From the City of Healdsburg
At its Aug. 17 meeting, the Healdsburg City Council met first in closed session for a conference with labor negotiators. Personnel matters are routinely discussed in closed session, and no reportable action was taken.
At its regular public meeting, the council began with a proclamation acknowledging Women’s Equality Day, the 106th anniversary of the enactment of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which secured the right to vote for women.
The proclamation was read by Councilmember Evelyn Mitchell, who noted that, “to secure this right, women were forced to conduct 56 referendum campaigns, 480 campaigns to get legislatures to submit suffrage amendments, 277 campaigns to state party conventions, 19 campaigns to 19 successive Congresses, and get the consent of 36 states …” before women could attain equal access to the ballot.
The Council held its annual public hearing on weed abatement. Healdsburg Fire Department Division Chief and Fire Marshal Lance Macdonald reported that fire staff inspected more than 4,900 parcels to ensure that weeds—which can be unsightly, but more importantly present a fire hazard—are mowed or cut.
Healdsburg Senior Services Supervisor Anna Grant and Compassion Coordinator Taya Levine presented an update on the Healdsburg Senior Center’s “When the Time Comes” program, which has drawn strong interest from the community wanting information, education and understanding about issues related to death and dying. The council expressed support for the program and its continuance.
The council discussed offering vouchers to help low-income residents purchase new or used electric bicycles. An existing e-bike rebate program is in place, and vouchers could be introduced in the next few months.
A variety of city programs boost electric car and bicycle usage as a strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The council has supported these programs and their connection to the city’s Climate Mobilization Strategy.
The final discussion of the evening concerned water. A group of landowners in Alexander Valley want to form a water district that they say would protect water rights for agriculture and give them an opportunity to participate in regional discussions of water resiliency. The Cloverdale City Council appointed one of its members, Andres Marquez, to work with the would-be district organizers and Healdsburg was asked to do the same.
The Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) has already denied the petition to form the district, and organizers hope Healdsburg will support their appeal of that denial.
The council discussed the request at length and felt that the proposal to appoint a councilmember was outside its normal course of business. The council tasked Healdsburg City Manager Jeff Kay to engage with the stakeholders and report back at a future council meeting.
The next Healdsburg City Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 8, one day later than usual due to the Labor Day holiday.
