Key Topics & Links

Prospective Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District Formation

The City of Sebastopol and Sonoma County are exploring the creation of an Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District (EIFD) to fund critical infrastructure projects in Sebastopol and unincorporated West Sonoma County. An EIFD is a funding mechanism that uses future property tax revenues from new developments to invest in local infrastructure, including roads, water and sewer systems, parks, recreational amenities, affordable housing, and climate resilience projects. Notably, an EIFD does not create new taxes but captures growth in property tax revenue to reinvest in community improvements.

The feasibility study for this EIFD is currently underway, led by Kosmont Companies, and includes public outreach, district boundary analysis, and identification of infrastructure funding needs. The process is in its initial stages, with community input playing a crucial role in shaping the direction of the EIFD and determining the types of projects to prioritize. The project aims to address the aging infrastructure of West County, including improvements to roads, flood mitigation, recreational facilities, and other community needs.

Community participation is vital, and several public meetings will be held throughout the process to gather input and refine project priorities. For more information about the study or to participate in upcoming meetings contact District5@Sonoma-County.org. Watch the September 25 Special River MAC Meeting with the EIFD Consultants below. Read the minutes from the 9/25/24 Special Joint MAC Meeting here.

Supervisor Hopkins' Statement on Guerneville's Year-Round Pride Flag

Happy Pride, y’all. 🏳️‍🌈 

I’ve been told that a petition may be circulating soon urging me to remove the Pride flag from the downtown Guerneville plaza once June (Pride month) is passed. Generally speaking, I appreciate petitions, support grassroots democracy, and do my best to listen to the will of the community when making decisions. 

But I want to be clear that no matter how many signatures appear on pieces of paper opposing the year-round flying of the Pride flag, I will not back down from flying the Pride flag all day, every day in Guerneville. 

Sometimes leadership isn’t sticking your finger into the wind and seeing which way it blows. Sometimes it means making people uncomfortable in order to create positive change. It means listening to your heart and doing what’s right even if that pisses some folks off. And it *definitely* means refusing to turn back the clock on progress — refusing to turn a cold shoulder to a marginalized community group when things get dicey. We live in a time when basic human rights are being eroded here in the U.S., making solidarity and allyship more important now than ever before.

This is all to say: as long as I am Fifth District Supervisor, we will continue to fly the Pride flag year-round in Guerneville. 

Unapologetically.

GUERNEVILLE PRIDE FLAG BACKGROUND

[while I won’t apologize, I’m always happy to listen, talk and explain]:

In June 2016, a mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Florida specifically targeted the LGBTQIA2S+ community, leaving 49 people dead and 53 people wounded. The Lower Russian River community mourned, and held a candlelight walk and vigil in downtown Guerneville. There were many tears shed, we walked and gathered. An idea sparked out of the overwhelming grief that evening: why not counter the hate with love and acceptance locally? Why not fly the Pride flag year-round from the downtown flag pole? 

Since June 2017, thanks to the tireless work and stewardship of the Russian River Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence (and most especially the inimitable force of nature known as Beth), the Pride flag has flown on the downtown Guerneville flag pole 24/7/365. A few years later, attorneys got involved and the practice was formalized with an actual County contract which articulates the right and duty of the Sisters to fly the Pride flag year-round in accordance with the Flag Code. (Thank you to the Sisters who sign that contract each year and dutifully follow the Flag Code; I am grateful for you.)

Some people might ask: Why the flag year-round? It’s not because everyone in Guerneville is gay. It’s not because we don’t appreciate cis-het residents here. It’s not because this is a political statement. The flag is, quite simply, a statement of love and acceptance. Love and acceptance should be a basic human value, and not political.

We are Proud year-round, not just in June. Because 24/7/365, we want EVERYONE to be WELCOME. Scratch that… we want everyone to be LOVED. (As the Sisters say, We love you, and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it.) We want everyone to be seen, and celebrated!

And since the 1920s — yes, you read that right; check out the latest edition of the Russian River Historical Society’s newsletter — the Lower Russian River has been a safe haven for LGBTQIA2S+ individuals. We are proud of that fact. We celebrate this history, and the present LGBTQIA2S+ culture, and most importantly, the strong and vibrant future of this culture and community in the decades to come.

At the Board of Supervisors meeting acknowledging Pride month, Sonoma County Commission on Human Rights Chair Katrina Phillips said it better than I could ever say:

The Pride flag is seen as a Rainbow and came to represent the spectrum and culture of homosexuality in 1978, known then as LGBT. The maker of the flag, Gilbert Barker, gave meaning to each color:

Red for Life
Orange for Healing
Yellow for Sunlight
Green for Nature
Blue for Harmony
Purple for Spirit

To me, that sounds like existence and peace. 

