Sebastopol City Council
August 4, 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
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Lee: If you get anywhere close to half the number that Barney's actually forecasting, you're going to make more money than you've got currently in your forecast. So, you're losing very little, if anything, if you go forward with this based upon your forecast amounts. Obviously, you're losing
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Lee: You know, put Perspective tax revenue, but only if there's a hotel built. 1164
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Lee: Two people tonight have made very nice comments about, you know, negotiating. 1165
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Lee: When Barney first presented it to thecity, I would have thought you'd put together a negotiating team to see what can be done here. The city may want a couple things out of this that Barney's willing to give, and Barney may be able to give a little bit. Maybe it doesn't have to be 10 years.
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Lee: It may be too late now to start that process.
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Lee: I would like… To see the city do this.

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City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
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Lee: I think the worst case is that
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Lee: you make this, and he doesn't build a hotel.
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Lee: If he actually starts to break ground this year, I think it'd be a huge boost for the future financialprospectsof thecity.
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Lee: So, I think that's where I'd push for. 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. Kate? 1173
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I would just say I wish someone would have presented this information on hotel revenue in 2020, when our only downtown hotel was Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: sold, for permanent supportive housing. So I support this. Business is a risk.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: There's no guarantee that this will work whatsoever, but if you don't try it, you won't have any money coming in. So, the whole premise is that when Barney rents a room, he'll get a rebate, and the city gets half of the rebate.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The hotel might fail, and so no rebates will be happening whatsoever. But if you don't take a risk, you won't reap a reward, which is the basic premise of capitalism and lending money.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: This is not lending money, it's a partnership, meaning that if he is highly successful, so will the city be highly successful. If he fails, the city just loses nothing because the city hasn't had to take out a loan. 1178
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Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: They haven't had to construct a building, they haven't had to hire employees, they haven't had to take out insurance, and they haven't had to do basically any work except tocome toanagreement to split the profit offthe TOT. 1179
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, it's a very low-risk environment for the city, and an extremely high-risk environment for Barney, because he's actually the person taking on the debt to build thehotel, staff it, insure it, and also do,marketing.And I'm sure their marketing plan includes a website, social media, probably PR, 1180
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: you know, giving away rooms, so marketing a hotel in Sebastopol with a high rate of transient activity in the square, and possibly a failing water system.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Like, it takes guts to actually say, I want to build a hotel here, so you might want to just bet that as you move forward. 1182
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Kate, for your public comment. Next, I'll go back to Zoom. Mary, can you unmute yourself, please? 1183
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Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
Mary Meihaus: Yes, I can. Thank you so much.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Can you see the Tiber? 1185
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Mary Meihaus: Yes, I can.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Right, go ahead, please. 1187
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Mary Meihaus: I just wanted to say that I am for this partnership that has been presented. 1188
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Mary Meihaus: Although, I just want to address, kind of, I think, what Mr. Zoloman was commenting, and said that maybe the sales pitch could have… could have been better, and I just… I would have loved to hear that somebody is…
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Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

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Mary Meihaus: believes in Sebastopol and… and really has a little bit of heart and community towards it, because that's what we're here to do, and it's… we are apart from Healdsburg and Napa, like, we're our own unique city.
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Mary Meihaus: And we have a lot of great people and a powerful community, and we want to show that to the world, and we want to get a little morale boost for everybody. 1191
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Mary Meihaus: So that's why we're all here, and I think it's a great thing. But I think that's… that's just what I would like to hear, because I believe in this city, and I wanted to see it flor… like, flourish, so…
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Mary Meihaus: I think moving forward, the… with the hotel is… couldn't be more monumental. And just, yeah, adding negoti… the negotiations and really looking at the numbers is always, like.
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Mary Meihaus: always number one, so I just wanted to express my support. And also, too, like, in terms of the morale boost, you know, there's a lot of things that are happening in the city that are, of concern, and that are really crucial, and I feel like that 1194
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Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
Mary Meihaus: that is really heavy on the city now, and so with going forward with the hotel, and just actually just doing any action towards that would be such a positive and uplifting thing, so… But yeah, thank you so much.
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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, please? 1196
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Hi, I didn't come here for this particular item, but now I want… I feel compelled to speak about it.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Why do we need another hotel? Why do we need another hotel? Has anybody thought about, we already have a well that's failing, nobody considers, you know, all the housing, and…
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Impact, traffic impact, because I just looked up where this hotel is proposed to go.
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Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Basing a hotel revenue on the wine industry, which is…
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: pretty much not doing very well, if anybody does the stats. I was in the wine industry for 10 years before I became an ombudsman, and… 1201
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: It's failing, and I don't see why I've been here for 35 years, I've seen a lot of changes in Sebastopol.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I recognize a lot of faces here, and I really support what Ernie says, because I don't thinkthere's enough, studies being done. The traffic impact coming off of12 for that place at the Gayaki Mount Day. 1203
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: facility is ridiculous. I'm… I don't know. I vote no for it. I think it should be put out to the public.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I don't… it's just awful. I don't really know what else to say, but…
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: it's… I just feel like we're just getting this ram… all this building is getting rammed down our throats without… 1206
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: water impacts, traffic impacts. I'm all for housing. That's not my issue, really.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We have to do it responsibly, though. This is not a huge town.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: That's kind of what I have to say about that. 1209
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you.
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Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment. Next, I will go out to Zoom. If there's anyone on Zoom that would like to make a public comment on this item, to please raise your hand virtually.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, I will come back into chambers, if there's anyone in chambers.
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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, back to the dais for Councilmember comments.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Carter? 1215
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, I really want to kind of reframe all of this.

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We've been expecting this hotel on our books for quite a while. We've been dependent on it in a lot of our projections. 1217
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And so, why are we not just super enthusiastic about the hotel coming? You know, why can't we all just go, like, why not? Okay, we've decided it's coming, let's get behind it and do what we can to make it happen. Now, is this really a money issue?
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: No, we've decided it's not. You know, of course we can negotiate with Barney and say, like, hey, you know, maybe 10 years isn't the right thing, maybe we,
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: from year 6, we dial it back a little bit, or we put a contingency on it, but this is a guy here that's taking a big ol' risk. Whatever we think, you know,it'sgonna benefitSebastopol.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, while we're niggling about this, you know, I really feel like we ought to just be fully supportive and positive. Do we want this income in Sebastopol or not? And if we do, let's be happy about it, and supportive.

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City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: If we don't get it, we… it's impossible, as someone that sits on the budget, to be a bedroom community. To our, person back here, no, no, no, no, you don't see the books, but, like, if you're just houses, you can't pay the bills. 1222
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So you have to have some other way of making money. We lost a lot of our industry, we've lost…
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: some other ways to make money, so this is about all we have. We have a couple of restaurants, and we can't just depend on restaurants. A hotel is gonna boost the restaurants. It would be lovely if we could actually, you know, win an industry here, or regain some kind of, like, Apple or something like that, but if we're gonna have
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: A hotel put on, you know, our forecast. 1225
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We oughta be all for it.

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And so, like, you know, I definitely support, having some kind of, like.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: TOT, because the risk is all the hotels. I just, you know, I think we should retain some ability to, you know, negotiate that. You know, just figure it out. You know, be open to it, just work it out. 1228
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. I would normally go to my other colleagues to speak first, but I wanted to put out a little information before we do. And I looked up a few othercities that weren't listed on the, in the staff report. So, the city of Adelanto requires a feasibility analysis.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: demonstrating a funding gap is required. We have not… and subject to an independent review, and we have not seen any information that shows us there is a funding need here. I mean, it's not that I doubt you, it's not that I doubt the Piazza, but we just haven't seen it.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And then, the city of Murrieta has a TOT sharing agreement that, is up to $1 million, so they cap it at $1 million, and then the city of Temecula has parameters. Like, it has to be a 4-star hotel, and, 1231
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: and other requirements, in terms of ratings, and housekeeping and food and beverage and room service, and like that. So, 1232
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Anyway, I just wanted to put that out there, because I think…
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We all want the hotel to get built. 1234
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I mean, we have one hotel in this city, this wonderful city with one hotel, and we're surrounded by an area of 40,000 to 50,000 people whose
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Agenda Item Number: 1
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: their friends and family, there's not enough room in one hotel, they have to go stay in Santa Rosa. So for me, to hear people say that this is an unproven market is just, like, you gotta be kidding. We have so many people. 1236
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: that would want a hotel. I mean, we look at how many restaurants, this one little city, 2 square miles, has so many restaurants. 1237
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I think that we all want the hotel. 1238
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: But I also feel like I, you know, to have this come now, after we've already approved the agreement, feels a little bit like… I feel like my arm's being twisted a little bit, and it's… it's not comfortable. I feel like now you're saying. 1239
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So we're only gonna do it if you, you know, if you give us this. 10 years, 50%, and
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: you know the city is really relying on raising money through the TOT. That's why we were approving the two hotels.

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Inthefirst place. So… 1242
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Anyway, I just wanted to put my comments out there, and I'll go back to my colleagues for more discussion. Thank you. Councilmember Zollmer.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Vice Mayor, for that. 1244
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, I mean, I don't disagree that I think it's just like that people want a hotel, and I do agree with Councilmember Carter and the fact that we do need some sort of income, because doing this for almost 4 years, struggling with a financialstructuraldeficit,and
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Not having revenue meets, like, costs of employee costs, it's just exhausting. So we clearly need a source of revenue. 1246
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I also agree the fact that I don't like the tone and tenor. When Barney came before us before, I, like, definitely drilled him on what are you doingtobenefitthecityof Sebastopol? Thedowntown partcould nothavebeen more clear with him. That was over 3 years ago. That was after he hit me up right after I got elected. 1247
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: pointing to where it is that you want the hotel.

Like, as in, this is great, right? And I'm like, it's great if you want to help the downtown businesses. He's done nothing.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: He's got wayward signs that are this tall hidden behind bushes. I kind of do resent the fact that whatever letter was sent to us claiming the fact that you built that pathway between the Barlow and the downtown, you didn't. You might have contributed a little money, but it was Mary, I, and it was Daniele. 1249
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: who actually did the sidewalk. So claiming things that are not really yours to claim kind of doesn't strike well either. 1250
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: That aside, though, I do appreciate staff typing in a suggestion, which I read at the beginning of all of this.

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Agenda Item Number: 1
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: As an example, the TOT rebate could allocate the first$400,000,andTOT
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: 100% to the city, and then provide the 50% rebate.

I think that it's like that someone with more expertise needs to really start the negotiation seriously with this hotel, because I'm not willing to give you everything that you want. 1253
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I agree with the Vice Mayor, you got what you wanted many months ago. Now, all of a sudden, you're like, do this, give us a full 50%, or we're just gonna pack our toys and leave. Like, that does not strike me as a good business type.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: relationship. So I'm fine with having somebody with more time willing to dedicate to this to really negotiate something like, again, that I keep reading from the staff report. Like, you prove yourself, right? You're new into this hotel industry. You're not like Hotel Piazza, so you too are new. 1255
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So you prove why it is that you're worth some sort of rebate, and then we'll bring this back, because I don't see this as being an urgent thing.

Like, it's now…
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: now or never. Like, I feel like we can continue to negotiate, but I think coming into it with all a little bit more humility in the process would probably go a long ways. So those are my comments.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Ricardo? 1258
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yes.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Hinton, are you? Yeah. 1260
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I don't know what it's doing. 1261
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Oh.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Do you… do… Councilmember Hinton, 1263
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Alright.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Can you hear any… now it's not working? No, it's not. Now it's not working. Oh, there… There you go. Okay, great. 1265
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, well, I made some notes. 1266
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: First of all, I want to say I'm not insulted. 1267
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I appreciate, actually, straight talk. We had Piazzi in here, and the mayor said, what can we do to help you? 1268
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I can appreciate that the Barlow barney is asking what we can do to help you get it built.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Having been in marketing 20 years, I agree, we are an unproven hotel, high-end market.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I workin Halesburg every day. It's very difficult. We're a hidden secret, and I do believe we're gonna be developed and discovered, and so many people are like, oh, you're so cool.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: But I feel like this market is the hidden secret, and we know it. But I can imagine going to banks, I'm building 1272
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Something myself, and the prices are just… Agenda Item Number: 1
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: ridiculous. So, I empathize with the struggle, and I'm glad you are coming to us.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: to negotiate. What I'm kind of disappointed in today, and I don't think anybody can expect us to take a vote today, is that just your proposal landed on our lap, and I feel like we're supposed to say yes or no. I'm not prepared to say yes or no today.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I think that this is, I agree, we need… it's a big… 1276
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Big thing for us, it's a big thing… 1277
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: For… for your development company. 1278
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And we all will have to live with it, whatever we agree to. So, I'm not willing to agree tonight, but I am willing to negotiate. 1279
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: something that is in our benefit, your benefit, and that we can feel like we can all live with. And whether that's a cap, or the four-star hotel, or… I'm not a hotel expert, so we really need somebody
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: to work together. But, you know, in many ways, I've… I'm like, Phil, yay! We've been trying to get a hotel. 1281
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: it was actually a campaign issue when I ran in 2016. It went… I mean, and as we see our budgets getting tighter and tighter, this is a way that our local citizens don't have to pay more tax money, and visitors will pay when they come to town.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: That's what TOT is about, you know, to use our services when they're visiting. So, I am…
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: happy you're asking, and even though tonight, I think we're… I'm gonnatry to punt it to staff, sothat we can really sit down and have a serious negotiation, because we're talking about big money, too. 1284
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Big money that the city was counting on, now you're coming back saying you need support.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'm okay with that, because you're right, nothing is nothing. But, I just want to make sure that we're doing the right thing for our pop… our citizens for the next
1286
02:57:18.380 --> 02:57:34.229
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: 10 years, when maybe none of us will be sitting here. So, and I know we can't really… I don't know, that's up to the Vice Mayor about protocol, but I think Bill Carter had… Yes, if you want to… if you want to make a response, we can allow that. Thank you.
1287
02:57:37.760 --> 02:57:41.519
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Ithinkfirst, andmore sort of personally, I didn't, 1288
02:57:42.580 --> 02:57:51.720
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I apologize for any tenor that came off that way. I've been living this world for the last 3-4 years. I wasn't aware that a lot of this was just put on your desk.
1289
02:57:53.110 --> 02:58:00.679
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: It also can be challenging sometimes, public speaking, so I don't mean to, present it that way. You know. 1290
02:58:01.140 --> 02:58:15.129
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I, myself, personally, and obviously Barney are incredibly, excited about Sebastopol and bringing a hotel. Otherwise, he wouldn't be putting all… he wouldn't be putting all this work in, and so we absolutely believe in Sebastopol. And
1291
02:58:15.130 --> 02:58:21.160
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I won't speak to some of the other public comment, but he wouldn't be doing this if he didn't believe in it. 1292
02:58:21.190 --> 02:58:23.520
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: One note I do want to make. 1293
02:58:24.160 --> 02:58:31.100
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: the urgency around it is, that the former Yerba Monte tenant has left
1294
02:58:31.220 --> 02:58:36.869
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: They were bought by another company, and they left, so that is now a vacant warehouse. So he…
1295
02:58:37.200 --> 02:58:43.210
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: you know, aldridge development needs to do something with that warehouse. And so, if this were to… 1296
02:58:43.810 --> 02:59:03.520
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: if there wasn't some conclusion to this, I… I think he's gonna have to make another business decision. I mean, that was… that was what I was told, and so I think that's part of the urgency, but I didn't mean to just lay it on your lap out of nowhere. My only other note would be that Barney is also on the Zoom, and he's been 1297
02:59:03.520 --> 02:59:11.879
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Probably trying to figure out ifhe can comment. Is he able to respond to any of this, or are you able to ask the questions of him? I would like that, if he's there.
1298
02:59:13.300 --> 02:59:15.169
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Barney, can you unmute yourself? 1299
02:59:17.030 --> 02:59:18.110
barney aldridge: Hello!
1300
02:59:18.110 --> 02:59:19.009
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: There you go.
1301
02:59:20.750 --> 02:59:27.319
barney aldridge: Hi, thanks everybody for all the service, so many things you guys are dealing with there in the town, and…
1302
02:59:27.850 --> 02:59:34.510
barney aldridge: I know everybody's volunteering, so I… I want to just express my gratitude to all the city employees and
1303
02:59:35.300 --> 02:59:38.469
barney aldridge: Council members, for all the work you do for the city. 1304
02:59:39.490 --> 02:59:44.060
barney aldridge: I hear you on, you know, yeah, it'd be great to sit down and negotiate.

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1305
02:59:44.180 --> 02:59:46.640
barney aldridge: But I just think…
1306
02:59:47.440 --> 02:59:54.390
barney aldridge: I'd like to just give you a little dose of the reality, which is debt's super high, like…
1307
02:59:54.550 --> 03:00:05.190
barney aldridge: adjustable rates starting at 9, and if rates go higher, it goes higher, so that's a really hard thing toovercome. It's been very difficult for me to get 1308
03:00:05.240 --> 03:00:17.209
barney aldridge: equity to the table, that's new equity partners, people writing checks for millions of dollars, andme telling them, it's gonna be fine, Sebastopol's gonna be a great market,
1309
03:00:17.400 --> 03:00:32.550
barney aldridge: But then you have construction costs, which keep going up and up and up, so the returns that we thought we had a year ago have diminished below what we'll call, you know, a market return for investors. A lot of times, these things 1310
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03:00:32.940 --> 03:00:39.130
barney aldridge: in my experience, there's a time and a place, and like, right now is the time 1311
03:00:39.190 --> 03:00:57.460
barney aldridge: for you guys to say, you want ahotel and dothis. I'm not getting rich off this. I'm taking a ton of risk. A lot of it has to do with the big, giant, vacant warehouse that either I need to, start filling with storage.
1312
03:00:57.760 --> 03:01:17.040
barney aldridge: Or do some renovations and start renting that out. Once I do that, the hotel's off the table. I cannot sit and just let theclock run without aplan forthat space. I'm just not big enough to swallow up the cost of that. That thing has a huge mortgage on it, and taxes…
1313
03:01:17.040 --> 03:01:35.900
barney aldridge: you know, are ticking away, so that's many tens of thousands a month to sit there vacant. So, we're either building a hotel with your help, or we're gonna start dealing with that building. And I hate to say it, the time to negotiate would havebeen when Ifirst brought this to you, but I also can tell you that
1314
03:01:35.990 --> 03:01:44.170
barney aldridge: the investors I have at the table, who are all awaiting my phone call in the morning to find out if you guys are on board to do this with us or not. 1315
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03:01:44.550 --> 03:01:56.879
barney aldridge: Their time horizon is 10 years, and the model is 10 years, and the model barely hits the returns with the hopeful success that this hotel has been predicted to be. 1316
03:01:57.070 --> 03:02:12.599
barney aldridge: The… the split gets us barely to the, you know, mid-teen return that is the very minimum that I could get people to put money in this. It's highly risky, hospitality is the worst sector in real estate right now.
1317
03:02:12.740 --> 03:02:27.940
barney aldridge: And most of my peers are telling me I'm an idiot, and I should just be building more retail there. But I really believe for the, you know, Sebastopol, I heard you, Mr.

Zolman, about downtown, there's no better way to help downtown 1318
03:02:28.060 --> 03:02:28.800
barney aldridge: then…
1319
03:02:28.910 --> 03:02:48.769
barney aldridge: give the downtown two-way streets, which you've done, and then give people a place to stay, which I'm trying to do. But I really need you guys to help me not negotiate with me, help me by approving this, and then let me do what I do. I've been working for this city, no other city, I've put all my time, lifeblood. 1320
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03:02:48.770 --> 03:02:55.070
barney aldridge: all my energy into downtown Sebastopol since 2007. I believe that 1321
03:02:55.520 --> 03:03:03.430
barney aldridge: Sorry, I'm getting a phone call. I believe that, I've proved myself that I do quality work.
1322
03:03:03.540 --> 03:03:10.329
barney aldridge: this hotel be beautiful and be great for everybody. Please help us move at a faster pace than
1323
03:03:10.600 --> 03:03:25.660
barney aldridge: if… if we can't do it, and I know you feel under pressure, and I'm… I'm under a lot of pressure, so what… the little bit of pressure you're feeling, max it by, you know, go 10X or 100x, and that's what I'm feeling for pressure. Now's the time, if you want a hotel.
1324
03:03:25.660 --> 03:03:41.279
barney aldridge: approve it. If you… if you're not comfortable doing it, I understand, it's okay, but it's not because I'm trying to be a hard-ass or not a friendly, you know, sit-downand-negotiate kind of guy. I think there's lots of things we could do and negotiate together, and let's not forget that this…
1325
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Agenda Item Number: 1
03:03:41.280 --> 03:03:46.069
barney aldridge: Budget also includes a beautiful park for the city, an entrance to the Laguna.
1326
03:03:46.130 --> 03:04:05.979
barney aldridge: 200 new parking spaces in the area, a new sidewalk connecting downtown to the Barlow. Like, there's so many good things here. Let's not waste your time. I see how many things you guys have on your table. None of us have time to sit around and negotiate, and I'm telling you, at the end, I'm just gonna tell you the same thing. The investors need a 10-year return. They need this 50%.
1327
03:04:05.980 --> 03:04:12.950
barney aldridge: And I ask you to please grant it, and if not, I understand, I trust it's the right thing to do, and maybe now's not the time for a hotel.
1328
03:04:12.970 --> 03:04:24.290
barney aldridge: I'm happy with whatever way you go. I will not be… you know, I'm not you, and I don't blame you for whatever you choose to vote, but please vote one way or the other. Thank you so much.
1329
03:04:24.430 --> 03:04:25.810
barney aldridge: Do you have any questions?
1330
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03:04:30.390 --> 03:04:31.279
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you.
1331
03:04:35.730 --> 03:04:37.070
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Any more thoughts? 1332
03:04:39.550 --> 03:04:53.440
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Ari has questions or thoughts? Whatever you got.

Again, you know, if we get some hotel revenue, that's great. I think we'll have opportunity to negotiate at some other point. I totally…
1333
03:04:54.010 --> 03:05:12.530
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I feel him a little bit. I've been through some of the things that I feel like he's going through, and I get it, and I appreciate the risk that he's putting out forthis city.And it's really difficult. The city is having no risk on this whatsoever.

When he comes in, and he's building, and he's bringing in, 1334
03:05:12.580 --> 03:05:15.229
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Construction workers, they're gonna eat lunch. 1335
03:05:15.560 --> 03:05:28.190
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: You know, all the activity around it, the hubbub, every little bit is gonna drive one more person to buy a cookie, it's a festival cookie, or a shop at one of our other retail stores.
1336
03:05:28.370 --> 03:05:37.379
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: we can ask for, him, once the building gets going, for a little bit more, you know, evacuation to downtown, but I don't… 1337
03:05:37.400 --> 03:05:52.030
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I don't… I don't… I want to support him. I, like, I definitely feel like we ought… just ought tobe happy, and really get behind him, and as a town, kind of come together. If this is what wewant, we've had trafficstudies, we've gone through all of that.
1338
03:05:52.110 --> 03:05:59.559
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We've already gone through the wondering whether we do want a hotel or don't want a hotel, so let's just go all in and be supportive. 1339
03:06:07.890 --> 03:06:09.230
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Hinton? 1340
03:06:12.300 --> 03:06:21.680
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I mean… You know, people, including this council before I got here, were very hesitant about the Barlow. 1341
03:06:21.730 --> 03:06:35.080
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And now, a lot of people in this town, a lot of my friends, say, oh my gosh, the Barlow's great. We get lots of visitors, Barney has committed to this town, I hear what he needs.
1342
03:06:35.120 --> 03:06:46.480
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I struggle with some of the same things. My children are trying to buy houses, the interest rates are outrageous. I just already shared, the materials are outrageous.
1343
03:06:46.720 --> 03:06:50.570
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I don't see a lot of people building hotels, so… 1344
03:06:50.730 --> 03:07:00.459
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: If he needs a decision tonight, I think I'm gonna follow Phil and say, okay, 50% for 10 years.
1345
03:07:00.770 --> 03:07:09.309
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Gets us a hotel, and we have been talking about a hotel since 2016, the last 10 years, waiting.

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1346
03:07:09.930 --> 03:07:14.459
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I don't want to be 10 years from now, and we still have no hotel.
1347
03:07:15.540 --> 03:07:22.560
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So… This is what it's gonna take, I'll support it tonight, andwe'll figureout something else.
1348
03:07:22.680 --> 03:07:24.460
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: That we can do.
1349
03:07:24.760 --> 03:07:26.580
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: To get.
1350
03:07:27.630 --> 03:07:32.760
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: From… from the… Organization. 1351
03:07:39.270 --> 03:07:53.020
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I believe that we want you to build the hotel, and I believe that you want to build the hotel, and I love the Barlow myself. What I don't love is this…
1352
03:07:54.060 --> 03:08:06.179
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: there's no room for negotiation. That, I do not like.

It's like, it's all or nothing. Either you do it the way we need it, or we're not gonna build it.

That's what I don't appreciate.
1353
03:08:06.560 --> 03:08:11.970
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So that's, honestly, that just kind of pushes my buttons.
1354
03:08:13.620 --> 03:08:21.189
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: and I hear two council members are willing to go with it. I have a really, really hard time with the 10 years. 1355
03:08:21.430 --> 03:08:29.750
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And… and yet, if what he's saying is, it's 10 years or nothing, then what do you do with that?
1356
03:08:30.800 --> 03:08:32.389
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: 10 years or nothing.

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1357
03:08:34.060 --> 03:08:36.939
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, Councilmember Zolman, you have thoughts? 1358
03:08:38.720 --> 03:08:48.960
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, I really don't like it at all. I don't like the strong arming, and quite honestly, I don't think that what we got in the email from whoever Barney decided to have us send
1359
03:08:48.980 --> 03:08:58.929
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I think what was stated in there was a great misrepresentation of what it is he's actually done to help the downtown businesses. That aside.
1360
03:08:58.930 --> 03:09:14.910
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: you know, calls for moments of being a grown-up, and I don't really see a way out of this for the city. I don't really want the next generation of people who have to sit here at the dais or are thinking about running or whatever, have to deal with what I personally have done for the next last four years. 1361
03:09:14.910 --> 03:09:25.949
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Which is dealing with a city that's in a perpetual state of crisis, financialcrisis, strong financial deficit. I don't really want to wish that on anyone. So, given the fact that
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1362
03:09:25.950 --> 03:09:45.840
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: My other two council members are in favor of it.

Let's just do it. And I really hope that it is true, and Barney is true to his word, about the allocation for tourism, and the fact that I hope he knows that some of us will be following those efforts, and if it seems like it's all centered on the Barlow and not for our struggling downtown businesses.
1363
03:09:45.840 --> 03:09:53.570
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: there will be certain things, retribution, to be had, I'm quite sure of that. So I'm finewith votingwith my colleagues. 1364
03:09:55.920 --> 03:10:00.310
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Can I go ahead and make a motion to approve as presented?
1365
03:10:06.930 --> 03:10:20.650
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The version that's in your agenda report as proposed is the Barlow's presentation with that hypo corrected of 10% to 12%, so that, in the draft ordinance, that is already there.
1366
03:10:20.790 --> 03:10:23.860
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So no need to make any separate motion.

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1367
03:10:24.140 --> 03:10:30.479
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Or correction. So… What are your thoughts on if we, approved it for 5 years?
1368
03:10:31.230 --> 03:10:34.360
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And then renegotiated after 5 years. 1369
03:10:34.850 --> 03:10:48.409
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, I think that sends the signal straight to the bankers and the investors, we're gonna niggle with them continuously, and it's gonna be hard. So, like, if we just can just show massive support for it. 1370
03:10:48.420 --> 03:11:00.609
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: then it can go. But I guarantee you, if, like, we equivocate, and we try to get down on it, the investors and the banks are gonna look at it and go like, I don't know.
1371
03:11:01.060 --> 03:11:09.969
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, Ithink we should, you know, figure it out on the back end, and definitely, like, even a little bit ofthat TOT is gonna solve. 1372
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03:11:11.600 --> 03:11:18.520
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I just want to point out one thing I'll get to you, is that you said there was no risk for the city at all. Well. 1373
03:11:18.820 --> 03:11:22.270
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: There is risk in terms of how our public feels about this.
1374
03:11:22.500 --> 03:11:28.779
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So… and Barney was saying he's taking all the risk. Well, he's gonna get all the rewards as well.
1375
03:11:29.220 --> 03:11:33.820
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And… and I know we will get rewards, too, so… but we're giving up a lot.
1376
03:11:33.920 --> 03:11:35.240
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Hinton? 1377
03:11:35.710 --> 03:11:51.460
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Well, first of all, the10 years,I do think it is tied to the funding. I… that is… that's not a made-up number, and so I think that's what they need to hear. But what I would like to add to this ordinance, if my colleagues are willing.

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1378
03:11:51.460 --> 03:11:56.100
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I can see that it was struck, and I assume that was by Barney.
1379
03:11:56.220 --> 03:12:06.209
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Which maybe you guys can clarify. This sentence that says, but the city shall have no authority to direct such spending 1380
03:12:08.020 --> 03:12:23.850
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I would like to… so the payee of tax shall provide documentation of how the remitted tax funds were spent for such purposes. Can we add in there annually? I mean, can we add something… yeah, because… 1381
03:12:24.240 --> 03:12:25.800
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I,
1382
03:12:27.590 --> 03:12:47.590
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: you know, not to go back in history, but we know that we, back in the day, needed certain inspections with the Barlow, and maybe things got pushed, so I'd like to have a timeline on when the Barlow gives us those updates, so that we can make sure that the spending that we're agreeing to is going to the appropriate to market.

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1383
03:12:47.770 --> 03:12:54.159
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The city, and the hotel, so that in our partnership, We both win.
1384
03:12:54.750 --> 03:12:57.760
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, and that should be monitored. 1385
03:12:58.120 --> 03:13:02.939
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And have a timeline that we get an annual report.

So, so what the… just to make sure…
1386
03:13:02.940 --> 03:13:23.519
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: we all understand what the language is, because I know there's the Planning Commission's proposal. What the Barlow's proposal is, the relevant language is the payee of the tax and nor the developer or its successor shall use the remitted tax funds for advertisement of tourism in the City of Sebastopol, including the Barlow Hotel as a destination in the City of Sebastopol. 1387
03:13:23.520 --> 03:13:34.629
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The City may request and payee of the tax shall provide documentation of how the remitted tax funds were spent for such purposes, but the state shall have no authority to direct the spending.

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1388
03:13:34.630 --> 03:13:43.210
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So we could add, if that's what the… if the maker of the motion wants to amend it, the city may request, and pays shall provide at least annually.
1389
03:13:45.280 --> 03:13:47.539
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'd like to… I'd like to see that if… 1390
03:13:47.680 --> 03:13:54.690
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, so that we have some reporting, and we can see what's happening. Yeah, reporting is… great.
1391
03:13:56.230 --> 03:13:57.010
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay?
1392
03:13:58.930 --> 03:14:02.890
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, did you make… you made the motion? I'll second.
1393
03:14:03.330 --> 03:14:09.289
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Question about conflict resolution withinthis document here. Can you comment, please?
1394
03:14:09.490 --> 03:14:16.359
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So the, development agreement has existing language. There's an annual report.
1395
03:14:16.500 --> 03:14:21.720
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: You know, they come to you annually, and there's procedures laid out in it for…
1396
03:14:22.580 --> 03:14:27.559
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: addressing conflicts and terminating the DA, you know, if it's not being complied with.
1397
03:14:27.740 --> 03:14:31.909
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So those processes are in the development agreement.
1398
03:14:32.670 --> 03:14:39.069
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: and certainly if the City Council… there's a process laid out in the DA, but if the City Council determines Agenda Item Number: 1
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1399
03:14:39.170 --> 03:14:46.390
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: the… Barlow is not complying with its obligations, you know, could terminate the DA.
1400
03:14:49.220 --> 03:14:54.799
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Is that just… is the DA just covered the development term, or does it go beyond?
1401
03:14:55.100 --> 03:15:03.790
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: It goes beyond, because it has language like this in it. I believe the term was… 10 years…
1402
03:15:04.180 --> 03:15:06.899
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So it… it's in there. 1403
03:15:08.240 --> 03:15:15.259
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, are you saying that we can actually terminate this agreement at some point?
1404
03:15:15.840 --> 03:15:20.959
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: If there is a violation, we can't just terminate that, Agenda Item Number: 1
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1405
03:15:21.520 --> 03:15:37.510
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: you know, without a reason. Let's say that the DA, for example, lays out a hotel room number. If they build a 12-room hotel, right, that might not be consistent with the terms of the DA. We could say we're terminating it, or things like that.
1406
03:15:37.740 --> 03:15:44.290
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: There are other requirements in the DA, I don't recall off the top of myhead, but there are provisions in the DA 1407
03:15:44.590 --> 03:15:57.449
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: that's built in there, you know, we've gotten these annual reports, and separate from that, there's process about terminating the DA, or meeting and conferring if we believe there's a violation, and then addressing that. 1408
03:16:05.790 --> 03:16:06.709
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: It's a motion.
1409
03:16:07.330 --> 03:16:07.990
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah.
1410
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03:16:08.120 --> 03:16:09.420
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Right, Mary.
1411
03:16:09.580 --> 03:16:29.189
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Sowehave a motion on the floor. No further discussion. Councilmember Carter moved, and Councilmember Hunt seconded in the motion to approve the development agreement amendment for the Farla Hotel to provide our TOT sharing agreement arrangement of 50% for 10 years, with the addition of the City May Request and payee of tax shall provide at least annual documentation. 1412
03:16:29.320 --> 03:16:41.980
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Carter? Yes. Councilmember Hinton? Aye. Councilmember Zolman? Yes. Vice Mayor Maurer? Yes. Motion passes with Councilmembers Carter, Hinton, Zolman, and Vice Mayor Maurer's support. Mayor McLewis absent.
1413
03:16:44.040 --> 03:16:55.159
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Can Iask a point of clarification? Did the Planning Commission's recommendation to ensure that advertising was done for the full city get included in that motion?
1414
03:16:56.040 --> 03:17:03.180
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: It was not. The motion was based on the language I read out loud, which was not the Planning Commission's Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
1415
03:17:04.280 --> 03:17:05.850
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Recommended language. 1416
03:17:06.760 --> 03:17:17.059
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Can we… can I make a motion that we add that language back in? So the matter has passed, so we need a motion to reconsider from someone who voted in favor.
1417
03:17:17.270 --> 03:17:23.599
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I voted in favor, and I've got motion to reconsider.

And so that would need a second, if someone…
1418
03:17:23.890 --> 03:17:27.470
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I want everyone to feel happy, so I'll second that. 1419
03:17:30.790 --> 03:17:38.629
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And so then my new… So we now need a vote to see if there's a majority to reconsider and improve that motion. Okay. 1420
03:17:41.540 --> 03:17:49.500
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Sothere's a motion on the floor by Vice Mayor Maurer, seconded by Councilmember Zolman, to reconsider the motion just made.

