SEBASTOPOL COMMUNITY CULTURAL CENTER
Celebrating and fostering the culture, enrichment, and wellbeing of our community 390 Morris Street, Sebastopol, CA 95472 | (707) 823-1511 | [email protected] | seb.org Tax ID: 94-2421316
September 10, 2026
Honorable Mayor and Members of the Sebastopol City Council City Hall
7120 Bodega Avenue
Sebastopol, California 95472
Dear Mayor and City Council Members:
On behalf of the Sebastopol Community Cultural Center, its Executive Director, Philena Chantha, and Board of Directors, we appreciate the opportunity to participate in the ongoing discussion regarding the Commons and the potential use of the O'Reilly property.
We support the City's continued pursuit and careful evaluation of the O'Reilly property as a potential home for important community services and organizations. We appreciate the work of the Commons Committee and the City in exploring a project that could address long-standing facility needs while creating new opportunities for collaboration and shared resources.
For SCCC, the opportunity is particularly meaningful. The age and condition of our Main Hall building and its location in a floodplain have raised long-term concerns for many years. Replacement with a flood-protected building or relocation has been discussed previously, but the substantial resources necessary to accomplish either have made a long-term solution difficult to achieve.
Having toured the O'Reilly property and participated in the City's public presentation, we see significant potential for the site to become a vibrant and enduring civic hub. The warehouse space, in particular, offers promising possibilities for SCCC's community gatherings, programs, performances, and events. The opportunity to bring the Community Center together with other community-serving organizations could also create meaningful opportunities for collaboration, shared resources, and greater accessibility for the community.
At the same time, we recognize that there is important work still to be done. SCCC has distinct programmatic, operational, and financial requirements that will need to be considered These include the ability to continue hosting concerts, private events, classes, and other programming; compatibility of those uses with the surrounding area; the allocation of dedicated and shared spaces; and the long-term financial and operating structure of the Commons.
SEBASTOPOL COMMUNITY CULTURAL CENTER
Celebrating and fostering the culture, enrichment, and wellbeing of our community 390 Morris Street, Sebastopol, CA 95472 | (707) 823-1511 | [email protected] | seb.org Tax ID: 94-2421316
As part of that financial evaluation, it will be important to understand the potential cost structure for participating organizations. SCCC currently occupies its City-owned facility without paying rent, and maintaining an operating model that is financially sustainable for the Community Center will be an important consideration as the Commons concept develops.
We view these as important elements of the due-diligence process rather than reasons not to move forward with exploration of the property. A better understanding of the needs of each participating organization, potential shared uses, necessary improvements, and the overall financial model will help determine how the O'Reilly property cRXOG best serve SCCC and the broader community.
SCCC is prepared to work collaboratively with the City, the Commons Committee, and our fellow community organizations to articulate our space and program needs, identify opportunities for shared amenities, evaluate operational considerations, and participate in developing a sustainable financial URDGPDS.
We support the City's continued exploration of the O'Reilly property and believe it warrants consideration as a potential long-term investment in Sebastopol's civic and community infrastructure. We welcome the opportunity to remain actively involved as the feasibility and details of the project are further UHYLHZHG.
Thank you for your continued support of the Sebastopol Community Cultural Center and for your commitment to finding sustainable solutions for the organizations and services that serve our community.
Sincerely,
Philena Chantha
Executive Director
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center
with the SCCC Board of Directors
Philena Chantha