CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA
Regular Meeting of Tuesday, July 7, 2026
6:00 pm Start Time
As Approved by the City Council at their regular meeting of July 21, 2026.
CALL TO ORDER: Vice Mayor Maurer called the meeting to order 5:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
Present: Vice Mayor Sandra Maurer
Councilmember Phill Carter
Councilmember Stephen Zollman
Councilmember Neysa Hinton Remotely
Absent: Mayor McLewis
Staff: Mary Gourley, City Manager
Alex Mog, City Attorney, Redwood Public Law
Administrative Services Director Kwong
Interim Planning Director, 4Leaf
Police Chief McDonagh
Public Works Director Hart
REMOTE PARTICIPATION; Just Cause Participation -Councilmember Hinton “I am participating remotely using both audio and visual. I am attending remotely due to illness. There is no one under 18 present with me. I can fully see, hear, and participate in the meeting.” MOTION:
Vice Mayor Maurer moved and Councilmember Zollman seconded the motion to approve remote participation for Councilmember Hinton.
Vice Mayor Maurer called for a roll call vote. City staff conducted a roll call vote.
VOTE:
Ayes: Councilmembers Carter, Hinton, Zollman and Vice Mayor Maurer Noes: None
Absent: Mayor McLewis
Abstain: None
City Council Action: Approved remote participation for Councilmember Hinton.
Minute Order Number: 2026-183
SALUTE TO THE FLAG
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The City of Sebastopol acknowledges that we live and work within the unceded ancestral homelands of the Southern Pomo and the Coast Miwok people. We pay our respect to the past, present, and future generations of these peoples, including the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria.
REMEMBERING THE HISTORY OF SEBASTOPOL: None
PROCLAMATIONS/PRESENTATIONS/INTRODUCTIONS:
• Proclamation- Parks Make Life Better Month
Minute Order Number: 2026-184
STATEMENTS OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: Conflicts of interest may arise in situations where a public official deliberating towards a decision, has an actual or potential financial interest in the matter before the Council. In accordance with state law, an actual conflict of interest is one that would be to the private financial benefit of a public official, a relative or a business with which the Councilmember is associated. A potential conflict of interest is one that could be to the private financial benefit of a Councilmember, a relative or a business with which the Councilmember is associated. A Councilmember must publicly announce potential and actual conflicts of interest, and, in the case of actual conflict of interest, must refrain from participating in debate on the issue or from voting on the issue and must remove themselves from the dais. There were no reported Statements of Conflicts of Interest.
PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA (FIRST COMMENT PERIOD): Up to Twenty (20) Minute Time Limit (Two Minutes for up to ten speakers). Additional public comment will be held at the end of the discussion and action items for up to an additional twenty (20) minutes. Mayor has discretion to allow for additional time beyond the 20 minutes allocated for public comment dependent upon the subject matter or number of speakers. Process for calling on Speakers: Mayor or designee shall ask for public comment as follows: Speakers to be called on in an alternate manner (One speaker in person to be called on first; then one speaker remote to be called on second with additional speakers to be called on in the same manner) based upon the time limit.
The following member(s) of the public spoke during public comment for items not on the agenda:
1. A member of the public - Support public libraries
2. Kate – Gand Jury/Water Rates
3. Jeff – Pleasant Hill – Speeding
4. Kyle – Enterprise Funds/Grand Jury Report
5. Nan - library – computers/printers
6. Dena – library
7. Isacc- PGE – OBF Funding – Public Purpose Funding
8. Roberta – Number 29 bus
9. Kolia
10. Oliver
CONSENT CALENDAR: The consent agenda consists of items that are routine in nature and do not require additional discussion by the City Council or have been reviewed by the City Council previously. These items may be approved by one motion without discussion unless a member of the City Council requests that the item be taken off the consent calendar.
The Mayor will read aloud the title of each consent item (either full agenda title or a simplified version of the agenda title), and ask if a Councilmember wishes to remove one or more items from the consent calendar; and then open public comment to the members of the public in attendance. At this time, a member of the public may speak for up to two (2) minutes on the entire consent calendar and request at that time that an item or items removed for discussion.
If an item or items are removed from the consent calendar, the item shall be placed at the end of the regular agenda items unless otherwise determined by the Mayor. Council Members may comment on Consent Calendar items or ask for minor clarifications without the need for pulling the item for separate consideration. Items requiring deliberation should be pulled for separate consideration and shall be placed at the end of the regular agenda items unless otherwise determined by the Mayor.
Vice Mayor Maurer read the consent calendar.
Vice Mayor Maurer asked if any Councilmember wanted to remove a consent calendar item. There were no requests.
Vice Mayor Maurer opened for public comment. The following member(s) of the public spoke during public comment:
Katie – Requested Item Number 6 to be removed.
Kyle – Item 5 – Tort Reform; public review of recent claims Vice Mayor Maurer called for a motion.
MOTION:
Councilmember Zollman moved and Councilmember Carter seconded the motion to approve consent calendar items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
Vice Mayor Maurer called for a roll call vote. City staff conducted a roll call vote.
VOTE:
Ayes: Councilmembers Carter, Hinton, Zollman and Vice Mayor Maurer Noes: None
Absent: Mayor McLewis
Abstain: None
1. Approval of City Council Meeting Minutes for Regular Meeting of June 16, 2026 Responsible Department: City Manager
Fiscal Impact: Staff time required to prepare the minutes is covered within existing budgeted salaries.
Additional Fiscal Impact: None
City Council Action: Approved City Council Meeting Minutes for Regular Meeting of June 16, 2026.
Minute Order Number: 2026-185
2. Approval of City Council Meeting Minutes for Special City Council Meeting – Closed Session - Meeting of June 29, 2026
Responsible Department: City Manager
Fiscal Impact: Staff time required to prepare the minutes is covered within existing budgeted salaries.
Additional Fiscal Impact: None
City Council Action: Approved City Council Meeting Minutes for Closed Session Meeting of June 29, 2026.
Minute Order Number: 2026-186
3. Approve Task Order (TO) Number 6 with Moe Engineering to Provide Engineering Services for the FY26-27 Fiscal Year.
Responsible Department: Public Works
Fiscal Impact: Staff time required to prepare the agenda item is covered within existing budgeted salaries.
Additional Fiscal Impact: There is no additional fiscal impact with this item as it is approved in FY27 budget as a not to exceed contract in the amount of $50,000.
City Council Action: Approved Task Order (TO) Number 6 with Moe Engineering to Provide Engineering Services for the FY26-27 Fiscal Year.
Minute Order Number: 2026-187
Resolution Number: 6782-2026
4. Approval of Job Description(s): City Clerk
Responsible Department: Human Resources Consultant Deborah Muchmore/Administrative Services Fiscal Impact: Staff time required to prepare the agenda item is covered within existing budgeted salaries.
Additional Fiscal Impact: There is no additional fiscal impact with this item as salary is currently budgeted within the City budget.
City Council Action: Approved City Clerk job description.
Minute Order Number: 2026-188
Resolution Number: 6783-2026
5. Approval Authorizing Mayor to Sign Letter of Support and Use of City Logo. California Intergovernmental Risk Authority (CIRA) of which Sebastopol is an agency member, has joined California Association of Joint Powers Authorities (CAJPA) in supporting a statewide coalition advocating for meaningful tort reform and addressing the growing cost of public entity liability claims.
Responsible Department: City Representative to CIRA (Councilmember Zollman)/City Manager Gourley Fiscal Impact: Staff time required to prepare the agenda item is covered within existing budgeted salaries.
Additional Fiscal Impact: There is no additional fiscal impact with approval of this item.
City Council Action: Approved Authorizing Mayor to Sign Letter of Support and Use of City Logo. California Intergovernmental Risk Authority (CIRA) of which Sebastopol is an agency member, has joined California Association of Joint Powers Authorities (CAJPA) in supporting a statewide coalition advocating for meaningful tort reform and addressing the growing costs of public entity liability claims.
Minute Order Number: 2026-189
6. Approval of Consultant Services with 4Leaf for Planning Services for Specific Scope of Work. This item would be to continue coverage of Planning Services until such time that the Request for Proposals Process has been completed. Estimated length of contract: Six months or until completion of RFP Process.
Responsible Department: City Manager/Human Resources/Personnel Fiscal Impact: Staff time required to prepare the agenda report is covered within existing budgeted salaries.
Additional Fiscal Impact: None; Contract funding would be covered by salary savings of vacant position(s) and the monthly not to exceed is the same as the current contract ($18,964). There has been no increase for extension of the current contract. Any planning consultant work done for Deposit Account Applications are separate from this contract and reimbursed from Deposit Accounts and not from the general fund.
7. City Council Action: Approved Consultant Services with 4Leaf for Planning Services for Specific Scope of Work.
This item would be to continue coverage of Planning Services until such time that the Request for Proposals Process has been completed. Estimated length of contract: Six months or until completion of RFP Process.
Minute Order Number: 2026-190
Resolution Number: 6784-2026
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/PRESENTATIONS: Informational Items or Presentations are items that are informational only and do not require action by the City Council. Presentations shall be scheduled as necessary for the promotion of an event or service or general information items to the Council and should be limited to ten (10) minutes total in length of item (total length includes questions of Council to presenter and public comment).
8. Third Quarterly update from Building the Commons Committee Requestor: Building the Commons Committee
Responsible Department: Public Works
Fiscal Impact: Staff time required to prepare the agenda item is covered within existing budgeted salaries Additional Fiscal Impact: There is no additional fiscal impact with receipt of this item.
Public Works Director Hart presented the agenda item.
Vice Mayor Maurer opened for questions of staff. The Council asked various questions of City staff.
Vice Mayor Maurer opened the public comment period. The following member(s) of the public spoke during the public comment period:
Arlene
Oliver
Mary
Linda
Erika
Lee
Paul
Kate
Kent
City Council Discussion/Deliberations/Comments:
Council continued discussion of the item.
No action required. Informational item only.
City Council Action: No action required. Informational item only.
Minute Order Number: 2026-191
PUBLIC HEARING(s):
9. Public Hearing- Capital Improvement Budget: This item was continued from the June 16, 2026 City Council Meeting for remainder of CIP Discussion.
Responsible Department: Public Works/Administrative Services Fiscal Impact: Staff time required to prepare the agenda item is covered within existing budgeted salaries.
Additional Fiscal Impact: The proposed expenditures for the FY 2026-27 Capital Improvement Projects totals $10,116,087. $3,860,457 of that total is unfunded/unsecured grant. The balance of $6,255.630 is funded with grant or local funds. The proposed CIP includes a combination of secured funding sources and future grantdependent projects identified as “Unsecured Grant” funding. Major funding sources include Sewer Capital Funds, Water Capital Funds, Measure M funds, SB1 Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation funds, Go Sonoma grant funds, Development Impact Fees, Gas Tax funds, Flood Mitigation Fund, Building/Facility Infrastructure Reserve funds, and Measure U. The Measure U funding includes $510,000 allocated toward road repair in the FY 2025–26 budget, as well as $612,800, or 40% of the FY 2026–27 Measure U revenue, which will also be allocated toward road repair. These funds will advance the FY26 Citywide Pavement Improvement Project (0521-25.05) and the FY27 Citywide Pavement Improvement Project (0522-26.01).
Public Works Director Hart presented the agenda item.
Vice Mayor Maurer opened for questions of staff. The Council asked various questions of City staff.
Vice Mayor Maurer opened the public comment period for the public hearing. The following member(s) of the public spoke during the public comment period for the public hearing:
Kate
Lee
Doug
City Council Discussion/Deliberations/Comments:
Council continued discussion of the item.
Vice Mayor Maurer called for a motion.
MOTION:
Councilmember Zollman moved and Councilmember Carter seconded the motion to approve That the City Council adopt a Resolution approving the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Capital Improvement Plan.
Vice Mayor Maurer called for a roll call vote. City staff conducted a roll call vote.
VOTE:
Ayes: Councilmembers Carter, Hinton, Zollman and Vice Mayor Maurer Noes: None
Absent: Mayor McLewis
Abstain: None
City Council Action: Approved to adopt a resolution approving the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Capital Improvement Plan.
Minute Order Number: 2026-192
Resolution Number: 6785-2026
REGULAR CALENDAR AGENDA ITEMS (DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION):
10. Discussion and Consideration of Approval of Waiving of First Reading and Introduction of Ordinance- City Council Compensation
Responsible Department: City Attorney/City Manager
Fiscal Impact: Staff time required to prepare the agenda item is covered within existing budgeted salaries.
Additional Fiscal Impact: The increase would raise annual compensation costs from approximately $18,000.00 to $57,000.00 (+$39,000.00 per year). The new rate will not take effect until January 2027. $18,000 has been allocated in the FY 26 27 budget (January – June 2027).
City Attorney Mog presented the agenda item recommending the City Council Waiving of First Reading and Introduction of Ordinance- City Council Compensation.
Vice Mayor Maurer opened for questions of staff. The Council asked various questions of City staff.
Vice Mayor Maurer opened the public comment period. The following member(s) of the public spoke during the public comment period:
Kristin Lange – support
Kate
Lee
Mary
Kent
Janelle
City Council Discussion/Deliberations/Comments:
Council continued discussion of the item.
Vice Mayor Maurer called for a motion.
MOTION:
Councilmember Zollman moved and Councilmember Carter seconded the motion to approve Waiving of First Reading and Introduction of Ordinance- City Council Compensation. ($950) Vice Mayor Maurer called for a roll call vote. City staff conducted a roll call vote.
VOTE:
Ayes: Councilmembers Carter, Zollman and Vice Mayor Maurer Noes: Councilmember Hinton
Absent: Mayor McLewis
Abstain: None
City Council Action: Approved waiving of First Reading and Introduction of Ordinance City Council Compensation $950.
Minute Order Number: 2026-193
Ordinance Number: 1166
11. Discussion of Consideration of Suspension of Tiered Water Rates and FY26/27 Water Rate Increase Effective July 1, 2026 until such time that a new Water Rate Study can be completed.
Responsible Department: Administrative Services Department/City Attorney Fiscal Impact: Staff time required to prepare the agenda report is covered within existing budgeted salaries.
Additional Fiscal Impact: Suspending the July 1, 2026 rate increase will cause a projected revenue loss to the Water Enterprise Fund of $95,800 for this Fiscal Year. Assuming FY25/26 rates, suspending tied water rates effective July 1, 2026 will cause a projected revenue loss to the Water Enterprise Fund of $445,000 for this Fiscal
Year. The actual amount of lost revenue may be significantly less if a new rate study is adopted before the end of the fiscal year. The loss of revenue will be built into the FY 26 27 Budget if approved tonight.
City Attorney Mog presented the agenda item.
Vice Mayor Maurer opened for questions of staff. The Council asked various questions of City staff.
Vice Mayor Maurer opened the public comment period. The following member(s) of the public spoke during the public comment period:
Kate
Lee
Mary
Kyle
City Council Discussion/Deliberations/Comments:
Council continued discussion of the item.
Vice Mayor Maurer called for a motion.
MOTION:
Councilmember Zollman moved and Councilmember Carter seconded the motion to approve Resolution to Suspended Tiered Water Rates and FY26/27 Water Rate Increase Effective July 1, 2026 until such time that a new Water Rate Study can be completed; and request verification by September 1, 2026 following the first billing cycle under the new rate structure, that all water accounts have been reviewed and updated to remove tiered rates and that all customers are billed using the same uniform volumetric rate, in addition to the applicable fixed monthly service charge.
Vice Mayor Maurer called for a roll call vote. City staff conducted a roll call vote.
VOTE:
Ayes: Councilmembers Carter, Hinton, Zollman and Vice Mayor Maurer Noes: None
Absent: Mayor McLewis
Abstain: None
City Council Action: Approved Resolution to Suspended Tiered Water Rates and FY26/27 Water Rate Increase Effective July 1, 2026 until such time that a new Water Rate Study can be completed; and request verification by September 1, 2026 following the first billing cycle under the new rate structure, that all water accounts have been reviewed and updated to remove tiered rates and that all customers are billed using the same uniform volumetric rate, in addition to the applicable fixed monthly service charge.
Minute Order Number: 2026-194
Resolution Number: 6786-2026
12. Consideration of Request for Direction to Staff to Prepare Zoning Code/Map Amendments and/or Return with Options to Allow Commercial Outdoor Barbecue (BBQ) Operations with Permits in Certain Zoning Districts or on Specific Parcels. City Council is asked to provide direction to staff to return to a future City Council meeting with proposed Zoning Code/Map amendments and/or an item evaluating potential Zoning Code/Map amendments (and other options as appropriate) that would allow commercial outdoor barbecue (BBQ) uses within specified zoning districts, subject to approval of a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) or similar discretionary entitlements.
Requestors: Councilmember Hinton and Councilmember Carter
Responsible Department: Planning/City Attorney
Fiscal Impact: Staff time required to prepare the agenda report is covered within existing budgeted salaries.
Additional Fiscal Impact: Implementation of Council direction is estimated to require approximately 25 to 30 hours of staff time, including approximately 22 hours of Community Development staff time and 3 to 4 hours of City Attorney time. The actual time required will depend on the type of application directed by the City Council and the level of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review required. Following Council direction and further project definition, additional environmental review under CEQA may be necessary. If consultant services are required to prepare the environmental analysis, those costs would be incurred in addition to staff time. This estimate does not include direct project expenses, such as public noticing, mailing costs, newspaper publication fees, or other application-related costs.
Councilmember Hinton Presented the agenda item recommending the City Council Direction to Staff to Prepare Zoning Code/Map Amendments and/or Return with Options to Allow Commercial Outdoor Barbecue (BBQ) Operations with Permits in Certain Zoning Districts or on Specific Parcels. City Council is asked to provide direction to staff to return to a future City Council meeting with proposed Zoning Code/Map amendments and/or an item evaluating potential Zoning Code/Map amendments (and other options as appropriate) that would allow commercial outdoor barbecue (BBQ) uses within specified zoning districts, subject to approval of a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) or similar discretionary entitlements.
Vice Mayor Maurer opened for questions of staff. The Council asked various questions of City staff.
Vice Mayor Maurer opened the public comment period. The following member(s) of the public spoke during the public comment period:
Kirstin
Oliver
Doug
Finn
Linda
Kate
Kim
Kyle
Janelle
Laura
City Council Discussion/Deliberations/Comments:
Council continued discussion of the item.
Vice Mayor Maurer called for a motion.
MOTION:
Councilmember Zollman moved and Councilmember Carter seconded the motion to approve direction to staff as follows: Return to a future City Council meeting with proposed Zoning Code/or Zoning Map amendments (and other options as appropriate) that would allow commercial outdoor barbecue (BBQ) uses within specified zoning districts, subject to approval of a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) or similar discretionary entitlements.
Vice Mayor Maurer called for a roll call vote. City staff conducted a roll call vote.
VOTE:
Ayes: Councilmembers Carter, Hinton, Zollman and Vice Mayor Maurer Noes: None
Absent: Mayor McLewis
Abstain: None
City Council Action: Approved direction to staff as follows: Return to a future City Council meeting with proposed Zoning Code/or Zoning Map amendments (and other options as appropriate) that would allow commercial outdoor barbecue (BBQ) uses within specified zoning districts, subject to approval of a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) or similar discretionary entitlements.
Minute Order Number: 2026-195
13. Discussion of approval of Budget Amendment for Initial Invoices for Testing/Mold Removal/etc and Discussion of Proposed Costs/Timeline for Library Remediation Responsible Department: Public Works
Fiscal Impact: Phase I emergency response costs totaled $47,687.55, with Sonoma County Library reimbursing 50% of those costs.
Additional Fiscal Impact: Approval of this item authorizes up to $175,000 for Phase II-A remediation and investigative demolition. City staff will return to a future Council meeting with a full agenda item detailing the costs for complete remediation, reconstruction, and repair once the investigative phase is complete and more accurate estimates are available. Approval will keep the remediation moving while deferring the bigger reconstruction/repair decisions until there's better information.
Public Works Director Hart presented the agenda item.
Vice Mayor Maurer opened for questions of staff. The Council asked various questions of City staff.
Vice Mayor Maurer opened the public hearing period. The following member(s) of the public spoke during the public comment period:
Erika
Lee
Linda
Kyle
City Council Discussion/Deliberations/Comments:
Council continued discussion of the item.
Vice Mayor Maurer called for a motion.
MOTION:
Councilmember Carter moved and Vice Mayor Maurer seconded the motion to approve Budget Amendment for Initial Invoices for Testing/Mold Removal/etc. and Discussion of Proposed Costs/Timeline for Library Remediation
Vice Mayor Maurer called for a roll call vote. City staff conducted a roll call vote.
VOTE:
Ayes: Councilmembers Carter, Hinton, Zollman and Vice Mayor Maurer Noes: None
Absent: Mayor McLewis
Abstain: None
City Council Action: Approved Budget Amendment for Initial Invoices for Testing/Mold Removal/etc. and Discussion of Proposed Costs/Timeline for Library Remediation Minute Order Number: 2026-196
WEBVTT
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Can you let me know when we're ready to start. 2 00:00:49.340 --> 00:00:50.810
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Steven, are you ready? 3 00:00:52.500 --> 00:00:53.430
City Council: We're ready.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: You can go ahead and start the meeting, Vice 5 00:00:56.470 --> 00:01:02.880
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I am calling this meeting to order of July 7th at 6 o'clock.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, so I will take roll call. 7 00:01:05.810 --> 00:01:07.650
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Carter. 8 00:01:07.890 --> 00:01:13.629
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Here. Councilmember Zollman? Present.
Councilmember Hinton is attending remotely.
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Neysa Hinton: Present.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Vice Mayor Maurer? Here. And we do have a remote participation by Councilmember Hinton, who will be making a statement, and then the Council will need to vote for the remote participation. 11 00:01:29.700 --> 00:01:31.799
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Hinton, do you want to. 12 00:01:36.750 --> 00:01:44.569
Neysa Hinton: Sorry, I'm having a few technical glitches here. Hold on a minute. Yes, I'm looking for my statement.
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Neysa Hinton: I am… So sorry I am.
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Neysa Hinton: I don't…
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Would you like me to make a statement for you? 16 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:14.370
Neysa Hinton: Yeah, I'm, Iknow thatIhad ithereand I'm, I'mlookingand Ican't, Ican'tfind it in the lineup. So yeah, Mary, would you mind reading it? 17 00:02:14.370 --> 00:02:24.820
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Sure, so because this is a just cause, Councilmember Hintonislogging inremotelyduetoanillness,soitisjustifiedunder AB 2449.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: She is doing it remotely, and correct me if I'm wrong, she has no one that is under the age of 18, and she can hear us by audio and visual, and we can see her by audio and visual as well.
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Neysa Hinton: That is correct. No one under the age of 18 and audio and visual. 20 00:02:41.990 --> 00:02:49.250
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, the Council will need to make a motion to do remote participation, a second, and vote. So moved. Seconded. 21 00:02:51.010 --> 00:03:01.930
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. So so moved by Vice Mayor Maurer, seconded by Councilmember Zolman to approve their just cause revamp participation.
Councilmember Carter. Councilmember Hinton.
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Neysa Hinton: Hi.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Zollman? Yes. Vice Mayor Maurer? Motion passes with four in support and Mayor McLewis is absent tonight.
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SebastopolCommunity CulturalCenter:Okay,so please joinme inasalute to the flag. 25 00:03:40.660 --> 00:03:58.670
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The city of Sevastopol acknowledges that we live and work within the unceded ancestral homelands of the Southern Pomo and the Coast Miwok people. We pay our respect to the past, present, and future generations of these peoples, including the Federated Indians of the Graton Rancheria. 26 00:04:00.690 --> 00:04:03.539
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And now we have a proclamation. 27 00:04:04.970 --> 00:04:07.340
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: That will be read by Councilmember Carter. 28 00:04:15.710 --> 00:04:16.519
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Sit there.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: all right. July 2026. As parks make a life better month. This resolution recognizes the importance of equitable access to local parks, recreational trails.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: open space and facilities for the positive development of all Californians and their communities. We therefore declare the month of July 2026, Parks Make Life Better Month.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Whereas parks and recreation promotes physical, emotional, mental health and wellness through organized and self-directed fitness, play, and activity.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And whereas… I was gonna ad-lib something, but I don't think I should do that.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Whereas parks and recreation fosters social cohesiveness in communities by celebrating diversity, providing spaces to come together peacefully, modeling compassion, promoting social equity, connecting social networks, and ensuringallpeoplehaveaccess toits benefits. Now, therefore, beitfurtherresolved. 34 00:05:18.780 --> 00:05:26.499
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: that the Mayor Jill Lewis and I here do proclaim July 2026 as Park Make Life Better Month.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And if we have any representative of parks. 36 00:05:32.210 --> 00:05:35.989
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Is there anyone here that can receive this? Very good, thank you.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Here, this way? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Please talk.
Double sit, yeah, quick.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Good evening. Thanks so much, David Robinson.
I'm the deputy director for Sonoma County Regional Parks. Ple 39 00:05:50.530 --> 00:06:10.140
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Mayor and Council members, for recognizing July as Park Makes Life Better Month, and for this resolution or proclamation.
Earlier today, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors also adopted a gold resolution recognizing Parks Make Life Better Month, and it's wonderful to see our local governments united in celebrating the values Park brings to our communities. 40 00:06:10.200 --> 00:06:14.280
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: This recognition is especially meaningful to me because I grew up here in Sebastopol.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Some of my best childhood memories were made in our parks, swimming at Ives Pool.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: some playing baseball at Clayhan behind us, and spending countless hours at Regal Ranch Field with friends and family. 43 00:06:26.390 --> 00:06:40.469
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Those experiences shaped who I am, and ultimately led me to a career in parks. And that's what this resolution really celebrates.
Parks creates healthy communities, brings people together, connects us with nature, and provides the places where lifelong memories are made.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: In many ways, that's what today has been all about. Earlier today, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors approved the ordinance to place the successor to Measure M before voters this fall, continuing the partnership between the county and our cities to invest in the parks, trails, and open spaces that enrich our communities.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: and create opportunities for future generations.
So, on behalf of Summit County Regional Parks, thank you for your partnership. 46 00:07:03.160 --> 00:07:05.870
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: and your continued support of parks. We truly appreciate it.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: You can just come on up and shake our hands.
And thank you for hosting soccer.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: You got it.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Mmhm.
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SebastopolCommunity CulturalCenter:So are there any conflictsofinterestfromcouncil members?
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, seeing none, we'll go out to public comment.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Vice Mayor. So this is for public comment for items that are not on tonight's agenda. It is a 20-minute time limit. It is 2 minutes perspeaker. Wedochambers first, and then goouttoZoom. Soif there's anyone in the public that would like to make an item, or, I'm sorry, public comment for an item not on the agenda.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Come up to thepodium first, st and then go out to zoom.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. Thank you, Mary. Is this okay? Is this on? I just want to make a comment in general in support of public libraries, just as public parks.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: are incredibly important to every community. So are public libraries, and that's all I want to say. I was fortunate enough to be the manager at Sebastopol Library for 3 years.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I'm a retired librarian now and still very interested in public libraries. I've worked in them for over 50 years before I retired. 57 00:08:35.510 --> 00:08:39.960
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Actually, I just want to make a statement which is from a book.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Called palaces for the people. 59 00:08:44.870 --> 00:08:51.749
SebastopolCommunityCulturalCenter: How socialinfrastructurecan help fight inequality, polarization, and the decline of civic life. 60 00:08:52.180 --> 00:08:55.110
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: It's by, Eric Kleinenberg. 61 00:08:56.450 --> 00:09:07.109
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Libraries serve as bedrocks of civil society. It's important that institutions like libraries get the recognition they deserve. They are the kinds of palaces where the
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: kinds of places where the public, private, and philanthropic sectors can work together to reach for something higher than the bottom line.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Public libraries are commonly referred to as a third place, neither home nor workspace. These places are the informal spaces that are often mainstays in a neighborhood, places where both random and intentional in-person relationships are made, and public libraries are free and open to all. 64 00:09:35.800 --> 00:09:55.470
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I don't want to. I know I'm not preaching to the choir. I don't want to be, but I wanted to just go on record as saying, I'm a supporter, and I know we have many supporters of public libraries in this room right now. Thank you very much. Thank you for your public comment. I will go out to zoom, Kate. Can you unmute yourself, please?
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kate: Yes, I am. Thank you.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Can you see the timer? 67 00:09:58.380 --> 00:09:59.470
kate: I can, thank you.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: All right, go ahead, please. 69 00:10:00.790 --> 00:10:11.039
kate: The Grand Jury and the Enterprise Oversight Committee are important watchdog groups. They provide oversight to make sure that government agencies 70 00:10:11.070 --> 00:10:28.419
kate: are within the law. They are important checks on our civic institutions. They are critical remedies to keep our democracy in balance. Citizen oversight helps civic institution remain within the law and correct course when they veer into illegal ill function.
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kate: The grand jury found that the city was in violation of Prop 218. The grand jury found that the enterprise funds were entitled to 5.5 million dollars in restitution for misallocation of ratepayer money. The Enterprise Oversight Committee also found that the city was 72 00:10:46.570 --> 00:10:50.129
kate: is in violation of prop 2, 18.
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kate: The city has not taken steps to correct its prop. 2, 18 violation in its current budgets, nor has it taken any steps to restore the $350, $354 for excessive and illegal attorneys. Fees for 2024,2025,asidentified
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kate:identifiedby the EFOC.
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kate: Alex is present at every council meeting. We know he bills in 6-minute increments. If council truly believes these expenses are legitimate, council members should request invoices that justify these expenses.
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kate: Council is running a utility district. Do they pay huge bills without seeing the invoices? Water and sewer ratepayers are paying for 52% of this meeting for council time. Ratepayers are paying 63% for city manager. Let's watch and see if the council spends 52% of their time tonight on water and sewer.
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kate: Let's see if the city manager spends 63% of her time on water and sewer. If not, then we are witnessing prop 218 violations for charges that are not justified and not secured by data. We are witnessing the exact.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: That's 2 min. Unfortunately. 79 00:12:05.150 --> 00:12:05.930
kate: Thank you.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment. I will come back into chambers if you would like to make a public comment. 81 00:12:12.420 --> 00:12:13.860
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: My name is Jeff Ellsworth. I live over on Pleasant Hill Avenue North with my partner, Ann Wheaton, and we're here with a group of neighbors to talk about the speeding problem on Pleasant H
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Pleasant Hill North. First, I want to thank the council and the city manager and the staff forthe work you do. I was mayor overin St. Helena for a number of years, and my partner worked with me. 84 00:12:37.170 --> 00:12:43.020
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So we know the work you do, the things that you're balancing, so we appreciate it, and we love living here, it's a wonderful town 85 00:12:43.060 --> 00:12:45.120
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The commitment to housing and the. 86 00:12:45.120 --> 00:13:03.459
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Community spirit and community feeling is wonderful here, so we appreciate it, we really do, but we do have a speeding problem over on Pleasant Hill North. What happens is that people turn on and they accelerate, and we're having a problem getting out of our driveways because human nature, they don't want to slow down.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Once they pick up speed. And so we're asking… we have about… we have a petition with about 30 names, and we're asking for this matter to be agendized, to be looked at.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And consider things like speed tables, speed humps, rumble strips,
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: traffic calmingmeasures on that street to help slow down traffic.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: it's a it's a place where there's a school on one side and then and then a park. There's also a senior living facility. People walk their dogs. So it's quite busy and active, and and folks use it as a cut through from the markets. 91 00:13:39.940 --> 00:13:43.550
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And then coming off of Bodega Avenue,they'll cut through
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: the larger trucks, the commercial trucks. So we'd like to make sure that it's enforced, that the commercial traffic doesn't come down there. So we're just here to ask that this be considered, to be put on an agenda, because we do feel like it's a safety matter.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We've got the kids on the bicycles as well, in that area, and so,
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We thank you for your time, and hopefully you'll be able to look at that. A question is, should I submit this, petition here, or should we mail it in, or bring it in? You can go ahead and give it to myself. Great, thank you. Thank you for your public comment. Next, I will go out to Zoom.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Kyle, can you unmute yourself, please? 96 00:14:28.380 --> 00:14:29.370
Kyle Falbo: Yes, I can.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. Can you see the timer. 98 00:14:31.040 --> 00:14:31.869
Kyle Falbo: I can.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Go ahead with your public comment, please. 100
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Kyle Falbo: So, yeah.
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Kyle Falbo: One would think that the establishment of a citizen oversight committee. 102
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Kyle Falbo: For wastewater and water.
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Kyle Falbo: As a response to identifying through a rate study that $750,000 in a single year was misallocated to the general fund from the enterprise funds. 104
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Kyle Falbo: Followed by… Months of investigative work by that committee to produce recommendations to this body.
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Kyle Falbo: Along with a grand jury report that validates the work that was done by that body.
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Kyle Falbo: That there would be action.
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Kyle Falbo: But, instead, we have consistent and repeated non-action by this council, and by this city. They continue to lean into some form of an argument that 108
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Kyle Falbo: The allocations that have happened in prior years were, quote, reasonable, right? This reasonable man theory.
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Kyle Falbo: Unfortunately, it's quite clear that the allocations in prior years was not reasonable.
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Kyle Falbo: And anybody looking at the well-documented charts that indicate the sheer volume of percentages to the general fund that are going from enterprise are not reasonable.
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Kyle Falbo: So my only expectation at this point, because you failed to agendize this item tonight, you have a grand jury response, you've indicated to the press that your grand jury response is not in any way going to meet the recommendations of that grand jury. 112
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Kyle Falbo: that I think the strategy is you're looking for a class action lawsuit. And the reason why you want that is because you can use your insurance company to pay off the balance
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Kyle Falbo:To the ratepayers,andthenyougetoffscot-free. 114
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Kyle Falbo: Right? And the only thing that we'll see is increased insurance costs in future years. Is that the strategy?
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Kyle Falbo: Just come on, just go and tell me, is that the strategy? 116
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Kyle, for your public comment. Next, I will come into chambers, please.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'm Nan Waters, and I live south of town on Highway 116. I've lived in Sebastopol for 52 years.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And during the 52 years that I've lived in Sebastopol, the library has been one of the centers of community to me and to most of the people that I know.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And one of the things that I've noticed that isn't on the agenda is the need that the library fills for inequities in the community in terms of providing computers and printers.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: for people who don't have this kind of infrastructure at their homes or available to them in other ways. 121
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: As well as other library programs that are available.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I also know that people will say, well, it's easy to get to other branches of the library using public transportation. 123
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: But I've commuted by public transportation for 17 years, and it's not easy to get anywhere by public transportation from Sebastopol. 124
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The only libraries that would be accessible to us would be Central.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Forestville or Guerneville, and that involves almost a half an hour or a half mile walk in Central, in the case of Central and Forestville.
So I encourage
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: the City Council to identify places where we can have the infrastructure that we're used to to address the inequities. 127
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: that people are now facing in their inability to access computers and printers and programs from the library. 128
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment. I will go out to… Can I ask a point of clarification? Because we do have two agenda items tonight dealing with the building, the comments, which includes the library. We also have the mold remediation item, so I just…
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I want to make sure that these are for… supposed to be for public comments on items not on the agenda, and these items are on the agenda, so I just…
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'm want clarification from our city manager. So 131
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'm sorry. Can we address? We'll go ahead and address it. Thank you.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, I'll chime in, I'll let Alec. So, the relocation itself of the library is not on the item tonight, agendized. What is agendized is a discussion of an info item of building the commons.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: But, and then also the contract award for the mold contract that wedid, and then also the remediation. So the specific 134
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: discussion of the library relocation needs and things like that is not on the agenda, so we could go ahead and allow the I would go ahead and allow the public comment right now to go ahead and continue with that, and then they can also speak during those 2 other agenda items as well. Thank you so much. 135
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So I will go out. Dina, can you unmute yourself, please?
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Dena Bliss: Yes, I can.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. Can you see the timer? 138
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Dena Bliss: If I scroll over, I can probably see the timer. Yes, I can see the timer. 139
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, go ahead with your public comment, please.
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Dena Bliss: Okay, I want to come in behind Nan Waters, who pretty much spoke to the very issue that I want to speak to. This… our library is one of the most frequented libraries of any in the system.
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Dena Bliss: And what I want to talk about are the need for the access to computers, not in a generalized amusement way, but computers are used by people these days exclusively to look for jobs and to look for housing. And so to have that inaccessible to people is an enormous deprivation. That, in addition to the fact that the library is an enormously 142
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Dena Bliss: important community hub for all of us who live here, but I really am concerned, as Nan is, for people who are
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Dena Bliss: unequally represented in the meeting tonight, and so I am, I want to urge you to pleasefind a waytocreatea temporarylibraryin ourtown whilethemold situation is being remediated.
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Dena Bliss: Thank you.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Dina, for your public comment. Next, I will come back into ch
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Hello, I'm Isaac with EcoGreen. We are trade professionals with PG&E, and what we do is we help public agencies take advantage of OBF funding. You guys already pay into the program every month under the Public Purpose Program portion of your utility bill.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: This can target LED lighting, HVAC, and other efficiency projects. I'm not looking for a commitment today, but I wanted to start the conversation.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: introduce ourselves so that we can figure out who to direct this information to, as it's a funding portal that can essentially help you guys tackle deferred maintenance without utilizing any
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: funding that you have for other measures. So I just wanted to leave some business cards and get our name out there. That's it. 150
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment. You can go ahead and just leave them at the end of the table right here, and we'll make sure they get it.
Next, I'll go out to Zoom. Roberta, can you unmute
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. Can you see the timer? 152
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Roberta: Yes, I can. Thank you. Go ahead.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, please.
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Roberta: Yeah, I'd like to comment first on thenumber 29bus that I advocated for. 155
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Roberta: emailed, for back and forth with Sandra Mayor. 156
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Roberta: for a couple few months, and that's not going to be part of the budget, I understand from her. Thank her for… I do thank her for considering it. It's still a very important bus line that goes from
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Roberta: Santa Rosa through Sebastopol and the Burbank senior community out to the coast, to Bodega, to important recreational possibilities for seniors in particular, but everybody.
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Roberta: Who does not have a vehicle.
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Roberta: I'm a huge supporter of
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Roberta: as I said, public transportation, and we're very limited, as another speaker noted, and I believe her name was for use in this town and in Sonoma County, but particularly Sebastopol. 29 bus used to run on the weekends.
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Roberta: through this summer, Long time before it was removed during COVID. 162
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Roberta: And I have written to the Transportation Authority several times. 163
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Roberta: I actually have gotten very limited response.
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Roberta: I'm very frustrated with this. I think that there's a number of people who are very disappointed that we have no way to get to the coast. Rides are very difficult to get from other seniors. Many people are not driving at this time. 165
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Roberta: I'm just hopeful that sometime this can really be viewed as a very essential possibility.
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Roberta: And I also want to support the speakers who spoke about the library. It is my most important place in Sebastopol that I go to outside of summer. 167
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Roberta, that's.
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Roberta: Oh, thank you very much.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment. And I just want to say I have two speakers left to meet the 20 minute time limit. So we will come into chambers and then
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Oliver will be the next one, and that'll in public comment.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you so much, Council. My name is Kalia Mussiter, and I've had family in Sebastopol since 1961. I've been going to the Sebastopol Library for 50 years, since I was a little girl.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I just want to affirm what others have said. This is an absolutely crucial cultural and education and community hub in Sebastopol in our small town, and it also gives equal access across
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: layers and layers of profound vulnerability.
Community members who don't have access to all these resources in any other way, and many of us use it for work and service and grad school. And my specific comment for this council
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: is that I'm very concerned that there has been no public facing information about what's happening with our library for over a month. 175
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And when I went into the city council office, I spoke with your wonderful, administrative assistant. She was very kind, but she had no information for me. And so I got the information from the building guy, who I remember his name is Steve, and…
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And he called me and left me quite a defensive message, right? Like, that is not helpful to the project of what we are doing together as a community. And I had a great conversation with one of the members of this chamber before
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: we began. And what I wanted to say is that the community. There are thousands of patrons that are missing this library, and
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SebastopolCommunity CulturalCenter:We are notlookingfordefinitive information.We know you're in a really complex process, and you're juggling elephants. What we want is information about the process you're in, and to be assured that you care, and that you understand that this library is essential for this small town. 179
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: and public transit. I work in mental health and homeless services. I have for morethan 20years. Publictransitis profoundlydifficultin this county, and especially for the most vulnerable among us. So to have access to a library within our small town is crucial.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So please start giving the public information about what you're doing.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: and If there had been more information. Leah, that's 2 minutes.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: There would be a hundred of us talking about the library in this room if we had known. Thanks. Thank you for your public comment, and I will go out to Zoom for Oliver. I do, Vice Mayor, if you wouldn't mind, after public comment, if we can give an update quickly on the status of some effortsmade by the library. Oliver, can you unmute yourself, please?
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Oliver: Unmuted, yeah.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. Can you see the… 185
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Oliver: I can see the timer, and I'.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Go ahead.
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Oliver: Yeah, yeah. I just wanted to say for anybody who's interested in the Enterprise Fund Oversight Committee, the next meeting, as in my calendar at least, is Monday, July the 20th at 10.30.
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Oliver: 2 people, including me, have said yes, they're attending, and 8 people apparently haven't answered yet. But that will be an important meeting. I'm on the Enterprise Fund Oversight Committee, and until now I've been primarily focused on infrastructure rather than thefinancialsideof it.
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Oliver: But I think this meeting will be addressing some of the, concerns and possibly some of thewildertheories thathavebeen floatingaround this evening. Sothat's mycomment.
Thank you.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Oliver, for your public comment. And that will conclude the public comment period for items not on the agenda. 191
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So we'll move on to the consent calendar. 192
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'm sorry. Could I just do a really quick recap on the the library items themselves. So
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: as you'll see later on tonight on the agenda, we do have a discussion about the contract for the mold removal that we've done already. We have a contract coming forward for a not-to-exceed amount for the remediation process.
That is not reconstruction, that is remediation. City staff and I have been working around the clock trying to find locations.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We have worked with our council member liaison and the alternate to also try to findother locations. We'reworking with the community center right now to see if we couldn't have
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The holds pick up here. We have the Bibilo bus that will be coming here two days a week. And Erica, if there is anything I'm saying wrong, please correct me. We have that scheduled. Once we can get that done, and once we have confirmation from the community center, if the room works, that's great. If not, I will also be reaching out to,
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: local businesses, I will be reaching out to churches, I will be reaching out to other vacant buildings, our realties, to see if there's locations in town that we can use. So, that's just a quick recap, but I just want to let you know we are out there trying to find locations, and working with the library to do that. 197
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you so much.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So we'll move on to the consent calendar, and we have approval of 6 different things. So the 1st one is council minutesfor the regular meeting of June 16th Council minutes for the special City Council meeting 199
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: June 29.th the task order number 6 with Mo.
Engineeringtoprovideengineeringservicesfor the2627fiscalyear. 200
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The approval of the job description for city clerk. 201
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: and to authorize the mayor to sign a letter of support and use of the city logo regarding the CIRA or California Intergovernmental Risk Authority.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: and approval of consultant services with 4 leaf planningservices fora specificscopeof work.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Does anyone want to remove any of these items? 205
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, so then we'll go out to public comment.
Okay, so this is public comment for the consent calendar items only that were just read. If you would like to make a public comment, again, it's a 2-minute time limit. I will come to chambers first and then go out.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Please. Hi! A quick question. 207
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So I'm requesting that item 6 be removed from the consent calendars.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So will I have time to speak then? If I will, I don't need to speak now. Okay, thank you. No, no, no, no. That's assuming it would get pulled. If you could give us your public comment right now, we've received the request that a
member of the public has asked to remove that item. It will be up to the City Council to determine that. So please go ahead with your public comment. 209
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And, Steven, can we put public comment back to two minutes? There we go. Thank you.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. Council members for this time. My name is Katie Aho, and I'm a Sebastopol resident.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: and I've submitted a letter for the record. So I'm not going to repeat all of that tonight.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I understand the need for interim planning services while the city conducts the Rfp. Process. My concern is ensuring that consultant planners remain connected tothecommunityand responsivetoresidents mostaffected by development proposals.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Recent discussions include the former LDS property highlighted.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And the importance of local knowledge, neighborhood compatibility, traffic, and pedestrian safety, includingemergencyevacuation concerns, environmental impacts, water and sewer infrastructure, capacity, and meaningful community engagement.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I would ask that the city relies on consulting planning services. I understand that, and I hope the community input will remain a central part of the planning process.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I would appreciate understanding on how will consultant partners remain responsive to neighborhood concerns and local conditions. 218
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: on how residents will be informed of and involved in the selection of long-term planning services and providers. and what measures will be taken to preserve local knowledge and community trust during this transition. 219
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your time. 220
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment. I will go out to Zoom for the consent calendar. Kyle, can you unmute yourself, please. 221
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Kyle Falbo: Yes, I can.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. Can you still see the timer? 223
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Kyle Falbo: Yes, I can.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Great. Go ahead, please.
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Kyle Falbo: Just to address the council in response to the prior speaker, the answer is none.
There won't be any accountability. There won't be any commitment to engagement with the public. We have had so many failed RFPs in this city over the last couple of years, so many failed hires over the last couple of years. And the idea that when we go out to hire consultants, that they are going to do anything beyond what they are being asked to do as part of the consultancy.
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Kyle Falbo: consulting contract. It's… it's,
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Kyle Falbo: It's not something that you should expect to happen. So I'm sorry for that. What I'm actually commenting on is item five. I understand the concern about rising liability costs, but Sebastopol should be careful about endorsing tort reform without also looking inward.
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Kyle Falbo: In recent years, the city has faced litigation or formal legal challenges involving vehicle dweller parking ordinance, the Callahan diabetic emergency taser incident, a Brown Act cure and correct issue. These examples raise a local risk management question.
Are we trying to reduce liability?
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Kyle Falbo:By limitingclaims or by preventing harm inthe first place. 230
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Kyle Falbo: Before authorizing city logo for lobbying and for this coalition, I really just want to ask council to require a public review of recent claims. Again, let me repeat that. A public review of recent claims, settlements, insurance impacts, policy changes, and training reform.
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Kyle Falbo: If you think that your track record is good in comparison to the rest of the members of your insurance group.
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Kyle Falbo: then go ahead, do the public, do a public transparent look at it, because I suspect that based on the insurance claims, we're talking about 233
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KyleFalbo: a fishingschemethatended up losingovera million dollars in propertytax.
Well, who paid it? Our insurance company paid it.
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Kyle Falbo: A number of these things have happened over the years. Let's lay out the dirty laundry and see how well we actually are doing before we start trying to.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Kyle, that's 2 minutes. 236
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment. Next, I will come back into chambers. If there's anyone in chambers that would like to make a public comment on the consent calendar, please raise your or please come up to the podium. 237
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, I will go back out to Zoom. If there's anyone on Zoom that would like to make a public comment on the consent calendar items, please raise your hand virtually.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, public comment is closed on consent calendar items
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, bringing it back to the dais. Does anyone want to make a change or have a comment or make a motion. I'll make a motion to move the consent. Calendar items.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Well, second.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. So moved by Councilmember Zollman and seconded by Councilmember Carter to approve consent calendar items 1 through 6.
Councilmember Carter? Yes. Councilmember Hinton?
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Neysa Hinton: Aye.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Zollman? Yes. Vice Mayor Maurer? Yes. Mayor McLewis is absent, so the motion passes 4 to 1 with Councilmembers Carter, Hinton, Zollman, and Vice Mayor Maure
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I would just like to make the brief comment that our planning consultant is actually local and was a former planning director. 245
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, and I'll add to that. They've been working with us for
246
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: actually much for the past year, but they were actually consultant, not consultant, but actually hires here for a long time. 247
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I will also add to that that we have just received the RFPs for the consultant services. Those just came in yesterday. We received three. One of them did not qualify, so we will be reviewing the two. We will be interviewing them and then bringing those back to the City Council here for discussion and consideration.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So we have the 1st item is the informational presentation on the 3rd quarterly update from building the Commons Committee. 250
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'll take that. Good evening, Mayor and Council.
Tonight's item is the 3rd quarterly update for the Building the Commons Committee. The committee continues to evaluate the feasibility of creating a shared community facility that could serve as a variety of civic, educational, and community needs throughout Sebastopol and West County.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The Community Needs Assessment Subcommittee has spent the last several months conducting stakeholder interviews with localnonprofits, communityorganizations, serviceproviders, and civicorganizations. 252
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SebastopolCommunity CulturalCenter:Organizationsrepeatedly have identifiedaneed for additional meeting and classroom space, storage, performance space, community kitchens, and accessibility improvements, and opportunities to share resources. 253
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The interviews also revealed strong interest in a common concept that would allow organizations to collaborate, share cost, increase visibility ofprovidedservices,andbe more efficient. 254
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The subcommittee's focus will now shift from stakeholder interviews to the broader community outreach and public engagement as the project moves forward.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Additionally, the Funding Assessment Subcommittee has focused on evaluating potential locations, facility needs and long-term financialconsiderations.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: After reviewing multiple alternatives, the committeehas narrowed its evaluations to two primary concepts. The first isthe O'Reilly property on Gravenstein Highway North, and the second is the redevelopment of cityowned properties within the Civic Center. 257
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: This subcommittee has begun developing a highlevelfinancialframeworkfortheproject. This is thefocus, which is both on construction costs and analysis of long-term cost constraints associated with maintaining and upgrading existing and potential facilities.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: At this stage, detailed cost estimates have not been developed. However, thecommitteeis refiningassumptions and lookingforpotential funding sources.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: At this time the committee is seeking council feedback on the 2 primary location concepts currently under evaluation and the next steps for community outreach.
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SebastopolCommunityCulturalCenter: This concludes mybrief report, and staffis available for questions, and I'll turn it over to the 2 council members that serve on the committee to share additional thoughts.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Oriana. Yes, I just want to first say thank you very much to all of the committee members that have dedicated a lot of their time and effort to be on this Building the Commons Committee. A lot of effort has been put forth, and
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: kind of mimicking my perspective, of where we are, and it has been reflected in the public comments that were received for both of these agenda items. We have long-standing… have had a long-standing space issue for a lot of our vital services here in the city.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The senior center, we have heard they don't have space, and theyaredesperatelyneedingit. Thecommunitycenteris in a flood zone.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Our health action is without a building. I think that the mold crisis, as again, has been stated in the public comments, has now put an extra urgent light on what are we doing?
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: What are we doing as a community to try to answer all of these?
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: needs for spaces, and I think that wisely the members of the Building the Commons Committee has put forth 2 alternatives, and I'm really hoping that my fellow colleagues will weigh in and grant the request for there to be onward movement towards continuing to explore those options. 267
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We have heard long and we have received public comment, around the fact that people would like to keep the building here where it currently is. The truth of the matter is, it's like we don't know. 268
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And what the item on the agenda is later, there's gonna be a request for almost a quarter million dollars to fix a building that even the library has identified thefactis notbigenough.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So why? Why do that? Quite honestly, I have concerns about our city hall.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Our city hall was built with the same architecture. 271
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So if the library is going to be a teardown or could be a teardown and City Hall is going to be a teardown, what is going to be our answer? So that's the reason why I think that the O'Reilly has been brought up, and I'm just asking the community to listen to the comments from my fellow colleagues and to continue to share your thoughts on this as we move forward. The next meeting is, a week from this Monday, wherewe'reactuallygoingtobehearingfromthefinance. 272
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: subcommittee, the council member Carter. 273
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: doesn't chair, but he sits on. So I'm going to stop talking there and turn it over to Councilmember Carr.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Alright, I just wanna, restate the obvious that, 275
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: When I first started, they havebeen thinking about this for a long time, but when I came onto it, it was with the idea that we would be proactive in looking for a space and thinking about it in a systems way and in a way that would 276
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SebastopolCommunityCulturalCenter: bethemostfinanciallyprudentand actionable.
This recent act, you know, mold
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: instance kind of highlights the urgency to go forward with some of this planning. So it's becoming a little less proactive and a little bit more reactive.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: However, we've done so much work that I, I think that we're in a good place. Additionally, I just want to tell everybody that we've we've knocked out quite a few places that we get emails about. We've looked at. 279
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: because the Rite Aid is in the situation it is, you know, legally bound, and, you know, it's not ours, and, you know, it could be, you know, it's not viable for the city to look at.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The same is true with the old, CVS place, because it's investor-owned andtheyareseekingthings thataren'tfinancially, 281
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: reasonable for the city to pursue. We've kind of knocked that out.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: But, in the SWOT analysis or in the early days, you can see the other properties that we went through and we analyzed for, you know, operational efficiency and like what we can do. And the next two things that we'll see, it's actually three. It's do nothing.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Band-Aid, what we have. Bless you. And, 284
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SebastopolCommunityCulturalCenter: Continuetopay, which has asignificantcost. The community center will have a cost.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Repairing the library itself will have tremendous cost, much more cost than we actually anticipate now. The City Hall has costs, and the Senior Center is actively looking for a new place.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: They're all looking for rental facilities outside of their own, because they're growing.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: the library is, I would say, the current building is at 98% utilization capacity, so it could definitelygrow. And we're not even accommodating some of the people in our outer areas, like Occidental and, you know, towards Jenner, that we do service.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And so, those are considerations in some of our analysis, which, you know, I think will come forward a little bit later, but I do want everybody to know that we are
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Looking at this in such in a, in a very realistic, pragmatic and, functional way so that, you know, these are real solutions and not just kind of we hope that this can happen. These are definitely things that we can, you know, just we just have to put the pieces together and we can make happen. 290
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. Are there any comments? 291
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I mean, questions? 292
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Hinton, do you have a 293
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: No, okay. Oh, I have a question. 294
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: My question is regarding the fact that the Sonoma County Library receives a tax for the libraries.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: and we were told that they you know they have funding.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So I'm wondering, how do we move forward with getting a bigger, better facility?
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I mean, they've been asked, and they're not offering myunderstanding. So thecity has a structural deficit moving forward. 298
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We have serious infrastructure needs like building, repair roads, water, and sewer. So
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: How do we move? How do we justify moving forward with multi-million dollar building?
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: when we have all these other needs here, especially considering that the county receives a tax. So can you please help me understand this? Because
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I… I just… to just have… talk about the buildings without talking about the financing doesn't work for me. I'm… that… it's just too, you know… 302
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: 2 separate. So well, thank you for that. And that is part of it, too. There's been a lot of discussions within the committee to set aside or to ask counsel for Alex's time to evaluate. What are our options? What are our options with library administration, which it is correct they do, and we all have paid in taxes, and they do have my perception. They do have a healthy reserve.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So what can Alex do? What was raised by our library commissioner about measure the old measure Y slash new measure W. What can be done with that? So
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I don't know the answers. Also, there was questions during the committee about a public-private partnership, and there was a request to not have, Alex start looking into that until after next Monday's, 305
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'm building the Commons meeting, but those are the questions that I'm hoping that the Council will approve 306
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: the exploration of the 2 options that we put forth, which would include having Alex look into this because you're right. I mean, as I said before, publicly, we have been subsidizing West Sonoma County for years now. 307
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: 100% we have been, with our pool, with our library, with our roads. It's like somebody else needs to start stepping up, because we as a city of a limited amount of population and a limited amount of revenue can't fixall this.
There are pools of money, so that would be what I would hope 308
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Council will affirm having Alex 309
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: work with us to continue to explore these 2 options, and to your point, Vice Mayor, the funding behind the 2 options. So that's my perspective.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And so sitting on the on the finance side of it, I mean, this is what we've been doing for like three, three or four months. And we have models built and we have sources, you know, I think accumulating into a stack of financing that will be very, low impact on our, general fund.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And it's possible. 312
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, I was going to ask for some grace until we get this through for the full committee, for the full sub, committee, the creating the comments is going to look at the models that we've built, but we have to get them through them first through that committee before we can take that public.
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SebastopolCommunity CulturalCenter:ButIhave ahighdegree ofconfidence thatwe're going to be able to figure this out, especially if.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, doing, doing nothing is going to cost money.
It's going to cost a lot of money.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Doing something might cost less money and it's just going to take, you know, like a month or so before I can show it with the numbers. 316
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Have you considered the Cvs building? 317
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, as I said, they're, they're not okay. 318
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We can't go through it. Okay, have you considered 319
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: this building here, raising it up. 320
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: remodeling the community center building, because then you have all the outdoor space still.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Besides the fact that it'sin a flood zoneand impossible to raise, yeah, it'll cost… Well, you'd have 322
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SebastopolCommunityCulturalCenter: Which is significantly…that's soexpensive, I couldn't even imagine doing that.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Well, it seems like if you're going to tear down buildings downtown, it couldn't be any more or less expensive than tearing this building down and raising it up. This building is basically in the same location, it's just a little higher, so it doesn't flood. So if that building or that location was raised up. 324
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I just don't. So why aren't you looking into that? We have. And again, I feel like, you know, when when I did like a rough analysis, you know. 325
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: digging into that, tearing it down, and removing that as a facility for the community is less valuable than, you know, we kind of narrowed it down to redoing the library area. But you're right, we… that was one of the areas that we did lookatand knockoutbecauseit's financially, youknow, infeasible. 326
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Senator Follett playing CEQA, I think it would be, like, 15 years before we could ever even do
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Are there any other questions? 328
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We can go out to public comment, please. 329
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Vice Mayor. I'm sorry. Yes, Councilmember Hint
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: No, just, just one second. We're, we're, yeah. 331
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Neysa Hinton: I mean, my question or feedback, I guess, for the committee is when you look into how Roseland got their new library, it obviously was a variety of grants. I think it'd have been Great Rancheria.
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Neysa Hinton: Give them some money. Are we looking at a multi… when you look at the finance, is the committee looking at a multi,
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Neysa Hinton: group of funding sources. I know we have our, one new 100 that gives some money to nonprofits and maybe would consider the Library Foundation. I'm just… I'm just curious about that, because when you look at the Roseland Library and how they got their money.
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Neysa Hinton: it was a multi-pronged approach, I guess, I would say. 335
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So we are absolutely doing that. And, and, and, you know, and three levels deep on that, you know, so we are we're exploring all the differentgrants, allthedifferentfinancingstyles. And we'recreatinga stackthatin, in, in, in plotting it out over time.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: so that it fits what we're capable of doing. And I can say that. Thank you, Councilmember Hinton, for the question. That was actually one of thefirstthings thatwestarted todivein, which was, how was Roseland successful? And
Ray Holley, the library administration's former PR person, actually gave a whole presentation on all of that. So thank you. Weare definitely been trying to steal and copy. 337
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: that model, because it obviously worked. We also have Naomi Hubert on the Building the Commons, and she sits on the Library Foundation Board, so we made strategic choices about
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: with limited about a staff and time andenergy and everything else to make sure that we put as many of the useful people, most useful people on the Commons. So thanks.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, we can go out for public comment. 340
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Vice Mayor. So this is public comment for the informational item on building the commons. It is a 2-minute public time limit.
