Page 32 - Sonoma County Gazette March 2018.indd

Roseland Seeks New Library
Bill Keene, Manager of the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District, told numerous Roseland residents he would seek to have a sub-committee set up as soon as possible to address concerns about Santa Rosa Recreation and Parks Department plans for the Roseland Creek Nature Preserve. This occurred at a Thursday Feb. 22, 2018 meeting of the Citizens Advisory Committee for the SCAPOSD.
Blackness in America was the title of a panel discussion held in the Roseland Library on Thursday Feb. 1, 2018 to start Black History Month in Sonoma County. Many people from throughout the county had come to hear presentations by various speakers, both black and white. None of them were from Roseland, but there were three black women and one black man who described some of their concerns growing up black in America.
More than a dozen Roseland residents and supporters came to the meeting which had an informational presentation about the lands near Roseland Creek purchased with taxpayers’ funds through the SCAPOSD back in 2010 and 2011. Steve Rabinowitsch and Don MacEnhill of the advisory committee volunteered to be a part of the sub-committee to review what is happening with the Nature Preserve proposal originally advanced over twenty five years ago by members of a Southwest Citizens Advisory group.
One speaker, Curtis Byrd, grew up in east Santa Rosa in the 1960s and 70s before going away to college. He stated he felt there was racism in Santa Rosa and mentioned he and his relatives were active in the local Sonoma county chapter of the National Association for Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) formed in the early 1950s. The chapter is still active in Santa Rosa and is currently led by Dennis Williams of Roseland whose father Platt Williams was a founding member of the local chapter.
One person from that group is Carolyn Dixon a biologist and member
of the early group before SCAPOSD was formed. She is familiar with the Roseland Nature Preserve efforts and is now a member of the Santa Rosa Plain Groundwater Management Agency’s Citizen Advisory Committee. She believes restoration of the Roseland Creek Riparian Corridor and preservation of the Oak Woodlands nearby will help with aquifer recharge and groundwater for Roseland. She is concerned the area which is now a nice natural habitat for local native species of flora and fauna may be ruined forever if Santa Rosa does not preserve the oak woodland “Neighborwood”.
The Roseland Library has become a very popular addition to the Roseland community since it was started up in the former Furniture 2000 store in the Roseland Village Shopping Center. It is especially popular on Saturday mornings when the Children’s section of the library has events for youngsters offered in both English and Spanish language by the librarians.
Many Roseland residents are now saddened the library will soon be closed for the construction of a housing complex to be built sometime in the future by Mid-Peninsula Housing at the Roseland site. Some have asked if there is a possibility of keeping the library open until the very last minute during the construction process.
Judith Dehner a resident of Hughes Ave. for many decades pointed out “We need nature’s jewels in Roseland, and not to have it fenced off.” Fred Krueger, also a Hughes Ave. resident next to the 11-acres purchased in 2011 pointed out, “Research shows the therapeutic value of nature.” Former Santa Rosa City Council Woman Marsha Vas Dupre pointed out these efforts with
Homeless Camp: This is a difficult request because the county also wants to evacuate the Homeless camp it has allowed at the site for close to two and a half years. Supervisor Lynda Hopkins
and county staff members from the Community
her involvement have been going on since 1996. “Listen to the neighbors.
It was stated they county would set up a “Navigation Center” by the beginning of March in the former Roseland Hardware Store now owned by Mid-Peninsula. Many local residents and property owners near the homeless camp want the camp to end now. One shared a photo and a suggestion to provide “sharps containers in the Porta Potties.” The difficulty is going to be how to have a local interim Library for Roseland residents and not have the homeless camp because the county claims it will abide by local resident desires to end “campers” near the site.
Gary Balcerak, who
volunteers at Bayer Farm
tending a native plant
garden, was also on the
Steering Committee for the
Bayer Farm Design. He feels
resident input in the design
and planning process was
not followed by Santa Rosa
city staff. He stated the city
may do the same type of heavy construction and development in Roseland Neighbor Wood if given SCAPOSD funds to purchase 1370 Burbank Ave. for expansion.
On a more positive note the West Side Little League is holding sign-ups and tryouts for players between the ages of 8 -12 years old. You can visit the website for more information. www.wsllsr.org.
City Recreation department employees have often stated they will tear
down the existing structures at the two properties already purchased at 1027 McMinn Ave. and 1400 Burbank Ave. Balcerak is concerned if they purchase 1370 Burbank Ave. also the city will also destroy those buildings there and launch into a destructive pattern of development. The city employees have been rebuffing the efforts of Roseland Pomo Indians who have tried to help on the project for an Interpretive Village to be there near the creek. This was proposed decades ago and now the city is saying the Graton Rancheria of Federated Pomo Indians DO NOT WANT to help the local Pomo residents’ efforts to be allowed.
More Housing:Also there are currently four major housing projects under construction in Roseland which will bring more than 500 new housing units into the already densely packed community of over 16,000 people located in 1.2 square miles.
This is one of the most densely packed areas in all of Sonoma County at this time and more people are moving in daily so housing is desperately needed. In order of the closest to being ready for occupants, they are The Crossroads on Burbank Ave. with 79 units due to open in May 2018. Paseo Vista on Dutton Ave., Village Station on Boyd St., and The Villas on Hampton Lane. More new housing will be built further to the west of Roseland on Sebastopol Rd. near Courtside Village developments in Wright School District.
It appears to this reporter, who also spoke at the SCAPOSD meeting, the city has ignored the efforts of local Pomos such as Jaime Naredo who grew up in Roseland and still volunteers in the area. He turned in written requests to the Santa Rosa City Council and the Recreation and Parks staff two years ago. He confirmed the city has NEVER contacted him about his efforts, though he has now talked with a member of the Santa Rosa Cultural Heritage Board at the Roseland Welcome Day on Jan. 20 in Roseland Village.
32 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 3/18
Preserving Open Space
By Duane DeWitt
in Roseland
These people care, listen to their hopes.”
Development Commission came to the Roseland Library in February to tell members of the Homeless Community they must prepare to leave by the end of March 2018.
Rick Coates, pointed out saving the Oak Woodlands is what resilience is
about. He said, “Please protect what little bit of Oak woodland is left in Roseland.”