| City of Sebastopol Community Newsletter |
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February 11 - February 17 Special Weekly Edition of Sebastopol Community Newsletter |
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Please visit socoemergency.org for the most up-to-date information on the coronavirus crisis in Sonoma County. |
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KNOW SOMEONE INTERESTED IN RECEIVING THIS NEWSLETTER? FORWARD THIS EMAIL.
WAS THIS EMAIL FORWARDED TO YOU BY SOMEONE ELSE? |
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FREE AT-HOME COVID-19 TESTS Residential households in the U.S. can now order one set of 4 free at-home tests from USPS.com. |
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SONOMA COUNTY HEALTH ORDER C19-36 RESCINDS THE LOCAL MASK MANDATE, EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 15 AT 11:59PM: CLICK HERE |
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AMENDED RECOMMENDATION OF THE COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER: EMPLOYERS REQUIRE WORKFORCE TO SHOW PROOF OF PRIMARY VACCINATION OR AT LEAST TWICE WEEKLY TESTING: CLICK HERE |
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25% MANDATORY WATER USE REDUCTION IN SEBASTOPOL: CLICK HERE |
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| City of Sebastopol offices are CLOSED Monday, February 21, 2022 in observance of Presidents' Day. |
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SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING - FEBRUARY 23RD |
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There will be a special City Council meeting on February 23rd at 6pm to continue items from the February 15th meeting. Details can be found on the City Council Meetings page. |
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SEBASTOPOL WALKS RETURN FEBRUARY 26 |
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Postponed during the pandemic, the 14-year strong Sebastopol WALKS program will return on February 26 with an easy 3 to 4-mile moderately paced “Peace Poles Potpourri” walk lead by Council Member Sarah Glade Gurney. The walk starts at the Sebastopol Plaza at 9am and returns at about noon. Pre-registration is not required. Walkers will be encouraged to wear a face covering and maintain a six-foot distance, if desired. The program will be canceled upon direction from the City Manager/Attorney in the event CDC guidelines indicate.
Walks are scheduled for the last Saturday of the month through November. The events will vary in focus, length, and difficulty, based upon the routes chosen by the morning’s leaders.
Some walks will be mainly for exercise to show participants how to connect places in town by foot and others will be informational. Some are new routes and new subject matter; others are updated versions of favorites.
The purpose of the WALKS program is to build interest in Sebastopol as a health-oriented community and help people experience the connectivity of our network of streets, sidewalks, paths, trails and alleys. Participants will learn that they can get around town without driving their car and that they can enjoy the outdoors on foot. They will learn about Sebastopol’s social, cultural, and political history as well as its municipal functions. |
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PUBLIC NOTICE: WATER METER BOX CLEANING |
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In advance of the forthcoming water meter replacement program PMI Innovative Metering Solutions Nationwide will be utilizing a vacuum trailer to clean accumulated soil from identified meter boxes in various locations throughout the city starting on February 17, 2022.
There should be minimal impact on residents regarding noise and parking as the operation takes approximately 5 to 10 minutes per meter.
Their crews will be in specific company branded attire, with proper identification badges for safety. You do not need to be present for this cleaning.
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SUBMISSIONS SOUGHT FOR SEBASTOPOL'S COMMUNITY SCULPTURE GARDEN IN IVES PARK |
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Support Person #1 Artist: Beth Hartmann |
| Zephyra Artist: Sculpture Jam |
| Medallion Artist: Briona Hendren |
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The Sebastopol City Council and its Public Arts Committee (PAC) invite Sonoma County-based artists to submit proposals for the new Community Sculpture Garden (CSG) located along the pedestrian walk between Ives Park’s Calder Creek and the Sebastopol Center for the Arts. The CSG will eventually be comprised of eight sculptures. The first three sculptures were installed in January. Submission information may be found HERE. Submissions close April 15.
An official Opening Day event is planned for the summer.
