Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 5:30 pm by Chair Dolly Riley.
1. Roll Call
  
  Present: Dolly Riley, Chris Boyd, Marybeth Kelly, Patricia (Pien) Ris-Yarbrough, Erin Moynahan
  Absent: Deb Hughes, Sonya Pio
Consent Calendar. Approval of Minutes of 2-12-25
Pien motioned, Marybeth seconded, to approve the February Minutes. Changes were noted. All voted to approve.
Public Comments
There were no public comments, likely due to a comprehesive Agenda. Chair Riley announced the RV MAC is recruiting and noted candidates present.
Brief Report from County and Agencies
First District Supervisor Madeline Cline gave an update. She explained the County is developing a fiscal budget, and noted that 57% of budget goes to salaries and benefits, adding: The grape market is struggling and cannabis profiits are down. The BOS is focusing on public safety and road maintenance. On 3-27-25 Supervisor Haschak will conduct a public meeting in Willits. The Potter Valley Project includes PG&E's final plan to disengage and this was sent to FERC (Fed Energy Reg Comm). That agency will accept comments in July. The Inland Water and Power agency is still involved in the project. County DOT will begin road improvements in Redwood Valley in 2027-2028 at the cost of $5.6 million. Supervisor contacted the school district regarding any problems with whippets (nitrous oxide) among students, and they are not seeing a problem.
Sheriff Matt Kendall was absent. Assemblyman Chris Rogers was unable to join by Zoom.
FIRE update was given by Redwood Valley Fire Chief Dan Grebil. He stated they are currently defining the role of volunteers. Fire Board meeting agendas are now on the website and there will be no April meeting. They have a fleet replacement plan to go from 12 to 10 vehicles, which can be housed, each costing around $1 million. He added that they are better organized and there is no need to have more vehicles than personnel. He noted it has been hard to find information on the status of PG&E 2017 wildfire settlement funds. He is interim Chief and fire chiefs are hard to come by. They have 4 1/2 paid staff. Their volunteers used to make 50 calls per year, now it is 70. Chief Grebil answered questios about water tenders, volunteer staff (22), and the meaning of hazard zones and local response areas (LRA). He said the State fire marshal is extending state response areas (SRA) into local response. He graciously gave out 10 Pancake Breakfast tickets to Chair Riley, who handed them to citizens in attendance. He discussed SIRENS, stating that law enforcement has "high-low" sirens now, and there are benefits to CB radios, and he is continuing to study siren issues in coordination with sheriff and OES.
GRANGE update. Marybeth stated the Pancake Breakfast is 3-16-25, there is a Road Clean-up on the Solstice, Family Game Night is 3-21-25 at 6 pm, and the monthly Flea Market is 2nd Saturdays. Grange works with Meals on Wheels, and the recipients recieved tickets to the Pancake Breakfast.
Traffic update. Alexis Pedrotti and James Sookne were present from MCOG (Mendocino Council of Governments) to discuss traffic planning. They encouraged everyone to comment online on the Regional Transportation Plan. Dolly agreed to put the link to comment on Redwood Valley Facebook page. Dolly informed all present that if they want a traffic circle at West Rd/N State St and at West Rd/School Way, then they need to comment on this plan. Many questions were answered regarding trains, buses, CHP enforcement of speeding, definition of "traffic," and UUSD responsibility for Eagle Peak School traffic.
Redwood Valley Rec Center: Marybeth, Dolly
UUSD has issued a request for real estate brokers with a deadline for proposals of 3-21-25. Marybeth stated that we now wait for the District to select a realtor, and the RVRC working group is meeting Tuesdays at 10am, next meeting 3-18-25 at the Grange. The working group met with Cathy McKeon, civil engineer, who is willing to help write a CDBG (block grant) planning grant application. Grant funds could pay for a consultant to create a Request for Proposal from the RVRC working group, demonstrating a plan to lease the old RV school for a community/recreation center.
Cannabis Policy Standing Subcommittee: Chris, Pien, Community Members
Supervisor Madeline Cline stated that County Counsel interpreted the cannabis regulations as allowing an increase in grow size from 10K sq ft, to 20K sq ft. Pien read a proposed letter from the MAC opposing the grow size of 20k sq ft. Comment may be made at BOS chambers 3-26-25 at 9am. Chris motioned and Marybeth seconded a vote to sent the letter. All present members voted yes.
Marybeth noted that there are many lit up greenhouses at night, which should be covered, and that neighbors fear retribution if they complain. Supervisor Cline stated she would make the complaint for any citizen, however the offending party usually assumes its one of the adjacent neighbors.
Pien noted that there are no new permit applications that have been shared with the RV MAC for increased cannabis grows.
Development Review Standing Subcommittee: Marybeth, Pien
Dolly stated there is no new information regarding the Faizon gas station permit appeal, which Planner Liam Crowley said they submitted on 2-3-25. Dolly added that the appeal included an agreement from years ago, between the County and State, dated 1983, and she will share it with all who ask. It describes property the State will (has) acquired in order to build Hwy 101.
There were no new building permit applications received.
CAP Subcommittee: Dolly, Chris, Citizens Jini, Sheilah Rogers and Alex DeGrassi
CAP revisions were completed by the subcommittee on 2-21-25. These changes were requested by PBS to get closer to final approval. Dolly stated that on 2-26-25 Planner Russell Ford emailed that he hopes to be able to review the CAP revisions in the next few weeks.
Prohibit New Gas Stations: Chris, Pien, Citizen Gizmo Henderson
Chris read a draft Resolution that would create a 5-year moratorium, a proposal for the County to adopt on the construction of new gas stations. Members and citizens discussed 5 years as a limited time, with a better chance at being adopted into regs. The next step is to introduce the carefully written document to other MACs, and then cities, which will take time. With wider consensus, it can then go to the BOS.
Nitrous Oxide "whippets" a local problem
Chair informed members that the agenda did not announce any "action" that could be taken, so this was motioned by Pien then Chris, to allow action, and it was voted yes. A discussion was held about whippets which are nitrous oxide cannisters that are used to obtain a high, but cause brain damage and death. They are outlawed in Ukiah and Willits, but allowed in Redwood Valley. The legal use is to add compression to motors and speed up cars. Chair Dolly read a letter sent by Dr Marvin Trotter, outlining the problems and solutions. After reading the letter she offered to write the same language from the RV MAC to the BOS, and quote Dr Trotter. Chris motioned and Erin seconded, to send the letter, and members voted yes. A discussion included: cannisters are discarded and pollute, enforcement is difficult without a regulation, and removing the supply would save the health of many young people. Supervisor Cline suggested that MAC members and others bring it up in public comment with the BOS.
Form Energy Battery Storage
There has been no news on Form Energy's future date for a permit. Members agreed to remove this item from the agenda until there is action.
Officers and Members Reports and Announcements
Chair announced we have 3 member openings and offered tasty lemon bars as a recruitment tool. Supervisor Cline put a recruitment poster on the Redwood Valley community Facebook page, and Chair offered the same poster, which has a QR code to use to apply. As for an April guest speaker, group discussed learning about Ham radios, CB radios which are easy to operate and use 12 v, and General Mobile Radio Service. There will be no guest speaker for April, but members will begin a focus on fire safe home hardening. Sadly, Erin is leaving the MAC. Zoom function operation will be reassigned.
Adjournment.
Meeting adjourned at 7:45 pm. Next meeting 4-9-25