Meet Brian Barnacle, District 6 Candidate For Petaluma City Council

PETALUMA, CA—The upcoming Nov. 5 general municipal election is the second district-based election for the city of Petaluma. The city has been mapped into six districts with nearly equal populations.

Residents of each district vote for one eligible candidate to represent them on the City Council. Districts 1, 2 and 3 were the first three districts to elect district representatives in 2022. Districts 4, 5 and 6 will elect district representatives on Nov. 5.

Patch sent the three candidates for District 6—incumbents Brian Barnacle and Mike Healy and challenger Lance Kuehne—a candidate questionnaire with an identical set of questions. See Barnacle's answers below and Kuehne's at this link. Healy had not responded at the time of publication.

Full name: Brian Barnacle

Age: 39

Hometown: Petaluma, CA

Did you attend college? If so, where and what level of degree did you earn?
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Bachelor’s in City and Regional Planning

How long have you lived in Petaluma?
30 years

What is your party affiliation?
Democrat

Have you ever held public office? If so, what, when and where?
Yes.
What: City Council Member (At-large)
When: 2021-present
Where: City of Petaluma

Why did you decide to run for Petaluma City Council?
"I love my hometown and I want to help our city thrive. I’m running for a second term because our current council has a strong vision for the future, and I want to continue working with my colleagues and residents for the benefit of the city we all call home. Over the next four years we will finalize our general plan update, start a master planning process for the fairgrounds, rebuild our Trestle, secure funding for a new crosstown connector, and implement policies and projects that can address our housing crisis, improve parks and transportation, and strengthen our economy. I’m running to ensure we have responsive, inclusive leadership on the council that has the courage to align our policies with our shared values."

What are the main issues facing your district?
"Transportation – be it traffic, potholes, speeding, safe crossings or something else, our transportation network is a key concern for District 6 residents. We are investing five times more in fixing our streets compared to when I joined the council in 2021. For the first time in my lifetime, we are making measurable progress on delivering a new crosstown connector (the Caulfield Bridge Southern Crossing). I have also been a champion for safe streets, safe routes to school, closing sidewalk gaps, and giving residents a voice in how the city prioritizes road funding.
"Affordable and Workforce Housing – over the last 20 years housing prices have tripled. Today, the median home price is over $900,000. This is by design. Our city was zoned to promote large luxury single-family homes and apartments, and that is exactly what we have gotten. Our current council majority has taken steps to advance 300 permanently affordable units of housing, but my opponent has voted against 180 of them. We have secured over $40 million for affordable housing projects. We are updating our zoning, fees, and other policies to promote workforce housing so that our teachers, nurses, mechanics, and construction workers can live here. In my 3.5 years on the council, I have championed more initiatives to support affordable and workforce housing than my opponent has in his 24 years on the council.
"Parks & Recreation – in 2009 our parks department was dissolved into public works as a cost-cutting measure during the recession. During my 2020 campaign I regularly heard complaints about the conditions of our parks. Our skating community was desperate for a new park. Our swim center needed major renovations. Our ball fields were in terrible condition. When I joined the council in 2021, I set a few efforts underway and we are better for it. I championed the new skatepark; it would not have happened without me. I got the city to fund a gopher abatement contract and McNear baseball field (and other fields) is in the best condition it has been in a decade. I made sure we allocated money to the swim center and voted to support adding 45 acres to Hellen Putnam Park and a new access point at D Street (which my opponent did not). Finally, I am working to get more pickleball courts in town, add fitness equipment to our parks, and bring a BMX bike track to the city.
"Downtown Vitality – everyone loves downtown Petaluma! It is beautiful, and it also has tremendous opportunity and needs. Our historic Trestle needs to be rebuilt so we can activate our waterfront. Our historic museum needs $5 million for seismic upgrades. Banks are no longer a reliable anchor business for downtown and we have a growing challenge with empty storefronts and chain link fences. We need to bring new anchor businesses to town, support our small local businesses, and strike a balance between a resident- and a visitor-serving economy. I have been leading efforts to foster investment in our downtown, fill empty storefronts, and help our existing businesses thrive. My opponent has his signs on chain link fences and at vacant buildings, but is offering no plan for filling storefronts or revitalizing blighted properties.
"Floodplain and Environmental Protection – in my first term we have adopted an integrated pest management plan, renewed our Urban Growth Boundary, and taken steps to protect our floodplain from development. My advocacy on the Scott Ranch/Kelly Creek development Environmental Impact Report resulted in 3 additional acres of land being protected, a 30% reduction of “cut and fill”, and pollutants being diverted away from Kelly Creek. I have also been a staunch supporter of acquiring and protecting the North Petaluma River area from development. This is a major difference between Mike Healy and I; I am trying to protect the 50-acre property from development and Mike is working with the developers (who are his longtime campaign donors) to win a council majority so that they can develop the property.
"Public Safety – everyone wants a safe city. Be it violent crime, drugs, mental health, or unsafe roads/driving, public safety touches everyone. For the first time since 2009, Petaluma’s Police and Fire departments are fully staffed. We are updating our police station and our three fire stations – and creating the plans for our new Fire Department Headquarters. We have also been leaders in rolling out the SAFE Team; today 16% of the calls to our Police are dispatched to the SAFE Team and other cities have followed our lead. We have also been leaders in public transparency and community policing.
"Fairgrounds – after 50 years of leasing the city-owned fairgrounds to the State of California for $1.00 per year, on January 1, 2024 the City resumed management of its fairgrounds. This is a huge opportunity to improve the fairgrounds, but also a huge responsibility to earn the public’s trust and demonstrate that the city is better suited to manage the property than the State of California. Having grown up showing cows at the fair and attending the Saturday night races with my dad and grandpa, I understand the deep multi-generation attachment that people have to our fairgrounds. I also recognize that this is the heart of our city and we do not have to lose anything to make it way better. I have been pushing for new activities at the fairgrounds that do not compromise the existing programming. This includes a four-seasons farmers market, a BMX track in the infield of the Speedway, an ice skating rink in the winter, and other regular activities."

