On the agenda: Sebastopol Agenda Item Number 1 City Council Meeting Minutes 9.01.26 Meeting Minutes — flock camera (Sep 1)

Agenda Item Number 1

CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Regular Meeting of Tuesday, September 1, 2026
6:00 pm Start Time
As Approved by the City Council at their regular meeting of September 15, 2026.
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor McLewis called the meeting to order 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
Present:

Absent:
Staff:

Mayor Jill McLewis
Vice Mayor Sandra Maurer
Councilmember Phill Carter
Councilmember Stephen Zollman
Councilmember Neysa Hinton

Accommodations

Zoom

Mary Gourley, City Manager
Alex Mog, City Attorney, Redwood Public Law
Public Works Director
Police Chief McDonagh

REMOTE PARTICIPATION:
Mayor McLewis medical accommodations
Councilmember Hinton – Brown act participation
SALUTE TO THE FLAG
Mayor McLewis led the salute to the flag.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The City of Sebastopol acknowledges that we live and work within the unceded
ancestral homelands of the Southern Pomo and the Coast Miwok people. We pay our respect to the past, present,
and future generations of these peoples, including the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria.
REMEMBERING THE HISTORY OF SEBASTOPOL: None
PROCLAMATIONS/PRESENTATIONS/INTRODUCTIONS: None
STATEMENTS OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: Conflicts of interest may arise in situations where a public official deliberating

towards a decision, has an actual or potential financial interest in the matter before the Council. In accordance with state law, an
actual conflict of interest is one that would be to the private financial benefit of a public official, a relative or a business with which
the Councilmember is associated. A potential conflict of interest is one that could be to the private financial benefit of a
Councilmember, a relative or a business with which the Councilmember is associated. A Councilmember must publicly announce
potential and actual conflicts of interest, and, in the case of actual conflict of interest, must refrain from participating in debate on
the issue or from voting on the issue and must remove themselves from the dais. NONE

PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA (FIRST COMMENT PERIOD): Up to Twenty (20) Minute Time Limit
(Two Minutes for up to ten speakers). Additional public comment will be held at the end of the discussion and action items for up
to an additional twenty (20) minutes. Mayor has discretion to allow for additional time beyond the 20 minutes allocated for public
comment dependent upon the subject matter or number of speakers.
Process for calling on Speakers: Mayor or designee shall ask for public comment as follows: Speakers to be called on in an
alternate manner (One speaker in person to be called on first; then one speaker remote to be called on second with additional
speakers to be called on in the same manner) based upon the time limit.
The following member(s) of the public spoke during public comment for items not on the agenda:

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Agenda Item Number 1

Melissa
Kyle
Sandi
Mary
Steve
ordinance
Mary
Lena

Just Cause Ordinance
SCTCA Meetings Council attendance/SC Maintenance of Effort
Just Cause Ordinance
EFOC; repay funds
Chapter 8.25 Number 55; Protest of main intersection in town; decibel limits/noise control
Three minute comments
North Bay Organizing Project/Woodmark

CONSENT CALENDAR: The consent agenda consists of items that are routine in nature and do not require additional discussion by the City

Council or have been reviewed by the City Council previously. These items may be approved by one motion without discussion unless a member of
the City Council requests that the item be taken off the consent calendar.
The Mayor will read aloud the title of each consent item (either full agenda title or a simplified version of the agenda title), and ask if a
Councilmember wishes to remove one or more items from the consent calendar; and then open public comment to the members of the public in
attendance. At this time, a member of the public may speak for up to two (2) minutes on the entire consent calendar and request at that time that
an item or items removed for discussion.
If an item or items are removed from the consent calendar, the item shall be placed at the end of the regular agenda items unless otherwise
determined by the Mayor. Council Members may comment on Consent Calendar items or ask for minor clarifications without the need for pulling
the item for separate consideration. Items requiring deliberation should be pulled for separate consideration and shall be placed at the end of the
regular agenda items unless otherwise determined by the Mayor.

Mayor McLewis read the consent calendar.
Mayor McLewis asked if Councilmember wanted to pull a consent calendar item.
Mayor McLewis pulled item number 2 for a vote only.
Mayor McLewis opened for public comment. The following member(s) of the public spoke during public comment:
Kyle
Lee

Removal of agenda items
Bodega Avenue costs

Mayor McLewis called for a motion.
MOTION:
Councilmember Hinton moved and Mayor McLewis seconded the motion to approve consent calendar items 1, 3, 4,
5, 6, and 7.
Mayor McLewis called for a roll call vote. City staff conducted a roll call vote.
VOTE:
Ayes:
Noes:
Absent:
Abstain:

Councilmembers Carter, Hinton, Zollman, Vice Mayor Maurer and Mayor McLewis
None
None
None

1. Approval of City Council Meeting Minutes for Regular Meeting of August 4, 2026

Responsible Department: City Manager
Fiscal Impact: Staff time required to prepare the minutes is covered within existing budgeted salaries.
Additional Fiscal Impact: None
City Council Action: Approved City Council Meeting Minutes for Regular Meeting of August 4, 2026.
Minute Order Number: 2026-223
2. Approval of Adoption of City Policy Requiring Annual Request for the Barlow Hotel Transient Occupancy

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Agenda Item Number 1

Tax (TOT) Rebate Marketing Expenditures. Approval requires City staff (Planning Department), by March
1 of each year during the rebate period, to formally request the annual marketing expenditure report
from the hotel owner / Developer / payee of the tax; and requires that the report be presented to the
City Council no later than the June regular meeting of each year (or the first regular meeting thereafter).
Responsible Department: City Administration/City Attorney
Fiscal Impact: Staff time required to prepare the agenda item is covered within existing budgeted salaries.
Additional Fiscal Impact: None

3. Approval of Notice of Intent to Amend the City of Sebastopol Conflict of Interest Code. Amendments are
routine amendments such as current job classifications.
Responsible Department: City Administration/City Attorney
Fiscal Impact: Staff time required to prepare the agenda item is covered within existing budgeted salaries.
Additional Fiscal Impact: None.
City Council Action: Approved Notice of Intent to Amend the City of Sebastopol Conflict of Interest Code.
Minute Order Number: 2026-225

4. Approval of Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance to add Chapter 5.66, “Newsrack Regulations,” to
the Sebastopol Municipal Code.
Responsible Department: City Administration/City Attorney
Fiscal Impact: Staff time required to prepare the agenda item is covered within existing budgeted salaries.
Additional Fiscal Impact: None.
City Council Action: Approved Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance to add Chapter 5.66, “Newsrack
Regulations” to the Sebastopol Municipal Code.
Minute Order Number: 2026-226
Ordinance Number: 1169

5. Approval of Notice of Completion for Bodega Phase 2 Bike Lane Project.

Responsible Department: Public Works
Fiscal Impact: Staff time required to prepare the agenda item is covered within existing budgeted salaries.
Additional Fiscal Impact: None. Funding in the amount of $2,673,600 is in the FY 26-27 CIP budget.
City Council Action: Approved Notice of Completion for Bodega Phase 2 Bike Lane Project.
Minute Order Number: 2026-227

6. Approval of Notice of Completion for Digouts & Repair Paving Project.

Responsible Department: Public Works
Fiscal Impact: Staff time required to prepare the agenda item is covered within existing budgeted salaries.
Additional Fiscal Impact: None. Funding in the amount of funding in the amount of is in the FY 26 27 CIP budget.
City Council Action: Approved Notice of Completion for Digouts & Repair Paving Project.
Minute Order Number: 2026-228

7. Award Contract for Pedestrian Crossing Enhancements on SR-116

Responsible Department: Public Works
Fiscal Impact: Staff time required to prepare the agenda item is covered within existing budgeted salaries.
Additional Fiscal Impact: None. The total project funding appropriated in the FY 2026-27 CIP is $318,050, which
is sufficient to fund the recommended contract award, contingency, and associated project costs.
Funding for this project was approved as part of the FY 2026-27 Capital Improvement Program (CIP No. 013223.02).
City Council Action: Awarded Contract for Pedestrian Crossing Enhancements on SR-116.
Minute Order Number: 2026-229
Resolution Number: 6794-2026

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Agenda Item Number 1

Project Costs

Amount

Funding Sources

Amount

Construction
Contract Award

$195,480

HSIP Grant (Fund 211)

$215,820

Construction
Contingency
(20%)

$39,096

Traffic Impact Fee Fund (Fund 213)

$52,230

Total
Construction
Authorization

$234,576

SB 1 Road Maintenance & Rehabilitation Fund (Fund 217)

$50,000

Total CIP Funding Available

$318,050

Item Number 2 below removed from the consent calendar for a separate vote.
2. Approval of Adoption of City Policy Requiring Annual Request for the Barlow Hotel Transient Occupancy
Tax (TOT) Rebate Marketing Expenditures. Approval requires City staff (Planning Department), by March
1 of each year during the rebate period, to formally request the annual marketing expenditure report
from the hotel owner / Developer / payee of the tax; and requires that the report be presented to the
City Council no later than the June regular meeting of each year (or the first regular meeting thereafter).
Responsible Department: City Administration/City Attorney
Fiscal Impact: Staff time required to prepare the agenda item is covered within existing budgeted salaries.
Additional Fiscal Impact: None
MOTION:
Councilmember Hinton moved and Councilmember Zollman seconded the motion to approve consent calendar item
2.
City Manager Gourley called for a roll call vote. City staff conducted a roll call vote.
VOTE:
Ayes:
Councilmembers Carter, Hinton, Zollman, Vice Mayor Maurer
Noes:
None
Absent:
None
Abstain:
Mayor McLewis
City Council Action: Approved adoption of City Policy requiring Annual Request for the Barlow Hotel TOT Rebate
Marketing Expenditures.
Minute Order Number: 2026-224
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/PRESENTATIONS: Informational Items or Presentations are items that are informational only and
do not require action by the City Council. Presentations shall be scheduled as necessary for the promotion of an event
or service or general information items to the Council and should be limited to ten (10) minutes total in length of item
(total length includes questions of Council to presenter and public comment). NONE

8. Presentation from St Vincents de Paul on Status of Gravenstein Commons/Status of Community

Engagement Meeting and Update on Good Neighbor Policy or Affirmations
Responsible Department: City Council Liaison to Homeless/City Manager
Fiscal Impact: Staff time required to prepare the minutes is covered within existing budgeted salaries.
Additional Fiscal Impact: None; Consultant Costs Reimbursed by SVdP

City Manager Gourley presented the agenda item and introduced Lauren Taylor and Robin Stephani.

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Lauren Taylor, SVDP and Robin Stephani, 8th Wave (City Consultant) provided information to the City Council on the
status of Gravenstein Commons.
Mayor McLewis opened for questions of staff. The Council asked various questions of City staff.
Mayor McLewis opened the public comment period. The following member(s) of the public spoke during the public
comment period:
Oliver
Lee
Kathleen
Kyle
Member of the public
The Council thanked the presenters and received the presentation.
City Council Action: None. Received Presentation.
Minute Order Number: 2026-230
PUBLIC HEARING(s):

NONE

REGULAR CALENDAR AGENDA ITEMS (DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION):
9. Consideration of Approval of Good Neighbor Policy. Guidelines designed to balance development, business
operations, and social services with the quality of life in surrounding residential areas. They address nuisances
like noise, trash, and traffic, often requiring businesses or service providers to implement security, contact
lines, and community engagement to foster accountability and reduce conflict. The proposed County
standards are due to be approved after one more review.
Requestor: City Council Liaison Homeless
Responsible Department: City Attorney
Fiscal Impact: Staff time required to prepare the agenda item is covered within existing budgeted salaries.
Additional Fiscal Impact: None
City Attorney Mog presented the Agenda item.
Mayor McLewis opened for questions of staff. The Council asked various questions of City staff.
Mayor McLewis opened the public comment period. The following member(s) of the public spoke during the
public comment period:
Oliver
Lee
Kathleen
Rob
City Council Discussion/Deliberations/Comments:
Council continued discussion of the item.
Mayor McLewis called for a motion.
MOTION:
Vice Mayor Maurer moved and Councilmember Zollman seconded to continue this item to a future City Council
meeting in January 2027.

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After discussion Vice Mayor Maurer withdrew the motion.
Councilmember Zollman moved and Mayor McLewis seconded to continue this item at the 1st or 3rd meeting in
Jan 2027 McLewis partner providers to review/suggest
City Manager Gourley called for a roll call vote. City staff conducted a roll call vote.
VOTE:
Ayes:
Councilmembers Zollman & Mayor McLewis
Noes:
Councilmembers Carter, Hinton, & Maurer
Absent:
None
Abstain:
None
City Council Action: None Taken. Motion Failed.
Minute Order Number: 2026-231
MOTION FAILS

10. Presentation from HEART/ SOUL (Solving Obstacles for Unsheltered Lives) and West County Community

Services (WCCS) on Services Provided for Homeless Services and Consideration of Contracts for
Homeless Outreach Services. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with HEART expires September
16, 2026; and the contract with WCCS expired June 30, 2026. The item tonight is to consider agreements
with the following:
a. Contract with SOUL (Formerly Named HEART)
b. Contract with WCCS (West County Community Services)
c. Other Direction to staff
Responsible Department: City Council Homeless Liaison/Police Chief
Fiscal Impact: Staff time required to prepare the agenda item is covered within existing budgeted salaries.
Additional Fiscal Impact: None. $40,000 has been allocated in the FY 26 27 Budget for Homeless Outreach
Services.
Chief McDonagh presented the Agenda item. Presenters include Christy Davilla and Hunter Scott.
Mayor McLewis opened for questions of staff. The Council asked various questions of City staff.
Mayor McLewis opened the public comment period. The following member(s) of the public spoke during the
public comment period:
Rob
Lee
City Council Discussion/Deliberations/Comments:
Council continued discussion of the item.
Mayor McLewis called for a motion.
MOTION:

Councilmember Zollman moved and Vice Mayor Maurer seconded the motion to:
1. Authorize the continued partnership with Sonoma County Department of Health Services (HEART/SOUL) for
dedicated homeless outreach services and authorize return to a future city council meeting a successor
MOU/contract upon completion of negotiations and final approval as to form by the city attorney.
HEART/SOUL has agreed to continue providing services following expiration of the current MOU on

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September 16, 2026, while the successor agreement completes the county and city review and approval
processes, thereby avoiding any interruption in services.
2. Approve a professional services agreement with West County Community Services for FY 2026-27 Homeless
Outreach Services in an amount not to exceed $40,000 and authorize the city manager to execute the
agreement subject to final approval as to form by the city attorney.
Mayor McLewis called for a roll call vote. City staff conducted a roll call vote.
VOTE:
Ayes:
Councilmembers Carter, Hinton, Zollman, & Maurer
Noes:
McLewis
Absent:
None
Abstain:
None
City Council Action: Authorized continued partnership with Sonoma County Department of Health Services
(HEART/SOUL) for dedicated homeless outreach services and authorized return to a future City Council meeting
a successor MOU/contract upon completion of negotiations and final approval as to form by the City Attorney.
Approved a Professional Services Agreement with West County Community Services for FY026/27 Homeless
Outreach Services in an amount not to exceed $40,000 and authorized the City Manager to execute the
agreement subject to final approval as to form by the City Attorney.
Minute Order Number: 2026-232
Resolution Number: 6795-2026

11. Discussion and Consideration of Financing Options for Well 4 Reconstruction PULLED FROM AGENDA;
WILL BE HEARD AT A FUTURE CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
Responsible Department: Public Works
Fiscal Impact: Staff time required to prepare the agenda report is covered within existing budgeted salaries.
Additional Fiscal Impact:
City Council Action: None. Item was pulled from Agenda.
Minute Order Number: 2026-233
Mayor McLewis departed the meeting at 8:23 pm.

12. Discussion of City Attorney Research on Legal Options on Response to Community Concerns of Graffiti

and Racial Mockery Associated with the Safeway Area focusing on restorative justice model. Item includes
reaffirmation of that Sebastopol is a welcoming place for everyone.
Responsible Department: City Attorney
Fiscal Impact: Staff time required to prepare the agenda report is covered within existing budgeted salaries.
Additional Fiscal Impact: There is no additional fiscal impact as ten hours were allocated by the City Council.
City Attorney Alex Mog presented the Agenda item.
Vice Mayor Maurer opened for questions of staff. The Council asked various questions of City staff.
Vice Mayor Maurer opened the public comment period. The following member(s) of the public spoke during the
public comment period:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Cynthia
Mary
Member of the public
Woody
A member of the public
Kyle

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7. A member of the public
8. Rob
9. Christy
10. Margaret
11. Susan
12. Sarah
13. Dena
14. June
15. Linda
16. M Kelly
17. Oliver
18. Glen
19. Michelle
20. Liz
21. Browen
22. Megan
23. Woody
24. Stella
City Council Discussion/Deliberations/Comments:
Council continued discussion of the item.
Vice Mayor Maurer called for a motion.
MOTION:
Councilmember Zollman moved and Councilmember Carter seconded the motion as follows:
Directed staff to return to an agenda item to the next city council meeting for creation of ad hoc or council liaison
in response to recommendations;
•
•
•
•
•

Staff time
Recommendation for staffing
Scope of duties/hours
Training for racial bias
Safeway letter

Vice Mayor Maurer called for a roll call vote. City staff conducted a roll call vote.
VOTE:
Ayes:
Councilmembers Carter, Hinton, & Zollman, and Vice Mayor Maurer
Noes:
None
Absent:
Mayor McLewis
Abstain:
None
City Council Action: Approved motion to direct staff to return to an agenda item to the next City Council meeting
for creation of an ad hoc or council liaison in response to recommendations.
Minute Order Number: 2026-234
ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA: Two minutes per speaker for up to twenty
(20) minutes total for public comments but can be reduced at Mayor’s discretion depending upon the number of
speakers or Mayor has discretion to allow for additional time beyond the 20 minutes allocated for public comment
dependent upon the subject matter or number of speakers.

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None
COUNCILMEMBER(S) REQUESTS FOR FUTURE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS:
Discussion of City Council Cost Allocations to Enterprise Fund (Vice Mayor Maurer/Councilmember Zollman)
CITY COUNCIL/CITY STAFF REPORTS/COMMUNICATIONS/ANNOUNCEMENTS/FUTURE MEETINGS:
13. City Manager and/or City Clerk Reports: (This will be either verbal reports at the meeting, or
written reports provided at or prior to the meeting)
a.
None
14. City Council Reports/Committee/Sub-Committee Meeting Reports: (Reports by Mayor/City Councilmembers
Regarding Various Agency Meetings/Committee Meetings/Sub-Committee Meeting /Conferences Attended and
Possible Direction to its Representatives (If Needed) on Pending issues before such Boards. (This will be either
verbal reports at the meeting, or written reports provided at or prior to the meeting). Councilmembers provided
reports.
a. Councilmember Zollman briefly spoke on Department of Public Health.
15. Council Communications Received (Information/Meetings/Correspondence Received from the General Public to
Councilmembers)
CLOSED SESSION: NONE
ADJOURNMENT OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING
September 1, 2026 City Council Regular Meeting was adjourned by Vice Mayor Maurer at 10:00 pm. The next Regular
City Council Meeting is Tuesday, Sept 15, 2026 at 6:00 pm, Sebastopol Youth Annex, 425 Morris Street, Sebastopol,
CA.
Respectfully submitted:

Mary C. Gourley
City Manager
Attachment 1: ZOOM Raw Minutes
Attachment 2: VITAC Real Time Transcription Minutes

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Agenda Item Number 1

WEBVTT
1
00:00:05.300 --> 00:00:06.589
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: You are, Cody?
2
00:00:08.640 --> 00:00:09.759
City Council: Already on the Zoom.
3
00:00:09.760 --> 00:00:10.540
Mayor Jill McLewis: Oops.
4
00:00:10.540 --> 00:00:11.629
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, thank you.
5
00:00:11.780 --> 00:00:13.609
Mayor Jill McLewis: Mary, are you able to hear me?
6
00:00:13.610 --> 00:00:15.330
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I am able to hear you.
7
00:00:15.330 --> 00:00:16.090
Mayor Jill McLewis: Okay.
8
00:00:16.090 --> 00:00:17.919
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Hinton, can you hear
us?
9
00:00:19.410 --> 00:00:21.580
Councilmember Neysa Hinton: Hmm… I can hear you.
10
00:00:21.580 --> 00:00:22.570
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Great, thank you.
11
00:00:28.310 --> 00:00:33.950
Mayor Jill McLewis: Let me just get my agenda here, and I will be ready
in just one moment. Thanks, everyone, for your patience.
12
00:00:45.490 --> 00:00:47.620
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Mayor, we're ready to start the
meeting whenever you are.

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00:00:47.620 --> 00:01:05.869
Mayor Jill McLewis: Oh, okay, I was just making sure for confirmation.
So, I welcome everyone tonight, to City Council. Obviously, I'm on Zoom.
First thing we're going to do is actually just, call to order the
meeting, and then have, our City Manager, Mary, if you could do the roll
call.
14
00:01:07.670 --> 00:01:10.869
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Mayor. Councilmember
Carter?
15
00:01:10.980 --> 00:01:13.120
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Here. Councilmember Hinton?
16
00:01:13.120 --> 00:01:13.880
Councilmember Neysa Hinton: Here.
17
00:01:14.200 --> 00:01:18.729
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Zolman? Present. Vice
Mayor Maurer? Here. Mayor McLewis?
18
00:01:18.730 --> 00:01:19.260
Mayor Jill McLewis: Here.
19
00:01:19.290 --> 00:01:21.510
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Now, all Councilmembers are in
attendance.
20
00:01:22.850 --> 00:01:41.560
Mayor Jill McLewis: Perfect, thank you. So tonight, we obviously have
some remote participation. I'll just let you know that I am,
participating remote under my accommodation for my, medical treatment
that I'm receiving tonight. It's a necessary thing tonight. And then we
also have another Councilmember Hinton, if you'd like to…
21
00:01:41.600 --> 00:01:42.930
Mayor Jill McLewis: I don't know if…
22
00:01:43.120 --> 00:01:53.889
Councilmember Neysa Hinton: Yeah, I'm participating tonight, as posted on
the agenda, from a location in Bend, Oregon, and I have to participate
because I'm up here traveling for my work business.
23
00:01:54.920 --> 00:01:56.320

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Mayor Jill McLewis: Alright, thank you.
24
00:01:56.450 --> 00:02:02.749
Mayor Jill McLewis: The next thing we're gonna do is Salute to the flag,
if we could all stand and do that.
25
00:02:05.390 --> 00:02:16.930
Mayor Jill McLewis: All right, I pledge allegiance. I can't hear everyone
in the room, so… flag of the United States of America, to the Republic
for which it stands, one agent, is…
26
00:02:20.470 --> 00:02:23.550
Mayor Jill McLewis: And I just wanted to state that
27
00:02:23.620 --> 00:02:45.489
Mayor Jill McLewis: One thing I've discovered through leading the
meetings through Zoom is that unless someone's on the microphone, you
absolutely cannot hear anything in the room, so if anything is happening
in the room, I just hope that someone will communicate that with me,
because it's been a learning process over this year. I can see some
chairs, but other than that, I can't hear anything other than what's on
the microphones.
28
00:02:45.490 --> 00:02:46.350
Mayor Jill McLewis: So…
29
00:02:46.630 --> 00:03:09.250
Mayor Jill McLewis: Okay, so we have a land acknowledgement that we do,
at every meeting. 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 the
future generations of these peoples, including the Federated Indians of
Great and Rancheria.
30
00:03:09.610 --> 00:03:21.890
Mayor Jill McLewis: And this evening, just due to all of the, just due to
the changes in me doing this remote, we won't be doing the, history piece
tonight, but I will have that back at our next meeting.
31
00:03:21.890 --> 00:03:32.739
Mayor Jill McLewis: And we do not have any proclamations or presentations
this… or proclamations this evening, so, the first thing I wanted to ask
everyone is if there are any statements of conflict of interest.
32
00:03:34.920 --> 00:03:39.889

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Mayor Jill McLewis: I see heads shaking. Councilmember Carter, I can't
tell if you've…
33
00:03:41.790 --> 00:03:45.140
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We have no… we have no statements
in… in the chambers.
34
00:03:45.370 --> 00:04:00.070
Mayor Jill McLewis: Okay, thank you, and I appreciate everyone shaking
their heads so well. It's hard to see. Okay, so we're going to move on to
public comment for items that are not on the agenda, so, if you want to
go ahead and take that over, Mary.
35
00:04:00.070 --> 00:04:19.360
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Mayor. So, as stated,
this is for items that are not on tonight's agenda. It is a 20-minute
time limit. It is a 2-minute per speaker. We go to chambers first, and
then go out to Zoom, come back in, go back out until there's 10 speakers.
So, I will look to Chambers if there's anyone in chambers that would like
to make a public comment for an item not on the agenda.
36
00:04:29.970 --> 00:04:31.919
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Is the microphone pushed on?
37
00:04:33.000 --> 00:04:48.679
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Hello, Mayor and Councilmembers. My
name is Melissa Page. I'm a member of Woodmark Tenants United, and we are
just here to ask you to put the permanent, the ordinance on the agenda to
make it permanent. Thank you.
38
00:04:49.710 --> 00:04:54.759
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment.
Next, I will go out to Zoom. Kyle, can you unmute yourself, please?
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Kyle Falbo: I can.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. Can you see the timer?
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Kyle Falbo: I can't, but you can let me know.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Right, go ahead, please.
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Kyle Falbo: Good evening. I want to begin tonight by correcting something
I said during public comment at the August SCTCA meeting, and apologizing
to Councilmember Hinton.
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Kyle Falbo: I said in that meeting that Councilmember Hinton had missed 4
out of the previous 5 SCTCA meetings without a Sebastopol alternate
president.
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Kyle Falbo: While I was making that comment, Councilmember Hinton
actually arrived late to the meeting. So, Neysa, I misspoke, and I
apologize. You have only missed 3 of the previous 5 meetings without an
alternate present, not 4.
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Kyle Falbo: But there's an important item later in that meeting that
Neysa did miss after leaving somewhat early to attend a Sonoma County
Fair meeting, and I want to make sure that Council hears about it.
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Kyle Falbo: SCTCA reported that Sebastopol was the only jurisdiction in
Sonoma County initially found out of compliance with Go Sonoma's
maintenance of effort requirement. The purpose of that requirement is
simple. When voters propose new transportation funding, cities aren't
supposed to respond by reducing their own baseline transportation
spending. SCTCA calls this a key accountability promise made to voters.
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Kyle Falbo: Sebastopol was initially 8% deficit.
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Kyle Falbo: Staff recommended withholding and redistributing more than
$11,000 of funding, and the Citizens Advisory Committee unanimously
resupported that recommendation. Then, before the SCTCA Board could take
that final act, Sebastopol revised its financial reporting following an
audit and revised reporting to the State Controller. We were ultimately
declared compliant.
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Kyle Falbo: Maybe these revisions were entirely appropriate, but that's
exactly why I think that this deserves a public explanation here.

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Bill, you have about 30 seconds.
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Kyle Falbo: How did Sebastopol's financial practices allow us to report
ourselves out of compliance in the first place? What specifically changed
after we were threatened with losing funding? And why did our
representative to SCTCA not report the situation back to the Council and
the public when it was unfolding?
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Kyle, for your public
comments. Neys Kyle will come into chambers, if there's anyone in
chambers?
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I… I'll get the gentleman the next
time.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Hello, my name's Sandy Russell. Am
I loud enough?
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Can you hear it?
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Mayor Jill McLewis: We can hear you.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Great, okay. I just came tonight
because we've been… we've been working with you for the last year on the
ordinance to help protect us from eviction from Woodmark.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Anyway, today's… tonight's,
comments from me are basically to thank everybody for your time and your
consideration in making this happen for us. We really, really appreciate
it.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I want to wish you all good
luck on your re-election. I know it's all coming up, and I think… yes,
you're the Vice Mayor now. Yeah. Well, thank you.

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And thank you to, Councilman
Zolman. He helped us a lot with our plight in, living at Woodmark and
fighting eviction.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And, we're very sad to see you go.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for everything you did
for us.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And Mary, too. And Alex Mogg. Thank
you.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay,
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I hope you all got a copy of our
statement regarding the ordinance, and we're really anxious to bring it
forward rather than leave it till later, because we know that there's
going to be a changing of the guard, and we really, really want to try
and make it a permanent part of
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Our existence to protect us from
further eviction problems.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: There's three facts.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: That you might be interested in.
There's been… there's three components as to why we're still here, and
people are pretty amazed about that, that we're still here after fighting
for a year. Then you have 20 seconds. Okay. The ordinance, which was… was
a big deterrent in their final
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Play to Invi- evictors.

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Legal Aid of Sonoma County was
absolutely amazing. They produced some fantastic
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: discovery documents that was not
only
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Astounding, but it was shocking to
all of us, of what had happened in the background.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So I think that's true. We're,
we're just…
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: basically really appreciate
everybody's help, and thank you. Thank you for your public comment. Next,
I'll go out to Zoom. Mary, can you unmute yourself, please?
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Mary Meihaus: Oh, yes.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. Can you see the timer?
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Mary Meihaus: I can.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Go ahead, please.
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Mary Meihaus: Oh, okay, thank you. Yes, my name is Mary Meihaus. I am a
member of the EFOC's Finance Subcommittee, and I'm just here to talk
about the EFOC and the
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Mary Meihaus: what our thoughts are, as the Finance Committee. I would
just want to first stress the importance of the City repaying, the $5.5
million identified by the Grand Jury Report in May of this year, and also
supported by the EFOC's work.

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Mayor Jill McLewis: Just wanted to interrupt for a minute, if someone
could… could the James Hintonley…
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Mary Meihaus: Oh my god.
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Mayor Jill McLewis: Could you please pull that down?
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Mayor Jill McLewis: Sorry.
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Mary Meihaus: Oh.
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Mary Meihaus: Okay. Sorry.
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Mayor Jill McLewis: Sorry, Mary, I just couldn't… I thought it would be
taken care of, but it wasn't, so I had to speak up.
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Mary Meihaus: Oh, no, thank you, I appreciate you. Yeah, definitely,
definitely the time to speak up, I did not notice. yeah, so… I… just
moving forward, I would like to see the city commit to,
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Mary Meihaus: making that repayment of importance of the misallocated
funds, especially the $300,000, to be put back into the enterprise funds.
And…
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Mary Meihaus: Mainly because of the crucial water system infrastructure
repairs, items coming up, like the Pleasant Hill Loop and the Well No. 4.
Those are critical needs within the city.
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Mary Meihaus: And… I just wanted to say that the City and Council are…

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00:11:27.330 --> 00:11:41.960
Mary Meihaus: running… essentially running a utility district, and the
ratepayers are paying for the management of the utilities, and the city
and the council need to devote the concentrated time to the enterprise
funds and infrastructure.
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Mary Meihaus: And we're just looking for that focus. And we…
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Mary Meihaus: we looked toward the… as the Finance Committee, we looked
towards examples of…
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Mary Meihaus: this focus through, places like Sweetwater Springs, which
is our neighborhood water district, or neighbor water district. And so
for things like.
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Mary Meihaus: Their meetings involve laboratory testing, water
production, leaks, all the information, like, including all this, leaks,
Guerneville rainfall, all grants, all these things, and we believe that
the public works director should function like a general manager of a
utility district.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Mary, that's 2 minutes.
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Mary Meihaus: Oh, shoot, okay, thank you, I'm sorry.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, so thank you.
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Mary Meihaus: Thank you so much, everybody!
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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.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Good evening, my name's Steve
Einstein, and I'm here to talk about Chapter 8.25.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: of the Sebastopol Municipal Code,
and in particular, the number 55.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The individuals who protest at the
main intersection in town every Friday afternoon in support of the
Palestinian cause have every right to lie and distort and spread false
information about the tragedy that has befallen the Palestinian people,
especially in Gaza.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Indeed, it's a tragedy for all the
peoples of the Middle East.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: That their signs grossly mistake
and distort the truth, from the number of individuals killed, to the role
of AIPAC, to the spreading of conspiracy theories, is their right. But
never mind that. Free speech is protected even when it's hate speech.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: What is not protected is exceeding
the decibel limits as spelled out in the Municipal Code Chapter 8.25.
That's the noise control ordinance. These demonstrators have been
blasting hateful lyrics full of distortions about Israel and the Jews who
live there for many months through a sound system that well exceeds the
legal limit
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Of 55 decibels.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: That's the limit spelled out in the
Municipal Code of the City of Sebastopol, Section 8.25.060. Never mind
the hateful lyrics that portray Israel as a state of Nazi pedophiles.
Their speaker usually blasts the intersection and everyone near it at 90
to 100 decibels, well in excess of the law.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Steve, you have 15 seconds. Great.
To this point, the Sebastopol Police Department, in a mistaken effort to
respect and protect free speech, has yet to enforce the code. I hope that

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this Friday, and every day going forward, our police department will
respect and protect the rights of all of us by finally enforcing the
ordinance. Thank you very much.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment.
Next, I'll go back out to Zoom. If there's anyone on Zoom that would like
to make a public comment. Mary, can you unmute yourself, please?
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mary cone: Yes.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. Can you see the timer?
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mary cone: Yes, I'll be quick.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Go ahead, please.
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mary cone: I think it's time for us to go back to 3-minute comments. It
was, what, maybe 3 years ago that I think Diana made it… took it down to
2. People simply don't have time
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mary cone: and are usually cut off. I think it's important for the
Council to hear what people have to say.
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mary cone: I was hoping maybe that could be brought up in another council
meeting. Thank you.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment.
Next, I will come back into chambers, please.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Good afternoon, Council, and to
Mayor, Vice Mayor. My name is Lena Blanco, I'm a tenant organizer at the
North Bay Organizing Project, and also live in Sebastopol. I've been
working with Woodmark tenants for the last year as they're fighting to
keep their homes, keep a roof over their heads, and I wanted to share

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some of the triumphs that have been happening over the last year. The
tenant leaders of Woodmark have been engaging in supporting other
residents across Sonoma County in the mobile home
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: home park, communities against
harmony communities, as well as building connections with their
neighbors, their new neighbors, their new farmworking neighbors who live
in those units. I wanted to share that there is a trend that we're seeing
as this kind of new standard in affordable housing of going beyond what's
good cause, and really stepping up to just cause. And so I feel like
Sebastopol really set a model for having just cause for affordable
housing complexes.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: 45 units and more, which is a
beautiful new standard that I think, really sets the tone of what we mean
when we say housing is a human right here. So thank you for your
continued support. We hope that you could agendize Just Cause sooner than
November. We know that time is ticking for folks, and this company will
do what they can to get folks out of their homes, and we just want to
make sure that folks feel protected and ready to keep fighting and
building community. Thank you.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment.
Next, I will go back out to Zoom. If there's anyone on Zoom that would
like to make a public comment for an item not on the agenda, 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 that would like to make a public
comment for an item not on tonight's agenda.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, Mayor Public Comment
is closed.
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Mayor Jill McLewis: All right, thank you all very much. Before we, get
into our consent calendar, I just wanted to mention, just as a point of
order, that item number 11 that was on
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Mayor Jill McLewis: the agenda, which is the water infrastructure
financing options, has been removed from the agenda, so I just wanted to

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make certain people knew that in the audience, just in case if you're
there for that item.
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Mayor Jill McLewis: So moving on to the consent calendar, I'm gonna go
ahead and read the items, and then we will have our…
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Mayor Jill McLewis: Find out if anyone wants to pull anything. Number one
is approval of City Council meeting minutes for regular meeting of August
4th, 2026. Number two is approval of adoption of city policy requiring
annual requests for the Barlow Hotel Transient Occupancy Tax, TOT.
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Mayor Jill McLewis: Rebate mark… rebate marketing expenditures. Approval
requires city staff, planning department by March 1 of each year during
the rebate period to formally request the annual marketing expenditure
report from the hotel owner.
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Mayor Jill McLewis: Number 3, approval of notice of intent to amend the
City of Sebastopol conflict of Interest Code. Amendments are routine
amendments, such as current job classifications. Number four, approval of
second reading and the adoption of ordinance to add Chapter 5.66, NewsRAC
regulations to the Sebastopol Municipal Code. Number 5, approval of
notice of completion for Bodega
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Mayor Jill McLewis: Phase 2, Bike Lane Project. Number 6, approval of
notice of completion for digouts and repair paving.
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Mayor Jill McLewis: project.
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Mayor Jill McLewis: Number 7, award contract for pedestrian crossing
enhancements on State Route 116. So I just wanted to ask, does anyone
want… any… do any Councilmembers want to pull an item?
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: There's none in chambers.
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Mayor Jill McLewis: Okay, I will need to pull number 2 just simply to
vote separately, because I am precluded from voting on that one item, so

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when we, make a motion, it would, it would need to disclude number 2, and
do that separately, with everybody else, so…
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Mayor Jill McLewis: Anyway, so go ahead, Mary, if you want to do public
comment.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Hinton has her hand
raised.
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Mayor Jill McLewis: Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't see it there. I'm sorry.
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Councilmember Neysa Hinton: It's okay, I was just getting ready for a
motion, and then you reminded us about public comment, so I'll hold that.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. So, now is the
opportunity for public comment for items on the consent calendar only. If
you'd like to make a public comment, again, it is a two-minute public
comment period. I go to Chambers first, and then go out to Zoom, if
there's anyone in Chambers that would like to make a public comment on
the consent calendar item. Seeing none, I will go out to Zoom. Kyle, can
you mute yourself, please?
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Kyle Falbo: I can, and I apologize for taking this opportunity to do a
point of order, because based on our Zoom settings, there isn't really a
practice by which a member of the public can call for a point of order.
Specifically, I want to address the mayor's action of
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Kyle Falbo: announcing the removal of an agenda item following public
comment for items not on the agenda. What that has done is reduce the
opportunity for the public to comment on that item. Not only does the
public no longer have the ability to comment on that item.
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Kyle Falbo: as an agendized item tonight, by waiting until after public
comment for items that are not on the agenda, you have actively
restricted the ability for folks to publicly comment on that item during
that period of time.

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00:20:47.550 --> 00:20:49.760
Kyle Falbo: So, in the future.
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Kyle Falbo: It would seem appropriate that we pull items at the start of
the meeting and not wait until the public has provided its public
comment.
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Kyle Falbo: And I would be interested in hearing from the… either the
attorney or the council as a whole as to this practice, and the…
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Kyle Falbo: the legality of that practice. Thanks.
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00:21:13.400 --> 00:21:17.960
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Kyle, for your public
comment. Next, I will come back into chambers, if there's anyone in
chambers.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, I will go back out to
Zoom. Lee, can you unmute yourself, please?
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Lee: Yes, can you hear me?
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00:21:25.210 --> 00:21:27.620
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. Can… yes, can you see
the timer?
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Lee: I can.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Great, go ahead, please.
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Lee: Yeah, I don't know if anyone else has noticed. I… I've… I was back
and forth to Bodega Bay this past week, and I drove by this new… new
Bodega Bay, project.
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Lee: completed project that's on the consent calendar a number of times.
It looks like, it was a 2.25 million project. It appears that there's
about maybe, generously, 100 yards of pavement that's been restored.
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Lee: There's about 20 yards, maybe 10, of,
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Lee: protected bike lane, and the protected bike lane really doesn't
attach to a bike lane. It attaches to a path across the bridge on one
end, and on the other end, it goes on down Bodega Avenue, where there
isn't any,
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Lee: any bike lane. I don't know if anybody else thinks that $2.25
million is a lot for what was done there, and at the time, I was driving
a motorhome, which, if you've ever ridden in a motorhome, if it's a bad
road, it's really bad. You hear every little
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Lee: pothole, and Bodega is right up there with the worst roads I've
traveled on in the United States in the last year. So there's a lot more
work to be done. At $2.2 million for every 100 yards, it's gonna be
really, really expensive.
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Lee: Thank you.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment.
Next, I will come back into chambers, if there's anyone in chambers that
would like to make a public comment on the consent calendar items.
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00:22:56.640 --> 00:23:02.559
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, I will go back out to
Zoom, if there's anyone on Zoom that would like to make a public comment
on the consent calendar items only.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, the consent calendar
is closed for public comment.
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Mayor Jill McLewis: Thank you, and Alex, can you address the question
there? I know it was… it was explained to me that I wasn't even necessary

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to announce it, but then I realized that I probably should. So, can you,
as far as the item being pulled, so, can you address that?
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, the posted… the agenda has
been revised, and it is noted on the agenda that the item,
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: was pulled.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'm sorry, Alex, can you speak to
the microphone? Sorry, I said it is on… the agenda was revised and
reposted with…
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Stating that the item has been…
removed.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Will there be opportunity for
public comment on that item when it's pulled and re-voted for?
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: When the item comes back to the
Council, yes, absolutely. I'm talking about the one pulled off the
consent. Will that have the opportunity for public to comment on that?
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Nothing has been pulled off of
consent.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Oh, for… yes, for the Barlow, yes.
Yeah, thank you. Yes, that one, Mel, yes.
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Mayor Jill McLewis: All right, so we are gonna… can we go with the, with
the items?
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Mayor Jill McLewis: We're addressing items 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.

