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City of Sebastopol
Community Newsletter
| | The City of Sebastopol community newsletter is one way to stay in touch with what's going on in Sebastopol. Our website is another. It's chock full of information on City services, public meetings, and community resources. | | |
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The Sebastopol Commons is envisioned as a shared civic space and multi-use community hub within Sebastopol city limits, serving West Sonoma County residents. It is a collaborative vision to support education, arts & culture, health & wellness, senior services, community connection, recreational classes, and potentially public library or library-adjacent functions that foster learning, access, and civic engagement. The committee completed an extensive evaluation of six facility alternatives and financing strategies, including analysis of acquisition, lease-to-own, public-private partnership opportunities, grants, and other potential funding mechanisms. After evaluating these locations throughout Sebastopol, the committee narrowed it down to two locations: 1) The existing city hall, library, and senior center location, and 2) The O’Reilly buildings.
In August and September, the Sebastopol Building the Commons Committee held two highly attended open house events at the O’Reilly buildings located at 1003-1005 Gravenstein Hwy North.
At its September 15 meeting, the City Council voted to direct staff to bring back an item in December to discuss creating an ad hoc committee to reconsider both the O’Reilly site and existing downtown city properties downtown (city hall, library, senior center, and the adjacent parking lot).
Note: This article has been updated from the print Newsletter issue to reflect developments made after distribution.
Learn more HERE
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| Quick Status Reports from Public Works Director
Oriana Hart | |
Library - Mold removal from the library walls was completed at the end of August, clearing the way for reconstruction and dry rot repairs. Public Works reviewed proposals from several contractors and selected DMR Builders, the lowest responsive bidder.
At its September 15 meeting, the City Council approved up to $89,100 from the City’s General Fund for the rehabilitation work. Once DMR Builders completes all contract, insurance and bonding requirements, construction is expected to take approximately 45 working days.
During construction, the contractor will be responsible for protecting Library materials and coordinating work to ensure the facility and its contents remain properly safeguarded.
Find more details in the staff report here.
Note: This article has been updated from the print newsletter issue to reflect developments made after distribution.
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Street Repairs - In August, Public Works completed the first of three Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) planned for this fiscal year dedicated to street pavement repairs. The first project focused on targeted digouts and repairs, addressing some of the City’s most significant pavement failures across multiple streets rather than concentrating available funding on a single roadway.
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Joe Rodota Trail Vegetation Management - Following a fire on City-owned property along the Joe Rodota Trail, Mayor McLewis took a leading role in coordinating the City’s response. The mayor organized City staff and the Gold Ridge Fire Protection District to begin an initial vegetation clearing and fuel reduction effort. Public Works is continuing the cleanup and working toward a longer-term vegetation management approach for the property.
| New Holiday Lights Downtown - As part of the City’s ongoing downtown beautification efforts, the City Council approved funding in the Public Works operational budget for the installation of electrical outlets on City-owned light poles along Main Street. Public Works will use the new outlets to enhance the City’s holiday decorations and create a more festive atmosphere along the Main Street corridor. | New ADA-Compliant Restroom and Path Completed at Luther Burbank Experiment Farm | |
In early August, work was completed on an ADA-compliant public restroom facility at the Luther Burbank Experimental Farm and ADA path to the restroom facility from the existing parking lot. The work included installation of a new sewer, water and electrical services to support the restroom facility. The City was awarded a CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) and used Measure M Park funds to help pay for the project.
| | Sebastopol Steps Up to River Cleanup Challenge | | |
As part of Russian Riverkeeper’s 40th Annual Russian River Watershed Cleanup, the Sebastopol Climate Action Committee hosted a cleanup of the Laguna de Santa Rosa and AmeriCorps Trail on September 19.
Held in conjunction with Creek Week and National Pollution Prevention Week, the cleanup quickly reached volunteer capacity just days after it was announced. Thank you to everyone who pitched in to help care for our local waterways and trails!
Learn more about the Sebastopol cleanup HERE
| Ribbon Cutting for New Americorps Trail Extension Sept. 28 | The City will hold a brief Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting event to officially launch the recently completed (after 30 years!) Americorps Trail Extension on Monday, September 28 at 4:00pm. There will be a short ceremony at the south end of the trail near the new bridge and Sebastopol Spire art piece. Sebastopol Spire is located in a small meadow, set back from Hwy. 12, behind the Welcome to Sebastopol sign at the eastern entrance to town. Read more about the long and winding road to bring the half-mile trail to fruition in this Sebastopol Times article. | | Fall Free Compost Giveaway on October 11 | | |
The City of Sebastopol has procured certified organic compost for Sebastopol residents. The compost is available to residents for FREE at 425 Morris St. (behind the Community Center Youth Annex) up to ½ cubic yard of organic compost per household.
TIME: From 9:00 am to 12:00 pm or until the pile is gone. (NO EARLY BIRDS PLEASE!)
ADDRESS: 425 Morris Street, Sebastopol, CA 95472
BRING: shovels, buckets or bags, tarps, gloves, pick-up truck, good spirits
If you’d like to assist others shovel their compost to keep the line moving, your help would be greatly appreciated!
Compost available while supplies last.
Please be prepared to wait your turn in line, with your car turned off to minimize hydrocarbon emissions. Vehicles will be directed to the pile as places open up.
This event is coordinated by volunteers from the Sebastopol Climate Action Committee.
| | September is Preparedness Month | | |
Visit these sites for tips on being ready for emergencies and disasters:
| | Sebastopol Ballet School Celebrates its 35th Year | |
Founded in 1991, Sebastopol Ballet School is celebrating 35 years of sharing the joy of dance with students in West Sonoma County.
The school began with founders Sue Borgeson, Lois Hartman and Paula Martens teaching classes in a room at the Sebastopol Community Center. As the program grew, they moved Sebastopol Ballet to Gravenstein Highway in 2011. The school is now owned by Hannah Paddock, a longtime Sebastopol Ballet student and teacher, and in 2025 moved to a larger location on Bodega Avenue.
Today, Sebastopol Ballet’s legacy spans generations, with the school now teaching the children—and sometimes grandchildren—of former students.
| Preparedness Resources for Business | Got Apples? Press them with Slow Food Russian River! | | Slow Food Russian River is operating its annual Community Apple Press on weekends into October from 9 AM to 3 PM at the Luther Burbank’s Gold Ridge Experiment Farm. Use of the press is a free community service made available by Slow Food, an international food organization that supports local farmers. Press usage is by reservation only and each reservation can accommodate up to 100 lbs. of apples.
Reserve HERE | | Sebastopol World Friends to Host Benefit for Sister City | |
Sebastopol World Friends presents an authentic Ukrainian BBQ (shashlik) and specially brewed Ukrainian beers: “Ukrainian IPA” from Crooked Goat Brewing, and “Zelensky’s Orange Juice” from John Kreidler, a special friend of SWF. There will be plentiful Ukrainian snacks, BBQ, vegetarian options, beer, wine, and other beverages, Ukrainian music, and lots of fun. Proceeds support Sebastopol World Friends on-going efforts to fund renovation of a dormitory building in Chyhyryn, Ukraine (Sebastopol’s sister city) that will house hundreds of Internally Displaced People from areas of Ukraine who have been impacted by the war there. Tickets are $75 and are all inclusive.
Tickets must be purchased in advance.
Use the QR code below or this link.
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/sebastopolworldfriends/2286813.
For more information and ticket links go to sebastopolwf.org.
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