Tell us about yourself and your family.
"I am a fourth-generation Petaluman. My grandparents had a dairy, as did one of my great-grandparents. My great-grandfather worked at Hunt and Behrens for over 30 years. I grew up on a small family farm in West Petaluma with my mom, dad, and two sisters. My father was a union carpenter, and my mother worked for State Farm in their large-loss fire division.
"I graduated from Petaluma High School, then went to Santa Rosa Junior College for three years and worked at Kval Machinery, a multi-generational Petaluma business. I graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2009 with a degree in City Planning, but it was the height of the great recession when cities were laying off staff. Thus, I found a job in the clean energy industry and have enjoyed a 15-year career helping accelerate clean energy adoption across North America.
"I live in a 950 sq.ft. home with my wife, Gretchen, and our new baby girl, Sierra Jane. In my free time, I enjoy supporting our local musicians and restaurants, getting out for a walk outdoors, and spending time with my family and friends."

Is there anything else you would like voters to know?
"Over the last three-and-a-half years I’ve worked hard to help move Petaluma forward in a way that stays true to our roots. For the first time since 2009 our police and fire departments are fully staffed. We’ve advanced 300 units of affordable housing, increased investments in road paving 500%, cleaned up 2 large homeless encampments, championed safe streets, doubled investment in basic park maintenance, saved the Fair, added 45 acres to Helen Putnam Park, and planted 1,000 trees.
"My record, vision and policy substance has been noticed by the people and organizations you trust. I have earned endorsements from the Petaluma Fire Fighters, Teachers and Police unions, the North Bay Labor Council AFL-CIO, North Bay Building Trades, several trade unions, leading environmental groups (Sierra Club, Sonoma County Conservation Action), Sonoma County Democratic Club, every living Petaluma mayor (McDonnell, Barrett, Glass, Torliat), a majority of my fellow council members and Petaluma City Schools School Board Trustees, our former Police Chief (Ken Savano), and dozens of nonprofit, business and community leaders (Elece Hempel, John Crowley, Natasha Julianna, Deb Fox, Wendy Jacobs, Nichole Warwick, Elizabeth Howland, Trathen Heckman, Mary Dooley, Chris Lynch, Seair Lorentz, Naomi Crawford, Dan Bleakney Formby, etc.).
"Start talking to your neighbors, family and friends about this election—and make sure to vote by November 5th."

Please provide your campaign website and social media handles.
Website: https://www.brianbarnacle.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barnacleforpetaluma
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barn...

What is the best way for voters to reach you?
Email me at Barnacle4petaluma@gmail.com