Calendar notes for the week of December 16, 2024.

New SMART Station, Film Festival Team, and Connecting the Dots Around Parking

The pre-holiday calendar remains ever lighter.  But the growing list of 2025 community activities draws closer.

New SMART Station: The public has been invited to the January 10 grand opening of the Petaluma North SMART station.  This station, which was previously dropped from the initial construction schedule when the SMART finances became constrained, will be a welcome addition to the Petaluma and North Bay transit options.  More information on the grand opening is below, under Upcoming Events, and on the Urban Chat calendar.

In case of any lingering confusion, the Petaluma North station, which will be at the intersection of North McDowell Boulevard and Corona Road, is the same station previously known as Corona.  When the renaming occurred, some of us were irritated.  We had a long history of advocating for the Corona station to move toward construction and not to be relocated as proposed by the owner of an alternative site.  We weren't eager to surrender a name around which we’d rallied…

Continue reading the weekly update here.

Calendar notes for the week of December 9, 2024.

Urban Chat Board Meeting, KBYG Team, and Defending the Missing Middle

The pre-holiday calendar remains light.  Even the Pedestrian Bicycle Committee is playing three-card monte with a meeting that was originally scheduled for December 4, then moved to December 11, and now moved to December 17 without the topic of the meeting having yet been announced.

The only City meeting of urbanist interest this week seems to be the Climate Commission.  Further information on that meeting is further down in this email.

Urban Chat Board Meeting: However, Urban Chat will have their board meeting this week.  And the meeting will, as always, be open to all interested parties.  With the annual meeting coming in January, the Film Festival in February, and more plans for later in 2025, the board meeting might be a great place to begin your active involvement in Urban Chat.  More information is further below…

Continue reading the weekly update here.

Calendar notes for the week of December 2, 2024.

The Urban Chat Team, Public Bathrooms, and Lunch?

As the holidays get underway, the Urban Chat calendar of public events remains thin.  But I can replace the missing event news with updates about the breadth of Urban Chat interests.

The Urban Chat Team: With only the occasional exception, my name is at the bottom of each of these messages.  But Urban Chat is many more folks, perhaps including some who might surprise you.  Each week through the end of the year, starting immediately below, I’ll introduce someone who fills a key Urban Chat role with little notice.

Public Restrooms: Vibrant public places, such as downtowns and parks, require public restrooms, especially if climate-aware visitors are leaving cars at home and arriving on foot, by bike, or in a bus.  But many cities, especially in the U.S., are poor at meeting this need…

Continue reading the weekly update here.

Calendar notes for the week of November 25, 2024.

Holiday Wishes, Film Festival Update, and Lunch?

It’s a short week with a short calendar of approaching events, so I’ll complete the trifecta with a short Greetings & Thoughts.

Holiday Wishes: Best wishes for whatever Thanksgiving plans you may have.  As a descendent of multiple Mayflower Pilgrims, starting with the John Alden fixed in national memory by Longfellow, Thanksgiving should be my favorite holiday.  I’m not sure it is, although I’m pleased to be sharing this Thanksgiving with all my Alden cousins.  May you be equally surrounded by family on your Thanksgiving.

Continue reading the weekly update here.

Calendar notes for the week of November 18, 2024.

Overlay, Lunch, and Lunch?

It’s another light week for meetings with much pertinence for advocates of walkable urbanism, but perhaps we'll all need a break after this evening’s Council workshop on the proposed Downtown Overlay.  And what better way to take a break than lunches with great conversation.

Downtown Overlay: The Council will conduct a workshop this evening on the proposed Downtown Overlay.  I assume no readers need a reminder about the intent of the Overlay.  But I will note that a full house is expected.  If you're hoping for a seat in the Council Chambers, I suggest arriving early.  I’ll be there somewhere…

Continue reading the weekly update here.

Calendar notes for the week of November 11, 2024.

Moving Ahead, Agreeing on the Need for Change Is Easy – Agreeing on the Change Itself Less So, and Lost Climate Action Momentum

The weekly calendar remains light, extremely so.  Even the Planning Commission meeting was cancelled.  Perhaps the only civic event with urbanist interest will be the Thursday meeting of the Climate Action Committee.  (Information is on the Urban Chat calendar.)

But perhaps we all need a break after last week’s election.  Urban Chat was successful in our first foray into ballot measure endorsement.  Yay for Measure Y!  But otherwise, the election news, especially at the national level, was crushing.

Walkable urbanism, including Urban Chat, is non-partisan.  An Urban Chat member once described StrongTowns as the Republican argument for walkable urbanism…

Continue reading the weekly update here.

Calendar notes for the week of November 4, 2024.