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Mayor Jill McLewis: Correct?
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Mayor Jill McLewis: First.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Correct. We need a motion and a
second.
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Mayor Jill McLewis: Okay.
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Mayor Jill McLewis: I'll motion to… I'll make a motion.
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Mayor Jill McLewis: For those items.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Hinton has her… I
don't know if she has a question or a motion.
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Mayor Jill McLewis: I don't know, go ahead.
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Councilmember Neysa Hinton: As I was a little early on the draw, I'm
happy to move the items on Consent Agenda of 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seconded.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Mayor. So we have a
motion and a second, so moved by Councilmember Hinton and seconded by
Councilmember Zolman to approve of Consent Calendar Items 1, 3, 4, 5, 6,
and 7. Number 2 has been removed. Councilmember Carter?
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yes. Councilmember Hinton?

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Councilmember Neysa Hinton: Aye.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Zolman? Yes. Vice
Mayor Maurer? Yes. Mayor McLewis?
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Mayor Jill McLewis: Yes.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Motion passes unanimously.
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Mayor Jill McLewis: So just to be clear, Alex, you stated that we need to
have a second public comment for item number two. I'm trying to follow
here.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: No, since it was pulled, people can
now… members of the council, if they want to make.
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Mayor Jill McLewis: Oh, I thought you meant… because she asked… I thought
the question was about public comment, not about council comment. Am I
misunderstanding?
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I thought it was about council.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: No, my question was, based on what
Kyle had said, he called for a point of order here, because if it was
pulled… so, could people have made comments on that item?
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: During the comments on consent
calendar?
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, I… people can make comments
about item 2 on the consent calendar. I believe Kyle was speaking about
item 11, which is not part of the consent calendar. No, I'm sure he was
speaking about item 2.

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Wasn't he?
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Mayor Jill McLewis: No, he…
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Maybe I misunderstood.
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Mayor Jill McLewis: Let me clarify.
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Mayor Jill McLewis: I… I spoke before consent calendar. I said item
number 11, which was… let me, just so that I speak clearly, was
postponed. Number 11, which was the water infrastructure financing
options. Before I started the consent calendar, I mentioned that that one
had been postponed. It was explained to me that because the agenda was
revised previously, it wasn't necessarily
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Mayor Jill McLewis: necessary to make a big announcement, but it just
occurred to me that I wanted to make that announcement when we were,
before we got, you know, into the meeting too far, and people were
sitting there. So I was just trying to be courteous and mention it, even
though it wasn't necessary.
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Mayor Jill McLewis: But… but the commenter was asking whether or not that
impacted public comment, so that's what I was asking.
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Mayor Jill McLewis: you know, Alex to address that, that statement about
public comment and, you know, was there any issue with what we did?
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Mayor Jill McLewis: With pulling that with, you know, me not announcing
it at the very beginning of the meeting versus now.
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Mayor Jill McLewis: That's what I was talking about, Vice Mayor, if that
helps.

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, it's fine. Maybe I just
misunderstood Kyle.
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Mayor Jill McLewis: Okay.
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Mayor Jill McLewis: Alright, so are we clear here? Is it okay if we go on
to item number 2, Mary?
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yes.
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Mayor Jill McLewis: Okay, so I need to remain out of this vote, so
someone needs to make a motion and a second for item number 2.
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Mayor Jill McLewis: And we have, Councilm.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Hinton has her hand
up.
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Mayor Jill McLewis: Yep.
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Councilmember Neysa Hinton: I'm happy to, move on Consent Agenda item
number 2 for approval of adoption of city policy requiring annual
requests for the Barlow Hotel transient occupancy, TOT tax rebate for
marketing expenses.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: a second.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. So moved by
Councilmember Hinton and seconded by Councilmember Zolman to approve
Consent Calendar Item 2, which is the City Policy to direct, the return
to the City Council requiring the annual March review of the marketing
plan from the hotel owner. Councilmember Carter?

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yes. Councilmember Hinton?
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Councilmember Neysa Hinton: Aye.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Zolman? Yes. Vice
Mayor Maurer? Yes. Mayor McLewis?
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Mayor Jill McLewis: I'm abstaining from that.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Motion passes 4 to 1, with
Councilmembers Carter, Hinton, Zolman, and Vice Mayor Maurer in support,
and Mayor McLewis abstaining.
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Mayor Jill McLewis: Okay, thank you.
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Mayor Jill McLewis: So we're going to go on to our informational items.
Number 8, which is presentation from St. Vincent's de Paul on status of
Gravenstein Commons, status of community engagement Meeting, an update on
good neighbor policy, or affirmations. I believe this is being handled by
our city manager, is that correct?
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: That's correct. Thank you, Mayor.
So, this is an informational item. As the Council and the community is
aware, this is a 22-unit permanent supportive housing project that is
located at 845 Gravinstein Highway North.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The St. Vincent's de Paul Society
is the owner and the developer, and the city remains the Homekey coapplicant with St. Vincent's de Paul.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: As reported in the August report,
their construction is about 80% complete.

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Their targeted completion date is
around November of 2026, with the move-in to follow after the certificate
of occupancy. They anticipate a 90% occupancy by January of 28. The city
does have a consultant that has been monitoring the compliance, and they
have provided… St. Francis de Paul has met their home key performance
milestones accordingly.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We do have Lauren Taylor here. We
have, who is from St. Vincent's de Paul. We also have Raman Stefani from
8th Wave, who is the city's consultant that is overseeing the compliance,
and I'm…
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: trying to see if Jack Tibbetts is
on the call. I'm assuming… Let me just get there.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I do not see him yet, but this item
is to discuss the construction progress, the remaining schedule, the
funding, any awards that have been, you know, allocated but not yet
received, the COTS staffing model, Lauren will go into that.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: the coordinated entry, and the
referrals in the West County or Sebastopol eligibility, and then the
community outreach and the planned community meetings, as well as any
type of good neighbor protocols. So having said that, Lauren and Robin,
and I will see if I can get Jack on board.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So if you guys want to go up to the
podium and do your presentation,
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Mayor Jill McLewis: Yeah, and we try to keep our total presentations, you
know, 10 minutes or under, so…
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Mayor Jill McLewis: I wanna make sure.
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Mayor Jill McLewis: You're aware of that.

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Good evening, Councilmembers. Nice
to meet, all of you. I think I know a couple of you more personally. Can
you hear me okay?
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: My name is Lauren Taylor, and yes,
I took on the position as Executive Director at St. Vincent de Paul about
10 weeks ago. So been drinking from the proverbial fire hose, as you can
imagine. But here tonight to just provide
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: or answer any questions you might
have. I know there's been a lot about the project and your previous
experience with another PSH community, down the street, of which I'm
deeply familiar with. So, I think the most
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Robin Stefani can speak to the,
kind of, construction financials, but the biggest concerns that I've
heard is just around,
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: the financial gap that we had to
complete the project. We are closer to about 90% completion now.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And we did,
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We did receive a million dollar
Measure O funding from the Department of Health Services, so we're very
excited and grateful for that. We have another $200,000 coming in from
the Sonoma County Community Development Commission, and the remaining
funds to complete the project will be,
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We will be using our line of credit
to complete that.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: More notably, and most I'm excited
to share, is our operation plan. So we have…

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: as you had in the report, taken on
a partnership with COTS, Committee on the Shelterless.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: They have, deep experience and
knowledge about… in the homelessness and housing space. I personally have
worked with the organization… not worked with them, but worked alongside
them, in partnership for the last several years, and so I can… I really
have a lot of trust in… in this path forward with them.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Chris Cabral is the CEO of COTS,
and she is also here tonight, and happy to answer any questions you might
have, so…
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: There is also others in the room,
yes, Caitlin Carney, who's the Director of Coordinated Entry, and Hunter
Scott back there, who I think is also giving another presentation. Mark
Krug has been a consultant, I think some of you might know from, previous
work with him.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So we have a lot of knowledgeable
people in the room to answer any questions you might have.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thanks so much!
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: You have a question? Go for it.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Jill, I have a question.
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Mayor Jill McLewis: I just thought someone else was coming up, but go
ahead.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, I didn't… that's why I…
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Mayor Jill McLewis: Yeah, usually I run the meeting and let… when people
have questions, but do you want to… do you need it… ask it now, or do you
want to ask it later, Sam?
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, I would like to ask it now,
and if you can't answer it, maybe one of the other speakers could answer
it. Have you reviewed, or has St. Vincent de Paul Board reviewed the Good
Neighbor Policy? And if yes, what are your thoughts on it?
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I don't know that the board did, I
did, and there are some parts that stand out, just around particularly…
and now that we won't fully be operating the site, it will really be
cots. I feel like there…
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Honestly, it's… I would leave it up
to them to answer the questions, but,
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Sorry, I'm scrolling to it here. I
think the main thing is… was… that stood out was just…
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Kind of around the neighborhood
patrols and the onus being on the property manager to
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: patrol the surrounding area. That
just seems like…
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: a bit much of an expectation,
frankly.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: around the resident portion, I
think…
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: there is an intake and assessment
process for eligibility. All residents come, and through coordinated
entry, so…

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And then the other language just
sounds…
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Like, loose terminology for folks
that need to follow a lease.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Of which…
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Mayor Jill McLewis: Alex, might I ask you a question? Should we be
discussing that topic when it's another item on the agenda?
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, it's fine to ask them.
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Mayor Jill McLewis: I just want to make sure. I want to make sure we're
in compliance.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, I have one other question.
Sure. And that is regarding the county offered $3 million to your
organization, and how will you follow up to try to obtain that?
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yes, there has been a lot of
follow-up on that, since I joined the organization. I have met with… I
think others are on the call still, but… or on the meeting, but I've met
with
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Linda Hopkins and Tracy Lyons,
about that. I've also met with Michelle Whitman of the Sonoma County
Community Development Commission. I've met with Nolan Sullivan and Hunter
Scott at DHS, so we…
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Have been exploring possibilities
around what… what…

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We can retrieve or capture from
that $3 million that was committed, knowing that it was committed by a
previous director, and not through a legitimate
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Notice of Funding Opportunity.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, yeah, it's been a bit of a
struggle, but we're committed to finishing the project regardless. Thank
you.
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Mayor Jill McLewis: Alright.
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Mayor Jill McLewis: So, I guess, are we questions, or were you finished
with the presentation, or… I'm sorry, I can't see.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I would like to give Robin an
opportunity to go over the construction.
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Mayor Jill McLewis: I'm sorry, all I could see was the speaker, I
couldn't see anyone else there, so… okay.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Great, hi. So, Robin Stefani, I'm
from 8th Wave, and I'm, been participating in the construction portion of
the project, and also the compliance with the HCD standard agreement.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And, as Lauren said, and is
indicated in the report, the construction is, is at about 90%.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And going very well, and is
expected to reach a temporary occupancy in the middle to end of October.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: per schedule, so, that's been going
really well. There have been a couple of, of large, substantial change

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orders that relate to the site, but in terms of the… anything out of the
ground, that's been very straightforward.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And so, I don't want to take up too
much of your time, but if you have specific questions about the
construction, or the budget, or the timeline, or the HCD standard
agreement, I'm happy to answer any of your questions.
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Mayor Jill McLewis: Thank you very much, appreciate it. I know our
Councilmember Coleman has a question.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, that concludes the
presentation. I really want to focus in on resident selection. I also
want to be able to get an answer about the good neighbor provision from
whoever wants to directly answer that. The first question is about the
resident selection.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: what I remember hearing, from the
Department of Public Health representatives before Things seem to have…
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: evolved, from my perspective, about
the resident selection. And staff point out the specific questions to
ask, and you can refer to page
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The…
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: page 4 of the staff report, if you
want to know where I'm going with all these questions.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: essentially.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: It says that the city will have
some way to participate in resident selection, but it seems very clear…
it seems very unclear to me about exactly what that roadmap will look
like.

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: about how and when we could
actually start participating in resident selection. So, whoever wants to
address that.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: That's all my time.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I don't know if you want… Hi, my
name's Chris, I'm the CEO for COTS. Nice to see everybody. I will do my
best to answer that question. I may ask you to also jump in on some of
the coordinated entry questions. From my understanding, so all of the
residents coming through will come through coordinated entry. There will
be an opportunity when the project is set up for coordinated entry
referrals for the provider, St. Vincent de Paul, coordinated
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Entry, City of Sebastopol, all the
partners to come together to discuss eligibility factors and criteria.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The coordinated entry system is not
responsible for setting the criteria, right? That's up to the provider
and the owner, and it's really tied to the funding mechanism for the
property, so whatever we tell coordinated entry is what coordinated entry
will do. I'm sorry if I misspoke, please correct me if I'm wrong.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: But it would be at that point, when
setting up resident criteria for selection through coordinated entry,
that the city would have input.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, because I just really want to
be clear. As was announced before, I am rolling off council, and I have a
feeling of responsibility to my colleagues, especially being the liaison
in many ways to our unsheltered. I really need this broken down, because
the timeline seems to now have been extended.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: About when people are really gonna
get keys.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: to the door. So I really need this
to be slowed down.
308
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: and talk about timelines, so that
staff is very clear, too, and whoever takes over my position is very
clear. So…
309
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The anticipated move-in date seems
to now be…
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: November, January, I don't know,
somebody can help me. Basically, where I'm going is, I want this linearly
backed up from the date somebody thinks that somebody's gonna get keys.
311
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: To when we're going to have city
participation, who's invited into these meetings, what information will
be able to be shared about the potential residents, and then also, all
these people from the community, when do they get
312
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: to hear about who their neighbors
are going to be. That is how nitty-gritty and granular I really need to
be here tonight.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Totally fair. I will do my best and
also rely on the two of you, probably, for construction. So we have to
wait for Certificate of Occupancy as the provider to start moving people
in.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I will try to be as clear
without muddying the waters as I can be. So, our plan, because St.
Vincent de Paul doesn't have operating money to operate the project.
315
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: COTS does have money to operate the
project. However, the way that that's gonna be done is by us eliminating
some of our existing master leases.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Right? And then, so folks that have
been living in PSH already for some time, who are already stable, they
already have access to clinical services, they already have a
relationship with a case manager, they already know what it's like
317
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: to live in PSH, and live in their
own home, and they're already adjusted to that, those are the folks that
are going to be moving in first. So it really depends, like, once
construction's done, and we can get people moved.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: for some of those folks, it's gonna
be within the first 2 weeks of construction finishing. For some of them,
it's gonna take them longer, because we've got people that have disabling
conditions. It's gonna take somebody who's in a wheelchair, who's lived
in a unit for 15 years, more than 2 weeks to pack their stuff and move.
319
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Right, so it might take that person
45 days. We're going to help them with that, but we're not gonna pressure
them. And I also want to help all of you understand, and the community
know, that it's a lot better for the surrounding community to take your
time with Lease Up.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Right? When you put somebody in a
situation that's brand new to them, all of their neighbors are new, the
community is new, they don't know where anything is, they might have to
change their healthcare provider, right? They might…
321
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: just be in a community that they're
not familiar with. And they have to kind of learn where they are and
learn their neighbors.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: giving them time to do that without
overwhelming them with 21 people moving in all at the same time is a
whole lot better for the community, even if it means that lease up at 90%
isn't done until March.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: There's a whole lot less disruption
to the surrounding community if we move in 2 people, and then 2 people,
and then two people. So you're getting a lot of folks in this project who
are funded with DHS funding, and HUD Continuum of Care funding.

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00:44:00.010 --> 00:44:06.260
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: supplemented through CalAI Medi-Cal
funding that are already established PSH tenants.
325
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Right? And then once those units
open, right, once we have unit turnover, then we will go through
coordinated entry to fill those units, right? So you're getting
established tenants that want to live in Sebastopol, they know how PSH
operates, they have existing staff relationships, they're very stable.
326
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Those are the first units that are
going to be filled, those are the first tenants that you're getting. As
we have unit turnover, people will come through coordinated entry. The
people who are moving in did go through coordinated entry, but they went
through coordinated entry
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: 5 years ago, 10 years ago, 2 years
ago, right? As our units became open. So those are the folks moving in
first. I want to stop there and take questions, because I don't want to
overcomplicate it. No, I appreciate that. So, who's going to be the point
of contact? It sounds like because you're in charge of operating funds,
because St. Vincent's Paul has no money for operating, then is Mary
reaching out to you?
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: when people hear things in the
community, and they're like, it seems like someone's moving in, but yet
we haven't had a community meeting yet. No one knows what's happening,
because…
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: where I'm coming from is, I do not
want to repeat for this community of elderberry.
330
00:45:19.140 --> 00:45:38.540
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I want people to be fully
knowledgeable. So, is Mary reaching out to you? Are you the new contact
for whatever questions we have moving forward? Yeah, good question. I
think it would be totally appropriate to engage both Lauren and I right
now with any questions about move-ins, supportive services, who's gonna
be there when they're moving in.

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00:45:38.540 --> 00:45:52.840
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We're still negotiating a master
lease, so we're not, like, signed on the dotted line, but we know each
other well, we're working with Mark Krug, he's super helpful, that's
where we're gonna end up, so I think it's totally appropriate to do that,
and I mean.
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: COTS isn't familiar with all of
you, we do have operations in Sebastopol already. We've got a PSH
property here, and we also do prevention work here. So, happy to engage
with you in any way that makes sense for you and for the community. You
can reach out anytime. I email really fast.
333
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay.
334
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Mayor Jill McLewis: We have another Councilmember as a question, so I
didn't know if it's okay if we kind of bounce the questions around,
balance it out.
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Mayor Jill McLewis: Councilmember Hinton?
336
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Councilmember Neysa Hinton: Yeah, I… I mean, I'm just taking the
information in, but my recollection is we were never promised, because
it's confidential information about people who are selected, that we
could, like, pick who's going to move into this community. So, I just
want to be clear,
337
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Councilmember Neysa Hinton: from my perspective, I didn't feel like that
was… like, we're not holding a town hall to decide, like, get feedback on
who's accepted into this new community.
338
00:46:50.530 --> 00:47:00.529
Councilmember Neysa Hinton: I feel like we are trusting our operators, so
I just wanted to put that out there again, because I never had that
expectation.
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Mayor Jill McLewis: I think we all have a different, perspective with
that, because I recall the same thing that… hija.

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00:47:09.540 --> 00:47:22.129
Mayor Jill McLewis: So, I don't know, maybe we had so many meetings on
this, but I, too, heard the same thing that was, that was stated earlier,
so… Is there anyone else? It's hard to see. Phil, are you?
341
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Lauren from St. Vincent's Nepal
would like to make a real comment before we take the next question. Yeah,
I mean, honestly, I think, and I hear your… I hear your concern, and as I
said, I was, involved with a lot of the concerns happening at Elderberry,
of which were valid, and…
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I think our goal is to help assuage
any fears you have or apprehensions. I think there's a lot of excitement
about this path forward and the community itself.
343
00:47:52.090 --> 00:47:59.699
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I mean, just being… not to be
adversarial, but no one… the landlord next door
344
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: to where I live, doesn't ask me my
opinion on who moves in.
345
00:48:05.480 --> 00:48:10.340
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, I guess I'm just curious what a
community meeting might entail.
346
00:48:10.930 --> 00:48:13.570
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Of… of what you'd want to weigh in
on.
347
00:48:16.240 --> 00:48:16.990
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay.
348
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Mayor Jill McLewis: Councilmember Carter, or… I can't tell. Do you have
your hand up?
349
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, I just kind of want to know
how the new residents… A, how this is gonna be different, how you're
gonna do this differently, but B, like, how the new people that are

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moving in, which is a hard adjustment, feel like they're a part of this
community, you know, so that they, own it.
350
00:48:40.630 --> 00:48:41.929
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Didn't feel good here.
351
00:48:45.430 --> 00:49:03.670
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I love that question. We are
likewise concerned with that, right? Because our ultimate goal is people
need to be in PSH as long as they need to be in PSH. But also, we like
for people to stabilize and move into market-rate housing, right? In
wherever it is that they want to live, with whoever they want to live
with.
352
00:49:03.670 --> 00:49:09.080
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: On-site, we'll have a property
manager, we'll have a case manager, 7 days a week.
353
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: COTS also employs both associate
social workers and licensed clinical social workers that are available
for anybody in any of our housing programs. We also have a really
experienced behavioral health person that runs our residence… he's our
resident services manager, so he oversees any projects that have
354
00:49:28.270 --> 00:49:51.439
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Generally speaking, 10 units or
more, so we'll have a lot of really experienced on-site people, and like
I said, especially with the first tenants who are moving in, they already
have really strong, established relationships with their case managers,
right? So we're not gonna be… one of the things that's really hard when
somebody moves into PSH is not just that they're moving from homelessness
into housing, it's also that you have to establish trust.
355
00:49:51.440 --> 00:49:58.789
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: with them, right? It's really hard
when somebody moves from street homelessness into housing just to get
them to open the door and engage with you.
356
00:49:58.790 --> 00:50:00.969
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Your first tenants aren't going to
have that problem.
357
00:50:00.970 --> 00:50:18.969
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: They already know us, they already
trust us. They are selecting to come here, right? We sent out an interest

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letter to all of our tenants and said, hey, if this comes to fruition,
who is interested in living in Sebastopol? This is all about the project,
right? Here's what it is, who wants to go there?
358
00:50:18.970 --> 00:50:21.309
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And we had a lot of people say,
hey, I would love that.
359
00:50:21.380 --> 00:50:34.310
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Right? I would love to live in
Sebastopol, I would love to have my own unit, I want to meet new people,
I want to live around people who are like me, who want to engage with me,
somewhere that I can have access to a case manager 7 days a week.
360
00:50:34.310 --> 00:50:47.319
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So we have on-site programming, we
offer AA and NA classes, they have case management as frequently or as
infrequently as they want or need it, and they also have access to
behavioral health services without having to go to
361
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: like a local community health
provider, or through a county provider. Hopefully that answers your
question. I'm happy to provide more information.
362
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Mayor Jill McLewis: Councilmember Solman.
363
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, so, thank you, Chris, for
breaking it down. So, we're gonna get more stabilized folks.
364
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: than what the county placed at
Elderberry, correct? Is that a fair assessment? And when I mean
stabilized, I mean people who are already engaged with Case Manager, who
have wraparound services. So they're going to be a little bit more,
365
00:51:20.310 --> 00:51:27.620
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Used to, like, the coordinated
entry system, the selection, compliance with
366
00:51:27.620 --> 00:51:51.340
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: tenant regulations. Is that what
I'm getting from you? The first… the first group that are going to be

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moved in are going to be stabilized, coming from other locations within
the county. Is that a fair suggestion? Yes, they are already established
tenants with us, so they… they already know us, they know our staff, they
know what's expected in housing, and they're already also used to us. We
do super frequent inspections in PSH.
367
00:51:51.340 --> 00:51:57.890
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We've found that it's really
helpful in making sure that people maintain the health and safety of
their unit, so they're used to that, too.
368
00:51:57.890 --> 00:52:22.850
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So yeah, I think the first tenants
moving in, and this will be a first for us, right? We've never done a big
transfer of this many people all at once. The first folks moving in will
certainly be… I mean, I don't want to say anything bad about somebody
moving from street homelessness into housing, but they will be more used
to living in housing than somebody coming from chronic street
homelessness into permanent housing for the first time. Okay, and then
getting to where I think the mayor was
369
00:52:22.850 --> 00:52:32.920
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: referencing. There have been
various promises along this trajectory, these many, many years, of having
some of our own folk who have fallen on hard times.
370
00:52:32.930 --> 00:52:34.709
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: from the river.
371
00:52:34.820 --> 00:52:36.850
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: from Sebastopol.
372
00:52:36.980 --> 00:52:44.980
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: My understanding from Hunter and
from Nolan is that they're going to be screened through, like, the by
names committee.
373
00:52:44.980 --> 00:52:47.150
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: that he's setting up in September.
374
00:52:47.150 --> 00:53:11.640
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And that's gonna help populate the
folks coming through coordinated entry. Is that a fair assessment? Yeah,
definitely. First of all, I just wanted to touch base the comment you
made just previously. While COTS has not had a big transfer of folks from

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one property to the other, coordinated entry has facilitated those types
of transfers. One just 6 months ago, so we are
375
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: very well, equipped to assist with
that type of transfer. In terms of the West County by Names List, it is
fully up to COTS or St. Vincent de Paul to make the eligibility criteria
that is allowed
376
00:53:27.670 --> 00:53:48.519
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: for their funding, and part of that
can definitely be that folks need to be on the West County By Names list
in order to qualify for a referral in the first place. So we wouldn't
even reach out to folks who are not on that by names list to ask them if
they're interested, if we know that they're not on that list, because we
wouldn't ask folks that don't qualify if they want to go to a project.
377
00:53:48.520 --> 00:53:52.560
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And is that where us electeds and
city staff
378
00:53:52.670 --> 00:54:04.610
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: would be able to sit in on
meetings, because I've attended many meetings at the Department of Public
Health for us electeds that are trying to sort through these issues. Is
that when my replacement would be invited?
379
00:54:04.650 --> 00:54:13.079
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: to one of the by names lists, at
least at the very beginning, to hear about the general overview of who's
380
00:54:14.110 --> 00:54:24.899
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: who's being contemplated to go
through the screening process, by names list, yada yada. And then at some
point, we would be excused, as would law enforcement. They would be
excused.
381
00:54:24.900 --> 00:54:41.949
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: to get into the real confidential
information that nobody should have access to, except for the clinicians.
Is that a fair assessment? The names itself are also personally
identifiable information, so… so unless you're on the release of
information, you would not be able to know who we're talking about.
382
00:54:42.350 --> 00:54:53.130

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, I guess then, where would we,
as elected, where would my next liaison, the next person who takes my
position, what expectations would they have?
383
00:54:53.180 --> 00:54:57.959
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: To be part of this process, or
should we just assume no one will have?
384
00:54:57.980 --> 00:55:19.100
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: the ability to participate in the
process. In terms of selecting individual households to move in, that
would be incredibly unusual. We don't have any other projects that the
jurisdictions they're located within do that, so that would be very
unusual. That's fair enough. So I'm just, again, like, trying to get an
answer to
385
00:55:19.600 --> 00:55:21.710
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Where would we have whey?
386
00:55:21.820 --> 00:55:46.769
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: to be able to come back to council
meetings and do a report out of, hi, I attended a by names list, and this
is what I think would be helpful for the community to know. When… when
and how would that happen? Yeah, those by names list meetings, you'd have
to talk with Nolan and Hunter about the details of, who gets to go to
those, but like you had just envisioned, where police and the city could
be there at the beginning of the meeting.
387
00:55:46.770 --> 00:56:01.079
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: before they dig into names, that's
typically how the other by names list meetings are run across the county.
Okay, so we'll wait for Hunter to come and do his presentation and ask
him about by names. Back to the good neighbor policy, because I've heard
some trepidation.
388
00:56:01.080 --> 00:56:01.639
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: the ye…
389
00:56:01.640 --> 00:56:07.459
Mayor Jill McLewis: We have, we have another Councilmember. Do you want
to give us one more question, and then I just wanted to give another…
390
00:56:07.880 --> 00:56:11.229
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So sorry, thank you for doing that.
Councilmember Hinton, go ahead.

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00:56:12.060 --> 00:56:28.770
Councilmember Neysa Hinton: Yeah, I just… I feel like we're kind of going
down the rabbit hole here. I know that… let's just be blunt, this was a
3-2 vote, and, I never and never felt like there was a promise to this
council that people applying for
392
00:56:29.100 --> 00:56:35.819
Councilmember Neysa Hinton: Housing would ever be vetted by us, elected
officials, that are not
393
00:56:36.040 --> 00:56:53.100
Councilmember Neysa Hinton: and should not, in my opinion, be in the
room. I do understand, and I felt like there might be, we might have,
they knew we wanted a local preference, if that was possible, when they
looked at the list of everyone that qualified, but,
394
00:56:53.100 --> 00:56:56.620
Councilmember Neysa Hinton: I just… again, we've… we've had a
presentation.
395
00:56:56.620 --> 00:57:13.569
Councilmember Neysa Hinton: And I just want to call it out a bit that I
feel like I don't want to be grilling our partners tonight on some of
these issues, and we need to hear from the public as well, I believe. So,
anyway, I just… I just need to say that, because…
396
00:57:13.870 --> 00:57:26.370
Councilmember Neysa Hinton: It's, I'm just sitting here listening to
this, and I want to definitely have my voice heard as well as an elected
official, on our council, not just solely from
397
00:57:26.490 --> 00:57:31.449
Councilmember Neysa Hinton: From a single Councilmember tonight. I really
haven't heard from two other people on the dais.
398
00:57:33.360 --> 00:57:40.479
Mayor Jill McLewis: Does anyone else have anything to say? I mean, we're
in questions right now, I definitely have some comments, but does anyone
have any other questions?
399
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Mayor Jill McLewis: Go ahead, Councilmember Solomon.
400
00:57:43.370 --> 00:57:55.669

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, so back to the good neighbor,
that is agendized. I understood Agenda Review made that decision to have
that come on tonight when all the partners would be in the room. So I
would really like to hear
401
00:57:55.670 --> 00:58:08.050
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: what reservations you have about
adopting the good neighbor policy, because for the public, I want to make
it clear that if we do pass that tonight, it would not bind these folks.
402
00:58:08.070 --> 00:58:16.710
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: It would not. Ship has already
sailed for them, but I would like to understand what they have challenges
with, and I'd like to hear that tonight.
403
00:58:17.720 --> 00:58:26.280
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Do you want me to do that now, or
when it comes up later? I'd like to hear it now, from your perspective.
Could we ask if you will be here for that item?
404
00:58:26.340 --> 00:58:37.729
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Are you staying for that item?
Because we do really want 7. We can stay, yeah. We'd really like to hear
from you. Is that okay with you? Sure. Okay. Yeah, great. That's fine,
yeah.
405
00:58:38.630 --> 00:58:41.490
Mayor Jill McLewis: Okay. Other questions? Anyone?
406
00:58:42.100 --> 00:58:45.009
Mayor Jill McLewis: Okay, because if not, then we're going to go to
public comment.
407
00:58:45.280 --> 00:58:48.530
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Mayor. So this is public
comment. You guys can go ahead and have a seat.
408
00:58:48.530 --> 00:58:49.040
Mayor Jill McLewis: Oh, no.
409
00:58:49.040 --> 00:59:00.879
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Oh, I'm sorry. Go ahead, Lauren, do
you have a quick comment before we got to pump on? Yeah, just one more, I
think, benefit of COTS operating that will be a difference than what you
saw potentially at Elderberry is…

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00:59:01.060 --> 00:59:06.950
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: COTS being the operator of both
property management and service provision, so I think
411
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: while there was a great
relationship between West County Community Services and Burbank at
Elderberry, that's nothing against either of those entities, sometimes
that can cause more tension, and so I think a strength of this
412
00:59:20.810 --> 00:59:30.019
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: what will be different, going back
to your question, is… is that COTS will be operating both of those
components, so I just wanted to point that out as a potential difference
as well.
413
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Mayor Jill McLewis: Alright, are we good for public comment?
414
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. So this is public
comment on the informational presentation on St. Vincent's DePaul and
Gravanstein Commons. If you would like to make a public comment, it is a
2-minute time limit. We do chambers first, and then go out to Zoom.
Oliver?
415
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you.
416
00:59:47.720 --> 01:00:03.839
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Did I hear correctly that there's a
financial shortfall, and therefore St Vincent de Paul is liquidating some
of their existing buildings, and then they're moving tenants from those
buildings into this new development when it's ready? I wasn't very clear
on that.
417
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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And then secondly, is Jack Tibbetts
on the call? Did he show up, or…
418
01:00:08.690 --> 01:00:11.399
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The Republican cowboy? No.

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01:00:11.420 --> 01:00:16.960
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, yeah, and I greatly
appreciate, Councilmember Zolman's questioning, because
420
01:00:17.100 --> 01:00:34.839
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: the devil's in the details with
this. I personally, just as a citizen, would really like to see a very
detailed project plan. All this kind of loosey-goosey, you don't really
need to know who your neighbors are stuff doesn't fly very well after
what happened with Elderbury Commons, and all the police work that had to
happen, and so on.
421
01:00:34.870 --> 01:00:40.780
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, respect to Councilmember Zolman
for asking very pertinent questions. Thank you.
422
01:00:41.080 --> 01:00:44.689
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Oliver. Next, I'll go
out to Zoom. Lee, can you unmute yourself, please?
423
01:00:44.690 --> 01:00:45.220
Mayor Jill McLewis: Nope.
424
01:00:46.810 --> 01:00:47.590
Lee: Yes.
425
01:00:47.820 --> 01:00:49.610
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. Can you still see the
timer?
426
01:00:49.610 --> 01:00:50.290
Lee: I can.
427
01:00:50.290 --> 01:00:51.409
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Alright, go ahead, please.
428
01:00:52.850 --> 01:01:00.239
Lee: Councilwoman Hinton, or Councilmember Hinton, said we should just
trust the operators.
429
01:01:01.180 --> 01:01:04.140
Lee: going back in the history of this, and I can't even…

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01:01:04.630 --> 01:01:15.649
Lee: get all this straight in my head, as some of the other people have
commented in their questions. I'm pretty sure Paul Tibbis told us there
is plenty of money for construction, and not to worry.
431
01:01:16.140 --> 01:01:24.289
Lee: We heard tonight that there's not quite enough money for
construction, they're going with the backup plan, which was to borrow
money. That was a backup plan behind
432
01:01:24.490 --> 01:01:38.160
Lee: grants from the county, money from the actual Homekey grant,
donations that they were going to receive. The city's at financial risk
here, and if there's not enough money, and they're now into a loan.
433
01:01:38.210 --> 01:01:44.529
Lee: That sort of sounds like the risk meter should be ticking up quite a
bit on the part of the city as we look at this.
434
01:01:47.580 --> 01:02:06.270
Lee: Paul Tibbetts also promised us that we were going to get homeless
off the streets of Sebastopol with this project. We were going to be able
to designate some people from Sebastopol that are homeless, and get them
off the streets. We were going to have a say in the criteria of who was
going to go into this, the city could participate in this, and now we're
hearing that's really highly unusual, it doesn't really happen.
435
01:02:06.270 --> 01:02:11.839
Lee: I think, I have a question in my mind. We are the sponsor of this.
436
01:02:12.310 --> 01:02:21.220
Lee: together with St. Vincent's de Paul, we have exactly the same
standing, so to speak, in this as they do. If they're in meetings,
shouldn't we be in the meetings?
437
01:02:21.530 --> 01:02:39.600
Lee: Lastly, staff at the time recommended against this in large part
because we don't have people on staff that know anything about this, and
we don't have the capacity to do this with the staff that we have. But
the council, three members of the council pushed it forward, and now the
city staff is stuck with it.
438
01:02:39.600 --> 01:02:59.490
Lee: I guess my question would be, now that this is an ongoing thing,
that CAS is already offering to work very closely with the city staff,
who on city staff are they going to work with? Who has the capacity? Who

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has the… who has the knowledge to be able to work on this project on
behalf of the city, and make sure that this works well? Lastly.
439
01:02:59.490 --> 01:03:00.760
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Lee, that's 2 minutes.
440
01:03:00.760 --> 01:03:01.460
Lee: Thank you.
441
01:03:01.460 --> 01:03:08.579
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment.
Next, I will come back into chambers. If there's anyone on chambers that
would like to make a public comment, please come up to the podium.
442
01:03:08.970 --> 01:03:10.820
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Sorry, I'll come back.
443
01:03:11.420 --> 01:03:24.940
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: No, that's okay, go ahead. Hi, I'm
Kathleen Robiano, I live here in Sebastopol. I've been involved with St.
Vincent de Paul. I'm not speaking as an official of St. Vincent de Paul.
444
01:03:25.390 --> 01:03:38.359
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: But, I would like to say I am
really excited that COTS is willing to be a partner with St. Vincent de
Paul because of the experience that they have, and that's what we didn't
have when we started the Commons in Santa Rosa.
445
01:03:38.500 --> 01:03:55.510
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And so, I think, I think the idea
of trusting the partners, I… I put a lot of trust in COTS. I've seen
their projects down in Petaluma, and I think it's a really good step. I
know that…
446
01:03:55.890 --> 01:04:12.310
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: As far as Sebastopol homeless
folks, there's a man I have gotten to develop a relationship with who is
unhoused, and he is here in Sebastopol. He said he has a social worker,
he's interested in getting into the new housing.
447
01:04:12.310 --> 01:04:21.900
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, I am hoping, like some of you,
that there are opportunities for the folks in Sebastopol who are
expressing an interest to get into the housing.

