Community Update for October 4, 2024

strand of lit jack-o-lantern Halloween lights

HAGA CLIC AQUÍ PARA ESPAÑOL

Hello, Petaluma!

We hope you have been staying cool this week as temperatures soared. While we look forward to crisp fall weather each year, we know all too well that September and October can continue to bring the heat in our region.

During excessive heat, please do you best to:

Find air conditioning when you can
Avoid any strenuous activities
Wear light, loose fitting clothing
Check on vulnerable neighbors, family, and friends
Stay hydrated and drink plenty of water

Read on for updates on happenings around town and here at the City. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful weekend!

Slow the Fast Down on Oct. 9

This Weds., Oct. 9, is Walk and Roll to School Day across Sonoma County! So far, 12 Petaluma schools have signed up to participate, with bike and walking trains planned through many different neighborhoods across the City.

Making space for kids and families to walk, bike, or roll to school can have huge benefits – both for the families themselves and the whole community. Physical activity reduces the risk of obesity and related chronic diseases, and also improves mental health, attendance, and academic performance. At the same time, fewer cars on the road during drop off and pick up times reduces traffic congestion and air pollution, while being a low-cost alternative to high gas prices for families on a budget. It also builds a stronger sense of community as families get out of their cars and see more of their neighbors and their neighborhood.

So please drive extra carefully throughout Petaluma that day as our chickens and chicks cross the road!

Update on the Downtown Housing & Economic Development Overlay

Last Tuesday, after reviewing a draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR), the City’s Planning Commission and Historical and Cultural Preservation Committee recommended that the City move forward with a final EIR for the proposed Downtown Housing and Economic Opportunity Overlay and the EKN Hotel project.

The EIR is a study that considers a project’s potential impacts on the environment so that the community has as much information as possible when considering a development project. The report is completed in two steps – a draft and then a final which provides the community time to weigh in on the study before it is finalized. This coming Monday, October 7, the City Council will discuss the recommendation from both the Planning Commission and the Historical and Cultural Preservation Committee, review the findings of the draft EIR, and decide whether or not to direct staff to prepare a final EIR for future consideration.

This report was requested by the City and community after an Initial Study (completed in April 2024) found potential impacts in the areas of aesthetics, land use, and cultural & tribal resources. The draft EIR takes a closer look to help us better understand how the proposed Overlay and hotel project might affect the look, feel, and heritage of Petaluma’s downtown.

If you’d like to learn more, you can check out the Initial Study (April 2024) HERE, and the draft EIR (August 2024) HERE.

We also want to hear from you! The public comment period on the draft EIR has been extended until 5pm on Monday, October 21. You can share your thoughts by attending Monday’s City Council meeting, or by emailing your comments to [email protected].

Monday’s City Council meeting will be held in person at City Hall (11 English Street) and will also be available to watch via Zoom. Here’s the Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83204993631.

If you want to provide a public comment, you’ll need to either speak in person at the meeting or email your comment to [email protected].

We appreciate your input and engagement as we plan for Petaluma’s future!

Kentucky Street Upgrades Nearing Completion

We are completing the finishing touches on our Kentucky Street safety and accessibility upgrades near the Golden Concourse (the pathway to the Keller Street parking garage).

You may remember the following phases of the project:

Phase 1 – Trees removal due to safety concerns – COMPLETED
Phase 2 – Sidewalk repairs, accessibility improvements and tree replacement – COMPLETED

For our final upgrades, we will be adding standard Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ramps to either side of the crosswalk. Not only do these ramps provide easier access for those with limited mobility, they also shorten the crossing distance and narrow the traffic lanes which will increase visibility and slow traffic.

Please note: The crosswalk artwork is not part of this project. A third party is working to arrange another art installation at this site.

Work is scheduled to take place the week of October 7, 2024. We anticipate construction to last approximately one week. Pedestrian and vehicle access will be maintained throughout the work.

To learn more, please visit: cityofpetaluma.org/kentuckyupgrades.

