Springs Community Alliance |MINUTES/NOTES

Meeting date | time 1/14/2016 7:00 PM | Meeting location Sonoma Charter School

Meeting called by Rich Lee

Type of meeting Regular, General

Facilitators Rich Lee, Anna Pier,

Note taker Celia Kruse de la Rosa

Estimated attendees: 40

Agenda Item: Welcome. | Presenter Rich Lee

AGENDA: Overview provided of the meeting’s flow.

Order of Items: Introductions & Announcements, Highway 12 Construction Update & Tree Mitigation –

Committee Update, Guest Speakers (two presentations), Topics for February SCA Meeting 2/11/16, Adjourn

Guest Speaker – Yolanda Solano, Planner, PRMD TOPIC: “Springs Area Plan,”

Guest Speaker – Dave Ransom, Mario Castillo, and Frank Windes– TOPIC: “Sonoma Valley Housing Crisis”

Sonoma Valley Housing Group, North Bay Organizing Project.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Supervisor Susan Gorin announced that a contract to extend work with Highway 12 Prime Contractor,

O.D.Jones for paving has been approved for extended paving of Boyes Boulevard spur. Open discussion

followed regarding problems with current and proposed parking options for the area. Gorin requested the

community volunteer for the County’s annual homeless count so that the true number of homeless is known.

She also spoke about a “Building Homes Toolbox” on the CDC (Community Development Commission

website. http://sonomacounty.ca.gov/Search-Results/?q=building%20homes%20toolbox. Also check out: https://sonoma-county-continuum-of-care.wikispaces.com/Sonoma+County%27s+Point+In+Time+Homeless+Count

There will be a meeting, Wednesday, February 17 at the Boys & Girls Club House 101 W. Verano. –to discuss

the future of Maxwell Park. Residents are encouraged to attend to learn and voice their interest and concerns

for the plans being made by the Sonoma County Departments of Parks. Call 707.565.2041 for more information.

(SEE ATTACHMENT)

AGENDA ITEM: Highway 12 Construction Update/Tree Mitigation | Presented by Rich Lee

"Construction on the Highway 12 project has been delayed due to the recent period of rainy weather so not

much progress to report. For Highway 12 construction information visit:

http://sonomacounty.ca.gov/TPW/Roads/Projects/State-Route-12-Corridor-Improvement/

An application for a small Impact 100 grant is in process that will help to fund planning and implementation

for the tree replacement project along Highway 12 (NOTE: More than 30 large trees and some 40 smaller trees

and shrubs were removed from the Highway 12 corridor prior to the start of construction.) It was reported

that no public lands are available. No mandates will be made and participation is voluntary by the property

owners along Highway 12. Resources and assistance may come from the Teen Center and the Sonoma County

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Probation Department. A committee was formed at the last SCA meeting to learn more from concerned

partners such the Sonoma Valley Ecology Center and Supervisor Gorin’s Office.

To learn more about the “tree mitigation” plan and/or join the committee, please contact:

info@springscommunityalliance.org

GUEST SPEAKER: Springs Area Plan – Community Engagement Process Preview, Yolanda Solano, Planner,

Sonoma County Permit and Resource Management Department (PRMD) | An update was provided by

Yolanda Solano that focused on the County’s plans for community participation in the Planning Grant through

Community and Technical Advisory Teams and Community Workshop/Forums (see resource link at end of

this discussion) We learned that close to 65 applications were submitted to the County by persons with interest

to be considered for the Community Advisory Team. Initially the team was going to be 9 – 12 people, because

of the high response, this will now be a15-member team (to be comprised of individuals with various interests

and backgrounds – such as business owners, residents, renters, youth, seniors, community advocates and such).

A second team is being created that will be composed of experts as the Technical Advisory Team (made up of

City of Sonoma, Parks Department, Public Works, Engineering, and others). Together these teams, along with

community input, will create the guidelines for development and use in the Highway 12 Corridor as outlined in

the Community Planning Grant.

Map of the area – Yolanda provided a map (see Attachment A).

Five open workshops/forums will be held allowing the community to be briefed and gather its input. The first

is planned for Monday, February 29 (tentative location: AltaMira Middle School). When the plan has been

finalized it will be presented to the Board of Supervisors for approval and implementation. It is estimated that

the process will take about 18 – 24 months to complete. So by Spring of 2018 the plan may be finalized and

implemented and enforceable.

All open community workshops/forums will be widely publicized, promoted, and bilingual.

Open discussion followed with concern raised for projects approved before the plan is implemented. Until the

plan has been approved, current projects need only meet existing requirements.

Development/rehabilitation projects underway or to be implemented before the finalized plan are not impacted,

such as Sonoma Splash.

