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City of Sebastopol
Community Newsletter
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April 19 Edition of
Sebastopol Community Newsletter
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CITY COUNCIL TO PURSUE MERGING FIRE SERVICES WITH GOLD RIDGE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT | |
After years of discussion and public input, the City Council has decided to pursue merging fire services with the Gold Ridge Fire Protection District. This is largely because our response to calls for service is inadequate, either in the length of time to respond to calls, the number of qualified staff responding, or both. The key to improving response is to increase staff. Providing appropriate fire apparatus (trucks and engines) and a much-improved fire station are also essential. Even with Measure H adding $1.1 million/year to fire services in Sebastopol, combining those funds with current City funding – which is at risk given the City’s financial challenges - the level of funding is insufficient to provide an acceptable level of services. And Measure H could be over-turned or at least subject to protracted litigation as the California Business Roundtable has placed a voter initiative on the November ballot that raises this possibility.
Consolidation would bring an additional $1.1 million in annual funding through a parcel tax that currently runs at $265/year for a typical single family home, along with opportunities for economies of scale, that would provide sufficient funding for quality fire services. In addition to support from the Ad Hoc Committee, consolidation is also supported by the current and two prior Interim Fire Chiefs and the City Manager. With consolidation clearly needed, we have the question of which fire agency to merge with. After extensive research and analysis, we conclude that merging with the Gold Ridge Fire District is the best option. It provides economies of scale, quality and depth of leadership, strategic thinking, governance advantages, and the benefits of experience in mergers compared to the Graton Fire District. As with all City business, the public is welcome to share their thoughts on this topic. Two ways you can do this are e-mailing the City Council (citycouncil@cityofsebastopol.gov), or attending City Council meetings in person or via Zoom.
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4/23 SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING FEATURES WATER & SEWER RATES DISCUSSION | |
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The water and sewer rates have not covered the costs of operating the City’s water and sewer systems since Fiscal Year 2019-20. While we expect the Water Fund to have an ending balance of approximately $13,123 at the end of June; the Wastewater Fund will likely be in the hole by over $1 million. We are borrowing funds from the General Fund to continue operations.
In addition to the fiscal condition of the Enterprise funds, the City’s water and wastewater systems are in poor condition. The aging infrastructure has led to leaking and broken pipes, minor interruptions in service, higher costs, and at least one sewage spill in 2023. Further delays in repairs and replacement increase the risks of more frequent and serious interruptions of basic services, which means that residents or businesses could be without water or sewer service for several days. Substantial immediate rate increases are necessary to cover the operating costs of the system, pay back funds borrowed from the General Fund, and provide funding for maintenance and replacement.
See the City Meetings Page for more information.
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SEBASTOPOL WALKS: APRIL 20 - WALKABLE SEBASTOPOL | |
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See what you've been missing from the driver's seat . . .
It's the best time of year to enjoy walking in Sebastopol! Be a tourist in your own small town and walk where you've never walked before. Most Walks are the last Saturday of the month starting at 9am (Meet at the Downtown Plaza).
April 20 – Saturday, 9am (Meet at the Downtown Plaza)
Walkable Sebastopol
Leader: Paul Fritz
The size of Sebastopol is less than 2 square miles and should make for a very walkable community. We do have some great walking streets, but we also have some that are not so great. Join this walk around town where we will explore both the good and bad walking environments. We’ll consider why walking environments are so important, especially if we want to encourage people to leave their cars at home and walk more. We will also discuss the concept of a 15-minute city and see whether Sebastopol is a good candidate for this designation. We’ll explore how we can advocate for improvements in Sebastopol’s walk-ability.
Check the City's website HERE for more information and the full schedule.
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"COFFEE WITH A COUNCILMEMBER" WITH MAYOR DIANA RICH - APRIL 24 | |
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Join Mayor Diana Rich for the next “Coffee with a Councilmember” event. Come buy a cup of coffee and join the conversation. Ask questions and share your thoughts and ideas. Mayor Rich hopes to see you there!
Coffee with Mayor Diana Rich
Wednesday, April 24, 10am to 11:30am
Taylor Lane Organic Coffee, 6790 McKinley St, #170
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3 FINALISTS WILL SHOWCASE PROPOSALS FOR JOE RODOTA TRAILHEAD ON APRIL 25TH | |
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People from all over the State of California have submitted proposals for the City of Sebastopol’s third official Call for Artists in the hopes to have their sculpture featured at the South entryway of the Joe Rodota Trailhead. After reviewing the submissions, Sebastopol’s Public Arts Committee has narrowed down the applicants to three finalists, who will now proceed to showcase their proposals to the public on April 25th at the Sebastopol Regional Library starting at 3:30PM.