Sliding toward the Holidays, Gift Idea, Final Reminder: Vote!

Light but Not Empty Calendar: With Know Before You Grow most likely done for 2024 and not many City agendas yet published, the Urban Chat calendar continues to be light, as often happens as we slide toward the holidays.

However, for those concerned about climate change, this evening the City Council will consider adoption of the updated “Blueprint for Climate Action”.  Personally, I’m disappointed that we've dropped, at least for now, setting a target date for carbon neutrality and lining out the difficult but necessary steps.

Then, in two weeks, the Council is tentatively scheduled to give feedback to staff on the draft Downtown Overlay.

I expect to attend both meetings.  Please say hello.

Continue reading the weekly update here.

Calendar notes for the week of October 28, 2024.

No more KBYG until 2025, D Street comments, Vote!

KBYG is Done for 2024: After ending on a high note last week with a tag-team presentation by Petaluma Mayor Kevin McDonnell and Generation Housing’s Calum Weeks on the state of housing in the North Bay, Know Before You Grow is almost certainly done for 2024.  (We’ll keep the door slightly open in case a great forum opportunity unexpectedly presents itself.)  Look for KBYG to come back strongly in January.

If you missed the McDonnell/Weeks forum, the link should be here early this week.  Watching it will be worth your time.

Continue reading the weekly update here.

Calendar notes for the week of October 21, 2024.

There is much more I could write this week, but I’ll keep my monologue short, focusing on the Urban Chat activities of the week.  Look for more words next week.  But until then, plan on attending both events below.  They’ll be a great start toward more community engagement in 2025.

After BAHFA: Petaluma Mayor Kevin McDonnell and Generation Housing’s Calum Weeks will talk to Know Before You Grow about the state of housing in Petaluma, particularly after the decision by the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority not to seek voter approval to issue housing bonds.  Learn more about the future of housing and what you can do to make a difference.

If you believe that everyone deserves shelter, the curse of “May you live in interesting times” is coming true for you.

LumaGo Lunch: This week’s Urban Chat lunch…

Continue reading the weekly update here.

Calendar notes for the week of October 14, 2024.

LumaGo Lunch: As previously anticipated in this space, the October 24 Urban Chat lunch will be about LumaGo, the newly launched microtransit service from Petaluma Transit.  Maria Arce will join us for lunch to talk about the service, explain the app for booking trips, and perhaps even facilitate a ride on one of the microtransit vehicles…

For those eager to get a head start on LumaGo, more information on the service is here, the service area is here, and the app can be downloaded here.

Thanks go to Urban Chat board member Barry Bussewitz for organizing the Petaluma Transit participation in this lunch.

Sonoma County Transportation Plan: On October 22, the Sonoma County Transportation Agency will conduct a workshop on a countywide transportation plan.  This is a chance to meld your transportation vision for Petaluma with connections to the bigger world.

Information on the workshop and on a survey to collect public opinion before the workshop is in Upcoming Events below.

Continue reading the weekly update here.

Calendar notes for the week of October 7, 2024.

Overlay DEIR Redux: The Planning Commission recently conducted a spirited review of the draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) on the proposed Downtown Overlay and Appellation Hotel.  This evening, the DEIR will reach the City Council.  Another spirited evening is likely.

KBYG on the UGB Renewal: Wednesday evening, KBYG will hear from the Greenbelt Alliance and Sierra Club on why Petaluma should pass Measure Y, renewing the Urban Growth Boundary.  Join us for a discussion that will dig into the multiple reasons why UGBs matter for our future…

Continue reading the weekly update here.

Calendar notes for the week of September 30, 2024.

I’ll be away this week, taking an extended course on the best approaches to public involvement in land use decisions. Luckily, after a remarkably full calendar last week, the upcoming calendar is now light, so this email can be short. Also, the email is being written earlier than usual.  If there have been dramatic Petaluma urban planning developments in the past few days, they may not be mentioned below.

Overlay DEIR Redux: After last week's spirited consideration by the Planning Commission of the draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) on the proposed Downtown Overlay and Appellation Hotel, we get to do it again next week.  Next Monday, the City Council will consider the DEIR.  I wish I had the popcorn concession in the City Hall foyer.

Is Our Local Democracy Behind the Housing Crisis?: A recent book by Jerusalem Demsas is gaining local attention.  Two folks talked with me about the book and the author.  When I mentioned the book to a third person, he pulled a copy out of his bag and expressed interest in the author’s thesis.  I’ve secured a copy for reading during my upcoming travels.

Continue reading the weekly update here.

Calendar notes for the week of September 23, 2024.

