The Mark West Citizens Advisory Council (MWCAC) is releasing the Neighborhood Improvement Funding Program (NIFP) in June. It supports neighborhood improvement projects in the communities serviced by Cal Am Water — Mark West, Larkfield, Wikiup and parts of Fulton.
Booklets will be available around the neighborhood, after June 15, and online at sonomacounty.ca.gov/Mark-West-Citizens-Advisory-Council/.
At the last meeting, Brad Sherwood, Sonoma County Water Agency, presented to the council about proposed sewer hookups in Larkfield. The proposal would extend sewer service to 128 homes. There would be an option to defer payment 10 years at 2.5 percent interest. It is only for those opting in. This program will be presented to the Board of Supervisors on June 5. For more information contact Sophie Porcelli at so*************@sc**.gov or 524-6430.
Another presentation, by Jennifer Gray Thompson, the executive director of Rebuild North Bay Foundation, was interesting and informative.
RNBF was born out of the October fires. Founder Darius Anderson gathered top leaders across multiple sectors — private, public and nonprofit — who came together to deal with the immediate devastation. Anderson’s vision was to create a long-term organization to deal with the immense needs of rebuilding the North Bay region.
RNBF advocates for better housing stock and the ability to address previous housing challenges, including affordability and availability. They insist that the homes have to be good, not just fast, keeping the price the same, building them better. RNBF is working to increase the number of energy efficient homes and supports incentivizing greener builds through rebate programs such as provided by PG&E and Sonoma Clean Power.
RNBF has three main areas of concentration: advocacy, coordination and economic/workforce development, representing four counties covering the fire-affected region.
Their first delegation went to DC in in January. They were one part of the reason the region received a 90 percent reimbursement from the federal government to cover fire related costs and recovery.
RNBF represents the private sector. Their goal is to meet unmet needs, like fences, for people who have burned lots, joined by a common wall. They were successful in securing the funding for Coffey Park walls.
They are hoping to get another 200-300 volunteers for the fence project in Larkfield Estates and Mark West Estates. Possibly through the Mark West community?
With the planning of neighborhood fencing they needed an attorney. Martin Hirsch of Less Perry, LLP Attorney at Law, is now helping on Coffey Park and Mark West, pro bono.
Barry Friedman and his vendors are donating material and Sonoma County Habitat For Humanity is working with them on the fence building project. Nor Cal Ford is going to film it for a commercial. They want to make it a symbol for everyone.
There’s so much more that I don’t have the space to write about. Check their events page for a benefit concert on June 8. www.rebuildnorthbay.org/press/
The proposal to reduce the speed limit on Old Redwood Highway between Lavell and Mark West Springs Roads was denied by the Department of Transportation and Public Works. The denial is based on speed laws. They have a proposal to install a HAWK beacon/ladder light crosswalk, midblock at the shopping center. The council is not accepting the denial and is urging another study with more complete criteria.
On another note, I know I kept telling you about a joint trade show and recovery event planned for this summer. Unfortunately the Luther Burbank Center is still under reconstruction, so it’s all going to have to wait till the fall. I’m told it will still be a great event worth waiting for.
Supervisor Gore, not one to be idle while waiting, spoke at a Mark West Chamber luncheon. His main focus was that the county has to get extreme in improving all emergency systems. He said he thought we were in good shape, above average. Now he knows that is not good enough, we have to be the best there is. He emphasized that by stating there is an 80 percent chance of a 6.3 earthquake here, by 2040.
He said we did as well as we did, due to the community and the way everybody rose to the occasion. Now the county is building for a “new normal.” There will be several tests coming.
Gore emphasized the need to still watch our water. We have the top five regulated creeks. We are 30 percent agricultural and 80 percent residential. The juvenile coho salmon factory is part of Sonoma County. It’s important that this county has resilient building practices so we can reduce dependence on existing water.
Aggie Maggio is a local Realtor and member of the Mark West Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached at Ag*********@ic****.com.