The Public Arts Committee (PAC) is looking for community input and would like to request for the public to comment on the three potential art pieces that will be presented by Bruce Johnson (Posthumous), Diego Harris, and Michael Per Erik Lindell. The PAC will make their final decision in their following meeting and recommend their choice to the City Council.
The City is inviting all Sebastopol residents to stop by the Regional Library for the meeting. However, displays will be kept up after the event ends and comments will still be accepted after the meeting takes place, from April 25th to May 13th. An online survey is also available on this page, only responses submitted after 3:30PM April 25th will be valid.
TAKE THE SURVEY
Meeting Details
Location: Sebastopol Regional Library Meeting Room, 7140 Bodega Ave, Sebastopol, CA 95472
Date: April 25th, 2024
Time: 3:30 PM to 5:50PM
Zoom Link
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APPLE BLOSSOM PARADE AND FESTIVAL COMING UP APRIL 27 & 28! | |
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The Apple Blossom Parade & Festival are coming up April 27th and 28th. This year’s theme is Blossoms in Wonderland, and the event is sure to be filled with great food and entertainment for the whole family. You won’t want to miss it. Saturday April 27, 2024, is the Festival & Parade (Parade starts at 10am at Analy High School and runs down Main Street) and the Festival will continue through Sunday, April 28, 2024.
For more information visit appleblossomfest.com.
| APRIL 27 APPLE BLOSSOM PARADE DETOUR ROUTES, "NO PARKING" AREAS, & ROAD CLOSURES | |
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Apple Blossom Main Street & Petaluma Avenue Detour Route
- Petaluma Avenue (SR-116), from the intersection at Sebastopol Avenue (SR-12) south to where it intersects with Gravenstein Highway South (SR-116), will be converted in to a two way, north/south, direction roadway by the use of barriers and cones.
- Westbound traffic on Sebastopol Avenue (SR-12) will be diverted onto southbound Petaluma Avenue.
- Northbound traffic on Petaluma Avenue (SR-116) will be directed onto eastbound Sebastopol Avenue (SR-12).
- On Gravenstein Highway South (SR-116), on the south end of town, traffic that wants to travel through Sebastopol to get to the north county or west county area will be diverted onto westbound Lynch Road and then onto northbound Pleasant Hill Road.
- Incoming eastbound traffic on Bodega Avenue with be diverted to either northbound Pleasant Hill Avenue or southbound Pleasant Hill Road depending on which direction their destination is.
- Eastbound traffic on Gravenstein Highway North will be diverted onto Covert Lane. From Covert Lane the traffic will be routed onto Pleasant Hill Avenue in a southbound direction.
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Apple Blossom Parade "No Parking" Areas
"No Parking" areas will be posted to include the following:
- Petaluma Avenue - Entire street
- High School Road - Between East Hurlbut and North Main Street
- Main Street - Between Eddie Lane, south to Palm Avenue
- Calder Avenue - Between South Main Street and Swain Avenue
- High Street - Between Bodega Avenue and Calder Avenue
- Willow Street (North side only)- Between South Main Street and Jewell Avenue
- Lynch Road - Between Gravenstein Highway and Pleasant Hill Road
- Pleasant Hill Road - Between Lynch Road and Bodega Avenue
- East Hurlbut Avenue - Entire street
- Wallace Avenue - Entire street
- Taft Street - Entire street
- Bonnardel Avenue - Entire street
- Sunset Avenue - Entire street
Also, no traffic other than parade traffic will be allowed on the above areas of Main Street, Calder Avenue, High Street and Willow Street between 9:45 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
Eddie Lane will be closed at the west entrance on that date (at North Main Street). The only access to Eddie Lane will be from the east side from Johnson Street.
