Dear Colleague,

We are writing to you as fellow county supervisors to educate you about the flaws of Proposition 37 and to encourage you to get the facts about Prop 37 and its impacts to counties.

Yet, these sorts of things are the hardest things that I do as an elected official.

My worst days as Mayor involved the deaths of SSGT Jimmy Arroyave and Highway Patrol Officer Andy Stevens.  Giving condolences to family members is not something I am good at…. But all you can do is try.

I was at a Veterans event in Davis when Vince asked me to speak today.  Clearly Vince has a memory problem.  Two years ago when I was the Veteran’s Day speaker at the Court House I completely lost my composure as I spoke in front of the family of PFC Casillas.

PFC Casillas was a soldier from Arbuckle that was killed in Afghanistan.  A hero.  Watching his family mourn his loss was not the sort of thing I would wish on anyone.  It got me.  It got all of those around them.

These things are hard for me.  Very hard.  I know they are hard for many of you too.

So what makes these things hard?

Clearly we don’t like to see spouses, parents, children, and grandparents suffer a loss. No one wants to see that.

We also think about those people in our lives that have been lost.  For me it is Marines and Sailors I served with, People I went to Holy Rosary with, and people I knew of. First Sgt Barnhill, Cpl Seamus Davey, Neil Roberts, SSgt Arroyave, Hector Gimenez, Sgt Major Cottle …we all have our lists.

We also think about missed opportunities. Birthdays, graduations, hugs, dinners, …everything that makes life.

But I think if we all were really honest with ourselves, really honest… we would admit that we are also thankful that it didn’t happen to us. If  you are a parent you know what I mean.  We all hear about a fatal car accident on the news where our spouse and or kids are going to be driving.  We call them and are immediately relieved that it wasn’t my wife or my kids.  You still mourn the loss of life but it isn’t our kids.

We don’t want to lose our hugs, our birthdays, our graduations…. Our vacations together.

For you service members that are here you also have to acknowledge some higher power weather it by God or luck or something.  We are all here for some reason that has nothing to do with our skills as service members.

For me it was because the Iraqis could not actually put a missile into Camp Commando right before the war started.  It was also that I was not on a vehicle that got hit by an IED.  For you it might have been that your plane didn’t fly, or you got assigned to a temporary duty, or your number just didn’t come up… but it wasn’t because any one of us was all that good.

We all got a chance to live when others didn’t. Those that didn’t are the ones we honor today.

This cemetery is full of graves for service members killed in combat.  I didn’t know any of them.   However, I am sure of two things.

First, every single one of them wouldn’t want you to feel sorry for them.  They would be far more concerned about the family and situations they left behind.  So, since we can’t do much for them it is our responsibility to do something for the families and situations they leave behind.  That is how we honor them.

Finally, every single one of the service members that have been put in these graves around us would tell us to enjoy every breath we can. Every breath that we have been so blessed to take.  Every hug. Kiss.  Graduation. Birthday party. Wedding.  Everything.  They would also tell us that all of the little silly things that consume so much of our time and energy are wasted.

So today I encourage all of us to honor the memories of the people in these graves by being truly appreciative of the opportunity that has been given us – a little bit more time on this earth to do the things that we didn’t want to lose.

We’ve been given a gift.  Let’s use it.

Semper Fidelis.

I found this report very interesting.   Notice what works and what does not work.

Domestic violence programs don’t seem to be of much value at all.

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO CIRCULATE INITIATIVE PETITION

(Pursuant to California Elections Code, Section 9200, et seq.)

Notice is hereby given by the person whose name appears hereon of their intention to circulate this petition within the City of Woodland for the purpose of enacting amendment of Chapter 14 (Motor Vehicles and Traffic) of the City of Woodland Municipal Code and amendment of the Woodland Downtown Specific Plan, Chapter 8.2, Specific Plan Policies — Circulation.

A statement of the reasons of the proposed action as contemplated in this petition is as follows:

Woodlanders:  Our Downtown Specific Plan should be amended to help evolve community efforts for downtown revitalization.

