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CITY’S ‘WATER SECURITY’ AN ISSUE IN UTILITY RATE INCREASES
Healdsburg, California Healdsburg, California
May 9, 2024 Date, Date, 20202020
PROBLEMATIC TOPICS CHALLENGE COUNCIL’S VIEWS, ENDURANCE By Christian Kallen
Photo by Chiristian Kallen
T h e He a l d s b u r g C i ty Council was faced with several challenging issues at their Monday, May 6 meeting, yet their votes did little to quash the controversies they addressed. A public hearing on a series of proposed water and wastewater rate hikes was expected to produce outrage and objections from residents and ratepayers, but a groundswell of opposition did not materialize. Only about half a dozen people offered their public comments. And while most were opposed to the rate hikes, there were no viable alternatives presented. But a discussion on a proposed November ballot initiative to revise the G r o w t h Ma n a ge m e n t Ordinance (GMO) also generated much debate, both from public comment and on the council itself. The council’s decision to back a Geographic Area plan over a Multifamily Rental option was not unanimous, and several area housing advocates were left dissatisfied. (See Letters in this issue.) The water and wastewater rate hikes, which had been discussed several times previously, have become necessary to fund several crucial deferred maintenance projects, according to Utilities Director Terry Crowley. These include the 50-yearold pipe system beneath most of the city’s streets, improved filtration systems to bring water quality up to current legal requirements and rehabilitation of “ lift stations” in the wastewater system. The financial analysis was provided by Raftelis
RAINY CEREMONY State Sen. Mike McGuire speaks as State Parks director Armando Quintero, City Councilmember Chris Herrod and Supervisor James Gore (with umbrellas at right) listen at the opening of the new Fitch Mountain Park and Open Space and Villa Dog Park, on a rainy Saturday, May 4.
May Rainstorm Can’t Dampen Fitch Mountain Celebration MCGUIRE, GORE, OTHERS MAKE THE BEST OF STORMY SATURDAY By Christian Kallen
The term “rain or shine” took on its absolutist meaning on Saturday, when the official opening of the Fitch Mountain Trail and Villa Dog Park took place on schedule—regardless of the steady drizzle. Long in planning as a way to mark the fulf illment of a decadesold dream to turn Fitch Mountain, the anchor and axle of Healdsburg, into a public park with open trail access to the summit, the date May 4 was picked weeks ago, and a little rain wasn’t going to delay the occasion.
and, no pun intended, soak in this moment… you can smell the rain and everything else. The sounds, the rain dropping on our neighbors that we’re here with today. Take a deep breath and take it all in: This moment now is what Sen. Mike McGuire has worked hard on, from the time he was on the Healdsburg City Council.” The introduction of McGuire himself took much longer, as it included his many accomplishments in public service, from the time he won election to the Healdsburg school board, at the age of 19, to his current position, at 40, as president pro tempore of the California State Senate. When McGuire bounded to the stage, the rain hadn’t
Solo Rio played live music with a grateful theme, notables came from as near as City Hall and as far as the State House, and everyone gamely put their best foot forward to slog ahead with the ceremony. Taking the Barkand-Ride shuttle from the high school parking lot, the witnesses came, some with dogs, to explore the newly-remodeled Villa Chanticleer Dog Park, hear the speeches, share in the moment and witness the all-star ribbon cutting.
Speeches and Thanks
Healdsburg’s Mayor David Hagele took the podium right on schedule at 10:45 to avoid any unnecessary delays. “I want us to pause
let up, but it didn’t dampen his spirits. “The good news is this late season storm is going to be bringing May flowers and golden poppies to the top of the mountain, am I right?” he said, coaxing another cheer out of the multitudes huddling beneath umbrellas and dripping hats. “I’m going to be quick because all of us are drenched to our toes,” continued McGuire. “But my bottom line is this: Today we’re here to be able to celebrate a town, we’re here to celebrate its people and its love of a mountain. And let’s be honest, we couldn’t do one without the other.” A Healdsburg native, he spoke with f irsthand knowledge of Fitch Mountain. “It’s a scenic
backdrop of our daily lives in Healdsburg. It welcomes a community home each night after a hard day’s work. And it’s where the mighty Russian River turns to the Pacific.”
Public Trail
While Fitch Mountain has long been a visual and emotional center of Healdsburg, it was only with this May 4 ceremony that its trail to the top was officially opened to the public. People have long walked the fire trail that followed an unnamed seasonal creek toward the hill’s summit (technically, at a little over 990 feet, Fitch does not warrant the sobriquet “mountain”), but it was always private property with foot travel tolerated, not welcomed. ➝ Celebration, 4
➝ Water Security, 6
EMPOWERING LOCAL GIRLS THROUGH TECH TREK EIGHT MIDDLE SCHOOLERS TO ATTEND AAUW’S STEM CAMP By Anna-Laura Jansma and Carol Clurman
Photo by Carol Clurman
PIEZOELECTRICITY Tech Trek student Rebecca Palubicki
explains how to create electricity at the 2024 Climate Fest in the Healdsburg Plaza.
Eight Northern Sonoma County seventh-grade girls will soon be off to college. No, they’re not highly precocious teenagers skipping out on their secondary school education. They are academically curious kids headed to Sonoma State University for Tech Trek, a unique, weeklong summer camp for girls eager
to learn more about their favorite subjects—science, engineering, math and technology, known as STEM. Best of all, with the help of Healdsburg sponsors and donors, the camps are totally free for these local girls. The 12 and 13 year olds, all from area public middle schools, were selected by the Healdsburg branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), which sponsors the program along with its sister organization, the Tech Trek Alumnae Group (TTAG). Part of a nationwide program, Tech Trek has been inspiring young girls who often feel marginalized in subjects historically dominated by boys. This year, nearly 1,000 girls from across California will live on nine college campuses for the weeklong camp.
Locally, eight girls from Cali Calmécac, Geyserville Middle School, Healdsburg Junior High, Washington School and Windsor Middle School will attend Tech Trek at SSU in June. The community will have an opportunity to meet this year’s class of selected girls, and previous “Trekkies” and advisors, on Tuesday, May 14, at Healdsburg Regional Librar y, from 6:15 to 7:30pm. Established in 1999, AAUW’s Tech Trek boasts a rich legacy of nurturing talent, breaking barriers and cultivating a supportive community for young women with an interest in and aptitude for STEM pursuits. Settled in campus dorms, the girls embark on an immersive seven-day, dawn-to-dusk journey. They delve into handson workshops and activities, from coding their own ➝ Stem Camp, 4