View the latest version (Jan 16, 2018) of City Council Goals & Priorites
October 6, 2020 - City Council Meeting - highlights:
- Openings coming up at yearend on Planning Commission, Design Review Board.
- City Engineering Manager to retire in January 2021.
- $2,000 to be spent on public art, awarded in $500 grants, probably via lottery.
- City hopes to get approval from CalTrans or the State for 4 parklets on downtown streets during holiday season.
- Hearing held for capital improvement plans; looks like $450k going to street repairs, exactly where TBD.
- Playgrounds are now open with strict restrictions.
Read the notes from John Necker.
September 15, 2020 - City Council Meeting - highlights:
- The tobacco ordinace is now law, goes into effect in 30 days, adds licensing requirements and prohibits some products.
- Sebastopol streets are funky in many cases, limited repairs coming.
- City fees for all sorts of services and permits are going UP, expect to generate $180k more.
- A virtual League of California Cities Conference and Expo will be attended by Council Oct 7-9, dicey topics perhaps.
- Florence Ave will NOT be closed for Halloween, Covid thing. Awaiting County advice re Halloween at all.
Read the notes from John Necker.
September 1, 2020 - City Council Meeting - highlights:
- Don Mort assigned as acting Police Chief, replacing current acting Chief.
- Joe and Linda Maloney named as this year's "Locals Who Make A Difference."
- 16 Seb volunteer firefighters with two engines, have been on the front lines of wildfires, and will be through Labor Day.
- 3-hour parking limits are coming to several sections of Morris Street.
- Tobacco retail license ordinance passed 3:2.
- CoMission contract extended through end of fiscal year, not to exceed $60k.
Read the notes from John Necker.
August 18, 2020 - City Council Meeting - Cancelled
August 4, 2020 - City Council Meeting - highlights:
- A whopping 13 speakers for Public Comment, half denouncing vandalism of BLM mural on town plaza.
- And several more with concerns about potential purchase of Sebastopol Inn by the County for a homeless hostel.
- Letter of support headed to County for imposing fines on COVID contrarians, i.e the maskless.
- Recology given a $25k gift, given permission to stop Saturday call in customer service.
- Looks like we are headed to a 5-candidate race for 2 spots on City Council.
Read the notes from John Necker.
July 21, 2020 - City Council Meeting - highlights:
- Marghe Mills-Thysen appointed to open seat on the Public Arts Committee.
- Extended to August 2021 the urgency ordinance for moratorium on new non-hosted vacation rentals of over 30 days.
- Something happened with parking on Florence Ave, but only Abbott & Costello really understand it.
- Independent review of the Seb Police Dept approved, with Jerry Threet to conduct it, $30-40k.
- CoMission spent the first $40k, granted another $40k, towards revitalization of business effort.
Read the notes from John Necker.
July 7, 2020 - City Council Meeting - highlights:
- Schedule for 2020/21 Budget approved. Be there, your dollars in action.
- A tobacco retail licence ordinance is in the works.
- One result of the special Council meetings is interest in painting Black Lives Matter on the plaza.
- The idea of a Small Business Loan Sustainability program was introduced.
- Banners coming too, to mark the "Grand Re-Opening" of downtown, if that should ever occur.
Read the notes from John Necker.
June 16, 2020 - City Council Meeting - highlights:
- Yes, there is an election in November. And two Council seats are on the ballot. Your time is here?
- Remodel of Community Center Kitchen going to bid, estimated cost of $136,620.
- Community wide conversations regarding the Police Department to be held June 23 and June 30.
- CoMission presented some findings for the Sebastopol Community Vitality Project, they have spent $30k of the $40k budget since approval May 5.
- Recology rates are going up.
Read the notes from John Necker.
June 2, 2020 - City Council Meeting - highlights:
- Still meeting virtually, or is that virtually meeting, public comment returned.
- Joel Neuberg appointed to the Sonoma County library Commission.
- Annual audit reports the City is on solid financial ground, good for another year.
- However budget adjustments are needed, expecting 19% decrease in revenues.
- Vice Mayor Glass is working to save Gravenstein Health Action, funded through the Health Care District, set for imminent demise.
- What? No Parting shot?
Read the notes from John Necker.
May 19, 2020 - City Council Meeting - highlights:
- Public comment finds a silver lining with covid, cycling is less contentious.
- Vacancies June 30: citizen liaison to Climate committee, seat on the Arts Committee.
- Banners coming downtown in recognition of 100 years with the women's vote.
- Big discussion on fireworks sales, given covid and wildfire concerns, by 3:2 vote sales banned this year.
- City moving ahead with allowing outside dining at restaurants, coming soon to a street near you.
