Page 37 - Sonoma County Gazette July 2020

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ACTIONS in Sebastopol
Addressing Community Public Safety Concerns
The City Council scheduled two special meetings to determine the community process to address concerns regarding police policies and racism. The agendas and videos of the zoom meetings held on June 23 and June 30 are on the City’s website on the “Meetings” page.
Gravenstein Health Action Coalition
Announcing the meetings, Mayor Patrick Slayter said, “We realize that
all of the public’s concerns and all of the issues cannot be addressed in just one or two meetings. These are the beginning of what we see as an ongoing collaborative process...[These meetings are] for planning our next steps in facilitating more community input and collecting more specific information about the City’s law enforcement policies and procedures....to allow the Council to make fully informed decisions as it sets priorities and policies for our future that best reflect the values of our community.”
In addition to receiving public input, the meetings included comments
from Acting Police Chief Greg DeVore and a presentation on suggested future processes by Jerry Threet, the attorney who, following the fatal shooting of Andy Lopez, established the Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach and served as its Director.
Here is an abbreviated list of topics for future facilitated workshops or community round tables:
• Audit of police department policies, practices, training, and procedures
• Review of statistics on types of crimes, arrests, use of weapons
• Models for a citizen oversight committee
• Criteria and process for the City’s recruitment of the next Chief of Police and
is a partnership of local leaders, organizations, and individuals dedicated to improving health & wellness in Sebastopol, Graton, and Occidental/Freestone.
future officers
• How to include all members of the community in this conversation
• Partnership with non-profit organizations to deliver mental health and
to volunteer for one or several of our task forces by contacting the Chairs, below. If you would like more information, visit our website at https://www. gravensteinhealthactionchapter.org/ or CALL (707) 548-6675
social services
• Community engagement and effective methods for participation in
• Age Friendly: Sandra Bodley, Chair -sdbodley@sonic.net
• Cradle to Career: Celosia Arcadia, Chair -celosiamae@gmail.com
• Behavioral Health: Jane Rogan, Chair -jrogan.dwight@gmail.com • Map Your Neighborhood: Skip Jirrels, Chair –sjirrels@gmail.com
electronic meetings
The Council considered how to move forward, including by a new Council
Sub-Committee or by a new community-wide body similar to the fifteen- member General Plan Update Committee.
Addressing the Pandemic’s Impact on Local Businesses
The survey’s purpose was to determine how to better assist businesses
and to understand how businesses may need to adjust to post-pandemic phenomena. Per repeated key words and phrases in the responses, the top five suggestions for help were:
• Rent reduction/elimination
• A central, trustworthy source for real-time information
• Reopening concerns, resources for guideline adherence, funds for
The City Council retained CoMission, a local consulting firm, to assess the impacts of COVID-19 on local businesses and to recommend steps for recovery.
During May, 160 business owners completed CoMission’s Business Survey. Fifty percent of the participants were located in the Downtown Core and The Barlow. Thirty percent were from the retail, food services, and healthcare sectors. Those identified as needing immediate triage were routed to a half- hour one-on-one intake interview for help and support.
cleanliness requirements
• Establishing a way for the community to invest in local businesses • Reduction or elimination of taxes, fees, utilities
The quantitative questions covered the economic and operational impacts of the pandemic. From the respondents:
• 58% conducted 100% of their business in a face-to-face setting
• 75% conducted over 1⁄2 of their business face-to-face
• 32% were “temporarily” closed
• 3% reported they were “permanently” closed
• 22% were working remotely
• Nearly 75% indicated they’d lost over 1⁄2 of their revenue since March 17
• 25% stated they’d lost 100% of their revenue
• 35% said they’d laid off or furloughed 100% of their employees
• 75% had applied for some form of relief fund
The July Inter-Dependence Campaign
At this important time, when people of all races are coming together to assert our commitment to social and economic equality, GHAC knows its effectiveness will be greatly enhanced with more people of color joining our efforts to serve our seniors, children and young people. A culturally diverse coalition can work on building a more authentic and healthy community.
We cannot do this work without you. Pleas join us to positively change how social, environmental and economic issues impact health, safety, and wellness. Here are some of the issues these task forces address:
• FOOD SECURITY • ACCESS TO CLEAN AIR AND WATER
• CRIME-FREE NEIGHBORHOODS • ACCESS TO EDUCATION
• ACCESS TO ACCEPTABLE WAGES • AFFORDABLE HOUSING
• ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE • ACCESS TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE
• DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RECOVERY
The coalition is connected to the countywide Health Action. Sign up
The Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Association, and The Barlow called upon businesses to sign the Declaration of Inter-Dependence to promote a month-long campaign for the safe re-opening of the business community. Shop Sebastopol Safely will provide a calendar of events for local businesses and consumers to re-enter public space with confidence. A new Business Council, holding weekly meetings, will design promotional material, identify opportunities for partnerships between businesses and community benefit organizations, hold contests, and award prizes.
As the first signors have indicated, Sebastopol is known for its cooperative spirit and understands what it means to work together.
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