Q & A with Labor and Environmental Groups

By Colleen Shea Fernald

I think we covered just about everything here...

I LOVE Sebastopol and I wish to use my skills to bring out the best our city has to offer, and protect our small town charm.

Even in one of the most progressive cities, it can still take 4-5 years for my best ideas to be implemented; our current needs for reform cannot wait that long.

What are your top priorities and the policy areas that will be of most interest to you if elected?

Economic vitality Accountable development Protection of our natural resources Pedestrian safety Excessive traffic reduction Maintaining the needs our infrastructure: roads, sewer & water systems parks, etc. Affordable wellness care for all Balanced support for public safety, education, and the arts Emergency preparedness Water quantity and quality security, short and long term Watershed protection and enhancement Meeting Climate Protection goals Call for a moratorium on SMART meters Seek resources to assist in ways to generate cleaner air, and richer soil Even more car-lite Organic Victory Gardens everywhere possible Strong support for the Go Local & Transition Sebastopol groups

2 ideas on waste reduction:

1) Collaborate in a commercial and residential grease collection system thorough our waste haulers; as a source of bio fuel production; perhaps at the Laguna treatment plant where they are doing algae in to fuel work.

2) Provide for more commercial and residential composting.

Provide a multi-resource learning center for all things sustainable; and a "Green Garage" to assist local Inventors in bringing their innovations to market in partnership with local schools.

Evaluate more mixed use municipal/commercial property potentials.

Current Issues

In December 2009 workers at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital voted to join a union. Hospital Administration has used legal tactics to delay recognizing the workers' decision. What specific action(s) will you be willing to take to support these employees?

I support workers rights to organize in a fair and respectful, and respected manner.

State and Federal law requires the payment of prevailing wages on public works construction projects. Do you support these laws?

Yes

Public employers throughout the state are faced with increasing health benefit costs. Some employers have responded to this crisis by reducing benefit levels and/or requiring workers to share in the cost of premiums. Do you support this approach? If not, what do you think should be done to address the crisis?

End funding for optional military conflicts, so that all Americans can have single payer affordable healthcare.

Do you support the Employee Free Choice Act? (EFCA) (For more info on EFCA go to: http://www.afl-cio.org)

Yes

Community Economic Development

Would you favor a CIR when large commercial retail is proposed which would examine benefits verses the costs of such a development to the community?

Yes

Please check which of the following issues will be important to you in evaluating economic development programs:

x a) Are we getting our money's worth?
X b) Are apprenticeship and training programs included in the plan?
X c) How many and what kinds of new jobs will be created and at what levels of pay?
X d) Who will get the jobs?
X e) How soon will the public investment in forgone revenues be recaptured?

Please describe the role you see for the community in shaping economic development priorities and decisions.

Expanding possibilities, and incentives for local Green businesses and a wellness-care based economy. Finding ways for Sebastopol to fully utilize the wealth of community groups to help meet our needs is a top priority.

My ideas for local economic security are on: http://www.northbayprosperity.com

I fully support Town Hall meetings on important topics. I wish to use the City's website, and other community bulletin board sites such as WaccoBB.net, and list serves to poll the public on current City Council agenda items, pending policies, and other civic activities.

I wish to redeploy Sustainable Sebastopol as a vehicle for a multi-stakeholders group, to protect our ecological health, and social well being; invigorate the local economy.
(More ideas in the extended info below.)

Health and Safety

Would you support legislation to allow employees to use their sick leave to care for ill family members?

Yes

Should any tax breaks to business be conditioned on its agreement to provide health benefits to all employees?

Yes

Organized Labor and the Workplace

What is your position on privatization ("contracting-out") of services in Sonoma County?

I am displeased with this trend.

State and federal laws require the payment of prevailing wages on all government construction projects. These laws helped local jurisdictions provide jobs for local contractors and workers to stimulate the local economy. If you have a redevelopment agency, will you require a prevailing wage condition on all your redevelopment contracts?

Yes

Would you support a "pre-qualification" for contractors wanting to bid on city public works projects?

(Qualifying conditions could include performance record, prior public works infractions, sufficient bonding and insurance, financial health, mechanical liens, etc. Meeting such conditions would "qualify" a contractor to bid for city projects.)

Yes

Do you support "green building" standards? If so how would you make them a reality?

Big yes!

Work with the County, State and Federal government to blend the best of existing standards into one, with a focus on those which create the highest indoor air quality.

What Sonoma County natural resources/systems (such as creek systems, wetlands or habitat) do you consider in need of protection? How can Sebastopol work productively with the County to increase such protections in and around the City?

All community watersheds are vital; so is connecting to them and caring for them. The Laguna De Santa Rosa is very challenged; this needs much focus and cooperation on identifying and reducing the harm. I worked on TMDL funding and studies with the Laguna Foundation, RWQCB, City of Santa Rosa and SCWA. I have also been approaching the Army Corps about a environmentally sensitive dredging plan, for flood control and non-chemical Ludwigia removal.

