Mark West Compass

Larkfield Resilience Fund

Most of us have known about the Larkfield Resilience Fund (LRF) since the year anniversary of the Tubbs Fire and we know how and why the fund got started. Their mission is to help the community rebuild, replant and recover.  
So here’s an update about this fabulous group. Their primary program, the Neighborhood Greening Project will provide trees to Larkfield residents whose homes and trees were destroyed by the fire.  
They also aim to fund an emergency preparedness plan such as Citizens Organized to Prepare for Emergency (COPE) and provide returning families with some preparedness supplies. This will develop further as more residents move back into the area.   
They are a registered California corporation and have recently received their IRS 501(c)3 tax exempt status. They have been awarded several grants from United Way of the Wine Country, Redwood Valley & Santa Rosa Community Recovery Fund, Sonoma County Vintners Foundation and Rotary Club District 5130. Grant funds received will benefit the Neighborhood Greening Project. In total, they have raised over $110,000 including these grants and donations. 
Fire survivors in the Larkfield area who are rebuilding and wish to be considered for a tree should complete an online application by March 31, 2019. Applications can be found on their website:  www.larkfieldfund.com/tree-award-application 
LRF is also working with the national tree organization, The Arbor Day Foundation, to secure tree distribution events through their Community Tree Recovery program.             
A local coffee start-up, Neighborhood Coffee, founded by Rob Daly, has partnered with LRF and has agreed to donate 5 percent of net profits to their resilience projects in 2019. Neighborhood Coffee is available for purchase in Northern California Whole Foods locations.  Neighborhood will also be sold beginning March 22 at Molsberry’s Market in Larkfield and Andy’s Markets in Sebastopol. 
To learn more about the Larkfield Resilience Fund visit them on the web at www.larkfieldfund.com.  You can also get the latest information on their upcoming events and programs by following them on facebook.com/larkfieldfund
Good News for Walkers in Larkfield
A flashing light (HAWK) pedestrian signal is coming to Old Redwood Highway, in front of Molsberry’s Market. It should be done before this summer.
Fire Districts Consolidation
Ron Busch, Administrative Battalion Chief, Windsor/Rincon Valley Fire Districts gave a really extensive explanation of the why and when of the Consolidation to the Mark West Citizens Advisory Council (MWCAC). He went from the loss and the costs, of the Tubbs fire, on Rincon Valley, Santa Rosa and Mountain Volunteer Fire Departments, to the creation of the Sonoma County Fire District, approved by LAFCO on Feb 6, 2019. 
The proposed annexation is driven by declining financial conditions and needs of the three districts to be annexed by the Windsor FPD. All three have been struggling for several years with an inadequate financial basis and edging toward a consolidation plan. Consolidation planning was prioritized by the 2017 wildfires. All three lost considerable portions of their property tax basis; pushing them toward insolvency. Property tax rates are set to increase to Windsor’s existing rates upon annexation. Consolidation will benefit the rate payers through costs sharing, more efficient operations and increased services levels.      
Formation of the new entity has the support of the directors of all four agencies. The goal, if passed through the public comment period is to go live in May of 2019. If not passed through the public comment period, it will go back to voters for a vote.
Windsor Special Tax will be applied to Rincon Valley, Mountain and Bennett Valley Fire Districts. 
Mark West Neighborhood Improvement Funds                 
Two recent projects have been approved by the MWCAC for funds from the Mark West Neighborhood Improvement Funding Program (NIFP).
Some time ago I told you that the Mark West Estates Homeowners Association’s application was approved. The process, however, of getting those funds has had a few glitches along the way. It’s still a fairly new process and the county has to make sure everything is completed legally. They need a separate, non-profit organization to be a fiscal sponsor to handle the money and give it to approved applicants.  
Now, the United Way has agreed to be the fiscal sponsor for this project. A contract is being drawn up by county counsel. When United Way signs the contact the funds will be issued from the county to them. United Way will then issue a check to the Mark West Homeowners Association. 
The other applicant is Community Soils. They asked and were approved for $12,750 for 12 signs for the Larkfield Community Garden.
By way of explanation, they are lacking interpretive signage. The garden is open to the public but it is not obvious and the public is not aware of the opportunities.
They asked the council to fund high quality, digitally designed signage. The customized, weather resistant, digital and bilingual signage will be strategically placed in high foot traffic areas and be esthetically pleasing to minimize sight nuisance.
The signs will provide information, interpretive education, cultural/natural history and donor recognition.
The funding for this will be a little slower. Public Works and Transportation still has to review it. They are delayed for a time due to flooding in Guerneville. It still looks like it will go thru, however. And when it does, Extended Child Care Coalition will be the sponsoring non-profit for this project.
Going forward: Larkfield Resilience Fund, Inc. (upon receiving their 501(c)3) will serve as “fiscal sponsor” for future applications.
Road Repair in Burn Areas
Roni Berg, Council Vice Chair of the MWCAC did some research regarding the status of road and sidewalk repair in the Mark West/ Wikiup/Larkfield burn areas. Here is what she found out.
Road and sidewalk repair was declined by FEMA. The county is appealing.
Another source of funding could come from county permit fees required by utility companies running new equipment. If that isn’t enough, the county will have to wait until all houses are rebuilt so that money can be allocated in the fiscal budget for repairs. This will have to be allocated over a number of years.
Any questions should be directed to Jen Mendoza, District Aide Representing, Supervisor James Gore, 4th District, County of Sonoma, email: je**************@so***********.org
Aggie Maggio is a local Realtor and member of the Mark West Chamber of Commerce.  She can be reached at Ag*********@ic****.com