
Your fees are crazy expensive and it feels like we are trying to be the "city" of saying no to everything. The arborist recently denagrated the former arborist which I found insulting.
And then it cost me $3,000. and a solar fight to get a huge and dangerous tree removed.
Citizens need to have more say over what happens on their property.
Review the tree ordinance and make it make sense.
Local Residents are being priced out of home, shopping and extracirricular activities here in Sebastopol as well as all of Sonoma county. our transportaion systems are highly inefficent and our housing is so bad, people are being squeezed. We are loosing our personality by allowing rent prices to go for market value. Housing should not be a commodity to get rich off of. This just makes for an unstable population that has to get moved around at the whims of property owners. These are our homes. This kills creativity and thoughtful, productive movement forward. Protect the poeple who live here. Value what is already here over attracting big money. The reason tourists love it is because we are here making it great. When we are priced out, this place slowly becomes like any other.
A thriving creative community comes from residents who do not have to soley focus on basic needs.
Theme Definition Theme Timeline Count
Overwhelming focus on council needing to listen to residents, respect public input, rebuild trust, and reflect community will in decisions Council Listening / Responsiveness / Public Trust Short-term 22 Concerns about budget deficits, wasteful spending (consultants, studies, pet projects), fiscal responsibility, and tax/fee management Fiscal Concerns / Budget / Spending / Waste Short-term 18 Concerns about traffic flow, parking availability, one-way vs two-way streets, bike lanes, pedestrian safety, and bypass routes Traffic / Parking / Street Configuration Short-term 16 Concerns about unhoused individuals in public spaces, drug use, encampment removal, downtown cleanliness, and linking homelessness to public safety/economic vitality Homelessness / Downtown Safety / Cleanliness Short-term 14 Support for locally-owned businesses, opposition to chains/big box stores (especially Grocery Outlet), preserving Sebastopol's unique identity Local Business Support / Anti-Chain / Small-Town Character Short-term 13 Concerns about rising housing costs, ADUs, density, attracting young families, rent control, and demographic shifts Housing Affordability / Development Density / Young Families Mid-term leaning Long-term 11 Focus on road repair, potholes, sidewalk maintenance, pedestrian safety, and deferred infrastructure maintenance Infrastructure / Roads / Potholes / Sidewalks Short-term 10 Specific feedback about Ives Park: fence, pool, landscaping, events, creek daylighting, and general park maintenance Ives Park / Public Spaces / Parks / Trails Short-term leaning Mid-term 9 Specific comments about council infighting, egos, meeting demeanor ("miserable"), and organizational culture/drama Council Behavior / Culture / Drama / Egos Short-term leaning Long-term 8 Responses indicating satisfaction, gratitude for council work, love for Sebastopol, or "keep doing what we're doing" Status Quo / Satisfaction / Gratitude / "Love Sebastopol" Mixed (Short & Long-term) 8 Responses indicating confusion about survey goals, "not sure what this means," or criticism of survey design/clarity Unclear / Confused / Survey Design Criticism Mixed (Short, Mid, Long-term) 7 Specific focus on building hotels (Rite Aid/CVS sites), generating TOT revenue, and leveraging tourism for fiscal sustainability Hotel Development / Lodging / TOT Revenue Short-term leaning Mid-term 6 Mentions of Dark Sky certification, native plants, creek daylighting, heat island reduction, and climate adaptation as infrastructure priorities
**Environmental / Climate Resilience / Dark Sky / Native Plants** *(Emergent)* Mid-term leaning Long-term 5
Focus on arts, culture, music venues, and creative industries as economic drivers and community identity markers **Arts / Culture / Music / Creative Economy** *(Emergent)* Short-term leaning Mid-term 5 teen spaces, after-school programs, youth engagement, and family-friendly activities to reta **Youth / Teen / After-School Programming** *(Emergent)* Mid-term 4 Specific tension or comparison between the Barlow and Downtown areas, calls for better connection, or criticism of Barlow's impact on downtown **Barlow vs. Downtown Dynamics** *(Emergent)* Mid-term 4 Calls for adequate police staffing, fire department restoration, public safety funding, and enforcement approach Police / Public Safety / Fire Department Short-term 4 Concerns about permitting complexity, ADU fees, regulatory burden, and calls for streamlining for small businesses/homeowners Regulations / Permits / Fees / ADU Policy Short-term 4 Concerns about water/sewer rates, infrastructure aging, fund transparency, and utility management Water / Sewer / Utilities / Rates Short-term leaning Mid-term 3 Concerns about welcoming people of color, diverse demographics, inclusive decisionmaking, and addressing gatekeeping Diversity / Inclusion / Racial Equity Mid-term leaning Long-term 3