Sonoma housing town halls to feature panels of experts

Two town-hall meetings this week hope to move the community discussion forward on housing - and, in particular, affordable housing.

The first town hall is Tuesday, May 14, hosted by Sustainable Sonoma - a group composed of local representatives from the tourism, health, environment, education, seniors and other sectors - who will describe how the current housing situation affects their sectors of the community.

Sustainable Sonoma’s “Learning Lab” workshop is the first in a series on housing issues, with the May 14 event featuring a panel of Sonoma Valley community leaders. Sustainable Sonoma members Cynthia Scarborough and Caitlin Cornwall will lead the panel; planned panelists include 1st District Supervisor Susan Gorin as well as a representative of the Sonoma City Council subcommittee on housing.

Alicia Gaylord of MidPen Housing will be a guest speaker; other speakers presenting include John McCaull, of the Sonoma Land Trust; Priscilla Essert, of Vintage House senior center; Mark Bodenhammer, of the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce; Veronica Vences, of La Luz Center; Ryan Pocock, of the Sonoma Valley Community Health Center; Marc Elin, of the Sonoma Charter School; and Jim Comisky, of Sonoma Valley Fire & Rescue Authority.

Spanish translation will be available. The Learning Lab will be at 6:30 p.m. at Sonoma Charter School, 17202 Sonoma Highway. More information on the series is at sustainablesonoma.net/learning-lab-series.

The second town hall is Thursday, May 16 – hosted by the City of Sonoma, its theme is “Housing Our Community.” The event, beginning at 6 p.m. at Vintage House, is the second in a three-part series of housing town halls staged by the city.

At that event, a panel of housing experts will discuss building and financing affordable and market-rate housing – with a focus on “practical, real world examples,” according to city staff.

The panel will include Larry Florin, of the Burbank Housing Group; Steve Ledson, a local developer; Benjamin Wickham, the county’s affordable housing director; and Jeff Zimmerman, whose firm specializes in custom, modern housing, as well as high density, multi-family housing.

Jim Heid, founder of Urban Green and the city’s contracted facilitator of the series, will moderate the panel.

The town halls will be recorded by Sonoma Valley Community Television and made available on the city’s web site, sonomacity.org, for viewing following the events.

Light refreshments and childcare for school-age children will be provided. Vintage House is at 264 First St. E., Sonoma. Information on the city’s town hall series is online at www.sonomacity.org/housing-our-community.

Email Christian.Kallen@sonomanews.com.