|
|
Articles from
October 2007
Meetings on AG Districts
Wednesday, October 31, 2007 ::
0 Comments
Note: Just got this from the planning department.
INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC WORKSHOPS
To further define agricultural districts for the Yolo County General Plan Update
Please join us at one or more workshops to discuss the use of agricultural districts in the Yolo County General Plan Update. The County Board of Supervisors has directed staff to further explore the concept of agricultural districts as a tool to promote agriculture and agricultural tourism within each of the proposed areas.
Working with the County Agricultural Commissioner, staff has developed a basic definition of the proposed agricultural districts (please see attached). The purpose of the workshops is to invite additional comments, ideas, and public discussion that will be used by staff in writing language that will define and describe the districts in the upcoming Draft General Plan.
The following workshops have been scheduled:
CAPAY VALLEY AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT
Capay Valley Citizens Advisory Committee
Guinda Grange Hall
16787 Forest Avenue
November 7 at 7:00 p.m. – Introduction and Discussion
December 5 at 7:00 p.m. – Follow-up and Conclusions
CLARKSBURG AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT
Clarksburg General Plan Citizens Advisory Committee
Clarksburg Library Activity Room
52915 Netherlands Road
November 8 at 7:00 p.m. – Introduction and Discussion
December 6 at 7:00 p.m. – Follow-up and Conclusions
DUNNIGAN HILLS AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT
Dunnigan Advisory Committee
Esparto Citizens Advisory Committee
Madison Citizens Advisory Committee
Zamora-Yolo Citizens Advisory Committee
Zamora Town Hall
38870 County Road 13
November 13 at 7:00 p.m. – Introduction and Discussion
November 28 at 7:00 p.m. – Continued Discussion
December 10 at 7:00 p.m. – Follow-up and Conclusions
|
|
|
Congressman Thompson holds town hall meeting
Wednesday, October 31, 2007 ::
0 Comments
I just got this from Congressman Mike Thompson's office. You know I really do disagree with the guy on a ton of issues but I like really like him and I really like Elly Fairclough from his office.
Woodland should be there.
Dear Friends:
I hope you will join me this Thursday evening in a live town hall meeting via telephone. You will be able to directly ask me questions about issues that impact the 1st Congressional District and I will respond on-the-spot for all participants to hear.
Telephone town halls are a great way to bring residents from across Northern California together to share their concerns and get real-time answers. I’m looking forward to hearing your questions on important issues like healthcare, the war in Iraq and climate change and then sharing what I’m doing in Congress to help. Please take this opportunity to make your voice heard.
More Information
What: A toll-free telephone town hall with Congressman Mike Thompson
When: Thursday, November 1st from 7 PM to 8 PM
How to join: When the call starts, dial 1-866-447-5149 and enter the pass code 13293.
Let me know if you'll be participating through the survey on the right.
Sincerely,
Congressman Mike Thompson
|
|
|
Turkey Update
Tuesday, October 30, 2007 ::
0 Comments
I have spent the last 24 hours on the road so I have not been as active on county stuff as I should.
We have commitments by the Tom and Meg Stallard, Ron Glick of Davis, Betsy Marchand, Cecelia and David Greenwald, and several others. I would bet we are getting close to $2000.
We also have a four of five other people that have inquired. We just need to find out what they are going to send.
Dotty has locked down 250 additional turkeys today-- so we are buying 350 turkeys no matter what. I just need help paying for them.
Thanks to Dino at Woodland Journal for helping publicize this effort. Here is his post.
I will be back on this tomorrow.
|
|
|
City Manager: Meet and Greet
Monday, October 29, 2007 ::
0 Comments
City to host Meet and Greet for new City Manager
Community members are invited to a “Meet and Greet” for Woodland’s new City Manager, Mark Deven, on Thursday, November 8 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at the Woodland Community and Senior Center—2001 East Street.
Mr. Deven comes to Woodland from Concord where he served as its Parks and Recreation Director before becoming its Assistant City Manger in November 2004. Since taking the position of Woodland’s City Manager three months ago, Deven has already started to streamline and re-organize the City’s government offices in hopes of making the city more accessible and responsive to community needs.