Again, we do chamber first, and then go out to Zoom, so if there's anyone in thechambers… 341
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I just want to make another public comment. My name.
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Linda Robinett: Can't hear.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Can you push the button? 345
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Oh, is it on? Oh, I'm sorry I just wanted to say That, the first
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: building the Sebastopol Public Library was a Carnegie. Andrew Carnegie said to libraries around the country, I will give you a grant if you come up with matching funds.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And so in 1916, a local banker was able to… said, yes, let's do that, and did get local funds, and so the building was built with Carnegie Grant and local funds.
348
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: That was the building that served this community up until 1975, when money was tapped from the Federal Library Services and Construction Act.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: to build the current building in Sebastopol. So that was federally funded. But our joint powers agreement that the city that the Library Commission basically runs our library system and has a joint powers agreement with all the cities within the county and the cities
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Are the entities that provide the buildings. 351
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The Library Commission, the Library Department, provides theservices, thebooks, thestaff, theentirething. 352
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So Measure Y, subsequent Measure W, are providing funds to the library. It would be great, and I'm glad that you're exploring all these possibilities, but I just think that we all need to know, historically. 353
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The library has been funded by the city somehow. 354
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'm appreciating that you're going through all this for not just the library, but the Senior Center and the New City Hall. 355
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: the health services. Thank you. Thank you, Elaine, for your public comment. Next, I'll go out to Zoom and then come back into chambers.
Oliver, can you unmute yourself.
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Oliver: Unmuted, yeah, and I can see the timer.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. Go ahead, please.
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Oliver: I just wanted to thank, Councilmember Zollman, because he said the really important thing here, which is that, we don't… well, number one, obviously, we don't have the money to be running the camp… the,
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Oliver: library, and we are providing all of these services for West County. We're a tiny little city with a very shrinking revenue, as everybody knows. Something's got to give here, and we're talking
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Oliver: About the Sonoma County Library, which we…
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Oliver: I believe we leased the building to them for $1 a year, and now we're talking about very, very expensive repairs for that building, or somehow managing to magically buy expensivecommercialbuildings fora new library. Noneof this is goingtofly.I mean, there's no way in a million years, and the county needs to step up. I've said this multiple times in past
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Oliver: Council meetings, I don't have anything against the library, I think it's great, I like the, the Commons idea, but the city just cannot carry this kind of grandiose project, with the revenue that we have coming in, it's just not possible.
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Oliver: So, something has to give here, and
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Oliver: I'm not quite sure where we're going to go here, but I'm not very confident in the explorations of trying to find funds. I think thecounty needs to be pressured substantially here to step up and sort this situation out for what is basically their library. Thank you. 365
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Oliver, for your public comment. Next, I will come back
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Good evening. Whoops. Good evening, council members. My name is Mary Lou Schmidt. I'm a member of Gravenstein Health Action Coalition, which is a smallvolunteernonprofit.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: which supports various programs in Sebastopol in the West County.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: and is based on the structure of self-healing community. And what that means is, the community uses local leaders to help solve its problems locally.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: in that. In that realm I am a member of the Community Commons committees.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I'm working on that because I can see that the Commons itself could be an absolute
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: benefit to this community. We have failing buildings, and it really is upsetting to think that we have to put a whole bunch of money into a building that, one, hasn't been big enough for 3 years. I've been working on this project for 3 years with various council members.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And so the library itself is not big enough for the work that these peopledo. The staff are cramped.
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SebastopolCommunityCulturalCenter: the, youknow, thesebuildings arein a flood zone.
This… we know that the senior center is just
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: at at just at its limit. So with all of this happening, and with the live and with the city being responsible for all this. 375
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: all this property. There's got to be a different way. I think the Commons isa different way. I think there are buildings that we can look at, and the possibility of getting money for that. We have a great that thank you. 376
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Carter. 377
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: for leading that committee, which is looking into as much money as we can get, and Councilmember Zolman for leading those of us who are trying to get community input. I will tell you the community input to me is 378
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: People would not mind going to the O'reilly Center as long as there was some kind of transportation available and there was parking. 379
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And that is something that comes up all the time.
Mary, that's a good minute. Okay. Thank you for your public comment. Next I'll go out to Zoom. Linda, can you unmute yourself please?
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Linda Robinett: Yeah, I think I'm kind of going into horror right now. 381
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Linda Robinett: First, the library was really not… the library people running it were not transparent about what was going on with the building being closed. 382
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Linda Robinett: And…
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Linda Robinett: I thought, what kind of disaster happened? There are… there are people who sit in that library all day long. I remember registering voters there once and observing who used the library. There's children, some as young as babies, because I've gone in the library and seen people with babies and the,
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Linda Robinett: librarians telling them stories. So there's infants 385
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Linda Robinett: clear to elderly people, and there are people who stay in there all day long using the computers and other facilities. So if this, whatever… and then they finally told us it was black mold.
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Linda Robinett: I felt that the lack of transparency was not good. Also, the library is down, and what I'm hearing is, it's extremely expensive to fix the building. 387
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Linda Robinett: Hopefully, they'll have a, like someone mentioned, a bookmobile over at the community center so that we can at least return and receive books. 388
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Linda Robinett: But how much longer will this city, which is one of the our area, West County area, one of the heaviest users of the library I've heard be without a library. 389
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment. Next I will come into chambers.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Good evening, Erica DeBow, Library Director, Sonoma County Library, and I'm here just to urge you to hire a consultant or allow us to hire an architect
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: To evaluate the O'reilly space before deciding to move forward with any purchase. I have been to the building. The first floor is 15,000 square feet. Which is about 5,000 square feet short of what we would want for a space in Sebastopol.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I would also discourage a 2 story library building.
It creates a lot of security issues, and it's difficult tomonitor. Sowe would have to, you know. I really urge you to look at hiring somebody to evaluate the space and give you a rough order of magnitude of what the cost would be to to renovate it. 393
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. I yield my time. 394
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Erica, for your public comment. Next, I'll go out to Zoom. Lee, can you.
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Lee: Hear me?
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. Can you see the timer? 397
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Lee: Yes.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Great, go ahead with your public comment please.
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Lee: Yeah, I'm amazed at the quality of the team that Steven assembled to work on this.
Every time I read the reports, I am impressed.
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Lee: I wish we had people…
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Lee: of that caliber with this muchmotivation,working on things likethe structural deficit for the city.
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Lee: Because it wouldfix a lot more problemsthan fixing this building is going tofix. Unfortunately, it was stated several times in the opening comments about this that our non-profit partners need more space, West County interests want more space. 403
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Lee: As the Vice Mayor said, and I think Steven acknowledged, the city doesn't have the moneytosupportanyof thesenonprofits. Itdoesn'thaveenough moneytopaythebills and fix the streets. It doesn't have the money even to support the ongoing maintenance of a big new building like this if it were built.
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Lee: Right now, the Senior Center has better income and expense statement than the city. 405
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Lee: Someof these organizations kind of haveto figure out how they can exist without depending on city budget budgets for their existence. The city can't answer most of these questions.
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Lee: Having said that, the agenda item was to discuss 2 locations, O'reilly and the Plaza. 407
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Lee: But no one's presented any information on what are you doing at O'reilly? What is it? What's the facility like?How would it fit? Howwould it be used? 408
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Lee: Likewise the plaza. Nobody has discussed. What plaza are we going to put a library on the plaza?
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Lee: Don't you have to present those things so that they can be discussed and debated, and the City Council can provide you with, and the public can provide you with comments. 410
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Lee: I also don't know who's talking to the owner of the Cvs facility right now, but my understanding is that the the old Cvs site was acquired by the current owner as a requirement he wanted, or he or she. They wanted a different building.
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Lee: And we're forced to take this one as a package. So I'm not sure that they want to get rid of it. Again, I don't know if it meets any of the requirements, but… 412
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Lee: You'd probably have to get somebody serious about contacting these people and negotiating. Thank you.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Lee, for your public comment. Next, I'll come back
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Good evening. My name is Paul Fritz. First, st I'd like to express my support for the Commons idea. I think it's a great concept. I also like to advocate for an in town
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: location. I have concerns about kind of putting all these civic functions at the perimeter of our community. 416
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Just going to read a brief thing I found on the Project for Public Spaces website.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'm
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Public buildings are at their best when they not only function as active community places in their own right, but also when they form part of a larger civic district.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: When the managers of these institutions partner with nearby buildings to establish themselves as a civic district, they can co-sponsor events, program each other's facilities, and otherwise share, trade, or combine the use of their public spaces and resources. A library and a city hall do not create a civic center on their own.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: But add an outdoor reading room to the library, start hosting public events at City Hall, set up food vendors on the sidewalk or a farmer's market in the parking lot, and suddenly you begin to generate much greater levels of activity than before.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Likewise the role of a civic institution to extend beyond the building itself. Part of the problem is that institutions tend to function as silos.
Rarelyaretheirmissions expressed orreflected in thesurroundingpublicspaces. When a civic institution stretches the boundaries of its own mission to engage its public space. 422
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Excuse me, public space, whether it be a street, a plaza, or a square, and reaches out to other institutions in the neighborhood that marks the rebirth of a c
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: In many redeveloping downtowns, the trend is to leave civic institutions behind. A civic center should function as one of the great places in the city, yet rarely do civic institutions benefit or contribute to downtownrevitalization. This may occur because the institutions have been relocated to the outskirts of town, or because
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The institutions have turned their backs on a city that for many years was unsafe at night, or dominated by traffic, orlacking in activity. But for cities that are serious about sustaining vitality in the long run, tying facilities with civic purpose back to a burgeoning central districts is essential. I'll just say, like, with the approval
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Recently of the Caltrans grant. You know, our downtown is on the cusp of a real kind of transformation, and I hope that these civic 426
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: institutions can be part of that. 427
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. Thank you, Paul, for your public comment. Next, I'll go back out to Zoom. If there's anyone on Zoom that would like to make a public comment on this informational item, please raise your hand. Kate, can you unm. 428
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kate: Yes, thank you.
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kate: I in listening to all these public comments, I just had one idea the… the… 430
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kate: Piazza Hotel lot isstill vacant, and I'm not sure where the soccer field idea has landed, but perhaps you could ask the hotel to fence in the lot so it could be gated off at night, and there could be a bookmobile and picnic tables and some plantings in that area, so people could have like a de facto open air library.
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kate: and perhaps the hotel would be willing to fund some 432
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kate: types of, you know, plantings and a nicer looking fence and a gate that could be closed at night just to create a more lively space there. So that's 1 idea. And then I also agree with the other commenters that we need the county to pitch in more. We Sebastopol has the highest per capita of subsidized and low income housing. 433
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kate: western Sonoma County, which reduces our property tax revenue. 434
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kate: So I would keep urging the city to explore a higher percentage of the property tax that is paid by people that living in Sebastopol only about 20%, 20 cents on every dollar that a person pays in property tax here goes back to the city. 435
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kate: And if that could be up to 25 cents on the dollar, that would bring in a lot more money and help offset some of these costs. As other commenters have said, Sebastopol is kind of like the lively hub for West Sonoma County. We have the pool, we have the library, our roads are used a lot. So I think looking more strategically with the county or creating a special art
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kate: and social district also is another way to carve out additional pieces of tax revenue.
Thank you.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment. Next, I'll come back into chambers if there's anyone in chambers that would like to make a public comment
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, I'll go back onto Zoom. Can you unmute yourself.
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kentjenkins: There, am I unmuted?
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: You are muted. Can you see the timer? 441
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kentjenkins: Yes, I can.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Great, go ahead, please. 443
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kentjenkins: So my name is Kent Jenkins. I am the Senior Centers Representative on the Commons Committee.
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kentjenkins: And I'm appreciating all of these,a lot of them are first impressions of the work we've been doing. And I invite anyone who's interested, and I appreciate the interest, to take a look at our very public record. A number of these issues we have explored, we have published papers in our investigatory work.
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kentjenkins: And I think that would provide a great deal of comfort to the people who are worried about this or that.
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kentjenkins: The other thing I invite the community to look at is where, in our current times, the actual
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kentjenkins: A center of where people are, where they live, where do kids actually live, where do seniors actually live, combined with where.
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kentjenkins: How do people get to various locations? And in both cases, most people drive.
So while there might be some people who would lose the convenience of a downtown location, something like O'Reilly, there are a whole host of new people. 449
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kentjenkins: who would gain that convenience. So it's a tough trade-off, and myheartgoes out to people who may…
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kentjenkins: May miss something that was in their local neighborhood, but I'm also pleased to expand that opportunity to other people in our city who have been on the neglected peripheries of our town. So that's my comment. Thank you very much. 451
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Kent, for your public comment. Next, I will come back into chambers if there's anyone in chambers that would like to make a public comment.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, I will go back out to Zoom. If there's anyone on Zoom that would like to make a public comment, to please raise your hand 453
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, public comment is closed on this item.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, we're back at the dais. Any further comments.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: or a motion.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The oh, I'm sorry. This is informational item.
Exactly. This is justinformational. And as thestaffreportnotes. 457
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: the committee will be coming back in September to make a formal recommendation that the council can debate and act on that at that point. Even for informational items, we can still provide direction, correct? So I'm hoping that my colleagues will, direct,
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: the committee to continue to explore those 2 options alongwith Staff's useof timeduringthosemeetings. 459
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'd like you to expand a little bit to possibly include the Cbs building.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And not limit it. And I also would like you to think about
461
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: what is best for the city, not just what's available right now.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So those are my thoughts that I'm giving to you right now.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I just want to speak to that for a second, and not to be defensive, but to clue you in on all the months of work that we've put in. 464
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The CVS, the owners, we've reached out to them, and we've entertained the idea of actually being there. We've looked at the money of what it would cost to replace, and what it would look like to be in it. 465
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And then also, we've looked at complete fresh new builds on all the land that the city owns. Like, all of it. We… I went through a very long process of identifying every single available piece of land, what we could swap over, and what was the most efficient use of anything.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And then, you know, not only that, you know, so in the process prior is where we show some of the SWOT analysis on some of the other opportunities that were out there.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The CVS building and the Rite Aid building did not make it in because of the investor-owned buildings, you know, just for… 468
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: $45,000 a month, or something that we couldn't… 469
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We couldn't handle when everything else is basically rent-free, so we need to buy.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And then, you know, what we'll do. 471
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: On July 14th in our meeting is actually discuss real numbers and and and come back with those.
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SebastopolCommunityCulturalCenter: And yeah, and we'redefinitelythinkingaboutthe whole city and how we can support all of the things, which is the commons itself. So we're thinkingaboutthecommunitycenter, we'rethinkingaboutallof ournonprofits, we're thinking about all of that and how we can take care of all of them for the most. 473
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Bank for our buck, the best value, and the most realistic opportunity that we have.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, thank you.
475
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, so we will receive that. And thank you for all your work.
476
01:11:53.250 --> 01:11:58.560
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So we will be moving on to the public hearing for the capital improvement budget.
477
01:12:02.450 --> 01:12:22.990
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: All right. This item is the annual capital improvement program or cip, which serves as the city's 5 year planning document for major infrastructure investments and public facilities. The 1st year of the document, the fiscal year 2026, 27 plan is the capital improvement plan before council tonight for consideration and adoption.
478
01:12:23.000 --> 01:12:29.729
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The remaining 4 years are a planning projection intended to assist with long-term project development and grants. 479
01:12:29.960 --> 01:12:36.230
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So tonight, I'm going to walk through each one of the projects in the 2627 capital improvement plan.
480
01:12:36.230 --> 01:12:53.929
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I'll pause after each one for questions and discussion. After all the projects have been moved through and reviewed, we'll return to the funding summary, open the public hearing, and request that Council consider a resolution adopting the FY26-27 Capital Improvement Plan.
481
01:12:55.200 --> 01:12:59.500
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Give me one sec to share my screen. I'm just going to run through all of them.
482
01:13:11.660 --> 01:13:26.370
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So the 1st group of projects is for pedestrian safety. If you have your capital improvement book, I put the the number on the top of the pages and the the agenda number. So if you have your budget book. 483
01:13:26.780 --> 01:13:34.759
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: This is… Tab J. Page 7, and it's page 20 in the agenda.
484
01:13:34.920 --> 01:13:47.240
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So the first, pedestrian improvement project is for the Bodega Avenue guardrails, right at the city limits, going across the Tascadero Creek, the small section that's owned by the city and in our limits. 485
01:13:47.240 --> 01:14:03.940
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We have highway safety improvement funds for this. It's a grant project. The design is complete, and we found at the end of the design that there was a conflict with the gas line from PG&E, so we're working with them to move that, and then we'll be moving this into construction this year. 486
01:14:04.530 --> 01:14:06.220
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Pause there. Questions. 487
01:14:10.260 --> 01:14:16.950
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Do you think we could hold questions? Well, my problem is, I cannot see Councilmember Hinton.
488
01:14:17.880 --> 01:14:21.739
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So I don't know if we could split the screen so I can see her.
489
01:14:22.600 --> 01:14:25.810
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: or maybe if she has a question she could speak up.
490
01:14:26.200 --> 01:14:26.970
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yah.
491
01:14:32.810 --> 01:14:34.519
Neysa Hinton: I'm happy to do that.
492
01:14:34.520 --> 01:14:36.539
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, thank you. That would be perfect. 493
01:14:36.540 --> 01:14:38.679
Neysa Hinton: Of course, I'll just kind of, yeah, no.
494
01:14:47.410 --> 01:14:58.749
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: All right. The second of our pedestrian improvement projects is for the crossings on Highway 116 going through town. There are 4 of these. We're upgrading the crossings
495
01:14:59.030 --> 01:15:00.480
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: that,
496
01:15:01.130 --> 01:15:14.010
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Hutchins and Walker, and then we're installing new crossings with Rfb. Flashers at Burnett and a Keating, and this is also a highway safety grant project.
497
01:15:14.010 --> 01:15:20.300
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: This project. Well, we finished the design and the plans and specifications in May.
498
01:15:20.300 --> 01:15:34.769
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I'm just looking at it, thoughtfully in light of, the Caltrans grant that we received in the plan that was passed by this council to see if there's any of the traffic calmingmeasures we can incorporate into the Burnett crossing before we put it out for bid.
499
01:15:40.240 --> 01:15:41.090
Neysa Hinton: And I.
500
01:15:41.350 --> 01:15:53.520
Neysa Hinton: Insert. We had a member of the public last meeting that asked to make it clear where each of the funds are coming from. I know that they're on the screen, but I thought you might want to mention them.
501
01:15:54.040 --> 01:16:07.220
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, so this one is an HSIP project, so Highway Safety Improvement Funds, and there's a portion of match funding from our traffic impact fees and from SB1, which is a state fund that we receive street funding for. 502
01:16:10.550 --> 01:16:12.070
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Any other questions on that. 503
01:16:13.910 --> 01:16:31.100
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: All right. The next one is for a crossing at Covert and Zimpher Lane. There's also a sewer project that you'll see later in the same section, so we're going to try to do the sewer project before this one, and we're really just improving this pedestrian crossing to be a little safer.
504
01:16:31.310 --> 01:16:37.380
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And this is also an HSIP project with some match funding from ourtraffic impact fees.
505
01:16:40.710 --> 01:16:58.349
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And the final, I think there's one more, actually. This one is a crossing at Sunset and Johnson. This project's designed, this one's 100% funded by our traffic impact fees, but it is, right by the high school, and thatkind of blind cornergoingaround Johnson, soadefinitepedestrian safetyissue. 506
01:17:00.770 --> 01:17:17.309
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And then the last pedestrian safety one, this is the signal at Regal Road and Bodega Avenue. This is a grant that we submitted to SCTCA. We have not heard back from this grant, but if we were to be successful, we would move into a design for a signal light there.
507
01:17:22.490 --> 01:17:38.769
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, next, we have our parks projects. So the 1st one of the parks projects. This is the Calder Creek naturalization phase one. This is the project that the cusp group is looking for some grant funding for us to advance for the 1st phase up to the weir.
508
01:17:43.100 --> 01:17:55.989
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And the second park project that we have this year is for the Ives Park pathway. This is the ADA walk from the first phase that ended at the bathroom to the parking lot where we have our ADA parking stall.
509
01:17:56.620 --> 01:18:01.590
SebastopolCommunityCulturalCenter: and this oneis justfinishingdesign. We'rehoping to get it completed or constructed over the winter.
510
01:18:03.660 --> 01:18:05.839
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And this one is all funded by Measure M. 511
01:18:10.450 --> 01:18:32.429
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Ok. The next bunch of projects we have are for the paving improvement projects. The first one is the continuation of the dig outs and repairs. Council awarded this contract at our June 16th meeting. We've been in contact with the contractor. We're doing a pre construction meeting next week and we should be into construction by the end of July for this dig out and repair piece. 512
01:18:33.470 --> 01:18:34.929
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And this is funded. 513
01:18:35.110 --> 01:18:37.030
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I think, I've lost my th 514
01:18:44.540 --> 01:18:51.190
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I may have lost you on my screen question. Will the street repairs be coming back to council?
515
01:18:51.400 --> 01:19:11.120
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yes, so that's the dig out and repair that's been approved through council. So the next one is the the city improvements for Fy 26, that these are the funds that are going to Strout Street that were approved. So this is in design forconstruction overthewinter, and then thefinalone 516
01:19:11.120 --> 01:19:34.510
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: This is the big paving project that'll look at the next bunch of streets. So we are trying to look at kind of a multi-year paving plan, taking into consideration not only PCI, but where we are in schools, what other planned streets are on.
We're looking at water and sewer projects that might also overlap and trying to kind of do an analysis of what would be the best streets to spend our rehab money on. 517
01:19:34.510 --> 01:19:49.090
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: There's also the streets that are recommended through our pavement management plan for, like, a slurry overlay. So we want to do kind of a grouping of both. We need to do some of that preventative maintenance overlay projects just to maintain streets, but we also want to get some of our bad streets 518
01:19:49.090 --> 01:20:05.659
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: But just let people in the community know how we're ranking their streets and when we'll get to them. So I'm hoping to bring that back in
September, for design, and we want to bid it in December-ish. It seems to be the most competitive time to bid paving projects and build it in the spring. 519
01:20:05.660 --> 01:20:06.410
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you.
520
01:20:09.190 --> 01:20:18.409
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And these are our sewer projects for the year. So, the first one is, Zimpher Creek, Part 1. So we have,
521
01:20:18.710 --> 01:20:36.259
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: a large load on one of our lines that goes along Zimpher Creek, and this project isto divert a section of the flows in Covert Lane away from the failing part that's in Zimpher Creek to kind of lighten the load there thatwehavetoflush regularly to keepitfromoverflowing.
522
01:20:37.260 --> 01:20:40.489
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And this has been designed. So we're gonna 523
01:20:40.550 --> 01:20:59.709
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: put this out as soon as we can. The holdup is getting a Caltrans permit for the traffic controlalong Healdsburg Avenue. So once we get that, we'll construct this. And then, as I mentioned, there's also a pedestrian crossing on covert. So we're going to try to do the sewer line before we do the crossing, so that we don't 524
01:20:59.710 --> 01:21:00.800
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Cut up our paving. 525
01:21:03.720 --> 01:21:06.850
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, thank you so much. Were there any other questions?
526
01:21:07.210 --> 01:21:08.850
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: from council.
527
01:21:09.340 --> 01:21:27.390
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: No, we can go out to public comment, please. Oh, I have more. Oh, you have more. Oh, sorry. No, we've got more. Sorry. This is Zipper Part 2.
So this is the actual creek section that is failing. So it's been partially designed. So we want to get this to 100% designed so that we can build it the next year. 528
01:21:27.880 --> 01:21:39.109
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And this is our sewer master plan. We've started this work. They're doing the modeling at the moment. So we'll be updating the FOC on that in the fall and bring it back to Council in the winter.
529
01:21:39.380 --> 01:21:43.429
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: with the recommendations for a master plan cip list.
530
01:21:44.470 --> 01:21:57.570
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And this is kind of a bucket project for wastewater system replacement projects, and our vision here is more doing those paving projects when we find failing sewers that we're also able to replace those kind of in thisCIP bucket. 531
01:22:01.450 --> 01:22:21.960
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: This is Moore Street. We approved this at the June 16th council meeting, but I left it in here because we did get some bids come in since then, and they're higher than what we had budgeted in the engineer's estimate. So we have a budget committee meeting to talk about that, and we'll be bringing back an amendment to theCIPwith ourfinalnumbers here.
532
01:22:22.090 --> 01:22:23.029
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Next meeting.
533
01:22:26.030 --> 01:22:45.579
SebastopolCommunity CulturalCenter:So nowwe're into ourfloodresiliency master planningefforts. This plan is wellunderway. They'vedoneallthehydraulicmodeling, and we're meeting with Sonoma Water Agency tomorrow to see how our models and their models can support each other to look at where we can start building out some CIP projects in drainage and stormwater.
534
01:22:47.830 --> 01:22:51.289
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The community centers, the… 535
01:22:51.400 --> 01:23:03.259
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Council approved the list of repairs, and we have some preliminary costs on what those will be, so we'll be working through repairing those, flood damage projectsat the community center this year. 536
01:23:04.840 --> 01:23:11.120
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Culver Creek we talked about and approved at the previous Council meeting. This is well 4. So this is our 537
01:23:11.120 --> 01:23:26.480
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Really big water project for the year. We just passed our water master plan. And the main thing that we need to do is replace well 4.
We've just received the permitting to do the monitoring well that'll support the design of the new well, which will be well 9.
538
01:23:26.480 --> 01:23:43.990
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The other portion of this project is to look for some financing to fund this project. We're going to need to work with the consultant. If Council chooses to pause our rates, we may not be able to get that funding, so this may push out another year.
539
01:23:43.990 --> 01:23:48.550
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: until we can have kind of a stable rate structure thatwould supportfinancing.
540
01:23:52.080 --> 01:24:04.149
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And then this one is to do tank assessments. So there's 2 wanted to do a structural assessment, and one is to do a seismic assessment of the 1st Street and Pleasant Hill tanks.
541
01:24:06.500 --> 01:24:16.310
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And this last water CIP is for a water meter at our yard where we have a water tower just to better automate the use of that water. 542
01:24:17.140 --> 01:24:23.130
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So this is, this is globally our CIP for water, and I just wanted to stop here and say that,
543
01:24:23.300 --> 01:24:44.460
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: if we pause our rate structure and our tiered rates, we will probably need to bring some of this back so that we're not deficit spending too far into our reserves. So some of these may push out. The real priority for us is to complete the design, at least on Well 4, so we can kind of position ourselves for funding when the city, you know, has a rate structure that'll support that.
544
01:24:48.460 --> 01:24:54.649
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And then my last one is the police station generator, which we're in design on, and we'll do construction as soon as they complete that.
545
01:24:56.110 --> 01:24:59.659
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And here's my global summary, and I'll take any other questions.
546
01:25:05.080 --> 01:25:07.900
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing no questions, we'll go out to public comment.
547
01:25:09.520 --> 01:25:18.029
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Vice Mayor. So this is for public comment on the public hearing for the CIP projects. If you would like to make a public comment, I will come into chambers first.
548
01:25:18.490 --> 01:25:21.859
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, I will go out to Zoom. Kate, can you unmute.
549
01:25:22.530 --> 01:25:23.420
kate: Yes, thank you.
550
01:25:23.420 --> 01:25:28.730
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'm sorry, just for a second. Steven, can you unshare the screen, please, so we could see the timer?
551
01:25:30.890 --> 01:25:33.269
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Great. Thank you. Go ahead with your public comment.
552
01:25:33.500 --> 01:25:49.690
kate: Yes, I just remember that the Rotary had a plan for upgrades to Ives Park that was fully funded, and I don't remember that coming back around, so I just had a… I was just curious about that, because that seemed like that would have been… 553
01:25:49.690 --> 01:26:06.589
kate: really a wonderful project. And then I was also wondering. The fence replacement was extremely successful, and I think everyone's enjoying that. And I was wondering if there will be more fence replacement taking place. Those are my 2 questions. Thank you. 554
01:26:07.060 --> 01:26:10.710
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment. Next I will come into chambers.
555
01:26:11.120 --> 01:26:14.470
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, I'll go back out to Zoom. Lee, can you un.
556
01:26:14.740 --> 01:26:16.060
Lee: Yes, can you hear me?
557
01:26:16.060 --> 01:26:18.580
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: You can see, I can, can you see the timer? 558
01:26:18.580 --> 01:26:19.230
Lee: Yep.
559
01:26:19.230 --> 01:26:20.340
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Great, go ahead, please. 560
01:26:20.630 --> 01:26:22.090
Lee: Yeah, so.
561
01:26:22.660 --> 01:26:25.380
Lee: I think this is a 10 million dollar plan.
562
01:26:25.800 --> 01:26:41.610
Lee: Last year's plan was a 10 million dollar plan. I expressed some concern last year that you don't have the staff to do a 10 million dollar plan. You actually did4.2, I guess, based upon the summary sheet here, and 2 and a half of that was one project on Bodega. 563
01:26:42.020 --> 01:26:48.680
Lee: And as I go back through years, I find that repeatedly that there's a big plan and not much gets done.
564
01:26:48.790 --> 01:26:53.859
Lee: It seems likethe stuff that gets done is primarily stuff that has a grant. 565
01:26:54.090 --> 01:26:56.520
Lee: and that seems to drive what we fix.
566
01:26:56.980 --> 01:27:03.480
Lee: and it's not a very strategic way to do things. And the library building, I think, is a great example of that.
567
01:27:03.750 --> 01:27:12.700
Lee: Just recently the city replaced the roof and replaced the solar panels, but apparently there wasn't any consideration for the actual structure itself. 568
01:27:13.070 --> 01:27:21.299
Lee: Most likely because there was money to replace… free money to replace the roof and the solar panels, but there's no free money to go into the walls and fix stuff. 569
01:27:21.340 --> 01:27:33.590
Lee: And somehow we have to… to balance… there's some money available with… there are priorities that absolutely must be fixed. Streets, someof our public buildingsare examples of that, and…
570
01:27:33.750 --> 01:27:53.260
Lee: The last part of this would be just transparency. It's almost impossible to figure out in any given year what was done, what was planned, what was planned is always there. What
was actually done is almost never there, unless you really go searching, and you're never sure, because the numbers don't match up. So it'd be nice to have a better way of reconciling this, and it would be better for city council to see 571
01:27:53.260 --> 01:27:58.800
Lee: the things that aren't being done. Maybe then they could say, wait a minute, we better prioritizefiguring thatoneout.
572
01:27:58.870 --> 01:27:59.670
Lee: Thank you.
573
01:28:00.690 --> 01:28:10.699
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment. Next, I will come back into chamber. Seeing none, I will go back out to Zoom. If there's anyone on Zoom that would like to make a public comment on this public hearing… Oh, please go ahead.
574
01:28:16.530 --> 01:28:34.179
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, my name is Doug Yule. I live on Petaluma Avenue. I'm just wondering how you prioritize the crossings. The one at Burnett and South Main seems to me to be very important. I know people step out, and there's parking right up to the crosswalk.
575
01:28:34.490 --> 01:28:38.850
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I was just talking with a guy today who said he was almost hit there.
576
01:28:39.080 --> 01:28:39.920
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you.
577
01:28:40.900 --> 01:28:49.860
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment. Next, I will go back out to Zoom. If there's anyone on Zoom that would like to make a public comment on the public hearing for the CIP to please raise your hand virtually. 578
01:28:50.550 --> 01:28:52.739
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, I'll come back into chambers 579
01:28:52.950 --> 01:28:55.089
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, public hearing is closed. 580
01:28:56.960 --> 01:29:03.560
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So I would like to know if someone could answer the question about how those are prioritized crossings. 581
01:29:07.910 --> 01:29:24.210
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: was my time, but in past experience they're they do. Caltrans will do safety studies, and our traffic engineer will look at them, and they're usually part of the Sctca planning work. So Burnett is on that list. It is identifiedasone of the crossings that needs help.
582
01:29:24.230 --> 01:29:30.269
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, thank you. So back to the dais for any comments or emotion.
583
01:29:34.780 --> 01:29:40.420
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: No, I'll go ahead and make a motion to approve Staff's recommendation.
584
01:29:41.380 --> 01:29:42.310
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Second.
585
01:29:43.980 --> 01:29:54.620
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. So moved by Councilmember Zolman, and secondedby CouncilmemberCarterto approve the resolutionapprovingthe fiscal year 2627 Capital Improvement Plan Councilmember Carter. 586
01:29:54.850 --> 01:29:56.670
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yes. Councilmember Hinton? 587
01:29:56.670 --> 01:29:57.570
Neysa Hinton: Bye.
588
01:29:57.570 --> 01:30:07.869
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Zolman? Yes. Vice Mayor Maurer? Yes. Mayor McLeod is absent. The motion passes 4 to 1, with Councilmembers Carter, Hinton, Zolman, and Vice Mayor M
589
01:30:08.480 --> 01:30:12.879
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So I'd like to take a short break 5 min, and we'll be right back at it.
590
01:30:21.960 --> 01:30:24.079
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Cody, are we ready? 591
01:30:24.840 --> 01:30:27.900
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, I got it. I see a thumbs up. So yeah. 592
01:30:31.200 --> 01:30:33.950
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Steven, can you change the view to gallery as well, please?
593
01:30:48.550 --> 01:30:50.999
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Are we? Are we ready to go? Please. 594
01:30:52.300 --> 01:31:07.880
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yes, we're ready to resume. Okay, so we're moving on to regular calendar. Item number 9, discussion and consideration of approval of waiving the 1st reading and introduction of the ordinance regarding city council compensation. 595
01:31:08.730 --> 01:31:26.919
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Good evening, excuse me, good evening, vice mayor, council members. This is following up on previous direction from the council.
Before you tonight is a draft ordinance to amend chapter 2.44 of the municipal code to adjust council compensation.
596
01:31:26.920 --> 01:31:38.829
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Currently, the council's compensation is $300 per month, and it has been that way for many, many, many years. 597
01:31:39.000 --> 01:31:53.940
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: you know. Previously the city was authorized to increase that amount by 5% per year. But the Council, the city never did recently. State law readjusted what the maximum salary could be for
598
01:31:54.070 --> 01:32:11.689
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: all different cities and and based on the size of the city, and for a city of our size. The maximum compensation is $950 per month. subject to potential future increases that would need to be approved by the Council in in the future. 599
01:32:11.930 --> 01:32:19.630
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So the, proposed ordinance would increase council compensation to $950 per month.
600
01:32:19.810 --> 01:32:29.400
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Under state law,that cannot take effect until there is a start ofa new council memberterm, so that means it wouldn't take effect 601
01:32:29.400 --> 01:32:40.650
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: until January of 2027. It would apply to all council members, even those who are continuing to serve out existing terms. 602
01:32:41.830 --> 01:32:55.459
SebastopolCommunityCulturalCenter: The, fiscalimpactforthis, becauseit's onlyhalf of the year this year, the fiscal impact would be, about $37,000, 603
01:32:55.840 --> 01:33:03.580
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: excuse me that the cost would increase from 18,000 to37,500 for for thisfiscalyear.
604
01:33:03.860 --> 01:33:12.169
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: in the future, when there are full full years at the higher compensation amount, that would be $57,000 total. 605
01:33:12.810 --> 01:33:29.279
SebastopolCommunity CulturalCenter:Obviously,youknowthe thestaffreportgoesinto how much time and what a commitment is to be a council member in, you know, the year 2,026, and how much more is involved in it than when
606
01:33:29.490 --> 01:33:39.849
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: the city set that rate back in, you know, decades ago, frankly, the 300. So with that I'll I'll pause and see if there's any questions from the Council.
607
01:33:41.160 --> 01:33:42.840
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Are there any questions?
608
01:33:46.030 --> 01:33:59.440
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I see no questions, so we will go out to public comment, please. Thank you, Vice Mayor. So this is public comment for the introduction of the ordinance on city council compensation. If you'd like to make a public comment, I'll come to chambers first and then go out to Zoom.
609
01:33:59.820 --> 01:34:15.950
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Please. Good evening, Kirsten Lange, President of the Santa Rosa Sonoma County Branch of the NAACP. I hope you appreciate this increase, because this is a policy that the statewide California-Hawaii NAACP has advocated for to increase your supportive
610
01:34:15.950 --> 01:34:34.329
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: fiscal support inyour roles.So just know that this is not something that is arbitrarily being brought forward by your jurisdiction of your city staff, but it is something that is a statewide endeavor supported by theNAACP across the state, brought forward by, at the time, State Senator Bill Dodd. 611
01:34:35.480 --> 01:34:39.740
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment. Next I will go out to Zoom. Kate, can you unmute, please?
612
01:34:42.110 --> 01:34:44.480
kate: Yes, I'm unmuted, I believe.
613
01:34:44.650 --> 01:34:46.219
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: You are. Can you see the timer still. 614
01:34:46.220 --> 01:34:47.220
kate: I can.
615
01:34:47.220 --> 01:34:48.189
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Go ahead, please. 616
01:34:48.190 --> 01:35:11.949
kate: I just as a citizen of Sebastopol, I 100% support council raises. I know how hard council members work, and I admire their diligence and the hundreds and hundreds of hours that they spend working on behalf of our community. It's very difficult job as a water and sewer rate payer.
617
01:35:11.950 --> 01:35:21.000
kate: I cannot support the raises unless the city council time is removed from the ratepayer. 618
01:35:21.000 --> 01:35:42.180
kate: Expenses due to the fact that council actually spends very little time on water and sewer issues. So I just want to say 100% as a citizen support the council raises, but believe that council time should be removed from the ratepayer expense pool. Thank you. 619
01:35:42.860 --> 01:35:47.230
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment. Next, I will come into chambers if there's anyone in chambers.
620
01:35:47.540 --> 01:35:50.959
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, I'll go back out to Zoom. Lee, can you m.
621
01:35:52.680 --> 01:35:53.790
Lee: Can you hear me?
622
01:35:53.790 --> 01:35:55.860
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I can hear you. Can you see the timer still? 623
01:35:56.060 --> 01:35:56.680
Lee: Sure.
624
01:35:56.680 --> 01:35:57.779
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Great, go ahead, please. 625
01:35:59.580 --> 01:36:02.549
Lee: Yeah, this is allowed by law. It's not mandated.
626
01:36:03.030 --> 01:36:11.090
Lee: It seems a little bit tone deaf in the city of Sebastopol, given that you've repeatedly been told by Director Wong that there is a structural deficit. 627
01:36:11.600 --> 01:36:29.109
Lee: Thatmeans thatexpenses and salaries and benefits are60% of theexpenses in this city are growing faster than revenue. and over time the inevitable result will be a few people here getting paid, doing no work because there's no money to do work. 628
01:36:29.580 --> 01:36:30.450
Lee: Oh.
629
01:36:30.990 --> 01:36:36.689
Lee: If you're doing this job for $900 a month, you might want to reexamine your life goals.
Thanks.
630
01:36:37.870 --> 01:36:43.979
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Lee, for your public comment. Next, I will come back into chambers, if there's anyone in chambers that would like to make a public
631
01:36:44.550 --> 01:36:48.240
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, I will go back out to Zoom. Mary, can you unmute yourself.
632
01:36:48.870 --> 01:36:49.850
mary cone: Yes.
633
01:36:50.340 --> 01:36:51.880
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. Can you see the timer? 634
01:36:52.180 --> 01:36:53.099
mary cone: I can. Great.
635
01:36:53.100 --> 01:36:54.050
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Go ahead, please.
636
01:36:54.340 --> 01:37:04.979
mary cone: I also support the raises, but except I am absolutely opposed to it if this is coming from water and sewer ratepayers.
637
01:37:05.480 --> 01:37:07.730
mary cone: Absolutely opposed to that.
638
01:37:08.210 --> 01:37:13.639
mary cone: Get it. Get it from the general fund. Of course you get that. 639
01:37:13.830 --> 01:37:15.670
mary cone: Okay, thank you. That's it.
640
01:37:16.180 --> 01:37:20.859
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment. Next, I will come back into chambers.
641
01:37:21.420 --> 01:37:25.319
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, I will go back out to Zoom. Kent, can you unmute yourself.
642
01:37:27.790 --> 01:37:28.470
kentjenkins: Yes.
643
01:37:29.210 --> 01:37:30.460
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Can you see the timer? 644
01:37:30.460 --> 01:37:31.200
kentjenkins: Sure, yes.
645
01:37:31.200 --> 01:37:32.250
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Sorry, go ahead.
646
01:37:32.250 --> 01:37:50.829
kentjenkins: So, this is Kent Jenkins. Again, I am a member of the Building the Commons Committee, and one of the pleasures and privileges I've had is to watch two of our sitting council members and how they engage with the committee, the time they spend on it, and realize that this is only one of
647
01:37:50.990 --> 01:38:05.130
kentjenkins: dozens of committees and meetings that they go to on a weekly basis, and I don't know how anybody without some outside support system could exist and do this kind of work on the amount of money that they get now.
648
01:38:05.440 --> 01:38:16.620
kentjenkins: So what that means, of course, is that anyone who's not in a privileged position to have their time subsidized is unable to serve, and we obviously could use some diversity in our
649
01:38:16.750 --> 01:38:36.440
kentjenkins: Board and in our people who serve the city. So I think the rate increase makes a minimal sense and certainly opens the pool to people who might actually make a few dollars per hour to actually serve our city and take the time to understand all the issues and research things the way they should. Thank you.
650
01:38:37.020 --> 01:38:42.769
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment. I will come back into chambers if there's anyone in chambers that would like to make a public comment.
651
01:38:42.910 --> 01:38:45.809
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: seeing it, I'll go back. Oh, I'm sorry. Go ahead 652
01:38:48.480 --> 01:39:01.640
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Hi, I hadn't planned on making a comment on this. My name is Janelle Robentini. My father spent 20 years on this council and served a few terms as mayor, and I've lived in this town a week shy of 59 years. 653
01:39:01.890 --> 01:39:02.790
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah.
654
01:39:03.100 --> 01:39:05.379
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I think $900 is a lot of money. 655
01:39:05.580 --> 01:39:10.220
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: As I remember serving on this council, and this is not to diminish what you do, because it's
656
01:39:10.620 --> 01:39:23.130
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: truly appreciate it. But, as I remember, serving on the Council is done because of how much we love our city and the passion that we have for our city. I know that's what my dad and fellow council people 657
01:39:23.380 --> 01:39:27.169
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: over those 20 years. That's that's just the way they worked. And
658
01:39:27.320 --> 01:39:29.619
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And yeah, it's, it's not your full659 01:39:30.030 --> 01:39:32.959
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: and it can't be your full-time job, and I just 660
01:39:33.670 --> 01:39:35.679
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Unfortunately, that's just the way it is. 661
01:39:35.890 --> 01:39:39.359
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So I just felt like I needed to say something about that.
662
01:39:39.470 --> 01:39:46.200
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: truly not to diminish. I know I'm repeating myself now what I've already said, because you are very valuable. 663
01:39:46.560 --> 01:39:47.230
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: But.
664
01:39:48.030 --> 01:39:49.769
SebastopolCommunityCulturalCenter: with alltheotherfinancial. 665
01:39:50.290 --> 01:39:54.300
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: obstacles right now. I think that $900 is 666
01:39:54.510 --> 01:39:57.480
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: a lot more than most people in town think. 667
01:39:57.760 --> 01:39:58.799
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: It should be.
668
01:39:59.310 --> 01:40:00.000
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thanks.
669
01:40:00.690 --> 01:40:08.070
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Janelle, for your public comment.
Next, I will go back out to Zoom. If there's anyone on Zoom that would like to make a public comment, to please raise your hand virtually
670
01:40:08.860 --> 01:40:12.009
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, I will come back into chambers, if there's anyone in
671
01:40:12.420 --> 01:40:14.729
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, public comment is closed on this item.
672
01:40:15.950 --> 01:40:24.460
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, bringing it back to council for further comments and or a motion. But before you make a motion, I'd like to make a comment. So 673
01:40:24.960 --> 01:40:26.660
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Anyone else have a comment. 674
01:40:27.470 --> 01:40:28.610
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, I hope.
675
01:40:30.270 --> 01:40:41.509
SebastopolCommunity CulturalCenter:WhatIhadsaidbefore,we definitely doneed diversity of perspective. We don't have anyone serving in any capacity that I know of that's lower than 50 years old.
676
01:40:41.510 --> 01:40:58.099
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So if we really want to start bringing in diverse voices and we're talking about people who are literally, literally living on the margins, the Bipoc community, the queer, the trans, those with disabilities, we really, really need to start thinking about what it is that we're doing to allow them. 677
01:40:58.100 --> 01:41:17.319
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: to sit here or sit on the planning commission or sit on anythingquitehonestly. SoIknow we'rein a financialsetof circumstances. Well, tobe honest, it's going to take a lot of people with a lot of time to continue digging us out of the situation that we're in. So those are my comments, and I will be supporting this. Thank you.
Councilmember Hinton.
678
01:41:18.390 --> 01:41:35.640
Neysa Hinton: Yes, I didn't have the opportunity to participate, the last time this came up. I did askfortheagenda tobereshuffled, and Iwas denied, soI'mweighingin on this forthe first time, and I have to say, I'm not supportive of this. I, 679
01:41:35.760 --> 01:41:55.440
Neysa Hinton: I don't believe people run for city council for money. I don't think money is the motivation. And if I thought it was, I might feel differently. But having served onthe council for 10 years, I think that we serve because we're serving our community. 680
01:41:55.440 --> 01:41:56.880
Neysa Hinton: I don't know that…
681
01:41:56.930 --> 01:42:15.750
Neysa Hinton: this kind of a raise, giving ourselves a three-time raise, 217% increase, at this time makes sense. I would be willing to support a lower amount, but to go to the maximum of $950, I just cannot support that with where the city is 682
01:42:15.750 --> 01:42:18.630
Neysa Hinton: with thefiscalcrisis, so.
683
01:42:19.040 --> 01:42:25.140
Neysa Hinton: I, Iwish Ihad been abletoweigh in when this was directed tostaffand 684
01:42:25.680 --> 01:42:31.609
Neysa Hinton: Leaves me a little in an uncomfortable spot tonight, but, I will not be supporting it.
685
01:42:34.840 --> 01:42:40.620
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Carter? Councilmember Carter yeah, I would have supported a more gradual increase.
686
01:42:40.870 --> 01:42:45.129
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: But it… kind of all or nothing, but we… we definitely need…
687
01:42:45.560 --> 01:42:50.099
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: quality people to come up and serve, and I don't think that
688
01:42:51.500 --> 01:43:00.370
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Monetary compensation is needed for the people that are maybe younger, that have a lot of other things going on to make it worth it, because…
689
01:43:00.540 --> 01:43:09.090
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I think I spent… 40 hours crammed into 2 days a week dealing with the city for for.
690
01:43:10.080 --> 01:43:17.439
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: For $300, and that is about love, but not everybody can love it that hard.
691
01:43:19.090 --> 01:43:26.769
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And, you know, I think, you know, if we're gonna attract, you know, some people with, like, full families and full lives. 692
01:43:26.910 --> 01:43:31.619
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: That little bit of compensation kind of, like, eases the pain.
693
01:43:31.690 --> 01:43:34.849
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: On, on, on that. And so that's why I'm supporting it.
694
01:43:34.890 --> 01:43:44.699
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So we we did have a pretty full discussion on this a month or more ago, and there were many reasons that we gave why we were in support of it, and
695
01:43:44.730 --> 01:43:59.309
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: One of the reasons is in 1984, when this rate was established, it was $300 in 1984. If you escalate that to 2026, the amount is actually 950.
So what $300 could have bought
696
01:43:59.310 --> 01:44:06.170
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: back in 1984, 950 could buy today. So to me, that's a respectful point of view.
697
01:44:06.410 --> 01:44:10.469
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: and for all the other reasons that this law was established. So
698
01:44:10.660 --> 01:44:16.619
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I mean, for example, I think in 1984 you could rent a one bedroom studio for $300.
699
01:44:17.460 --> 01:44:30.900
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: and I don't even think you can do that today. to me it's it's about equity, and it's about respect. So I will be supporting this. But so I would prefer to just support the full rate.
700
01:44:31.160 --> 01:44:41.790
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: rather than lower it at this time, and I'm wondering if we should wait, and for Mayor Mick Lewis to be joining us to make this decision. 701
01:44:43.920 --> 01:44:59.549
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: or yeah, what are you? I'm just asking what your thoughts are. We all have lives, and most of us do the best we can to make every meeting, but it's almost impossible to do so. So I'm going to again state my support and state it for the full amount.
702
01:45:00.180 --> 01:45:01.570
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Is there a motion? 703
01:45:01.860 --> 01:45:04.849
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So moved. I'm moving Staff's recommendation. 704
01:45:05.090 --> 01:45:08.020
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: and I'll second that. Can we take a roll call, please.
705
01:45:08.630 --> 01:45:20.000
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. So moved by Councilmember Zolman, and seconded by Vice Mayor Maurer to approve the waiving of the 1st reading introduction of ordinance for city council compensation in the amount as proposed as 950. 706
01:45:20.410 --> 01:45:24.050
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Carter? Yes. Councilmember Hinton?
707
01:45:24.050 --> 01:45:24.860
Neysa Hinton: No.
708
01:45:25.260 --> 01:45:37.830
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Zollman? Yes. Vice Mayor Maurer? Yes. Mayor McLewis is absent. The motion passes 3-1-1 with Councilmembers Carter, Zollman, and Vice Mayor Maurer in support. Councilmember Hinton in opp 709
01:45:39.600 --> 01:45:41.060
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, thank you.
710
01:45:41.800 --> 01:45:59.150
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So our next item is the discussion and consideration of thesuspension ofthetiered waterrates and fiscalyear2627. Waterrate increases effective. July first, untilsuch a time that a newwater rate study can be completed.
711
01:46:00.210 --> 01:46:05.309
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Good evening again. Vice Mayor Council members. So
712
01:46:05.590 --> 01:46:19.730
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: As the Vice Mayor stated, this proposed resolution tonight would do 2 things. First, st it would suspend the the city's tiered water rates in the city's tiered water rates. City has 2.
713
01:46:20.120 --> 01:46:38.920
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: charges a monthly rate that's divided into… there's a fixed cost that's based on the size of the meter, and then there is a charge that's based on the amount of water used. That rate differs depending onwhat type of customer you are, and what
714
01:46:39.090 --> 01:46:46.609
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: how much water you use. So suspending those rates would make everyone pay the same amount of
715
01:46:46.910 --> 01:46:57.110
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: same rate for water use. There would be no change to the fixed monthly cost that is based on the meter size. 716
01:46:57.320 --> 01:47:08.809
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: There's a chart at the bottom of the staff report that shows what that would be, what the current rates are, and what the proposed rates would be. The proposed
717
01:47:10.070 --> 01:47:21.389
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: rate for a thousand gallons of water would be $5 and 22 cents for all customers. The second part of this resolution would 718
01:47:21.470 --> 01:47:34.000
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: suspend the anticipated, or rather scheduled, water rate increase that was to go into effect on July 1st, 2026. Basedon the 719
01:47:34.700 --> 01:47:44.659
SebastopolCommunity CulturalCenter:Schedule five-year schedule of rates that the council approved back in 2024, there was anticipated to be a 4% rate increase. 720
01:47:44.850 --> 01:48:01.089
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: on July first.st If the Council adopts this resolution, that rate increase would be suspended. And so the 2, 2025 rates would continue to apply for the fixed monthly charge as well as the 721
01:48:01.280 --> 01:48:03.800
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: rate based on the amount of water used. 722
01:48:04.520 --> 01:48:06.720
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And the council,
723
01:48:06.990 --> 01:48:26.789
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: met in closed session last week to discuss issues regarding water and sewer rates and under threats of litigation that the Council has received. And during that meeting the Council directed Staff to do 4 things. 1st was to create an issue, an Rfp. For a new water and sewer rate study. 724
01:48:26.960 --> 01:48:35.879
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Second was to create an interesting RFP for a new cost allocation plan for the water and sewer enterprise funds and what they, 725
01:48:36.680 --> 01:48:41.100
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: how they reimburse the general fund for services provided by the general fund.
726
01:48:41.350 --> 01:48:44.489
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And then to bring this item forward tonight. 727
01:48:44.590 --> 01:48:48.250
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: That's scheduled tonight, and then on July 21st, to bring forward,
728
01:48:49.480 --> 01:48:55.649
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: agenda item to forgive the loan that the General Fund previously made to the Sewer Enterprise Fund.
729
01:48:56.320 --> 01:49:01.439
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, tonight, the only action before the Council is the resolution.
730
01:49:01.440 --> 01:49:16.349
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: But Ido want to touch on briefly, as the Council is aware, and as Maryhasindicated previously, Citystaffhas taken, steps tobegin the process of implementingtimetracking. Staffhas evaluated a coupleof 731
01:49:16.500 --> 01:49:30.970
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Options, and providers. They've met with Springbook, to see how this could be incorporated into the current payroll system.
Springbook ispreparingademo forstaffto look at.
732
01:49:31.040 --> 01:49:36.819
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: and part of why the Council has directed the freeze.
733
01:49:37.070 --> 01:49:43.360
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And for the freeze to apply into the water rate study comes into, is updated is so that.
734
01:49:45.340 --> 01:50:07.189
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Staff has time toimplement these changes that we can bring on a consultant who can let us know exactly how much, you know, what period of time of time tracking is necessary before that can be implemented into study is, you know, one month enough to should it go on for a longer period of time, those sorts of things.
735
01:50:07.190 --> 01:50:08.160
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And then…
736
01:50:08.380 --> 01:50:18.870
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: you know, the the new cost allocation plan and rate study potentially go hand in hand. The cost allocation plan might impact the rate study by, you know.
737
01:50:19.420 --> 01:50:25.520
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Depending on what it says, you know, lowering the rates that are necessary or increasing it.
738
01:50:25.600 --> 01:50:40.190
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: you know, we'll have to wait to see what a rate study says. But that item before the Council tonight is a resolution to suspend the rate increase that would have gone into effect July 1.
739
01:50:40.380 --> 01:50:44.570
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And to eliminate the tiered water rates. 740
01:50:45.040 --> 01:51:02.339
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And so with that, I will pause to see if there's any questions from the Council tonight. Just one thing I add, this will have a fiscal impact. The staff report details what that would be, as does the agenda. That physical impact is assuming a full…
741
01:51:02.560 --> 01:51:12.839
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: you know, remains in effect for the full year. But of course, if… if the studyis adopted sooner, it may, the impact may bedifferent. 742
01:51:14.180 --> 01:51:17.250
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So with that I'll pause for any questions the Council may have.
743
01:51:18.910 --> 01:51:21.480
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Is there any questions? Councilmember Carter. 744
01:51:23.310 --> 01:51:24.060
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: No.
745
01:51:24.440 --> 01:51:25.160
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Oh.
746
01:51:25.590 --> 01:51:27.430
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, Councilmember Hinton. 747
01:51:29.690 --> 01:51:40.539
Neysa Hinton: So, I'm looking at the agenda item, and it just says, to eliminate tiered, but 748
01:51:41.540 --> 01:51:49.950
Neysa Hinton: what? How does that impact our commercial haulers that buy water from city of Sebastopol? They're
749
01:51:50.080 --> 01:51:56.580
Neysa Hinton: tiered, as far as I know, as well. Does that mean that we're eliminating tiered for water haulers?
750
01:51:58.150 --> 01:52:04.180
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yes, everyone would be paid this would, pay the same rate.
751
01:52:04.430 --> 01:52:08.480
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Regardless of use class, or… 752
01:52:08.840 --> 01:52:14.550
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: how much water is used. They pay the same $5.22 per 1,000 gallons of water.
753
01:52:16.750 --> 01:52:31.330
Neysa Hinton: Okay. And then Alex, can you speak to when we voted in tiered rates, that was an option that other cities used and was given to us as. 754
01:52:32.290 --> 01:52:32.870
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I had…
755
01:52:32.870 --> 01:52:49.040
Neysa Hinton: It felt like it was okay, authorized to me. I frankly voted for it. It made sense to me. You use more, you pay more. I remember the discussion at length. And now we've been advised that
756
01:52:49.040 --> 01:52:58.740
Neysa Hinton: tiered is not the best option. And so this is a recommendation from tonight to change that from our previous advice that we were given, correct? 757
01:52:58.740 --> 01:53:04.700
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, yeah, correct. And, but to add some nuance to it, so tiered rates are.
758
01:53:04.930 --> 01:53:09.830
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: are legal and remain legal if the tiers are based on 759
01:53:09.930 --> 01:53:15.550
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: different costs that apply to serving the different tiers of rates.
760
01:53:16.050 --> 01:53:20.209
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Our rate study establishes tiers based on 761
01:53:20.820 --> 01:53:25.090
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Peaking costs, which to oversimplify is essentially saying.
762
01:53:25.270 --> 01:53:38.510
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: you know, system designed to serve, you know, the maximum demand. System has to be bigger, there are bigger costs, and you assign those costs, some of those costs to high…
763
01:53:38.720 --> 01:53:52.669
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: high volume users, because if everyone used less, then you could have, you know, smaller pumps, smaller pipes, that sort of thing. So that's the design of what our study was designed on. Since the time our 764
01:53:52.770 --> 01:54:12.329
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Study was adopted and those rates were adopted.
There's been three decisions issued at the court of opinion dealing with tiered water rates.
Two of them struck down the tiers as saying the agency involved hadn't met its burden to show.
765
01:54:12.420 --> 01:54:20.940
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: that the tiers corresponded to increased costs.
Those two cases had to do with, with
766
01:54:21.490 --> 01:54:25.850
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Agencies who base their fees on peaking costs just like we do.
767
01:54:25.900 --> 01:54:42.169
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: A 3rd agency's rates were upheld by the Court of Appeal. Thatcasehas been, youknow, there's now a differenceof opinion amongcourts of appeal about what is required, what the standard of review is. And so that case has been 768
01:54:42.580 --> 01:54:51.190
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: appealed to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court, California Supreme Court, has taken up the case to answer that question, but a decision is not expected.
