Survey says Sebastopol a good place for business

Survey says Sebastopol a good place for business

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CHRISTOPHER CHUNG/Press Democrat
Rob Hendricksen, owner of Hendricksen Naturlich Flooring, finds the city of Sebastopol a good place to do business.

By BOB NORBERG
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Published: Monday, February 28, 2011 at 3:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Monday, February 28, 2011 at 10:09 p.m.

A survey of Sebastopol businesses paints a picture of small-town merchants who think it’s a good city in which to do business, despite a perception that city policies make it unfriendly to commerce.

“A majority that own businesses actually live in the city. Local business is really locally owned. They have a stake here, the community has a stake in them, they want them to succeed,” said Councilwoman Kathleen Shaffer, a member of the Business Outreach Committee.

The response from business owners who overwhelmingly said Sebastopol “was an ‘OK’ place to do business” surprised both Shaffer and Ken Meyerhoff, the city’s economic development consultant who conducted the survey.

In conversations, business people often declare that Sebastopol is not a good place to do business, Meyerhoff said.

“Given that I had heard more often than not that Sebastopol was an unfriendly place to do business, for 95 percent to say that it is OK to do business is surprising,” Meyerhoff said.

Ron Basso, who founded the R.S. Basso Furniture Store chain in Sebastopol 30 years ago, thinks there are too many hurdles and too few incentives for someone to start a small business.

“You try to build something, you get every possible ordinance and cost and hurdle that you can possibly imagine to get something done,” said Basso, who serves on the city’s Design Review Board and ran unsuccessfully for the City Council last November.

However, Andy Rodgers of ECON, an environmental consulting firm that has been in downtown Sebastopol since 2007, said he has had only positive experiences, including dealing with the city to expand his office.

“The business community talks to each other. There is a good community and that always makes things better,” Rodgers said. “The folks that come to the stores and restaurants are loyal and supportive, and that is a good thing.”

Rob Hendrickson, owner of Hendrickson Naturlich Flooring for 22 years, said his customers and the other merchants make Sebastopol a good city to do business.

“I will go to my local hardware store and pay more to keep those guys open,” Hendrickson said. “I have guys in town that I have long relationships with. I see people and, whether they spend a nickel with me or not, they say they are glad to see me still open. People are supporting mom and pops here. It is not subtle, it is blatant.”

The survey was mailed to 1,050 licensed businesses in the Sebastopol area and 204 surveys were returned by Feb. 16 with answers to some or all of the 10 questions.

Two-thirds of the business owners and employees live within four miles of the city limits.

Of the 166 respondents who answered the question of whether Sebastopol is “an ‘OK’ place to do business,” 158 said yes.
Eighty-six respondents said they expected their business would grow during the next year.

More than half wanted Sebastopol to promote local selling and buying, more than half would discount their goods to local residents and businesses, and 78 percent said they would pay 5 to 10 percent more for products and services from local merchants.
Several respondents said the city needs to advertise and promote local businesses, and some cited parking, traffic and signs as problems.
Meyerhoff said the city is already taking steps to promote local businesses, such as an online business directory that can be sorted by business name or type. The city is also producing an economic sustainability newsletter.

But the city is limited in how it can address some issues, such as traffic, since Sebastopol is at the intersection of two state highways that are controlled by Caltrans.

“Traffic is a mixed blessing,” Meyerhoff said. “If somehow there was a bypass tomorrow and the traffic fell by 90 percent, that would not be too good for business.”

The survey results will be given to the city Community Development Agency and the City Council at the 6 p.m. meeting Tuesday.

Sebastopol IS an "OK" place to do business, which doesn't mean the city is business friendly. It is not. I have first hand experience and have heard many merchants tell stories of how the city cost them thousands of dollars in unnecessary expenses for arbitrary reasons.

We are fairly new to the business community but we have had a very positive experience with the city management, other business owners, and the residents of Sebastopol. We look forward to a long and prosperous relationship with our beloved home town and are committed to supporting local businesses in any way we can. For business owners we highly recommend joining Go Local.
Choose the Heart

I would also recommend joining the Sebastopol Area Chamber of Commerce. It is not just networking and Apple Blossom Festivals.
It is a business advocate - helping to comply with such things as city regs, understanding and addressing business issues, and are very much Local First!

This was a great article and survey, and I hope it puts to rest the all-too-vocal tiny minority who whine about environmentally sensitive regulations being "bad for business." Green is good for business, local is good for business, and a city government like ours that understands that governance is not about a race to the bottom (of wages and regulation) , but a journey home!

I enjoy being part of a small community which supports a vibrant downtown and GOES LOCAL. We used Naturlich (photographed for article) when we needed new bamboo flooring in a few rooms. Rob was more expensive than a cut-rate Santa Rosa bidder, but he had a great reputation from local friends and a sense of our ecological concerns. He did an excellent job, and cleaned up after himself. We, like many, were fine paying for the quality work, durable, sustainable materials, and follow up LOCAL care. In the long run, it's a better deal all around. Support local businesses!