We explore what financially sustainable growth could look like for Petaluma, from Chuck Marohn's perspective on development to a vision for future land use, transit, and zoning. We also share an update on Urban Chat, including opportunities to support our work during a challenging funding period and our search for a part-time team member to help advance our community programs and events. We're grateful for your continued engagement, ideas, and support as we keep building a stronger, more resilient Petaluma…

Continue reading here.

Demand for our June 24 community gathering for The Vacancy Project remains exceptionally strong. After expanding seating, the event quickly filled again. While we're sorry we can't accommodate everyone, we'll share highlights from the evening and future opportunities to stay involved. This week is Strong Towns Membership Week. Founder Chuck Marohn will discuss the organization's future during Wednesday's webinar. Contact Dave for the Zoom link. Dave's annual birthday lunches return July 7–10, featuring won ton soup and conversation about urbanism, Urban Chat, and the future of Petaluma…

Continue reading here.

Urban Chat’s June 24 Vacancy Project forum generated an overwhelming response, filling the room faster than anticipated. While we're excited by the community's enthusiasm, we recognize some supporters may not have had an opportunity to RSVP. We're exploring ways to expand participation and encourage interested attendees to join the waitlist. Looking ahead, our popular Follow the Clucking Money series returns July 15 with a deeper dive into how revenues flow into City Hall. Urban Chat has also launched a new Facebook page as part of expanded community outreach efforts…

Continue reading here.

Last week’s Know Before You Grow forum drew more than 50 attendees to discuss the proposed Kentucky Street pedestrianization pilot. Led by committee chair Leslie Fruchey, the Free Range Kentucky team shared examples from other communities, insights from a successful U.S. pedestrianization effort, and gathered extensive public feedback. A recording will be posted on Urban Chat’s Past Events page soon. Community members interested in supporting the effort are encouraged to connect with the Free Range Kentucky team and watch for upcoming opportunities to get involved…

Continue reading here.

After 18 days away, Dave is back in Petaluma (despite a travel saga involving multiple bus breakdowns) and ready to resume Urban Chat duties. His trip included a road journey through Midwest and Rust Belt communities, plus two urban planning conferences that sparked new ideas he’ll share soon. He also recommends You’ll Pay for This!, a compelling look at municipal finance and infrastructure costs, and notes a surprising recent surge in readership for his longtime urbanism blog…

Continue reading here.

Fresh from the Congress of the New Urbanism in Arkansas—and with the Strong Towns National Gathering still ahead—Urban Chat is bringing home new ideas and hard questions. One striking contrast: while national housing advocates explored bold, flexible solutions to address the housing crisis, a local push in Petaluma called for stricter building height limits regardless of impact. It’s a timely reminder that solving housing challenges requires balancing aesthetics, feasibility, and the urgent need for more homes…

Continue reading here.

Urban Chat continues its spring civic conversation series with an upcoming Know Before You Grow forum focused on a proposed Kentucky Street pilot project. Inspired by successful pedestrian-friendly transformations in cities like San Anselmo and Ventura, the Free Range Kentucky team will share a concept for testing whether a similar approach could work in Petaluma. Join the conversation on Wednesday, May 27 at 7:00 PM to learn more, ask questions, and help shape the discussion. A quick note: this week’s update is a bit shorter than usual while I’m traveling…

Continue reading here.

Urban Chat has launched the Vacancy Project, mapping and analyzing empty buildings and vacant lots in downtown Petaluma to spark solutions-focused conversation and support revitalization efforts in partnership with Renaissance Petaluma. A coalition meeting is set for June 24. Meanwhile, the “Follow the Clucking Money” workshop materials—including video, participant questions, and budget tools—are now available online. Progress has also been made restoring website links in emails, with additional fixes underway…

Continue reading here.

Last week’s email link issues (“spoiled links”) caused some subscribers to see false “Dangerous Site” warnings, making it difficult to RSVP for our City Finances forum. The links were safe, and we’re working on a fix for future emails. Despite the hiccup, our Know Before You Grow forum on City Finances was a success, with strong feedback—especially for the budget exercise balancing $1.9 million in needs against $1 million in available funds. More forums and the event recording are coming soon…

Continue reading here.

After nearly a year of deep dives into California and Petaluma finances, the Urban Chat Finance Committee is ready to share what they’ve learned—backed by expert insights and clear visuals. This first forum invites your questions to shape what comes next (with pizza and a little Petaluma humor). If you plan to weigh in on upcoming City budget decisions, this is your starting point.