769
01:54:51.310 --> 01:54:57.440
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: for, you know, 18 plus months on that, and so I think.
770
01:54:58.850 --> 01:55:03.390
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I wouldn't necessarily say our, our current rates are illegal. I would say that.
771
01:55:03.420 --> 01:55:19.570
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: the law is less clear than it was at the time, and the Council has decided, rather than wait that amount of time for the Supreme Court's decision to instead, you know, proactively address this issue, given the recent court cases. 772
01:55:22.610 --> 01:55:25.460
Neysa Hinton: Thank you for the detailed explanation.
773
01:55:27.600 --> 01:55:28.690
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Other questions?
774
01:55:29.710 --> 01:55:43.539
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, we can go out to public comment. Thank you, Vice Mayor. So this is public comment on the agenda item relating to the resolution, regarding the water rates effective July 1st, removal of the tiered rates.If you would like to make a public comment, I will come to in-chambers first. 775
01:55:43.860 --> 01:55:47.599
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, I will go out to Zoom. Kate, can you unmute yourself.
776
01:55:51.540 --> 01:55:53.400
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: There you go. Can you see the timer?
777
01:55:53.660 --> 01:55:57.330
kate: Yes, I just want to say that.
778
01:55:57.630 --> 01:56:15.540
kate: I have submitted in public comment a comprehensive forecast of what will happen with just freezing rates and suspending the tiers. I hope everyone reads it. It is a data-driven document that shows how the city can restore the 5.5 million dollars identified 779
01:56:15.540 --> 01:56:40.529
kate: by the grand jury, continue with infrastructure upgrades, remove tiers, and keep water and sewer rates static for five years if necessary. The city attorney has identified tiered rates as legally vulnerable. The council, as advocates for the city, want to remove the tiers to protect the city from lawsuits. This is an example where there's a conflict of interest between the city's
780
01:56:40.530 --> 01:56:45.970
kate: duty to the city and the city's fiduciary duty to the rate payers. 781
01:56:45.970 --> 01:57:00.260
kate: This action of simply reducing revenue is not good for the Enterprise Fund or the ratepayers. It runs the risks of jeopardizing needed infrastructure repair, which was identifiedby DirectorHart.
782
01:57:00.260 --> 01:57:08.769
kate: The city is in a legal pickle with the grand jury and with its tiered rates because it never had a ratepayer advocate group like it does now.
783
01:57:08.920 --> 01:57:24.370
kate: The Efoc is an advocate group for ratepayers and for the enterprise funds. I'm an advocate for ratepayers, and I cannot support this proposal to simply reduce revenue. In addition, the
784
01:57:24.370 --> 01:57:39.409
kate: efoc never recommended a new rate study. We recommended reduction of expenses, the repayment of illegal fees which I mentioned earlier. Please have Alex show the invoices that he actually did that work.
785
01:57:39.410 --> 01:57:47.889
kate: And we recommended time tracking, which I'm very happy to hear the city starting to implement. Obviously, you would need to time track for at least 786
01:57:47.890 --> 01:57:54.119
kate: 6 months to get an accurate data on how much time is spent on water and sewer.
Thank you.
787
01:57:55.700 --> 01:58:04.579
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment. I will come back into chambers if there's anyone in chambers that would like to make a public comment. Seeing none, I'll go out to Zoom. Lee, can you unmute yourself. 788
01:58:04.820 --> 01:58:05.850
Lee: Yes.
789
01:58:05.850 --> 01:58:07.229
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Can you still see the timer? 790
01:58:07.450 --> 01:58:08.180
Lee: Yes.
791
01:58:08.180 --> 01:58:09.109
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Go ahead, please. 792
01:58:10.490 --> 01:58:24.650
Lee: Yeah, I think just deciding unilaterally to freeze rates or eliminate tiers is wrong on several levels. As Kate said, the EFC didn't even imagine that as an option, it's so bad. They had a list of recommendations for different
793
01:58:24.760 --> 01:58:37.319
Lee: changes that would make us move more towards prop 2, 18 and prop 26 compliance, and at the same time balance off the need to remove tiers and freeze rates. 794
01:58:38.600 --> 01:58:58.449
Lee: about 6 years ago, I think, and I'm sure Councilmember Hinton was there. I don't know who else was there, but the Council at the time voted to reduce rates, I think, in that case, to give some relief to people coming out of Covid that rapidly depleted the reserves both for the water and the sewer. The sewer went a million dollars in debt. 795
01:58:58.450 --> 01:59:15.250
Lee: The water went almost bankrupt, almost to 0. And one of the reasons we have such high rates right now is because there was an urgent need to replenish those reserves to get us back in a situation where you can borrow money for well 4, for example. So there's a consequence to these kinds of decisions.
796
01:59:15.250 --> 01:59:18.650
Lee: This decision, you'll be back below.
797
01:59:18.650 --> 01:59:21.950
Lee: You'll deplete the reserves entirely within 3 years. 798
01:59:22.030 --> 01:59:25.270
Lee: 3 years with this decision. So you got to think about that. 799
01:59:25.360 --> 01:59:28.970
Lee: but.
800
01:59:32.140 --> 01:59:34.810
Lee: I guess that's that's my basic comment. Thank you. 801
01:59:35.560 --> 01:59:43.850
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Lee, for your public comment. Next, I will come back into chambers if there's anyone in chambers that would like to make a public comment. Seeing none, I'll go back out. M.
802
01:59:45.650 --> 01:59:48.479
Mary Meihaus: Yes. Hello, can you hear me?
803
01:59:48.480 --> 01:59:50.320
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I can hear you. Can you see the timer. 804
01:59:50.320 --> 01:59:51.300
Mary Meihaus: Yes, I can.
805
01:59:51.480 --> 01:59:52.369
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Go ahead.
806
01:59:52.590 --> 02:00:12.479
Mary Meihaus: Thank you. I just wanted to say that this is such an important decision, and as the Enterprise Fund Oversight Committee member, I'm disappointed that a lot of actually most of our recommendations are not being followed through and are not 807
02:00:13.140 --> 02:00:19.420
Mary Meihaus: being discussed, and it's… he's… Other…
808
02:00:19.680 --> 02:00:38.290
Mary Meihaus: other avenues of resolution that are being focused on. So, it's great that we're talking about the water tiers and reducing them is really important, but we did not recommend a new case study until time tracking and sewer master plan and the grand jury restitution was implemented.
809
02:00:38.430 --> 02:00:49.900
Mary Meihaus: And… We… We wouldn't… sorry, I'm just… I need to look at my notes here, we…
810
02:00:51.540 --> 02:00:57.020
Mary Meihaus: We just don't. We want to see our recommendations to the Council. 811
02:00:57.540 --> 02:01:06.820
Mary Meihaus: be the forefront of these conversations, and, that's not what I'm hearing.
So… That's.
812
02:01:07.020 --> 02:01:12.609
Mary Meihaus: That's all I wanted to say. Actually, this was my comment. Thank you. Sorry, my notes aren't coming up as…
813
02:01:12.790 --> 02:01:14.999
Mary Meihaus: Well, as I hope so. Thank you so much.
814
02:01:15.330 --> 02:01:23.720
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment. I will come back into chambers if there's anyone in chambers that would like to make a public comment. Seeing none, I'll go out to Zoom. Kyle, can you. 815
02:01:24.510 --> 02:01:25.190
Kyle Falbo: I can.
816
02:01:25.420 --> 02:01:26.890
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. Can you see the timer. 817
02:01:26.890 --> 02:01:27.500
Kyle Falbo: I can.
818
02:01:27.500 --> 02:01:28.630
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Great. Go ahead, please. 819
02:01:28.990 --> 02:01:33.330
Kyle Falbo: So we've been talking about this now pretty consistently for a couple of months. 820
02:01:34.250 --> 02:01:37.760
Kyle Falbo: The council questions that I continue to hear. 821
02:01:37.870 --> 02:01:51.580
Kyle Falbo: I'm really boggled by. What they suggest to me is a lack of understanding of the issue, and it suggests to me that the council hasn't done a deep enough dive into this issue 822
02:01:51.580 --> 02:01:59.599
Kyle Falbo: Because the questions that they're asking suggest that they haven't read the reports, that they haven't dug into this well enough to understand. 823
02:01:59.650 --> 02:02:15.879
Kyle Falbo: And I don't know if it's because you're trying to protect yourself from the fact that you failed your fiduciary duty to protect the enterprise fund overthe last 9 years, as the cost allocation has skyrocketed.
824
02:02:15.940 --> 02:02:31.429
Kyle Falbo: And to the point where you're watching hundreds of thousands of dollars bleed into the general fund to support things like the city council budget, and that you didn't see that, right? And that you weren't looking for that, and you weren't asking about that for the last 9 years.
825
02:02:31.740 --> 02:02:33.879
Kyle Falbo: To the point where we are at now.
826
02:02:34.140 --> 02:02:45.070
Kyle Falbo: $5.5 million of misallocated funds. So, the kind of little chisel away at solutions that you're continuing to do at this point.
827
02:02:45.250 --> 02:02:50.959
Kyle Falbo: Without looking at what you've failed to do over the last 9 years. 828
02:02:51.070 --> 02:03:02.150
Kyle Falbo: That's the troubling part. And if playing naive and asking questions that seem like you're ignorant to the issue is a way to protect yourself, so be it. 829
02:03:02.420 --> 02:03:19.710
Kyle Falbo: But just know that you have $5.5 million of ratepayer monies that was misallocated to the general fund. So, the decision tonight, we need to consider the fact that if you don't misallocate money in the future, what does it actually cost? 830
02:03:19.790 --> 02:03:30.100
Kyle Falbo: to run the water district and the wastewater district. And I assure you, it costs far less when you stop misallocating funds to the general fund. 831
02:03:31.310 --> 02:03:43.869
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Kyle, for your public comment. Next, I will bring it back to the chambers, if there's anyone in chambers that would like to make a public comment. Seeing none, I will go back out to Zoom. If there's anyone on Zoom that would like to make a public comment, to please raise your hand 832
02:03:44.330 --> 02:03:49.679
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, public comment is closed on this item. Thank you so much. Councilmember comments?
833
02:03:50.130 --> 02:03:52.909
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Zolman. Yes, 834
02:03:53.470 --> 02:04:09.880
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Appreciate all the ongoing public comment here tonight, and all of it that we've received. I appreciate the Water and Sewer Oversight Committee's work. I do believe that Staff's recommendation, which, as Alex pointed out, this might be brief discussion now, has not been brief discussion. 835
02:04:10.100 --> 02:04:11.500
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Close session.
836
02:04:12.570 --> 02:04:23.830
SebastopolCommunityCulturalCenter: was verythorough, and IthinkthatStaff's recommendations will bring us closer to 218 compliance. And also I think it does make sense
837
02:04:23.830 --> 02:04:46.770
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: from a legal point of view, given the split in authority of these past court cases, that we do try to come correct and anticipate the worst possible thing that could happen if the Supreme Court rules like that. Everything is not great. At least we've made steps. We've made steps with the new cost allocation, and I understand that there were many comments out there. The fact that you can't do a 838
02:04:46.770 --> 02:04:48.880
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Do cost allocation without. 839
02:04:48.900 --> 02:05:08.709
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Tracking staff time. I get that we heard from Mary. They are going to try to do that. And the most important thing that I think is missing in this is the fact that, yes, Alexdid say part of what the staff's recommendation is, is to bring in a consultant to tell us how long should we be doing this time tracking with Springbok? 840
02:05:08.710 --> 02:05:22.649
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Should it be a month? Should it be six months? We're now going to be relying on a consultant through an RFP process to guide us into the direction where I'm hoping that we can be where everybody wants us to be. 841
02:05:22.910 --> 02:05:33.839
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: just by way of what's right, and then also by way of Prop 218. And yes, I do understand what Alex said, that doing a cost allocation repeat is 842
02:05:33.840 --> 02:05:49.470
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: tied together with the rate study as well. Those two make sense, so I think Staff's recommendation is the best that we can get, the best that I can get, based upon the advice that's been provided, so I will be supporting this tonight.
843
02:05:53.580 --> 02:05:55.020
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Carter. 844
02:05:56.780 --> 02:06:03.789
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So I I if if I could slightly speak for the Efoc, I I think the the things that
845
02:06:04.710 --> 02:06:14.909
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Kate and Mary are trying to bring up is if we're taking money away from the, the, income source, which is what freezing rates does. 846
02:06:15.150 --> 02:06:17.400
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We're not feeding back into it. 847
02:06:17.540 --> 02:06:25.529
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So we're only reducing the revenue. We're not adding to the revenue. So we need to make sure that we're thinking about both sides of it. 848
02:06:25.910 --> 02:06:29.180
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Their, their hope is. 849
02:06:29.590 --> 02:06:37.340
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The the committee's hope is that we attribute some money back into the enterprise funds in some fashion. 850
02:06:38.140 --> 02:06:46.070
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I do support cutting the tiered race, because I'm not 100%, you know, I don't think those are right. And then, the… 851
02:06:46.300 --> 02:06:59.460
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Freezing of the rates. I would like to freeze those until we are absolutely clear of what things cost. So I do support those. But then there also has to be some way to make sure that the enterprise fund is whole. 852
02:06:59.790 --> 02:07:15.020
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And, like, one of our commenters said over… if we do that for very long, like, if we go for 3 or 4 months without making sure the enterprise fund is funded, like, if we're not getting money back into it in some ways. 853
02:07:15.130 --> 02:07:26.469
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: we do jeopardize, like, how we're gonna, you know, do our 10-year plan for all of the projects that we have left to do, which we do have nicely scheduled out, and I appreciate it very much, Public Works. 854
02:07:28.050 --> 02:07:36.300
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So we're, we're doing a great job of getting on top of what we need to do. We know what we need to do as far as infrastructure. I think that that's super positive.
855
02:07:37.140 --> 02:07:44.410
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And when this takes something away, I don't want to not do this tonight, because I feel like we can't add to the… 856
02:07:44.710 --> 02:07:59.519
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: enterprise fund in later days, so this won't be just a one… one-time thing. This is first steps, so we're making a lot of… to one of our other, commenters, we're doing a lot of first steps. A, we have the EFC, that started. 857
02:07:59.760 --> 02:08:13.980
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We're a new council. We weren't here 9 years ago, you know, even if even if one member was, that's still, we still can't really do anything but go forward. So all we can do is try to get a new cap study, which we're going to get. 858
02:08:14.360 --> 02:08:20.210
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And we're gonna, you know, we've already taken, the liar down to, direct timing.
859
02:08:20.280 --> 02:08:33.010
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We're trying to figure out how to direct time some other things in this fiscal year. We just haven't sorted it yet as per staff. So we're gettingto all of the things that we are hoping to get towards.
860
02:08:33.010 --> 02:08:41.260
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: going forward. But it's just going to take a moment, you know, to get there. And I applaud staff for dealing with 861
02:08:41.320 --> 02:08:55.199
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: quite a big hit to its pocket, you know, suddenly.
And it's theright thing to do, and coming rightis genuinely, you know, difficult. And the smoother we can do it, the better, in my book.
862
02:08:55.700 --> 02:09:04.799
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: But I do hope that we do address some of the other issues quite soon, because this is just one angle of it. 863
02:09:06.960 --> 02:09:07.920
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you.
864
02:09:08.330 --> 02:09:09.620
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Hinton. 865
02:09:10.970 --> 02:09:14.389
Neysa Hinton: Yeah, I wanted to weigh in.
866
02:09:14.400 --> 02:09:32.319
Neysa Hinton: It's a bit frustrating because, as one council member already said, and the public's aware, we've had a closed session on this, and… and it's not that we're not hearing all the recommendations. We certainly do our homework, have read the grand jury report. 867
02:09:32.490 --> 02:09:37.359
Neysa Hinton: read all the letters that we've gotten by email, but I think 868
02:09:37.520 --> 02:09:50.300
Neysa Hinton: at least speaking for myself, that we're trying to take a step-by-step approach, just because we have all this feedback, we can't implement everything at once. 869
02:09:50.300 --> 02:10:04.380
Neysa Hinton: And, with the move tonight, we're trying to hold things so that we can take a step-by-step approach. And I know that we've talked about for a year, but once we get to our next step, we might
870
02:10:04.760 --> 02:10:08.839
Neysa Hinton: you know, what would you say? Course correct. 871
02:10:08.840 --> 02:10:33.020
Neysa Hinton: And maybe it isn't for a year. Maybe we're not holding water rates. But I think from my perspective, we're taking a pause. That's appropriate thing to do. We're making some moves based on recommendations like the tiered water rates. Again, I've said even though I voted for it, I had no idea it was flawed. And so as we learn information, we course correct. And that's what we do over time.
872
02:10:33.110 --> 02:10:38.360
Neysa Hinton: And so, I'm going to be supporting this tonight, and I just want to… 873
02:10:38.360 --> 02:10:53.980
Neysa Hinton: Give feedback that I know that we have recommendations now coming from a lot of different areas and we're listening to those but recommendations still we need to makethefinaldecision and that's whatwe'llbevotingon tonight. 874
02:10:56.420 --> 02:11:08.030
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. I have concerns about the loss of potential projects coming up. But I'm also going to support Staff's recommendation, and I'm looking for a motion.
875
02:11:10.110 --> 02:11:12.370
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'll go ahead andmove Staff's recommendation. 876
02:11:13.000 --> 02:11:14.010
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: a second.
877
02:11:15.240 --> 02:11:20.429
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, moved by Councilmember Zolman, and I'm… and second… I'm sorry.
878
02:11:20.990 --> 02:11:22.920
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Carter. Yeah. 879
02:11:23.060 --> 02:11:27.819
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So so moved by council member. I just want to make sure I have the I
880
02:11:28.030 --> 02:11:32.650
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Zolman, and then did you? You seconded. Okay, sorry.
881
02:11:32.920 --> 02:11:55.869
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Board & so moved by Councilmember Zolman, and seconded by Councilmember Carter, to approve the resolution to suspend the tiered water ratesand Fy. 2627. Water rate increaseeffective. July first, st until such time that a new water rate study can be completed and request verification by September 1, 2026, following the 1st billing cycle under the new rate study structure. Sorry new rate structure that all water accounts have been reviewed and updated to remove tiered rates. 882
02:11:55.870 --> 02:11:59.850
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And that all customers are billed using the same uniform volumetric rate.
883
02:11:59.850 --> 02:12:04.070
SebastopolCommunity CulturalCenter:Inadditionto the applicable fixedmonthly service charge. Councilmember Carter?
884
02:12:04.940 --> 02:12:06.609
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yes. Councilmember Hinton. 885
02:12:06.610 --> 02:12:07.540
Neysa Hinton: Aye.
886
02:12:07.540 --> 02:12:17.370
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Zolman? Yes. Vice Mayor Maurer? Yes. Motion passes 3 to… or, sorry, 4 to 1, with Councilmembers Carter, Hinton, Zolman, and Vice Mayor Ma
887
02:12:24.440 --> 02:12:28.870
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, thank you. So moving on. Does anybody need a break before we move on?
888
02:12:30.410 --> 02:12:34.900
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: No, okay. So the next item, not item number 889
02:12:35.120 --> 02:12:52.679
SebastopolCommunity CulturalCenter:11.Considerationofrequestsfordirectionto staff to prepare zoning code map amendments and or return with options to allow commercial outdoor barbecue operations with permits in certain zoning districts or on specialspecific parcels.
890
02:12:54.170 --> 02:13:13.700
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Good evening again. I'll I'llkick this off, and then Jane is available for answering questions as well. So, as the Council is aware, the city previously commenced enforcement action against A and M. Barbecue, because the their current use is not
891
02:13:13.730 --> 02:13:18.059
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: allowed by our current zoning code. 892
02:13:18.300 --> 02:13:37.899
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: city staff subsequently, you know, met with the business owner, and, as happens, you know, somewhat frequently in cities, you know, agreed to suspend enforcement while progress was being made in good faith to, you know, resolving the issue on both sides.
893
02:13:37.970 --> 02:13:39.410
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The…
894
02:13:39.950 --> 02:13:47.930
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Hinton and Councilmember Carter requested this future, this agenda item for the Council to consider whether or not 895
02:13:47.940 --> 02:14:00.980
SebastopolCommunity CulturalCenter:to directstafftoprepare anordinance to change our zoning code so that this business would become either an allowed use or a conditionally allowed use.
896
02:14:01.220 --> 02:14:10.069
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: by way of background. All you know this type of outdoor barbecue use is a conditionally allowed use, and and all of the cities 897
02:14:10.140 --> 02:14:25.839
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: commercial districts, except this particular commercial district. So at a high level, there are 2 ways the city could address this one.
They could allow this type of use as a conditionally allowed use, and 898
02:14:25.930 --> 02:14:26.770
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'm
899
02:14:27.660 --> 02:14:39.659
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: of this district as a whole. Alternatively, this particular property could be rezoned in some way to allow this use on only this particular property.
900
02:14:40.390 --> 02:14:55.299
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: either as a permitted use, which would be very unique for the city, or, more commonly, as a conditionally permitted use, in which case, you know, the process to amend the code and for the business to apply for a CUP could happen simultaneously.
901
02:14:55.490 --> 02:14:58.249
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: and, you know, condition them. 902
02:14:58.550 --> 02:15:04.300
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: use permit, if approved by the city, could include conditions of approval.
903
02:15:04.690 --> 02:15:14.499
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So this item is before the Council tonight to either givespecificdirection tostaffon preparingan ordinancenow, ortogivedirection, 904
02:15:14.730 --> 02:15:26.480
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: to staff to comeback with a fuller analysis of the 2 options, you know, based on past feedback from Council.You know, Staff did not do that here prior to getting full
905
02:15:26.820 --> 02:15:29.970
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Authority from the council to spend, you know, time.
906
02:15:30.250 --> 02:15:34.310
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: digging into those 2 options and what they what might mean.
907
02:15:34.450 --> 02:15:39.929
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: at a high level. You expect, you know, the environmental review to be more. If you're doing
908
02:15:40.110 --> 02:15:43.199
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: You know, a city-wide, or a zone-wide, rather. 909
02:15:43.460 --> 02:15:50.190
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: amendment rather than a parcel specific amendment. Other impacts might be bigger if you're doing a parcel wide. 910
02:15:50.460 --> 02:16:05.720
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: on the other hand, you know, as a general planning matter, we don't like to rezone one parcel at a time, that may have been designated fora veryspecificreason. Sowith that, I'll pause. I know Jane is here as well to answer any questions that the Council may have.
911
02:16:06.680 --> 02:16:08.070
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Zelman. 912
02:16:10.310 --> 02:16:29.620
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for the report and trying to do homeworkahead of time. I read the staff report, and then I sent questions to Mary. So I want to know both of the options, I think, are great, because my primary concern is about public health, and I said to evaluate both of the options that are in the staff report. 913
02:16:29.950 --> 02:16:47.530
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: what would be the attorney amount of time? And she said it would be 3 hours. Is that right? That's correct. So my role would just be helping to, you know, review what environmental review would be necessary, and reviewing draft ordinances.
914
02:16:47.530 --> 02:16:59.540
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: the planning department would be doing most of the work and analysis. Okay. Then I wanted to know the pros and cons of both the options that are set forth in thestaff report, and it sounded like from Mary. 915
02:17:00.469 --> 02:17:15.609
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: she couldn't pontificate on that until you do the analysis, if we give you the 3 hours, is that right? Well, and I think it's more of if you give… Mira, I don't know if you put inthere the staff time for planning, more if you give 916
02:17:16.299 --> 02:17:41.220
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: authorize the planning department to spend the time to do it. They'll be doing more of that analysis of the pros and cons of both options.
Okay. And then my last one, either if we go with both of them, then whatever option you bringbackwillbeabletospecificallyaddress thepublichealth issue. Becauseforme, again, that's my primary concern. Is that a yes? Yes. So yes. And just to clarify, both options 917
02:17:41.219 --> 02:17:48.470
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: There would have to be some sort of environmental review that would depend on what option was and also a CUP. 918
02:17:48.469 --> 02:17:57.479
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: comes, you know, through the Planning Commission, or potentially the Council, for individual review and individual conditions of approval. Okay, thanks.
919
02:17:59.139 --> 02:18:01.250
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Are we having technical problems? 920
02:18:01.450 --> 02:18:02.340
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Cody.
921
02:18:05.540 --> 02:18:12.459
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay? Because every once in a while the screen turns blue and Okay.
922
02:18:14.430 --> 02:18:16.250
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Other questions.
923
02:18:19.080 --> 02:18:22.210
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I would like to know an estimate of the planning. 924
02:18:22.540 --> 02:18:31.810
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: a department hourly. How many hours they think this would take for them to bring something back to the Council with options. 925
02:18:40.820 --> 02:18:47.999
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thanks for the question. We estimate whenever we have to bring an item that includes
926
02:18:48.000 --> 02:19:04.659
SebastopolCommunity CulturalCenter:research,andpreparationofstaffreportfor PlanningCommission and fortheCityCouncil, it's goingtobeabout20hours of stafftime, so it kind of depends on how you structure this. If you want us to just bring back options to 927
02:19:04.870 --> 02:19:18.930
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: the City Council, it would be less expensive if you wanted us to go ahead and prepare something and take it to the Planning Commission for recommendation before coming back, it would be the full 20 hours. Well, what would be your estimate for just bringing back options?
928
02:19:21.420 --> 02:19:24.240
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Probably 12 to 16. 929
02:19:28.450 --> 02:19:29.420
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you.
930
02:19:30.290 --> 02:19:31.779
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Carter. 931
02:19:32.160 --> 02:19:35.399
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So just just remind me about the 932
02:19:36.129 --> 02:19:43.740
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The process here for a temporary reprieve, or is this permitting, like, Permanent.
933
02:19:46.340 --> 02:19:51.659
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So the options before you would be permanent changes to the
934
02:19:51.770 --> 02:19:59.300
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: zoning code. And you know, if a use permit is issued, that's a permanent right to continue that that use. 935
02:20:01.080 --> 02:20:01.850
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay.
936
02:20:05.790 --> 02:20:08.599
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So Council Member Hinton. 937
02:20:11.720 --> 02:20:27.509
Neysa Hinton: Yeah, so since I'm not there tonight, I wonder if the city has any updates on this, because there are a lot of rumors out there all over social media, related to the business, and I'm not sure the business is represented tonight, so… 938
02:20:27.510 --> 02:20:32.679
Neysa Hinton: I'm just curious. I, I don't want to authorize, 939
02:20:32.680 --> 02:20:46.989
Neysa Hinton: large number of staff hours totry to come up with solutions and mitigation for the business that was before us weeks ago with a room full of people saying how they love Sebastopol and they wanted to stay there.
940
02:20:47.240 --> 02:20:58.070
Neysa Hinton: and I don't wanna, you know, sometimes I feel like we… we… government moves slower, soherewearenow,bringingbacka staffitem, and Idon'twanna… 941
02:20:58.370 --> 02:21:11.649
Neysa Hinton: do it in a silo, and then all of a sudden we approve this tonight, and all of a sudden, you know, something comes out in two days that show that we were just clueless.
So,
942
02:21:11.650 --> 02:21:23.809
Neysa Hinton: anyway, as Councilmember Carter and I brought back, maybe we can hear from Mary an update about what we know about what's happening today with this business. Are they
943
02:21:24.050 --> 02:21:34.410
Neysa Hinton: wanting to stay in Sebastopol? Are they wanting us to look at zoning options for this property? Where are we at with things? Because I want to make sure that 944
02:21:34.900 --> 02:21:37.200
Neysa Hinton: We're doing things appropriately.
945
02:21:37.620 --> 02:21:52.049
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: My understanding is that they have been looking at locations. They've been out searching at certain locations. They have not found a suitable location, is my understanding. I have not gone any further than that. We do have a representative.
946
02:21:52.050 --> 02:22:03.360
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I don't know, Kristen, if you have any additional information, but maybe during public comment, but my understanding is that they have been trying to find additional location that works for them, but I do not know anything beyond that.
947
02:22:08.050 --> 02:22:11.439
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, so we can go out to public comment, please.
948
02:22:13.410 --> 02:22:15.780
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So this is public comment. 949
02:22:16.040 --> 02:22:21.149
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: for the, A&M discussion of the direction for A&M property location.
950
02:22:21.580 --> 02:22:27.360
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We will do chambers first, and then go out to Zoom, and there's a 2-minute time limit. So, Kristen, if 951
02:22:27.360 --> 02:22:44.350
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Kirsten Lange, President of the Santa Rosa Sonoma County Branch of the NAACP, here before you, not explicitly speaking on behalf of the business, as they have representatives in Zoom who will be joining in and speaking more explicitly. But I will say, you all have dragged the cart. 952
02:22:44.740 --> 02:23:07.569
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: andas a city staff tryingto allocate time and designating the business as such is going to hinder their ability to get the support that they
actually need to function. They're looking for a conditional use permit in order to operate their business, to save the capital that they need to move outside of your city. Your decisions and your actions have made it untenable for them to stay in this location. 953
02:23:07.570 --> 02:23:30.549
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And if the staff time is an issue, then perhaps you need to reallocate your priorities and really think clearly on how you're operating as a city and being more effective with the time use. Because if council members have time and if your building department director has time to drop in and tell them that they're not gonna approve the permits, then I think you need to really rethink how people are using their work time and workplace opportunities.
954
02:23:30.770 --> 02:23:55.220
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: this business has brought in a ton of tourism to this area as a representative, as a 5th district appointee to the Sonoma County Tourism Board have let alone seen the increase that this business has brought in to Sebastopol. I can say that you all are dragging heels on being supportive of a business in your area, and it's unfortunate that they have to look outside of your community because you've allowed 955
02:23:55.220 --> 02:23:59.260
SebastopolCommunity CulturalCenter:foroutside influencesfromfolkswho previously sat on your dais.
956
02:23:59.260 --> 02:24:23.380
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: to conditionally change your opinion on how you look at you support your small businesses and I think that above all else is really where you've misstepped and where you have an opportunity to course correct is approving a conditional permit for them to operate their business at the highest potential to maximize their capital because they are going to leave your city there's no opportunity for them to stay here if they're going to continue to receive
957
02:24:23.420 --> 02:24:27.800
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Critical criticism and be a topic of discussion at your meetings.
958
02:24:29.220 --> 02:24:33.470
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment. I'll go out to Zoom. Oliver, can you unmute yourself.
959
02:24:33.780 --> 02:24:35.239
Oliver: Yep, I'm unmuted.
960
02:24:35.240 --> 02:24:36.580
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Can you see the timer? 961
02:24:36.580 --> 02:24:37.440
Oliver: I can now, yeah.
962
02:24:37.440 --> 02:24:38.620
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Right, go ahead, please. 963
02:24:38.620 --> 02:24:48.150
Oliver: So my understanding is this business started completely illegally, without any permits or anything, in an area which they're not authorized to 964
02:24:48.200 --> 02:25:00.339
Oliver: do what they're doing. So, given the city has to spend all this time and money, maybe they should split the costs with the business, so they can actually come together responsiblyand figureouta solution tothis.
965
02:25:00.520 --> 02:25:17.069
Oliver: Because it seems to me that the barbecue business has done incredibly well publicising themselves on local TV channels and so on as victims, left, right and centre, but I'm not quite sure they've been actually playing the game very well in terms of working closely with the city.
966
02:25:17.070 --> 02:25:29.750
Oliver: So, all this idea that the city is dragging its feet and so on, I mean, it's a reactive… it seems to me it's a reaction to a business that should never have been operating at the level it does in the location it's in currently.
967
02:25:29.760 --> 02:25:34.460
Oliver: And then, of course, there's a huge issue with the local neighbours who 968
02:25:34.580 --> 02:25:39.089
Oliver: You know, don't want to have smoke pouring through their windows every morning. 969
02:25:39.220 --> 02:25:49.280
Oliver: So this is a mess. I'm not quite sure where to go with this, but my recommendation is the business in good faith should be contributing a substantial amount of money to resolve this issue. Thank you.
970
02:25:55.880 --> 02:25:56.909
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Are we good, Cody 971
02:26:01.860 --> 02:26:02.940
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Oh!
972
02:26:13.820 --> 02:26:15.880
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilman Benton, can you hear us okay 973
02:26:17.190 --> 02:26:26.970
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, we're having a little technical issues here inside, so for those members on Zoom that can hear, we will… we're trying to get the Zoom back up on our screen in here.
974
02:26:29.260 --> 02:26:30.280
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you.
975
02:26:31.880 --> 02:26:33.770
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, I will come back into chambers. 976
02:26:35.570 --> 02:26:38.770
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Hi, I'm Doug Yule. I live on Petalum Aven 977
02:26:39.250 --> 02:26:42.659
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: In this case, rezoning proposal is a red herring. 978
02:26:43.390 --> 02:26:46.350
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The current zoning is not the problem. 979
02:26:47.120 --> 02:26:50.940
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: A&M barbecue restaurant is not, per se, the problem.
980
02:26:51.120 --> 02:26:54.510
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The problem is the impact of the smoke. 981
02:26:54.650 --> 02:26:59.730
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: from the bar, from the restaurant smokers on the surrounding community community.
982
02:27:01.910 --> 02:27:06.800
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: No matter the zoning, until the smoke is effectively mitigated.
983
02:27:07.030 --> 02:27:09.090
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: This issue will not be resolved. 984
02:27:09.850 --> 02:27:10.650
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you.
985
02:27:11.960 --> 02:27:16.900
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment. I will go out to Zoom. Finn, can you unmute yourself, please?
986
02:27:18.420 --> 02:27:19.640
Finn Liss: Yep, can you hear me.
987
02:27:19.640 --> 02:27:21.430
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I can. Can you see the timer? 988
02:27:21.630 --> 02:27:22.220
Finn Liss: Yes.
989
02:27:22.220 --> 02:27:23.440
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Great. Go ahead, please. 990
02:27:23.740 --> 02:27:29.520
Finn Liss: Hi, how's it going everybody? My name's Stan. I'm one of the owners of A&M 991
02:27:29.680 --> 02:27:34.260
Finn Liss: I just wanted to kind of fill you guys in on what we have been doing so far, so…
992
02:27:35.490 --> 02:27:41.439
Finn Liss: First, to backtrack a little bit, all these things take time, and, you know, this is all obviously a big mess, but…
993
02:27:42.370 --> 02:27:56.840
Finn Liss: There were public comments made about us. We weren't aware of these comments. We weren't aware of the concerns. We had known about these concerns at the time these comments were starting to happen, which sounds like it was almost a year ago.
We could have used all this time to really finda solution. 994
02:27:56.940 --> 02:28:10.930
Finn Liss: So what we've asked for for the city is to give ussome time to figure things out. We're currently speaking to some engineers to look into what different kind of filtration systems are, whether it's a water scrubber, whether it's a VAP system. 995
02:28:11.050 --> 02:28:19.750
Finn Liss: You know, so we're looking at different options. Some of these things cost as much as $100,000, which, you know, we don't have that kind of money. 996
02:28:20.110 --> 02:28:29.120
Finn Liss: All these things take time. We're getting a lot of support, we're getting a lot of help, peoplewantingtohelp. We'reprettyconfidentthat we can do something about the smoke relatively soon.
997
02:28:29.380 --> 02:28:47.449
Finn Liss: As faras properties, yeah, therealityis it's hard tofind somethingin Sebastopol that makes sense. That doesn't mean we're giving up on Sebastopol, but given the time that we have, we have to explore all of Sonoma County. But as of right now, we're looking at about 10 properties and seeing what's feasible for us.
998
02:28:47.830 --> 02:29:00.490
Finn Liss: As far as, with city staff members, you know, I've emailed Building Department Director Steven Brown 3 or 4 times in the last 2 months, and he does not respond. When I call, he does not call back.
999
02:29:00.690 --> 02:29:04.860
Finn Liss: So, we are trying to work with the city, but we get no response. 1000
02:29:05.030 --> 02:29:22.160
Finn Liss: In fact, the only person we've actually had great communication with is Councilmember Phil Carter, who we're grateful for, for actually communicating with us and keeping us updated, and we're keeping him updated. So that's what's going on behind the scenes. I don't want people to think that we're not trying 1001
02:29:22.350 --> 02:29:25.519
Finn Liss: Keep in mind, we're also trying to run a business at the same time. 1002
02:29:25.630 --> 02:29:33.600
Finn Liss: We have family at home. All these things take time, and yeah, just want to be crystal clear. We're not sitting around waiting.
1003
02:29:33.600 --> 02:29:35.430
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: 2 min for your public comment. 1004
02:29:35.430 --> 02:29:36.239
Finn Liss: Thank you.
1005
02:29:36.240 --> 02:29:39.209
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment. I will come back into chambers.
1006
02:29:39.360 --> 02:29:40.100
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Please.
1007
02:29:43.860 --> 02:29:55.049
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Hello! I'm Linda Civitello, and some of you know me as the former Senior Center director. But before that I was the director of the American Lung Association.
1008
02:29:55.340 --> 02:30:00.440
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And in the 90s, we got started preventing 1009
02:30:00.630 --> 02:30:11.419
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: smoking in the workplace, and it moved on, and I've seen… you've all seen a whole norm change, that smoking is no longer allowed. 1010
02:30:12.100 --> 02:30:13.170
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And…
1011
02:30:13.400 --> 02:30:23.729
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Why did we do that? We did that because of particulate matter. No matter what you do about zoning, or it's it's 1012
02:30:23.950 --> 02:30:27.409
SebastopolCommunityCulturalCenter: disappointingthatthis is affectinga business. 1013
02:30:27.490 --> 02:30:46.090
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: But the real issue here is particulate matter. It causes health problems, it causes public health problems, and it's not just something like you can say, well, we'll give them a temporary pass, because every day that the people, the neighbors of that
1014
02:30:46.200 --> 02:30:53.099
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: A and M barbecue are getting smoke in their lungs, it will last for a lifetime.
1015
02:30:53.210 --> 02:31:02.630
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I've seen as a director of the Lung Association, many people come to me and say, I never smoked, how come I'm dying with lung cancer?
1016
02:31:02.750 --> 02:31:05.610
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: It's because of particulate matter. 1017
02:31:05.740 --> 02:31:18.130
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, whatever you're thinking about, oh, let's do a temporary zoning or whatever, it doesn't matter. What really matters is you're killing people with secondhand smoke.
1018
02:31:19.020 --> 02:31:20.009
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you.
1019
02:31:20.900 --> 02:31:25.400
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment. I will go out to Zoom. Kate, can you unmute yourself, please?
1020
02:31:27.550 --> 02:31:28.850
kate: Yes, thank you.
1021
02:31:29.450 --> 02:31:30.639
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. Go ahead, please. 1022
02:31:31.020 --> 02:31:50.660
kate: It sounds from the Finlis's comments that they are working, and it seems like they're working on moving the business out of its current location. It seems unclear to me once again in concert with Councilmember Hinton.
1023
02:31:50.660 --> 02:31:59.250
kate: whether or not the business is actually going to stay in Sebastopol. So, as the city has very limited resources.
1024
02:31:59.330 --> 02:32:17.809
kate: it might be a good idea just to put a slight pause on things before expending the city's limited resources on a rezoning measure that also could result in some sort of lawsuit, because, as your previous speaker just said.
1025
02:32:17.980 --> 02:32:26.649
kate: particulate matter is linked to lung cancer. So it seems like you're once again in kind of a bit of a legal pickle.
1026
02:32:26.650 --> 02:32:41.629
kate: And if thebusinesses moves becausetheyfind us, youknow, a placethat's actually zoned for smokers. Then we will. The city will have spent money on something that is not of use anymore. Thank you.
1027
02:32:42.400 --> 02:32:45.110
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment. I will come back into chambers.
1028
02:32:54.500 --> 02:33:10.160
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'm Kim Keller. I live on Eleanor Avenue, which is close to the property under question. I wanted to thank Councilmen Zolman and Carter for meeting with folks from our neighborhood to hear our concerns about this issue. 1029
02:33:10.160 --> 02:33:14.839
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And as the City Council knows, recently we… 1030
02:33:14.840 --> 02:33:24.999
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: delivered a letter to you all expressing our concerns about the wood fire smoke that we're smelling in our neighborhood that was signed by 40.
1031
02:33:25.000 --> 02:33:43.409
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: individuals, Sebastopol individuals, most of who live very near the neighborhood. I know that 'cause I knock personally on many of their doors to have a conversation with them. So this isn't about the business. We fully support AM and BBQ, we really do. We like it, you know.
1032
02:33:43.410 --> 02:33:54.359
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: But something has to be done with the smoke. We can't, you know, we can enjoy the restaurant, but the smoke is a real issue for us. 1033
02:33:54.360 --> 02:34:05.949
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I think somewhere in this whole conversation, our health left the table of the discussion. You know, there was a fire department, a fire chief report.
1034
02:34:05.950 --> 02:34:11.669
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: that used data of air quality data that was on the other side of town.
1035
02:34:11.670 --> 02:34:31.350
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: right near the Barlow. Our data from, you know, we have a monitor very, very close to the vicinity where we live, very, very close to the vicinity where we live. And you can see this is one week, or this is actually 3 days, and you can see how high it goes. It gets into the red level.
1036
02:34:31.440 --> 02:34:38.439
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: This is this is this, this. 1037
02:34:38.730 --> 02:34:41.960
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Could I stop my time? Because this is taking my time.
1038
02:34:42.390 --> 02:34:44.629
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'd like my time stopped cause I 1039
02:34:44.810 --> 02:34:49.249
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Please let let everybody have their say.
Everybody's entitled to have a say.
1040
02:34:50.440 --> 02:34:51.590
SebastopolCommunity CulturalCenter:to the realflat. 1041
02:34:52.340 --> 02:34:57.289
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Can we? Can we? Can can you please respect that? Everybody can speak.
1042
02:34:57.940 --> 02:35:02.949
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So could we give her a minute to finish whatever it was.
1043
02:35:03.350 --> 02:35:11.469
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So you know, when it's in operation, it does really impact us. We're very concerned about the health risks and 1044
02:35:11.540 --> 02:35:30.889
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: and the tall lines are the close by monitor, and the green line is the monitor that was used by the fire department for the data. So you know, this takinghealth offthetablewas justbased on reallyinaccuratedata. So if you're going to use air quality data, use it
1045
02:35:30.890 --> 02:35:33.270
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: in the vicinity where the thing's operating. 1046
02:35:33.270 --> 02:35:38.189
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, so that- Kim, that's your two, that's two minutes. Okay. Thank you. Thank you.
1047
02:35:38.850 --> 02:35:42.400
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment. I will go out to Zoom.
1048
02:35:42.750 --> 02:35:44.979
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Kyle, can you unmute yourself, please? 1049
02:35:44.980 --> 02:35:45.759
Kyle Falbo: I can.
1050
02:35:45.940 --> 02:35:47.619
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. Can you see the timer? 1051
02:35:48.330 --> 02:35:49.410
Kyle Falbo: Yeah, I can.
1052
02:35:49.410 --> 02:35:50.540
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Great, go ahead, please. 1053
02:35:51.070 --> 02:35:52.129
Kyle Falbo: So I'm…
1054
02:35:52.220 --> 02:36:03.180
Kyle Falbo: Part of me is really pleased that our insurance company has an agenda item that was on consent tonight, because that's where I'm going back to, right? 1055
02:36:03.180 --> 02:36:20.229
Kyle Falbo: That's my question, right? Like, if we're going to go ahead and allow our city police officers to tase members of the publicand then allow litigation against our city and where our actual cost in the city is only $10,000.
1056
02:36:20.230 --> 02:36:32.260
Kyle Falbo: but multiple hundreds of thousands of dollars go out as a result of that litigation that our insurance covers. So, great, we don't really actually have much
1057
02:36:32.300 --> 02:36:49.349
KyleFalbo: financialinterestin actuallyhavinganyoversightof ourpolice. Dowehaveany actual oversight here? Do we care what ends up happening? Do we care if a group of citizens ends up suing us? Because, well, our insurance will cover it, and we'll pay a $10,000 deductible.
1058
02:36:49.630 --> 02:36:54.270
Kyle Falbo: Or, are we gonna get, as a society, to a place where… 1059
02:36:54.510 --> 02:37:07.590
Kyle Falbo: The person who's actually liable is the person that did the harm. Are we actually going to get a place to a place where the police officer that committedthe assault. 1060
02:37:07.710 --> 02:37:17.210
KyleFalbo: Is liablefinanciallytoa business thatis producingparticulatematteris responsible for the liability.
1061
02:37:17.330 --> 02:37:33.989
Kyle Falbo: I don't know the answer to that question, but it sure seems like the opinion of the city is just to allow our insurance provider to cover the costs. And as long as we can afford the $10,000 deductible, no harm, no foul. Am I right?
1062
02:37:35.130 --> 02:37:47.710
Kyle Falbo: I don't know, because we don't talk about litigation in this city. We don't talk about the sheer financial cost that it comes at the expense of abuse that happens to our citizens.
1063
02:37:48.740 --> 02:37:50.000
Kyle Falbo: And that's a shame.
1064
02:37:51.430 --> 02:37:55.060
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Kyle, for your public comment. Next, I will come back into chamber. S
1065
02:37:55.790 --> 02:38:05.510
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Janelle Roventini, I live on Fannin Avenue, which connects to Eleanor Avenue and Petaluma Avenue. My niece lives on the other side of the fence of A&M.
1066
02:38:06.110 --> 02:38:14.640
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I honestly, when I heard about what was going on, I could not believe the abundance of smoke that people are talking about. I have not experienced this.
1067
02:38:15.100 --> 02:38:25.960
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: at all. I mean, I've talked to neighbors on both sides, talked to neighbors on the other side. I would love to have spoken to you all, but nobody knocked on my door, except for
1068
02:38:26.370 --> 02:38:28.080
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: my other neighbors. 1069
02:38:28.770 --> 02:38:32.689
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: From what I understand, the particulate matter has…
1070
02:38:33.230 --> 02:38:43.180
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The higher levels have been going on for 10 years, not just since A&M has moved there. Do I smell some smoke? I do smell some smoke, but it smells damn good.
1071
02:38:43.330 --> 02:38:51.799
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I've never had to close my windows. I've never had breathing problems. My children have never had breathing problems. My neighbors haven't had breathing problems, nor have their children.
1072
02:38:51.930 --> 02:39:00.679
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I think it's a damn shame. My family's business was successful there my entire childhood, and
1073
02:39:01.120 --> 02:39:08.130
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: This is the 1st business since then that has been successful, and it's really sad that our city
1074
02:39:09.160 --> 02:39:21.139
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: can't… couldn't have done something sooner to help keep this business in town. It's gonna go, we're gonna lose it, and that's just… that's the… it's sad. I mean, I can walk there, and I do walk there a lot, but 1075
02:39:21.230 --> 02:39:30.379
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Anyway, I… my notes are all over the place, I'm not even gonna go there, but I just think that you're not hearing about a group, big group of people from this exact neighborhood.
1076
02:39:30.480 --> 02:39:35.519
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: that are not experiencing what these other 40 signatures are.
1077
02:39:35.890 --> 02:39:39.639
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: because we do exist, and we would love to have a conversation with you.
1078
02:39:39.790 --> 02:39:41.070
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Anyway, that's all I 1079
02:39:41.880 --> 02:39:47.949
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Janelle, for your public comment.
Next, I'll go out to Zoom. If there's anyone on Zoom that would like to make a public 1080
02:39:48.900 --> 02:39:54.149
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, I will come back. Anisa, I do see your hand up, though, so we'll come back. Laura
1081
02:39:55.540 --> 02:40:08.589
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Hi, Laura Hager-Rush from the Sebastopol Times.
So it was my understanding that the testing actually came from the Bay Area Quality Management District, and that they decided that it was
1082
02:40:08.840 --> 02:40:13.850
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Not dangerous, because of the amount of time involved.
1083
02:40:14.090 --> 02:40:14.950
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: It…
1084
02:40:15.120 --> 02:40:22.060
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I I'm I'm just. It's a curious. It's a question. Sort of whatis? Whataretheneighbors? Responsetothatfinding? 1085
02:40:22.180 --> 02:40:23.650
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I should also say. 1086
02:40:23.990 --> 02:40:30.090
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I live across the… I mean, I work across the street.
I'm often there in the extreme early morning hours.
1087
02:40:31.860 --> 02:40:36.070
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I don't notice it, but maybe it's because I'm not in the right one direction.
1088
02:40:36.530 --> 02:40:37.250
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Here.
1089
02:40:42.630 --> 02:40:44.360
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: You asked for 30 days ago. 1090
02:40:44.570 --> 02:40:46.589
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Laura, for your public comment. 1091
02:40:46.790 --> 02:40:52.550
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I will go back out to zoom. If there's anyone in zoom that would like to make a public comment to please raise your hand virtually. 1092
02:40:53.040 --> 02:40:59.469
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, I'll come back into chambers. If there's anyone in chambers that would like to make a public comment, please raise… come up to the
1093
02:41:00.000 --> 02:41:05.579
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, public comment is closed, and Councilmember Hinton has her hand up. Yes, Councilmember Hinton. 1094
02:41:08.020 --> 02:41:11.280
Neysa Hinton: Thanks. I just didn't want to get missed on,
1095
02:41:11.700 --> 02:41:29.180
Neysa Hinton: when we got back to questions. I brought this forward with Councilmember Carter, becausewewanted tofind a path thatsupports a localbusiness, and this hadn't been agendized yet. We've been hearing from the neighbors and A&M, 1096
02:41:29.740 --> 02:41:37.469
Neysa Hinton: Like I said, I, I, I am not comfortable investing a ton of hours and. 1097
02:41:37.570 --> 02:41:54.629
Neysa Hinton: to one of the public speakers, we have done something. They're still operating.We're still in… they're still in business. We haven't fined them, as far as I know, so I don't think Sebastopol has done nothing, so I really have to say that out loud. And Finn's on Zoom.
1098
02:41:54.650 --> 02:42:14.360
Neysa Hinton: What I want to know is what Finn's done because they want us to work with them and I'm willing to work with them. We've been working with them. I think we got a letter from the public that said some sort of filter could be purchased for $5,000. I understand a lot of members of the public have said they'd offer to pay for a GoFundMe. 1099
02:42:14.410 --> 02:42:30.710
Neysa Hinton: speaking from my perspective, I love barbecue, I eat there, people I know eat there, we'd love them to stay in Sebastopol. So, it's kind of like, you know, we heard from another member of the public tonight, they're gone! So it's a really frustrating 1100
02:42:31.360 --> 02:42:35.480
Neysa Hinton: place to be, I think, as a council member, because 1101
02:42:35.930 --> 02:42:44.319
Neysa Hinton: The way we're set up is we can't speak to an issue from just a standard public comment until it's agendized.
1102
02:42:44.320 --> 02:42:59.379
Neysa Hinton: And this is the first time it's been agendized. And I feel like the city has done a lot. So, I'd like A&M to succeed. I love how much they give to schools, and they're from Sebastopol. I want to support the local business.
1103
02:42:59.420 --> 02:43:15.890
Neysa Hinton: I just feel like the next steps are for us to pick from our agenda item tonight and invest some additional time without going crazy, and then hear back from VIN and A&M about what they're doing, and what they're going to do to help mitigate 1104
02:43:15.890 --> 02:43:20.820
Neysa Hinton: what some of the neighbors are saying is bothering them. And I've walked by the smokers in the morning.
1105
02:43:20.820 --> 02:43:36.770
Neysa Hinton: that are smoking all night, and if I lived right next door, I might be not super happyeither. Imean, a filter, somethingneedstohappen. So, that's whyweagendized it tonight. We are listening, we are responding. I just want to make that really clear. 1106
02:43:39.600 --> 02:43:41.120
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Zolman. 1107
02:43:42.040 --> 02:43:52.029
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. Yeah, and I agree, and I want to thank the two council members who beat me to the punch in getting this agendized. Thanks for doing that, and yes, I do
1108
02:43:52.040 --> 02:44:10.070
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: with public health in mind, Ido want to also find a waytohelp this business succeed, and Ithinkwhatstaffhas laid out, and now I'mmore clear about the hours that it'll take for Alex to evaluate both the options that are in the staff report, as well as public,
1109
02:44:10.070 --> 02:44:17.399
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: work's time, I am comfortable with the amount of hours that they put forward, so I will be supporting staff'srecommendation. 1110
02:44:20.190 --> 02:44:21.570
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Carter. 1111
02:44:22.400 --> 02:44:29.859
SebastopolCommunity CulturalCenter:Igenuinely look atproblemsso differently thana lot of people. I'm starting to realize this.
1112
02:44:30.200 --> 02:44:48.900
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: But I want a win-win situation. I really feel like Sebastopol can rally around the business and protect our residents that, need, don't need a lot of smoke in their backyard. And it's dangerous to you guys, I recognize that, I hear that, and I don't know that we need a,
1113
02:44:48.990 --> 02:45:00.699
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: a zoning change to solve that. But I do think we need as a communitytohelp this business that's youngand tryingtofigurethings outhow to get
1114
02:45:00.940 --> 02:45:12.859
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: a no filtration system, and that's something that I'm all in on. I love the company, but they also have this other issue that I think several things arebeingconflated.
1115
02:45:13.030 --> 02:45:22.320
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: They have the issue where they're just madly successful, and they're growing, and they've outgrown that exact spot, and so they do need a differentspotanyway.
1116
02:45:23.150 --> 02:45:37.479
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I think, you know, my conversations with Finn and the owners, you know, another space would benefit them, andI support them in whateverbenefits them.
1117
02:45:37.690 --> 02:45:45.760
SebastopolCommunity CulturalCenter:One ofthese waysisjustimmediately tryingto fix the amount of smoke that are coming out, because
1118
02:45:45.940 --> 02:45:54.259
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: then they can focus on being a business, and, you know, Sebastopol, like, you know, like a GoFundMe type of situation, can rally and get a… 1119
02:45:55.120 --> 02:45:59.309
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: get the smoke situation figured out, then I think we're okay for a bit.
1120
02:46:06.640 --> 02:46:11.629
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: It's okay with me. If that's all right with the Council again.
1121
02:46:12.520 --> 02:46:18.960
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: is people have to make their own public comments. Okay? Well, I'm I'm quite confused about
1122
02:46:19.060 --> 02:46:28.119
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: What A. And M. Is wanting to do, because it seems likewe'd be making an effort totry and support 1123
02:46:28.310 --> 02:46:33.609
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: keeping them, but it sounds like they've outgrown the space, and they're planning to leave anyway.
1124
02:46:34.260 --> 02:46:42.019
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So So please let me speak. Please let me speak.
You've had your turn, and please don't
1125
02:46:42.240 --> 02:47:00.180
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'm speaking, so I support A&M Barbecue. I want to see them succeed. I also want the neighbors to not be smoked out. And so how, you know, how we're going to do that, I'm not sure yet. So I would, excuse me. 1126
02:47:01.260 --> 02:47:06.539
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We we it's conditional use parade isn't what you understand. So
1127
02:47:07.040 --> 02:47:21.179
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'm I'm willing to do. Maybe I just feel like we need more information, especially from the business and what he plans to do, because it doesn't make sense to me to go forward with approving
1128
02:47:21.180 --> 02:47:36.560
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: starting a rezone without really knowing if it's even needed, because it's… it's put… it's where the city's putting an effort towards one business, rezoning for one business. If he's not going to be there, then that doesn't make sense to me, so…
1129
02:47:37.850 --> 02:47:54.859
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, do you have more? Councilmember Carter? Yeah, I just want to kind of add that, yeah, the business needs time to operate and to figure outa place. They'renotgoingtobeabletofind a placeovernight, and wheretheyareis okay, but, like, rezoning may take six
1130
02:47:54.860 --> 02:47:58.340
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Months anyway, or, like, at least 3 months of work, and…
1131
02:47:58.360 --> 02:48:02.660
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: another long process, and then that's permanent. 1132
02:48:02.930 --> 02:48:08.540
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: rezoning is now permanent, and it changes that building for for perpetuity.
1133
02:48:08.570 --> 02:48:25.330
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: when that business may not even stay there, and we can help them get into a different place. But I think the the immediate real concern is just as a community to, you know, help the business out and just solve the smoking problem first.
1134
02:48:25.700 --> 02:48:29.729
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Because that's an investment they can take with them wherever they go.
1135
02:48:31.340 --> 02:48:33.549
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So what are you recommending? 1136
02:48:33.660 --> 02:48:40.750
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I… Oddly enough, I am not supporting a zoning change.
1137
02:48:40.860 --> 02:48:48.769
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: But I want to support the business in, you know, stayingthereand fixingthesmokingissue, which
1138
02:48:49.140 --> 02:48:51.279
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: is not on the agenda tonight. 1139
02:48:51.450 --> 02:49:01.469
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So my understanding is that that area is not zoned for a barbecue, and that is that so if you do nothing.
1140
02:49:01.570 --> 02:49:03.529
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: they cannot be there. 1141
02:49:04.560 --> 02:49:13.650
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: They can't be there, but I think it's because a conditional permit is not a thing. Is that correct?
1142
02:49:16.380 --> 02:49:26.130
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: A temporary use permit can only be issued for a use that is conditionally allowed. So a contemporary use permit is something you get 1143
02:49:26.560 --> 02:49:41.739
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: in lieu of getting a conditional use permit.
Conditional use permit requires going to a planning commission for that. A temporary use permit is the same thing as a conditional use permit, except it isissued by staff in this for a short period of time.
1144
02:49:41.880 --> 02:49:46.560
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: It could only be issued if the use is conditionally allowed.
1145
02:49:46.670 --> 02:49:55.849
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: under the code. This particular use is not conditionally allowed under the code at this location, so a temporary use permit cannot be issued.
1146
02:49:58.980 --> 02:50:09.269
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Please, please, it's it's you've had your turn to speak. You're disrupting. You're disrupting the meeting, and I don't appreciate it, and I would like you to please stop.
1147
02:50:10.360 --> 02:50:15.909
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Can we just… We'll just take a 5 min break, please.
1148
02:50:24.020 --> 02:50:25.330
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: You can't have a goal. 1149
02:50:27.190 --> 02:50:36.940
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And so we'll bring So we'll continue this discussion on agenda. Item number 11.
1150
02:50:40.480 --> 02:50:42.180
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Hinton. 1151
02:50:43.120 --> 02:50:44.249
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: has her hand up.