Councilmember Carter?
1421
03:17:50.890 --> 03:17:51.680
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: No.
1422
03:17:52.100 --> 03:17:53.620
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Hinton? 1423
03:18:05.550 --> 03:18:06.410
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: No.
1424
03:18:08.290 --> 03:18:10.499
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Zolman? 1425
03:18:13.860 --> 03:18:21.330
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Again, I want everyone to be happy, so yes, but I don't think it's gonna matter. No, Vice Mayor Maurer? Yes. Motion does not pass. 1426
03:18:26.880 --> 03:18:29.539
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So this concludes this item. We will go get the mirror.
1427
03:18:36.410 --> 03:18:37.100
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Support.
1428
03:18:38.200 --> 03:18:49.440
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I didn't realize that, because he can just now advertise his hotels, and his barn, and leave the rest of the city out, the way we passed it. 1429
03:18:49.990 --> 03:18:51.589
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Oh, I don't tell me. 1430
03:18:51.730 --> 03:18:52.579
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: What's up?
1431
03:18:55.480 --> 03:18:56.230
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And not.
1432
03:19:00.380 --> 03:19:01.570
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'll see you.

Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
1433
03:19:01.730 --> 03:19:06.959
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Hopefully we're… no, it's worth… You can talk to me.
1434
03:19:07.280 --> 03:19:12.420
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: That's some good ceiling. 1435
03:19:13.560 --> 03:19:20.080
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, very good.
1436
03:19:20.270 --> 03:19:21.550
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. Thank you. 1437
03:19:22.820 --> 03:19:23.500
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Beautiful.
1438
03:19:35.100 --> 03:19:36.559
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Hopefully we'll get under town.

Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
1439
03:19:38.490 --> 03:19:39.440
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Amazing.
1440
03:19:44.170 --> 03:19:47.570
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Are you all okay with moving on, or do you feel like you need…
1441
03:19:48.120 --> 03:19:50.659
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, a stress reliever for a second. 1442
03:19:51.430 --> 03:19:52.410
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay.
1443
03:19:52.870 --> 03:19:56.400
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'm sorry, I drink it all. 1444
03:19:57.210 --> 03:19:59.700
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I should go out for a drink later. 1445
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
03:20:00.490 --> 03:20:07.450
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'm sorry? I said we should go out for a drink later.

Okay.
1446
03:20:08.920 --> 03:20:10.499
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We do that in Roanoke Park. 1447
03:20:11.640 --> 03:20:17.289
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, let's see, we are at, pardon me, item number

10. 1448
03:20:18.090 --> 03:20:37.849
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Let's see… discussion of consideration of ratification of Council Direction to forgive the wastewater loan, forgive repayment from Wastewater Enterprise Fund to General Fund, and our city attorney is going to be taking that. Good evening, Mayor, Councilmembers. As the Council knows, back on August 6th. 1449
03:20:37.850 --> 03:20:46.619
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: of 2024, the City Council approved a $1,100,000 loan from the General Fund to the Wastewater Enterprise Fund. 1450
03:20:46.680 --> 03:20:49.600
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: That was really memorializing, Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
1451
03:20:50.130 --> 03:20:55.189
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Transfer that had happened at the end of the prior fiscalyearbecauseof
1452
03:20:55.440 --> 03:20:59.960
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: To make sure that the… Wastewater Fund had a positive
1453
03:21:00.870 --> 03:21:08.859
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: cash flow at that time. Sothe loan does not include any interest, it doesn't include any specific, repayment 1454
03:21:09.660 --> 03:21:21.700
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: plan or repayment terms. Otherwise, excuse me, other than to say, the repayment of the loan, must occur in full by June 30th, 2032. 1455
03:21:22.310 --> 03:21:26.550
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The Council previously directed, based on 1456
03:21:26.900 --> 03:21:31.190
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Input from the community, including, 1457
03:21:32.360 --> 03:21:35.909
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: a recommendation, I believe, from the EFOC to, 1458
03:21:36.170 --> 03:21:39.240
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: move forward with forgiving this loan from the general fund.
1459
03:21:39.520 --> 03:21:43.710
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And so this I am before you tonight would… 1460
03:21:45.290 --> 03:21:57.730
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: excuse me, would terminate the loan, would forgive the loan, and would eliminate all obligations of the Wastewater Enterprise Fund to repay that amount to the general fund.
1461
03:21:57.960 --> 03:22:00.539
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So that would have a, 1462
03:22:00.870 --> 03:22:07.400
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: you know, an impact on the general fund, and a positive impact on the Wastewater Enterprise Fund.
1463
03:22:07.700 --> 03:22:14.560
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'll keep it brief, because I know that the Council is well aware of this item, so happy to answer any questions that the Council may have. 1464
03:22:15.020 --> 03:22:17.080
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, do we have any questions here? 1465
03:22:19.070 --> 03:22:30.499
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: No? Okay, we'll go to public comment. Thank you, Mayor. So this is public comment on the forgiveness of the wastewater loan. If you'd like to make a publiccomment, I will do Chambers first, and then go out to Zoom. 1466
03:22:31.410 --> 03:22:34.300
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none in Chambers, Kyle, can you unmute yourself, please?
1467
03:22:36.360 --> 03:22:41.660
Kyle Falbo: So, considering the language you'd like to use in your response to the grand jury report.

Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
1468
03:22:41.890 --> 03:22:44.549
Kyle Falbo: I only partially agree with,
1469
03:22:45.150 --> 03:22:49.629
Kyle Falbo: Alex's interpretation of the history of this loan. 1470
03:22:49.710 --> 03:23:08.679
Kyle Falbo: Many of you may remember that it was surprising to learn that there was actually an attempt to charge interest on this loan. And it wasn't until Council at the 11th hour, sniffing out that there was an interest rateattached to that loan, that that was removed as part of the process.
1471
03:23:08.970 --> 03:23:15.630
Kyle Falbo: So… I can partially agree that your representation of this loan is 1472
03:23:15.770 --> 03:23:28.590
Kyle Falbo: Partially correct. Just as you can partially agree in the recommendations of the grand jury to actually pay back the money that you have been fraudulently taking over the last 9 years.
1473
03:23:28.930 --> 03:23:32.870
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
Kyle Falbo: And allocating to the general fund from the enterprise funds. 1474
03:23:33.330 --> 03:23:35.899
Kyle Falbo: I can also partially agree
1475
03:23:36.130 --> 03:23:49.069
Kyle Falbo: that there is negligence on this body. You have known for many years that this has been an issue. You have known for many years that the allocation to your individual departmental budgets
1476
03:23:49.430 --> 03:23:58.190
Kyle Falbo: was coming out of the enterprise fund, with no justifiable reason oraccounting for that… for that to happen.
1477
03:23:58.450 --> 03:24:04.730
Kyle Falbo: So, by all means, you can… Forgive this loan. 1478
03:24:05.180 --> 03:24:10.370
Kyle Falbo: But… I only partially agree that this does anything 1479
03:24:10.640 --> 03:24:17.840
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
Kyle Falbo: To actually address the issue of the $5.5 million that were misallocated. 1480
03:24:18.070 --> 03:24:36.360
Kyle Falbo: Many… much of which, that misallocation, was how this loan came about in the first place. Because if you didn't misallocate the $750,000 theyear that this loan came about, you wouldn't have needed to loan the money back to the Enterprise Fund in the first place.
1481
03:24:38.940 --> 03:24:44.110
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Kyle, for your public comment. Next, I'll come back into chambers, if there's anyone in chambers. Kate? 1482
03:24:52.070 --> 03:25:05.090
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Can you turn your mic on? Is that better? Yeah, Zoom can't hear you if it's not on. I, yeah, AI will be able to imitate me, so if you get mean voicemails from me, it's just…
1483
03:25:05.170 --> 03:25:23.750
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: artificial agent. But anyway, I'm a member of the EFOC, and the $1.100,000 loan forgiveness is part of our recommendation, because we believe that, as Kyle laid out.
1484
03:25:23.750 --> 03:25:37.370
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: that the loan was forced onto the enterprise funds due to historical misallocation of ratepayer funds, which is a Prop 218 violation. 1485
03:25:37.370 --> 03:25:54.430
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And so I fully support this. I also agree that it does not fully remedy the main issues of the grand jury report, which have to do with the water system and capital funding for the water system.
1486
03:25:54.430 --> 03:26:08.930
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: But as we know that we havesignificant aging clay pipes, this money, not having to repay this false debt, will allow for more money to go into clay pipe replacement
1487
03:26:08.930 --> 03:26:13.780
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Which is one of the more expensive and less environmentally
1488
03:26:13.780 --> 03:26:23.870
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: friendly parts of our very aged SOAR system. So, I support loan forgiveness, and I do not… and I feel that it's… 1489
03:26:23.940 --> 03:26:31.830
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The loan was made because of mismanagement of enterprise funds in the past, over the past 15 years. Thank you. 1490
03:26:34.050 --> 03:26:37.339
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment. Mary, can you unmute yourself, please?
1491
03:26:38.350 --> 03:26:39.949
Mary Meihaus: Yes, I can.
1492
03:26:40.480 --> 03:26:42.019
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Can you see the timer still? 1493
03:26:42.020 --> 03:26:42.949
Mary Meihaus: Yes, I can.
1494
03:26:42.950 --> 03:26:43.950
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, go ahead, please. 1495
03:26:44.130 --> 03:26:56.439
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
Mary Meihaus: Thank you so much. So my name is Mary Meihaus. I'm also a member of the EFOC Committee, along with Kate, and I am full support of this… 1496
03:26:56.760 --> 03:27:01.870
Mary Meihaus: agenda item in the loan being forgiven. I… 1497
03:27:02.040 --> 03:27:14.899
Mary Meihaus: Don't mean to be redundant, but yes, it was one of our 12 recommendations, and so it's just such a positive thing that our… that this is ahead to be forgiven. And it's…
1498
03:27:15.450 --> 03:27:24.409
Mary Meihaus: it's just of note that this is all being discussed right after our, you know, the Mason decision to move forward with the hotel, because
1499
03:27:24.580 --> 03:27:43.839
Mary Meihaus: making these steps and, and going along with our recommendations will only uplift the city and further the positive foundation that you're trying to build. And even literally, with the hotel, like, we… this… the money that will be freed up for… 1500
03:27:43.840 --> 03:27:52.149
Mary Meihaus: the sewer and water will only help the crumbling infrastructure, as we have been discussing, so…
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
1501
03:27:52.420 --> 03:28:04.010
Mary Meihaus: I just appreciate that this is here, on the table, and we discussed, and that we can vote to forgive the loan, so thank you so much. Appreciate everybody. 1502
03:28:04.420 --> 03:28:05.269
Mary Meihaus: Thank you for your…
1503
03:28:05.270 --> 03:28:13.159
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: 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 will go back out to Zoom. Lee, can you mute yourself, please? 1504
03:28:13.610 --> 03:28:14.300
Lee: Yes.
1505
03:28:14.620 --> 03:28:16.530
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, can you still see the timer? 1506
03:28:16.530 --> 03:28:17.200
Lee: I can.

Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
1507
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. Go ahead, please. 1508
03:28:19.040 --> 03:28:30.759
Lee: Yeah, I feel like I had to come on and say something. I think… I was just looking back through my notes to see when I did my first comment on water and sewer, I think it was 4 years ago, and
1509
03:28:30.980 --> 03:28:40.440
Lee: And I've been after this ever since, and I think the city has made some progress in setting up the AFOC and beginning to address some of these issues. 1510
03:28:40.440 --> 03:28:51.679
Lee: And I fully, obviously, support, forgiving this loan, for the reasons that Kate and Kyle had both spoken of. One point of
1511
03:28:51.710 --> 03:29:09.209
Lee: question that you all can work out behind the scenes, I guess. It was originally a million dollar loan with a $200,000 interest charge on it. That $200,000 interest charge was objected to, and ultimately the council at the time, waived the interest. 1512
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
03:29:09.320 --> 03:29:26.199
Lee: But now it's a $1.1 million loan. I don't know if that's because the numbers were crunched a little bit along the way, or if in changing it from 1.2 to 1, it got to 1.1. I don't know. But it doesn't sound like the right number. I don't know if that matters to anybody about anything, but anyway, that's where it stands. Thank you very much. 1513
03:29:27.430 --> 03:29:38.910
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Lee, 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. If there's anyone on Zoom, please raise your hand virtually.
1514
03:29:39.390 --> 03:29:41.770
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: There's no further public comment on this item. 1515
03:29:42.060 --> 03:29:46.590
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Alright, thank you, back at the dice. I just… oh, go ahead.
1516
03:29:47.700 --> 03:30:04.669
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So I just wanted to make a small comment that the thing that we're trying to solve for is a good water system, right? And a good infrastructure for it. The enterprise funds basically only have one way of income, and that's through rates.

Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
1517
03:30:04.720 --> 03:30:16.440
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And the ratepayer has to pay it. The general fund has multiple streams of income, sothere are different opportunities for it to make money, but the rates are the only thing that
1518
03:30:16.830 --> 03:30:33.649
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: supplements the enterprise. So, like, if we're taking money away from it by freezing rates, then we need to make sure that there's money in there to do the infrastructure that we need to do, right? So this is one way that I support it.
1519
03:30:34.940 --> 03:30:45.250
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, go ahead, I have a question. Well, I just want to make a motion. Okay, I just had a quickquestion for clarification, if I could, just based on the public comment about the…
1520
03:30:45.250 --> 03:30:58.410
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: How do we get to 1.1 versus 1.2? Is there… Yeah, so the adopted resolution is 1.1 million. I think you heard multiple… we adopted… the Council adopted the resolution in…
1521
03:30:58.770 --> 03:31:11.100
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: August, and it was sort of retroactive to some… somethingthat happened at the end ofthe fiscal year, and so there were… I wasn't here at that time, but my understanding is there were some of these discussions, but the actual 1522
03:31:11.100 --> 03:31:20.299
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: resolution being adopted, that adopted and authorized and memorialized the loan was for $1.1 million with no interest. 1523
03:31:21.350 --> 03:31:27.990
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: You know, there may have been conversations before that about different amounts or interestcharges, but the actualadopter resolution 1524
03:31:28.010 --> 03:31:42.659
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: is for $1.1 million. Okay, all right. Thank you. Go ahead. So, I'd like to make a motion to adopt a resolution for giving repayment of the outstanding $1.1 million loan from the General Fund to the Wastewater Enterprise Fund. 1525
03:31:43.400 --> 03:31:47.160
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, I'll second. I saw Katsuma Ricardo leading in, but…
1526
03:31:51.410 --> 03:32:01.659
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. So moved by Vice Mayor Maurer and seconded by Councilmember Zolman to approve the resolution to forgive the wastewater loan, to the General Fund of the $1.1 million. Councilmember Carter? 1527
03:32:01.960 --> 03:32:09.820
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yes. Councilmember Hinton? Aye.

Councilmember Zolman? Yes. Vice Mayor Maurer? Yes. Mayor McLewis? Yes. Motion passes unanimously.
1528
03:32:09.820 --> 03:32:28.350
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: All right, thank you. Moving on to number 11, discussion and consideration of approval of City Response to Grand Jury Report. Our City Attorney will be doing that one as well. Yeah, good evening again, Mayor and Council Members. As the Council knows, the Sonoma County Civil Grand Jury 1529
03:32:28.350 --> 03:32:39.129
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: issued a report about, the City of Sebastopol's water and sewer systems. Deferred Action Has Consequences was the title. That came out in, late May.
1530
03:32:39.950 --> 03:32:49.330
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: issued a number of recommendations… well, findings and recommendations, and thecity, by law, is required to respond to those within 90 days.

Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
1531
03:32:49.530 --> 03:32:54.130
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And so, what is presented tonight is a draft response.
1532
03:32:54.360 --> 03:33:00.900
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: You know, I would say, you know, generally acknowledging a lot of what the…
1533
03:33:01.650 --> 03:33:14.970
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: grand jury identified as problems, and then also commenting on the steps the city has taken so far, and is continuing to evaluate about addressing some of these issues. This is a draft response of the 1534
03:33:15.030 --> 03:33:22.560
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Some of you have asked if the Council wants to change it, that's absolutely, you know, up to the Council. We can take 1535
03:33:22.720 --> 03:33:34.600
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: add or subtract language, which was just a draft to present to you that the city manager and I worked on, based on what we have received as the Council's direction in the past.
1536
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
03:33:34.790 --> 03:33:40.499
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: so, with that, I'll pause to see if there are any questions.
1537
03:33:40.890 --> 03:33:42.029
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Any questions?
1538
03:33:42.590 --> 03:33:56.440
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Go ahead. Is it necessary to say how the city agrees or disagrees? For example, thecity partially agrees with this finding, because if you're going to say that, then I want to see
1539
03:33:57.130 --> 03:34:08.179
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: where you agree, and then where you disagree, and I'm not seeing that, so I'm wondering if we could just delete all… all of those. The city partly agrees. The city,
1540
03:34:10.320 --> 03:34:14.259
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Just, you know, that's just… the city agrees, so… 1541
03:34:15.380 --> 03:34:26.180
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Can those be eliminated? So, we need to identify whether we agree with the recommendation. So, if you want to take out the… if the Council wants to take out the word partially,
1542
03:34:26.690 --> 03:34:31.589
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: That'sfine. I think the word was just meant to signify that we agree with
1543
03:34:31.770 --> 03:34:51.339
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The general comment, not every detail, maybe, you know, the $5.5 million, the city has not confirmed that. I think another one was about, like, reinstituting the EFOC. Well, it wasn't reinstituted, it was created. So we agree that, you know, the EFOC is good, and that it should…
1544
03:34:54.140 --> 03:35:08.349
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: you know, we want to strive to have a CPA on it, for example, but we just want to indicate… there are some… excuse me, we just wanted to indicate there were, you know, some minor issues, and that we didn't want to say we agreed 100%.
1545
03:35:08.560 --> 03:35:23.880
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, go ahead. And I just want to chime in that we could be a little stronger where we can, you know, and just go ahead and agree with things, but you know, I also understand the 5.5 million number is, you know.

Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
1546
03:35:24.180 --> 03:35:29.290
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Scientifically difficult to… Totally agree with. 1547
03:35:29.440 --> 03:35:36.770
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: But that said, you know, things like the EFIC, we can agree to that, right? We do it already.
1548
03:35:39.030 --> 03:35:42.650
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Did you… were you gonna respond, or… 1549
03:35:43.670 --> 03:35:46.680
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We… we were saying partially because we want to…
1550
03:35:47.150 --> 03:35:57.620
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: emphasize that this was a new committee that this council created. It wasn't something that we reinstituted. It was something that this council, identifying that there was a…
1551
03:35:57.740 --> 03:36:04.030
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: issueand some flaws goingon created to study this, in that there is an existing
1552
03:36:04.030 --> 03:36:26.150
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: preference for someone with professional background on it. So that was the only that. So you must say, like, this is… we agree, disagree, or partially agree, you have one of three choices that you can say. No, you can say, I mean, if you want to say you agree, that is completely fine. What I'm saying is, like, you have to say some… somewhat agree… We're supposed to respond… we need to respond to their…
1553
03:36:26.260 --> 03:36:31.199
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Specifically to their recommendations. So if we don't agree, or we agree fully.
1554
03:36:31.690 --> 03:36:44.480
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: that's fine, or we can have the responses we have. I just wanted, even working with the same manager, to make some distinction that there may be things in each one of these that the council didn't fully agree with. 1555
03:36:44.790 --> 03:36:53.880
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: You know, agreeing with the sentiment overall, and the desire to address this, but there may be, you know, be specific. 1556
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
03:36:54.150 --> 03:36:55.130
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Things.
1557
03:36:56.650 --> 03:36:58.760
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Go ahead. Excuse me. 1558
03:36:59.490 --> 03:37:15.730
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Oh, I'm sorry. No, that's fine,then Councilmember Hinton. Yeah, I agree with the partially agreeing with the general sentiment, but there are certain things that are in each one of their recommendations that I don't really know if we have had
1559
03:37:15.750 --> 03:37:27.109
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: full agreement on every single part, every single word that they recommended. So that's the reason why I'm keen on leaving the partially agree. So those are my thoughts. Go ahead.
1560
03:37:27.730 --> 03:37:35.039
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I agree with the leaving the partially as well. First of all, we're 5 separate people, so we have different
1561
03:37:35.360 --> 03:37:38.079
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Takes on it, and then, Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
1562
03:37:38.120 --> 03:37:56.120
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, I don't feel like we've gone through every single item, and we still have a lot of work to do. So that seems to leave it a little open for now, and we're… we're striving to address everything. So I had a… I had a question. 1563
03:37:56.710 --> 03:38:11.489
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I… in reading all of this, there's one thing that struck me, and I felt like I… I would like to see a couple sentences at the very beginning.

This sounds so echoey all the time, I don't know, it's very different tonight. I don't know if everyone can hear that, but…
1564
03:38:11.550 --> 03:38:26.220
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: There's just… anyway. So I was thinking that I personally would like to see us add just something a little bit more in the opening statement, and I think just to acknowledge,
1565
03:38:26.780 --> 03:38:33.159
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: just to acknowledge the fact that, you know, we haven't done everything correctly. I'll just read it to you all, and you all can tell me what you think.
1566
03:38:33.340 --> 03:38:53.200
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I would like to see something along the lines of, I wrote, it would be between the first…right after the first sentences that says, City of Sebastopol appreciates the time, blah blah blah. Right after that, I personally would like to see… the City acknowledges that in the past, we fell short in our communications and clear, transparent report.
1567
03:38:53.200 --> 03:38:56.950
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Reporting regarding the Water and Wastewater Enterprise Funds.
1568
03:38:56.950 --> 03:39:14.659
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: You know, we sincerely apologize for the shortcoming and are committed to significantly improving transparency moving forward, including through the work of the Enterprise Fund Oversight Committee and more open, regular reporting to the community. And the reason I wanted to add something like that is just because
1569
03:39:14.780 --> 03:39:33.909
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: it shows that we're reflective. You know, this is not necessarily something that we all were part of when it happened, but just to show that we werereflectiveand,youknow,and genuinelyapologeticforany…anything.And I did run this through our city attorney, so I don't know if, Alex, if you want to comment on the 1570
03:39:34.320 --> 03:39:41.499
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: No, that… with that. I would just say we haven't taken public comment yet, and it sounds like we're getting towards… Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
1571
03:39:41.810 --> 03:39:56.279
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I just wanted to bring that up and say, you know, just put it out there. The question was whether or not people would be amenable to us making some changes to that part of it. So, you know, that's a question I have. Certainly we can comment later, but…
1572
03:39:56.730 --> 03:40:00.530
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, but I… I think it's important for people to know whether or not it's…
1573
03:40:00.920 --> 03:40:09.870
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: you know, been vetted, so… Anyway, those… those are my questions for you all to ponder as we move forward with this. Does anyone else have questions?
1574
03:40:12.920 --> 03:40:13.929
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Sorry, go ahead.
1575
03:40:15.130 --> 03:40:21.260
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Go ahead. It's… let's see, on Recommendation R2,
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
1576
03:40:21.630 --> 03:40:35.509
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: It makes a statement. The recommendation… I think you need to turn your mic on. My mic is on. Oh, is it? Yeah. Can you hear me? There, you can. It's, Recommendation R2.
1577
03:40:35.760 --> 03:40:37.879
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And it says,
1578
03:40:38.520 --> 03:40:47.240
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: this recommendation requires further study and analysis, and I think if this, board, this council.
1579
03:40:47.910 --> 03:41:01.229
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I think that that's something that we should discuss and agree on, whether or not we're going to do further study and analysis, because if this council doesn't want to do further study and analysis, then we shouldn't say we're going to do it.
1580
03:41:01.420 --> 03:41:09.770
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Otherwise, it sounds like we've got a plan to… Study and analyze
1581
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
03:41:09.920 --> 03:41:20.520
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And what I'm talking about here is Recommendation R2, which is they're asking us to reach an agreement on the dollar value of misallocated funds.
1582
03:41:20.570 --> 03:41:32.479
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Misallocated indirect costs, and a commitment to repayment schedule. And so, the response is, the recommendation requires further study and analysis.
1583
03:41:32.910 --> 03:41:35.710
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, I'm on, recommendation R2. 1584
03:41:37.510 --> 03:41:42.230
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I think that needs to be clearly addressed by this Council.
1585
03:41:42.410 --> 03:41:46.840
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Should… should we be doing that during this part of our questions, or…
1586
03:41:47.240 --> 03:41:50.430
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, this… Me.

Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
1587
03:41:53.400 --> 03:41:57.310
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We need to take public comment at some point. 1588
03:41:58.380 --> 03:42:01.180
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: No, that's okay.
1589
03:42:10.470 --> 03:42:11.930
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, thank you.
1590
03:42:12.960 --> 03:42:23.449
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Do you hear it? It's just that there's an echo constantly. Does anyone else have questions? I know it's getting late. Okay, so do we want to go to public comment?
1591
03:42:24.620 --> 03:42:32.129
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Mayor. So this is for public comment on the grand jury response. If you'd like to make a public comment, we come to chambers first, andthen go out into Zoom.
1592
03:42:32.290 --> 03:42:33.849
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: There's anyone in chambers? 1593
03:42:34.840 --> 03:42:35.700
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Kate?
1594
03:42:41.990 --> 03:42:55.419
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The grand jury report is an accounting document.

The city's reply has zero accounting in it. Where did all the money go? We don't know, because the city has not identified it.
1595
03:42:55.440 --> 03:43:03.620
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The grand jury report is also asking for documentation. The city has provided zero documentation. 1596
03:43:04.160 --> 03:43:13.859
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The EFOC, on the other hand, has rigorous analysis using city budgets that shows where misappropriated funds are. 1597
03:43:13.860 --> 03:43:32.390
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The city's response does not address the main concerns of the grand jury report, which is failing infrastructure. The city needs to reply with accounting from their budgets. Can we pause for a second? I'm getting emails saying that the Zoom is frozen.

Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
1598
03:43:35.490 --> 03:43:37.220
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Well, we need to address that. 1599
03:43:37.890 --> 03:43:42.640
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We have… you have to let us know that immediately, and we have to address it, because it impacts 1600
03:43:49.410 --> 03:43:56.810
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: camera connection, the laptop, and it's misbehaving. I've documented multiple times, but that hasn't been… 1601
03:43:57.590 --> 03:44:07.459
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: any actual budget upgrade for the equipment, so I can't… I can only work with that. It's failing, I can try to relieve food. 1602
03:44:07.510 --> 03:44:22.980
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: the Zoom, screen, so it might take a couple minutes, and as I was just on the phone with Steven, not actually doing the Zoom automation right now, so that I… I'm being told they can hear us, but they can't see anything.
1603
Agenda Item Number: 1
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Agenda Item Number: 1
03:44:24.860 --> 03:44:29.590
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'm okay with continuing just with audio. That's why I'm asking, Mary.
1604
03:44:32.050 --> 03:44:41.000
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: To hear us? As long as they can… as long as they can hear us, can we just get confirmation?I'm going to unmute, kyle, I'm going to unmute you for a second. Can you hear us okay?
1605
03:44:41.390 --> 03:44:45.299
Kyle Falbo: I can hear you guys okay, the Vimeo feed still has video. 1606
03:44:45.300 --> 03:44:46.119
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: That's okay?
1607
03:44:46.120 --> 03:44:48.349
Kyle Falbo: Yes, I can hear you okay. Can you hear me okay? 1608
03:44:48.350 --> 03:44:51.360
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: try, Mary. I think Mary was still in there. 1609
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
03:44:52.490 --> 03:44:53.780
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Oh, it's Jim…
1610
03:44:54.630 --> 03:44:59.439
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Jim, can you unmute, and then can you let me know if you can hear us okay?
1611
03:45:04.030 --> 03:45:04.730
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Egan?
1612
03:45:04.900 --> 03:45:07.110
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Even He can still be alive. 1613
03:45:09.620 --> 03:45:16.149
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We're trying to… Jim, can you unmute yourself, please?
1614
03:45:21.320 --> 03:45:22.820
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Oh, there you go. 1615
03:45:29.360 --> 03:45:37.440
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I just responded to a few of these things, asking if they can hear. I'm not sure. Jim, I've unmuted you. Can you hear us okay? 1616
03:45:38.580 --> 03:45:39.450
Jim's iPad: Yes.
1617
03:45:39.450 --> 03:45:42.319
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Great,thank you, I appreciateyou confirmingthat. 1618
03:45:43.560 --> 03:45:50.110
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, so if we're good with that, and we can move on legally, then… Sorry to interrupt you.
1619
03:45:50.770 --> 03:46:05.760
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The EFOC has made several clear recommendations which resolves the $5.5 million debt to the enterprise funds. For those who have you not read the grand jury report, page 17 reads. 1620
03:46:06.160 --> 03:46:12.750
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Pleasant Hill Loop. This is a critical safety element lacking in the water system.

Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
1621
03:46:12.910 --> 03:46:28.580
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Redundancy is common to any well-engineered system, particularly for health or safety-relatedsystems. In good practice, fire, potable water system mainlines are loops so that an individual break or leak 1622
03:46:28.580 --> 03:46:39.949
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: can be isolated, and water is still available to users, fire hydrants, etc. Currently, there is a sectionof the water system that is not looped. 1623
03:46:39.950 --> 03:46:53.590
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And a rupture in this line, be it a leak or a rupture caused by a seismic event, could leave more than halfthe city without pressure to fight a fire for as long as it takes
1624
03:46:53.700 --> 03:47:12.970
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: to repair the rupture. This could be catastrophic.

For example, although the city's 2005 Master Water Plan recommended the Pleasant Hill Looping Project be completed, the city has yet to fund and complete the project. 1625
03:47:12.970 --> 03:47:22.450
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: That is in the grand jury report. That is not addressed by your reply. Thank you. Thank you for your public comment. I will go out to Zoom.

Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
1626
03:47:24.290 --> 03:47:26.419
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Kyle, can you unmute yourself, please? 1627
03:47:26.420 --> 03:47:27.429
Kyle Falbo: Yes, I can.
1628
03:47:28.970 --> 03:47:30.490
Kyle Falbo: Are you able to hear me?
1629
03:47:33.690 --> 03:47:35.059
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Kyle, can you hear us okay? 1630
03:47:35.060 --> 03:47:37.110
Kyle Falbo: I can hear you, can you hear me?
1631
03:47:38.730 --> 03:47:40.380
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'm gonna try someone else. 1632
03:47:41.260 --> 03:47:43.260
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Mary, can you mute yourself, please? 1633
03:47:45.670 --> 03:47:47.879
Mary Meihaus: Hey, real quick.
1634
03:47:47.880 --> 03:47:53.199
City Council: This is Steven. I can hear Kyle on my end. I'm not sure why you wouldn't be able to hear him on your end.
1635
03:47:53.200 --> 03:47:58.750
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, we're not hearing them on in here. So, I have Mary right now. So, Mary, can you see the 2-minute timer? 1636
03:47:59.100 --> 03:48:02.650
Mary Meihaus: I do… I do see the 2-minute timer. Can you hear me? 1637
03:48:02.650 --> 03:48:05.810
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, I… we can hearyou fine. Go ahead with your public comment, please.
1638
03:48:05.810 --> 03:48:12.899
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
Mary Meihaus: Great, okay, thank you. Yes, again, my name is Mary Meihaus. I am part of the EFOC committee. I…
1639
03:48:13.830 --> 03:48:19.249
Mary Meihaus: I could not be more opposed to this draft report. 1640
03:48:21.320 --> 03:48:23.109
Mary Meihaus: I think… well…
1641
03:48:23.170 --> 03:48:42.989
Mary Meihaus: clearly, we do still need to spend more time, and I think more time needs to be given withthe CityCouncil members to reflect on what, is being drafted. But, not only was Kate's comment about, the infrastructure not addressed in the draft report, but also. 1642
03:48:42.990 --> 03:49:01.389
Mary Meihaus: the 12 recommendations that the EFOC committee has presented to the Council to help and assist, free of charge, was not, reflective inthe draft report, which is, disappointing, to say the least. And then the biggest thing is that, I mean. 1643
03:49:01.730 --> 03:49:03.610
Mary Meihaus: It…
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
1644
03:49:04.070 --> 03:49:15.299
Mary Meihaus: doesn't address… well, or, sorry, the rate freeze in the draft report, you're recommending a rate freeze, which we have learned that could 1645
03:49:15.410 --> 03:49:27.250
Mary Meihaus: snowball other things within the infrastructure, including Welf 4, that will not promote building, or…
1646
03:49:27.650 --> 03:49:38.970
Mary Meihaus: having that be fixed or redone. So, the rate freeze, that is the number one thing that I could not be more opposed to in the draft report. And… 1647
03:49:39.080 --> 03:49:52.620
Mary Meihaus: we just want to be clear that these are, like, critical water infrastructure upgrades that need to be completed. They're not optional, and again, yeah, if they fail, then that's catastrophic, for the city.
1648
03:49:53.030 --> 03:50:11.000
Mary Meihaus: just speaking about this right after approval to move forward with the hotel, we have all of these grand ideas for Sebastopol, and we believe in Sebastopol, and we want that for Sebastopol, but we want to make sure that our fundamental infrastructure is 1649
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
03:50:11.330 --> 03:50:21.930
Mary Meihaus: satisfied, and that… that is healthy, so that we can uplift the city in other ways. And so that's what the EFAQ committee is trying to do, at the very least. 1650
03:50:21.930 --> 03:50:23.180
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Mary, that's 2 minutes. 1651
03:50:23.350 --> 03:50:25.180
Mary Meihaus: Sorry! Okay, thank you so much!
1652
03:50:25.180 --> 03:50:27.200
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: That's okay, thank you for your public comment. 1653
03:50:27.200 --> 03:50:28.420
Mary Meihaus: Bye.
1654
03:50:28.710 --> 03:50:37.009
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Kyle will come back into chambers if there's anyone in chambers that would like to make a public comment. Seeing none, I will go back out to Zoom. Kyle, can you mute yourself, please?
1655
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
03:50:37.010 --> 03:50:38.429
Kyle Falbo: I can unmute myself.
1656
03:50:39.240 --> 03:50:42.719
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Can you… Can you hear us okay? 1657
03:50:42.720 --> 03:50:44.049
Kyle Falbo: I can hear you fine.
1658
03:50:44.050 --> 03:50:45.270
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I am not hearing anything. 1659
03:50:45.270 --> 03:50:46.160
Kyle Falbo: You're not hearing…
1660
03:50:46.160 --> 03:50:46.619
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: the room.
1661
03:50:46.620 --> 03:50:48.409
Kyle Falbo: But people on Zoom hear me.

Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
1662
03:50:50.440 --> 03:50:52.079
Kyle Falbo: So, I'm not sure why…
1663
03:50:52.080 --> 03:50:55.489
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So I'm gonna go to Lee. Lee, can you mute yourself, please?
1664
03:50:56.400 --> 03:50:59.079
Lee:Yeah,yeah,Ican hearKylefine.
1665
03:51:00.260 --> 03:51:06.229
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We are not hearing him in this… in the chambers, but, if you can see the timer, please go ahead through your public comment. 1666
03:51:06.860 --> 03:51:10.670
Lee: Okay. The…
1667
03:51:11.240 --> 03:51:20.990
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
Lee: The grand jury report says Dispatchable's water and wastewater systems suffer from years of underfunding that have resulted in deferred maintenance and neglected upgrades.

The response…
1668
03:51:21.780 --> 03:51:35.070
Lee: that's just drafted now, if I was the judge reading it, I would say, gee, everything looks great there in Sebastopol, it sounds like they're on top of things. What the judge doesn't know is, two weeks ago, you guys voted to freeze rates
1669
03:51:35.200 --> 03:51:45.579
Lee: At a level below that which would be necessary to cover operating costs, let alone pay for any infrastructure changes.
1670
03:51:45.810 --> 03:51:58.109
Lee: and you freeze the rate increases, which you could have left in place, which would at least add a little bit of padding going forward. So at this point, even though you may be thinking, gee whiz, why is Kate saying.
1671
03:51:58.250 --> 03:52:07.240
Lee: you know, we're not doing these infrastructure things. They're all in the plan. Well, they're not actually funded, again, and that's exactly what happened 1672
03:52:07.510 --> 03:52:14.560
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
Lee: In the last 20 years. City Council makes a plan, then they go and change the rates arbitrarily,theydon'thavea financial
1673
03:52:14.740 --> 03:52:31.090
Lee: basis for those changes, and at the end of the day, they don't do any of the infrastructure changes. And you all are on that path now. And, you know, I think it's going to be aware… the judge is going to be aware of this through articles. I'm sure Laura will write on this, Press Democrat may write on this.
1674
03:52:31.350 --> 03:52:41.360
Lee: And I don't know how he's gonna respond to something that sounds like everything is great and rosy, and in reality, you kind of have a real mess right now. So, that's my comment, thank you.
1675
03:52:42.860 --> 03:52:48.810
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.
1676
03:52:49.940 --> 03:52:53.000
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, I will go back out to… Mary. 1677
03:52:53.100 --> 03:53:05.779
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Oh, sorry, I'm focused over here. Sorry. Go ahead, Oliver. I'm on the Enterprise Oversight Committee as well. It's 2026, 1678
03:53:06.610 --> 03:53:22.069
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: A lot of terrible things have happened in this city. I moved here in 2014, I guess, and I watched the council do some seriously loopy things, and also the previous city manager slash attorney,
1679
03:53:22.530 --> 03:53:29.389
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: speaking personally, I'm just glad we're actually here, actually got all of this dirty laundry out, and we're actually discussing it, because 1680
03:53:29.560 --> 03:53:44.730
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: that's a step forward, just like the hotel thing, which is difficult as well as a step forward, but I'm just kind of gladwe're actually at this point, frankly. I'm on the Enterprise Oversight Committee, but I've really focused on infrastructure, so I know…
1681
03:53:44.730 --> 03:53:51.299
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Probably more than the guys that were doing the financial side about that. It's not good, but it's not terrible, to be frank. 1682
03:53:51.400 --> 03:54:04.589
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: It definitely needs fixing. The city has very little money, so we've got to dig our way out of this problem. And, I mean, the one thing I'd say, being onthat committee, is we've got to find away that we 1683
03:54:04.590 --> 03:54:17.629
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We're going to have 3 new councillors this fall.

We've got to find a waynot to have crazy people come in and do reallydumb stuff, basically. Giving away money and ignoring the fundamentals of the city, the police. 1684
03:54:17.630 --> 03:54:27.949
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The infrastructure, we've got to find some way of kind of reining in the crazier people. I think that's my fundamental take from where we are today. Thank you.
1685
03:54:29.680 --> 03:54:35.189
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment, and I'm sorry.

Kyle, can you mute yourself? We're gonna try this again. 1686
03:54:35.650 --> 03:54:37.090
Kyle Falbo: I can unmute myself.
1687
03:54:37.390 --> 03:54:38.570
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Can you hear us?
Agenda Item Number: 1
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Agenda Item Number: 1
1688
03:54:38.570 --> 03:54:39.849
Kyle Falbo: I can hear you.
1689
03:54:41.340 --> 03:54:43.629
Kyle Falbo: And everyone on Zoom can hear me.
1690
03:54:44.100 --> 03:54:48.730
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Steven, I'm not sure why we're not hearing Kyle in the chambers if you're hearing him on Zoom.
1691
03:54:49.320 --> 03:54:51.329
City Council: Yeah, I still hear him on the Zoom.
1692
03:54:52.560 --> 03:54:55.569
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, we are not getting him on… in the chamber. 1693
03:54:56.210 --> 03:54:56.880
Kyle Falbo: Yeah.

Agenda Item Number: 1
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Agenda Item Number: 1
1694
03:54:56.880 --> 03:54:57.889
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Is there a way for them? 1695
03:54:57.890 --> 03:55:00.560
Kyle Falbo: So this is… this is a good reason why we should… 1696
03:55:00.560 --> 03:55:02.110
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: on the phone, or… I don't know. 1697
03:55:02.110 --> 03:55:05.000
Kyle Falbo: explore… Our IT contract.
1698
03:55:05.000 --> 03:55:13.440
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Let me go to George, and then I'll come back, I'll talk to IT while we're having a comment. Is it coming in on your Zoom, and you could mic it? It's not coming on mine at all.
1699
03:55:20.230 --> 03:55:25.919
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: wait, like, 3 or 4 minutes for the Zoom, then that'll interrupt the feed that is going on, right?
Agenda Item Number: 1
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Agenda Item Number: 1
1700
03:55:26.360 --> 03:55:30.979
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So that's all I can… that's what I can do. I did that last meeting, this happened at the Planning Commission meeting. 1701
03:55:31.480 --> 03:55:34.450
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: It's happened in the past, I've been documented for several months.
1702
03:55:39.530 --> 03:55:44.380
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Let me try another public comment, and then let me see if we can figureout how to get Kyle on.Okay.
1703
03:55:44.580 --> 03:55:46.570
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Dora, can you unmute yourself, please? 1704
03:55:48.670 --> 03:55:49.170
Georges: Hello?
1705
03:55:49.170 --> 03:55:50.629
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Can you hear us okay? Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
1706
03:55:50.630 --> 03:55:52.260
Georges: Hi, Ken, can you hear me?
1707
03:55:53.660 --> 03:55:57.480
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: No, Steve, we're not getting two members of the public coming in on
1708
03:55:57.930 --> 03:56:01.159
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We're not getting any audio in the chambers. 1709
03:56:03.740 --> 03:56:07.820
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Can we take a 5-minute break, so we can figure this out? Sure, go ahead.
1710
03:56:33.710 --> 03:56:34.420
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'm not kidding.
1711
03:56:41.650 --> 03:56:42.459
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: It's figure out, though. 1712
Agenda Item Number: 1
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Agenda Item Number: 1
03:56:43.400 --> 03:56:44.320
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: For people.
1713
03:56:46.810 --> 03:56:47.520
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: vote.
1714
03:58:56.940 --> 03:59:01.790
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Once those do that, you know, Okay, work. 1715
03:59:02.180 --> 03:59:03.020
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Mr.
1716
03:59:03.740 --> 03:59:04.739
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: It's not just a little bit. 1717
03:59:11.740 --> 03:59:21.529
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, I'm gonna… Wait, wait. 1718
03:59:21.950 --> 03:59:22.450
17074969452: Well, I.

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Agenda Item Number: 1
1719
03:59:22.450 --> 03:59:23.799
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Kyle, is that you on the phone? 1720
03:59:23.800 --> 03:59:25.850
17074969452: Yes.
1721
03:59:25.850 --> 03:59:30.619
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, can you… we can hear you, but can you hold on to us for a second? We haven't restarted the meeting yet. 1722
03:59:31.240 --> 03:59:32.700
17074969452: Absolutely.
1723
03:59:45.790 --> 03:59:47.930
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, we're live again. 1724
03:59:49.480 --> 03:59:50.140
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Beautiful.

Agenda Item Number: 1
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Agenda Item Number: 1
1725
03:59:56.720 --> 03:59:58.550
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: All right, okay.
1726
03:59:58.990 --> 04:00:04.879
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So we, Kyle is calling in on the phone, we are able to hear him. Kyle, can you hear us okay?
1727
04:00:05.550 --> 04:00:06.870
17074969452: I can hear you okay.
1728
04:00:06.870 --> 04:00:11.780
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. So I'm assuming you can't see the timer. I'll jump in when you have about 20 seconds left. 1729
04:00:12.960 --> 04:00:13.620
17074969452: Okay.
1730
04:00:14.520 --> 04:00:21.760
17074969452: So… what I want to just emphasize here is about… 1731
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Agenda Item Number: 1
04:00:22.190 --> 04:00:24.540
17074969452: Trying to work forward in good faith.
1732
04:00:25.870 --> 04:00:28.660
17074969452: The draft does not hit that mark.
1733
04:00:29.450 --> 04:00:33.379
17074969452: The mayor's suggestion about trying to, kind of. 1734
04:00:33.550 --> 04:00:36.770
17074969452: Take responsibility for lack of reporting. 1735
04:00:37.030 --> 04:00:38.670
17074969452: Doesn't hit that mark.
1736
04:00:39.310 --> 04:00:42.059
17074969452: There was misallocation of funds.
1737
04:00:43.360 --> 04:00:44.629
17074969452: Name that.

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Agenda Item Number: 1
1738
04:00:45.870 --> 04:00:56.010
17074969452: The part of the problem and the frustration that I've experienced with this whole thing has been the deliberate delaying of getting to where we're at today. 1739
04:00:56.490 --> 04:01:02.019
17074969452: And it's not surprising to me that it got to a point where I went to a grand jury, and they had to produce a report.
1740
04:01:02.850 --> 04:01:06.480
17074969452:Thiswasidentified a numberof yearsago. 1741
04:01:06.780 --> 04:01:12.189
17074969452: And under the previous, previous city manager, it was… 1742
04:01:12.480 --> 04:01:16.759
17074969452: Deliberately stalled out 6 months into the future. 1743
04:01:17.880 --> 04:01:30.830
17074969452: That process of stalling out misallocation of funds out into the future to where we're at today, to continue to hear that same kind of tone of pushing out Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
1744
04:01:31.040 --> 04:01:34.270
17074969452: Well, we'll explore time tracking.
1745
04:01:34.970 --> 04:01:36.999
17074969452: Commit to time tracking.
1746
04:01:37.110 --> 04:01:42.920
17074969452: You know the technology's there, you know it's standard business practice, Commit to it.
1747
04:01:43.470 --> 04:02:01.600
17074969452: Commit to taking action. Don't commit to exploring taking action, because you have committed to exploring for years, and this, tonight, is the result of your pushing things out into the future.
1748
04:02:02.450 --> 04:02:08.669
17074969452: Identify what was wrong, Commitment of agreeing that those things were wrong.
1749
04:02:09.100 --> 04:02:12.019
Agenda Item Number: 1
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Agenda Item Number: 1
17074969452: And right the past.
1750
04:02:12.180 --> 04:02:18.319
17074969452: Do not keep on leveraging on what you've done today. Write the past. 1751
04:02:19.790 --> 04:02:24.050
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Kyle, for your public comment. Next, I will come back into chambers.
1752
04:02:24.690 --> 04:02:28.740
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, I will go back out to Zoom. George, can you unmute yourself, please?
1753
04:02:29.790 --> 04:02:31.360
Georges: Am I unmuted now?
1754
04:02:31.360 --> 04:02:34.499
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: You are. We can hear you. Can you see the timer? 1755
04:02:34.660 --> 04:02:37.910
Georges: I… I can, but it probably doesn't matter.

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City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
1756
04:02:37.910 --> 04:02:39.210
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, go ahead, please. 1757
04:02:39.400 --> 04:02:51.129
Georges: I just wanted to say that given the absence of reliable time tracking data from the past, your October 1st agreement on the dollar value of misallocated indirect costs 1758
04:02:51.330 --> 04:02:55.669
Georges: should be based on the findings of our Enterprise FundCommittee. 1759
04:02:55.970 --> 04:02:59.259
Georges: In other words, 5.5 large.
1760
04:02:59.710 --> 04:03:04.790
Georges: You know, the top priority should be Pump 4 and the Pleasant Hill Loop. 1761
04:03:04.910 --> 04:03:16.099
Georges: And I think this is a higher priority. You know, you might consider, well, we've got to give up a little bit from the general fund to pay back the enterprise fund.

Agenda Item Number: 1
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Agenda Item Number: 1
1762
04:03:16.240 --> 04:03:28.729
Georges: But maybe it would be worth considering giving up on Sebastopol Commons, or replacing, you know, repairing mold in the library, or any of that nonsense. 1763
04:03:28.900 --> 04:03:46.840
Georges: to fix the water system, because as acity council, that is your primary responsibility, or certainly one of your primary responsibilities. And, I think it's time that you face themusic, and face the band, and fix it.
1764
04:03:47.160 --> 04:03:49.400
Georges: That's all I've got to say. Thank you.
1765
04:03:50.090 --> 04:03:54.089
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment. Again, next I will come back into chambers.
1766
04:03:54.330 --> 04:03:59.689
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, please raise your hand. 1767
04:04:00.550 --> 04:04:03.089
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, public comment is closed on this item.
1768
04:04:03.270 --> 04:04:06.400
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Alright, thank you, we're back here at the dais for comments.
1769
04:04:07.480 --> 04:04:09.100
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Anyone has any?
1770
04:04:09.710 --> 04:04:10.650
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Go ahead.
1771
04:04:11.930 --> 04:04:25.340
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I just want to make some kind of distinctions between, you know, this remark for this reply back to the grand jury versus what this city is committing to.
1772
04:04:25.550 --> 04:04:41.820
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: to get, the wealth for and everything into a good place. You know, when I talk, you know, when I see the reports about the infrastructure projects that we have ahead, it's a lot of money, and we do have to Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
1773
04:04:42.350 --> 04:04:47.460
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: fund it somehow. And this does… this… this, 1774
04:04:48.340 --> 04:04:51.020
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Report doesn't say, hey, we're gonna… 1775
04:04:51.140 --> 04:05:10.100
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: we're gonna do this to this exact level, because I'm not really sure we can put that number onto a report that we whip out in 90 days. But I think the city can, you know, come right and get the money in and repair the infrastructures that we need to. So, as just…
1776
04:05:10.660 --> 04:05:21.120
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: as just a general thing, I'm gonna separate this report from what the city's gonna commit to, or what I'm gonna, you know, you know, make the effort for, so that the city can…
1777
04:05:21.660 --> 04:05:32.400
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: regain its infrastructure strength. So, I do understand the posturing and the, the gray line that this 1778
04:05:32.540 --> 04:05:37.949
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: response walks, and I think it's, you know, prudent 1779
04:05:38.320 --> 04:05:41.899
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: At the… at this moment, 1780
04:05:43.620 --> 04:05:49.820
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: It's a… it's a… it's a good response, but, I definitely think the city can,
1781
04:05:49.960 --> 04:05:53.540
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Do more work that isn't exactly in this statement. 1782
04:05:54.520 --> 04:06:12.540
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, Councilmember Zolman? I want to do a time check, so how critical is this? Do we have to wrap this up in 15 minutes, or are we going to get in trouble, Alex, by way of… We have… we have 90 days to respond. That would be mid-August, so it is not necessary to approve it,
1783
04:06:13.170 --> 04:06:19.220
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Today. Okay, just want to put that out there. I'm actually fine with what staff has come up with.
Agenda Item Number: 1
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Agenda Item Number: 1
1784
04:06:19.410 --> 04:06:33.490
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: If the comments here are brief, it's because this is not our first, at least not my first timeat the rodeo with this. We have spent a lot oftime on this, and a lot of time at Closed Session, so I am fine withthe wordingthat staff has put forth.
1785
04:06:35.510 --> 04:06:37.510
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Go ahead, Vice Mayor. 1786
04:06:38.770 --> 04:06:49.099
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So I was at… I was at the, I think it was a combined budget and EFOC meeting, where we had the water master plan presented. 1787
04:06:49.120 --> 04:06:59.249
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And my recollection is, yes, we do have a lot of projects that need to be done, but he said that our water system was in pretty decent health.
1788
04:06:59.450 --> 04:07:16.189
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, it wasn't as bad, and I don't think we need to comment on this in this letter, but it wasn't as bad as the grand jury had portrayed it. And the other thing, it said that something about, how the rates… Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
1789
04:07:16.590 --> 04:07:22.110
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Sorry, I'm not sure where that was, but… Part of why
1790
04:07:22.350 --> 04:07:36.179
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: the loan happened was because the previous council had intentionally wanted to draw down the reserves, so they kept the rates low to draw down the reserves. And that was part of the reason. 1791
04:07:36.430 --> 04:07:41.320
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: For the, the… The need for the loan. 1792
04:07:41.820 --> 04:07:44.410
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Part, not the whole thing. 1793
04:07:44.620 --> 04:07:50.430
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, I want to go back to the recommendation R2, because I think it's really important
1794
04:07:50.690 --> 04:07:58.260
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Agenda Item Number: 1
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: What the response says, very clearly, is the recommendation requires further study and analysis.
1795
04:07:58.580 --> 04:08:11.840
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I'm okay with that, if we really do intend to do further study and analysis, but if this council does not agree to do further study and analysis, then we shouldn't be saying that's what we're going to do. 1796
04:08:14.780 --> 04:08:24.980
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Good. You know, I'm just… do we have to decide that tonight? I mean, can't we have that as an intent, or, like, how much of a hanger is that? 1797
04:08:26.750 --> 04:08:44.390
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Like, do we… are we trying to decide tonight whether we have that? That would be a question for our attorney. It's up to you whether you want to, what you want to put in the response. I think the Vice Mayor's indicating she doesn't want to put this in there unless that's a commitment from the Council. It's up to the…
1798
04:08:44.900 --> 04:08:45.970
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Council.
1799
04:08:46.320 --> 04:09:02.319
Agenda Item Number: 1
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Agenda Item Number: 1
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Well, and I personally would, you know, there's an item that I'd like to suggest that we bring back as part of all of this, so I don't know when is, you know, when is appropriate to bring that up about the… about the $350K attorney fees and… and seeking
1800
04:09:02.320 --> 04:09:06.440
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So when would be appropriate? Yeah. Because I know I mentioned it to you. We could,
1801
04:09:06.440 --> 04:09:09.940
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The Council can direct anything as a future agenda item.
1802
04:09:11.100 --> 04:09:20.240
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: tonight, the report is just responding to this very specific recommendations and findings. Sothere is a lot ofdiscussion in the 1803
04:09:20.840 --> 04:09:24.610
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: report about… Infrastructure. 1804
04:09:24.930 --> 04:09:32.769
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: It's not really in the recommendations and findings, except to saythat thefact that we didn't account fordrought savings Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
1805
04:09:33.280 --> 04:09:37.230
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: created a need for higher rate increases and that.

But so…
1806
04:09:37.460 --> 04:09:40.379
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Nothing about this report precludes you from 1807
04:09:40.530 --> 04:09:46.590
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: addressing any of the EFOC committee recommendations in the future, or,
1808
04:09:47.140 --> 04:10:05.909
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Any other things you see in the grand jury that you want to address? This is really, as you know, the Council's been taking a lot of steps, and this is a step that has a deadline, so we, you know, came forward with this item so you could approve it, but a deadline doesn't prevent you from doing further steps in the future. 1809
04:10:06.480 --> 04:10:13.250
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I only brought that up just because, as Vice Mayor Maurer's saying, you know, if we're going to say we're going to continue to assess 1810
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Agenda Item Number: 1
04:10:13.890 --> 04:10:24.369
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: you know, then it's okay to have that in there. So for me personally, I want to do that, but I can only speak for me, so… and I don't… I have some more to say, but go ahead, Councilmember Hinton.
1811
04:10:25.380 --> 04:10:33.360
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Well, I know we were all in closed session, but this letter, as pointed out by another member, was…
1812
04:10:33.600 --> 04:10:49.350
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: we discussed in Closed session a lot of these items, and so this didn't appear in the letter by accident. I also feel like this is just a timeline that we need to respond, but we haven't been able to dig in 1813
04:10:49.350 --> 04:10:59.139
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Unlike the water and sewer, which that's their primary focus as a city council member, we have a lot of focuses going, so I… I… 1814
04:10:59.140 --> 04:11:15.260
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: feel that that's accurate, that the recommendation requires further study and analysis, and that we'll be doing that. But I just don't think we can meet the deadline and have all the answers, and I don't want to commit as if I have all the answers, at this stage.
1815
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04:11:16.050 --> 04:11:17.340
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: In the process.
1816
04:11:18.470 --> 04:11:20.350
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Got it. So, so…
1817
04:11:20.430 --> 04:11:39.770
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, go ahead. Yeah, the recommendation says that we are going to reach an agreement on the dollar value of misallocated indirect costs and commit to a repayment schedule. And the response is, this requires further study and analysis. So, I'm okay with that if this council's really going to do that. 1818
04:11:40.780 --> 04:11:43.830
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And so, that's what I'm… Let's really do it. 1819
04:11:44.180 --> 04:11:45.269
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Then we'll do it. 1820
04:11:45.770 --> 04:11:52.029
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So we're gonna look back and see what do we think we owe, because that's what it says.

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Agenda Item Number: 1
1821
04:11:52.150 --> 04:12:03.959
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And if that's what… if that… I just want to have clarity about what we're saying. Shall I set that as an agenda item? Well, I was going to say, I already committed to wanting to bring back about the attorney, you know, all these different…
1822
04:12:03.960 --> 04:12:16.730
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: fees and stuff, so personally, I'm sayingyes, I have an item I'd like to bring back regarding that, so… and that could be a piece of many puzzles, so I think we're all saying the same thing, it sounds like to me. Like, we're going to continue to assess
1823
04:12:16.730 --> 04:12:18.940
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And… and bring things back, so… 1824
04:12:19.200 --> 04:12:22.190
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'm… I'm okay with that wording, but… 1825
04:12:26.940 --> 04:12:38.450
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay. I feel like this says this requires further study and analysis. I don't… I haven't studied it, and it will… we will study it and decide what other steps we're going to do.

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Agenda Item Number: 1
1826
04:12:38.540 --> 04:12:50.740
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, when I read that, in my mind, what I think is that we're going to go back in time and determine what the dollar value is, because that's exactly what they're saying.
1827
04:12:50.740 --> 04:13:03.070
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So if we're saying we're going to study this, then we're going to have to put that on the agenda to determine what the dollar value was, and what a repayment schedule is to restore the funds, because that's exactly what they're saying.
1828
04:13:03.140 --> 04:13:18.409
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I disagree that we're gonna have to put a number on it. Like, I think if you're concerned that, you know, we have to come back and put an exact number, and we have to… because going back more than 3 years is kind of really difficult and very expensive.
1829
04:13:18.490 --> 04:13:36.729
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We can study it and come up with an abstract number, but… but I think if you're looking for a real number to avoid, like, you know, having to study it, we can still go back and study it and come up with a, you know, way to repay. 1830
04:13:36.850 --> 04:13:40.400
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Can we ask our attorney? Do you have any comments on this?
1831
04:13:42.920 --> 04:13:50.349
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: you know, I think that you have indicated, all of you, that you want to continue taking steps, to…
1832
04:13:50.560 --> 04:13:54.979
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: To determine different things that need to be reallocated.
1833
04:13:57.270 --> 04:14:05.009
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I think Councilmember, excuse me, Vice Mayor Maurer is indicating, she thinks this… she sees this number and thinks that 1834
04:14:05.640 --> 04:14:16.449
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: perhaps before that is done, I'm not sure that there's going to be a number agreed to, rather than addressing things one at a time of the attorney's fees or other
1835
04:14:18.450 --> 04:14:24.930
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: It's really, I mean, it's up to the Council whether you think this language is adequate or not.

Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
1836
04:14:26.370 --> 04:14:35.930
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, and I mean, and I still have that question about adding that… those couple sentences. I didn't… if… I'm assuming, since no one said anything, I don't have any… any…
1837
04:14:36.300 --> 04:14:44.680
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: consensus with that as well. I just feel like we could be more reflective. I just think it just shows a little more reflection than just… 1838
04:14:45.020 --> 04:14:58.379
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: what we have in there. I realize it may not move the needle, it doesn't change, you know, the outcomes, but at least it shows that we've been reflective, in my opinion. But go ahead, Vice Mayor. Well, there's just twoapproaches.

One is to say.
1839
04:14:58.470 --> 04:15:06.719
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We don't agree with the cost allocation the way they've done it, $5.5 million. We don't agree, and here's why. 1840
04:15:06.890 --> 04:15:13.740
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And, or, we're gonna make some changes, and then move on.

Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
1841
04:15:14.150 --> 04:15:21.820
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Or, we're gonna go back and study it and determine the amount that was misallocated and come up with a repayment plan. 1842
04:15:22.310 --> 04:15:35.630
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Imean, those are different ways of doing it, and so when I read that we're going to study this and do more analysis, which is a direct response to their request for reaching the dollar amount.
1843
04:15:36.040 --> 04:15:38.930
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: To me, it sounds like that's what we're doing. 1844
04:15:39.430 --> 04:15:46.660
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I'm okay with that, but I'm not sure you guys are. I agree with you. I mean, I think that people are gonna expect that. 1845
04:15:46.950 --> 04:15:51.249
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'm sorry? I think people would read that and expect that as well. Yes, thank you.
1846
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
04:15:52.200 --> 04:15:55.369
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Go ahead, Vice Mayor. I mean, sorry, Councilmember Hinton.
1847
04:15:55.620 --> 04:16:01.729
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'm very comfortable with this letter, the way it's worded, and I think that,
1848
04:16:03.070 --> 04:16:19.159
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'm… I'm not prepared to make a lot of changes, because we've alreadyhad a closed session on that,this, and it fits my comfort level. I am happy, since it's been previewed by our attorney, to include your, 1849
04:16:19.170 --> 04:16:31.790
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: sentence at the beginning, the way you read it.

Yeah, it was just two of them. And, I'm willing to make a motion on this with the addition of your words. So, I would… I need to hear her words again, please. 1850
04:16:31.930 --> 04:16:35.770
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: You want… We, we can't, we can't do that. 1851
04:16:40.350 --> 04:16:41.800
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We, we can't…
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
1852
04:16:42.210 --> 04:17:00.139
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We can't… we're not allowed to… So the verbiage, to restate the verbiage, the City acknowledges that in the past we fell short in our communications in clear and transparent report regarding the Water and Wastewater Enterprise Funds. We sincerely apologize for this shortcoming and are committed to significantlyimproving
1853
04:17:00.170 --> 04:17:08.730
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: transparency moving forward, including the… through the work of the Enterprise Fund Oversight Committee, and more open, regular reporting to the community.
1854
04:17:09.710 --> 04:17:27.360
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, I would move this city response to the grand jury report regarding the water and sewer system with the addition of that sentence as indicated after line 1, as the Mayor read it, and as our attorney just repeated it. And seconded.
1855
04:17:27.400 --> 04:17:38.329
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And before we do a motion, I just want to make a comment. There havebeen a lot of different communications from everyone, you know, I mean, and I know that this is…
1856
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
04:17:38.410 --> 04:17:39.650
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: not…
1857
04:17:39.710 --> 04:18:02.959
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: what do I want to say? It's frustrating for some people. We get a lot ofcomments, we'vehad a lot ofdifferent, emails and stuff, and discussions and meetings, etc. All this to say is that this is… this is not cut and dry. It's very complicated. We havea lot of different peoplegiving us advice. We have our committees giving us advice. We have attorneys giving us advice.
1858
04:18:03.000 --> 04:18:17.149
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thereare so many different pieces of the puzzle that come to us, and some stuff is in closed session, and it just… it's much more complicated than anyone here really, truly understands. 1859
04:18:17.150 --> 04:18:32.170
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'm just saying that because this isn't an easy thing to sit up here and, you know, have this discussion, especially this late at night. So I'm just saying that it's much more complicated than any of us, 1860
04:18:33.630 --> 04:18:39.939
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: understand, in my opinion. So, at any rate, we have a motion, and we have a second, so Mary, if you want to go ahead. 1861
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
04:18:40.710 --> 04:18:57.540
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, so moved by Councilmember Hinton, and seconded by Councilmember Zolman to approve the City's response to the Grand Jury Report as amended, that the City acknowledges that in the past, we fell short in our communications and clear and transport report regarding the Water and Wastewater Enterprise Funds. We sincerely apologize for this shortcoming. 1862
04:18:57.540 --> 04:19:09.009
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And are committed to significantly improving transparency moving forward, including through the work of the Enterprise Fund Committee, Oversight Committee, and more open, regular reporting to the community.

Councilmember Carter?
1863
04:19:09.540 --> 04:19:14.609
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yes. Councilmember Hinton? Aye.

Councilmember Zolman? Yes. Vice Mayor Maurer?
1864
04:19:15.620 --> 04:19:19.949
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yes. Mayor McLewis? Yes. Motion passes unanimously.
1865
04:19:20.890 --> 04:19:37.599
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, so we have a 1030 rule. I have a question for you all. We have one item here, number 12, which would be very helpful if we were able to get through. I mean, it's not… it's a timed item, so if we push it out, then we have to have a veryspecific
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
1866
04:19:37.600 --> 04:20:01.339
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: time for the next meeting, I… we can do that, or if… let's do that. Okay, so before we do anything, I need to notice everyone publicly that number 12, consideration of approval of waiving the first reading and introduction of ordinance to amend Sebastopol Municipal Code Section under the City's Municipal Code, the City Manager possesses the authority to appoint, remove, promote, and demote 1867
04:20:01.340 --> 04:20:12.710
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Any and all officers and employees of the City of Sebastopol except the City Clerk, City Attorney, and City Treasurer. This amendment changes the requirement to include the City Clerk under the City Manager hiring authority. 1868
04:20:12.710 --> 04:20:24.979
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: 2.12.100, powerful appointment, etc. This item will be on the next agenda, I… next council meeting agenda, which is August 1869
04:20:25.330 --> 04:20:35.739
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: 5th, right? I want to make sure. 4th. Oh, August 4th, apologies. It'll be on the August 4th meeting, the meeting starts at 6 p.m. So, is that notice enough, Mary?
1870
04:20:35.810 --> 04:20:50.229
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: That is a notice enough for that public hearing, yes. Okay, it's a requirement that we have if we're pushing an item such as this forward, that we have to publicly notify it that way. So, let's see, is everyone there? Go ahead. 1871
04:20:50.230 --> 04:21:14.759
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Are you saying you're not going to do number 12? I thought you said that's… I thought you meant to push it out to the next one. I thought that's what you were saying. I thought we should do it, because that… Oh, I misunderstood you. If we don't do it, we don't… Mary can't hire a city clerk. I misunderstood you. I thought you said… when I said we could put it to the next meeting, you said, yeah, let's do that, so I… I'm sorry. I was confused, by what you're… so, are you all okay with just finishing it so she can move forward? Okay.
1872
04:21:14.940 --> 04:21:18.389
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: You should have stopped me in the middle of reading all that. Thank you, I didn't understand, yeah. 1873
04:21:18.520 --> 04:21:22.440
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, alright, well then… Mary? 1874
04:21:22.640 --> 04:21:38.399
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, as you just stated, this agenda item is to amend our ordinance. Currently, the City Council hires a City Clerk. At the last meeting, we adopted the job description for the City Clerk. Changing this authority will allow us to go out and recruit for the City Clerk position.

Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
1875
04:21:39.320 --> 04:21:40.700
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Any questions?
1876
04:21:42.000 --> 04:21:52.350
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Public comment. I will go up public comment. If you have any, comments for the public comment on the amendment to the ordinance for the hiring ofthe city clerk, I will doChambers first. 1877
04:21:53.240 --> 04:21:58.209
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, I will go out to Zoom. If there's anyone on Zoom, please raise your hand virtually.
1878
04:21:59.200 --> 04:22:07.669
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: There is no public comment on this item. All right, thank you. We're back here for any comments from anyone. I'll goahead and move staff's recommendation.
1879
04:22:07.940 --> 04:22:11.610
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I apologize for the misunderstanding. I'll second that.
1880
04:22:12.300 --> 04:22:18.750
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So moved by Councilmember Zolman, and seconded by Vice Mayor Maurer to approve
1881
04:22:18.750 --> 04:22:34.099
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The first reading introductionof ordinance to amend the Sebastopol Muni Code for the hiring authority for the City Clerk.

Councilmember Carter? Yes. Councilmember Hinton? Aye. Councilmember Zolman? Yes.

Vice Mayor Maurer? Yes. Mayor McLewis? Yes. Motion passes unanimously. 1882
04:22:34.730 --> 04:22:44.200
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: All right, well, we have run out of time. It is 1030, and I am assuming we are adjourned for this evening. Thank you all. Thank you. 1883
04:22:48.860 --> 04:22:50.570
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We ran out of time. 1884
04:22:53.600 --> 04:22:54.350
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay.
1885
04:22:54.830 --> 04:22:58.759
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: People are more than a lot for patients and needed to be for the family now.

Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
1886
04:23:00.190 --> 04:23:03.050
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So I thought it was gonna be… come up for it, and I haven't
1887
04:23:05.850 --> 04:23:12.919
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The council member wants to submit that to the, can you just submit it to us? Sure.
1888
04:23:13.990 --> 04:23:15.160
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Indy.
1889
04:23:15.800 --> 04:23:34.069
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: what if we wanted to ask for an agenda item? We're just… we cut it just totallyoff? I turned, yeah. Well, I thought because we… I mean, we were at 10 30, and I was packing up. But a council member can use the pro… the regular process to…
1890
04:23:34.240 --> 04:23:36.280
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Put an agenda item on the list. 1891
04:23:37.360 --> 04:23:38.540
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Future agenda.
1892
04:23:43.290 --> 04:23:45.320
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Good night, Stephen.

Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

City Council Meeting - July 21, 2026
Agenda Item Number: 1
DID YOU SAY WE ARE GOOD?
WE ARE GOOD.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ARE YOU READY, CITY MANAGER?
YES.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT, WELL, WELCOME, EVERYONE, TO OUR MEETING. MARY, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND DO ROLL CALL.

THANK YOU.
[ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE IN ATTENDANCE.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. LET'S SEE. WE ARE GOING TO GO TO SALUTE TO THE FLAG IF EVERYONE WOULD STAND WITH US.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE

REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

ALL RIGHT. I HOPE IT IS COOL ENOUGH IN HERE FOR EVERYONE. WE HAVE A LAND

ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT WE DO AT EVERY MEETING, SOME GOING TO GO AHEAD AND READ THAT. 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.

