What’s the weakest aspect of the city’s retail base? According to half (50.8 percent) of those responding to the Jan. 29, 2009 Argus-Courier online poll on Petaluma’s economic development strategy, it’s electronics.
Poll respondents also said that the city is lacking in home improvement retail (23.8 percent) and clothing stores (11 percent).When asked what they felt was the overall weakest sector of Petaluma’s economic base, 43.5 percent said retail, with industrial and manufacturing being the second weakest (16.1 percent). Respondents felt that technology and tourism were the third weakest.
Half of the poll respondents felt that in order to improve the city’s economic base, Petaluma needs to recruit targeted businesses and streamline the permit process.
Here are some of the comments by those who responded to the survey:
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“Our local economy needs to be sustainable for the short term and long term. Our economic base should not rely solely on consumerism as this survey suggests. We need to take into account our agricultural heritage and elevate this as a necessary ingredient in our economy.”
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“Go recruit Fry’s. There is none in the North Bay and we would be the first and probably only one. Put it in the new area just off East Washington Street and 101. You’d better fix the Washington overpass, though. Fry’s draws a very large customer base.”
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“I am very tired of driving to another city to buy items that are advertised in our local paper. We need a Target in Petaluma.”
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“Streamlining the permit process would be of great benefit, but it isn’t going to happen in Petaluma, not with this City Council. We can be rest assured that nothing will be happening when it comes to permitting for the foreseeable future.”
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“The city is spending money on consultants to determine who should be here. They need to nurture those which are here and unstop the pipeline of applicants trying to locate to Petaluma. The council should look inside Petaluma for the solution not outside.”
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“The city has made it almost impossible for anyone to develop property that makes financial sense. The fees plus the lengthy period of processing projects is deplorable. Look at how many national and regional development firms have left Petaluma.”
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“There has to be an effort to encourage entities that will improve the economic base in Petaluma.”
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“We will miss Home Depot Yardbirds. Way too many big empty stores in Petaluma!”
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“Over the past few years, Petaluma has fallen behind in the region in recruiting an economic base in all phases of business: Retail, wholesale/distribution and manufacturing. Our dysfunction in the processing of applications from businesses in the form of over regulation, red tape, repeated delays in decision making (i.e. general plan) all helped to deter business from locating in town. Now with the economic downturn, it may well be years before we see the needed business engine return to town. We will continue to drive out of town for jobs and goods and services. In a town that wants to be sustainable and green, how stupid is this?”
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“We need more diversity in clothing and food stores.”
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“With both large and small stores closing locally and throughout the region, we need to encourage more local shopping and provide a ‘real choice’ to local residents. A Target store would go a long way to meet the needs of the population. Enough ‘no growth’ and ‘buy local’ talk from some small businesses who just sell the same imported junk for more profit than the large retailers. I support real local businesses who promote and sell locally produced merchandise!”

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“The current City Council is giving strong indications that it is not business friendly.”
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“Getting feedback is a good start to the year and hopefully it will make a difference. Unfortunately, city government’s performance has been ineffective in a lot of arenas, but specifically in customer service. Where in your job description does it say: governing, making rules and implementation is number one before being good stewards to the community? Remember the people of Petaluma put you in office and they are the customers that you serve. In addition, every department within the city needs to be respected in the same way with great cross-functional teams that work together for optimum service delivery, not just pat answers like these are the rules, the law and the ‘way it is.’ Being good stewards to business and the people who live in Petaluma is part of the job description of government. If it is not there, then that might be the first change to make to improve your efficiency as well as your ROI.”
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“Stop ugly buildings. A hundred years ago, buildings in town were great. It does not matter what the use. Great buildings will last longer than the tenants.”
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“The Community Development Department needs to help be part of the solution, help and be part of getting things done, not be a brick wall and the largest hurdle to getting things done as they have been for years.”
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“Ask just about any business or homeowner about the city’s permit process and you will hear a story! The city should be encouraging businesses to expand and homeowners to make improvements without it costing them time and money! Revenue is what keeps our city’s neighborhoods and streets smooth and safe. Businesses would rather leave Petaluma and expand in another city that appreciates their success. Petaluma has the reputation of not getting applications approved in a timely manner or not at all. That does not encourage more businesses to come to Petaluma.”
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“Board up the homes and business if Dutra is passed. There will no longer be a Petaluma. No to Dutra.”
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“Too many similar stores, i.e. Kmart, Kohls and Ross, but what about a Macy’s? We need a drugstore right downtown.”
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“We have made Petaluma a destination spot for eating and watching movies. Now its time to keep the citizens at home when they need to purchase any type of consumer goods. It’s often easier to drive to Rohnert Park or Novato than it is to get downtown or across town. Then, as well, we just don’t have a place to buy electronics with any real choice.”
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“Downtown Petaluma tried to be like Marin. It’s not, those stores closed. I miss the antique stores and bakeries!”
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“Don’t be an idiot. Stop money hungry jerks like Bill Dutra from ruining Petaluma.”
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“The city has raised fees to fulfill pie in the sky wants. The result is nothing is getting done. The city is a business and should be run like one. The council majority are high-minded do-gooders that can’t balance a checkbook.”
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“The anti-business attitude of the City Council is strangling the economy, killing jobs and incomes. Our we all going to end up with our hands out for more government dole?”
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“Try getting stores that are not within 10 miles of Petaluma already. Why would you come to Petaluma to shop at Best Buy when you have one in your own town? But if you put in a Fry’s for example, the closest one is about 50 miles away. People would come to our town for a change to spend money instead of us going to theirs. There a alot of different stores out there that provide the same if not better products and service than the ones that always seem to be brought in by the city. Try it. Get some people out there browsing for something good for Petaluma instead of the same old worn out crap!”
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“Rohnert Park is diving economically from Big Boxes.”
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“I’d prefer market supported businesses rather than artificial controls and by the city. I like Petaluma because it isn’t over-planned. Lower the barriers, support infrastructure and let entrepreneurs and individuals determine the viability of businesses.”
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“Build it and they will come.”
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“Until the recession ends businesses will have a hard time surviving.”