With all its historic attributes, Woodland lacks an absolutely essential element of a successfully functioning small town: a city square.

Envision Woodland’s future with a multi-block long city square:  Historic Main Street — where pedestrian values are elevated and motor-vehicles subordinated, creating an atmosphere and gravity of public attraction. Several times during most months, various portions of Main Street are occupied only by pedestrians involved with civic / cultural events.

Music and entertainment regularly stretch-out into common space of closed portions of Main Street, merchants’ doors are usually open; sidewalk dining is thriving; human conversations have equity with subdued motor-vehicle noise and pace; a festive atmosphere prevails; pedestrians have priority.

People confidently step into the street at intersections and crosswalks without awaiting permission from automated contraptions. Pedestrians possess priority, using it to inhabit downtown, its closest neighborhoods

(in old town, at walking distance), Gibson Road to Kentucky Avenue, becoming the vanguard of a vigorous revitalization of our urban core, reclaiming municipal space as cultural conduit, as imperative, vibrant venue, our versatile and celebrated civic square.

Notice and Request, February 16, 2012, Page 2 of 6

Woodland’s (2009) Street Master Plan indicates viable options exist for re-routing motor-vehicle traffic, so that downtown Main Street might become transformed into an authentically pedestrian-friendly zone, with: 4-way stop signs, mid-block crosswalks, diagonal parking.

Downtown Woodland, with its historical proximity to residential land-uses and former state-highway route, became concentrated primarily along Main Street, less traveled Court and Lincoln Streets aside it.

Woodland’s Downtown Specific Plan — five years out of date — contains conflicting goals of enhancing pedestrian values and efficiently moving as much traffic as possible up and down Main Street, recently measured at 1370 daily trips, while Court Street carries only about 1000, both Streets being projected for declining usage.

Traffic on Gibson, Kentucky and East Main Street’s freeway interchanges will dwarf that on Main Street, now designated: “minor arterial” roadway.

Downtown is the only platform through which to achieve this essential identity of small town culture: a functional city square. Traffic conditions on downtown Main Street, however, are incompatible with true pedestrian values, essential for our downtown to become a general public destination point, where people feel a natural gravity, key attractions, customary, commonly prevailing and comfortable access. Pedestrians then rule, with genuine downtown Renaissance as result.

For municipal policy, this challenge means:  How is dynamic synergy between people, private commerce and public space to be optimized?  The most powerful tool available for policy-making is design and use of our public space, Main Street, through establishment of downtown streetscape that also capably functions as our city square.

Downtown revitalization moves on its feet. Since pedestrian values and interests don’t yet flourish, neither does Woodland’s historic downtown, for decades in a chronic condition of blight. Atrophy of Woodland’s once proud downtown pedestrian scene clearly has occurred, fashioned by a modern history of unmitigated retail sprawl. Evolution of Woodland’s downtown is necessary for fulfillment of community values and destiny.

Notice and Request, February 16, 2012, Page 3 of 6

I hereby request the City of Woodland to prepare and issue a ballot title and summary for this proposed initiative measure.

Woodland Citizens’ Initiative Measure Text:

This citizens’ initiative measure is submitted to the people of the City of Woodland in accordance with the California Elections Code.

This citizens’ initiative measure adds an ordinance article to Chapter 14 (Vehicles and Traffic) of the City of Woodland Municipal Code and adds amendments to the Downtown Specific Plan of the City of Woodland.

SECTION 1.  Article 16 is added to Chapter 14 (Motor Vehicles and Traffic) of the City of Woodland Municipal Code to read:

Article 16.  Section 14 – 16 – 1(a) This citizens’ initiative ordinance shall be known and may be cited as the Woodland Downtown Traffic Circulation Ordinance (WDTCO).