As my friend Liz Feldman once said, “It’s very dear to me, the issue of gay marriage. Or as I like to call it, ‘marriage.’ You know, because I had lunch this afternoon, not gay lunch. I parked my car. I didn’t gay park it.”

The sooner we realize I didn’t have gay lunch and you didn’t have a straight lunch, that we had LUNCH, we will all see that I don’t have gay love and you don’t have straight love. We have LOVE. And trust me the world needs a lot more LOVE if we are going to survive as a species.

So go have a loving lunch. Go have a proud lunch. Enjoy the beauty of the rainbows, because for the LGBTQIA2S+ community, there have been millennia of rain, of hiding in the dark, before the sunshine appeared to bring about the rainbow after the storm, before they could be proud and celebrated publicly by other members of their community. 

Also, rainbows are beautiful, and vibrant, and colorful, and look freaking gorgeous flying surrounded by our River and redwood trees. 

PS: Here is a bonus photo of my son’s kindergarten art. Over the course of the year, he drew more rainbow suns than regular yellow/orange suns. Shine on, West County Rainbows! 🌈

Canyon Rock Use Permit, Zoning Change, and Reclamation Plan Amendment Application

We have heard from a number of concerned community members and we are tracking this issue.  John Mack, Natural Resources Manager at Permit Sonoma, clarified that a Use Permit, Zoning Change, and Reclamation Plan Amendment application was submitted by Canyon Rock last year. Permit Sonoma was made aware through one of Canyon Rock’s consultants that Canyon Rock would be doing some community outreach on their own the week of April 24.  This is not a County sponsored or led public meeting and is not part of any permit or CEQA process.

A brief summary of the project status is:

• Application filed late 2022
• EIR required for project
• Notice of Preparation for EIR published 8/7/23
• Public Scoping Meeting was held virtually (see NOP for EIR document linked above for details) on Monday 8/21 at 6 PM via Zoom.
• Written comments on the scope of the DSEIR will be accepted until 5 PM on 9/21/23 via email to Robert.Aguero@sonoma-county.org or Regular Mail: Attn: Robert Aguero, 2550 Ventura Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
• For more information, including the recording from the 9/21 scoping meeting, see the Permit Sonoma project page here. 

There are several steps before it will go to the Planning Commission, and there will be opportunities for community feedback in a formal setting.  Permit Sonoma has published the Notice of Preparation for EIR and Public Scoping Meeting and staff on our team will make sure to look carefully to ensure that everything needed for study is included.  

Our office may not take public positions on such a project, as it can affect our ability to objectively review the project when it reaches the BOS for official action.  We want to be sure Supervisor Hopkins isn’t conflicted out, which would happen potentially if she speaks out for or against the project at this time. That doesn’t mean we won’t follow closely though, and we are also appreciating the community correspondence and everyone tracking this. 

For further information, Robert Aguero, the reviewer assigned to this project, is available to answer questions.  

Robert Aguero, RPF #3062
Senior Environmental Specialist
www.PermitSonoma.org
County of Sonoma 
2550 Ventura Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Direct:  707-565-3718 | Office:  707-565-1900

Vacation Rentals

Here are some commonly asked questions regarding Vacation Rentals:

• I want to file a complaint about a Vacation Rental
• I want to apply for a Vacation Rental or want to know where they are allowed
• I have a Vacation Rental Violation
• I’m a Property Manageror want to become one and need information
• I want to stop operating my Vacation Rental
• I have a question that isn’t listed
• I’d like to provide feedback to inform future Vacation Rental policies, who do I contact at Permit Sonoma? Please email PRMD-VacationRentals@sonoma-county.org.

Elderberry Commons 

The Sonoma County Community Development Commission purchased the Sebastopol Inn on December 17, 2020 with California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) Homekey Round 1 funding to be operated initially as a non-congregate shelter and then to be transferred to a affordable housing developer for conversion and operation as permanent supportive housing.

Through a competitive Request for Qualifications/Request for Proposal process, Burbank Housing Development Corporation was selected as the developer based on a successful track record with both construction and property management, added to a long history of meeting affordable housing needs throughout Sonoma and Napa counties.

In June of 2023, the CDC began working with Praxis Architects to complete the entitlement, design and permitting process to allow conversion of the property to permanent supportive housing and turn a shovel ready property over to Burbank. The design process is complete, and a building permit for construction work associated with conversion of the property has been issued by the City of Sebastopol.  

What is permanent supportive housing? Permanent Supportive Housing is permanent housing in which assistance and supportive services are provided. At Elderberry Commons, Burbank is the property manager and West County Community Services will provide onsite services and support for residents.

 What are the next steps? Burbank Housing anticipates construction completion in December 2024.