1152
02:50:44.250 --> 02:51:08.769
Neysa Hinton: Thank you. And there was some talk online about Brown Act. I do not believe I heard any Brown Act violations, although I did hear members of the public speaking, slightly from my Zoom position and maybe they can address, you guys can address that in the room. My comment before the break was that, well, first of all, the owner of the business who I think is best.
1153
02:51:09.050 --> 02:51:28.500
Neysa Hinton: poised to speak for himself. Finn has his name, his hand up, and I, for one, would be willing to, ask him to return, to make comments about the future in Sebastopol and maybe what he's willing to do. But I, I really believe that, 1154
02:51:28.500 --> 02:51:35.869
Neysa Hinton: you know, I'm willing to invest some time, because possibly, as another member of the public
1155
02:51:35.870 --> 02:51:41.620
Neysa Hinton: pointed out, I also grew up with that being a very successful corner and delicate contestant.
1156
02:51:41.620 --> 02:52:06.600
Neysa Hinton: And that's what this business opened as a deli. And even if it moves somewhere else, maybe the zoning does need to be changed, to allow conditional use permits. I, I did hear from our attorney, I think at the very beginning that this was the only zone in Sebastopol that didn't have that allowance. I'm a little unclear about what he said, but, I'm willing to vet this out and
1157
02:52:06.600 --> 02:52:13.489
Neysa Hinton: invest a little bit of money, not even if this business does outgrow that location and move.
1158
02:52:13.490 --> 02:52:28.830
Neysa Hinton: For the overall, so that we can have another business that would be successful in the business, in location, and possibly A&M might continue to operate a deli there, and they're expanding so fast that they could do. 1159
02:52:28.830 --> 02:52:38.900
Neysa Hinton: dual businesses, which we see frequently in Sonoma County. So, but I'd be asking if maybe we could rehear from VIN to answer some of the questions. 1160
02:52:41.080 --> 02:52:45.979
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'm I think Finn was able to speak earlier. So 1161
02:52:46.640 --> 02:52:52.309
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Do my council members want to ask questions of Finn.
1162
02:52:53.760 --> 02:52:54.660
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay.
1163
02:52:58.250 --> 02:53:01.940
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, so we I'm willing to do that. That's okay. 1164
02:53:02.270 --> 02:53:04.539
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Sure, Finn, can you unmute yourself, please? 1165
02:53:05.260 --> 02:53:06.440
Finn Liss: Yep, can you hear me.
1166
02:53:06.440 --> 02:53:08.099
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, we can hear you. Thank you. 1167
02:53:08.610 --> 02:53:12.449
Finn Liss: Yeah, thanks for letting me speak again. Sure.
1168
02:53:12.790 --> 02:53:16.929
Finn Liss: Couple things. The comments I just heard about how we started at the deli. 1169
02:53:17.090 --> 02:53:26.610
Finn Liss: I guess my question to you guys, how are we still not a deli? We sell meat by the weight, and wesellsides and delicontainers. Whatclassifies what's a deliand nota deli? 1170
02:53:28.200 --> 02:53:33.099
Finn Liss: There's been conversations about that around us, that we're not a deli anymore.
At the end of the day.
1171
02:53:33.790 --> 02:53:41.660
Finn Liss: We could talk all day long about what we really are. But if you really want to pinpoint it, I would. I could stay with Philadelphia.
1172
02:53:41.980 --> 02:53:46.760
Finn Liss: As far as the zoning, look, we… Everything happened so fast. 1173
02:53:47.150 --> 02:53:52.599
Finn Liss: And it didn't work. It wasn't just about the smoke. Then the arguments being that we weren't in the correct zoning.
1174
02:53:52.820 --> 02:53:58.820
Finn Liss: Right, then the question becomes, well then, how were we allowed to open in the 1st place? Obviously, there were mistakes made in 5.
1175
02:53:58.970 --> 02:54:00.000
Finn Liss: Offline.
1176
02:54:00.380 --> 02:54:07.709
Finn Liss: We were awarded Business of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce when we were already operating with those smokers, so everyone knew what we were doing. 1177
02:54:08.600 --> 02:54:15.279
Finn Liss: The reason the zoning thing has come up today is because that was recommended to us by city managers.
1178
02:54:15.840 --> 02:54:21.439
Finn Liss: She suggested that we file this motion. That was the advice we weregiving by the City Council.
1179
02:54:21.710 --> 02:54:26.439
Finn Liss: So… That's why we're here. The second reason we're here is 1180
02:54:27.500 --> 02:54:39.660
Finn Liss: Given all of this going on, we don't know how much time we really do or don't have, right? So even if we fix the smoker issue, there's still the arguments that are being made that were not in the correct zone.
1181
02:54:39.890 --> 02:54:43.080
Finn Liss: So we have to look at all aspects of.
1182
02:54:43.540 --> 02:54:46.010
Finn Liss: How we protect our business, and…
1183
02:54:46.130 --> 02:54:49.599
Finn Liss: If the reality is we can't be there because of zoning. 1184
02:54:50.060 --> 02:54:57.730
Finn Liss: Right? Okay, wegotta find anotherlocation. And we'reworkingwith Sebastopol, but we're not getting a whole lot of response from the building department. 1185
02:54:58.050 --> 02:55:04.930
Finn Liss: Like I said, Bill Carter's been the only one that has really even helped us Look at property.
1186
02:55:06.380 --> 02:55:18.159
Finn Liss: So it's all because of the time pressure. We don't know how long we can stay there before somebody ultimately just says, okay, you can't be here anymore. So what we're doing is looking at properties.
1187
02:55:18.470 --> 02:55:31.569
Finn Liss: Seeing if something can be done about the zoning, seeing if we get some filtration for the smokers, will that mean we can stay? But what I'm hearing now is even if we get something to fix the smoke, that we're still not in the rightzoning. 1188
02:55:31.660 --> 02:55:40.509
Finn Liss: So just from our perspective, we're exploring all avenues to make everything right.
We want our neighbors to be happy.
1189
02:55:40.700 --> 02:55:47.320
Finn Liss: Right? Again, these things take time. If we had known earlier that this was going to be an issue, we might have had this solved by now.
1190
02:55:49.320 --> 02:55:56.400
Finn Liss: Wearefightingforthebusiness and shuttingthebusiness down is justsomething that we can't swallow.
1191
02:55:56.510 --> 02:56:02.570
Finn Liss: We are actively communicating with City Council members. 1192
02:56:03.980 --> 02:56:11.209
Finn Liss: some people not responding to it. So I would also encourage you guys to… anyone we have written email to reach out to you to get back to us. 1193
02:56:11.560 --> 02:56:19.600
Finn Liss: Keep in mind, we're operating in business. We're very busy. We're working sometimes 12, 14-hour days. If we're not hearing back from members of the city. 1194
02:56:20.850 --> 02:56:28.120
Finn Liss: How much morecan wedo? Dowestartshowingup atyouroffices? Like, we want to meet with ourguys. We want to figure this thing out. 1195
02:56:28.320 --> 02:56:32.280
Finn Liss: But there's clearly a lot of gray area in terms of
1196
02:56:32.400 --> 02:56:44.249
Finn Liss: Yeah, get this. Get the smoke fix. Okay. But now there's azoning issue. we also need a clear understanding from the city of what we can and can't do. but we can't do it at the expense of losing the business.
1197
02:56:44.430 --> 02:56:47.719
Finn Liss: Given that we've been smoking since we opened. 1198
02:56:48.070 --> 02:56:52.789
Finn Liss: So, that's themain question, too, is how doweend up herein thefirstplace? I think
1199
02:56:53.090 --> 02:56:56.359
Finn Liss: like I said, mistakes were made amongst different people. 1200
02:56:56.650 --> 02:57:08.920
Finn Liss: maybe including us, too. Maybe we should do more research before we open the business in that location. But the city ultimately approved us smoking in that location.
We're happy to collaborate and figure something out.
1201
02:57:09.750 --> 02:57:26.540
Finn Liss: There's financialstrain thatcomes with thesesolutions, right? Dowewantto build a water scrubber that costs $50,000, and then we're told a month later that we have to leave anyway because of the zoning issue? So I think the best thing forward here is for us to get together and really come up with a plan.
1202
02:57:26.620 --> 02:57:30.740
Finn Liss: But it can't happen at the expense of us losing our business. 1203
02:57:32.700 --> 02:57:36.299
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Finn. Councilmember Carter, you have a question?
1204
02:57:36.690 --> 02:57:40.240
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I don't really see. 1205
02:57:40.380 --> 02:57:48.699
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: What I want is for businesses to feel like they're in a stable environment. It's really hard to operate when things feel 1206
02:57:48.810 --> 02:58:04.429
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: shaky, and you don't know what's gonna happen next. So, even though Ithink the order of operations is that we fix the smoke, I think they
should feel confident that if they do fix the smoke and everything's fine, that we can look at the zoning then.
1207
02:58:04.480 --> 02:58:17.909
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: If they… if they want to stay. And if they move, then that isn't an exercise we have to go through. But I would like the business to feel confident that, you know, fixing the smoke then leads to,
1208
02:58:18.160 --> 02:58:21.779
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: You know, the zoning that they need to stay, that would be great.
1209
02:58:22.050 --> 02:58:27.390
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: But I'm not sure that we need to do the zoning first. I just don't want to get the cart before the horse. 1210
02:58:30.410 --> 02:58:32.610
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Any other comments or emotion. 1211
02:58:34.250 --> 02:58:41.799
SebastopolCommunityCulturalCenter: Yeah,I'llgoahead and moveStaff's recommendation, because I think that what they've laid out will be able to educate all of us.
1212
02:58:41.820 --> 02:59:01.170
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: about our different options, and during the time that that will take it's like A. And M. May decide that it doesn't cost $55,000 for an air cleaner. Maybe it's closer to 33,000, and maybe they will set up a gofundme. And so maybe over the course of time, while both are doing their due diligence. 1213
02:59:01.170 --> 02:59:12.440
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: we'll be able to arrive at a happy medium where we're protecting everyone's public health and supporting diverse businesses. So I move staff'srecommendation.
1214
02:59:14.060 --> 02:59:19.360
SebastopolCommunity CulturalCenter:CanIask forclarification?Because Staff recommended Two things.
1215
02:59:19.500 --> 02:59:26.540
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And so I'm not sure which one you're you're reporting. IIunderstood thestaffreportas having
1216
02:59:27.030 --> 02:59:28.840
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Requesting time.
1217
02:59:28.860 --> 02:59:48.780
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: to do the analysis on the two options that are set forth. And so that's why I sent the email to Mary about asking how much it would be for Alex's time.And then tonight we got definitive proof about how muchit's goingto toss for planningstaff. Soforme, it's worth threehours of his timeand up to18hours of hertime.
I'll stick with that.
1218
02:59:50.020 --> 03:00:07.169
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, we have a motion and a second. Can we take a roll call? So moved by Councilmember Zollman and seconded by Councilmember Cartage, who's your ex-staff, to return to a future Council meeting with both options reviewed and analyzed for the allowance of commercial outdoor barbecue smokers within the zoning district.
1219
03:00:07.300 --> 03:00:11.560
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: with the Cup or other similar entitlements.
Councilmember Carter.
1220
03:00:12.590 --> 03:00:15.009
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Can I ask a question in the middle of a vote? 1221
03:00:15.840 --> 03:00:22.700
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Like, like, is anything, like, conditional? Like, must, must the business
1222
03:00:22.890 --> 03:00:32.340
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: meet certain standards for, you know, like, we can approve this, but, like, in order to go forward with the actual process, can we, you know. 1223
03:00:33.030 --> 03:00:43.600
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: mandate certain performance by the business. So if the, you know, their conditional permit was issued, there can be conditions of approval on that permit.
1224
03:00:45.080 --> 03:00:48.960
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: you know, requiring whatever the Council might decide.
1225
03:00:49.240 --> 03:00:53.790
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So we, so, just so I can get this straight, so first you change
1226
03:00:54.330 --> 03:00:58.229
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The zoning, and then they get a conditional use permit.
1227
03:00:58.730 --> 03:01:11.749
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yes, we can process those simultaneously. So the use… the zoning change gets approved, and at the same meeting, the use permit gets approved. And the use permit can be… Can have conditions of approval. 1228
03:01:11.750 --> 03:01:19.710
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: associated with it. So these are these are, you know. Sometimes we put conditions of approval about hours of operation, or 1229
03:01:19.950 --> 03:01:25.100
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: you know, things like that. So you could do, if there are concerns about
1230
03:01:26.040 --> 03:01:34.559
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Smoking, you could have, you know, conditions of approval related to that, and they often have time frames about when the condition has to besatisfied.
1231
03:01:35.140 --> 03:01:37.049
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, right now, we're just, like… 1232
03:01:37.490 --> 03:01:46.069
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: your time isthinking about it. Right now, staff will bring back the two options for how the zoning change could be 1233
03:01:46.330 --> 03:02:04.029
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: how the zoning code could be changed with a detailed analysis of what the implications of each option could be, and that the council can then look at those options and say, move forward with option A, move forward with option B, don't move forward with either of them. Okay. And…
1234
03:02:06.520 --> 03:02:10.239
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, I I get it. I that's so. Yeah. Yes. 1235
03:02:13.580 --> 03:02:15.400
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. Councilmember Hinton. 1236
03:02:15.400 --> 03:02:16.130
Neysa Hinton: Bye.
1237
03:02:16.410 --> 03:02:27.190
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Zollman? Yes. Vice Mayor Maurer? Yes. Mayor McLewis is absent. Motion passes four to one for Councilmember Carter, Hinton, Zollman, and Vice Mayor Maurer
1238
03:02:34.300 --> 03:02:48.969
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: discussion and approval of budget amendment for initial invoices for testing and mold, removal, etc, and discussion of proposed cost and timeline for library remediation.
1239
03:02:50.620 --> 03:02:51.600
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you.
1240
03:02:52.010 --> 03:02:52.810
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Alright.
1241
03:02:53.150 --> 03:03:08.700
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: This item is to approve the initial emergency response to the mold that was found at the library, and to talk through the phase one remediation that we're proposing to do there. I'm going to bring up a slideshow and just kind of run through
1242
03:03:08.700 --> 03:03:13.499
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: where we've been and where we're headed. So we're all on the same page on this discussion.
1243
03:03:14.590 --> 03:03:16.149
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: One moment…
1244
03:03:35.230 --> 03:03:40.640
SebastopolCommunity CulturalCenter:Okay,so onJune 4th,library staffnoticed 1245
03:03:40.660 --> 03:04:00.529
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: some mold, some warping in the library wallpaper on the exterior walls, and the city has owns the building and leases it to the library. So the exteriorwalls of thebuildingarethecity's responsibility. Librarystaffproactivelyclosed the library on the afternoon of June 4.th
1246
03:04:02.010 --> 03:04:11.460
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Library staff thenext day, after all the public wasn't there and the staff wasn't there, went into the walls to see if they could determine what was going on.
1247
03:04:11.460 --> 03:04:25.960
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: At that point, they were in contact with Public Works, and we had, an environmental specialist go out there as well. They advised that we stop making the holes in the walls, because we might possibly spread any potential mold 1248
03:04:25.960 --> 03:04:30.879
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: into the 2 areas where they had originally seen the wallpaper warping.
1249
03:04:30.880 --> 03:04:42.080
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So when nobody was there, we tested the air in the two areas, so the staff room and the teenage reading room where wall material had been removed.
1250
03:04:42.080 --> 03:04:53.939
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: and we found to have elevated mold in those two areas. They tested the common room as well, and the other staff areas, and there were no elevated mold readings in any of those areas.
1251
03:04:55.100 --> 03:05:10.109
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So this is what happened. This was Friday. We did this testing. This is the specialist doing it, and we sent the mold or the testing that they'd done to an outside lab where it was identified that the mold that we're seeing on the wallpaper is black mold.
1252
03:05:10.110 --> 03:05:26.539
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So we asked them to contain it and begin remediation. That's the phase one emergency work. Again, we did not find any elevated mold within the main areas of the library. It was just in those two enclaves where the excavation happened into the wall.
1253
03:05:27.790 --> 03:05:40.269
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So they contained those, they put in HEPA filters throughout the library while they were doing that work, and they began remediating the walls, so they removed the wallpaper.
1254
03:05:42.240 --> 03:06:01.549
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: within those areas, and they found that the mold is pretty substantial underneath the wallpaper again, just in these 2 areas. This took them from June fifth to June sixteenth. They removed all of the sheetrock. They removed the batting that was underneath, and remediated the area and cleaned the the 1255
03:06:01.550 --> 03:06:02.470
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Framing.
1256
03:06:02.470 --> 03:06:20.460
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: What they found in the teen reading room is that after they had removed all of the sheetrock, there's some structural damage to that west wall of the building. Again, this is just in one little wall, we don't know what else is going on, this is just in the areas that they've exposed.
1257
03:06:20.510 --> 03:06:21.340
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Oh.
1258
03:06:21.590 --> 03:06:35.759
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: But while they were doing that, they did some moisture testing in the other areas in the library, both that they'd exposed and on the places where the wallpaper is, and you can see other areas where there's peeling wallpaper around the exterior of the building.
1259
03:06:35.760 --> 03:06:44.209
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So the initial assessment is that there's likely additional mold around the exterior of the building that's being held in by the wallpaper. 1260
03:06:46.230 --> 03:06:56.300
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So what we're proposing as a next step, we need to approve the emergency invoice that they have given us, but we also have pricing to 1261
03:06:56.300 --> 03:07:20.870
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We're going to isolate the walls of the exterior building, havethelibrarystaffhelp us moveallthebooks and stufftothecenter, do containment like you saw in the teen area around those exterior walls, and then start pulling back that wallpaper to see how extensive the mold is behind the wallpaper and pull the sheetrock off from there and remediate those wall areas. So that isthe pricing that is before you for
1262
03:07:20.870 --> 03:07:21.900
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: approval tonight. 1263
03:07:22.020 --> 03:07:39.330
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Once we have all those areas exposed, and you can see the framing beneath the sheetrock, we'll be able to make a better of assessment about what the structural damage is to the building. At this point, we're really just guessing, so trying to get costing for what a full repair would look like. 1264
03:07:39.660 --> 03:07:55.820
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: is a very big estimate. So I've gotten some just preliminary costs on what we think it might be to reconstruct, assuming the level of damage that we saw in the team room. But we're going to have contractors come in once we have the walls exposed and do a better bid for the project. 1265
03:07:57.090 --> 03:08:14.579
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So this is… well, Phase 1 was the initial, cost of the emergency response to decontaminate the two rooms that were exposed. The price was $47,000. The library has agreed to cost-share that with us at a 50-50 split, so the cost to Sebastopol is $23,000.
1266
03:08:14.810 --> 03:08:32.800
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: 844. And then we've received one price, and I'm looking for two more proposals from qualifiedremediating companies to come in and do that exposure of the exterior walls, and clean up any mold that we do find there, up to the $175,000, which is the one price I currently have.
1267
03:08:32.900 --> 03:08:47.479
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: At that point, kind of the preliminary estimates that we're getting from that same contractor is that reconstruction would be on the order of $200,000 to do any structural repair, to put the sheetrock back, to put the 1268
03:08:48.180 --> 03:09:06.240
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: installation back and put us back together. So this is kind of our projected, total budget. As we know right now, that Phase 3 is very preliminary. We need more information before we can really assess what that number is.
We're proposing to take this from the Building Reserve Fund, which 1269
03:09:06.240 --> 03:09:12.410
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: As indicated, we currently have a balance of $594,000 in.
1270
03:09:14.050 --> 03:09:15.040
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I am.
1271
03:09:15.600 --> 03:09:20.229
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Can you tell us what that total was? I couldn't quite see it from here.
1272
03:09:21.000 --> 03:09:23.660
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Was it 3 38,000.
1273
03:09:24.050 --> 03:09:29.679
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: 398. 398, thank you. So about $400,000. Again, that phase 3 is
1274
03:09:29.930 --> 03:09:33.529
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: a very preliminary estimate, and will likely change.
Okay.
1275
03:09:36.130 --> 03:09:46.250
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So what requesting of council tonight is approving the invoice we already have for the original immediate remediation of the teen room and thestaffarea.
1276
03:09:46.250 --> 03:09:57.830
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: For the containment and the cleanup, and then approval for the second phase to, expose the rest of the exterior walls, clean up the mold that we find, and then assess the structural damage behind that. 1277
03:09:58.580 --> 03:10:09.150
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And as Mary indicated earlier, we've been working with the library to try tofind them some temporary locations for the bus and facilities and classes, and we're still in that process.
1278
03:10:09.790 --> 03:10:14.599
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So I'll pause. And we're here for questions as best as we can at this point.
1279
03:10:14.790 --> 03:10:16.279
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Zolman. 1280
03:10:16.890 --> 03:10:35.169
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, thank you, and honestly, I think that that information you just shared was not what I read in the staff report, so that to me is actually astounding. So, when I said earlier, in reference to the other agenda item, that those two were pretty much tied together, this building the Sebastopol Commons. 1281
03:10:35.310 --> 03:10:51.490
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: and then this whole remediation. So really, with what's been spent already, and I appreciate the library chipping in for half of it. That's not unprecedented, and I really want to be clear about this. I sat on the Library Commission as an appointee of this city, and I know for sure
1282
03:10:51.490 --> 03:10:57.650
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: that the library did chip in on substantial other necessary repairs for other sister cities.
1283
03:10:58.050 --> 03:11:00.319
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The HVAC in Santa Rosa. 1284
03:11:01.010 --> 03:11:17.059
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, you could correct me if I'm wrong, but that was my understanding, the fact that there are exceptions. So, I'm seeing heads shaking, so you can refute it back, the fact that that is not true. But the fact of the matter is, we're now talking about something of, like.
1285
03:11:17.320 --> 03:11:24.369
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: the 3, 98, 44, plus the 100,000 that we did, and that we're being asked to
1286
03:11:24.460 --> 03:11:40.840
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: repay or to approve in hindsight, that already brings it up to a half a million dollars for a building that the library administration has already said in its report 10 years ago, that's not the right size for us. So what are we really doing?
1287
03:11:40.970 --> 03:11:43.370
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I honestly don't feel comfortable at all. 1288
03:11:43.450 --> 03:12:01.539
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I mean, not with the price that's being put forth now. I think that this probably is something that it's just like we need to really have a strong think of, of whether we're gonna approve $500,000 for a building we're gonna hope to get fixed with mold and with dry rot, to what?
1289
03:12:01.540 --> 03:12:08.439
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: be in a substandard place. It doesn't even make mathematical sense to me. So that's where I'm at. Other questions? 1290
03:12:09.680 --> 03:12:11.460
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: questions, questions. 1291
03:12:12.540 --> 03:12:16.049
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Is is there any indication of timeline? 1292
03:12:17.300 --> 03:12:26.810
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The next phase of the remediation will take about 3 weeks, and then we'll need to have contractors go in and give us some pricing. Once the walls are exposed. Look at the structural damage.
1293
03:12:27.270 --> 03:12:31.649
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, like, construction… In in some like. 1294
03:12:32.950 --> 03:12:46.659
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I reconstruction may not take very long, so this could be a month, or could be 2 months. The remediation piece will be at least a month, and then we'll bring back pricing to do the reconstruction to this council. 1295
03:12:46.790 --> 03:12:50.919
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And that thinking about process will take 3 weeks?
1296
03:12:53.000 --> 03:12:56.019
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Like at post remediation, that's a month. 1297
03:12:56.310 --> 03:13:00.239
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And then will it take 1 or 2 or 3 weeks to. 1298
03:13:00.580 --> 03:13:03.180
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Get the person that might fix.
1299
03:13:04.060 --> 03:13:13.929
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, and perhaps I can answer this question. The city has obligations to publicly bid contracts, so depending on the amount of the contract. 1300
03:13:15.070 --> 03:13:25.449
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Don't quote me on this exactly. I think it's 225. If it's below $225,000, we can informally bid it. That still involves a little bit of formality. 1301
03:13:25.530 --> 03:13:41.410
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: If it's above that, we have to do a formal bid. That involves publishing notice, sending out notice to bid, receiving that. You usually have that open for 2 weeks to receive bids. Bids are then brought to the Council for 1302
03:13:41.760 --> 03:13:47.740
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: approval. So being drywall, your estimation is this is over $225,000?
1303
03:13:48.180 --> 03:13:50.480
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: That was. Well.
1304
03:13:50.590 --> 03:14:00.720
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The remedy, just the reconstruction piece, correct? Yeah, just the reconstruction piece, the initial assessments I'm getting is around $200,000, so we're hoping that we won't have to do the full bid process. 1305
03:14:00.740 --> 03:14:19.599
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I have already had contractors look at it and start thinking about how they would provide pricing. It's just really hard to tell when we don't know what kind of structural damage there is. So people are already thinking about it. They just need to come back in once the walls are exposed. So yes, I think we can turn around pricing relatively quickly once we have it exposed.
1306
03:14:19.750 --> 03:14:31.279
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And and just a reminder for for council member council members. The city has to pay prevailing wage on all of its construction project any work over a thousand dollars. So
1307
03:14:31.280 --> 03:14:40.050
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The price we pay is much higher than the market rate that a private entity would be able to pay for this type of work. 1308
03:14:40.530 --> 03:14:42.090
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay. Councilmember Hinton. 1309
03:14:45.390 --> 03:14:46.200
Neysa Hinton: I'm
1310
03:14:46.990 --> 03:14:59.200
Neysa Hinton: Yeah, what I'd like to understand is what do we think the building's worth right now? I hear Councilmember Zollman, and I've read a variety of things about 1311
03:14:59.220 --> 03:15:08.550
Neysa Hinton: That, you know, this is not the right size, but we don't have an immediate plan to figure out money for a new library.
1312
03:15:09.460 --> 03:15:13.840
Neysa Hinton: And this is a building the city owns. We have to repair it. 1313
03:15:14.100 --> 03:15:20.119
Neysa Hinton: Unless somebody mentioned a full teardown. But I can't imagine this building must be valued at.
1314
03:15:21.670 --> 03:15:30.010
Neysa Hinton: Millions, 10 million? I, I, I was just curious because really what we're reinvesting is a percentage.
1315
03:15:30.420 --> 03:15:39.810
Neysa Hinton: of what it's valued at. It is our building. We have to repair it, even if it's not the home of the library. I would assume it would be the home of something else. 1316
03:15:41.620 --> 03:15:45.659
Neysa Hinton: Maybe. Or I just can't imagine a full teardown. 1317
03:15:46.240 --> 03:15:48.490
Neysa Hinton: Do we know what the value of the property is? 1318
03:15:48.900 --> 03:16:01.049
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So yeah, Councilman Member Carr, you may be able to talk to it more. I'd be referring to the same assessment that we did with the building of the Commons, where the whole parcel is 3.6, and the library is some larger than half portion of that.
1319
03:16:02.560 --> 03:16:21.270
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So to Oriana's point, it's some portion of 3.5 million dollars, and it's worth less as if somebody wants to build on top of it and do a different thing, and we have to rezone it. But for us, the replacement value is probably 1320
03:16:22.010 --> 03:16:23.550
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: 2 million-ish.
1321
03:16:23.840 --> 03:16:32.920
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And, you know, to throw $400,000 or less into it is probably safe to have a place to have a library.
1322
03:16:33.020 --> 03:16:41.180
SebastopolCommunityCulturalCenter: Youknow, that's…that's afinancialdecision people, like, struggle over, and I think should be struggled over, and not just… 1323
03:16:41.280 --> 03:16:44.180
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: willy nilly thought about the 1324
03:16:45.160 --> 03:16:52.420
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: But I think, you know, to have, in my opinion, that now that I'm just talking.
1325
03:16:52.550 --> 03:16:55.479
SebastopolCommunity CulturalCenter:It'sprobably worthy offixing. 1326
03:16:55.610 --> 03:17:04.840
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Could we please just stick to questions, and then we'll go out to public comment. Councilmember Zolman. Yeah. So my question is the fact that to Oriana the
1327
03:17:05.260 --> 03:17:18.339
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: the library… the building where the library is now was built at the same time as City Hall, right? So when's the last time City Hall's been looked at? If there is mold and dry rot in the library, are you saying the fact that you don't really feel like the same existed
1328
03:17:18.340 --> 03:17:35.339
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: the same set of circumstances exists for our staff, notlikeI'mnotconcerned forlibrarystaff. I'mconcerned about, like, a publichealth issue, and our due diligence, and making sure that the City Hall isn't also falling apart, because we've never really looked in the walls. So, can you answer that? 1329
03:17:35.700 --> 03:17:47.860
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, what we're finding in the library is that they had wallpaper against the sheetrock and was holding in moisture, and we don't know what's causing the moisture to be there, so that's one of the things we're gonna look at when we pull all of it off.
1330
03:17:47.860 --> 03:17:59.710
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: But because that wallpaper was not letting the sheetrock breathe, that is the primary reason we're assuming that the mold is there. So we're not seeing that at City Hall. City Hall has sheetrock. 1331
03:17:59.710 --> 03:18:04.909
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So I… don't believe that we have the same issues there. Okay, thanks.
1332
03:18:06.330 --> 03:18:07.880
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Any other questions. 1333
03:18:09.190 --> 03:18:11.239
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We can go out to public comment. 1334
03:18:13.120 --> 03:18:24.900
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Vice Mayor. So this is public comment on the Sebastopol Library situation. If you'd like to make a public comment, we go to inperson for… Councilmember Hinton, I believe, has a question. Erica, just for a second, I. 1335
03:18:24.900 --> 03:18:26.999
Neysa Hinton: Yeah, I just had one more question.
1336
03:18:27.000 --> 03:18:27.760
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay.
1337
03:18:27.760 --> 03:18:39.910
Neysa Hinton: As I just heard that there's wallpaper in the library. I'm curious, who put that wallpaper up? Because if we didn't put it in City Hall, was that put up by library staff or by the city?
1338
03:18:41.050 --> 03:18:49.770
Neysa Hinton: And that goes to a point that we got from a member of the public that was asking about liability, and so I'm wondering who put that 1339
03:18:49.870 --> 03:18:56.140
Neysa Hinton: Wallpaper up because a lot of people know wallpaper isn't really great for houses. You know, we've learned.
1340
03:18:57.000 --> 03:19:00.840
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: It's my understanding that the library did it during one of the remodels.
1341
03:19:04.610 --> 03:19:12.609
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, now, we will go out to public comment.
Erica. Thank you. Erica Chabot, library director. I'm glad to be here as part of this discussion.
1342
03:19:12.610 --> 03:19:20.180
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I just want to express my strong support and the library's strong support for staff recommendation to authorize the phase 2 remediation. 1343
03:19:20.180 --> 03:19:36.540
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: so that we can continue moving this project forward. The city and the library have a long history of working together to provide library servicetoSebastopol, and Iwanttothankthecitystaff, especiallyOriana, Mary, and Cynthia at the Community Center. While we're working on some temporary library services. 1344
03:19:36.540 --> 03:19:49.939
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The library's also demonstrated its commitment by providing 50% of the reimbursement for the phase one emergency, and I'm also willing to take the phase 2 cost to the Library Commission and ask them to 1345
03:19:49.940 --> 03:20:07.700
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: To share in that responsibility as well. From my perspective, paying for the remediation, the repair is much cheaper than moving to a new library. I can share that when we had a temporary location in Healdsburg, that was a community center, it was a turnkey building, it was $400,000. 1346
03:20:07.700 --> 03:20:25.509
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: from the library's funds to move to that location.
That included moving costs, that included IT costs, because we had to add computers,
staff workstations, wehad to do some repairs. When wehad a temporary building at the Petaluma, Kenilworth Teen Center, that was a million dollars. 1347
03:20:25.510 --> 03:20:32.030
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: in funding for the temporary space, and that was for a building that we occupied for a year that we will never use again. 1348
03:20:32.030 --> 03:20:50.189
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, from my perspective, $200,000 to the repairs and the remediation is significantly more cost-effectivethan purchasinga building. We also will be able to provide a higher level of service at the library than we can in a temporary space.
1349
03:20:50.190 --> 03:21:02.880
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And you know, given that the length of time that the library will be closed to me, it just makes good sense to repair the existing building while we work on a long-term plan for a future larger library. Thank you. 1350
03:21:03.730 --> 03:21:06.909
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Erica, for your public comment. I'll go out to Zoom
1351
03:21:07.390 --> 03:21:09.359
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Lee, can you unmute yourself, please? 1352
03:21:11.160 --> 03:21:11.840
Lee: Yes.
1353
03:21:12.150 --> 03:21:13.829
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. Can you see the timer still. 1354
03:21:13.830 --> 03:21:14.870
Lee: Thank you. Thank you.
1355
03:21:14.870 --> 03:21:15.730
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Go ahead, please. 1356
03:21:16.350 --> 03:21:23.879
Lee: Yeah, just a comment on history, and I'm really fuzzy on this. This goes back to my comment of not being able to figure out exactly which
1357
03:21:24.020 --> 03:21:25.939
Lee: Cip projects…
1358
03:21:26.040 --> 03:21:34.869
Lee: were planned, and then which ones were done, but I think prior to the CISRCO contract, which goes back several years, there was a CIP project to replace the roof. 1359
03:21:35.170 --> 03:21:45.569
Lee: I think, as part of Cisco, they wanted to do a no cost solar panel job, and that required a roof repair, a roof replacement, and
1360
03:21:46.010 --> 03:21:48.440
Lee: I don't know that that got done.
1361
03:21:48.650 --> 03:22:05.599
Lee: under Cisco's proposal anyway, but it was a contract. But then a couple years ago, there was a CIP project that was for roof repair and solar panels, so maybe that was that project. But anyway, the question would be, did a contractor do something to the roof that, perhaps
1362
03:22:05.600 --> 03:22:11.620
Lee: caused the leak? Or was the leak an artifact, or the reason that the roof really needed to be repaired for so many years?
1363
03:22:11.620 --> 03:22:15.989
Lee: I know Oriana probably is on top of this, but I don't know how much history. 1364
03:22:16.000 --> 03:22:18.299
Lee: they have there. Thank you.
1365
03:22:19.290 --> 03:22:24.470
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment. I will come into chambers if there's anyone in chambers that would like to make a public comment. 1366
03:22:25.120 --> 03:22:29.410
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, I will go back out to Zoom. Linda, can you unmute yourself, please?
1367
03:22:30.490 --> 03:22:33.320
Linda Robinett: This has been really interesting.
1368
03:22:34.210 --> 03:22:39.840
Linda Robinett: you know, surprised by the library being closed. I haven't managed to get over to
1369
03:22:40.480 --> 03:22:43.459
Linda Robinett: Forestville? I don't think I've ever been in the 1370
03:22:43.800 --> 03:22:59.970
Linda Robinett: And I was kind of surprised there wasn't a bibliobus for us, but I can see why now, after the description, because past time we had a bibliobus, the actual building was safe. They were just redoing stuff and putting that great new 1371
03:23:00.390 --> 03:23:12.190
Linda Robinett: book discharge system in so they could have a biblio bus during certain days, and we could operate in the library. But I can see the library does a lot more than just 1372
03:23:12.680 --> 03:23:14.269
Linda Robinett: Hand me a book!
1373
03:23:14.640 --> 03:23:27.689
Linda Robinett: and I think unless they really, they're going to lose a lot of that. I mean, they've had music performances there. They've had storytelling for children there continually. I think every Monday they were having
1374
03:23:28.100 --> 03:23:37.440
Linda Robinett: really small children. I remember peeking in and watching the librarian there do a puppet show for really young people. So
1375
03:23:37.890 --> 03:23:50.149
Linda Robinett: And of course, having observed a library for a full day while registering voters there once, we have a lot of the homeless population and other people who don't have computers at home using it.
1376
03:23:50.400 --> 03:24:02.580
Linda Robinett: So I hope we can get it back fast. And I have a feeling just going ahead with this project is probably going to be the fastest way to get the library back. 1377
03:24:05.170 --> 03:24:08.850
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Linda, for your public comments.
Next, again, I will come back into cham
1378
03:24:09.090 --> 03:24:12.530
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, I'll go back out to Zoom. Kyle, can you un.
1379
03:24:13.460 --> 03:24:14.220
Kyle Falbo: I can.
1380
03:24:14.420 --> 03:24:15.949
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. Can you still see the tim. 1381
03:24:15.950 --> 03:24:16.540
Kyle Falbo: I can.
1382
03:24:16.540 --> 03:24:17.669
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Great. Go ahead, please. 1383
03:24:18.520 --> 03:24:26.599
Kyle Falbo: I'm hoping maybe we can get a little bit of clarity about something that was just said before we jumped into public comment. The suggestion that… 1384
03:24:27.290 --> 03:24:37.579
Kyle Falbo: The issue is with just wallpaper and sheetrock and breathing, but yet we saw prior to that, what appeared to be dry rot.
1385
03:24:37.680 --> 03:24:44.089
Kyle Falbo: Which would not be something that would just simply be sheetrock and wallpaper interacting.
1386
03:24:44.240 --> 03:24:49.160
Kyle Falbo: So hopefully we can get some clarity on that. What I've been really fascinated by…
1387
03:24:49.260 --> 03:24:57.119
Kyle Falbo: From public comment, and about around this issue, is about the abysmal public transportation issue.
1388
03:24:57.380 --> 03:25:05.570
Kyle Falbo: That we don't even have the ability for our residents to make it out to these libraries at these other locations as a result of
1389
03:25:05.750 --> 03:25:24.469
Kyle Falbo: reduction in public transportation access for our city. I have regularly criticized the current SCTA rep for the allowance of huge reductions in service offerings from Sebastopol to Santa Rosa, from Sebastopol to Roanoke Park. 1390
03:25:24.610 --> 03:25:28.129
Kyle Falbo: And we are hearing from other members of the public tonight. 1391
03:25:28.270 --> 03:25:48.120
Kyle Falbo: So again, council members, when it comes time for committee appointments, please please consider taking up Scta. I would love to see someone who is willing to
actually advocate for our city to restore access to public transportation routes that were there prior to 2020.
1392
03:25:49.240 --> 03:25:57.380
Kyle Falbo: This is a perfect example of this, where we have members of the public with actual needs to leave the city to access
1393
03:25:57.450 --> 03:26:16.040
Kyle Falbo: infrastructure, library infrastructure, that they cannot do reliably as a result of the huge amount of cuts in public transportation access that we've seen over the last 5 to 6 years under the watch of the current SCTA rep.
1394
03:26:17.790 --> 03:26:23.909
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Kyle, for your public comments. Next, I will come back into chambers. If there's anyone in chambers that would like to make a public
1395
03:26:24.440 --> 03:26:30.260
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, I will go back out to Zoom. If there's anyone on Zoom that would like to make a public comment, to please raise your hand 1396
03:26:31.230 --> 03:26:33.620
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, public comment is closed on this item.
1397
03:26:35.100 --> 03:26:40.130
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, bringing it back to the dais, for a motion or comments.
1398
03:26:40.740 --> 03:26:41.930
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I have a comment. 1399
03:26:43.180 --> 03:26:54.399
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: My comment is that this council approved major fixes to the communitycenter, knowing that it's in a flood zone. 1400
03:26:54.530 --> 03:27:05.349
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: and we did that. So I think we need to do the same thing for the library. it wouldn't make sense to me to have a building and not repair it. 1401
03:27:05.610 --> 03:27:11.680
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I don't fully understand the wallpaper on the exterior walls. That didn't quite make sense to me, but…
1402
03:27:12.170 --> 03:27:14.450
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Maybe you could explain that. 1403
03:27:14.850 --> 03:27:31.300
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The wallpaper's on the interior of the exterior wallpaper. Okay, thank you. That makes sense. There's decorative wallpaper that was put on, and so the leaking is clearly happening in the wall, and it's going through the sheetrock, but it can't breathe, so it's gonna get stuck. Okay, thank you. I think it's really important 1404
03:27:31.550 --> 03:27:50.559
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: to do the remediation work, but also to identify where the moisture is coming from, because if you don't identify where the moisture is coming from, it's just going to repeat itself. So my hope is that these contractors that you're working with make that their priorities to identify and remediate wherever the source of moisture is.
1405
03:27:50.840 --> 03:27:53.919
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And then I have,
1406
03:27:54.180 --> 03:28:10.079
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'm wondering about, you know, our library has… when youwalkintoit, ithas a hallway, and onesideof thelibraryis closed off. You'vegot another room on… if you're coming in, anyway, from High Street, you've got a room on the right that's big enough.
1407
03:28:10.080 --> 03:28:22.659
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: if it doesn't have any mold, why isn't that being used for holes? Because I'm driving to Forestville to pick up my holes, and you could have the holes in a room actually even smaller
1408
03:28:22.660 --> 03:28:33.800
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: then what they have in Forestville, that room could be used for holds. So I'm wondering why that room isn't being used for holds, because the rest of the library is sectioned off.
1409
03:28:33.830 --> 03:28:37.719
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: and then you have. You could have. You could even bring in a few computers in there.
1410
03:28:37.860 --> 03:28:40.640
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So I'm wondering if you've looked into that. 1411
03:28:40.950 --> 03:28:44.490
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And or please look into that. 1412
03:28:45.390 --> 03:28:50.200
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Host #1: We do have the library director here that can address that. Okay, thank you. Appreciate that.
1413
03:28:52.100 --> 03:29:03.619
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: That would be the ideal solution that, you know, when the repairs are done, that if the meeting room could be done first, st and then we could, section off the rest of the library so that we could use the meeting room in the way that you suggest.
1414
03:29:03.720 --> 03:29:15.230
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: that would be the ideal solution. But in the interim we are looking at providing a Holtz pickup at the at the community center or other spaces in town. In addition to the Biblio bus stop.
1415
03:29:15.270 --> 03:29:25.739
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'm just wondering why it can't be done now. Is it because you're going to have people coming and going and working in there, because that whole sectionisclosedoff,couldbe closedoff.
1416
03:29:26.660 --> 03:29:27.740
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: separate.
1417
03:29:28.960 --> 03:29:34.650
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Potentially, but we are going to do kind of environmental isolation of the whole area, so…
1418
03:29:35.280 --> 03:29:47.220
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I don't know that I'd feel entirely comfortable. I'd feel better if we made it through the 3 weeks of remediating the walls before we did that.
And I think, additionally, we need to assess if there's any mold in the meeting room space as well.
1419
03:29:51.220 --> 03:29:56.280
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: looking for a motion. I'm just gonna yeah. Move the recommendation.
1420
03:29:56.480 --> 03:29:57.509
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'll second.
1421
03:30:01.770 --> 03:30:13.909
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, so so moved by Councilmember Carter, and seconded by Vice Mayor Maurer to approve the budget amendment for the initial voice invoices for the testing, the mobile removal, and then for the 1422
03:30:14.540 --> 03:30:19.050
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Set aside for the $175,000 based upon the bids coming back.
1423
03:30:19.630 --> 03:30:21.460
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Carter. 1424
03:30:21.560 --> 03:30:23.330
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yes. Councilmember Hinton? 1425
03:30:23.330 --> 03:30:24.150
Neysa Hinton: Bye.
1426
03:30:25.090 --> 03:30:34.930
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Zollman? Yes. Vice Mayor Maurer? Yes. Motion passes 4-1, with Councilmembers Carter, Hinton, Zollman, and Vice Mayor Maurer in support, and
1427
03:30:57.860 --> 03:31:02.249
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We actually want to do the public comment. the second public comment period.
1428
03:31:02.820 --> 03:31:19.040
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So this is an opportunity for public comment for items that are not on the agenda, and if you did not speak at the very first publiccomment period, if you would like to make a public comment for an item not on the agenda, and again, youdid not speak during the first public comment period, now is your opportunity. I will come to chambers first.
1429
03:31:19.930 --> 03:31:24.370
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, I'll go out to Zoom. If there's anyone on Zoom, please raise your hand virt
1430
03:31:24.800 --> 03:31:27.510
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, there is no public comment. 1431
03:31:32.220 --> 03:31:39.239
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, so I just wanted to say that, we did hire an associate planner for the spousal planning department.
1432
03:31:39.400 --> 03:31:57.289
SebastopolCommunity CulturalCenter:Itis…we've offeredthe conditionalofferletter, they accepted, they're in background now, so that'll be 4 to 6 weeks for a background check. As I stated earlier, we did receive 3 proposals for planning services, we will be vetting 2 of them, and then moving forward with interviews. 1433
03:31:57.390 --> 03:32:08.070
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I am in the process of hiring a former city clerk to do the nominations only, the elections, between July and August. We're still working on her contract, though.
1434
03:32:08.070 --> 03:32:25.379
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: But if she cannot meet the requirements in the contract, then I will be working with city staff to do the nomination period, or the nomination forms. And speaking of that, the nomination period opens on Monday for the city council candidates to pull papers, so July 13th.
1435
03:32:25.380 --> 03:32:36.750
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: we'll be starting the process, so if there's anyone that wants to come in and talk about running for City Council, please call us. We… these are only by appointments only, so please call us to make an appointment. And that is all I have.
1436
03:32:37.010 --> 03:32:40.359
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. Do we have any reports from council members?
1437
03:32:43.100 --> 03:32:53.950
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Zolman. Thank you. So yes, a number of continuing homeless coalition board meetings, on the permanent support of housing,
1438
03:32:54.500 --> 03:33:10.639
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: protocol development committee, and we're working with the new executive director, who also is on that from St. Vincent's to Paul, along with the folks from Elderberry, to figureout a way for there to be more 1439
03:33:10.640 --> 03:33:23.290
SebastopolCommunity CulturalCenter:collaborative effortsto addressstartup,issues, should they arise at St. Vincent de Paul, so that's an ongoing work. Also still on the evaluation committee
1440
03:33:23.290 --> 03:33:31.079
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: for the HUD grants in addition to keeping up with what's going on on the board. So that's my status. Thanks. Thank you. 1441
03:33:34.840 --> 03:33:36.030
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Anyone else.
1442
03:33:37.480 --> 03:33:39.079
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Oh, Councilmember Hinton. 1443
03:33:40.180 --> 03:33:58.310
Neysa Hinton: Yeah, I did want to give, just a brief, address a few comments that were made tonight. We have been trying to ask for, Route 29 back from Santa Rosa to the ocean, and we have been denied for a few years.
1444
03:33:58.310 --> 03:34:00.769
Neysa Hinton: In a row now and
1445
03:34:00.770 --> 03:34:06.840
Neysa Hinton: Just to address some negative speak from the public. 1446
03:34:06.840 --> 03:34:26.349
Neysa Hinton: as the rep for SCTCA for the last 3 years. Both myself, I've sat on it, and Linda Hopkins has been an appointee, to that board as well for the entire time I've sat on it from the Board of Supervisors, and we continue to lobby to try to get dollars to West… 1447
03:34:26.390 --> 03:34:39.610
Neysa Hinton: West County overall, including Sebastopol, but anybody that follows transportation knows that it's a really tough go right now, and routes are being cut back, and there's a lot of challenges in that,
1448
03:34:39.790 --> 03:34:40.740
Neysa Hinton: Segment.
1449
03:34:42.110 --> 03:34:42.919
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you.
1450
03:34:43.540 --> 03:34:44.860
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Carter. 1451
03:34:46.580 --> 03:34:53.220
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Once again, I'm sure I did something. And I feel like you guys need to be informed about it.
1452
03:34:53.740 --> 03:34:59.480
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'm having a little bit of a brain fog, so we'll save it for later. Okay, thank you.
1453
03:34:59.600 --> 03:35:09.679
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So I just have a short report from the 0 waste meeting. We had a presentation by 2 recyclers regarding the Crv. 1454
03:35:09.790 --> 03:35:11.480
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Which is the cash. 1455
03:35:11.810 --> 03:35:30.180
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: whenever you buy a bottle or a can that have a Crv charge. It's like 5 cents or 10 15 cents, whatever it is. These 2 companies do the recycling, and so they we have one right here in Sebastopol. It's at 1,000 highway, 1 16 north. 1456
03:35:30.530 --> 03:35:50.420
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And what what's happening is at the store. They are collecting billions of dollars of unredeemed bottles and cans from unredeemed bottles and cans. And they have this big fund, and it's managed by Cal recycle. And basically other agencies borrow from it.
1457
03:35:50.450 --> 03:35:57.529
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So this is so when you put these types of cans and bottles into the recycling.
1458
03:35:57.750 --> 03:36:03.259
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: SCRR does not receive money for those redemptions.
1459
03:36:03.450 --> 03:36:07.220
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: They recycle them, but they don't get the redemption value.
1460
03:36:07.410 --> 03:36:09.830
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So you can go to. 1461
03:36:09.970 --> 03:36:11.389
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Let's see, where is it? 1462
03:36:12.200 --> 03:36:22.570
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: NorthBayRecycleZone.com, and they have a little video to show you how you can redeem any bottles and cans, so… 1463
03:36:22.570 --> 03:36:40.779
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I thought, well, I'll try this, and then I realized we didn't really have that many to do. So really, it works in bulk, works best in bulk. But anyway, you can do this, and you can get a debit card from them, so you can redeem your bottles, get the debit card, and they'll put money on it for you. 1464
03:36:41.900 --> 03:36:46.730
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: and you can do it all on the computer. You don't have to have a cell phone to do it.
1465
03:36:47.600 --> 03:36:50.930
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: That's my report and anything else. 1466
03:36:52.640 --> 03:36:55.489
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: This meeting is adjourned. Thank you. Everybody. 1467
03:37:06.660 --> 03:37:07.620
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: E.
City Council Meeting - July 7, 2026
I'M CALLING THIS MEETING
TO
ORDER ON JULY 7th AT 6:00.
THANK YOU.
SO I WILL TAKE ROLL CALL.
COUNCIL MEMBER
CARTER.
HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER ZOLLMAN.
PRESENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER HINTEN
IS
ATTENDING
REMOTELY.
PRESENT.
AND VICE MAYOR MAURER.
HERE.
AND WE DO HAVE A REMOTE
PARTICIPATION BY COUNCIL MEMBER
HINTON, AND THE COUNCIL WILL
WILL
NEED TO A VOTE FOR
PARTICIPATION.
COUNCIL MEMBER HINTON, DO YOU
WANT TO MAKE A YOUR STATEMENT?
SORRY, I'M HAVING A
FEW
TECHNICAL GLITCHES HERE.
HOLD ON A MINUTE.
YES, I'M LOOKING FOR
MY
STATEMENT.
I AM SO SORRY.
I AM -- I DON'T --
WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO
MAKE AA
STATEMENT FOR
YOU?
YEAH.
I KNOW THAT I HAD IT HERE,
AND
I'M LOOKING AND I CAN'T FIND
IT
IN THE LINE-UP.
SO, YEAH, MARY, WOULD YOU
MIND
READING
IT?
SURE.
SO BECAUSE THIS IS A JUST CAUSE,
COUNCIL MEMBER HINTON IS
LOGGING
IN REMOTELY DUE TO AN ILLNESS,
SO IT IS JUSTIFIED UNDER AB2449.
SHE IS DOING IT ROW
MOTLEY.
AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, SHE
HAS NO ONE THAT IS UNDER THE AGE
OF 18, AND SHE CAN HEAR US
BY
AUDIO AND VISUAL, AND WE CAN
SEE
HER BY AUDIO AND VISUAL
AS WELL.
THAT IS CORRECT.
NO ONE UNDER THE AGE OF 18, AND
AUDIO AND
VISUAL.
SO THE COUNCIL WILL NEED TO
MAKE A MOTION TO DO REMOTE
PARTICIPATION.
A SECOND AND
VOTE.
SO
MOVED.
SECOND.
THANK YOU.
SO SO MOVED BY VICE MAYOR
MAURER.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL
MEMBER
ZOLLMAN TO APPROVE THE
JUST
CAUSE REMOTE PARTICIPATION.
COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER.
COUNCIL MEMBER
HINTON.
AYE.
COUNCIL
MEMBER ZOLLMAN.VICE
MAYOR MAURER.
YES.IT PASSES IN SUPPORT,
AND VICE
COUNCIL MEMBER HINTON IS
ABSENT TONIGHT.
PLEASE JOIN ME ININ
SALUTE TO
THE FLAG.
THE CITY OF SEBASTOPOL
ACKNOWLEDGES WE LIVE AND WORK
IN
THE UNSEEDED HOMELANDS OF
THE
SOUTHERN POMO AND COAST MIWOK
PEOPLE.
WE PAY OUR RESPECT TO THE PAST,
PRESENT, AND
FUTURE GENERATIONS
OF THESE PEOPLES INCLUDING THE
FEDERATED INDIANS OF THE
GRATON
RANCHERIA.
AND NOW WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION
THAT WILL BE READ
BY COUNCIL
MEMBER CARTER.
ALL RIGHT, JULY 2026 AS PARKS
MAKE A LIFE BETTER MONTH.
THIS RESOLUTION RECOGNIZES
THE
IMPORTANCE OF EQUITABLE
ACCESS
TO LOCAL PARKS AND RECREATIONAL
TRAIL, OPEN SPACE AND
FACILITIES
FOR THE POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT
OF
ALL CALIFORNIANS AND THEIR
COMMUNITIES.
AND WHEREAS PARKS PROMOTES
PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH AND
WELLNESS AND CONNECTIVITY,
AND
WHEREAS -- I WAS GOING TO ADLIB
SOMETHING, BUT I DON'T THINK I
SHOULD
DO THAT.
WHEREAS PARKS AND
RECREATION
FOSTERS SOCIAL COHESIVENESS IN
COMMUNITIES BY CELEBRATING
DIVERSITY, PROVIDING SPACES TO
COME TOGETHER
PEACEFULLY,
MODELING COMPASSION,
PROMOTING
SOCIAL EQUITY, CONNECTING
SOCIAL
NETWORKS, AND ENSURING
ALL
PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO ITS
BENEFITS.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED THAT THE MAYOR
JOE
LEWIS AND I HERE DO
PROCLAIM
JULY 2026 AS PARK MAKE LIFE
BETTER MONTH.
AND IF WE
HAVE ANY
REPRESENTATIVE OF
PARKS.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE THAT
CAN
RECEIVE THIS?
VERY
GOOD.
THANK YOU.
GOOD EVENING.
THANKS
SO MUCH.
DAVID ROBINSON.
I'M
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR
SONOMA COUNTY REGIONAL PARKS.
PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH YOU
THIS EVENING.
THANK YOU, MAYOR
AND COUNCIL
MEMBERS FOR RECOGNIZING JULY
AS
PARKS MAKES LIFE BETTER MONTH.
EARLIER TODAY THE BOARD
OF
SONOMA COUNTY
SUPERVISORS
ADOPTED A RESOLUTION
RECOGNIZING
PARKS MAKES LIFE BETTER MONTH,
AND IT'S WONDERFUL TO
SEE OUR
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS UNITING AND
CELEBRATING THE VALUE PARKS
BRINGS TO OUR COMMUNITIES.
THIS RECOGNITION IS
ESPECIALLY
MEANINGFUL TO ME BECAUSE I
GREW
UP HERE IN SEBASTOPOL.
SOME OF MY BEST
CHILDHOOD
MEMORIES WERE MADE AT OUR PARKS.
PLAYING BASEBALL BEHIND US
AND
SPENDING COUNTLESS HOURS AT
THE
RANCH FIELD WITH FRIENDS
AND
FAMILY.
THOSE EXPERIENCES SHAPED
WHO I
AM AND ULTIMATELY
LED ME TO A
CAREER IN PARKS, AND THAT'S
WHAT
THIS RESOLUTION
REALLY
CELEBRATES.
PARKS CREATES HEALTHY
COMMUNITIES, BRINGS PEOPLE
TOGETHER, CONNECTS US WITH
NATURE, AND CREATES A
PLACE
WHERE LIFELONG MEMORIES ARE
MADE.
IN MANY WAYS THAT'S WHAT
TODAY
IS ABOUT.
EARLIER TODAY THE SONOMA COUNTY
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MADE
THE
MEASURE TO PLACE THE SUCCESSOR
TO MEASURE "M" IMPROVING
OUR
COUNTIES AND CITIES TO
INVEST IN
THE PARKS, TRAILS, AND
OPEN
SPACES THAT ENRICH OUR
COMMUNITIES AND CREATE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUTURE
GENERATIONS.
SO ON BEHALF OF SONOMA
COUNTY
REGIONAL PARKS, THANK YOU
FOR
YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND
YOUR
CONTINUED SUPPORT OF PARKS.
WE TRULY APPRECIATE
IT.
JUST COME ON UP AND SHAKE
OUR
HANDS AND --
AND THANK YOU FOR HOSTING
SOCCER.
YOU GOT IT.
SO ARE THERE ANY CONFLICTS
OF
INTERESTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS?
OKAY, SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO
OUT
TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
THANK YOU,
VICE MAYOR.
SO THIS IS PUBLIC COMMENT FOR
ITEMS THAT ARE NOT ON TONIGHT'S
AGENDA.
IT IS A 20-MINUTE TIME LIMIT.
IT IS 2 MINUTES PER SPEAKER.
WE DO CHAMBERS FIRST AND THEN
GO
OUT TO ZOOM.
IF THERE'S ANYONE IN THE
PUBLIC
THAT WOULD LIKE TO
MAKE A PUBLIC
COMMENT ON AN ITEM NOT ON THE
AGENDA, COME OUT TO THE
PUBLIC
FIRST AND GO OUT TO
ZOOM.
THANK YOU,
MARY.
IS THIS ON?
I WANT TO MAKE A PUBLIC
COMMENT
IN GENERAL IN SUPPORT OF
PUBLIC
LIBRARIES.
JUST AS PUBLIC PARKS ARE
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO EVERY
COMMUNITY, SO ARE PUBLIC
LIBRARIES, AND THAT'S ALL I WANT
TO
SAY.
I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE
THE
MANAGER AT SEBASTOPOL LIBRARY
FOR THREE YEARS, AND I'M
A
RETIRED LIBRARIAN NOW AND
STILL
VERY INTERESTED IN
PUBLIC
LIBRARIES.
I'VE WORKED IN THEM FOR OVER
50 YEARS BEFORE I RETIRED.
OR
ACTUALLY, I JUST WANT TO MAKE
A STATEMENT WHICH IS FROM A
BOOK
CALLED CALLED KATE PALACES FOR
THE PEOPLE" HOW SOCIAL
INFRASTRUCTURE CAN HELP
FIGHT
THE DECLINE OF CIVIC LIFE.
LIBRARY SERVICE, BEDROCKS
OF
CIVIL SOCIETY.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT
INSTITUTIONS
LIKE LIBRARIES GET
THE
RECOGNITION THEY DESERVE.
