The Occidental Community Council is an all-volunteer, non-profit corporation with federal and state tax-exempt status. Our purpose is to meet the unmet needs of people living in and around Occidental, California.
The Council meets on the third Saturday of each month at the Occidental Community Center from 10:30am until noon, and all are welcome to attend.
The Council meets on the third Saturday of each month at the Occidental Community Center from 10:30am until noon, and all are welcome to attend.
Membership |
Community Council Membership is open to all residents of the Occidental area. We have both Associate and Working members. If you wish to support the work of the Council but are unable to participate in monthly meetings, please consider becoming an Associate member. As an Associate member, you will receive minutes of the monthly meetings and be asked to participate in activities, such as the Crafts Faire.
[Please note "Membership" in the "What's this for" comment box] We ask new 'Working' Council members to attend three (3) consecutive meetings. This way we can get to know each other, you can see how the Council functions, what we are currently working on and decide at what level you would be interested in participating. After this initial period and you have decided to join us, we ask that you attend as many meetings as possible. For further information, please email [email protected] or drop by our meeting on the third Saturday of the month, generally held at the Occidental Community Center. In the second full weekend in December the Council sponsors the Annual Holiday Crafts Faire. All proceeds from the Faire are put back into the community. Business Membership - Bohemian Business Alliance Members
For those interested in becoming more involved, we invite you to join the Community Council as a business member. Membership is on a sliding scale of $25-$50 annually and offers many benefits:
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Resource Fund |
The Resource Fund of the Occidental Community Council was formed to meet the emergency, non-recurring needs of people in our community that are not met by the usual community resources. It is administered by a committee of Council members who are empowered to fund applications of up to $150 on an immediate basis. Requests for over $150 must be referred to the monthly Council meeting held on the third Saturday of each month. Residents of the Occidental/Camp Meeker area are eligible for assistance. For further information and to request an application, please email [email protected] or write to the Council at P.O. Box 17, Occidental 95465.
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Community Council Meeting Minutes |
Click Below to Access the Occidental Community Council Meeting Minutes
Occidental Community Council Meeting Minutes |
Occidental Community Notes |
Community Projects
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CAP (Community Action Planning): The Occidental Community Council recently initiated a community-driven action planning process to improve the quality of life for residents and visitors in the Occidental area. The focus is to develop an agreed upon plan for improvements in the downtown Occidental area, consistent with local community needs. This plan will include working with the County and local organizations to implement identified improvements in specific areas such as parking, lighting, trash collection, landscaping and community gathering spaces.
A group of key stakeholders including representatives from local businesses, Harmony Union School District, local non-profits, the Community Services District, local residents and Sonoma County Regional Parks developed a preliminary list of priority areas to include in the plan. A survey was published to confirm community priorities. Three teams were formed:
Occidental Outdoor Community Space Project: The primary goal of this project is to create an outdoor public community gathering space in downtown Occidental that will provide greater opportunities for residents and visitors of all ages to meet, connect and socialize. Currently there is no public green-space area to gather for local organized events or casual get-togethers. [Click here for FAQ's about this project] The DRAFT "concept drawing" (not final plan) below shows the culmination of a potential vision based on community inputs and donations. The CAP Group 2 Downtown planning team, and Occidental Community Council collaborated with multiple designers, applied for county grants, and coordinated with Occidental Community Services District (OCSD) to define concept features (safe gathering space for all) and to secure funding. This project will be led by Sonoma County in coordination with OCSD and the Community Council. Please email [email protected] for more information. 
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The Occidental Community Survey
Based on the 218 responses to the Occidental Future Improvements survey, it is evident that the community is seeking a balance between desired future improvements and preserving the town's cherished charm, ‘feral’ essence, and quaint Bohemian spirit. Emergency services emerged as the top priority, reflecting the community's emphasis on safety. This was closely followed by the pressing need for public bathrooms and water stations. Additionally, there is a strong desire for communal spaces where people can meet, connect, and socialize, including improving the Community Center, and adding new greenspace and gathering areas. Link to the survey below for more details 
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local eventsMusic, benefits, festivals, meetings & more.
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To include an event, email: [email protected]
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Occidental Community Council Past Accomplishments
Our one fundraiser per year is the Occidental Holiday Crafts Faire. It is the second weekend in December and is free to attend. Beautiful local crafts, yummy food, prizes in the Bucket Raffle, and visits from Santa are highlights of this fun event.
Here is a partial list of activities supported by the Council since its inception in 1986.
Here is a partial list of activities supported by the Council since its inception in 1986.
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Please consider joining us on the Council
active members list
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Gary Abreim
Paula Chambers Adrian Chang Kim Dion Andrea Doffing Hadley Dynak Gino Gaffney (B) |
Laura Goldman (B)
Melinda Hershon Patrick Hubbard Gregory Johnson Susan Kirk Laura Lake Elizabeth Lawson |
Diane Masura
Vicky Melbin (B) Su McMurtry Fawn Nekton (B) Jennifer Roberts Mary Szecsey (B) Sarah Wieland (B) = Board |