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01:04:22.110 --> 01:04:35.680
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: My last thing is I'm really pushing
for good security and a house manager that really steps up for the needs
of the community, even in the middle of the night. So, yeah, thanks you
guys for being here.
449
01:04:36.090 --> 01:04:40.230
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment.
I will go out to Zoom. Kyle, can you unmute yourself, please?
450
01:04:40.720 --> 01:04:41.630
Kyle Falbo: I can.
451
01:04:41.630 --> 01:04:43.319
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. Can you see the timer?
452
01:04:43.550 --> 01:04:44.800
Kyle Falbo: No, but you can let me know.
453
01:04:44.890 --> 01:04:46.030
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Go ahead, please.
454
01:04:48.150 --> 01:04:56.420
Kyle Falbo: I don't mind doing the research for you, but I would hope
that council members would actually come prepared, but maybe people are
trying to misrepresent the past.
455
01:04:56.460 --> 01:05:05.949
Kyle Falbo: So let's return to what the public and council were told when
Gravenstine Commons was first approved in May 2023. On May 16th, staff
report stated, and I quote.
456
01:05:05.950 --> 01:05:16.580
Kyle Falbo: The homes will be dedicated to housing the houseless of
Sebastopol. This wasn't a vague statement that the project would merely
be located in Sebastopol. It describes who the project was intended to
serve.
457
01:05:16.580 --> 01:05:40.550
Kyle Falbo: The report connected Gravenstein Commons directly to the
people displaced from Morris Street, and to the city's response to local
homelessness. The project has changed substantially. St. Vincent de Paul
is no longer expected to operate it. COTS is now involved. There's
uncertainty about how residents will be selected. The state agreement

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requires referrals through coordinated entry, but that does not answer
whether the original commitment to Sebastopol's unhoused population
458
01:05:40.550 --> 01:06:03.649
Kyle Falbo: remains in effect, including the later reported commitment of
8 units for former Horizon Shine residents. The publicly available
approval documents do not clearly give the city authority to approve
individual applicants. They provide oversight of finances, project
management, reporting, and regulatory compliance. This is not the same as
oversight of the tenant selection policy, so I'm asking the Council to
answer these three questions.
459
01:06:03.650 --> 01:06:11.210
Kyle Falbo: First, does the original promise that these homes would be
dedicated to Sebastopol's unhoused population remain operative?
460
01:06:11.210 --> 01:06:17.459
Kyle Falbo: Second, what written agreement binds COTS to that promise,
and to the 8-unit commitment?
461
01:06:17.480 --> 01:06:37.340
Kyle Falbo: Third, will the city require the tenant selection plan,
eligibility criteria, and referral process to present… to be presented
publicly before lease-up begins? This isn't about choosing individual
attendants, it's about ensuring that a project approved on one public
understanding is not quietly operated under a materially different one.
462
01:06:37.340 --> 01:06:38.250
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Tell you about tension.
463
01:06:38.250 --> 01:06:39.889
Kyle Falbo: Oh, familiar.
464
01:06:41.100 --> 01:06:46.260
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment.
Next, I will come back into chambers. If there's anyone in chambers,
please.
465
01:06:55.150 --> 01:06:58.540
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, COTS. Thank you,
Council.
466
01:06:58.780 --> 01:07:06.460

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: When we come to the Good Neighbor
Policy, I'd really like to know what the opportunities are for tenant
involvement.
467
01:07:06.600 --> 01:07:12.670
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Because when we talk about the good
neighbor policy, I want to know what input the tenants can have.
468
01:07:12.820 --> 01:07:27.560
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I appreciate the lessons learned
and the mistakes made from the past, but I want to know, going forward,
what models can be successful in terms of tenant participation. Thank
you.
469
01:07:28.310 --> 01:07:36.980
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment.
Next, I will go back out to Zoom, if there's anyone on Zoom that would
like to make a public comment on this informational presentation from
Gravestine Commons.
470
01:07:37.470 --> 01:07:41.939
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, I will come back into
chambers, if there's anyone in chambers that would like to make a public
comment.
471
01:07:43.260 --> 01:07:45.960
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, public comment is
closed on this item.
472
01:07:46.420 --> 01:07:54.260
Mayor Jill McLewis: Okay, thank you. We're back at the dais for, council
comments, if anyone wants to go first. Vice Mayor?
473
01:07:54.680 --> 01:08:00.209
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yes, I'd just like to thank St.
Vincent de Paul Director and the Kotz Group.
474
01:08:00.610 --> 01:08:12.140
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: For your engagement with each
other. I'm really excited. I think that the experience is just oozing out
of COT, so I'm really, really grateful for that partnership.
475
01:08:12.150 --> 01:08:21.679

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for being here to present
to us tonight, and bearing with the questions and the concerns of the
residents as well. Thank you.
476
01:08:23.160 --> 01:08:24.779
Mayor Jill McLewis: Okay, anyone else?
477
01:08:26.470 --> 01:08:28.800
Mayor Jill McLewis: Am I missing anyone? Okay.
478
01:08:28.800 --> 01:08:38.829
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I've not seen anyone in chambers.
Oh, I'm sorry, Councilmember Zolman has his hands up. No, it sounded like
I was talking too much, so I was expecting someone else to chime in, so I
guess no one else is chiming in.
479
01:08:38.830 --> 01:08:41.270
Mayor Jill McLewis: Oh, I will after you're finished, so go ahead.
480
01:08:41.270 --> 01:08:45.310
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, but no, I mean, I was very
pleasantly surprised.
481
01:08:45.359 --> 01:08:59.919
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: shocked, but pleasantly surprised,
that Kotz was selected as the operator. I do have a lot of confidence in
Chris, in particular, and Kotz, because Chris is born with me after the
whole fallout of Elderberry. Many, many coffees.
482
01:08:59.920 --> 01:09:15.759
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: many, many discussions about the
fact that these people are vulnerable. I wish that they were all off of
our street, or Morse, or one of our own that's fallen on our time, but
that was not the representation early on by St. Vincent' de Paul. I'll be
very clear about that.
483
01:09:15.790 --> 01:09:33.600
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: They did make promises, and it's
not in accordance with state law, and Hunter's back there, and he's going
to talk about the fact that that… none of that made any sense. The fact
that you can't promise anything that violates state law. State law
requires them to go through coordinated entry, buy names list, all of
that. So, I'm really sorry.
484
01:09:33.740 --> 01:09:38.650

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Because one operator couldn't get
it together, that this community went through the stress that it did.
485
01:09:38.649 --> 01:09:59.940
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: But now, we do have people that are
clear on the state requirements. We have Hunter, now we have Chris, and
Chris, I think, will be very accessible. When she says she is, she will
be. So Mary, I think, will be able to have confidence that when she gets
multiple complaints, or not even complaints, but concerns from residents
about what is going on. I saw a moving truck.
486
01:09:59.940 --> 01:10:02.959
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I know. Nobody really wants to
487
01:10:02.960 --> 01:10:09.379
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: feel, I think, in this community
that we want to select people. I think we want to be involved, and
488
01:10:09.480 --> 01:10:25.679
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: care for them the best way that we
can, respecting their confidentiality rights, right? We want them to be
successful, just like the people from Habitat. We want them to feel part
of this community, right? But there is that residual concern that we've
been
489
01:10:25.680 --> 01:10:47.050
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: placed in situations that have not
been great, not been great for the community, and certainly not great for
any of us sitting up here, right? So I am thrilled that Chris is taking
over, Kotz is taking over, and I do really feel hopeful overall with this
project. I think the rest of it, as far as the timeline, I really am
hoping that when Hunter comes up, he'll be able to talk about
490
01:10:47.090 --> 01:10:50.919
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: When the community meetings will
take place, when the by names
491
01:10:50.920 --> 01:11:14.449
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: list will actually start happening,
those meetings. So whether it's me or whoever takes my position will
know, as an elected official, where are we invited to, what meetings are
we invited to, what meetings are we not invited to, so we can explain to
the public, we can actually listen and try to implement your concerns.
So, those are my comments, and I am… I'm thrilled.
492
01:11:14.450 --> 01:11:20.859

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'm actually very relieved. I mean,
when I read this, this was the first time I heard they were taking over.
So, which is…
493
01:11:21.020 --> 01:11:25.229
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: weird in and of itself, but
nonetheless, I am delighted, so I'll leave it at that.
494
01:11:26.540 --> 01:11:42.099
Mayor Jill McLewis: Anyone else? Before I… okay, I have some comments to
make, just regarding some other comments that were made earlier. So, you
know, this has been a long process. It was a divided council on this, and
we did have
495
01:11:42.250 --> 01:11:55.239
Mayor Jill McLewis: We have had a bad experience with what happened at
Elderberry Commons, and when you speak about, well, you know, neighbors,
Elderberry Commons is my neighbor, right in the same parking lot. So I
have had
496
01:11:55.320 --> 01:12:06.529
Mayor Jill McLewis: front row seat to what has gone on there, and when
you ask about, like, what… talking about, like, well, why are we worried
about people lying around? That's because a woman has laid in the parking
lot and in the sidewalk.
497
01:12:07.200 --> 01:12:32.169
Mayor Jill McLewis: on fentanyl for days on end, and the people who
manage that property said it's not their problem. We should not treat
humans like that. Everyone else was calling and trying to take care of
it, but the people who were running that site were not taking care of
those people, and that is not how we should treat people. So all of these
questions that are coming are not unfounded. It's because of concern,
because of the experience that we've had. It's not because we're trying
to be adversarial or anything
498
01:12:32.170 --> 01:12:37.379
Mayor Jill McLewis: It's just based on the experience that we had. And
not everyone in this room has been
499
01:12:37.380 --> 01:12:43.680
Mayor Jill McLewis: you know, part of all of this, and we receive a lot
of communication. I personally have spent a great deal of time
500
01:12:43.680 --> 01:13:02.519

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Mayor Jill McLewis: dealing with the elderberry Common issues, so I think
all of these are founded, and I know that we're divided, and we have some
of us who have great questions, a great amount of questions, and I think
we all just deserve to have that voice, because we don't all agree on
this, and while, you know, while the decision was made, we all still live
in this community.
501
01:13:02.540 --> 01:13:05.949
Mayor Jill McLewis: And we're elected to ask these questions, and… and…
502
01:13:05.950 --> 01:13:30.900
Mayor Jill McLewis: to try to protect the people in this community and
make certain that, you know, the people that you're bringing there are
going to be taken care of, because that's not what's been happening at
Elderberry Commons all the time, and so I just wanted to say that that's
where this is coming from, is people do need to be treated appropriately,
and I don't know, I'm just going to say I don't have any experience with
COTS, so for me, it's trust but verify, so for, you know, for the future.
503
01:13:30.900 --> 01:13:54.249
Mayor Jill McLewis: I look forward to hearing the reports about how this
is going. I do not live in that parking lot there like I do with the
other piece, and I also just wanted to mention that a few meetings ago,
we had a report from the police chief that, again, Outerberry Commons, 1%
of our population is utilizing 25% of our police force time. So, it's a
very real concern for our community, and we have a very small budget.
504
01:13:54.300 --> 01:13:58.240
Mayor Jill McLewis: And we're very, you know, we're constantly tight with
that. We've had a…
505
01:13:58.360 --> 01:14:10.410
Mayor Jill McLewis: you know, a fiscal emergency, so I just wanted to say
that all of this is coming from a place of, we were… we are all elected
to ask these questions, so, thank you all for doing the presentation.
506
01:14:12.070 --> 01:14:13.380
Mayor Jill McLewis: Is there anyone else?
507
01:14:13.930 --> 01:14:17.550
Mayor Jill McLewis: I don't see anyone else from my screen, so Mary have…
508
01:14:17.550 --> 01:14:25.099
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: No, there is no one else on
Council, so this would conclude the presentation from St. Vincent's
DePaul and Cotts, and Robin.

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01:14:25.580 --> 01:14:27.940
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And we can go on to our next item.
510
01:14:27.940 --> 01:14:32.699
Mayor Jill McLewis: Perfect, sorry, it's just a little… I can't see
everything, it's a little blurry on the screen, so…
511
01:14:32.740 --> 01:14:57.099
Mayor Jill McLewis: All right, so we will move on to item number 9, which
is our public hearings. We're going to go consideration of approval of
the Good Neighbor Policy, guidelines designed to balance development,
business operations, and social services with the quality of life in
surrounding residential areas. They address, nuisances like noise, trash,
and traffic, often requiring businesses or service providers to implement
512
01:14:57.100 --> 01:15:06.789
Mayor Jill McLewis: security con- contact lines and community engagement
to foster accountability and reduce conflict. The proposed county
standards are due to be approved after one more review.
513
01:15:07.250 --> 01:15:11.670
Mayor Jill McLewis: And I think, who is doing this? It's our city
attorney, and are you…
514
01:15:11.670 --> 01:15:13.579
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yes, Mayor, it's…
515
01:15:13.580 --> 01:15:15.289
Mayor Jill McLewis: Okay, I'm sorry, I can't see you, so…
516
01:15:15.370 --> 01:15:22.000
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: No problem. Good evening, Council.
So, as the Mayor mentioned before you, tonight is an ordinance to
517
01:15:22.160 --> 01:15:30.549
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: establish a good neighbor policy
for… for new and future city-sponsored housing facilities.
518
01:15:31.120 --> 01:15:38.419
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: and we'll talk about what that
means in a little bit, but essentially, the Good Neighbor Policy
establishes rules

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01:15:38.570 --> 01:15:56.099
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: for projects and interactions with
the surrounding community. This was a request initially from
Councilmember Zolman. He was aware of similar policies that other
entities, specifically Catholic charities, had used in Santa Rosa.
520
01:15:56.190 --> 01:16:02.679
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And when this first came up, the
initial idea was that we would just copy what they
521
01:16:02.910 --> 01:16:08.080
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: had in Santa Rosa, but then we
became aware that
522
01:16:08.780 --> 01:16:13.440
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: the County Homeless Coalition was
working on broader.
523
01:16:13.610 --> 01:16:22.459
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: standards for permanent supportive
housing facilities, and so we paused that to see what they would, be
coming up with. They, they have draft
524
01:16:24.430 --> 01:16:32.369
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: policies that are… have been
prepared, I will say those are much broader, and cover much more issues
than just
525
01:16:32.590 --> 01:16:42.040
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: sort of good neighbors that are
also dealing with, sort of, the whole operation of a permanent supportive
housing facility. This is really just focused on
526
01:16:42.090 --> 01:16:59.790
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: the interaction with the outside
community. You've… you've heard, tonight in other items about, you know,
how do we deal with internally with residents and hearing their
complaints, you know, residents or tenants at the facility. This policy
doesn't deal with that. This is just about
527
01:16:59.930 --> 01:17:09.810
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: expectations for internal… excuse
me, external, sort of, operations and communications, so…

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01:17:10.630 --> 01:17:18.499
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: It applies to new city-sponsored
housing projects. So a project is city-sponsored if
529
01:17:18.580 --> 01:17:31.789
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: we are a co-applicant for something
like we are at, like we were, rather, with Gravenstine Commons, you know,
we would require that they agree to this as a condition of us being a coapplicant.
530
01:17:32.520 --> 01:17:38.059
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Similarly, if ever in the future we
decide to provide financial assistance to a project.
531
01:17:38.260 --> 01:17:41.189
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: You know, we would require them as
a condition of
532
01:17:43.030 --> 01:17:53.240
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Except that, you know, taking our
funding, agreeing to these, policies. And there may be some other,
situations where we can impose it, like if there's, an…
533
01:17:53.490 --> 01:17:56.770
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: You know, a request for a zoning
change or something to allow that.
534
01:17:57.030 --> 01:17:59.079
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: But otherwise, we don't have
535
01:17:59.180 --> 01:18:06.210
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The ability to impose these
requirements on projects, or at least the full range of projects.
536
01:18:06.210 --> 01:18:20.110
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: That's outside the scope of our
land use authority, which, among other things, requires us to treat these
projects the same as permanent supportive housing projects, the same as
any multifamily residential project.
537
01:18:20.120 --> 01:18:23.540
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So we can't impose… Additional
standards on that.

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01:18:23.990 --> 01:18:37.420
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And we… we can't require much of
what we're requiring here for just a run-of-the-mill multifamily housing
project. There are some things in here that we could probably require any
project to do, you know.
539
01:18:37.790 --> 01:18:48.159
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: post a point of contact, you know,
on-site. We could probably require multifamily housing to do that as
well, but this has other requirements in it as well, so…
540
01:18:48.790 --> 01:18:57.780
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: It requires some community meetings
during the development stage and during lease-up activities. It requires…
541
01:18:59.010 --> 01:19:02.779
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Res… excuse me, the housing
providers to,
542
01:19:03.090 --> 01:19:22.279
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: you know, have a, you know, rules
that they require tenants to sign that, you know, that's very common
regardless of whether it's in their ordinance or not, and to do an
orientation about those rules with tenants. But the more detailed
requirements, come later and about the operation.
543
01:19:23.120 --> 01:19:28.530
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Neighborhood patrols, so, you know,
having them patrol the neighbor.
544
01:19:29.020 --> 01:19:30.730
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: HUD to…
545
01:19:31.690 --> 01:19:45.130
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: You know, find residents that may
be, you know, obstructing sidewalks or, you know, engaging in behavior
that's problematic, and encouraging them to stop or to come back to the
facility.
546
01:19:45.310 --> 01:19:52.199
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And, you know, making sure the
patrols also a responsibility for making sure the project
547
01:19:53.090 --> 01:19:56.009

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Site in its immediate vicinity are
kept clean.
548
01:19:56.250 --> 01:20:05.059
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And then there's also some
requirements about community engagement, maintaining a contact phone
number and email that's available to the public.
549
01:20:05.380 --> 01:20:12.660
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Acknowledging when complaints are
received, providing a, you know, sort of documentation.
550
01:20:12.980 --> 01:20:21.850
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And record keeping about how
complaints are handled, if they were able to be addressed or not, and
making that available to the public.
551
01:20:23.170 --> 01:20:33.210
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And then make it, you know, excuse
me, not available to the public, available to the city upon, request.
These standards are a mix of what
552
01:20:35.100 --> 01:20:49.720
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Catholic Charities, it's a little
bit of what Catholic Charities has for their rules in Santa Rosa. Those
were pretty general, and so in looking for, you know, more specific
standards, San Francisco has recently
553
01:20:49.720 --> 01:21:09.429
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: put forward similar good neighbor
policies for some of its projects that will receive funding from the
city, and in that case, it's mostly shelters, not permanent supportive
housing facilities, but we use that as a basis. But this is really up to
the Council of what they want to
554
01:21:09.710 --> 01:21:17.280
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: include things, of course, I know
I've heard from at least one Councilmember about, you know, some changes
they'd like to make, and that's entirely
555
01:21:17.540 --> 01:21:19.570
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Up to the Council.
556
01:21:19.780 --> 01:21:24.000

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So with that, I'll pause for any
questions, the Council may have.
557
01:21:30.800 --> 01:21:32.380
Mayor Jill McLewis: Go ahead, Councilmember Zolman.
558
01:21:32.380 --> 01:21:46.930
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, but first, Alex, thanks for
doing this, thanks for putting the staff report, thanks for referencing,
where this idea came from, from Catholic Charities, because when
everything happened with Elderberg Commons, it was the Executive Director
of Elder, of,
559
01:21:46.980 --> 01:22:00.070
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Catholic Charities through one of
the elected's meetings to just say, you know, sorry that that all
happened, but moving forward, you could do X. So I just want to give a
shout out to her for at least
560
01:22:00.100 --> 01:22:12.539
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: having something that we could
model after. I think incorporating things from other municipalities, San
Francisco was a good thing. You referenced the county's effort as a
result of our challenges with elderberry.
561
01:22:12.800 --> 01:22:28.229
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: coordinated entry requested that
there be a provider meeting to develop permanent supportive housing
standards, and I've been attending them every month, as has Robin, who is
our consultant, and
562
01:22:28.230 --> 01:22:36.349
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Today was the final meeting, and
Robin attended, and she can correct me if I'm wrong, but there were no
further additional comments.
563
01:22:36.350 --> 01:22:44.760
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: like, it's done, and now it's gonna
go through coordinated entry, and then it'll go to the coalition, the
Housing Coalition Board, and…
564
01:22:44.810 --> 01:22:56.439
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: that's where things are, so I just
wanted to inform the public that moving forward, there are now going to
be county guidelines about how things are

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01:22:57.820 --> 01:23:03.300
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: To move forward for anybody
thinking about doing permanent supportive housing,
566
01:23:03.680 --> 01:23:20.809
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: in the city, in the county. But if
we're going to get into questions now, I want to get back to the good
neighbor, because Robin Did… was part of that meeting today, and she took
a lot of time and effort to review all of the 25 pages.
567
01:23:20.810 --> 01:23:32.539
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And now I have concerns that it
appeared that the representative from St. Vincent's de Paul, when she
spoke earlier, has concerns about the good neighbor. So I want to hear
directly from
568
01:23:33.580 --> 01:23:49.529
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: both of them, about where we are
with St. Vincent Paul's feeling about this, because even though we can't
bind you to it, I would like to know what your concerns are, because the
public, I think, has a right to rely on, you passed a good neighbor
policy tonight, if we do.
569
01:23:49.530 --> 01:23:54.190
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Why is that operation not moving in
accordance with
570
01:23:54.570 --> 01:23:59.290
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: what you passed. So I'm going to
leave it over to whoever wants to answer that.
571
01:24:00.260 --> 01:24:03.019
Mayor Jill McLewis: Well, Alex, how do we do this with proper…
572
01:24:03.020 --> 01:24:09.079
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, so you can have them come up to
answer that question, if you like, Mayor, outside of public comment.
573
01:24:09.270 --> 01:24:14.990
Mayor Jill McLewis: Okay, that's what I was wondering. And I know, Vice
Mayor has a question, too, so I don't know if that's related.
574
01:24:16.070 --> 01:24:16.829
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, go ahead.

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So which community stakeholders
have weighed in on this good neighbor policy in terms of the preparation
of it? Have any stakeholders weighed in on it? None. Seeing none, okay.
The second question is, if there are county guidelines that are being
developed, why do we need this?
576
01:24:36.350 --> 01:24:43.360
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: so the… that is why we waited to
see the counting guidelines. The counting guidelines are not…
577
01:24:43.720 --> 01:24:48.109
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: this detailed. They are much
broader,
578
01:24:48.240 --> 01:24:54.640
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: and are, I don't want to say vague,
but… so…
579
01:24:54.810 --> 01:24:58.880
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: if you look in our Good Neighbor
policy, the…
580
01:24:59.030 --> 01:25:08.280
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: language about development stage
and, you know, community engagement prior to lease-up activities, those
first two sections. That's very similar to what
581
01:25:08.390 --> 01:25:24.170
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: is in the… the county guidelines,
where you'll notice it's a little vaguer talking… I don't want to say in
platitudes, there's real things in there, but sort of the expectation of
you will patrol 3 times a day, like, very specific
582
01:25:24.630 --> 01:25:27.050
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Things are not in those guidelines.
583
01:25:27.260 --> 01:25:28.970
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And so that's why we put
584
01:25:29.450 --> 01:25:35.069
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: this together, based on the prior
direction from Council. I have one more question.

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01:25:35.200 --> 01:25:39.540
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And this was sent to me by a
resident that,
586
01:25:39.690 --> 01:25:44.579
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: that the details in the Good
Neighbor Policy, are…
587
01:25:45.300 --> 01:25:53.170
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: kind of looks like heightened
surveillance of a particular class of residents, and I'm wondering what
your… what do you say to that?
588
01:25:53.920 --> 01:26:02.169
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I wouldn't say it's a surveillance
of the residents at all. I think it's expectations for the
589
01:26:02.500 --> 01:26:09.960
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Housing providers about… about how
they will operate with regards to the…
590
01:26:10.160 --> 01:26:15.900
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: community. There's nothing in here
that… about them having to track where, you know, What?
591
01:26:16.000 --> 01:26:20.789
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: residents are doing 24-7. It's
about, sort of, expectations
592
01:26:21.290 --> 01:26:26.310
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: If the city decides to move
forward, expectations about how
593
01:26:27.010 --> 01:26:34.030
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: You know, operators will, you know,
engage with the broader community, especially in the immediate vicinity.
594
01:26:34.150 --> 01:26:35.240
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you.
595
01:26:38.770 --> 01:26:46.099

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Mayor Jill McLewis: Are there anyone else's questions? I… Steve…
Councilmember Zolman, you had questions from St. Vincent de Paul, is that
who you said?
596
01:26:46.940 --> 01:27:06.609
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, whoever wants to respond,
because again, my feeling was, maybe I misinterpreted. When I brought up
the good neighbor policy from, I think, the new executive, St. Vincent de
Paul, my sense was there were objections, and if there are objections to
what it is that we may or may not pass, I'd like to hear them. I think
the public would also like to hear them, so please.
597
01:27:07.500 --> 01:27:21.320
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, I mean, I didn't comb through
this with a fine-tooth comb, but I understand the intent of it, and I
just don't feel like it's my place since we're not going to be operating
the site to respond to it.
598
01:27:21.440 --> 01:27:33.280
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I… I mean, I think most of what is
outlined is reasonable. I think what stood out to me is if we were
property managing the site, it might be… there's a couple points that
stand out to me as…
599
01:27:33.350 --> 01:27:42.210
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: you know, asking a bit much of the
provider, but I'll let Kotz and Chris respond. Before you move on, can
you…
600
01:27:42.320 --> 01:27:44.499
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Specify what those things are.
601
01:27:45.010 --> 01:27:49.589
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I think just around, you know,
monitoring the multiple prem…
602
01:27:49.770 --> 01:27:59.180
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: walking the… walking the property
and the rounds that were outlined in there, I think the specification of,
like, daytime and night feet, yeah.
603
01:28:00.000 --> 01:28:04.959
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I think there were… it called
out specific quantities twice a day.

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01:28:05.290 --> 01:28:06.910
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Daytime and nighttime.
605
01:28:08.210 --> 01:28:14.650
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I mean, the property itself, but
not, like, the surrounding neighborhood just seems a bit excessive.
606
01:28:17.590 --> 01:28:18.710
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Hello!
607
01:28:19.280 --> 01:28:21.330
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Me again.
608
01:28:21.640 --> 01:28:40.039
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: attorney by training, so everything
seems vague to me. So I'll give you a couple of points that I'm like, I'm
not sure… either I'm not sure what that means, or no, that's too much.
And I, like Lauren, I totally understand the intent of this policy. I
share some of the same concerns,
609
01:28:40.040 --> 01:28:48.439
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: with Councilmember Morr, that this
does seem relatively targeted, right, to PSH developments. I understand
that
610
01:28:48.720 --> 01:29:08.569
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: that's… maybe it's not spelled out
as the intent, but that's the intent, and it's… it's different from what
you might see in San Francisco as applied to a shelter, right? Because
it's… it's really easy, frankly, to exit somebody from a shelter for bad
behavior. They don't have tenant rights. It's much more difficult to
evict somebody from permanent housing, so I do want to make that
distinction.
611
01:29:08.570 --> 01:29:11.430
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: It's also a lot more damaging to
someone.
612
01:29:11.430 --> 01:29:22.229
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Like, their livelihood and their
ability to remain safely housed long-term, to actually evict them. And a
lot of this would be resolved. You wouldn't need something like this if…
613
01:29:22.750 --> 01:29:42.320

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: there were stronger partnerships
between providers and cities and counties, and the providers were better
funded to do this work, right? The work itself is very, very challenging.
A lot of the language in here, like, under residence and rules and
expectations, that's just standard stuff that's in a lease.
614
01:29:42.350 --> 01:29:55.879
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Right? I mean, so it's… I don't
have any issue with that being in here. I do think patrolling a
surrounding neighborhood, while I understand the intent, there's not
enough funding in projects to do that.
615
01:29:56.080 --> 01:29:58.539
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: 24-7 security.
616
01:29:58.980 --> 01:30:08.590
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: is, you know, security's $45, $55
an hour. There's no funding in projects for security to run 24-7. It just
doesn't exist.
617
01:30:08.910 --> 01:30:26.009
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Super easy to have security fill
in, super easy to have a property manager do perimeter checks, no problem
at all. But surrounding community and what does that mean? I don't know.
I don't know if that means a block, 6 blocks, a mile? That makes a big
difference.
618
01:30:27.200 --> 01:30:32.469
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I would say 300 feet of the
site frontage, removing litter and debris.
619
01:30:32.970 --> 01:30:51.959
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Maybe? You know, with this project
specifically, I mean, it's right next door to a liquor store. Not every
piece of debris that comes from an area like that is going to be from
residents that live at this site, so I wouldn't necessarily want to be
responsible for cleaning up trash that belongs to another business that
was generated by another business.
620
01:30:52.160 --> 01:31:07.420
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I think it's… it's a little odd to
have something in here that the city would direct a provider to enhance
perimeter staffing. This… this project itself is pretty small, so if the
city just called me and said, hey, can you up perimeter
621
01:31:07.530 --> 01:31:17.270

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: visibility for a couple days, that
would be really easy. If you get into super big projects, which
Sebastopol probably won't, you're a small city, but that could be
challenging down the road.
622
01:31:17.810 --> 01:31:26.730
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I would request that anytime
you say 24 hours, 72 hours, 48 hours, that you say business hours,
because sometimes we have 3-day holiday weekends.
623
01:31:27.040 --> 01:31:32.210
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Those were kind of my notes on
that, but again, like, a lot of this would be…
624
01:31:32.720 --> 01:31:39.270
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Resolved with a strong provider
that actually Does good property management.
625
01:31:39.430 --> 01:31:52.240
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Evicts people when they need to be
evicted, keeps the property clean, stays in good contact with the city.
You know, I don't want homelessness to become an adversarial political
issue. We're just talking about vulnerable people, and making sure that
they have somewhere to live.
626
01:31:52.490 --> 01:31:54.680
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: You know, that's safe, so…
627
01:31:56.380 --> 01:32:00.320
Mayor Jill McLewis: Go ahead, Councilmember Carter, and then I have a
question for you, Alex.
628
01:32:01.100 --> 01:32:05.579
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, that… I mean, you're getting
to something that I was thinking about, like, if… if…
629
01:32:06.250 --> 01:32:12.939
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: If this policy is unnecessary and
superfluous to what you're already doing.
630
01:32:13.680 --> 01:32:22.799
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We just need the guarantees that
some of these things are happening, that somebody's gonna keep the watch
out, somebody's gonna walk around, make sure the place is clean, this and
that. You're a good neighbor.

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01:32:23.210 --> 01:32:29.060
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And you seem like a very good
operator, and what kind of, like.
632
01:32:29.300 --> 01:32:32.809
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Things does the city have to know
that you're going to be doing these
633
01:32:33.410 --> 01:32:56.309
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, that's a great question. We…
we want to be a good neighbor, right? It doesn't… it's not beneficial to
anybody for us to be a bad neighbor, especially the tenants who are
living there, right? We want to be a good neighbor to the city, to our
actual neighbors, to the businesses. We just want it to be… we want it to
be hunky-dory for everybody, right? So, we do have on-site staff all the
time. We are accessible and available.
634
01:32:56.590 --> 01:33:09.429
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: you know, pretty much any provider
that's used to working with me, there's several in this room, they know
that if they call me at 2 o'clock in the morning, I might not answer the
first time you call, but if you call right back, I'm gonna answer, right?
I am…
635
01:33:09.430 --> 01:33:18.020
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: somebody who has dedicated my
career and my life to helping people that are in this situation, and I
also understand and acknowledge that
636
01:33:18.230 --> 01:33:23.530
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: providers like COTS are not just
here to serve people that come to us for help.
637
01:33:23.530 --> 01:33:43.170
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We are also here to serve the
community more broadly, right? Communities are better when fewer people
are experiencing homelessness. They are better when people have places to
live, and we want to make that a good experience. So, what I can promise
to the city is that COTS is super responsive, and there's gonna be issues
that come up.
638
01:33:43.170 --> 01:33:50.099
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Right? There always… there's gonna
be things that come up, and my promise to you is that we will work
alongside you.

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01:33:50.300 --> 01:33:51.120
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: in a…
640
01:33:51.260 --> 01:34:03.570
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: really quickly to resolve and
address those issues in the best way that we can, right? We want to be…
we want to have a good, friendly partnership with you, and I want it to
be something where you're like, ugh!
641
01:34:03.710 --> 01:34:14.810
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: this was terrible. We don't like
cots, right? We don't want that for anybody. So, that I can promise to
you. I certainly can't promise you that, like, you're never gonna see a
piece of trash on the sidewalk.
642
01:34:14.810 --> 01:34:24.250
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Or that we're never gonna have a
tenant that causes problems. I think that's true for any multifamily,
multi-unit property. You're gonna have tenants sometimes that…
643
01:34:24.250 --> 01:34:30.769
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Are difficult, but we will do our
absolute best to make it a good experience for everybody.
644
01:34:31.510 --> 01:34:32.989
Mayor Jill McLewis: Okay, thank you.
645
01:34:33.290 --> 01:34:36.009
Mayor Jill McLewis: Go ahead, Councilmember Zolman.
646
01:34:36.010 --> 01:34:51.939
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, so a question to Alex. So,
could we just postpone this? What would we need to do to postpone this?
Because, I would like to give cuts with what I understand, and their
track record, and my developed relationship with Chris.
647
01:34:51.940 --> 01:35:09.330
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: a go at this without feeling like
they're being unnecessarily restrained. But also, I hear the mayor, the
fact that it's just like, some don't know you, and it's trust but verify.
So could we just not continue this until… when is the open date again?
January? Now what are we talking about?

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01:35:09.340 --> 01:35:27.570
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: What? November. November. So could
we not just calendar this until, I don't know, whenever my colleagues
would like to re-calendar it? Absolutely, it's up to the discretion of
the Council, and if you wanna, you know, you could table item, or you
could just continue it to a specific date in the future.
649
01:35:27.710 --> 01:35:29.590
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay. Alright, thank you.
650
01:35:30.880 --> 01:35:38.140
Mayor Jill McLewis: All right, thank you very much. Thank you all for
answering those questions. Any other questions here?
651
01:35:39.090 --> 01:35:48.800
Mayor Jill McLewis: I have one. I mean, as we're talking about this good
neighbor policy, and as one of the council members who sat in the room
with the folks who were running Elderberry Commons.
652
01:35:48.800 --> 01:36:07.050
Mayor Jill McLewis: and listening to them tell us that, you know, we
don't need security, we don't need this, we don't need that, but at the
same time, hearing that 25% of our police time has been spent at
Elderberry Commons, and it was much higher than that when it first
opened, they told us that every permanent supportive housing
653
01:36:08.140 --> 01:36:20.779
Mayor Jill McLewis: project has a real increase in police needed
activity. In the first 6 months. They told us that. All the folks who run
that and all the people that were involved with that, I sat there and
listened to them.
654
01:36:20.780 --> 01:36:40.630
Mayor Jill McLewis: And so, I just want to know, you know, if we're not
doing… whatever we're doing, I just want to make sure that we're not back
at City Hall listening to the same story again, and then we're having to
answer to our constituents about why, you know, the police are so busy
they can't respond to other places because so much time is being spent at
another
655
01:36:40.630 --> 01:36:52.840
Mayor Jill McLewis: facility that said they didn't need any security or
anything like that. And I understand everyone has good intentions, but at
the end of the day, the facts are the facts, and we've gone through this
over the last few years, so again.

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01:36:52.960 --> 01:37:00.530
Mayor Jill McLewis: I would like to trust, but I also need to verify,
because I've spent a great deal of time dealing with this over the last
few years, and…
657
01:37:00.880 --> 01:37:11.539
Mayor Jill McLewis: you know, there we are. So, that's… that's what I'm…
I don't know, Councilmember Zolman, you're the one that brought this
forth. Everybody else, I think we're due to go to public comment, is that
right?
658
01:37:12.360 --> 01:37:15.239
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yes, I was just gonna jump in and
let you know we needed to go to public comment.
659
01:37:15.240 --> 01:37:16.170
Mayor Jill McLewis: Yeah.
660
01:37:17.850 --> 01:37:18.740
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, this…
661
01:37:18.950 --> 01:37:33.410
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. You guys can go ahead
and sit down. Thank you. So this is for public comment on the Good
Neighbor Policy proposed. If you would like to make a public comment,
again, it is a two-minute public comment. We go to chambers first, and
then go out to Zoom if there's anyone. Oliver?
662
01:37:37.150 --> 01:37:45.919
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, I just want to say that we've
had, you know, pretty slick presentations like that before from the now
Oregon Republican, Jack Tibbetts, who's stood here very confidently.
663
01:37:45.950 --> 01:37:58.739
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: telling everybody how great it was
all going to be, smooths, you know, all the rest of it. But the cast of
characters change all the time, so I have a lot of confidence in what's
been discussed today with these people, but who knows if they'll be here
tomorrow.
664
01:37:58.920 --> 01:38:03.849
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We'll all still be here. They may
not be, so that's my first point.
665
01:38:04.030 --> 01:38:07.539

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I guess, you know, my other
more general point is.
666
01:38:07.780 --> 01:38:17.690
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: this has worked pretty well in San
Francisco. They've had to really tighten up the good neighbor policy with
all the different departments. Obviously, San Francisco's a big,
complicated city.
667
01:38:17.850 --> 01:38:33.929
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: But, Sebastopol's tiny, and we
should be able to execute this really well. This is very consistent with
the way, given, you know, the opioid epidemic and so on, very consistent
with the way cities have been handling these kind of civic problems, I
guess you could call it. Thank you.
668
01:38:35.240 --> 01:38:39.530
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment.
Next, I'll go out to Zoom. Lee, can you unmute yourself, please?
669
01:38:39.530 --> 01:38:40.090
Lee: Yep.
670
01:38:40.210 --> 01:38:40.710
Lee: Thank you.
671
01:38:40.710 --> 01:38:42.099
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Can you still see the timer?
672
01:38:42.100 --> 01:38:42.760
Lee: I can't.
673
01:38:42.760 --> 01:38:43.840
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Greg, go ahead, please.
674
01:38:44.400 --> 01:38:48.920
Lee: Yeah, I was struck by a comment made by one of the speakers about,
675
01:38:49.200 --> 01:38:55.040
Lee: That there's no money for security patrols, and security, and 24-7
security.
676
01:38:55.230 --> 01:39:09.680

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Lee: And I hope that these folks will understand this. I think a lot of
people think that a city like Sebastopol is just loaded with bucks. We've
got policemen crawling out of the woodwork, and if we need a few more
police calls at
677
01:39:09.770 --> 01:39:29.310
Lee: St. Vincent, or at Sebastopol, or whatever this Commons is, if I
haven't seen Commons. It's not a problem. It is a problem, though. 25% of
our police calls are now going to one place. If it doubles, and we have
50% of our police calls going here, we either have to hire a couple more
policemen, which is very expensive.
678
01:39:29.310 --> 01:39:37.090
Lee: Or, we have to stop patrolling, we have to stop dealing with
problems with the high school students. I mean.
679
01:39:37.720 --> 01:39:53.590
Lee: resources have to be shifted away from things that are important now
to dealing with this, and that's one of the reasons that some of us are
really upset about this. And I just hope that the speakers can understand
this. Thank you.
680
01:39:54.720 --> 01:40:00.819
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment.
Next, I'll come into chambers. If there's anyone in chambers that would
like to make a public comment on this item, please.
681
01:40:01.750 --> 01:40:08.069
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Me again, I'll make one more
comment. I know I was here before, and tenants at one other,
682
01:40:08.400 --> 01:40:13.739
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Housing Unit had said it was really
important to them to have some kind of security.
683
01:40:13.810 --> 01:40:28.690
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I understand the funding issues
with security. I think also, with Kot's experience, I'm hoping that a
really good property manager will be hired. Someone who's traumainformed.
684
01:40:28.690 --> 01:40:41.480
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Someone who's willing to go out at
2 in the morning and deal with issues that come up, and somebody that's
willing to get the fentanyl off the property if it shows up, because one
of our sites, that's not happening right now.

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01:40:41.640 --> 01:40:52.719
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And a lot of the tenants are really
concerned about that. So I… I, again, want to support you, and encourage
you, and thank you for taking this on. Yeah, thanks.
686
01:40:53.230 --> 01:40:57.560
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment.
Next, I'll go out to Zoom. Rob, can you unmute yourself, please?
687
01:40:59.490 --> 01:41:03.890
Rob: Hi, yeah. I just had kind of two questions about this.
688
01:41:04.120 --> 01:41:16.100
Rob: One is, how are we… how is this program being a good neighbor to the
liquor store that's next door? I think it's kind of funny that there's a
liquor store nearby.
689
01:41:16.150 --> 01:41:24.570
Rob: all of these places, and I'm sure they get increased foot traffic,
and it's a problem that they have to… maybe they have to deal with, so
I'm wondering, how do we
690
01:41:24.790 --> 01:41:35.640
Rob: you know, they're the ones who are going to have to say no if they
don't think someone should have it. How do we support them in doing that?
And then the other one is just about the foot… no, sorry, not the foot
traffic, but the,
691
01:41:36.040 --> 01:41:41.109
Rob: the increased patrols. I keep hearing about a, like, a citizen's…
692
01:41:42.030 --> 01:41:55.340
Rob: police something or another. Not officers, but some kind of citizens
training. And, you know, it keeps getting shelved for a lot of reasons,
but would that be applicable for something like this?
693
01:41:55.870 --> 01:41:56.700
Rob: Thank you.
694
01:41:57.450 --> 01:42:03.040
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.

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01:42:03.410 --> 01:42:09.899
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, I will go back out to
Zoom. If there's anyone on Zoom that would like to make a public comment
on this item, to please raise your hand virtually.
696
01:42:10.440 --> 01:42:12.929
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, there is no further
public comment, Mayor.
697
01:42:13.590 --> 01:42:17.110
Mayor Jill McLewis: Thank you. Pardon me, thank you very much. We're back
at the dais.
698
01:42:17.610 --> 01:42:20.330
Mayor Jill McLewis: If anyone wants to… oh, Vice Mayor Maurer?
699
01:42:21.530 --> 01:42:30.990
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yes, I want to thank Councilmember
Zolman for suggesting that we postpone this issue. I agree with that. I'm
good with tabling it.
700
01:42:31.170 --> 01:42:43.740
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I think that if we want St.
Vincent de Paul to actually sign on and not have it just be a policy that
nobody's signed on to, we should ask them to make edits and work with
them.
701
01:42:43.780 --> 01:42:58.230
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And they could work with COTS to
make edits that make sense, because it… we want their… we want their buyin to it if we're going to pass it. So I'm… my hope is in the meantime,
between now and whenever we bring it back, that we could have that
collaboration.
702
01:42:58.810 --> 01:43:02.929
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. Well, thank you, Vice
Mayor, and yeah, if that's a motion, I'll second it.
703
01:43:06.230 --> 01:43:21.719
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. Can I just clarify? I
heard two different things. Do you… would you like it to come back at a
future date? I think that Councilmember Zolman had mentioned November or
January, or do you want to table it?

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01:43:22.160 --> 01:43:34.369
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: no, bring it back, but meanwhile,
collaborate with St. Vincent de Paul and Kotz on the language, and make
sure that if, you know, that they're willing to… whatever it is, they're
willing to sign on to it.
705
01:43:34.370 --> 01:43:44.329
Mayor Jill McLewis: Is that directing city staff to do that, or our
liaison, who is Councilmember Zolman, and staff, or… I just wanted to
clarify so we all are on the same page.
706
01:43:45.520 --> 01:44:04.129
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: we could just pick a date, and then
that way we all know what we're striving towards, and hopefully, yes, our
two partners, St. Francis Paul and Kotz, can start looking at the
language and suggesting language to our city attorney for when we bring
it back. So, I…
707
01:44:04.150 --> 01:44:06.690
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Turned over to Mary, it's just like
you…
708
01:44:06.920 --> 01:44:12.950
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: do a gender review with the agenda
Review people. What date do you think would be good, or do you just want
to just…
709
01:44:13.400 --> 01:44:18.980
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Well, I actually would like a rough
date, December, January, something, I'll defer to you.
710
01:44:20.030 --> 01:44:26.649
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: so I'm… now I'm hearing two days.
We heard November, and then I'm now hearing January, February timeframe.
So…
711
01:44:27.030 --> 01:44:37.209
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: January? January, yeah. That'll
give everybody a couple months to see what the looks like. Yeah. Okay.
Yeah. Okay, I'm seeing thumbs up in the audience, so January then.
712
01:44:38.520 --> 01:44:41.549
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, thank you. So, so moved by
Vice Mayor Maurer.

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01:44:41.550 --> 01:44:45.149
Mayor Jill McLewis: By the way, Councilmember Hinton has a hand up.
714
01:44:45.820 --> 01:44:46.720
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'm sorry.
715
01:44:47.050 --> 01:44:51.900
Councilmember Neysa Hinton: I was just gonna make comment. I mean, I,
716
01:44:52.590 --> 01:44:58.480
Councilmember Neysa Hinton: I'm probably not going to be supporting this
tonight to come back. I'm just not sure at this point.
717
01:44:58.630 --> 01:45:03.769
Councilmember Neysa Hinton: it's necessary, and so, I just wanted to make
that comment.
718
01:45:07.220 --> 01:45:08.860
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Carter has his hand
up as well.
719
01:45:08.860 --> 01:45:10.010
Mayor Jill McLewis: Yeah.
720
01:45:10.010 --> 01:45:19.789
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, I'm leaning that way a little
bit, too. I kind of feel like it's better just to table it, and then when
the problem re-emerges, if…
721
01:45:19.790 --> 01:45:29.550
Mayor Jill McLewis: We have a motion on the table, so can we… I mean,
because I'm in support, so… of bringing it back, so if we're going to all
weigh in here before we actually take a vote.
722
01:45:30.640 --> 01:45:40.840
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So because there's two… two,
council members who are not in support of moving this forward and are
willing to table it.
723
01:45:41.010 --> 01:45:44.480
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I would be… I'm gonna withdraw my
motion.

