Lower Russian River Municipal Advisory Council
Agenda

Regular Meeting
April 10, 2025 05:30 PM
West County Services Center, 16390 Main Street, Guerneville
 https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/lrrmac
https://sonomacounty.zoom.us/j/94877739130?pwd=zzpFHFLY3ULbjrrIYo3cfubCeA5Bxl.1


 Chair & Rio Nido Representative: Pip Marquez de la Plata • Cazadero / Duncan Mills Representative: Tony Goodwin • Guerneville Representative: Joe Rogoff • Guerneville Representative: Spencer R. Scott • Guerneville South / Pocket Canyon Representative: Betsy Van Dyke • Monte Rio / Villa Grande Representative: Patty Thayer • Vice Chair & Hacienda Representative: Vicki Clewes • Forestville Representative: Lonnie Lazar • Forestville Representative: Thai Hilton • Non-Voting Student Representative: Faye Zamora

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS

The Lower Russian River Municipal Advisory Council will make reasonable accommodations for persons having special needs due to disabilities. Please contact the Fifth District Field Representative at 707-565-1219 during regular business hours at least 48 hours prior to the meeting to ensure necessary accommodations are made.

  1. Call to Order

    • Announcement from Spanish Interpreter: The Spanish language interpreter will provide information about how to access the interpretation channel via Zoom or obtain a headset if attending in-person.

    • Roll Call

  2. Approval of the Agenda
    DiscussionDiscussion Possible ActionPossible Action

    This approval process ensures that the agenda accurately reflects the items to be discussed and decided upon. Members may request adjustments to the agenda, including reordering or deletion of items at this time. Any changes must comply with the Brown Act requirements for public notice and agenda setting. The agenda must be finalized before the Council proceeds with other meeting items. 

    • Statement of Conflict of Interest
      DiscussionDiscussion

      This is the time for the Chair, Vice Chair and Council Members to indicate any statements of conflict of interest for any item listed on this agenda. The River MAC bylaws state that members will not involve themselves in official River MAC activities that could materially benefit them personally, their business interests, or the interests of organizations that they represent. In a conflict of interest, the member will abstain from voting, and the abstention will be recorded in the minutes.

      • Councilmember Comment
        DiscussionDiscussion

        This is an opportunity for Councilmembers to provide a brief comments, restricted to matters within the Board’s jurisdiction. Due to Brown Act regulations, this is not a time for discussion of any item, however a brief dialogue about considering an item for a future agenda is permitted during this time. 

        • Public Comment on Matters not listed on the Agenda
          DiscussionDiscussion

          Comments are restricted to matters within the Lower Russian River MAC’s jurisdiction. Please be brief and limit spoken comments to two minutes. While Councilmembers may not respond to or discuss comments except to express interest in agendizing the topic for a future meeting, staff can briefly address or follow up after the meeting.

          • County Update
            DiscussionDiscussion

            Updates from Supervisor Hopkins and / or Staff

            • Sonoma County’s Legislative Affairs: Advocacy at the State and Federal Levels
              DiscussionDiscussion Possible ActionPossible Action

              Will Tesconi, Strategic Initiatives (Analyst): Legislative Affairs for the County of Sonoma, will provide an introduction to how Sonoma County engages in legislative advocacy at the state and federal levels. The discussion will cover the county’s role in shaping policy, working with legislators, and advancing local priorities through advocacy efforts. This session will help participants better understand the legislative process and how they can stay informed and effectively engage with their state and federal representatives. AB 239, which would allow remote participation for appointed members on non-decision-making legislative bodies if passed, will be covered.

              • Discussion on Takeaways from the All-MAC Convening
                DiscussionDiscussion Possible ActionPossible Action

                At the All-MAC Convening, held Saturday February 22, members of MACs and Community Advisory Councils from across Sonoma County gathered to share insights, discuss best practices, and explore ways to strengthen governance in unincorporated areas. This agenda item provides an opportunity for Lower Russian River MAC members to reflect on key takeaways from the convening, including discussions on MAC operations, public engagement strategies, and district formation advisory services.

                Lower Russian River MAC members emphasized community outreach challenges in geographically dispersed areas and the importance of collaborating with emergency services due to recurring flood risks. Overall, attendees agreed on updating and expanding the Best Practices Manual to include region-specific needs, more user-friendly onboarding tools, standardized templates, and ongoing mentorship programs.

                We will review highlights from the event, exchange perspectives on how the insights gained may apply to our MAC, and consider potential next steps for enhancing our work in the Lower Russian River community. Members are encouraged to share their experiences and thoughts on actionable ideas that emerged from the convening.

                • Consent Agenda
                  DiscussionDiscussion Possible ActionPossible Action

                  These items are expected to be routine and non-controversial. The Lower Russian River MAC will act upon them at one time without discussion. Any Representatives, staff member or interested party may request that an item be removed from the consent agenda for discussion. 

                  • March 13 Minutes

                • Adjournment