LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Cleaning up the creek
Editor: On October 10, 2009 a group of over 105 volunteers
organized by the City of Healdsburg  embarked on a journey to clean
Foss Creek and our community. The goal, very simply, leave this 
place cleaner then we found it. The clean up efforts consisted of
picking up trash found along Foss Creek, from Oak Grove Apartments
to the downtown 5-way intersection. While most picked  up trash,
others cleared vegetation from natural habitats and some painted
bridges. Together we  filled three 20-yard garbage bins of trash
& recyclable materials. Sponsors are vital, and we’d like to
thank the following for their support and donations:  Healdsburg
Kiwanis, Rotary Clubs of Healdsburg, State Farm Insurance,
Healdsburg Tribune, Costeaux Bakery, Healdsburg Starbucks, Bear
Republic Brewery, Safeway, Russian River  Keeper and Redwood Empire
Disposal. Most of all, we really appreciate the organization of
the  team leaders, getting their teams together, and filling those
garbage bags. The entire event was a genuine community
collaboration of residents, students, local business, and City
personnel. A very big thank you, to all of you, that made this
event a huge success. What a great community event that sustains
our beautiful environment! We hope to see you again  next year.
Tina Lindenberg
Healdsburg
Serious implications
Editor: The proposed agreement for Sonoma County’s waste
management, a Purchase and Sale Agreement between Sonoma County and
Republic Services, an Arizona-based corporation, has very serious
implications for our pocketbooks and the health of our
environment.
I hope we get it right and we all need to understand the issues.
The Guest Commentary in your paper raised some very pertinent
concerns, and I would like to see answers to those concerns
reported on in your paper.
One point that really got my attention was that the proposed
agreement does not provide any regulation of rates for anyone who
is hauling something out to the dump personally. That includes many
small businesses such as landscapers and builders, and it also
includes someone like me, living where there is no garbage pick-up
service and bringing my own garbage out to the dump every few
months. The authors of the commentary say that includes about 30
percent of all the county’s waste.
Another point is that the proposal has a clause requiring a
minimum charge. We might not save money by successfully reducing
the amount of waste we have, and that would be a real disincentive
for recycling, reducing our greenhouse gas from organics, etc. In
fact, the proposed agreement with Republic Services gives Republic
the right to sue cities if they do not allow Republic control of
their flow of solid waste. For example, another article in the same
issue of the paper reports that Redwood Empire Disposal is now
expanding their successful pilot program to decrease waste going to
our landfill by collecting and composting food waste from
restaurants, businesses and private homes. At no extra cost, the
expanded pilot program hopes to eliminate as much as 26 percent of
what is going into the landfill, and produce beneficial compost. I
want to know how this program, and any other efforts to reduce our
waste, would be affected by the proposed agreement.
The commentary also claims that more than $100 million would be
drained from Sonoma County’s economy when the profits go to this
company based in Arizona. I would like your paper to report on that
concern as well.
Finally, the commentary states that Newsweek recently rated the
500 largest firms in the country on the basis of their
environmental record and leadership in addressing environmental
concerns. Republic Services, they say, was ranked near the bottom
at 448th. That’s pretty scary. We treasure the beauty of Sonoma
County, and we depend on its environmental health for ourselves and
for the agricultural and tourism industries as well. I would like
to know more about why our County Supervisors seem to think we can
trust this company with such an important role in our county’s
health and well-being.
All I know is what I read in the paper, so, I would like to read
more in the paper on this topic, please!
Margo Miller
Sebastopol
The right leader
Editor: It seems to me that the perfect choice for “the right
teacher to lead the modern shop program” at the high school is Ray
Holley.
He’s committed to the program, qualified, and has valuable
relationships in the community which will support the program.
Jane St. Claire
Healdsburg
‘Safety in Numbers’
Editor: While collecting information for the FireFreeFitch house
number sign project described under “There’s Safety in Numbers” in
this issue, the emergency responders with whom I spoke gave me some
important tips that affect all area residents.
According to the Healdsburg Fire Chief, there is a misconception
that whoever is going to be responding to the emergency is a
firefighter with intimate knowledge of local roads and conditions.
However, due to the increased use of mutual aid by all fire
departments, especially during large fire incidents, it it almost a
certainty that the fire engine assigned will be from another
jurisdiction that is staffed by a crew with limited geographic
knowledge of the area.
From Bell’s Ambulance we learn that in conjunction with highly
visible signs, it is essential that any other factors related to
911 calls be addressed such as: gate combinations, hidden
driveways, weight limits on bridges or roads, unmarked forks in a
road or any other factors that would help them locate or prevent
them from locating your residence.
The County Dept. of Emergency Services counsels us to remember:
Make sure that everybody in the home knows and can properly spell
the correct address especially children. If you call 911 for an
emergency, state your address clearly when asked by the dispatcher
and be sure to include the address number, street name and
town.
No matter where you live in Sonoma County your participation in
this program will be much appreciated by the emergency responders
who serve us all. A green reflective sign on your home displays
your concerned support for this safety measure.
Laura Tietz
Healdsburg
Support for CIR
Editor: I wanted to express my support for the Community Impact
Report discussion that will be taking place at this coming Monday’s
City Council meeting.
I have been an active participant and observer of local issues
and politics for some time and I can’t think of a more valuable
tool for our councilmembers, staff, and citizens to have at their
disposal than a Community Impact Report (CIR) when evaluating
proposed large-scale development projects within the City of
Healdsburg.
As proposed, a CIR would evaluate the potential long term
impacts large development will have on our cash strapped public
safety agencies, streets and roads and other public infrastructure
funds as well as our health care agencies and schools. 
Particularly in these strained financial times, our city leaders
must be financially responsible and evaluate all aspects of a large
development which means studying the long term financial impacts
proposed large developments will have on vital services that are
key to our quality of life here in town.  I believe the CIR process
can help them do this.
CIR’s would not be used for small mom and pop stores or housing,
only large developments similar to the Saggio Hills resort. In
fact, CIRs preserve the small town qualities that we all love about
Healdsburg.
I hope you’ll join me and ask the Council to study the merits of
a CIR at Monday’s Council meeting.
Jason Liles
Healdsburg