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01:45:44.570 --> 01:46:03.030
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, then I'll go ahead and make
the motion, and we'll see where it goes. To bring it back in January, and
for our two providers, partner providers, to review it, suggest comments,
and bring it back in a date in January, either the first or second
meeting in January. So that's the motion.
725
01:46:07.270 --> 01:46:08.740
Mayor Jill McLewis: I'll suck him.
726
01:46:11.940 --> 01:46:24.729
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. So moved by
Councilmember Zolman and seconded by Mayor McLewis to continue this item
to either the first or third meeting in January 2027, allowing our
partner providers to review and provide edits to the City.
727
01:46:24.860 --> 01:46:27.210
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Carter? No.
728
01:46:28.580 --> 01:46:29.980
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Hinton?
729
01:46:29.980 --> 01:46:30.860
Councilmember Neysa Hinton: No.
730
01:46:31.270 --> 01:46:33.219
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Zolman? Yes.
731
01:46:33.540 --> 01:46:36.810
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Vice Mayor Maurer? No. Mayor
McLewis?
732
01:46:37.350 --> 01:46:38.090
Mayor Jill McLewis: Yes.
733
01:46:38.380 --> 01:46:46.409
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Mayor… I'm sorry, the motion fails,
with Councilmember Zolman and Mayor McLewis in support, and
Councilmembers Carter, Hinton, and Vice Mayor Maurer in opposition.
734
01:46:48.720 --> 01:46:49.530
Mayor Jill McLewis: Okay.

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01:46:50.170 --> 01:46:53.300
Mayor Jill McLewis: We'll go on, pardon me, to item number 10.
736
01:46:53.300 --> 01:47:07.240
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Actually, Carter has his hand up.
Yeah, I'm just curious, does that automatically table the item, or what
happens? Unless there's a further motion tonight, the item is… It's dead.
Oh, okay.
737
01:47:08.190 --> 01:47:14.890
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, someone could make a motion to
table it and bring it back at a later date if necessary.
738
01:47:17.110 --> 01:47:22.420
Mayor Jill McLewis: No, no, I mean, that was what just… go ahead, Alex,
if you want to…
739
01:47:22.420 --> 01:47:31.150
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, so that was the motion to
bring it back in the future. You can always, in the future, have a future
agenda item to bring this back if circumstances change.
740
01:47:31.320 --> 01:47:43.670
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I just want to clarify why I
withdrew my motion, and that is because there were two members that were
not in support, and because I know that it would take staff time, and the
cott's time, and St. Vincent de Paul's time to do all that work.
741
01:47:43.940 --> 01:47:46.289
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And that's why I withdrew my
motion.
742
01:47:50.870 --> 01:47:51.590
Mayor Jill McLewis: Alright.
743
01:47:51.980 --> 01:47:55.219
Mayor Jill McLewis: So, item number 10, presentation from heart and soul.
744
01:47:55.520 --> 01:48:08.940
Mayor Jill McLewis: Solving Obstacles for Unsheltered Lives and West
County Community Services on services provided for homeless services and
consideration of contracts for homeless outreach services. The memorandum
MOU of Understanding with Heart…

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01:48:09.760 --> 01:48:21.299
Mayor Jill McLewis: With heart expires September 16th, 2026, and the
contract with WCCS expired June 30th, 2026. The item tonight is to
consider agreement with the following.
746
01:48:22.080 --> 01:48:24.589
Mayor Jill McLewis: A, draft a contract with Soul.
747
01:48:24.990 --> 01:48:26.760
Mayor Jill McLewis: This item…
748
01:48:26.800 --> 01:48:43.200
Mayor Jill McLewis: This item will be returned to a future City Council
meeting for approval. Draft MOU will be attached… is attached to the
agenda. HART will continue to perform services until such time that the
contract is returned for formal approval and or adoption, tentatively
September 15th.
749
01:48:43.230 --> 01:48:52.960
Mayor Jill McLewis: B, approval of resolution, contract with WCCS, or C,
other direction to staff? And I'm going to turn this over to our police
chief. Is he in the room?
750
01:48:54.540 --> 01:48:55.320
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: He is.
751
01:48:56.430 --> 01:48:57.200
Mayor Jill McLewis: Perfect.
752
01:48:57.200 --> 01:48:57.910
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I am.
753
01:48:58.400 --> 01:49:13.070
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, I think you pretty much summed
it up, Mayor McLewis, that we've got a presentation tonight from both
Sonoma County Department of Health Services and West County Community
Services regarding the Homeless Outreach services, so I'll turn it over
to Hunter to kick it off.
754
01:49:14.790 --> 01:49:18.379
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: No? I'm telling you Abby Christie
from West County Community Services.

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01:49:20.130 --> 01:49:22.579
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Do we have the PowerPoint slides?
756
01:49:23.190 --> 01:49:24.709
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Is that something we're gonna
share?
757
01:49:24.710 --> 01:49:28.420
Mayor Jill McLewis: May I ask a question? Do we have multiple
presentations here, Chief?
758
01:49:28.820 --> 01:49:29.790
Mayor Jill McLewis: How are we?
759
01:49:29.790 --> 01:49:33.110
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: one from West County Community
Services, and then one from…
760
01:49:34.310 --> 01:49:36.979
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Sonoma County Department of Health
Services.
761
01:49:36.980 --> 01:49:39.769
Mayor Jill McLewis: Okay, I just want to make sure, since you switched
around.
762
01:49:42.340 --> 01:49:46.050
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Did you submit the slides? I know
we have the presentation in the report.
763
01:49:46.290 --> 01:49:52.130
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: the… the presentation is in the
report itself. Think of the combined… Presentation, is that right? Yeah.
764
01:49:52.430 --> 01:49:56.280
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: It's fine if we don't. Okay.
765
01:49:56.930 --> 01:50:16.720
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: we were just… we were going to
share just the history of the services in Sebastopol over the past 5
years, and how the services with West County Community Services to
provide outreach in Sebastopol really arose from a need that the
community had.

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01:50:16.720 --> 01:50:21.510
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: On the Joe Road at the trail, and
then also the
767
01:50:21.510 --> 01:50:40.299
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: the parking on Morris Street and in
the neighborhoods of Sebastopol, and the city was looking for a response,
and contracted for a full-time outreach person in the first year with us.
And then in the four years following,
768
01:50:40.940 --> 01:50:50.320
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We continued to provide services,
although the shift of focus changed as the community needs changed. And
769
01:50:50.490 --> 01:50:58.090
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Funding was reduced to part-time,
and we applied for additional funding to continue full-time support here.
770
01:50:58.290 --> 01:51:06.650
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Our contract did end at the end of
June. The second slide was looking at… oh, there we are!
771
01:51:06.780 --> 01:51:12.590
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Looking at the data points over the
5 years,
772
01:51:14.360 --> 01:51:27.619
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And the first highlight of the
data, because the services, the focus shifted based on the needs, you
know, we really were capturing unique individuals that we were
773
01:51:27.620 --> 01:51:36.690
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: connecting with, but the data
changed. What we were reporting changed as our services changed.
774
01:51:36.790 --> 01:51:41.500
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And so that was something I just
wanted to call attention to in that slide.
775
01:51:44.060 --> 01:51:58.420
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: the bigger point that I need to
address and, take, you know, acknowledge is the… the 2526 reporting, and…

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01:51:58.940 --> 01:52:04.689
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Really just acknowledge, what
happened in our reporting last year.
777
01:52:06.790 --> 01:52:20.229
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: In spring, I was looking at the
report, and the… we were reporting on how many individuals were active in
coordinated entry each month.
778
01:52:20.330 --> 01:52:28.269
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And the year-to-date total really
caught my attention, because it was pretty big. And, and so I started
779
01:52:28.270 --> 01:52:47.430
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: looking into it, and it was really
a result of two things. A formula error in my spreadsheet, that we
weren't going to report on the year-to-date totals, because people are
enrolled in coordinated entry, they maintain status, and some people are
exited, and so really the monthly count is
780
01:52:47.480 --> 01:52:52.209
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: the number we're reporting, there
isn't a year to date of active people.
781
01:52:53.550 --> 01:53:04.070
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And the second factor was that our
staff had been over-reporting. And so I was having reports pulled.
782
01:53:04.070 --> 01:53:15.420
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I was really looking deeply
into that to correct that error. I contacted the city, I resubmitted
reports,
783
01:53:15.800 --> 01:53:26.300
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And… And then, you know, there's a…
there was one other data point that… that had some question.
784
01:53:26.490 --> 01:53:40.999
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I was asking questions myself
to get down to the bottom of things, and it was for the people that moved
into permanent supportive housing. Unfortunately, the staff that
785
01:53:41.130 --> 01:53:59.890

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: we had, unfortunately, because I
can't get answers from them anymore. What I did discover is that our
outreach was using the county tracking system, the HMIS, but also
786
01:53:59.890 --> 01:54:01.919
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Keeping their own…
787
01:54:02.210 --> 01:54:16.579
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: informal log of contacts they were
making, services they were providing that weren't being recognized in
HMIS. And…
788
01:54:17.120 --> 01:54:22.540
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I heard Jill say earlier, Trust,
but verify.
789
01:54:22.720 --> 01:54:29.630
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: and the verification wasn't
happening with the direct supervision. And so,
790
01:54:30.180 --> 01:54:47.779
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: really, at this point, I provided
the numbers for 25-26, because those were the numbers that were reported,
and I wanted to address it tonight. And some of the numbers, I… I don't
have the answer to.
791
01:54:49.350 --> 01:54:56.769
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And to be equally fair,
unfortunately… I mean, that's really disappointing for me.
792
01:54:57.990 --> 01:55:09.949
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: we know the services were being
provided, and they weren't reported correctly. I don't think that it was
intentional misrepresentation. I think that there was…
793
01:55:10.140 --> 01:55:26.179
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: a lack of oversight, and, a lack of
understanding of what the numbers meant, like, what we were trying to
capture in this report. And I only take responsibility that,
794
01:55:28.110 --> 01:55:44.359
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: It is our responsibility to tighten
up the compliance of reporting, to have the oversight, and to have clear
definitions of what they're counting and why they're counting it.

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01:55:45.060 --> 01:55:52.830
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So I, I just… I have to take
responsibility and ownership of this, and unfortunately, I… I just…
796
01:55:53.030 --> 01:56:01.169
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: don't have the… The accurate number
for how many people did move into permanent supportive housing.
797
01:56:04.840 --> 01:56:07.940
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The last slide… such a…
798
01:56:08.170 --> 01:56:20.979
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: jarring transition. That is an
actual success story, of… of a couple that… that we did provide service,
and I think the success story really just…
799
01:56:21.000 --> 01:56:43.820
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: highlights the long game of
outreach, that it really takes time to build relationships, to help them
start getting engaged with receiving services, to get the documents
ready, to help them be prepared to move into housing. And for this,
couple, it took a couple years, and they are… now have
800
01:56:43.820 --> 01:56:48.850
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Moved into George's place that is
opened in Guernville, just… last month.
801
01:56:54.720 --> 01:57:10.810
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, I'm not sure how the structure
is. If you want me to stay here for questions for this part, move to
Hunter, and then come back to questions? I think we want to go to Hunter,
so, to do his presentation, and then we can come back to questions from
the Council.
802
01:57:12.920 --> 01:57:18.110
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Hi, Al. Hunter Scott, you recently
knew me from…
803
01:57:18.110 --> 01:57:37.500
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: When I worked for Home First,
coordinate entry, have our partners here. I now work for Department of
Health Services. I'm the Deputy Director for Homelessness Services. So,
good to be here in this new capacity. Recognizing that these
presentations are intended to be 10 minutes, I'm gonna speed through
this,

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01:57:37.500 --> 01:57:40.320
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: But there'll be time for questions,
obviously, so…
805
01:57:40.330 --> 01:58:02.820
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So about, in December of, last
year, we started a really wonderful new, outreach pilot with the City of
Sebastopol and the Police Department, with the goal of meeting people
where they are, pairing outreach with law enforcement response, and more
accurately, to really replace outreach with law enforcement response,
where that's appropriate.
806
01:58:02.820 --> 01:58:11.819
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And create pathways to services
with a goal of increasing coordination around homelessness and helping
people move from contact to meaningful service. Next slide.
807
01:58:14.060 --> 01:58:38.069
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So some of the data that we've
achieved to date, and we have a really wonderful staff named Julian, who
has taken this role on in the city. He's engaged 67 people, 30 of those
are active and coordinated entry, he's made 12 shelter placements, and
moved 3 folks into housing. It does take time to build a relationship
with folks, and so we expect those numbers to increase,
808
01:58:38.260 --> 01:58:43.650
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: per time period, if that makes
sense, as this project goes on. Next slide.
809
01:58:43.750 --> 01:58:45.589
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Can I ask you a quick question?
Yes.
810
01:58:46.160 --> 01:59:05.999
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: 67 people engaged. Is that within
the Sebastopol city limits, or is that outside of Sebastopol? Sebastopol.
Well, he's probably going a little bit outside of, you know, he's not
doing the entire Joe Rhonda Trail, but he's probably going a little bit
down the trail, just to… because people do move in and out, but his focus
has been Sebastopol.
811
01:59:06.010 --> 01:59:08.999
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Those are 67 different people.
Correct.

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01:59:12.800 --> 01:59:16.860
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, one of the, I think, big
learnings after…
813
01:59:16.900 --> 01:59:41.749
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: 6, 8, whatever we are at, eight
months of doing this, is, is that we have a partner organization that you
all are funding, and we really need to engage closer together, to make
sure that we are not duplicating services, but also enhancing each
other's services. And so, we are engaging in our own MOU to guide
cooperation across, West County. We also fund WCCS to do outreach
814
01:59:41.750 --> 02:00:00.159
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: services in Guerneville and River
area. And so this is an MOU beyond just Sebastopol. It'll really guide
all of our interactions. And that's going to do things like having our
staff check in every morning to coordinate the day, and then doing cooutreach together in instances of safety risk.
815
02:00:00.160 --> 02:00:07.259
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The next two pieces, I'm going to
skip ahead, because I'm going to get into that for the rest of the
presentation, so next slide.
816
02:00:07.320 --> 02:00:32.089
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We were referencing earlier that
the Homeless Coalition has permit supportive housing operational
standards that have recently been completed. This is a different version
of that for street outreach. So, a couple years ago, the same group came
together and put together some policies and procedures for how street
outreach for homelessness should look across the county. And that really
built the foundation of where we're trying to go now for our next step.
817
02:00:32.090 --> 02:00:35.100
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: into… in… in Sebastopol. Next
slide.
818
02:00:36.150 --> 02:00:54.280
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, what is the sub-regional
structure? And that's really where we're going with this, is the whole
county, as part of those standards, was split into six sub-regions, and
I'll show you in a map in a second. Each subregion has a manager that's
managing the day-to-day activities of homeless services in that subregion.
02:00:54.320 --> 02:01:03.100

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We have a shared coordination tool
that's used across the county called a by names list, and then this is
coordinated, again, on a countywide level. Next slide.
820
02:01:05.540 --> 02:01:19.949
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: This is a map of the sub-regions.
There's a very long history for why we came up with these exact lines,
and I'm not going to get into that now, but Sebastopol, as you can see,
sits in the west county, kind of the edge of that green, or on the
screen, yellow area. Next slide.
821
02:01:21.600 --> 02:01:45.980
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: This is kind of an org chart
describing how this countywide structure looks. You've got, in each subregion, a manager who's managing, again, the day-to-day activities. Their
role is to work with the street outreach, shelters, and then other
partners. So, for example, law enforcement, or environmental groups, or
churches that are working with homelessness in their region. And then all
of this, again, is organized on a county-wide level by my team.
822
02:01:45.980 --> 02:01:46.880
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Next slide.
823
02:01:48.790 --> 02:02:05.349
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So I've used the name-by-names list
quite a bit, so just to describe what it is, it's a list of everyone
experiencing homelessness in a given region. It's updated as close to
live as possible. Data comes from every source possible, and includes
people who… and it does include people who are not engaging in services.
So it's not just those that are…
824
02:02:05.410 --> 02:02:11.749
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: formally enrolled, if that were.
And then it's used to coordinate services between multiple partners. Next
slide.
825
02:02:12.960 --> 02:02:35.480
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So this is what it looks like. I
mean, it's just a… it's a… it's an Excel sheet, you know, so something
fancy on its own, but you can see that in this example, every single
person has a housing plan. That's the goal, is to get to a place where
every single person experiencing homelessness in a region, we know what
the plan is for them, and then we're tracking action steps to move them
along that plan. Next slide.
826
02:02:37.310 --> 02:02:44.479

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: This is an example of, you were
talking about the beginning of the meeting, so this is what we would
probably do in the beginnings of the meetings.
827
02:02:44.480 --> 02:03:04.550
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Which is to go over hotspots or
encampments or areas of concern, and we can do that without going through
specific names. We'd have law enforcement there, we'd often have electeds
there, it's really up to the community and what makes sense. And we would
track, again, actions for those specific hotspots and areas, to make sure
that we're deploying outreach appropriately. Next slide.
828
02:03:05.710 --> 02:03:14.590
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: This is an example of what data can
come from this process, and I want to give kudos to Home First, who I
used to work for, but,
829
02:03:14.640 --> 02:03:32.410
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: they do this in Sonoma Valley and
South County, and so, so some of this data comes from them. But, you can
see that what it really allows us to do is get to the point where we can
say, in this moment, this is exactly the type of housing we would need to
invest in in this area if we wanted to end homelessness today.
830
02:03:32.720 --> 02:03:38.380
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So that's an incredibly powerful
tool when it comes to directing and future investments. Next slide.
831
02:03:39.250 --> 02:03:55.719
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And you can see in South County,
what we saw over a long period of time of doing this kind of
collaboration is a massive increase in housing exits, as we were just
getting better at working together. This also came with investments in
housing, but a lot of it was really just truly the coordination. Next
slide.
832
02:03:56.850 --> 02:04:08.019
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So I wanted to end with some really
clear direction for you all. I think there's been some confusion on who
do you call when, you know, for what issue when it comes to homeless
services, so…
833
02:04:08.020 --> 02:04:20.290
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: In Sebastopol, and this is true
today, if you are seeing somebody that seems like they're experiencing an
urgent mental health crisis, homeless outreach is not the right resource.
What the right resource is, is the countywide behavioral health

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02:04:20.290 --> 02:04:29.639
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Team, our mobile support team, and
that is the number to call, and they will, they will respond and come out
if it's appropriate.
835
02:04:29.890 --> 02:04:45.489
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: For non-urgent homeless services,
so what do you do if you're really concerned about somebody on the street
corner, and you just want to make sure that they are getting services to
get out of that situation in a long-term situation? You would call the
number that's on the screen.
836
02:04:45.500 --> 02:04:54.500
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: For that, and so that is a number
that goes to my office. We are now taking this on, and we will then
direct West County Community Services or our own staff.
837
02:04:54.510 --> 02:04:58.820
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: To go out and respond and make sure
that that person is receiving services.
838
02:04:58.960 --> 02:04:59.960
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Next slide.
839
02:05:00.780 --> 02:05:20.069
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So what are next steps? So, there's
kind of… there's three MOUs that we're… we're talking about today that
will… will help guide us going forward. So there's one between the city
and WCCS, and I think that's on the agenda to be approved. We're going to
bring one back for the City of Sebastopol and then… and then with DHS.
840
02:05:20.360 --> 02:05:32.019
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: In two weeks is the goal. I think
we're still on track to do that. And then, as I mentioned, WCCS and then
Department of Health Services has their own MOU that we're working on
behind the scenes.
841
02:05:32.450 --> 02:05:42.439
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We're going to continue to align on
data reporting. We want to make sure that we are doing… tracking our
outcomes the same across both of our teams, and so there's work to do
there.
842
02:05:42.760 --> 02:06:00.480

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We want to train both of our staff
in these new processes we're talking about, and then, to your question
earlier, when is this going to start, the by names list meetings? So
we'll send out an introductory email to council members, several folks
around the West County region, in this month.
843
02:06:00.490 --> 02:06:12.000
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And then we'll have a kickoff
meeting either this month or next month, and start for real in October.
We'll build the list and start working through what are the action plans
for each of the people on that list.
844
02:06:13.170 --> 02:06:15.000
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And that's it for me. Thank you.
845
02:06:17.300 --> 02:06:20.899
Mayor Jill McLewis: All right, we're back at the dais, so we have a
question, Vice Mayor?
846
02:06:22.080 --> 02:06:33.250
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I have a question about your slide,
page 80 of 98. It says, outcomes… it's talking about housing exits over
time. Can you explain that slide?
847
02:06:33.720 --> 02:06:42.189
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yes, I can. So in South County, and
I'm… I'm… I used to work from home first, so I know a lot about this
slide, but
848
02:06:42.330 --> 02:06:47.449
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I want to differentiate my roles,
but, so thank you to them for providing this.
849
02:06:47.550 --> 02:07:00.539
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So that is showing, exits over
time, so, so, people that are moving from this process that we are
tracking, which is tracking people who are homeless, into permanent
housing.
850
02:07:00.620 --> 02:07:16.229
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, as you can see, it's really
small, but I think the first quarter that we were tracking it at that
point, it was 11 people, and then that got all the way up to 40 people
several quarters later, so it really just shows how increased
collaboration

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02:07:16.410 --> 02:07:31.449
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And holding accountability, I would
say, to moving actions forward can help move people into housing. So,
housing… housing exits means moving people from homelessness into
housing? Correct. Okay.
852
02:07:32.020 --> 02:07:45.179
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, exit is a confusing word in
that… in that scenario, so thank you for that clarifying question. I
didn't know if that meant that people were losing housing, or… Yeah, good
question, yeah. Exit from the thing that we're doing into the… yeah,
right.
853
02:07:45.440 --> 02:07:46.660
Mayor Jill McLewis: Councilmember Solman.
854
02:07:47.160 --> 02:08:06.929
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, first, thanks for the
presentation to both of you, very clear. And thanks for including the
data from Sonoma Valley and from Petaluma, because, you know, we are a
little competitive in the West, and we want to make sure we're keeping up
with everybody going… all the happenings in the county. Can you just
explain, just.
855
02:08:06.940 --> 02:08:22.730
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: big picture, why the data is
important, because I attended one of the elected meetings, what I heard
the mayor of the city of Sonoma met with the chair of the board of
supervisors, reviewed all that data, maybe some of the data that was in
the slide.
856
02:08:22.730 --> 02:08:32.120
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And somebody was able to say, if
you produce this amount of housing, by this date, We will effectively…
857
02:08:32.490 --> 02:08:52.339
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: be without any unhoused. Yeah, so,
and I showed that slide, where if you… I mean, it would take a while to
describe the different types of housing, but you have rapid rehousing,
and then you have permanent supportive housing, which is a lot of what
tonight's been about, and so that slide is showing if you… if you build X
number of permanent supportive housing units and X number of rapid
rehousing units, we can end homelessness.
858
02:08:52.340 --> 02:08:55.730

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The minute that happens, right? And
so that directs investments.
859
02:08:55.730 --> 02:09:20.080
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Great, and that would tie in, be
helpful for staff, especially planning, who have to keep track of our
housing element numbers, right? That data would really be helpful to city
staff, who are frantically trying to keep up with our housing elements
and keep those updated. Is that a good… I think so, yeah, that's a great
point. Okay, good. And you've also had similar successes in Petaluma. I
haven't heard that there was a similar meeting with the mayor of
Petaluma.
860
02:09:20.240 --> 02:09:22.680
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: To talk about the same sort of…
861
02:09:23.010 --> 02:09:32.159
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: outcome from… They, I mean, they
present it at their city council meetings, and… and so it's just a little
bit of a different dynamic there, but he's…
862
02:09:32.260 --> 02:09:43.380
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: you know, they are aware of it.
They have the same data. I know Reach for Home does similar work up in
North County, and City of Santa Rosa and City of Fernando Park both do
the same.
863
02:09:43.490 --> 02:09:55.880
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: theirs is in-house, so their city
staff are running their… this process, but it's happening everywhere. So
realistically, given the by names and when it's being started, when could
we invite you back?
864
02:09:56.040 --> 02:10:06.439
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: to give a similar question. Oh,
that's a good question. I would say 6 months at the earliest. It'll take
time to really develop the full picture. Okay, alright, thank you.
865
02:10:06.440 --> 02:10:09.190
Mayor Jill McLewis: We had vice… our Vice Mayor had a question.
866
02:10:09.190 --> 02:10:16.649
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I wanted to follow up on a question
that Councilmember Zolman asked. So, how many housing units are actually
needed? I'm not seeing that in the report.

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02:10:16.780 --> 02:10:31.619
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I don't know yet, because we
haven't started the process. Oh. In West County, we'll get there. Okay,
thank you. And by the way, we will have, our intention is to track
specifically who is spending most of their time in Sebastopol, so it's
not… we'll be able to differentiate to a large extent.
868
02:10:32.980 --> 02:10:34.950
Mayor Jill McLewis: Okay, any other questions?
869
02:10:35.660 --> 02:10:39.820
Mayor Jill McLewis: Oh, I'm sorry, you have your hand up? Yeah, there you
go, I can see it. Councilmember Carter?
870
02:10:39.990 --> 02:10:52.660
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, I have a question about flow.
So, like, some are leaving, and some new are coming in. On average, on
any given day in Sebastopol, about how many people are experiencing
homelessness
871
02:10:52.730 --> 02:11:06.600
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And is there ever going to be a
rapid housing number that works because, you know, new people are
entering as… It's a really insightful question, something that we talk a
lot about in homeless services is.
872
02:11:06.600 --> 02:11:18.630
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The analogy that I like best is,
like, a bathtub, right? So you've got your faucet coming in, and that's
the people that are becoming homeless, and then you've got your drain
going out, and that's your housing outflow, right? And so.
873
02:11:18.630 --> 02:11:28.880
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: You want to close your faucet and
open your drain as much as possible, and then help the people that are,
you know, currently experiencing homelessness in a dignified way as best
as you can.
874
02:11:28.880 --> 02:11:40.219
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And so, I can't answer your
question now, because we haven't started collecting the data yet in a
really meaningful way, but we will get there. To your point, I mean.
875
02:11:40.220 --> 02:11:42.290
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We will be able to say…

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02:11:42.890 --> 02:11:52.189
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: definitively, here's how many you
would need to end homelessness for the group today. We'll be able to do a
lot of predictive analysis to say, over time, and here's how much more
you would need.
877
02:11:52.390 --> 02:11:53.739
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Does that answer the question?
878
02:11:57.150 --> 02:12:01.780
Mayor Jill McLewis: Alright, and I just have a quick question, because
I'm just listening to this here,
879
02:12:01.860 --> 02:12:19.009
Mayor Jill McLewis: I mean, we can say how much we need, but it all
depends on whether or not they accept, right? I mean, services and
housing, because I keep hearing from people, you know, that say, yeah, I
heard about it, but I don't want any housing. I'm happy with what I'm
doing. Isn't that part of the challenge that we have?
880
02:12:19.500 --> 02:12:31.500
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I think that's why you invest in
street outreach, which is why we're here today, right? So, I've been
working and managing street outreach teams for a long time, for about 16
years now, and in all the years that I've been
881
02:12:31.810 --> 02:12:39.519
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: either myself doing street outreach
or working with staff, I've only ever encountered one person who, after
two years of continuous engagement, didn't say yes.
882
02:12:40.000 --> 02:12:48.179
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Right? So it sometimes takes that,
and it sometimes takes saying hello every single day for 2 years. But it…
883
02:12:48.580 --> 02:12:55.239
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I think it's possible. Yes, there
are people who immediately say no, because they've been traumatized by
the system, because
884
02:12:55.360 --> 02:13:06.540
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: they are experiencing a different
reality than the rest of us, you know, what have you. But, that's… that

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is the magic of street outreach, is understanding what makes this person
tick, and how can I get them to yes.
885
02:13:09.690 --> 02:13:14.440
Mayor Jill McLewis: All right, if there are no other questions, then
we'll go to public comment, and thank you so much.
886
02:13:15.390 --> 02:13:19.549
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Mayor. Hutter and
Christy, you guys can go ahead and sit down. I'm going to open it up for
public comment.
887
02:13:19.550 --> 02:13:20.140
Mayor Jill McLewis: Comment?
888
02:13:20.300 --> 02:13:35.070
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So this is public comment on the,
contracts for the Heart and Soul, as well as WCCS. If you'd like to make
a public comment on this item, again, it is a 2-minute public time limit,
and I do chambers first, and then go out to Zoom, if there's anyone in
chambers.
889
02:13:35.840 --> 02:13:39.230
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, I'll go out to Zoom.
Rob, can you unmute yourself, please?
890
02:13:43.970 --> 02:13:47.790
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Rob, can you unmute yourself?
There… whoops. Can you unmute yourself, please?
891
02:13:49.410 --> 02:13:52.050
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: There you go. Can you see the… can
you see the timer?
892
02:13:52.220 --> 02:14:05.370
Rob: I can't, but it's okay. It's not really a… I guess it's for comment,
but I've heard a lot of, of people talking today about how
893
02:14:05.370 --> 02:14:12.759
Rob: There's promises that are made that, you know, aren't achievable, or
maybe never could be achieved, and…
894
02:14:13.110 --> 02:14:18.589

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Rob: when I hear about, if you build this many units, that you can end
homelessness.
895
02:14:18.980 --> 02:14:34.520
Rob: that's really hard for me to accept. I know there's a lot that I
don't know about homelessness, but it's hard for me to accept that you
can do that, because it's all dependent on the money continuing to come
in to support people if they don't go back and get jobs, or it takes a
long time, so you may be able to house them, but
896
02:14:34.590 --> 02:14:39.360
Rob: that's only, like, that's a small part of it, as far as I can tell.
897
02:14:39.460 --> 02:14:54.050
Rob: And I think that saying that this magic number can end homelessness,
you know, for this group of people makes people think that it's going to
end homelessness, and that they're going to be all done, and the
expectation is not near the reality.
898
02:14:54.340 --> 02:14:56.340
Rob: That's all. Thank you.
899
02:14:56.710 --> 02:15:00.960
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment.
Next, I will come back into chambers, if there's anyone in chambers.
900
02:15:01.250 --> 02:15:04.260
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing that, I'll go back out. Lee,
can you mute yourself, please?
901
02:15:08.780 --> 02:15:09.660
Lee: Yes.
902
02:15:10.070 --> 02:15:12.030
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: There you go, can you see the timer
still?
903
02:15:12.030 --> 02:15:12.829
Lee: I can, thank you.
904
02:15:12.830 --> 02:15:13.859
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Alright, go ahead, please.

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02:15:13.940 --> 02:15:23.549
Lee: Yeah, congratulations to the Hart Organization. That was the first
presentation that I've seen that gives me some confidence, a bit of
confidence, that the county might actually have a workable plan.
906
02:15:23.670 --> 02:15:25.939
Lee: To improve the problem of homelessness.
907
02:15:26.760 --> 02:15:31.369
Lee: Hopefully, we'll see the number of unhoused living on our streets go
down next year.
908
02:15:31.470 --> 02:15:44.870
Lee: The data was really interesting. I think Sandra pointed out that… or
asked, you know, about the 67 homeless, is that our number? And it kind
of sounds like that is. Two years ago, it was 100. Last year, it was,
like, zero, and the point of… point-in-time count.
909
02:15:44.870 --> 02:15:53.350
Lee: No one really thought it was 100, no one really thought it was zero,
and you know, the idea that they're moving in and out of the city limits
910
02:15:54.390 --> 02:16:13.050
Lee: probably makes the point-in-time count useless, but if you're in
contact with 67, that's probably a decent estimate of what the ongoing
number is, and something that we could work with in the future in terms
of getting it down. That would also continue to keep us in the highest
per capita number of homeless of any city in the county.
911
02:16:13.130 --> 02:16:29.450
Lee: I'm not sure why Councilmember Zolan was concerned about the housing
element. We have more PSH units right now, per capita, than any other
city. I kind of wonder if the entire county built as much permanent
supportive housing per capita as Sebastopol, if that would be enough…
enough…
912
02:16:29.450 --> 02:16:35.340
Lee: Homes to End Homelessness, or unhoused. Just a thought. Thanks, bye.
913
02:16:36.030 --> 02:16:42.090
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment.
Next, I will come back into chambers, if there's anyone in chambers that
would like to make a public comment on this item.
914
02:16:42.559 --> 02:16:49.779

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, I will go back out to
Zoom. If there's anyone on Zoom that would like to make a public comment
item on this item, to please raise your hand virtually.
915
02:16:50.260 --> 02:16:52.690
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, public comment is
closed for this item.
916
02:16:53.280 --> 02:16:56.579
Mayor Jill McLewis: Alright, thank you. So we're back at the dais for any
comments.
917
02:16:59.350 --> 02:17:01.280
Mayor Jill McLewis: Go ahead, Councilmember Zolman.
918
02:17:01.440 --> 02:17:20.319
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: No, I just want to thank the
presenters. The data was great, presenting the end goal of what, if we
really focus on the data, we really can strive to get a number to move
towards everyone having a house. So, I will end up moving, staff
recommendations.
919
02:17:21.820 --> 02:17:22.980
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'll second.
920
02:17:23.959 --> 02:17:24.959
Mayor Jill McLewis: Was that a motion?
921
02:17:25.689 --> 02:17:29.379
Mayor Jill McLewis: I thought we were doing… do we have other comments?
Councilmember Hinton does, so…
922
02:17:31.040 --> 02:17:35.629
Councilmember Neysa Hinton: Yeah, I mean, I have supported,
923
02:17:36.190 --> 02:17:53.159
Councilmember Neysa Hinton: these services and West County Community
Services to provide them, I think, as long as I've been on Council. I
did, I will support this again tonight, but I want to send a really clear
message that I heard apologies about lack of oversight.
924
02:17:53.260 --> 02:18:10.079

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Councilmember Neysa Hinton: And, that's hard to hear, actually, when
we're paying for services. And I think I would be remiss if I didn't say
it out loud, because, we're going into another contract tonight, and,
925
02:18:10.280 --> 02:18:14.679
Councilmember Neysa Hinton: Well, I supervise staff, and so, as a
supervisor of staff.
926
02:18:14.870 --> 02:18:20.000
Councilmember Neysa Hinton: You know, it, it, like, you can make a
mistake, but you can't make it…
927
02:18:20.150 --> 02:18:29.620
Councilmember Neysa Hinton: Over and over again. So, I just… I am a bit
disappointed tonight. I need to say that out loud, to the public. We're
spending their money.
928
02:18:29.750 --> 02:18:44.309
Councilmember Neysa Hinton: I do want… I know people are in need, and I'm
always been for these services, but I want to assure that if we're
signing a contract, that we have some accountability and oversight by the
vendor that we're selecting.
929
02:18:44.809 --> 02:18:47.209
Councilmember Neysa Hinton: So… Wanted to make that comment.
930
02:18:48.340 --> 02:18:51.789
Mayor Jill McLewis: Great. And any other comments before I make mine?
931
02:18:52.799 --> 02:19:02.820
Mayor Jill McLewis: I… and I wanted to be clear here before I say that.
Did we actually have a motion? Because I thought we were just doing
comments, and then I heard Stephen's… Councilmember Zolman do a motion,
so I want to understand…
932
02:19:02.820 --> 02:19:04.820
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We do have a motion and a second.
933
02:19:04.820 --> 02:19:06.469
Mayor Jill McLewis: the motion, exactly.
934
02:19:07.200 --> 02:19:19.840
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, the motion is what is in the
staff report. It is to authorize a continued partnership with the Sonoma

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Agenda Item Number 1

County Heart and Soul for dedicated homeless outreach services, and
authorizing the return to a future City Councilmember the successor MOU.
935
02:19:19.860 --> 02:19:36.209
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And they, HART has also agreed, the
county has agreed to be able to continue the services until such time
that we can bring that contract back, as well as approving the
professional services contract for the West County Community Services for
the FY2626 Homeless Outreach Services.
936
02:19:36.500 --> 02:19:47.389
Mayor Jill McLewis: Got it. Okay, I understand before I made my comments.
So, I… I am in agreement with bringing back, you know, the A, the heart
and soul, and… and that.
937
02:19:47.389 --> 02:19:52.989
Mayor Jill McLewis: But I personally cannot support bringing back $40,000
for West County Community Services, given
938
02:19:52.990 --> 02:20:16.689
Mayor Jill McLewis: what we've heard tonight. It's been something that
we've all wondered over the years. I've not been supportive in the past,
and I just… I'm not able to overlook that. We're a city that's strapped
for money. We've had… we've seen, you know, a great fluctuation in the
unhoused that we have in our community, and it's… it is quite high, and
I'm just disappointed to hear that we're… we've been receiving all these
reports all this time.
939
02:20:16.700 --> 02:20:36.899
Mayor Jill McLewis: And they're not accurate. So, yes, for part of it,
but I will not be able to vote for this if it includes everything,
because personally, I think if anything else, I'd like to see that
$40,000 going towards something else that might be more effective for us,
whether it's a part-time police officer, or part-time someone else that
can do something, but I'm just not willing to overlook the fact that
940
02:20:36.900 --> 02:20:47.229
Mayor Jill McLewis: that this, lack of management has happened. I just
don't think that that's… that's, in my opinion as a council member, I
just don't think that we should be overlooking that and saying.
941
02:20:47.230 --> 02:20:54.840
Mayor Jill McLewis: okay, do better next time. I can't do that, so I'm
just… that's where I'm at with this. I expect more for our taxpayers'
dollars.

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02:20:56.500 --> 02:21:00.610
Mayor Jill McLewis: So that's where I'm at. So, I don't know if anyone
else has a comment, if you'd like to…
943
02:21:02.040 --> 02:21:03.120
Mayor Jill McLewis: Do a…
944
02:21:03.120 --> 02:21:07.009
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: personal comments, or would you
like me to call for the motion? Call for the motion. I mean, call for the
vote.
945
02:21:07.010 --> 02:21:08.080
Mayor Jill McLewis: Go ahead and call for the.
946
02:21:08.080 --> 02:21:31.899
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Zollman moved, and
Vice Mayor Maurer seconded the motion to authorize the continued
partnership with the Sonoma County Heart for dedicated homeless outreach
services, and return the successor MOU to a Fertier City Council meeting,
understanding that the county will continue services until such time that
that MOU returns to the Council, and authorizing professional services
agreement with West County Community Services for the FY26-26
947
02:21:31.970 --> 02:21:42.629
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: 2627 Homeless Outreach services, an
amount not to exceed $40,000, and authorizing the execution of the
agreement. Councilmember Carter? Yes. Councilmember Hinton?
948
02:21:50.750 --> 02:21:53.420
Councilmember Neysa Hinton: I guess I'm gonna say yes tonight.
949
02:21:55.330 --> 02:22:00.010
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Zolman? Yes. Vice
Mayor Maurer? Yes. Mayor McLewis?
950
02:22:00.170 --> 02:22:00.810
Mayor Jill McLewis: No.
951
02:22:00.810 --> 02:22:07.419
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Motion passes 4 to 1, with
Councilmembers Carter, Hinton, Zolman, and Vice Mayor Maurer in support,
and Mayor McLewis in opposition.

