LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 8-18-2011

Bohemian thank you
Editor: On Thursday, July 28, the 100th Annual
Monte Rio Variety Show was held. As organizers and beneficiaries,
we wish to thank our volunteers, ticket vendors, donors, and the
Bohemian Club of San Francisco. The show was a significant
financial success, highlighting our commitment to team work in
fundraising for the community. As in years past, we were able to
showcase the beautiful Monte Rio Amphitheatre, owned and maintained
by the Monte Rio Recreation and Park District. We were supported by
the Russian River Historical Society whose mission is to preserve
commemorative events.
We had a record crowd of over 2,500 and distribution to our
beneficiaries will exceed monies raised in 2010. A brass plaque
will be placed on the Amphitheatre stage, crafted from a Bohemian
Club member, to commemorate the date of our show.
We gratefully acknowledge the members, grovekeepers and staff of
the Bohemian Club of San Francisco who are community neighbors in
the Bohemian Grove for over 100 years.
Again, we wish to thank all involved and in attendance for a
successful show.
Michele McDonell
St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church
Kristin Thurman-Fein
Monte Rio School Foundation
Ken Wikle
Monte Rio Fire Services Foundation
‘Small town’ even smaller
Editor: I was curious to see that yet another
committee has come along in Sebastopol that is “for our small
town.” I am surprised we need this committee, since our city is
losing population. According to the 2010 census, the population is
down to roughly 7,300. If Sebastopol gets much smaller, I worry
about the local economy, as well as the city’s finances. What I
would like to see in our small town is for businesses that sell the
products we need, to feel welcome to do business in Sebastopol,
including CVS.
The CVS project is not a new corporation coming to Sebastopol,
it is already here. They have made a business decision to move
across town and purchase a downtown property and the property
owners have decided to sell to them. This will provide many new
jobs, begining with construction jobs, and much needed revenue to
our small town.
One of the requirements for CVS to be able to operate their
business at this location was to conduct a traffic study. Two
traffic studyies were done and met with the city’s requirements.
So, our small town should let them do business.
I am a retiree with multiple joint replacements, who lives in
the city limits. CVS will have a drive thru for prescriptions, and
I am looking forward to that.
Linda Rouse
Sebastopol
 
Let CVS go forward
Editor: Our city leaders want to develop our
city to keep the revenue flowing enough to sustain our expenses. To
do this they are forming an incubator project to help bring in new
businesses. Then they send a message into Western Sonoma County
that CVS cannot move forward and relocate the store. This is a very
large and loud message that Sebastopol leadership is not business
friendly.
Can we afford this?
Sue Ungewitter
Sebastopol
 
Change is inevitable
Editor: Change is one of the toughest and
greatest aspects of life. Our little town of Sebastopol is hungry
for change and we are fortunate to have a community that is
passionate about how this change occurs.
When we attach to a specific outcome we often lose our sight,
and see only what endorses our perceived need. To obtain the
greatest possible resolution I have been taught to let go of the
result, and allow for objective consideration toward the highest
understanding. I believe we must sometimes close our eyes to open
them, and so I offer my perspective in the hopes it will spark
others to embrace the actual proposed changes before us with a
fresh outlook.
I imagine The Barlow full of foot traffic, shops, landscape, and
a diverse mix of families conversing about the great food, wine,
and shops at this awakened location. I envision driving by the old
Pellini dealership and feeling excited about the incredible
collaboration that allowed for a small town to conjoin and improve
a key space that may otherwise have remained vacant. I considered
how these two destinations alone might capture the traffic we are
so conscious of, and encourage stops that allow for increased sales
tax, and support other local businesses by getting folks out of
their cars.
The proposed CVS project is not without drawbacks, but the same
thing might have been said about our Apple Blossom Fair during its
consideration. We have a choice to resist change or embrace it with
awareness and conviction. I wish there were three other offers to
choose from, but there are not. The viable proposal before us is
for two existing corporate businesses to move from one location in
town to another, and improve a highly visible blighted location.
The developer is working very closely with the city to enhance the
project’s building design, and has agreed to create more jobs by
using local contractors. We must endeavor to honor private property
rights, the use permit application process, and the city ordinances
for which we have established. There have been no other offers to
buy or improve this property.
The project offers a financially challenged city tangible
improvements to the crosswalks at and near the Petaluma and
Sebastopol Avenue intersection, as well as the street upgrades to
Barnes Avenue.
The city currently does not have the funding to independently
pay for these improvements.
Until I receive new facts that alter my understanding of this
project, I support it, and am open to how it will improve my
experience of living within the city limits of this potent town
called Sebastopol.
Ian M. Kalember
Sebastopol
Frivolous lawsuit
Editor: The Boss of Sebastopol, Helen Shane,
could not control her three council members. She was on the
campaign committee of The Former Mayor the current mayor and the
new vice mayor. So Helen, not liking the results of the CVS vote,
files a suit to waste taxpayers time and money and create an
eyesore and cost the developer more money as well. Helen, time to
grow up. Why should you run this town and control what businesses
go where? Would you rather have a vacant lot there falling apart? I
did not get my way so I will sue. It’s the American way of life.
Just for your information, one of the persons listed on the suit
lives outside of the city limits. Why would he sue when it does not
affect him directly?
Martin M. Webb
Sebastopol
 
