Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 5:00 pm by Chair Dolly Riley.
1. Roll Call
  
  Present: Chair Dolly Riley, Vice-Chair Jini Reynolds, Member Chris Boyd, Alternate Member Marybeth Kelly, Member Patricia Ris-Yarbrough, Member Deborah Hughes
  
  Absent: Member Adam Gaska, Member Kahli Johnson
  
  Staff Present: Also present were Supervisor Glenn McGourty, Supervisor elect Madeline Cline, Sheriff Matt Kendall, and members of the public.
Consent Calendar. Approval of Minutes of 5-8-24
Chris Boyd motioned and Pien Ris-Yarbough seconded Minutes of 5-8-24. Unanimous vote to adopt.
Public Comments
Jini Reynolds stated Adam Gaska had notified her he would be absent. Sheilah Rogers stated that Northern California Disaster Relief is seeking a new home, and Jini added that they have one possibility. At this point, Chair Dolly Riley reviewed Robert’s Rules on staying on each current topic for the meeting and allowing each person to speak.
Brief Report from County and Agencies
Guest Speaker Eva King from the Mendocino County Firesafe Council stated they use their funding to promote community action. They offer free wood chipping days, defensible space help for seniors with no strict income requirements, home assessments that include fire safe home hardening tips, fuel reduction projects, and a micro grant program. They encourage and support neighborhood Firesafe Councils which are easy to form, which allow you to map your resources. Local groups can then level up to a Firewise Council, for which home insurance Fair Plan gives a 10% discount on insurance bills. They do not remove large trees.

Sheriff Matt Kendall gave his report. He lamented that long-time former Sheriff Tony Craver passed away. He reported that Search and Rescue helped find a woman in Westport, and noted the Dept is hiring local people as deputies. He stated fire danger increases due to the wind. He said his Dept has received 26 calls from Redwood Valley in 30 days for thefts and other investigations, and 1 call went to the DA. The Dept will be working with Humboldt and Lake Counties on cannabis. He said that in summer, alcohol, heat and the Lake being full is the trifecta for crime and more work for the Sheriff’s Dept.

First District Supervisor Glenn McGourty informed all that the County Supervisors were able to pass a budget for the new fiscal year, using some reserve funds. He noted that property and sales tax funds have decreased, and collection of delinquent taxes should help. The BOS expects 2 difficult funding years. He added that all labor groups have new contracts, and the Auditor Controller Tax Collector was able to close the books for end of 2022, and 2023 is close behind, and this helps with financial planning. The BOS has established tax-sharing agreements with all incorporated cities in the County. He said urban services funding should be borne in the cities, rather than being paid for by the County. He said the Hwy 20 bridge will be named after Charlie Barra, a local man who contributed greatly to his community. Supervisor McGourty said he met with Army Corp of Engineers to discuss modernizing the Lake Mendocino dam, after the Army Corp was judged to have polluted the dam. Water supply negotiations continue and include IWPC Janet Pauli and should include Tribes. Supervisor met with Congressman Huffman and received a $2 mil grant to design water continuance. Sonoma and Mendocino Economic Development Council is looking at uses for products of forest thinning, which can be processed for fuel such as hydrogen. Supervisor McGourty wants to leave a legacy that includes a good noise ordinance, and is working out enforcement and consequences. He is also working on rules for abandoned cannabis grows that leave plastic, hoping to change fines to clean up funds. A discussion on water hauling followed.

Redwood Valley/Calpella Fire District update. Chris Boyd noted they will have a budget meeting at 10am and regular meeting a 6pm on June 13. Tickets are on sale for the annual Fireman’s BBQ set for July 20, which depends on paid staff and 25 or more volunteers, and the public’s support, to raise funds.

Redwood Valley Grange update: Marybeth Kelly reported the kitchen project is going forward, the Hall has been insulated, and they are getting ready to paint the building. East Road clean-up is June 22, the Flea Market is monthly, they have a free library and more. The Grange recently awarded two $750 scholarships to each of two UHS students. The Grange is working on a feature for the Black Bart Parade for June 29. Dolly announced that Grange members are needed for the Grange rental committee, and folks my join the Grange to assist in this area.
Gizmo Henderson gave an update on his efforts to increase awareness of fire danger caused by dragging trailer chains. Dolly announced the BOS responded to the MAC’s May letter of same, in which BOS Chair Mulheren wrote that the County will support wildfire prevention and safe towing. Marybeth added that the CalTrans signs along Hwy 101 saying “tow responsibly” were all due to Gizmo’s lobbying work.
Water Education Standing Subcommittee. Adam
Dolly reviewed the proposed fee structure per acre that will support the UVBGSA to monitor groundwater, and the Ukiah Valley basin area that the fees will apply to.
Cannabis Policy Standing Subcommittee: Pien, Community Members
Ellen Drell of the Willits Environmental Center was present to discuss a problem with a rule change to increase cannabis crop area. She said the General Government Committee recently met and approved an interpretation of 10A.17 which would allow a grow to expand from 10K sq ft to 20K sq ft on the same 10 acres. Supervisor McGourty stated that would require two different licenses. Ms. Drell stated this was already rejected in 2022 due to 6000 signatures that opposed the increase in size of crop, and the environmental considerations under CEQA were of great concern. She said she’d like to recruit the RV MAC to send a letter to the BOS that opposes this increase in grow size per parcel, because such a change should go through the CEQA process. Committee members Chris Boyd and Pien Ris-Yarbrough agreed to prepare a letter prior to the next MAC meeting for review and vote. At this point, Vice Chair Jini Reynolds asked we follow Robert’s Rules and speak one at a time and quiet cell phones.
Development Review Standing Subcommittee: Marybeth, Jini, Pien
Marybeth gave an update on the Redwood Valley School project to become the Redwood Valley Rec Center. The steering committee is meeting Mondays 10am at the Grange, and have the current goals of obtaining a 50-year lease of the school property; obtaining written MOUs from the ARRC and City of Ukiah supporting the project; and recruiting 100 people to show up at the next UUSD meeting August 8 to support the project. Dolly presented a Resolution of the MAC advocating for the Rec Center. Chris motioned and Pien seconded and a unanimous vote to approve sending the Resolution to the BOS and UUSD.
There has been no date set for the BOS to vote to allow the Faizon gas station.
The committe has not recieved any notices of permit requests.
Community Action Plan ad hoc Subcommittee - Dolly, Chris, Jini and community members Sheilah Rogers and Alex DeGrassi
Chair and Vice Chair will meet wit PBS on July 8 to push the CAP and Design Guidelines forward in the process of becoming part of the County General Plan. Thanks to Jini Reynolds for working to set up this meeting.
Prohibit New Gas Stations in Mendocino County
A discussion ensued as to what this would look like, where it would work, and would it serve County residents. Chris Boyd will obtain a copy of the new Sonoma County ordinance to prohibit construction of new gas stations and report back.
Officers and Members Reports and Announcements
Dolly reported that we have an opening for one alternate and one contract secretary, a position which could be done by a member as well. The MAC will be taking a break in July. Members discussed MAC presence in the Black Bart Parade and a motion was made by Marybeth, seconded by Chris, that MAC would work with the Grange for a parade feature. A vote unanimously approved this. Jini announced that June 15 is Taste of Redwood Valley. Members agreed to invite a United Disaster Relief board member as guest speaker for August meeting, and Jini agreed to contact them.
Adjournment.
Meeting adjourned at 7:49pm. Next meeting August 14, 2024.