Apr 01

Report on Lois Fisher’s presentation to the Windsor Democratic Club

Having served on the Town of Windsor Planning Commission for over twelve years, award-winning urban planner Lois Fisher shared her experience and knowledge with the Windsor Democratic Club as its guest speaker on March 24. She is the president of Fisher Town Design which creates walkable neighborhoods as an alternative to suburban sprawl.

A Windsor resident since 1989, Ms. Fisher discussed the town’s incorporation process with a plaza, the Town Green, as the unifying design component, surrounded by mixed-use functions including both housing and business. The integration of the public realm, the plaza, with private functions was the theme of her presentation.

Ms. Fisher explained the concept of “eyes on.” This term describes planning so that buildings front on the public realm, whether that is a town plaza, a park, or a walking path. When such items are in the back of structures, activity infrequently viewed. Criminal activity can often be a significant aspect of public spaces which lack the “eyes on” feature. One only needs to consider the Prince Greenway walking path in Santa Rosa to understand the negative consequences of placing the public function in the back of buildings. Rather than becoming a positive part of the public realm, adding a safe, walkable corridor, the Prince Greenway has become a place where crimes often occur.

Plazas were a significant part of early California planning. The communities of Sonoma and Healdsburg are two great examples of the plaza as the central feature of a town. Ms. Fisher explained that the Windsor Town Green was created prior to the development which surrounds it. The contrast between the plaza type design with the post-World War II era strip mall, with massive surrounding parking lots, is stark.

In her work, Ms. Fisher, along with the other members of Windsor Planning Commission and the members of the Windsor Town Council, have used the principles of mixed-use design. Private businesses and residences share a common, safe, walkable space. In the future that downtown space will be served by the SMART Train, when service is expanded to Windsor.

Ms. Fisher was involved in the design of the Petaluma Theater District project. She expressed support for the Courthouse Square reunification project in Santa Rosa. She said that the elimination of expensive, fixed features like a fountain was smart planning. One could see how converting outdated, surface parking lots in downtown Santa Rosa into a theater-district type project could be a significant step, after the square reunification, in revitalizing downtown Santa Rosa.

Coming up: County Supervisor James Gore will be the guest speaker at the April 28th meeting of the Windsor Democratic Club.

 

— Barry Hirsch

Mar 18

Lois Fisher to speak at the Windsor Democratic Club on March 24th

How did Windsor become Sonoma County’s safest city? This and other related topics will be explored at the Windsor Democratic Club meeting on Thursday, March 24, at 7 p.m. at the Windsor Round Table Pizza, 8499 Old Redwood Highway. Guest speaker Lois Fisher, who has served on the Town of Windsor Planning Commission for more than 12 years, will discuss the design principles that created a transit-friendly Windsor downtown from scratch, and the role that the Planning Commission has had in this and other achievements.

Ms. Fisher is the president of Fisher Town Design, a firm that creates new rules to make walkable neighborhoods an alternative to suburban sprawl. She will touch on her views as Windsor approaches the update of its general plan. As Windsor becomes increasingly attractive to millennial home purchasers, in part due to the proximity to rail transit and to the town’s safe, family-oriented atmosphere, the continued thoughtful work of planners is very important. This meeting should be of particular interest as our county attempts to navigate through a continuing housing crisis. Windsor can be seen as an example of how smart growth can be achieved.

Note: Ms. Fisher will not be addressing the Lytton Tribal Trust land issue.

The meeting is free and open to the entire community. Pizza will be served.

Feb 29

Democratic debate – watch party on March 6th

Back by popular demand, the Sonoma County Democratic Party Political Organizing Committee is holding another watch party for the debate between Democratic Party candidates for President.
The next debate watch party will be on Sunday, March 6, at the Round Table Pizza on Marlow and Guerneville Roads in Santa Rosa.  You can join SCDP members and your Democratic neighbors to watch real debates on issues we care about.
Details:  March 6, 4:30 p.m.  (Debate begins at 5pm)
Round Table Pizza, Safeway Shopping Center
1791 Marlow Rd (at Guerneville Rd), Santa Rosa
Note: Space is limited, so if you’re interested, it’s recommended that you RSVP to scdp@sonic.net
[Reposted from http://www.sonomademocrats.info/2016/02/29/yes-more-issues-from-hillary-bernie-at-a-sr-debate-watch-party-sunday-evening/ ]

Feb 28

Huffman’s Hootenanny on March 28th

hootemail_16-optimThe 6th Annual Huffman’s Hootenanny will be on Monday, March 28, at 6:30 PM at the Lagunitas Brewing Company, 1280 N. McDowell Blvd, Petaluma. Enjoy foot-stomping live music, local food and brews, and just the right amount of politics, in this fundraiser for Congressman Jared Huffman. Tickets start at $40.

