Letters to the Editor 2-28-13

Outstanding concert
Editor: My wife and I, and about 140 others, had the very good fortune to attend another outstanding concert presented by the Philharmonia Healdsburg at the Raven Theater this past Sunday. This very talented semi-professional orchestra presented a delightful two hour program of Haydn, Dittersdorf, and Mozart. What joy to have this quality of classical music right in our own backyard. Get on board, Healdsburg, and support a local treasure or we may lose it. Plan on attending their next concerts at the Raven June 1 and 2.
Lew Sbrana
Healdsburg
One-way needs fixing
Editor: I’ve been meaning to write this letter for several weeks and have finally been motivated by reading other letters on this subject. Of course, it’s the Foss Creek Circle one-way problem. In the past few weeks I’ve personally witnessed all of the following:
— Encountered a car driving in Foss Creek Circle, approaching Grove Street, going in the wrong direction. That is, exiting on the south end. This has happened twice.
— Observed a driver approaching from the north, and when she saw that Foss Creek Circle was clear, darted right (the wrong way) into the Circle and into the condo complex on the right, thereby avoiding driving all the way around.
— Watched a guy swing into the right lane, just across from the Post Office, then turn left across the left lane, into the drop off area.  In his defense, he had to do this as it’s physically impossible to turn left into this area from the left lane.
— Watched another guy leave the Post Office lot and turn right (the wrong way) and then enter the drop off area.
— So how long will it take before the City comes to their senses and admits to making a pretty bad mistake. The right answer is to go back to a 2 way street. Or if, for some reason they refuse this solution, make it a one-way street going counter-clockwise. Will it take an accident with personal injury to make them realize that it needs to be fixed? I hope not.
Al Loebel
Healdsburg
In a hurry
Editor: I was really scared the other afternoon as I sat in my front room studio teaching a piano lesson as I do every afternoon. Out of the quiet and the music my student was playing came a screaming siren, flashing lights and a police car speeding down the street in front of the house. He was gone in a second. After my shock at having this experience I began to ponder the necessity of this procedure. This block, right down from the Healdsburg fire station is busy and in the afternoon there are school busses dropping off children at the boys and girls club and to the housing development. The fire trucks that leave the station, sometimes with sirens, approach the street with caution and care. I am wondering about the directive and reason for this police car to be on such a hell driven course as to be ‘unaware’ of the street he was traveling down. Did he catch the heinous criminal he was after? Did he actually save someone’s life? I would like to know. I would also like to know that our community policemen/women are not driven by what seems to be happening in other communities in America. Perhaps there could be more public communication about our civil servants and what their responsiblilities are to us. When I was a child the policeman would take my hand and make certain that I got across the street safely. Perhaps an article in this newspaper would be revealing.
Julia Gennert
Healdsburg
Science Fair on again
Editor: As mentioned in the recent State of the Union Address, the United States is falling behind in Math and Science education.  These are two critical aspects of our future growth and development as a nation. What can one person do?
As the Chairperson for the Healdsburg Area Science Fair for the last 20 years I had to cancel this year’s Science Fair due to lack of committee volunteers to run this event.  This was despite several outreach attempts.  It was my hope that if we skipped a year, the event would be missed by our community and that it would reassemble the following year.  
When our judges were notified of this last November, Brian Kreck immediately stepped forward. Brian, a former HHS grad and local business owner thought it was too important to miss a year. He rounded up enough friends and contacts to convince me we could still put! on a fair this year.
Students will again be given the opportunity and encouragement to explore or nurture their passion for science. More importantly, the core of a new Science Fair Committee is emerging with Brian’s help and passion for science and technology. I encourage those with a passion like Brian to step up and join him, if not for this year, then for next year’s fair. He can be reached at 433-6166 or br***@kr***.com.
This is what one person can do.
Mike Scrobonia
Former Science Fair Chairperson and current committee member
Climate change
Editor: I appreciate that you mentioned climate change twice in you recent commentary, “What’s most important?”
In a similar vein, journalist Ross Gelbspan nailed its importance: “Climate change is not just another issue in this complicated world of proliferating issues. It is the issue that, unchecked, will swamp all other issues.”
In the next few months local elected leaders will vote on Sonoma Clean Power, the biggest collective step a community can take to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Sonoma Clean Power has the added advantage of helping boost the local economy if done right. The Climate Protection Campaign has been cultivating the field for this big step since 2005.
We encourage our elected leaders to vote “yes” for Sonoma Clean Power.
Ann Hancock
Healdsburg
Sewer line quagmire
Editor: The pending ordinance amendment relating to the inspection and replacement of private sewer laterals is a potential financial nightmare for property owners. The city’s settlement agreement to avoid litigation agrees to mandate and bind private property owners to unnecessary and without cause inspection of their sewer lateral. It would require property owners to repair or replace damaged sewer laterals to their property on public land. This is a blatant departure and disregard from the standard agreement between the city and the property owner that could cost $5,000 to $15,000.