THEY ARE ARE THE KINDS OF
PALACES WHERE THE --
THE KINDS
OF PLACES WHERE THE PUBLIC,
PRIVATE, AND
PHILANTHROPIC
SECTORS CAN WORK TOGETHER
TO
REACH FOR SOMETHING HIGHER
THAN
THE
BOTTOM LINE.
PUBLIC LIBRARIES ARE COMMONLY
REFERRED TO AS A THIRD PLACE,
NEITHER HOME
NOR WORKSPACE.
THESE PLACES ARE THE INFORMAL
SPACES THAT ARE OFTEN
MAINSTAYS
IN A NEIGHBORHOOD, PLACES
WHERE
BOTH RANDOM AND
INTENTIONAL
IN-PERSON RELATIONSHIPS
ARE
MADE.
AND PUBLIC LIBRARIES ARE FREE
AND OPEN
TO ALL.
I DON'T WANT TO -- I KNOW
I'M
NOT PREACHING TO THE CHOIR.
I DON'T WANT TO BE, BUT I
WANTED
TO JUST GO ON RECORD AS
SAYING
I'M A SUPPORTER, AND I KNOW
WE
HAVE MANY SUPPORTERS OF
PUBLIC
LIBRARIES IN THIS ROOM RIGHT
NOW.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PUBLIC
COMMENT.
I WILL GO OUT TO ZOOM.
KATE, CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF,
PLEASE?
YES.
CAN YOU SEE THE TIMER?
I CAN, THANK YOU.
RIGHT, GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
THE GRAND JURY IN THE
ENTERPRISE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
ARE IMPORTANT WATCHDOG GROUP.
THEY PROVIDE OVERSIGHT TO
MAKE
SURE THE GOVERNMENT AGENCIESAGENCIES
WITHIN THE LAW.
THEY ARE IMPORTANT CHECKS ON
OUR
CIVIC INSTITUTIONS.
THEY ARE CRITICAL REMEDIES
TO
KEEP OUR DEMOCRACY IN BALANCE.
CITIZEN OVERSIGHT HELPS CIVIC
INSTITUTION REMAIN WITHIN
THE
LAW AND CORRECT COURSE
WHEN THEY
VEER INTO ILLEGAL FUNCTION.
THE GRAND JURY FOUND THAT
THE
CITY WAS IN VIOLATION OF PROP
218.
THE GRAND JURY FOUND THAT
THE
ENTERPRISE FUNDS WERE
ENTITLED
TO $5.5 MILLION
IN RESTITUTION
FOR MISSALICATION OF RATEPAYER
MONEY, BUT ENTERPRISE OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE ALSO FOUND THAT
THE
CITY WAS -- IS IN VIOLATION
OF
PROP 218.
THE CITY HAS NOT TAKEN STEPS TO
CORRECT ITS PROP 218 VIOLATION
IN ITS CURRENT BUDGET, NOR
HAS
IT TAKEN ANY STEPS TO RESTORE
THE 350 --
$354 FOR EXCESSIVE
AND ILLEGAL ATTORNEYS FEES FOR
2024, 2025 AS IDENTIFIED BY THE
EFOC.
ALEX IS PRESENT AT EVERY
COUNCIL
MEETING.
WE KNOWS HE BILLS IN SIX-
MINUTE
INCREMENTS.
IF COUNCIL TRULY BELIEVES
THESE
EXPENSES ARE
LEGITIMATE, COUNCIL
MEMBERS SHOULD REQUEST INVOICES
THAT JUSTIFY THESE EXPENSES.
COUNCIL'S RUNNING A
UTILITY
DISTRICT.
DO THEY PAY HUGE BILLS
WITHOUT
SEEING THE INVOICES?
WATER AND SEWER RATE PAYERS
ARE
PAYING FOR 52% OF THIS
MEETING.
FOR COUNCIL TIME RATE PAYERS
ARE
PAYING 63% FOR CITY MANAGER.
LET'S WATCH AND SEE IF
THE
COUNCIL SPENDS 52% OF THEIR
TIME
TONIGHT ON WATER AND SEWER.
LET'S SEE IF THE CITY MANAGER
SPENDS 63% OF HER TIME ON
WATER
AND SEWER.
IF NOT, THEN WE ARE
WITNESSING
PROP 218 VIOLATIONS FOR CHARGES
THAT ARE NOT JUSTIFIED.
THAT'S TWO MINUTES
UNFORTUNATELY.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENT.
I WILL COME BACK INTO
CHAMBERS,
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE
A
PUBLIC
COMMENT.
THANK YOU.
WE'RE HERE WITH A GROUP
OF
NEIGHBORS TO TALK ABOUT THE
SPEEDING PROBLEM ON PRESENT HILL
VALLEY -- PLEASANT HILL NORTH.
FIRST I WANT TO THANK THE
CITY
COUNCIL AND THE CITY MANAGER
AND
STAFF FOR THE WORK YOU DO.
I WAS A MANAGER IN HELENA FOR
A
NUMBER OF YEARS, AND MY
PARTNER
WORKED WITH ME, SO WE KNOW THE
WORK YOU DO AND THE
THINGS
YOU'RE BALANCING.
WE APPRECIATE IT.
WE LOVE LIVING HERE.
IT'S A
WONDERFUL TIME.
THE COMMITMENT TO HOUSING
AND
COMMUNITY SPIRIT AND
COMMUNITY
FEEL IS WONDERFUL EAR, SO
WE
APPRECIATE IT.
WE REALLY DO.
BUT WE DO HAVE A SPEEDING
PROBLEM OVER ON PLEASANT HILL
NORTH.
WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT PEOPLE
TURN
ON AND ACCELERATE.
AND WE'RE HAVING A
PROBLEM
GETTING OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAYS
AND
CONSIDER THINGS LIKE SPEED
TABLES, SPEED HUMPS, RUMBLE
STRIPS, TRAFFIC CALMING
MEASURES
ON THAT STREET TO HELP SLOW DOWN
TRAFFIC.
IT'S A PLACE WHERE THERE'S
A
SCHOOL ON ONE SIDE AND THEN
A
PARK.
THERE'S ALSO A SENIOR
LIVING
FACILITY.
PEOPLE WALK THEIR
DOGS, SO IT'S
QUITE BUSY AND ACTIVE, AND
FOLKS
USE IT AS A CUT-THROUGH FROM
THE
MARKETS AND THEN COMING
OFF
BODEGA
AVENUE, THEY'LL CUT
THROUGH THE LARGER
TRUCKS, THE
COMMERCIAL TRUCKS.
SO WE'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE
IT'S
ENFORCED SO THE
COMMERCIAL
TRAFFIC DOESN'T COME DOWN THERE.
SO WE'RE JUST HERE TO ASK
THIS
BE CONSIDERED TO BE PUT ON AN
AGENDA BECAUSE WE DO FEEL LIKE
IT'S A SAFETY MATTER.
WE'VE GOT THE KIDS ON THE
BICYCLES AS WELL IN THAT AREA.
AND SO WE THANK
YOU FOR YOUR
TIME, AND HOPEFULLY YOU'LL
BE
ABLE TO LOOK AT THAT.
THE QUESTION IS SHOULD I SUBMIT
THIS PETITION HERE?
OR SHOULD WE MAIL IT IN OR
BRING
IT
IN?
YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND GIVE
IT
TO
MYSELF.
GREAT.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENT.
NEXT I WILL GO OUT TO ZOOM.
KYLE, CAN YOU UNMUTE
YOURSELF,
PLEASE?
YES, I CAN.
CAN YOU SEE THE TIME
SNR.
I
CAN.
GO AHEAD WITH YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENT,
PLEASE.
SO ONE WOULD THINK THAT
THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF A
CITIZEN
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE FOR
WASTEWATER AND WATER AS
A
RESPONSE TO IDENTIFYING
THROUGH
A RATE STUDY THAT $750,000 IN A
SINGLE YEAR WAS MISCALCULATED
TO
THE GENERAL FUND FROM THE
ENTERPRISE FUNDS, FOLLOWED
BY
MONTHS OF INVESTIGATIVE
WORK BY
THAT COMMITTEE TO
PRODUCE
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THIS BODY
ALONG WITH A GRAND JURY
REPORT
THAT VALIDATES THAT WORK
DONE BY
THAT BODY THAT THERE WOULD
BE
ACTION.
BUT INSTEAD WE HAVE
CONSISTENT
AND REPEATED NONACTION BY
THIS
COUNCIL AND BY THIS CITY.
THEY CONTINUE TO LEAN INTO
SOME
FORM OF AN ARGUMENT THAT THE
ALLOCATIONS THAT HAVE
HAPPENED
IN PRIOR YEARS WERE, QUOTE,
REASONABLE, RIGHT?
THIS REASONABLE MAN THEORY,
UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S
QUITE CLEAR
THE ALLOCATION IN RECENT YEARS
WAS UNREASONABLE.
AND ANYBODY LOOK AT THE
SHEER
VOLUME OF PERCENTAGES TO
THE
GENERAL FUND THAT ARE GOING FROM
ENTERPRISE ARE NOT REASONABLE.
SO MY ONLY
EXPECTATION AT THIS
POINT BECAUSE YOU FAILED TO
AJENDIZE THIS ITEM
TONIGHT, YOU
HAVE A GRAND JURY RESPONSE.
YOU'VE INDICATED TO THE
PRESS
THAT YOUR GRAND JURY RESPONSE IS
NOT IN ANY WAY GOING TO MEET THE
RECOMMENDATIONS OF
THAT GRAND
JURY, THAT I THINK THE
STRATEGY
IS YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A
CLASS
ACTION LAWSUIT.
AND THE REASON WHY YOU WANT
THAT
IS BECAUSE YOU CAN USE YOUR
INSURANCE COMPANY TO PAY OFF THETO THE RATE PAYERS,
AND
THEN YOU GET OFF SCOTFREE,
RIGHT?
AND THE ONLY THING WE'LL SEE IS
INCREASED INSURANCE COST IN
FUTURE YEARS.
IS THAT THE STRATEGY?
JUST GO ON AND TELL ME.
IS THAT THE
STRATEGY?
THANK YOU, KYLE, FOR YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENT.
NEXT I WILL COME INTO CHAMBERS.
PLEASE.
I'M NAN WATERS, AND I
LIVE
SOUTH OF TOWN ON HIGHWAY 116.
I'VE LIVED IN SEBASTOPOL FOR
52 YEARS, AND DURING THE 52
YEARS
I'VE LIVED IN SEBASTOPOL,
THE
LIBRARY HAS BEEN ONE OF
THE
CENTERS OF COMMUNITY TO ME
AND
TO MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT
I
KNOW.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE
NOTICED THAT ISN'T THAN ON THE
AGENDA
IS THE NEED THAT THE
LIBRARY
FILLS FOR INEQUITIES IN
THE
COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF
PROVIDING
COMPUTERS AND PRINTERS
FOR
PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE THIS
KIND
OF INFRASTRUCTURE AT THEIR
HOMES
OR AVAILABLE TO THEM IN
OTHER
WAYS AS WELL AS OTHER
LIBRARY
PROGRAMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE
AND
I ALSO KNOW THAT PEOPLE WILL
SAY, WELL, IT'S EASY TO
GET TO
OTHER BRANCHES OF THE
LIBRARY
USING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
BUT I COMMUTED BY
PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION FOR 17 YEARS,
AND
IT'S NOT EASY TO GET ANYWHERE BY
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION THROUGH
SEBASTOPOL.
THE ONLY AREAS ACCESSIBLE TO
US
WOULD BE CENTRAL,
FORESTVILLE
AND GUERNEVILLE, AND
THAT
INVOLVES ALMOST A HALF MILE
WALK
IN THE CASE OF CENTRALVILLE
AND
FORESTVILLE.
I ENCOURAGE THE CITY TO HAVE
THE
INFRASTRUCTURE WE NEED
TO
ADDRESS ININEQUITIES
PEOPLE ARE
NOW FACING IN THEIR INABILITY
TO
ACCESS COMPUTERS AND AND PROGRAMS
FROM
THE
LIBRARY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENT.
I WILL GO OUT TO -- I'M
SORRY.
CAN I ASK FOR CLARIFICATION?
BECAUSE WE DO HAVE TWO
AGENDA
ITEMS TONIGHT BUILDING WITH
BUILDING COMMENTS WHICH
INCLUDES
THE LIBRARY.
WE ALSO HAVE THE
MOLD
REMEDIATION ITEM.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT
THESE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE
FOR
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT
ON
THE AGENDA, AND THESE ITEMS ARE
ON THE AGENDA, SO I JUST WANT
TO
CLARIFICATION FROM OUR CITY
MANAGER.
SO -- I'M SORRY, CAN
WE
ADDRESS -- WE'LL GO
AHEAD AND
ADDRESS IT, THANK YOU.
SO I'LL CHIME IN.
SO THE RELOCATION ITSELF OF
THE
LIBRARY IS NOT ON THE
ITEM
TONIGHT
AJENDIZED.
WHAT IS AJENDIZED IS A
DISCUSSION OF AN INFO ITEM
OF
BUILDING THE COMMENTS.
AND THEN ALSO THE CONTRACT
AWARD
FOR THE MOLD -- THE
CONTRACT
THAT WE DID AND THEN ALSO THE
REMEDIATION.
SO THE SPECIFIC DISCUSSION
OF
THE LIBRARY RELOCATION
NEEDS AND
THINGS LIKE THAT IS NOT ON THE
AGENDA, SO I WOULD GO AHEAD
AND
ALLOW THE PUBLIC
COMMENT RIGHT
NOW TO GO AHEAD AND
CONTINUE
WITH THAT, AND THEY CAN
ALSO
SPEAK DURING THOSE TWO OTHER
AGENDA ITEMS AS
WELL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SO I WILL GO OUT.
CAN YOU UNMUTE
YOURSELF, PLEASE?
YES, I
CAN.
THANK YOU.
CAN YOU SEE THE
TIME SNR.
IF I SCROLL
OVER, I CAN
PROBABLY SEE THE TIMER.
YES, I CAN SEE THE TIMER.
GO AHEAD WITH YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENT, PLEASE.
I WANT TO COMMEND NAN
WATERS
WHO SPOKE TO THE ISSUE I WANT TO
SPEAK TO.
OUR LIBRARY IS ONE OF THE
MOST
FREQUENTED LIBRARIES
OF ANY IN
THE SYSTEM.
AND WHAT I WANT TO
TALK ABOUT
ARE THE NEED FOR THE ACCESS
COMPUTERS NOT IN A GENERALIZED
AMUSEMENT WAY, BUT COMPUTERS ARE
USED BY PEOPLE THESE
DAYS
EXCLUSIVELY TO LOOK FOR JOBS AND
TO LOOK FOR HOUSING.
AND SO TO HAVE THAT
INACCESSIBLE
TO PEOPLE IS AN ENORMOUS
DEPRIVATION.
THAT IN ADDITION TO THE FACT THE
LIBRARY IS AN
ENORMOUSLY
IMPORTANT COMMUNITY HUB FOR ALL
OF US WHO LIVE HERE.
BUT I REALLY AM CONCERNED AS NAN
IS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE UNEQUALLY
REPRESENTED IN THE
MEETING
TONIGHT.
AND SO I WANT TO URGE YOU
TO
PLEASE FIND A WAY TO CREATE
A
TEMPORARY LIBRARY IN OUR
TOWN
WHILE THE MOLD SITUATION
IS
BEING REMEDIATED.
THANK
YOU.
THANK YOU, DENA, FOR
YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENT.
NEXT I WILL COME BACK INTO
CHAMBERS.
HELLO.
I'M ISAAC WITH ECO GREEN.
WE ARE TRADE PROFESSIONALS WITH
PG&E.
YOU GUYS ALREADY PAY INTO
THE
PROGRAM EVERY MONTH UNDER
THE
PUBLIC PURPOSE PROGRAM
PORTION
OF YOUR UTILITY BILL.
THIS CAN TARGET LED LIGHTING,
HVAC, AND OTHER EFFICIENCY
PROJECTS.
I'M NOT LOOKING FOR A
COMMITMENT
TODAY, BUT I WANTED TO START
THE
CONVERSATION OR INTRODUCE
OURSELVES SO THAT WE CAN
FIGURE
OUT WHO TO DIRECT THIS
INFORMATION TO, AS IT'S
A
FUNDING PORTAL THAT
CAN
ESSENTIALLY HELP YOU GUYS
TACKLE
DEFERRED MAINTENANCE
WITHOUT
UTILIZING ANY FUNDING
THAT YOU
HAVE FOR OTHER MEASURES.
SO I JUST WANT TO LEAVE SOME
BUSINESS CARDS AND GET OUR
NAME
OUT THERE.
THAT'S
IT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENT.
YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND
JUST LEAVE
THEM AT THE END OF THE
TABLE
RIGHT HERE, AND WE'LL MAKE
SURE
THEY GET IT.
NEXT I'LL GO OUT TO ZOOM.
ROBERTA, CAN YOU UNMUTE
YOURSELF, PLEASE?
THANK YOU.
CAN YOU SEE
THE TIMER?
YES, I CAN.
THANK
YOU.
GO AHEAD,
PLEASE.
YEAH, I'D LIKE TO COMMENT
FIRST ON THE NUMBER 29 BUS
THAT
I ADVOCATED FOR AND EMAILED
BACK AND FORTH WITH
I
SANDRA
MAURER FOR A COUPLE -- FEW
MONTHS.
AND THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE
PART
OF THE BUDGET FOR HER.
THANK HER FOR CONSIDERING IT.
IT'S STILL AN IMPORTANT BUS LINE
THAT GOES FROM SANTA
ROSA
THROUGH SEBASTOPOL AND
THE
BURBANK SENIOR COMMUNITY OUT
TO
THE COAST TO BODEGA,
TO
IMPORTANT RECREATIONAL
POSSIBILITIES FOR SENIORS IN
PARTICULAR, BUT EVERYBODY
WHO
DOES NOT HAVE A VEHICLE.
I AM A HUGE SUPPORTER OF, AS I
SAID, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
AND WE'RE VERY LIMITED,
AS
ANOTHER SPEAKER NOTED AND I
BELIEVE HER NAME WAS IN
THIS
TOWN AND THIS COUNTY.
BUT PARTICULARLY FOR
SEBASTOPOL
29 BUSES USED TO RUN ON
THE
WEEKENDS THROUGH THE SUMMER
A
LONG TIME BEFORE IT WAS
REMOVED
DURING COVID.
AND I HAVE WRITTEN
TO THE
TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY SEVERAL
TIMES.
I ACTUALLY HAVE GOTTEN VERY
LIMITED RESPONSE.
I'M VERY FRUSTRATED WITH THIS.
I THINK THAT THERE'S A NUMBER
OF
PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY
DISAPPOINTED
THAT WE HAVE NO WAY TO GET TO
THE COAST.
RIDES ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO
GET
FROM OTHER SENIORS.
MANY PEOPLE ARE NOT DRIVING AT
THIS
TIME.
I'M JUST HOPEFUL THAT SOME
TIME
THIS CAN REALLY BE VIEWED ASAS
VERY ESSENTIAL POSSIBILITY.
AND I ALSO WANT TO SUPPORTSUPPORT
SPEAKERS WHO SPOKE ABOUT THE
LIBRARY.
IT IS MY MOST IMPORTANT PLACE
IN
SEBASTOPOL THAT I
GO TO OUTSIDE
OF --
ROBERTA, THAT'S TWO
MINUTES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR
YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENT, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY
I HAVE TWO SPEAKERS LEFT TO MEET
THE 20-MINUTE TIME LIMIT.
SO WE WILL COME INTO
CHAMBERS,
AND THEN OLIVER WILL BE THE
NEXT
ONE, AND THAT WILL END PUBLIC
COMMENT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS -- AND I'VE
HAD
FAMILY IN SEBASTOPOL SINCE 1961.
I'VE BEEN GOING TO
THE
SEBASTOPOL LIBRARY FOR
50 YEARS
SINCE I WAS A LITTLE GIRL.
AND I JUST WANT TO
AFFIRM WHAT
OTHERS HAVE SAID.
THIS IS AN ABSOLUTELY
CRUCIAL
CULTURAL AND EDUCATION AND
COMMUNITY HUB IN SEBASTOPOL IN
OUR SMALL TOWN, AND IT
ALSO
GIVES EQUAL ACCESS ACROSS LAYERS
AND LAYERS OF PROFOUND
COMMUNITY, AND MANY OF US USE IT
FOR WORK AND GRAD SCHOOL.
AND MY SPECIFIC COMMENT FOR
THIS
COUNCIL IS THAT I'M
VERY
CONCERNED THERE'S BEEN NO
PUBLIC
FACING INFORMATION ABOUT
WHAT'S
HAPPENING WITH OUR LIBRARY
FOR
OVER A MONTH.
AND WHEN I WENT
INTO THE CITY
COUNCIL OFFICE, I SPOKE
WITH
YOUR WONDERFUL ADMINISTRATIVE
ASSISTANT.
SHE WAS VERY
I
KIND, BUT SHE HAD
NO INFORMATION FOR ME.
AND SO I GOT THE
INFORMATION
FROM THE BUILDING GUY, WHO
REMEMBER HIS NAME IS STEVE,
AND
HE CALLED ME AND LEFT ME QUITE
A
DEFENSIVE MESSAGE.
LIKE, THAT IS NOT HELPFUL TO
THE
PROJECT OF WHAT WE ARE DOING AS A COMMUNITY.
AND I HAD A GREAT
CONVERSATION WITH
ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF THIS
CHAMBER BEFORE WE
BEGAN, AND
WHAT I WANTED TO SAY IS THAT
THE
COMMUNITY -- THERE ARE
THOUSANDS
OF PATRONS THAT ARE MISSING THIS
LIBRARY, AND WE ARE NOT
LOOKING
FOR DEFINITIVE INFORMATION.
WE KNOW YOU'RE IN A
REALLY
COMPLEX PROCESS AND
YOU'RE
JUGGLING ELEPHANTS.
WHAT WE WANT IS INFORMATION
ABOUT THE PROCESS YOU'RE IN
AND
TO BE ASSURED THAT YOU CARE
AND
THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT
THIS
LIBRARY IS ESSENTIAL FOR
THIS
SMALL TOWN.
AND PUBLIC TRANSIT -- I WORK
IN
MENTAL HEALTH AND HOMELESS
SERVICES.
I HAVE FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.
PUBLIC TRANSIT IS
PROFOUNDLY
DIFFICULT IN THIS COUNTY AND
ESPECIALLY FOR THE
MOST
VULNERABLE AMONG US.
SO TO HAVE ACCESS TO A
LIBRARY
WITHIN OUR SMALL TOWN
IS
CRUCIAL.
SO PLEASE START GIVING
THE
PUBLIC INFORMATION ABOUT
WHAT
YOU'RE DOING, AND IF THERE
HAD
BEEN MORE INFORMATION --
THAT'S TWO
MINUTES.
-- THERE WOULD BE A HUNDRED
OF US TALKING ABOUT IN
THIS
LIBRARY IF WE HAD NONE,
THANKS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENT, AND I WILL GO
OUT TO
ZOOM FOR OLIVER.
I DO, VICE MAYOR, IF
YOU
WOULDN'T MIND AFTER PUBLIC
COMMENT, IF WE CAN GIVE
AN
UPDATE QUICKLY ON SOME STATUS OF
SOME EFFORTS MADE BY FOR THE
IALL BRAER.
OLIVER, IF YOU CAN UNMUTE
YOURSELF,
PLEASE.
UNMUTED, YEAH.
CAN YOU SEE THE -- GO AHEAD,
PLEASE.
I JUST WANT TO SAY
FOR
ANYBODY INTERESTED IN THE
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, THE
NEXT
MEETING IN MY CALENDER AT
LEAST
IS MONDAY, JULY 20th AT 10:30.
TWO PEOPLE HAVE -- INCLUDING
ME
HAVE SAID, YES, THEY'RE
ATTENDING.
AND EIGHT PEOPLE
APPARENTLY
HAVEN'T ANSWERED YET, BUT THAT
WILL BE AN
IMPORTANT MEETING.
I'M ON THE ENTERPRISE FUND
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE,
AND
PRIMARILY I'VE BEEN FOCUSED
ON
INFRASTRUCTURE RATHER
THAN
FINANCIAL SIDE OF IT.
BUT I THINK THIS MEETING WILL
BE
ADDRESSING SOME OF THE
CONCERNS
AND POSSIBLY SOME OF THE
WILDER
THEORIES
THAT HAVE BEEN FLOATING
AROUND THIS EVENING.
SO THAT'S MY COMMENT.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, OLIVER, FOR
YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND THAT WILL CONCLUDE
THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEMS
NOT ON THE AGENDA.
SO WE'LL MOVE ONTO THE
CONSENT
CALENDER.
I'M SORRY, COULD I JUST DO A
REALLY QUICK RECAP ON THE
LIBRARY ITEMS THEMSELVES?
SO AS YOU'LL SEE
LATER ON
TONIGHT ON THE AGENDA WE DO
HAVE
A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE
CONTRACT
FOR THE MOLD REMOVAL THAT WE'VE
DONE ALREADY.
WE HAVE A CONTRACT COMING
FORWARD AND NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT
FOR THE REMEDIATION PROCESS.
THAT IS NOT RECONSTRUCTION.
THAT IS REMEDIATION.
CITY STAFF AND I
HAVE BEEN
WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TRYING
TO FIND LOCATIONS.
WE HAVE WORKED WITH
OUR COUNCIL
MEMBER LIAISON AND THE
ALTERNATE
TO ALSO TRY TO FIND OTHER
LOCATIONS.
WE'RE WORKING WITH THE
COMMUNITY
CENTER RIGHT NOW TO SEE IF WE
COULDN'T HAVE THE HOLD PICK
UP
HERE.
WE HAD THE BUS THAT WILL
BE
COMING HERE TWO DAYS
A WEEK.AND
ERICA, IF THERE IS ANYTHING
I'M SAYING WRONG, PLEASE
CORRECT
ME.
WE HAVE
THAT SCHEDULED.
ONCE WE CAN GET THAT DONE AND
WE
HAVE CONFIRMATION FROM
THE
COMMUNITY CENTER, THAT WORKS.
IF NOT, I WILL ALSO BE
REACHING
OUT TO LOCAL
BUSINESSES THAT
WILL BE REACHING OUT TO
CHURCHES.
I WILL BE REACHING OUT TO
OTHER
VACANT BUILDINGS, OUR
REALITIES
TO SEE IF THERE'S LOCATIONS
IN
TOWN WE CAN USE.
SO THAT'S JUST A QUICK
RECAP,
BUT I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW WE
ARE OUT THERE TRYING TO
FIND
LOCATIONS AND WORKING WITH
THE
LIBRARY TO DO
THAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SO WE'LL MOVE ONTO THE
CONSENT
CALENDER.
AND WE HAVE APPROVAL
OF SIX
DIFFERENT THINGS.
SO THE FIRST ONE IS
COUNCIL
MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR
MEETING
OF JUNE
16th.
COUNCIL MINUTES FOR THE SPECIAL
CITY COUNCIL MEETING JUNE 29th.
THE TASK ORDER, NUMBER 6,
WITH
MOE ENGINEERING TO
PROVIDE
ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE
'26, '27
FISCAL YEAR.
THE APPROVAL OF THE
JOB
DESCRIPTION FOR CITY CLERK.
AND TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO
SIGN A LETTER OF SUPPORT IN USE
OF THE CITY LOGO REGARDING THE
CIRA OR CALIFORNIA
INTERGOVERNMENTAL
RISK
AUTHORITY.
AND APPROVAL OF
CONSULTANT
SERVICES WITH FOUR LEAF PLANNING
SERVICES FOR A SPECIFIC SCOPE
OF
WORK.
SO DOES ANYONE WANT
TO REMOVE
ANY OF THESE ITEMS?
OKAY, SO THEN WE'LL GO OUT
TO
PUBLIC COMMENT.
THIS IS PUBLIC COMMENT FOR
CONSENT CALENDER ITEMS
THAT WERE
JUST READ.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC
COMMENT, AGAIN IT'S A TWO-
MINUTE
TIME LIMIT.
I WILL COME TO CHAMBERS FIRST
AND THEN GO OUT.
PLEASE?
HI, A QUICK QUESTION.
SO I'M REQUESTING THAT ITEM 6
BE
REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT
CALENDERS.
SO WILL I HAVE TIME TO
SPEAK
THEN?
IF I WILL, I DON'T NEED TO
SPEAK
NOW.
OKAY, THANK YOU.
NO, NO, THAT'S
ASSUMING IT
WOULD GET PULLED.
IF YOU COULD GIVE US YOUR
PUBLIC
COMMENT
RIGHT NOW.
WE'VE RECEIVED YOUR REQUEST
AND
A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC HAS
ASKED
TO REMOVE THAT ITEM.
IT WILL BE UP TO THE CITY
COUNCIL TO DETERMINE THAT.
PLEASE GO AHEAD WITH YOUR
PUBLIC
COMMENT.
STEVEN, CAN WE PUT
PUBLIC
COMMENT BACK TO TWO MINUTES?
THERE WE GO.
THANK
YOU.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL
MEMBERS,
FOR THIS TIME.
MY NAME IS KATEY, AND I'M
A
SEBASTOPOL RESIDENT, AND
I'VE
SUBMITTED A LETTER FOR THE
RECORD, SO I'M NOT GOING
TO
REPEAT ALL OF THAT TONIGHT.
I UNDERSTAND
THE NEED FOR
INTERIM PLANNING SERVICES WHILE
THE CITY CONDUCTS THE
RFP
PROCESS.
MY CONCERN IS ENSURING
THAT
CONSULTANT PLANNERS
REMAIN
CONNECT TODAY THE COMMUNITY
AND
RESPONSIVE TO RESIDENTS MOST
AFFECTED BY
DEVELOPMENT
PROPOSALS.
RECENT DISCUSSIONS INCLUDE THE
FORMER LDS PROPERTY HIGHLIGHTED
AND THE IMPORTANCE
OF OFLOCAL
KNOWLEDGE, NEIGHBORHOOD
COMPATIBILITY, TRAFFIC
AND
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY INCLUDING
EMERGENCY EVACUATION
CONCERNS,
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, WATER
AND
SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE
CAPACITY,
AND MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT.
I WOULD ASK THE CITY RELIES ON
CONSULTING PLANNING SERVICES.
I UNDERSTAND THAT.
AND I HOPE THE COMMUNITY INPUT
WILL REMAIN AN ESSENTIAL PART OF
THE PLANNING PROCESS.
I WOULD APPRECIATE UNDERSTANDING
ON HOW WILL CONSULTANT
PARTNERS
REMAIN RESPONSIVE
TO
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS AND LOCALLOCAL
CONDITIONS, ON HOW RESIDENTS
WILL BE INFORMED OF AND INVOLVED
IN THE SELECTION OF LONGTERM
PLANNING SERVICES AND
PROVIDERS,
AND WHAT MEASURES WILL BE TAKEN
TO PRESERVE LOCAL KNOWLEDGE AND
COMMUNITY TRUST DURING THIS
TRANSITION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENT.
I WILL GO OUT TO ZOOM FOR THE
CONSENT CALENDER.
KYLE, CAN YOU UNMUTE
YOURSELF,
PLEASE?
YES, I CAN.
THANK YOU.
CAN YOU STILL SEE
THE TIMER?
YES, I
CAN.
GREAT.
GO AHEAD,
PLEASE.
JUST TO ADDRESS THE
COUNCIL
IN RESPONSE TO THE PRIOR
SPEAKER, THE ANSWER IS NO.
THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY --
AND THE IDEA WHEN WE GO OUT
TOTO
CONSULTANTS, THAT THEY
ARE
GOING TO DO ANYTHING BEYOND
WHAT
THEY ARE BEING ASKED TO DO
AS
PART OF THE CONSULTING
CONTRACT,
IT'S -- IT'S NOT SOMETHING
THAT
YOU SHOULD EXPECT TO HAPPEN.
SBABS SHOULD BE
CAREFUL
ENDORSING TORT REFORM WHILE ALSO
LOOKING INWARD.
IN RECENT YEARS THE CITY
HAS
FACED LITIGATION AND
LEGAL
CHALLENGES INVOLVING
VEHICLE
DWELLER PARKING ORDINANCE,
THE
CALLAHAN DIABETIC TASER
INCIDENT, THE BROWN ACT CURE
AND
CORRECT ISSUE.
THESE
EXAMPLES RAISE A LOCAL
RISK
MANAGEMENT QUESTION.
ARE WE TRYING TO
REDUCE
LIABILITY BY LIMITING CLAIMS OR
PREVENTING HARM IN THE
FIRST
PLACE?
BEFORE AUTHORIZING CITY LOGO FOR
LOBBYING FOR THIS COALITION, I
REALLY WANT TO ASK COUNCIL
TO
REQUIRE A PUBLIC REVIEWAL --
AGAIN, LET ME REPEAT THAT.
A PUBLIC REVIEW OF RECENT
CLAIMS, SETTLEMENTS,
IMPACTS,
POLICY CHANGES, AND TRAINING
REFORM.
IF YOU THINK THAT YOUR
TRACK
RECORD IS GOOD IN COMPARISON TO
THE REST OF THE MEMBERS OF YOUR
INSURANCE GROUP, THEN GO
AHEAD,
DO THE PUBLIC -- DO A PUBLIC
TRANSPARENT LOOK AT IT BECAUSE
I
SUSPECT THAT BASED
ON THE
INSURANCE CLAIMS, WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT A PHISHING SCHEME
THAT
ENDED UP LOSING OVER A
MILLION
DOLLARS IN PROPERTY TASK.
WHO PAID IT?
OR INSURANCE COMPANY PAID IT.
A
NUMBER OF THESE THINGS HAVE
HAPPENED OVER THE YEARS.
LET'S LAY OUT THE DIRTY
LAUNDRY
AND SEE HOW WELL WE'RE
ACTUALLYACTUALLY
DOING --
THANK YOU, KYLE.
THAT'S TWO MINUTES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PUBLIC
COMMENT.
NEXT I'LL COME BACK
INTO
CHAMBERS.
IF THERE'S ANYONE IN PUBLIC
COMMENT THAT WOULD LIKE
TO MAKE
A COMMENT ON THE CONSENT
CALENDER, PLEASE COME UP TO
THE
PODIUM.
SEEING NONE, I'LL GO BACK OUT
TO
ZOOM.
IF THERE'S ANYONE ON ZOOM
THAT
WOULD MAKE A
PUBLIC COMMENT ON
THE CONSENT CALENDER
ITEM,
PLEASE RAISE
YOUR HAND
VIRTUALLY.
SEEING NONE, PUBLIC COMMENT
IS
CLOSED ON CONSENT CALENDER
ITEMS.
OKAY, BRINGING IT BACK TO THE
DIAS, DOES ANYONE WANT TO MAKE
A
CHANGE OR
A MOTION?
I'LL MAKE
A MOTION.
I'LL SECOND.
THANK YOU.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER
ZOLLMAN AND SECONDED
BY COUNCIL
MEMBER CARTER TO APPROVE CONSENT
CALENDER ITEMS ONE THROUGH SIX.
COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER.
YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER
HINTON.
AYE.
COUNCIL
MEMBER ZOLLMAN.
YES.
VICE MAYOR
MAURER.
YES.
MAYOR McLEWIS IS ABSENT,
SO
IT PASSES 4-1 AND MAYOR
McLEWIS
IS
ABSENT.
I'D JUST LIKE TO MAKE THE
BRIEF COMMENT THAT OUR
PLANNING
CONSULTANT IS ACTUALLY LOCAL
AND
WAS A FORMER PLANNING DIRECTOR.
THANK YOU, AND I'LL ADD TO
THAT.
THEY'VE BEEN
WORKING WITH US FOR
ACTUALLY MUCH -- FOR THE PAST
YEAR, BUT THEY WERE ACTUALLY
NOT
CONSULTANT BUT ACTUALLY
HIRES
HERE FOR A LONG
TIME.
AND I WILL ALSO ADD TO
THAT
THAT WE HAVE JUST RECEIVED THE
RFPs FOR
THE CONSULTANT
SERVICES.
THOSE CAME IN YESTERDAY.
WE RECEIVED THREE.
ONE OF THEM DID NOT QUALIFY,
SO
WE WILL BE REVIEWING THE TWO.
WE WILL BE INTERVIEWING
THEM AND
THEN BRINGING THOSE BACK TO
THE
CITY COUNCIL HERE FOR
DISCUSSION
AND
CONSIDERATION.
THANK YOU.
SO WE HAVE THE FIRST ITEM IS THE
THE THIRD QUARTERLY UPDATE FROM
BUILDING THE COMMENTS COMMITTEE.
I'LL TAKE THAT.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
TONIGHT'S ITEM IS THE
THIRD
QUARTERLY UPDATE FOR
BUILDING
THE
COMMENTS COMMITTEE.
THE COMMITTEE CONTINUES
TO
EVALUATE THE FEASIBILITY
OF
CREATING A SHARED
COMMUNITY
FACILITY THAT CAN SHARE A
VARIETY OF SIEVING,
EDUCATIONAL,
AND COMMUNITY NEEDS
THROUGHOUT
SEBASTOPOL AND WEST COUNTY.
THE COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT
SUBCOMMITTEE HAS SPENT THE LAST
SEVERAL MONTHS CONDUCTING
STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS
WITH
LOCAL NONPROFITS,
COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS, SERVICE
PROVIDERS, AND CIVIC
ORGANIZATIONS.
ORGANIZATIONS HAVE REPEATEDLY
IDENTIFIED A NEED FOR CLASSROOM
STORAGE, COMMUNITY KITCHENS,
AND
ACCESSIBILITY
IMPROVEMENTS AND
OPPORTUNITIES TO
SHARE
RESOURCES.
THE INTERVIEWS ALSO REVEALED
A
STRONG INTEREST IN A COMMON
CONCEPT THAT
WOULD ALLOW
ORGANIZATIONS TO
COLLABORATE,
SHARE COST, INCREASE VISIBILITY
OF PROVIDED SERVICES AND BE MORE
MORE
FFICIENT.
THE SUBCOMMITTEE'S FOCUS
WILL
NOW SHIFT FROM
INTERVIEWS TO
COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND
PUBLIC
ENGAGEMENT AS THE PROJECT MOVES
FORWARD.
ADDITIONALLY, THE
FUNDING
ASSESSMENT SUBCOMMITTEE
HAS
FOCUSED ON EVALUATING
POTENTIAL
LOCATION, FACILITY NEEDS, AND
LONG-TERM FINANCIAL
CONSIDERATIONS.
AFTER REVIEWING MULTIPLE
ALTERNATIVES, THE COMMITTEE
HAS
NARROWED ITS EVALUATIONS TO
TWO
PRIMARY CONCEPTS.
THE FIRST IS THE O'REILLY
PROPERTY ON HIGHWAY NORTH,
AND
THE SECOND IS THE
REDEVELOPMENT
OF CITY OWNED PROPERTIES
WITHIN
THE CIVIC CENTER.
THIS SUBCOMMITTEE HAS
BEGUN
DEVELOPING A HIGH
LEVEL
FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK FOR
THE
PROJECT.
THIS IS THE FOCUS WHICH IS
BOTH
ON CONSTRUCTION COST
AND
ANALYSIS OF LONG-TERM COST
COST
ASSOCIATED
WITH
MAINTAINING AND UPGRADING
EXISTING AND
POTENTIAL
FACILITIES.
AT THIS STAGE DETAILED COST
ESTIMATES HAVE NOT BEEN
DEVELOPED.
HOWEVER, THE COMMITTEE
REFINING
ASSUMPTIONS AND LOOKING
FOR
POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES.
AT THIS TIME THE COMMITTEE
IS
SEEKING COUNCIL FEEDBACK ON
THE
TWO PRIMARY LOCATION CONCEPTS
CURRENTLY UNDER EVALUATION
AND
THE NEXT STEPS FOR COMMUNITY
OUTREACH.
THIS
CONCLUDES MY BRIEF REPORT, AND
STAFF IS AVAILABLE FOR
QUESTIONS, AND I'LL TURN IT
OVER
TO THE TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS
THAT
SERVE ON THE COMMITTEE TO
SHARE
ADDITIONAL
THOUGHTS.
THANK YOU.
YES, I
WANT TO FIRST SAY THANK
YOU VERY MUCH TO ALL OF
THE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT
HAVE
DEDICATED A LOT
OF THEIR TIME
AND EFFORT TO BE ON THIS
BUILDING THE COMMENTS COMMITTEE.
A LOT OF EFFORT HAS BEEN PUT
FORTH.
AND KIND OF MIMICKING MY
PERSPECTIVE OF WHERE WE ARE,
AND
IT HAS BEEN REFLECTED IN
THE
PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT
WERE
RECEIVED FOR BOTH OF THESE
AGENDA ITEMS.
WE HAVE LONG-STANDING --
HAVE
HAD A LONG-STANDING SPACE ISSUE
FOR A LOT OF OUR VITAL SERVICES
HERE IN
THE CITY.
THE SENIOR CENTER, WE HAVE HEARD
THEY DON'T HAVE SPACE, AND THEY
ARE DESPERATELY NEEDING IT.
THE COMMUNITY CENTER IN A FLOOD
ZONE.
OUR HEALTH ACTION IS WITHOUT A
BUILDING.
I THINK THAT THE MOLD CRISIS,
AGAIN, AS HAS BEEN STATED IN THE
PUBLIC COMMENTS, HAS NOW PUT AN
EXTRA URGENT LIGHT ON WHAT ARE
WE DOING.
WHAT ARE WE DOING AS A COMMUNITY
TO TRY TO ANSWER ALL OF THESE
NEEDS FOR THESE SPACES?
I THINK THAT WISELY THE
MEMBERS
OF THE BUILDING THE
COMMENTS
COMMITTEE HAS PUT FORTH TWO
ALTERNATIVES, AND I'M
REALLY
HOPING THAT MY FELLOW
COLLEAGUES
WILL WEIGH IN
AND GRANT THE
REQUEST FOR THERE TO BE ONWARD
MOVEMENT TOWARDS CONTINUING TO
EXPLORE THOSE OPTIONS.
WE HAVE HEARD LONG AND WE HAVE
RECEIVED PUBLIC COMMENT AROUND
THE PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO
KEEP
THE BUILDING HERE WHERE
IT
CURRENTLY IS.
THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER
IS WE
DON'T KNOW.
AND WHAT THE ITEM ON THE
AGENDA
IS LATER, THERE'S GOING TO
BE
REQUEST FOR ALMOST A
QUARTER
MILLION DOLLARS TO FIX
A
BUILDING THAT EVEN THE
LIBRARY
HAS IDENTIFIED THE FACT IT'S NOT
BIG ENOUGH.
SO WHY?
WHY DO THAT?
QUITE HONESTLY I HAVE
CONCERNS
ABOUT OUR
CITY HALL.
OUR CITY HALL WAS BUILT WITH
THE
SAME ARCHITECTURE.
SO IF THE LIBRARY'S GOING TO
BE
A TEARDOWN OR COULD BE A
TEARDOWN AND CITY HALL
IS GOING
TO BE A TEARDOWN?
WHAT IS GOING TO BE OUR ANSWER?
SO THAT'S THE REASON WHY I
THINK
THAT THE
O'REILLY HAS BEEN
BROUGHT UP, AND I'M JUST
ASKING
THE COMMUNITY TO LISTEN TO THE
COMMENTS FROM THEIR
FELLOW
COLLEAGUES AND CONTINUE TO SHARE
YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS AS WE MOVE
FORWARD.
THE NEXT MEETING IS A WEEK
FROM
THIS MONDAY WHERE WE'RE
ACTUALLY
GOING TO BE HEARING FROM
THE
FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE AND
COUNCIL
MEMBER CARTER DOESN'T CHAIR, BUT
HE
SITS ON.
SO I'M GOING TO
STOP TALKING
THERE AND TURN IT OVER TO
COUNCIL MEMBER
CARTER.
I JUST WANT TO RESTATE
THE
OBVIOUS -- THAT WHEN I
FIRST
STARTED -- THEY'VE BEEN THINKING
ABOUT THIS FOR A LONG TIME,
BUT
WHEN I CAME ONTO IT, IT WAS
WITH
THE IDEA WE WOULD BE
PROACTIVE
IN LOOKING FOR A SPACE
AND
THINKING ABOUT
IT IN A SYSTEMS
WAY AND IN A WAY THAT WOULD BE
THE MOST FINANCIALLY PRUDENT
AND
ACTIONABLE.
THIS RECENT, YOU KNOW,
MOLD
INCIDENT KIND OF HIGHLIGHTS
THE
URGENCY TO GO FORWARD WITH
SOME
OF THIS PLANNING.
SO IT'S BECOMING A LITTLE LESS
PROACTIVE AND A LITTLE BIT MORE
REACTIVE.
HOWEVER, WE'VE DONE SO MUCH
WORK, I THINK WE'RE IN A
GOOD
PLACE.
ADDITIONALLY, I WANT TO
TELL
EVERYBODY THAT WE'VE KNOCKED OUT
QUITE A FEW PLACES THAT WE
GET
EMAILS ABOUT.
WE'VE LOOKED AT -- BECAUSE
THE
RITE AID IS IN THE
SITUATION
THAT IT IS, YOU KNOW,
LEGALLY
BOUND AND IT'S NOT OURS.
AND IT COULD BE -- YOU
KNOW,
IT'S NOT VIABLE FOR THE CITY
TO
LOOK AT.
THE SAME IS TRUE WITH THE OLD
CVS PLACE BECAUSE IT'S
INVEST-OWNED, THEY ARE
SEEKING
THINGS THAT AREN'T FINANCIALLY
REASONABLE FOR THE CITY TO
PURSUE, WE'VE KIND OF KNOCKED
THAT OUT.
BUT IN THE SWAT ANALYSIS OR ININ
EARLY DAYS WE CAN SEE THE
PROPERTIES WE WENT THROUGH
AND
WE NORMALIZED FOR
OPERATIONAL
EFFICIENCY AND WHAT WE CAN DO.
AND THE NEXT TWO THINGS
THAT
WE'LL SEE -- IT'S
ACTUALLY
THREE.
IT'S DO NOTHING, BAND-AID
WHAT
WE HAVE -- BLESS YOU -- AND
CONTINUE TO PAY, WHICH HAS
A
SIGNIFICANT COST.
THE COMMUNITY CENTER WILL HAVE A
COST.
REPAIRING THE LIBRARY
ITSELF
WILL HAVE TREMENDOUS COSTS,
MUCH
MORE COSTS THAN WE
ACTUALLY
ANTICIPATE NOW.
THE CITY HALL HAS
COSTS, AND THE
SENIOR CENTER IS ACTIVELY
LOOKING FOR A NEW PLACE.
THEY'RE ALL LOOKING FOR
RENTAL
FACILITIES OUTSIDE OF THEIR
OWN
BECAUSE
THEY'RE GROWING.
THE LIBRARY IS -- I WOULD
SAY
THE CURRENTLY BUILDING'S AT 98%
UTILIZATION CAPACITY, SO IT
COULD DEFINITELY GROW.
AND WE'RE NOT EVEN ACCOMMODATING
SOME OF THE PEOPLE IN OUR OUTER
AREAS LIKE OCCIDENTAL THAT WE
DO
SERVICE.
THOSE ARE CONSIDERATIONS IN OUR
ANALYSIS, WHICH I THINK WILL
COME FORWARD A LITTLE BIT LATER.
BUT I DO WANT EVERYBODY TO
KNOW
WE ARE LOOKING AT THIS IN A
VERY
REALISTIC, PRAGMATIC, AND
FUNCTIONAL WAY SO
THAT, YOU
KNOW, THESE ARE REAL SOLUTIONS
AND NOT JUST KIND OF WE HOPE
THAT THIS CAN HAPPEN.
THESE ARE DEFINITELY THINGS THAT
WE CAN, YOU KNOW, JUST -- WE
HAVE TO PUT THE PIECES
TOGETHER
AND WE CAN MAKE
HAPPEN.
THANK YOU.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS?
I MEAN, QUESTIONS.
COUNCIL MEMBER HINTON,
DO YOU
HAVE A QUESTION?
NO, OKAY.
I HAVE A QUESTION.
MY QUESTION IS REGARDING THE
FACT THAT THE SONOMA
COUNTY
LIBRARY RECEIVES A TAX FOR THE
LIBRARIES.
AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY --
YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE FUNDING.
SO I'M WONDERING HOW DO WE MOVE
FORWARD WITH GETTING A BIGGER,
BETTER FACILITY?
I MEAN, THEY'VE BEEN ASKED
AND
THEY'RE NOT OFFERING,
MY
UNDERSTANDING.
SO THE CITY HAS A
STRUCTURAL
DEFICIT MOVING FORWARD.
WE HAVE SERIOUS
INFRASTRUCTURE
NEEDS LIKE BUILDING REPAIR,
ROADS, WATER, AND SEWER.
SO HOW DO WE MOVE -- HOW DO WE
JUSTIFY MOVING FORWARD WITH
A
MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR
BUILDING
WHEN WE HAVE ALL THESE
OTHER
NEEDS HERE, ESPECIALLY
CONSIDERING THAT THE
COUNTY
RECEIVES A TAX?
SO CAN YOU PLEASE HELP
ME
UNDERSTAND THIS BECAUSE I
JUST -- TO JUST TALK ABOUT
THE
BUILDINGS WITHOUT TALKING
ABOUT
THE FINANCING DOESN'T WORK FOR
ME.
THAT'S JUST TOO -- YOU KNOW, TOO
SEPARATE.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
AND THAT IS PART OF IT, TOO.
THERE'S BEEN
A LOT OF
DISCUSSIONS WITHIN THE COMMITTEE
TO SET ASIDE OR TO ASK COUNCIL
FOR ALEX'S TIME TO EVALUATE WHAT
ARE OUR OPTION.
WHAT ARE OUR OPTIONS
WITH
LIBRARY ADMINISTRATION,
WHICH IT
IS CORRECT.
THEY DO AND WE ALL HAVE PAID IN
TAXES, AND THEY DO HAVE -- IN
MY
PERCEPTION, THEY DO HAVE A
HEALTHY RESERVE.
WHAT CAN ALEX DO?
ABOUT THE MEASURE -- THE
OLD
MEASURE "Y" SLASH NEW MEASURE
"W," WHAT CAN BE DONE WITH THAT?
SO I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWERS.
ALSO THERE WERE QUESTIONS
DURING
THE COMMITTEE ABOUT A
PUBLIC,
PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP,
AND THERE
WAS A REQUEST TO NOT HAVE ALEX
START LOOKING INTO THAT
UNTIL
AFTER NEXT MONDAY'S BUILDING THE
COMMENTS MEETING, BUT
THOSE ARE
THE QUESTIONS THAT I'M HOPING
THAT THE COUNCIL WILL
APPROVE
THE EXPLORATION OF THE
TWO
OPTIONS THAT WE PUT
FORWARD,
WHICH WOULD INCLUDE HAVING
ALEX
LOOK INTO THIS.
BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT, I MEAN
AS
I'VE SAID PUBLICLY, WE HAVE
BEEN
SUBSIDIZING WEST SONOMA
COUNTY
FOR YEARS NOW.
100% WE HAVE BEEN WITH OUR POOL,
WITH OUR LIBRARIES, WITH OUR
ROADS.
SOMEONE ELSE NEEDS TO
STEP UP
BECAUSE WE AS A CITY WITH
A
LIMITED AMOUNT OF OPERATION
CAN'T FIX ALL THIS.
THAT WHAT WOULD WHAT I
HOPE
COUNCIL WILL AFFIRM
HAVING ALEX
WORK WITH US TO CONTINUE
TO
EXPLORE THESE TWO OPTIONS,
AND
TO YOUR
POINT, VICE MAYOR, THE
FUNDING BEHIND THE TWO OPTIONS.
SO THAT'S MY PERSPECTIVE.
SO SITTING ON THE FINANCE
SIDE OF IT, I MEAN THIS IS
WHAT
WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR THREE OR
FOUR MONTHS, AND WE HAVE MODELS
BUILT, AND WE HAVE SOURCES, YOU
KNOW, I THINK ACCUMULATING IT
TO
A STACK OF FINANCING THAT
WILL
BE VERY LOW-IMPACT ON OUR
GENERAL FUND.
AND IT'S POSSIBLE, SO I ASK
FOR
SOME GRACE UNTIL WE GET THIS
THROUGH FOR THE FULL
SUBCOMMITTEE, CREATING
THE
COMMENTS WILL LOOK AT THE MODELS
WE BUILT, BUT WE HAVE TO
GET
THEM
THROUGH THAT COMMITTEE
BEFORE WE CAN TAKE THEM PUBLIC.
BUT I HAVE A HIGH DEGREE OF
CONFIDENCE WE'RE GOING TO
BE
ABLE TO FIGURE IT OUT
ESPECIALLY
IF -- OKAY, DOING NOTHING
IS
GOING TO COST MONEY.
IT'S GOING TO COST A LOT OF
MONEY.
DOING SOMETHING MIGHT COST LESS
MONEY, AND IT'S JUST GOING TO
TAKE, YOU KNOW, LIKE A MONTH OR
SO BEFORE I CAN SHOW IT WITH
THE
NUMBERS.
HAVE YOU CONSIDERED THE CVS
BUILDING?
YEAH.
AS I SAID, THEY'RE NOT OKAY.
WE CAN'T GO THROUGH
IT.
OKAY.
HAVE YOU CONSIDERED THIS
BUILDING HERE?
RAISING IT UP OR REMODELING
THE
COMMUNITY CENTER BUILDING?
BECAUSE THEN YOU HAVE ALL
THE
OUTDOOR SPACE STILL.
BESIDES THE FACT IT'S IN A
FLOOD ZONE AND IMPOSSIBLE
TO
RAISE, YEAH IT'LL COST --
WELL, YOU'D HAVE TO RAISE IT.
WHICH IS SIGNIFICANTLY --
THAT'S SO EXPENSIVE, I COULDN'T
EVEN IMAGINE DOING THAT.
WELL, IT SEEMS LIKE IF
YOU'RE
GOING TO TEARDOWN
BUILDINGS
DOWNTOWN IT COULDN'T BE ANYMORE
OR LESS EXPENSIVE THAN TEARING
THIS BUILDING DOWN OR RAISING IT
UP.
THIS BUILDING IS BASICALLY
IN
THE SAME LOCATION, IT'S JUST
A
LITTLE HIGHER SO IT
DOESN'T
FLOOD.
SO IF THAT BUILDING OR
THAT
LOCATION WAS RAISED UP, I
JUST
DON'T -- SO WHY AREN'T
YOU
LOOKING INTO
THAT?
WE HAVE.
AND, AGAIN, I FEEL LIKE WHEN I
DID, LIKE, A ROUGH ANALYSIS, YOU
KNOW,
DIGGING INTO THAT, TEARING
IT DOWN, AND REMOVING THAT AS
A
FACILITY FOR THE COMMUNITY IS
LESS VALUABLE THAN -- YOU
KNOW,
WE KIND OF NARROWED IT DOWN TO
REDOING THE LIBRARY AREA.
BUT YOU'RE RIGHT.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE AREAS WE
DID
LOOK OUT AND KNOCK OUT BECAUSE
IT'S FINANCIALLY UNFEASIBLE.
IT'S IN A FLOODPLAIN.
I THINK IT WOULD BE LIKE
15 YEARS BEFORE WE COULD EVEN DO
IT.
ARE THERE ANY
OTHER
QUESTIONS?
IF NOT, WE CAN GO OUT TO PUBLIC
COMMENT,
PLEASE.
THANK YOU, VICE
MAYOR.
I'M SORRY.
YES, COUNCIL MEMBER HINTON?
JUST
ONE SECOND.
I MEAN, MY QUESTION OR
FEEDBACK, I GUESS, FOR
THE
COMMITTEE IS WHEN YOU LOOK INTO
HOW ROSELYN GOT THEIRTHEIR NEW
LIBRARY, IT OBVIOUSLY WAS
A
VARIETY OF GRANTS.
I THINK EVEN GREAT RANCHERIA
GAVE THEM SOME MONEY.
ARE WE LOOKING AT A
MULTI --
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FINANCE, IS
THE COMMITTEE LOOKING AT A
MULTIGROUP OF
FUNDING SOURCES?
I KNOW WE HAVE SOME 100
THAT
GIVE SOME MONEY TO
NONPROFITS,
AND MAYBE WE CONSIDER
THE
LIBRARY FOUNDATION.
I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT
THAT
BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE
ROSELYN LIBRARY AND HOW THEY GOT
THEIR MONEY, IT WAS
A
MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH, I GUESS,
I WOULD
SAY.
SO WE ARE ABSOLUTELY DOING
THAT.
AND THREE LEVELS DEEP ON THAT,
SO WE'RE EXPLORING ALL
THE
DIFFERENT GRANTS, ALL THE
DIFFERENT FINANCING STYLES, AND
WE'RE CREATING A STACK THAT IN
PLOTTING IT OUT OVER TIME,
SO
THAT IT FITS WHAT WE'RE CAPABLE
OF
DOING.
AND I CAN SAY THAT --
THANK YOU
COUNCIL MEMBER HINTON, FOR
THE QUESTION.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS WE
STARTED TO DIVE IN WHICH WAS
HOW
ROSELYN
WAS SUCCESSFUL.
AND RAY HOLLY, THE FORMER
ADMINISTRATION'S PR
PERSON
ACTUALLY GAVE A
WHOLE
PRESENTATION ON ALL THAT.
SO THANK YOU.
WE ARE DEFINITELY TRYING TO
STEAL AND COPY THAT MODEL
BECAUSE IT OBVIOUSLY WORKED.
WE ALSO HAD NAOMI HUBERT
ON
BUILDING THE COMMENTS, AND
SHE
SITS ON THE LIBRARY FOUNDATION
BOARD, SO WE MADE STRATEGIC
CHOICES ABOUT -- LIMITED
ABOUT
THE STAFF AND TIME AND
ENERGY
AND EVERYTHING ELSE TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE PUT AS MANY OF THE
USEFUL PEOPLE -- MOST
USEFUL PEOPLE
ON
THE COMMENTS.
SO
THANKS.
OKAY, WE CAN GO OUT FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT.
THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR.
SO THIS IS PUBLIC COMMENT FOR
THE INFORMATIONAL ITEM
ON
BUILDING THE COMMONS.
