Community Meeting Tentatively Scheduled for Dec. 9
In a move to provide safe and humane conditions for the unhoused population of Sebastopol, clear Morris Street encampments, and prevent future unpermitted camping on city streets, the Sebastopol City Council made several important decisions at a special meeting on November 30 attended by some 150 members of the public.
The Council declared a Homeless Emergency and voted to enter into an agreement with Sonoma Applied Village Services (SAVS) to develop and operate a one-year pilot program for an RV village at 845 Gravenstein Highway North (former AmeriGas site). SAVS will set up, manage, supervise, and provide wrap-around services (a team-based, collaborative case management approach that provides support services such as referrals to counseling, food, health care, etc.) at the site.
Additionally, the Council moved to begin the process of creating enforceable parking rules to prevent future unpermitted RV and vehicle camping on city streets. City staff will return to the December 21, 2021 City Council meeting to outline parking rule options. While the bulk of financing for the pilot program has been secured by SAVS, the Council also moved to potentially pay the lease on the privately-owned land (approximately $60,000) in the unlikely event that it fails to secure grants or other funding.
While the Council would have preferred to extend the community engagement process, in order to take advantage of over $500,000 of county funding earmarked for the alleviation of homelessness, an agreement had to be in place between the City of Sebastopol and SAVS before December 8.
Additional information may be found on the City website HERE.
Here is a link to a video recording of the November 30 meeting in its entirety.
SAVS has tentatively scheduled a community meeting for December 9. Please send your email address to Assistant City Manager/City Clerk Mary Gourley at mgourley@cityofsebastopol.org, who will compile a list of interested parties and relay it to the SAVS team.