July 31, 2023
Greetings & Thoughts
A quiet week, with much queuing up behind
This week, only a Pedestrian Bicycle Advisory Committee meeting with wayfinding on the agenda is of urbanist interest. But buckle up for the weeks beyond.
Next week will begin with a Monday evening Council meeting that includes a response to a Civil Grand Jury report, a potentially controversial Police Department issue, and perhaps an Overlay item. The following night will be an Overlay workshop with the combined Planning Commission and Historical and Cultural Preservation Committee. And then we’ll conclude the packed three-day span with a KBYG forum on adding housing to future 15-minute neighborhoods. On the fourth day, we’ll rest.
We’ll need the rest because KBYG will then have forums on parking reform on August 23, on more thoughts about adding new housing to existing neighborhoods on September 13, and then on two or even three further topics that will hopefully be confirmed in the next few days.
Also coming is the Better Cities Film Festival organized by Urban Chat. The first showing will be on September 20, with the second showing on September 28. I’m looking forward to my October vacation.
Looking back, we had the second Urban Chat Mixer last week. We could have hoped for a larger crowd, but the conversation was spirited and insightful, with the participants pleased by the concept. With the otherwise full calendar, the Mixers will take a break for August, but perhaps we’ll return in September with two more mixers before fall. Tentatively, put September 8 and September 22 on your calendars.
Finally, last week I shared a link to the draft Active Transportation Map developed for the General Plan. Bjorn Griepenburg of Petaluma Public Works was seeking comments. His deadline for comments has now been extended to Sunday, August 13. Please take a look.
Questions or comments? Feel free to reach out. – Dave Alden c: 707-338-8388
P.S. New folks can sign up for this email through the Urban Chat website.
Upcoming Meetings
All events are open to the public. Everyone is encouraged to participate in person or on-line. The link to the Urban Chat calendar, as frequently referenced below, is here.
Wednesday, August 2 – Petaluma Pedestrian Bicycle Advisory Committee
Among other agenda items, PBAC will receive a report on a proposed wayfinding system intended to help Petalumans and visitors make better use of the local bike network.
The meeting will convene at 6:30pm in the City Hall Council Chambers. More information, including the agenda, is on the Urban Chat calendar, link above.
Monday, August 7 – Petaluma City Council
Among other agenda items, the Council will receive a report from staff on the intended response to the recently issued report from the Civil Grand Jury. The report raises questions about the City’s planning services contract with the M-Group. That contract includes staffing most of the Planning Department.
For those who haven’t read the Grand Jury report, there are no allegations of misconduct by the City or the M-Group, only questions about whether the City contractual practices were adequate to ensure that the services received were sufficiently beneficial to the City.
Also, the Council may have an agenda item relating to the Downtown Overlay District, although the focus of that agenda item hasn’t yet been made public.
The meeting will convene at 6:30pm. More information will be provided on the Urban Chat calendar, link above, when available.
Tuesday, August 8 – Planning Commission/Historical and Cultural Preservation Committee
The Planning Commission and HCPC will conduct a joint workshop to continue assessing the proposed Downtown Building Forms Overlay District.
The meeting is expected to convene at 6:00pm. Further information, including the agenda, will be provided when published by the City. This information will be posted on the Urban Chat calendar, link above.
Wednesday, August 9 – Know Before You Grow
KBYG will continue to dig into the future of 15-minute neighborhoods, with a look at how to add housing units near new neighborhood cores to create an adequate customer base to support the new retail.
The confirmed speaker is Chris Larson, a 15-year resident of Petaluma who has completed ADUs on the west side and is continuing to pursue further opportunities. Look for an email from KBYG with additional details.
The forum will convene at 7:00pm at the Cavanagh Center, at 426 8th Street. This forum is also posted on the Urban Chat calendar, link above.
Thursday, August 17 – Petaluma General Plan Advisory Committee
It is again anticipated that the upcoming GPAC meeting will be on sea level rise/flood risk. (I’m assuming that someday Lucy won’t pull the football away.) And, as before, there is a possibility of this meeting being moved to a Saturday, presumably the following Saturday, and conducted in a hybrid format.
If the meeting remains on Thursday evening, it’s expected to convene at 6:30pm. Other meeting data, including the agenda and Zoom link, will be provided on the Urban Chat calendar, link above, when the City publishes the information.
Saturday, August 19 (possible) – Petaluma General Plan Advisory Committee
As noted above, the next GPAC meeting may be rescheduled to this Saturday. Watch the Urban Chat calendar for further information.
Wednesday, August 23 – Know Before You Grow
Tony Jordan, the founder of the Parking Reform Network, will speak to us via video about his nationwide efforts to reform parking policies including eliminating parking minimums and improving parking management. This will also include thoughts on parking policies related to 15-minute neighborhoods.
Jordan was recommended to us by the dean of American parking analysis, UCLA Economics Professor Emeritus Donald Shoup, which guarantees the presentation will be worth your evening.
The forum will convene at 7:00pm at the Cavanagh Center, at 426 8th Street. This forum is also posted on the Urban Chat calendar, link above.
Thursday, August 24 – Petaluma Urban Chat
The monthly meeting of Urban Chat is almost always agenda-free, allowing an enjoyable and enlightening conversation to wander freely over the urbanist landscape.
The exchange of ideas will commence at noon. Arrive early if you plan to order lunch. Other information including location is provided on the Urban Chat calendar, link above.
Wednesday, September 13 – Know Before You Grow
We’re awaiting final confirmation from the speaker, but the anticipated topic is Senate Bill 9. SB9 is legislation that simplifies lot splits and ADUs, both of which can create the new households needed to support 15-minute neighborhoods.
The forum will convene at 7:00pm. We’re assessing two alternatives for a venue. Information will be posted on the Urban Chat calendar, link above, when it’s finalized.
Wednesday, September 20 - Better Cities Film Festival Petaluma 2023
This will be the first showing of the Better Cities Film Festival as presented by Urban Chat. We’re working with the Better Cities Film Festival organization in Detroit. With our input about Petaluma’s specific issues, the Better Cities Film Festival staff will help us curate a selection of films from their 800-spool library pertaining to all aspects of urban planning from housing to transportation to climate action.
Plans for the Film Festival are still evolving, but you should put the date on your calendar now.
This first showing will begin at 6:00 pm with social and food for purchase from 5pm. The venue will be the Boulevard Cinemas. Look for more information in coming weeks.
Thursday, September 28 - Better Cities Film Festival Petaluma 2023
This will be the second showing of the Better Cities Film Festival as presented by Urban Chat. It will be the same film selection as the first showing, but with a larger contingent of youth, adding to the energy and self-interest of the audience.
As with the first showing, plans are still evolving, but you should put the date on your calendar now.
This second showing will also begin at 6:00 pm with social and food for purchase from 5pm. The venue will be the SRJC Petaluma campus. Look for more information in coming weeks.