NOTE: PRMD announced the selected team members as reported by the Sonoma Sun (1/25/2016):

Mia Cabrera – Parent, Volunteer, Full-time Student

Richard Dale – Sonoma Ecology Center, Sonoma Valley Health Roundtable

Teresita Fernandez – Business owner: La Michoacana Ice Cream

Patricia Galindo – Client Services Coordinator for La Luz

Maite Iturri – El Verano School Principal

Scott Johnson – Director of Housing Development, Midpen Housing

Rich Lee – Business owner: Arroyo Veterinary Hospital; Chair of Springs Community Alliance

Ryan Lely – Visual Designer, Sonoma Valley Citizen’s Advisory Commission

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Veronica Napoles – Art Consultant, Author, Educator

Michael Ross – Architect, RossDrulisCusenbery Architecture

Rick Ruiz – Retired Deputy Public Works Director

Gary Saperstein – Business owner: Out in the Vineyard; Sonoma Tourism Bureau Board; Sonoma Valley Visitors

Bureau Board

Pedro Napoles Serrano – College Student

Yuliana Torres – Women’s Global Leadership Initiative (WGLI) intern, Education Program Coordinator for La

Luz

Cathy Wade Shepard – Realtor

OTHER RESOURCES:

For more information about the Planning Grant check out the minutes from the Sonoma County Board of

Supervisors’ Meeting held, November 10. LINK: http://sonoma-

county.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=2&event_id=352&meta_id=176507 EXCERPT: The Springs

Area Plan is intended to provide the foundation for a sustainable community with a vibrant, pedestrian

oriented main street, and increased opportunities for walking, bicycling, and active living. The area plan would

build on the County’s previous efforts to improve conditions in the Springs by facilitating the development of a

complete community with a mix of land uses and enhanced multimodal connectivity to promote healthy living

and greenhouse gas reduction by encouraging active forms of transportation and increased use of transit.

GUEST SPEAKERS: Sonoma Valley Housing Crisis – Request for Action | Dave Ransom, Frank Windes, and

Mario Castillo

Dave Ranson- Sonoma Valley Housing Group and Mario Castillo presented facts and statistics regarding the

current affordable housing issue that is affecting many people living in Sonoma Valley. Not enough affordable

inventory to rent or to purchase. A bilingual resolution “Resolution On Housing ‘State of Emergency’”

(Attachment C) was passed around. The document contains nine facts that show contributing factors and

symptoms of the housing crisis. The document has 11 points of resolve asking that the City of Sonoma and the

County Board of Supervisors take to declare a “housing state of emergency.” Ranson provided an updated of

what the group has been doing over the past several months to build awareness within our community. The

group does not have a website and best be reached by contacting Dave Ransom at dransom391@aol.com or

Mario Castillo at mcastillo06@sbcglobal.net

Mario Castillo then addressed the group and stressed the importance of addressing the housing crisis now for

the benefit of the future. Emphasizing that the inventory is small and opportunities are very costly, in some

cases rents exceed 50% of total income. He then shared his personal accounts of families whose rents are being

raised every six months and that the cost of a 2 bedroom/1 bath rental is averaging about $2, 000 per month.

There are people living in the Springs that have jobs and no affordable place to live. This is impacting families

(parents and children)and the numbers are swelling. By getting this petition before the County Board of

Supervisors, the matter can be openly addressed.

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Frank Windes added the need to have Governor Brown address this as a “State of Emergency” and giving it the

resources and attention needed. The matter is statewide and many counties have groups similar to the Sonoma

Valley Housing Group addressing these items.

Q&A that followed covered various related topics such as Rent Control/Rent Stabilization and low inventory,

how this matter is a symptom of a greater/macro issue and how best to address that. Questions were raised

“what is enforceable, realistic, fair to landlords and renters, home to improve housing supply while minimizing the

traffic/parking impact, how to add housing density and keep the agricultural character of the Springs and can the

resolutions be reduced to two core items instead of 11?...” Even the high cost to build was raised it was

estimated that the permits alone for a single family dwelling in Sonoma County can easily reach $90,000 in costs.

Is public housing the best choice? What are the legal implications of a “state of emergency?” There were no

ready answers to the immediate question “How do we house the current need?”.

ACTION: SCA form a committee to look deeper in this issue. Those interested to contact SCA Secretary: Celia

Kruse de la Rosa @ info@springscommunityalliance.com or sign up after tonight’s meeting.

RESOURCES:

“California’s affordable housing crisis spreads to the middle class.” January 15, 2016. San Francisco Chronicle.

