Sebastopol and the Inn - Dec 15th Council Meeting

 The Sebastopol City Council is having its regular and Special meeting next Tuesday December 15, at 6 p.m. for regular city business and special discussion of the purchase of the Sebastopol Inn by the County for homeless/elderly/covid-related housing. The purchase itself appears to be a done deal; what remains to be determined are plans for operations and administration, and selection of residents. This proposal has generated much controversy, including those who are strongly in favor of any effort to reduce homelessness; and others who are concerned about the loss of hotel tax revenues, the impact on local businesses and the city generally, questions about ongoing management of the site, and the degree to which the needs of Sebastopol and West County homeless will be addressed.

It appears that eligibility for housing at the Inn will be based upon assessments of elder age, general health problems, and covid vulnerabilities. Early allotments may be given to those who are already being housed elsewhere (Santa Rosa) to transition them to a more stable location in the Sebastopol Inn. Federal/State/County requirements  indicate that the most vulnerable get preference, no matter where they currently live, and local persons may obtain placement to the extent they may place at the top of each vulnerability ranking. *Sebastopol homeless persons with the stated vulnerabilities can begin the placement process by screening through West County Community Health, at 652 Petaluma Avenue near Palm Avenue, opposite the former Palm Drive Hospital, **to register in the "Coordinated  Entry Program."* That will allow them to be assessed for their vulnerabilities and provide information that can be used to evaluate them along with people from other areas and perhaps gain ranking because they have conditions that make them more or at least equally vulnerable and thus gain housing at the Inn.

I encourage our members to observe/participate in the Zoom City Council meeting. I would suggest that our tone should be to seek information and not to inflame, around this sensitive subject in which many important questions have been raised. Defiant positions may only cause positions to harden among decision-makers. Certainly our members are free to express their views further in writing to members of the city council, Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, and Barbie Robinson, director of the county Health Services Department and Community Development Commission. Contact information is easily available online.

Agenda and Zoom access information for the December 15 meeting is provided here:

https://www.ci.sebastopol.ca.us/Meeting-Event/City-Council/2020/City-Council-Meeting-December-15,-2020<https://www.ci.sebastopol.ca.us/Meeting-Event/City-Council/2020/City-Council-Meeting-December-15,-2020>

Other highlighted Zoom access information is here:

https://www.ci.sebastopol.ca.us/SebastopolSite/media/Documents/city_clerk/December-15-2020-FINAL-City-Council-Meeting-Agenda-for-Packet.pdf?ext=.pdf<https://www.ci.sebastopol.ca.us/SebastopolSite/media/Documents/city_clerk/December-15-2020-FINAL-City-Council-Meeting-Agenda-for-Packet.pdf?ext=.pdf>

*The following rather long (46 pages) but easily-read document summarizes plans and positions.* Note specifically the summary prepared by the City at pages 42-46. Also note the graphics provided by the activist organization SonomaCountyHomeless.com at pages 26-27 questioning the expenditure for the Sebastopol Inn, and suggesting other alternatives that may address a greater number of homeless persons. Also note the concerns of the owners of The Barlow, the commercial development across the street from the Sebastopol Inn, at pages 29-31. Other documents within this 46-page packet are more supportive of the project.

https://www.ci.sebastopol.ca.us/getattachment/Meeting-Event/City-Council/2020/City-Council-Meeting-December-15,-2020/Agenda-Item-Number-8-Sebatopol-Inn-Presentation-and-Discussion.pdf.aspx<https://www.ci.sebastopol.ca.us/getattachment/Meeting-Event/City-Council/2020/City-Council-Meeting-December-15,-2020/Agenda-Item-Number-8-Sebatopol-Inn-Presentation-and-Discussion.pdf.aspx>

This article in the Sonoma West News and Times explains in its later paragraphs that eligibility and ranking process, for those who are already being housed elsewhere, to transition them to a more stable location in the Sebastopol Inn.

http://www.sonomawest.com/sonoma_west_times_and_news/news/plans-for-sebastopol-inn-being-discussed-at-dec-15-council-meeting/article_6e402776-39ab-11eb-9fcc-f3fd3aefb663.html<http://www.sonomawest.com/sonoma_west_times_and_news/news/plans-for-sebastopol-inn-being-discussed-at-dec-15-council-meeting/article_6e402776-39ab-11eb-9fcc-f3fd3aefb663.html>

*Here is the County's information page about Project Homekey* which is proposed to establish housing at the Hotel Azura in Santa Rosa and the Sebastopol Inn.

https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/CDC/Homeless-Services/Project-Homekey/<https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/CDC/Homeless-Services/Project-Homekey/>

*Thank you for your continuing interest and attention to issues of homelessness in Sebastopol. Generally, the situation here remains stable.* Beyond the Sebastopol Inn, "Tiny Homes," or other housing alternatives, remain projects for future examination and work. "Safe Parking" and toileting/sanitation have been accomplishments.

Sebastopol Christian Church, Sebastopol Methodist Church, Sebastopol Community Church, St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, and Enmanji Buddhist Temple continue to provide "Saturday Tables" rotating each week of the month between them with hot lunches to go at noon. The Portico Italian market and pasta shop at 110 North Main Street is generously partnering with Sebastopol Methodist for its Saturday Table spaghetti lunch.

Laundry vouchers remain available through Sunrise Rotary and Sebastopol Methodist Mission Team as administered by Malcolm Andrews in conjunction with Jim Glomb of Rotary. In most cases Sonoma County Transit buses are fare-free, certainly in local shuttles. Medical assistance is available through West County Community Health at 652 Petaluma Avenue near Palm Avenue, opposite the former Palm Drive Hospital. Sebastopol Christian Church Barnabas Program continues to provide hot breakfasts, showers, and bag lunches on Mondays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., serving up to 30 persons a day, and bag lunches  on request and subject to availability throughout the week, with assistance from Community Church.  The Food Pantry on the grounds of St. Stephen's provides bagged dry food, milk, canned soups, sauces, beans, hot dogs, milk, eggs, M,W,F, Sa from 10 a.m. to noon, has an abundance of food available, and encourages enhanced utilization. An outreach was conducted to Morris Street vehicle campers to inform them of the Food Pantry. Sebastopol Center for the Arts offers a "distance learning" site for school children.

Safe parking remains on Morris Street and on most city streets that do not have posted restricted-hourly limits, and to a limited basis at Sebastopol Community Church.  The City continues to provide handwashing stations on the plaza, Morris Street, and near the Hopmonk, and portable toilets on Morris Street. Unfortunately, three Sebastopol homeless persons have died in recent months, two believed drug-related, one from a shooting allegedly to have followed a dispute, but the core downtown homeless community to date has remained covid-free, and all these services have contributed to this stabilization. Best wishes to all in this December season.

Arthur George
Chair, West County Homeless Advocates
707-793-7835