Hors d’oeuvres will be served at 5:30 pm, followed at 6:30 pm by an introduction and welcome by Mayor Flory and members of the Woodland City Council. Deven will then share his plans for Woodland’s future and hold a Q & A session with guests. The reception and forum is open, free to residents. Don’t miss this opportunity to welcome our new City Manager to our community.
The Meet and Greet is sponsored by the Woodland City Council, Chamber of Commerce, Yolo County Supervisor Matt Rexroad, and Woodlanders for Responsible Government. For more information, please call Dotty at (530) 666-8230.
|
|
|
Arts Council Focus Group
Monday, October 29, 2007 ::
0 Comments
I need some people from Woodland to participate in a focus group with the Yolo County Arts Council.
It will be December 5th at 10am and will last for an hour.
Please let me know if you would be wiling to serve.
|
|
|
Rodriguez and Morales
Sunday, October 28, 2007 ::
0 Comments
So today I went out to walk precincts after church. I delayed and delayed. Thought about staying to watch the 49ers. Once I got out of my car on Gibson and knocked on the first door -- I loved it.
It is so much easier to walk precincts for other people than it is for yourself.
I was walking for Cirenio Rodriguez and Evis Morales. The reception from people was great. They seemed to know me and were receptive to my request to consider the two candidates.
Later this week I will finish up the precinct. I have about 50% left.
Today just got me warmed up for March when I start walking for Pimentel and/or Flory.
|
|
|
American League
Saturday, October 27, 2007 ::
1 Comments
I have never rooted for an American League team for anything. Now I just can't help myself.
The Designated Hitter is a lack of personal responsibility. Enough from me.
Go Red Sox. Ugh.
|
|
|
$1400 and counting
Saturday, October 27, 2007 ::
0 Comments
Matt Hillis at Woodland Montessori is in or $100. We are rolling.
Doug Paul Davis has set the bar really high over there in Davis....and I just found out he is a vegetarian. That is above and beyond.
This thing is just getting started.
|
|
|
Dotty has 100 Turkeys!
Friday, October 26, 2007 ::
0 Comments
Food4Less in Woodland has gotten us 100 turkeys at $.98 per pound. That is a start. They will be anywhere from 10-16 lbs.
Ok. We know that we will have 100.
Now we need to find another source for more turkeys.
|
|
|
$1300 and counting for turkeys
Friday, October 26, 2007 ::
0 Comments
Ok. I just got off the phone with Al Eby. He has arranged $300 for operation turkey. He is in for $150 and USA Tires is in for $150. That puts us at more than $1300 since this morning.
Our problem now is that we are getting a late start and need to find a pipeline of turkeys. I guess 375 turkeys is a lot of turkeys in the Thanksgiving picture. This is something I have never dealt with before.
Dotty is still out and about getting turkey pricing information.
What we do know is that the Wayfarer Center is willing to take frozen turkeys directly. So you can donate money or turkeys. Anyone trying to deliver Dave Flory to the Wayfarer Center will be rewarded handsomely.
Come on Woodland. We need turkeys.
|
|
|
Ok Woodland - let's talk turkey
Friday, October 26, 2007 ::
0 Comments
My friend Doug Paul Davis (aka David Greenwald) over at The People's Vanguard of Davis has agreed to join us in getting 100 turkeys for Yolo County families.
We will have the details on how you can help later today but I actually think we can get this mission accomplished long before the turkeys are needed on November 19th.
Dotty is out talking turkey this afternoon.
We can do this.
|
|
|
$120 in ten years. That does not justify rent control.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007 ::
0 Comments
Yesterday we considered rent control for mobile home parks in Yolo County. I generally don't support rent control but listened to the evidence that was offered for the proposal being advocated by Supervisor Yamada.
Most of the testimony that we heard was about poor park management. That is something that rent control will not solve.
We had one guy say that he had a $200 per month increase last year. That number was refuted later so I have my doubts about it.
