Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 5:30 pm by Chair - Rio Nido Representative Pip Marquez de la Plata.
1. Pledge of Allegiance
  Led by Forestville Representative Vesta Copestakes
2. Roll Call
  
  Present: Chair - Rio Nido Representative Pip Marquez de la Plata, Guerneville Representative Joe Rogoff, Guerneville Representative Nic Pereira, Pocket Canyon & Greater So Guerneville Representative Betsy Van Dyke, Cazadero / Duncan Mills Representative Mike Nicholls, Hacienda Representative Vicki Clewes, Forestville Representative Vesta Copestakes, Monte Rio / Villa Grande Alternate Patty Thayer, Forestville Alternate Lucy Hardcastle
  
  Absent: Vice Chair - Forestville Representative Lisa Nahmanson, Monte Rio / Villa Grande Representative Cynthia Strecker
  
  Staff Present: Debbie Ramirez, Amy Cohen, Elise Weiland, Leo Chyi, Lynda Hopkins, Gary Helfrich, Bradley Dunn, Lauren Cartwright, Jennifer Larocque
Approval of Agenda, Chair Pip Marquez de la Plata Cazadero / Duncan Mills Representative Mike Nicholls motioned to approve. Hacienda Representative Vicki Clewes seconded the motion.

The motion passed with the following vote:
9 In Favor 0 Opposed
Abstained Absent Recused
Statement of Conflict of Interest
none
Correspondence
none
Consent Agenda
1. February 16, 2023 Minutes
Cazadero / Duncan Mills Representative Mike Nicholls motioned to approve. Hacienda Representative Vicki Clewes seconded the motion.

The motion passed with the following vote:
9 In Favor 0 Opposed
Abstained Absent Recused
Council Member Comment: on Matters not listed on the agenda
Vesta Copestakes noted that Forestville is having a Town Hall on April 20th.
Nic Pereira proposed forming a subcommittee to follow progress being made surrounding the Sheriff substation project.
Public Comments
Public comment was made on the importance of public involvement in meetings, and calling for the need to use hybrid technology to increase accessibility.
Public comment was also made by residents of Flamingo Hill expressing concern over an illegal encampment near the area that posed environmental concerns and the poor state of the roads in that area. Residents noted a frustration in feeling that the County is not following through and stated a need for more transparent communication.
Public comment was also made more broadly on the poor state of roads and walkways in the County and the need to address drainage to fix this issue.
Supervisor Lynda Hopkins
Supervisor Hopkins noted that the current housing element proposal was not a done deal, and that she had provided feedback and raised concerns to Permit Sonoma, which she offered to share with the MAC. She also noted that a copy of the roads plan was available at the meeting, but that the County is generally dealing with a major lack of funding in this area. Supervisor Hopkins also expressed support for seeing an ad hoc formed on the MAC surrounding the Sheriff Substation, highlighting the critical state it is in. She also noted that AB 2449 is the reason that MAC meetings are in person, and that the District is not yet set up for hybrid meetings, but is working on it, and encouraged legislative advocacy to improve the current legislation. Supervisor Hopkins also provided an update on emergency financial assistance following the January storms, and offered to go out and visit the homeless encampment on Flamingo Hill and see where communication with the County has fallen through. She also provided updates on initiatives the County is taking surrounding homelessness and encampments, as well as the unincorporated governance study.
Supervisor Hopkins answered questions from the MAC and the public, and discussed the possibility of bringing state legislators to a joint MAC meeting to address funding concerns surrounding roads.
Vacation Rental Ordinance Update, Recap & Next Steps
Gary Helfrich gave a presentation, the slides to which are available online. Gary Helfrich and Bradley Dunn answered council and public questions.
They clarified that the zoning permit serves as a land use entitlement, but business permits are still needed to operate. There will be meetings in late July-August that will serve to get more input on caps and inclusion zones. Concerns were raised over the accessibility of the late July/August meeting due to the business of businesses during this timeframe. Bradley Dunn answered that they would be open to feedback on slowing the timeframe down or finding ways to increase the accessibility on the current timeline.
Public comment was made expressing concern over grandfathering in existing rentals due to already existing issues with some. Public comment was also made highlighting the importance of tourism to the Lower Russian River economy. Additional public comment was made on the importance of neighborhood character in this discussion, and on the importance of noise ordinances.
Rural Broadband Update
Slides for the presentation are available online with the meeting agenda and packet.
Mike Nicholls asked that local residents be consulted for input. He also asked how we could encourage cities and other county organizations to apply for funding for rural broadband. Presenters responded that assistance will hopefully be given to help cities submit applications in the future.
Vesta Copestakes asked how public communication could be increased.
A comment was also made about the need for a long-term commitment and goal to provide this access to the entire County.
Committee and Staff Reports
1. Staff report from Elise Weiland, including updates on Roads and Governance Study
2. Community Clean Up Ad Hoc, Report from Chair Lisa Nahmanson
  
  Vicki Clewes provided an update on the success of “dump days” the Committee had organized, and noted that they had created video documentation on how to host these events elsewhere. The committee’s current goal is to find ways to spread this model to other areas, and find community groups (that are 501 C3s) to engage with and partner on this. Vesta Copestakes also expressed interest in planning some smaller-scale cleanups. Public comment was made expressing support for this initiative and expressing interest in having smaller non-501 C3 organizations partner with 501 C3s in order to make participation more accessible for smaller groups.
3. Communications Ad Hoc, Report from Chair Joe Rogoff
  
  Joe Rogoff gave an update on the Ad Hoc Committee’s goals. The primary goals are facilitating access to MAC meetings, increasing awareness of the MAC in Lower Russian River communities, developing more ways to encourage and facilitate community involvement, and developing systems and templates for all Lower Russian River MAC members to use in disseminating information from the county to residents and organizations. He highlighted existing initiatives that include the River Talk Radio Show, and the creation of a list of community organizations in the area to reach out to. They’re also planning to have MAC booths at the Farmer’s Markets in Guerneville and Forestville when they begin in June and tabling at community events. The committee will be providing the following proposals for consideration by the MAC at the next meeting: a MAC outreach month when all reps will dedicate time to engaging their community, additions to MAC roles and responsibilities to include information dispersal and gathering, and circulation of signup sheets for MAC reps and alternates to take shifts doing outreach at community events. A need for expedited solutions for hybrid meetings was also brought up in order to increase meeting accessibility. Facebook was noted to be a good place to stay up to date on information. Public comment was made on the importance of intentional outreach to homeowners who don’t live in the area.
Future Agenda Items
Adjournment
Mike Nicholls motioned to adjourn the meeting and the motion was seconded by Joe Rogoff. Meeting adjourned at 8:20 PM