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02:22:08.100 --> 02:22:13.100
Mayor Jill McLewis: So, before we move on to another item, I wanted to
ask… I have two things.
953
02:22:13.100 --> 02:22:17.779
Mayor Jill McLewis: I wanted to do a check on a bio break, and I also
just…
954
02:22:17.780 --> 02:22:36.609
Mayor Jill McLewis: So, yes on that, and then the second thing I just
wanted to make you aware of is that after this break, I'm going to be
exiting the meeting. I actually have to have a surgery at 6 AM tomorrow
morning, I'm sorry. I learned that this afternoon, so, I… Vice Mayor, I'm
just going to ask you to take over for this last, item.
955
02:22:36.760 --> 02:22:37.700
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay.
956
02:22:37.700 --> 02:22:50.579
Mayor Jill McLewis: So I apologize, but I just… I couldn't… didn't have
time to… to let you know that before this. So, do you want to just… do
you want to do 5 minutes, or do you want to take… Vice Mayor, do you have
any… you said you wanted the break, so is 5 minutes enough?
957
02:22:51.320 --> 02:22:52.220
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yes.
958
02:22:52.830 --> 02:23:01.080
Mayor Jill McLewis: Okay, all right. So we're gonna go ahead and do that,
and thank you for taking over. Sorry about that, but I have to take care
of my health, so thank you.
959
02:23:03.190 --> 02:23:04.220
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We ready?
960
02:23:09.640 --> 02:23:18.560
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, welcome back to the City
Council meeting. We are going to next take, item… agenda item number 12.
961
02:23:19.030 --> 02:23:36.169
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Which is potential options to
address community concerns regarding graffiti and racial mockery
associated with the Safeway area. And who will be presenting? I will,
Vice Mayor. Good evening again. Excuse me. As the Council knows, the

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02:23:37.460 --> 02:23:44.719
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Over a period of weeks, the Council
received a number of complaints from members of the community regarding,
963
02:23:45.380 --> 02:23:53.260
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: graffiti and other types of racial
harassment that have been occurring at or near the Safeway store.
964
02:23:53.510 --> 02:24:05.739
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Involving youth, in the community.
And on August 4th, the Council, discussed this and discussed some options
and possibilities for dealing with this and provided direction.
965
02:24:06.420 --> 02:24:16.549
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: to me to prepare a report on some
of the legal tools that may or may not be available for dealing with
this. And in particular, there was a…
966
02:24:16.910 --> 02:24:20.540
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Emphasis on restorative justice.
967
02:24:20.870 --> 02:24:29.690
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And so I'll go through those now,
and then take any questions you may have. So the… the first one I… I
wanna…
968
02:24:30.690 --> 02:24:39.580
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: touch on it is something that is
not an option, which is mandating improvements at the site.
969
02:24:42.170 --> 02:24:56.019
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, sorry, mandating… is that
better? Mandating physical improvements at the site, whether that be a
fence or cameras. The city generally does not have the ability to require
970
02:24:56.320 --> 02:24:59.089
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Private property owners to make
971
02:24:59.520 --> 02:25:02.750
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Physical improvements on the site.
972
02:25:02.950 --> 02:25:16.229

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: outside of an entitlement process.
So, you know, it is common when a project comes to the city for a use
permit or a design review for the city to require things at that point.
973
02:25:16.350 --> 02:25:19.640
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: But the city has no ability in
general, to do that.
974
02:25:20.620 --> 02:25:24.770
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: ad hoc basis outside of that
permitting process. So if…
975
02:25:24.880 --> 02:25:28.529
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: This property owner came to the
city in the future for…
976
02:25:28.690 --> 02:25:38.640
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: If they needed a conditional use
permit for anything, or if they, you know, were doing a remodel and need
a design review, the city might have the ability to do that.
977
02:25:39.100 --> 02:25:40.769
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Requirelows at that time.
978
02:25:40.970 --> 02:25:47.070
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: But we… it's not something we can
require, sort of, on an ad hoc basis outside of Lowe's
979
02:25:47.300 --> 02:25:50.439
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The exercise of our land use
authority.
980
02:25:51.310 --> 02:26:01.139
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, so going into just a couple of
our options that we do have is the city, has been meeting, you know, the
mayor initially convened.
981
02:26:01.340 --> 02:26:05.700
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: meetings with the,
982
02:26:06.290 --> 02:26:15.709
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: in his continuing attempt to
convene meetings with, sort of, all the interested parties. Neighborhood,
residents, the,

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Agenda Item Number 1

02:26:15.740 --> 02:26:35.399
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: school, Safeway, as well as the
police department. So those, of course, can continue, and I do want to
acknowledge that we had initially misstated in the staff report that
those… that that meeting, was previously approved by the Council
formally. It has not been. It was something that was done
984
02:26:37.200 --> 02:26:49.659
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: you know, administratively, and the
city manager authorized, you know, staff to participate in those
discussions. So that can continue, and we can certainly work on trying to
get voluntary agreement with…
985
02:26:50.100 --> 02:26:56.039
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Safe way about installing some of
these physical improvements, or taking other steps.
986
02:26:56.160 --> 02:27:03.400
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Some of the other voluntary steps,
That are possible are…
987
02:27:04.090 --> 02:27:09.380
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: enforcement of trespassing laws,
right? They… as property owners, they can sign…
988
02:27:09.500 --> 02:27:28.260
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: documents allowing the police
department to enforce trespassing laws, even if they are not on site. So
that would allow this… the police department to enforce trespassing laws,
you know, overnight when the site is not otherwise, you know, open for
the public to use.
989
02:27:31.020 --> 02:27:41.420
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The city could also do a graffiti
abatement ordinance that requires a property owner to clear the graffiti
within specified
990
02:27:41.790 --> 02:27:51.690
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: period of time. If not, you know,
the city would pursue code enforcement, either, you know, fines, or
potentially the city doing the…
991
02:27:51.770 --> 02:28:10.169

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: removal itself, and seeking cost
recovery from the property owner, that is something that is possible. And
there are… many cities have those types of ordinances, and there's
processes for recovering those costs by putting it on the… either
recording it as a lien on the property, or…
992
02:28:10.450 --> 02:28:18.110
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Recording it as a special
assessment collected on the property tax roll, so… so those ordinances
generally require
993
02:28:18.400 --> 02:28:30.250
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: you know, establish a period of
time for which the… in which graffiti must be removed. So that could be
as little as 24 hours, 72 hours is very common, some cities allow
994
02:28:30.650 --> 02:28:32.090
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Even more than that.
995
02:28:32.480 --> 02:28:45.529
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And then, based on Council
direction, there was questions about restorative justice. And, you know,
to very oversimplify this, you know, restorative justice is intended as a
process where
996
02:28:46.240 --> 02:28:52.680
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: You know, outside the traditional
sort of criminal justice system, where you know.
997
02:28:52.870 --> 02:29:00.250
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Through dialogue and, you know,
communication, parties…
998
02:29:00.560 --> 02:29:11.450
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: You know, meet to discuss the
insulin, you know, the harm, why it was caused, the reasons it occurred,
trying to reach resolution and sort of permanent.
999
02:29:12.630 --> 02:29:21.670
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: maybe not permanent, but a path
forward, where everyone feels heard and there are solutions. And again,
that's an oversimplification of the process.
1000
02:29:22.920 --> 02:29:32.169

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And, restorative justice is one
type of diversion program. There are other types of diversion programs
trying to steer, rather than
1001
02:29:32.630 --> 02:29:43.120
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: send people to jail or through the
normal criminal justice process where they, are diverted to another
program. So there are a couple ways this happens. The Sonoma County
1002
02:29:43.310 --> 02:29:47.759
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Juvenile justice system has
diversion.
1003
02:29:48.200 --> 02:29:52.329
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Programs, it has restorative
justice programs, like many.
1004
02:29:53.980 --> 02:29:55.840
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Systems in the state.
1005
02:29:56.700 --> 02:30:03.199
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, that requires someone to be
referred to, you know, those processes.
1006
02:30:03.490 --> 02:30:20.939
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: the probation department juvenile
justice is operated through the probation department. They might make,
you know, for any particular case, they might decide whether or not a
referral to a diversion is appropriate. If that's successful, the process
may end, the case may be dismissed.
1007
02:30:20.940 --> 02:30:26.520
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: If not, it might be referred back
to the normal juvenile criminal justice system.
1008
02:30:26.840 --> 02:30:30.520
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Probation may also decide that
1009
02:30:31.690 --> 02:30:36.819
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: You know, a particular case isn't
suitable for diversion and send it
1010
02:30:37.150 --> 02:30:46.520

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: initially to the traditional
process. But that, of course, does require, a criminal referral to the
probation department that.
1011
02:30:47.630 --> 02:30:59.840
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: You know, after a criminal citation
or arrest is made. And then as part of intake at the probation
department, you know, they would go through a full process, generally,
which would involve fingerprinting and things like that.
1012
02:31:00.920 --> 02:31:13.079
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The city does not fingerprint.
That's not something that the city does. That is something that happens
at the county level when an individual is booked, for lack of a better
word.
1013
02:31:13.430 --> 02:31:18.440
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So there are a number of cities
who,
1014
02:31:19.920 --> 02:31:24.750
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Throughout the state who might
sponsor restorative justice programs.
1015
02:31:25.430 --> 02:31:29.159
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And usually, those are.
1016
02:31:29.250 --> 02:31:46.619
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: are separate from the, you know,
police department and the criminal justice system. It might be, you know,
grant funding that's, you know, sponsored with school district or other
providers, so that's a resource for the community. And the police
department might make referrals to those programs.
1017
02:31:47.540 --> 02:32:07.349
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: For cases where they think, hey,
this isn't something that we want to… maybe it's not illegal conduct,
necessarily, but the police department thinks it would benefit from going
through some of this process, and they may suggest or refer people to it.
Or there… it may be a type of low-level crime where the police department
determines it's not
1018
02:32:07.530 --> 02:32:16.719
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Appropriate to do a criminal
process where a citation is issued, or an arrest is made.

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1019
02:32:17.720 --> 02:32:25.409
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: But in the most common way this
works is, like, those referrals are made, might come from the police
department, might come from
1020
02:32:26.390 --> 02:32:27.580
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Someone else…
1021
02:32:28.240 --> 02:32:35.600
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: the restorative justice program
goes on, and the police department is not involved anymore. It happens
there. If it's not successful.
1022
02:32:35.900 --> 02:32:41.269
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Police Department doesn't know
about it. It's not something they… they felt warranted,
1023
02:32:41.730 --> 02:32:48.369
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: you know, a criminal citation and
all to begin with. So those are the most common types of programs run by
cities. There are…
1024
02:32:48.520 --> 02:32:51.430
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Programs run by cities where
1025
02:32:51.860 --> 02:33:00.859
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: A police… not run by cities, but
sort of partnered with cities, where police department might issue a
criminal citation to someone.
1026
02:33:01.850 --> 02:33:09.309
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Rather than it be sent to the
juvenile justice system, that person is referred to the
1027
02:33:09.580 --> 02:33:16.390
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: A restorative justice program, With
reports back to the police department, and if,
1028
02:33:17.010 --> 02:33:29.119
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: the process is successful, you
know, that's sort of the end of the line. If the process is unsuccessful
for whatever reason, the police department may then decide to move
forward with

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1029
02:33:29.320 --> 02:33:30.840
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: preferring the…
1030
02:33:32.840 --> 02:33:51.500
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: citation to the probation
department and the juvenile justice system. So at times in the past, you
know, Sebastopol at one point had grant funding and participated in a
program like this. That funding has expired, it hasn't been used in a
couple years.
1031
02:33:51.610 --> 02:34:03.970
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I do want to note, though, that
this process involves a citation being issued by the police department,
and so while they aren't fingerprinted and part of the county system.
1032
02:34:04.140 --> 02:34:17.460
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: there is a case report on them in
the juveniles in the city's record keeping, in the city's police records.
And so, you know, juvenile records are confidential, but…
1033
02:34:17.760 --> 02:34:24.370
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: In response to a lawful subpoena,
or court order, or lawful judicial warrant, like, those…
1034
02:34:24.540 --> 02:34:27.999
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: those records would be released.
They exist and would be released.
1035
02:34:29.740 --> 02:34:37.650
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And so, I'll pause there. I think
that sort of summarizes most of the pro… the… the…
1036
02:34:39.400 --> 02:34:41.319
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Sort of broad options.
1037
02:34:41.630 --> 02:34:46.209
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I think a distinction with
having heard some questions from
1038
02:34:47.750 --> 02:34:54.820
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Zolman, you know,
there was a concern specifically about fingerprinting, and that would not
happen

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1039
02:34:55.190 --> 02:35:00.270
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Through a citation, unless the
citation was referred to the county.
1040
02:35:00.830 --> 02:35:04.839
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: However, just to reiterate again,
if a citation is issued
1041
02:35:05.110 --> 02:35:07.449
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Which is really necessary if
1042
02:35:08.120 --> 02:35:11.370
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: If the police department is going
to monitor
1043
02:35:11.600 --> 02:35:16.799
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Compliance with restorative justice
process, and potentially
1044
02:35:16.960 --> 02:35:19.760
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Refer it to probation at a later
point.
1045
02:35:19.940 --> 02:35:28.840
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: A citation really does need to be
issued up front, and while no fingerprinting occurs, that does create a
local, you know.
1046
02:35:29.060 --> 02:35:31.279
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Citation record in the police.
1047
02:35:31.630 --> 02:35:39.550
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: record-keeping system. So, with
that, I'll… I'll pause, to see if there are any questions from the… Thank
you. So, Councilmember Zoolman.
1048
02:35:41.890 --> 02:35:59.899
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Alex, for the report.
Yes, the fingerprinting is of high concern, and I'd like you to be able
to explain to the public, along with the Chief, the consequences of
fingerprinting, because what I heard the chief say before, he seemed
excited and proud of his arrest record. I'd like to know the consequences
to our youth.

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1049
02:36:00.770 --> 02:36:07.410
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: If we do go with a process that
involves fingerprinting, what are the consequences for juveniles?
1050
02:36:07.560 --> 02:36:21.690
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: once fingerprints are taken by a
police authority. How long are they kept on file? Who has access to that?
Meaning higher governmental agencies, like the FBI, etc. And in
particular, for a brown community, what are the consequences?
1051
02:36:21.810 --> 02:36:23.170
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Immigration-wise.
1052
02:36:27.800 --> 02:36:30.370
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: There are a lot of questions in
that question.
1053
02:36:30.580 --> 02:36:51.850
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Can we break that down a little so
that I can attempt to answer it for you? I would just want to hear from
you to educate the public of the consequences of fingerprinting for our
youth in particular. How long do they stay in the system? What other
agencies higher up, to include the FBI, have access to the fact that
there are fingerprints available? And in particular, for the Brown
community.
1054
02:36:51.850 --> 02:36:56.339
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: What is your understanding of the
consequences of having fingerprints left in the system?
1055
02:36:56.590 --> 02:36:59.439
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: For those who are un… are
undocumented.
1056
02:36:59.830 --> 02:37:04.030
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Well, for a start, we don't manage
any fingerprint systems, so I…
1057
02:37:05.320 --> 02:37:08.710
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I really couldn't comment on how
they handled that information.
1058
02:37:08.900 --> 02:37:12.179

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: That'd be like me commenting on
another city's handling of
1059
02:37:12.550 --> 02:37:15.419
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Records, or flock camera records,
or…
1060
02:37:15.770 --> 02:37:18.880
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So I really can't provide you with
a definitive answer on that.
1061
02:37:19.450 --> 02:37:25.999
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: But I would be assuming that those
records are maintained indefinitely. Who they share them with, I have
absolutely no idea.
1062
02:37:26.610 --> 02:37:30.769
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Are you saying that this Sebastopol
Police doesn't take fingerprints? Correct.
1063
02:37:32.070 --> 02:37:32.940
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay.
1064
02:37:33.950 --> 02:37:35.379
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: They, they're obtained.
1065
02:37:35.880 --> 02:37:45.850
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: When someone is perhaps a custodial
arrest, and they're transferred to… if they're an adult and they're
transferred to the sheriff's office jail, they'd be fingerprinted at the
sheriff's office.
1066
02:37:46.120 --> 02:37:48.390
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: In the case of juvenile probation.
1067
02:37:48.720 --> 02:37:53.740
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Possibly through that process, and
I don't know at what point through their process, because we don't have
any involvement in that.
1068
02:37:55.600 --> 02:37:57.040
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Hinton?
1069

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02:38:03.620 --> 02:38:12.570
Councilmember Neysa Hinton: I'm surprised to be hearing about
fingerprints for youth, because I understood that you couldn't routinely
take fingerprints for youth.
1070
02:38:12.680 --> 02:38:18.910
Councilmember Neysa Hinton: Am I not understanding that correct? I'm glad
we don't do it in Spassible, but I thought that that wasn't allowed.
1071
02:38:20.420 --> 02:38:23.779
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: But we have no involvement in the
process, so I… I wouldn't like to comment on it.
1072
02:38:25.030 --> 02:38:25.750
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay.
1073
02:38:26.220 --> 02:38:27.620
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Carter?
1074
02:38:28.040 --> 02:38:34.600
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, just shifting back to
Safeway, just… is that… unnecessarily targeted. Anyway,
1075
02:38:35.710 --> 02:38:38.590
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: You were mentioning that we might
be able to have
1076
02:38:40.130 --> 02:38:47.010
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: an ordinance that kind of affects
the way Safeway monitors what happens around its property.
1077
02:38:48.700 --> 02:38:49.600
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Mentioned.
1078
02:38:49.830 --> 02:39:04.750
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: we could adopt a graffiti abatement
ordinance that requires property owners, not just Safeway, but, you know,
other commercial property owners, to remove graffiti within specified
periods of time.
1079
02:39:04.810 --> 02:39:11.720
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Right. Or face fines, or the risk
of the city removing it and charging them for that.

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1080
02:39:12.680 --> 02:39:20.279
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Right. Do we have anything anywhere
near close to that already, where they must maintain, you know, the
property nicely?
1081
02:39:21.980 --> 02:39:27.959
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: No, not something that is clear and
explicit.
1082
02:39:28.080 --> 02:39:29.090
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay.
1083
02:39:29.400 --> 02:39:41.809
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And have we, discussed with them
about the shape of the back of the building? Like, you know, maintaining,
like, a less habitable space, because it seems to be, you know.
1084
02:39:42.410 --> 02:39:54.359
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Nice, or is it my… is this too
directed towards one specific place? Is that not appropriate? No, that's…
that's a fine question. I don't mary if you know if that's come up in the
conversation.
1085
02:39:55.330 --> 02:40:07.530
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, for the couple times that we
did meet with Safeway, we did discuss areas back there, and they had
stated they cannot fence off certain areas in that back area, so we have
had this conversation with Safeway.
1086
02:40:10.110 --> 02:40:16.100
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And, would this be recalling the
blight
1087
02:40:18.460 --> 02:40:25.630
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We had a blight policy that we
thought about really hard. Is this something that kind of brings it back?
1088
02:40:26.960 --> 02:40:31.559
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Well, the blight, ordinance the
Council considered was…
1089
02:40:31.920 --> 02:40:34.350
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: broad. It dealt with all types of

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1090
02:40:35.640 --> 02:40:40.629
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: light. It was also drafted broadly
to apply to residential property.
1091
02:40:41.330 --> 02:40:50.150
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: in commercial property, whether or
not it was visible from the front or back of the street. The council at
the time decided
1092
02:40:51.010 --> 02:40:57.510
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Rather than narrow it by, you know,
making it only apply to commercial property, only apply to
1093
02:40:58.560 --> 02:41:02.580
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: things visible from the street,
just to not move forward with it at all.
1094
02:41:02.680 --> 02:41:06.530
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: This would… if you did a graffiti
ordinance, it would contain
1095
02:41:07.040 --> 02:41:16.530
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: elements of the blight ordinance,
but it would only be about graffiti. It would not be about other types of
blight, like, you know, discarded furniture, or, you know…
1096
02:41:17.070 --> 02:41:26.450
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, that's cool. I'm just leaning
towards holding the property owners a little bit more for the
responsibility of
1097
02:41:27.310 --> 02:41:32.150
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: what happens to their property,
just a little bit more, so I would lean in that direction.
1098
02:41:33.530 --> 02:41:39.919
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Two questions. How does the
graffiti glit… how does graffiti get cleaned up now?
1099
02:41:41.400 --> 02:41:42.770
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: How does that happen?
1100
02:41:43.270 --> 02:41:52.289

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: the property owners now are
cleaning up, my understanding from Mary, that Safeway has in the past
cleaned up this graffiti. I don't know the exact
1101
02:41:53.840 --> 02:42:11.340
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Well, it used to be that there were
two people who were getting reimbursed for the cost of paint, or being
given paint, and they would go around… I don't know how often they did
it, but they would be covering up… they were volunteers, and they were
covering up graffiti. Does that still happen? Yes, we have…
1102
02:42:11.550 --> 02:42:15.320
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Ted and Steve, and Steve was one of
our public commenters tonight, earlier.
1103
02:42:15.570 --> 02:42:20.679
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And that's a volunteer basis, so
they do what they can, when they can. Yeah.
1104
02:42:20.840 --> 02:42:24.410
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: as far as Safeway and their… odd.
1105
02:42:24.510 --> 02:42:26.959
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Response to graffiti on the
building.
1106
02:42:27.220 --> 02:42:32.790
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We met with them multiple times
about a variety of issues, that being one of them.
1107
02:42:32.900 --> 02:42:35.160
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And they were very receptive to
1108
02:42:35.860 --> 02:42:41.350
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: having an extended patrol of their
own facility, which I don't think they were doing before that.
1109
02:42:41.600 --> 02:42:47.799
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Where they'd walk around the entire
premises, in the morning, and just sort of see where… what the status of
things were, and…
1110
02:42:48.240 --> 02:42:53.759

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And they committed to attempting to
remove the graffiti within 24 hours on their own,
1111
02:42:54.000 --> 02:42:57.250
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Provisor, which I thought was
commendable, and…
1112
02:42:57.400 --> 02:42:59.240
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: To my knowledge, they've been doing
that.
1113
02:43:01.940 --> 02:43:15.519
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Alex, earlier in your presentation,
you said that the city has been meeting with a council member, with
Safeway, with neighbors, school, and the police department, and some
staff.
1114
02:43:15.830 --> 02:43:20.609
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I just want to double check,
were the neighbors included in any of those meetings?
1115
02:43:22.680 --> 02:43:35.289
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, the first three meetings was
with the city's… the chief, myself, the mayor, and Safeway, and Annalie.
Those were back in, I believe, February, March.
1116
02:43:35.920 --> 02:43:59.030
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: February, March, and May, or… it
was 3 months during the spring. We have not met with them since May. We
did meet, once with the neighbors and received their concerns. And was
Safeway there as well at that time? So, no, we wanted to have an
individual meeting with the neighbors to talk to them to get what their
concerns were. I will say, after that meeting, we did reach out to
Safeway and Annalie, and we have… I've done
1117
02:43:59.030 --> 02:44:00.680
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We have not heard back from them.
1118
02:44:00.750 --> 02:44:06.609
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Unless the Chief has. I have not
heard back from them when I reached out to have an invitation to have the
meeting with them.
1119
02:44:07.010 --> 02:44:08.599
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I could speak for…

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1120
02:44:09.090 --> 02:44:13.830
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: At the conclusion of that actual
meeting that we had with some of the residents that are here tonight.
1121
02:44:14.200 --> 02:44:16.530
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: on my way back to the police
department, I actually
1122
02:44:16.690 --> 02:44:24.160
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: drove across the superintendent
for… for the school district, that looks after Annalie, and I had a
conversation with him based on that.
1123
02:44:24.300 --> 02:44:30.350
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And, they were very receptive to
it. We discussed some of the residents' concerns about wanting to have
1124
02:44:30.680 --> 02:44:34.909
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Some sort of, you know, anti-bias,
anti-racial,
1125
02:44:35.790 --> 02:44:41.169
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: anti-race… racist-type training in
the school, and they said they actually have that program, and it's quite
robust.
1126
02:44:41.360 --> 02:44:48.569
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And ironically, the teacher who
teaches it walked upon us while we were chatting, so I got to have a chat
with him as well. I did…
1127
02:44:49.180 --> 02:44:56.640
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: ask and invite that if they would
like some involvement from the police department in that, we'll do
whatever we can to… to assist with that, and they were receptive to that
idea as well.
1128
02:44:56.880 --> 02:45:00.979
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, that's… Also, that's in
progress,
1129
02:45:01.170 --> 02:45:04.969

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Obviously, they've just started
their new school year, and that's already underway, so…
1130
02:45:05.600 --> 02:45:10.359
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: inserting ourselves in our current
curriculum is not as straightforward as it may seem.
1131
02:45:10.760 --> 02:45:14.950
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: But they were receptive to… to
those ideas that you came up with.
1132
02:45:15.340 --> 02:45:17.659
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And, we're happy to be involved.
1133
02:45:19.190 --> 02:45:28.180
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Councilmember Zolman.
Yeah, so just to be clear, all these meetings, that an elected appeared,
1134
02:45:29.720 --> 02:45:37.280
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: not on behalf of the city. That was
not a council vote to have that elected attend these meetings, correct?
1135
02:45:37.370 --> 02:46:02.190
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: That is correct, she did that as an
individual. So, as of right now, we do not have a voted-upon Council
liaison to any of these issues, correct? That is correct. Okay, and just
to be super clear, somebody from the city did reach out to Chalk Wade,
the principal of Annily, for his response, and as of today, again, zero
response from the school. That is correct. I sent them an email after, I
can go back and
1136
02:46:02.190 --> 02:46:07.409
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: find the date. I sent them to,
Annalie and Safeway, and asked them
1137
02:46:07.410 --> 02:46:15.009
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: They had reached out and wanted to
know if it was separate from the meeting that we had taken place back in
the spring, and I said yes, and that was the…
1138
02:46:15.010 --> 02:46:33.610
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Last I've heard from them. Okay.
Looping back to the, past, experiences of this city with restorative
justice to try to do homework in preparation for this meeting, I did

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reach out to the Executive Director of Restorative Resources. That… Alex,
that was the entity that the city worked with in the past, right?
1139
02:46:33.610 --> 02:46:52.960
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: she ended up providing successful
statistics, and Alex, can you comment, or can the Chief comment to the
public about the success rate for those students whose parents agreed to
voluntarily go through the program? Yeah, the statistics they provided
were that between 2023
1140
02:46:53.070 --> 02:46:55.400
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And when the program ended.
1141
02:46:55.800 --> 02:47:05.549
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: There were 16 referrals, 1 parent
declined to participate, and 15 youth entered and successfully completed
the program.
1142
02:47:07.170 --> 02:47:12.999
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And it was about, you know, 50…
they say it's an average of 15 hours per… per case.
1143
02:47:13.380 --> 02:47:25.960
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, and in the staff report,
it says that that is one of the options, that if we do want to have our
youth not go through the criminal justice system to be fingerprinted,
etc, etc.
1144
02:47:25.960 --> 02:47:35.959
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: we would need to raise the funding,
and I did reach out to the same executive director. Mary, I think you
were on the email. She is available to provide,
1145
02:47:36.000 --> 02:47:39.590
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: a proposal for how much that would
cost, is that correct, Mary?
1146
02:47:41.860 --> 02:47:49.890
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: That is my understanding. I just
got the email right before, so, I need to go and review it, but that was
my understanding on the quick glance of it. Okay, thanks.
1147
02:47:50.080 --> 02:47:51.540
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Carter?

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1148
02:47:51.760 --> 02:48:00.629
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I know that we keep bringing up
Annalie, but there are younger schools that are also in the area. Do we
know how, they are…
1149
02:48:01.240 --> 02:48:05.600
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Educating about racism and stuff
like that, so…
1150
02:48:06.760 --> 02:48:20.819
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: we know it's not middle schoolers,
or, you know, I did hear that Brookhaven may have had an issue with
racism as well, and, you know, are we addressing it at earlier ages and
trying to help that along?
1151
02:48:23.380 --> 02:48:25.029
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Is that directed at me, sir?
1152
02:48:25.190 --> 02:48:28.900
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'm happy to… happy to put a lot
of… Do everything.
1153
02:48:29.220 --> 02:48:37.030
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I… I haven't had any conversations
with Brookhaven on this topic, and I'm not aware of any Actual incidents.
1154
02:48:38.620 --> 02:48:42.140
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: You know, racism or so forth at the
school, or related to the school.
1155
02:48:42.380 --> 02:48:52.809
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: or any relationship to Safeway,
either, with that particular school. There's always the inference that
they're Annalise students, that's just the standard inference, because of
the proximity to Safeway.
1156
02:48:53.310 --> 02:48:57.700
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, so, so the, the people that
have recently,
1157
02:48:58.250 --> 02:49:03.610
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The graffiti, we know who did it,
like, the most recent cases.

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1158
02:49:03.910 --> 02:49:08.590
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, I don't recall the dates, but
it was, I think, back in April or so forth,
1159
02:49:09.060 --> 02:49:16.200
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, they were apprehended within
24 hours, all four of them, and cited, technically, an arrest.
1160
02:49:17.460 --> 02:49:21.280
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Because we took the matter
seriously and investigated it thoroughly, and…
1161
02:49:21.720 --> 02:49:25.200
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And, referred them to juvenile
probation, and…
1162
02:49:26.410 --> 02:49:29.020
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: To my knowledge, we haven't had any
instances of that
1163
02:49:29.230 --> 02:49:33.629
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Really, since it's… that sort of
took care of that issue, so perhaps those particular four…
1164
02:49:33.740 --> 02:49:38.190
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Where the repeat offenders If we
look at it in that light. Seems right.
1165
02:49:39.100 --> 02:49:51.909
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Zolman? To respond to
Councilmember Carter's question to our police chief, I will refer back to
an agenda item that I brought back in March of 2025. There, in fact, was
a response from the
1166
02:49:51.980 --> 02:50:10.540
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: chair of their board, along with
the principal, Sarah Graham, because I had reached out about the bullying
that was going on at Brookhaven and the suicide of a 10-year-old. That
letter is part of the public comment associated with that agenda item.
1167
02:50:10.540 --> 02:50:32.969
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: she states the fact that they are
agreeable to having a city council slash school district meeting. I
brought it up. I think some of my colleagues were like, we should just

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stay in our own lane, and we should just let the schools do what the
schools are gonna do. So I just wanted to let you know that that has been
approached. Why I think it's relevant to this conversation is that
eventually when we get to public comment.
1168
02:50:32.970 --> 02:50:35.970
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I think the principle of Annally
should and
1169
02:50:35.970 --> 02:50:43.219
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Hopefully, would be interested in
doing some joint funding for a program, because all these schools are
feeder schools.
1170
02:50:43.420 --> 02:50:51.359
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: If the racism starts in the
elementary schools, it's gonna feed into the high schools, so that is
just what I wanted to bring to your attention, but thanks.
1171
02:50:54.840 --> 02:50:57.180
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, we can go out to public
comment, please.
1172
02:50:59.250 --> 02:51:04.900
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Mayor. So this is for
public comment for the item regarding the Safeway and the graffiti.
1173
02:51:05.450 --> 02:51:12.920
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: In the Restorative justice model,
if you'd like to make a public comment. Again, it is 2 minutes. I go to
chambers first, and then go out to Zoom, if there's anyone in chambers.
1174
02:51:14.700 --> 02:51:15.450
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Please?
1175
02:51:24.360 --> 02:51:28.850
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmembers and members of the
public, my name is Cynthia Bradley.
1176
02:51:29.450 --> 02:51:33.019
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I live on Johnson Street, right
across from the police station.
1177
02:51:33.710 --> 02:51:36.620

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'm going to read you a letter that
I'm going to submit to you.
1178
02:51:37.500 --> 02:51:46.480
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Dear Councilmembers, During the
past year, members of our community have been hurt by racist actions in
their neighborhood.
1179
02:51:47.470 --> 02:51:51.569
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: This racism is not unique to one
neighborhood or one event.
1180
02:51:51.920 --> 02:52:00.670
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: According to some parents I have
spoken with, there have been ongoing racist and other bullying in our
schools for a number of years.
1181
02:52:00.990 --> 02:52:09.459
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: As a community, we are all
responsible for creating a welcoming environment for everyone in our
town.
1182
02:52:10.630 --> 02:52:16.730
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Some community members have stepped
up to create a safe presence behind Safeway to protect our neighbors.
1183
02:52:16.900 --> 02:52:22.469
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Some community members have
approached the West County High School Board and Annalee High School.
1184
02:52:22.770 --> 02:52:33.960
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We are coming together to create a
number of ways to prevent harmful behavior, and to make it clear that our
town does not tolerate racism or any other form of bullying.
1185
02:52:34.860 --> 02:52:37.460
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: What will the Council step up to
do?
1186
02:52:38.190 --> 02:52:46.089
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Clearly, Safeway must be held
accountable for protecting neighborhoods and customers from harassment on
Safeway grounds.
1187

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02:52:46.550 --> 02:52:52.470
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Businesses in our town must be
responsible for maintaining the kind of town we expect.
1188
02:52:53.490 --> 02:52:55.230
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Annalee High School.
1189
02:52:55.340 --> 02:53:07.520
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Parkside School, Brookhaven Middle
School, Sebastopol Charter School, and Sunridge Charter School are within
Sebastopol City limits. Cynthia, you have 20 seconds.
1190
02:53:08.480 --> 02:53:22.990
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The Council should require that
these schools meet regularly with the City Council to discuss the school
environment, and what the schools are doing to create a safe place for
all students, and how the schools promote responsible interactions with
the wider community.
1191
02:53:23.010 --> 02:53:37.470
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The Council's resolution 6403-2022,
passed in February 2022, is a powerful statement addressing the kind of
town we all hope for. Can you create policy which supports this
resolution?
1192
02:53:37.580 --> 02:53:43.779
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. Thank you for your
public comment. I will go out to Zoom. Mary, can you unmute yourself,
please?
1193
02:53:47.190 --> 02:53:48.020
marywyman: Yes.
1194
02:53:48.020 --> 02:53:49.729
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. Can you see the timer?
1195
02:53:49.730 --> 02:53:50.510
marywyman: Yes.
1196
02:53:50.510 --> 02:53:51.670
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Great, go ahead, please.
1197
02:53:51.850 --> 02:53:59.759

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marywyman: My name is Mary Wyman. I'm a nurse practitioner, and I've
lived in Sebastopol for 42 years, currently right near Annalee High
School.
1198
02:53:59.760 --> 02:54:11.860
marywyman: On May 28th of this year, at 3.30, I was waiting for an
appointment at Pitt and Healy, right near Safeway, when I could hear
these noises that were clearly
1199
02:54:11.860 --> 02:54:26.480
marywyman: harassment, menacing. They got louder. I started to walk
towards them. It was 3 or 4 teenage boys, right in the area, we all know,
jumping up and down, making ape noises, and they were directing them at
the apartment across the street.
1200
02:54:26.830 --> 02:54:46.580
marywyman: There was also graffiti behind them, it was a penis and
testicles. And when I said, what are you guys doing? They said nothing.
When I pulled out my phone and said, I can film you since you're doing
nothing, then they started to run. One of them said, you can't film us
because we're minors. When I returned to the apartment and found out who
actually lives there.
1201
02:54:46.910 --> 02:55:01.349
marywyman: I was so saddened. I called because it's a lovely family, and
they've been targeted repeatedly. I called the police and reported. I was
told a car would come by, and that surveillance would increase.
1202
02:55:01.370 --> 02:55:14.169
marywyman: But apparently the response was so minimal, and in fact, I
think so disappointing to the family that it wasn't until the Sebastopol
Times did the article, thank you, Laura Hager-Rush, for doing that.
1203
02:55:14.170 --> 02:55:29.980
marywyman: that they really felt some support from the community. So my
statement is, we need to do something really concerted and serious to
address this, so that our families of color feel supported and safe in
their home. It was happening right in their front yard.
1204
02:55:29.980 --> 02:55:44.890
marywyman: Also, I think you all need to be informed, the Press Democrat
did a whole article about racism at Brookhaven School, a Press Democrat
story 8-14-2025, quote, nothing is being done. Thank you.
1205
02:55:45.550 --> 02:55:49.240

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment.
Next, I'll come back into chambers.
1206
02:55:50.080 --> 02:55:59.449
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Hi, my name's Todd Swindell. I'm a
23-year resident of, Spasspool. And just for the sake of everyone
listening.
1207
02:55:59.670 --> 02:56:04.610
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: on Zoom and stuff, to put this in
context, what happened on April 27th was,
1208
02:56:04.750 --> 02:56:11.620
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Boys that live here in Spouse Poll,
growing up here with families, felt emboldened during the day to go
behind Safeway.
1209
02:56:11.870 --> 02:56:24.669
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: and spray paint swastikas, and
write, Hitler was right, and advocate for the killing of Black people.
Teenage boys doing that here in Peacown. So this is kind of… and this…
1210
02:56:24.780 --> 02:56:36.669
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: just to put it in context here, you
know, and then Mary's talking about, you know, how they're mocking these
young black girls that live across the street. So I think it's really
important to put this in context, in the sense of the outrage.
1211
02:56:36.890 --> 02:56:45.410
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: and have a sense of urgency around
this. The first incident happening back in April 27th. It's, you know,
complex here, because we're talking about the schools.
1212
02:56:45.520 --> 02:56:50.549
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And that, again, this is the West
County School District, so we're getting into different bureaucratic
areas.
1213
02:56:51.000 --> 02:56:59.979
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: But this isn't… this is not… we're
doing a disservice. We're doing a disservice to these boys who feel that
they can go out in public and act this way.
1214
02:57:00.090 --> 02:57:01.090
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: You know?

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1215
02:57:01.430 --> 02:57:19.430
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Safeway, this is a real problem in
this area. I don't know how many years ago, a woman was sexually
assaulted in this same area, you know? A camera. A camera needs to be
replaced. I mean, Safeway, how many people go in there? How much money
are they making off of us, right? They can't put a camera?
1216
02:57:19.740 --> 02:57:39.449
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We talked to the then, manager at
the time, and he said, oh, it won't make a difference, we have a camera
in front, it's not gonna make a difference. You know, they put up some
signs lately, behind the back, saying no loitering, and the kids are
loitering behind the signs. So, I think what we need is a camera from
Safeway, and…
1217
02:57:39.560 --> 02:57:59.309
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: What's going on with the school
here? I mean, this has been an ongoing problem with racism at the school.
I mean, we've heard from a lot of students there about what's been going
on. So again, just, I think with the outrage, we need to have a sense of
urgency. Thank you. Thank you for your public comment. Next, I'll go out
to Zoom. Woody, can you unmute yourself, please?
1218
02:57:59.310 --> 02:58:00.559
Woody Hastings, The Climate Center: Yes, I can.
1219
02:58:00.560 --> 02:58:02.149
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, can you see the timer?
1220
02:58:02.150 --> 02:58:02.999
Woody Hastings, The Climate Center: Yes, I can.
1221
02:58:03.000 --> 02:58:04.229
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Great, go ahead, please.
1222
02:58:04.230 --> 02:58:21.539
Woody Hastings, The Climate Center: Good evening, everybody. Woody
Hastings here. First, I need to say that I am not speaking as a
representative of the Climate Center. I know that the feature to rename
yourself in Zoom here has been disabled, so I'm unable to take that off
there. So just speaking for myself tonight.
1223
02:58:21.590 --> 02:58:27.289

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Woody Hastings, The Climate Center: And of course, this is all super
disturbing, and I, you know, I read in the Seb Times about how
1224
02:58:27.480 --> 02:58:37.920
Woody Hastings, The Climate Center: the family felt that the community
hadn't really stepped up, but, you know, I'm just… so I'm really just
chiming in to add my voice to those standing in solidarity, that this is
just…
1225
02:58:38.310 --> 02:58:47.960
Woody Hastings, The Climate Center: unacceptable in our community, and I,
you know, I think the city should approach this with, you know, with a
restorative justice approach.
1226
02:58:48.370 --> 02:58:54.250
Woody Hastings, The Climate Center: You know, these are… these are
misguided youth, and I think they need some help.
1227
02:58:54.600 --> 02:59:03.399
Woody Hastings, The Climate Center: they need some education. And, you
know, in my work, I work with organizations all around the state that are
1228
02:59:03.640 --> 02:59:13.820
Woody Hastings, The Climate Center: That are struggling with,
environmental racism and other forms of racism, and, you know, this…
what's happened here is… in a way, it's not…
1229
02:59:14.010 --> 02:59:18.619
Woody Hastings, The Climate Center: It's a manifestation of something
that's very prevalent and re-emerging
1230
02:59:19.130 --> 02:59:27.850
Woody Hastings, The Climate Center: in our society because of the
dynamics at the federal, at the national level. And so, you know, it's
something that
1231
02:59:28.070 --> 02:59:33.430
Woody Hastings, The Climate Center: it's not a kind of a flash-in-the-pan
unique thing. This is something that needs to be sort of dealt with.
1232
02:59:33.750 --> 02:59:38.820
Woody Hastings, The Climate Center: Collectively, as a community.
1233
02:59:38.970 --> 02:59:44.299

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Woody Hastings, The Climate Center: And in a thoughtful and careful way,
and we don't want to criminalize people, we don't want to…
1234
02:59:44.430 --> 02:59:49.460
Woody Hastings, The Climate Center: lay a heavy hand, so anyway, just
wanted to chime in with support for that family. Thank you.
1235
02:59:50.070 --> 02:59:53.129
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Woody, for your public
comment. I will come back into chambers.
1236
02:59:55.770 --> 02:59:56.959
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Good evening.
1237
02:59:57.220 --> 03:00:05.329
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'd like to start by clearly
stating that I stand in complete solidarity and sympathy with the people
who were insulted, hurt, victimized, even by the hateful and ignorant
1238
03:00:05.450 --> 03:00:19.329
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: racist graffiti and taunts from a
while back. That is completely unacceptable, and it is not in the
character of our city. We strive to be a city that cares about people,
all people, and it is good that we come together to restate this
principle whenever incidents occur that undermine it.
1239
03:00:19.660 --> 03:00:33.820
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The youth who are responsible for
causing this serious hurt should most definitely be held accountable for
their actions, but I do not believe that juvenile detention is the
answer. Our prison system has long ago abandoned the idea of being a
place where people are reformed. It is instead a place of punitive
control.
1240
03:00:33.910 --> 03:00:44.489
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: We should look instead to
restorative justice, as the City Council has suggested. This is a problem
of society and culture. There is not a great legislative answer to a
problem of racist indoctrination.
1241
03:00:44.670 --> 03:00:54.299
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I would not support a problematic
city graffiti abatement ordinance. I do, however, wonder if we can ask
Enley High School if they would be willing to teach classes on social
media literacy and critical thinking.