The final speaker stood up to tell us that the residents were being nickeled and dimed to death. As proof he offered that his rent had gone up $120 a month over the past TEN YEARS. TEN YEARS.
This is supposed to justify rent control. I challenge anyone out there to find a single housing unit of any kind in Yolo County that is similar to what it was ten years ago and show me a price increase of less than $120 per month.
We were told that this is unreasonable activity by the park owner. $120 increase over TEN YEARS is unreasonable? Not a chance. These residents should thank their lucky stars each night that they have had increases that are a fraction of the CPI. They should also stop talking about this. The more people they tell about the low cost of living in their parks will increase the demand to such a degree that the price will go up.
This situation is not the same as what was going on in Woodland. The guy here was a jerk.
These park owners are reasonable and should not be treated the same way.
|
|
|
Preparing for the Davis City Council
Saturday, October 20, 2007 ::
0 Comments
My hopes of ever serving on the Davis City Council were abandoned shortly after I had them. I think it lasted about four seconds.
Anyway, this Monday I get the next best thing. LAFCO has an agenda item regarding Davis. It is a Public Workshop for the City of Davis Municipal Services Review and Sphere of Influence Study.
Chair Olin Woods is recovering from surgery so I will be chairing the meeting. Basically I will be the Mayor of Davis for few hours.
I hope to be declaring Putah Creek as Wild and Scenic, adopting an ordinance encouraging eating beef, and making the sister city Crawford, Texas.
|
|
|
Rent Control
Saturday, October 20, 2007 ::
0 Comments
Item 4.01 of the agenda for this week involves rent control for the three mobile home parks in the unincorporated areas of Yolo County.
There is nothing in this staff report that would show a compelling reason to adopt this ordinance. Woodland actually had a compelling situation years ago. This is not the same. This is a unilateral attempt to take property rights.
If this thing passes I think the park owners should attempt to refer it.
|
|
|
Why is it OK for Monticello?
Saturday, October 20, 2007 ::
0 Comments
I just finished reading my Board of Supervisors packet for this coming Tuesday. We have lots of good stuff on that agenda -- it will mean several different posts.
The one that I find most interesting is Agenda Item #2.02. It is the ratification of a resolution commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Monticello Dam. It is not on-line otherwise I would link to it here.
I will certainly be voting in favor of this. Why? Because Dams can provide lots of benefits..as are mentioned in the resolution.
- Water supply for 78,000 acres of Solano County farmland
- Recreational Opportunities
- Reliable water supply
All good things..right. It already indicates that the board will pass the measure unanimously.
Solano County recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of this dam. Great. They probably got a letter from the Governor and Assemblywoman Wolk too.
I would also like to mention that this dam is the reason the Putah Creek is able to have water in it all year long.
So why is all of this hard to believe? Because many of the people celebrating this golden anniversary were the same people that supported Cache Creek Wild and Scenic legislation that had a primary goal of preventing dams along Cache Creek.
They even covered up a town for this. Where is the outrage? Where is the consistent thought that dams are bad for the environment? Where is the effort to prevent any more above ground storage?
I think some people should be demanding that this thing be torn down instead of celebrating 50 years. I will be voting for this resolution because I clearly believe that water supply security, agriculture benefits, recreation benefits, and environmental benefits are greater than the costs associated with dams.
|
|
|
This is an important story about the USA and our neighbor to the south
Friday, October 19, 2007 ::
0 Comments
This story in the San Diego Union Tribune is an important one about our economy, our country, and our neighbor to the south.
When I recently heard former Mexican President Fox argue that the United States of America was basically getting a fair trade with Mexico economically I could not believe it. Not only did he say it -- he clearly meant it.
Immigration is a major issue for the United States and for California. The Sierra Club and others want to pretend that it is not for political reasons but it is.
It impacts our schools, transportation, economy, social services, and lives. I understand when people disagree about what to do about the problems but I will never understand when people pretend that immigration patterns don't cause any problem at all.