WE ALSO DO AS PART OF MY DESIRE AS MAYOR TO REMEMBER THE HISTORY OF

SEBASTOPOL, I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH TERESA ROMANO IN OUR COUNTY MUSEUM TO BRING UP HISTORICAL POINTS. AND SO AT THIS TIME WE HAVE TWO THINGS TO HIGHLIGHT. OUR BUDDHIST TEMPLE, AND THEN ITS CONNECTION WITH THE APPLE FAIR, WHICH IS ACTUALLY COMING UP THE WEEKEND OF AUGUST. I THINK IT IS 8th AND 9th.

BUDDHIST TEMPLE AND SEBASTOPOL. WE HAVE A VARIETY OF PICTURES THERE. SOME ARE CIRCA 1990. THE UNIQUE TEMPLE ORIGINALLY BUILT BY THE MANCHURIAN COMPANY FOR THE CHICAGO WORLD'S FAIR FAITHFULLY REPRESENTS A 12th CENTURY JAPANESE TEMPLE. AFTER THE FAIR, IT WAS OFFERED TO THE MEMBERS BUDDHIST TEMPLE AND THE STRUCTURE WAS DISMANTLED FOR REASSEMBLY. IT WAS COMPLETED AND DEDICATED ON APRIL 15th, 1934, AFTER BEING RECONSTRUCTED WITHOUT THE USE OF NAILS BY THE SKILLED LOCAL JAPANESE CRAFTSMAN. THE TEMPLE IS A PLACE OF WORSHIP AS WELL AS THE CENTER OF THE JAPANESE COMMUNITY IN SONOMA COUNTY.

AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE APPLE FAIR WAS ACTUALLY HELD ON THE TEMPLE PROPERTY AS EARLY AS 1973. WE DO HAVE A PHOTO OF THE APPLE GROWERS UNION WITH THEIR PICTURE OF THE APPLE. AND THEN THE SONOMA COUNTY REVIVE THE APPLE FAIR AFTER THAT AND MOVED IT TO PARK IN 1977. AND I JUST ENCOURAGE ANYONE IF YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY GO TO THE TEMPLE THERE. I DID WITH SEBASTOPOL WORLD FRIENDS. AND IT IS JUST A BEAUTIFUL -- IT IS A BEAUTIFUL TEMPLE. THERE'S A

LOT OF HISTORICAL INFORMATION THERE AND THEY WELCOME PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS ARE WITHOUT FAITH TO COME AND VISIT THEM. SO I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU SINCE WE HAVE THE APPLE FAIR COMING UP HERE FAIRLY QUICKLY. MOVING ON.

WE HAVE PROCLAMATIONS, PRESENTATIONS. WE DO HAVE A PROCLAMATION.

RECOGNIZING 20 YEARS OF SERVICE FOR MARGARITO ROMAN. I BELIEVE HE IS NOT HERE,

BUT ERIC WILL HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY DURING PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT THAT RECOGNITION. AND THEN I JUST WANTED TO ASK IF ANYONE ON THE DAIS HERE HAS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST FOR ANY OF THE ITEMS THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE GOING FOR.

SO I DO WITH THE BARLOW TOPIC COMING UP AS I HAVE IN THE PAST BECAUSE I OWN A BUSINESS THAT IS CLOSE PROXIMITY. I HAVE TO RECUSE MYSELF FROM DISCUSSION SO AT THAT TIME I WILL HAND OVER THE MEETING TO OUR VICE MAYOR, SANDRA MAURER.

SO SHE WILL TAKE OVER FOR THAT. IF NO OTHER CONFLICTS, THEN WE WILL HAVE MARY GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS THAT ARE NOT ON THE AGENDA.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS IS THE FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. IT IS A TOTAL OF 20 MINUTES. WE DO TWO MINUTES IN CHAMBERS AND THEN TWO MINUTES IN ZOOM AND WE Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

ROTATE BACK AND FORTH. FIRST I WILL COME INTO CHAMBERS. IF THERE IS ANYONE IN Agenda Item Number: 1
CHAMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT, COME UP TO THE PODIUM.

AND THEN WE WILL GO OUT TO ZOOM AND COME BACK IN.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL. I AM ERIC BUILDING, PUBLIX WORKS OPERATION SUPERVISOR REPRESENTING THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MARGARITO ROMAN FOR HIS 20 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH CITY OF SEBASTOPOL.

SEBASTOPOL HAS BEEN A PART OF MARGARITO 'S WORK LIFE FOR MANY YEARS. HE

STARTED OFF WORKING AT THE BARLOW AT THE APPLE PROCESSING PLANT WORKING ON THE LINE. HE DID THAT FOR 13 YEARS BEFORE HE BECAME PARTNER OF THE PUBLIC WORKS STAFF IN JULY OF 2006. HE IS OUR SECOND-LONGEST TENURED EMPLOYEE.

MARGARITO HAS DONE A WONDERFUL AND OFTEN THANKLESS JOB OF TAKING CARE OF

CITY PARKS, LANDSCAPED AREAS, PUBLIC RESTROOMS, AND CLEANING UP UNHOUSED ENCAMPMENTS. A FEW STATISTICS TO HELP SUMMARIZE WHAT MARGARITO HAS DONE IN HIS YEARS WITH THE CITY. HE HAS CLEANED THE PUBLIC RESTROOMS OVER 4000 TIMES.

HE HAS MODE AND WEED WHACKED OVER 3000 HOURS EACH. HE HAS EMPTY TRASH CANS IN THE PARKS BY CITY BUILDINGS AND ALONG TRAILS OVER 1800 TIMES. AS WELL AS SPENDING OVER 600 HOURS CLEANING UP UNHOUSED ENCAMPMENTS. HE HAS

TRAINED AND SHOWN THE ROPES TO MANY NEW LABORERS AS THEY CAME ON BOARD OVER THE YEARS, INCLUDING MYSELF. ALL THIS SHOWS THAT MARGARITO WAS A HARD WORKER, OFTEN QUICK TO OFFER AN HELPING HAND WHEN IN NEED. HE IS QUIET AND SHY AND SHIES AWAY FROM THE SPOTLIGHT, WHICH IS WHY HE IS NOT HERE TONIGHT.

BUT THIS JUST SHOWS WHAT AN OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL HE IS. ONE FINAL CHARACTERISTIC. QUALITY THAT I THINK STANDS OUT TO ME IS THE FACT THAT IN THE 20 YEARS AND 13 YEARS I HAVE KNOWN HIM, I HAVE NEVER HEARD HIM COMPLAIN ABOUT ANYTHING OR SAY ANYTHING BAD ABOUT ANYONE. HE JUST GOES ABOUT AND DOES HIS JOB. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT ABOUT MARGARITO.

ERIC, YOU HAVE EIGHT SECONDS.

ON BEHALF OF PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, CONGRATULATIONS. MORE IMPORTANTLY, THANK YOU, MARGARITO, FOR SERVING THE CITIZENS OF SEBASTOPOL.

THANK YOU, ERIC. ERIC, CAN I GIVE YOU THIS -- AND WE WOULD HAVE GIVEN YOU MORE TIME. [ INAUDIBLE ] THANK YOU. NEXT I WILL GO OUT TO ZOOM. IF THERE IS ANYONE ON

ZOOM THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT FOR AN ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND EDGE VIRTUALLY. KYLE, CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE? KYLE, CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE? I CAN.

CAN YOU SEE THE TIMER?
YES, I CAN.

GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

THAT YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF REALLY -- I DON'T WANT TO SAY CONTROVERSIAL, BUT YOU HAVE SOME VERY HEAVY ITEMS ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT. I HAVE BEEN WATCHING CITY COUNCIL CONSISTENTLY OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS. MANY OF THE AGENDA ITEMS

TONIGHT ARE LITERAL CARRYOVERS FROM THE TYPES OF ISSUES AND OF THE CONCERNS THAT OUR RESIDENTS HAD FIVE YEARS AGO. WHAT CONCERNS ME IS THAT OVER THE

LAST FIVE YEARS, THERE HAS BEEN AN EROSION OF THE RELATIONSHIP THAT COUNCIL

AND THE CITY HAS WITH THE PUBLIC, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO COUNCIL BUSINESS. WE HAVE SEEN ATTEMPTS TO REMOVE ACCESS TO ZOOM FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. WE HAVE SEEN REDUCTIONS IN THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT PUBLIC COMMENT IS ALLOWED. ATTEMPTS TO ACTUALLY MOVE IT TO THE END OF THE MEETING OFTENTIMES AFTER 10:00 P.M. WE HAVE SEEN A NEW CITY ATTORNEY WHO HAS GIVEN

LEGAL COUNSEL TO THIS COUNSEL -- COUNCIL -- DO NOT RESPOND OR ENGAGE WITH

ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA OR RESPOND IN ANY WAY TO PUBLIC COMMENT HAPPENING ON AGENDIZED ITEMS. AND WHAT I JUST WANT TO SPEAK TO IS MAYBE THAT BECAUSE MAYBE THAT IS THE RADICAL CHANGE HERE. I THINK YOU ARE GUN SHY. YOU ARE TOO CONCERNED ABOUT ME BEING CIVIL LITIGATION. PUTTING YOURSELF UP FOR POTENTIAL LAWSUITS. BUT I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PUBLIC IS NOT RISKY. WHAT IS RISKY IS THE DECISIONS AND THE ACTIONS THAT THE

CITY TAKES THAT YOU DON'T RESPOND TO, THAT YOU AREN'T ABLE TO ADDRESS AND RESPOND TO. SO TONIGHT, IT IS MY HOPE THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO REALLY CONSIDER Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

AND BRING IN PUBLIC COMMENT INTO YOUR DECISION-MAKING PROCESS AND MAKE Agenda Item Number: 1
THAT VISIBLE.

THANK YOU, KYLE, FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT I WILL COME INTO CHAMBERS.

GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS. ALYSSA JOHNSON. SONOMA COUNTY RESOURCE RECOVERY. WE ARE THE GARBAGE PROVIDER FOR THE CITY OF SEBASTOPOL, AND IT HAS BEEN A YEAR SINCE WE STARTED SERVICE. I WANTED TO GIVE YOU JUST SOME STATS FROM THE LAST YEAR PERIOD. IN JULY OF 2025 TO JUNE 30th OF 2026. JUST WANT TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW WE HAD 412 LARGE ITEM PICKUPS DURING THAT ONE-YEAR PERIOD. WE HAD VERY FEW CALLS FOR ABANDONED PROPERTY. LAST QUARTER WORKING ON THE REPORT RIGHT NOW WE HAD ONE CALL. SO I THINK IT HAS LESSENED A LOT OF THE ABANDONED PROPERTY ISSUES. WE HAD 385 CHANGES TO SERVICE. 693 PAYMENTS OVER THE PHONE. SOME MORE STATS FOR YOU GUYS. 71 MISSED PICKUPS IN A YEAR, WHICH AVERAGES 1.3 PER WEEK. REALLY PROUD OF THAT, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING HOW CHALLENGING SEBASTOPOL WAS FOR THE DRIVERS. THEY HAVE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB. 214 NEW STARTS. WE HAVE CONDUCTED TRAININGS AT SIX PROPERTIES.

MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES FOR THE RESIDENTS THAT COME TO THE MEETINGS ON RECYCLING WHAT GOES WHERE. HOW TO DO ORGANICS PROPERLY. WE HAVE DONE TRAININGS AT 10 BUSINESSES. WE HAVE PROVIDED SIGNAGE IS AND SOME SIGNAGE THAT WAS MADE SPECIFICALLY FOR SOME OF THESE BUSINESSES TO 10 BUSINESSES THAT ASK FOR SPECIFIC SIGNAGE. WE ASSISTED 15 MORE PROPERTIES WITH RIGHTSIZING AGAIN AND ATE MORE BUSINESSES WITH RIGHTSIZING. WE ALSO SPONSORED LAST YEAR THE THIRD OF JULY THROUGH QANTAS CLUB TWICE NOW. WE HAVE DONE THE APPLE BLOSSOM FESTIVAL. WE HAVE DONE PIECE CONCERTS. WE DO AN IN-KIND DONATION PROVIDING THE GARBAGE SERVICE FOR THEM SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. AND MOVIE NIGHT FOR THE CHAMBER. ANYTIME ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANYTHING, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GIVE ME A CALL. THE DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN.

NEXT I WILL GO OUT TO ZOOM. IF THERE IS ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A

PUBLIC COMMENT FOR AN ITEM NOT ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND VIRTUALLY. SEEING NONE, I WILL COME BACK INTO CHAMBERS. IF THERE IS ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE GO AHEAD TO THE PODIUM.

OH, I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD. I WILL COME BACK TO YOU. NO.

I AM HERE TO ASK COUNCIL TO MAKE SEBASTOPOL'S WATER SUPPLY THEIR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. WE ARE AT A CRITICAL JUNCTURE . WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF WELL NUMBER FOUR, WHICH SUPPLIES OVER 40% OF OUR TOWN'S WATER. THE ABILITY TO FINANCE THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR OVER TWO YEARS. IT IS A VITAL PIECE OF OUR WATER SYSTEM. LAST MEETING'S DECISION TO

FREEZE RATES AND REMOVE TEARS WITHOUT IMPLEMENTING RESTITUTION OR THE FOC'S RECOMMENDATIONS PUTS OUR WATER SUPPLY AT RISK. IF WELL FOUR FAILS DURING A FIRE, IT WOULD BE DEVASTATING FOR THIS ENTIRE COMMUNITY. THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS

PAY FOR COUNCIL AND CITY STAFF TO MAKE PRUDENT AND COST EFFICIENT CHOICES FOR RATEPAYERS. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE OUR WATER SUPPLY IS STABLE AND SECURE. DUE TO DECADES OF NEGLECT, THE WATER SYSTEM REQUIRES MONEY AND INVESTMENT, WHICH IS NEEDED NOW. I AM MAKING A PUBLIC COMMENT ON

RECORD FOR COUNCIL TO HEAR THAT IF THERE IS A FAILURE IN THE WATER SUPPLY, IT IS BECAUSE OF THE COUNCIL'S REFUSAL TO MAKE RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS . THE E FOC HAS PROVIDED CLEAR PATHWAYS TO MOVE FORWARD. KEEP THE WATER FUND FINANCIALLY STABLE, CORRECT PROP 218 VIOLATIONS, AND PROVIDE FUNDING FOR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE. IF THERE IS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE IN THE WATER SYSTEM, IT IS

BECAUSE COUNCIL IS ACTIVELY CHOOSING THIS PATHWAY , AND RESPONSIBILITY SOLELY RESTS WITH THE COUNCILMEMBERS WHO SIT ON THE DAIS TONIGHT. I ASK

COUNCIL TO DRAW IN RESERVES AND MEASURE MONEY TO IMPLEMENT THE FULL

PACKAGE OF THE EFOC REFORM SO THAT THE WATER FUND IS ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH REPLACING WELL NUMBER FOUR. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, KATE, FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT I WILL GO OUT TO ZOOM. IF

THERE IS ANYONE ON ZOOM THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON AN ITEM NOT ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA, RAISE YOUR HAND VIRTUALLY. SEEING NONE, I WILL COME BACK TO CHAMBERS. I DO HAVE A LADY IN THE BACK FIRST THAT HAD HER HAND RAISED. PLEASE.

Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

HELLO. MY NAME IS DESI AND I AM ONE OF THE NEIGHBORS THAT LIVES BEHIND Agenda Item Number: 1
SAFEWAY. AS A LOT OF YOU KNOW, THERE HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE IN THE BACK OF SAFEWAY THAT HAS BECOME OUT OF HAND. THERE'S LOTS OF INDIVIDUALS, BUT MAINLY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. WE HAVE HAD OUR RUN INS OF INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR IN THAT SPOT. THIS PAST APRIL, THINGS WERE TAKEN UP A NOTCH WHEN RACE FIST -- RACIST GRAFFITI WAS WRITTEN ON THE BACK WALL. WRITINGS INCLUDED MULTIPLE SWASTIKAS AND THE N-WORD WITH THE HEART R SAYING HITLER WAS RIGHT.

TEENAGERS MAKING NOISES AFTER SEEING SOME OF THE BLACK CHILDREN THAT LIVE ACROSS THE STREET. WE HAVE REQUESTED MULTIPLE MEETINGS WITH THE POLICE CHIEF

TO DISCUSS HOW WE CAN COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS REGARDING THE SITUATIONS AND SITUATIONS THAT MOST CERTAINLY WILL HAPPEN AGAIN ONCE IS BACK IN SESSION. AND WE HAVE NOT BEEN MET WITH MUCH ACTION. WE WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THIS ISSUE

BE PUT ON AN AGENDA SO WE CAN DISCUSS THAT A CAMERA AND FENCE BE PUT BEHIND SAFEWAY. WE ASK THAT CITY COUNCIL WORK WITH POLICE AND NEIGHBORS TO FIND A SOLUTION. WE ARE A NEIGHBORHOOD OF PEOPLE OF COLOR AND CHILDREN THAT WALKED TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY. WE NEED TO FEEL SAFE IN OUR HOMES AND NEED TO KNOW THAT OUR COMMUNITY WILL SUPPORT US IN FINDING A SOLUTION. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, DESI, FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT I WILL GO BACK OUT TO ZOOM. IF

THERE IS ANYONE ON ZOOM THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE COMMENT ON AN ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND VIRTUALLY. SEEING NONE, I WILL COME BACK TO CHAMBERS.

MAYOR McLEWIS, COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND CITY STAFF , I AM HERE AGAIN TO ASK FOR

YOUR SUPPORT AS A NEIGHBOR OF A&M BARBECUE, I HAVE BEEN WOKEN AT NIGHT WITH A HOME FULL OF SMOKE. NOT FROM WILDFIRE, NOT FROM FIREPLACES, BUT FROM AN INDUSTRIAL SMOKER BEING BROUGHT IN AND CAUSING DANGEROUS AIR POLLUTION.

THIS NEIGHBORHOOD IS FULL OF 100+-YEAR-OLD HOMES AND MANY ELDERLY. SMOKE GETS IN OUR HOMES, EXACERBATING ASTHMA AND OTHER LUNG DISEASE PROBLEMS. IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU AS OUR COUNCILMEMBERS SHOULD ALLOW. THE DANGERS OF PARTICULATE MATTER FOUND IN SMOKE ARE WELL DOCUMENTED. THE AMERICAN LUNG

ASSOCIATION, THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL, UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS ALL AGREE THAT THIS IS BAD. MONITORING AIR QUALITY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN IS NOT A MEANINGFUL PROCESS FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. PLEASE DO YOUR DUTY TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH, AND DO NOT REZONE 495 STREET TO ALLOW A HEALTH HAZARD. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. I WILL GO BACK OUT TO ZOOM. IF THERE IS

ANYONE ON ZOOM THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR AN ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND VIRTUALLY. SEEING NONE, WILL COME BACK TO THE CHAMBERS. LET ME GO BACK TO ZOOM. MARY, CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE?
YES.

THANK YOU. CAN YOU SEE THE TIMER?
OH, I CAN, BUT I NEVER TAKE THAT LONG.

GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

OKAY. WHAT KATE SAID. AND MY COMMENT IS TO REMEMBER THAT WE CAN'T HAVE A HOTEL WITHOUT A FUNCTIONING WATER SYSTEM. SO I THINK THAT IS ONE THING I WOULD LIKE YOU TO THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU ARE DECIDING ALL OF THIS. THE OTHER

THING IS I WOULD REALLY -- IT WOULD REALLY BE GREAT IF WE COULD GET BACK TO THREE-MINUTE COMMENTS. IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE A LOT MORE TO SAY. I DON'T KNOW. I MEAN, WE USED TO DO THAT. SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT I WILL COME BACK INTO CHAMBERS. IF

THERE IS ANYONE IN CHAMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE COME UP TO THE PODIUM.

HI, MY NAME IS STELLA. I AM A SEBASTOPOL RESIDENT.

WOULD YOU DO ME A QUICK FAVOR AND PULL THE MICROPHONE -- THE PEOPLE ON ZOOM CANNOT HEAR.

CAN YOU HEAR? MY NAME IS STELLA. I'M A SEBASTOPOL RESIDENT. I WANTED TO TELL MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE LOCATION BEHIND SAFEWAY. I GOT A PICTURE FROM MY NIECE WITH GRAFFITI SAYING THE AND WORD KILLER, WHICH IS THE ACTUAL WORD. SHE Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

SAYS THIS IS WHAT I CAME HOME TO. I KNEW SHE WAS ALONE AND I HEADED STRAIGHT Agenda Item Number: 1
TO HER HOUSE. I SAW OTHER GRAFFITI INCLUDING THE NAZI EAGLE, HITLER WAS RIGHT, SWASTIKAS. BOTH SAFEWAY AND THE POLICE KNEW ABOUT THIS AND ALL DAY. THE SECOND INCIDENT I HAD WAS NOT LONG AFTER THE GRAFFITI INCIDENT. I WAS PARKING MY CAR ON THE STREET AND A WOMAN WAS NEXT TO THE GRAFFITI AREA. I WENT AND JOINED HER ASKING IF THERE WAS MORE GRAFFITI. SHE SAID THERE WAS A GROUP OF KIDS MAKING MONKEY NOISES AT THE PEOPLE ACROSS THE STREET. SHE WAS VERY SHAKEN UP AND SHE SAID, I CALLED THE COPS BUT I HAD TO GO TO A MEETING. I WALKED ACROSS THE STREET TO ANOTHER NEIGHBOR WHO WAS UPSET. WE WERE ABLE TO FILM THE FOUR OR FIVE AS WE WERE WALKING AWAY. I WENT BACK TO CHECK ON MY

KNEES AND THIS GROUP OF BOYS STARTED CIRCLING THE AREA ON SCOOTER AND FOOT MAKING MONKEY NOISES AND SCREAMING FOR MORE THAN HALF AN HOUR. I KNEW THE POLICE WERE CALLED BY AT LEAST FIVE PEOPLE. IT WAS INTIMIDATING, VERY UPSETTING AND VERY UPSETTING TO ANYONE WHO WITNESSED IT. I HAVE HEARD THE N WORD BY HOMELESS PEOPLE AND YOUTH IN THE SAME LOCATION FOR YEARS. IT HURTS

ME TO SEE NEIGHBORS LIVING THERE PUTTING SO MUCH ENERGY TRYING TO GET ANYONE TO LISTEN AND JUST BEING IGNORED. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM AREA FOR YEARS, BUT THE COPS SAY IT IS SAFEWAY'S JOB AND SAFEWAY SAYS IT IS THE COPS' JOB.

AND NO ONE DOES ANYTHING. THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO FEEL SAFE HERE. I BELIEVE IT IS NOW TIME FOR CITY COUNCIL TO HELP WITH THE SOLUTION. THE BURDEN OF MINIMUM -- THE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THIS NEED TO BE HEARD AND SOLUTIONS HAVE TO BE MADE. SOME IDEAS ARE A GAIT THAT COULD BE PUT UP, NO TRESPASSING SIGNS, AND CAMERAS NEED TO BE INSTALLED. THE POLICE SHOULD BE INVOLVED WHEN ILLEGAL HATE CRIMES ARE CAPTURED ON CAMERA. ANNALEE HIGH SCHOOL.

THAT IS TWO MINUTES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT I WILL GO BACK OUT TO ZOOM. IF ANYBODY ON ZOOM WOULD MAKE IT PUBLIC COMMENT ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. I WILL COME BACK INTO CHAMBERS. IF THERE

IS ANYONE IN CHAMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT FOR AN ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA. SEEING NONE, PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MARY. GO AHEAD.

THANK YOU, MADAME MAYOR. I THINK YOU TO THE MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC THAT SENT US THE EMAIL ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON BEHIND SAFEWAY. THANK YOU TO THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT BROUGHT THAT UP. AND WE DO HAVE ON THE AGENDA

ALWAYS A TIME FOR US TO ASK FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS AND I DO INTEND TO ASK FOR AN AGENDA ITEM TO SEE WHAT STAFF, OUR POLICE CAN DO.

WELL, AND SINCE YOU BROUGHT IT UP, WE HAVE BEEN CONFERRING BEFORE WE GOT

THIS EMAIL TODAY ON ANOTHER DATE, SO THE CITY MANAGER CHIEF AND I ACTUALLY

CAME UP WITH SOME TIME WE WERE GOING TO ACTUALLY SEND AN EMAIL AND THEN WE GOT THAT EMAIL TO SAY WHEN WE COULD MEET SO WE COULD ALSO FIGURE THAT OUT.

BECAUSE, I MEAN, WE HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH SAFEWAY AND ANNALEE QUARTERLY FOR THE LAST YEAR. SO ANYWAY. OKAY. LET'S SEE. WE ARE MOVING ONTO CONSENT CALENDAR. I APOLOGIZE MY VOICE IS SO. I'M GOING TO READ THE CONSENT CALENDAR.

NUMBER ONE, APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FOR REGULAR MEETING JULY 7, 2026. NUMBER TWO, APPROVAL OF SECOND READING AND ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE. CITY COUNCIL COMPENSATION. NUMBER THREE, APPROVED NOTICE OF COMPLETION. BURBANK FARM A.D.A. PATH AND PUBLIC RESTROOM FACILITIES CIP NUMBER 0413-7800. CITY COUNCIL TO ACCEPT THE BURBANK FARM A.D.A. PATH IN PUBLIC RESTROOM FACILITY PROJECT AND APPROVED THE NOTICE OF COMPLETION. NUMBER FOUR. APPROVE INVESTMENT POLICY. IPS UPDATE. POLICY STATEMENT UPDATE.

PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF UPDATES TO AN EXISTING CITIES INVESTMENT POLICY

STATEMENT ON IPS BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE CITY'S INVESTMENT ADVISER, SHUSTER ADVISORY GROUP. THE UPDATES ARE INTENDED TO ALIGN THE IPS

WITH CURRENT CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE PROVISIONS AND INCORPORATE BEST

PRACTICES IN PUBLIC FUND MANAGEMENT, AND ENHANCE THE CITY'S ABILITY TO OPTIMIZE INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE WHILE MAINTAINING SAFETY AND LIQUIDITY.

NUMBER FIVE, APPROVED CONTRACT AWARD AND CIP BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR THE MORRIS STREET SEWER PUMP STATION WET WELL'S REPAIRS PROJECT CIP NUMBER 0617-

25.02. NUMBER SIX, APPROVAL OF CONTRACTS FOR CITY CONSULTANTS AS APPROVED IN Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

THE FISCAL YEAR 26-27 CITY BUDGET. I'M ASKING MY COLLEAGUES HERE IF ANYONE Agenda Item Number: 1
WANTS TO PULL AN ITEM. GO AHEAD.

I THINK -- I JUST -- WE HAD A CORRECTION BY EMAIL THAT WE ALL RECEIVED. I THINK WE SHOULD PULL THAT ITEM AND MAKE THAT CORRECTION CORRECTED IN PUBLIC.

YEAH. I WAS GOING TO ASK OUR CITY ATTORNEY IF I COULD ASK STAFF ONE QUESTION IN REFERENCE TO THAT SAME AGENDA ITEM. IF I CAN, THEN I WILL PULL IT AND MAYBE

WE CAN FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MAKE THAT CORRECTION THAT COUNCILMEMBER HINTON BROUGHT UP TOO WITHOUT HAVING TO PULL IT.

IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, YOU CAN ASK.

MY ONE QUESTION IS, AFTER A SERIES OF EMAILS -- TOO MANY, QUITE HONESTLY -- TO

GET CLARITY ABOUT THIS AGENDA ITEM, THE LAST WORD FROM MARY WAS, DO WHAT

YOU FEEL YOU NEED TO DO, BUT IF YOU PULL THIS, THEN IT RUNS JEOPARDY TO HAVING US NOT BE ABLE TO PAY THESE SERVICE CONTRACTORS FOR SERVICES DO. IS THAT THE CASE? IF WE DON'T APPROVE THIS IN THE FORMAT IT IS CURRENTLY BEING PRESENTED TO US TONIGHT?
WE WOULD HAVE NO CONTRACTS FOR BUILDING SERVICES. WE WOULD HAVE NO CONTRACT FOR I.T. WE WOULD HAVE NO CONTRACT FOR ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES. SO THE ONES THAT ARE LISTED -- THOSE CONTRACTS EXPIRED JUNE 30th. THEY WERE PART OF THE BUDGET. THEY WERE RECOMMENDED FROM WHEN WE CAME FORWARD WITH THE BUDGET COMMITTEE. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WANT THEM -- WELL, MY

UNDERSTANDING IS THERE IS A REQUEST TO BRING THESE BACK INDIVIDUALLY, BUT I

WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THEY DO COME BACK, THERE IS NO STANDING CONTRACT. WE HAVE NOT REACHED OUT TO SEE IF THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SERVICES UNTIL WE BRING THIS BACK AT THE FUTURE MEETING.

I UNDERSTAND THAT. IT WAS IN A REQUEST TO BRING BACK INDIVIDUALLY. IT WAS ONE TO ACTUALLY HAVE THOROUGH DATA PRESENTED HERE AND CONSISTENT DATA.

BEFORE THE EMAIL I SENT, WE WOULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN THE CORRECTED EMAIL THAT COUNCILMEMBER HINTON JUST BROUGHT UP . SO IF IT IS GOING TO GET BUMPED IF I PULL

IT TO THE END AND RISK NOT PAYING OUR CONTRACTORS, THAT DOES NOT SIT WELL WITH ME. WHAT I DO WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT THAT I DON'T APPRECIATE A NONFLUSHED OUT AGENDA REPORT -- ONE THAT IS CLEAR ABOUT WHY WE ARE GETTING DETAILS ABOUT SOME OF THESE PROJECTS CONTRACTS AND NOT ON OTHERS. SO IF WE CAN DO IT WITHOUT PULLING IT, I WOULD DO THAT. BUT I DEFER TO COUNCILMEMBER HINTON.

MY FEELING IS WHEN WE HAVE A CORRECTION TO A POSTED AGENDA ITEM, IT NEEDS TO BE PUBLIC, SO I WOULD NOT WANT TO NOT -- TONIGHT. THE MAYOR'S REORDERING THE SCHEDULE. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO THE PUBLIC THAT WE

HAVE AN ERROR, AND THAT -- I MEAN, MAYBE WE DON'T HAVE TO REORDER IT TO THE

END, BUT I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD APPROVE THINGS ON CONSENT TO THAT ARE WRONG.

WE ARE NOT. I WAS WAITING TO SEE IF COUNCILMEMBER ZOLLMAN WAS GOING TO PULL ITEM AND MAKE THE CORRECTION AT THAT TIME. IF NOT, -- WE WOULD MAKE THE CORRECTION. SO IF THE ITEM IS TO BE PULLED, WE CAN DISCUSS THE CORRECTION OF

THE TWO INCONSISTENCIES THAT WERE PROVIDED IN THE STAFF REPORT AND HAVE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DIRECTOR PROVIDE THAT CORRECTION. OR IF IT IS GOING TO BE PULLED FOR DISCUSSION, WE WOULD DISCUSS THIS TOO AT THAT POINT.

I DON'T WANT TO PUT US IN A SITUATION OF NOT BEING ABLE TO PAY CONTRACTS. I'M NOT OKAY WITH THAT.

AND I JUST CLARIFY? IT IS NOT ABOUT PAYMENT OF CONTRACT. WE HAVE THE FUNDS TO PAY IT. IT IS THE FACT WE DON'T HAVE A CONTRACT. AND I DON'T KNOW. I HAVE NOT

SPOKEN TO THE INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTORS AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THEY WOULD CONTINUE WITHOUT A CONTRACT. THEY HAVE UP TO THIS POINT. PROVIDING SERVICES UP TO THIS MEETING.

WITH ME READING THE CORRECTIONS -- CAN YOU PROVIDE THE [ INAUDIBLE ] CONTRACTS.

I DON'T AGREE WITH IT BEING ON CONSENT WHEN WE HAVE AN ERROR. SO I GUESS I

WOULD ASK THE MAYOR IF YOU COULD REORDER IT BUT REORDER IT IN THE MIDDLE OF Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

THE REGULAR CALENDAR AGENDA, SAY, BEFORE THE DISCUSSION IN ACTION RELATED Agenda Item Number: 1
TO NEWSPAPER RACKS.

WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO PUT IT AT THE VERY BEGINNING BECAUSE WE JUST DEPEND ON WHERE WE ARE RUNNING. WE CANNOT RISK THIS NOT BEING DEALT WITH TONIGHT. IT IMPACTS DAILY SERVICES. SO --

BUT IS IT JUST SIMPLY THAT WE NEED TO DISCUSS IT OR WE JUST NEED TO NOTIFY THE PUBLIC? I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN.

MY CONCERN IS IT SHOULD NOT BE ON CONSENT WITH AN ERROR. I FEEL LIKE WHETHER

WE HAVE A LONG DISCUSSION OR A SHORT DISCUSSION, IF YOU ARE WILLING TO PUT IT AT THE FRONT, THEN WE ARE PUTTING IT ON OUR REGULAR CALENDAR.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. SO I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO JUST PULL IT, LIKE YOU SAID. HONOR THAT REQUEST. AND THEN WE WILL JUST MOVE IT DOWN TO WHERE IT IS AHEAD OF BASICALLY IN ITS POSITION WHERE IT IS AT RIGHT NOW. BUT IT WILL JUST BE PART OF -- CAN WE DO IT RIGHT BEFORE THE INFORMATIONAL NUMBER SEVEN, MARY?
YEAH, SO THE CITY'S POLICY IS TO PUT IT AT THE END, BUT THE MAYOR CAN REORDER.

I WOULD LIKE TO REORDER IT BECAUSE I WORRY WE CAN'T RISK HAVING IF IT GETS PUSHED BACK AND THEN WE ARE IN AN EVEN BIGGER SITUATION.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. SO IF THAT IS ALL, THEN WE CAN GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT, MARY.

SO THIS IS PUBLIC, FOR ITEMS ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO

MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THOSE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND VIRTUALLY. I WILL DO CHAMBERS FIRST AND THEN I WILL DO ZOOM. IF ANYONE IN CHAMBERS -- SEEING NONE, I WILL GO OUT TO ZOOM. CAN YOU SEE THE TIMER?
I CAN.

GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

YOU KNOW I LOVE NUMBERS. INVESTING IS HOW I MAKE MY LIVING. I DID A QUICK ESTIMATE. THE CITY HAD $13 MILLION AT THE END OF 23-25. 24-25 ON THE AUDITED FINANCIALS. AT 4%, WHICH IS A VERY CONSERVATIVE INVESTMENT RETURN, WE SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR SOMEWHERE AROUND $500,000 IN INTEREST INVESTMENT INCOME SOMEWHERE IN THE BUDGET. THE BUDGET WORKSHEET SHOWS ABOUT $100,000 ANNUALLY, WHICH HAD ME SCRATCHING MY HEAD. THE GOOD NEWS IS WHEN I LOOKED AT THE AUDIT FINANCIALS, THERE IS $537,620 IN INTEREST IN THE GENERAL FUND. SO IN 24-25, WE HAD HALF $1 MILLION IN INVESTMENT REVENUE. BUT THE ACTUALS ON THE BUDGET WORKSHEET ARE $166,000. SO WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OTHER $360,000? WHY DOESN'T IT SHOW UP IN THE BUDGET SHEETS? HOW CAN THE RESERVE BALANCE BE CORRECT IF YOU ARE MISSING $360,000? OBVIOUSLY $360,000 OF REVENUE GOES A LONG WAY TOWARD FIXING THE BUDGET DEFICIT. A SUGGESTION WOULD BE RATHER THAN

FOCUSING ON WHAT KIND OF BONDS THE CITY SHOULD BE BUYING, YOU SHOULD BE ASKING FOR A REPORT ON CURRENT INVESTMENTS. EXPECTED RETURNS, ACTUAL RETURNS. AND WHERE IS THE MONEY BEING PUT IN THE BUDGET? IT NEEDS TO SHOW UP IN BUDGET. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, LEE, FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT I WILL COME BACK INTO CHAMBERS. IF THERE IS ANYONE IN CHAMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC

COMMENT ON CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONLY ONE THROUGH FIVE, SEEING NONE, WILL GO BACK TO ZOOM. IF THERE IS ANYBODY ON ZOOM THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE, AND ON ITEMS ONE THROUGH FIVE, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND VIRTUALLY. KYLE, CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE? THERE YOU GO. CAN YOU HEAR US? I CAN. JUST SO YOU KNOW, PARTICIPANTS CANNOT UNMUTE YOURS HEALTH -- OURSELVES. IT IS BEING DONE BY STAFF. SO JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND. I CAN SEE THE TWO MINUTE TIMER.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

OKAY. SO THIS IS AN INTERESTING CONSENT CALENDAR. AND I APPLAUD

COUNCILMEMBERS WHO ARE LOOKING AT CONSENT CALENDAR AND LOOKING TO PULL ITEMS THAT PROBABLY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE. FOR

ANYBODY WHO IS INTERESTED -- I KNOW THIS IS GETTING INTO THE WEEDS -- WITH HOW

THE AGENDA IS CONSTRUCTED AND HOW THE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ARE PUT, I Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

HIGHLY RECOMMEND GOING AND TRYING TO MAKE IT TO AN AGENDA REVIEW Agenda Item Number: 1
COMMITTEE. THE EXPERIENCE IS FASCINATING. WHAT YOU WILL FIND YOU WILL FIND

TWO COUNCILMEMBERS WHO ARE SITTING DOWN WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND KIND OF REALLY SHAPING OUT WHAT THE NIGHT MIGHT LOOK LIKE FOR US. HOWEVER, WHAT

YOU MIGHT NOT NOTICE UNLESS YOU HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE IS THE AMOUNT OF INFLUENCE THE CITY MANAGER HAS ON THOSE TWO COUNCILMEMBERS. THERE IS

OFTENTIMES THE COUNCILMEMBERS RELYING ON THE EXPERIENCE OF CITY MANAGER

TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT LANDS ON CONSENT AND WHAT LANDS ON THE AGENDA AND HOW MUCH TIME IS ALLOTTED FOR EACH OF THOSE AGENDA ITEMS.

UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST THAT COMES WITH THAT RELIANCE OF THAT EXPERIENCE FROM THE CITY MANAGER. WE NEED OUR COUNCILMEMBERS TO

HAVE A CLEAR SEGREGATION WHEN IT COMES TO THE POWERS THAT HAPPEN WITHIN THE CITY. WHEN WE ARE ALLOWING CITY MANAGEMENT TO HAVE SO MUCH CONTROL

OVER THE DECISIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING WITH OUR CITY IN TERMS OF WHAT LANDS

ON AN AGENDA, WHAT GOES INTO A STAFF REPORT, WHERE THE STAFF

RECOMMENDATIONS ARE, REGULARLY I SEE COUNCIL GOING WITH STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS IN WAYS THAT ARE CONCERNING. IT'S NOT CLEAR TO ME THAT

COUNCIL IS DOING THE DILIGENCE THAT IT NEEDS TO AND OFTENTIMES RELYING ON

STAFF AND WE HAVE SEEN THIS MOST RECENTLY WITH THIS KIND OF EXPLANATION

THAT THE DECISIONS ABOUT THE WATER IN THE PAST WERE BASED ON CONSULTANTS AND CONSULTANTS SOMEHOW HAVE OUR BEST INTERESTS. NO. CONSULTANTS HAVE INTEREST IN BEING REHIRED. WHO RETIRES THEN? THE CITY. SO PLEASE TAKE OWNERSHIP ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA.

THANK YOU, KYLE, FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT I WILL COME BACK INTO CHAMBERS. IF THERE IS ANYONE IN CHAMBERS. SEEING NONE, I WILL GO BACK OUT TO ZOOM. IF THERE IS ANYBODY ON ZOOM THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT CALENDAR ONE THROUGH FIVE, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND VIRTUALLY.

SEEING NONE, PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WE ARE BACK HERE FOR ANY COMMENTS.

I WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH FIVE.

SECOND.

THANK YOU. SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ZOLLMAN AND SECONDED BY VICE MAYOR MAURER WITH ITEM NUMBER SIX BEING REMOVED. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER . [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

THANK YOU. SO TO REORDER THIS SO THAT WE CAN DEAL WITH THE ISSUE THAT WAS PULLED, I HAVE CONSENSUS FROM EVERYONE. WE CAN BRING THAT TO THE NEXT ITEM.

SO APPROVAL OF CONTRACTS FOR CITY CONSULTANTS AS APPROVED IN FISCAL YEAR 26- 27 CITY BUDGET. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO, IF IT IS PERMISSIBLE, JUST READ THE CORRECTIONS FIRST TO INFORM THE PUBLIC. WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THAT? STAFF READ THAT.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, MADAME MAYOR. SO THE CORRECTION FOR THIS AGENDA ITEM IN THE

TABLE FOR THE CONSULTANT AND SERVICE PROVIDER IS GOING TO BE THE ITEM FOR PJM YARD MAINTENANCE LANDSCAPING SERVICES. ORIGINALLY IT WAS IN THE STAFF REPORT AS $92,000. IT SHOULD BE 97,200. AND THE REASON FOR THE ADJUSTMENT IS

BECAUSE THERE ARE -- THERE COULD BE POTENTIALLY LANDSCAPE WORK FOR

NONFUNCTIONAL TURF AREA REPLACEMENT THAT PUBLIC WORKS MIGHT NEED FOR THIS CONTRACT. AND THE SECOND ITEM THAT NEEDED TO BE CORRECTED IN THE TABLE IS THE WEST COUNTY COMMUNITY SERVICES PARK VILLAGE SERVICES. IT WAS LISTED AS

75. IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE 73. AND THE EXTRA $2000 WAS FOR INCIDENTAL, UNANTICIPATED MAINTENANCE, RESPONSIBILITY. THAT PUBLIC WORKS MIGHT BE EXPECTING. SO THAT IS THE CORRECTION TO THE TABLE OF THE STAFF REPORT. SO IN TOTAL, ORIGINALLY IT WAS 542. IT IS NOW 545 200.

OKAY. THANK YOU. QUESTIONS?
SO IT LOOKS LIKE THESE CONTRACTS ARE ALL BEING SIGNED AGAIN. THE BUDGET COMMITTEE. AND I HAVE BEEN ASKING ABOUT REBIDDING MARIN I.T. AND I KNOW WE HAVE THEIR ORGANIZATION ASSIGNED TO US. FOR MORE YEARS THAN I CAN COUNT. AND Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

NOW WE ARE SIGNING ANOTHER CONTRACT, IT APPEARS. I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER Agenda Item Number: 1
ZOLLMAN AND I ACTUALLY BROWN ACTED ON THIS ISSUE. I DON'T EVEN KNOW. WHEN HE WAS FIRST ELECTED. THREE YEARS AGO? FOUR YEARS AGO? AND SO I'M WILLING TO MOVE THIS FORWARD, I GUESS. I BELIEVE WE SHOULD HAVE SOMETHING ON THERE THAT SAYS WE NEED TO -- WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THIS. WE HAVE ASKED FOR CONTRACTS

AND THESE TO GO OUT TO BID FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS, AND WE JUST KEEP RENEWING THE CONTRACT. SO I'M GOING TO ASK IF THAT IS POSSIBLE. ARE WE

COMMITTING WITH THIS APPROVAL TO A WHOLE OTHER YEAR FOR ALL OF THESE VENDORS?
CITY STAFF ADDRESS THE RFP THAT WAS CONDUCTED. WE HAVE DONE A COUPLE RFPs.

THE I.T. CONSULTING WAS ONE OF THEM. AND TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, YES. SIGNING THESE CONTRACTS WOULD BE FOR ONE ADDITIONAL YEAR. AND WE DO HAVE -- I WILL BE

DOING IN DECEMBER, JANUARY FOR MANY OF THESE AN RFP FOR SERVICES THAT ARE LISTED IN HERE. WE GO BACK. THERE IS, LIKE, THREE RFPs WE HAVE SCHEDULED TO GO OUT. SO WE HAVE THE BUILDING SERVICES WILL BE GOING OUT. THAT HAS BEEN SET FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS NOW. SO THAT WILL BE GOING OUT. THE OUTREACH COMMUNITY SERVICES. WE DID AN RFP THIS YEAR. WE HAVE ONLY RECEIVED TWO, BUT WE DID GO AHEAD -- I DON'T REMEMBER. OMNI WAS ONE OF THEM. COLEY HANSEN WAS THE SECOND ONE. THAT WAS A PROPOSAL. AND I BELIEVE WE WILL ALSO BE DOING OUTREACH SERVICES FOR PARK VILLAGE AS WELL. MANAGEMENT. PROPERTY MANAGEMENT.

SO THE CITY DID ISSUE AN RFP FOR I.T. SERVICES IN JANUARY. WE DID RECEIVE SIX RESPONSES FROM I.T. SERVICES. AS I PUT INTO THE GRID, I.T. IS IN LINE WITH OTHER SERVICES. THEY ARE OUR TWO LOWEST BIDS. AND THOSE I BELIEVE THEY JUST WANTED TO RESPOND TO THE RFP. SO I DON'T COUNT THOSE, BUT THERE ARE FOUR OTHERS. AND MARIN I.T. IS REALLY IN LINE WITH THE OTHER RFP. SO IF THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE

STAFF TO BRING IT BACK AND LAY IT OUT, I CAN DO THAT, BUT I DON'T SEE -- WE DID GO OUT, AND IT IS COMPETITIVE.

GO AHEAD, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I HAVE A QUESTION AND DEFINITELY I HAVE A COMMENT WHEN WE GET TO THAT PART

ABOUT THE WHOLE WAY THIS WAS LAID OUT MY QUESTION IS, WHY WAS THIS STRUCTURED THIS WAY? SO WE ALONG WITH THE PUBLIC GOT AN ESCALATION UNDER

STAFF ANALYSIS ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR PARAGRAPHS FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY. WE GOT COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORDINATOR. A COUPLE PARAGRAPHS.

AND SOME LITTLE THING ABOUT PARK VILLAGE. THERE IS NO ANALYSIS, PROS OR CONS FOR WHY WE SHOULD JUST RIDE ALONG WITH ALL OF THESE CONTRACTS. A LOT OF US HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS. COUNCIL MEMBER HINTON RAISED ONE OF THEM. I HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT A LOT OF THESE . SO WHY WAS THIS STRUCTURED THE WAY IT WAS STRUCTURED? WHY AN EXPLANATION FOR SOME OF THE CONTRACTS IN THE GRID AND WHY DID WE NOT GET ANY ANALYSIS ON THE OTHERS?

THE REASON YOU DID NOT GET THE OTHER ANALYSIS FOR THE OTHER DEPARTMENT -- BECAUSE I WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR BUILDING. AND I APOLOGIZE, BUT I DID NOT

REACH OUT TO THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT AND SEE WHAT I AM ASSUMING THAT

BUILDING CONTRACT IS CURRENTLY WHAT WE HAVE IS JUST GOING TO MOVE FORWARD AS IS. NO CHANGE TO THE BUILDING CONSULTANT THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE. SO

THERE IS NO EXPLANATION AS FAR AS EXPLAINING THE BUILDING AND THE ANIMAL SERVICES AND THE OTHERS. BMJ YARD MAINTENANCE. I THINK THOSE ARE JUST ROUTINE. SO I DIDN'T REALLY EXPLAIN.

OKAY. QUESTION TO THE MANAGER WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CONTACTS. IS THIS

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN EVERY YEAR WHEN WE HAVE, LIKE, BUDGETS AND THEN WE

ARE JUST SUPPOSED TO, LIKE, ALLOCATE MONEY FOR SERVICES, BUT YET NOT SEE THE

RECOMMENDED VENDOR FOR THE SERVICES OR AN EXPLANATION OR ANALYSIS OF PROS AND CONS MOVING FORWARD? BECAUSE THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. SO THE QUESTION IS, CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THIS HAPPENED?

SO I CAN EXPLAIN FOR -- I DID REACH OUT ON PHILLIPS SEABROOK FOR BUILDING SERVICES. I DID REACH OUT FORMALLY TO GET A COUPLE QUOTES. THE COUPLE THAT I TALKED TO DO NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY RIGHT NOW. SO BASED UPON OUR STAFFING

SITUATION, IT WAS NOT IN MY PERSONAL OPINION OR PROFESSIONAL OPINION FOR THE

CITY TO GO OUT TO GET QUOTES AT THIS TIME, ESPECIALLY WITH ALL THE Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

DEVELOPMENT WE HAVE GOING ON. AND ESPECIALLY TALKING TO CONSULTING Agenda Item Number: 1
CONTRACT SERVICES THAT WE HAVE. I HAVE ALSO SPOKEN WITH OTHER CITIES AS WELL

AS TO WHAT THEIR SERVICES WERE AND A COUPLE OF THOSE CITIES STILL USE PHILLIPS SEABROOK. NOT STILL USE -- USE PHILLIPS SEABROOK. THE CAPACITY FOR THE OTHER TWO CONSULTANTS IS NOT THERE. WE WILL BE DOING A FULL RFP TO BRING THAT BACK.

THE LANDSCAPE SERVICES LAST YEAR WAS THEIR FIRST YEAR THAT WE CAME IN. SO WE DID NOT DO AN RFP FOR LANDSCAPE SERVICES FOR THIS UPCOMING YEAR. WE SHOULD HAVE A POLICY IN PLACE AS TO AFTER HOW MANY YEARS WE GO BACK OUT. I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE POLICY TO COME BACK. SONOMA COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES. WE HAD DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT LAST YEAR. WE HAVE A CONTRACT WITH THEM CURRENTLY THAT WAS MONTH-TO-MONTH. WE ARE TRYING TO GET NEGOTIATIONS FOR THIS. ALL CITIES ARE BEING EXTREMELY HIGH COSTS FOR ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES.

THE EMPLOYEES DEPARTMENT IS DOING SOME OF IT, WHICH HELPS REDUCE THIS COST.

WE ARE ALSO IN TALKS WITH SONOMA COUNTY AS WELL AS OTHER CITIES AS TO HOW WE CAN WORK REGIONALLY AND COLLABORATIVELY TO TRY TO CREATE SERVICES. WE HAD A MEETING ON THAT AS OF TODAY. BUT WITH OUR SERVICES, OUR ANIMAL

CONTROL SERVICES, SINCE WE DID DO AN RFP LAST YEAR AND WE ONLY GOT ONE

RESPONSE, I DID NOT FEEL WE NEEDED TO GO BACK OUT FOR ANOTHER ONE FOR THIS YEAR. WEST COUNTY COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR PARK VILLAGE SERVICES. THERE IN THE FIFTH YEAR OF THEIR CONTRACT, SO WE WILL BE GOING RFP FOR THEM. MARIN I.T. AS PREVIOUSLY STATED WE DID DO AN RFP EARLIER IN THE YEAR. THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION FROM THAT. SO MOVING FORWARD, MY POLICY IS TO BRING BACK POLICY WHEN WE GO BACK OUT FOR RFPs BUT ALSO HAVE INDIVIDUAL STAFF REPORTS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTS.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

GO AHEAD.

I'M JUST GOING TO SAY THAT I HAVE KIND OF GOT INSIDE KNOWLEDGE OF SOME OF THIS STUFF. SO I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT IT, BUT IT IS KIND OF NICER TO SEE SOME PLUSES AND MINUSES ON A BASIC SHEET THAT COMES OUT. HEY, WE'VE GOT THESE CONTRACTS COMING OUT. WE DID LOOK AT A COUPLE. THIS IS WHY THEY ARE GOOD.

IS THAT YOUR QUESTION? OR --
YEAH.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. SO EVERYONE'S QUESTIONS. WE CAN GO OUT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS IS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE CONTRACTS FOR SERVICES.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT, I WILL DO CHAMBERS FIRST AND THEN GO OUT TO ZOOM. SEEING NONE, I WILL GO OUT TO ZOOM. KYLE, CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE?
YES.

CAN YOU SEE THE TIMER?
YES, I CAN. SO I THINK WHAT IS REALLY, REALLY FASCINATING ABOUT THIS IS THAT

ESPECIALLY OVER THE LAST YEAR, THE ABILITY FOR THE CITY TO HIT DEADLINES IN A

MANNER THAT IS ACTUALLY ALLOWING PEOPLE TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS HAS JUST BEEN THROWN OUT THE DOOR. SO THE FACT THAT WE HAD A BUNCH OF PUBLIC

SEATS ON BODIES LIKE PLANNING COMMISSION OR DESIGN REVIEW THAT WENT MONTHS

AFTER THE ACTUAL EXPIRED DEADLINE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO CALL OUT FOR THE PARTICIPATION. MONTHS AFTER THE FACT. WE ARE ASKING PEOPLE TO SERVE FOR

MONTHS AFTER THEY ARE ASSIGNED TIME BECAUSE THE CITY JUST CANNOT TIME THESE THINGS. WE CANNOT SEEM TO ACTUALLY HIRE PEOPLE. AND THEN WE USE THE

INABILITY FOR US TO HIRE PEOPLE AS THE JUSTIFICATION FOR GOING OUT FOR CONTRACTS. AND NOW IT HAS GOTTEN EVEN TO THE POINT YOU DON'T EVEN HIT THE

CONTRACT DEADLINE IN TIME THAT YOU COULD EVEN GO OUT FOR AN RFP ON THESE THINGS. AND SO WHAT IS HAPPENING IS THAT THE CITY MANAGER IS SOMEHOW

USURPING AUTHORITY TO BE ABLE TO MAKE FINANCIAL DECISIONS WITHOUT GOING TO

COUNCIL OR EVEN WORSE TAKING THOSE DECISIONS, CLUMPING THEM TOGETHER AND THROWING THEM ON CONSENT. EXPLAIN TO ME HOW MY EXPLANATION OF WHAT I JUST DESCRIBED THAT HAS HAPPENED OVER THE LAST YEAR SINCE JANUARY IS WRONG.

BECAUSE THAT METHODOLOGY OF CONTINUING TO PUSH DECISIONS OUT PAST THE Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

POINT WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY EVEN MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS BECAUSE YOU ARE Agenda Item Number: 1
BEYOND DEADLINES -- RIGHT? YOU GOT TO FORK OVER ALL THIS MONEY TO PAY FOR THIS THING BECAUSE THE GRANT DEADLINE IS COMING OUT. ALL OF THESE THINGS THE

ACTUAL DECISION ON YOU, THE COUNCIL, IS ACTUALLY A NONDECISION BECAUSE YOU

PUSH THE DEADLINE SO FAR OUT THAT YOU CAN'T ACTUALLY PUSH THE DEADLINE ANY FURTHER TO ACTUALLY DISCUSS AND COME UP WITH A DECISION. FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX THAT. YOU'VE GOT A COUPLE MONTHS UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR. IT SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT CAMPAIGN ISSUE.

THANK YOU, KYLE, FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT I WILL COME BACK INTO CHAMBERS. IF THERE IS ANYONE IN CHAMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM. SEEING NONE, I WILL GO BACK OUT TO ZOOM. IF ANYBODY ON

ZOOM WOULD LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND VIRTUALLY. SEEING NONE, PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. BACK HERE FOR ANY COMMENTS.

YEAH. NOT TO BEAT A DEAD HORSE, BUT I'M NOT OKAY WITH HOW THIS HAPPENED, AND

I FEEL VERY CONFLICTED BECAUSE I DON'T WANT THE CITY TO BE IN A SITUATION

ASKING CONTRACTORS THAT THEY HAVE HAD FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS TO

JUST TAKE ON GOOD FAITH THAT SOMETHING'S GOING TO HAPPEN AND THEY WILL GET CONSISTENTLY PAID EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NO CONTRACT. NOT OKAY WITH THIS PROCESS. BUT I ALSO DON'T WANT TO DISRESPECT THEM EVEN THOUGH AS I SAID I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT A LOT OF THESE CONTRACTS. I ALSO WANT THEM TO HAVE REASSURANCE THAT THEY WILL GET PAID BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT CITIES DO. YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO MAKE YOUR BILLS ON TIME. SO WITH THAT, I WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE THIS.

GO AHEAD, COUNCILMEMBER HINTON.

I'M REALLY FRUSTRATED WITH THIS ITEM BECAUSE EVEN IF BUDGET COMMITTEE HAS INSIDER INFORMATION, THAT IS NOT HOW IT IS SUPPOSED TO WORK. IT IS SUPPOSED TO COME BACK TO THIS FULL COUNCIL. AND THESE ARE $340,000 WORTH OF CONTRACTS. I

HAVE OVER AND OVER EXPRESS CONCERN TO THE POINT THAT I WANTED TO BE INFORMED ABOUT THE I.T. RFP, AND IT NEVER HIT THIS COUNCIL . SO STAFF JUST WENT WITH WHAT THEY ARE COMFORTABLE WITH AND THREW OUT TWO OF THE LOWEST BIDS.

SO I'M NOT GOING TO BE VOTING FOR THIS TONIGHT BECAUSE WHAT I HEARD IS WE COULD STILL PAY THESE VENDORS. AND THAT IS NOT A PROBLEM. WE'RE JUST GOING FORWARD WITHOUT CONTRACTS. PROBABLY IN THE MAJORITY. BUT I REALLY AM NOT OKAY WITH THIS PROCESS. I WASN'T OKAY. IT GOT THROWN ON CONSENT. AND THE WAY

I THINK THESE LARGE CONTRACTS NEED TO COME TO FULL COUNCIL, NOT JUST BE DEALT

WITH WITH TWO COUNCILMEMBERS THAT DO NOT MAKE A MAJORITY ON A BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE. I THINK THAT IS WRONG. AND I ALSO DON'T THINK IT FOLLOWS OUR POLICY. I NEED TO REFRESH MYSELF WITH WHAT MINIMUM CONTRACTS CAN JUST BE MOVED FORWARD ON. OBVIOUSLY WE ARE VOTING ON THESE. SO, YOU KNOW. OUR POLICY. BUT I HAVE NO BACKUP TO VOTE, SO I CANNOT MAKE AN EDUCATED DECISION TONIGHT. I'M NOT WILLING TO VOTE ON YOUR CONTRACTS WITHOUT ABILITY TO MAKE AN EDUCATED DECISION BASED ON THE STAFF REPORT. SO I WILL BE VOTING NO.

BASED UPON THAT, THEN I'M GOING TO BE VOTING NO TOO BECAUSE OF MY CONCERNS ALSO. BECAUSE I DID NOT UNDERSTAND. QUESTION TO STAFF. SO IF WE DO NOT MOVE ON THIS, THESE VENDORS WILL CONSISTENTLY GET PAID. IS THAT A YES OR NO? THEY WILL GET PAID FOR THE WORK THEY HAVE DONE. WE WILL REACH OUT TO THEM TO SEE IF THEY WILL CONTINUE TO DO SERVICES UNTIL WE BRING THIS BACK. AND THEN WE WILL BRING THIS BACK FOR A FULL DISCUSSION. WE WILL BRING IT BACK ON INDIVIDUAL STAFF REPORTS. BUT THEY WILL STILL GET PAID. THEY ARE NOT GOING TO NOT GET PAID FOR THEIR SERVICES.

OKAY. WITH THAT, I AM A NO TOO.

I HAVE A QUESTION. MARY, JUST LISTENING TO WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING HERE, IS

THERE A BETTER, DIFFERENT WAY THAT WE COULD DO THIS PROCESS GOING FORWARD EVEN IF THIS IS VOTED IN TONIGHT? LIKE FOR NEXT YEAR SO THAT WE ARE NOT DOING

THIS AFTER THE FACT BUT IT IS ALL BROUGHT TO THE COUNCIL BEFORE BUDGET SEASON ACTUALLY STARTS? I MEAN, WHAT IS A DIFFERENT WAY THAT WE COULD DO THIS SO THAT WE DON'T GET INTO THIS AGAIN?
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

A DIFFERENT WAY WOULD BE, WELL, ONE, WE WOULD GO OUT FOR RFP MUCH SOONER.

Agenda Item Number: 1
TWO, THE FACT THAT THESE WERE -- AND I AM NOT GOING AGAINST COUNCIL. THE FACT THESE ARE ON THE BUDGET. I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE DISCUSSED IT. WE DISCUSSED IT AT BUDGET COMMITTEE. WE DID DISCUSS IT DURING THE BUDGET -- LINE ITEMS WITHIN THE BUDGET. I UNDERSTAND THAT WE DO HAVE A PURCHASING POLICY. I BELIEVE IT IS 50,000 WHEN WE GO OUT FOR AN RFP. DEPENDING ON THE LENGTH OF THE CONTRACT, SOME

CONTRACTS THAT ARE NOT LISTED HERE WE DO HAVE ONE OR TWO OR THREE YEARS DEPENDING ON WHAT THE COUNCIL APPROVED ORIGINALLY. WE WILL BRING THIS BACK MUCH EARLIER. WE WILL BRING THIS BACK IN JANUARY FEBRUARY. WE WILL DO THE RFPs. THAT IS THE ONLY WAY THAT I THINK TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE DONE BY JUNE 30th AS WELL. BUT ALSO UNDERSTANDING THAT WE CANNOT AWARD THE PROJECT UNTIL THE BUDGET IS ADOPTED EITHER. SO THEY DO NOT COME BACK ON THE LAST ITEM. ON JULY 7th. BECAUSE OF SCHEDULING AND LENGTH OF ITEMS. SO THEY DID COME BACK ON THIS ITEM.

LET'S SAY WE DO A NEW RFP. THAT RFP COULD BE FOR SERVICES FOR FIVE YEARS. SO IT COMES TO THE COUNCIL. COUNCIL IS APPROVING IT. WE PUT IN THE CONTRACT AMOUNT .

THIS IS A FIVE-YEAR AGREEMENT. WE KNOW IT IS GOING TO COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL FOR NEW RFP. IT IS STILL SUBJECT EACH YEAR TO THE BUDGET BEING ALLOCATED FOR SERVICES. BUT THEN YOU DON'T -- YOU SORT OF HAVE ESTABLISHED, OKAY, WE ARE WILLING TO HAVE THIS AGREEMENT. COME BACK IN FIVE YEARS.

JUST AN EXAMPLE. THEY HAVE ONE MORE YEAR. SO THAT IMMEDIATELY GETS ROLLED IN.

YOU COULD JUST HAVE THAT AGREEMENT UP FRONT, SAY, THIS IS AGREEMENT FIVEYEAR TERM. THAT WAY WE KNOW TOO. YOU ARE NOT ASKING STAFF TO DO AN RFP, WHICH I KNOW THE COUNCIL IS NOT EVERY SINGLE YEAR FOR ALL OF THESE SERVICES.

YOU ARE STARTING TO ESTABLISH WHEN YOU WANT THEM TO BE DONE. AND IT WOULD STILL BE SUBJECT TO BUDGET ALLOCATION EACH YEAR.

I'M SORRY. [ INAUDIBLE ]
FOR ME, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT WAS ALREADY DISCUSSED DURING BUDGET HEARINGS.

SO EVERYBODY ALREADY HAD A CHANCE TO DISCUSS THIS AND VOTE ON THIS. THIS IS JUST GIVING OUR CITY MANAGER THE APPROVAL TO GET THESE CONTRACTS AWARDED.

SO I AM COMFORTABLE WITH THIS AND I WOULD LIKE TO THEN MAKE A MOTION TO

AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AND ADMINISTER THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENTS AND RELATED AMENDMENTS.

SO BEFORE -- COUNCILMEMBER ZOLLMAN, ARE YOU WITHDRAWING YOUR MOTION? YOU HAD A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.

YES.

DID YOU SAY THE CORRECTED AMOUNT? DO WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE CORRECTED -- WITH THE CORRECTED AMOUNT.

WITH THE CORRECTION.

GO AHEAD.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT WHILE IT IS IN THE BUDGET, IT IS FOR THE SERVICES.

NOT NECESSARILY THE EXACT VENDORS IF THEY ARE PAST THEIR DATE FOR RENEWAL AS ALEX POINTED OUT. IF WE HAVE A CONTRACT, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM FILLING THE TERM OF THE CONTRACT. SOME OF THESE VENDORS, THE SPECIFIC WHAT I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT HAD A TERM AND IT HAD BEEN PUSHED OUT ONE YEAR. ONE YEAR. ONE YEAR. WHILE WE ARE WAITING TO ROLLOUT THE RFP. AND WHEN THE RFP CAME BACK WITH SIX HITTERS, IT NEVER CAME BACK TO COUNCIL. THAT IS MY ISSUE. IT NEVER -- IT IS OVER 50,000. WE DIDN'T GET A DECISION TO LOOK AT THOSE BIDS AND MAKE A VOTE.

SO YES. OF COURSE WE NEED I.T. SERVICES. I'M JUST NOT HAPPY WITH THE WAY THIS PROCESS HAS ROLLED OUT.

OKAY. SO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. I'M SORRY.

I MADE A MOTION.

YEAH, THAT IS WHAT I WAS SAYING.

I'M GOING TO SECOND. OF COURSE I AGREE THAT ALL THREE -- BROUGHT BEFORE THE FULL COUNCIL. I APOLOGIZE IF MY BEING ON THE BUDGET AND NOT ASKING IT TO BE BROUGHT UP IS A THING. YEAH.

Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

I ALSO WANT TO CLARIFY THAT SOME OF THESE ARE IN THE BUDGET AS NAMED OUT. SO Agenda Item Number: 1
LIKE OUR BUILDING IS NAMED OUT IN OUR BUDGETS FOR THE CONTRACTS. THEY ARE LISTED.

COUNCILMEMBER -- SORRY. COUNCILMEMBER CARTER .

SO MOVED BY -- DID YOU SECOND THE MOTION?
HE DID.

I NEED TO CALL THE MOTION FIRST. SO MOVED BY VICE MAYOR MAURER. SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER CARTER. CORRECTIONS AS NOTED BY CITY STAFF. [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. SO NOW WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO INFORMATIONAL ITEM PRESENTATIONS. NUMBER SEVEN, INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATION ON UPDATES TO JERRY THREET SEBASTOPOL POLICE DEPARTMENT. I BELIEVE OUR POLICE CHIEF IS COMING UP HERE. WE GENERALLY TRY TO KEEP THESE PRESENTATIONS AT 10 MINUTES IF POSSIBLE , BUT TAKE IT AWAY.

GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL. YEAH. THIS IS FOR A REQUEST FOR THE COUNCIL TO RECEIVE

AND FILE THE UPDATE FOR THE INDEPENDENT CIVILIAN REVIEW THAT WAS CONDUCTED BACK IN 2021. TO PROVIDE SOME BASIC BACKGROUND FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW,

THE REPORT WAS REQUESTED AFTER A NUMBER OF NATIONAL INCIDENTS AND SOME CONCERN THAT MAY SURROUND THE INSTABILITY OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HERE.

AS A RESULT OF THAT, THERE WERE 146, IF I RECALL, RECOMMENDATIONS MADE TO THE CITY AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE DEPARTMENT OVER THE COURSE OF THE RECEIPT OF THAT REPORT MADE A NUMBER OF CHANGES IN BETWEEN 2021 AND 2024.