Online. Link: http://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/article/California-s-affordable-housing-crisis-spreads-

6762713.php

“Summit sharpened strategies to take on California’s affordable housing crisis.” November 18, 2015. A

Catalyst for a Better California. Report: California Economic Summit 2015. LINK:

http://www.cafwd.org/reporting/entry/summit-sharpened-strategies-to-take-on-californias-affordable-housing-

crisi

“Sonoma County Affordable Housing Shortage.” September 1, 2015. Sonoma County Gazette. Online. LINK:

http://www.sonomacountygazette.com/cms/pages/sonoma-county-news-article-4253.html

“How To Fix California’s Housing Affordability Crisis.” July 10, 2015. San Diego Free Press. Online. LINK:

http://sandiegofreepress.org/2015/07/how-to-fix-californias-housing-affordability-crisis/

“Affordable Housing Crisis in Sonoma County.” August 5, 2014. Press Democrat. Online. LINK:

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/2480257-181/affordable-housing-crisis-in-sonoma?artslide=0

FACEBOOK: Sonoma County Housing Advocacy Group

LINK: Policy Maker’s Toolbox for Ending Homelessness. Community Development Commission website here:

http://www.sonoma-county.org/cdc/cdhomeless.htm .

LINK: Tenants Together – California Statewide Organization for Renter’s Rights.

http://tenantstogether.org/list.php?section=58&class=3

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AGENDA ITEM: February SCA General Meeting | Rich Lee, President, SCA.

The February meeting will be held, February 11, 7:00 pm at Charter School.

For more information please contact SCA at:

Email: info@springscommunityallinace.org

Facebook Group Page - https://www.facebook.com/groups/springscommunity

Website: http://springscommunityalliance.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SCASonoma

Submitted by,

Celia Kruse de la Rosa

Please join us for our follow-up workshop to participate in the review and discussion of the preliminary conceptual plans. Share your ideas for the future of your community park.

Vengan al taller comunitario para participar en la revisión y discusión de los planes conceptuales preliminares. Comparte sus ideas para el futuro de este importante parque.

Wednesday, February 17, 2016Workshop: 6:30 – 8:00 pmBoys & Girls Clubhouse, Discovery Room100 W. Verano Ave.Sonoma, CA 95476

For more information: (707) 565-2041www.sonomacountyparks.org

COMMUNITY WORKSHOP

Maxwell Farms Regional ParkMaster Plan Update / Actualizacion del Plan Maestro

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City of Sonoma

BOYES BLVD

CRAIG AVE

AGUA CALIENTE RD

VERANO AVE

HWY 12

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EDR

Robin

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Happy Ln

Rich

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lvd

PineA

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Main

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High

land B

lv d

Donald St

Chestnut Ave

Lomita

Ave

Central Ave

Cherry Ave

Albe rca Rd

Academy Ln

Encinas Ln

2nd Ave

CalleDel Monte

Richards Blvd

Vailetti Dr

1st Ave

Barcelona

Dr

CalleDel A

rroyo

Thomson Ave

SunnysideAve

Melody Ln

Siesta

Way

Railroad Ave

Arbor Ave

Mountain Ave

Polley Ln

Baines Ave

Central Ave

Lomi

taAv

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Michael Dr

VistaDr

Fetters Ave

Malag

a St

Malek Rd

Meado

wood Ln

Railroad Ave

Poplar Ave

Davidson StRo

binson

Rd

Anza DrRiverside Dr

Baines Ave

Cuneo Rd

San Gabriel Dr

RoseAve

Jami Lee Ln

School St

Paragon Way

Northside Ave

Cedar Ct

Crest Way

Ernest Dr

Pine Ave

Rancho Dr6th Ave

AlleyLucas AveComstock Ave

4th Ave

El Dorado Dr

3rd Ave

Madera R d

Cedar Ave

Willow St

Baxter Ave

Sierra Pl

Mulberry Av eJohnson Ave

Myrtle Ave

Queeno Ln

Harley St

Lomit a Ave

Toy Ln

Lucas Ave

Melvi

n Ave

Vista Cir

Barrett Ave

Clayton Ave

Hemlock Ave

Sierra DrLas Lomas Rd

Greger St

Park Tree Ln

Park Tree Ln

Bokman Pl

Thomson

Ave

Hills

ide Av

ePark

Ave

Los Robl

es Dr

BalsamAve

Hil lc

rest A

ve

Sunse

t Way

Casabella Dr

Madrid Way

Beatric

eDr

Fairview Ln

Acacia

Acacia

Manzanita Rd

5th St

Donald St

River Rd

Greger St

Meado

wbroo

k Ave

Buen

aVist

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Keato

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e0 500250

Feet1:12,000

Source: Sonoma County PRMD GIS. Map date: January 13, 2016.

THE SPRINGS SPECIFIC PLANSONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

Specific Plan Boundary and Land Uses

The Springs Specific PlanCity of Sonoma

Sonoma County Land Use DesignationsLand Intenstive AgricultureResources & Rural DevelopmentRural ResidentialUrban ResidentialRecreation/Visitor-Servicing CommercialGeneral CommercialLimited CommercialLimted Commercial Traffic SensitivePublic/Quasi-Public