August 21, 2023
Greetings & Thoughts
Preparing for a big September!
I’ll start today with a reminder. If you haven’t yet reserved a spot for the Urban Chat Mixer this coming Friday, please RSVP to margot.rachel.thomas@gmail.com immediately. You don’t want to be left out.
For new readers, Urban Chat Mixers are an opportunity for a small group of Urban Chat members, including everyone reading this email, to meet in a small casual setting to become better acquainted and to exchange thoughts about land-use issues. After I hosted two Mixers in my backyard, Rachel Thomas, with her husband Colin, volunteered to host a mixer in their backyard this coming Friday, August 25. The Thomases will provide beverages and ask that attendees bring an appetizer to share.
The Thomas’ address and other details will be provided in response to RSVPs.
Looking further ahead, we’re now less than a month from the Better Cities Film Festival organized by Urban Chat. Ticket sales have begun. You can secure your tickets through the EventBrite link on the Urban Chat Film Festival webpage here.
Meanwhile, the sponsorship list continues to grow. In addition to City Hall, Green Building Architects, the Aqus Foundation, Jones Architecture, the M-Group, LivXplore Realty, and more have become sponsors.
There are also three individual Urban Chat members on the sponsorship list. If you’ve been looking for a way to further support Urban Chat, being a sponsor for the Film Festival might be your opportunity. Sponsorship information is also provided at the link above.
Lastly, I’m eagerly looking forward to the KBYG forum this coming Wednesday. Parking reform has long been a topic that demanded further attention from the Petaluma community. I chatted with Tony Jordan of the Parking Reform Network at a recent land-use conference and am excited to hear what he’ll say to a Petaluma audience. More information is provided below and on the Urban Chat calendar.
One more note, as I was finalizing this email, I learned that Urban Chat member and Planning Commissioner Kevin Kelly passed away last week. His obituary is here. My thoughts go out to his wife and family. His voice will be missed.
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.
Tuesday, August 22 (tomorrow) – Petaluma Planning Commission
Neither of the two principal Planning Commission agenda items pertain directly to urbanism, but both are tangentially related and should offer an interesting evening.
The first item is consideration of the proposed Chick-fil-A at the north end of Petaluma Boulevard North, replacing the current Cattlemen’s restaurant. Personally, I think freeway-oriented fast food places are an abomination and always prefer a small local diner. Plus, I’d prefer for Cattlemen’s to remain.
But neither of those reasons would typically rouse me to attend yet one more public hearing. But then I read the VMT analysis for the project, with the assumption that few people would drive from other parts of Petaluma to visit Chick-fil-A. I was astounded. I’ve never had a Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich but understand they’re beloved and strongly doubt the traffic generation assumption. As someone who argued for years for the VMT legislation followed by rule adoption, I detest having the impact of that idea neutered by dubious assumptions such as these and will say so.
The second item is consideration by the Planning Commission about what their role in the local land-use planning process should be, based on a reading of the pertinent section in the Petaluma Municipal Code. I think it’s a legitimate question and look forward to hearing the conversation.
The meeting will convene at 6:00pm. Other information, including the location and agenda, are on the Urban Chat calendar, link above.
Wednesday, August 23 (This week) – 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 still 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 finalized.
Wednesday, September 20 - Petaluma Urban Chat/Better Cities Film Festival
This will be the first showing of the Better Cities Film Festival as presented by Urban Chat. We’re working with the national Better Cities Film Festival organization. With our input about Petaluma’s specific issues, the Better Cities Film Festival staff is helping 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.
We suggest attendees arrive at 5:00 pm for no-host beverages and light dinners. This first showing will begin at 6:00 pm. The venue will be the Boulevard 14 Cinemas. Look for more information in coming weeks.
Thursday, September 21 (Likely) – Petaluma General Plan Advisory Committee
The GPAC has been advised that the September meeting will finally (!) feature sea level rise and flooding risk. The tentative plan is also for this to be a hybrid meeting, allowing GPAC members to meet face-to-face for the first time in their GPAC roles.
The date hasn’t been confirmed but is tentatively assumed to be the standing date of the third Thursday of the month, which will be September 21. Similarly, the time of the meeting isn’t yet known. Information will be provided on the Urban Chat calendar, link above, when published by the City.
Thursday, September 28 - Petaluma Urban Chat
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 students, 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.
As with the first showing, we suggest attendees arrive beginning at 5:00 pm for non-alcoholic beverages and conversation. This second showing will also begin at 6:00 pm. The venue will be the Carole L. Ellis Auditorium on the Santa Rosa Junior College Petaluma campus. Look for more information in coming weeks.