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Apple Blossom Parade Road Closures
8 AM
- High School Rd at East Hurlbut
- North Main at Healdsburg Avenue
9 AM
- Eddie Lane at North Main Street
- Analy Avenue at North Main Street
- Morris Street at the Community Center
- Johnson Street at Sunset Avenue
- Johnson Street at Laguna Park Way
- Bonnardel Avenue at Wallace Street
9:30 AM
- Wallace Street at N. Main Street
- All N. Main Street Safeway entrances
- Rite Aid N. Main St. p-lot entrances
- Keating Ave at N. Main Street
- Wilton Ave at N. Main Street
- Umpqua Bank p-lot at N. Main Street
- Laguna Park Way at McKinley Street
- McKinley Street at N. Main Street
- Bodega Ave at N. Main Street
- Sebastopol Ave at N. Main Street
- Sebastopol Ave at Petaluma Ave
- Burnett Street at S. Main Street
- Burnett Street at Petaluma Avenue
- Bodega Avenue at High Street
- Willow Street at S. Main Street
- Calder Avenue at S. Main Street
- Fannen Avenue at S. Main Street
- Fannen Avenue at Petaluma Avenue
- Walker Avenue at S. Main Street
- Walker Avenue at Petaluma Avenue
- Maple Avenue at S. Main Street
- Palm Avenue at S. Main Street
- Palm Avenue at Petaluma Avenue
9:45 AM
- Healdsburg Ave at N. Main Street
- Bodega Ave at Pleasant Hill (except residents who live west of Main Street)
- Healdsburg Avenue at Covert Lane (except for residents who live west of Main Street)
Petaluma Avenue converted to two-way traffic from Sebastopol Ave to Gravenstein Hwy S at 9:30 AM until parades end.
Road closures will reopen when the parade concludes, sometime shortly after noon.
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All meetings will be held both in-person and virtually and are open to the public to attend.
Meetings will be held at the Sebastopol Youth Annex, 425 Morris Street, Sebastopol, CA 95472, and are open for in-person attendance.
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Agendas for upcoming meetings can be found on the City website by clicking the “Meetings” link on the home page. Agendas will contain information about participating both in-person and virtually in real time when this feature is available.
City Council Meetings:
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Meeting Days: First and Third Tuesday of each month
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Meeting Time: 6pm
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Meeting Location: Sebastopol Youth Annex, 425 Morris St., Sebastopol, CA
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Livestream Link: http://bit.ly/sebcctv
- To submit comments before the meeting:
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For Items Not on the Agenda: Members of the public may submit written emails/comments for items not on the agenda either by email as a public record or by public comment during the public comment period of the virtual City Council meeting. All written emails/comments will be provided to the entire City Council as a public record but will not be read into the minutes at the City Council meeting. Written emails/comments should be received by 5:00 pm of the Council Meeting Date for submission to the entire City Council prior to the meeting and will be included as a part of the record of the meeting. Please submit your comments via email for this meeting to mgourley@cityofsebastopol.gov
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For Items Listed on the Agenda: Members of the public may submit written emails/comments for items listed on the agenda either by email as a public record or by public comment during the public comment period of the agenda item during the virtual City Council meeting. Email comments must identify the Agenda Item Number in the subject line of the email. All written emails/comments will be provided to the entire City Council as a public record but will not be read into the minutes at the City Council meeting. Written emails/comments should be received by 5:00 pm of the Council Meeting Date for submission to the entire City Council prior to the meeting and will be included as a part of the record of the meeting. Please submit your comments via email for this meeting to mgourley@cityofsebastopol.gov
Next Regular City Council Meeting: Special City Council Meeting of April 23, 2024 @ 6:00 PM
Planning Commission Meetings:
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Meeting Days: Second and Fourth Tuesday of each month
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Meeting Time: 6pm
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Meeting Location: Sebastopol Youth Annex, 425 Morris St., Sebastopol, CA
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Livestream Link: http://bit.ly/sebcctv
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To submit comments before meeting, send an email to ksvanstrom@cityofsebastopol.gov
Next Meeting: Planning Commission Meeting of April 23, 2024 @ 6:00 PM has been CANCELLED.
Design Review Board Meetings:
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Meeting Days: Fourth Tuesday of each month
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Meeting Time: 3:30pm
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Meeting Location: Sebastopol Youth Annex, 425 Morris St., Sebastopol, CA
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Livestream Link: http://bit.ly/sebcctv
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To submit comments before meeting, send an email to jjay@cityofsebastopol.gov
Public Arts Committee Meetings:
Climate Action Committee Meetings:
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Meeting Days: Second Tuesday of each month
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Meeting Time: 3pm
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Meeting Location: Sebastopol Youth Annex, 425 Morris St., Sebastopol, CA
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Livestream Link: http://bit.ly/sebcctv
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To submit comments before meeting, send an email to jjay@cityofsebastopol.gov
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