From: Megan Finaly
Sent: Monday, May 4, 2026 4:29 PM
To: City Council <[email protected]>
Subject: Public Health Concern — Air Quality Near the Joe Rodota Trail
Dear Members of the Sebastopol City Council,
I'm a Sebastopol resident. I'm concerned about air quality in our community — Two businesses within a few blocks of the Joe Rodota Trail are generating emissions that I believe warrant closer scrutiny.
The first is G&C Auto Body on Gravenstein Highway. Auto body shops emit isocyanates, toluene, and heavy metals from sanding, welding, and spray painting. I run along the Joe Rodota Trail regularly, and I've noticed noxious odors coming from that shop at various times of day. I cover my nose instinctively. That trail is heavily used by cyclists, walkers, runners, many of them seniors.
The second is A&M BBQ. Their commercial-grade grills produce significant PM2.5 particulate matter. That's the fine particle pollution most associated with respiratory disease and — according to growing research — long-term cognitive decline.
Which brings me to this: approximately 41% of Sebastopol residents are 55 or older. We are a retirement destination. That's something to be proud of — and something to protect. The research linking chronic PM2.5 exposure to Alzheimer's and dementia is serious and growing.
I'm not here to shut down businesses. I'm asking the council to investigate whether both G&C Auto Body and A&M BBQ are operating within current air quality and fire code regulations — and whether additional mitigation measures are warranted.
Sebastopol's identity is tied to its environment. Let's make sure we're living up to that.
Thank you.
Megan