Stay tuned! |
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UPCOMING MAP YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD (MYN) CLASSES |
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MYN Classes Being prepared together
Classes are on Zoom on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 6:30pm
Upcoming Classes March 16 April 20 May 18 June 15
Learn more about the MYN program and classes HERE. |
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UPCOMING SEBASTOPOL NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNICATION UNIT (SNCU) TRAININGS |
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SNCU Trainings Radio use, best radio options and message protocols
Trainings are from 1:00-2:30 pm
Upcoming Trainings February 27 March 26 April 24 May 28 June 26
Learn more about about the SNCU program and trainings HERE. |
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SONOMA COUNTY COVID-19 MASKING GUIDANCE |
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At midnight on Wednesday, February 16th, Sonoma County aligned with the California Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 guidance and no longer requires indoor masking for fully vaccinated individuals in most settings.
Health officials still strongly recommend masks as an effective tool to prevent the spread of the virus, especially for seniors, essential workers and people with underlying health conditions — and the people who care for and about them.
Masks, regardless of vaccination status, are required for all individuals in the following indoor settings: - Public transit
- Indoors in K-12 schools, childcare
- Emergency shelters
- Healthcare settings
- State and local correctional facilities and detention centers
- Homeless shelters
- Long term care settings and adult and senior care facilities
Additionally, masks are required for unvaccinated individuals in indoor public settings and businesses such as retail, restaurants, theaters, family entertainment centers, meetings, state and local government offices serving the public. Fully vaccinated individuals are recommended to continue indoor masking when the risk may be high. Surgical masks or higher-level respirators (N95s, KN95s, KF94s) with good fit are highly recommended. To read the details of California’s masking guidance, click HERE.
Read the full press release HERE. |
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WEBINAR: FINANCING YOUR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT - FEBRUARY 23 |
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Free Webinar: Financing Your ADU!
Wednesday, February 23 at 6:00pm
Are you a homeowner anywhere in Napa or Sonoma County?
Join us for a conversation about how to leverage financing from the Redwood Credit Union to build your accessory dwelling unit!
- ADUs 101
- How to leverage financing from the Redwood Credit Union to build your ADU
- What makes this financing easier to qualify for than other loans?
- Homeowner next steps to get your ADU financed
- YOUR questions, answered live!
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GO GREEN BY GOING PAPERLESS WITH YOUR WATER & SEWER BILL |
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Sebastopol offers online billpay for water and sewer service. What are the benefits of online billpay? It’s secure, convenient, and green! With an online account, you can set up paperless billing, have your statement emailed to you, see a full detailed statement of your bill vs. what is provided in the paper form, see your statement immediately as soon as we post billing instead of waiting for a copy of the statement in the mail, and you can set up autopay or just make payments via credit or debit card with the weblink as well.
Sign up here https://sebastopol.merchanttransact.com/Login and you will be directed to a secure, cloud-based, off-site portal where you can log in, check your bills, make a payment, or sign up for Auto Pay with your Credit or Debit card. |
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SEBASTOPOL COMMUNITY BENEFIT GRANTS & SPONSORSHIPS PROGRAM ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS |
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The City of Sebastopol awards monies to programs or specific community projects that improve the quality of life and build civic pride in Sebastopol.
The City of Sebastopol recognizes the value that other organizations have in providing services that benefit the community and its members. The Community Benefit Grants and Sponsorships Program was created to support, strengthen and sustain the City Council goals and priorities to achieve a better quality of life by improving the health and overall well being through investment in our Sebastopol community organizations.
The City of Sebastopol understands that in a crisis such as this unprecedented health and economic crisis, nonprofits step up to advocate for, and serve, our communities in these challenging times. Our City and Country continue to face a profound impact on the economy, which include our non-profit organizations and members of the community in these unusual times. In many cases, the scope of operations will need to expand and evolve to accommodate increased demand for vital services.
Like many grants and programs, the demand for these funds exceeds availability. The City has limited funding for grants to our local non-profits and understands the critical need to help support our local non-profits. We also understand that many of our local non-profits revenues losses from closed programming and services have not quite returned to the level of normalcy, as well as anticipated shortfalls in fundraising continues, jeopardizes the need to provide these services to our community.
Click HERE for more information on program and instructions to apply.