My criticism is actually of the Mexican government. They are not doing a good job of providing for the people that live there. The people of Mexico are proving that by voting with their feet.
|
|
|
Palm Springs may be worse than Davis
Friday, October 19, 2007 ::
1 Comments
Lately I have been learning more than I ever wanted to know about Palm Springs. I was reading the City Council endorsements of the Desert Sun. You can read the whole thing here.
These two paragraphs kind of jumped out at me --
John Williams ran for council before and lost, but he is no loser. He picked himself up and worked hard to fill gaps by participating in a host of civic groups.
Williams would not bring the same broad-based experience that Weigel does. We are also troubled by his having allowed his hotel to be used for the production of pornographic films. Williams said he allowed this because as a new hotel owner he needed to pay the bills. He did not remember when it stopped. Nor did he say he would not allow the films to be made again if he needed the money. While his activities were perfectly legal, we would have preferred that he had voiced regrets and say he would not do it again.
Here is the crazy part......my friends down there think this Williams guy is going to win.
|
|
|
Fighting the Flu
Thursday, October 18, 2007 ::
0 Comments
On Tuesday Supervisors Thomson, McGowan, and I got flu shots. It was a great deal for me because it was something I was meaning to do anyway.
The purpose of this post is to encourage all of you to get flu shots right away. The cost benefit analysis is pretty easy for these things.
How much would you pay not to be flat on your back for two weeks with the flu?
Here is the website for the Yolo County Health Department.
Just do it.
|
|
|
Yolo County 101
Wednesday, October 17, 2007 ::
0 Comments
Here is an article from Elisabeth Sherwin on Yolo County 101. I should have put it up last week -- but I forgot. Great article. I am thankful Elisabeth did it. I had two people mention it to me at church on Sunday.
Tonight we had Pam Miller the Director of the Department of Employment and Social Services and three of her staff people. It was pretty clear after about five minutes we could have done all of Yolo County 101 on just this topic.
The final fifteen to twenty minutes was with Yolo County Public Guardian/Administrator Cass Sylvia. She had a one page presentation. She actually did a McGowan. That is what I call it when you speak and at the end everyone wants to have a beer with you.
Video should be up soon.
Next week is water.
|
|
|
Road 102 Chevron
Tuesday, October 16, 2007 ::
1 Comments
Tonight the City Council is considering the possibility of having a left turn lane into the Chevron on the intersection of Road 102 near I-5.
I am torn on this issue. I don't want to hurt a business that has been in Woodland for a long time but to what degree does the traffic safety need to be the priority?
The staff report is here.
This station has to be doing far better with the large number of people that have come to the area in the last 20 years.
|
|
|
Giving Voice
Monday, October 15, 2007 ::
0 Comments
One of my goals for 2008 will be a statewide effort to amend the state constitution regarding victim rights. It is scheduled to appear on the November 2008 ballot. In other states where the same or similar language has been placed before the voters it averages 80% approval.
On Sunday morning I woke up to read the Davis Enterprise. After spending Saturday with a team of attorneys and supporters of the cause I was thrilled to see an article about the efforts of Yolo County Deputy DAs Kelli Brooksby and Jonathan Raven. It just made me smile. We are working with other people around the state -- but Yolo County is doing some good things.
Yolo County DA Jeff Reisig has made bid changes to help the victims be part of the process. Excellent. This is the kind of stuff that I think is really important.
I have been carrying the article by Lauren Keene from the Sunday section of the Enterprise since then -- sharing it with anyone that will listen to me.
It is not available on line -- but if you want to see something that will make you think county government is doing something right -- read the Sunday Enterprise. Nice job Jeff Reisig, Jonathan Raven, Kelli Brooksby, and rest of the lifer team. Good stuff. Really good stuff.
|
|
|
School Board Elections
Monday, October 15, 2007 ::
2 Comments
So I took out my absentee ballot tonight. It was easy to vote.
Cirenio, Evis, and Carol will not get shut out. They all got my vote.
Here is my concern. My candidates are not going to win easily.
These kinds of elections are largely decided by a couple things like the name of the candidate and the ballot designation they choose.