IMPLEMENTED EVERYTHING THEY BELIEVED THEY NEEDED TO IMPLEMENT OR COULD IMPLEMENT. AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, THE DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO EMBRACE THOSE PRINCIPLES. AND THEY NOW TREAT THAT DOCUMENT AS A FOUNDATIONAL

DOCUMENT RATHER THAN A DOCUMENT THAT REQUIRES ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS. THE PREVIOUS POLICE CHIEF, NELSON, ACTUALLY PRESENTED A STAFF REPORT IN DECEMBER OF 2024 SUGGESTING THAT HE BELIEVED THAT THE DOCUMENTED -- LIFESPAN. AND I DO AGREE WITH HIM ON THAT. SINCE THAT REPORT THAT CHIEF NELSON MADE TO COUNCIL BACK IN 2024, NO ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE REQUIRED IMPLEMENTATION. INSTEAD, THE DEPARTMENT HAS FOCUSED ON CONTINUING IMPROVEMENTS. AND THESE ARE THINGS THAT WERE SUGGESTED IN THE AUDIT RECOMMENDATIONS. ADAPTING TO CALIFORNIA LAW, POLICE

OFFICER AND STANDARD TRAINING, POLICY UPDATES, WHICH ARE A CONSTANTLY

EVOLVING, MOVING TARGET INVOLVING CASE LAW, TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS, AND NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED BEST PRACTICES. THE DEPARTMENT POLICY WAS UNDER REVIEW AS I UNDERSTAND BY CHIEF NELSON PRIOR TO MY TENURE HERE IN 2024. AND HE

SUGGESTED THAT HE'D HAVE THOSE UPDATES THAT HE WAS LOOKING AT COMPLETED BY MARCH OF 2025. BUT AS I UNDERSTAND, HE DIDN'T GET THAT COMPLETED IN THAT TIMEFRAME. I STARTED IN MARCH OF 2025. AS IS TYPICALLY THE CASE, WE HAVE CHANGING ADMINISTRATION IN A POLICE DEPARTMENT. A NEW CHIEF COMES IN AND BEGINS REVIEW OF POLICY AND ALSO THINGS LIKE PROPERTY AND EVIDENCE. NOT PREPARED TO ACCEPT LIABILITY OF PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS. AND THAT IS THE CASE THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH NOW. SO AROUND SOME OF THE PRIORITY REASONS THAT I WAS HIRED HERE, WHICH WAS ACCORDING TO THE HIRING MANAGER. ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS HE HIRED ME WAS MY ABILITY TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN EMPLOYEES. SO THAT WAS REALLY THE MAIN FOCAL FOR ME WHEN I GOT HERE. WE ARE NOW AT THAT

STAGE WHERE I AM ABLE TO LOOK AT POLICY AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH OUR STAFF TO DO THAT. AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE PROBABLY HAVE OUR FIRST OVERALL REVIEW OF THAT DOCUMENT COMPLETE IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. PUBLISHED ON THE WEBSITE. MOVING ON. RELATING TO JERRY THREET REPORT AGAIN, THE DEPARTMENT'S

FOCUS RELATING TO SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT IS CONTINUED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. THAT ALSO REQUIRES A BUDGET TO DO THAT. DOING THE ADDITIONAL TRAINING THAT WE FEEL NECESSARY. WE CAN AVOID THE CITY BEING SUED. OFFICERS TRAINED -- ISSUES LIKE THAT. WE ARE BRINGING ON A NUMBER OF NEW STAFF. WE ARE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT BEING FULLY STAFFED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MANY YEARS. IN BOTH DISPATCH AND PATROL OFFICERS. SO WITH HIRING AND FILLING THOSE POSITIONS, THERE IS ADDITIONAL TRAINING REQUIRED. OFFICERS DON'T HIT THE Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

GROUND HERE AT THE DEPARTMENT WHETHER THEY COME AS LATERAL TRANSFERS Agenda Item Number: 1

FROM OTHER AGENCIES OR FRESH OUT OF THE ACADEMY WITH THE SKILL SET THAT WE NEED TO BE AS PROFESSIONAL AS WE CAN WITH OUR COMMUNITY. SO CONTINUING DEVELOPMENT IS JUST PART OF THE PROGRAM THAT WE NEED TO SUPPORT. ONE OF THE

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS I NOTED IN THE INDEPENDENCE CIVILIAN REVIEW WAS THE

DEPARTMENT SUFFERED FROM MANY YEARS OF INSTABLE -- INSTABILITY, RATHER, IN THEIR ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP HERE AND MANAGEMENT. AND THAT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN TO AGREE -- TO A DEGREE RECTIFIED. WE HAD TWO YEARS OF THE POLICE CHIEF, WHICH IS BASICALLY THE NATIONAL AVERAGE THESE DAYS. AND I AM APPROACHING 18 MONTHS NOW. SO BASED ON THAT, THE DEPARTMENT POLICE

ASSOCIATION RAN THEIR OWN EMPLOYEE REVIEW INTERNALLY AND THEY PUT OUT A SURVEY TO THE STAFF TO SEE WHERE WE WERE AT. WHERE THEY ARE AT, I SHOULD SAY, BECAUSE IT DID NOT COME FROM ME. OVERWHELMINGLY, STAFF SAID THAT THIS IS THE

BEST THEY CAN RECALL THE DEPARTMENT BEING FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AS FAR AS MORELL, CULTURE, AND WHAT THEY RECEIVE FROM THE ADMINISTRATION. SO I SAW THAT AS BEING A REALLY POSITIVE INDEPENDENT REVIEW. RECENT IN THE LAST MONTH.

AS I MENTIONED, RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION ARE ALSO LOOKING GREAT. WE HAVE NO NEWS OF ANYBODY LEAVING, WHICH IS ALSO WONDERFUL. BUT WE ARE ALSO

BORDERING ON BEING FULLY STAFFED, WHICH IS VERY EXCITING BECAUSE WE CAN DO GREAT THINGS FOR OUR CITY WITH A FULLY STAFFED POLICE AGENCY. SO AS I WAS

SAYING, THE INDEPENDENT CIVILIAN REVIEW HAS REACHED ITS INTENDED PURPOSE AND

BECOMES A FOUNDATIONAL DOCUMENT THAT WE CONTINUE TO RELY ON MOVING FORWARD. BUT I SEE NOTHING IN IT THAT REQUIRES ANY FURTHER IMPLEMENTATION AT THIS TIME. AND THAT WAS SUPPORTED BY THE PREVIOUS POLICE CHIEF AS WELL. I THINK THAT IS ALL I HAVE. ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL?
GO AHEAD, COUNCILMEMBER .

TRYING TO DO MY DUE DILIGENCE AND HOMEWORK BEFORE I CAME HERE TONIGHT. I

HAVE TO SAY I WAS SHOCKED ABOUT THE CONTENTS OF WHAT WAS NOT PRESENTED IN THIS REPORT. SO I REACHED OUT TO ALEX. ALEX [ INAUDIBLE ] SO I DON'T STATE

ANYTHING I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO STATE, CAN YOU STATE YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THIS AGENDA ITEM GOT IT FOR THAN WHAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO CONTAIN?

THE COUNCIL DIRECTED IN CLOSED SESSION FOR THERE TO BE AN UPDATE ON THE AUDIT. THE POLICE AUDIT AND WHERE THE DEPARTMENT WAS ON ITS REVIEW OF THOSE ITEMS. THOSE ITEMS AND REVIEW OF POLICIES.

RIGHT. SO THANK YOU FOR ALSO REFRESHING MY MEMORY THAT AS THE CHIEF JUST

SAID, THE PRIOR CHIEF SAID THAT HE WOULD COME BACK WITH HOW THOSE OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS -- EIGHT OF THEM -- WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED BY MARCH 2025. SO

MY EXPECTATION WAS THAT THROUGH MARY, OUR CHIEF'S BOSS, THAT IT IS WHAT I WOULD SEE IN TODAY'S STAFF REPORT. NOT JUST EVERYTHING IS GOOD AND TRUST US THAT IT IS GOOD. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW THOSE EIGHT FURTHER ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS WERE IMPLEMENTED. AND THERE IS NO WAY OF VERIFYING THAT. IF YOU GO ON THE SITE AS I ASKED FOR, IT IS 650 PAGES ON PDF. NOT ANY ONE OF THEM MENTIONS WHEN IT WAS LAST UPDATED. SO CHIEF, I AM ASSUMING YOU DID NOT GET

THAT INFORMATION THAT WHAT WAS REQUESTED OF YOU WAS TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE

FROM WHERE CHIEF NELSON LEFT US WHEN HE TOLD US THE LAST TIME HE WAS HERE

BEFORE US THAT THOSE WOULD BE ABLE TO BE TALKED ABOUT AND DISCUSSED BY MARCH 2025. I TAKE IT YOU DID NOT GET THAT MEMO.

I ASSUME YOU ARE REFERRING TO POLICIES. IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE REFERRING TO

GIMMICKS

I'M JUST ASKING YOU THE QUESTION, WERE YOU RELAYED THE INFORMATION FROM ALEX ABOUT WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS WERE FOR THE STAFF REPORT? THE EXPECTATIONS FOR THE STAFF REPORT BY THE TITLE OF THE STAFF REPORT. WHICH IS WHAT I PROVIDED IN MY OPINION. BUT IF THERE'S SOMETHING I COULD ADD TO HELP ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS, I CAN DO THAT. BUT YOU ARE REFERRING TO ATE SOMETHING. I ASSUME YOU ARE REFERRING TO POLICIES?
YES. BECAUSE ACTUALLY WHAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE STAFF REPORT WAS THE LAST COUPLE PAGES. ACTUALLY PAGE 171 AND PAGE 172 HAS THE DISCUSSION. THE SLIDE

DECK SLIDES THAT SAYS THERE'S SEVEN OR EIGHT RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WILL STILL Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

NEED TO BE IMPLEMENTED. AND THE PRIOR CHIEF SAID THAT WE WOULD HEAR ABOUT Agenda Item Number: 1
HOW THOSE WERE IMPLEMENTED BY MARCH OF 2025, WHICH IS NOW OVER A YEAR FROM NOW. SO I GUESS THE QUESTION IS, WHY IS THAT NOT IN THE STAFF REPORT? I THINK YOU ARE REFERRING TO POLICIES. TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, NO. WE DID NOT

RECEIVE INFORMATION ABOUT ANY STATUS OF POLICY UPDATES FROM CHIEF NELSON WHEN HE WAS IN THAT TRANSITION PERIOD. BUT AS I SAID IN MY PRESENTATION, ANY

NEW ADMINISTRATION WILL COME IN HERE AND BEGIN A NEW REVIEW OF POLICY AND MANY OTHER ASPECTS OF THE DEPARTMENT AS STANDARD PRACTICE. THAT IS STANDARDIZED ACROSS THE ENTIRE NATION. THIS IS NOT JUST A ME THING. WHATEVER CHIEF NELSON HAD DONE IS WITHOUT ANY DISRESPECT IRRELEVANT TO ME. I NEED TO

DO MY OWN INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF POLICIES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY MEET THE STANDARDS THAT I WAS HIRED FOR TO BRING TO THIS DEPARTMENT IN THE CITY.

OKAY. DID I HEAR YOU SAY ALSO THE FACT THAT REFERENCING OTHER UPDATES THAT YOU WOULD HAVE THE FULL REVIEW DONE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS? DID I HEAR YOU SAY THAT EARLIER?
YEAH. WE HAVE ALMOST FINISHED THE FULL REVIEW OF THE WHOLE POLICY DOCUMENT -- 700 ODD PAGES YOU REFERRED TO.

SO WE CAN AGENDIZE THIS FOR A MEETING IN SEPTEMBER THAN TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT PDF BUT THIS TIME HAVING THE DATE OF WHEN IT WAS LAST REVIEWED BY YOU.

LISTED. IS THAT POSSIBLE?

THAT WILL BE UPDATED ON THE WEBSITE WITH THE DATE THAT THE ENTIRE DOCUMENT WAS POSTED. WE'RE NOT DOING THAT TO EACH INDIVIDUAL POLICY.

OKAY. SO YOU WILL JUST REVIEW ALL 675 PAGES AND BRING IT BACK IN SEPTEMBER

AND YOU WILL HAVE THE DATE OF WHEN IT IS LAST REVIEWED FOR THE PUBLIC IF THEY ARE SEARCHING WHEN WAS THE LAST USE OF DEADLY FORCE UPDATED.

NO.

THEY WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THAT YOU REVIEWED IT AND YOU REVIEWED THE CURRENT DEADLY FORCE PROTOCOL IS UP TO WHAT YOU BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE.

I'M STARTING TO GET LOST IN EXPLANATION NOW. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS. POLICY DOCUMENTS. NOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT USE OF FORCE DATA AND DEADLY FORCE.

THERE IS A DEADLY FORCE POLICY, CORRECT?
I'M SURE THERE IS, YEAH.

WHAT I'M ASKING FOR IS WHENEVER YOU ARE BRINGING IT BACK IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS THAT IT LIST EXACTLY WHEN IT WAS LAST REVIEWED. ARE YOU MEETING THE FACT THAT ALL 635 PAGES HAVE BEEN REVIEWED BY YOU? THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS POSSIBLE.

AS I SAID, IT WILL BE LISTED ON THE WEBSITE. IT IS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC WITH THE DATE.

OKAY.

ANOTHER QUESTION. COUNCILMEMBER HINTON.

THANKS FOR YOUR UPDATE . MY QUESTION WAS WHAT I EXPECTED TO HEAR AND

MAYBE THIS IS, I DON'T KNOW, A LITTLE CLEARER, BUT IF YOU GO TO THE END OF THE AGENDA ITEM AND YOU SEE THE LAST AGENDA ITEM THAT IS DATED NOVEMBER 25th, 2024, WHAT THE PREVIOUS CHIEF HAD BEEN DOING IS HE HAD BEEN GOING ITEM BY ITEM BY ITEM AND HAVING COMPLETED. AND THEN HE HAD EIGHT OPEN THAT WERE STILL IN PROGRESS. AND WHEN I SCANNED DOWN, YOU CAN SEE, FOR EXAMPLE, ITEM NUMBER EIGHT. ITEM NUMBER EIGHT ADDRESSES PERFORMANCE REVIEWS AND EVALUATION PROCESSES. AND THAT IS WHAT I WAS INTERESTED IN ASKING ABOUT AND WHAT I'M

INTERESTED IN HEARING ABOUT IS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ADDRESSING THAT ITEM,

WHICH WAS PART OF THE ITEM AND ARE WE NOW ON TOP OF OUR EVALUATION PERFORMANCES FOR THE FULL DEPARTMENT AND WHAT IS THE POLICY? YEAH.

THAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT I THOUGHT WE WOULD BE BRINGING BACK THE UPDATES. AND MAYBE WE CAN RE-AGENDIZE THAT. BUT --
THERE MAY BE SOME CONFUSION IN THAT, BUT I'M HAPPY [ INAUDIBLE ] Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

WHEN IT WOULD COME, HE WOULD ALWAYS GO THROUGH. NOW WE HAVE COMPLETED Agenda Item Number: 1
THESE. NOW WE HAVE COMPLETED THESE. BUT THESE WE ARE STILL WORKING ON. THAT WAS MY EXPECTATION IF I COULD BE CLEAR ON THAT.

MY ONLY INTERACTION AND DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS WAS THAT WE WERE DONE. HE SAID, WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED WHAT WE CAN. OTHERS WE CANNOT.

NEW CHIEF. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR YOUR ASSESSMENT ON THOSE OPEN ITEMS.

I CAN DO THAT. I DID LOOK AT THE REPORT. I STUDIED THIS REPORT BEFORE I EVEN APPLIED FOR THIS POSITION.

AND THEN MAYBE UPDATES ON ONCE HE THOUGHT WERE COMPLETED. BUT OBVIOUSLY THE WORLD CHANGES ALL THE TIME.

YEAH, THERE'S DEFINITELY A CONSTANT REVIEW OF ALL THE POLICIES AND CASE LAW AND BEST PRACTICE. THAT IS A MOVING TARGET. ALWAYS FOR THE BETTER, I HOPE

SO JUST TO FURTHER -- WHEN YOU ARE MAKING -- WHEN YOU'RE DOING THESE REVIEWS AND MAKING CHANGES, ARE YOU REDLINING IT AND THAT IS HOW? ON POLICY DOCUMENTS?
YEAH. BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS WHERE THE ISSUE IS. YOU KNOW, IF YOU ARE

CHANGING AND UPDATING, I THINK WHAT I'M HEARING IS COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THOSE CHANGES ARE. SO YOU'RE DOING THAT ALREADY? NO. THOSE CHANGES ARE WITHIN OUR PLATFORM THAT COMES FROM THE ORGANIZATION THAT WE CONTRACT WITH THAT IS WIDELY USED ACROSS THE NATION.

IT IS DONE WITHIN THEIR SYSTEM. IF THEY PROVIDE AN UPDATE, WHETHER IT IS CASE

LAW, BEST PRACTICE, OR AN UPDATE THEY HAVE SOMEHOW FORMULATED, I SUBMIT IT THROUGH THE PORTAL. IT ARRIVES IN OUR PLATFORM AND WE LOG IN FOR REVIEW. AND WE JUST GO THROUGH AND CHECK OFF. BUT IT IS REDLINED IN THAT WITH SUGGESTED CHANGES. AND WE BASICALLY ACCEPT THE CHANGES THAT WE ARE MAKING. AND THEN

ONCE IT HAS BEEN THROUGH THAT APPROVAL PROCESS OF SUPERVISORS, LIEUTENANT AND MYSELF. A NUMBER OF LAYERS. IT IS THEN SENT OUT TO ALL STAFF TO BE READ AND ACKNOWLEDGED. THE POLICY RELATES TO WHATEVER THE TOPIC HAPPENS TO BE.

AND YOU ALSO STRESS HOW IT IS RELATED TO THAT. I THINK THAT WOULD ALSO BE HELPFUL THAT THESE POLICIES ARE THROUGH OUR RISK MANAGEMENT AGENCY.

CORRECT. AND THEY ALSO PROVIDE TRAINING FOR US. SIERRA PROVIDES TRAINING FOR US AS POLICE CHIEFS IN CONJUNCTION WITH LEXAPRO. THEY ARE VERY MUCH INTERTWINED AND WORK TOGETHER ON POLICY UPDATES. AND WE DON'T RECEIVE INDIVIDUALIZED POLICIES. THE POLICIES WE HAVE IN THE CITY ARE VERY MUCH NATIONALIZED. OR IF THEY HAPPEN TO BE STATE REQUIREMENTS, THEY ARE REFLECTED IN STATE REQUIREMENTS IN THE POLICY. SO WE DON'T JUST WILLY-NILLY MAKE DECISIONS ON, HEY, THIS IS WHAT WE WOULD LIKE THE POLICY TO BE. WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO IN AND EDIT POLICIES AND DO THAT. WE OBVIOUSLY DON'T BECAUSE THAT IS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY OR CITIZENS.

AND -- GO AHEAD.

THINK YOU FOR BRINGING UP. MY UNDERSTANDING IS LEXAPRO IS LIKE A CANNED THING. AND IF WE HAD CERTAIN DEVELOPMENTS WITHIN THE CITY WHERE WE WOULD

WANT CHANGES, THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO PROPOSE THOSE TO YOU BECAUSE WE CERTAINLY HAVE HAD CHANGES. THIS AGENDA ITEM DID NOT COME OUT OF THE BLUE. IT CAME OUT OF A CLOSED SESSION RELATED TO AN INCIDENT THAT WAS REPORTED ON. SO

THAT IS THE REASON WHY WHEN WE COME BACK IN TWO MONTHS, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT BEING ADOPTED. ALL OF THESE POLICIES BEING ADOPTED BY YOU ON A CERTAIN DATE

BECAUSE I DON'T WANT THE PUBLIC TO BE CONFUSED THAT WE ARE STILL OPERATING

UNDER THE SAME POLICIES THAT PREDATED A SIGNIFICANT INCIDENT IN THE COMMUNITY. SO THAT IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO CONVEY. HOPEFULLY THIS TIME IT IS CLEAR AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT IS POSSIBLE TO HAVE DONE. 200% COMMUNITY THAT POLICIES ARE UPDATED BY LEXAPOL VERY REGULARLY.

WHENEVER THERE IS A CHANGE, CASE LAW CHANGE OR TECHNIQUE THAT NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED. WHENEVER THOSE CHANGES ARE LAMENTED, THEY ARE IMMEDIATELY SENT OUT AND ACKNOWLEDGED BY OUR OFFICERS. DESPITE THOUGHTS OF INCIDENT THAT

OCCURRED IN OUR CITY, INCIDENTS OCCUR ACROSS THE ENTIRE NATION AND THERE IS NEVER A USE OF FORCE THAT LOOKS GOOD EVER. ANYTIME WE HAVE TO PUT OUR HANDS

ON SOMEBODY NOT DOING WHAT THEY ARE TOLD WHEN THEY ARE REQUIRED TO Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

LAWFULLY, IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD. IT NEVER LOOKS AT GOOD ON CAMERA. WE DO OUR Agenda Item Number: 1

BEST TO DE-ESCALATE AND NOT DO THAT, BUT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN IT IS JUST A NECESSITY. USE OF FORCE POLICY IS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED. IT IS NOT SOMETHING WE JUST CONJURED UP AND SAID THAT WILL DO. VERY MUCH TESTED, PROVEN AND WIDELY USED ACROSS THE NATION.

OKAY. NO OTHER QUESTIONS. WE WILL GO OUT TO PUBLIC COMMENT.

THIS IS PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE INFORMATIONAL ITEM FROM THE POLICE CHIEF. IF

YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM, I WILL COME TO CHAMBERS FIRST.

JUST SOME HISTORICAL INFORMATION. I WAS LOOKING BACK AT THE ARTICLE I WROTE AFTER THAT -- AFTER RON NELSON'S LAST TALK ON THIS. YOU GUYS ACTUALLY DID -- HE DID UPDATE THOSE EIGHT ITEMS. AND SAID THEY HAD BEEN DISCUSSED WITH STAFF.

AND THEY SEEM TO HAVE BEEN OKAYED BY YOU GUYS. IF THERE WERE SEVEN ITEMS THAT HE SAID SHOULD NOT BE DONE, AND HE EXPLAINED WHY. SO JUST TO CLARIFY, THAT IS WHERE WE ARE. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A NEW PROCESS. THAT IS COOL, BUT I JUST THOUGHT I WOULD GIVE YOU A LITTLE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND.

THANK YOU, LAURA BRITT WE WILL GO OUT TO ZOOM. KYLE, CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF PLEASE?
I CAN.

THANK YOU. CAN YOU SEE THE TIMER?

LET'S GO AHEAD AND APPLAUD OUR ANNUAL POLITICAL THEATER WHERE WE BRING

OUR POLICE CHIEF FORWARD FOR A FIVE YEAR LONG REPORT THAT JUST KIND OF DRAGS

ON AND WE DON'T ACTUALLY MAKE PROGRESS OR HOLD ANYBODY ACCOUNTABLE FOR

THE DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE WITHIN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT OR THE CHANGES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. I HOPE THAT THESE CONVERSATIONS THAT YOU ARE KIND OF

DOING PUBLICLY AND BACK AND FORTH WITH THE POLICE CHIEF ARE THINGS THAT ARE

HAPPENING IN LABOR NEGOTIATIONS BECAUSE IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WHEN IT

CAME TO LABOR NEGOTIATIONS THIS LAST YEAR THAT YOU WERE MAKING QUITE CLEAR THAT OUR POLICE IS DOING GREAT. AND SO I REALLY HOPE THAT WHILE MAYBE YOU

DECIDE TO KEEP LABOR NEGOTIATIONS MORE OF A PRIVATE NATURE THAT WHEN YOU

ARE IN THOSE PRIVATE NEGOTIATIONS THAT AS MUCH OF A STRONG STANCE YOU ARE TAKING ON POLICING TAKES PLACE IN THOSE ROOMS AS WELL. I WANT TO REALLY HIGHLIGHT ONE PARTICULAR RECOMMENDATION. THAT WOULD BE THE LAST ONE. 58.

WHICH IS LISTED AS NOT COMPLETED. BUT THE THING IS ABOUT THIS ONE IS, OH, THE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THIS ONE IS ON U.S. CITY LEADERSHIP. SHE COMMITS US CD

LEADERSHIP SHOULD ESTABLISH A PROCESS TO CONSIDER AND CREATE A MODEL OF INDEPENDENT EFFECTIVE CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT. THAT IS APPROPRIATE TO SEBASTOPOL'S NEEDS. I HAVE HEARD TALK OF THIS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. AN AGENDA ITEM WHERE IT WAS COMMITTED TO. WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT USING THINGS LIKE A MODEL AND ABOUT TRYING TO FIND FUNDING FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. BUT TIME AND TIME AGAIN, NOTHING HAPPENS. TIME AND TIME AGAIN, YOU BRING A POLICE CHIEF UP THAT SAYS IT'S NOT REALLY IN OUR CULTURE. IT WOULD NOT REALLY FIT AS A MODEL FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND YET NOTHING CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. I BELIEVE THAT THE POLICE CHIEF HAS BEEN ASKED TO COME AND SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. HAVE NOT BROUGHT IT UP TONIGHT. I DON'T EXPECT WE WILL SEE IT AGAIN FOR A LONG TIME.

KYLE, THAT IS TWO MINUTES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT I WILL COME BACK INTO CHAMBERS. IF THERE IS ANYONE IN CHAMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT. SEEING NONE, I WILL GO BACK OUT TO ZOOM. LEE -- KATE, DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT? GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

I JUST WANTED TO OFFER SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO KYLE'S COMMENT,

WHICH IS WE ACTUALLY DO HAVE SOME OTHER POLICING PROGRAMS AND I BELIEVE ONE

OF THEM IS CALLED THE HEART PROGRAM THAT IS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE EITHER

COUNTY OR CITY OF SANTA ROSA -- I'M NOT SURE -- AND THEN THERE IS ALSO THE MOBILE SUPPORT TEAM, WHICH IS ALSO A COUNTY RUN PROJECT. AND I THINK THERE MIGHT BE SOME CONFUSION ON HOW THE POLICING POLICIES ARE BEING UPDATED. IT

SOUNDS LIKE THEY ARE UPDATED TO A SOFTWARE PROGRAM CALLED LEXIPOL, WHICH

MEANS THEY HAVE BEEN VERIFIED FOR BEST NATIONAL PRACTICES, AND THEREFORE

YOU PROBABLY WOULD NOT GO INTO THAT AND MAKE INDIVIDUAL CHANGES FOR YOUR Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

CITY UNLESS YOU HAVE A LOT OF CASE LAW AND OTHER DUE DILIGENCE DONE BECAUSE Agenda Item Number: 1

YOU MIGHT END UP IMPLEMENTING POLICY THAT WOULD THEN MAKE YOU LIABLE IN OTHER WAYS. SO I THINK HEART OF YOUR MISSION IS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE POLICIES ARE UPDATED THROUGH YOUR SOFTWARE PROGRAM. AND THEN WHAT ACTUAL CHANGES WOULD BE LEGALLY VIABLE FOR A TOWN THAT IS 7500 PEOPLE WITH VERY LIMITED LEGAL AND POLICING STAFF. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. I WILL GO OUT TO ZOOM. LEE, COULD YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE?
YES.

THANK YOU. CAN YOU SEE THE TIMER STILL?
YES.

GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

I SECOND WHAT LAURA SAID. I HAVE A FAIRLY DISTINCT MEMORY OF THIS WHEN CHIEF NELSON SAID IT LAST TIME. ALTHOUGH I DON'T THINK THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS --

COUNCIL MEMBER ZOLLMAN WAS HAPPY ABOUT IT, AT THE TIME CHIEF NELSON SAID

THEY DID NOT FEEL LIKE THE REMAINING ITEMS THAT HE HAD NOT ADDRESSED NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED. AND MAYBE THAT DISCUSSION NEVER GOT FINISHED. AND MAYBE IT NEVER GOT CARRIED FORWARD. SO MAYBE THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE CLOSED-DOOR

MEETINGS WITH THE POLICE CHIEF TO GET CLARITY AROUND WHAT IT IS THAT COUNCILMEMBER ZOLLMAN IS LOOKING FOR AND WHAT IS POSSIBLE. I'D ALSO LIKE TO

MAKE A POSITIVE COMMENT ABOUT THE POLICE CHIEF AND I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY

HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE CONVERSATION NEXT DOOR, BUT HE IS APPARENTLY QUITE VISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC. FOLKS ON NEXT DOOR HAVE COMMENTED ON HIM MAKING TRAFFIC STOPS. THEY SEE HIM WALKING THE DOWNTOWN AREA. HE HAS BEEN ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN ISSUES LIKE THE VANDALISM ON THE BACK OF THE SAFEWAY. AND A LOT OF THESE ISSUES ARE GETTING RESOLVED. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE EVER HAD A POLICE CHIEF BEFORE THAT TOOK SHIFTS -- NIGHT SHIFTS ON PATROL. THIS IS KIND OF UNIQUE SITUATION. AND IT IS CERTAINLY ONE THAT IS PROBABLY GETTING HIM UP TO SPEED OR

GOTTEN HIM UP TO SPEED VERY QUICKLY ON THE UNIQUENESS OF SEBASTOPOL AND WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY GOOD THINGS FROM THE COMMUNITY'S POINT OF VIEW ABOUT OUR NEW CHIEF. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. I WILL COME BACK INTO CHAMBERS. IF THERE IS ANYONE IN CHAMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT. SEEING NONE, I WILL GO BACK OUT TO ZOOM.

I WILL GO OUT TO ZOOM. IF THERE IS ANYONE IN ZOOM, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND VIRTUALLY. SEEING NONE, PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED ON THIS ITEM.

ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS?
SO WHEN ARE WE AGENDA RISING THIS AGAIN? I HEARD TWO WEEKS. SO IS THIS COMING BACK ON IN SEPTEMBER OR WHEN?
WE WILL NEED TO BRING THIS TO AGENDA REVIEW AND LOOK AT OUR SCHEDULES. LOOK AT THE CALENDARS. NEED TO WORK WITH THE CHIEF.

SO THAT SEEMS LIKE A DIFFERENT PROCESS. SO DOES THAT MEAN THAT IF I NEED TO DO THIS, I NEED TO TAKE MY TIME TO PRAYER AN AGENDA ITEM?
NO. I WILL BRING IT BACK, I JUST CANNOT GUARANTEE WHAT MEETING DATE IT IS.

ALL RIGHT. SO IT WILL GO THROUGH AGENDA REVIEW HOPEFULLY SEPTEMBER TIMEFRAME. OKAY.

OKAY. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO WE ARE JUST RECEIVING THAT INFORMATION. AND WE WILL MOVE ON TO NUMBER EIGHT. AGAIN, FOR OUR POLICE CHIEF, INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATION ON CRIME STATISTICS FOR FISCAL YEAR 25-26 TO INCLUDE DETAILS, MAP LOCATIONS OF INCIDENTS FOR EASE OF REFERENCE. THANK YOU FOR COMING BACK.

PLEASURE. WASN'T TOO LONG OF A WALK. SO THIS WAS THE INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATION REGARDING THE FISCAL 25-26 CRIME STATISTICS CALLS FOR SERVICE

POLICE ACTIVITY AND GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF REPORTED INCIDENTS THROUGH THE CITY. I NOTED THAT THERE WAS A REQUEST FOR MAPS TO SHOW INCIDENTS AND DETAILS LIKE THAT. BUT ACROSS THE REPORTING PERIOD OF AN ENTIRE YEAR, IT REALLY MADE THE MAPS IN MY OPINION NONSENSICAL. IT DOESN'T REALLY SHOW ANY SORT OF HIGHLIGHTED AREAS THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON. WHAT WOULD BE Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

USEFUL TO THE COUNCIL. I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT OTHER WAYS TO IDENTIFY ANY Agenda Item Number: 1
INFORMATION YOU WANT TO DRAW FROM THOSE STATISTICS IN A MAPPING SENSE. BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS RELATED, I'M HAPPY TO TRY TO HELP YOU WITH THAT. BUT

I JUST FOUND THAT A DIFFICULT TASK TO ACHIEVE GIVEN THE TIMEFRAME THAT YOU ARE LOOKING TO REPORT ON. BUT DURING THE 25-26 FISCAL YEAR, WE RESPONDED TO 19,000 PLUS COMPUTER-AIDED INCIDENTS, WHICH IS ABOUT 52 EACH DAY. AND THOSE

INCIDENTS RANGE FROM EMERGENCY, NONEMERGENCY CALLS, CRIMINAL

INVESTIGATIONS, TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENTS, SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES, WELFARE CHECKS, MENTAL HEALTH, TRANSIENT RELATED CALLS FOR SERVICE. AND THOSE RECORDS WE HAVE -- THERE'S 1 MILLION WAYS TO SEARCH THEM AND TO DRAW INFORMATION. I FIND SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO APPLY CONTEXT MORE OFTEN THAN

NOT, ACTUALLY, BECAUSE YOU CAN REALLY SKEW THEM AND MAKE THEM LOOK HOW YOU WOULD LIKE THEM TO LOOK. THESE STATS SHOW WE ARE VERY BUSY. I COULD

PROBABLY FORMULATE THEM IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS TO PRESENT DIFFERENT OPINIONS. BUT I'M TRYING TO BE OBJECTIVE HERE AND JUST GIVE YOU WHAT THEY ARE JUST TO GIVE YOU -- TO INFORM YOUR OWN OPINIONS. IT LOOKS LIKE WE SPENT 13,219 HOURS RESPONDING TO AN INVESTIGATING INCIDENTS ON SCENE. THAT IS JUST ON SCENE INVESTIGATION, WHICH AVERAGES 41.7 MINUTES PER INCIDENT. FROM THE TIME THE CALL IS RECEIVED. THERE IS ALSO THE FOLLOW-UP TIME THAT IS NOT CAPTURED IN THAT DATA AND IS NOW AT THE MOMENT TO CAPTURE THAT. CERTAINLY HAS NOT BEEN USED IF THERE IS. I GUESS WE COULD, YOU KNOW, USE SOME SORT OF CALLSIGN AND CAPTURE THAT WAY, BUT IT IS NOT CAPTURED IS PROBABLY WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY.

SO BASICALLY LOOKS LIKE WE ARE SPENDING ABOUT 36 HOURS OF ACTIVE EVERY DAY.

THAT IS A LOT OF TIME. TWO OFFICERS ON PATROL. AND UNDER THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION, MYSELF AND THE LIEUTENANT. WE ALSO ASSIST WHERE WE CAN TO

BE A FORCE MULTIPLIER FOR THE DEPARTMENT AND TO HELP THE CITIZENS OF OUR CITY HAVE A SAFER PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK. TO HAVE OFFICERS ACTUALLY WORKING 36 HOURS A DAY. LONGER THAN THERE IS ACTUAL HOURS IN THE DAY. SO I WILL TRY NOT

TO BORE YOU WITH STATISTICS, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS WHAT THIS PARTICULAR ITEM IS. 19,000+ CALLS FOR SERVICE. NEARLY 7000 BUSINESS CHECKS. SECURITY CHECKS. 830 CRIMINAL CASE INVESTIGATIONS. 318 ARRESTS. OVER 1000 TRAFFIC STOPS. NEARLY 1200 CITATIONS. AND NEARLY 700 -- 650 PARKING CITATIONS WERE ISSUED. IN THE

REPORTED CRIME CATEGORIES, I TRIED TO KEEP THESE DOWN TO SOME OF THE MAJOR

CATEGORIES THAT WERE REPORTED BECAUSE THE LENGTH OF THE DOCUMENT IS EXTENSIVE WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT THE MANY, MANY CRIMES THAT EXIST. SO THEFT, FRAUD, AND STOLEN PROPERTY REPRESENTED 144 OF THE 318 CASES THAT WE HAD. 93 DRUG OFFENSES. 85 PROBATION, PAROLE, AND PRETRIAL VIOLATIONS. 83 ONE ARRESTS. 47 DISORDERLY CONDUCT. PUBLIC INTOXICATION. ARRESTS. 45 ASSAULT OR BATTERY. WE HAD 38 RESISTING, OBSTRUCTING, OR EVADING POLICE. THAT IS A FIGURE THAT WILL BECOME INTERESTING LATER ON. 38 VANDALISM OFFENSES. 31 DUIs. 18 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. 15 BURGLARIES. SEVEN TRESPASSING ARRESTS. THE TRANSIENT RELATED CALLS FOR SERVICE. IT IS HARD NOT TO REFLECT ON WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW. IN 2025, 2026 FISCAL YEAR, THAT WAS SIGNIFICANT. THEY REPRESENT A VERY LARGE PORTION OF POLICE TIME AND CERTAINLY CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS. BUT

I TRIED TO -- BECAUSE WE'RE STILL IN THIS PHASE OF IMPLEMENTING A MECHANISM -- WE

HAVE THE MECHANISM, BUT CAPTURING THE DATA AND MAKING SURE IT REFLECTS ACCURATE REPORTING OF TRANSIENT RELATED INCIDENTS. NOT ALL THE OFFICERS WERE DOING THAT. THEY WERE NOT REFERRING TO THAT INCIDENT THEY WERE ON IF IT WAS TRANSIENT RELATED. SO THAT WASN'T BEING CAPTURED. SO THE REPORTING IS A LOT OF GUESSWORK. SO THAT IS ONE OF THE CHANGES I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO MAKE IS

TO ENSURE THAT WE KNOW THAT THAT IS SO THAT WE CAN CAPTURE THE RELEVANT DATA AND REPORTS OF THE COUNCIL AND TO OUR COMMUNITY. THE DOWNTOWN PLAZA REPRESENTS 319 OF THE CALLS TO SERVICE WE HAD RELATED TO TRANSIENT RELATED MATTERS IN THE FISCAL YEAR 25-SIX. MAIN STREET. ALSO REPRESENTED A LARGE PORTION AT 243. MARKETPLACE AT THE NORTH END OF TOWN. 238. 72. I FEEL LIKE THIS YEAR IT IS GOING TO EXPLODE. PRETTY MUCH ALL OF THE PARKS AND CITY AREAS.