- Sit back, relax, settle in to your quarantine with this.
Read the notes from John Necker.
May 5, 2020 - addendum - City Council Meeting - highlights:
- This is a correction to May 5 notes.
- There was no vote to approve CoMission for Vitality consultant.
- Somehow City Staff hired them on their own.
- Somehow the job went from one part-time person to a multiple person consultancy.
- Did we really pay 3 people ($94 -$211/hour) to attend a City Council Meeting??
Read the additional notes from John Necker.
May 5, 2020 - City Council Meeting - highlights:
- Better abate your weeds by June 2, or the City may do it for you, on your dime.
- Untested, first of its kind, BayREN Water Upgrades Savings Program starting in Sebville.
- Community Vitality Consultant job going to a new company called CoMission. Also untested.
- Getting used to the ole Zoom format, meeting went 4 1/2 hours.
Read the notes from John Necker.
April 21, 2020 - City Council Meeting - highlights:
- Annual Assessment for street lighting approved, down a tad (LEDs?)
- With COVID, hotel taxes generated are way down, deferral of payment by our two hotels to the City approved.
- Climate Action Sub-Committee will wait until after shelter-in-place order lifted to form, a few more members needed.
- You too can attend meetings in real-time on Zoom. Will the May 5 one be virtual? Here are instructions >>
Read the notes from John Necker.
April 7, 2020 - City Council Meeting - highlights:
- Meeting held on Zoom, and it zoomed by in only one hour.
- Council endorses Community Center's application for a $1M grant to upgrade the facility.
- Council to send letter to commercial property owners requesting relief for tenants.
- The City is maintaining local info re COVID-19, found here on the City website.
Read the notes from John Necker.
April 1, 2020 - City Council Meeting - highlights:
- Wisdom abounds in our City Council, and it is proclaimed.
- Speaker advocates for return to 2-way traffic on Main, with driving on the left to emphasize the Sebastopol spirit.
- Sebastopol Citizens to receive much-needed and well-deserved $20k City Funds, in cash. In small brown unmarked bags.
- In a surprise move, Council says it is now OK to shop at CVS.
Read the notes from John Necker.
March 17, 2020 - City Council Meeting - highlights:
- Shortened meeting due to COVID-19, essential items only. Three physically present, Two via remote access.
- Local emergency proclaimed for COVID-19, might be eligible for grants from impact. TBD.
- PGE looking to install microgrid generator for Sebastopol, meets with some objections.
- Peace Wall to add: Fred Ptucha, Adrienne Lauby, Mary Moore and Joan Baez.
Read the notes from John Necker.
March 3, 2020 - City Council Meeting - highlights:
- March 15-21 is proclaimed National Surveyor's Week.
- No public comment. Really?
- Dollars for seismic safety of Sebastopol homes may be coming, psychoanalysis not covered.
- Hotel Sebastopol must break ground by March 7, or else?
- COVID-19 casualty: Sebastopol World Friends has canceled this years exchange.
Read the notes from John Necker.
February 18, 2020 - City Council Meeting - highlights:
- Requests to expand overnight safe parking program for the unsheltered, as done at The Community Church.
- Annual audit report shows the City is ahead, buckwise.
- Another Bike to Work Day is coming.
- Barlow flood plan is just like the old one, except to execute it next time. Dry run yet to be performed. A wet run does not seem like a good way to test it.
Read the notes from John Necker.
February 4, 2020 - City Council Meeting - highlights:
- Feb 12: Analy EcoAction club screening and discussing "Hike the Divide, a Conversation About Climate Action on the Continental Divide Trail"
- Presentation by Supervisors Lynda Hopkins and David Rabbitt in support of Measure G, sales tax increase for fire services.
- Vaping discussion, how to discourage use, more to come on this...
- Little interest in Sebastopol becoming successor agency for dissolving Palm Drive Health Care District.
Read the notes from John Necker.
January 21, 2020 - City Council Meeting - highlights:
- Sebastopol World Friends Friendship Dinner Jan 25 - Japan and Ukraine sister cities.
- Kincade Fire emergency proclamation officially over.
- Libby Park playground renewal going out to bid.
- Cross walk revamp around the town square in works by CalTrans - a MUST read...
Read the notes from John Necker.
January 7, 2020 - City Council Meeting - highlights:
- 20th Anniversary of Rialto Cinemas recognized.
- New water/sewer rates approved. Rates are not going down.
- Signs for Peets and Supercuts approved. No litigation needed.
- Formation of a climate action sub-committee authorized.
Read the notes from John Necker.
Bonus Read - Sebastopol's Chinatowns provided by John Necker.
January 1, 2020 - Annual Summary of 2019
