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iNTRODUCTION TO gpac

WHO’S IN the GPAC?

GPAC MEETINGS and materials

GPAC DOCUMENTS

General Plan Advisory Committee

The GPAC is a committee of community members including residents, business owners, educators, and other members of the Petaluma community who meet and collaborate to provide insight throughout the City’s General Plan Update process. The GPAC members serve as advisors and project ambassadors throughout the General Plan process.

GPAC Purpose

The GPAC’s purpose is to:

• Supplement community input provided at public workshops and provide feedback and guidance throughout the General Plan process.

• Provide feedback and direction to the project consultant and City staff, with the goal of developing policies and objectives of the new General Plan that are responsive to community input, conditions, goals, and vision.

• Help tailor the project to local conditions, including the approach taken for each major step in the process as well as public engagement strategies employed.

• Review plan materials and provide guidance at key project milestones, including crafting a vision, considering alternatives, and selecting preferred policies, to help ensure that they are responsive to community input and conditions.

• Communicate information about the General Plan to Petaluma community members and encourage all interested parties to participate in the process.

 Who’s in the GPAC?

Current GPAC Members

Dave Alden​
Stephanie Blake​
Phil Boyle​
Mary Dooley​
Ali Gaylord​
Yensi Jacobo​
Sharon Kirk​
Roger Leventhal​

GPAC Meetings and Materials

The GPAC meets on the third Thursday of the month at 6:30 PM, in person at the Petaluma Community Center at Lucchesi Park (320 N. McDowell). All GPAC meetings are open to the public, and all interested community members and stakeholders are welcome to get involved in the planning process to share their lived experiences and knowledge.

Upcoming Meetings

May 15, 2025 Meeting of the General Plan Advisory Committee

April 17, 2025 Meeting of the General Plan Advisory Committee (Cancelled)

 Past Meetings

march 2025 Meeting of the General Plan Advisory Committee (Cancelled)

February 2025 Meeting of the General Plan Advisory Committee (Cancelled)

January 2025 Meeting of the General Plan Advisory Committee (In Person)

Thursday, January 16, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Location: Lucchesi Community Center (320 N. McDowell)
Topic: Provide feedback on recommended changes to the General Plan Land Use Designations and Map

Agenda
Memo to GPAC
Slideshow
Meeting Summary

December 2024 Meeting of the General Plan Advisory Committee (Cancelled)

November 2024 MEETING OF THE General Plan Advisory Committee (CANCELLED)

October 2024 MEETING OF THE General Plan Advisory Committee (In Person)

Thursday, October 17, 2024 at 6:30 PM
Location: Lucchesi Community Center (320 N. McDowell) Craft Room

Topic: Continuation of September 19th meeting to provide feedback on the Draft Land Use Policy Framework

Agenda
Memo to GPAC
Land Use Policy Framework
Meeting Summary

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE General Plan Advisory Committee Meeting (In Person)

Thursday, September 26, 2024 at 6:30 PM
Location: Lucchesi Community Center (320 N. McDowell)

Topic: Continuation of September 19th meeting to provide feedback on the Draft Land Use Policy Framework

Agenda
Memo to GPAC
Land Use Policy Framework

Meeting Summary

September General Plan Advisory Committee Meeting (In Person)

Thursday, September 19, 2024 at 6:30 PM
Location: Lucchesi Community Center (320 N. McDowell)

Topic: GPAC feedback on the Land Use Policy Framework

Agenda
Memo to GPAC
Land Use Policy Framework

Meeting Summary

August General Plan Advisory Committee Meeting (In Person)

Thursday, August 15, 2024 at 6:30 PM
Location: Lucchesi Community Center (320 N. McDowell)
See the Agenda here

PowerPoint Presentation

Meeting Summary

July General Plan Advisory Committee Meeting - IN PERSON

Location: Petaluma Community Center at Lucchesi Park
Thursday, July 18, 2024 at 6:30 PM
Topic: Introduce Public Review Process for Public Draft of Land Use Policy Framework

Agenda

Public Comments

Meeting Summary

Meeting # 34 - June General Plan Advisory Committee Meeting - VIRTUAL

June 20, 2024, 6:30 - 9:00 PM
Topic: The GPAC will discuss the working group feedback on the Draft Policy Frameworks for the General Plan.