Should a professional service provider need to unclog a drain or waste line the incident must be reported to the city which automatically triggers a video inspection of the entire sewer lateral for $400 fee plus $79 viewing fee. Homeowner’s insurance may not cover repair or replacement cost. This mandated inspection also applies if you add useable space or sell your house further complicating real estate transactions. So responsibilities are very clear between land owners we have property lines, easement agreements, surveys, recorded parcel maps and deeds, title insurance and other agreements. In simple terms if it’s on city property and we’re paying for services it’s their responsibly and if on private property the owner is responsible. What adds to the quagmire is the lack of specificity and standards to determine a fair and adequate approach in resolving a potential health hazard because of a sewage leak.
Kevin J. McCann
Healdsburg
Change one-way direction
Editor:  I completely agree with the many people who have written about the traffic flow on Foss Creek Circle. Counter clock wise (CCW) was clearly the logical way to set up one way traffic. The reason for not selecting that option (a supposed  warehouse difficulty) seems to me to be spurious. I’m constantly amazed at the skill truckers have in manipulating those 18 wheelers.
But, the CCW suggestion is only a partial answer to the Foss Creek Circle traffic flow. At times, particularly around mid-day and close of business, entering and exiting the PO parking lot can be hazardous to life and limb especially with cars doing a 180 to enter the drop box lane. And there are those who park along the road to the north and walk to the lobby, probably not wanting to risk entering the parking lot.
Then too, life within the parking lot is a circus with some cars traveling west to find a parking spot, some backing out then turning east to exit the lot. If I’m held up while exiting and I see a nearby car’s back-up lights go on, I say a silent prayer hoping that the driver will see me. So far, I’ve lucked out.
The complete solution to this “mess” — and I do mean mess — is a CCW traffic flow on the Circle and a CCW traffic flow around the post office with cars entering the north driveway to park. Upon leaving then circling to the rear (west) of the post office and exiting the south driveway turning right on the Circle. A CCW flow around the post office building would completely eliminate the current messy situation.
Please, Postmaster, don’t tell me this is not possible. When the PO was downtown, we entered the parking lot from Center Street and exited on North. Postal vehicles parked in the same lot to load and offload and there was a rear access to the facility. There was not problem then with that arrangement, so far as I know.
I simply don’t know why logic flew out the window just because the post office moved to Foss Creek Circle.
Bob Rawlins
Healdsburg
Sewer ordinance impact
Editor: The city of Healdsburg (Management and City Council) is attempting to pass a new ordinance, which will have a substantial economic impact on each property owner and maybe every resident in the city if they are served by the city’s sewer system. A specific part of a proposed ordinance will transfer ownership of the city’s sewer laterals, buried under the city’s streets, to many private property owners (perhaps as many as 2,000 property owners). These sewer laterals have been the city’s responsibility since their inception. However, the city wants to abrogate its responsibility for maintenance, repair and replacement of these sewer laterals and transfer its responsibility to a large number of property owners in Healdsburg.
The city’s staff testified this transfer is necessary to satisfy the requirements of a legal settlement with an organization called Northern California River Watch. However, I have reviewed the approved settlement agreement and the transfer of city-owned sewer laterals to Healdsburg’s homeowners is not one of the settlement conditions imposed on the city.
A significant part of the settlement with River Watch requires the city to inspect all of its sewer laterals within 150 feet of a water source. Apparently the city wants to pass this obligation over to Healdsburg’s homeowners because a significant number of private property owners will have to pay for a video inspection of the sewer laterals depending on certain criteria or conditions. These new requirements could be very expensive for Healdsburg’s property owners, particularly if they have to pay to jackhammer and repair the street after the lateral is repaired or replaced at the homeowner’s expense. Costs could soar to $5,000 or more.
A final point: The city has known about its proposed settlement with River Watch for over a year, but the city saw no reason to notify property owners and residents until the first notice of a public hearing in January 2013. This is a perfect example of the city’s lack of transparency on a matter that is critical to its residents. Moreover, the city wants to pass the ordinance right away and has left little time for its citizens to act.
Therefore, please act now. Make your voices heard. Contact your city council representatives right away and attend the next city council meeting.
Robert Picott
Healdsburg
In defense of marriage
Editor: I read your article covering the Healdsburg City Council’s vote to file a brief requesting that the Supreme Court overturn the people of California’s wish to define marriage as the union of one man with one woman. The council’s job is to represent the citizens of Healdsburg and not to involve themselves with state issues. Besides, the electorate of the state has already spoken, by a large majority, in favor of the definition. I wonder, is this council one which bows to special interest groups, such as land development, requests for zoning changes, etc?
Len Theiss
Healdsburg