I recommend further bio, and phyto remediation work instead of chemical treatments to the land and water near the Laguna.

There is a lot more the agriculture industry could do to reduce harm to the water supply and watershed. I'd like to promote more education and outreach for this sector.

There is a plan and donations for enhancement of the creek in Ives Park; more is needed.

I am an advocate for multi-stakeholder cooperative approach to analyze that which does harm, and plans to reduce the harm at all levels.

Additionally, I've started participating in Transition Sebastopol, they are looking at starting a water group for our area.

Where will your city get its water from over the next 20 years? How do you think that Sebastopol can ensure a reliable and clean water supply for its residents without jeopardizing water available for the natural environment, such as endangered salmon? Should there be a comprehensive county-wide water management plan?

The Transition Sebastopol Water group would be a great place to address this question of supply security; it is very important as Sebastopol is the only local City dependent on the Laguna for replenishing it's well water sources.

Conservation, water catchment, greywater, are essential for sustainable development.

I would only use treated wastewater for non-edible ag, and areas without human contact, or near waterways, or areas with too much slope, and those near drinking water re-charge areas.

I am very adamant about not including Fluoride in drinking water; and finding better ways to reduce contaminants from drinking water and wastewater; especially at the source point.

For many years I have been an outspoken advocate for a regional water, and groundwater assessment and management plans. I pushed for this as the Prop. 50 water bond grant requirements were being re-evaluated. My efforts resulted in increased points for funding established for groundwater management plans, and regional cooperation for protection of endangered species and habitat.

Please describe how wastewater is disposed of and re-used in Sebastopol. Can this process be improved to benefit the environment?

It is sent to the regional treatment system on Llano Rd., run by Santa Rosa.

I'd like to see the City of Sebastopol rejoin the Russian River Watershed Association, and revive the Russian River Watershed Council to partner with all the groups working on clean, healthy: water, watershed and wastewater systems.

The process is improving; the new General Manager of SCWA has been meeting with the SC Water Coalition. There is a bit more transparency from the members of the WAC.

If there were financial means available to treat Sebastopol's wastewater in Sebastopol and provide a clean source of groundwater recharge, our water supply would be less vulnerable, and the energy needed to pump the wastewater would be reduced.

All the cities in Sonoma County have made a resolution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% below 1990 levels by 2015. What are your ideas for ensuring that your city will meet this target for municipal operations and the community at large? For example, what can Sebastopol do in areas like increasing existing building efficiency and renewable energy generation?

Sebastopol has been leader in this area for many years. We need to make sure the financial incentives remain in place to keep renewable energy production, and efficiencies in water/energy use cost effective.

Besides the local and Federal government funding sources; we still have many possible roofs which could be collecting solar power through private investment operations. I would also like to see more explorations into wind potential on scale with our small town, bio fuels production expanded, provide for think tanks in town to grow other ideas.

I'd like to see new programs generated for renters to benefit from; such as subsidies for landlords to provide predictable, lower cost, Green sourced power to tenants.

Would like to see more renewable energy "art" structures; seek funding from varied sources including the Arts community.

Having City staff, and partner non-profit groups seek State, Federal grants ,and other funding sources to help make all climate protection efforts affordable on a sliding scale basis, is essential for meeting the Climate Protection targets.

Reviving Sustainable Sonoma County, to work in tandem with Sustainable Sebastopol & Sustainable your town here, may help us all meet the goals more effectively.

The County of Sonoma and City of Santa Rosa have Green products purchasing guides and requirements. I have been suggesting ways to reduce costs on these products through creation of a joint buying program for the County and all Cities.

I'd like to see Public Works and Emergency Services equipped with portable solar generators.

I would push for State and Federal government to provide loan funding at 3% for municipal infrastructure improvements featuring green building, and clean energy production, water and energy conservation and efficiency improvements.

Further, I believe the County's SCEIP program for commercial and residential property owners could be improved with this 3% interest rate as well.

How can Sebastopol encourage non-automobile and alternative fuel transportation, or create transportation efficiencies that will reduce trips? What is your level or participation in the SMART Train and Pathway implementation?

How about a green energy, local electric trolly? How about solar powered BART in all the Bay Area? Maybe, if only we'd gotten involved a few decades ago on this. As it is, I hope SMART works out; it'd be a real shame if the Pathway got left out. I endorsed and voted for SMART.

Car-lite and iWalk should keep up their good work. I still want to see increased efforts for pedestrian safety, continue seeking funds for safe routes to school.

Buses needs subsidies to keep enough routes going to support sufficient ridership; perhaps a small bit of our gas tax could be made available for this.

