Page 11 - Sonoma County Gazette Oct. 2019

FIRE cont’d from page 110
Firefighters post-fire at the Occidental station
There are nuances between the three measures and the proposed funding. Below are details about the differences between each measure:
Occidental Fire - Yes on Measure C
The District: Covers roughly 2,500 residents and 33 square miles -
from Coleman Valley to Joy Road, out to Salmon Creek Falls to downtown Occidental, East along Occidental Road and Graton Road to Green Hill Road, and North along Harrison Grade Road
The Proposal: $200/residential parcel; $300 + 14 cents/square foot per commercial parcel; generates ~$250,000/year.
Desired Outcomes: Add 2 career firefighters to cover daytime staffing 7AM-5PM, M-F; add community education and property inspections for wildfire prevention and risk mitigation.
Gold Ridge Fire- Yes on Measure E
The District: Covers roughly 25,000 residents and 75 square miles - Southern and Western Sebastopol, West to Freestone, South to Stony Point Road on the Eastern border. This includes the communities of Twin Hills, Hessel, and Freestone.
The Proposal: $200/residential parcel; $300 + 14 cents/square foot per commercial parcel; generates ~$1,200,00.00/year.
Desired Outcomes: Add 6 firefighter/paramedics to staff, bringing engine crews to 3 at all times at each station (Hessel and Twin Hills). Add community education and property inspection programs for wildfire prevention and risk mitigation.
Graton Fire- Yes on Measure F
The District: Covers roughly 8,800 residents and 26 square miles - from Northern Sebastopol to downtown Graton, Western Santa Rosa, and halfway to Occidental.
The Proposal: $250/residential parcel; $300 + 14 cents per square foot per commercial parcel; generates ~$800,000.00/year.
Desired Outcomes: Add 6 career firefighters, to enable 2 firefighters at the stationhouse 24/7, 365 days per year.
Perhaps it’s the chance of the universe that has mail-in ballots starting to arrive in mail boxes for these voters on the 2nd anniversary of the Tubbs Fire, one of the deadliest nights in modern CA firefighting history. Or perhaps
its just good community planning and resilience by our local leaders and volunteers, a way of saying, “Here’s a real tangible thing we can do to make ourselves a little safer, and a whole lot more ready.”
Either way, you have a historic opportunity to make a difference at the ballot box this fall, by supporting your local firefighters in keeping you safe.
Vote YES on Measures C, Measure E, or Measure F ...your life could depend upon it.
10/19 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 11