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1242
03:00:54.530 --> 03:01:03.630
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Our entire country is in the throes
of a fascist revival, and the influencers and provocateurs are pushing
this content into the algorithms that are a modern young person's
constant companion.
1243
03:01:04.120 --> 03:01:10.239
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: For instance, just this last
Saturday, the Kia Center in Orlando, Florida, which used around 20,000
people, had a mixed martial arts.
1244
03:01:10.570 --> 03:01:14.379
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: fight, including a known neo-Nazi
who called himself the Gypsy Crusader.
1245
03:01:14.520 --> 03:01:22.059
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: After winning the fight, he was
seen giving the Nazi salute. Some of his fans in the stadium unfurled a
Nazi flag, and many in the audience also gave the Nazi salute.
1246
03:01:22.430 --> 03:01:32.589
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: This has not been in the mainstream
news. Facebook, Instagram, and X all have links to it, though. And I am
just using this as an example for why social media literacy should be
taught young in today's world.
1247
03:01:32.670 --> 03:01:42.519
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Our little bubble of peace here in
Sebastopol is not impervious to algorithmic societal rot, and the
antidote to this poison is community, not the police, and Sebastopol has
community in abundance.
1248
03:01:43.690 --> 03:01:49.130
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment.
Next, I'll go out to Zoom. Kyle, can you unmute yourself, please?
1249
03:01:49.720 --> 03:01:50.570
Kyle Falbo: I can.
1250
03:01:50.570 --> 03:01:52.020
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. Can you see the timer?
1251
03:01:52.020 --> 03:01:52.900
Kyle Falbo: No, you can let me know.

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1252
03:01:52.900 --> 03:01:54.109
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, go ahead, please.
1253
03:01:54.250 --> 03:02:19.030
Kyle Falbo: I support a restorative approach to the reported racial
harassment and graffiti near Safeway, but only if restorative truly means
a community process outside the criminal legal system. The staff report
describes that possibility, but it does not yet establish the necessary
protections. The local organizations mentioned in the report have
experience working with probation, courts, police, and schools. That
experience may be valuable, but merely hiring a nonprofit
1254
03:02:19.120 --> 03:02:25.900
Kyle Falbo: does not create an independent process. Before authorizing a
program, counsel should require a written firewall.
1255
03:02:26.010 --> 03:02:45.599
Kyle Falbo: Who would refer participants? Would police reports or names
be given to the facilitator? Could anything said during a restorative
meeting be disclosed to police, probation, prosecutors, or school
disciplinary officials? Could withholding or failing to complete the
process result in prosecution or discipline? Who would keep the records,
and for how long?
1256
03:02:45.910 --> 03:03:10.189
Kyle Falbo: More importantly, participation by the harmed child and
family must be genuinely voluntary. They should never have to meet
directly with the people responsible, recount their experience for
someone else's benefit, or accept an apology as the price of receiving
community support. City attorney has already warned that having police
decide who enters the program, whether participation was successful, and
whether a case should then be transferred to prosecution would create
legal and procedural concerns.
1257
03:03:10.220 --> 03:03:20.939
Kyle Falbo: That would also mean the process was not truly independent of
law enforcement. So my central question is this. If Council intends to be
a community process outside of the criminal legal system.
1258
03:03:20.940 --> 03:03:35.139
Kyle Falbo: Will the city put that independence in writing by prohibiting
information sharing with police, probation, prosecutors, and school
discipline, except for narrowly defined legal or immediate safety
obligations?
1259

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03:03:35.140 --> 03:03:41.719
Kyle Falbo: Please establish these protections before selecting a
provider or asking affected families to participate.
1260
03:03:43.500 --> 03:03:46.409
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Kyle, for your public
comment. I will come back into chambers.
1261
03:03:50.370 --> 03:03:53.230
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Good morning, Roth, and
1262
03:03:53.360 --> 03:04:09.050
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I live in… on Stitch Lane in
Sebastopol. I've lived in Sonoma County for over 40 years, and I left for
a while, and I'm back, and I've been here for the last year. So,
1263
03:04:09.260 --> 03:04:21.239
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Anyway, my comment is, 10 years
ago, a family came to the Human Rights Commission and spoke about their
experience for their son at Annalee.
1264
03:04:21.390 --> 03:04:31.090
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The young… the young boy spoke, the
parents spoke, and it was an understatement of how heartbreaking it was
to hear this family
1265
03:04:32.080 --> 03:04:37.750
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I fast forward to 2026, and here we
are dealing with the racism in Annalee.
1266
03:04:38.080 --> 03:04:45.280
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Now, it has been some time since,
my six kids went to school, right? They're all grown up now.
1267
03:04:45.500 --> 03:04:52.220
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And, but this problem continues,
and it's been going on And rears its ugly head.
1268
03:04:52.320 --> 03:04:57.200
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: for 40 years, because somebody I
know who's 40,
1269
03:04:57.300 --> 03:05:13.819

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: knew about this at Annalee 40 years
ago, so it's not new to you or me, okay? The problem with Annelie
existed, okay, long ago. I have no doubt that NLA officials have probably
tried
1270
03:05:13.820 --> 03:05:22.359
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: To stem the tide, but the current
political climate, we have leaders who want to represent our communities
in an inclusive way.
1271
03:05:22.410 --> 03:05:24.739
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I mean, where do our kids…
1272
03:05:25.290 --> 03:05:28.070
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Often get their moral compass from.
1273
03:05:28.480 --> 03:05:30.230
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: But from their elders.
1274
03:05:30.810 --> 03:05:49.629
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And, okay, my question today now is
what, if anything, is being done? You spoke about it briefly tonight. You
have about 15 seconds. I know it's a rumor, but I want to know if it's
true that Emily and Safeway and the police are really taking this
seriously. They're not taking this seriously, it seems like.
1275
03:05:49.700 --> 03:06:09.420
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I want to know how long the culprit
is expected to, to be expelled from school. Have they been expelled from
school? Ma'am, that's 2 minutes. What? I'm done? Yeah, that's 2 minutes
for public comment. Okay, I just want to say that I thought there was
zero tolerance at Annalee, and I don't think there is.
1276
03:06:09.540 --> 03:06:15.039
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. Thank you for your
public comment. Next, I'll go out to Zoom. Rob, can you unmute yourself,
please?
1277
03:06:16.350 --> 03:06:18.269
Rob: Yeah, thank you.
1278
03:06:18.770 --> 03:06:24.540
Rob: I can't see your timer, but that's okay, it should be quick. I guess
I… what I wanted to say is that

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1279
03:06:24.590 --> 03:06:37.619
Rob: what we're talking about now is really round two of this. Someone
brought it up earlier that we did have some issues at Brookhaven with
racism, and it was actually quite a big issue.
1280
03:06:37.620 --> 03:06:45.940
Rob: it hit the newspaper two times in the PD, and two times in the, in
the, the Sebastopol Times. And…
1281
03:06:47.090 --> 03:06:58.470
Rob: it kind of died down. It came to the city council, and it also kind
of died down. Now it's back up again, and I think some of the same people
are speaking about how it's
1282
03:06:58.750 --> 03:07:01.749
Rob: back again. They never really left.
1283
03:07:02.420 --> 03:07:09.219
Rob: One thing that we advocated before, and maybe now is necessary too,
is for,
1284
03:07:09.320 --> 03:07:23.469
Rob: more complete communication. We wanted the school administration to
engage with us as parents and citizens to be able to be involved in… in
building a different way of thinking for the… for the
1285
03:07:23.470 --> 03:07:34.869
Rob: students, that they were reluctant that didn't happen. It sounds
like city council or city, representatives are meeting with school board
officials or, or principals, and
1286
03:07:35.240 --> 03:07:40.770
Rob: you know, like, I had no idea that those meetings were going on, so,
that kind of…
1287
03:07:40.850 --> 03:07:58.260
Rob: like, communication with the citizenship of, sort of, the citizens
of Sebastopol in a broad way that says, these are the things that are
happening, these are the talks that have been happening, this is what's
going on, instead of it coming up and then disappearing, you know, when
it's not the emergency again.
1288
03:07:58.890 --> 03:08:00.040
Rob: Thank you.

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1289
03:08:00.450 --> 03:08:03.360
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Rob, for your public
comment. Next, I'll come back in the chambers.
1290
03:08:05.070 --> 03:08:12.689
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Hi, my name is Christy Boblett, and
I am a parent of two Black children who have been raised in Sebastopol,
ages 16 and 19.
1291
03:08:12.890 --> 03:08:22.880
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I will start by saying that I did
not send either of my children to Annalee because of the long history of
issues with racism at Annalee, including lost, civil, you know, rights
cases
1292
03:08:22.880 --> 03:08:36.609
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: that were brought, the people who
won against Anna Leave are not handling racist issues well. And the fact
that my daughter was sitting in a basketball game watching and heard
people making monkey noises at the players a couple of years ago, which
solidified our decision.
1293
03:08:37.380 --> 03:08:45.039
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Just being in this community with
my two children, there's been wonderful things, but there's also an
underlying system, an issue of racism in this community.
1294
03:08:45.040 --> 03:09:07.620
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And building on what the last
person just said, we just saw in this room that there's not a very
coherent plan or communication between all the different agencies and
leaders who are helping to protect the safety of our community. We need
to have the police chief aware of what happened at Brookhaven. We need to
have other community council members aware of what's happening in all
these different areas, and what's happening to the families who live
here, and centering those voices.
1295
03:09:07.640 --> 03:09:25.709
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: This community needs to become more
comfortable with having uncomfortable conversations about race on a
regular basis, and having people who are trained to have those
conversations, talking to our schools, talking to our community leaders
and our businesses, so that we can actually continue an active
conversation about how we can actively work against racism.
1296

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03:09:25.710 --> 03:09:29.279
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And not just sit in our privilege
here in this community.
1297
03:09:29.280 --> 03:09:38.930
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your time, and I hope
that we can actually continue this conversation moving forward, and have
better transparency and coherence in our community to actually do
something about this. Thank you so much.
1298
03:09:39.260 --> 03:09:44.300
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment.
Next, I'll go out to Zoom. Margaret, can you unmute yourself, please?
1299
03:09:44.530 --> 03:09:47.339
Margaret/Gary: Yes. Hi, my name. Can you hear me?
1300
03:09:47.340 --> 03:09:48.709
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Sorry, can you see the timer?
1301
03:09:48.710 --> 03:09:49.539
Margaret/Gary: Yes, I can.
1302
03:09:49.540 --> 03:09:50.610
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, go ahead, please.
1303
03:09:51.080 --> 03:09:59.130
Margaret/Gary: Hello, good to be at this meeting. My name is Margaret
Howe. I've been a, lived in downtown Sebastopol for 20 years.
1304
03:10:01.250 --> 03:10:10.480
Margaret/Gary: I know that we call ourselves Peacetown, and I'm aware
that this name alone cannot ensure a peaceful life for all. It's
aspirational.
1305
03:10:11.060 --> 03:10:17.849
Margaret/Gary: I'm not surprised, Larry, that there have been racist
actions against community members, but I'm deeply saddened.
1306
03:10:18.620 --> 03:10:37.800
Margaret/Gary: As we've said tonight, so many people have said, we can't
turn away from these facts. The latest action of some Annalise students
behind the Safeway, these horrific acts, reminds us that addressing

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racist, discriminatory, and hateful action, it's an ongoing process. It's
never a one and done.
1307
03:10:38.570 --> 03:10:46.120
Margaret/Gary: So as a community, we're being called to address the
actions of some of the students at our local schools.
1308
03:10:46.510 --> 03:10:56.170
Margaret/Gary: what's the answer? I'm not sure. There's great ideas
passed around here tonight, but I think if we get together, we can figure
it out.
1309
03:10:56.900 --> 03:11:08.770
Margaret/Gary: And I'm asking this… the city to take leadership and
convene regular meetings with Safeway, Annalee, Parkside, Brookhaven, the
charter school, the,
1310
03:11:09.560 --> 03:11:13.310
Margaret/Gary: The other, the other Waldorf School Park, what's it
called?
1311
03:11:13.980 --> 03:11:21.729
Margaret/Gary: To discuss what steps the school and businesses are taking
and can take to create a safe place for all students.
1312
03:11:22.310 --> 03:11:42.089
Margaret/Gary: Our kids need our leadership to help them navigate this
world where racism and discrimination continue to be baked into our
country's policies. And even the president says horrific, insulting
comments, hateful comments regularly. How are our kids supposed to act
differently? We have to teach them.
1313
03:11:42.400 --> 03:11:56.850
Margaret/Gary: So let's put… I really appreciate that y'all passed that
resolution that was named earlier, but let's put some teeth in it and
come up with a plan to make Sebastopol more like a town of peace and
equality. Thank you.
1314
03:11:57.000 --> 03:12:00.100
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Margaret, for your
public comment. I will come back into chambers.
1315
03:12:03.160 --> 03:12:10.240
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Hi, I'm Susan Lamont. I do not live
in Sebastopol, but my name is on the peace wall, so…

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1316
03:12:10.380 --> 03:12:28.549
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I know lots of people in
Sebastopol, and they've been talking about this to me. And I was, driving
this morning and listening to KPFA, and there was an attorney on there
who was talking about ending family court.
1317
03:12:28.670 --> 03:12:36.920
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And talking about the harms that
are done to young people and children through,
1318
03:12:37.720 --> 03:12:45.990
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: extreme legal proceedings that have
real serious consequences for children. And,
1319
03:12:47.300 --> 03:12:53.600
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: she has written a book, and, you
know, I can give you the… her name and her organization, but,
1320
03:12:54.400 --> 03:13:06.249
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: other ways to handle this, then
probably most of them are restorative justice. There's also a book that I
read a number of years ago by a woman who runs an organization on the
East Coast.
1321
03:13:06.270 --> 03:13:17.230
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And it explains restorative
justice, so… and how successful their studies say it is, and all the
things, the ways in which it has helped people, because
1322
03:13:17.670 --> 03:13:21.169
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: You know, expelling a child, or
suspending a child.
1323
03:13:22.080 --> 03:13:25.220
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Or getting them involved in the
legal system.
1324
03:13:25.370 --> 03:13:29.220
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Probably sends them on the wrong
path, not on the right path.
1325
03:13:29.370 --> 03:13:33.269

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: But restorative justice programs
vary a great deal.
1326
03:13:33.610 --> 03:13:46.640
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I know someone who worked with
the restorative justice system in Santa Rosa who quit because he said it
was so weak. And then a teacher in Petaluma invited me to sit in on a
1327
03:13:46.800 --> 03:13:58.440
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: student restorative justice
meeting, where they couldn't see me and I couldn't see them, and… Susan,
you have about 15 seconds. Okay, I was… I was appalled it was so feeble.
So…
1328
03:13:59.470 --> 03:14:09.650
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: it… I believe in restorative
justice, but you really need to study the programs to look for one that's
gonna be good, because some of them are not.
1329
03:14:10.360 --> 03:14:14.940
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment.
I will go out to Zoom. Sarah, can you unmute yourself, please?
1330
03:14:16.920 --> 03:14:35.069
Sarah O'Brien: Hi, my name's Sarah, and I'm one of the residents, on Pitt
Avenue, who reported the racist graffiti, to the police, and I wanted to
start by saying thank you to everyone in the community that's reached out
and
1331
03:14:35.070 --> 03:14:53.769
Sarah O'Brien: shown a lot of support for us. We've had a group of moms
that hang out, a lot of chalk and artwork that have been there to help
make these kids uncomfortable. But that being said, I mean, just today,
15 of them were here, and 2 of them being those boys that were involved
in that incident.
1332
03:14:54.070 --> 03:15:08.820
Sarah O'Brien: I feel like Safeway should have some kind of restriction
from allowing them on the property a restraining order, from the back of
the property. I… I don't know, and we've requested the fence. That
obviously got shut down.
1333
03:15:08.820 --> 03:15:23.749
Sarah O'Brien: But aside from the graffiti abatement, maybe a special
clause in there that when it is hate graffiti, that it gets taken down,

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like, within 24 hours. That was up there for… I mean, we ended up having…
our neighbors had to take care of it, because it was just…
1334
03:15:23.750 --> 03:15:25.150
Sarah O'Brien: Painful to look at.
1335
03:15:26.890 --> 03:15:40.890
Sarah O'Brien: But yeah, I mean, I just hope that everybody can kind of
come together with a plan, and I do think Safeway should be held more
accountable for this, and I do think, you know, this does need to be
addressed in the schools. It's, you know, obviously a problem.
1336
03:15:41.940 --> 03:15:42.940
Sarah O'Brien: Thank you.
1337
03:15:43.810 --> 03:15:47.119
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Sarah, for your public
comment. Next, I will come back into chambers.
1338
03:15:48.560 --> 03:16:01.619
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Good evening. My name is Dena
Bliss, and I live in Sebastopol and have lived here for 46 years. And I
come here as a voter, and as a constituent for city council people.
1339
03:16:01.620 --> 03:16:16.150
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And to let you know that there are
many, many people that aren't in the room tonight that care about this
issue, and that care about seeing something being done. If Safeway won't
put up a camera, why doesn't the city put up a camera? It seems to me
that you probably have some kind of…
1340
03:16:16.150 --> 03:16:29.179
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: city property somewhere along Pitt
Avenue with a street light or some kind of sign or something. If you can
put, surveillance cameras up at the library, which you have done, surely
you can do it at Safeway.
1341
03:16:29.220 --> 03:16:32.400
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I want you to know that the
citizens here
1342
03:16:32.500 --> 03:16:45.219
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: all of the people here represent
hundreds of other people who would have also wanted to be here tonight to

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support the families in Sebastopol who do not feel welcomed by racist
attacks in Sebastopol, and I also want to underscore
1343
03:16:45.220 --> 03:16:53.579
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: how essential it is for all of you
to understand and become knowledgeable about how systemic this is. I went
to a meeting at Brookhaven
1344
03:16:53.720 --> 03:17:03.200
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: months ago, and I know nothing has
been done. So, this is an ongoing issue, and as Stephen has said, it
starts in the elementary school and goes all the way up to the high
school.
1345
03:17:03.590 --> 03:17:16.649
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And it isn't simply the kids.
Obviously, it's the parents also that are indoctrinating kids in this
kind of belief system. So I hope we will all take it seriously and do
something as a community about it. Thank you.
1346
03:17:17.210 --> 03:17:20.569
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Dina, for your public
comment. Next, I will go out to Zoom.
1347
03:17:21.360 --> 03:17:23.790
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: M. Kelly, can you unmute yourself,
please?
1348
03:17:33.130 --> 03:17:35.290
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Jim Kelly, can you unmute yourself,
please?
1349
03:17:40.200 --> 03:17:42.890
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I will come back to her. June, can
you unmute yourself, please?
1350
03:17:44.630 --> 03:17:45.690
June Brashares (she/her): Yes, hello.
1351
03:17:46.020 --> 03:17:47.319
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Hi there, can you see the timer?
1352
03:17:47.320 --> 03:17:48.220
June Brashares (she/her): Yes.

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1353
03:17:48.220 --> 03:17:49.309
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Great, go ahead, please.
1354
03:17:49.470 --> 03:18:02.339
June Brashares (she/her): Yeah, this is June Brashares, and I just wanted
to also offer my concern and support for the family and the residents
that are living near Safeway that have been the target of these attacks,
and that have
1355
03:18:02.340 --> 03:18:10.620
June Brashares (she/her): Had to deal with these hateful and totally
unacceptable acts, and, you know, as we've heard tonight, this is not
isolated.
1356
03:18:10.620 --> 03:18:14.259
June Brashares (she/her): So I think I really appreciate that the
community is
1357
03:18:14.260 --> 03:18:26.110
June Brashares (she/her): stepping up. We do need to treat this as
something very serious and very important, and I regret that, you know,
it's been slow to get to this point. I appreciate it's on the agenda
tonight, and this is a chance for the community to
1358
03:18:26.110 --> 03:18:42.949
June Brashares (she/her): in at least this forum come together and talk
about this. I'm encouraged about the people that are showing up. I do see
there is a role for the city to play as a convener with the schools, with
the businesses, and so that we can look at what programs can we invest
in.
1359
03:18:42.950 --> 03:18:47.989
June Brashares (she/her): That will start with youth at a young age and
going all the way up.
1360
03:18:47.990 --> 03:19:04.859
June Brashares (she/her): How do we deal with this? How do we make clear
what kind of culture we want in our community? And, you know, one that
isn't just, you know, short-term fixes of punitive measures or, you know,
putting up barriers. If this is deeply happening in our society.
1361
03:19:04.860 --> 03:19:19.729
June Brashares (she/her): We do need to be doing this hard work of
actually having the dialogue, the meetings, the conversation, the

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connections with the school, and I think the City Council needs to be a
part of that as one partner in the community, along with the rest of us.
1362
03:19:19.730 --> 03:19:38.070
June Brashares (she/her): It isn't often, like, ordinances or laws, it's
more of programs and, bringing people together and that kind of attention
that I think we need to put on this, and to be there in support of all
our community members, especially those that are filling these attacks.
We need to be with them and supporting them.
1363
03:19:38.090 --> 03:19:39.389
June Brashares (she/her): So, thank you.
1364
03:19:40.090 --> 03:19:42.929
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Jean, for your public
comment. Next, I will come back into chambers.
1365
03:19:42.970 --> 03:20:00.240
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Hi, my name is Linda Block, and I'm
a parent and a family therapist who sees the incredible pain that this
kind of intimidation and harassment from the hate and bigotry that's
happening, affects families. It's…
1366
03:20:00.260 --> 03:20:13.329
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: the trauma is ongoing, and the… and
just unacceptable in our town. I think I heard someone say that there's
not a councilperson
1367
03:20:13.410 --> 03:20:15.139
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Assigned to this?
1368
03:20:15.330 --> 03:20:16.810
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Is that accurate?
1369
03:20:17.200 --> 03:20:32.330
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I would like to ask if there could
be a councilperson assigned to this, so that the community knows who to
communicate with and contact, and at least that could be one point of
contact, even though… and then hopefully we could have one person
1370
03:20:32.330 --> 03:20:39.830
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: from the police department, one
person from Safeway, so that we have a team that is actually working on
this.

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1371
03:20:40.350 --> 03:20:44.359
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. Thank you for your
public comment. I will go back out to Zoom.
1372
03:20:44.700 --> 03:20:46.890
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And Kelly, can you unmute yourself,
please?
1373
03:20:51.570 --> 03:20:55.959
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Can you say her name? I think it's
Michelle. Michelle, can you unmute yourself, please?
1374
03:21:01.900 --> 03:21:05.319
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I will come back into Chambers, and
then go back out to see if she's…
1375
03:21:06.350 --> 03:21:15.279
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Oliver? Thank you. Well, the
Council just voted down a good neighbor policy earlier this evening,
which probably would have fit very well for this kind of general
1376
03:21:17.400 --> 03:21:32.860
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: it's a very vague agenda item, is
what I was going to say, fundamentally. So that didn't work. So on the
one… the city of Sebastopol, the citizens don't want cameras. That's also
been discussed in this room a lot. So, cameras are the bottom here.
1377
03:21:33.250 --> 03:21:45.109
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Except for this situation here. So
I would say the solution with the cameras is for the residents on that
road, on that wall, to buy Ring cameras or similar, and to record stuff
themselves, because that way.
1378
03:21:45.200 --> 03:21:57.910
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: you can actually capture the people
tormenting it. And then separately, I would say, earlier this evening, we
were entertained by a guy with a balloon, naked, masturbating, twice.
1379
03:21:58.100 --> 03:22:07.900
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: These people are trolling, and they
want attention, so the more attention you give them, the more you have
committees and people running around giving them the attention they
crave, the worse it's gonna get.
1380

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03:22:08.020 --> 03:22:16.189
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, you know, I've dealt with
bullies in the past myself. You ignore them, and you quietly clean up,
and you quietly entrap them.
1381
03:22:16.410 --> 03:22:17.670
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And you move on.
1382
03:22:17.780 --> 03:22:30.669
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: the more you make a huge, you know,
very expensive hullabaloo about this, I would argue more and more kids
will join in. Now, this is great fun. We control the city, they take us
really, really seriously.
1383
03:22:30.800 --> 03:22:44.999
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So I think this is, you know, a
dangerous bit of ground that we're getting onto at this point. So
commiserations to the people who are getting bullied. I mean, I get it.
It's very miserable, but this is a very clumsy way of dealing with it.
And as I previously said.
1384
03:22:45.040 --> 03:22:51.630
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: generally speaking, the citizens
here don't want any cameras, and they don't want a good neighbor policy,
so where do we go from here?
1385
03:22:53.050 --> 03:22:58.739
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. Thank you for your
public comment. Next, I'll go back out to Zoom. Michelle, can you unmute
yourself, please?
1386
03:23:02.620 --> 03:23:04.760
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Michelle, can you unmute yourself,
please?
1387
03:23:06.640 --> 03:23:08.499
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I will come back into chambers.
1388
03:23:09.950 --> 03:23:13.300
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Hi, I'm Gwen Fairweather.
1389
03:23:13.910 --> 03:23:22.820
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I don't have anything prepared
or anything, but what I can say from my heart and from witnessing
everybody in this room.

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1390
03:23:24.000 --> 03:23:43.589
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: it is… it is something that has to
be talked about within the schools and the police departments and
everything like that, but we're forgetting that we're talking about
actual people, real people experiencing these things. That is extremely
disheartening. It's not just bullying, it is racism, and I do understand
what your point is about, like.
1391
03:23:44.070 --> 03:23:51.269
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: it is giving it more attention, and
they do kind of, like, feed off of that, so I understand what you're
saying with that, but it's a complete…
1392
03:23:51.940 --> 03:23:56.170
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Disrespect to the actual community
that it's happening to, to just…
1393
03:23:56.290 --> 03:24:00.260
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Say that as, like, a general
statement and not actually care about it.
1394
03:24:00.510 --> 03:24:08.769
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: For you, as a police chief, you
should be the one that's advocating to help with things like this,
because these are your people.
1395
03:24:09.490 --> 03:24:14.999
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The people that are doing these
things are people that…
1396
03:24:15.260 --> 03:24:32.140
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: are interested in your position,
and are interested in your community specifically. And I'm not saying
that with any type of energy, but I am saying it just to call attention
to it, so it's like, it is important for people like you to be the people
talking about it, because they're the people that will listen to you.
1397
03:24:32.310 --> 03:24:43.359
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And to have people like us talking
about it, it's important, and I support it, but the actual core of the
issue, we're not going to be taken seriously in that space.
1398
03:24:43.530 --> 03:24:50.709

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Not me meaning, like, Anyways, you
get what I'm saying. The point is… sorry.
1399
03:24:51.510 --> 03:25:00.010
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: This is real people, and that these
are real conversations, and it is just about having real conversations
about it, and I think that, like.
1400
03:25:00.040 --> 03:25:15.330
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Gonna give you about 15 seconds.
Thank you. I do think it is important for you specifically to talk about
it. I do think it is specifically important for the principal to talk
about it, and for these people that we have put into authority positions
to talk about it.
1401
03:25:15.330 --> 03:25:26.229
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And, obviously, there's things have
to be done, people need to talk for all of the things, and it's just
ridiculous, because this is real conversations, and I think that we all
need to be doing better.
1402
03:25:26.500 --> 03:25:32.060
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment.
Next, I would go back out to Zoom. Michelle, can you unmute yourself,
please?
1403
03:25:33.100 --> 03:25:35.169
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. Can you see the timer?
1404
03:25:35.170 --> 03:25:37.430
M Kelly: Can… No? Can you hear me?
1405
03:25:37.430 --> 03:25:38.820
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I can hear you.
1406
03:25:38.820 --> 03:25:40.460
M Kelly: Okay, right on.
1407
03:25:40.460 --> 03:25:40.960
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: jump in when you.
1408
03:25:40.960 --> 03:25:41.440
M Kelly: Give me…

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1409
03:25:41.440 --> 03:25:42.490
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: 30 seconds left.
1410
03:25:42.870 --> 03:25:43.560
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thanks.
1411
03:25:43.690 --> 03:25:51.390
M Kelly: So, this is just a question, is I'm getting the sense that
1412
03:25:51.990 --> 03:26:02.880
M Kelly: I, you know, I appreciate everything everybody said, but I'm
getting the sense that there isn't a lot of expertise on talking to
people about
1413
03:26:03.540 --> 03:26:08.400
M Kelly: racial bias, and I just wonder how prepared
1414
03:26:09.080 --> 03:26:14.549
M Kelly: City personnel, and possibly council feel in dealing with
1415
03:26:15.110 --> 03:26:19.479
M Kelly: Racially charged issues, and having, as someone said.
1416
03:26:19.710 --> 03:26:38.209
M Kelly: feeling comfortable with those uncomfortable conversations. And
before leading meetings with these difficult conversations, is there an
opportunity to train up yourselves in these discussions? And it's not
something you have to respond to publicly.
1417
03:26:38.210 --> 03:26:47.140
M Kelly: But I think these are difficult conversations to have, and could
there be an opportunity for more training
1418
03:26:47.170 --> 03:26:48.850
M Kelly: amongst yourselves.
1419
03:26:48.930 --> 03:27:01.059
M Kelly: to have the conversations with community members, because these
are big conversations to have. So, respectfully, I hope you consider
that. Thank you, and sorry for my tech problems.
1420
03:27:01.230 --> 03:27:04.319

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: That's okay. Thank you, Michelle.
We will come back into chambers.
1421
03:27:07.760 --> 03:27:18.430
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Liz Finn, a resident of Sebastopol
in West County for 50 years. What amazed me
1422
03:27:18.840 --> 03:27:21.419
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: What caught my attention in the
newspaper?
1423
03:27:21.630 --> 03:27:26.959
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Was the residents who were looking
at the graffiti every day.
1424
03:27:27.480 --> 03:27:31.649
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: They express the feeling that the
community doesn't care.
1425
03:27:32.070 --> 03:27:36.100
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And that really, you know, struck
at the heart.
1426
03:27:36.340 --> 03:27:54.969
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And then, lo and behold, in my
inbox was this rallying of the community to patrol the area during the
lunch hours and after school. And I went out one day, and there were
community members there, there was a family, the children were doing
chalk.
1427
03:27:54.990 --> 03:27:59.129
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: There was signs up on the wall
welcoming,
1428
03:27:59.510 --> 03:28:04.250
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The community, what, you know,
embracing,
1429
03:28:04.450 --> 03:28:23.740
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: the neighbors and telling them that
they were welcome. And I think there's a very definite role for the
Council. Some of you know I, you know, we… we have spoken to the fact
that you've passed a resolution in 2017, Resolution 6127,
1430

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03:28:23.840 --> 03:28:26.849
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I think some of the languages,
1431
03:28:26.850 --> 03:28:45.050
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The City of Sebastopol, as stated
in Resolution 6127, is committed to safeguarding the civil rights,
safety, and dignity of all residents, including immigrants from all
countries, people of color, people of all religions, gender identity,
sexual orientation.
1432
03:28:45.050 --> 03:28:49.000
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: People with disabilities in all
vulnerable communities.
1433
03:28:49.080 --> 03:28:50.199
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I think…
1434
03:28:50.420 --> 03:29:00.779
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: this is the moment for the… for the
Council to step into those words and see how they can be a force,
1435
03:29:01.370 --> 03:29:08.970
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: to have… To, to, whether it's, to
initiate conversation.
1436
03:29:09.270 --> 03:29:15.779
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Not through esta… yes, programs and
all the things that have been suggested, and…
1437
03:29:15.890 --> 03:29:23.240
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And it seems like the meeting has
been oriented to the punitive area. Is that 2 minutes? That is 2 minutes.
1438
03:29:23.410 --> 03:29:39.429
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Too bad. I… because I want… what I
didn't hear is the involvement of the students, and talking them to
directly. And I think the council could have a town hall, a meeting right
here, where the students come, and you can have a dialogue.
1439
03:29:39.940 --> 03:29:41.109
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Liz.
1440
03:29:41.890 --> 03:29:49.409

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Next, I would 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.
1441
03:29:50.110 --> 03:29:52.309
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, I will come back into
chambers.
1442
03:29:54.270 --> 03:30:00.659
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Hi, my name is Bronwyn Shears. I've
been a resident in Sebastopol since 1970. I am biracial.
1443
03:30:00.880 --> 03:30:16.079
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Growing up in Sebastopol, my
sisters and I, as well as our mother, did experience racism. We were
called many names. People didn't quite know what to think of us, because
I don't necessarily look like a Black woman.
1444
03:30:16.230 --> 03:30:27.570
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: But I definitely identify as one.
One of the things that, with, all of this coming up, I read article in
the, in the Sebastopol Times, thank you, Laura, and,
1445
03:30:29.330 --> 03:30:34.659
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I read, our police chief
mentioning, freedom of speech.
1446
03:30:35.200 --> 03:30:54.879
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And associating that term with what
was happening, with these young kids saying, these. To have a position of
power, like, a police chief does, and to use the term free speech, and
I'm taking it out of context, what you said was very thorough in what you
said, but however.
1447
03:30:55.270 --> 03:31:06.939
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: To use that term and say that these
kids are exercising their free speech, and you elaborated on other
points, but that is what is going to be picked up, and that is something
that can fuel
1448
03:31:07.350 --> 03:31:13.999
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: young people's thoughts that this
is somewhat accepted. I know that was not your intention.
1449
03:31:14.230 --> 03:31:22.469

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: But the way that it was phrased,
and that the term free speech was used with this hate speech, and that
this was not a hate crime.
1450
03:31:23.960 --> 03:31:26.840
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I think is absolutely incorrect.
1451
03:31:27.680 --> 03:31:29.820
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I think this is hate speech.
1452
03:31:29.980 --> 03:31:32.119
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I do not think this is bullying.
1453
03:31:32.700 --> 03:31:46.370
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I think that, I am a trained
restorative practices practitioner as well. Oh, and you have about a
second. So I know that kids, doing, this kind of restorative justice and
restorative practice.
1454
03:31:46.620 --> 03:31:53.340
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I feel that this is, I'm sorry, I'm
blanking.
1455
03:31:56.160 --> 03:31:59.239
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I expect more from our leaders of
this town.
1456
03:31:59.760 --> 03:32:07.180
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: About many issues in this town, and
it is not bullying. Rowan, that's 2 minutes. Thank you, okay, thank you.
Thank you for your public comment.
1457
03:32:07.300 --> 03:32:14.079
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Next, I will go back out to Zoom.
If there's anyone on Zoom that would like to make a public comment, to
please raise your hand virtually.
1458
03:32:14.590 --> 03:32:16.920
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, I will come back into
chambers.
1459
03:32:20.550 --> 03:32:22.940
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Is there a way to see the timer
from here? Because…

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1460
03:32:23.750 --> 03:32:26.779
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Oh, I'll just put it on my phone.
1461
03:32:27.350 --> 03:32:28.150
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thanks.
1462
03:32:34.780 --> 03:32:37.959
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Hi, my name's Megan Coffey, and
1463
03:32:38.920 --> 03:32:43.869
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I really appreciate a lot of what
was said today. I don't want to repeat what was already said,
1464
03:32:45.330 --> 03:32:46.950
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I,
1465
03:32:47.130 --> 03:32:52.579
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I really appreciate that people do
seem to be at least starting to care. Maybe they weren't caring when they
1466
03:32:53.010 --> 03:33:04.950
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: when they might… could have, but
they're caring now, and I'm glad that's happening, and I hope that
continues, and I hope that care turns into action. I do want to say that
I, I do really appreciate the,
1467
03:33:05.400 --> 03:33:08.840
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: the resolution that came out, I
believe,
1468
03:33:09.310 --> 03:33:13.479
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Solman, sent it out
to a group that I'm on.
1469
03:33:13.800 --> 03:33:26.380
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I appreciate it, and however, I do
want to say that I'm not in favor of having police involvement for four
reasons, and I sent two of them to you guys, but I thought of two others
after I wrote the letter.
1470
03:33:28.110 --> 03:33:30.040
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: First and foremost,

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1471
03:33:30.450 --> 03:33:34.410
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: at least for me, and I know for
many other people, no offense to you, sir, but…
1472
03:33:34.510 --> 03:33:37.439
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I feel less safe when there's
police around, not more safe.
1473
03:33:37.830 --> 03:33:41.539
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I think it would be really
important to check with the community members
1474
03:33:41.760 --> 03:33:45.889
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And ask, do you want more police
hanging around your neighborhood?
1475
03:33:46.200 --> 03:33:52.360
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: maybe they do, I don't want to
speak for them. I wouldn't. That wouldn't make me feel safer. Second…
1476
03:33:52.780 --> 03:33:56.039
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'm running out of time already.
Second,
1477
03:33:56.180 --> 03:34:04.739
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I believe that police being
involved is kind of the antithesis of restorative justice. The whole
point of restorative justice is that it's not punitive, whereas
1478
03:34:04.860 --> 03:34:13.020
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Police, again, no offense, sir, you
have a very important role to play, but that punishment… that's the
punitive system is not restorative.
1479
03:34:13.190 --> 03:34:15.810
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Third, I believe that,
1480
03:34:16.940 --> 03:34:35.819
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: having police come in, kind of
perpetuates this false narrative that society is too woke and is, like,
forcing people to think a certain way, instead of that this is how we
should all care about our neighbors and be compassionate and caring, and

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it's the only way democracy is going to survive. And, I'm out of time.
But fourth, really quick,
1481
03:34:36.830 --> 03:34:37.530
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Sorry.
1482
03:34:39.230 --> 03:34:56.140
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: kids who do this kind of thing
think it's cool to break the law and cool to defy authority and get in
trouble, so more police means the cooler it is to act like they're
acting. Thank you. Thank you, Megan, for your public comment. Next, I'll
go back out to Zoom, and if there's anyone on Zoom that would like to
make a public comment, to please raise your hand virtually.
1483
03:34:56.860 --> 03:34:59.199
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, I will come back into
chambers.
1484
03:35:00.810 --> 03:35:08.559
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Hi, my name's Wendy Martin. I live
on Willow Street in Sebastopol. I wrote a big speech, but I grabbed my
grocery list instead.
1485
03:35:08.660 --> 03:35:19.769
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, I'm just here to show my
support for my neighbors. I do care deeply about what happens over there.
I've been by there a few times. I want it to stop.
1486
03:35:19.900 --> 03:35:35.059
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I don't know what you guys can do
to facilitate that, but I encourage the Commission, the council, excuse
me, to work with Safeway, work with the schools, everything you can do to
stop this
1487
03:35:35.170 --> 03:35:37.940
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: horrible behavior in our town.
Thank you.
1488
03:35:38.640 --> 03:35:44.870
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment.
Next, I will go back out to Zoom, if there's anyone on Zoom, to please
raise your hand virtually.
1489
03:35:45.460 --> 03:35:50.559

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, I will come back into
chambers, if there's anyone in chambers that would like to make a public
comment on this item.
1490
03:35:59.450 --> 03:36:06.540
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Hi, my name is Stella Scythe. I've
been a resident of Sebastopol off and on for 40 years… more than 40
years.
1491
03:36:06.670 --> 03:36:13.229
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I feel like a lot of people said
what I was gonna say, so I'm kind of… I just want to make sure that
1492
03:36:15.120 --> 03:36:27.250
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: that it… things aren't worded like
graffiti, like, I don't want the complaints from the… the complaints from
the community was not against graffiti, the complaints were against
graffiti that was saying Hitler was right, and…
1493
03:36:27.700 --> 03:36:33.519
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: all the other stuff it said. So…
and I don't think it was racial mockery, it was…
1494
03:36:33.650 --> 03:36:39.810
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The community was outraged against
the targeted harassment intimidation directed at children of color.
1495
03:36:39.940 --> 03:36:50.349
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: On a regular basis, so I just want
to make sure we call it what it is. We don't start passing ordinances
against graffiti, because this is two very different things.
1496
03:36:50.730 --> 03:36:52.920
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And,
1497
03:36:53.650 --> 03:37:01.080
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I did… I was kind of confused about
the… I don't know if I can ask questions, but… so from what I understood
from… from Alex.
1498
03:37:01.450 --> 03:37:14.830
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: There would be a criminal… a police
officer would have to give a criminal citation to somebody, maybe who was
making monkey calls, or who was… who was caught in… doing graffiti, or,
you know, stalking someone, or things like that.

