Message from the Chair By Helen Bates, Chair, SMP Steering Committee September 2008 SMP Newsletter

Since our 2007 Newsletter, SMP has continued to advocate for the protection of open space in several areas. We strongly believe that working in coalition with other groups is the most effective way to achieve common goals.

General Plan Update-2020: Final approval by the Board of Supervisors is scheduled for August 2008. SMP met with Supervisor Valerie Brown in March, prior to the Board’s review of the Open Space & Resource Conservation element, to request her support. Sonoma Ecology Center & Valley of the Moon Alliance also attended.

We are grateful to Greenbelt Alliance for providing coordination of a coalition of environmental groups during the GP-2020 update process. The Spring 2008 Greenbelt Action summarizes "After long years of campaigning, GA was able to rally community support to strengthen several policies in the Sonoma County General Plan to protect water resources, address climate change, and protect rural areas from development. While the General Plan could do more to truly protect the county’s open space and natural resources, this campaign showed that grassroots pressure can sway elected officials to adopt better policies."

Quailbrook Ranch: In May 2007 SMP wrote a letter in support of the Open Space District’s acquisition of a Conservation Easement on Quailbrook. The successful completion of this project, including open space conservation and expanded trail access, is cause for celebration (see article).

Taylor Mountain/Sonoma Mountain Development Guidelines: In April SMP met with PRMD staff to review implementation of the Guidelines, 10 years after their adoption. An emerging issue for SMP is the visual impact of new development on public spaces, such as Jack London State Historic Park. SMP has been joined by Jack London Lake Alliance, Valley of the Moon Alliance, and Valley of the Moon Natural History Association in raising this issue with Supervisor Valerie Brown and PRMD staff for future consideration. Sonoma Mountain includes several areas of public access to open space such as Jack London & Fairfield Osborn Preserve (see Jack London and Fairfield Osborn articles).

Fences: In February 2008 SMP wrote to PRMD in support of a Diamond A Property Owners Association complaint regarding fences built in violation of County regulations for setbacks from County roads. We recently learned that two of these fences have been removed.

Trails: in May 2008 SMP wrote in support of LandPaths application for funding from the Ellman Fund (part of the Sonoma Valley Fund of the SC Community Foundation) to complete elements of the Sonoma Ridge Trail along the east & south facing flank of Sonoma Mountain. SMP has worked for nearly ten years to help make this trail a reality and we are hopeful that it won't be much longer.