GPAC Surprise: In an unexpected development, the General Plan Advisory Committee will meet a second time in September.  Last week’s GPAC conversations on land-use designations, the broad descriptions of intended land uses in General Plans which are later refined into zones in subsequent documents, ran long last week.  The Committee asked if the conversation could be continued this week.  Planning staff and the General Plan consultant agreed. Details are on the Urban Chat calendar.


Measure Y Yard Signs: As I first wrote last week, Measure Y is the Petaluma ballot measure to renew the local Urban Growth Boundary.  I offered yard signs supporting the measure.  As of now, I have one unclaimed sign.  If you’re interested and live on a relatively busy street with lots of passing eyes, let me know.  If I get more than one request, I may be able to track down another sign or two.

Continue reading the weekly update here.

Calendar notes for the week of September 16, 2024.

I have a longer list of topics this week but promise to keep it short.

Measure Y Yard Signs: Measure Y is the Petaluma ballot measure to renew the local Urban Growth Boundary.  I’m on an advisory committee advocating for passage.  In that role, a small number of Yes on Y yard signs are coming my way.  If you’d like to have one, let me know.  I’ll see what I can do.  And be sure to provide your address.

KBYG on General Plan Land Use: Know Before You Grow will have a forum Tuesday evening on the alignment between the Urban Chat mission statement and the draft Land Use Framework.  The Framework is a major step toward the General Plan update.  At least two members of the General Plan Advisory Committee will take part in the conversation as will Heather Hines of Petaluma Planning/M-Group.  Details are below.

Continue reading the weekly update here.

Calendar notes for the week of September 9, 2024.

KBYG Rescheduled: A Know Before You Grow forum had been scheduled for this coming Wednesday.  However, after several redirections from others during the planning, it has now been postponed to Tuesday, September 17.  Please update your calendars accordingly.  And please join us on September 17 for what should be an insightful conversation about the alignment between the draft land use framework for the General Plan update and the Urban Chat mission statement.

Upcoming Workshops: As a reminder, please remember that both SMART and the Petaluma General Plan team will conduct workshops on September 25.  Both are worthy events.  It's unfortunate they're on the same day.  However, with some creative planning, most people should be able to catch parts of both.  Details on both are below.

Continue reading the weekly update here.

Calendar notes for the week of September 2, 2024.

KBYG Forum Recordings: The small turnout for last week's Know Before You Grow forum on transit financing was unfortunate but perhaps unavoidable in the waning days of summer.  The speaker, Rachel Ede of Santa Rosa City Bus, did a superb job of summarizing how we fund transit in California including the many different models within just the Bay Area.  She made me think about transit financing in ways that were new to me.

Continue reading the weekly update here.

Calendar notes for the week of August 26, 2024.

Who Pays the Bus Drivers: After a very successful session last week on the conversion of existing buildings to housing, for which we again thank Katherine Rinehart and throw the door open for future collaborations, KBYG returns to its normal programming.

• Beyond fares, what covers the cost of Golden Gate Transit service to Sonoma County?

Continue reading the weekly update here.

Calendar notes for the week of August 19, 2024.

Historical Building Reuse : The meeting that Katherine Rinehart created, and then graciously allowed us to share credit, has arrived.  I trust that a large contingent of Urban Chat folks will attend Wednesday evening to justify Rinehart’s civility.  (However, we've already earned some credit with her.  The Argus article on the event was largely based on the meeting description prepared by Urban Chat vice chair Sharon Kirk.)

Continue reading the weekly update here.

Calendar notes for the week of August 12, 2024.

Everyone is Asking What We Think: What is it about this summer?  Why is everyone suddenly seeking public input?  It's not a bad thing but it is a surprising confluence of surveys.  For anyone who wants to spend a half-hour injecting more walkable urbanism into the public dialogue, here are three possibilities:

++ The River Park Foundation is seeking thoughts on their alternative plans for the River Park.  The public can participate either by attending their ongoing exhibition or taking their online survey.  (Those who do either will learn that the two alternative plans have been named Bert and Ernie.  I appreciate the whimsy but not as much as I appreciated a related comment at a recent River Park gathering.  Noting that Bert and Ernie both rely on a bridge across the McNear Inlet for which the permitting is uncertain, the speaker proposed the need for a third alternative without the bridge which he would name Oscar the Grouch.)

Continue reading the weekly update here.

Calendar notes for the week of August 5, 2024.

KBYG on Mobility: On August 14, a week from Wednesday, MidPen Housing will visit Know Before You Grow to discuss their proposed Washington Commons deed-restricted affordable housing project.  While affordable housing is always a good topic, Washington Commons also opens the door to important conversations about mobility.

Continue reading the weekly update here.