Parking Study Session (Virtual)
Monday, March 28, 2022 - 6:00 PM
The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, Planning Commission, and City Council came together in a joint meeting to kick off the Parking Study Session series. The virtual session on March 28, 2022, provided a space to learn about off-street private parking standards and share perspectives on the direction to take as the City reconsiders how to align its policy with current values like carbon neutrality.
While this session is not officially part of the General Plan Update process, the impacts of Parking reform in Petaluma will have important implications for further planning phases in land use.
For more information on the Parking Study Session and future sessions, please access the Parking Standard’s Ordinance Update section of the City webpage.
Housing Element Presentation and Discussion to Planning Commission (Virtual)
Tuesday, March 22, 2022 - 7:00 PM
The Housing Element Presentation and Discussion was the second in a series of three community meetings to learn about and shape our community’s approach to the 6th Cycle Housing Element, Petaluma's plan to provide needed housing and increase housing equity over the next eight years. The presentation focused on sharing background on the role of the Housing Element, reviewing community input on housing received thus far, and highlighting current efforts. We appreciated the rich and in-depth discussion of housing goals, sites, policies, and programs.
Please access the agenda on the City meetings webpage for the recording and materials.
Vision Materials Presentation to City Council (Virtual)
Monday, March 21, 2022 - 6:30 PM
The City Council received a presentation on the Vision Statement, Pillars, Guiding Principles, and Supporting Concepts (Final Draft Vision Materials English and Spanish) for the General Plan Update recommended by the General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC).
During the presentation, General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) Members, and our consultant from Raimi and Associates provided an update of where we are with the General Plan Update, described the purpose for the Vision Materials, and outlined the process to develop, draft, and revise these documents built with community input during 2021-2022. As this was the third presentation of these materials, the City Council also heard a summary of feedback from the Planning Commission, Climate Action Commission, and community members.
Please access the agenda on the City meetings webpage for the recording and materials.
Vision Materials Presentation to Climate Action Commission (Virtual)
Thursday, March 10, 2022 - 6:30 PM
The Climate Action Commission received a presentation on the Vision Statement, Pillars, Guiding Principles, and Supporting Concepts (Final Draft Vision Materials English and Spanish) for the General Plan Update recommended by the General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC).
During the presentation, General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) Members, and our consultant from Raimi and Associates provided an update of where we are with the General Plan Update, described the purpose for the Vision Materials, and reviewed the process to develop, draft, and revise these documents built with community input during 2021-2022.
Please access the agenda on the City meetings webpage for the recording and materials.
Vision Materials Presentation to Planning Commission (Virtual)
Tuesday, March 8, 2022 - 7:00 PM
The Planning Commission will receive a presentation on the Vision Statement, Pillars, Guiding Principles, and Supporting Concepts (Final Draft Vision Materials English and Spanish) for the General Plan Update recommended by the General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) to the City Council as part of the General Plan Update.
During the presentation, General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) Members, and our consultant from Raimi and Associates will provide an update of where we are with the General Plan Update, describe the purpose for the Vision Materials, and describe the process to develop, draft, and revise these documents built with community input during 2021-2022.
Please access the agenda on the City meetings webpage for the recording and materials.
City Council Meeting - existing conditions reports (virtual)
January 3rd, 2022, 6:30 PM
At the January 3rd City Council meeting, the General Plan Team presented an overview of the Existing Conditions Reports and next steps for feedback analysis and revisions. Along with sharing patterns on past engagement, the meeting also received additional feedback from Council Members and community members. This continues to inform subsequent analysis and future changes that will be made in the final drafts of the ECRs.
Please access the agenda on the City meetings webpage for the recording and materials.