The housing book club pauses in May, but fresh ideas—from small lot development to faith-based housing—keep the conversation moving…

Continue reading here.

Last week’s Know Before You Grow forum featured Strong Towns speaker Norm Van Eeden Petersman, delivering an energetic and thought-provoking session—watch the recording when available. Highlights included creative community-building ideas like neighborhood cleanups and a “Drive to Work Day” experiment to spotlight transportation choices.

Looking ahead, the April 22 KBYG forum will focus on the Petaluma budget, offering a high-level look at revenues, spending, and constraints, with insights shaped by collaboration with City staff…

Continue reading here.

Monday, April 6: Continuing a long and complicated process, the City Council will conduct a workshop on potential Petaluma Transit service changes in response to changing financial conditions.  Transit staff will summarize the financial challenges, after which the Council will consider the recommendations of the Transit Advisory Committee…

Continue reading here.

Urban Chat’s housing book club continues this Wednesday with discussion of chapters 3 and 4 of On the Housing Crisis, welcoming anyone interested to join. April’s Know Before You Grow schedule is shifting, with the April 8 forum postponed and a new budget-focused series, “Follow the Clucking Money,” launching April 22. Looking ahead, Dave will attend national urban planning conferences in May, bringing back insights to inform future community conversations…

Continue reading here.

Dave’s Week of Wonton Soup has been postponed due to a health issue, with a hopeful return in April. Urban Chat’s housing book club kicked off with a lively discussion on key themes from On the Housing Crisis. The next session is April 1 at 6pm. We’re also highlighting rising housing & transportation costs and hosting a Know Before You Grow forum this Wednesday on how street design can improve traffic safety…

Continue reading here.

Last week’s Know Before You Grow forum on the June 2 SMART Initiative was productive and highlighted some uncertainty about how best to explain SMART’s benefits. The campaign team is preparing responses to questions raised during the role-playing exercise and will share them soon. Urban Chat’s housing book club meets Wednesday, March 18 at 5:00pm (Zoom) to discuss the opening chapters of On the Housing Crisis by Jerusalem Demsas.

Dave’s Week of Wonton Soup was set to begin this week, but the roving soup safari has been postponed. Look for rescheduling in April…

Continue reading here.

This Wednesday at 7:00pm at the Cavanagh Center, Urban Chat will host a conversation about the June 2 SMART Initiative election and how community members can help keep the train running for the next three decades.

Meanwhile, the Petaluma North Specific Plan is underway, with opportunities to push for more walkable urbanism. Housing discussions also continue, with our new book club meeting March 18 (via Zoom) to discuss On the Housing Crisis by Jerusalem Demsas. Join us…

Continue reading here.

Last week’s Know Before You Grow forum on Holly Whyte and Putnam Plaza was lively, thoughtful, and well attended. Thanks to Brooks Note Winery for hosting, to Cinda Gilliland for shaping the evening, Dan Lyke for expertly editing the film, and Claude Shostal for sharing insights from NYC planning.

Interested in advancing plaza ideas? We’ll form a working group. Housing conversations are also heating up—so we’re launching a Zoom book club, starting with On the Housing Crisis by Jerusalem Demsas. Join us…

Continue reading here.

This week’s update highlights a special Know Before You Grow event at Brooks Note Winery, exploring Holly Whyte’s influential work on public spaces through film, discussion, and a hands-on design exercise for Putnam Plaza. Meanwhile, plans to advance the Downtown Overlay to the ballot have been withdrawn due to reduced partnership support. The Appellation Hotel proposal heads to review, raising broader questions about growth, housing, and Petaluma’s long-term vision…

Continue reading here.

Know Before You Grow 2026 kicks off with a deep dive into William H. “Holly” Whyte’s groundbreaking research on public spaces, featuring historic film clips, insights from Cinda Gilliland, and a hands-on look at Putnam Plaza (in person encouraged). The Transit Committee continues tough budget discussions on restoring reserves while preserving service. Meanwhile, federal climate retrenchment underscores the need for local leadership—just as debates over transit, development, and induced traffic remind us that urban lessons ignored often resurface decades later…

Continue reading here.

Urban Chat partnered with Renaissance Petaluma to urge City Council to place the Downtown Overlay referendum on the June ballot. Council was tentatively receptive, directing staff to prepare ballot paperwork and to revisit ballot placement on the March 2 agenda. Because Urban Chat is a 501(c)(3), our organizational involvement ended there, but community members can still help as individuals. The same applies to the SMART Initiative (June 2 ballot), with a March Know Before You Grow talk planned. City boards/commissions applications are due February 19…

Continue reading here.