ANYWHERE THAT WE FIND THE COMMUNITY CONGREGATING WHERE BUSINESSES ARE,

WE SEEM TO FIND CORRELATING FIGURE OF TRANSIENT RELATED CALLS FOR SERVICE AS Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

WELL. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT RELATES TO MORE PEOPLE SEEING IT AND CONCERNED Agenda Item Number: 1

WITH IT OR THERE IS A COMBINATION THERE ALSO THAT THAT IS WHERE THE CRIME IS

WHERE THEY ARE THERE BECAUSE OF PERHAPS PANHANDLING OR SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM. IT IS POSSIBLY A MIXTURE OF ALL THE ABOVE. THAT BEING SAID,

WE HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY FORTUNATE TO BE PARTNERING WITH -- WE HAVE A CONTRACT. BUT WE ALSO PARTNER WITH SONOMA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES. BASED OUT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. I CANNOT SPEAK HIGHLY ENOUGH OF THAT PROGRAM AND WHAT THAT REPRESENTATIVE HAS BEEN DOING FOR OUR CITY.

JUST THIS WEEK. MYSELF. I'M REPORTING 25-26 -- I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE

INTERACTIONS WITH TRANSIENT INDIVIDUALS -- DIRECTLY WORK WITH HIM AND THEY ARE OFF TO SHELTERS VERY QUICKLY. HAPPY TO SEE SOME IMPROVEMENT THERE AS WE MOVE FORWARD INTO THE NEXT REPORTING PERIOD. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF STATS PROVIDED IN THE STAFF REPORT RELATING TO WHAT REPORTED UP UNTIL MAY 15th AND ALSO SOME STATS FROM WC CS. STATS AS I UNDERSTAND SOME ISSUES WITH THE

ACCURACY OF THEM AND THEY APPARENTLY DID SOME SORT OF REVIEW AND CAME BACK TO US WITH SOME STATISTICS. THE STATISTICS ARE NOT WATER REFLECTED HERE IN THE REPORT. IF THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE ME TO DISCUSS THIS , I CAN. I'M NOT SURE IT IS SPECIFICALLY CRIME RELATED THOUGH. AS PART OF THE CRIME REPORTING, WE

ARE REQUIRED TO DO WHAT WE CALLED DATA, WHICH IS RACIAL AND IDENTITY PROFILING REPORTING. SO ANY TYPE OF CONTACT WE HAVE WITH SOMEONE THAT IS NOT CONSIDERED CONSENSUAL. TRAFFIC STOP OR WE ASKED SOMEONE TO STOP AND INSPECT THEM FOR A PARTICULAR INVESTIGATIVE PURPOSE. ANY TYPE OF PERSONS DETAINED OR ARRESTED. WE MAKE THAT REPORTING. SO WE ARE ABLE TO DRAW THAT DATA. THAT IS REFLECTED HERE. I FOUND THAT THAT DATA REALLY REFLECTS THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE CITY. I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING THERE I WAS ALARMED BY WHERE IT LOOKS LIKE WE

ARE TARGETING A PARTICULAR TYPE OF RACE WITH ANY TYPE OF UNFAIRNESS BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. IN MY OPINION, THE DATA INDICATED THAT

THE REPORTED CRIME REMAINED RELATIVELY STABLE THROUGH THE REPORTING PERIOD. YOU KNOW, OUR VIOLENT CRIMES WERE INFREQUENT, WHICH WAS GOOD. I WOULD PREFER TO SEE NONE, BUT PROPERTY RELATED OFFENSES. STEALING IS HUGE. WE

REALLY ARE WORKING HARD ON THAT BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THAT IS -- THAT REFLECTS A

LARGE -- IT REFLECTED A LARGE NUMBER OF THE CALLS THAT WE RESPOND TO IN CASES

THAT WE HAVE COME AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE COUNTY'S DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S

OFFICE ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME TASK FORCE TO TRY TO GET SEBASTOPOL INVOLVED

AND TO BE ABLE TO DRAW SOME RESOURCES FROM THAT TASK FORCE AND THE AMAZING INVESTIGATIVE KNOWLEDGE FROM THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THAT. THAT TASK FORCE INVOLVES DETECTIVES FROM EVERY AGENCY IN THE COUNTY.

PLAINCLOTHES POLICE BUT ALSO REPRESENTATIVES FROM ALL THE IMPACTED BUSINESSES AND NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS. NORDSTROM RACK. SAFEWAY.

ALL THE MAJOR BUSINESSES THAT ARE SUFFERING FROM THEFT AND RELATED CRIME.

THIS TASK FORCE WORKS TOGETHER TO IDENTIFY THE PEOPLE. THEY DON'T JUST STEAL FROM ONE STORE. THEY MOVE AROUND. IT IS REMARKABLE THE WORK THEY ARE DOING TO CAPTURE THESE PEOPLE. AND THEN WORKING WITH THE D.A. TO PROSECUTE THEM.

OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF THESE CRIMES IS PETTY THEFT TYPE THINGS. MISDEMEANOR. BUT AFTER A NUMBER OF MISDEMEANORS, THEY GET A LIMITED NUMBER. WE START MOVING INTO FELONIES. SO THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE CHASING. TRYING TO CAPTURE THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE REPEAT OFFENDERS AND ADDRESS THAT. AND IT IS WORKING VERY, VERY WELL. AND WE HAVE HAD SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT THEFTS IN THE LAST WEEK.

NOT IN THIS REPORTING PERIOD. NONETHELESS, IT IS REFLECTED VERY HIGH IN THIS REPORTING PERIOD. IT IS HUGE ON MY RADAR TO ADDRESS. CERTAINLY UNDER MY

LEADERSHIP, WHICH IS ALL I CAN SPEAK TO, THE DEPARTMENT HAS WITH MY SUPPORT A VERY DIRECTED, PROACTIVE APPROACH TO POLICING THE CITY. LOOKING AT PREVENTING CRIME BEFORE IT OCCURS RATHER THAN BEING REACTIVE TO CRIME. THE MISDEMEANOR CUSTODIAL ARREST HAVE INCREASED BY 45% PER MY LEADERSHIP IN THE DEPARTMENT. I HAVE ZERO TOLERANCE FOR CRIME IN THE CITY. IF I CAN TAKE YOU TO JAIL, YOU'RE GOING TO JAIL. SEEMS TO BE THE ONLY THING THAT I CAN REALLY DO TO TRY TO PREVENT CRIME OCCURRING IN THE CITY. IT IS QUITE PREVALENT. SO I'M HOPING TO SEE SOME SORT OF -- SOME SORT OF RESULT FROM THAT. BUT WE DO HAVE Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

SOME CONCERNS WITH THE WAY THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM HANDLES THOSE. THOSE PEOPLE Agenda Item Number: 1
ONCE THEY GET -- CAN SPEAK TO THAT IF THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE ME TO. CUSTODIAL ARRESTS ONLY REPRESENT ONE MEASURE OF THE ACTIVITY THAT WE PERFORM. I FEEL

LIKE OUR COMMITMENT TO ADDRESSING CRIME AND EXERCISING PROFESSIONAL DISCRETION WHEN NECESSARY THROUGH WARNINGS OR CITATIONS IS UNPARALLELED. I

THINK THE WAY THAT THE CITY OF SEBASTOPOL POLICES ITS COMMUNITY IS CERTAINLY MY EXPERIENCE -- AND THIS IS MY SIXTH AGENCY I HAVE WORKED FOR IN THE 27 YEARS SINCE I BEGAN POLICING. THIS CITY IS REMARKABLE. AND THE POLICE THAT WORK FOR

THE DEPARTMENT ARE EXCEPTIONAL AT TAKING A VERY COMMUNITY-BASED APPROACH TO INCIDENTS IN THE CITY. I DON'T BELIEVE I HAVE A WHOLE LOT MORE TO ADD TO THIS AT THE MOMENT UNLESS THE COUNCIL HAS ANY QUESTIONS. YOU.

OKAY. DID YOU HAVE MORE? I'M SORRY.

NO. I WAS JUST CHECKING MY NOTES, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE I HAVE ANY MORE. LET ME KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU FOR THAT. WHEN YOU STARTED, SOMETHING ABOUT MAPPING IS NONSENSICAL. SO WHAT DID YOU REFER TO THAT AS FAR AS TRYING TO BE MORE

SPECIFIC AS TO WHERE THESE CRIMES WERE OCCURRING OUTSIDE OF WHAT YOU HAVE LISTED AS FAR AS THE PLAZA TRAIL. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO?

YEAH, I FELT LIKE THE REQUEST FOR MAPPINGS TO TRY TO IDENTIFY THESE HOTSPOTS THAT SOME OF THESE CRIMES ARE HAPPENING. I FOUND OVER THAT WHOLE YEAR REPORTING PERIOD, IT JUST MADE A MAP OF JUST THOUGHTS EVERYWHERE. IT REALLY

DIDN'T PROVIDE TO ME, AT LEAST, ANY USEFUL INFORMATION I THOUGHT YOU COULD REFLECT ON.

OKAY.

GO AHEAD.

I HAD JUST SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PARKING CITATIONS BECAUSE I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE 652. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANALYZED THAT. ARE THEY REPEAT OFFENDERS? ARE THEY EMPLOYEES THAT JUST AREN'T MOVING THEIR CAR? BECAUSE WE OFFER FREE PARKING. SO THAT MEANS PEOPLE ARE STAYING LONGER. ANY FEEDBACK ON THAT? BECAUSE I WAS KIND OF SHOCKED.

I DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION THAT I CAN BE ACCURATELY REPORTING ON FOR THAT.

ALL I CAN SAY IS WE HAVE A VERY PROACTIVE POLICE TECHNICIAN THAT GETS OUT THERE AND SHE HAS WORKED FOR THE CITY FOR OVER 20 YEARS. AND SHE IS VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT SHE DOES. AND SHE IS ALWAYS EAGER TO OPEN UP PARKING WHEN NECESSARY. IF YOU PARK BEYOND THE TIME LIMITS, SHE IS GOING TO -- WE DO

HAVE A VERY ACTIVE COMMUNITY AS WELL THAT ARE VERY GOOD AT REPORTING TO THE DEPARTMENT. SOMETIMES WITH ME DIRECTLY. ISSUES THE RECEIVE ATTENTION.

PARKING AND TRAFFIC RELATED MATTERS. WE ADDRESS THEM IMMEDIATELY.

THANK YOU.

I HAD A QUESTION. TWO OF THEM ACTUALLY. SO YOU ARE SAYING JUST READING IN HERE WHEN YOU MENTIONED THE TRANSIENT RELATED CALLS ARE 25% OF THE WORKLOAD -- THAT IS, LIKE, LESS THAN 1% OF OUR POPULATION UTILIZING 25% OF OUR POLICE TIME. IS THAT RIGHT?

THAT IS AN ESTIMATE BECAUSE AS I SAID, THERE WAS A LACK OF CONNECTING

TRANSIENT RELATED INCIDENTS TO A CALL BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT REFERRING TO IT AS A TR I, A TRANSIENT RELATED INCIDENT. SO I HAVE HAD TO GUESS THAT SHOULD. I HONESTLY FEEL IT IS MUCH HIGHER THAN THAT. I FEEL LIKE AN EXTRA REPORTING PERIOD IS GOING TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN WHAT I'M REPORTING. THIS IS ME

TRYING TO BE OBJECTIVE EVEN THOUGH I HAVE TO BE SUBJECTIVE, UNFORTUNATELY, ON THAT PARTICULAR STATISTIC. BUT THIS YEAR I AM GUESSING TRIPLE IT.

MY SECOND QUESTION WAS ABOUT SOMETHING YOU MENTIONED EARLIER THAT YOU COULD EXPOUND ON THAT. IT WAS THE JUDICIAL -- OR WAS THAT THE TERM YOU USED? YES. I CERTAINLY HAVE MY CONCERNS ABOUT -- WE DISCUSSED THIS AT VARIOUS MEETINGS. BUT I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT WE MAKE A CUSTODIAL ARREST. THEY ARE TRANSPORTED TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. BOOKED. THE CITY OF SEBASTOPOL IS BILLED FOR THAT BOOKING. AND THEN WITHIN THE DAY WERE THE NEXT DAY, THEY ARE BACK OUT HERE AGAIN AND WE ARE ARRESTED AGAIN FOR SOMETHING ELSE. IT IS CONCERNING TO ME.

Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

I SEE. AND I KNOW I HAD ASKED YOU PREVIOUSLY SOMETIME ALONG THE LINE WITH Agenda Item Number: 1

THESE PROPERTIES THAT ARE OWNED BY THE COUNTY BUT WITHIN OUR DISTRICT

WHETHER OR NOT WHEN YOU ARE DOING BOOKINGS THERE IF THE COUNTY PAYS FOR THAT. BUT YOU TOLD ME THAT THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE.

CORRECT. I RECEIVED THE REQUEST TO ASK THE COUNTY, THE SHERIFF IN PARTICULAR,

WHETHER WE COULD NOT BE BILLED FOR BOOKINGS THAT RESULT FROM COUNTY RUN OR OWNED PROPERTIES, BUT THAT WAS DENIED.

VICE MAYOR, DID YOU HAVE YOUR HAND UP?
THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT. YOU SAID THAT STEALING IS HUGE. AND I AM WONDERING WHAT PEOPLE ARE STEALING.

WE HAVE A LOT OF BICYCLES STOLEN. WHICH WE ARE QUITE PROACTIVE ABOUT TRYING TO FIND. BUT WE HAVE ISSUES WITH SERIAL NUMBERS NOT BEING RECORDED. UNLESS WE HAVE GOT PICTURES -- WE DO HAVE A RETURN BIKE. HIS BIKE WAS STOLEN AND IT WAS RECOVERED WITH A TRANSIENT MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY. BUT THE OTHER MAJOR THEFT LOCATIONS ARE GROCERY STORES. IT IS IMMENSE. AND A LOT OF IT IS NOT REPORTED. SO WE ARE NOT EVEN CAPTURING THAT DATA IN THIS AND IT IS STILL SIGNIFICANT WHAT WE CAN CAPTURE. IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR US TO FIND STOLEN

GOODS AND THEN HAVE TO ACTIVELY IDENTIFY WHERE THEY CAME FROM FROM THE

GROCERY STORE AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHEN THEY WERE TAKEN AND THEN HOPE THAT THEY WILL ALLOW US TO PROSECUTE.

SO I WONDER IF SOMEONE IS STEALING FOOD IF THEY COULD -- IF YOU COULD -- IF YOUR

DEPARTMENT COULD MAKE SURE THEY HAD INFORMATION ON WHERE THEY COULD GET HELP.

I CAN ASSURE YOU THESE PEOPLE KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THEY CAN GET THEIR FOOD.

ONE PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL I CAN TELL YOU WHO HAS BEEN TRESPASSED FROM THE LOCATION DEVELOPED BECAUSE OF HIS CONDUCT. SO THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR

HIM -- IMPOSSIBLE, ACTUALLY, WITHOUT BEING ARRESTED, TO GET FOOD WITHOUT BEING ARRESTED.

BUT YOU ARE SAYING YOU GET OUT INFORMATION ON HOW PEOPLE CAN GET INFORMATION IF THEY NEED FOOD.

EVEN THOUGH A LOT OF THE TIME THE END OF BEING ARRESTED QUITE OFTEN, THEY SEEM TO ARREST -- RESIST ARREST AND WHAT I CONSIDER UNNECESSARY USE OF FORCE.

WE HAVE GREAT RELATIONSHIPS. WHEN THEY ARE GOOD, THEY ARE GOOD. WE CAN

HAVE GREAT CONVERSATIONS OR MAKE CONNECTIONS WITH PERSONNEL THAT MIGHT

HELP THEM WITH REQUESTING OUTREACH SERVICES AND CONNECTIONS TO A DRIVERS

LICENSE, SOCIAL SECURITY CARD, AND HOPEFULLY LEANING TOWARD SHELTER OR PLACEMENT. SOMETHING THAT CAN WORK TOWARD SOME SORT OF IMPROVEMENT IN THEIR LIFE. AND HOPEFULLY A JOB AND MAKE THEMSELVES SELF-SUFFICIENT. WE TRY VERY HARD.

AND I JUST SHARE ANECDOTALLY -- THE CHIEF KNOWS A MONTH AND A HALF AGO I HAPPENED TO WITNESS A THEFT AT SAFEWAY. A GENTLEMAN WALKED RIGHT OUT WITH A HUGE THING OF ALCOHOL. SO I WENT OUT AFTER HIM. AND THE DISCUSSION ABOUT

WHY HE WAS STEALING THAT WAS ONE OF THE POINTS THAT CAME UP WAS WHETHER OR NOT HE WAS HUNGRY. WHY WAS HE STEALING ALCOHOL? HE SAID, I'M JUST -- BECAUSE I WANT TO GET THE EDGE OFF. HE SAID, I KNOW HOW TO GET FOOD. ANECDOTAL. IT IS ONE THAT I WITNESSED. BUT THAT DISCUSSION DID HAPPEN, YOU KNOW. SO ANYWAY.

YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THE POST THAT WE PUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA THIS WEEK. LAST WEEK WITH THE GRAND THEFT AND THE IMAGES OF THE TWO MALES INVOLVED IN THAT. THEY HAD STOLEN FROM MULTIPLE GROCERY STORES IN THE CITY. STEALING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF ALCOHOL. VERY, VERY HIGH DOLLAR. PICKING LOCKS. ON BOXING ALCOHOL. TAKING IT OUT IN MULTIPLE TRIPS TO THE VEHICLE. THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AT A TIME. SO, YEAH. THAT IS DEFINITELY NOT A SURVIVAL SITUATION.

SO WHAT I DON'T SEE IN HERE IS ABOUT DATA. WE HAD A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC NOT

THAT LONG AGO SAYING WE HAVE THE HIGHEST FELONY ASSAULT ARREST IN REFERENCE TO OUR YOUTH. NOTHING IN HERE ABOUT YOUTH. EARLIER TONIGHT, IT WAS

DISCUSSIONS ABOUT SOMETHING -- A NOT GREAT SITUATION THAT MIGHT BE INVOLVING OUR YOUTH. WHY IS THERE NO YOUTH DATA HERE, THE SECOND FOLLOW-UP QUESTION

IS, WHAT ARE YOU DOING AROUND DIVERSITY BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND YOU SAY THAT -- Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

IT SOUNDED LIKE YOU WERE HAPPY THE FACT THAT YOUR ARREST RATE IS 25%. BUT FOR Agenda Item Number: 1

ME ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE YOUTH, IT IS MORE ABOUT DIVERSION AND ARE WE USING RESTORATIVE JUSTICE? CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE YOUTH ELEMENT IN THIS?

THE REASON YOU WON'T FIND -- THE REASON YOU WON'T FIND ME GOING DOWN THE

RABBIT HOLE WITH IDENTIFYING MULTIPLE OTHER AREAS WE COULD DELVE INTO HIS BECAUSE I'VE GOT A 10 MINUTE PRESENTATION TIME AND IT'S JUST NOT POSSIBLE TO INCORPORATE EVERY ASPECT. THAT PARTICULAR ASPECT WAS NOT REQUESTED OF ME EITHER. SO IF IT HAD BEEN, I COULD HAVE MAYBE REMOVED SOMETHING ELSE AND FORMULATED THAT INTO THE REPORT SOMEHOW. BUT WE ABSOLUTELY DO. THOSE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO US. WHEN THEY ARE AVAILABLE AND NECESSARY. THE INCIDENT YOU ARE REFERRING TO. THAT WAS INVESTIGATED REMARKABLY QUICKLY. I

PERSONALLY ASSISTED OFFICERS TO WORK DURING THE NIGHT TO TRAVEL TO A DIFFERENT CITY TO GO TO ARREST ONE OF THE INVOLVED JUVENILES. IN THAT

PARTICULAR SITUATION WAS ABSOLUTELY NOT OKAY WITH ANY TYPE OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE OR PAT ON THE BACK AND SAYING, WE WILL DO BETTER NEXT TIME. HE WAS

ABSOLUTELY REFERRED FOR CRIMINAL CHARGES BECAUSE THAT IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE CONDUCT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SORRY. COUNCILMEMBER CARTER.

YEAH. JUST A QUICK CHANGE OF DIRECTION. I'M KIND OF CURIOUS WHAT TRENDS YOU

SEE AND WHERE THINGS ARE GOING WITH THE CITY OF SEBASTOPOL NEEDS TO PAY ATTENTION TO AND IF SOME THINGS ARE DIVERTING AWAY. DO YOU STILL NOTICE THAT AS A HOTSPOT? ALSO IF YOU COULD REMARK ABOUT SOME TRAFFIC SAFETY THINGS LIKE E-BIKES?
DEFINITELY SEEING AN UPTICK IN THE E-BIKES. WE HAVE ONE IN PARTICULAR AND HE LOVES E-BIKES AND EVERYTHING ABOUT THEM. THAT IS WHAT IS GREAT ABOUT HAVING PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT OUR INTERESTS. HE ACTIVELY CHASES THEM. AND HE IS ALSO INTERESTED IN THE EDUCATIONAL SIDE OF IT AS WELL TO TRY AND HELP THESE KIDS.

BUT WE ARE SEEING A HUGE UPTICK ACROSS THE NATION AND CALIFORNIA PARTICULAR.

WE HAVE THESE KIDS ACTUALLY BEING INVOLVED IN FATAL ACCIDENTS. NOT

NECESSARILY THEMSELVES BUT OTHER PEOPLE HITTING PEDESTRIANS AND KILLING THEM. RUNNING INTO OTHER VEHICLES AND KILLING THEMSELVES. IT IS REMARKABLE. A RECENT TRAINING I WENT TO INVOLVED THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH. I HAD AN

ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF E-BIKE INCIDENTS, BUT THEY HAD INVESTIGATIVE GROUPS FROM THE APARTMENT THERE. THEY HAD THE D.A. THEY HAD A PROSECUTOR THERE.

THEY HAD THE CITY ATTORNEY THERE SPEAKING ON IT. AND THEY WENT THROUGH A NUMBER OF CASES. THEY ARE ACTUALLY CHARGING PARENTS NOW WITH ALLOWING AND ENABLING THEIR KIDS TO DO THINGS ON THESE E-BIKES. WHEN IT RESULTS IN SOMEONE DYING, YOU'RE LOOKING AT MANSLAUGHTER. IT IS PRETTY SERIOUS CHARGES.

THE LAWS ON E-BIKES ARE CONSTANTLY CHANGING. I FEEL LIKE THEY ARE TRYING TO CATCH UP AND TRYING TO KEEP UP. IT IS JUST SUCH A FAST EVOLVING INDUSTRY. SO THAT IS KIND OF THE SPACE. JUST TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH THAT. WHAT WAS THE FIRST PART OF YOUR QUESTION, PLEASE?
JUST OTHER TRENDS. REFERRING TO THE COMMONS AREA. THAT'S FINE. I WAS TRANSLATING. I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE HAD A REDUCTION IN POLICE RESPONSES TO THAT

LOCATION, BUT THAT SEEMS TO BE DIRECTLY CORRELATED TO A MOVE TO A FEW GROUPS OUT OF THAT FACILITY THAT WERE REAL PROBLEM CHILDREN, SO TO SPEAK. AS

A RESULT OF THAT, WE SEEMED TO HAVE A BETTER FIT WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE STILL THERE. NOT TO SAY WE DON'T HAVE ISSUES THERE. WE STILL DO, BUT IT IS REMARKABLY LESS THAN IT WAS. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE ANY -- WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER WHO IS IN THE FACILITY. SO IT IS JUST A PURE LUCK GAME AT THE MOMENT. THAT BEING SAID, TODAY'S ARRESTS STEMMED FROM SOMEONE AT THAT LOCATION STEALING FROM ANOTHER CHURCH. SO WE STILL --
THINGS WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF, DO YOU SEE CITIZENS GOING A SPECIFIC DIRECTION? A SPECIFIC TYPE OF CRIME?
DEFINITELY THEFT RELATED. THEFT AND TRANSIENT RELATED. BASICALLY SORT OF INTERTWINED WITH EACH OTHER. BUT THEY SEEM TO BE THE PREDOMINANT THINGS WE DEAL WITH. AND TRAFFIC. THERE'S A LOT OF TRAFFIC RELATED. HONESTLY DON'T GET TO BECAUSE WHEN I INHERITED THE DEPARTMENT, THEY WERE SIGNIFICANTLY SHORTAgenda Item Number: 1 City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

STAFFED, SO IT WAS MORE OF A RESPONSIVE MODEL. BUT NOW AS WE APPROACH, WE Agenda Item Number: 1
JUST STARTED A NEW OFFICER ON MONDAY. HE FINISHES UP IN DECEMBER. WE HAVE ANOTHER THAT WILL SEE US FULLY STAFFED IN PATROL. HOPEFULLY WHEN THEY COME

OUT THE OTHER END OF THEIR TRAINING BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR, IF EVERYTHING

GOES TO PLAN, WE WILL HAVE TRAINED AND POLICE THAT CAN WORK WITH FULL AUTONOMY ACROSS THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT. WE GET A LOT. SO THAT IS A TREND.

SUPER GLAD TO HEAR ABOUT THE TURNOVER.

GO AHEAD.

YES. THANKS FOR PUTTING IN HERE ABOUT IN REFERENCE TO THE RACE. THAT

PARAGRAPH STATING THE FACT THAT YOU STATED IT IS GENERALLY CONSISTENT WITH THE COMMUNITY SERVED. THE NEXT SENTENCE WAS CONCERNING. DEPARTMENTS

REPORTED DATA RELATED TO PERCEIVED GENDER IDENTITY AND SEXUAL IDENTIFICATION IS GENERALLY CONSISTENT WITH STATEWIDE RIPA. SO WHAT WAS THE DISTINCTION?
THERE WAS NO DISTINCTION. IT BASICALLY FELL WITHIN THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS THAT DON'T SEND ANY RED FLAGS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

WHILE WE ARE ON THE TOPIC OF RIPA DATA IS, WHILE THE COMMUNITY AND NATION

ARE TRYING TO STOP POLICE FROM WHAT THEY BELIEVE THEY ARE DOING, WHICH THEY ARE SAYING IS PROFILING PEOPLE. RIPA DATA IS ACTUALLY MAKING US PROFILE PEOPLE.

YOU MUST ANSWER THE QUESTION OR YOU CANNOT GET THE RIPA DATA ENTRY DONE.

YOU MUST SELECT A RACE. YOU MUST SELECT A TYPE OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION. YOU MUST SELECT AN AGE. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CATEGORIES YOU MUST SELECT EVEN IF

YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHO IS IN, SAY, A TRAFFIC STOP YOU ARE FOLLOWING IN A VEHICLE. YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW OLD THEY ARE, WHAT SEX THEY ARE, WHAT RACE THEY ARE. YOU MUST NOMINATE SOMETHING. SO I'M NOT A HUGE FAN OF RIPA

DATA BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT IS SKEWED AND IT IS MAKING US PROFILE BUT IN HAVING

TO ADDRESS THAT, I THINK WHAT YOU WILL FIND IS POLICE WILL ACTUALLY BECAUSE

THEY ARE DOING THE RIPA DATA AFTER THE CONTACT, THEY ARE GOING TO ENTER WHAT THEY ACTUALLY FOUND RATHER THAN WHAT THEY PERCEIVED. BUT IT DOESN'T ALLOW US TO SAY WE DID NOT RECEIVE ANYTHING. IT WAS DARK. I CANNOT SEE IN THE TINTED WINDOWS OR WHATEVER THE CIRCUMSTANCES WERE. SO, I'M NOT PARTICULARLY FOND OF RIPA DATA AND ITS ACCURACY.

OKAY. ANY OTHER ? I JUST WANTED TO JUST COMMENTED THAT I HAD TO CALL 911 THIS

PAST WEEK IN THE SQUARE BECAUSE OF TWO MEN WHO WERE AGGRESSIVE TOWARD ME

TO THE POINT WHERE I WAS FRIGHTENED, AND I APPRECIATE THE CHIEF AND TWO POLICE OFFICERS SHOWING UP. SO -- BECAUSE THERE IS AN UPTICK IN SOMETHING'S HAPPENING IN THE SQUARE THAT IS CONCERNING TO ME. THANK YOU. DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY

QUESTIONS
OTHERWISE, WE WILL GO OUT TO PUBLIC COMMENT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, CHIEF.

THIS IS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE STATISTICS INFORMATION REPORT. IF YOU

WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT, I WILL GO TO CHAMBERS FIRST AND THEN GO OUT TO ZOOM. ANYONE IN CHAMBERS ? SEEING NONE, I WILL GO OUT TO ZOOM IF

THERE IS ANYONE ON ZOOM THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS REPORT. MARY, CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF PLEASE?
YEAH. I DON'T KNOW IF THE PEOPLE WHO SPOKE ABOUT THE INCIDENT BEHIND SAFEWAY

ARE STILL THERE, BUT THE CITY AND THE POLICE ARE NOT THE ONES WHO THEY NEED TO

SPEAK WITH AS THIS IS REALLY ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, AND IT HAS TO DO WITH SAFEWAY. AS A JUVENILE JUSTICE COMMISSIONER, I WAS IN CONTACT WITH OUR POLICE CHIEF RIGHT AFTER THIS HAPPENED. ALL OF THE JUVENILES WERE ARRESTED WITHIN 48 HOURS. AND THERE HAS BEEN OVER 30 HOURS OF PATROLLED BY THE POLICE SINCE THEN. THESE PEOPLE -- I DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE STILL THERE -- THEY CAN GET IN

TOUCH WITH SONOMA COUNTY JUVENILE JUSTICE COMMISSION, AND PERHAPS WE CAN ASSIST THEM WITH DEALING WITH SAFEWAY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. I WILL COME IN TO CHAMBERS. IF THERE IS ANYONE IN CHAMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT. SEEING NONE, I Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

WILL GO BACK OUT TO ZOOM IF THERE IS ANYONE ON ZOOM THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE Agenda Item Number: 1
A PUBLIC COMMENT. KYLE, CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF PLEASE? YES, I CAN.

YOU STILL SEE THE TIMER?
I CAN. IT IS GREAT TO GET REPORTS LIKE THIS AND IT IS GREAT TO KNOW WHAT TRENDS

ARE HAPPENING IN TERMS OF KINDS OF CRIMES WE ARE SEEING IN AND AROUND OUR CITY. I THINK WHAT DOESN'T GET REPORTED ENOUGH OR GIVEN ENOUGH OF MAYBE OUR

ATTENTION IS THE KINDS OF CRIMES THAT MAY BE HAPPENING WITHIN CITY GOVERNMENT. RIGHT? SO IS THERE MISALLOCATION OF MONEY IN WAYS THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED THEFT? IS THERE A REPORTING MECHANISM THAT WHEN THESE THINGS

ARE IDENTIFIED AND WHEN THESE THINGS ARE REPORTED THAT SOMEBODY CAN TAKE

ACTION TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE FUNDS THAT WERE MAYBE STOLEN -- POTENTIALLY -- ARE INVESTIGATED. AND THEN IF DEEMED THAT THOSE FUNDS WERE IN FACT STOLEN THAT THOSE FUNDS WOULD BE RETURNED TO THEIR RIGHTFUL OWNERS. I'M NOT SURE THAT WE HAVE A MECHANISM IN PLACE. IT SEEMS ACTUALLY THAT WE HAVE MECHANISMS THAT THWART THOSE TYPES OF CRIMES FROM HAPPENING. SO MAYBE IT IS

SOMETHING THAT WE CAN PRIORITIZE FOR OUR POLICE RATHER THAN MANY OF THE OTHER TYPES OF CRIMES ASSOCIATED WITH SOCIAL ILLS. WE CAN START THINKING

ABOUT WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY, PROTECT OUR CITY ASSETS FROM CRIMES OF MAYBE A HIGHER NATURE. I WOULD SURE LOVE TO SEE THINGS LIKE LARGE-SCALE THEFT THWARTED. AND IF THERE IS LARGE-SCALE THEFT HAPPENING THAT THOSE ASSETS ARE RETURNED TO THEIR RIGHTFUL OWNERS. THANKS.

THANK YOU, KYLE, FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT I WILL COME INTO CHAMBERS.

YEAH. I JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW-UP WHAT THE CHIEF WAS SAYING ABOUT JULIAN SANCHEZ, WHO IS THE SONOMA COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DIVISION. SEEM TO HAVE A VERY BIG UPTICK OF TRANSIENT PEOPLE ALL OVER THE CITY THIS SUMMER. I ALSO

THINK SOMETHING VALUABLE THAT -- AND I WILL JUST SAY JULIAN SANCHEZ'S PHONE NUMBER IS 707-326-9941. HE IS VERY PROACTIVE. SO IF YOU SEE SOMEONE WHO IS

CLEARLY MENTALLY ILL -- AND THERE'S A LOT OF THEM RIGHT NOW, INCLUDING THE GUY JUMPING AROUND ON THE CORNER OF 116 AND 12 INTO TRAFFIC ALL THE TIME --

JULIAN IS A REALLY GOOD GUY TO CALL BRITT SEPARATELY, I THINK SOMETHING THE

COUNCIL WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL TO THE COUNCIL WOULD BE TO LIAISE WITH AS

MUCH OF THE COUNTY BECAUSE SO MANY OF THE TRANSIENTS COME IN OVER THE TRAIL. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE SHERIFF'S DOING MORE TO BASICALLY PROTECT THE CITY AND TO HELP OUR POLICE CHIEF. [ CAPTIONERS TRANSITIONING ] .

CAN YOU STILL SEE THE TIMER?
I CAN.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

I THINK I AM THE PERSON THAT THE

COUNCILMEMBER WAS REFERRING

TO IN TERMS OF THE CRIME
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1

STATISTICS THAT HAD YOUTH
ASSOCIATED WITH IT.CAN SEE THE BREAKDOWN OF

MAJOR CRIMES REPORTED TO
THETHE
FBI.

THE YOUTH.

I HAVE DONE IT.

I DID IT AT THE TIME.

YOU ARE ALL TALKING ABOUT

BUDGETS AND CUTTING BUDGETS AND POLICE
POSITIONS.

NOBODY HAD IN THE SIX
YEARS

STOOD UP AND REPORTED ON
THE

CRIMES LIKE OUR POLICE CHIEF DID
TONIGHT.

