Letters to the Editor 3-12-15

Clover Springs design costs alarming
Editor:
Having just received the Feb. 25 edition of the Reveille (“Clover Springs Trail plans move ahead despite cost concerns,”) I am astounded at the projected cost for pre-construction services. To spend almost one-third of the budget on design and engineering is just insane. Seems like the firm of RRM has the attitude of “We are the only game in town, so this is the price – take it or leave it.” Being a frequent user of the open space, there are many trails already improved, some for an easy walk that could be done by most anyone, and some for the more aggressive hiker. Seemingly, Council Member Palla and City Manager Cayler are operating with a gun at their heads. I would have to believe that if the County Open Space District were approached, they would also agree that spending almost $100,000 for pre-construction work, without final plans included, is a huge mistake.  Time extensions are very common in these cases. I would urge citizens to call, write or appear at the next city council meeting and ask what other steps might be taken to avert this huge waste of money.
Wayne Diggs,
Cloverdale
Friday nights critical to business
Editor:
To Cloverdale City Council Members – recently, the farmers’ market board convened a “listening session” to hear the concerns of local merchants whose businesses have suffered, some greatly, since Friday Night Live began. One restaurant’s sales were down $40,000 last summer. Clover Theater owners told board members they “need to hear” how critical those Friday nights are to the life of their business. The result? The farmers’ market will decide if it will allow three more Cloverdale merchants to participate in FNL. The five of you, not the farmers’ market, or any other board, were elected to manage this city. Why haven’t you worked with affected business owners toward a solution that benefits everyone? FNL runs for 13 nights. Local businesses provide services, jobs and enjoyment all year. Their sales taxes, which underwrite the city, plummet every summer. Instead of addressing this problem, you implemented a utility users’ tax. Year after year the council promises to bring businesses to Cloverdale and keep them here. It’s time to keep those promises. When it comes to FNL, “Join ‘em if you can’t beat ‘em” may work for selling slices of pizza, but it doesn’t work for three-course meals or tickets to first-run movies. The farmer’s market stops when FNL stops, in the heart of harvest season.  FNL, a fundraiser for the Cloverdale Arts Alliance, would be just as much fun on Thursday nights. Like all of our local nonprofits, CAA does much good. Unfortunately, FNL isn’t “free”; it’s held at the expense of local merchants, their employees, taxpayers and the city. No other towns in Sonoma or Mendocino counties permit “free” concerts on Friday summer nights. The reason is clear. Unless you do the job you promised to do, Cloverdale will remain bypassed in more ways than one.
CD Grant,
Cloverdale
A privilege, not a right
Editor:
I am not a voting citizen of Cloverdale because I live outside the city limits – but I can be immensely impacted by the adopted (or non-adopted ) policies of the Cloverdale city government. My family owns land that enjoys about a quarter mile of Russian River frontage on south River Road. I am deeply sympathetic to the noise complaints by my Asti Ridge neighbors.  My grief and complaint is this: business enterprises who exploit the beauty of our Alexander Valley and take no responsibility for their impact on its citizens. Case in point: for years Trowbridge ran a canoe operation on the Russian River south to Healdsburg. These canoes drifted down the river (not a problem) but the Trowbridge operation took no responsbility for the litter, and worst of all, the human waste, that was deposited by canoeers on the banks of privately owned land. Trowbridge never provided chemical toilets or instructions to canoeers that the Russian River banks were private property and not an extension of its enterprise. So I greatly sympathize with those citizens and non-citizens of Cloverdale who are harassed by the noise pollution of the NorCal Skydiving operation. Please let me emphasize, this is not about the Cloverdale Airport – it is about the NorCal enterprise that has refused to follow the noise-reduction requests  presented by citizens and pilots alike. They do so to protect their bottom line that is tenuous, by their own admission. NorCal needs to act responsibly. Their operation should be viewed as a privilege, not a right.
Bobbie Stafford,
Cloverdale
Where is the logic?
Editor:
Our fearless leaders have done it again. I got a message in the mail outlining how we should cut back on water use by 25 percent and don’t water on Mondays. We are short of water. This is after I read in the newspaper that the city has welcomed a builder to give us 200 or so more living units which could mean at least 400 more water users. Am I the only one who fails to understand the logic in these two actions?
Chris Haugsten
Cloverdale
Pro-airport
Editor:
Many people who know me are not surprised by that comment – yes, I love airports. Flying is my husband’s and my passion. We’ve rented, owned and are now building our own plane with the help of Doug out at Quality Sport Planes at the Cloverdale Airport. I’ve been skydiving, and my 31-year-old son had his first dive out at NorCal Skydiving. I have to say it is the most wonderful experience you can have.  This is why I’m so disappointed in the accusations made by Mr. Kennedy. Most of his quoted facts are simply not true. For example:
• People who oppose your position are not all pro-corporate, anti-environmental apologists.
• The Peregrine Falcons have been off the endangered species list since 1999;
• The statement that the Geneva Convention considers the noise from a Cessna aircraft inhumane, or that anyone would consider this, is not plausible,
• As far as damage to the Russian River area – our airport has been around for over 100 years and there has never been any documented damage to this habitat caused by the landing and/or departing of single engine aircraft.
When the people who are complaining about the airport noise bought their homes, were they aware that there is an airport here? A logical supposition would be that there would be airplanes taking off and landing. The Cloverdale Airport provides a vital emergency lifeline to protect our community in the event of a natural or man-made disaster. In 2004, it became a staging area for helicopters fighting the massive Geysers Fire. NorCal Skydiving offers a great service to our community and makes our small town a destination place for people outside our community. We need NorCal, we need the planes and I truly believe that the only way the complainers will be satisfied is to close our airport, which would be a horrible mistake and would irreparably cause a negative impact on our community. I understand Mr. Kennedy’s frustration with the noise as I believe he has become sensitized by it. However, like people who have sound sensitivity to ticking clocks, or other repetitive sounds, removing all the clocks from the town is not the answer. There is a lot of information on the Internet, and from professionals, regarding sound sensitivity, and I would hope the noise complainers would do more research in that area, rather than attacking a noise that is not an issue to the majority of our city’s population, and the source of which is actually a great asset.
Linda Welch
Cloverdale