Report: To Sonoma, housing is No. 1 concern

Housing is by far the Number One concern of Sonoma Valley residents, followed by health and the well-being of children, according to feedback received from hundreds of people over the last year in a series of information-gathering workshops held by Sustainable Sonoma.

The organization, an offshoot of Sonoma’s Ecology Center that seeks to unite disparate groups to pursue crucial goals for the Valley, held 20 listening sessions around the Valley between March and October. All told, the workshops drew about 350 people who offered around 1,600 written comments.

The results are set forth in a report, “Voices of Sonoma Valley,” which is available online at www.sustainablesonoma.net/listening-sessions-report.

“No single group can solve the chronic problems in our community. We created a broad community conversation with the listening sessions, and now we will turn this into action priorities,” said Caitlin Cornwall, a research program manager and biologist with the Ecology Center who is a project director for Sustainable Sonoma.

Sustainable Sonoma has enlisted a broad coalition of local organizations – referred to as the ‘council’ – to share in putting priorities into play.

“The council has decided to focus on housing affordability and at a meeting later this month, we’ll put together the steps we’ll take to pursue housing affordability in the Sonoma Valley,” Cornwall said.

Cornwell said the council will put the action plan into effect probably in January. The council was formed in October 2017 and includes representatives of 30 entities, including such groups as the Sonoma Valley Affordable Housing Group, Sonoma Valley Interfaith Ministerial Association, Sonoma Valley Unified School District and others.

Probably some of the first steps will involve bringing in speakers from other communities that have had successful housing initiatives, said Kim Jones, Sustainable Sonoma’s coordinator. Jones and Cornwall are Sustainable Sonoma’s two part-time employees, on leave from the Ecology Center.

Cornwall said that while the Ecology Center conceived the idea of Sustainable Sonoma and is hosting it, the center is “working hard not to have an undue influence.”

Said Cornwall: “Someday, (Sustainable Sonoma) will have an independent existence” from the Ecology Center.

Sustainable Sonoma’s listening sessions were held at locations including the La Luz Center, Glen Ellen Community Church, Sonoma Valley Hospital, Sonoma Charter School and Sassarini Elementary School.

Each group of people was asked the same questions in an attempt to learn participants’ top priorities for the area’s future.

By far the most frequently mentioned issue was housing, with 207 comments. A typical comment: “Allow innovative housing development, via granny units, tiny houses,” while many commenters simply said, “Rent is too high.”

Not only was housing the most frequently mentioned topic, land use was the fourth most mentioned.

“Half of the comments that came in about housing were not in response to the housing question. They were in response to other questions. People see the significance of housing throughout the Valley,” Jones said.

Healthy people and healthy communities were the second most commonly mentioned topic, with 166 comments. Some typical comments were, “Easy access for all for medical care,” and “More information on how to eat healthy.”

Supporting youth and children was the third most common topic, with 149 comments. A typical comment: “Support for families who support children.”

In addition to Jones’ and Cornwall’s part-time positions, Sustainable Sonoma has received a $50,000 challenge donation from an anonymous donor. Any donations made to Sustainable Sonoma will be matched by the donor, Cornwall said. Donations can be made on the group’s website, https://www.sustainablesonoma.net.

Reach Janis Mara at janis.mara@sonomanews.com.