Recent Accomplishments

Sebastopol has been a leader in climate protection and sustainability for many years. Community values include preserving the city’s small-town feel and supporting local businesses.  

In 2010, Sebastopol earned the designation of Cittaslow “Slow City,” one of only five in the US at that time. Headquartered in Italy, the Slow City movement seeks to do for urban planning what the Slow Food movement has done for agriculture. Although the local chapter has since disbanded, the projects it shepherded, like the Pedline (self-guided walking tours), pedestrian-oriented wayfinding signage, and Time Bank, continue to keep Sebastopol “green, friendly, and artistic.”

In 2013 The City of Sebastopol became the second U.S. city to require photovoltaics (PV) to be installed on new buildings. The ordinance applies to all new commercial and residential buildings and additions to existing ones.

The Sebastopol City Council continues to work from a list of adopted Goals and Priorities, which are evaluated and updated regularly, as well as from Actions and Goals in the General Plan.  The Council also advocates for key bills brought forward by the legislature to continue Sebastopol’s goals of enhancing and protecting the immediate and long-term well-being of the city, its citizens, and its natural environment. Here are a few recent examples of how Sebastopol is achieving those goals.