Response Letter to the Chamber of Commerce

Cc: City Manager Mickaelian, Residents for Balance Downtown (and select supporters), Healdsburg Tribune, Press Democrat  

Dear Carla Howell and Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce,

Dear Members of the Healdsburg City Council,

I am responding as a member of the ‘Residents for Balance Downtown’ group that spearheaded the movement to limit hotel expansion in downtown Healdsburg. 

In the Chamber’s recent letter to the Council they asked them to “wait to take this arbitrary action (the Council’s recent hotel zoning ordinance) until the SDAT report has been published and all interested parties have had a chance to digest the full content.”

Arbitrary? I consider this a preposterous and condescending characterization. 

The Chamber appears to believe that the SDAT report, being "professional, unbiased, and factual" (in their words) will give us uncontroversial guidance. In fact, there is a strong possibility that the whole question of impacts from tourism will not be addressed head-on in the SDAT report, rendering its directives somewhat irrelevant to those (a strong majority, according to the City’s recent survey) who are concerned about this issue. This regrettable omission certainly calls into question the report’s ‘unbiased’ status. Why avoid this ‘elephant in the room’? 

Aside from any facts that may come from the SDAT report, it's worth mentioning that those opposing the hotel ordinance had nearly a year to address the Council and the City Manager's office with opposing data to support their position while our proposals were under consideration.

Many, perhaps most, who are in opposition to the hotel ordinance hold some version of the belief that the demands of the market should be the primary driver of civic planning. This view is opposed, in my opinion, by a balanced planning philosophy that brings many other civic needs and values into play. These values, which include balancing the needs and interests of residents with visitors and discouraging a preponderance of a single business type in a certain area, are not controversial and have for many years been strongly represented in Healdsburg’s current General Plan.

The SDAT will not hand us a perfectly digestible room limit number for new hotels downtown. Nor will any other economic analysis. In the end, with all the reports in, there will still be choices to be made. The council came to their number through a debate informed by their knowledge of the city, by compromise, common sense, and popular values about the shape that Healdsburg should take in the future. They acted with the understanding that further analysis would not be a fair substitute for timely leadership rooted in a first-hand understanding of the public's desire on this matter. 

What's the motive? Waiting for the SDAT directions to take hold would give developers a wide/lengthy window to move on projects before a hotel limiting zoning ordinance is passed.

The tone of the Chamber’s letter sounds urgent. Surely, they know that if the SDAT convinced the public and the government that these hotel limits are not wise, then at that time they can follow the steps required to reverse the ordinance. A majority vote of the City Council can make this change. 

The Chamber claims that this letter is not political, not a commentary on the ordinance's value to the community, but I have a hard time accepting this as true. 

Most of our Council members ran with a campaign plank of "preserving small town charm" (or similar language). Was this controversial? Did anyone think that their values would not lead to decisive action?

(The Chamber's letter below)

Recently, the City Council engaged in dynamic dialogue concerning limits on hotel development in the Plaza and Commercial Districts. This letter is NOT regarding whether limits on hotel development is good or bad for Healdsburg. This letter IS regarding the process by which our community and elected officials come to thoughtful, informed, and sustainable decisions.

The metrics on hotel limits that were shared, and became the foundation for staff direction, were described by our City Manager as having been, “pulled out of thin air”. Other cities were polled for conventional wisdom as to how they determined limits and used unscientific anecdotal support for setting the parameters for their respective jurisdictions.

Again, this letter is NOT about whether this potential ordinance is good or bad for the City. We have Chamber members who are undoubtedly in support of this ordinance and others who are not. However, we are solidified in our belief that decisions this critical require arduous and thoughtful consideration that is supported by facts coupled with professional input as to the regulations that will serve Healdsburg for the indefinite future.

Furthermore, it is incredulous that any decision would be made before considering our most recent City investment and initiative. Specifically, we refer to the yearlong engagement of a wide spectrum of community members that lead to the culmination of the recent visit from professionals of the American Institute of Architects who will be issuing a comprehensive report based on the inputs during the SDAT process. Our understanding is that the report is 30-60 days from being received.

The SDAT information could significantly color perspective on what is best for our community in the next year, decade, and generation to come. After all it was the SDAT predecessor, RUDAT in the early 1980s that set our community on the course in which we find ourselves today. The forthcoming SDAT report could very well provide a professional, unbiased, and factual foundation for your decision as well as perhaps suggest alternatives that could better serve Healdsburg.

We strongly encourage you to wait to take this arbitrary action, until the SDAT report has been published and all interested parties have had a chance to digest the full content. We also encourage you to continue to support your perspectives with facts and professional guidance that makes future civic decisions defensible.

As business owners we risk our sustained viability when decisions are haphazard, based on “feelings” and/or “preferences”. We rely on professionally ascertained facts to ensure we can take full advantage of our strengths and opportunities and provide ourselves with enough flexibility to manage the unseen, unexpected, and potential detrimental variables that could shutter our operations. We welcome the opportunity to discuss with you the economic impacts surrounding this matter or any matters as they affect our community. We eagerly await the SDAT report and taking Imagine Healdsburg 2040 to actionable steps that ensures our continued vibrant success. Your service to our community is most appreciated. We appreciate your time and community engagement.

Sincerely,

The members of the Healdsburg Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors

Healdsburg Chamber of

Commerce Board of

Directors

Eric Markson

Board Chair

Antoinette Allison

Alan Baker

Ken Cyphers

Marisa Ferrell

Bob Fraser

Daniele L. Maraviglia

Evelyn Mitchell

Tom Nelson

Richard Norgrove Sr.

Brad Pender

Sue Sacks

William Seppi

Sam Tesconi