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1499
03:37:15.090 --> 03:37:26.950
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So that citation would be… then
that child or that person would be referred to restorative justice that
Alex said, that had a pretty good reputation of over 16 kids going
through it.
1500
03:37:27.170 --> 03:37:29.480
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: It sounds like we're not doing
fingerprints.
1501
03:37:29.850 --> 03:37:35.529
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'm just curious, they're gonna
have a criminal citation in Sonoma… in Sebastopol.
1502
03:37:35.700 --> 03:37:39.939
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Is that all the tracking? That's
all that's going to be left there? Because for me.
1503
03:37:40.370 --> 03:37:59.260
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I don't think that that's… I think
we need to think about the kids that it's affecting more than the kids
that might have a citation in Sonoma County on their record. I think that
it would be more important to get them into restorative justice. I think
it's been so hard just to get… so I don't know how us creating our own
restorative justice system would really work.
1504
03:38:00.300 --> 03:38:06.769
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you for your public comment.
I will go back out to Zoom if there's anyone on Zoom to please raise your
hand virtually.
1505
03:38:07.850 --> 03:38:12.290
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, I will come back into
chambers, if there's anyone in chambers that would like to make a public
comment.
1506
03:38:13.620 --> 03:38:16.099
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: CNN, public comment is closed on
this item.
1507
03:38:18.650 --> 03:38:36.769
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Zolman? Yeah, a
question to staff. To Mary in particular, how much time was authorized
already to get us to this point? Because, as was clear through my

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question earlier, we did not, as a body, bless the mayor to engage with
these meetings.
1508
03:38:36.770 --> 03:38:42.310
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: But I want to hear from you, how
much staff time of the police chief did you already
1509
03:38:42.430 --> 03:38:53.330
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: spend getting us to this point. So,
the meetings that I have attended personally with the mayor and the chief
and Safeway and Annalee was less than 3 hours.
1510
03:38:54.340 --> 03:39:08.949
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And then my other question… I'm
sorry, and I just wanted to add really quick, I'm sorry to that, we also
met with the neighbors, so that was an additional meeting, so that was
about an hour or so, so it was about 4 hours in total. Okay, and to get a
formally blessed
1511
03:39:08.970 --> 03:39:20.130
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Council liaison, we probably… this
question to you, Alex, we can't probably do that today, because it wasn't
agendized for this purpose. No, but you can direct us to bring it back at
the next meeting. Okay. On the agenda.
1512
03:39:23.220 --> 03:39:42.979
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah, I would actually like to do
that. I would like to create an ad hoc for this situation, seize the
moment, because it's complicated, there are many different tools that we
have, and we need to think about it in a way that is very community
involving, and I feel like an ad hoc is the right way to do it with a
council member that is…
1513
03:39:43.480 --> 03:39:48.610
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: You know, officially involved, and
we can address this
1514
03:39:48.870 --> 03:39:53.560
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Systematically. Yeah, because it
does need to go through some of the schools as well.
1515
03:39:53.920 --> 03:39:59.540
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I think trying to, you know,
accomplish a solution right now is not the right thing.
1516

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03:40:01.500 --> 03:40:05.090
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Zolman? To follow up
on Councilmember Carter's question.
1517
03:40:05.610 --> 03:40:22.350
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Could you explain, Alex, how… well,
could we create what was suggested in ad hoc? Could we do that tonight,
or would it require an agenda item? And if it requires an agenda item,
Mary, how quickly could we bring this back with staff's input about…
1518
03:40:23.110 --> 03:40:38.029
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: how an ad hoc would be created.
Also, I'd want to know, because this is a constant refrain here, about
the burden on staff, because if we're going to have an ad hoc, and if
it's going to be one council member, I mean, if it were me, I wouldn't
have it without a staff.
1519
03:40:38.030 --> 03:40:48.829
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And if it were staff, would it just
be you, or would it be the police chief? Because I've heard from the
community, and I would not want to participate with the police present.
So, that's my question to you now.
1520
03:40:50.490 --> 03:41:05.520
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So you can direct the… the agenda
item to come back. The earliest I could probably, without having an
agenda review meeting, we have that to do scheduling. I could probably
say we could probably do it the earliest, would be the October 6th
meeting, to bring this back.
1521
03:41:05.600 --> 03:41:17.219
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: It would be the Council direction
at that time as to who would be on that ad hoc. We will bring back
recommendations, and then it'll be up to the Council to determine who
wants… who would be on that ad hoc. Okay, thank you.
1522
03:41:19.460 --> 03:41:29.020
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So as an alternative to an ad hoc,
it also could be a liaison that would work with staff, similar to what
the mayor is doing right now, or was doing.
1523
03:41:29.310 --> 03:41:30.040
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yeah.
1524
03:41:31.080 --> 03:41:36.480

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I want to thank the public for
being here. It's really heartwarming to see the community's support.
1525
03:41:36.770 --> 03:41:48.179
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I've written down all of your
solutions, because I think the community has the solution. So I've got,
like, four… I mean, it's a small note here, but there's, like, four…
let's see, one…
1526
03:41:48.420 --> 03:41:53.110
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: to… 4… 5…
1527
03:41:53.540 --> 03:42:03.529
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: five and a bit pages of your ideas
and solutions on how we're going to solve this. And I'm… I'm noting,
1528
03:42:04.080 --> 03:42:13.920
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The restorative justice as
something that you regard as a possible solution, as long as it's through
a good program.
1529
03:42:14.700 --> 03:42:26.299
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: There were two ordinances that were
adopted by Council that I'm not familiar with. One was 6403, I think was
reported, and then the other was…
1530
03:42:26.690 --> 03:42:28.730
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: 6127?
1531
03:42:29.030 --> 03:42:36.740
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, I would like to ask that those
ordinances, if those are the right numbers, be emailed to the full
council.
1532
03:42:37.520 --> 03:42:39.829
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So that we can be aware of what
they are.
1533
03:42:40.170 --> 03:42:52.370
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I heard you say that…
Councilmember, can you say… so 6403 is attached to the staff report
today, Resolution 6403? 643 is… and then 6127 can…
1534
03:42:54.510 --> 03:42:59.919

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Yes, I have it. If you can email… I
have that available and send it right now. You can email that to the full
council.
1535
03:43:00.030 --> 03:43:03.860
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And then I heard… You say that…
1536
03:43:04.480 --> 03:43:10.210
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: To not involve the police, that the
antidote is community, and not the police.
1537
03:43:10.340 --> 03:43:18.419
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And then another speaker thought
that it would be good to involve the police, so the police was getting an
educated.
1538
03:43:18.780 --> 03:43:23.140
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And that this is an ongoing
process.
1539
03:43:25.000 --> 03:43:31.949
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: one of the ideas that I really like
is the idea of training.
1540
03:43:32.480 --> 03:43:36.220
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Training the community leaders for
racial bias.
1541
03:43:36.380 --> 03:43:39.829
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Because I believe that that can
also be unconscious.
1542
03:43:40.160 --> 03:43:48.750
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: You can have conscious bias, and
you can have unconscious bias, and if you're in… in a leadership
position, it's really good to…
1543
03:43:48.750 --> 03:44:04.790
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: understand that, and I would think
that I would volunteer my educational… I have an educational fund, I
think… I can't remember how much it is, but all of us have, I think,
maybe $2,500 in travel and education fund.
1544
03:44:05.060 --> 03:44:17.929

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Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: But I would volunteer mine for some
education, but I would like to see that all of us, all the council, the
staff, and including the police chief.
1545
03:44:18.080 --> 03:44:21.330
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Maybe the fire chief all have this
training.
1546
03:44:21.500 --> 03:44:24.529
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And, because I think that's a
really good idea.
1547
03:44:24.870 --> 03:44:27.630
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So thank you for whoever brought
that up.
1548
03:44:28.070 --> 03:44:33.409
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I just love the fact that the
community has a patrol at lunch hour.
1549
03:44:34.460 --> 03:44:37.180
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And that's so beautiful.
1550
03:44:37.700 --> 03:44:40.709
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I think, you know, the idea of…
1551
03:44:40.960 --> 03:44:45.210
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: having the schools address it, I'm…
Sure, they've tried.
1552
03:44:45.680 --> 03:44:50.310
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I think they just… they need to
do more. The schools need to do more.
1553
03:44:50.720 --> 03:44:54.460
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I personally like the idea of
1554
03:44:55.340 --> 03:45:00.000
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: asking Safeway to volunteer to make
some of these changes.
1555
03:45:00.250 --> 03:45:05.670

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Agenda Item Number 1

Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Because you're saying we can't
force them to do it, but we could certainly write them a letter and ask
them to do it.
1556
03:45:06.160 --> 03:45:08.669
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I think that that's one step.
1557
03:45:09.250 --> 03:45:16.250
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I would be interested in maybe
contacting the people who do the graffiti cleanup.
1558
03:45:16.510 --> 03:45:19.960
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And making sure that they're aware
of this location.
1559
03:45:20.420 --> 03:45:31.040
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And, seeing if they could be
mindful of covering that up. I'm not in support of another ordinance, or
a blight ordinance, or a graffiti ordinance, or anything like that.
1560
03:45:31.500 --> 03:45:35.649
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, those are some of my thoughts.
Councilmember Hinton, do you have any thoughts?
1561
03:45:39.500 --> 03:45:55.810
Councilmember Neysa Hinton: I mean, it's a lot to take in tonight, and I
would be… I would, I'm fine with staff direction, I just wonder what our
availability is as a council to serve on another…
1562
03:45:55.950 --> 03:45:58.510
Councilmember Neysa Hinton: Subcommittee, and without the mayor.
1563
03:45:58.780 --> 03:46:05.249
Councilmember Neysa Hinton: Here for this item. Maybe she wants to
continue, don't know.
1564
03:46:06.300 --> 03:46:12.219
Councilmember Neysa Hinton: So I'm fine, you know, pivoting to staff and
having them Come back,
1565
03:46:12.560 --> 03:46:15.200
Councilmember Neysa Hinton: With information, I guess, on that.
1566

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Agenda Item Number 1

03:46:18.400 --> 03:46:31.239
Councilmember Neysa Hinton: So, yeah, I don't… I don't have a lot to say
tonight. I do… I do know it was noted earlier, and I've noted before,
that the… the schools do have their own elected,
1567
03:46:31.460 --> 03:46:38.440
Councilmember Neysa Hinton: officials, and, while we can certainly work
with them, I do think that,
1568
03:46:40.160 --> 03:46:49.760
Councilmember Neysa Hinton: you know, they need to take the direction in
the schools, and we could take the direction, maybe, civically. So,
that's my only feedback.
1569
03:46:50.520 --> 03:46:51.570
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you.
1570
03:46:53.210 --> 03:46:54.599
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Where do we want to go?
1571
03:46:55.530 --> 03:47:05.860
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Zolman? Yeah, I'll go
ahead and just make a motion that this item be returned back on the
October 6th calendar, for staff's,
1572
03:47:06.100 --> 03:47:11.119
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thoughts and analysis on the
creation of an ad hoc, whether it be
1573
03:47:11.340 --> 03:47:15.120
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I guess it would only be… if it
were an ad hoc, it would just be one.
1574
03:47:15.300 --> 03:47:25.490
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thinking through this, it's just
like, whether staff would recommend it be an ad hoc, which would mean one
council member, or a standing, which would require two.
1575
03:47:25.490 --> 03:47:38.429
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: No, go ahead. So, a liaison could
just be one. If it's an ad hoc, it would be two. Otherwise, we would just
have it be a liaison. That's fine. So, I would want staff's thoughts,
especially around staff time, to be…
1576

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Agenda Item Number 1

03:47:38.540 --> 03:47:47.430
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Part of an ad hoc, and also staff's
thoughts on including police or not including police.
1577
03:47:47.500 --> 03:48:06.750
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And also, based upon the discussion
here from the members of the public, like, what items you think are
reasonable. Like, every time we create an ad hoc, we always have a scope,
so I'd like to see staff's idea of a scope for that ad hoc, and then
return it back on October 6th, so that's my motion.
1578
03:48:07.710 --> 03:48:08.989
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: I'll second that one.
1579
03:48:10.940 --> 03:48:24.210
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Can we hear that again, please?
Sure, basically the essence, that was a lot of words, but just to bring
it back for October 6th, to have staff's thoughts about an ad hoc, and
then also,
1580
03:48:24.730 --> 03:48:33.469
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: The participants, like, who of
staff they think, based upon the community's input, should be staffed to
it, and then
1581
03:48:33.570 --> 03:48:37.390
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Hours associated, like, how much
the city manager thinks
1582
03:48:38.000 --> 03:48:42.989
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Hours should be expended, and then
also their draft of a scope.
1583
03:48:43.750 --> 03:48:58.469
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: for that ad hoc. Would you consider
adding to that training for racial bias as part of that meeting
discussion? Sure, to examine, training, restorative justice, those type
of things. Yeah, I don't think we should limit it.
1584
03:48:58.470 --> 03:49:05.049
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And could you add to that also, a
request for Safeway to volunteer?
1585
03:49:05.250 --> 03:49:08.480

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Agenda Item Number 1

Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: You know, to ask them to step up
with some…
1586
03:49:08.800 --> 03:49:15.780
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: solutions. Yeah, I would actually
hope all of that gets into the ad hocs actions later.
1587
03:49:15.890 --> 03:49:21.010
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: scope. I was just actually gonna
say that that could become a part of the scope of work.
1588
03:49:21.840 --> 03:49:22.780
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay.
1589
03:49:23.180 --> 03:49:33.870
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I just want to say, we have had
those conversations. So, we have, when we met with them, have asked them
about certain things, what they can… But we could put it in writing from
the city.
1590
03:49:34.030 --> 03:49:35.690
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Make it a little stronger.
1591
03:49:37.330 --> 03:49:41.120
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And so we can make that scope of
work for the ad hoc. Okay.
1592
03:49:45.820 --> 03:49:48.070
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, I think we have a motion and a
second.
1593
03:49:48.500 --> 03:49:51.230
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Oops, Councilmember Hinton, did you
have your hand up?
1594
03:49:52.690 --> 03:49:57.910
Councilmember Neysa Hinton: I did, but Councilmember Maurer went ahead
and added it, and that was the,
1595
03:49:58.060 --> 03:50:10.389
Councilmember Neysa Hinton: the bias anti… or, you know, the bias
training that I do believe should be added to our training schedule for
both full council and all management leadership within the city.

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Agenda Item Number 1

1596
03:50:14.140 --> 03:50:16.649
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, are we ready to call the
vote?
1597
03:50:16.830 --> 03:50:26.390
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, so moved by Councilmember
Zolman, and seconded by Councilmember Carter to direct staff to return
with an agenda item to the October 6th
1598
03:50:26.390 --> 03:50:43.630
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: City Council meeting for creation,
of an ad hoc committee, in response to recommendations for tonight. The
ad hoc committee will have staff time, recommendation for staffing, scope
of duties and hours, as well as a recommendation for training for racial
bias for City Council Management.
1599
03:50:45.100 --> 03:50:51.410
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: And I will also check with, just on
a side note, checking with our ZRA to see if they have this program
already.
1600
03:50:51.560 --> 03:50:55.580
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Carter? Yes.
Councilmember Hinton?
1601
03:50:55.580 --> 03:50:56.480
Councilmember Neysa Hinton: Aye.
1602
03:50:56.480 --> 03:51:06.500
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Councilmember Zolman? Yes. Vice
Mayor Maurer? Yes. Mayor McLewis is absent. Motion passes 4-1, with
Councilmembers Carter, Hinton, Zolman, and Vice Mayor Maurer in support,
and Mayor McLewis absent.
1603
03:51:07.890 --> 03:51:10.410
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you. Thank you, everyone, for
coming tonight.
1604
03:51:23.120 --> 03:51:27.340
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Okay, so we will, we have
additional public comment.
1605
03:51:27.470 --> 03:51:36.250

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Agenda Item Number 1

Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you, Vice Mayor. So this is
the opportunity for, public comment for items not on the agenda, if you
did not speak earlier this evening.
1606
03:51:37.770 --> 03:51:46.760
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: If there's anyone in the chambers
that wants to make a public comment for an item not on the agenda, that
was not addressed on the, and was not spoken at the earlier public
comment.
1607
03:51:47.250 --> 03:51:56.310
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, I will go out to Zoom.
If there's anyone that would like to make a public comment for items not
on the agenda and you did not speak in the first public comment period,
please raise your hand virtually.
1608
03:51:56.860 --> 03:51:58.900
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Seeing none, there's no public
comment.
1609
03:51:59.290 --> 03:52:00.799
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Thank you.
1610
03:52:03.160 --> 03:52:06.820
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: So, do we have any staff reports?
1611
03:52:07.260 --> 03:52:10.009
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: No, we have no reports tonight.
Okay.
1612
03:52:10.310 --> 03:52:29.940
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Do we have any Councilmember
reports? Councilmember Zolman? Just briefly, I would… I know you all got
a lot of emails from me, related to the reshaping and the direction of
the Department of Public Health through Nolan. I would really encourage
you to at least read the last one about
1613
03:52:30.050 --> 03:52:44.459
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: there's, like, at the beginning of
the paragraph, it's like, there will be a straw poll vote at the next
time us electates me. Please read that, and then send it to Mary. Don't
send it to me, because that'll create a problem. Send it to Mary, and
I'll talk with Mary be…
1614
03:52:44.460 --> 03:52:52.490

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Agenda Item Number 1

Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: for that meeting, so that I convey
the right stuff from all you into that process. So, that's all. Can you
repeat what
1615
03:52:52.490 --> 03:53:12.070
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: That was, again, a straw poll vote
at the end of what email? It was an email. I think Nolan, the Department
of Public Health, sent out today that had the documents from yesterday's
meeting. If you just sort of scan your emails, it'll be from today, and
then he'll say something about straw vote.
1616
03:53:12.070 --> 03:53:16.170
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: at the next meeting, if you could
kind of review that. Okay.
1617
03:53:16.170 --> 03:53:28.730
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: to protect Brown Act, send it to
Mary, Mary will figure out a way to let me know so I can show up at the
next meeting, and not just speak on behalf of myself. It's not in the
attachment, it's in the body of the email. Okay, thank you.
1618
03:53:32.990 --> 03:53:34.240
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Anyone else?
1619
03:53:34.590 --> 03:53:38.559
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Going once… Going twice, okay.
1620
03:53:40.160 --> 03:53:42.180
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: Meeting's adjourned. Good job.
1621
03:53:45.650 --> 03:53:47.660
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center: You know, along with myself.

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City Council Meeting - September 1, 2026

Agenda Item Number 1

STEVEN, ARE WE READY TO START THE MEETING? WE ARE. CODY?
I'M READY.
OKAY, THANK YOU. MAYOR, ARE YOU ABLE TO HEAR ME?
I AM ABLE TO HEAR YOU.
OKAY.
COUNCILMEMBER HINTON, CAN YOU HEAR US?
I CAN HEAR YOU.
GREAT. THANK YOU.
LET ME JUST ARE GET MY AGENDA HERE, AND I'LL BE READY IN JUST ONE MOMENT.
THANKS EVERYONE FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
MAYOR, WE'RE READY TO START THE MEETING WHENEVER YOU ARE.
OKAY. I'M JUST MAKING SURE FOR CONFIRMATION. WELCOME EVERYONE TONIGHT TO
CITY COUNCIL. OBVIOUSLY I'M ON ZOOM. FIRST THING WE'RE GOING TO DO IS ACTUALLY
JUST CALL TO ORDER THE MEETING, AND THEN HAVE OUR CITY MANAGER, MARY, IF YOU
COULD DO THE ROLL CALL?
THANK YOU, MAYOR. COUNCILMEMBER CARTER?
HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER HINTON?
WITH HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER ZOLLMAN?
PRESENT.
VICE MAYOR MAURER?
HERE.
MAYOR MCLEWIS?
HERE.
ALL COUNCILMEMBERS ARE IN ATTENDANCE.
PERFECT. THANK YOU. SO TONIGHT WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE SOME REMOTE PARTICIPATION.
I'LL JUST LET YOU KNOW I AM PARTICIPATING REMOTE UNDER MY ACCOMMODATION
FOR MY MEDICAL TREATMENT THAT I'M RECEIVING TONIGHT. IT'S A NECESSARY THING
TONIGHT. AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER COUNCILMEMBER HINTON, IF YOU'D LIKE
TO, I DON'T KNOW?
I'M PARTICIPATING TONIGHT AS POSTED ON THE AGENDA FROM A LOCATION IN BEND,
OREGON. I HAVE TO PARTICIPATE BECAUSE I'M UP HERE TRAVELING FOR MY WORK
BUSINESS.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THE NEXT THING WE'RE GOING TO DO IS ABSOLUTE TO THE
FLAG, IF WE COULD ALL STAND AND DO THAT. 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.
I JUST WANTED TO STATE. ONE THING I DISCOVERED LEADING THE MEETING THROUGH
ZOOM. UNLESS SOMEONE IS ON THE MICROPHONE, YOU ABSOLUTELY CANNOT HEAR
ANYTHING ON THE ROOM. SO IF ANYTHING IS HAPPENING IN THE ROOM, I JUST HOPE
THAT SOMEONE WILL COMMUNICATE THAT WITH ME BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A LEARNING
PROCESS OVER THIS YEAR. I CAN SEE SOME CHAIRS, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, I CAN'T
HEAR ANYTHING OTHER THAN WHAT'S ON THE MICROPHONES. OKAY. SO WE HAVE THE
LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT WE DO AT EVERY MEETING. 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 FED RATED INDIANS OF GRATON RANCHERIA. AND THIS EVENING, JUST
DUE TO ALL OF THE -- JUST DUE TO THE CHANGES MADE IT IN DOING THIS REMOTE, WE
WON'T BE DOING THE HISTORY PIECE TONIGHT, BUT I'LL HAVE THAT BACK AT OUR NEXT
MEETING. WE DO NOT HAVE ANY PROCLAMATIONS OR PRESENTATIONS THIS EVENING. SO
THE FIRST THING I WANT TO ASK EVERYONE IS IF THERE ARE ANY STATEMENTS OF
Agenda Item Number 1
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CONFLICT OF INTEREST? I SEE HEADS SHAKING. COUNCILMEMBER CARTER,
I CAN'T
TELL
Agenda Item Number
1
IF YOU -WE HAVE NO STATEMENTS IN THE CHAMBERS.
OKAY, THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE EVERYONE SHAKING THEIR HEADS, WHILE IT'S HARD
TO SEE. OKAY. SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR ITEMS NOT ON
THE AGENDA. SO IF YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE THAT OVER, MARY?
THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO AS STATED, THIS IS FOR ITEMS NOT ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA. IT IS
A 20-MINUTE TIME LIMIT. IT IS A TWO-MINUTE PER SPEAKER. WE GO TO CHAMBERS FIRST,
AND THEN GO OUT TO ZOOM, COME BACK IN, GO BACK OUT UNTIL THERE'S TEN
SPEAKERS. I'LL ELECT THE CHAMBERS IF THERE IS ANYONE IN CHAMBERS THAT WOULD
LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA?
IS THE MICROPHONE PUSHED ON?
HELLO, MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS, MY NAME IS MELISSA PAIGE. I'M A MEMBER OF
TENANTS UNITED, AND WE ARE JUST HERE TO ASK YOU TO PUT THE PERMANENT, THE
ORDINANCE ON THE AGENDA TO MAKE IT PERMANENT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT, I'LL GO OUT TO ZOOM. KYLE, CAN YOU
UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE?
I CAN.
THANK YOU. CAN YOU SEE THE TIMER?
I CAN'T, BUT YOU CAN LET ME KNOW.
GREAT. GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
GOOD EVENING. I WANT TO BEGIN TONIGHT BY CORRECTING SOMETHING I SAID DURING
PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE AUGUST MEETING, AND APOLOGIZE TO COUNCILMEMBER
HINTON. I SAID IN THAT MEETING THAT COUNCILMEMBER HINTON HAD MISSED FOUR
OUT OF THE PREVIOUS FIVE SCTCA MEETING. WHILE I WAS MAKING THAT COMMENT,
COUNCILMEMBER HINTON ACTUALLY ARRIVED LATE TO THE MEETING. SO I MISSPOKE
AND I APOLOGIZE. YOU HAVE ONLY MISSED THREE OF THE PREVIOUS FIVE MEETINGS
WITHOUT AN ALTERNATE PRESENT, NOT FOUR. BUT THERE'S AN IMPORTANT ITEM LATER
IN THAT MEETING THAT NEYSA DID MISS AFTER LEAVING SOMEWHAT EARLY TO ATTEND
A SONOMA COUNTY FAIR MEETING. I WANT TO MAKE SURE COUNCIL HEARS ABOUT IT.
SCTCA REPORTED SEBASTOPOL WAS THE ONLY JURISDICTION IN SONOMA COUNTY
INITIALLY FOUND OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH MAINTENANCE EFFORT REQUIREMENT. THE
PURPOSE OF THAT REQUIREMENT IS SIMPLE. WHEN VOTERS PROPOSE NEW
TRANSPORTATION FUNDING, CITIES AREN'T SUPPOSE TO RESPOND BY REDUCING THEIR
OWN BASELINE TRANSPORTATION SPENDING. SCTCA CALLS THIS A KEY
ACCOUNTABILITY PROMISE MADE TO VOTERS. SEBASTOPOL IS INITIALLY 8% DEFICIT.
STAFF RECOMMENDED WITHHOLDING AND REDISTRIBUTING MORE THAN $11,000 OF
FUNDING, AND THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE SUPPORTED THAT
RECOMMENDATION. BEFORE THE SCTCA BOARD COULD TAKE THAT FINAL ACT,
SEBASTOPOL REVISED ITS FINANCIAL REPORTING FOLLOWING AN AUDIT, AND REVISED
REPORTING TO THE STATE CONTROLLER. WE WERE ULTIMATELY DECLARED COMPLIANT.
MAYBE THESE REVISIONS WERE ENTIRELY APPROPRIATE. BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHY I
THINK THIS DESERVES A PUBLIC EXPLANATION HERE.
KYLE, YOU HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS.
HOW DOES SEBASTOPOL'S FINANCIAL PRACTICES ALLOW US TO REPORT OURSELVES OUT
OF COMPLIANCE IN THE FIRST PLACE? WHAT SPECIFICALLY CHANGED AFTER WE WERE
THREATENED WITH LOSING FUNDING? AND WHY DID OUR REPRESENTATIVE TO SCTCA
NOT REPORT THE SITUATION BACK TO THE COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC WHEN IT WAS
UNFOLDING?
THANK YOU, KYLE FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT, I'LL COME INTO CHAMBERS F
THERE IS ANYONE IN CHAMBERS? I'LL GET THE GENTLEMAN THE NEXT TIME.
HELLO, MY NAME IS SANDY RUSSELL. AM I LOUD ENOUGH? CAN YOU HEAR?
WE CAN HEAR.
GREAT. OKAY. I JUST CAME TONIGHT BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH YOU FOR
THE LAST YEAR ON THE ORDINANCE TO HELP PROTECT US FROM EVICTION FROM
WOODMARK. ANY WAY TONIGHT'S COMMENTS FROM ME ARE BASICALLY TO THANK
EVERYBODY FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR CONSIDERATION IN MAKING THIS HAPPEN FOR
Item
Number ON
1
US. WE REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE IT. I WANT TO WISH YOU ALLAgenda
GOOD
LUCK
YOUR
City Council Meeting Packet for September 15, 2026
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RE-ELECTION. I KNOW IT'S ALL COMING UP, AND I THINK, YES, YOU'RE
THE
Agenda
ItemVICE
NumberMAYOR
1
NOW. YEAH. WELL, THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER ZOLLMAN. HE HELPED
US A LOT WITH OUR PLIGHT IN LIVING AT WOODMARK AND FIGHTING EVICTIONS, AND
WE'RE VERY SAD TO SEE YOU GO. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DID FOR US AND
MARY TOO, AND ALEX. THANK YOU. OKAY. I HOPE OWE ALL GOT A COPY OF OUR
STATEMENT REGARDING THE ORDINANCE, AND WE ARE REALLY ANXIOUS TO BRING IT
FORWARD RATHER THAN LEAVE IT TILL LATER BECAUSE WE KNOW THIS IS GOING TO BE
A CHANGING OF THE GUARD, AND WE REALLY WANT TO TRY TO MAKE IT A PERMANENT
PART OF OUR EXISTENCE TO PROTECT US FROM FURTHER EVICTION PROBLEMS. THE
THREE FACTS THAT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN. THREE COMPONENTS AS TO WHY
WE'RE STILL HERE, AND PEOPLE ARE PRETTY AMAZED ABOUT THAT, THAT WE ARE STILL
HERE AFTER FIGHTING FOR A YEAR.
YOU HAVE 20 SECONDS.
OKAY. THE ORDINANCE, WHICH WAS A BIG DETERRENT IN THEIR FINAL FLIGHT TO EVICT
US. SONOMA COUNTY WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING THAT PRODUCED SOME FANTASTIC
DISCOVERY DOCUMENTS THAT WAS NOT ONLY ASTOUNDING, BUT SHOCKING TO ALL OF
US AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE BACKGROUND.
SANDY, THAT'S TWO MINUTES.
WE JUST BASICALLY REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S HELP. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT I'LL OUT TO ZOOM. MARY, CAN YOU
UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE?
OH, YES.
THANK YOU, CAN YOU SEE THE TIMER?
I CAN.
OKAY, GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
OKAY, THANK YOU. YES, MY NAME IS MARY MEIHAUS. I'M A MEMBER OF THE EFOC
FINANCE COMMITTEE. I'M JUST HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE EFOC AND WHAT OUR
THOUGHTS ARE AS THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. I WOULD WANT TO FIRST STRESS THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE CITY REPAYING THE $5.5 MILLION, IDENTIFIED BY THE GRAND JURY
REPORT IN MAY OF THIS YEAR. AND ALSO SUPPORTED BY THE EFOC'S WORK.
I JUST WANTED TO INTERRUPT FOR A MINUTE, IF SOMEONE COULD -- COULD YOU PLEASE
PULL THAT DOWN? SORRY.
OH. OKAY. SORRY, MARY.
NO.
I THOUGHT IT WAS TAKEN CARE OF, BUT IT WASN'T. I HAD TO SPEAK UP.
OH, NO. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU. DEFINITELY THE TIME TO SPEAK UP. I DID NOT
NOTICE. JUST MOVING FORWARD, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CITY COMMIT TO MAKING
THAT REPAYMENT OF IMPORTANCE OF THE MISALLOCATED FUNDS, ESPECIALLY THE
$300,000 TO BE PUT BACK INTO THE ENTERPRISE FUND. MAINLY BECAUSE OF THE CRUCIAL
WATER INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIRS, ITEMS COMING UP LIKE THE PLEASANT LOOP AND
NUMBER FOUR. THOSE ARE CRITICAL NEEDS WITHIN THE CITY. AND I JUST WANTED TO
SAY THE CITY AND COUNCIL ARE RUNNING, ESSENTIALLY RUNNING THE UTILITY
DISTRICT. AND THE RATE PAYERS ARE PAYING FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE UTILITIES.
AND THE CITY AND THE COUNCIL NEED TO DEVOTE THE CONCENTRATED TIME TO THE
ENTERPRISE FUNDS AND INFRASTRUCTURE, AND WE'RE JUST LOOKING FOR THAT FOCUS.
AND WE LOOKED TOWARDS THAT AS THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, WE LOOK TOWARDS THE
EXAMPLES OF THIS FOCUS THROUGH PLACES LIKE SWEETWATER SPRINGS, WHICH IS OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD WATER DISTRICT OR NEIGHBOR WATER DISTRICT. AND SO FOR THINGS
LIKE THEIR MEETINGS INVOLVE LABORATORY TESTING, WATER PRODUCTION, LEAKS,
ALL THE INFORMATION INCLUDING ALL THE LEAKS TO THE RAINFALL, GRANTS, ALL
THESE THINGS. WE BELIEVE THE PUBLIC SHOULD FUNCTION LIKE A GENERAL MANAGER
OF THE UTILITY DISTRICT.
MARY, THAT'S TWO MINUTES.
OH, SHOOT. THANK YOU. I'M SORRY.
THAT'S OKAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT I'LL COME BACK INTO CHAMBERS, IF
Agenda Item Number 1
THERE IS ANYONE IN C CHAMBERS? PLEASE.
City Council Meeting Packet for September 15, 2026
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GOOD EVENING, MY NAME'S STEVE EINSTEIN, AND I'M HERE TO TALK
ABOUT
CHAPTER
Agenda
Item Number
1
8.25 OF THE SEBASTOPOL MUNICIPAL CODE, AND IN PARTICULAR, THE NUMBER 55.
INDIVIDUALS WHO PROTEST AT THE MAIN INTERSECTION IN TOWN EVERY FRIDAY
AFTERNOON IN SUPPORT OF THE PALESTINIAN CAUSE HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO LIE AND
DISTORT AND SPREAD FALSE INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRAGEDY THAT HAS BEFALLEN
THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY IN GAZA. INDEED, IT'S A TRAGEDY FOR ALL THE
PEOPLES OF THE MIDDLE EAST. THEIR SIGNS GROSSLY MISTAKEN DISTORT THE TRUTH
FROM THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS KILLED TO THE ROLE OF THE SPREADING OF
CONSPIRACY THEORIES IS THEIR RIGHT. BUT NEVERMIND THAT. FREE SPEECH IS
PROTECTED, EVEN WHEN IT'S HATE SPEECH. WHAT IS NOT PROTECTED IS EXCEEDING THE
DECIBEL LIMITS AS SPELLED OUT IN THE MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 8.25. THAT'S THE
NOISE CONTROL ORDINANCE. THESE DEMONSTRATORS HAVE BEEN BLASTING HATEFUL
LYRICS FULL OF DISTORTIONS ABOUT ISRAEL AND THE JEWS WHO LIVE THERE FOR MANY
MONTHS THROUGH A SOUND SYSTEM THAT WELL EXCEEDS THE LEGAL LIMIT OF FIVE
DECIBELS. THAT'S THE LIMIT SPELLED OUT IN THE MUNICIPAL CODE IN THE CITY OF
SEBASTOPOL, SECTION 8.25.060. NEVERMIND THE HATEFUL LYRICS THAT PORTRAY ISRAEL
AS A STATE OF NAZI PEDOPHILES. THEIR SPEAKER USUALLY BLASTS THE INTERSECTION
AND EVERYONE NEAR IT AT 90 TO 100 DECIBELS WELL IN EXCESS OF THE LAW.
STEVE, YOU HAVE 15 SECONDS.
GREAT. TO THIS POINT, THE SEBASTOPOL POLICE DEPARTMENT IN A MISTAKEN EFFORT
TO RESPECT AND PROTECT FREE SPEECH HAS YET TO ENFORCE THE CODE. I HOPE THIS
FRIDAY AND EVERY DAY GOING FORWARD OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL RESPECT AND
PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF ALL OF US BY FINALLY ENFORCING THE ORDINANCE. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT, I'LL GO BACK OUT TO ZOOM. IF THERE
IS ANYONE ON ZOOM THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT. MARY, CAN YOU
UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE?
YES.
THANK YOU, CAN YOU SEE THE TIMER?
YES. I'LL BE QUICK.
GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
I THINK IT'S TIME FOR US TO GO BACK TO THREE MINUTE COMMENTS. IT WAS WHAT,
MAYBE THREE YEARS AGO THAT I THINK DIANA MADE IT -- TOOK IT DOWN TO TWO.
PEOPLE SIMPLY DON'T HAVE TIME AND ARE USUALLY CUT OFF. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT
FOR THE COUNCIL TO HEAR WHAT PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY. I WAS HOPING MAYBE THAT
COULD BE BROUGHT UP IN ANOTHER COUNCIL MEETING. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT, I'LL COME BACK INTO CHAMBERS.
PLEASE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL AND TO MAYOR, VICE MAYOR. AND I ALSO LIVE IN
SEBASTOPOL. I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH WOODMARK TENANTS FOR THE LAST YEAR AS
THEY'RE FIGHTING TO KEEP THEIR HOMES, KEEP A ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS. I WANTED
TO SHARE SOME SOFT TRIUMPHS THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING OH THE LAST YEARS. THE
LEADERS HAVE BEEN ENGAGING IN SUPPORTING OTHER RESIDENTS ACROSS SONOMA
COUNTY IN THE MOBILE HOME PARK, AS WELL AS BUILDING CONNECTIONS WITH THEIR
NEIGHBORS, THEIR NEW NEIGHBORS, FARM WORKING NEIGHBORS WHO LIVE IN THOSE
UNITS. I WANTED TO SHARE THERE IS A TREND THAT WE'RE SEEING AS THIS KIND OF NEW
STANDARD OF GOING BEYOND WHAT'S GOOD CAUSE AND REALLY STEPPING UP TO JUST
CAUSE. SO I FEEL LIKE SEBASTOPOL REALLY SET A MODEL FOR HAVING JUST CAUSE FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPLEXES OF 45 UNITS AND MORE, WHICH IS A BEAUTIFUL NEW
STANDARD THAT I THINK REALLY SETS THE TONE OF WHAT WE MEAN WHEN WE SAY
HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT HERE. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUE TO SUPPORT. WE
HOPE YOU CAN AGENDAIZE JUST CAUSE SOONER THAN NOVEMBER. WE KNOW THAT TIME
IS TICKING FOR FOLKS. THIS COMPANY WILL DO WHAT THEY CAN TO GET FOLKS OUT OF
THEIR HOMES. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE FOLKS FEEL PROTECTED AND KEEP FIGHTING IN
BUILDING A COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT, IF THERE IS ANYONE ON ZOOM THAT
WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA TO PLEASE
Agenda
Item Number 1 IF
RAISE YOUR HAND VIRTUALLY? SEEING NONE, I'LL COME BACK INTO
CHAMBERS.
City Council Meeting Packet for September 15, 2026
Page 185 of 337