Feb 28

Report on the LandPaths Presentation at The Windsor Democratic Club on February 25th

Craig Anderson, Executive Director of LandPaths, was the speaker at the February 25th meeting of the club. Landpaths, an acronym for Land Partners through Stewardship, is a local non-profit. During the past eighteen year, the organization has worked with various groups to determine the outcome of lands within Sonoma County, finding ways to collaborate to protect and use county land. While many environmental organizations fight against the machine, LandPaths strives to be for something, finding ways to connect the community to the land and giving people a sense of place. Craig’s vision, developed in partnership with his wife, Lee Hackeling, the LandPaths assistant director, is to create opportunities for Sonoma County residents to spend time in nature, discovering in themselves a sense of belonging, and sharing the experience with others in various ways through programs started by the organization. The goal is to move beyond just recreation – to actually experience the land in fuller way.

Craig described some of the LandPath programs:

* In Our Own Backyard, started in 1999, takes roughly 1,000 students from urban areas in mostly Hispanic communities in Santa Rosa and Windsor to a rural site four times during the school year. Many of these children don’t have the opportunity to experience nature in their normal lives. The students keep a journal of the experiences.

* Inspired Forward takes at-risk high school students into nature four times during the school year, where the students do hard physical work with community mentors. This environment allows for an atmosphere of exchange which can expand the worldview of the participants. Many of these urban dwellers have only seen trees growing in the planting strips between sidewalks and roads.

* Bayer Farms, a partnership with the City of Santa Rosa, is a two-acre working farm in the Roseland area, started in 2007. The community garden has become a multi-cultural gathering place where people share the experience of working together, sharing food, and getting to know each other.

One can’t help but be very impressed by Craig’s positive approach of connecting the community to the land and to each other. Visit the website landpaths.org to find out more about other LandPaths programs. Special events, including hikes through protected lands, are also listed on the website.

 

— Barry Hirsch

Feb 14

Craig Anderson of LandPaths to speak at February 25th meeting

Craig Anderson, Executive Director of LandPaths, will be the featured speaker at the Windsor Democratic Club on Thursday, February 25, at 7 p.m. at the Windsor Round Table Pizza, 8499 Old Redwood Highway in Windsor. LandPaths, a Sonoma County non-profit, works to connect the community to land reserved for our use by the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District.

Craig will discuss the variety of activities the organization sponsors at multiple rural locations, getting people outdoors and exploring nature. Programs include Bayer Farms, a working farm in the Roseland area, summer programs for kids at the Owl Camp, and the In Our Own Backyard program. LandPaths schedules regular hikes and outings on preserved land throughout the county.

While the preservation of land from development is significant in maintaining green belts, the LandPath mission is to get the community connected and using the land that is owned by the community. Craig will share his commitment, enthusiasm, and vision at the presentation. This is an opportunity to learn more about an organization that is doing good work to make Sonoma County a better place.

The meeting is free and open to everyone. Pizza will be served. The club meets on the fourth Thursday of each month.

Jan 30

Report on the January 28th meeting with Assemblyperson Jim Wood

by Barry Hirsch

District 2 Assemblymember Jim Wood was the featured speaker at the January 28th meeting of the Windsor Democratic Club. Mr. Wood was elected in 2014 to represent California’s 2nd Assembly District, which includes all of Del Norte, Trinity, Humboldt, and Mendocino counties, as well as northern and coastal Sonoma County.

In Sacramento, Assemblymember Wood serves as vice chair of the joint committee on fisheries and aquaculture, and on standing committees including Appropriations, Business and Professions, Health, Natural Resources, and Rules.

Additionally, Assemblymember Woods is the chair of the select committee on the Digital Divide in Rural California. This issue, which Mr. Wood promised to address during his 2014 election campaign, involves the challenge of bringing dependable high speed internet and cellular service to the northern rural counties that comprise the majority of his district. This service, which is largely taken for granted in most of Sonoma County, effects many aspects of life in rural areas, limiting access to opportunities in fields ranging from education to healthcare. This infrastructure is built and owned by the private sector. The incentive to make the large investment to provide services to a small customer base provides the challenge. Mr. Wood explained his efforts to find public sector funding to assist in bringing these services to district constituents. He credited District 2 U.S. Congressman Jared Huffman for his work at the federal level to direct additional funds to the district for the expansion of dependable telecommunications.