Yolo County Board of Education
Cirenio has an advantage because he is at the top of the ballot. That is balanced against the fact that his ballot designation is "incumbent". That is not good. His opponent, Cecelia Calmes lists "Educator". That is a good one when you are running for school board.
Neither candidate submitted a ballot statement. That is something every candidate should do.
I hope Cerenio is out working. I want the guy to win.
Woodland School Board
Carol and Evis are the two bottom candidates on the Woodland ballot. That is a tough one.
Carol has great name ID. She should be the top vote getter among these candidates. She has a proven track record of accomplishment in Woodland. She also choose "incumbent" as her ballot designation. That won't help.
So in this race Carol was the only one to submit a ballot statement -- and she did it in English and Spanish. The others didn't. Rosario Ruiz-Dark has very expensive full color signs all over town with her picture on them but did not put in a ballot statement. That seems strange.
We will see. I hope Carol and Evis pull it off.
|
|
|
Rachelle Arroyave to Speak
Saturday, October 13, 2007 ::
0 Comments
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RACHELLE ARROYAVE – WIDOW OF MARINE STAFF SEARGANT JIMMY ARROYAVE TO SPEAK AT WOODLAND REPUBLICAN CLUB OCTOBER 23RD MEETING
Woodland, Calif. – October 10th, 2007 Rachelle Arroyave, a Marine Corps Widow /Gold Star Wife is a Woodland native and activist for military spouses and families who have lost loved ones on active duty. Ms Arroyave will headline The Woodland Republican Club’s meeting which will be held starting at 7:30 P.M. On October 23rd, 2007 in the Leake Room at the Woodland Public Library. The Woodland Public Library is located at 250 1ST St Woodland. The Public and members are invited. Cost: – Members – no charge, General Public - $5.00 per person at the door.
Rachelle Arroyave has appeared as a guest speaker on radio (MilitarySpouse TalkRadio, testified on behalf of AB1485 (AB1485) and her and her family’s story has been published in the Air Force Magazine.
Rachelle graduated from Woodland High School in 1994. She had met Jimmy at the Country Oaks Racquet Club. In 1997 she started working for PG & E and after five years she moved the family to Camp Pendleton to be closer to her husband. Jimmy Arroyave had served his country as a Marine for 10 ½ years when he was killed in a non-combat related accident on April 15th, 2004.
At the time of Jimmy’s death, his daughter Vanessa was 6 ½, Natalia was 2 ½ and Rachelle as pregnant with “little” Jimmy. Rachelle, was also in school at the time finishing her last year in her Social Psychology degree.
Rachelle Arroyave’s story is a poignant and uplifting reminder of the sacrifice that the members of our military and their families give to support our nation and our freedom. The support of her family and friends has made all the difference to Rachelle. Please join us to hear her story and the positive activities that Rachelle has become part of to help other Widows and families. Learn how we can all be part of helping.
The Woodland Republican Club (WRC) is a grass roots political organization. WRC is built upon the shared Republican principles of individual liberty, genuine economic opportunities and leadership in world freedom.
For additional information about the event or for more information on the Woodland Republican Club contact:
Doug Young, President at 530-666-3669
Kirby Wells 1st Vice-President
Cell phone: 916-215-4291
|
|
|
Great picture
Tuesday, October 09, 2007 ::
0 Comments
Does anyone else find it funny that page A2 of the Daily Democrat has a picture of Woodland City Councilmen Jeff Monroe and Art Pimentel in the same picture -- and they are both smiling?
What are the odds of that?
Maybe they did not know the other one was standing close by.
I am open to potential captions for that picture.
|
|
|
Odor on the SF News -- They don't even know where Woodland is!
Tuesday, October 09, 2007 ::
0 Comments
This is killing me.
Here is the San Francisco news.
When economic development is the topic we are told about the way news stories help solidify the view of the world regarding Woodland and Yolo County. A front page story is worth $X. A news story is worth $Y.
We are told how lucky we are that we got all this great coverage for a small investment of economic development dollars.