I THINK THAT IT IS REMARKABLE ININ

TERMS OF THE HUGE

JUMP IN

TRANSPARENCY TO HAVE THESE
TYPES
OF DISCUSSIONS GOING ON.

I AM THRILLED WITH WHAT

HAPPENED
TONIGHT.

I AM THRILLED I DO NOT HAVE TO
DO ANYMORE ANALYSIS.

THE CITY IS PRESENT TO THE CITY
COUNCIL.

I GET AN EMAIL EVERY DAY
THAT

SHOWS WHAT THE POLICE

ACTIVITY

WAS THE DAY BEFORE AND WHERE
IT

OCCURRED SO YOU CAN GET

A SENSE

OF WHERE THINGS MIGHT BE GOING
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

ON.

Agenda Item Number: 1

IT IS GOING ON WHEREVER THERE
ARE PEOPLE.

IT IS NOT A SUPER HIGHLY
CONCENTRATED ISSUE.

STORMS AND SHOPPING CENTERS.

YOU CAN SEE IT FOR

YOURSELF
EASILY EVERY DAY.

ANYBODY THAT IS LISTENING GO
AND

SIGN UP FOR THE EMAIL, THE DAILY
EMAIL.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENT.

IF THERE IS ANYONE IN CHAMBERS

THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A
PUBLIC
COMMENT.

SEEING NONE, I WILL GO BACK TO
ZOOM.

IF THERE IS

ANYONE ON ZOOM
PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

SEEING NONE, PUBLIC COMMENT
IS
CLOSED ON THIS ITEM.

WE ARE BACK HERE FOR
ANY

COMMENT BEFORE WE RECEIVE THE
REPORT AND FINISH THE ITEM.

I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR

POLICE CHIEF AND EVERYTHING
IS
GOING PRETTY WELL WITH STAFF.

Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

I AM PLEASED ABOUT THAT.

Agenda Item Number: 1

AND IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS A

LITTLE BIT OF AN UPTICK
IN
CRIME.

IT COULD BE MORE OF AN

UPTICK IN
ACTIVITY FROM US ENGAGING.

THAT SEEMS POSITIVE.

I AM JUST GOING TO HOLD MY
GRATITUDE.

ALSO THE CARE THAT YOU ARE

TAKING WALKING THE LINE BEING

KIND TO
PEOPLE IS SUPER HELPFUL.

IT IS A TOUGH PLACE.

REGARDING THE
E-BIKE.

I DON'T WANT TO PUNISH KIDS,
BUT

I WANT TO KEEP THEM
SAFE.

I NOTICE MORE OF IT OUT THERE.

IF YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS, LET
ME
KNOW.

JUST TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THE
E-BIKES.

MARIN IS LEADING THE WAY.

THEY WERE ONE OF THE TEST
PLACES

FOR RECEIVING THE GRANT
ANDAND

IMPLEMENTING

ORDINANCES
REGARDING KIDS AND E-BIKES.

YOU CAN DO RESEARCH ON THEM, IF WANT.

THEY ARE BASICALLY SETTING THE
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

PATH.

Agenda Item Number: 1
JUST FYI.

THANKS.

ANYONE ELSE?

I AM HOPING WE CAN TAKE A
BIO

BREAK AND I AM GOING TO
RECUSE
MYSELF.

THE NEXT ITEM OUR VICE MAYOR
WILL HANDLE.

FIVE MINUTES.

WHAT TIME IS IT?

HOW ABOUT WE WILL BE BACK AT
8:10.

LIKE SEVEN MINUTES.

THE NEXT ITEM IS NUMBER
9,

THE DEVELOPMENT

AGREEMENT
AMENDMENT FOR THE BARLOW HOTEL.

THE REQUEST TO AMEND
THE

DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FOR
THE

BARLOW HOTEL TO PROVIDE A
TOT
SHARING AGREEMENT OF 50%, 1st
READING.

I WILL BE PRESENTING.

GOOD EVENING VICE MAYOR AND
COUNCILMEMBERS.

I AM BEFORE YOU.

RELATED TO THE PROPOSED
BARLOW
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

HOTEL DEVELOPMENT.

Agenda Item Number: 1

AS THE COUNCIL IS WELL
AWARE

OVER A YEAR AGO THEY PROPOSED
AGREEMENTS FOR THE HOTEL.

THE APPLICANT CAME
BACK
REQUESTING AN AMENDMENT TO THAT.

PROVIDING FOR A REBATE OF TOT
TAX.

THE HOTEL IS GOING TO GENERATE
TOT TAX.

THE APPLICANT'S PROPOSAL IS THE
50% OF THE AMOUNT WOULD BE
REBATED TO THE DEVELOPER.

THE APPLICANT INDICATED THAT
IT

IS NECESSARY FOR SOME OF THE
FINANCING.

I THINK THE APPLICANT IS
HERE

AND WILL BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO
THAT MORE.

UNDER OUR ZONING CODE,
THE

CHANGES TO A DEVELOPMENT
AGREEMENT.

THE ADOPTION AND ANY

AMENDMENTS

TO THE DEVELOPMENT

AGREEMENT

NEED TO GO TO THE

PLANNING
COMMISSION FOR RECOMMENDATION.

IT WAS BROUGHT TO THE PLANNING
COMMISSION FOR RECOMMENDATION.

THEY PROPOSED CERTAIN CHANGES
TO
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

THE LANGUAGE PO POSED BY THE
Agenda Item Number: 1

DEVELOPER, WANTING TO CLARIFY

THAT SOME PERCENTAGE

DETERMINED

BY CITY COUNCIL SHOULD BE USED

FOR PROMOTION OF THE
CITY

GENERALLY AND NOT JUST

THE BARLOW
HOTEL.

IT IS A COMPLETE POLICY

DECISION
WHETHER OR NOT TO MOVE FORWARD.

THE COUNCIL COULD REJECT OR

APPROVE THE REQUEST PROPOSED
BY
THE APPLICANT.

YOU CAN APPROVE THE

PROPOSED

REBATE AS RECOMMENDED BY
THE
PLANNING COMMISSION.

YOU CAN DO SOMETHING COMPLETELY

SEPARATE BASED ON WHAT YOU WANT
TO DO.

THERE WILL BE A FISCAL IMPACT TO

THIS, ASSUMING THAT THE HOTEL
OPENS.

THE CITY WOULD BE ONLY RECEIVING
50% OF THE TOT AS PROPOSED.

THE EXACT AMOUNT OF THE REBATE

DEPENDS HOW MUCH TOT THEY
GENERATE.

THE STAFF REPORT INCLUDES THE
NUMBERS.

THE APPLICANT HAD AN ECONOMIC
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

IMPACT STUDY PREPAREDA AT
Agenda Item Number: 1
THE

TIME THAT ESTIMATED HOW MUCH
TOT

WOULD COME IN THERE FOR THE
HOTEL.

THE CITY HAD THE PEER REVIEW AND

DETERMINED THAT THE ASSUMED

HOTEL OCCUPANCY AND IN

PARTICULAR THE ASSUMED

NIGHTLY

RATES FOR THE HOTEL THAT
THE
APPLICANT HAD USED.

THE PEER REVIEW IS A BIT
LOWER
NUMBER FOR TOT.

WHATEVER THE ACTUAL AMOUNT IS IS
IS
WHAT THE REBATE WILL BE.

I WILL PAUSE TO SEE IF THERE ARE
ANY QUESTIONS.

I BELIEVE THE APPLICANT
IS

PREPARED TO

GIVE A SHORT
MAYOR, YEAH.

THE STAFF REPORT IT LISTS
AA
EXAMPLE.

FROM WHAT YOU JUST DESCRIBED,

ALEX, WE CAN BASICALLY DO
ANYTHING.

ANY VERSION OF IT TO INCLUDE
THE

EXAMPLE THAT THE STAFF TYPED AS

AN EXAMPLE THAT THE TOT REBATE
COULD ALLOCATE THE FIRST 400 IN
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

TOT, 100% TO THE CITY AND
Agenda Item Number: 1
50%

REBATE ON ANY TOT REVENUE
ABOUT
THAT AMOUNT.

SO THAT COULD HAPPEN.

JUST TO CLARIFY THIS IS AN
AGREEMENT.

THE COUNCIL WOULD BE SAYING
THAT

IT IS WHAT WE ARE WILLING
TO

APPROVE AND THE APPLICANT MAY OR
MAY NOT ACCEPT IT.

YOU CAN DECIDE WHAT YOU
ARE

WILLING TO ACCEPT AS PART OF
THE
AGREEMENT.

OKAY.

THANKS.

I AM SEEING 10% LINED OUT AT
12%.

IS OUR TOT CURRENTLY 12?

CAN YOU REMIND ME

THE MAX
THAT WE COULD GO TO FOR TOT?
12 IS WHAT THE MAX IS.

WE COULD RAISE IT WITH VOTER
APPROVAL.

VOTER APPROVAL.

BUT 12 IS THE MAX FOR NOW?
CORRECT.

Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
OKAY.

THANK YOU.

OF THE 12%, HOW MUCH GOES
TOTO
COUNTY TOURISM.

THAT IS A SEPARATE 2% ON
TOP
OF THE 12%.

WE COLLECT 12%.

SEPARATELY THERE IS A
2%

ASSESSMENT

THAT GOES TO SONOMA
COUNTY TOURISM.

YOU CAN THINK OF IT AS 14%.

OUR TOT IS 12%.

THERE IS A SEPARATE 2%
ASSESSMENT.

ACTUALLY CHARGING 14%?
WELL, WE ARE CHARGING 12.

THE
COUNTY HAS THE ASSESSMENT.

THEY CHARGE 2%.

WE APPROVE OR DO NOT APPROVE
THEIR TAX.

THEY GAVE A PRESENTATION
HERE,

AND THE COUNCIL HAD TO APPROVE
IT.

BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA
TAX
IS 2% DONE BY THE COUNTY.

THE COUNCIL DID A RESOLUTION
OF

CONSENT WITH THE SONOMA
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

COUNTY
Agenda Item Number: 1
TOURISM FOR THAT.

SO OUR TOT IS 12%.

IT IS NOT TIED TO THE CITY'S TOT
WHICH IS APPROVED BY THE VOTERS.

OKAY.

OTHER
QUESTIONS?
MY UNDERSTANDING, THE 2%
THAT

GOES TO THE TOURISM BUREAU,
SOME
CITIES HAVE CREATED WITH THE 2%

DO YOU REMEMBER THE SPECIFICS
ONTHE
2%?

I CAN SEE IF APPROXIMATE I

CAN LOOK IT UP AS THE
PRESENTATION IS GOING ON.

GREAT.

ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS.

SHALL WE GO TO

THE PRESENTER
PLEASE.

YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES.

GOOD EVENING.

I AM A DEVELOP MANAGER.

I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR DESIGN
AND

MANAGING THE ENGINEERS AND THE

ARCHITECTS, THE

PERMITTING
PROCESS AND THE CONSTRUCTION.

BARNEY, THE OWNER, THE

DEVELOPER
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

IS SICK.

Agenda Item Number: 1

I THINK THAT HE WAS ABLE TO CALL
IN.

I HAVE BEEN WITH HIM THE LAST

COUPLE OF YEARS AND I

KNOW QUITE

A BIT ABOUT THE PROJECT AND

SHOULD BE ABLE TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS.

THE FIRST SLIDE IS IMPORTANT.

WE WERE SEEING AND

HEARING

DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF PUBLIC
COMMENT.

THERE WERE QUESTIONS AT

PLANNINGCOMMISSION
LAST WEEK.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT
PEOPLE
UNDERSTAND WHAT THE TOT TAX IS.

COMMONLY KNOWN AS A HOTEL
BED
TAX IS 12% TAX HERE
IN

SEBASTOPOL CHARGED EXCLUSIVELY

TO VISITORS STAYING OVERNIGHT
IN
SEBASTOPOL HOTELS.

IT IS ADDED DIRECTLY TO
THE
GUESTS LODGING BILL.

LOCAL RESIDENTS DO NOT PAY FOR
IT.

THE DEVELOPER IS ASKING FOR 50%

REBATE ON THE TOT TAX

PRODUCED

BY THE HOTEL FOR THE

FIRST TEN
YEARS OF THE HOTEL'S OPERATION.

Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

IT DOES NOT TAKE MONEY FROM THE
Agenda Item Number: 1

CITY'S CURRENT BUDGET OR
USE
EXISTING RESIDENT TAX DOLLARS.

IT IS NEW MONEY GENERATED BY
THE
HOTEL'S PRESENCE.

IF THE HOTEL IS NOT BUILT,
THE
REVENUE STREAM DOES NOT EXIST.

THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR EVERYBODY
TO UNDERSTAND.

NOW IT COMES TO THE AGREEMENT
THAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT.
50% OVER TEN YEARS.

IS THAT TOO
MUCH?
IS THAT TOO LITTLE?

YOU KNOW, HOW DO I THINK ABOUT
IT.

BEFORE GOING TO THE NEXT
SLIDE,

THE MUNICIPALITIES
ACROSS

CALIFORNIA WIDELY USE THIS AS
A

PROVEN ECONOMIC TOOL TO ATTRACT

INVESTMENT AND SUPPORT NEW HOTEL
DEVELOPMENT.

IF YOU WILL GO TO THE
NEXT
SLIDE, PLEASE.

THIS HAD IS NOT AN UNUSUAL
ASK
OR NOVEL OR NEW OR UNIQUE THING.

IT IS FAIRLY COMMON FOR HOTEL
DEVELOPMENTS.

THAT IS TINY.

Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

THIS IS A CHART IN YOUR STAFF
Agenda Item Number: 1
REPORT THAT YOU GUYS HAVE.

I COULD NOT LIST ALL OF THE

INDIVIDUAL UNIQUE

SHARING

AGREEMENTS THAT ARE

HAPPENING

OVER CALIFORNIA THIS IS A LIST

OF THE COUNTIES WITH IN-PLACE
PROGRAMS.

I CAN MULTIPLE PAGES OF THIS.

IF SOMEONE WANTED TO BUILD
A

HOTEL IN MORGAN HILL FOR
EXAMPLE.

SORRY.

LET ME PULL THIS OUT.

THEIR TERMS ARE VARYING,
BUT
THEY DO UP TO A 50% SPLIT.

DUBLIN DOES 10
YEARS AT 50 TO
70% REBATE.

I CAN KIND OF RUN THROUGH SOME
OF THESE.

PLASSER COUNTY DOES 20-YEAR LONG
TOT SHARING AGREEMENTS UP TO 80%
REBATES.

NEW GROUND-UP HOTELS DO 20%.

RENOVATIONS THEY DO 80% FOR 9
YEARS.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO
UNDERSTAND THE PRECEDENTS HERE.

IF YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT
SLIDE,
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

PLEASE.

Agenda Item Number: 1
THE CITY ATTORNEY SPOKE TO THIS.

AS WE LOOK AT THE NEXT

NUMBERS

IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT

NONE OF THE NUMBERS
ARE
GENERATED BY THE APPLICANT.

YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE,
PLEASE.

BOTH OF THESE NEXT FEW SLIDES

ARE FOR COUNCIL TO HELP TRY
TO

COME UP WITH AN ESTIMATE OF
WHAT
IT MEANS OVER TEN YEARS.

BASED ON THE ESTIMATES OF
THESE

TWO FIRMS TO HELP YOU GAUGE THE

QUANTITY AMOUNT TO HELP
YOU
GAUGE A DECISION.

THEY ESTIMATED A TOT AMOUNT.

INITIALLY IT WAS 1.5 MILLION
AND
800 GRAND OR SO IN THE
FIRST
YEAR OR TWO.

WHAT THEY ARE SHOWING US IS
ON

AN ANNUAL BASIS ON A STABILIZED

YEAR, BUT I THINK
THAT

REALISTICALLY YEARS ONE AND
TWO

MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT, YOU
KNOW,

THE HOTEL MIGHT NOT HIT ALL
OF
THE NUMBERS YEAR ONE.

AS YOU GO FORWARD WE
ARE

PROJECTING SOMEWHERE AROUND A
3%
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

INCREASE EACH YEAR.

Agenda Item Number: 1

SOME IS AN ESTIMATE BY THE TWO
FIRMS.

YOU CAN SEE THE BLUE IS RRC.

THE GREEN IS EPS, A BIT MORE
CONSERVATIVE.

I HAD A LINE IN THE MIDDLE
TO
SHOW THE AVERAGE.

YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE,
PLEASE.

THE REASON THAT WE THOUGHT
IT

WAS IMPORTANT IS THAT YOU
CAN

SEE OVER TEN YEARS HOW MUCH
TOT
WILL BE PRODUCED.

YOU CAN SEE EPS A BIT MORE
CONSERVATIVE.
9 PENALTY 6 MILLION OVER TEN
YEARS IS PRODUCED.

IF YOU AGREED TO THE

AGREEMENT
YOU WOULD GET AFL OF THAT.

CLOSER TO WHAT RRC IS

ESTIMATING, SEBASTOPOL
IS
RECEIVING 8.3 MILLION AND
THE

APPLICANT IS GETTING THE
OTHER

PERCENT OF THE OTHER HALF,
AND
THE AVERAGE IS AT THE BOTTOM.

THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

THESE ARE RIGHT FROM THE TWO

INDEPENDENT
STUDIES.

Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

ONCE A HOTEL HAS GOTTEN THEIR
Agenda Item Number: 1
FEET UNDER IT.

YEAR ONE NEVER PERFORMS AS
WELL
AS YEAR FIVE.

STABILIZED YEAR AT 1.5 MILLION.

MORE CONSERVATIVE.

ON THE RIGHT IS THE SAME
CASES
BUT THEY ARE SPLIT 50% IF
THE
CITY WERE TO AGREE TO THIS.

THERE ARE A LOT MORE BENEFITS.

THERE IS ALSO THE SALES TAX,
THETAX
REVENUE.

YOU CAN SEE IT IS

EXPECTED
AROUND 23 MILLION A YEAR
IN
CREDIT CARD SWIPES.

IT DOES NOT AFFECT ANYTHING WITH
SALES TAX.

THAT STILL GOES TO THE CITY.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

THIS IS ALSO IN YOUR STAFF

REPORT BUT IT COMPARES THEM
NEXT

TO EACH OTHER SO YOU CAN SEE
THE

LOGIC BEHIND HOW THEY CAME TO
THE NUMBERS.

THEY ARE USING

DIFFERENT

PERCEIVED OCCUPANCY, NIGHTLY

RATES AND
YEAH.

I WANTED TO EXPLAIN THAT AS
YOU
GUYS LOOK AT IT.

Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

Agenda Item Number: 1

THIS IS THE LAST NOTE WE

THOUGHT
WAS IMPORTANT TO SHOW.

EPS, THE CITY'S ECONOMIC
IMPACT

REPORT SUGGESTS THAT THE --
AND
WE ARE SHOWING ABOUT THE SAME.

EPS ESTIMATES THE DEVELOPMENT

REPLACES THE EXISTING

WAREHOUSE

WHICH IS NOW VACANT WITH
53 PERMANENT OPERATIONAL POSITIONS.

THEY ARE SHOWING IT IN THE RANGE
OF 46 FOR THE HOTEL.

RETAIL, DINING, SPA AMENITIES.

THE COUNCIL RECOMMENDED THAT WE

TALKED ABOUT THIS AND THAT THE
50% WOULD GO DIRECTLY TO
MARKETING.

I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS ALSO

IMPORTANT TO SHOW THAT THE
HOTEL

OPERATOR IS PLANNING TO
STAFF

THE HOTEL WITH THREE FULL-TIME

POSITIONS FOR MARKETING AND FOR

BRANDING FOR THE HOTEL AND
SEBASTOPOL.

MAYBE I WILL CLOSE ON

SOMETHING

BARNEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE WAS
OOND.

THIS IS AN EXTREMELY

CHALLENGING

MARKET ENVIRONMENT
AND
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

CHALLENGING FOR HOSPITALITY IN
Agenda Item Number: 1
A

GROUND-UP HOTEL IN WINE

COUNTRY

AND CURRENTLY IN AN UNPROVEN
MARKET.

HE HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT
AND
SPEARHEADING THE EFFORT.

RIGHT

NOW WITH THE OPTIONS THAT

HE HAS, THE PROJECT IS NOT

FEASIBLE WITH A

PUBLIC/PRIVATE

PARTNERSHIP THERE AND SHARING
AGREEMENT.

IF IT WAS NOT AGREED UPON HE
IS

LIKELY NOT TO MOVE FORWARD
WITH

THE HOTEL AND SIT FORWARD
AND

WAIT UNTIL THE

ENVIRONMENT MAKES
THE PROJECT MORE FEASIBLE.

I HOPE IT MAKES SENSE.

I AM HERE TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS.

THANKS AGAIN.

IF YOU DO NOT DO THIS, WE ARE

NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO MOVE
FORWARD.

WE HAVE BEEN HEARING THAT SO
MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS THE BEST
SALES PITCH.

WHEN WE HAVE A PROVEN

RECORD,

BECAUSE THEY HAVE A HOTEL IN
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

Agenda Item Number: 1
SEBASTOPOL, RIGHT?
RIGHT.

THEY ARE PROVEN DOING HOTELS

IN THE AREA AND TELLING US
HE

CAN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE WE
ARE
UNPROVEN.

YOU USED THE WORD
TOO.

WHY ARE YOU MORE PROVEN THAN
HIM

AND HIS
ENTITY?
THAT IS A FAIR QUESTION.

I AM SURPRISED

THAT THEY HAVE

NOT TAKENTAKEN AVENUE AND
SPOKEN

WITH YOU GUYS ABOUT
A
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.

YOU ARE RIGHT.

WITH THE MARKET

ENVIRONMENT
CHALLENGING RIGHT NOW.

THE APPLICANT IS ONLY WILLING
TO

PUT UP SO MUCH OF THEIR OWN
MONEY.

THEY NEED TO BRING IN OTHER
INVESTORS.

IF YOU ARE PUTTING THE
MONEY

TO THE MARKETING, HOW DOES
THAT

MAKE YOUR ABILITY TO REPAY THE
BOND
EASIER?
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

RIGHT NOW THERE IS DEBT AND
Agenda Item Number: 1
EQUITY.

THE PRIVATE CAPITAL NEEDS A
CERTAIN RETURN.

THIS PROJECT HAS ABOUT A
$1

MILLION MARKETING BUDGET YOU
KNOW, TO BE ABLE TO PERFORM.

GETTING 50% BACK, YOU KNOW,
IF

YOU ARE ASSUMING AROUND
$1

MILLION IN TOT AND THAT IS
SPLIT.

THAT IS HELPING WITH THE
RETURNS.

IT MAKES IT MORE FEASIBLE

ALLOWING YOU TO ATTRACT

THE PRIVATE
INVESTORS.

I DO UNDERSTAND.

THIS HAD IS A GOOD MIX.

PRIVATE INVESTORS AND BANKS.

YOU ARE TRYING TO BECOME
ATTRACTIVE.

WE ARE GOING TO THROW A LOT
OF

MONEY AT MARKETING AND WE
ARE

GOING TO SURVIVE BECAUSE OF
THAT.

BECAUSE THE PIAZZA GROUP,
AND
I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR THEM.

THEY TOO LIKELY NEED BANKS
OR
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

LENDERS OF SOME TYPE AND
Agenda Item Number: 1

PRIVATE
EQUITY.

THEY ARE NOT AT A RETURN
THEY

ARE ABLE TO GREEN LIGHT THE AND RAISE THE

MONEY AND

GO BECAUSE THE RETURNS ARE
NOT

HIGH ENOUGH OR WHATEVER THE
REASONS.

WE HAVE A PATH BUT THE RETURNS
ARE NOT THERE.

BY SUPPORTING THE PROJECT
IT

HELPS THEM GET CLOSER TO
THE

THRESHOLDS THAT WE NEED IN
ORDER
TO HELP THEM RAISE THE MONEY.

YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU SAID.

THAT IS A PROVEN DEVELOPER.

THEY HAVE A DIRT LOT.

THEY ARE TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT
WHAT TO DO AND THEY CAN'T.

PEOPLE LOOK AT BARNEY AS THE BAD

GUY BUT HE IS HERE TAKING
A

CHANCE AND PUTTING HIS OWN
MONEY
AT RISK.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR
THREE YEARS.

I THINK IF THE COMMUNITY WANTS A

HOTEL AND THE CITY COUNCIL WANTS

A HOTEL WHAT HE IS

SAYING IS
THAT I NEED YOUR HELP.

CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

THE
Agenda Item Number: 1

ADVISING BUDGET FOR THE BARLOW
IS THIS YEAR?

FOR THE EXISTING

MARKET, I
DON'T KNOW.

YOU SAID THEY NEEDED A $1
BILLION MARKETING BUDGET?
WHAT IS THAT BUDGET FOR?

WE HIRE AN OPERATOR

CALLED EVOLUTION
HOSPITALITY.

EVOLUTION HELPS

WITH THE
BOUTIQUE TYPE OF HOTELS.

THEY HAVE RECOMMENDED

AT LEAST
$1 MILLION A YEAR IN BRANDING
AND IN MARKETING.

RIGHT NOW IF YOU LIVE IN

FLORIDA

AND WANT TO GO TO WINE

COUNTRY,
YOU ARE AWARE OF NAPA.

MOST PEOPLE WOULD NOT KNOW
SEBASTOPOL.

IT IT WOULD BE CHALLENGING TO
FILL THE ROOMS AT THE HOTEL.

MORE QUESTIONS?

WE CAN GO TO PUBLIC COMMENTS
PLEASE.

THANK YOU VICE MAYOR.

THIS IS PUBLIC COMMENT ON
THE

DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

REGARDING
Agenda Item Number: 1
THE TOT REBATE.

CHAMBERS FIRST

AND THEN I WILL
GO OUT TO ZOOM.

YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.

ERNIE CARPENTER.

I LIKE YOUR QUESTIONS MR.

CARTER.

YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.

THE AGREEMENT THAT YOU
SAW,

PLEASE READ THAT AND I CAN DO
IT
IN TWO MINUTES.

THE AGREEMENTS ARE USUALLY

BEFORE THE TAX VOTE HAPPENS TO
PUT THE TOT IN PLACE.

YOU NEGOTIATE ON THE 2% THAT
YOU

ARE TALKING ABOUT TO BRING THE
TOURIST INDUSTRY TOGETHER.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS.

THE JOBS AND SO ON THAT WERE
PUT

ON THE OTHER SIDE WILL HAPPEN
REGARDLESS.

IF THE DEVELOPER IS

SAYING HE

NEEDS IT TO MAKE THE PROJECT
HAPPEN.

SIT DOWN AND NEGOTIATE AND TAKE
A LOOK.

YOU CAN DO THAT UNDER THE BROWN
ACT.

Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

THE REASON THAT I AM
Agenda Item Number: 1

INTERESTED,

I CAME TO THE ADVISORS

MEETING
BACK IN 2023.

YOU WERE $3 MILLION IN THE HOLE.

THREE THINGS YOU NEEDED TO DO.

THE SALES TAX.

RAISE THE BED TAX TO 14%.

IT IS A QUESTION THAT NEEDS
TO
BE CONSIDERED.

THREE TO CUT SERVICES.

YOU DID 2 OF THE 3.

YOU HAVE NOT RAISED THE BED TAX.

THERE IS A WHOLE LIST
OF

PROJECTS THAT YOU NEED MONEY
FOR.

YOU ARE GIVING THIS BACK TO
THE

DEVELOPER TO PROMOTE THE
BARLOW
AND IN THEORY THE SEBASTOPOL.

I WOULD LIKE TO SELL YOU A

BRIDGE IF YOU BELIEVE THEY
ARE
GOING TO PROMOTE SEBASTOPOL.

ERNIE.

THAT IS TWO MINUTES.

I WILL CONCLUDE BY SIMPLY

SAYING THAT THERE IS

NO LANGUAGE

IN THE PROPOSED AGREEMENT THAT

WOULD BE IN THE DEVELOPMENT

FOR CONFLICT
RESOLUTION.

Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

YOU ARE GIVING THEM HALF OF THE
Agenda Item Number: 1
BED TAX.

THERE IS NO WAY TO RESOLVE
CONFLICT.

GIVE ME A BREAK.

THAT IS PRETTY GOOD IN TWO
MINUTES.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENT.

I WILL GO OUT TO ZOOM.

KYLE, CAN YOU UNMUTE

YOURSELF,
PLEASE?
YES, I CAN.

CAN YOU STILL SEE THE TIMER?
I CAN.

GREAT.

GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

I AM ASKING COUNCIL, AND

PARTICULARLY THE CITY ATTORNEY

TO PROVIDE THE LEGAL

BASIS I

UNDERSTAND THE

PLANNING

COMMISSION MAY REVIEW A

DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT
AND

RECOMMEND THAT THE

COUNCIL

APPROVE OR DENY IT BUT
THE

AGREEMENT ESTABLISHES A FISCAL
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

INCENTIVE.

Agenda Item Number: 1

THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S

AUTHORITY GENERALLY CONCERNS

PLANNING, ZONING, DEVELOPMENT

AND LAND USE AND NOT MUNICIPAL

TAXATION OR THE ALLOCATION
OF
PUBLIC REVENUE.

CAN THE CITY ATTORNEY THEREFORE

EXPLAIN WHETHER THE COMMISSION'S

RECOMMENDATION WAS LIMITED
TO

THE LAND USE ASPECTS
OF THE

AGREEMENT OR WHETHER THEY WERE

BEING ASKED TO RECOMMEND THE
TAX
POLICY?

FIRST, WHAT IS THE

SPECIFIC

LEGAL AUTHORITY FOR

REBATING

REVENUE THROUGH A DEVELOPMENT
AGREEMENT.

THIRD, HOW IS THE CITY

EVALUATING THE AGREEMENT
UNDER

THE CALIFORNIA'S

CONSTITUTION

PROHIBITION AGAINST GIFTS OF
PUBLIC
FUNTS.

FINALLY, HAVE ALL

PROCEDURAL

REQUIREMENTS FOR AMENDING THE

DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BEEN
FOLLOW
FOLLOWED?

I AM ASKING THIS BECAUSE IT IS

NOT CLEAR TO ME THAT IT IS EVEN
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

LEGAL.

Agenda Item Number: 1

THANK YOU KYLE FOR
YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENTS.

I AM IN FAVOR OF THIS.

THERE IS A TON THAT NEEDS TO BE
DONE.

THIS IS AN UNPROVEN MARKET.

IF WE GET MOMENTUM HERE
THERE

WILL BE A LOT OF OTHER

BUSINESS

THAT WILL HANG OFF OF THE
BACK
OF IT.

WE DON'T HAVE TOO MUCH TIME
TO
WASTE AT THIS POINT.

THERE ARE A LOT OF DETAILS TO BE
IRONED OUT.

FIVE TO SEVEN YEARS COULD BE
A
MORE REALISTIC TIME FRAME.

OVERALL, I AM IN FAVOR.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC
.

I THINK THAT WE NEED
TO

REMEMBER THE HOTELS,
AND
ESPECIALLY THE BARLOW HOTEL.

WHEN THEY WERE BEING PROPOSED
WE

WERE TOLD BY THE CONSULTANTS NOT

ONLY WOULD THE BARLOW HOTEL BE

VERY SUCCESSFUL, AND THE
OTHER

PROPOSED SEBASTOPOL HOTEL WOULD
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

BE VERY SUCCESSFUL.

Agenda Item Number: 1

THERE WAS STILL ENOUGH MARKET
TO
FILL ADDITIONAL HOTEL SPACES.

WE DON'T KNOW.

WE SEE A RANGE OF 350 TO 550 A
NIGHT.

CAN SEBASTOPOL SUPPORT A $550
A
NIGHT HOTEL ROOM?
THAT IS A BIG QUESTION.

IF IT DOES NOT WORK OUT,
WILL

THE TAX MONEY STILL BE GOING
TO
THE DEVELOPER?

WHAT IF THEY GO OUT OF

BUSINESS OR
CHANGES USE FROM A HOTEL.

ARE WE ABLE TO GET THE TAX MONEY
BACK?

ON OR ABOUT IT DOES NOT MEET
THE
THRESHOLD THAT WE NEED.

WE SHOULD HAVE A MINIMUM
THRESHOLD FOR TAXATION.

IF YOU GO ABOVE THAT, WE CAN
DO THE
REBATE.

IF IT DOES NOT WORK OUT WE DON'T
WANT TO BE LEFT SHORT CHANGING PUBLIC AND THE TAXPAYERS.

THANK YOU.

NEXT, I WILL COME BACK TO
CHAMBERS.

HI.

Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

I AM A RESIDENT HERE.

Agenda Item Number: 1

ON ONE HAND I THINK HAVING
A
LOCAL HOTEL WOULD BE FANTASTIC.

BUT IF YOU ARE TRYING TO

COMPETE

WITH NAPA AND PLACES LIKE
THAT
YOU MIGHT HAVE ISSUES.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE PAPERWORK

THAT THE GENTLEMAN GAVE YOU
AND
THE SOURCES.

EVERY HOTEL HAS TO MEET A
MINIMUM OF FOUR AND 5-STARS
OR
THREE OR FOUR DIAMONDS.

THAT IS THROUGH A THIRD PARTY.

I AM NOT SURE HOW YOU ARE GOING

TO MAKE YOURSELF A FOURFOUR
FIVE-STAR HOTELS.

VERY EXPENSIVE ROOMS.

NICE, BUT VERY EXPENSIVE.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO OFFER THE

REBATE, AND I AM NOT SAYING DO

IT OR NOT DO
IT.

THAT IS UP TO
YOU.

MAYBE THERE SHOULD BE A

STIPULATION THEY NEED TO
MEET

CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS TO GET THE
REBATE.

IF THEY DO NOT MEET THE

REQUIREMENT, IE THE LEVEL OF

SERVICE AND QUALITY OF THE HOTEL
Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026

THEY DON'T GET IT THAT MONTH
Agenda Item Number: 1
OR
YEAR OR WHATEVER.

THAT IS MY THOUGHT.

THANKS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENT.

NEXT I WILL GO OUT TO ZOOM.

YES.

THERE YOU GO.

CAN YOU SEE THE TIMER
STILL?
I CAN.

GREAT.

GO AHEAD PLEASE.

IF

YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU KIND
OF
ALMOST HAVE TO GO WITH THIS.

DO WE BELIEVE BARNEY?

THEY TOLD YOU ALL OF THE
SAME

THINGS BARNEY TOLD YOU MIGHT
NOT.

MAYBE IF I CAN GET A BIT OF
HELP

FROM THE CITY I CAN MAKE IT WORK
FROM ME.

YOU CURRENTLY HAVE A

CONSERVATIVE FORECAST FOR
THE

HOTEL ON THE REVENUES GOING
FORWARD.

Agenda Item Number: 1
City Council Meeting Packet of: August 4 , 2026