May 1, 2023
Greetings & Thoughts
Lots of calendar items, but let’s talk about CCBs
There are so many things I could write about the meetings and events that have popped up on the Urban Chat calendar. But I specifically want to talk about the City commissions, committees, and boards, or CCBs, for which applications are due by the end of the month.
As a veteran of seven different City bodies, I’ve had many experiences with the system. I’ve seen it work well. And I’ve seen it work poorly.
My top lessons:
Appointment to a CCB doesn’t mean you’re an expert. It means you should now be motivated to become an expert. No one is appointed to a CCB with sufficient knowledge to be an effective participant. Instead, it’s an opportunity to become more aware of how the City works and to dig more deeply into the subject matter that will come before the CCB.
You can make a difference and make Petaluma the best possible place if you make yourself an expert and put yourself forward in meetings. Indeed, because the Council has so many City functions to oversee, you can make a greater difference than a Councilmember in your specific area of purview.
City staff are a great resource if accessed effectively. Most City staff have a full workload. However, I’ve almost always found them willing to engage constructively on a topic if I reach out to them well-prepared and with focused questions. From my CCB experience, few other appointees contact City staff outside of the CCB meetings. That’s unfortunate.
Petaluma needs bright, motivated people to fill the CCB vacancies. I already have a meeting scheduled with a potential CCB applicant and am happy to meet with anyone else who wants to talk about the process.
Questions or comments? Let me know. – Dave Alden 707-338-8388
P.S. New folks can be added to this conversation here.
Calendar Notes
See our new monthly calendar here!
Upcoming Meetings
All events are open to the public and everyone is encouraged to participate in person or online.
Monday, May 1 - Petaluma City Council
The agenda includes delivery of the draft 2023-24 City budget and review of an agreement with SMART for the upcoming Corona station.
The public portion of the meeting will convene at 6:30pm. Other meeting information is on the Urban Chat calendar.
Wednesday, May 3 (This week) – Petaluma Pedestrian Bicycle Advisory Committee
The PBAC agenda includes feedback on the Active Transportation Plan and on proposed improvements to Maria Drive and Garfield Drive. At least one Urban Chat member has been advocating for additional bike facilities on Garfield Drive.
The meeting will convene at 6:30pm. Other meeting information is on the Urban Chat calendar.
Thursday, May 4 (This week) – Petaluma Historic Library and Museum
The Petaluma Museum will host a presentation by local historian and author Katherine J. Rinehart on how the architectural character of Petaluma’s downtown National Register Historic District has evolved over the last 50-plus years.
The relationship between urbanism and historic preservation can be complex. On one hand, urbanists love town cores that retain the forms from before car-dependence and provide a template to which we should return. On the other hand, we fear putting town cores under bell jars would prevent us from making the changes necessary for post-car-dependent economic vitality.
It's a difficult and subjective balance. Education is essential to finding the best solution, so I expect to be in attendance on May 4.
More information on the event can be found here. Tickets, which will cost $10, can be purchased here.
Monday, May 8 – Petaluma City Council
The Council will host a workshop on the draft 2023-24 City budget.
The public portion of the meeting will convene at 6:00pm. Other meetings will be on the Urban Chat calendar when published by the City.
Tuesday, May 9 – Petaluma Planning Commission
The Planning Commission will conduct a hearing on the proposed tentative map for the Oyster Cove project on D Street next to the Petaluma River. More information can be found here on the Petaluma Major Projects webpage. Urban Chat doesn’t have a project endorsement process and no project is perfect, but many Urban Chat members are pleased with the overall direction Oyster Cove is taking.
The Planning Commission meeting is expected to convene at 7:00pm. Further information will be provided on the Urban Chat calendar when published by the City.
Wednesday, May 10 – Petaluma Public Works
Public Works will host a Zoom meeting on the status of the N. McDowell Street improvements.
The meeting is expected to convene at 6:00pm. (The Public Works announcements thus far have been silent on time but 6:00 p.m. has been the usual time for public meetings of this type.) Further information is on the Urban Chat calendar.
Wednesday, May 10 – Know Before You Grow
We’ve learned that our preferred presentation for May 10 won’t be available. Our alternative is a presentation on an alternative path to traffic calming. Details will follow as soon as possible.
The forum will begin at 7:00pm. Further information will be provided on the Urban Chat calendar when known.
Thursday, May 11 – Petaluma Transit Advisory Committee
The Transit Committee is expected to have a workshop on goals for 2023-24 as Petaluma Transit looks to play its role in the move to carbon neutrality.
The meeting is expected to convene at 4:00pm. Further information will be provided on the Urban Chat calendar when published by the City.
Monday, May 15 – Petaluma City Council
The tentative agenda includes a workshop on the City's commissions and committees, a second reading of an ordinance on residential tenancy protections, and possible adoption of the 2023-24 City budget.
The public portion of the meeting is expected to convene at 6:30pm. Other meeting information will be provided on the Urban Chat calendar when published by the City.
Thursday, May 18 – Petaluma General Plan Advisory Committee
This is the standing time for the monthly GPAC meetings. However, it’s likely this meeting will be moved to Saturday, May 20, at a time to be determined. The expected discussion will be on sea level rise and flooding risk. Information on the rescheduled meeting will be provided on the Urban Chat calendar when published by the City.