Agenda and Meeting Materials

Public Comments

Meeting Recording Part 1

Meeting Recording Part 2

Meeting Summary

MEETING #33 - May General Plan Advisory Committee Meeting - CANCELLED

May 16, 2024 GPAC Meeting Cancelled.

Meeting #32 - April General Plan Advisory Committee Meeting - VIRTUAL

April 18, 2024, 6:30-9:00 PM

Meeting Recording

Meeting Agenda and Materials

Meeting Summary

Public comment #1

Public Comment #2

Public Comment #3

Meeting #31 - March General Plan Advisory Committee Meeting

March 21, 2024 CANCELLED - No meeting

Meeting #30 - February General Plan Advisory Committee Meeting

Thursday, February 15, 20204, 6:30-9:00 PM
City of Petaluma Community Center, Lucchesi Park

Meeting Agenda and materials

Presentation

Public Comments

Meeting Summary

Meeting Purpose: Continue discussion of Land Use

Meeting #29 - January General Plan Advisory Committee Meeting (In PERSON)

Thursday, January 18, 20204, 6:30-9:00 PM
City of Petaluma Community Center, 320 N. McDowell Blvd

Meeting Agenda

Presentation

Meeting Summary

No virtual option was available for this meeting and it was not recorded, the public was invited to attend in person.

Meeting #28 - November General Plan Advisory Committee Meeting (in person)

Thursday, November 16, 2023, 6:30 - 9:00 PM

Meeting Agenda

Meeting Summary

Agenda en Español

Meeting Materials: Blueprint for Carbon Neutrality GPAC Comments, October 19, 2023 Meeting Summary

Presentation

Meeting #27 - October 19, 2023

Thursday, October 19, 2023
In follow up to the September meeting, this meeting will begin the discussion about flood adaptation strategies.

• Meeting Agenda and Materials: https://cityofpetaluma.primegov.com/Portal/MeetingPreview?compiledMeetingDocumentFileId=20968

• Presentation

• Meeting Summary

Meeting # 26 - September 21, 2023

Thursday, September 21, 2023 - 6:30 PM - In Person
Petaluma Community Center - Conference Rooms A-D
320 N. McDowell, Petaluma

GPAC had its first ever in-person meeting on September 21, 2023. The meeting focused on the results of the City’s Flood Mapping and Sea Level Rise Mapping Project.

• Agenda

• Memo

• Past Meeting Summary

• Flood Sea Level Rise Maps Memo

• Presentation

Meeting #25 aUGUST 17, 2023

• Agenda

• Agenda en español!

• Memo

• Past Meeting Summary

• Residential Housing Feasibility Study

• Affordable Housing Feasibility Study

• GPAC Presentation

• Housing Analysis Presentation

Meeting #24 - May 18, 2023

• GPAC Agenda

• GPAC Presentation

Meeting #23 - March 16, 2023

• GPAC Agenda

• GPAC Memo

• GPAC Presentation

• Attachments:

  • GPAC Summary

  • Small Artwork Commission Presentation

Meeting #22 - February 16, 2023

• GPAC Agenda

• GPAC Memo

• GPAC Presentation

• Attachments:

  • Summary notes from January 19, 2023 meeting

  • Planning Commission Staff Report, February 14, 2023

  • Petaluma Draft Housing Element Letter

  • Draft Housing Element

  • Planning Commission Staff Report, September 13, 2022

  • City Council Staff Report, October 3, 2022

  • Posted Revisions to Draft Housing Element

  • Revisions to Housing Programs in Track Changes

  • Public Comment Letters Received

• Public Comment:

  • Public Comment

Meeting #21 - January 19, 2023

• GPAC Agenda

• GPAC Memo

• GPAC Presentation

• Attachments:

  • Summary notes from December 15, 2022 GPAC meeting

• Public Comment:

  • Public Comment from Autumn Buss

  • Public Comment from Jennifer Stock

  • Public Comment from Kari Kittinger and Jason Edwards

  • Public Comment from Katherine Rinehart

  • Public Comment from Mary Dooley

  • Public Comment from Scott Fisherman

  • Public Comment from Stuart Rabinowitsh

  • Public Comment from Suzanne Grady

  • Public Comment from Taryn Obaid

2022 GPAC MEETINGS

December 15, 2022

• GPAC Agenda

• GPAC Memo

• GPAC Presentation

• Attachments:

  • Attachment A: Summary notes from the November 17, 2022 GPAC

• Public Comment:

  • Published as received

November 17, 2022

• GPAC Memo

• GPAC Agenda

• GPAC Presentation

• GPAC Meeting Notes

• Attachments:

  • Attachment A: Summary notes from the October 20, 2022 GPAC meeting 

  • Attachment B: Open Space and Natural Resources GPAC Working Group Summary August 2022 

• Public Comment:

  • Public Comment from Veronica Olsen

  • Public Comment from Kris Rebillot

October 20, 2022

• GPAC Memo

• GPAC Agenda

• GPAC Presentation

• GPAC Meeting Notes

• Attachments:

  • Attachment A Summary Notes from September 2022 GPAC Session

• Public Comment:

  • None received

September 15, 2022

• GPAC Memo

• GPAC Agenda

• GPAC Presentation

• Attachments:

  • (Updated) Attachment A Summary Notes August GPAC

  • Attachment B HE Staff Report

• Public Comment:

  • Posted as Received

August 18, 2022

• August GPAC Memo

• August GPAC Agenda

• August GPAC Presentation

• GPAC Working Group Materials:

  • Climate Action

    • List of Climate Adaptation Measures

  • Housing

    • GPAC Housing Platform

  • Open Space and Natural Resources

    • Open Space and Natural Resources Working Group Summary

      • Open Space and Natural Resources Working Group Full Report

  • Economic Development

    • Economic Development Working Group Recommendations

• Public Comment:

  • G Street Action Committee August 2022

July 21, 2022 - Cancelled

• Cancellation Notice

June 16, 2022

• June GPAC Memo

• June GPAC Agenda

• June GPAC Presentation

• Attachments:

  • Attachment A Notes from May 2022 Meeting

  • Attachment B Draft Housing Sites Inventory Tables and Map

  • Attachment C Draft Housing Sites Inventory Map (17x11 in.)

  • Attachment D Draft Housing Goals, Policies, and Programs

• Public Comment:

  • None Received

May 19, 2022

• May GPAC Memo

• May Meeting Agenda

• May GPAC Presentation

• Attachments:

  • Attachment A: April Meeting Notes

• Relevant Public Comment:

  • Comment on Home Depot - Glenn Illian

  • Comment on Home Depot - Greg Mitchell

  • Comment on Home Depot - Tom Yannes

  • Comment on Home Depot - T. Fr. Thro

  • Comment on Home Depot - Nancy Thro

  • Comment on Home Depot - Diane Judd

  • Comment on Home Depot - Ross Modlin

  • Comment on Home Depot - Julia Vanderham

  • Comment on Home Depot - Debra Sheppard

  • Op-Ed on Home Depot published in the Argus-Courier by GPAC Members Kris Rebillot, Ali Gaylord, and Janice Cader-Thompson

  • Comment from Janice Cader-Thompson on Petaluma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency Rate and Fee Study

  • Comment on GPAC Meeting - Darren Racusen

April 21, 2022

• April GPAC Memo

• April Meeting Agenda

• April GPAC Presentation

• April Meeting Notes

• Attachment A - March Meeting Notes

• Attachment B - Housing Element Summary

• Public Comment:

  • None Recieved

March 17, 2022

• March GPAC Memo

• March GPAC Presentation

• March Meeting Agenda

• March Meeting Notes

• Attachment A - February Meeting Notes

• Written Public Comment:

  • None received

February 17, 2022

• February GPAC Memo

• February Meeting Agenda

• February Meeting Notes

• February GPAC Presentation

• Attachment A: Summary Notes from January GPAC Meeting

• Attachment B: Revised Final Draft Visioning Products

  • Revision made by Visioning Working Group - Vision Statement, Pillars of Petaluma, Guiding Principles and Supporting Concepts

• Attachment C: Areas of Discussion and Key Strategies Diagrams memo

• Attachment D: Working Group Guidance

Comments Received:

• Comments and Language Edits to Guiding Principles - Janice Cader-Thompson 2/17/2022