(b)(1) The people of the City of Woodland hereby find and declare the purposes of WDTCO as being to:

(A) Evolve community efforts of downtown revitalization by optimizing dynamic synergy between people, private commerce and public space;

(B) Restore community engagement with the downtown area, reversing atrophy of its once proud pedestrian scene, adversely fashioned by a modern history of community development of unmitigated retail sprawl;

(C) Provide this community with an essential element of small-town culture and identity: a versatile and capably functioning city square;

(D) Elevate pedestrian values within this community’s downtown area, optimizing design and use of public space for downtown revitalization;

(E) Create enhanced community venues and proper access for civic and cultural events within the downtown area, to establish and promote it as a community and regional destination point.

(b)(2) Within 30 days of the date that WDTCO is legally effective, the City of Woodland shall initiate a comprehensive study to determine optimum means and methods of successful WDTCO implementation. This study shall be completed and its final report adopted by Woodland City Council within 120 days of the date of legally effective adoption of WDTCO.

Notice and Request, February 16, 2012, Page 4 of 6

(b)(3) The study and report completed and adopted under section (b)(2) shall be the basis of an implementation program of the City to ensure the performance and effectiveness of all amendment by WDTCO of the Downtown Specific Plan of the City of Woodland. Woodland City Council shall annually review and, if needed, revise this program, consistent with WDTCO, to ensure full and continued effectiveness of such amendment of the Downtown Specific Plan and the WDTCO implementation program.

(b)(4) The study and report completed and adopted under section (b)(2) and annual reviews by Woodland City Council pursuant to section (b)(3) shall establish and maintain within the WDTCO implementation program an effective plan to optimize permit-applicant accessibility and practical efficiency for temporary road closures consistent with amendment (CIR-2.5) by WDTCO of the Downtown Specific Plan of City of Woodland.

(b)(5) The study and report completed and adopted under section (b)(2) and annual reviews by Woodland City Council pursuant to section (b)(3) shall establish and maintain within the WDTCO implementation program an effective plan to optimize means and methods for instituting viable options of voluntary diversion of motor-vehicle traffic from downtown Main Street consistent with amendment (CIR-1.6) by WDTCO of the Downtown Specific Plan of the City of Woodland.

(b)(6) City of Woodland shall remove all traffic control systems existing prior to the date WDTCO is legally effective from all downtown intersections identified within CIR-1.5 of the Downtown Specific Plan of the City of Woodland as amended by WDTCO.

(b)(7) City of Woodland shall by relevant evaluations and actions reuse, recycle or dispose of all traffic control systems, existing prior to the date WDTCO is legally effective, from all downtown intersections identified within CIR-1.5 of the Downtown Specific Plan of the City of Woodland as amended by WDTCO, as directed by section (b)(6) to be removed from Main Street intersections identified within CIR-1.5 of the Downtown Specific Plan of the City of Woodland as amended by WDTCO.

(b)(8) City of Woodland shall remove all street paint and associated roadway detailing material, existing upon Main Street prior to the date WDTCO is legally effective, except pedestrian crosswalk paint consistent with amendment by WDTCO of the Downtown Specific Plan of the City of Woodland, from Main Street between and including its intersections with Fourth and Cleveland Streets and from downtown intersections identified within CIR-1.5 of the Downtown Specific Plan as amended by WDTCO.

Notice and Request, February 16, 2012, Page 5 of 6

(b)(9) City of Woodland shall install all stop signs, street paint and associated roadway detailing material consistent with amendment by WDTCO of the Downtown Specific Plan of the City of Woodland.

(b)(10) Woodland City Council shall prioritize and expend all needed General Fund resources within the Roads category of the Rehabilitation, Renovation and Improvements components of the City funding allocation schedule for (sales tax, ballot) Measure E and Measure B of 2006, for use within the processes of WDTCO implementation, including all municipal processes needed for amendment by WDTCO of the Downtown Specific Plan of the City of Woodland and the WDTCO implementation program.