IT IS A TWO-MINUTE PUBLIC
TIME
LIMIT.
AGAIN, WE DO CHAMBER FIRST
AND
GO OUT TO ZOOM.
SO IF THERE'S ANYONE IN THE
CHAMBERS.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE ANOTHER
PUBLIC COMMENT.
CAN'T
HEAR.
CAN YOU PUSH THE BUTTON?
IS IT ON?
I'M SORRY.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT
THE
FIRST BUILDING OF THE SEBASTOPOL
PUBLIC LIBRARY -- CARNEGIE
SAID
TO LIBRARIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY
I WILL GIVE YOU A GRANT IF
YOU
COME
UP WITH MATCHING FUNDS.
AND SO IN 1916 A LOCAL
BANKER
WAS ABLE TO -- SAID, YES,
LET'S
DO THAT AND DID GET LOCAL FUNDS.
SO THE BUILDING WAS BUILT WITH A
CARNEGIE GRANT AND LOCAL FUNDS.
THAT WAS A BUILDING THAT
SERVED
THIS COMMUNITY UP UNTIL
1975
WHEN THE -- WHEN MONEY
WAS
TAPPED FROM THE FEDERAL LIBRARY
SERVICES ACT.
BUT THE JOINT SERVICES THAT
THE
LIBRARY COMMISSION
BASICALLY
RUNS OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM AND
HAS
A JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT
WITH
ALL THE CITIES WITHIN THE
COUNTY.
AND
THE CITIES ARE THE ENTITIES
THAT PROVIDE
THE BUILDINGS.
THE LIBRARY COMMISSION, THE
LIBRARY DEPARTMENT PROVIDES THE
SERVICES, THE BOOKS, THE
STAFF,
THE ENTIRE THING.
SO MEASURE "Y,"
SUBSEQUENT
MEASURE "W" ARE PROVIDING
FUNDS
TO THE LIBRARY.
IT WOULD BE GREAT, AND I'M GLAD
YOU'RE EXPLORING ALL THESE
POSSIBILITIES, BUT I THINK
WE
NEED TO KNOW HISTORICALLY
THE
LIBRARY HAS BEEN FUNDED BY THE
CITY SOMEHOW.
AND I'M APPRECIATING THAT YOU'RE
GOING THROUGH ALL THIS.
WE'RE NOT JUST THE LIBRARY
BUT
THE SENIOR CENTER AND NEW
CITY
HALL AND HEALTH SERVICES.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PUBLIC
COMMENT.
NEXT I'LL GO OUT TO ZOOM
AND
COME BACK INTO CHAMBERS.
OLIVER, CAN YOU UNMUTE
YOURSELF,
PLEASE?
I'M UNMUTE
ASKED I CAN SEE
THE TIMER.
GO AHEAD,
PLEASE.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL
MEMBER ZOLLMAN, BECAUSE HE
SAID
THE IMPORTANT THING HERE, WHICH
IS NUMBER ONE WE DON'T HAVE
THE
MONEY TO
BE RUNNING THE LIBRARY.
AND WE ARE PROVIDING
ALL OF
THESE SERVICES FOR WEST
COUNTY.
WE'RE A TINY LITTLE CITY WITH A
VERY SHRINKING
REVENUE, AS
EVERYBODY KNOWS.
SOMETHING'S GOT TO GIVE
HERE,
AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
THE
SONOMA COUNTY LIBRARY,
WHICH
WE -- I BELIEVE WE LEASE
THE
BUILDING TO THEM FOR $1 A YEAR.
AND THERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIRS
FOR
THAT BUILDING OR SOMEHOW
MANAGING TO MAGICALLY BUY
EXPENSIVE COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS
FOR A NEW LIBRARY.
NONE OF THIS IS GOING TO FLY.
I MEAN, THERE'S NO WAY IN
A
MILLION YEARS, AND THE
COUNTY
NEEDS TO STEP UP.
I'VE SAID THIS MULTIPLE TIMES IN
PAST COUNCIL MEETINGS.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING
AGAINST
THE LIBRARY.
I
THINK IT'S GREAT.
I LIKE THE COMMONS IDEA, BUT THE
SILTY JUST CANNOT CARRY
THIS
KIND OF GRANDIOSE PROJECT
WITH
THE REVENUE THAT WE HAVE
COMING
IN.
IT'S JUST NOT POSSIBLE.
SO SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE HERE.
AND I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHERE
WE'RE GOING TO GO HERE, BUT
I'M
NOT VERY CONFIDENT IN THE
EXPLORATIONS OF TRYING TO FIND
FUNDS.
I THINK THE COUNTY NEEDS TO
BE
PRESSURED SUBSTANTIALLY HERE
TO
STEP UP AND SORT THIS
SITUATION
OUT FOR WHAT IS BASICALLY THEIR
LIBRARY.
THANK
YOU.
THANK YOU, OLIVER, FOR YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENT.
NEXT I WILL COME BACK INTO
CHAMBERS.
GOOD EVENING.
GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS MARY LOU SCHMIDT.
I'M A MEMBER OF
GRAVENSTEIN
HEALTH ACTION COALITION, WHICH A
SMALL VOLUNTEER NON-PROFIT
WHICH
SUPPORTS VARIOUS PROGRAMS
IN
SEBASTOPOL AND WEST COUNTY
AND
IS BASED ON THE STRUCTURE OF
SELF-HEALING COMMUNITY.
AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS
THE
COMMUNITY USES LOCAL LEADERS
TO
HELP SOLVE ITS PROBLEMS LOCALLY.
IN THAT REALM, I AM A MEMBER OF
THE COMMUNITY COMMONS
COMMITTEE,
AND I AM WORKING ON THAT BECAUSE
I CAN SEE THAT THE COMMONS
ITSELF CAN BE AN
ABSOLUTE
BENEFIT TO THIS COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE FAILING BUILDINGS, AND
IT REALLY IS UPSETTING
TO THINK
THAT WE HAVE TO PUT A
WHOLE
BUNCH OF MONEY INTO A BUILDING
THAT, ONE, HASN'T BEEN BIG
ENOUGH FOR THREE YEARS.
I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS
PROJECT FOR THREE YEARS WITH
VARIOUS COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND SO THE LIBRARY ITSELF?
IS NOT BIG ENOUGH FOR THE
WORK
THAT THESE PEOPLE DO.
THE STAFF ARE CRAMPED.
YOU KNOW, THESE BUILDINGS ARE IN
A FLOOD ZONE.
WE KNOW THAT THE SENIOR CENTER
IS JUST AT -- JUST AT ITS LIMIT.
SO WITH ALL OF THIS HAPPENING
AND WITH THE -- AND WITH
THE
CITY BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR
ALL
THIS -- ALL THIS
PROPERTY,
THERE'S GOT TO BE A DIFFERENT
WAY.
I THINK THE COMMONS IS
A
DIFFERENT WAY.
I THINK THERE ARE BUILDINGS
THAT
WE CAN LOOK AT,
AND THE
POSSIBILITY OF GETTING MONEY
FOR
THAT, WE HAVE A GREAT -- THANK
YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER,
FOR
LEADING THAT COMMITTEE, WHICH
IS
LOOKING INTO AS MUCH MONEY AS WE
CAN GET.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER ZOLLMAN
FOR
LEADING THOSE OF US WHO
ARE
TRYING TO GET COMMUNITY INPUT.
I WILL TELL YOU THE
COMMUNITY
INPUT TO ME IS PEOPLE WOULD
NOT
MIND GOING TO THE O'REILLY
CENTER AS LONG AS THERE WAS SOME
KIND OF TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE
AND THERE WAS PARKING.
AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT COMES
UP ALL
THE TIME.
MARY, THAT'S --
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENT.
NEXT I WILL GO OUT TO ZOOM.
LINDA, CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF,
PLEASE?
YEAH, I THINK I'M KIND OF
GOING INTO HORROR RIGHT NOW.
FIRST THE LIBRARY WAS
REALLY
NOT -- THE LIBRARY
PEOPLE
RUNNING IT WERE NOT
TRANSPARENT
ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH
THE
BUILDING BEING CLOSED.
AND I THOUGHT WHAT KIND
OF
DISASTER HAPPENED.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO SIT IN THAT
LIBRARY ALL DAY
LONG.
I REMEMBER REGISTERING VOTINGERS
THERE ONCE AND OBSERVING WHO
USED THE LIBRARY.
THERE'S CHILDREN SOME
AS YOUNG
AS BABIES, BECAUSE I'VE GONE
IN
THE LAY BRER AND SEEN PEOPLE
WITH BABIES AND
LIBRARIANS
TELLING THEM STORIES.
SO THERE'S INFANTS CLEAR
TO
ELDERLY PEOPLE.
AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO STAY
IN
THERE ALL DAY LONG USING
THE
COMPUTERS AND
OTHER FACILITIES.
SO IF THIS WHATEVER -- AND
THEN
THEY FINALLY TOLD US IT WAS
BLACK MOLD.
I FELT THAT THE LACK
OF
TRANSPARENCY WAS NOT GOOD.
ALSO THE LIBRARY'S DOWN,
AND
WHAT I'M HEARING IS
IT'S
EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO FIX THE
BUILDING.
HOPEFULLY THEY'LL HAVE
A --
LIKE, SOMEONE MENTIONED A
BOOKMOBILE OVER AT THE COMMUNITY
CENTER SO THAT WE CAN AT
LEAST
RETURN AND RECEIVE BOOKS.
BUT HOW MUCH LONGER WILL THIS
CITY, ONE OF THE HEAVIEST USERS
OF LIBRARY, I'VE HEARD, BE
WITHOUT A LIBRARY
SPH.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENT.
NEXT I WILL COME INTO CHAMBERS.
GOOD EVENING.
ERICA, LIBRARY DIRECTOR
SONOMA
COUNTY LIBRARY, AND I'M
HERE
JUST TO URGE YOU TO HIRE
A
CONSULTANT OR ALLOW US TO
HIRE
AN ARCHITECT TO EVALUATE THE
O'REILLY SPACE BEFORE
DECIDING
TO MOVE FORWARD WITH ANY
PURCHASE.
I HAVE BEEN TO THE BUILDING.
THE FIRST FLOOR IS 15,000
SQUARE
FEET, WHICH IS ABOUT
5,000
SQUARE FEET SHORT OF
WHAT WE
WOULD WANT FOR A
SPACE IN
SEBASTOPOL.
I WOULD ALSO DISCOURAGE
A
TWO-STORY LIBRARY BUILDING.
IT CREATES A LOT OF SECURITY
ISSUES, AND IT'S DIFFICULT
TO
MONITOR, SO WE WOULD HAVE TO --
YOU KNOW, I REALLY URGE YOU
TO
LOOK AT HIRING SOMEBODY
TO
EVALUATE THE SPACE AND GIVE YOU
A ROUGH ORDER OF MAGNITUDE
OF
WHAT THE COST WOULD BE TO
RENOVATE IT.
THANK YOU.
I YIELD MY TIME.
THANK YOU, ERICA, FOR YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENT.
NEXT I'LL GO OUT TO ZOOM.
LEE, CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF,
PLEASE?
CAN YOU HEAR
ME?
THANK YOU.
CAN YOU SEE THE
TIMER?
YES.
GO AHEAD WITH YOUR PUBLIC
COMMUNITY,
PLEASE.
I'M AMAZED AT THE QUALITY
OF
THE TEAM STEVE HAS ASSEMBLED
TO
WORK ON THIS.
EVERY TIME THAT I READ THE
REPORTS, I'M IMPRESSED.
I WISH WE HAD PEOPLE OF THAT
CALIBER
WITH THIS
MUCH
MOTIVATION WORKING ON
THINGS
LIKE THE STRUCTURAL DEFICIT
FOR
THE CITY BECAUSE IT WOULD FIX A
LOT
MORE PROBLEMS THAN FIXING
THIS BUILDING IS GOING TO FIX.
UNFORTUNATELY ABOUT THIS
THAT
OUR NON-PROFIT PARTNERS
NEED
MORE SPACE.
WEST COUNTY INTERESTS WANT
MORE
SPACE.
AS THE VICE MAYOR SAID, AND I
THINK STEVE ACKNOWLEDGED,
THE
CITY DOESN'T HAVE THE
MONEY TO
SUPPORT ANY OF THESE NONPROFITS.
IT DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO
PAY THE BILLS AND FIX
THE
STREETS.
IT DOESN'T HAVE THE MONEY EVEN
TO SUPPORT THE
ONGOING
MAINTENANCE OF A BIG
NEW
BUILDING LIKE THIS THAT WERE
BUILT.
RIGHT NOW THE SENIOR CENTER
HAS
A BETTER INCOME STATEMENT THAN
THE CITY.
THE CITY CAN'T ANSWER MOST OF
THESE QUESTIONS.
HAVING SAID THAT, THE
AGENDA
ITEM WAS TO DISCUSS TWO
LOCATIONS -- O'REILLY AND THE
PLAZA, BUT NO ONE'S PRESENTED
ANY INFORMATION ON WHAT ARE YOU
DOING AT O'REILLY, WHAT'S
THE
FACILITY LIKE, HOW WOULD IT
FIT,
HOW WOULD IT BE USED?
ARE WE GOING
TO PUT A LIBRARY ON
THE PLAZA?
DON'T YOU HAVE TO PRESENT THOSE
THINGS SO THEY CAN BE DISCUSSED
AND DEBATED AND CITY COUNCIL
CAN
PROVIDE YOU -- AND THE PUBLIC
CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH COMMENTS?
I ALSO DON'T KNOW WHO'S TALKING
TO THE OWNER OF THE CVS
FACILITY
RIGHT NOW, BUT MY
UNDERSTANDING
IS THE HE OR SHE THEY WANTED A
DIFFERENT BUILDING AND
WERE
FORCED TO TAKE THIS ONE AS A
SO I'M NOT SURE THEY WILL
WANT
TO GET RID OF IT.
AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW IF IT
MEET
ANY OF THE REQUIREMENTS, BUT YOU
PROBABLY HAVE TO GET SOMEBODY
SERIOUS ABOUT CONTACTING
THESE
PEOPLE AND NEGOTIATING.
THANK YOU.
THANK
YOU, LEE, FOR YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENT.
NEXT I'LL COME BACK INTO
CHAMBERS.
GOOD EVENING.
NAME'S PAUL FRITZ.
FIRST
I'D LIKE TO EXPRESS MY
SUPPORT FOR THE COMMONS IDEA.
I THINK IT'S A GREAT CONCEPT.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO ADVOCATE FOR AN
IN-TOWN LOCATION.
I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT KIND
OF
PUTTING ALL THESE
CIVIC
FUNCTIONS AT THE PERIMETER
OF
OUR COMMUNITY.
JUST GOING TO READ A BRIEF
THING
I FOUND ON THE PROJECT
FOR
PUBLIC SPACES WEBSITE.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS ARE THEIR
BEST
WHEN THEY NOT ONLY FUNCTION
AS
ACTIVE COMMUNITY PLACES IN
THEIR
OWN RIGHT BUT ALSO WHEN
THEY
FORM PART OF A LARGER
CIVIC
DISTRICT.
WHEN THE MANAGERS OF
THESE
INSTITUTIONS PARTNER WITH
NEARBY
BUILDINGS TO
ESTABLISH
THEMSELVES A CIVIC
DISTRICT,
THEY CAN COSPONSOR
EVENTS,
PROGRAM FACILITIES,
AND
OTHERWISE SHARE, TRADE, OR
COMBINE THE USE OF THEIR
PUBLIC
SPACES.
THE LIBRARY AND CITY HALL DID
NOT CREATE A CITY ON THEIR OWN
BUT SET UP FOOD VENDORS ON THE
SIDEWALK OR FARMERS MARKET
IN
THE PARKING LOT, AND
SUDDENLY
YOU BEGIN TO GENERATE
MUCH
GREATER LEVELS OF
ACTIVITY THAN
BEFORE.
LIKE WISE, THE ROLE OF A CIVIC
INSTITUTION EXTENDS TO ABILITY
ITSELF.
RARELY ARE THEIR MISSIONS
REFLECTED OR EXPRESSED IN PUBLIC
SPACES.
WHEN A SIEVING INSTITUTION
ENGAGES A
PUBLIC SPACE WHETHER
IT BE A STREET, LOSSA, OR
SQUARE
AND REACHES OUT TO
OTHER
INSTITUTIONS IN
THE NEIGHBORHOOD
THAT MARKS THE REBIRTH OF
A
CIVIC CENTER.
THE CIVIC CENTERS FUNCTION
AS
ONE OF THE GREAT PLACES
IN THE
CITY YET RARELY DO CIVIC
INSTITUTIONS BENEFIT OR
CONTRIBUTE TO DOWNTOWN
REVITALIZATION.
THIS MIGHT OCCUR
BECAUSE
INSTITUTIONS MIGHT HAVE BEEN
RELOCATED TO THE OUT SKIRTS
OF
TOWN OR BECAUSE
INSTITUTIONS
HAVE TURNED THEIR BACKS ON
A
CITY FOR MANY YEARS WAS
UNSAFE,
AT NIGHT DOMINATED BY TRAFFIC OR
LACKING ACTIVITY.
FOR CITIES CONCERNED ABOUT
THE
LONG RUN BACK TO BURGEONING
CENTRAL DISTRICTS IS ESSENTIAL.
I'LL JUST SAY WITH THE
APPROVAL
RECENTLY OF THE CAL TRANS
GRANT,
OUR DOWNTOWN IS ON THE CUSP OF
A
REAL KIND OF TRANSFORMATION.
AND I HOPE THAT THESE
CIVIC
INSTITUTIONS CAN BE PART OF
THAT.
THANK
YOU.
THANK YOU, PAUL, FOR
YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENT.
NEXT I'LL GO BACK OUT TO ZOOM IF
THERE'S ANYONE ON ZOOM THAT
WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A
PUBLIC
COMMENT ON THIS INFORMATION
ITEM, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
KATE, CAN YOU UNMUTE
YOURSELF,
PLEASE?
YES, THANK YOU.
IN LISTENING TO ALL THESE PUBLIC
COMMENTS, I JUST HAD ONE
IDEA.THE
PIAZZA HOTEL LOT IS
STILL
VACANT AND I'M NOT SURE WHERE
THE SOCCER FIELD IDEA
HAS
LANDED.
BUT PERHAPS YOU COULD ASK
THE
HOTEL TO FENCE IN THE LOT SO
IT
COULD BE GATED OFF AT NIGHT,
AND
THERE COULD BE A
BOOKMOBILE AND
PICNIC TABLES AND SOME
PLANTINGS
IN THAT AREA SO PEOPLE COULD
HAVE, LIKE, A DE FACTO OPEN AIR
LIBRARY.
AND PERHAPS THE HOTEL WOULD
BE
WILLING TO FUND SOME TYPES
OF
PLANTINGS AND
NICER LOOKING
FENCE AND A GATE THAT COULD BE
CLOSED AT NIGHT JUST TO CREATE
A
MORE LIVELY SPACE THERE.
SO
THAT'S ONE IDEA.
AND THEN I ALSO AGREE WITH THE
OTHER COMMENTERS THAT WE
NEED
THE COUNTY TO PITCH IN MORE.
WE -- SEBASTOPOL HAS THE HIGHEST
PER CAPITA OF SUBSIDIZED AND
LOW
INCOME HOUSING IN
WESTERN SONOMA
COUNTY, WHICH REDUCES
OUR
PROPERTY TAX REVENUE.
SO I WOULD KEEP URGING THE
CITY
TO EXPLORE A HIGHER
PERCENTAGE
OF THE PROPERTY TAX THAT IS PAID
BY PEOPLE LIVING IN SEBASTOPOL.
ONLY ABOUT 20 CENTS ON EVERY
DOLLAR THAT A PERSON PAYS
IN
PROPERTY TAX HERE GOES BACK
TO
THE CITY.
AND IF THAT COULD BE UPUP
25 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR, THAT WOULD
BRING IN A LOT MORE MONEY AND
HELP OFFSET SOME OF THESE COSTS.
AS OTHER COMMENTERS HAVE
SAID,
SEBASTOPOL IS KIND OF LIKE
THE
LIVELY HUB FOR WEST
SONOMA
COUNTY.
WE HAVE THE POOL.
WE HAVE THE LIBRARY.
OUR ROADS ARE USED
A LOT.
SO I THINK LOOKING MORE
STRATEGICALLY WITH THE
COUNTY
WE'RE CREATING A SPECIAL ARTS
OR
SOCIAL DISTRICT ALSO IS ANOTHER
WAY TO CARVE OUT ADDITIONAL
PIECES OF TAX
REVENUE.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENT.
NEXT I'LL COME BACK INTO
CHAMBERS.
IF THERE'S ANYONE IN CHAMBERS
THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC
COMMENT.
SEEING NONE, I'LL GO BACK OUT TO
ZOOM.
CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE?
THERE.
AM I
UNMUTED?
YOU ARE UNMUTED.
CAN YOU SEE THE TIMER?
YES, I
CAN.
GO AHEAD,
PLEASE.
SO MY NAME IS KENT JENKINS.
I AM THE
SENIOR CENTERS
REPRESENTATIVE ON THE COMMONS
COMMITTEE, AND I APPRECIATE
SOME
OF THESE -- A LOT OF THEM ARE
FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF THE
WORK
WE'VE BEEN DOING.
AND I INVITE ANYONE WHO'S
INTERESTED, AND I APPRECIATE THE
INTEREST, TO TAKE A LOOK AT
OUR
VERY PUBLIC RECORD.
A NUMBER OF THESE ISSUES WE
HAVE
EXPLORED.
WE HAVE PUBLISHED PAPERS ON
OUR
INVESTIGATORY WORK, AND I THINK
THAT WOULD PROVIDE A GREAT DEAL
OF COMFORT TO THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE
WORRIED ABOUT THIS OR THAT.
THE OTHER THING I WOULD
INVITE
THE COMMUNITY TO LOOK AT IS
WHERE IN OUR CURRENT TIMES
THE
ACTUAL CENTER OF WHERE
PEOPLE
ARE, WHERE THEY LIVE -- WHERE DO
KIDS ACTUALLY LIVE?
WHERE DO SENIORS ACTUALLY LIVE?
COMBINED WITH WHERE -- HOW
DO
PEOPLE GET TO VARIOUS LOCATIONS?
AND IN BOTH CASES MOST PEOPLE
DRIVE.
SO WHILE THERE MIGHT BE
SOME
PEOPLE WHO WOULD LOSE THE
CONVENIENCE OF A DOWNTOWN
LOCATION, SOMETHING LIKE
O'REILLY, THERE ARE A WHOLE HOST
OF NEW PEOPLE WHO WOULD
GAIN
THAT CONVENIENCE.
SO IT'S A TOUGH TRADEOFF, AND
MY
HEART GOES OUT TO PEOPLE WHO
MAY
MISS SOMETHING THAT WAS IN
THEIR
LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
BUT I'M ALSO PLEASED TO EXPAND
THAT OPPORTUNITY TO OTHER PEOPLE
IN OUR CITY WHO HAVE BEEN ON THE
NEGLECTED PERIPHERIES OF OUR
TOWN.
SO THAT'S MY COMMENT.
THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
THANK YOU, KENT, FOR
YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENT.
NEXT I WILL COME BACK
INTO
CHAMBERS.
IF THERE'S ANYONE IN
CHAMBERS
THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE
A PUBLIC
COMMENT.
SEEING NONE, I'LL GO BACK OUT TO
ZOOM.
IF THERE'S ANYONE IN
ZOOM WHO
WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC
COMMENT, RAISE YOUR
HAND
VIRTUALLY.
SEEING NONE, PUBLIC COMMENT
IS
CLOSED ON THIS ITEM.
OKAY, WE'RE BACK AT THE
DIAS.
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS OR A
MOTION?
OH, I'M
SORRY.
INFORMATIONAL ITEM.
EXACTLY.
THIS IS JUST INFORMATIONAL.
AND AS THE STAFF REPORT
NOTES,
THE COMMITTEE WILL BE
COMING
BACK IN SEPTEMBER TO
MAKE FORMAL
RECOMMENDATION THAT THE
COUNCIL
CAN DEBATE AND ACT ON AT
THAT
POINT.
EVEN FOR INFORMATIONAL
ITEMS
WE CAN STILL PROVIDE
DIRECTION,
CORRECT?
SO I'M HOPING THAT MY COLLEAGUES
WILL DIRECT THE COMMITTEE
TO
CONTINUE TO EXPLORE THOSE TWO
OPTIONS ALONG WITH STAFF'S
USE
OF TIME DURING THOSE MEETINGS.
I'D LIKE YOU TO EXPAND A
LITTLE BIT TO POSSIBLY
INCLUDE
THE CVS BUILDING AND NOT LIMIT
IT.
I ALSO WOULD LIKE YOU TO
THINK
ABOUT WHAT IS BEST FOR THE
CITY,
NOT JUST WHAT IS AVAILABLE RIGHT
NOW.
SO THOSE ARE MY THOUGHTS
THAT
I'M GIVING TO YOU RIGHT NOW.
I JUST WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT
FOR A SECOND.
NOT TO BE DEFENSIVE BUT TO CLUE
YOU IN ON ALL THE MONTHS OF WORK
WE'VE PUT IN.
THE CVS, THE OWNERS WE'VE
REACHED OUT TO THEM AND
INTERTAPED THE IDEA OF ACTUALLY
BUYING THERE.
WE'VE LOOKED AT THE REAL
COSTS
IT WOULD TAKE TO BE IN IT.
AND ALSO WE'VE LOOKED
AT
COMPLETE FRESH NEW BUILDS
THAT
THE CITY OWNS.
LIKE ALL OF IT.
I WENT THROUGH A VERY
LONG
PROCESS OF IDENTIFYING
EVERY
SINGLE AVAILABLE PIECE OF
LAND,
WHAT WE COULD SWAP OVER,
AND
WHAT WAS THE MOST EFFICIENT USE
OF ANYTHING.
AND THEN NOT ONLY THAT, SO IN
THE PROCESS PRIOR IS WHERE
WE
SHOW SOME OF THE SWAT
ANALYSIS
OF SOME OF THE
OTHER
OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE.
THE CVS BUILDING AND THE RITE
AID BUILDING DID NOT MAKE IT
BECAUSE THE INVESTOR OWNED
BUILDINGS WAS $45,000 A MONTH
OR
SOMETHING WE COULDN'T
HANDLE
WHEN EVERYTHING IS BASICALLY
RENT-FREE, SO WE NEED TO
BUY.
AND THEN WHAT WE'LL DO ON JULY
14th IN OUR MEETING IS
ACTUALLY
DISCUSS REAL NUMBERS AND
COME
BACK WITH THOSE.
AND WE'RE DEFINITELY
THINKING
ABOUT THE WHOLE CITY AND HOW WE
CAN SUPPORT ALL THE
THINGS,
WHICH IS THE COMMONS ITSELF.
SO WE'RE THINKING ABOUT
THE
COMMUNITY CENTER.
WE'RE THINKING ABOUT ALL OF OUR
NONPROFITS.
WE'RE THINKING ABOUT ALL OF THAT
AND HOW WE CAN
TAKE CARE OF ALL
OF THEM FOR THE MOST BANG
FOR
OUR BUCK, THE BEST VALUE,
AND
THE MOST REALISTIC OPPORTUNITY
THAT WE
HAVE.
OKAY, THANK YOU.
OKAY, SO WE WILL RECEIVE THAT.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK.
SO WE WILL BE MOVING ONTO THE
PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT
BUDGET.
ALL RIGHT.
THIS ITEM IS THE ANNUAL
CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM OR
CIP,
WHICH SERVES AS THE
CITY'S
FIVE-YEAR PLANNING DOCUMENT FOR
MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS
AND PUBLIC FACILITIES.
THE FIRST YEAR OF THE DOCUMENT,
THE FISCAL YEAR 2026, '27 PLAN
IS THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT
PLAN
BEFORE COUNCIL TONIGHT FOR
CONSIDERATION
AND ADOPTION.
THE REMAINING FOUR YEARS ARE A
PLANNING PROJECTION INTENDED
TO
ASSIST WITH LONG-TERM
PROJECT
DEVELOPMENT AND GRANTS.
SO TONIGHT I'M GOING TO WALK
THROUGH EACH ONE OF THE PROJECTS
IN THE '26, '27 CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
AND THEN I'LL PAUSE AFTER
EACH
ONE FOR QUESTIONS
AND
DISCUSSION.
AFTER ALL THE PROJECTS HAVE BEEN
MOVED THROUGH AND
REVIEWED,
WE'LL RETURN TO THE FUNDING
SUMMARY, OPEN THE PUBLIC
HEARING, AND REQUEST THAT
COUNCIL CONSIDER
RESOLUTION
ADOPTING THE FY '26, '27 CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
ONE SEC TO SHARE MY SCREEN.
I'M JUST GOING TO RUN
THROUGH
ALL OF THEM.
SO THE FIRST GROUP OF PROJECTS
IS FOR PEDESTRIAN SAFETY.
IF YOU HAVE YOUR
CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT BOOK, I PUT
THE
NUMBER ON THE TOP OF THE
PAGES
AND THE AGENDA NUMBER.
SO IF YOU HAVE YOUR BUDGET BOOK,
THIS IS TAB "J," PAGEPAGE 7.
AND IT'S PAGE 20 IN THE AGENDA.
SO THE FIRST PEDESTRIAN
IMPROVEMENT PROJECT IS FOR
THE
BODEGA AVENUE GUARDRAILS
RIGHT
AT THE CITY LIMITS GOING
ACROSS
THE CREEK, THE SMALL
SECTION
THAT'S OWNED BY THE CITY
INNER
LIMITS.
WE HAVE HIGHWAY
SAFETY
IMPROVEMENT FUNDS FOR THIS.
IT'S A GRANT PROJECT.
THE DESIGN IS COMPLETE, AND
WE
FOUND AT THE END OF THE
DESIGN
THAT THERE WAS A CONFLICT WITH
THE GAS LINE FROM PG&E, SO
WE'RE
WORKING WITH THEM TO MOVE
THAT,
AND THEN WE'LL BE MOVING THIS
INTO CONSTRUCTION
THIS YEAR.
PAUSE THERE.
QUESTIONS?
DO YOU THINK WE COULD HOLD
QUESTIONS?
WELL, MY PROBLEM IS I CANNOT SEE
COUNCIL MEMBER HINTON,
SO I
DON'T KNOW IF WE COULD SPLIT
THE
SCREEN SO I COULD SEE HER, OR
MAYBE IF SHE HAS A
QUESTION SHE COULD
SPEAK UP.
I'M HAPPY TO DO
THAT.
OKAY.
THANK YOU, THAT WOULD BE
PERFECT.
I'LL JUST KIND OF -- NO
PROBLEM.
ALL RIGHT, THE SECOND OF
OUR
PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS
IS FOR THE CROSSINGS HIGHWAY
116
GOING THROUGH TOWN.
THERE ARE FOUR OF THESE.
WE'RE UPGRADING THE CROSSINGS AT
HUTCHENS AND WALKER, AND
THEN
WE'RE INSTALLING NEW
CROSSINGS
WITH RFB FLASHERS AT ANNETTE
AND
KEATING.
WE FINISHED THE PLAN AND DESIGN
SPECIFICATIONS IN MAY, AND I'M
JUST LOOKING AT IT
THOUGHTFULLY
IN LIGHT OF THE CALTRANS GRANTGRANT
THAT WE RECEIVED AND THE
PLAN
THAT WAS PASSED BY THIS
COUNCIL
TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY OF
THE
TRAFFIC COMMON MEASURES WE CAN
INCORPORATE INTO THE BURNETTE
CROSSING BEFORE WE PUT IT OUT
FOR
BID.
CAN I INSERT?
WE HAD A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC
LAST MEETING THAT ASKED TO MAKE
IT CLEAR WHERE EACH OF THE
FUNDS
ARE COMING FROM.
I KNOW THAT
THEY'RE ON THE
SCREEN, BUT I THOUGHT YOU
MIGHT
WANT TO MENTION
THEM.
YEAH, THIS ONE IS AN HCIP
PROJECT, SO HIGHWAY
SAFETY
IMPROVEMENT FUNDS, AND THERE'S A
PORTION OF MATCH FUNDING
FROM
OUR TRAFFIC IMPACT FEES AND
FROM
SB-1, WHICH IS A STATE FUND
THAT
WE RECEIVE STREET
FUNDING FOR.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THAT?
ALL RIGHT.
THE NEXT ONE IS FOR A
CROSSING AT
COVERT AND ZIMPHER LANE.
THERE'S ALSO ASULAR PROJECT
YOU'LL SEE IN THE SAME SECTION.
WE'LL TRY TO DO A SEWER PROJECT
BEFORE, AND WE'LL REALLY
IMPROVING THIS
PEDESTRIAN
CROSSING TO BE A LITTLE SAFER.
THIS IS ALSO AN HSIP PROJECT
WITH SOME MATCH FUNDING FROM
OUR
TRAFFIC IMPACT FEES.
AND THE FINAL --
THIS ONE IS A
CROSSING AT SUNSET AND JOHNSON.
THIS PROJECT'S DESIGNED -- THIS
ONE'S 100% FUNDED BY OUR TRAFFIC
IMPACT FEES, BUT IT IS RIGHT BY
THE HIGH SCHOOL AND THAT KIND OF
BLIND CORNER GOING
AROUND
JOHNSON, SO A
DEFINITE
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY ISSUE.
AND THEN THE LAST
PEDESTRIAN
SAFETY ONE THIS IS THE SIGNAL AT
RAGLE ROAD AND BODEGA AVENUE.
THIS IS A GRANT THAT WE
SUBMITTED TO SDCTA.
WE WERE
WE HAVE NOT HEARD BACK, BUT IF
WE WERE SUCCESSFUL, WE
WOULD
MOVE IN A SIGNAL LIGHT THERE.
NEXT WE HAVE OUR PARKS PROJECTS.
SO THE FIRST ONE OF THE PARKS
PROJECTS
THIS IS THE
CALDER
CREEK PROJECT PHASE ONE.
THIS IS LOOKING TO ADVANCE
FOR
THE FIRST TWO PHASES UP TO THE
WEIRM SQUCH THE SECOND PROJECT
WE HAVE FOR THIS YEAR IS
FOR THE
IVES PARK PATHWAY.
THIS IS THE ADA WALKWAY FROM
THE
FIRST PHASE THAT ENDED AT
THE
BATHROOM TO THE PARKING LOT
WHERE WE HAVE OUR
ADA PARKING
STALL.
AND THIS ONE IS FUNDING DESIGN.
WE'RE HOPING TO GET IT
COMPLETED
OR CONSTRUCTED OVER THE WINTER.
AND THIS ONE IS ALL FUNDED BY
MEASURE
"M.
"
OKAY, THE NEXT BUNCH OF PROJECTS
WE HAVE ARE FOR THE
PAVEMENT
IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
THE FIRST ONE IS
THE
CONTINUATION OF THE DIG ADDISON
REPAIRS.
COUNCIL AWARDED THIS CONTRACT AT
OUR JUNE 16th MEETING.
WE'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH
THE
CONTRACTOR.
WE'RE DOING
PRECONSTRUCTION
MEETING NEXT WEEK, AND WE
SHOULD
BE INTO CONSTRUCTION BY THE
END
OF JULY FOR THIS DIG OUT AND
REPAIR PIECE.
AND THIS IS FUNDED I THINK --
LOST MY FUNDING.
LOST IT ON MY SCREEN.
QUESTION.
WILL THE STREET REPAIRS
BE
COMING BACK TO COUNCIL?
YES.
SO THAT'S THE DIG OUT AND REPAIR
THAT'S BEEN APPROVED THROUGH
COUNCIL.
SO THE NEXT ONE IS THE CITY
IMPROVEMENTS FOR FY26.
THESE WERE IMPROVEMENTS THAT
WERE APPROVED.
SO THIS IS IN DESIGN FOR
CONSTRUCTION OVER THE WINTER.
AND THEN THE FINAL ONE, THIS
IS
THE BIG PAVING PROJECT THAT
WILL
LOOK AT THE NEXT BUNCH
OF
STREETS.
SO WE ARE TRYING TO LOOK AT
KIND
OF A MULTIYEAR PAVING
PLAN
TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION
NOT
ONLY PCI BUT WHERE WE ARE IN
SCHOOLS, WHAT OTHER
PLANNED
STREETS WE'RE ON.
WE'RE LOOKING AT WATER AND
SEWER
PROJECTS THAT ALSO MIGHT
OVERLAP
AND TRY TO DO AN ANALYSIS
OF
WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST
STREETS
TO SPEND OUR REHAB MONEY ON.
THERE'S ALSO THE STREETS
THAT ARE
RECOMMENDED THROUGH OUR
PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN
FOR
LIKE A SLURRY OVERLAY,
SO WE
WANT TO DO KIND OF GROUPING OF
BOTH.
WE NEED TO DO SOME OF
THAT
PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE OVERLAY
PROJECTS TO MAINTAIN
STREETS,
BUT WE ALSO WANT TO GET SOME
OF
OUR BAD STREETS.
BUT JUST TO LET PEOPLE IN
THE
COMMUNITY KNOW HOW WE'RE
RANKING
THE STREETS AND WHEN WE'LL GET
TO THEM.
SO HOPING TO BRING THAT BACK
IN
SEPTEMBER FOR DESIGN,
AND WE
WANT TO BID IT IN DECEMBER-ISH.
IT SEEMS TO BE THE MOST
COMPETITIVE TIME TO BID
PAVING
PROJECTS AND BUILD IT IN THE
SPRING.
THANK YOU.
AND THESE ARE OUR
SEWER
PROJECTS FOR THE YEAR.
SO THE FIRST ONE IS
ZIMPHER
GREEK PART ONE.
SO WE HAVE A LARGE LOAD ON
ONE
OF OUR LINES THAT GOES ALONG
ZIMPHER CREEK.
AND THIS PROJECT IS TO DIVERT
A
SECTION OF THE FLOWS IN
COVERT
LANE TO ZIMPHER CREEK TO
LIGHTEN
THE LOAD THERE WE HAVE TO FLUSH
REGULARLY TO KEEP IT FROM
OVERFLOWING.
AND THIS HAS BEEN DESIGNED, SO
WE'RE GOING TO PUT THIS
OUT AS
SOON AS WE CAN.
THE HOLD UP IS GETTING
A
CALTRANS PERMIT FOR THE TRAFFIC
CONTROL ON LONG
HILLSBURG
AVENUE.
WITNESS WE GET THAT, WE'LL
CONSTRUCT THIS.
AND AS I MENTIONED THERE'S
ALSO
A PEDESTRIAN CROSSING ON
COVERT,
SO WE'LL TRY TO DO THE
SEWER
LINE BEFORE WE DO THE CROSSING
SO WE DON'T CUT UP OUR
PAVING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WERE THERE ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS
FROM COUNCIL?
NO?
WE CAN GO OUT TO PUBLIC
COMMENT,
PLEASE.
OH, I HAVE
MORE.
OH, YOU HAVE MORE,
SORRY.
WE'VE GOT MORE.
THIS IS THE ACTUAL
CREEK SECTION
THAT IS FAILING, SO IT'S
BEEN
PARTIALLY DESIGNED.
SO WE WANT TO GET THIS TO
100%
DESIGN SO THAT WE CAN
BUILD IT
THE NEXT YEAR.
THIS IS OUR SEWER MASTER PLAN.
WE STARTED THIS WORK.
THEY'RE DOING THE MODELING
AT
THE MOMENT, SO WE'LL BE UPDATING
THE FOC ON THAT
IN THE FALL AND
BRING IT BACK TO
COUNCIL IN THE
WINTER WITH
THE RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR MASTER PLAN CIP LIST.
AND THIS IS KIND OF A BUCKET
PROJECT FOR WASTEWATER SYSTEM
REPLACEMENT PROJECTS AND
OUR
VISION HERE IS MORE DOING
THOSE
PAVING PROJECTS WHEN WE FIND
FAILING SEWERS THAT WE'RE
ALSO
ABLE TO REPLACE THOSE KIND
OF IN
THIS CIP BUCKET.
THIS IS
MORRIS STREET.
WE APPROVED THIS AT THE
JUNE
16th COUNCIL MEETING, BUT I LEFT
IT IN HERE BECAUSE WE DID
LET
SOME BIDS COME IN SINCE THEN,
AND THEY'RE HIGHER THAN WHAT
WE
BUDGETED IN THE
ENGINEER'S
ESTIMATES.
WE HAVE A BUDGET
COMMITTEE
MEETING TO TALK ABOUT THAT,
AND
WE'LL BE BRINGING BACK
AN
AMENDMENT TO THE CIP WITH
OUR
FINAL MEMBERS HERE NEXT MEETING.
SO NOW WE'RE INTO OUR FLOOD
RESILIENCY MASTER PLANNING
EFFORTS.
THIS PLAN IS WELL UNDER WAY.
THEY'VE DONE ALL THE
YDRAULING
MODELING AND WE'RE MEETING
WITH
THE SONOMA WATER AGENCY
TOMORROW
TO SEE HOW OUR MODELS AND
THEIR
MODELS CAN SUPPORT EACH OTHER
TO
LOOK AT WHERE WE CAN START
BUILDING OUT CIP PROJECTS
IN
DRAINAGE AND STORM WATER.
THE COMMUNITY CENTERS,
THE
COUNCIL APPROVED THE LIST OF
REPAIRS, AND ZEE SOME
PRELIMINARY COSTS ON WHAT
THOSE
WILL BE, SO WE'LL BE
WORKING
THROUGH REPAIRING THOSE
FLOOD
DAMAGE PROJECTS THAT COMMUNITY
CENTER THIS YEAR.
COVERT CREEK WE TALKED ABOUT AND
APPROVED AT THE COUNCIL MEETING.
THIS IS OUR BIG-WATER
PROJECT
FOR THE YEAR.
WE JUST PASSED OUR MASTER
PLAN,
AND THE MAIN THING WE NEED TO
DO
IS REPLACE WALL FOUR.
WE JUST RECEIVED THE
PERMITTING
TO DO THE MONITORING WELL
THAT
WILL SUPPORT THE DESIGN
OF THE
NEW WELL, WHICH WILL BE
WELL
NINE.
THE OTHER PORTION OF THIS
PROJECT IS TO LOOK FOR
SOME
FINANCING TO FUND THIS PROJECT.
WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO WORK
WITH
THE CONSULTANT, IF COUNCIL
CHOOSES TO PAUSE OUR RATES.
WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET THAT
FUNDING, SO THIS MAY PUSH
OUT
ANOTHER YEAR UNTIL WE CAN HAVE
A
STABLE RATE STRUCTURE THAT
WOULD
SUPPORT FINANCING.
THEN THIS ONE IS TO DO TANK
ASSESSMENTS, SO
THERE'S TWO.
WANTED TO DO A STRUCTURAL
ASSESSMENT AND ONE IS TO DO A
SEISMIC ASSESSMENT OF THE
FIRST
STREET AND PLEASANT HILL TANKS.
AND THIS LAST WATER CIP IS FOR
A
WATER METER AT OUR YARD WHERE
WE
HAVE A WATER TOWER JUST
TO
BETTER AUTOMATE THE USE OF THAT
WATER.
SO THIS IS GLOBALLY OUR CIP FOR
WATER, AND I JUST WANTED TO
STOP
HERE AND SAY THAT IF WE
PAUSE
OUR RATE STRUCTURE AND OUR
TIERED RATES, WE WILL PROBABLY
NEED TO BRING SOME OF THIS
BACK
SO THAT WE'RE NOT DEFICIT
SPENDING TOO FAR
INTO OUR
RESERVES.
SO SOME OF THESE MAY PUSH OUT.
THE REAL PRIORITY
FOR US IS TO
COMPLETE THE DESIGN AT LEAST
ON
WELL FOUR SO WE CAN KIND
OF
POSITION OURSELVES FOR
FUNDING
WHEN THE CITY, YOU KNOW, HAS
A
RATE STRUCTURE THAT WILL
SUPPORT
THAT.
AND THEN MY LAST ONE IS
THE
POLICE STATION GENERATOR,
WHICH
WE'RE IN DESIGN ON AND WE'LL
DO
CONSTRUCTION AS SOON AS
THEY
COMPLETE THAT.
AND HERE'S MY GLOBAL
SUMMARY,
AND I'LL TAKE ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS.
SEEING NO QUESTIONS, WE'LL
GO
OUT TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
THANK YOU,
VICE MAYOR.
SO THIS IS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
ON
THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE CIP
PROJECTS.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE
A
PUBLIC COMMENT, I WILL COME INTO
CHAMBERS FIRST.
SEEING NONE, I WILL GO OUT TO
ZOOM.
KATE, CAN YOU UNMUTE
YOURSELF,
PLEASE?
YES, THANK YOU.
I'M SORRY, JUST FOR A
SECOND.
STEVEN, CAN YOU UNSHARE THE
SCREEN, PLEASE, SO WE CAN
SEE
THE TIMER?
GREAT,
THANK YOU.
GO AHEAD WITH YOUR
PUBLIC
COMMENT.
YES, I JUST REMEMBER THAT
THE
ROTARY HAD A PLAN FOR UP
GRADES
TO IVES PARK THAT WAS FULLY
FUNDED, AND I DON'T
REMEMBER
THAT COMING BACK AROUND.
O I
SO I JUST HAD -- I WAS
CURIOUS
ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THAT
SEEMED
LIKE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN
A
REALLY WONDERFUL PROJECT.
AND THEN I WAS ALSO
WONDERING
THE FENCE REPLACEMENT
WAS
EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL, AND I
THINK EVERYONE'S ENJOYING
THAT,
AND I WAS WONDERING
IF THERE
WILL BE MORE FENCE
REPLACEMENT
TAKING PLACE.
THOSE ARE MY TWO
QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENT.
NEXT I WILL COME INTO CHAMBERS.
SEEING NONE, I'LL GO BACK OUT
TO
ZOOM.
LEE, CAN YOU UNMUTE
YOURSELF
PLEASE?
YES, CAN YOU
HEAR?
I CAN.
CAN
YOU SEE THE TIMER?
YEP.
GREAT.
GO AHEAD,
PLEASE.
I THINK THIS IS A $10
MILLION
PLAN.
LAST YEAR'S PLAN WAS A
$10
MILLION PLAN.
I EXPRESSED SOME CONCERN
LAST
YEAR THAT YOU DON'T HAVE
THE
STAFF TO DO A $10 MILLION PLAN.
YOU ACTUALLY DID 4.2, I
GUESS,
BASED UPON THE SUMMARY SHEET
HERE, AND 2.5 OF THAT WAS
THE
PROJECT
IN BODEGA.
AS I GO BACK THROUGH YEARS
I
FIND THAT REPEATEDLY THAT
THERE'S A BIG PLAN
AND NOT MUCH GETS
DONE.
IT SEEMS LIKE THE STUFF
THAT
GETS DONE IS PRIMARILY STUFF
THAT HAS A GRANT, AND THAT
SEEMS
TO DRIVE WHAT WE FIX.
AND IT'S NOT A VERY
STRATEGIC
WAY TO
DO THINGS.
AND LIBRARY BUILDING I THINK
IS
A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT.
JUST RECENTLY THE CITY
REPLACED
THE ROOF AND REPLACED THE SOLAR
PANELS, BUT APPARENTLY THERE
WASN'T ANY CONSIDERATION FOR THE
ACTUAL STRUCTURE
ITSELF.
MOST LIKELY BECAUSE THERE WAS
MONEY TO REPLACE -- FREE MONEY
TO REPLACE THE ROOF AND
THE
SOLAR PANELS, BUT THERE'S
NO
FREE MONEY TO GO INTO THE WALLS
AND FIX STUFF.
AND SOMEHOW WE HAVE TO BALANCE
THERE'S SOME MONEY
AVAILABLE
WITH THERE
ARE PRIORITIES THAT
ABSOLUTELY MUST BE FIXED --
STREETS, SOME OF OUR
PUBLIC
BUILDINGS ARE EXAMPLES OF THAT.
AND THE LAST PART OF THIS
WOULD
BE JUST TRANSPARENCY.
IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO
FIGURE
OUT IN ANY GIVEN YEAR WHAT
WAS
DONE -- WHAT WAS PLANNED.
WHAT WAS PLANNED IS ALWAYS
THERE.
WHAT WAS ACTUALLY DONE IS ALMOST
NEVER THERE UNLESS YOU REALLY GO
SEARCHING AND YOU'RE NEVER
SURE
BECAUSE THE NUMBERS DON'T
MATCH
UP.
SO IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE
A
BETTER WAY OF RECONCILING
THIS,
AND IT WOULD BE BETTER
FOR CITY
COUNCIL TO SEE THE THINGS
THAT
MAYBE AREN'T BEING DONE.
MAYBE THEY COULD SAY, WAIT A
MINUTE, WE BETTER PRIORITIZE
FIGURING THAT ONE OUT.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENT.
NEXT I WILL COME BACK
INTO
CHAMBERS.
SEEING NONE, I'LL GO BACK OUT TO
ZOOM.
IF THERE'S ANYONE ON ZOOM THAT
WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A
PUBLIC
COMMENT ON THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
PLEASE, GO AHEAD.
MY
NAME IS DOUG.
I LIVE ON PETALUMA AVENUE.
I'M JUST WONDERING HOW
YOU
PRIORITIZE THE CROSSINGS.
THE ONE AT BURNETT ANDAND
MAIN SEEMS TO ME TO BE
VERY
IMPORTANT.
I KNOW PEOPLE STEP OUT AND
THERE'S PARKING RIGHT UP TO THE
CROSSWALK, AND I WAS
JUST
TALKING WITH A GUY TODAY
WHO
SAID HE WAS ALMOST HIT THERE.
THANK
YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PUBLIC
COMMENT.
NEXT, I WILL GO BACK OUT
TO
ZOOM.
IF THERE'S ANYONE
ON ZOOM THAT
WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC
COMMENT ON THE PUBLIC HEARING
FOR THE CIP TO PLEASE RAISE
YOUR
HAND VIRTUALLY.
SEEING NONE, I'LL COME BACK
INTO
CHAMBERS.
SEEING NONE, PUBLIC HEARING IS
CLOSED.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW
IF
SOMEONE COULDER AND THE
QUESTIONABOUT
HOW THOSE ARE PRIORITIZED,
CROSSINGS.
IN PAST EXPERIENCE CALTRANS
WILL DO TRAFFIC STUDIES AND
LOOK
AT THEM AND BURNETT IS ON
THAT
LIST AND IDENTIFIED AS ONE OF
THE CROSSINGS THAT NEEDS
HELP.
OKAY,
THANK YOU.
SO BACK TO THE DAIS FOR
ANY
COMMENTS OR A MOTION.
NO, I'LL GO AHEAD AND MAKE A
MOTION TO APPROVE STAFF'S
RECOMMENDATION.
SECOND.
THANK
YOU.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL
MEMBER
ZOLLMAN AND SECONDED
BY COUNCIL
MEMBER CARTER TO APPROVE
THE
RESOLUTION APPROVING THE
FISCAL
YEAR 26, 27 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT
PLAN.
COUNCIL MEMBER
CARTER?
YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER
HINTON?
AYE.
COUNCIL MEMBER ZOLLMAN.
YES.
VICE
MAYOR MAURER.
YES.
MAYOR McLEWIS IS ABSENT.
THE MOTION PASSES 4-1
WITH
COUNCIL MEMBER CARTERS,
HINTON,
VICE MAYOR MAURER IN
SUPPORT,
AND MAYOR McLEWIS IS
ABSENT.
SO I'D LIKE TO TAKE A
NICE,
SHORT BREAK, AND WE'LL BE
RIGHT
BACK AT IT.
OKAY, CAN WE BRING THE
MEETING BACK TO ORDER?
CODY, ARE WE
READY?
I GOT
IT.
I SEE A
THUMBS UP.
STEVEN, CAN YOU CHANGE
THE
VIEW TO GALLERY AS WELL, PLEASE?
ARE WE READY TO GO, PLEASE?
YES, WE'RE READY TO
RESUME.
OKAY.
SO WE'RE MOVING ONTO
REGULAR
CALENDER ITEM NUMBER
9,
DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION
OF
APPROVAL OF WAIVING THE
FIRST
READING AND INTRODUCTION OF
THE
ORDINANCE REGARDING CITY COUNCIL
COMPENSATION.
GOOD EVENING.
EXCUSE ME, GOOD EVENING
VICE
MAYOR AND
COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SO THIS IS FOLLOWING UP
ON
PREVIOUS DIRECTION FROM THE
COUNCIL.
BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS A
DRAFT
ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 2.
44 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE TO ADJUST
COUNCIL COMPENSATION.
CURRENTLY THE
COUNCIL'S
COMPENSATION IS $300 PER
MONTH,
AND IT HAS BEEN THAT WAY FOR
MANY, MANY YEARS.
AND, YOU KNOW, PREVIOUSLY
THE
CITY WAS AUTHORIZED TO INCREASE
THAT AMOUNT BY 5% PER YEAR, BUT
THE COUNCIL -- THE CITY
NEVER
DID.
RECENTLY STATE LAW READJUSTED
WHAT THE MAXIMUM SALARY COULD
BE
FOR ALL DIFFERENT CITIES AND
BASED ON THE SIZE OF THE CITY.
AND FOR THE CITY OF OUR
SIZE,
THE MAXIMUM COMPENSATION IS $950
PER MONTH SUBJECT TO POTENTIAL
FUTURE INCREASES THAT WOULD
NEED
TO BE APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL
INTHE
FUTURE.
SO THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE WOULD
INCREASE COUNCIL COMPENSATION
TO
$950 PER MONTH.
UNDER STATE LAW, THAT
CANNOT
TAKE EFFECT UNTIL THERE IS THE
START OF A NEW COUNCIL
MEMBER
TERM.
SO THAT MEANS IT WOULDN'T TAKE
EFFECT UNTIL JANUARY OF 2027.
IT WOULD APPLY TO ALL
COUNCIL
MEMBERS, EVEN THOSE WHO ARE
CONTINUING TO SERVE OUT EXISTING
TERMS.
THE FISCAL IMPACT FOR
THIS
BECAUSE IT'S ONLY HALF OF
THE
YEAR THIS YEAR, THE
FISCAL
IMPACT WOULD BE ABOUT 37,000 --
EXCUSE ME, THE COST
WOULD
INCREASE FROM 18,000 TO
37,500
FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR.
IN THE FUTURE WHEN THERE
ARE
FULL YEARS AT THE HIGH
COMPENSATION AMOUNT, THAT
WOULD
BE $57,000 TOTAL.
OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, THE
STAFF
REPORT GOES INTO HOW MUCH
TIME
AND WHAT A COMMITMENT IT IS TO
BY A COUNCIL MEMBER IN THE YEAR
2026 AND HOW MUCH MORE
IS
INVOLVED IN IT THAN WHEN THE
CITY SET THAT RATE BACK IN --
YOU KNOW, DECADES AGO,
FRANKLY,
THE 300.
SO WITH THAT I'LL PAUSE AND
SEE
IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS
FROM
THE
COUNCIL.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?
I SEE NO QUESTIONS, SO WE WILL
GO OUT TO PUBLIC COMMENT,
PLEASE.
THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR.
SO THIS IS PUBLIC COMMENT
FOR
THE INTRODUCTION OF THE
ORDINANCE ON CITY COUNCIL
COMPENSATION.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC
COMMENT, I'LL COME OUT OUGHT
TO
CONVERSATION AND COME OUT TO
ZOOM.
GOOD EVENING.
I HOPE YOU APPRECIATE
THIS
INCREASE BECAUSE THIS IS
A
POLICY THAT THE STATE-WIDE
CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY
NAACP HAS
ADVOCATED FOR TO INCREASE
YOUR
SUPPORTIVE
FISCAL SUPPORT IN
YOUR ROLES.
SO JUST KNOW THIS IS
NOT
SOMETHING THAT IS
ARBITRARILY
BEING BROUGHT FORWARD BY
YOUR
JURISDICTION OF YOUR CITY
STAFF,
BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS A
STATEWIDE ENDEAVOR SUPPORTED
BY
THE NAACP ACROSS THE
STATE
BROUGHT FORWARD BY AT THE
TIME
STATE SENATOR BILL DODD.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PUBLIC
COMMENT.
NEXT I'LL GO OUT TO ZOOM.
KATE, CAN YOU UNMUTE,
PLEASE?
YES.
I'M UNMUTED, I
BELIEVE.
YOU ARE.
CAN YOU SEE THE TIMER STILL?
I
CAN.
GO AHEAD,
PLEASE.
AS A STUDENT OF SEBASTOPOL,
I
100% SUPPORT COUNCIL RAISES.
I KNOW HOW HARD COUNCIL
MEMBERS
WORK, AND I ADMIRE THEIR
DILIGENCE AND THE HUNDREDS AND
HUNDREDS OF HOURS THAT
THEY
SPEND WORKING ON BEHALF OF
OUR
COMMUNITY.
IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT JOB.
AS A WATER AND SEWER
RATEPAYER,
I CANNOT SUPPORT THE
RAISES
UNLESS THE CITY COUNCIL TIME IS
REMOVED FROM THE
RATEPAYER
EXPENSES DUE TO THE FACT
THAT
COUNCIL ACTUALLY SPENDS
VERY
LITTLE TIME ON WATER AND
SEWER
ISSUES.
SO I JUST WANT TO SAY I
100% AS
A CITIZEN SUPPORT THE
COUNCIL
RAISES BUT BELIEVE THAT
COUNCIL
TIME SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE
RATEPAYER EXPENSE POOL.
THANK
YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENT.
NEXT I WILL COME INTO CHAMBERS.
IF THERE'S ANYONE IN CHAMBERS.
SEEING NONE, I'LL GO BACK OUT TO
ZOOM.
LEE, CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF,
PLEASE?
CAN YOU HEAR
ME?
I CAN HEAR YOU.
CAN YOU SEE THE TIMER
STILL?
SURE.
GREAT.
GO
AHEAD, PLEASE.
THIS IS ALLOWED BY LAW,
NOT
MANDATED.
IT SEEMS A LITTLE BIT TONEDEAF
IN THE CITY OF SEBASTOPOL
GIVEN
THAT YOU'VE REPEATEDLY BEEN TOLD
BY DIRECTOR WONG THERE'S
A
STRUCTURAL DEFICIT.