Who is Sebastopol?
Editor: Like most residents that live or have
businesses in the community, I have come to appreciate not only the
beauty but also the sense of safety provided by our city employees
and the schools that provide great education.
Perhaps those of you who believe in magic did not read the
factual information provided in the July 2011 City of Sebastopol
Community Newsletter. The city has seen a 5.1 percent drop in
population and several schools have closed. Many small cities are
failing due to economic realities. Many of our friends and
neighbors have lost jobs, lost value in their homes, spend less
money or have moved out of our community.
Recently, the City has had to adopt an austerity budget due to
decreasing revenue from parcel taxes, sales and business license
taxes. All city workers have taken a reduction in pay and city
services have been reduced. There are limited funds that will be
rationed out based on priorities.
Now we have a group of people who want to deny or disrupt the
Pellini Family’s right to sell their private property. These people
use “big corporations” as the “bad guy” threatening our lifestyle.
In this instance, CVS/Longs, has been in the community for 25 years
and has followed the City’s policies, procedures and ordinances in
the relocation of their business in a permitted site including two
traffic studies that were approved.
Anyone who has lived here for any length of time less does not
deny that the corner of Highway 12 and 116 is an eyesore. The
Pellini building has been vacant for five years; enough time that
the city council and interested parties could have purchased the
property and developed it. No one stepped forward.
A frivolous lawsuit has been lodged against the City of
Sebastopol and City Council hoping that this will delay or stop the
CVS project. It only eliminates service to our community because
reduced staff time will be used in defense of this lawsuit. While
this lawsuit demands more traffic studies, one of our largest
Sebastopol employers, Precision Moldings, has moved its 60
employees to Rohnert Park.
The City Council and Administration, along with the residents of
Sebastopol, need to create an environment where businesses are
welcomed, jobs are created, and our small city thrives with new
people and new energy. If anyone believes that denying business
development will help us stay small, I challenge that attitude – it
will only turn Sebastopol into a town where everyone drives
through.
Linda J. Johnson, Greg Reynolds, Will Brown, Gene
Bonino, Rod McAulay, Richard and Trish Power, Louie Hopfer, Jeanne
Fernandes, Peaches Henning, Katherine Kendall, Gail Mullins, John
Blount, Julie Kidd
 
Sebastopol
CVS needs EIR
Editor: The City Council of Sebastopol recently
approved a development at the corner of Highway 12 and Highway 116
(Petaluma Avenue) that resembles very much a strip mall. Only
Councilmember Sarah Gurney opposed its approval. The developer
would build a new CVS store and Chase Bank on the site along with
104 parking places; each building would have drive-through lanes to
accommodate their customers.
The Committee for Small Town Sebastopol has asked the Sonoma
County Superior Court to order the City to either justify its
declaration that this project has minimal environmental
consequences or to require the developer to do an EIR. Committee
member John Kramer said “We believe that the increase in gridlock
will be considerable.”
“As everyone in Sebastopol knows and indeed, everyone in West
County knows, this is one of the most congested intersections in
Sebastopol. Rush hour waiting times of several minutes are common,”
said Helen Shane.
California environmental law (CEQA) requires projects expected
to have significant environmental impact to be scrutinized with an
Environmental Impact Report (EIR). An EIR proposes ways to mitigate
significant negative impacts. An EIR reveals to the community pros
and cons of proposed new development. The EIR also requires that
there be stated alternatives to the project as proposed.
Here the City Council overturned the Sebastopol Planning
Commission, stating that this proposed development would have such
insignificant impacts that an EIR was not required. With this
finding the City has given up almost all control over this project
except for the minimal control of Design Review.
The City based its decision that the development would have no
significant traffic impact on a study of traffic increase along the
Highway 12/116 corridors. But the City failed to consider specific
data related to the actual project. California law requires that
the actual project be evaluated and that such a study include the
cumulative impacts of other likely foreseeable developments in
evaluating the impact of a project.
Despite CEQA, the City did not consider the impact of the
proposed major redevelopment and new construction of The Barlow
Project just 200 yards away on Highway 12 nor the traffic impact
from the proposed Laguna Vista subdivision of 145 new units along
Highway 116.
In addition, the City has already approved the construction of
98 single-family units, three multi-family units, and 18 additional
hotel rooms. Moreover, the City has projects pending totaling 133
new single-family units, 85 multi-family units and 50,364 feet of
commercial/retail and office space. None of these seem to have been
included in the study of the cumulative impact on the Levels of
Service (LOS) in the community, especially as they increase levels
of traffic.
The Committee for Small Town Sebastopol believes that, in the
light of all these approved and proposed developments, which will
significantly impact levels of traffic, greenhouse gas emissions,
and other environmental factors in our community, the City must
require an Environmental Impact Report of this project so that the
community can make an informed decision.
John Kramer
Helen ShaneJane Nielson
for the Committee for Small Town Sebastopol