(c) On the date one year after the date WDTCO becomes legally effective, all physical modifications, implementation program activities and municipal actions required either directly or indirectly by sections (b)(2) through (b)(10) having been fully accomplished by the City of Woodland, Chapter 8.2, Specific Plan Policies, of the Downtown Specific Plan of the City of Woodland is hereby amended to add:

CIR-1.5   Traffic Control

Four-way stop signs shall exist as exclusive traffic control system at Main Street intersections with: Fourth Street, Third Street, Second Street, First Street, College Street, Elm Street, Walnut Street and Cleveland Street.

CIR-1.6   Traffic Diversion

Means and methods, as well as informational programs, shall be used by the City to provide viable options and opportunities for voluntary diversion of motor-vehicle traffic from downtown Main Street.

CIR-2.5   Temporary Roadway Closures

The City shall establish and maintain an effective plan to perform temporary closures, based upon: fair, timely, economical process of permit application and consideration, of all and portions of downtown Main Street.

CIR-3.5   Traffic Lanes

Main Street between Fourth and Cleveland Streets shall contain one traffic lane in each direction and shall not contain a center, left-turn lane.

CIR-4.5   Mid-Block Crosswalks

Mid-block crosswalks, equivalently distanced from Street intersections, shall exist upon Main Street within each block between Fourth and Cleveland Streets.

CIR-7.5   Diagonal Parking Pattern

Diagonal parking (at 45 degrees) shall exist as exclusive motor-vehicle parking pattern upon Main Street between Fourth and Cleveland Streets.

Notice and Request, February 16, 2012, Page 6 of 6

SECTION 2. If any provision of this measure or application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this measure that can be given effect without the invalid provisions or applications, and to this end the provisions of this measure are severable.

Signed:                                                                                          Dated:  2 / 16 / 2012

Bobby Harris

Address:   23 Pershing Avenue, Woodland, California 95695

Email:   yolosun@gmail.com

Contact: Beth Gabor, Manager of Public Affairs

February 9, 2012

(530) 666-8042 [w] ▪ (530) 219-8464 [c]

Yolo County Board of Supervisors Opposes Yolo Bypass Expansion

(Woodland, CA) – The Yolo County Board of Supervisors is opposed to a proposal to expand the Yolo Bypass and widen the Fremont Weir as included in the public draft of the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan.

“The Board is concerned that the proposal could place Yolo County communities, agriculture, and our local economy in jeopardy,” wrote Yolo County Board of Supervisors Chair Jim Provenza in a letter to the Central Valley Flood Protection Board and the California Department of Water Resources.  “We also fear that there could be an increased risk of local flooding and a threat to continued viability of the Vic Fazio Wildlife Area.”

Neither the Yolo County Board of Supervisors nor members of the public whose properties would be affected by an expansion of the Yolo Bypass were consulted about the proposal as the first draft of the plan was developed by the California Department of Water Resources.  In the letter Chair Provenza expressed the Board’s surprise and disappointment at the lack of public outreach regarding a project of such magnitude.  Yolo County Supervisor Matt Rexroad, who represents Elkhorn, a community that would likely be severely impacted by the bypass project, said, “I was shocked by the complete lack of outreach to the Board and my constituents whose homes and livelihoods are threatened by this proposal.”

According to the Department of Water Resources, the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan is a document to guide California’s participation and influence federal and local participation in managing flood risk along the Sacramento River and San Joaquin River systems.  The plan proposes a system-wide investment approach for flood management in areas currently protected by state flood control facilities.  The plan is scheduled to be adopted by the Central Valley Flood Protection Board by July 2012.  Following the initial adoption, the proposed projects will be further studied and defined before the plan is updated again in 2017.

In light of the short timeframe for adoption of the plan, Chair Provenza emphasized the importance of collaboration between state and local government.  “Yolo County is deeply concerned that the Department of Water Resources’ actions reflect an attitude that the state has the right to propose projects that profoundly affect local land use without the involvement of local elected officials and other stakeholders.”

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Loves Travel Center PC Staff Report (pdf)

Boating of Cache Creek