How has Sebastopol been using Smart Growth principles and how do you see the city growing in the future? Please describe your position on mandatory Green Building standards.

Residents of Sebastopol are very vocal about retaining a high quality of life here; I appreciate that. The City did the best it could with the issues around our North East development and engaged the Public in very proactive ways.

Recently there was a Town Hall meeting on Sebastopol's development future. The Council members and City Staff are quite attuned to smart growth standards held by what I perceive as our majority.

Still, the Public must remain vigilant about protecting our standards, through staying informed, speaking out, and working together on needed action plans.

I am very supportive of Green building standards; I prefer a hybrid model of best practices, with more attention on non-toxic products to create healthier indoor air quality.

I'm very interested in how we can produce more Green Building materials locally.

As a Council member, what would you do to support and strengthen affordable housing policies in your jurisdiction? What are some of the challenges you see in creating affordable housing opportunities for your residents? Do you have any thoughts on where affordable housing should be located?

Sebastopol has caught up with many affordable housing projects in recent years.

I have been encouraging a program to assist the remodeling of existing substandard housing stock, with green building standards, in a way which would assist landlords with the expense in exchange for agreement to keep the units in the affordable range for low-income tenants.

I am opposed to sprawl, and further degradation to wild land, especially near waterways. Making better use of existing housing footprints needs to be fully evaluated. Many existing homes have mold and toxic building material; razing and remodeling could provide work for the local Green Building businesses.

I'm a big fan of sweat equity based affordable homeowner opportunities.

What is your position regarding Urban Growth Boundaries? If elected, what would be your position on the issue of renewing Urban Growth Boundaries that are scheduled to expire?

I support urban growth boundaries; I wish to see greenbelts and wild land protected as much as possible.

As always, enrolling the community early on is essential for mapping an ideal plan for success.

Cities addicted to growth have never ending problems. Cities which live within their means, and have other options for revenue generation, can retain their charm, and keep visitors coming back, housing & commercial stock filled.

How do you think biodiversity and habitat can be enhanced within Sebastopol's urban growth boundary? Please comment on the Santa Rosa Plain Conservation Strategy for the CA Tiger Salamander and listed plants.  What are your ideas for implementing a plan (The Conservation Strategy or other) for the county and cities that would achieve the goal of protecting endangered species and their habitat?

I have had to limit my number of meetings and goals for environmental protection in our area; I have participated in only a few of the ones the County has put on for this; so I am not as up to date on the details as I plan to be soon.

To sum my proposed solutions, I believe Community Watershed CARE is the ideal model. Protection for sensitive habitats can be enhanced through more people knowing the boundaries and challenges of their community watershed; learning what practices and products harm or heal the watersheds.

Creating Community Watershed CARE programs for each sub-watershed, modeled and supported by existing watershed groups, and using the tools and funding offered from the local, State, and Federal agencies is the recipe for successful protection of our natural environment and native species, especially those in perilous decline.

I seek opportunity for all stakeholders to better inform and understand each side's challenges; and work for affordable, proven solutions, and open up areas for modern cutting edge, and native experimental trials.

I prefer we use our time and money toward collaborative solutions; mediation when needed; law suits only when all other possibilities are exhausted.

I would like to see more Land Trust and Open Space acquisitions for these endangered species habitats; especially in the Laguna area.

Extensive building and paving in a flood plain is just not smart for anyone, including investors.

The exportation of our groundwater through various means, is a serious problem for the recharge needed in the Santa Rosa plain. I think this has been strategically ignored, and serious, non-biased analysis is needed.

Do you support the CA State Parks Initiative (Prop 21)?

Yes!

How do you plan to win the election? Please identify core constituencies and community leaders you expect will support you. How do you plan to fund your campaign?

I hope to win by demonstrating how my progressive and environmental values are in sync with the majority of Sebastopol voters. I have no fear of public speaking and welcome respectful debate. I have demonstrated many innovative ideas early on, which have since become adopted. I've learned to marry my persistence with patience in putting ideas into actions and policies.

I expect core support to come from those who have witnessed my contributions to our community's progressive agenda over many years. Folks who are new to me and my work, will have many opportunity to discover how my progressive, environmental values and theirs are aligned; through debates, meeting in person through my outreach, viewing my campaign materials, and conversations with their neighbors and researching the information regarding me online and other forms of the media.

I look for further support from the vast network of folks I know through my children's school years, here and nearby, my Sales, Marketing and Advertising work, production of special events, and many, many hours attending civic and environment/natural resource meetings.

Got more questions or good ideas? Want to support a super progressive candidate with your talents and/or contributions, sponsor some signage or host a fun fundraiser? Here's the info:

Friends of Colleen Fernald for Sebastopol City Council

PO Box 3007 Santa Rosa, Ca 95402

829-2243

THANK YOU!!!