Page 36 - Sonoma County Gazette 12-18.indd

2018 has been a year of recovery, resiliency and readiness. Our county continues to work tirelessly to recover from last year’s devastating fires, and we’re also forging ahead to make Sonoma County more resilient and ready for what we now call the “new abnormal.”
● Directed $1.3M of Tourism Occupancy Tax to projects including visitor centers, signage, fire protection, public infrastructure investments and public safety needs to the 5th District.
The new abnormal, which is a condition of increased potential for extreme catastrophes fueled by climate change, affects more than just our forests
and their vulnerability to fire. Sea rise is also an important consideration for future planning, along with severe future flooding of the lower Russian River. Increased potential for catastrophe affects the way we support our fire and emergency service personnel and departments. And it affects how we think about water health, especially that of the Russian River.
● Supported funding of $500K in grants to organizations offering Career Technical Education, training programs, and college scholarships for low income, first time college attendees.
But beyond this new reality brought on by climate change, Sonoma County’s fires drove home the urgent need to bring more housing into the county. It highlighted the struggle of many of our families face as they try to pay for necessities, like rent, childcare and food.
Bodega Bay & Bodega
And with tighter budgets to work with at the County, the new abnormal makes infrastructure investments more necessary, and more difficult to achieve than ever.
● Provided $80K in TOT funds to Bodega Bay Fire Protection District for rescue boat motor and ambulance equipment.
In the Fifth District, where we were thankfully spared from the destruction of last year’s fire, we’re working to make West County more resilient and and resistant to “new abnormal.” From improving roads and enhancing bicycle and pedestrian safety to providing more support and services to our homeless community members and giving our coastal and river communities stronger voices in county government, I think West County is better off going into 2019 than it was in 2018.
● Secured $220K of General Fund dollars to build new public restroom on recreational fishing pier — the first-ever General Fund investment in pier infrastructure.
We continue to advocate for road work and infrastructure improvements in the Fifth District, and are starting to see major results. Spending on West County roads projects has dramatically increased since I took office... below, you can see the results for yourself.
● Commenced Cazadero Highway repaving project. (Road failures are awaiting environmental permitting, and completion of the pavement project into town is scheduled for next summer.)
While I’m proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish together, there’s still a lot of work to be done. There are many miles of roads still in need of repair and many residents who still need secure housing. I believe 2019 will already busier than the 2018, and I’m looking forward to the challenge.
● Secured $300K to relocate and support a CalFire Amador station in Cazadero.
In the following list, you’ll find some of the projects I’ve worked on during the past two years. The list is not comprehensive, but I’m highlighting the larger projects that involved significant investments of staff time and funding. And of course, none of this work was accomplished alone! Achieving goals requires teamwork. I want to thank my wonderful Fifth District staff — Susan Upchurch, Amie Windsor, and Irene Hays — who have played crucial roles in these efforts. Thanks also go to all of our fantastic County departmental staff, and passionate community members who stepped forward to advocate on behalf of West County.
● Provided $10K for Pole Mountain Lookout permitting and engineering for new tower.
Without further ado, here’s what we’ve been up to!
West County
● Oversaw cleanups of blighted properties - transforming a neighborhood by clearing junkyard conditions from abandoned property, and ensuring demolition of another abandoned building.
● Created Lower Russian River and Sonoma County Coast Municipal Advisory Councils, which are slated to begin meeting in the first quarter of 2019 following a successful and participatory selection process.
● Oversaw the removal of the Mirabel/River Road homeless encampment, and partnered with non-profits to find alternative locations for the families living there.
● Secured $18.3 million for West County road resurfacing — the largest investment in West County roads to date. (For a list of what’s getting better, please refer to the roads section at the end of this article.)
● Engaged community process to address zoning to comply with general plan. ● Worked with Department of Public Works to revive plans for rural
Graton
● Secured significant investments in West County services. (For dollar amounts, look at the individual community investments lists.)
undergrounding of power lines in the Historic District.
● Secured a $1.1M CalFire grant to remove dead and dying trees from West County roadsides, to enhance fire safety and winter road safety by preventing tree falls.
● Responded to community concerns regarding cannabis, worked to redefine West County trail as regional park. (Board will vote on this in December.)
● Secured $250K of funding to help clean up the Russian River — thank you, Clean River Alliance/Russian Riverkeeper, for cleaning up our watershed! ● Secured a Russian River Trail feasibility study grant: $794K total, including
● Implemented ADA improvements to sidewalks and trail connections.
● Provided $15K in TOT funding for a down payment on new command
$620K from CalTrans, and $120K from NSCAPD.
partnership with the absolutely amazing Graton Green Group!
YEAR IN REVIEW cont’d on page 37
36 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 12/18
● Worked with Permit Sonoma to reduce lot size and other requirements
for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), allow Junior Accessory Dwelling Units in existing homes (JADUs) and develop new, innovative standards for scalable fees and increased housing opportunities on 9000 square foot lots in urban service areas (Cottage Housing).
Year In Review: 2018
● Established a new $500K Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) fund to directly support community needs in the Fifth District proportional to the funding generated from the District. (This meant we received $223K in 2017-18, and $243K in 2018-19) This increased direct TOT funding to our District by over 400%!
And if you’re curious what money or work has flowed into your
specific community, see below...
● Provided $200K to Bodega Bay Fire Protection District to support emergency response.
● Advocated for $6.6M federal dollars to be invested in Bodega Bay dredging, which required lobbying in Washington, D.C. Lobbied for excess funding to be diverted to jetty repair as project came in under budget.
● Provided $10K in TOT funds for Bodega Volunteer Fire Department training and equipment.
Cazadero
● Provided $22K of TOT funding to support station improvements and new emergency radios.
Forestville
● Worked to mobilize long-forgotten quarry mitigation funds. (The Board of Supervisors will formally vote on this item in December.) This means that next year, we will be able to deploy $4.5M of previously unavailable funds on roads and pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements in Forestville.
● Provided $38K in TOT funding for new command vehicle and water rescue equipment for Forestville Fire Protection District.
Freestone
vehicle for Fire Department.
● Secured $103K Ag + Open Space funding for new Graton Town Green in