Ukiah Valley Democratic Club: March 2009 Minutes

March 2009 Minutes

Ukiah Valley Democratic Club Meeting Minutes
                                                 3/9/09

Members Present:Wendy Pollitz, Gail Johnson, Joelle Sumski, Arleen Shippey, Richard Hargreaves, Doug Strong, Irma Turner, Ginger Pohlson, Joel Levine, Eileen Mitro, Katharine Cole, Jody Cole, Lois Lockart, Jennifer Poole, Bill Waring, Rose Waring, Joan Erickson, Sheri Hanson, J.R. Rose, Carre Brown.

(20) The meeting was called to order by President Wendy Pollitz at 6:30pm.

1. The agenda was presented. It was decided to address #9 and # 4 on the agenda first, due to having a guest speaker, Carre Brown, and not enough time to cover all agenda items at this meeting. The rest of the agenda items will be carried over to the next meeting. Approved.

2. No Treasurer’s Report was given. No monies were spent or received.

3. Minutes of the last general meeting of 2/9/09 were handed out.

Old Business: 4. Senior Advocacy Task Force: Board of Supervisors passed their own resolution re: Seniors affected by Social Security COLA’s on March 3, 2009. This will be taken to other counties and cities. Mendocino County’s Democratic Central Committee will sponsor our Resolution (or a similar version) to the State Democratic Party. J.R. Rose and Wendy Pollitz will bring our resolution in front of the Ukiah City Council on March 18, 2009.

New Business:9. Political Policy issues:A. Navy weapons training threatening coast. Members were encouraged to go to the Navy’s website and post comments. B. Timber Harvest plan again submitted to log Noyo River headlands. According to Bill Ray of Willits Environmental Center, Willits Redwood Co. plans to do clear cuts along the Skunk line. Letters opposing this are requested to be sent to: Leslie Markham, CalFireAttn: Forest Practice135 Ridgeway Ave.Santa Rosa, CA 95401 Or email to: santarosapubliccomment@fire.ca.gov C. Single Payer Health careCalls to members in Congress to support HR 676 were requested to made on March 10, 2009.Members are also urged to contact the new Health Secretary-designate, Kathleen Sibelius

Guest Speaker: Carre Brown, Supervisor of Mendocino County, 1^st DistrictCarre took office Jan. 5, 2009 and thanked the Democratic Club for our support. She will be the Chair of the Supervisors next year. Currently she is Vice Chair. Carre is on the county wide Water and Natural Resources committees now. She also serves on the General Government and Public Resources committees.

Mendocino County General Plan:Carre emphasized the need for more transparency and citizen input in the General Plan process. It is the blueprint for land use planning for 20 years. She encouraged the public to attend Board of Supervisor meetings and to get involved by finding your section in the Plan (Potter Valley, Anderson Valley, etc.) The rezonings are listed. Check it. Keep watch on it. And then testify to Supervisors on concerns.There was very little citizen input into this General Plan process.Water policies are dispersed throughout document. The final draft of the General Plan is out. It will be discussed at March 17, 2009 Board of Supervisors joint meeting with the Planning Commission. Supervisors are likely to adopt it by May 2009.We need citizens to engage and testify.The library has the document (July 21^st ed.) The County has it on CDs for $10.

DDR/Old Masonite Site:DDR has been conducting phone surveys in preparation for possibly putting an initiative on the November ballot. The initiative would be to change the zoning from industrial to commercial. Putting it on a ballot would allow them to bypass the government processes: Board of Supervisor approval, EIR (Environmental Impact Review), CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act).

Water:Carre also addressed the severe water shortage problem we have. Agricultural and fishery issues were mentioned, as were plans for emergency water delivery, which also includes dry conditions and fires/lightening. The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 pm by Wendy Pollitz, President.   Next meeting is April 13, 2009   6:30 - 8:30    Location to be Determined. Minutes submitted by Gail Johnson, sec. 3/16/09.