The deadline for submission of applications is February 28, 2022. |
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CALLING ALL ARTISTS AND CREATIVE LOCALS |
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It’s the Sebastopol Community Upcycled Art Project
The Art Project is to be designed to educate and inspire by activating potential in affecting climate change. It is to be created through contributions from the community. This project will symbolize the interconnectivity of all life. - The Central Art Piece will be a kaleidoscope of upcycled glass housed in a welded case.
- The supporting art pieces will be installed throughout town.
Community artists are invited to create supporting pieces that will: - explore innovative ways to address the environmental challenges we are currently facing.
- be curated from the abundance that already exists within our lives.
- utilize upcycled materials.
- specifically address subjects under the general category of climate change: water, air, solar, carbon sequestration, social inequities, our waste stream, and consumption.
Alongside the supporting art pieces will be a companion QR code that links the viewer to a website which will include information on: the makers of the piece, the topic of the piece, actions regarding the topic, and any recent news on local organizations working on a goal related to the topic.
Submissions accepted on a rolling basis for supporting art piece proposals.
For more information and the Art Piece Submission form click HERE.
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SONOMA COUNTY WEEKEND COVID-19 VACCINE CLINIC AT SONOMA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS |
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The County of Sonoma expanded access to pediatric and adult COVID-19 vaccines and boosters through a series of large-scale vaccine clinics at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds.
Up to 500 vaccines can be administered per day at this clinic, which will be held in the Garrett Building on the Fairgrounds campus Saturday and Sunday February 19 and 20 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Read the full press release HERE. |
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FREE AT-HOME COVID-19 TESTS |
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Residential households in the U.S. can now order one set of 4 free at-home tests from USPS.com. |
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WATER CONSERVATION TIP OF THE WEEK |
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Here's this week's tip to help you reduce your water consumption: - Rinse your razor in the sink. Fill the bottom of the sink with a few inches of water. This will rinse your blade as well as running water. It's critical that we all do our part to save water.
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CURRENT EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES |
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| Police Department Deadline to Apply: Open 10/18/21 (Open and Continuous)
See the city website for additional information and requirements on these current opportunities to participate in the management and growth in our community. |
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COVID-19 INFO & RESOURCES |
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Although many test sites say “walk-ins welcome” health officials now do not want people with symptoms standing in lines for tests. They suggest staying home and trying to schedule a test. You can also order 4 free at-home tests per household. Find more information at https://www.covidtests.gov. |
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All meetings will be held virtually and are open to the public to attend via web or phone link.
Agendas for upcoming meetings can be found on the City website by clicking the “Meetings” link on the home page. Agendas will contain information about participating virtually in real time when this feature is available.
City Council Meetings: - Meeting Days: First and Third Tuesday of each month
- Meeting Time: 6pm
- Livestream Link: http://bit.ly/sebcctv
- To submit comments before the meeting:
- For Items Not on the Agenda: Members of the public may submit written emails/comments for items not on the agenda either by email as a public record or by public comment during the public comment period of the virtual City Council meeting. All written emails/comments will be provided to the entire City Council as a public record but will not be read into the minutes at the City Council meeting. Written emails/comments should be received by 5:00 pm of the Council Meeting Date for submission to the entire City Council prior to the meeting and will be included as a part of the record of the meeting. Please submit your comments via email for this meeting to mgourley@cityofsebastopol.org
- For Items Listed on the Agenda: Members of the public may submit written emails/comments for items listed on the agenda either by email as a public record or by public comment during the public comment period of the agenda item during the virtual City Council meeting. Email comments must identify the Agenda Item Number in the subject line of the email. All written emails/comments will be provided to the entire City Council as a public record but will not be read into the minutes at the City Council meeting. Written emails/comments should be received by 5:00 pm of the Council Meeting Date for submission to the entire City Council prior to the meeting and will be included as a part of the record of the meeting. Please submit your comments via email for this meeting to mgourley@cityofsebastopol.org
Planning Commission Meetings:
Design Review Board Meetings:
Public Arts Committee Meetings:
Climate Action Committee Meetings:
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