From: Jacqueline Bourcy
Sent: Thursday, May 21, 2026 8:42 PM
To: City Council <[email protected]>
Subject: Letter in Support of a Positive Resolution for A&M BBQ
Dear Sebastopol City Council,
I am writing in support of A&M BBQ and would like to ask the City to continue working collaboratively with them toward a fair and practical resolution.
As someone raising a family and building a business myself, I understand how diƯicult it is to operate a business while navigating growth and community expectations. I have thoroughly enjoyed the diversity A&M BBQ adds to the Sebastopol food scene, and its employees embody the friendly and welcoming culture of our town. A&M BBQ is a small business that creates jobs, contributes to the local economy, supports schools and organizations, and helps shape the character of a community. A&M BBQ has become part of the fabric of Sebastopol, and I believe that matters.
I understand that some neighbors have experienced concerns related to smoke, traƯic, and the impact of the business’s growth, and I believe those concerns deserve to be taken seriously. At the same time, I hope the City approaches this situation with fairness, proportionality, and a focus on practical solutions rather than punitive outcomes.
A&M BBQ is a local family-run restaurant and catering business, not an industrial operation. Like many growing small businesses, they have faced operational challenges that require adjustment, improvement, and long-term planning. What stands out to me is that they have publicly acknowledged the concerns, stated they are actively pursuing relocation options, and expressed a willingness to continue working with the City and community toward solutions. I hope we can celebrate the success of a local small business while working together toward thoughtful solutions that support both the neighborhood and the business.
Relocating a restaurant operation involving commercial smokers, permitting, infrastructure, and financing is an extremely diƯicult process that cannot realistically happen in a short period of time. I respectfully ask the Council to allow reasonable time for that transition to happen responsibly while helping preserve local jobs and a business that many members of the community value and support.
One of the things that makes Sebastopol special is its support for independent local businesses and the people behind them. I hope the City will continue engaging with A&M BBQ in good faith and seek a balanced path forward that addresses neighborhood concerns while also recognizing the importance of supporting small businesses that are making a sincere eƯort to do the right thing. I hope we can continue to support local businesses as they grow and evolve while remaining part of the community that helped them succeed.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Jacqueline Bourcy