LUMAGO Launch Events

This week, Petaluma Transit launched LumaGo, our new FREE on-demand shuttle! Want to learn more about the program? Join us for one of the official LumaGo Launch events and get a sneak peak at this one-year pilot program. We’ll have a quick intro to show you how easy it is to book your ride, a chance to win awesome raffle prizes, a guided tour of the LumaGo shuttle, and best of all, you can hop aboard for a fun test ride! Don’t miss out on this exciting new way to get around town! No RSVP required.

Pop-Up Launch Events

10/1 at 3 p.m.
PEP Housing, Community Room (210 Douglass St)
10/2 at 2 p.m.
PEP Housing, Community Room (575 Vallejo St)
10/3 at 11 a.m.
Petaluma Women’s Club (518 B St)
10/4 at 1 p.m.
Petaluma Family Resource Center (421 S McDowell Blvd)

For more information, call 1-877-778-LUMA, email [email protected], or visit our website at transit.cityofpetaluma.net/lumago.

Busy at the Fairgrounds

A lot is happening on your Petaluma Fairgrounds! Our City of Petaluma team has been fixing roofs, adding bike and pedestrian paths, installing signage, and programming new events. Check out the short video we made to see some of the action. Then, we hope you’ll come spend some time on the property soon to enjoy a community event and see the improvements in person!

If you want to learn more about what we’ve been up to, you can also read our activity report sharing the work your City staff have been doing to improve and program our fairgrounds over the last six months.

I Street Safety Update

Thank you to all who took the time to attend our I Street Traffic Calming meeting on September 23. We greatly appreciate your input and are taking it into consideration as we refine our plans for this important neighborhood connector and rural gateway.

As we shared at the meeting, following the installation of roadway modifications in April 2023 and a speed cushion earlier this year, we continue to hear concerns about speeding and safety on I Street, as well as improper use of the speed cushions.

At the meeting, we shared our recommendation to remove the speed cushion and install chicanes, which would add curvature to the street, removing the “straightaway” effect that encourages speeding.

Thank you to everyone who shared input during the meeting. We are currently revising our proposed design to incorporate feedback from the neighborhood. We will notify the community when the new design has been completed and will share an anticipated construction schedule at that point.

To learn more, and sign up to receive project updates, please visit: cityofpetaluma.org/istreetsafety.

Thank you for working with us to make I Street the best (and safest) it can be.

Retail Cannabis in Petaluma

In 2018, the City of Petaluma took its first steps to regulate commercial cannabis activity within the city limits. Fast forward to June 2024, the Petaluma City Council passed an updated cannabis ordinance, making it possible for storefront cannabis retailers to operate in certain zones. This change allows for up to three storefront cannabis retailers and two delivery-only retailers to open, and the businesses will be selected through a competitive process.

Here’s how it works: Once we select up to three eligible applicants, they’ll have up to six months to complete several steps, including interviews, submitting a site plan, and providing security information. After these steps, the businesses will undergo a site review before receiving their Retail Cannabis Sales Annual License, issued by the City’s Community Development Department.

Ready to apply? You’ll need to submit all required application materials by November 7, 2024, via email to, [email protected].

Visit our website to learn more about our program.

Fall Festivities

Fall is a spooktacular season for celebration in Petaluma with hauntings, pumpkin patches, and happenings around every corner!

Cemetery Walk – Don’t miss the 25th Annual Cemetery Walk with the Petalumans of Yesteryear. Ghosts of Petaluma’s past come to life on the Petaluma Historical Library & Museum’s Annual Cemetery Tour on Saturday, October 19. Purchase tickets here.
Haunted History Ghost Walks – Explore the darker side of Petaluma’s history on an enlightening walking tour of downtown with ghostly hosts from Petaluma’s past! Tours are available on weekends, and more. Find details here.
Witches & Wizards on the Water – Don’t miss out on “Witches & Wizards on The Water” — a supernatural paddle party on the slough! Saturday, October 26 from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM at The Floathouse Petaluma. Find more information here.
Downtown Trick or Treat Trail – Downtown Petaluma’s annual safe “Trick or Treat Trail” returns! Join the participating downtown merchants for the Annual Trick or Treat Trail this Halloween, Thursday, October 31, from 3pm-5:30pm!