Well how much does a story about how badly Woodland smells cost? Stop talking to the regional and national press. Stop digging. China is just a few feet away.
|
|
|
Woodland makes the LA Times for the wrong reason
Monday, October 08, 2007 ::
1 Comments
The kids woke up laughing today. That is a great way to start the day. Everything was going great until I read the LA Times. Ugh.
Woodland doesn't make the LA Times very often ...yet when we do it is about how badly we smell.
I am looking forward to the calls I will be getting later today from my college friends.
|
|
|
Antiquated Subdivisions
Monday, October 08, 2007 ::
0 Comments
Yolo County is on the front page of the Sacramento Business Journal this week.
The issue of antiquated subdivisions is one that was bound to come to a head at some point. This issue is one that caused me some trouble. I respect private property rights but have concerns about people being able to just pull out some old piece of paper saying that this gives me a right to build that I was not aware of until just a few minutes ago when I found it.
|
|
|
Green Burial
Monday, October 08, 2007 ::
0 Comments
Ok. Sign me up. I just read this article on Sacramento Bee website about green burials.
I've always said just throw my body into some farmers fields and grind me into the dirt. I knew that Jenn wouldn't do that. She might actually do this.
It has always seemed funny to me that we spend so much on burials. $20,000 plus when someone dies. Why? They don't care. I know some of you are reading this and thinking -- "It's for the family, you jerk". It just seems to be a waste to me. Take the money you would spend on this for me and donate it to the Woodland Library or the Wayfarer Center. That is a much better use.
I am confident what will happen to me when I die. Some big fancy casket and carved stone have nothing to do with it.
It should be about the mark you leave with good works and helping others -- not some big statue to yourself in the middle of a cemetery.
|
|
|
Hoes Down
Sunday, October 07, 2007 ::
0 Comments
 Jenn and Abbie have been to the Hoes Down for the last two years without me. So this year we put it on the schedule months in advance.
I must say it was interesting. We ran into some Woodland folks out there but most everyone seemed to be from Berkeley/Santa Cruz/SF.
Abbie got to dance to the Bottom Dwellers with Leilani and Hendricks Hancock. That is always fun for her. The food was great. I had some kind of a cheeseburger that was organic beef that had been treated humanely. I skipped the veggie burger. One thing I really liked was ice cream from a dairy in Marin County. It was excellent.
For those of you that don't know what this Hoes Down thing is you can click on the website here.
Great food. The people were a little odd but all in all - the Rexroads had a great time.
The picture above is of a cool maze that they had. Abbie was willing to climb on it but was not willing to go too far inside.
More pictures below.
|
|
|
Foul on Water
Thursday, October 04, 2007 ::
2 Comments
I read this quote this morning by Assemblywoman Lois Wolk in the Sacramento Bee.
Democratic Assemblywoman Lois Wolk, who will chair today's water hearing, responded, "I don't think issuing ultimatums or counter-ultimatums is the productive approach for California. The Delta should not be kicked around like a political football."
It seems to work well for the environmental community.
Each and every time that a "water bond is placed on the ballot it does not include storage and the environmental groups load it up like a Christmas tree -- by issuing ultimatums. They do it each and every time -- and we get no storage of California water.
I'm supporting the Governor and Senator Dave Cogdill on the water bond being announced today in Sacramento. If water storage gets stripped out then I am not interested. It appears to me that their proposal is the first one in many years that actually deals with water quality and supply for millions of California families.
|
|
|
Yolo County 101 -- tonight
Wednesday, October 03, 2007 ::
0 Comments
Tonight our speaker was Yolo County Counsel Robyn Drivon. I thought I was back in law school.
We seem to have settled in at about 45 people. I am fine with that. We started with 75 -- and I wish we would have stayed there. However, 45 is more than we thought we would get at the start.
Next week we do the fiscal situation of the county. Pat Leary will be our guest speaker.
|
|
|
What President is right for you?
Wednesday, October 03, 2007 ::
4 Comments
This quiz on national issues was interesting.
Take Quiz here.
Congressman Kucinich & Senator Dodd and I don't see eye to eye on much. Oh well.
McCain and I don't agree on several things too but I think he would be the best President and the most likely one to win in November against Senator Clinton.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|