THAT MEANS THAT EXPENSES
IN
SALARIES AND BENEFITS ARE 60% OF
THE EXPENSES IN THIS CITY ARE
GROWING FASTER THAN REVENUE.
AND OVER TIME THE
INEVITABLE
RESULT WILL BE A FEW PEOPLE HERE
GETTING PAID, DOING NO
WORK
BECAUSE THERE'S NO MONEY TO DO
WORK.
IF YOU'RE DOING THIS JOB FOR
$900 A MONTH, YOU MIGHT WANT TO
REEXAMINE YOUR LIFE GOALS.
THANKS.
THANK YOU, LEE, FOR YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENT.
NEXT I WILL COME BACK INTO
CHAMBERS.
IF THERE'S ANYONE IN CHAMBERS
THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A
PUBLIC
COMMENT.
SEEING NONE, I'LL GO BACK OUT TO
ZOOM.
MARY, CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF,
PLEASE?
YES.
THANK YOU.
CAN YOU SEE THE
TIME R?
I
CAN.
GREAT, GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
I SUPPORT THE RAISES BUT
I
ABSOLUTELY OPPOSE IT IF THIS
IS
COMING TO WATER
RATE PAYERS.
ABSOLUTELY OPPOSED TO THAT.
GET
IT FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
OKAY, THANK YOU.
THAT'S IT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENT.
NEXT I'LL COME INTO CHAMBERS.
SEEING NONE, I'LL GO BACK OUT TO
ZOOM.
CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF,
PLEASE?
YES.
THANK YOU.
CAN YOU SEE THE
TIMER?
SURE,
YES.
GO AHEAD,
PLEASE.
SO THIS IS KENT JENKINS.
AGAIN, I AM A MEMBER OF THE
BUILDING THE COMMONS COMMITTEE.
AND ONE OF THE PLEASURES
AND
PRIVILEGES I'VE HAD IS TO WATCH
TWO OF OUR
SITTING COUNCIL
MEMBERS AND HOW THEY ENGAGE
WITH
THE COMMITTEE, THE TIME THEY
SPEND ON IT, AND REALIZE THIS IS
ONLY ONE OF DOZENS
OF COMMITTEES
AND MEETINGS THAT THEY GO
TO ON
A WEEKLY BASIS.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW
ANYBODY
WITHOUT SOME OUTSIDE SUPPORT
SYSTEM COULD EXIST AND DO
THIS
KIND OF WORK ON THE AMOUNT OF
MONEY THAT THEY GET NOW.
SO WHAT
THAT MEANS, OF COURSE,
IS THAT ANYONE WHO'S NOT IN
A
PRIVILEGED POSITION TO
HAVE
THEIR TIME SUBSIDIZED IS
UNABLE
TO SERVE.
AND WE OBVIOUSLY COULD USE SOME
DIVERSITY IN OUR BOARD AND
IN
OUR PEOPLE WHO
SERVE THE CITY.
SO I THINK THE RATE
INCREASE
MAKES A MINIMAL SENSE
AND
CERTAINLY OPENS THE POOL
TO
PEOPLE WHO MIGHT ACTUALLY MAKE
A
FEW DOLLARS PER HOUR TO
ACTUALLY
SERVE OUR CITY AND TAKE THE
TIME
TO UNDERSTAND ALL THE ISSUES AND
RESEARCH THINGS THE WAY THEY
SHOULD.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENT.
I WILL COME BACK INTO CHAMBERS.
IF THERE'S ANYONE IN
CHAMBERS
THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC
COMMENT.
SEEING NONE, I'LL GO BACK --
OH,
I'M SORRY.
GO AHEAD,
PLEASE.
HI.
I HADN'T PLANNED ON MAKING
A
COMMENT.
MY NAME IS JANELLE.
MY FATHER SPENT YEARS ON
THIS
COUNCIL AND SERVED A FEW TERMS
AS MAYOR.
I LIVED IN THIS TOWN A WEEK
SHY
OF 59 YEARS.
I THINK $100 IS A LOT OF MONEY.
AS I REMEMBER SERVING ON THIS
COUNCIL, AND THIS IS NOT
TO
DIMINISH WHAT YOU DO
BECAUSE
IT'S TRULY APPRECIATED.
BUT AS I REMEMBER, SERVING ON
THE COUNCIL IS DONE BECAUSE
OF
HOW MUCH WE LOVE OUR CITY
AND
THE PASSION THAT WE HAVE FOR
OUR
CITY.
I KNOW THAT'S WHAT MY DAD
AND
FELLOW COUNCIL PEOPLE OVER THE
20 YEARS -- THAT'S JUST THE WAY
THEY WORKED.
AND, YEAH, IT'S NOT YOUR
FULLTIME JOB.
AND IT CAN'T BE YOUR FULLTIME
JOB.
AND I JUST --
UNFORTUNATELY,
THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS.
SO I JUST FELT LIKE I NEEDED TO
SAY SOMETHING
ABOUT THAT.
TRULY NOT TO DIMINISH -- I
KNOW
I'M REPEATING MYSELF NOW --
WHAT
I'VE ALREADY SAID BECAUSE YOU VERY VALUABLE.
BUT WITH ALL THE OTHER
FINANCIAL
OBSTACLES RIGHT NOW, I
THINK
THAT $900 IS A LOT MORE THAN
MOST PEOPLE IN TOWN THINK IT
SHOULD BE.
THANKS.
THANK YOU, JANELLE, FOR YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENT.
NEXT I WILL GO BACK OUT TO ZOOM.
IF THERE'S ANYONE ON ZOOM
THAT
WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC
COMMENT, TO PLEASE RAISE
YOUR
HAND VIRTUALLY.
SEEING NONE, I'LL COME BACK
INTO
CHAMBERS.
IF THERE'S ANYONE IN CHAMBERS.
SEEING NONE, PUBLIC COMMENT
IS
CLOSED ON THIS
ITEM.
OKAY, BRINGING IT BACK
TO
COUNCIL FOR FURTHER COMMENTS
AND/OR A MOTION.
BUT BEFORE YOU MAKE A MOTION, LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT, SO ANYONE ELSE HAVE A COMMENT?
WHAT I HAD SAID BEFORE.
WE DEFINITELY DO NEED
DIVERSITY
AND PERSPECTIVE.
WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE SERVING IN
ANY CAPACITY THAT I KNOW
OF
THAT'S LOWER THAN 50 YEARS OLD.
SO IF WE REALLY WANT TO
START
BRINGING IN DIVERSE VOICES
AND
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE
WHO
ARE LITERALLY LIVING ON THE
MARGINS, THE COMMUNITY, THE
QUEER, THE TRANS, THE
DISABILITY
COMMUNITIES, WE NEED TO START
THINKING ABOUT
WHAT WE'RE DOING
TO ALLOW THEM TO SIT HERE
OR SIT
ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION OR
SIT ON ANYTHING, HONESTLY.
I KNOW WE'RE IN A FINANCIAL SET
OF CIRCUMSTANCES.
TO BE HONEST IT'S GOING TO
TAKE
A LOT OF PEOPLE A LOT OF TIME
TO
DIG US OUT OF
THE SITUATION
WE'RE IN.
THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS, AND I
WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS.
THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER HINTON.
YES, I DIDN'T
HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE THE
LAST TIME THIS CAME UP.
I DID ASK FOR THE AGENDA TO BE
RESHUFFLED, AND I WAS DENIED.
SO I'M WEIGHING IN ON THIS
FOR
THE FIRST TIME.
AND I HAVE TO SAY I'M
NOT SUPPORTIVE
OF THIS.
I DON'T BELIEVE PEOPLE RUN
FOR
CITY COUNCIL FOR MONEY.
I DON'T THINK MONEY IS
THE
MOTIVATION.
AND IF I THOUGHT IT WAS, I
MIGHT
FEEL DIFFERENTLY.
BUT HAVING SERVED ON THE
COUNCIL
FOR TEN YEARS, I THINK THAT WE
SERVE BECAUSE WE'RE SERVING OUR
COMMUNITY.
AND I DON'T KNOW THIS KIND OF
A
RAISE, GIVING OURSELVES A
THREE
TIME RAISE, 217% INCREASE AT
THIS TIME MAKES SENSE.
I WOULD BE WILLING TO SUPPORT A AMOUNT, BUT TO GO TO
THE
MAXIMUM OF $950, I JUST
CANNOT
SUPPORT THAT WITH WHERE THE CITY
IS WITH THE FISCAL CRISIS.
SO I -- I WISH I HAD BEEN
ABLE
TO WEIGH IN WHEN THIS WAS
DIRECTED TO STAFF AND LEAVES
ME
A LITTLE IN AN
UNCOMFORTABLE
SPOT TONIGHT.
BUT I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING
IT.
COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER.
YEAH, I WOULD SUPPORT A
MORE
GRADUAL INCREASE.
KIND OF ALL OR NOTHING, BUT
WE
DEFINITELY NEED QUALITY
PEOPLE
TO COME UP AND SERVE.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT
MONETARY
COMPENSATION IS NEEDED FOR
THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE MAYBE YOUNGER
THAT HAVE A LOT OF OTHER
THINGS
GOING ONTO MAKE IT WORTH IT
BECAUSE I THINK I SPEND 40
HOURS
CRAMMED INTO TWO DAYS A
WEEK
DEALING WITH THE CITY FOR --
FOR
$300.
AND THAT IS ABOUT LOVE,
BUT NOT
EVERYBODY CAN LOVE IT THAT
HARD.
AND -- AND, YOU KNOW, I
THINK,
YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE GOING
TO
ATTRACT SOME PEOPLE WITH FULL
FAMILIES AND FULL LIVES, THAT
LITTLE BIT OF COMPENSATION
KIND
OF, LIKE, EASES THE PAIN
ON
THAT.
AND SO THAT'S WHY I'M SUPPORTING
IT.
SO WE DID HAVE A PRETTY FULL
DISCUSSION ON THIS A MONTH
OR
MORE AGO, AND THERE WERE
MANY
REASONS THAT WE GAVE WHY WE
WERE
IN SUPPORT
OF IT.
AND ONE OF THE REASONS IS IN
1984 WHEN THIS RATE WAS
ESTABLISHED, IT WAS $300
IN
1984.
IF YOU ESCALATE THAT TO
2026,
THE AMOUNT IS ACTUALLY $950.
SO WHAT $300 COULD HAVE BOUGHT
IN 1984, $950 CAN BUY TODAY.
SO TO ME THAT'S A
RESPECTFUL
POINT OF VIEW.
AND FOR ALL THE OTHER REASONS
THAT THIS LAW
WAS ESTABLISHED.
SO, I MEAN, FOR EXAMPLE I
THINK
IN 1984 YOU COULD RENT
A
ONE-BEDROOM STUDIO FOR $300, AND
I DON'T THINK YOU CAN
DO THAT
TODAY.
SO TO ME IT'S ABOUT EQUITY
AND
ITS ABOUT RESPECT, SO I WILL
BE
SUPPORTING THIS.
SO I WOULD PREFER TO
JUST
SUPPORT THE FULL RATE
RATHER
THAN LOWER IT AT THIS TIME.
AND I'M WONDERING IF WE
SHOULD
WAIT FOR MAYOR McLEWIS TO
BE
JOINING US TO MAKE
THIS
DECISION.
OR, YEAH, WHAT ARE YOUR --
I'M
JUST ASKING WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS
ARE.
WE ALL HAVE LIVES AND MOST
OF
US DO THE BEST WE CAN TO
MAKE
EVERY
MEETING, BUT IT'S ALMOST
IMPOSSIBLE TO DO SO, SO
I'M
GOING TO, AGAIN, STATE MY
SUPPORT AND STATE IT
FOR THE
FULL
AMOUNT.
IS THERE A
MOTION?
SO MOVED.
I'M MOVING STAFF'S
RECOMMENDATION.
AND I'LL SECOND THAT.
CAN WE TAKE A ROLL CALL
PLEASE?
THANK YOU.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL
MEMBER
ZOLLMAN AND SECONDED BY
VICE
MAYOR MAURER TO APPROVE
THE
WAIVING OF THE FIRST READING
AND
INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE
FOR
CITY COUNCIL COMPENSATION IN
THE
AMOUNT AS PROPOSED AS $950.
COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER.
YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER HINTON.
NO.
COUNCIL MEMBER ZOLLMAN.
YES.
VICE MAYOR MAURER.
YES.
MAILER McLEWIS IS ABSENT.
THE MOTION PASSES 3-1-1
WITH
COUNCIL MEMBERS CARTER,
ZOLLMAN,
AND VICE MAYOR MAURER IN
SUPPORT.
COUNCIL MEMBER HINTON IN
OPPOSITION, AND MAYOR McLEWIS
ABSENT.
OKAY, THANK YOU.
SO OUR NEXT ITEM IS
THE
DISCUSSION
AND CONSIDERATION OF
THE SUSPENSION OF THE
TIERED
WATER RATES AND FISCAL YEAR
'26,
'27 WATER RATE
INCREASES
EFFECTIVE JULY 1st UNTIL
SUCH A
TIME THAT A NEW WATER RATE
STUDY
CAN BE
COMPLETED.
GOOD EVENING AGAIN,
VICE
MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SO AS THE VICE MAYOR
STATED,
THIS PROPOSED RESOLUTION TONIGHT
WOULD DO TWO
THINGS.
FIRST, IT WOULD SUSPEND THE
CITY'S TIERED WATER RATES.
AND THE CITY'S TIERED WATER
RATES, THE CITY HAS TWO CHARGES
A MONTHLY RATE THAT'S DIVIDED
INTO.
THERE'S A FIXED COST
THAT'S
BASED ON THE SIZE OF THE
METER,
AND THEN THERE IS A
CHARGE
THAT'S BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF
WATER USED.
THAT RATE DIFFERS DEPENDING ON
WHAT TYPE OF CUSTOMER YOU
ARE
AND WHAT -- HOW MUCH WATER
YOU
USE.
SO SUSPENDING THOSE RATES WOULD
MAKE EVERYONE PAY THE
SAME
AMOUNT OF -- SAME RATE FOR
WATER
USE.
THERE WOULD BE NO CHANGE TO
THE
FIXED MONTHLY COST THAT IS BASED
ON THE METER SIZE.
THERE'S A CHART AT THE BOTTOM OF
THE STAFF REPORT THAT SHOWS WHAT
THAT WOULD BE -- WHAT
THE
CURRENT RATES ARE AND WHAT THE
22 PROPOSED RATES WOULD BE.
THE PROPOSED RATE FOR A
THOUSAND
GALLONS OF WATER WOULD BE $5.
FOR ALL CUSTOMERS.
THE SECOND PART OF THIS
RESOLUTION WOULD SUSPEND THE
ANTICIPATED OR RATHER
SCHEDULED
WATER RATE INCREASE THAT WAS
TO
GO INTO EFFECT ON JULY 1,
2026.
BASED ON THE SCHEDULE --
FIVE-YEAR SCHEDULE OF RATES THAT
THE COUNCIL APPROVED BACK IN
2024, THERE WAS ANTICIPATED TO
BE A 4% RATE INCREASE ON
JULY
1st.
IF THE COUNCIL ADOPTS THIS
RESOLUTION, THAT RATE
INCREASE
WOULD BE SUSPENDED.
AND SO THE 2025 RATES
WOULD
CONTINUE TO APPLY FOR THE
FIXED
MONTHLY CHARGE AS WELL ASAS
RATE BASEDBASED THE AMOUNT OF
WATER USED.
AND THE COUNCIL MET IN
CLOSED
SESSION LAST WEEK
TO DISCUSS
ISSUES REGARDING WATER AND SEWER
RATES, AND UNDER THREATS
OF
LITIGATION THAT THE COUNCIL HAS
RECEIVED IT.
AND DURING THAT MEETING
THE
COUNCIL DIRECTED STAFF
TO DO
FOUR THINGS.
FIRST TO CREATE AN ISSUE IN
RFP
FOR A NEW WATER AND SEWER RATE
STUDY.
SECOND WAS TO CREATE AN RFP
FOR
A NEW COST ALLOCATION PLAN
FOR
THE WATER AND SEWER AND PRICED
FUNDS AND WHAT THEY -- HOW THEY
REIMBURSED THE GENERAL FUND FOR
SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE GENERAL
FUND.
AND THEN TO BRING THIS ITEM
FORWARD TONIGHT, THAT SCHEDULED
TONIGHT, AND THEN ON JULY 21st
TO BRING FORWARD AN AGENDA ITEM
TO FORGIVE THE LOAN THAT GENERAL
FUND PREVIOUSLY MADE TO
SEWER
ENTERPRISE FUND.
SO TONIGHT THE ONLY
ACTION
BEFORE THE COUNCIL IS THE
RESOLUTION, BUT I DO WANT
TO
TOUCH ON PREVIOUSLY CITY
STAFF
HAS TAKEN STEPS TO
IMPLEMENT TIME
TRACKING.
THEY MET WITH SPRING BOOK TO
SEE
HOW THIS COULD BE
INCORPORATED
INTO THE CURRENT SYSTEM.
SPRING BROOK IS PROPAIRING A
DEMO FOR STAFF TO LOOK AT.
IN PART WHY THE COUNCIL HAS
DIRECTED THE FREEZE AND FOR
TO
FREEZE TO APPLY INTO THE WATER
RATE STUDY COMES INTO -- IS
UPDATED SO THAT STAFF HAS TIME
TO IMPLEMENT THESE CHANGES,
THAT
WE CAN BRING ON A CONSULTANT
WHO
CAN LET US KNOW
EXACTLY HOW
MUCH -- WHAT PERIOD OF TIME OF
TIME TRACKING IS NECESSARY
BEFORE THAT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED
TO A -- TO A STUDY.
IS ONE MONTH ENOUGH,
SHOULD THEY
GO ON FOR A LONGER PERIOD
OF
TIME?
THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.
THEN A NEW COST AND ALLOCATION
AND RATE STUDY POTENTIALLY
GO
HAND IN HAND.
THE COST ALLOCATION MIGHT
IMPACT
THE RATE STUDY DEPENDING ON
WHAT
IT SAYS -- YOU KNOW, LOWERING
THE RATES THAT ARE NECESSARY OR
INCREASING IT.
WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT THE
RATE
STUDY SAYS.
BUT THE ITEM BEFORE THE
COUNCIL
TONIGHT IS A RESOLUTION
TO
SUSPEND THE RATE INCREASE
THAT
WOULD HAVE GONE INTO EFFECT JULY
1 AND TO ELIMINATE THE TIERED
WATER RATES.
AND SO WITH THAT, I WILL
PAUSE
TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY
QUESTIONS
FROM THE
COUNCIL TONIGHT.
JUST ONE THING
I'LL ADD.
THIS WILL
HAVE A FISCAL IMPACT.
THE STAFF REPORT DETAILS
WHAT
THAT WOULD BE AS WELL AS
THE
AGENDA.
THAT FISCAL IMPACT IS ASSUMING A
FULL -- THIS, YOU KNOW,
REMAINS
IN EFFECT FOR THE FULL YEAR.
BUT, OF COURSE, IF -- IF THE
STUDY IS ADOPTED SOONER,
IT
MAY -- THE IMPACT MAY BE
DIFFERENT.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL PAUSE FOR
ANY
QUESTIONS THE COUNCIL MAY HAVE.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?
COUNCIL MEMBER
CARTER?
NO?
OKAY, COUNCIL MEMBER
HINTON.
SO I'M LOOKING AT THE AGENDA
ITEM, AND IT JUST SAYS TO
ELIMINATE
TIERED, BUT HOW
DOES
THAT IMPACT OUR COMMERCIAL
HIRES, THAT BYWATER FROM CITY
OF
SEBASTOPOL?
DOES THAT MEAN WE'RE
ELIMINATING
TIERED FOR
WATER HAULERS?
YES, EVERYONE WOULD BE
PAID
THE -- WOULD PAY THE SAME RATE
REGARDLESS OF USE CLASS OR HOW
MUCH WATER IS USED.
THEY'D PAY THE SAME $5.22 PER A
THOUSAND GALLONS
OF WATER.
OKAY.
AND THEN, ALEX, CAN YOU SPEAK
TO
WHEN WE VOTED IN TIERED
RATES,
THAT WAS AN OPTION THAT OTHER
CITIES USED AND WAS GIVEN TO
US
AS -- IT FELT LIKE IT WAS
OKAY,
AUTHORIZED -- TO ME I FRANKLY
VOTED FOR IT.
IT MADE SENSE TO ME.
YOU USED MORE, YOU PAID MORE.
I REMEMBER THE DISCUSSION
AT
LENGTH.
AND NOW WE'VE BEEN ADVISED THAT
TIERED IS NOT THE BEST OPTION,
AND SO THIS IS A
RECOMMENDATION
FROM TONIGHT TO CHANGE THAT
FROM
OUR PREVIOUS ADVICE THAT WE
WERE
GIVEN, CORRECT?
CORRECT.
BUT TO ADD SOME NUANCE TO IT,
SO
TIERED RATES ARE LEGAL AND
REMAIN LEGAL IF THE TIERS
ARE
BASED ON DIFFERENT COSTS
THAT
APPLY TO SERVING THE DIFFERENT
TIERS
OF RATES.
OUR RATE STUDY ESTABLISHES TIERS
BASED ON PEAKING COSTS, WHICH TO
OVERSIMPLIFY IS TO ESSENTIALLY
SAYING SYSTEM DESIGN TO
SERVE
THE MAXIMUM DEMAND, SYSTEMSYSTEM
TO BE BIGGER, THERE ARE BIGGER
COSTS, AND YOU ASSIGN SOME
OF
THOSE COSTS TO HIGH-VOLUME
USERS
BECAUSE IF EVERYONE USED
LESS,
THEN YOU COULD HAVE SMALLER
PUMPS, SMALLER PIPES, THAT
SORT
OF THING.
SO THAT'S THE DESIGN OF WHAT
OUR
STUDY WAS DESIGNED
ON.
SINCE THAT TIME OUR STUDY WAS
ADOPTED WITH MOST RATES,
THERE'S
BEEN THREE ISSUES THAT THE
COURT
OF OPINION DEALING WITH TIERED
WATER RATES.
TWO OF THEM STRUCK DOWN THE
TIERS AS SAYING THE AGENCY
INVOLVED HADN'T MET ITS
BURDEN
TO SHOW THAT THE TIERS
CORRESPONDED TO INCREASED COSTS.
THOSE TWO CASES HAD TO DO
WITH -- WITH AGENCIES WHO
BASE
THEIR FEES ON PEAKING COSTS
JUST
LIKE WE DO.
A THIRD AGENCY'S WERE UPHELD BY
THE
COURT OF APPEALS.
THE CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT
HAS
TAKEN UP THE CASE TO ANSWER
THAT
QUESTION, BUT A DECISION IS
NOT
EXPECTED FOR, YOU KNOW, 18 PLUS
MONTHS ON THAT,
AND SO I THINK I
WOULDN'T NECESSARILY
SAY OUR
CURRENT RATES ARE ILLEGAL.
I WOULD SAY THAT THE LAW IS
LESS
CLEAR THAN IT WAS AT THE
TIME,
AND
THE COUNCIL HAS DECIDED
RATHER THAN WAIT THAT AMOUNT
OF
TIME FOR THE SUPREME
COURT'S
DECISION TO INSTEAD, YOU KNOW,
PROACTIVELY ADDRESS THIS
ISSUE
GIVEN THE -- THE RECENT COURT
CASES.
THANK YOU FOR THE DETAILED
EXPLANATION.
OTHER QUESTIONS?
OKAY, WE CAN GO OUT TO PUBLIC
COMMENT.
[ CAPTIONERS TRANSITIONING ]
IT IS A DATA-DRIVEN DOCUMENT THAT SHOWS HOW THE CITY CAN RESTORE THE $5.5
BILLION APPLIED BY THE GRAND JURY CONTINUE WITH INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES, REMOVE TIERS AND KEEP WATER AND SEWER RATES IF NECESSARY. THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS IDENTIFIED TIERED RATES AS LEGALLY VULNERABLE. THE COUNCIL'S ADVOCATES FOR THE CITY TO REMOVE THE TIERS . THIS IS AN EXAMPLE WHERE THERE'S
A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BETWEEN THE CITIES DUTY TO THE CITY AND THE CITY'S JUDICIARY DUTY TO THE RATEPAYERS. THIS ACTION OF SIMPLY REDUCING REVENUE IS NOT GOOD FOR THE RATEPAYERS. IT RUNS THE RISK OF JEOPARDIZING NEEDED INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIR, WHICH WAS IDENTIFIED BY DIRECTOR HART. THE CITY IS IN A
LEGAL PINNACLE WITH THE GRAND JURY AND WITH ITS TIERED RATES BECAUSE IT NEVER HAD A RATEPAYER ADVOCATE GROUPS LIKE US DOES NOW. THE E FOC IS A GROUP FOR RATEPAYERS AND THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS. IN ADDITION, THEY NEVER RECOMMENDED A NEW RATE STUDY. THE REPAYMENT OF THE LEGAL FEES, WHICH I MENTIONED EARLIER. PLEASE HAVE ALEX SHOW THE INVOICES THAT HE ACTUALLY DID
THAT WORK, AND WE RECOMMENDED TIME TRACKING, WHICH I'M VERY HAPPY TO HEAR THE CITY IS STARTING TO IMPLEMENT. OBVIOUSLY, YOU WOULD NEED TIME TRACK FOR
AT LEAST SIX MONTHS TO GET AN ACCURATE DATA ON HOW MUCH TIME IS SPENT ON THE WATER AND SEWER. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. I WILL COME BACK INTO CHAMBERS. IS THERE ANYONE. LEE, CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF. CAN YOU SEE THE TIMER? YES. I THINK JUST DECIDING UNILATERALLY TO FREEZE RATES IS WRONG ON SEVERAL LEVELS. AS KATE SAID, THEY HAVE A LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DIFFERENT
CHANGES THAT WOULD MAKE US MOVE MORE TOWARD COMPLIANCE AND AT THE SAME TIME BALANCE OFTEN NEED AND FREEZE RATES. ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO, I THINK, AND
I'M SURE COUNCIL MEMBER HINTON WAS THERE, BUT THE COUNCIL OF THE TIME VOTED TO REDUCE RATES, I THINK AND THAT -- COMING OUT OF COVID. THAT RAPIDLY DEPLETED THE RESERVES BOTH THE WATER AND SEWER. SEWER WENT $1 MILLION IN DEBT. THE WATER WENT ALMOST BANKRUPT ALMOST TO ZERO AND ONE OF THE
REASONS FOR THE HIGH RATES IS THERE WAS AN URGENT NEED TO REPLACE THOSE RESERVES WHERE YOU CAN BORROW MONEY. SO THERE'S A CONSEQUENCE TO THESE KINDS OF DECISIONS. THIS DECISION, YOU WILL BE BACK BELOW -- DEPLETE THE RESERVES ENTIRELY WITHIN THREE YEARS WITH THIS DECISION. YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT. I GUESS THAT IS MY BASIC COMMENT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. NEXTIVA COME BACK INTO CHAMBERS. SEEING NONE I WILL GO BACK OUT.
MARY, CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF.
YES. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
CAN YOU SEE THE TIMER?
GO AHEAD.
I WANTED TO SAY THAT THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT DECISION, AND AS THE ENTERPRISE
FUND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MEMBER, I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT MOST OF THE
RECOMMENDATIONS ARE NOT BEING FOLLOWED THROUGH AND I'M NOT BEING DISCUSSED -- OTHER AVENUES OF RESOLUTION THAT ARE BEING FOCUSED ON. IT'S GREAT
THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE TIERS , BUT WE DID NOT RECOMMEND A NEW CASE
STUDY UNTIL TIME TRACKING AND SEWER MASTERPLAN AND THE GRAND JURY RESTITUTION WAS IMPLEMENTED. AND -- I NEED TO LOOK AT MY NOTES. WE JUST -- WE
WANT TO SEE THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNCIL BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THESE CONVERSATIONS, AND THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M HEARING. SO THAT IS ALL I WANTED TO SAY. THANK YOU. SORRY, MY NOTES ARE NOT COMING UP. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. IS THERE ANYONE IN CHAMBERS. I WILL GO OUT TO SEE HIM. KYLE, CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF.
SO WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS NOW PRETTY CONSISTENTLY FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS. THE COUNCIL QUESTIONS THAT I CONTINUE TO HEAR I AM BOGGLED BY.
WHAT THEY SUGGEST TO ME IS A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE ISSUE, AND IT
SUGGESTS TO ME THAT COUNCIL HAS NOT DONE A DEEP ENOUGH DIVE INTO THIS ISSUE
BECAUSE THE QUESTIONS THEY ARE ASKING SUGGEST THAT THEY HAVE NOT READ THE REPORTS, THEY HAVE NOT DUG INTO THIS WELL ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND. AND I DON'T
KNOW IF IT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE TRYING TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THE FACT THAT
YOU FAILED YOUR FIDUCIARY DUTY TO PROTECT THE ENTERPRISE FUND OVER THE LAST
NINE YEARS AS THE COST ALLOCATION HAS SKYROCKETED TO THE POINT WHERE YOU'RE
WATCHING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO SUPPORT THINGS LIKE THE CITY COUNCIL BUDGET AND THAT YOU DID NOT SEE THAT. AND YOU WERE NOT LOOKING FOR THAT AND YOU ARE NOT ASKING ABOUT THAT FOR THE LAST NINE YEARS. TO THE POINT WHERE WE ARE AT NOW, $5.5 MILLION OF MISALLOCATED FUNDS. SO THE KIND OF LITTLE
CHISEL AWAY AT SOLUTIONS THAT YOU ARE CONTINUING TO DO AT THIS POINT
WITHOUT LOOKING AT WHAT YOU FAILED TO DO OVER THE LAST NINE YEARS, THAT IS THE TROUBLING PART. IF PLAYING NAÏVE AND ASKING QUESTIONS THAT SEEM LIKE YOU'RE IGNORANT TO THE ISSUE IS A WAY TO PROTECT YOURSELF, SO BE IT. BUT JUST KNOW THAT YOU HAVE $5.5 MILLION OF RATEPAYER MONEY THAT WAS MISALLOCATED TO THE GENERAL FUND. THE DECISION TONIGHT WE NEED TO CONSIDER THE FACT THAT
IF YOU DON'T MISALLOCATED MONEY IN THE FUTURE, WHAT IS IT ACTUALLY CAUSED TO
RUN THE WATER DISTRICT AND THE WASTEWATER DISTRICT AND I ASSURE YOU IT COSTS FAR LESS WHEN YOU STOP MISALLOCATED FUNDS TO THE GENERAL FUND.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT I WILL BRING IT BACK TO THE CHAMBERS. IS THERE ANYONE IN CHAMBERS? I WILL GO BACK OUT TO ZOOM. IS THERE ANYONE ON ZOOM? PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND VIRTUALLY. PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED ON THIS ITEM.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
YES. I APPRECIATE THE ONGOING PUBLIC COMMENT HERE TONIGHT AND ALL THAT WE'VE RECEIVED. I APPRECIATE THE WATER AND SEWER OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE WORK. I
BELIEVE THAT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION, WHICH IS ALEX POINTED OUT, THIS MIGHT BE A GREAT DISCUSSION NOW HAS NOT BEEN A GREAT DISCUSSION. CLOSED SESSION WAS VERY THOROUGH. AND I THINK THAT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BRING US
CLOSER TO COMPLIANCE AND ALSO IT DOES MAKE SENSE FROM A LEGAL POINT OF VIEW,
GIVEN THE SPLIT IN AUTHORITY OF THESE PAST COURT CASES THAT WE DO TRY TO
CORRECT AND ANTICIPATE THE WORST POSSIBLE THING THAT COULD HAPPEN IF THE SUPREME COURT RULES LIKE EVERYTHING IS NOT GREAT. AT LEAST WE'VE MADE STEPS.
WE'VE MADE STEPS WITH THE NEW COST ALLOCATION AND I UNDERSTAND THERE WERE
MANY COMMENTS OUT THERE THE FACT THAT YOU CANNOT DO A COST ALLOCATION WITHOUT -- STAFF TIME. WE HEARD FROM MARY. THEY ARE GOING TRY TO DO THAT. IN
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT IS MISSING IN THIS IS THE FACT THAT ALEX DID SAY
PART OF WHAT THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS IS TO BRING IN A CONSULTANT TO TELL US HOW LONG SHOULD WE BE DOING THIS TIME TRACKING? SHOULD BE A MONTH, SHOULD BE SIX MONTHS? WE ARE NOW GOING TO BE RELYING ON CONSULTANTS TO
GUIDE US INTO THEIR DIRECTION WHERE I'M HOPING WE CAN BE WHERE EVERYBODY WANTS US TO BE. JUST BY WAY OF WHAT IS RIGHT AND ALSO BY WAY OF PROP 218 . I DO
UNDERSTAND WHAT ALEX SAID THAT DOING THE COST ALLOCATION REPEAT IS TIED TOGETHER WITH THE RATE STUDY AS WELL. THOSE TWO MAKE SENSE. SO STAFF'S
RECOMMENDATION IS THE BEST THAT WE COULD GET IN THE BEST THAT I CAN GET BASED UPON THE ADVICE THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED. I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS TONIGHT.
COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER
IF I COULD SLIGHTLY SPEAK FOR THE EFOC, THE THINGS THAT KATE AND MARY ARE
TRYING TO BRING UP HIS -- IF WE ARE TRYING TO TAKE AWAY MONEY FROM THE INCOME SOURCE, WHICH IS WHAT FREEZING RATES DOES, WE ARE NOT FEEDING BACK INTO IT. WE ARE ONLY REDUCING THE REVENUE. WE ARE NOT ADDING TO THE REVENUE. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE FIGURE OUT BOTH SIDES OF IT. THEIR HOPE IS THAT -- THE COMMITTEES
HOPE IS THAT WE ATTRIBUTE SOME MONEY BACK INTO THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS IN SOME FASHION. I DO SUPPORT CUTTING THE TIERED RATES BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THOSE ARE
RIGHT -- THE FREEZING OF THE RATES, I WOULD LIKE TO FREEZE THIS UNTIL WE ARE ABSOLUTELY CLEAR WHAT THINGS COST. I DO SUPPORT THOSE. BUT THERE ALSO HAS TO BE SOME WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ENTERPRISE FUND IS WHOLE. AND IF WE DO THAT FOR VERY LONG, IF WE GO FOR 3 OR FOUR MONTHS WITHOUT MAKING SURE THE
ENTERPRISE FUND IS FUNDED, LIKE IF WE ARE NOT GETTING MONEY BACK INTO IT IN SOME WAY, AND WE DO JEOPARDIZE LIKE HOW WE ARE GOING TO DO THE 10 YEAR PLAN
FOR ALL THE BUDGET WE HAVE LEFT TO DO, WHICH WE HAVE NICELY SCHEDULED OUT AND I APPRECIATE THAT PUBLIC WORKS. SO WE ARE DOING A GREAT JOB BY GETTING ON TOP OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO. WE KNOW WE NEED TO DO AS FAR AS INFRASTRUCTURE. I
THINK THAT IS SUPER POSITIVE AND WHEN THIS TAKES SOMETHING AWAY, I DON'T WANT
TO NOT DO THIS TONIGHT BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE CAN AND TO THE ENTERPRISE FUND IN LATER DAYS. THIS WILL BE JUST A ONE-TIME THING. THIS IS FIRST STEPS. WE ARE DOING A LOT OF FIRST STEPS. WE HAVE THE EFOC. WE ARE A NEW COUNCIL. WE WERE NOT HERE NINE YEARS AGO. EVEN IF ONE MEMBER WAS, WE STILL CAN'T REALLY DO ANYTHING BUT GO FORWARD. SO ALL WE CAN DO IS TRY TO A NEW -- AND WE'VE ALREADY TAKEN -- DOWN TO DIRECT TIMING. WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO
DIRECT TIME OTHER THINGS, WE JUST HAVEN'T SORTED IT YET, SO WE ARE GETTING TO ALL THE THINGS THAT WE ARE HOPING TO GET TOWARDS GOING FORWARD. BUT IT'S JUST
GOING TO TAKE A MOMENT TO GET THERE, AND I APPLAUD STAFF FOR DEALING WITH QUITE A BIG HIT TO ITS POCKET SUDDENLY. AND IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO AND COMING RIGHT IS GENERALLY DIFFICULT. THE SOONER WE CAN DO IT, THE BETTER. BUT I
DO HOPE THAT WE DO ADDRESS SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES QUITE SOON BECAUSE THIS IS JUST ONE ANGLE OF IT.
COUNCIL MEMBER HINTON
YEAH, I WANTED TO WEIGH IN. IT IS A BIT FRUSTRATING BECAUSE AS ONE
COUNCILMEMBER ALREADY SAID THE PUBLIC IS AWARE WE HAD A CLOSED SESSION ON THIS AND IT'S NOT THAT WE ARE NOT HEARING ALL THE RECOMMENDATIONS. WE CERTAINLY DO OUR HOMEWORK AND WE'VE READ THE GRAND JURY REPORT. WE HAVE READ ALL THE LETTERS THAT WE'VE GOTTEN BY EMAIL. BUT I THINK, AT LEAST BEGIN
FOR MYSELF, WE ARE TRYING TO TAKE A STEP-BY-STEP APPROACH JUST BECAUSE WE
HAVE ALL THIS FEEDBACK WE CANNOT IMPLEMENT EVERYTHING AT ONCE, AND WITH THE MOVE TONIGHT WE ARE TRYING TO HOLD THINGS SO THAT WE CAN TAKE A STEP-BYSTEP APPROACH. I KNOW THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT FOR A YEAR, BUT ONCE WE GET TO THE NEXT STEP, WE MIGHT COURSE CORRECT AND MAYBE IT IS FOR YEAR. MAYBE WE ARE NOT HOLDING WATER RATE. BUT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE WE ARE TAKING A PAUSE AND AT THE APPROPRIATE THING TO DO. WE ARE MAKING SOME MOVES BASED ON RECOMMENDATIONS LIKE THE TIERED RATES. AGAIN, I'VE SAID EVEN THOUGH I VOTED FOR, I HAD NO IDEA IT WAS FLAWED. SO AS WE LEARN INFORMATION WE COURSE CORRECT, AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO OVER TIME. SO I'M GOING TO BE SUPPORTING THIS
TONIGHT AND I JUST WANT TO GIVE FEEDBACK THAT I KNOW WE HAVE
RECOMMENDATIONS NOW COMING FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT AREAS AND WE ARE LISTENING TO THOSE. RECOMMENDATIONS STILL, WE NEED TO MAKE THE FINAL DECISION AND THAT'S WHAT WE WILL BE VOTING ON TONIGHT.
THANK YOU. I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE LOSS OF POTENTIAL PROJECTS COMING UP,
BUT I'M ALSO GOING TO SUPPORT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION AND I'M LOOKING FOR A MOTION.
I WILL MOVE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
SECOND .
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ZOLLMAN AND -- I'M SORRY.
SO MOVED BY -- DID YOU SECOND? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ZOLLMAN AND
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER TO SUSPEND THE TIERED WATER RATES EFFECTIVE JULY 1st UNTIL SUCH TIME THAT THE NEW WATER RATE STUDY CAN BE
COMPLETED AND REQUEST VERIFICATION FOLLOWING THE FIRST BILLING CYCLE AND
THE NEW RATE STUDY STRUCTURE THAT ALL WATER COUNTS HAVE BEEN REVIEWED
AND UPDATED TO REMOVE -- ALL CUSTOMERS ARE BILLED -- IN ADDITION TO THE MONTHLY SERVICE CHARGE.
[ ROLL CALL ] THE MOTION PASSES 4-1.
MOVING ON. DOES ANYONE NEED A BREAK BEFORE WE MOVE ON? OKAY. THE NEXT ITEM, ITEM NUMBER 11.CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST FOR DIRECTION TO STAFF TO
PREPARE ZONING CODE/MAP AMENDMENTS AND/OR RETURN WITH OPTIONS TO ALLOW
COMMERCIAL OUTDOOR BARBECUE (BBQ) OPERATIONS WITH PERMITS IN CERTAIN ZONING DISTRICTS OR ON SPECIFIC PARCELS.
I WILL KICK THIS OFF AND JANE IS AVAILABLE FOR ANSWERING QUESTIONS AS WELL. SO
AS THE COUNCIL IS AWARE, THE CITY PREVIOUSLY COMMENCED ENFORCEMENT ACTION
AGAINST -- BARBECUE BECAUSE THE CURRENT USE IS NOT ALLOWED BY THE CURRENT ZONING CODE. CITY STAFF SUBSEQUENTLY MET WITH THE BUSINESS OWNER AND AS HAS
HAPPENED SOMEWHAT FREQUENTLY IN CITIES AGREED TO SUSPEND ENFORCEMENT
WHILE PROGRESS IS BEING MADE IN GOOD FAITH TO RESOLVING THE ISSUE ON BOTH SIDES. THE -- COUNCIL MEMBER HINTON AND COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER REQUESTED
THIS AGENDA ITEM FOR THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER WHETHER OR NOT TO DIRECT STAFF TO PREPARE AN ORDINANCE. TO CHANGE THE ZONING CODE SO THAT THIS BUSINESS WOULD BECOME AN ALLOWED USE OR CONDITIONAL ALLOWED USE. BY WAY OF
BACKGROUND, THIS TYPE OF OUTDOOR BARBECUE USE IS CONDITIONALLY ALLOWED
USE IN ALL THE CITIES COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS ACCEPT THIS PARTICULAR COMMERCIAL DISTRICT. SO AT A HIGH LEVEL THERE ARE TWO WAYS THE CITY COULD ADDRESS THIS.
ONE IS THEY COULD ALLOW THESE TYPE OF USES AS A CONDITIONALLY ALLOWED USE IN THIS DISTRICT AS A WHOLE. ALTERNATIVELY THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY COULD BE
REZONED IN SOME WAY TO ALLOW THIS USE ON ONLY THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY
EITHER AS A PERMITTED USE, WHICH WOULD BE UNIQUE FOR THE CITY OR MORE
COMMONLY AS A CONDITIONAL PERMITTED USE, IN WHICH CASE THE PROCESS TWO MEN
THE CODE AND FOR THE BUSINESS TO APPLY FOR A CUP COULD HAPPEN SIMULTANEOUSLY. A CONDITION OF USE PERMIT IF APPROVED BY THE CITY COULD INCLUDE CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL. SO THIS ITEM IS BEFORE THE COUNCIL TONIGHT TO
EITHER GIVE SPECIFIC DIRECTION TO STAFF ON PREPARING AN ORDINANCE NOW OR TO
GIVE DIRECTION TO STAFF TO COME BACK WITH A FULLER ANALYSIS OF THE OPTIONS BASED ON PAST FEEDBACK FROM COUNCIL . STAFF DID NOT DO THAT HERE PRIOR TO
GETTING FULL AUTHORITY FROM THE COUNCIL TO SPEND TIME DIGGING INTO THOSE OPTIONS AND WHAT THEY MIGHT MEAN. AT A HIGHER LEVEL YOU EXPECT AN
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND CITYWIDE OR A ZONE WIDE RATHER THAN A PARCEL SPECIFIC AMENDMENT. OTHER IMPACTS MIGHT BE BIGGER. ON THE OTHER HAND, AS A GENERAL PLANNING MATTER WE DON'T LIKE TO REZONED ONE PARCEL AT A TIME. THAT MAY BEEN DESIGNATED FOR A VERY SPECIFIC REASON. WITHOUT I WILL PAUSE AND I KNOW JANE IS HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE COUNCIL MAY HAVE.
COUNCIL MEMBER ZOLLMAN.
THANK YOU FOR THAT REPORT AND I'M TRYING TO DO HOMEWORK AHEAD OF TIME. I READ THE STAFF REPORT AND SENT QUESTIONS TO MARY. I WANT TO KNOW BOTH OF
THE OPTIONS I THINK ARE GREAT BECAUSE MY PRIMARY CONCERN IS ABOUT PUBLIC
HEALTH, AND I SAID TO EVALUATE BOTH OF THE OPTIONS IN THE STAFF REPORT, WHAT WOULD BE THE AMOUNT OF TIME AND SHE SAID IT WOULD BE THREE HOURS.
THAT IS CORRECT. MY ROLE WOULD JUST BE HELPING TO REVIEW WHAT ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW WOULD BE NECESSARY AND REVIEWING DRAFT ORDINANCES.
THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT WOULD BE DOING MOST OF THE WORK AND THE ANALYSIS.
AND THEN I WANTED TO KNOW THE OPTIONS SET FORTH IN THE STAFF REPORT AND IT
SOUNDED LIKE MARY COULD NOT PONTIFICATE ON THAT UNTIL YOU DO THE ANALYSIS IF WE GIVE YOU THREE HOURS. IS THAT RIGHT?
I THINK IT'S MORE IF YOU GIVE MARY -- I DON'T KNOW IF YOU PUT IN THERE THE STAFF
TIME FOR PLANNING IF YOU GIVE AUTHORIZE THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO SPEND
THE TIME TO DO IT, THEY WILL BE DOING MORE OF THAT ANALYSIS OF THE PROS AND CONS OF BOTH OPTIONS.
AND MY LAST ONE IF WE GO WITH BOTH OF THEM, THEN WHATEVER OPTION YOU BRING
BACK WE WILL BE ABLE TO SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS THE PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE BECAUSE FOR ME THAT'S MY PRIMARY CONCERN.
YES. YES AND JUST TO CLARIFY BOTH OPTIONS WOULD HAVE TO BE SOME SORT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND THAT WOULD DEPEND ON WHAT THE OPTION WAS, AND
ALSO A CUP COMES THROUGH THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND POTENTIALLY THE COUNCIL WILL REVIEW INDIVIDUAL CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL.
THANKS.
ARE WE HAVING TECHNICAL PROBLEMS? OKAY. EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE THE SCREEN TURNS BLUE. OKAY. OTHER QUESTIONS? I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW AN ESTIMATE OF THE
PLANNING DEPARTMENT HOURLY -- HOW MANY HOURS THEY THINK THIS WOULD TAKE FOR THEM TO BRING SOMETHING BACK TO THE COUNCIL WITH OPTIONS? THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. WE ESTIMATE WHENEVER WE HAVE TO BRING IN ITEM
THAT INCLUDES RESEARCH AND PREPARATION OF STAFF REPORT FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND FOR THE CITY COUNCIL, IT WILL BE ABOUT 20 HOURS OF STAFF TIME.
SO DEPENDS ON HOW YOU STRUCTURE THIS IF YOU WANT US TO JUST BRING BACK OPTIONS TO THE CITY COUNCIL, IT WOULD BE LESS EXPENSIVE. IF YOU WANTED US TO
PREPARE SOMETHING AND TAKE IT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR RECOMMENDATION THAT WOULD BE THE FULL 20 HOURS.
ONE ESTIMATE FOR JUST BRINGING BACK OPTIONS?
PROBABLY 12 TO 16 .
THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER .
JUST REMIND ME ABOUT THE PROCESS HERE FOR A TEMPORARY REPRIEVE OR IS THIS PERMITTING LIKE PERMANENT?
SO THE OPTIONS BEFORE YOU WOULD BE PERMANENT CHANGES TO THE ZONING CODE, AND IF THE USE PERMIT IS ISSUED THAT'S PERMANENT TO CONTINUE THAT USE.
OKAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER HINTON
SINCE I'M NOT THERE TONIGHT, I WONDER IF THE CITY HAS ANY UPDATES ON THIS
BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF RUMORS OUT THERE ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA RELATED TO THE BUSINESS, AND I'M NOT SURE THE BUSINESS IS REPRESENTED TONIGHT. I'M JUST CURIOUS. I DON'T WANT TO AUTHORIZE A LARGE NUMBER OF STAFF HOURS TO TRY TO
COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS AND MITIGATION FOR THE BUSINESS THAT WAS BEFORE US
WEEKS AGO WITH A ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE SAYING HOW THEY LOVE IT HERE AND THEY WANT TO STAY HERE AND SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE GOVERNMENT MOVES SLOWER. SO
HERE WE ARE NOW BRINGING BACK A STAFF ITEM AND I DON'T WANT TO DO IT IN A SILO
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WE APPROVE THIS TONIGHT AND SOMETHING COMES OUT IN TWO DAYS THAT SHOW SUPER CLUELESS. ANYWAYS AS COUNCILMEMBER CARTER AND I
BROUGHT BACK MAYBE WE CAN HEAR FROM MARY AND UPDATE ABOUT WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY WITH THIS BUSINESS. ARE THEY WANTING TO STAY IN SEBASTOPOL? ARE THEY WANTING US TO LOOK AT ZONING OPTIONS FOR THIS PROPERTY? WHERE WE AT WITH THINGS? BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING THINGS APPROPRIATELY.MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT LOCATIONS . THEY BEEN SEARCHING CERTAIN LOCATIONS. THEY HAVE NOT FOUND A SUITABLE LOCATION IS MY UNDERSTANDING. I'VE NOT GONE ANY FURTHER THAN THAT.
WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION,
BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY BEEN TRYING TO FIND ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS THAT WORK FOR THEM BUT I DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING BEYOND THAT.
OKAY. WE CAN GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
THIS IS PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE DISCUSSION OF THE DIRECTION FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATION. WE WILL DO CHAMBERS FIRST AND THEN GO TO ZOOM. TO WANT TO GO AHEAD.
HERE BEFORE YOU NOT EXPLICITLY'S TAKING ON BEHALF OF THE BUSINESS AS THEY
HAVE REPRESENTATIVES ON ZOOM WHO WILL BE JOINING AND SPEAKING MORE
EXPLICITLY, BUT I WILL SAY YOU HAVE DRAGGED THE CART AND AS A CITY STAFF
TRYING TO ALLOCATE TIME AND DESIGNATING THE BUSINESS AS SUCH IS GOING TO HINDER THEIR ABILITY TO GET THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED TO FUNCTION. THEY ARE
LOOKING FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT IN ORDER TO OPERATE THE BUSINESS TO SAVE THE CAPITAL THEY NEED TO MOVE OUTSIDE THE CITY. YOUR DECISIONS AND
ACTIONS HAVE MADE IT UNTENABLE FOR THEM TO STAY IN THIS LOCATION, AND THE
STAFF TIME IS AN ISSUE, PERHAPS WE ALLOCATE YOUR PRIORITIES AND THINK CLEARLY
HOW YOU ARE OPERATING AT THE CITY AND BE MORE EFFECTIVE WITH THE TIME USE IS
OF COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE TIME IN YOUR BUILDING DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR HAS TIME
TO TELL THEM THEY ARE NOT CAN APPROVE THE PERMITS, BUT I THINK YOU NEED TO THINK HOW PEOPLE ARE USING THEIR WORK TIME AND WORKPLACE OPPORTUNITIES.
THIS BUSINESS HAS BROUGHT IN A TON OF TOURISM TO THIS AREA AS A
REPRESENTATIVE AND FIFTH DISTRICT APPOINTEE TO THE SONOMA COUNTY TOURISM BOARD I'VE SEEN THE INCREASE THIS BUSINESS HAS BROADENED TO SEBASTOPOL. I CAN
SAY YOU ARE DRAGGING KEELS ON BEING SUPPORTIVE OF A BUSINESS IN THE AREA AND
IT'S UNFORTUNATE THEY HAVE TO LOOK OUTSIDE OF YOUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE YOU
ALLOWED FOR OUTSIDE INFLUENCES FROM FOLKS WHO PREVIOUSLY SAT ON YOUR DAIS
TO CONDITIONALLY CHANGE YOUR OPINION ON HOW YOU LOOK AT YOU SUPPORT YOUR
SMALL BUSINESSES, AND I THINK THAT IS WHERE YOU HAVE MISSTEP TO AND WHERE
YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COURSE CORRECT AND LET THEM OPERATE THEIR BUSINESS AT THE HYATT POTENTIAL TO MAXIMIZE THEIR CAPSULE. THEY ARE GOING LEADER CITY. THERE'S NO OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO STAY IF THEY WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE CRITICAL CRITICISM AND BE A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. OLIVER, CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF.
SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THIS BUSINESS STARTED COMPLETELY LEGALLY IN AN AREA WHICH THEY ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO DO WHAT THEY ARE DOING. GIVEN THE CITY HAS
TO SPEND ALL THIS TIME AND MONEY, MAYBE THEY SHOULD SPLIT THE COST WITH THE
BUSINESS SO THEY CAN COME TOGETHER RESPONSIBLY AND FIGURE OUT A SOLUTION TO THIS. IT SEEMS TO BE THAT THEY'VE DONE INCREDIBLY WELL PUBLICIZING THEMSELVES ON LOCAL TV CHANNELS. I'M NOT QUITE SURE THEY BEEN PLAYING THE GAME VERY WELL IN TERMS OF WORKING CLOSELY WITH CITY. THE CITY IS DRAGGING ITS FEET AS A
REACTIVE -- IT SEEMS TO ME IT'S A REACTION TO BUSINESS THAT NEVER SHOULD'VE BEEN OPERATING IN THE LOCATION IT'S IN CURRENTLY. AND THEN THERE'S A HUGE ISSUE
WITH THE LOCAL NEIGHBORS WHO DON'T WANT HAVE SMOKE COMING THROUGH THE WINDOWS EVERY MORNING. SO THIS IS A MESS. I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHERE TO GO BUT,
BUT MY RECOMMENDATION IS THE BUSINESS IN GOOD FAITH SHOULD BE CONTRIBUTING MONEY TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU.
CAN YOU HEAR US OKAY? WE ARE HAVING TECHNICAL ISSUES HERE INSIDE, SO
MEMBERS ON ZOOM WE ARE TRYING TO GET THE ZOOM BACK UP ON OUR SCREEN AND HEAR. THANK YOU. I WILL COME BACK INTO CHAMBERS.
I AM DOUG. IN THIS CASE REZONING PROPOSAL IS A RED HERRING. THE CURRENT ZONING IS NOT THE PROBLEM. THE RESTAURANT IS NOT THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS THE
IMPACT OF THE SMOKE FROM THE RESTAURANT SMOKERS ON THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. NO MATTER THE ZONING UNTIL THE SMOKE IS EFFECTIVELY MITIGATED, THIS ISSUE WILL NOT BE RESOLVED. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. CAN YOU MEET YOURSELF, PLEASE. BUT CAN YOU HEAR ME?
I AM ONE OF THE OWNERS OF THE BARBECUE. I WANTED TO FILL YOU IN A MOMENT BEEN DOING SO FAR. FIRST TO BACKCHECK. ALL THESE THINGS TAKE TIME. THERE WAS A
PUBLIC COMMENT MEETING WE WERE NOT AWARE OF THESE COMMENTS AND IF WE HAD
KNOWN ABOUT THESE CONCERNS, WHICH SOUNDS LIKE IT WAS A MOST YEAR AGO, WE COULD USE THIS TIME TO FIND A SOLUTION. WE ARE CURRENTLY SPEAKING TO SOME
ENGINEERS INTO WHAT DIFFERENT KIND OF FILTRATION SYSTEMS THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, SO WE ARE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT OPTIONS. SOME OF THESE THINGS COST AS MUCH AS $100,000 AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY. WE ARE GETTING SUPPORT AND PEOPLE WANTING TO HELP. WE ARE PRETTY CONFIDENT WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE SMOKE RELATIVELY SOON. AS FAR AS THE PROPERTY -- IT DOESN'T MEAN WE
ARE GIVING UP ON SEBASTOPOL BE GIVEN THE TIME WE HAVE WE HAVE TO EXPLORE ALL OF SONOMA COUNTY. WE ARE LOOKING AT ABOUT 10 PROPERTIES AND SEEING WHAT'S FEASIBLE FOR US. AS FAR AS CITY STAFF MEMBERS I'VE EMAILED THE
DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR THREE OR FOUR TIMES IN LAST TWO MONTHS AND HE DOESN'T RESPOND WHEN I CALL. HE DOES NOT CALL BACK. WE ARE TRYING TO WORK WITH THE CITY BUT WE GET NO RESPONSE. THE ONLY PERSON WE'VE HAD LUCK WITH IS COUNCILMEMBER CARTER AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR HIM COMMUNICATING WITH US.
THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES. I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO THINK WE ARE TRYING. KEEP IN MIND, WE ARE TRYING TO RUN A BUSINESS THAT SAME TIME. WE HAVE
FAMILIES AND HOMES AND ALL THESE THINGS TAKE TIME I JUST WANT TO BE CRYSTAL CLEAR. WE AREN'T SITTING AROUND.
THAT IS TWO MINUTES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. BACK INTO CHAMBERS.
HELLO. I AM LINDA AND SOME OF YOU KNOW ME AS THE FORMER SENIOR CENTER DIRECTOR. BEFORE THAT I WAS THE DIRECTOR OF THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION.
AND IN THE 1990S WE GOT STARTED PREVENTING SMOKING IN THE WORKPLACE AND IT
MOVED ON AND YOU HAVE ALL SEEN A NORM CHANGE THAT SMOKING IS NO LONGER ALLOWED, AND, WHY DO WE DO THAT? WE DID THAT BECAUSE OF PARTICULATE MATTER. NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO ABOUT ZONING -- IT'S DISAPPOINTING THAT THIS IS AFFECTING BUSINESS, BUT THE REAL ISSUE HERE IS PARTICULATE MATTER. IT CAUSES
HEALTH PROBLEMS, IT CAUSES PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEMS AND IT'S NOT JUST
SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN SAY WE WILL GIVE THEM A TEMPORARY PASS BECAUSE
EVERY DAY THAT THE NEIGHBORS OF THAT BARBECUE ARE GETTING SMOKE IN THEIR LUNGS, IT WILL LAST FOR A LIFETIME. I HAVE SEEN AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE LUNG ASSOCIATION MANY PEOPLE COME TO ME AND SAY I NEVER SMOKED. HOW COME I AM DYING OF LUNG CANCER? IT'S BECAUSE OF PARTICULATE MATTER. SO WHATEVER YOU
ARE THINKING ABOUT LET'S DO A TEMPORARY ZONING OR WHATEVER, IT DOESN'T MATTER. WHAT REALLY MATTERS IS YOU ARE KILLING PEOPLE WITH SECONDHAND SMOKE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. I WILL GO OUT TO ZOOM. KATE, CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF.