ANYONE IN CHAMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT
FOR
ITEMS
NOT
Agenda Item
Number
1
ON THE AGENDA? SEEING NONE, MAYOR, PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. BEFORE WE GET INTO OUR CONSENT
CALENDAR, I. I . I WANTED TO MENTION ITEM NUMBER 11 THAT WAS ON THE AGENDA,
WHICH IS THE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCING OPTIONS HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM
THE AGENDA. SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE CERTAIN PEOPLE KNEW THAT IN THE
AUDIENCE, JUST IN CASE YOU'RE THERE FOR THAT ITEM. SO MOVING ONTO THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND READ THE ITEMS, AND THEN WE'LL FIND OUT IF
ANYONE WANTS TO PULL ANYTHING. NUMBER ONE IS APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES FOR REGULAR MEETING OF AUGUST 4, 2026. NUMBER TWO, IS
APPROVAL OF ADOPTION OF CITY POLICY REQUIRING ANNUAL REQUEST FOR THE
BARLOW HOTEL TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAX TOT REBATE MARKETING EXPENDITURES.
APPROVAL REQUIRES CITY STAFF PLANNING DEPARTMENT, BY MARCH 1 OF EACH YEAR
DURING THE REBATE PERIOD, TO FORMALLY REQUEST THE ANNUAL MARKETING
EXPENDITURE REPORT FROM THE HOTEL OWNER. NUMBER THREE, APPROVAL OF NOTICE
OF INTENT TO AMEND THE CITY OF SEBASTOPOL CONFLICT OF INTEREST CODE.
AMENDMENTS ARE ROUTINE AMENDMENTS SUCH AS CURRENT JOB CLASSIFICATIONS.
NUMBER FOUR, APPROVAL OF SECOND READING IN THE ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE HAD
TO ADD CHAPTER 5.66, NEWSRACK REGULATIONS TO THE SEBASTOPOL MUNICIPAL CODE.
NUMBER FIVE, APPROVAL OF NOTICE OF COMPLETION FOR BODEGA PHASE TWO BIKE
LANE PROJECT. NUMBER SIX, APPROVAL OF NOTICE OF COMPLETION FOR DIGOUTS AND
REPAIR PAVING PROJECT. NUMBER SEVEN, AWARD CONTRACT FOR PEDESTRIAN
CROSSING ENHANCEMENTS ON STATE ROUTE 116. SO I JUST WANTED TO ASK, DOES
ANYONE WANT -- DO ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS WANT TO PULL AN ITEM?
THERE'S NONE IN CHAMBERS.
OKAY. I WILL NEED TO PULL NUMBER TWO JUST SIMPLY TO VOTE SEPARATELY BECAUSE
I PRECLUDED FROM VOTING ON THAT ONE ITEM. SO WHEN WE MAKE A MOTION, IT
WOULD NEED TO EXCLUDE NUMBER TWO, AND DO THAT SEPARATELY WITH EVERYBODY
ELSE. SO ANY WAY, GO AHEAD, MARY F YOU WANT TO DO PUBLIC COMMENT.
COUNCILMEMBER HINTON HAS HER HAND RAISED.
OH, I'M SORRY. I DIDN'T SEE IT THERE.
IT'S OKAY. I WAS JUST GETTING READY FOR A MOTION, AND THEN YOU REMINDED ME OF
THAT PUBLIC COMMENT. SO I'LL HOLD THAT.
THANK YOU. SO NOW IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS ON THE
CONSENT CALENDAR ONLY. IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT, AGAIN, IT'S A
TWO-MINUTE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. I'LL GO TO CHAMBERS FIRST, THEN GO OUT TO
ZOOM. IF ANYONE IN CHAMBERS WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM? SEEING NONE, I'LL GO OUT TO ZOOM. KYLE, CAN YOU
UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE?
I CAN. AND I APOLOGIZE FOR TAKING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO DO A POINT OF ORDER
BECAUSE BASED ON OUR ZOOM SETTINGS, THERE REALLY ISN'T A PRACTICE BY WHICH A
MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC CAN CALL FOR A POINT OF ORDER. SPECIFICALLY I WANT TO
ADDRESS THE MAYOR'S ACTION OF ANNOUNCING THE REMOVAL OF AN AGENDA ITEM
FOLLOWING PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA. WHAT THAT HAS DONE
HAS REDUCED THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO COMMENT ON THAT ITEM. NOT
ONLY DOES THE PUBLIC NO LONGER HAVE THE ABILITY TO COMMENT ON THAT ITEM AS
AN AGENDIZED ITEM TONIGHT. BY WAITING UNTIL AFTER PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS
THAT ARE NOT ON THE AGENDA, YOU HAVE ACTIVELY RESTRICTED THE ABILITY FOR
FOLKS TO PUBLICLY COMMENT ON THAT ITEM DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME. SO IN THE
FUTURE, IT WOULD SEEM APPROPRIATE THAT WE PULL ITEMS AT THE START OF THE
MEETING AND NOT WAIT UNTIL THE PUBLIC HAS PROVIDED US PUBLIC COMMENT, AND I
WOULD BE INTERESTED IN HEARING FROM EITHER THE ATTORNEY OR THE COUNCIL AS A
WHOLE AS TO THIS PRACTICE AND THE LEGALITY OF THAT PRACTICE. THANKS.
THANK YOU, KYLE FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT, I'LL COME BACK INTO
CHAMBERS. IF ANYONE IN CHAMBERS? SEEING NONE, I'LL GO BACK OUT TO ZOOM. LEE,
CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE?
YES. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
Agenda Item Number 1
YES, THANK YOU. CAN YOU SEE THE TIMER?
City Council Meeting Packet for September 15, 2026
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I CAN.
Agenda Item Number 1
GREAT, GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
YEAH, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE HAS NOTICED, BACK AND FORTH AT THE BODEGA
BAY THIS PAST WEEK, AND I DROVE BY THIS NEW BODEGA BAY PROJECT, COMPLETED
PROJECT THAT'S ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR, A NUMBER OF TIMES. IT LOOKS LIKE IT
WAS A $2.25 MILLION PROJECT. IT APPEARS THERE'S ABOUT MAYBE GENEROUSLY 100
YARDS OF PAVEMENT THAT'S BEEN RESTORED? THERE IS ABOUT 20 YARDS, MAYBE 10 OF
PROTECTED BIKE LANE AND THE PROTECTED BIKE LANE REALLY DOESN'T ATTACH TO A
BIKE LANE. IT ATTACHES TO A PATH ACROSS THE BRIDGE ON ONE END. ON THE OTHER
END, IT GOES DOWN THE BODEGA AVENUE WHERE THERE ISN'T ANY BIKE LANE. I DON'T
KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE THINKS $2.25 MILLION IS A LOT FOR WHAT WAS DONE THERE?
AND AT THE TIME I WAS DRIVING A MOTOR HOME, WHICH IF YOU HAVE EVER WRITTEN
THE MOTOR HOME OR A BAD ROAD, IT IS REALLY BAD. YOU HEAR EVERY LITTLE
POTHOLE, AND BODEGA IS RIGHT UP THERE WITH THE ROADS I'VE TRAVELEDDED ON IN
THE UNITED STATES IN THE LAST YEAR. SO THERE IS A LOT MORE WORK TO BE DONE. IT'S
GOING TO BE REALLY, REALLY EXPENSIVE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. IF ANYONE IN CHAMBERS WOULD LIKE TO
MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS? SEEING NONE, I'LL GO
BACK OUT TO ZOOM. IF ANYONE ON ZOOM WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT ON
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONLY? SEEING NONE. THE CONSENT CALENDAR IS CLOSED
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
THANK YOU. AND ALEX, CAN YOU ADDRESS THE QUESTION THERE? I KNOW IT WAS
EXPLAINED TO ME THAT I WASN'T EVEN NECESSARY TO ANNOUNCE IT, BUT I REALIZED I
PROBABLY SHOULD. SO CAN YOU, AS FAR AS THE ITEM BEING PULLED? CAN YOU
ADDRESS THAT?
YEAH, THE POSTED AGENDA HAS BEEN REVISED, AND IT IS NOTED ON THE AGENDA THAT
THE ITEM WAS PULLED.
I'M SORRY, ALEX. CAN YOU SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE?
I SAID THE AGENDA WAS REVISED AND REPOSTED WITH STATING THE ITEM HAS BEEN
REMOVED.
AND WILL THERE BE OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THAT ITEM WHEN IT'S
PULLED AND REVOTED FOR?
WHEN THE ITEM COMES BACK TO THE COUNCIL, YES.
I'M TALKING ABOUT THE ONE PULLED OFF THE CONSENT. WILL THAT HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC TO COMMENT ON THAT?
NOTHING HAS BEEN PULLED OFF OF CONSENT. YES, FOR THE BARLOW? YES.
OKAY, THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. SO WE ARE GOING TO -- CAN WE GO WITH THE ITEMS? WE'RE ADDRESSING
ONE, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, CORRECT? FIRST?
CORRECT. WE NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND.
OKAY.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION. FOR THOSE ITEMS.
COUNCILMEMBER HINTON HAS HER HAND UP. I DON'T KNOW IF SHE HAS A QUESTION OR
MOTION? GO AHEAD.
AS I WAS A LITTLE EARLY ON THE DRAW, I'M HAPPY TO MOVE THE ITEMS ON CONSENT
AGENDA OF ONE, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, AND SEVEN.
SECONDED.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, SO MOVED BY
COUNCILMEMBER HINTON AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER ZOLLMAN TO APPROVE
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, AND SEVEN. NUMBER TWO HAS BEEN
REMOVED. COUNTERCARTER?
YES.
COUNCILMEMBER HINTON?
AYE.
COUNCILMEMBER ZOLLMAN?
YES.
VICE MAYOR?
Agenda Item Number 1
YES.
City Council Meeting Packet for September 15, 2026
Page 187 of 337

MAYOR MCLEWIS?
Agenda Item Number 1
YES.
MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, ALEX, YOU SAID WE NEED TO HAVE A SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT
FOR ITEM NUMBER TWO? I'M TRYING TO FOLLOW HERE.
NO. SINCE IT WAS PULLED, PEOPLE CAN NOW, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
I THOUGHT THE QUESTION WAS ABOUT PUBLIC COMMENT, NOT ABOUT COUNCIL
COMMENT. AM I UNDERSTANDING?
I THOUGHT IT WAS ABOUT COUNCIL.
NO, MY QUESTION WAS BASED ON WHAT KYLE HAD SAID, HE CALLED FOR A POINT OF
ORDER HERE BECAUSE IF IT WAS PULLED. COULD PEOPLE HAVE MADE COMMENTS ON
THE ITEM DURING THE COMMENTS ON CONSENT CALENDAR?
SO PEOPLE CAN MAKE COMMENTS ABOUT ITEM TWO ON THE CONSENT.
THEY COULD HAVE.
I BELIEVE KYLE WAS SPEAKING ABOUT ITEM 11, WHICH IS NOT A PART OF THE CONSENT
CALENDAR.
NO, I'M SURE HE WAS SPEAKING ABOUT ITEM TWO, WASN'T HE?
NO. LET ME CLARIFY. I SPOKE BEFORE CONSENT CALENDAR. I SAID ITEM NUMBER 11,
WHICH WAS, JUST SO I SPEAK CLEARLY, WAS POSTPONED, NUMBER 11, WHICH WAS THE
WATER INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCING OPTIONS BEFORE I STARTED THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. I MENTIONED THAT ONE HAD BEEN POSTPONED. IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME
BECAUSE THE AGENDA WAS REVISED PREVIOUSLY, IT WASN'T NECESSARILY TO MAKE A
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT, BUT JUST OCCURRED TO ME THAT I WANTED TO MAKE THAT
ANNOUNCEMENT BEFORE WE GOT, YOU KNOW, INTO THE MEETING TOO FAR AND PEOPLE
WERE SITTING THERE. I WAS TRYING TO BE COURTEOUS AND MENTION IT EVEN THOUGH
IT WAS NOT NECESSARY. BUT THE COMMENTER WAS ASKING WHETHER OR NOT THAT
IMPACTED PUBLIC COMMENT. SO THAT'S WHAT I WAS ASKING, YOU KNOW, ALEX TO
ADDRESS THAT STATEMENT ABOUT PUBLIC COMMENT, AND, YOU KNOW, WAS THERE
ANY ISSUE WITH WHAT WE DID WITH PULLING THAT, YOU KNOW, ME NOT ANNOUNCING
IT AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE MEETING VERSES NOW. THAT'S WHAT I WAS TALKING
ABOUT, VICE MAYOR, IF THAT HELPS.
YEAH. IT'S FINE. MAYBE I JUST MISUNDERSTOOD, KYLE.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT, SO ARE WE CLEAR? IS IT OKAY IF WE GO ON TO ITEM NUMBER TWO,
MARY?
YES.
OKAY. SO I NEED TO REMAIN OUT OF THIS VOTE, SO SOMEONE NEEDS TO MAKE A MOTION
AND A SECOND FOR ITEM NUMBER TWO.
COUNCILMEMBER HINTON HAS HER HAND UP.
YEP.
I'M HAPPY TO MOVE ON CONSENT AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO FOR APPROVAL OF
ADOPTION OF CITY POLICY REQUIRING ANNUAL REQUEST FOR THE BARLOW HOTEL
TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TOT TAX REBATE, FOR MARKETING EXPENSES.
I'LL SECOND.
THANK YOU. SO MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER HINTON, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER
ZOLLMAN TO APPROVE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM TWO, WHICH IS THE CITY POLICY TO
DIRECT THE RETURN TO THE CITY COUNCIL REQUIRING THE ANNUAL MARCH REVIEW OF
THE MARKETING PLAN FROM THE HOTEL OWNER. COUNCILMEMBER CARTER?
YES.
COUNCILMEMBER HINTON?
AYE.
COUNCILMEMBER ZOLLMAN?
YES.
VICE MAYOR MAURER?
YES.
MAYOR MCLEWIS?
I'M ABSTAINING FROM THAT.
MOTION PASSES 4-1 WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS CARTER, ZOLLMAN, HINTON, AND MAURER
Agenda Item Number 1
APPROVING, AND MAYOR MCLEWIS ABSTAINING.
City Council Meeting Packet for September 15, 2026
Page 188 of 337

OKAY. THANK YOU. SO WE'RE GOING TO GO TO OUR INFORMATIONAL
ITEMS.
NUMBER
Agenda
Item Number
1
EIGHT, WHICH IS PRESENTATION FROM ST. VINCENTS DE PAUL ON STATUS OF
GRAVENSTEIN COMMONS, STATUS OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEETING, AND UPDATE
ON GOOD NEIGHBOR POLICY OR AFFIRMATIONS. I BELIEVE THIS IS BEING HANDLED BY
OUR CITY MANAGER. IS THAT CORRECT?
THAT IS CORRECT, THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO THIS IS AN INFORMATIONAL ITEM AS THE
COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY IS AWARE. THIS IS A 22-UNIT PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING UNIT LOCATED AT GRAVENSTEIN HIGHWAY NORTH. THE ST. VINCENTS DE PAUL
SOCIETY IS THE OWNER AND THE DEVELOPER, AND THE CITY REMAINS THE HOME KEY
APPLICANT WITH ST. VINCENTS DE PAUL. AS REPORTED IN THE AUGUST REPORT, THEIR
CONSTRUCTION IS ABOUT 80% COMPLETE. THEIR TARGETED COMPLETION DATE IS
AROUND NOVEMBER OF 2026 WITH THE MOVEMENT TO FOLLOW AFTER THE CERTIFICATE
OF OCCUPANCY. THEY ANTICIPATE A 90% OCCUPANCY BY JANUARY OF 28. THE CITY
DOES HAVE A CONSULTANT THAT HAS BEEN MONITORING THE COMPLIANCE, AND THEY
HAVE MET THEIR HOME KEY PERFORMANCE MILE ACCORDINGLY. WE DO HAVE LAUREN
TAYLOR HERE. WE HAVE, WHO IS FROM ST. VINCENTS DE PAUL. WE ALSO HAVE STEFANI
WHO IS THE CITY'S CONSULTANT, THAT'S OVERSEEING THE COMPLIANCE. AND I'M TRYING
TO SEE IF JACK TIBBETS IS ON THE CALL. LET ME JUST GET THERE. I DO NOT SEE HIM YET.
BUT THIS ITEM IS TO DISCUSS THE CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS THROUGH THE REMAINING
SCHEDULE. DEFENDING ANY AWARDS THAT HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, ALLOCATED, BUT
NOT YET RECEIVED. THE CUTS, STAFFING MODEL. LAUREN WILL GO INTO THAT. THE
COORDINATED ENTRY, AND THE REFERRALS OF ANY WEST COUNTY OR SEBASTOPOL
ELIGIBILITY. THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND THE PLANNED COMMUNITY MEETINGS, AS
WELL AS ANY TYPE OF GOOD NEIGHBOR PROTOCOLS. SO HAVING SAID THAT, LAUREN
AND ROBIN AND I'LL SEE IF I COULD GET JACK ON BOARD. SO IF YOU WANT TO GO UP TO
THE PODIUM AND DO YOUR PRESENTATION.
YEAH, AND TRY TO KEEP OUR TOTAL PRESENTATIONS, YOU KNOW, TEN MINUTES OR
UNDER. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE AWARE OF THAT.
GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS. NICE TO MEET ALL OF YOU. I THINK I KNOW A
COUPLE OF YOU MORE PERSONALLY. CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY?
YES.
MY NAME IS LAUREN TAYLOR, AND YES, I TOOK ON THE POSITION AS EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR AT ST. VINCENTS DE PAUL ABOUT TEN WEEKS AGO. SO I'VE BEEN DRINKING
FROM THE PROVERBIAL FIRE HOSE AS YOU CAN IMAGINE. BUT HERE TONIGHT TO JUST
PROVIDE OR ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT
ABOUT THE PROJECT AND YOUR PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WITH ANOTHER PSH COMMUNITY
DOWN THE STREET, WHICH I'M DEEPLY FAMILIAR WITH. I THINK THE MOST
CONSTRUCTION FINANCIALS, BUT THE BIGGEST CONCERNS THAT I'VE HEARD IS JUST
AROUND THE FINANCIAL GAP THAT WE HAD TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT. WE ARE CLOSER
TO ABOUT 90% COMPLETION NOW, AND WE DID, WE DID RECEIVE A $1 MILLION MEASURE
O FUNDING FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES, SO WE ARE VERY EXCITED
AND GRATEFUL FOR THAT. WE HAVE ANOTHER $200,000 COMING IN FROM THE SONOMA
COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION. AND THE REMAINING FUNDS TO
COMPLETE THE PROJECT WILL BE -- WE WILL BE USING OUR LINE OF CREDIT TO
COMPLETE THAT. MORE NOTABLY AND MOST, I'M EXCITED TO SHARE IS OUR OPERATION
PLAN. SO WE HAVE, AS YOU HAD IN THE REPORT, TAKEN ON A PARTNERSHIP WITH COTS,
COMMITTEE ON THE SHELTER LIST. THEY HAVE DEEP EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE
ABOUT IN THE HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING SPACE. I PERSONALLY HAVE WORKED WITH
THE ORGANIZATION, NOT WORKED WITH THEM, BUT ALONGSIDE THEM IN PARTNERSHIP
FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. SO I REALLY HAVE A LOT OF TRUST IN THIS PATH
FORWARD WITH THEM. CHRIS CABRILL IS THE CEO OF COTS, ALSO HERE TONIGHT, AND
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. THERE ARE ALSO OTHERS IN THE
ROOM, THE DIRECTOR OF COORDINATED ENTRY, AND HUNTER SCOTT WHO IS ALSO
GIVING ANOTHER PRESENTATION. MARK KRUG HAS BEEN THE CONSULTANT THAT SOME
OF YOU MIGHT KNOW FROM PREVIOUS WORK WITH HIM. SO WE HAVE A LOT OF
KNOWLEDGEABLE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
THANKS SO MUCH. DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? GO FOR IT.
Agenda Item Number 1
JILL, I HAVE A QUESTION.
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YEAH, I DIDN'T.
Agenda Item Number 1
YEAH, USUALLY I RUN THE MEETING, WHEN PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS. BUT DO YOU
NEED TO ASK IT NOW OR DO YOU WANT TO ASK IT LATER?
YEAH, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK IT NOW. IF YOU CAN ANSWER IT, MAYBE ONE OF THE OTHER
SPEAKERS COULD ANSWER IT. HAVE YOU REVIEWED OR HAS ST. VINCENTS DE PAUL
BOARD REVIEWED THE GOOD NEIGHBOR POLICY? AND IF YES, WHAT ARE YOUR
THOUGHTS ON IT?
I DON'T KNOW IF THE BOARD DID. I DID. AND THERE ARE SOME PARTS THAT STAND OUT,
JUST AROUND PARTICULARLY AND NOW THAT WE WON'T FULLY BE OPERATING THE SITE.
IT WILL REALLY BE COTS. I FEEL THEY'RE HONESTLY -- I WOULD LEAVE IT UP TO THEM TO
ANSWER THE QUESTIONS. SORRY, I'M SCROLLING TO IT HERE. I THINK THE MAIN THING
THAT STOOD OUT WAS KIND OF AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD PATROLS AND BEING ON
THE PROPERTY MANAGER TO PATROL THE SURROUNDING AREA. THAT JUST SEEMS LIKE A
BIT MUCH OF AN EXPECTATION FRANKLY. AROUND THE RESIDENT PORTION, I THINK
THERE IS AN INTAKE AND AN ASSESSMENT PROCESS FOR ELIGIBILITY. ALL RESIDENTS
WILL COME THROUGH COORDINATED ENTRY. SO THE OTHER LANGUAGE JUST SOUNDS
LIKE LOOSE TERMINOLOGY FOR FOLKS THAT NEED TO FOLLOW A LEASE OF WHICH.
ALEX, SHOULD WE BE DISCUSSING THAT TOPIC WHEN IT IS ANOTHER ITEM ON THE
AGENDA?
YEAH, IT'S FINE TO ASK THEM.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE.
OKAY, I HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION.
SURE.
AND THAT IS REGARDING THE COUNTY OFFERED $3 MILLION TO YOUR ORGANIZATION.
AND HOW WILL YOU FOLLOW UP TO TRY TO OBTAIN THAT?
YES. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF FOLLOW UP ON THAT SINCE I JOINED THE
ORGANIZATION. I HAVE MET WITH OTHERS STILL ON THE CALL OR THE MEETING, BUT I
HAVE MET WITH LINDA HOPKINS AND TRACY ABOUT THAT. AND OF THE DEVELOPMENT
COMMISSION. I MET WITH HUNTER SCOTT, DHS, SO WE HAVE BEEN EXPLORING
POSSIBILITIES AROUND WHAT WE CAN RETRIEVE OR CAPTURE FROM THAT $3 MILLION
THAT WAS COMMITTED, KNOWING THAT IT WAS COMMITTED BY A PREVIOUS DIRECTOR
AND NOT THROUGH A LEGITIMATE NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY. SO YEAH. IT'S
BEEN A BIT OF A STRUGGLE, BUT WE'RE COMMITTED TO FINISHING THE PROJECT
REGARDLESS.
THANK YOU.
SURE.
ALL RIGHT. ARE WE FINISHED WITH THE PRESENTATION? I'M SORRY. I CAN'T SEE.
I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE ROBIN AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO OVER THE CONSTRUCTION.
I'M SORRY. ALL I COULD SEE WAS THE SPEAKER. I COULDN'T SEE ANYONE ELSE THERE.
OKAY.
HI, ROBIN STEFANI FROM EIGHTH WAVE. I'VE BEEN PARTICIPATING IN THE
CONSTRUCTION PORTION OF THE PROJECT AND ALSO THE COMPLIANCE WITH THE
STANDARD AGREEMENT. AND AS LAUREN SAID AND INDICATED IN THE REPORT, THE
CONSTRUCTION IS AT ABOUT 90%. AND GOING VERY WELL. IT IS EXPECTED TO REACH A
TEMPORARY OCCUPANCY IN MIDDLE TO END OCTOBER PER SCHEDULE. SO THAT'S BEEN
GOING REALLY WELL. THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF LARGE SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE
ORDERS THAT RELATE TO THE SITE. BUT IN TERMS OF ANYTHING OUT OF THE GROUND,
THAT'S BEEN VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD. AND SO I DON'T WANT TO TAKE UP TOO MUCH
OF YOUR TIME, BUT IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION OR
THE BUDGET OR THE TIMELINE OR THE HCD STANDARD AGREEMENT, I'M HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH I. APPRECIATE IT. I KNOW OUR COUNCIL MEMBER, ZOLLMAN
HAS A QUESTION?
YEAH. THAT CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION. I REALLY WANT TO FOCUS IN ON RESIDENT
SELECTION. I ALSO WANT TO BE ABLE TO GET AN ANSWER ABOUT THE GOOD NEIGHBOR
PROVISION FROM WHOEVER WANTS TO DIRECTLY ANSWER THAT. FIRST QUESTION IS
ABOUT THE RESIDENT SELECTION. WHAT I REMEMBER HEARING FROM THE DEPARTMENT
AgendaEVOLVED
Item Number 1 FROM
OF PUBLIC HEALTH REPRESENTATIVES BEFORE, THINGS SEEM TO HAVE
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MY PERSPECTIVE ABOUT THE RESIDENT SELECTION. STAFF POINTEDAgenda
OUTItem
THE
SPECIFIC
Number
1
QUESTIONS TO ASK, AND YOU CAN REFER TO PAGE -- PAGE FOUR OF THE STAFF REPORT.
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHERE I'M GOING WITH ALL THESE QUESTIONS. SENSUALLY IT
SAYS THE CITY WILL HAVE SOME WAY TO PARTICIPATE IN RESIDENT SELECTION, BUT IT
SEEMS VERY UNCLEAR TO ME ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT THAT ROAD MAP WILL LOOK LIKE.
ABOUT HOW AND WHEN WE COULD ACTUALLY START PARTICIPATING IN RESIDENT
SELECTION. SO WHOEVER WANTS TO ADDRESS THAT?
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT?
HI, I'M KRIS. NICE TO SEE EVERYBODY. I'LL DO MY BEST TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION. I
MAY ASK YOU TO JUMP IN ON THE COORDINATED ENTRY. SO MY UNDERSTANDING, ALL
THE RESIDENTS COMING THROUGH WILL COME THROUGH COORDINATED ENTRY. THERE
WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR WHEN THE PROJECT IS SET UP FOR COORDINATED
REFERRALS FOR THE PROVIDER, CITY OF RECEIVE S ALL THE PARTNERS TO COME
TOGETHER TO DISCUSS FACTORS AND CRITERIA. THE COORDINATED ENTRY SYSTEM IS
NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR SETTING THE CRITERIA, RIGHT? THAT IS UP TO THE PROVIDER AND
THE OWNER, AND IT IS REALLY TIED TO THE FUNDING MECHANISM FOR THE PROPERTY.
SO WHATEVER WE TELL COORDINATED ENTRY IS WHAT COORDINATED ENTRY WILL DO.
I'M SORRY IF I MISSPOKE. PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. BUT IT WOULD BE AT THAT
POINT WHEN SETTING UP RESIDENT CRITERIA FOR SELECTION THROUGH COORDINATED
ENTRY THAT THE CITY WOULD HAVE INPUT.
OKAY BECAUSE I JUST REALLY WANT TO BE CLEAR AS ANNOUNCED BEFORE. AISLE
ROLLING OFF COUNCIL. I HAVE A FEELING OF RESPONSIBILITY TO MY COLLEAGUES,
ESPECIALLY BEING THE LIAISON IN MANY WAYS TO OUR SHELTERS. I REALLY NEED THIS
BROKEN DOWN. BECAUSE THE TIMELINE SEEMS TO NOW HAVE BEEN EXTENDED ABOUT
WHEN PEOPLE ARE REALLY GOING TO GET KEYS TO THE DOOR. SO I REALLY NEED THIS
TO BE SLOWED DOWN AND TALK ABOUT TIMELINES, SO THAT STAFF IS VERY CLEAR TOO,
AND WHOEVER TAKES OVER MY POSITION IS VERY CLEAR. SO THE ANTICIPATED MOVE-IN
DATE SEEMS TO NOW BE NOVEMBER OR JANUARY? I DON'T KNOW. IF SOMEBODY COULD
HELP ME. WHERE I'M GOING IS I WANT IT LITERALLY BACKED UP FROM THE DATE
SOMEBODY THINKS THEY ARE GOING TO GET KEYS TO WHEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE CITY
PARTICIPATION? WHO IS INVITED INTO THESE MEETINGS? WHAT INFORMATION WILL BE
ABLE TO BE SHARED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL RESIDENTS? AND THEN ALSO ALL THESE
PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY, WHEN DID THEY GET TO HEAR ABOUT WHO THEIR
NEIGHBORS ARE GOING TO BE? THAT IS HOW NITTY-GRITTY AND GRANULAR I NEED TO BE
HERE TONIGHT.
TOTALLY FAIR. I'LL DO MY BEST AND ALSO RELY ON THE TWO OF YOU PROBABLY FOR
CONSTRUCTION. SO WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY AS THE
PROVIDER TO START MOVING PEOPLE IN. AND I'LL TRY TO BE AS CLEAR WITHOUT
MUDDYING THE WATERS AS I CAN BE. SO OUR PLAN BECAUSE ST. THE ST. DOESN'T HAVE
OPERATING MONEY TO OPERATE THE PROJECT. COTS DOES HAVE MONEY TO OPERATE
THE PROJECT. HOWEVER, THE WAY THAT'S GOING TO BE DONE IS BY US ELIMINATING
SOME OF OUR EXISTING MASTER LEASES, RIGHT? AND SO FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN LIVING
ALREADY FOR SOME TIME, WHO ARE ALREADY STABLE. THEY ALREADY HAVE ACCESS TO
CLINICAL SERVICES, THEY ALREADY HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH A CASE MANAGER.
THEY ALREADY KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO LIVE IN PSH AND LIVE IN THEIR OWN HOME,
THOSE ARE THE FOLKS THAT WILL BE MOVING IN FIRST. SO IT DEPENDS ON ONCE
CONSTRUCTION IS DONE AND WE CAN GET PEOPLE MOVED. FOR SOME OF THOSE FOLKS,
IT WILL BE WITHIN THE FIRST TWO WEEK OF CONSTRUCTION FINISHING. FOR SOME OF
THEM, IT WILL TAKE THEM LONGER. WE'VE GOT PEOPLE THAT HAVE DISABLING
CONDITIONS. IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOMEBODY WHOSE IN A WHEELCHAIR WHO HAS LIVED
IN A UNIT FOR 15 YEARS MORE THAN TWO WEEKS TO PACK THEIR STUFF AND MOVE.
RIGHT? SO IT MIGHT TAKE THAT PERSON 45 DAYS. WE'RE GOING TO HELP THEM WITH
THAT, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO PRESSURE THEM. AND I ALSO WANT TO HELP ALL OF
YOU UNDERSTAND AND THE COMMUNITY KNOW THAT IT IS A LOT BETTER FOR THE
SURROUNDING COMMUNITY TO TAKE YOUR TIME WITH LEASE UP. WHEN YOU PUT
SOMEBODY IN A SITUATION THAT'S BRAND NEW TO THEM. ALL THEIR NEIGHBORS ARE
NEW. COMMUNITY IS NEW. THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE ANYTHING IS. THEY MIGHT HAVE
Agenda
Item
TO CHANGE THEIR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER, RIGHT? THEY MIGHT JUST
BE
INNumber
A 1
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COMMUNITY THAT THEY ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH. THEY HAVE TO Agenda
KINDItem
OFNumber
LEARN
1
WHERE THEY ARE AND LEARN THEIR NEIGHBORS. GIVING THEM TIME TO DO THAT
WITHOUT OVERWHELMING THEM WITH 21 PEOPLE MOVING IN ALL AT THE SAME TIME, IT
MIGHT BE BETTER. EVEN WHEN LEASE ISN'T DONE UNTIL MARCH, THERE IS A WHOLE LOT
LESS DISRUPTIONS TO THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY IF WE MOVE IN TWO PEOPLE AND
THEN TWO PEOPLE, AND THEN TWO PEOPLE. SO YOU'RE GETTING A LOT OF FOLKS IN THIS
PROJECT WHO ARE FUNDED WITH DHS FUNDING AND HUD CONTINUUM OF CARE
FUNDING, SUPPLEMENTED THROUGH MEDI-CAL FUNDING. AND THEN ONCE THOSE UNITS
OPEN, RIGHT? ONCE WE HAVE UNIT TURNOVER, THEN WE WILL GO THROUGH
COORDINATED ENTRY TO FILL THOSE UNITS, RIGHT? SO YOU'RE GETTING ESTABLISHED
TENANTS THAT WANT TO LIVE IN SEBASTOPOL. THEY KNOW HOW PSH OPERATION. THEY
ARE VERY STABLE. THOSE ARE THE FIRST UNITS THAT ARE GOING TO BE FILLED. THOSE
ARE THE FIRST TENANTS THAT YOU'RE GETTING. AS WE HAVE UNIT TURNOVER, PEOPLE
WILL COME THROUGH COORDINATED ENTRY. THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MOVING IN DID GO
THROUGH COORDINATED ENTRY, BUT THEY WENT THROUGH COORDINATED ENTRY FIVE
YEARS AGO, TEN YEARS AGO, TWO YEARS AGO, RIGHT? AS OUR UNITS BECAME OPEN.
THOSE ARE THE FOLKS MOVING IN FIRST. I WANT TO STOP THERE AND TAKE QUESTIONS.
NO, I APPRECIATE THAT. WHO WILL BE THE POINT OF CONTACT? IT SOUNDS LIKE
BECAUSE YOU'RE IN CHARGE OF THE OPERATING FUNDS. IS MARY REACHING OUT TO YOU
WHEN PEOPLE HEAR THINGS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND THEY'RE LIKE, IT SEEMS LIKE
SOMEONE IS MOVING IN, BUT YET WE HAVEN'T HAD A COMMUNITY MEETING YET? NO
ONE KNOWS WHAT'S HAPPENING BECAUSE WHERE I'M COMING FROM, I DO NOT WANT A
REPEAT OF ELDERBERRY. I WANT PEOPLE TO BE FULLY KNOWLEDGEABLE. SO IS MARY
REACHING OUT TO YOU? ARE YOU THE NEW CONTACT FOR WHATEVER QUESTIONS WE
HAVE MOVING FORWARD?
YEAH, GOOD QUESTION. I THINK IT WOULD BE TOTALLY APPROPRIATE TO ENGAGE BOTH
LAUREN AND I RIGHT NOW WITH ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT MOVE IN, SUPPORTIVE
SERVICES, WHO WILL BE THERE AND WHEN THEY'RE MOVING IN.SO WE'RE NOT LIKE
SIGNED ON THE DOTTED LINE, BUT WE KNOW EACH OTHER WELL. WE'RE WORKING WITH
MARK KRUG, HE'S SUPER HELPFUL. THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO END UP. I THINK IT'S
TOTALLY APPROPRIATE TO DO THAT. I MEAN, COTS ISN'T FAMILIAR WITH ALL OF YOU. WE
DO HAVE OPERATIONS IN SEBASTOPOL ALREADY. WE'VE GOT A PSH PROPERTY HERE. WE
ALSO DO PREVENTION WORK HERE. SO HAPPY TO ENGAGE WITH YOU IN ANY WAY THAT
MAKES SENSE FOR YOU AND FOR THE COMMUNITY. YOU CAN REACH OUT ANY TIME. I EMAIL REALLY FAST.
WE HAVE ANOTHER COUNCILMEMBER WHO HAS A QUESTION. I DIDN'T KNOW IF IT IS
OKAY IF WE KIND OF BOUNCE THE QUESTIONS AROUND AND BALANCE IT OUT?
SURE.
COUNCILMEMBER HINTON?
YEAH. I MEAN, I'M JUST TAKING THE INFORMATION IN. BUT MY RECOLLECTION IS WE
WERE NEVER PROMISED BECAUSE IT'S CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ABOUT PEOPLE WHO
WERE SELECTED THAT WE COULD LIKE PICK WHO IS GOING TO MOVE INTO THIS
COMMUNITY. SO I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR FROM MY PERSPECTIVE. I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE
THAT WAS -- WE'RE NOT HOLDING A TOWN HALL TO DECIDE LIKE GET FEEDBACK ON WHO
IS ACCEPTED INTO THIS NEW COMMUNITY. I FEEL LIKE WE ARE TRUSTING OUR
OPERATORS. SO I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE AGAIN BECAUSE I NEVER HAD
THAT EXPECTATION.
I THINK WE ALL HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE WITH THAT. [ INAUDIBLE ] I TOO
HEARD THE SAME THING THAT WAS STATED EARLIER. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? IT'S HARD
TO SEE.
LAUREN FROM ST. VINCENTS DE PAUL WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A REAL COMMENT BEFORE
WE TAKE THE NEXT QUESTION.
YEAH. I MEAN, HONESTLY I HEAR YOUR CONCERN. AS I SAID, I WAS INVOLVED WITH A
LOT OF THE CONCERNS HAPPENING AT ELDERBERRY, WHICH WERE VALID. I THINK OUR
GOAL IS TO HELP PERSUADE ANY FEARS YOU HAVE OR APPREHENSIONS. I THINK THERE'S
A LOT OF EXCITEMENT ABOUT THIS PATH FORWARD AND THE COMMUNITY ITSELF. AND
I MEAN JUST BEING, NOT TO BE ADVERSARY, BUT THE LANDLORD NEXT DOOR DOESN'T
Agenda Item Number 1
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ASK ME MY OPINION ON WHO MOVES IN. SO I GUESS I'M JUST CURIOUS
WHAT
A 1
Agenda
Item Number
COMMUNITY MEETING MIGHT ENTAIL OF WHAT YOU'D WANT TO WEIGH IN ON.
OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER CARTER? I CAN'T TELL. DO YOU HAVE YOUR HAND UP?
YEAH, I WANT TO KNOW HOW THE NEW EASES RESIDENTS, A, HOW IS THIS GOING TO BE
DIFFERENT? BUT B, HOW THE NEW PEOPLE THAT ARE MOVING IN, WHICH IS A HARD
ADJUSTMENT FEEL LIKE THEY'RE ALL A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW? SO THAT
THEY OWN IT WHEN THEY GET HERE.
I LOVE THAT QUESTION. WE ARE LIKEWISE CONCERNED WITH THAT, RIGHT? OUR
ULTIMATE GOAL IS PEOPLE NEED TO BE THERE AS LONG AS THEY NEED TO BE. BUT WE
ALSO LIKE PEOPLE TO STABILIZE AND MOVE INTO MARKET RATE HOUSING, RIGHT? AND
WHEREVER IT IS THEY WANT TO LIVE WITH WHOEVER THEY WANT TO LIVE WITH. ON SITE
WILL HAVE A PROPERTY MANAGER AND A CASE MANAGER, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. COTS
ALSO EMPLOYEES BOTH THE ASSOCIATE SOCIAL WORKERS AND LICENSE CLINICAL
SOCIAL WORKER WHO IS ARE AVAILABLE FOR ANYBODY IN ANY OF OUR HOUSING
PROGRAMS. WE ALSO HAVE A REALLY EXPERIENCED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PERSON THAT
RUNS OUR RESIDENTS. HE'S OUR RESIDENCE SERVICE MANAGER, SO HE OVERSEES ANY
PROJECTS THAT HAVE GENERALLY SPEAKING TEN UNITS OR MORE. SO WE WILL HAVE A
LOT OF REALLY EXPERIENCED ON-SITE PEOPLE. LIKE I SAID, ESPECIALLY WITH THE FIRST
TENANTS WHO ARE MOVING IN, THEY ALREADY HAVE REALLY STRONG ESTABLISHED
RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR CASE MANAGERS, RIGHT? SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE -- ONE
OF THE THINGS THAT'S REALLY HARD WHEN SOMEBODY MOVES INTO PSH IS NOT THAT
THEY ARE JUST MOVING FROM HOMELESSNESS INTO HOUSING. IT IS ALSO THAT YOU
HAVE TO ESTABLISH TRUST WITH THEM, RIGHT? IT IS REALLY HARD WHEN THEY MOVE
FROM STREET HOMELESSNESS INTO HOUSING TO GET THEM TO OPEN THE DOOR AND
ENGAGE WITH YOU. YOUR FIRST TENANTS AREN'T GOING TO HAVE THAT PROBLEM. THEY
ALREADY KNOW US. THEY ALREADY TRUST US. THEY ARE SELECTING TO COME HERE,
RIGHT? WE SENT OUT AN INTEREST LETTER TO ALL OF OUR TENANTS AND SAID, HEY, IF
THIS COMES TO FRUITION, WHO IS INTERESTED IN LIVING IN SEBASTOPOL? THIS IS ALL
ABOUT THE PROJECT, RIGHT? HERE IS WHAT IT IS. WHO WANTS TO GO THERE? WE HAD A
LOT OF PEOPLE SAY, HEY, I WOULD LOVE THAT, RIGHT? I WOULD LOVE TO LIVE IN
SEBASTOPOL. I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE MY OWN UNIT. I WANT TO MEET NEW PEOPLE AND
LIVE AROUND PEOPLE WHO ARE LIKE ME, WHO WANT TO ENGAGE WITH ME, SOMEWHERE
I COULD HAVE ACCESS TO A CASE MANAGER SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. SO WE HAVE ON-SITE
PROGRAMMING. WE OFFER A, AA AND NA CLASSES AS PREDICTLY AS CLASSES THAT
THEY NEED. WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THE COUNTY PROVIDER. HOPEFULLY THAT
ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION. I'M HAPPY TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.
COUNCILMEMBER ZOLLMAN?
YEAH. SO THANK YOU, KRIS FOR BREAKING IT DOWN. SO WE'RE GOING TO GET MORE
STABILIZED FOLKS THAN WHAT THE COUNTY PLACED AT ELDERBERRY, CORRECT? IS
THAT A FAIR ASSESSMENT? WHEN I MEAN STABILIZE, I MEAN PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY
ENGAGED WITH CASE MANAGER WHO HAVE WRAP-AROUND SERVICES? SO THEY'RE
GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE -- THE SELECTION COMPLIANCE WITH TENANT
REGULATION. IS THAT WHAT I'M GETTING FROM YOU? THE FIRST GROUP THAT ARE GOING
TO BE MOVED IN ARE GOING TO BE STABILIZED COMING FROM OTHER LOCATIONS WITHIN
THE COUNTY. IS THAT A FAIR ASSESSMENT?
YES, THEY ARE ALREADY ESTABLISHED TENANTS WITH US. THEY ALREADY KNOW US.
THEY KNOW OUR STAFF AND WHAT IS EXPECTED IN HOUSING. THEY'RE ALREADY USED
TO US. WE DO SUPER FREQUENT INSPECTIONS IN PSH. WE FOUND IT'S REALLY HELPFUL IN
MAKING SURE PEOPLE MAINTAIN THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THEIR UNIT, SO THEY'RE
USED TO THAT TOO. SO YEAH, I THINK THE FIRST TENANTS MOVING IN. THIS WOULD BE A
FIRST FOR US, RIGHT? WE'VE NEVER DONE A BIG TRANSFER OF THIS MANY PEOPLE ALL AT
ONCE. THE FIRST FOLKS MOVING IN WILL CERTAINLY BE -- I DON'T WANT TO SAY
ANYTHING BAD ABOUT SOMEBODY MOVING FROM STREET HOMELESSNESS INTO
HOUSING, BUT THEY WILL BE MORE USED TO LIVING IN HOUSING THAN SOMEBODY
COMING FROM CHRONIC STREET HOMELESSNESS INTO PERMANENT HOUSING FOR THE
FIRST TIME.
GETTING TO WHAT THE MAYOR WAS REFERENCING. THERE HAVE BEEN VARIOUS
Agenda
Item Number
1
PROMISES ALONG THIS TRAJECTORY, MANY, MANY YEARS OF HAVING
SOME
OF OUR
OWN
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FOLKS WHO HAVE FALLEN ON HARD TIMES FROM THE RIVER, FROMAgenda
SEBAST