• Language Edits to Guiding Principles - Janice Cader-Thompson 2/16/2022

• Edits from Janice Cader-Thompson on Revised Vision Language 2/10/22

• Memo from ReLeaf Petaluma

Feedback Provided on Visioning Materials - January through February 2022

Version edited by GPAC at January GPAC Session:

• Word Document with Track Changes

Feedback Received on Vision Statement, Pillars, and Guiding Principles:

• Comments and Edits:

  • Edits from GPAC Member Janice Cader-Thompson (Updated 2/2)

  • Edits from GPAC Member Kris Rebillot

    • Edits and Comments from GPAC Member Kris Rebillot 1/31

  • Edits from GPAC Member Bill Rhinehart

  • Edits from GPAC Member Mary Dooley

  • Suggestions and Comments Received Via Email 1/20-2/9 (Updated)

• Public Comment

  • Comments from Pete Gang

  • Letter from Hal Bohner

  • Message from Bill Wolpert

  • Comments on Vision, Pillars, and Guiding Principles from Susan Kirks

January 20, 2022

• GPAC Memo

• January GPAC Presentation

• Session Agenda

• January Session Notes

• Attachment B: Visioning Products

• Engagement Summary Matrix

• Public Comment:

  • Letter from Hal Bohner

  • Message from Bill Wolpert

  • Comments on Vision, Pillars, and Guiding Principles from Susan Kirks

2021 GPAC Meeting Materials

November 18, 2021

• November GPAC Memo

• Community Visioning Phase Synthesis

• Public Comment

  • Attachments

    • Comment Attachment

    • ArcGIS - We Are all Connected

    • CAFF Sonoma Count Hand out

    • CAFF VIP Tour Summary

    • November GPAC Meeting Notes

October 21, 2021

• Presentation

• Meeting Summary and Notes

September 16, 2021

• Presentation

• Meeting Summary

• Mentimeter Exercise Results

August 19, 2021

• Presentation

• Meeting Summary

July 15, 2021

• Agenda

• Memo

• General Plan Fact Sheet

• Community Socioeconomic Profile

• Health and Environmental Justice Analysis

• Presentation

• Meeting Summary

June 17, 2021 - Cancelled

Because the City has a very full meeting schedule (approaching four evenings a week, every week), it can be challenging to find a time to reschedule another televised public GPAC meeting between now and the next scheduled GPAC meeting (July 15). Understanding that it is still essential to gather GPAC input to keep the planning process moving along, the General Plan team has decided to ask for GPAC memeber’s individual and ad-hoc working group input on the Draft Group Agreements and assessing the defining characteristics of city sub-areas. The General Plan team will summarize individual and small group comments and review proposed sub-area boundaries at the next GPAC meeting. Below is the original agenda, memo detailing the agenda rationale, and assorted attachments to the memo.

• Agenda

• Memo

• Draft GPAC Group Agreements

• General Plan 2025 - Subareas

• Subareas Map

• General Plan Update Scope

May 20, 2021

• Presentation

• Meeting Summary (Spanish version: Notas de resumen de la reunión en español)

March 18, 2021

• Presentation

• Meeting Summary (Spanish version: Notas de resumen de la reunión en español)

GPAC Working Group Materials

In 2022, the GPAC Working Groups delved into specific topics to provide direction for the General Plan Update. This entailed research, collaborating with community members, holding work sessions and community meetings, and synthesizing diverse sources of information.

Each working group applied an approach specific to their topic and interests. Some groups decided to provide written statements that summarize their priorities and recommendations, which include the following:

• Housing Working Group

  • GPAC Housing Platform

• Climate Action Working Group

  • List of Possible Petaluma General Plan Measures Related to Climate Change

• Open Space and Natural Resources Working Group

  • Open Space and Natural Resources Summary August 2022

    • Full Report from Open Space and Natural Resources Working Group August 2022

• Economic Development and Justice Working Group

  • Economic Development Working Group Recommendations

In April 2024, with the publication of the draft Policy Frameworks, the GPAC working groups were re-formed with the purpose of conducting an in-depth review of thirteen draft Policy Frameworks. The GPAC discussed their feedback at the June 20, 2024 GPAC meeting. An additional working group will review the Land Use Policy Framework upon its release in August 2024.

GPAC Documents

GPAC Rules and Responsibilities

GPAC Briefing Book

Brown Act Summary

Brown Act Training Presentation