Project teams

Curious about what Urban Chat is working on? You’re in the right place.

If you have an interest in Petaluma’s evolution and want to connect with like-minded neighbors, explore the projects below. Each team digs into a specific area of our mission - housing, transportation, city finances, or climate action.

Find a project that sparks your interest and contact the team lead to get involved.

Have an idea for a new project under the Urban Chat umbrella? We’d love to hear it.

Reach out to and let’s explore it together.

Sharon Kirk 8/22/25 Sharon Kirk 8/22/25

Know Before You Grow

Know Before You Grow brings Petaluma together for forums on housing, transportation, city finances, and climate action. We host regional and national…

Sharon Kirk 8/21/25 Sharon Kirk 8/21/25

City Finance Education

Wouldn’t it be great if we understood how much money the City of Petaluma receives and where it goes? Wouldn’t you love to understand the trade-offs…

Sharon Kirk 8/21/25 Sharon Kirk 8/21/25

Vacancy Project

Petaluma has a vacancy problem. Sure, restaurants and boutiques in downtown come and go, but key streets and intersections have decades-old vacancies…

Sharon Kirk 8/19/25 Sharon Kirk 8/19/25

15-Minute City

A 15-Minute City means having fresh food, shops, services, and gathering spaces within a short walk or bike ride of home…

Sharon Kirk 8/18/25 Sharon Kirk 8/18/25

Public Restrooms

Walkable cities only work when basic human needs are easy to meet. If everyone can count on clean, accessible bathrooms downtown, they’ll stay longer…