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City Manager residence rule; Where the trees went; Atwood’s White House visit and more

Posted on September 1, 2016 by Sonoma Valley Sun

When it hires a new City Manager, will the City of Sonoma continue to ignore or disregard the section 2.08.020 of its Municipal Code? That’s the one pertaining to where the new hire will live, as in “Residence within the Sonoma Valley Unified School District at the time of appointment shall not be required as a condition of appointment, but within 180 days thereafter the city manager shall become a resident of the district, or the city council shall declare the office of city manager vacant.” That’s what the City’s web page says, and longtime council watchers don’t recall a vote to dispense with the provision when Carol Giovanatto, of the Cloverdale Giovanattos, took the job in 2011.

If you’re dismayed by the dramatic deforestation along the highway adjacent Sonoma Raceway, don’t blame the track. Its president, Steve Page, reports “we have been as shocked as anyone” by the Caltrans decision to axe 135 eucalyptus trees. Over the last two weeks, a Caltrans contractor cut down the trees – all within in the state Caltrans right-of-way – after an arborist declared them dead or dying, most likely as the result of a severe frost several winters ago. “Caltrans has further informed us they have neither the intention nor the budget to plant replacement trees,” Page said. “Although these trees were not majestic beauties, their removal has left us with a long chain link fence and the backside of our two oldest metal shop buildings as the primary visual statement for both the raceway and the entrance to the Sonoma Valley… not good for anybody.” Page said the track is actively seeking a solution to replace the missing visual screen. But “the effort is complicated by the fact we, as a private entity, cannot legally plant or install anything in Caltrans’ public right-of-way. In order to do so, we must first secure a relationship with an intermediate public agency which we hope and expect will be Sonoma County. As soon as this is worked out we will move as swiftly as we can to arrange a new planting of trees along our property line.” Meanwhile, says the guy who knows a few things about speeding cars, “we encourage drivers to keep their eyes squarely on the road.”

Julie%20Atwood%20and%20PeanutDon’t bother rancher Julie Atwood on September 13 – she’ll be at the White House accepting a National Preparedness Award from FEMA for her work as founder of the Horse and Livestock Team Emergency Response Project. HALTER is Atwood’s grassroots initiative raising awareness and funding for local fire services, animal services, and organizations to enhance emergency preparedness and large-animal rescue resources. “It’s gratifying to have our efforts recognized by the nation’s top agency responsible for responding to disasters,” said Atwood. “This FEMA award not only validates all our work to date, but hopefully will spur the community to further action to protect our county’s horse and livestock resources in individual emergencies and regional disasters”. Only 11 agencies across the country received a FEMA award this year.

Beamish fisheyeMost authors take a plane, but Christian Beamish a writer, surfer, sailor, boatbuilder and fisherman, is not on any ordinary book tour. For his September 24 gig reading from his book “The Voyage of the Cormorant,” the story his three-month, single-handed surfing expedition down the Pacific coast of Baja, Beamish will sail the 18-foot boat from his home in Santa Barbara to San Pablo Bay, and trailer her the rest of the way to the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art.

Last call for nominees for our Blight list, headed by the ghost of a car lot at Broadway and MacArthur, now resembling a set from a Zombie Apocalypse film. Send to note/photos to [email protected].

— Val Robichaud




Sonoma Sun | Sonoma, CA