Mr. Wood also spoke at length on his groundbreaking sponsorship of Assembly Bill 243, The Marijuana Watershed Protection Act, which sets cultivation guidelines and funds environmental enforcement for cannabis farmers in California. Seeing the environmental devastation created by illegal growers on forests and watersheds, Mr. Wood authored the bill, which has become a cornerstone for the regulations of the medical marijuana industry. He voiced concerns regarding proposed 2016 ballot measures that would legalize recreational marijuana use. Having already dealt with the massive complexities of the medical sector, Mr. Wood feels that expansion into the recreational area can best be dealt with if the legislature takes the lead.

The expanding problem of opioid addiction, which has been in the national news, was touched on by Mr. Wood. He said that 70% of opioid abuse begins with items found in the family medicine cabinet. Several areas to address the problem were discussed, including limiting access at the prescription level, and providing greater opportunities for treatment. All options require revenue, which is challenging to get, given the budget process in Sacramento.

Mr. Wood formally begins his campaign for reelection on February 11th at an event at the Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens from 6 to 8 p.m. Visit Jim-Wood.com for details or call 707-385-1114.

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The Windsor Democratic Club next meets on February 25th at 7 p.m. at the Windsor Round Table Pizza. Craig Anderson, the executive director of LandPaths, will be the speaker.

Jan 29

Upcoming speakers for February, March, and April

Mark your calendar – we have speakers set for the new three months:

  • Our February 25th, our speaker is Craig Anderson, who has been the Executive Director of LandPaths since 1997.
  • On March 24th, we’ll hear from Lois Fisher, a member of the Planning Commission of the Town of Windsor, and President of Fisher Town Design.
  • On April 28, Sonoma County Supervisor James Gore will speak and answer questions.

Jan 23

Assemblyman Jim Wood to speak to WDC on January 28

California State Assemblyman Jim Wood will speak at the Windsor Democratic Club at 7 p.m. on January 28th, at the club’s regular meeting place, Windsor Round Table Pizza, 8499 Old Redwood Highway. Assemblyman Wood will speak about his legislative work and share his broad perspective on issues that concern everyone. The meeting is free and open to the public. Pizza will be served.

Elected in 2014 to represent the 2nd Assembly District, which includes northern and coastal Sonoma County, as well as Del Norte, Humboldt, Trinity, and Mendocino counties, Wood is running for re-election to the California Assembly in November 2016.

In his first year in the legislature, nine bills of Wood’s bills were passed into law, including the “Small Town Grant Act” (AB 325), which gives small towns and counties streamlined access to millions of government dollars reserved for affordable housing, economic development, and job retention. He also championed the “Marijuana Watershed Protection Act” (AB243), which provides guidelines for growers and funding for environmental enforcement.

Prior to his election to the Assembly, Wood served for four years on the Healdsburg Planning Commission and then eight years on the Healdsburg City Council. He also had a dental practice in Cloverdale for 25 year,  and is a nationally recognized forensic dentist, having worked with disaster response teams following 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina.

 

Dec 19

Membership survey, December 2015

The following has been sent out to everyone on the WDC email list. If for some reason you’ve not on that list but want to respond to the survey, please send your responses to johnbroughton [at] comcast.net

 

Please help out the club by answering the following questions. Thanks!

 

  1. Boundaries.

The club officers have discussed an expansion of the club boundaries, so that the club officially covers an area larger than just Windsor and the immediate area around Windsor. Specifically, the club boundaries would be expanded to include Healdsburg and areas north to the Sonoma County line.

What do you think of this idea?

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  1. Club name. If the club boundaries were expanded as described in #1, the club would need to be renamed. The most obvious new name is “Windsor/North County Democratic Club”. What do you think of that name, and do you have a suggestion for another name?

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  1. Phone calls. Before each monthly meeting (January through October), several volunteers make reminder phone calls to those on the club roster.

If this something that you’d be willing to help with, please indicate that:

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  1. County Fair. Each year, the Sonoma County Democratic Party has a booth at the Sonoma County Fair. WDC provides staffing for two days of the fair; in 2015 these were two Saturdays. Each shift is either three or four hours; in 2015 we needed a total of 12 volunteers (three shifts per day, two volunteers per shift).

If this is something that you might be willing to help with in 2016, please indicate that. [Volunteers get free admission to the fair.]

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  1. Other. Do you have any other comments or suggestions that you’d like to made to the club officers?

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