THANK YOU. IT SOUNDS FROM THE THIN& COMMENTS THAT THEY ARE WORKING AND IT
SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE WORKING TO MOVE THE BUSINESS OUT OF ITS CURRENT LOCATION. IT'S UNCLEAR TO ME, ONCE AGAIN, IN CONCERT WITH COUNCIL MEMBER HINTON, WHETHER OR NOT THE BUSINESS IS GOING TO STAY IN SEBASTOPOL. SO AS THE
CITY HAS VERY LIMITED RESOURCES, AND MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA TO PUT A SLIGHT
PAUSE ON THINGS BEFORE EXPANDING THE CITY'S LIMITED RESOURCES ON A REZONING
MEASURE THAT ALSO COULD RESULT IN SOME SORT OF LAWSUIT BECAUSE AS THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER JUST SAID, PARTICULATE MATTER IS LINKED TO LUNG CANCER. SO IT SEEMS LIKE YOU'RE ONCE AGAIN IN A BIT OF ILLEGAL .. AND IF THE BUSINESS MOVES
BECAUSE THEY FIND A PLACE ZONED FOR SMOKERS THE CITY WILL SPEND MONEY ON SOMETHING THAT IS NOT OF USE ANYMORE. THANK YOU.
I WILL COME BACK INTO CHAMBERS.
I AM KIM. I LIVE CLOSE TO THE PROPERTY UNDER QUESTION. I WANTED TO THANK
COUNCIL MEMBER ZOLLMAN AND COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER FOR MEETING WITH PEOPLE FROM OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. AS CITY COUNCIL KNOWS, RECENTLY WE
DELIVERED A LETTER TO YOU ALL EXPRESSING OUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE WOOD FIRE SMOKE THAT WE ARE SMELLING IN HER NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WAS SIGNED BY 40 INDIVIDUALS, MOST OF WHOM LIVE VERY NEAR THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I KNOW THAT BECAUSE I KNOCKED ON THEIR DOORS TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THEM. SO THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE BUSINESS. WE FULLY SUPPORT THE BARBECUE. WE LIKE IT -- BUT SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE WITH THE SMOKE. WE CAN ENJOY THE RESTAURANT BUT THE SMOKE IS A REAL ISSUE FOR US. AND I THINK SOMEWHERE IN THIS WHOLE CONVERSATION OUR HEALTH LEFT THE TABLE FOR DISCUSSION. THERE WAS A FIRE
DEPARTMENT -- A FIRE CHIEF REPORT THAT USED DATA OF AIR QUALITY DATA THAT WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN.. OUR DATA [ INAUDIBLE ] VERY CLOSE TO THE CITY WHERE
WE LIVE AND YOU CAN SEE THIS IS ONE WEEK -- THIS IS THREE DAYS AND YOU CAN SEE A HIGH IT GOES. THIS IS -- COULD I STOP MY TIME. I WOULD LIKE MY TIME STOPPED.
LET EVERYBODY HAVE THEIR SAY. CAN YOU PLEASE RESPECT THAT EVERYBODY CAN SPEAK. SO COULD WE GIVE HER A MINUTE TO FINISH WHATEVER IT WAS? SO WHEN IT'S IN OPERATION IT IMPACTS US. WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE HEALTH
RISKS, AND THE TALL LINES ARE THE CLOSE BY MONITOR AND THE GREEN LINE IS THE MONITOR THAT WAS USED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THE DATA. SO TAKING HEALTH OFF THE TABLE WAS BASED ON INACCURATE DATA. IF YOU'RE GOING TO USE AIR QUALITY DATA CAN'T USE IT IN THE VICINITY WHERE IT'S OPERATING.
THAT IS TWO MINUTES.
OKAY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. I WILL GO TO ZOOM. KYLE, CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF.
PART OF ME IS PLEASED AT OUR INSURANCE COMPANY HAS AN AGENDA ITEM ON CONSENT TONIGHT BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE I'M GOING BACK TO. THAT'S MY QUESTION. IF
WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND ALLOW OUR CITY POLICE OFFICERS TO TASE MEMBERS
OF THE PUBLIC AND THEN ALLOW LITIGATION AGAINST OUR CITY WHERE OUR ACTUAL COSTS IN THE CITY IS ONLY $10,000 BUT MULTIPLE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
DOLLARS GO OUT AS A RESULT OF THAT LITIGATION THAT OUR INSURANCE COVERS,
GREAT, WE DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE MUCH FINANCIAL INTEREST IN ACTUALLY HAVING OVERSIGHT OF THE POLICE. DO WE HAVE ANY ACTUAL OVERSIGHT HERE? DO WE CARE WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING? DO WE CARE FOR GROUP OF CITIZENS SUES US BECAUSE OUR INSURANCE WILL COVER IT AND WE WILL PAY A $10,000 DEDUCTIBLE, OR, ARE WE
GETTING GET TO A PLACE WHERE THE PERSON WHO IS ACTUALLY LIABLE IS THE PERSON THAT DID THE HARM. ARE WE GOING TO GET A PLACE -- GET TO A PLACE WITH A POLICE
OFFICER THAT COMMITTED THE ASSAULT IS LIABLE FINANCIALLY TO A BUSINESS THAT IS PRODUCING PARTICULATE MATTER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LIABILITY? I DON'T KNOW
THE ANSWER THAT QUESTION, BUT IT SURE SEEMS LIKE THE OF THAT THE CITY IS JUST TO
ALLOW OUR INSURANCE PROVIDER TO COVER THE COSTS AND AS LONG AS WE CAN AFFORD THE $10,000 DEDUCTIBLE, NO HARM NO FOUL. AM I RIGHT? I DON'T KNOW.
BECAUSE WE DON'T TALK ABOUT LITIGATION. WE DON'T TALK ABOUT THIS YEAR
FINANCIAL COSTS THAT COMES AT THE EXPENSE OF ABUSE THAT HAPPENS TO OUR CITIZENS. AND THAT IS A SHAME.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
I LIVE -- MY NIECE LIVES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE OF THE RESTAURANT. I
HEARD ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON I COULD NOT BELIEVE THE ABUNDANCE OF SMOKE PEOPLE WERE TALKING ABOUT. I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THIS AT ALL. I'VE TALKED TO NEIGHBORS ON BOTH SIDES AND NEIGHBORS ON THE OTHER SIDE. NOBODY KNOCKED ON MY DOOR. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THE PARTICULATE MATTER -- THE HIGHER LEVELS HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR 10 YEARS NOT JUST SINCE THEY'VE MOVED THERE. I DO SMELL SMOKE BUT IT SMELLS GOOD. I'VE NEVER HAD TO CLOSE MY WINDOWS. MY CHILDREN
HAVE NEVER HAD BREATHING PROBLEMS AND EITHER HAVE MY NEIGHBORS OR THEIR CHILDREN. I THINK IT IS A SHAME. MY FAMILY'S BUSINESS WAS SUCCESSFUL THERE MY
ENTIRE CHILDHOOD AND THIS IS THE FIRST BUSINESS SINCE THEN THAT'S BEEN
SUCCESSFUL AND IT'S REALLY SAD THAT OUR CITY COULDN'T HAVE DONE SOMETHING SOONER TO HELP KEEP THIS BUSINESS IN TOWN. IT WILL GO AND WE WILL LOSE IT AND THAT IS SAD. I WALK THERE A LOT. MY NOTES ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE. BUT I THINK
YOU'RE NOT HEARING ABOUT A BIGGER GROUP OF PEOPLE FROM THIS EXACT NEIGHBORHOOD THAT ARE NOT EXPERIENCING WHAT THESE OTHER 40 SIGNATURES ARE BECAUSE WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU.
THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ON ZOOM THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT? I WELCOME BACK. LAURA.
IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE TESTING CAME FROM THE BAY AREA QUALITY
MANAGEMENT DISTRICT AND THAT THEY DECIDED THAT IT WAS NOT DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF TIME INVOLVED. IT'S A QUESTION OF WHAT IS THE NEIGHBORS RESPONSE TO THAT FINDING? I SHOULD ALSO SAY I LIVE -- I WORK ACROSS THE STREET AND I AM OFTEN THERE IN THE EXTREME EARLY MORNING HOURS. I DON'T NOTICE IT, BUT MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE I'M NOT THE RIGHT WIND DIRECTION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. IS THERE ANYONE ON ZOOM THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT? IS THERE ANYONE IN CHAMBERS? PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSE. COUNCIL MEMBER HINTON.
THANKS. I DIDN'T WANT TO GET MISSED WHEN WE GOT BACK TO QUESTIONS. I BROUGHT
THIS FORWARD WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER BECAUSE HE WANTED TO FIND A PATH TO SUPPORT A LOCAL BUSINESS. WE HAVE BEEN HEARING FROM THE NEIGHBORS AND A&M. LIKE I SAID, I AM NOT COMFORTABLE INVESTING A TON OF HOURS, AND TO ONE OF THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS WE HAVE DONE SOMETHING. THEY ARE STILL OPERATING. THEY ARE STILL IN BUSINESS. WE HAVE NOT FIND THEM. I DON'T THINK SEBASTOPOL HAS DONE NOTHING. SO HAVE TO SAY THAT OUT LOUD. AND WHAT I WANT TO KNOW IS WHAT THEY'VE DONE. I'M WILLING TO WORK WITH THEM. WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM. I
THINK WE GOT A LETTER FROM THE PUBLIC THAT SAID SOME KIND OF FILTER COULD BE PURCHASED FOR $5000. I UNDERSTAND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SAID THEY'D OFFER TO PAY FOR GO FUND ME. SPEAKING FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I LOVE BARBECUE. I EAT THERE. PEOPLE THAT I KNOW IT THERE AND WE WOULD LOVE THEM TO STAY IN SEBASTOPOL. IT'S KIND OF LIKE WE HEARD FROM ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC THAT THEY ARE GONE. IT'S REALLY FRUSTRATING PLACE TO BE. I THINK AS A
COUNCILMEMBER BECAUSE THE WAY WE ARE SET UP IS WE CANNOT SPEAK TO AN ISSUE
FROM JUST A STANDARD PUBLIC COMMENT UNTIL IT IS ON THE AGENDA AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT'S BEEN AGENDIZE'S. I THINK THE CITY HAS DONE A LOT. I WOULD LIKE A&M
TO SUCCEED AND I LOVE HOW MUCH THEY GIVE TO SCHOOLS AND THEY ARE FROM SEBASTOPOL. I WANT TO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS. I FEEL LIKE THE NEXT STEP IS FOR
US TO PICK FROM OUR AGENDA ITEM TONIGHT AND INVEST ADDITIONAL TIME WITHOUT
GOING CRAZY AND THEN HEAR BACK FROM A&M ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND
WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO TO MITIGATE WHAT SOME OF THE NEIGHBORS ARE SAYING IS BOTHERING THEM. AND I'VE WALKED BY THE SMOKERS IN THE MORNING THAT ARE SMOKING ALL NIGHT. IF I LIVED NEXT DOOR, I MIGHT NOT BE SUPER HAPPY. SOMETHING NEEDS TO HAPPEN. THAT'S WHY WE PUT IT ON THE AGENDA AND WE ARE LISTENING AND WE ARE RESPONDING. I WANT TO MAKE THAT REALLY CLEAR.
COUNCIL MEMBER ZOLLMAN .
I AGREE. THANKS FOR GETTING THIS ON THE AGENDA. I DO -- WITH PUBLIC HEALTH IN
MIND I WANT TO FIND A WAY TO HELP THIS BUSINESS SUCCEED AND WHAT STAFF HAS
LAID OUT AND NOW I AM MORE CLEAR ABOUT THE HOURS IT WILL TAKE FOR ALEX TO
EVALUATE THE OPTIONS IN THE STAFF REPORT AS WELL AS PUBLIC WORKS TIME, I'M
COMFORTABLE WITH THE AMOUNT OF HOURS THAT THEY PUT FORWARD, SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER .
I LOOK AT PROBLEMS DIFFERENTLY THAN A LOT OF PEOPLE. BUT I WANT A WIN-WIN SITUATION. I FEEL LIKE SEBASTOPOL CAN RALLY AROUND THE BUSINESS AND PROTECT
RESIDENTS THAT NEED -- THAT DON'T NEED SMOKE IN THEIR BACKYARD AND IT'S
DANGEROUS TO GUYS AND I RECOGNIZE THAT AND I HEAR THAT AND I DON'T KNOW
THAT WE NEED A ZONING CHANGE TO SOLVE THAT, BUT I DO THINK WE NEED AS A
COMMUNITY TO HELP THIS BUSINESS THAT IS YOUNG AND TRYING TO FIGURE THINGS OUT HOW TO GET A NEW FILTRATION SYSTEM, AND THAT IS SOMETHING I AM ALL IN ON. I
LOVE THE COMPANY, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE THIS OTHER ISSUE THAT I THINK SEVERAL THINGS ARE BEING CONFLATED. THEY HAVE THE ISSUE WHERE THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL
AND THEY ARE GROWING AND THEY'VE OUTGROWN THAT EXACT
, SO THEY DO NEED A DIFFERENT
ANYWAY. I THINK MY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE OWNERS, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER SPACE WOULD BENEFIT THEM AND I SUPPORT THEM AND WHATEVER BENEFITS THEM.
ONE OF THESE WAYS IS JUST IMMEDIATELY TRYING TO FIX THE AMOUNT OF SMOKE
THAT'S COMING OUT BECAUSE THEN THEY CAN FOCUS ON BEING A BUSINESS AND
SEBASTOPOL -- THEY CAN RALLY AND GET A SMOKE SITUATION FIGURED OUT AND I THINK WE ARE OKAY FOR A BIT.
IT'S OKAY WITH ME.
I'M QUITE CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT A&M IS WANTING TO DO BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE WE
WOULD BE MAKING AN EFFORT TO TRY AND SUPPORT KEEPING THEM, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY'VE OUTGROWN THE SPACE AND PLANNING TO LEAVE ANYWAY. SO -- PLEASE LET ME SPEAK. I AM SPEAKING. I SUPPORT A&M BARBECUE AND I WANT TO SEE THEM SUCCEED AND I WANT NEIGHBORS TO NOT BE SMOKED OUT. SO HOW WE ARE GOING TO DO THAT I'M NOT SURE YET. EXCUSE ME. I AM WILLING -- I THINK WE NEED MORE INFORMATION, ESPECIALLY FROM THE BUSINESS AND WHAT HE PLANS TO DO. IT DOESN'T
MAKE SENSE TO ME TO GO FORWARD WITH APPROVING -- STARTING REZONING WITHOUT KNOWING IF IT'S EVEN NEEDED. IT'S WHERE THE CITY IS PUTTING AN EFFORT TO ONE
BUSINESS, REZONING FOR ONE BUSINESS THAT IS GOING TO BE THERE, AND IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME.
I JUST WANT TO ADD THAT THE BUSINESS NEEDS TIME TO OPERATE AND FIGURE OUT A PLACE. THEY WILL BE ABLE TO FIND THE PLACE OVERNIGHT, AND WHERE THEY ARE IS OKAY, BUT REZONING MAY TAKE SIX MONTHS ANYWAYS OR THREE MONTHS OF WORK.
ANOTHER LONG PROCESS, AND THAT IS PERMANENT. REZONING IS NOW PERMANENT AND IT CHANGES THAT BUILDING IN PERPETUITY. WHEN THAT BUSINESS MAY NOT EVEN STAY
THERE AND I THINK THE IMMEDIATE REAL CONCERN AS A COMMUNITY IS TO HELP THE BUSINESS OUT AND SOLVE THE SMOKING PROBLEM FIRST. THAT IS AN INVESTMENT THEY CAN TAKE WITH THEM WHEREVER THEY GO.
SO WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND?
I'M NOT SUPPORTING A ZONING CHANGE, BUT I WANT TO SUPPORT THE BUSINESS IN STAYING THERE AND FIXING THE SMOKE ISSUE, WHICH IS NOT ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT.
FROM MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT WAS NOT THAT AREA IS NOT ZONED FOR A BARBECUE, AND IF YOU DO NOTHING, THEY CANNOT BE THERE.
THEY CAN'T BE THERE, BUT I THINK BECAUSE THE CONDITIONAL PERMIT IS NOT A THING, IS THAT CORRECT?
A TEMPORARY USE PERMIT CAN ONLY BE ISSUED FOR USE THAT IS CONDITIONALLY ALLOWED. SORT TEMPORARY USE PERMIT IS SOMETHING YOU GET IN LIEU OF GETTING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT. THAT REQUIRES GOING TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND
A TEMPORARY USE PERMIT IS THE SAME THING AS A CUP, BUT IT'S ISSUED BY STAFF AND FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. YOU CAN ONLY BE ISSUED IF THE USE IS CONDITIONALLY ALLOWED UNDER THE CODE. THIS PARTICULAR USE IS NOT ALLOWED UNDER THE CODE AT THIS LOCATION. SORT TEMPORARY USE PERMIT CANNOT BE ISSUED.
PLEASE. YOU HAVE HAD YOUR TURN TO SPEAK. YOU ARE DISRUPTING THE MEETING AND I DON'T APPRECIATE IT AND I WOULD LIKE YOU TO PLEASE STOP. WE WILL TAKE A FIVEMINUTE BREAK, PLEASE. [ CITY COUNCIL IS TAKING A 5-MINUTE BREAK. CAPTIONER STANDING BY. ] ARE WE READY TO GO? WE WILL CONTINUE THIS DISCUSSION ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 11 . COUNCIL MEMBER HINTON.
THANK YOU. THERE WAS TALK ONLINE ABOUT THE BROWN ACT. I DO NOT BELIEVE I
HEARD ANY BROWN ACT VIOLATIONS BUT I HEARD MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SPEAKING SLIGHTLY FROM MY ZOOM. MAYBE THEY CAN ADDRESS -- MAYBE YOU CAN ADDRESS THAT IN THE ROOM. MY COMMENT BEFORE THE BREAK WAS THAT, FIRST OF ALL, THE
OWNER OF THE BUSINESS, WHO I THINK IS BEST POISED TO SPEAK FOR HIMSELF, HE HAS
HIS HAND UP, AND I WOULD BE WILLING TO ASK HIM TO RETURN TO MAKE COMMENTS ABOUT THE FUTURE IN SEBASTOPOL AND MAYBE WHAT HE'S WILLING TO DO. BUT I
REALLY BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M WILLING TO INVEST SOME TIME BECAUSE
POSSIBLY AS ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC POINTED OUT, I ALSO GREW UP WITH
THAT BEING A SUCCESSFUL CORNER AND DELI, AND THAT IS WHAT THIS BUSINESS
OPENED AS AS A DELI AND IF IT MOVES SOMEWHERE ELSE, MAYBE DISOWNING NEEDS TO BE CHANGED TO ALLOW CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS. I HEARD FROM THE ATTORNEYS
SAY THE BEGINNING THAT THIS WAS THE ONLY ZONE IN SEBASTOPOL THAT DIDN'T HAVE THAT ALLOWANCE. I'M A LITTLE UNCLEAR ABOUT WHAT HE SAID, BUT I'M WILLING TO
INVEST A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY EVEN IF THIS BUSINESS DOES OUTGROW THAT LOCATION
AND MOVE OVERALL SO WE CAN HAVE ANOTHER BUSINESS THAT WOULD BE
SUCCESSFUL IN THE LOCATION AND POSSIBLY A&M MY CONTINUE TO OPERATE A DELI
THERE AND THEY'RE EXPANDING SO FAST THAT THEY CAN HAVE DUAL BUSINESSES, WHICH WE SEE FREQUENTLY. I WOULD BE ASKING IF MAYBE WE COULD WE HEAR FROM HIM TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.
I THINK HE WAS ABLE TO SPEAK EARLIER, SO DO COUNCIL MEMBERS WANT TO ASK QUESTIONS OF HIM? OKAY. I'M WILLING TO DO THAT, IF THAT'S OKAY.
CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF. WE CAN HEAR YOU.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK AGAIN. COUPLE OF THINGS. THE COMMENTS I
HEARD ABOUT -- MY QUESTION TO YOU IS WE SOME MEAT AND WHAT CLASSIFIES WHAT IS A DELI AND WHAT IS NOT. WE ARE NOT A DELI ANYMORE. AT THE END OF THE DAY. WE
COULD TALK ALL DAY ABOUT WHAT WE REALLY ARE, BUT WE WANT -- I COULD SAY WE ARE STILL A DELI. AS FAR AS ZONING, EVERYTHING HAPPENED SO FAST AND IT WASN'T
JUST ABOUT THE SMOKE AND AND THE ARGUMENT CAME THAT WE WERE NOT THE
CORRECT ZONING AND THEN THE QUESTION BECOMES HOW WILL WE ALLOW TO OPEN THE FIRST PLACE. THERE WERE MISTAKES MADE BY ALL SIDES. WE WERE AWARDED
BUSINESS OF THE YEAR BY THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND WE WERE OPERATING WITH THOSE SMOKERS. EVERYBODY KNEW WHAT WE WERE DOING. THE REASON THE
ZONING THING CAME UP IS IT WAS RECOMMENDED TO US BY THE CITY MANAGER. SHE SUGGESTED WE FILE THIS MOTION. THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE. THE SECOND REASON IS GIVEN ALL THAT'S GOING ON, WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH TIME WE DO OR DON'T HAVE.
EVEN IF WE FIX THE SMOKE ISSUE, THERE'S THE ARGUMENT IS THAT WE ARE NOT THE CORRECT STONE. SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL ASPECTS OF HOW WE PROTECT OUR
BUSINESS AND IF THE REALITY IS WE CAN'T BE THERE BECAUSE OF ZONING, THEN WE
HAVE TO FIND ANOTHER LOCATION AND WE ARE GETTING A LOT OF RESPONSE FROM THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT. LIKE I SAID, CARTER HAS BEEN THE ONLY ONE THAT IS HELPED US LOOK AT PROPERTIES. IT'S ALL BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG WE CAN STAY THERE BE FOR SOMEBODY SAYS YOU CAN BE HERE ANYMORE. SO WHAT WE ARE DOING
IS LOOKING AT PROPERTIES, SEEING IF SOMETHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT ZONING SEEING
IF WE CAN GET FILTRATION CAN WE STAY, WHAT I'M HEARING NOW IS EVEN IF WE GET SOMETHING TO FIX THE SMOKE, WE ARE STILL NOT IN THE RIGHT ZONING. FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE WE ARE EXPLORING ALL AVENUES TO MAKE EVERYTHING RIGHT. WE WANT NEIGHBORS TO BE HAPPY. IF WE HAD KNOWN EARLIER THAT THIS WAS COULD BE AN ISSUE, WE WOULD HAVE IT SOLVED BY NOW. WE ARE FIGHTING FOR THE BUSINESS AND SHUTTING IT DOWN IS SOMETHING WE CANNOT SWALLOW. WE ARE ACTIVELY COMMUNICATING WITH CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. SOME PEOPLE ARE NOT RESPONDING.
SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE TO ANY OF YOU WITH EMAILED TO GET BACK TO US. WE ARE BUSY AND WORKING 12 TO 14 HOUR DAYS. WE ARE NOT HEARING BACK FROM MEMBERS OF THE CITY, HOW MUCH MORE CAN WE DO. DO SHOW UP AT YOUR OFFICES? WE WANT TO FIGURE THIS OUT. BUT CLEARLY THERE IS A LOT OF GRAY AREA IN TERMS OF -- THERE ARE ZONING ISSUES. WE ALSO NEED A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING THE CITY OF WHAT WE
CAN AND CANNOT DO, BUT WE CAN'T DO IT AT THE EXPENSE OF LOSING THE BUSINESS GIVEN THAT WE'VE BEEN SMOKING SINCE WE OPENED. THAT'S THE MAIN QUESTION IS -- MISTAKES WERE MADE AMONGST DIFFERENT PEOPLE. MAYBE INCLUDING US. MAYBE WE
SHOULD HAVE DONE MORE RESEARCH, BUT THE CITY ULTIMATELY APPROVED US SMOKING IN THAT LOCATION. WE ARE HAPPY TO COLLABORATE AND FIGURE SOMETHING OUT. THERE IS A FINANCIAL STRAIN THAT COMES WITH THE SOLUTIONS. THE BEST THING
GOING FORWARD IS FOR US TO GET TOGETHER AND COME UP WITH A PLAN, BUT IT CAN'T HAPPEN AT THE EXPENSE OF US LOSING HER BUSINESS.
THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER CARTER.
I DON'T REALLY -- WHAT I WANT IS FOR BUSINESSES TO FEEL LIKE THEY ARE IN A STABLE
ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO OPERATE WHEN THINGS FEEL SHAKY AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT. EVEN THOUGH I THINK THE ORDER OF
OPERATIONS IS WE FIX THE SMOKE, I THINK THEY SHOULD FEEL CONFIDENT THAT IF THEY DO ASK THE SMOKE, THEN WE CAN LOOK AT ZONING THEN. IF THEY WANT TO STAY.
IF THEY MOVE, THEN THAT IS AN EXERCISE WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH. I WOULD LIKE
THEM TO FEEL CONFIDENT THAT FIXING THE SMOKE LEADS TO THE ZONING THEY NEED TO STAY WOULD BE GREAT. BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT WE NEED TO DO THE ZONING FIRST. I DON'T WANT TO PUT THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR DO WE HAVE A MOTION?
I WILL MOVE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION BECAUSE I THINK THAT WHAT THEY LAID OUT
WILL EDUCATE ALL OF US ABOUT THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS AND DURING THE TIME THAT WILL TAKE IT'S LIKE A&M MAY DECIDE IT DOESN'T COST $55,000 FOR AN AIR CLEANER.
MAYBE IT'S CLOSER TO 33,000 AND MAYBE THEY WILL SET UP A GO FUND ME. MAYBE
OVER THE COURSE OF TIME WHILE THEY ARE DOING DUE DILIGENCE, WE CAN ARRIVE AT
A HAPPY MEDIUM WHERE WE PROTECT EVERYBODY'S PUBLIC HEALTH AND SUPPORTING DIVERSE BUSINESSES. I MOVE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
CAN I ASK FOR CLARIFICATION BECAUSE STAFF RECOMMENDED TWO THINGS. I'M NOT
SURE WHICH ONE --
I UNDERSTOOD THE STAFF REPORT AS HAVING REQUESTING TIME TO DO THE ANALYSIS
AND THE TWO OPTIONS SET FORWARD, SO THAT'S WHY I SENT THE EMAIL TO MARY
ASKING HOW MUCH WOULD BE FOR ALEX'S TIME AND HOW MUCH IT WILL COST FOR PLANNING STAFF. FOR ME IT IS WORTH THREE HOURS OF HIS TIME IN 18 HOURS.
I WILL SECOND THAT.
CAN WE TAKE A ROLL CALL.
A CUP OR OTHER ENTITLEMENTS
[ ROLL CALL ]
CAN I ASK QUESTION IN THE MIDDLE OF THE VOTE? IS -- MUST THE BUSINESS MEET
CERTAIN STANDARDS -- WE CAN APPROVE THIS, BUT IN ORDER TO GO FORWARD WITH THE ACTUAL PROCESS, CAN WE MANDATE CERTAIN PERFORMANCE? THERE ARE -- THERE CAN BE CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL ON THAT PERMIT. REQUIRING WHATEVER THE COUNCIL MIGHT DECIDE. JUST SO I GET IT STRAIGHT.
FIRST TO CHANGE THE ZONING AND THEN THEY GET A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT? YES. WE CAN PROCESS THOSE SIMULTANEOUSLY. ZONING CHANGE GETS APPROVED AND AT THE SAME MEETING THE USE PERMIT GETS APPROVED.
THE USE PERMIT --
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL ASSOCIATED WITH IT. SOMETIMES WE PUT CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL ABOUT HOURS OF OPERATION OR THINGS LIKE THAT. THERE ARE CONSIDER IT
ABOUT SMOKING COULD HAVE CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL RELATED TO THAT AND THEY OFTEN HAVE TIME FRAMES ABOUT WHEN THE CONDITION HAS TO BE SATISFIED.
RIGHT NOW WE ARE JUST LIKE -- YOUR TIME IS THINKING ABOUT IT.
STAFF WILL BRING BACK THE TWO OPTIONS FOR HOW THE ZONING CHANGE -- HOW THE
CODE COULD BE CHANGED WITH A DETAILED ANALYSIS OF WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS OF
EACH OPTION COULD BE AND THAT THE COUNCIL LOOK AT THOSE OPTIONS AND SAY --
MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS OPTION OR THIS OPTION AND DON'T MOVE FORWARD WITH EITHER ONE.
AND -- OKAY. YES.
[ ROLL CALL ] THE MOTION PASSES 4-1.
DISCUSSION AND APPROVAL OF BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR INITIAL INVOICES FOR TESTING/MOLD REMOVAL/ETC. AND DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED COSTS/TIMELINE FOR LIBRARY REMEDIATION.
THIS IS TO APPROVE THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO THE MOLD FOUND THAT THE LIBRARY AND TALK TO THE PHASE 1 REMEDIATION WE ARE PROPOSING TO DO THERE. I
WILL BRING UP SLIDES AND RUN THROUGH WHERE WE'VE BEEN AND WHERE WE ARE HEADED SO WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE IN THIS DISCUSSION. ONE MOMENT. SO ON JUNE 4th LIBRARY STAFF NOTICED SOME WARPING IN THE LIBRARY WALLPAPER ON THE
EXTERIOR WALLS AND THE CITY HAS LEASED IT TO THE LIBRARY SO THE EXTERIOR WALLS OF THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY. STAFF PROACTIVELY CLOSED THE LIBRARY ON THE AFTERNOON OF JUNE 4th. LIBRARY STAFF THE NEXT DAY AFTER ALL THE PUBLIC WAS
NOT THERE AND STAFF WAS NOT THERE WENT INTO THE WALLS TO SEE IF THEY COULD DETERMINE WHAT WAS GOING ON. AT THAT POINT THEY WERE IN CONTACT WITH PUBLIC
WORKS AND WE HAD AN ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST GO OUT THERE AS WELL AND
THEY ADVISED THAT WE STOP MAKING HOLES IN THE WALLS BECAUSE WE MIGHT
POSSIBLY SPREAD ANY POTENTIAL MOLD INTO THE AREAS WHERE THEY HAD ORIGINALLY SEEN THE WALLPAPER WARPING. SO WHEN NO ONE WAS THERE WE TESTED
THE AIR IN THE AREAS SO THAT THE STAFF ROOM AND THE TEENAGE READING ROOM
WERE THE MATERIAL WAS REMOVED AND FOUND TO HAVE ELEVATED MOLD IN THOSE AREAS. THEY TESTED THE COMMON ROOM AS WELL AND THE OTHER STAFF AREAS AND THERE WERE NO ELEVATED READINGS IN ANY OF THOSE AREAS. SO THIS WAS FRIDAY.
THIS IS THE SPECIALIST AND WE SENT WHERE IT WAS IDENTIFIED THAT THE MOLD IS BLACK MOLD. WE ASKED THEM TO CONTAIN IT AND WE DID NOT FIND ANY ELEVATED
MOLD WITHIN THE MAIN AREAS OF THE LIBRARY JUST THOSE TWO PLACES WHERE THE EXCAVATION HAPPENED INTO THE WALL. SO THEY CONTAINED THOSE, THEY PUT IN HEPA
FILTERS THROUGHOUT THE LIBRARY WHILE THEY WERE DOING THAT WORK AND BEGAN REMEDIATING THE WALLS. THEY WERE MOVES THE WALLPAPER WITHIN THOSE AREAS
AND FOUND THAT THE MOLD WAS PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL UNDERNEATH THE WALLPAPER IN THESE AREAS. IT TOOK THEM FROM JUNE 5th THROUGH THE 16th . THEY WERE MOVED THE SHEET ROCK AND REMEDIATED THE AREA AND CLEANED THE FRAMING. WHAT THEY
FOUND IN THE TEAM READING ROOM IS AFTER THEY REMOVED ALL OF THE SHEET ROCK THERE WAS SOME STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE WEST WALL OF THE BUILDING. THIS IS JUST IN ONE LITTLE WALL. THIS IS JUST IN THE AREAS THEY'VE EXPOSED. WHILE THEY
WERE DOING THAT THEY DID MOISTURE TESTING IN THE OTHER AREAS IN THE LIBRARY
AND WHERE THE WALLPAPER IS AND YOU CAN SEE OTHER AREAS WHERE THERE IS
WALLPAPER PEELING AROUND THE EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING SO THE INITIAL
ASSESSMENT IS THERE IS LIKELY ADDITIONAL MOLD AROUND THE EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING BEING HELD IN BY THE WALLPAPER. WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING AS A NEXT
STEP IS WE NEED TO APPROVE THE EMERGENCY INVOICE THAT THEY'VE GIVEN US BUT
WE ALSO HAVE PRICING TO ISOLATE THE WALLS OF THE EXTERIOR BUILDING AND HAVE
THE STAFF MOVED THE BOX TO THE CENTER TO CONTAINMENT AROUND THOSE
EXTERIOR WALLS AND THEN PULL BACK THE WALLPAPER TO SEE HOW EXTENSIVE THE
MOLD IS BEHIND THE WALLPAPER AND PULLED THE SHEET ROCK OFF AND REMEDIATE THOSE WALL AREAS. THAT IS THE PRICING BEFORE YOU FOR APPROVAL TONIGHT. ONCE
WE HAVE THOSE EXPOSED AND YOU CAN SEE THE FRAMING BENEATH THE SHEET ROCK
WE CAN MAKE A BETTER ASSESSMENT OF WHAT THE STRUCTURAL DAMAGES TO THE BUILDING. AT THIS POINT WE ARE JUST GUESSING SO TRYING TO GET COST FOR WHAT FOUR PAIR WOULD LOOK LIKE IS A BIG ESTIMATE. I HAVE PRELIMINARY COSTS ON WHAT
WE THINK IT MIGHT BE TO RECONSTRUCT ASSUMING THE LEVEL OF DAMAGE THAT WE
SOUGHT IN THE READING ROOM BUT WILL HAVE CONTRACTORS COME IN WE HAVE A WALLS EXPOSED AND DO A BETTER BID FOR THE PROJECT. PHASE 1 WAS THE INITIAL
COST OF THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO DECONTAMINATE THE ROOMS THAT WERE EXPOSED AND THE PRICE WAS $47,000. THE LIBRARY HAS AGREED TO COST SHARE WITH US SO THE COST TO ASSIST 23,008 44. AND WE'VE RECEIVED TWO MORE PROPOSALS FOR
COMPANIES TO DO THE EXPOSURE OF THE EXTERIOR WALL AND CLEANUP MOLD WE FIND THERE. UP TO $175,000. AT THAT POINT THE PRELIMINARY ESTIMATES WE ARE GETTING IS RECONSTRUCTION WOULD BE ON THE ORDER OF $200,000 TO DO STRUCTURAL REPAIR
AND PUT THE SHEET ROCK BACK AND THE INSULATION BACK AND PUT IT BACK TOGETHER. THIS IS THE PROJECTED TOTAL BUDGET AS WE KNOW RIGHT NOW. THIS IS VERY PRELIMINARY. WE NEED MORE INFORMATION BEFORE WE CAN ASSESS THAT NUMBER. WE ARE PROPOSING TO TAKE IT FROM THE BUILDING RESERVE FUND, WHICH WE CURRENTLY HAVE A BALANCE OF $594,000.
CAN YOU TELL US WHAT THE TOTAL WAS?
398.
ABOUT $400,000. PHASE 3 IS A VERY PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE. IT WILL LIKELY CHANGE. SO
WE ARE REQUESTING OF COUNCIL TONIGHT IS APPROVING THE INVOICE WE HAVE FOR
THE ORIGINAL REMEDIATION AND STAFF AREA FOR CONTAINMENT AND CLEANUP AND
APPROVAL FOR THE SECOND PHASE TO EXPOSE THE REST OF THE EXTERIOR WALLS AND ASSESS THE STRUCTURAL DAMAGE BEHIND THAT. AS MARY INDICATED EARLIER, WE'VE
BEEN WORKING WITH THE LIBRARY TO FIND THEM TEMPORARY LOCATIONS FOR FACILITIES AND CLASSES AND WE ARE STILL IN THAT PROCESS. ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER ZOLLMAN .
THANK YOU. HONESTLY, THAT INFORMATION YOU SHARED WAS NOT WHAT I READ THE STAFF REPORT SO THAT IS ASTOUNDING. WHAT I SAID EARLIER IN REFERENCE TO THE
OTHER AGENDA ITEM THAT THEY WERE PRETTY MUCH TIED TOGETHER, THIS WHOLE REMEDIATION. WITH WHAT HAS BEEN SPENT ALREADY, I APPRECIATE THE LIBRARY CHIPPING IN. THAT IS NOT UNPRECEDENTED. I WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THIS. I SAT ON
THE LIBRARY COMMISSION AS AN APPOINTEE OF THE CITY AND I KNOW FOR SURE THAT
THE LIBRARY CHIPPED IN UNSUBSTANTIAL OTHER NECESSARY REPAIRS FOR OTHER SISTER CITIES. THE HVAC IN SANTA ROSA. YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG BUT THAT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THE FACT THAT THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS. I SEE HEADS SHAKING. YOU CAN REFUTE THAT. BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING OF THE 398 +100,000 THAT WE DID AND BEING ASKED TO REPAY OR TO
APPROVE IN HINDSIGHT THAT ALREADY BRINGS IT UP TO HALF A MILLION DOLLARS FOR A BUILDING THAT THE LIBRARY ADMINISTRATION HAS SAID 10 YEARS AGO IS NOT THE RIGHT SIZE FOR US. SO WHAT ARE WE REALLY DOING? I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE AT ALL. NOT WITH THE PRICE THAT'S BEING PUT FORTH NOW. I THINK THIS PROBABLY IS
SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A STRONG THINK ABOUT ABOUT WHETHER WE WILL APPROVE $500,000 FOR BUILDING WILL HELP TO GET FIXED WITH MOLD AND DRY ROT TO WHAT? TO BE IN A SUBSTANTIAL PLACE? IT DOESN'T MAKE MATHEMATICAL SENSE TO ME.
OTHER QUESTIONS?
IS THERE ANY INDICATION OF THE TIME LINE?
THE NEXT PHASE OF REMEDIATION WILL TAKE ABOUT THREE WEEKS AND THEN WE
NEED TO HAVE CONTRACTORS GOING TO GET PRICING AND LOOK AT THE STRUCTURAL DAMAGE.
CONSTRUCTION -- LIKE -- CONSTRUCTION MAY NOT TAKE VERY LONG. THIS COULD BE A MONTH? IT COULD BE TWO MONTHS?
THE REMEDIATION PIECE WILL BE ONE MONTH AND THEN WE WILL BRING BACK PRICING TO DO RECONSTRUCTION.
AND THAT THINKING ABOUT PROCESS WILL TAKE THREE WEEKS? LIKE THAT IS A MONTH.
AND THEN WILL IT TAKE THREE WEEKS TO GET THE PERSON THAT MIGHT FIX -- THE CITY HAS OBLIGATIONS TO PUBLICLY BID CONTRACTS. DEPENDING ON THE AMOUNT OF THE CONTRACT, DON'T QUOTE ME ON THIS, I THINK IT'S 225. IT'S BELOW TO 25, WE CAN INFORMALLY PAY THAT BUT STILL INVOLVES A LITTLE FORMALITY. IF IT'S ABOVE THAT, WE HAVE TO DO A FORMAL BID. THAT INVOLVES PUBLISHING NOTICE, RECEIVING THE BED AND USUALLY HAVE THAT OPEN FOR 2 WEEKS TO RECEIVE BIDS. BIDS ARE THEN BROUGHT TO THE COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.
SO THIS IS OVER 225,000?
WELL, JUST THE RECONSTRUCTION PIECE. THE INITIAL ASSESSMENTS AROUND 200,000.
WE HOPE WE WON'T HAVE TO DO THE FULL BID PROCESS. I'VE HAD CONTRACTORS LOOK
AT IT AND THINK ABOUT HOW THEY WOULD PROVIDE PRICING AND IT'S JUST REALLY HARD TO TELL WHEN WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TIME STRUCTURAL DAMAGE THERE IS.
PEOPLE NEED TO COME BACK IN WHEN THE WALLS ARE EXPOSED AND I THINK WE CAN TURN AROUND PRICING RELATIVELY QUICKLY ONCE WE HAVE EXPOSED.
AND A REMINDER FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE CITY HAS TO PAY PREVAILING WAGE FOR ALL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. ANY WORK OVER $1000. THE PRICE WE PAY IS MUCH
HIGHER THAN THE MARKET RATE THAT A PRIVATE ENTITY WOULD BE ABLE TO PAY FOR THIS WORK.
COUNCIL MEMBER HINTON .
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND IS WHEN WE THINK THE BUILDING IS WORTH RIGHT NOW? I HAVE READ A VARIETY OF THINGS THAT THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT SIZE, BUT
WE DON'T HAVE AN IMMEDIATE PLAN TO FIGURE OUT MONEY FOR A NEW LIBRARY, AND THIS IS A BUILDING THAT THE CITY OWNS. WE HAVE TO REPAIR IT UNLESS SOMEBODY MENTIONED A FULL TEAR DOWN, BUT THIS BUILDING MUST BE VALUED AT -- MILLIONS? WHAT WE ARE REINVESTING IS A PERCENTAGE OF WHAT IS VALUED AT. IT IS OUR BUILDING. WE HAVE TO REPAIR IT EVEN IF IT'S NOT THE HOME OF THE LIBRARY IT WOULD BE THE HOME OF SOMETHING ELSE. MAYBE? I CAN'T IMAGINE FULLY TEARING IT DOWN.
DO WE KNOW WHAT THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY IS?
THE WHOLE PARCEL IS 3.6 AND THE LIBRARY IS LARGER THAN A HALF PORTION OF THAT.
SO IT IS SOME PORTION OF $3.5 MILLION. AND IT'S WORTH LESS IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO BUILD ON TOP OF IT INTO A DIFFERENT THING. BUT FOR US THE REPLACEMENT VALUE IS PROBABLY 2 MILLION. TO THROW $400,000 OR LESS INTO IT IS PROBABLY SAFE TO HAVE A PLACE TO HAVE A LIBRARY. THAT'S A FINANCIAL DECISION PEOPLE STRUGGLE OVER AND
I THINK SHOULD BE STRUGGLED OVER AND NOT JUST THOUGHT ABOUT, BUT IN MY OPINION -- I'M JUST TALKING. IT'S PROBABLY WORTHY OF FIXING.
COULD WE STICK TO QUESTIONS.
MY QUESTION IS THE FACT THAT -- THE LIBRARY -- THE BUILDING WAS BUILT SAME TIME THE CITY HALL. WHEN IS THE LAST TIME CITY HALL WAS LOOKED AT? IF THERE IS MOLD
IN THE LIBRARY, YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE THE SAME SET OF CIRCUMSTANCE EXISTED -- I'M
CONCERNED ABOUT THE PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE AND OUR DUE DILIGENCE IN MAKING
SURE THE CITY HALL IS ALSO FALLING APART BECAUSE WE NEVER LOOKED IN THE WALLS. CAN YOU ANSWER THAT?
WHAT WE FIND THE LIBRARY IS THEY HAD WALLPAPER AGAINST THE ROCK AND IT WAS HOLDING IN MOISTURE. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S CAUSING THE MOISTURE SO THAT'S
SOMETHING WE WILL LOOK AT WIL REPORT OFF BUT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT LETTING THE
SHEET ROCK BREEDS, THAT'S THE PRIMARY REASON WE ASSUME THAT THE MOLD IS THERE. WE ARE NOT SEEING THAT AS CITY HALL HAS SHEET ROCK. SO I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE THE SAME ISSUES THERE.
OKAY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WE CAN GO OUT TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
THIS IS PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE CHAIRMAN LIBRARY SITUATION.
I JUST HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION. AS I JUST HEARD THERE'S WALLPAPER IN THE LIBRARY, I'M CURIOUS. WHO PUT THAT UP? IF WE DIDN'T PUT IT IN CITY HALL WAS A PUT UP BY LIBRARY STAFF OR BY THE CITY? AND THAT GOES TO A POINT THAT WE GOT FROM
A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC THAT WAS ASKING ABOUT LIABILITY, SO I'M WONDERING WHO PUT THAT WALLPAPER UP. PEOPLE KNOW WALLPAPER IS NOT GREAT FOR HOUSES. WE LEARNED ABOUT. BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE LIBRARY DID IT DURING A REMODEL.
NOW WE WILL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
THANK YOU. I'M GLAD TO BE HERE. I WANT TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT AND THE LIBRARY'S SUPPORT TO AUTHORIZE THE PHASE 2 REMEDIATION SO WE CAN CONTINUE MOVING THIS FORWARD. THE CITY AND LIBRARY HAVE A LONG HISTORY TO PROVIDE LIBRARY
SERVICES AND I WANT TO THANK CITY STAFF WHILE WE WORK ON SOME TEMPORARY LIBRARY SERVICES. THE LIBRARY HAS DEMONSTRATED HIS COMMITMENT BY PROVIDING 50% OF THE REIMBURSEMENT AND I'M WILLING TO TAKE THESE COSTS AND LIBRARY COMMISSION AND ASK THEM TO SHARE IN THAT RESPONSIBILITY AS WELL. FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE PAYING FOR THE ROOM REPAIR IS MUCH CHEAPER THAN MOVING TO A NEW LIBRARY. WHEN WE HAD A TEMPORARY LOCATION, IT WAS A COMMUNITY CENTER AND IT WAS $400,000 FROM THE LIBRARY FUND TO MOVE TO THAT LOCATION. THAT INCLUDED MOVING COSTS AND I.T. COSTS BECAUSE WE HAD TO ADD STAFF WORKSTATIONS AND DO REPAIRS WILL BE HAD EIGHT TEMPORARY BUILDING IT WAS $1 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR
THE TEMPORARY SPACE AND THAT WAS FOR BUILDING WE OCCUPIED FOR A YEAR WILL NEVER USE AGAIN. $200,000 TO DO THE REPAIRS AND REMEDIATION IS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE COST-EFFECTIVE THAN PURCHASING A BUILDING. WE WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A
HIGHER LEVEL OF SERVICE AT THE LIBRARY THEN WE CAN IN A TEMPORARY SPACE AND
GIVEN THE LENGTH OF TIME THE LIBRARY WILL BE CLOSED IT MAKES GOOD SENSE TO
REPAIR THE EXISTING BUILDING WHILE WE WORK ON A LONG-TERM PLAN FOR A FUTURE LARGER LIBRARY.
OUT TO ZOOM.
JUST A COMMENT ON HISTORY AND I'M REALLY FUSSY ON THIS. I CAN'T FIGURE OUT
EXACTLY WHICH PROJECTS WERE PLANNED AND WHICH ONES WERE DONE, BUT I THINK
PRIOR TO THE CONTRACT THAT GOES BACK SEVERAL YEARS THERE WAS A CIP PROJECT TO REPLACE THE ROOF. THEY WANTED TO DO A NO COST SOLAR PANEL JOB AND THAT
REQUIRED A ROOF REPAIR OR ROOF REPLACEMENT AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT GOT DONE UNDER [ INAUDIBLE ], BUT IT WAS A CONTRACT. BUT A COUPLE YEARS AGO THERE WAS A CIP PROJECT FOR ROOF REPAIR. THE QUESTION WOULD BE DID THE CONTRACTOR
DO SOMETHING TO THE ROOF THAT PERHAPS CAUSED IT OR WAS THE REASON THAT THE ROOF NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. I KNOW ARIANNA IS ON TOP OF THIS BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH HISTORY THEY HAVE THERE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. ANYONE IN CHAMBERS? BACK OUT TO ZOOM.
LINDA.
THIS HAS BEEN REALLY INTERESTING. I'M SURPRISED BY THE LIBRARY BEING CLOSE. I
DON'T THINK I'VE EVER BEEN IN FORRESTVILLE AND I WAS SURPRISED -- I CAN SEE WHY
NOW AFTER DESCRIPTION THE BUILDING WAS SAFE THEY WERE REDOING STUFF AND PUTTING THAT BOOK DISCHARGE SYSTEM IN. SO THEY COULD HAVE A BUS DURING CERTAIN DAYS. LIBRARY DOES A LOT MORE THAN JUST HAND BE A BOOK. AND THEY ARE GOING TO LOSE A LOT OF THAT. THEY'VE HAD MUSIC PERFORMANCES AND STORYTELLING FOR CHILDREN. SMALL CHILDREN WERE WATCHING THE LIBRARY AND DO A PUPPET SHOW. HAVING OBSERVED IT FOR A FULL DAY WERE REGISTERING VOTERS
THERE WANT WILL A LOT OF THE HOMELESS POPULATION AND OTHER PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE COMPUTERS USING IT. I HOPE WE CAN GET IT BACK FAST
THE SUGGESTION THAT THE ISSUE IS WITH JUST THE WALLPAPER AND SHEET ROCK, BUT
YET WE SAW PRIOR TO THAT WOULD APPEAR TO BE DRY ROT, WHICH WOULD NOT BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD SIMPLY BE SHEET ROCK AND WALLPAPER INTERACTING.
HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET CLARITY ON THAT. WHAT I'VE BEEN FASCINATED BY FROM
PUBLIC COMMENT AROUND THIS ISSUE IS ABOUT THE ABYSMAL PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ISSUE. THAT WE DON'T EVEN HAVE THE ABILITY FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO MAKE IT OUT TO THESE OTHER LOCATIONS. I HAVE REGULARLY CRITICIZED THE
CURRENT -- FOR THE ALLOWANCE OF HUGE REDUCTIONS IN SERVICE OFFERINGS FROM
SEBASTOPOL SANTA ROSA FROM THERE TO -- COUNCIL MEMBERS, WHEN IT COMES TIME
FOR COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS, PLEASE CONSIDER TAKING UP SCTA FOR TRANSPORTATION ROUTES THAT WERE THERE PRIOR TO 2020 . THIS IS A PERFECT
EXAMPLE OF THIS WILL WE HAVE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WITH ACTUAL NEEDS TO
LEAVE THE CITY TO ACCESS INFRASTRUCTURE, LIBRARY INFRASTRUCTURE THAT THEY
CANNOT DO RELIABLY AS A RESULT OF THE HUGE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ACCESS WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST 5 TO 6 YEARS UNDER THE WATCH OF THE CURRENT SCTA REP.
THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE IN CHAMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT. I WILL GO BACK OUT TO ZOOM. IS THERE ANYBODY VIRTUALLY? PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED ON THIS ITEM.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION OR COMMENTS? MY COMMENT IS THAT THIS COUNCIL APPROVED
MAJOR FIXES TO THE COMMUNITY CENTER KNOWING THAT IT IS IN A FLOOD ZONE AND WE DID THAT. WE NEED TO DO THE SAME THING FOR THE LIBRARY. IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO HAVE THE BUILDING AND NOT REPAIR IT. I DON'T FULLY UNDERSTAND THE WALLPAPER ON THE EXTERIOR WALLS. THAT DIDN'T QUITE MAKE SENSE TO ME. MAYBE YOU CAN EXPLAIN THAT.
THE WALLPAPER IS ON THE INTERIOR OF THE EXTERIOR WALLS. THE LEAKING IS HAPPENING IN THE WALL AND IT'S GOING TO THE SHEET ROCK BUT IT CAN'T BREATHE.
THANK YOU. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO DO THE REMEDIATION WORK BUT ALSO
TO IDENTIFY WHERE THE MOISTURE IS COMING FROM BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T IDENTIFY THAT, IT WILL REPEAT ITSELF. MY HOPE IS THAT THESE CONTRACTORS YOU'RE WORKING
WITH MAKE THAT THEIR PRIORITY TO IDENTIFY AND REMEDIATE WHEREVER THE
SOURCE OF MOISTURE IS, AND THEN, I'M WONDERING -- OUR LIBRARY, WHEN YOU WALK
INTO IT, IT HAS HALLWAY AND ONE SIDE IS CLOSED OFF YOU HAVE ANOTHER ROOM IF YOU COME IN FROM HIGH STREET. YOU HAVE A ROOM ON THE RIGHT THAT'S BIG ENOUGH IF IT DOESN'T HAVE MOLD, WHY IS AND THAT BEING USED FOR HOLTZ? I'M DRIVING TO
PICK UP HOLD AND YOU COULD HAVE A ROOM EVEN SMALLER THAN WHAT THEY HAVE IN FORRESTVILLE. WHY ISN'T THAT BEING USED. THE REST OF THE LIBRARY IS SECTIONED OFF AND YOU COULD EVEN BRING IN A FEW COMPUTERS. HAVE YOU LOOKED INTO THAT? OR PLEASE LOOK INTO THAT.
THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR CAN ADDRESS THAT.
THAT WOULD BE THE IDEAL SOLUTION. IF THE MEETING ROOM COULD BE DONE FIRST
AND THEN WE COULD SECTION OFF THE REST OF THE LIBRARY SO WE COULD USE IT IN A WAY THAT YOU SUGGEST. IN THE INTERIM WE ARE LOOKING AT PROVIDING THEM PICKED UP AT OTHER LOCATIONS IN TOWN.
WHY CAN'T IT BE DONE NOW? IS IT BECAUSE YOU HAVE PEOPLE WORKING IN THERE? THAT WHOLE SECTION IS CLOSED OFF. SEPARATE.
POTENTIALLY, BUT WILLING TO DO ENVIRONMENTAL ISOLATION OF THE AREA.
I THINK ADDITIONALLY WE NEED TO ASSESS IF THERE IS MOLD IN THE MEETING ROOM SPACE AS WELL.
I WILL MOVE THE RECOMMENDATION.
SECONDED.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER SECONDED BY VICE MAYOR MAURER TO
APPROVE THE BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR THE INVOICES FOR THE MOLD REMOVAL AND SET ASIDE FOR THE 175,000.
[ ROLL CALL ] THE MOTION PASSES 4-1. WE WANTED YOU THE SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA AND IF YOU DID NOT SPEAK OF THE FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT. IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT, NOW IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY. ANYONE IN CHAMBERS? IS THERE ANYONE ON ZOOM? THERE IS NO PUBLIC COMMENT. I WANTED TO SAY THAT WE DID HIRE AN ASSOCIATE PLANNER. OFFERED THE CONDITIONAL OFFER LETTER THEY ACCEPTED AND IT WILL BE 4 TO 6 WEEKS FOR A BACKGROUND CHECK. WE DID RECEIVE THREE PROPOSALS FOR PLANNING SERVICES. WE WILL BE VETTING TWO OF THEM AND MOVING FORWARD WITH INTERVIEWS. I'M IN THE PROCESS OF HIRING A FORMER CITY CLERK TO DO NOMINATIONS. BETWEEN JULY AND AUGUST. WE ARE WORKING ON THE CONTRACT. IF
SHE CANNOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS IN THE CONTRACT, THEN I WILL RECOMMEND
CITY STAFF TO DO THE NOMINATION FORMS. THE NOMINATION PERIOD OPENS ON MONDAY FOR CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES TO PULL PAPERS. JULY 13th. THESE ARE ONLY BY APPOINTMENT ONLY SO PLEASE CALL US TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
ANY REPORTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS?
THANK YOU. A NUMBER OF CONTINUOUS HOMELESS COALITION BOARD MEETINGS. THE
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AND WE ARE WORKING WITH THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WHO IS ALSO ON THAT ALONG WITH THE FOLKS FROM [ INAUDIBLE ] FOR THERE TO BE MORE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS TO ADDRESS STARTUP ISSUES. THAT IS ONGOING WORK. ALSO STILL ON THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE FROM THE HUD GRANTS IN ADDITION TO KEEPING UP WITH WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE BOARD.
ANYONE ELSE?
I DID WANT TO GIVE A BRIEF ADDRESS A FEW COMMENTS MADE TONIGHT. WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO ASK FOR ROUTE 29 BACK FROM SANTA ROSA TO THE OCEAN AND WE HAVE BEEN DENIED FOR A FEW YEARS IN A ROW. AND TO ADDRESS NEGATIVE SPEAK
FROM THE PUBLIC AS THE REP FROM SCTA BOTH MYSELF I'VE SAT ON IT AND LINDA
HOPKINS HAS BEEN IN THE POINTY WE CONTINUE TO GET DOLLARS TO WEST COUNTY
OVERALL INCLUDING SEBASTOPOL BUT ANYONE THAT FOLLOWS TRANSPORTATION KNOWS THAT IT'S A TOUGH GO RIGHT NOW. AND ROUTES ARE BEING CUT BACK AND THERE ARE A LOT OF CHALLENGES IN THAT SEGMENT.
THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER.
ONCE AGAIN, I'M SURE I DID SOMETHING. I FEEL LIKE YOU GUYS NEED TO BE INFORMED ABOUT IT. I'M HAVING A BRAIN FOG. WILL SAVE IT FOR LATER.
I HAVE A SHORT REPORT FROM THE ZERO WASTE MEETING. WE HAD A PRESENTATION BY
TWO RECYCLERS REGARDING THE CRV, WHICH IS THE -- WHENEVER YOU BUY A BOTTLE OR A CAN THAT'S EITHER FIVE OR 10 OR $.15, THESE COMPANIES DO THE RECYCLING. WE HAVE ONE RIGHT HERE. AND WHAT IS HAPPENING IS AT THE STORE THEY ARE
COLLECTING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF UNREDEEMED BOTTLES AND CANS FROM -- THEY HAVE THIS PICK FUND AND ITS MANAGED BY CAL RECYCLE. OTHER AGENCIES BORROW FROM IT. SO WHEN YOU PUT THESE TYPES OF CANS AND BOTTLES INTO THE RECYCLING, THEY DON'T RECEIVE MONEY FOR THOSE REDEMPTIONS. THEY RECYCLE THEM THAT THEY DON'T GET THE REDEMPTION VALUE. THEY GO TO THE NORTH BAY RECYCLE SOME.
THEY CAN SHOW YOU HAD A ROUTINE ANY BOTTLES. AND I THOUGHT I WILL TRY AND I REALIZED WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT MANY TO DO. YOU CAN GET A DEBIT CARD FROM THEM AND THEY WILL PUT MONEY ON IT FOR YOU. AND YOU CAN DO IT ON THE COMPUTER.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A CELL PHONE. THAT'S MY REPORT. ANYTHING ELSE? THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. [Event Concluded]