General Plan Update 2021 Activities
In 2021, the City made important progress that laid the foundation for our plan through community participation, extensive research, and collaboration across City Government and community members. The following are accomplishments that have been possible through this collaboration:
Held extensive community engagement online and in-person such as the General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC), the Visioning Workshop, Community Pop-ups at farmers markets and various locations around town to incorporate broader community input
Tailored outreach for specific communities to share their input such as a Youth Survey where we are partnering with the Petaluma Youth Commission and Petaluma High School, and creating Spanish-language spaces for engagement, such as the Latinx Focus Group Session on the General Plan, simultaneous translation during meetings, and bilingual resources in English and Spanish
Published 19 Existing Conditions Reports that provide in-depth research and analysis of diverse topics including sea level rise, GHG emissions, transportation, and many more topics. All reports are available at the Plan Documents page
Reviewed insights of the Existing Conditions Reports with 12 City of Petaluma Committees and Commissions to gain more feedback and ensure accurate information for future planning efforts
Partnered with non-profits and institutions to ensure more people get involved, address community concerns, and build a shared vision
All of this participation and research is part of the intentional process we are taking to help Petaluma address important challenges, such as the impacts of climate change and the housing crisis. Community participation is crucial in this process - this is your city and we want it to work for you!
Check out this Engagement Overview Draft to learn more about how community participation has shaped the General Plan Update process in 2021!
Committee And Commission Meetings to Share Existing Condition Reports (Virtual)
During October and November 2021, the General Plan Update Team presented Existing Conditions Reports to Petaluma’s Committees and Commissions. These presentations provided both a “big picture” overview of where we are today along with a deeper-dive into topics and issues relevant to that committee or commission. These sessions provided an important opportunity to evaluate our current conditions across the various factors from environmental conditions to parks and recreation and sparked more informed discussion and policy-making as we move forward in building our General Plan.
All community members were welcome to join these sessions to learn and comment on the issues. Informational materials were provided to Committees and Commissions, who posted them in their agendas online on the City’s Website.
Previous Sessions
Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee: Wednesday, October 6, 2021 6:30 PM
Historic & Cultural Preservation Committee: Tuesday, October 12, 4:00 PM
Transit Advisory Committee: Thursday, October 14, 2021 4:00 PM
Recreation, Music, & Parks Commission: Wednesday, October 20, 7:00 PM
Planning Commission: Tuesday, October 26, 7:00 PM
Public Art Committee: Thursday, October 28, 6:00 PM
Airport Commission: Thursday, November 4, 2021 6:00 PM
Technology Advisory Committee: Monday, November 8, 2021 7:00 PM
Youth Commission: Tuesday, November 9, 2021 6:30 PM
Climate Action Commission: Tuesday, November 16, 2021 6:30 PM
Tree Advisory Committee: Wednesday, November 17, 2021 3:30 PM
Senior Advisory Committee: Thursday, November 18, 2021 8:30 AM
Visioning Open House Workshop (Virtual)
September 29th - 6:30PM - 9:30PM
Members of the community joined the live session to learn about the General Plan update and share input through polls, written comments, and small group discussions. Building on previous community input, the visioning workshop was a chance to inform and confirm the direction of the updated General Plan.
The workshop also offered Spanish language facilitation for all the activities provided by city staff who are native Spanish speakers.
If you missed the live session, you can still share your ideas and comments through the Virtual Open House accessible through Friday, October 22, 2021! This Virtual Open House is a completely self-guided opportunity to provide input on the vision and progress made for the General Plan Update. Enter the link to go through and navigate activities to learn more, share your vision for Petaluma, and help inform plans for specific neighborhoods.
The activities are now closed.
Planning 101 educational forum (virtual)
September 8th from 7:00 – 8:30 PM
Are you interested in learning more about the City of Petaluma’s planning process? On September 8th from 7:00 – 8:30 pm, Heather Hines, Interim Community Development Director, Christina Paul, the General Plan project manager, and David Garcia, assistant planner, provided a presentation and led a Q&A forum on the basics of planning.
The presentation covers the General Plan requirements, zoning, and the city’s existing plans and ordinances. This educational forum will be co-hosted by Know Before You Grow. Come and learn more about how vision becomes reality in the world of planning!
