Redwood Valley Grange grant from PG&E settlement. The Grange has played a big role in helping the community survive fire disasters through meals, a place to gather, Internet access, helping survivors network with needed services and more. This community resource is valuable and investing in it to insure it will be available and fully functional for future generations is a wise investment.
August 15, 2021
Letter to BOS Regarding BOS August 17 2021 meeting, Item 4E.
Dear Board of Supervisors,
We are writing to you as homeowners in the Vichy Estates community. We have lived here since 2000 and have experienced and witnessed several wildfires initiated at the Ukiah Rifle and Pistol Club (hereafter referred to as the “gun club”) located at 2300 Vichy Springs Road which is across the street from our community. As you are probably aware, a recent fire at the gun club occurred on August 10th, 2021, behind the pistol range. A fire occurred in the same location last year. We suspect the fires in the last two years have been initiated by ricochets. Luckily, we live in a town that contains a CalFire Air attack base that is able to quickly extinguish such fires. Here are some questions we would like to pose:
• How much does it cost for four (4) Cal Fire aircraft and an engine to extinguish a fire at the gun club?
• Why are we, the taxpayers, responsible for this cost?
• Why isn’t the gun club culpable?
• Why are gun club members allowed to shoot in very dry, hot and high probability burn
conditions?
Fire is not our only concern. We have learned that the gun club’s membership has more than tripled since we moved here. We understand that out of county members are allowed. The impact of the increased membership includes not only fire risk, but an increase in ricochet bullets, a substantial increase in noise pollution, and lead contamination affecting water and wildlife, and lead dust traveling into our Vichy Springs community where residents walk, and children play. Our domesticated pets are exposed as well.
None of the conditions discussed in this letter existed or have been properly mitigated since we moved here. For example, the general scientific acceptance that climate change in California has increased fire risk was not evident in 2000. Because climatic conditions have changed and because the gun club has increased membership, we believe the conditions under which we agreed to live here no longer apply. The probability and potential for gun club initiated wildfires, adverse environmental impacts, and cost to tax payers is increased.
• The gun club should be temporarily closed during the fire season.
• An assessment of existing conditions should be made by an independent, third party that
addresses concerns present at the gun club.
• A management plan developed by an independent, third party should be made.
We hope these concerns will be addressed and proposals discussed to regulate the Ukiah Gun Club in a responsible manner.
The Longstreth Family 641 Tehuacan Road Ukiah, CA 95482
For 8/17/21 Item 5e: I am writing to ask the county to adopt a non leathal exclusion service and education service to protect both property and especially wildlife in Mendocino County. We can follow the example of many other counties that have humane methods that are not so cruel and dangerous to all wildlife that may accidently encounter traps or poison. Thank you, Joan Hansen
I support The People's Referendum and support the BOS withdrawing CCAO 22.18.
The County is greatly impacting neighbors and ecosystems by not incorporating qualified local experts in advising on the various improvements needed to gain pubic trust with cannabis permitting. If the County is having trouble with administering CEQA and providing adequate data to the state, get help from qualified experts by create an advisory group of geologists, botanists, and foresters to work with Planning and Building (PB). Such an advisory group could assist in hiring qualified staff. the County must hire an adequate number of experienced and competent planners, botanists, and biologists to handle cannabis permitting. The County can prove to the community PB's capabilities by processing or denying the stalled permit applications of hundreds of small “legacy” growers, under the existing ordinance (MCCR/10A.17). The County should assist eligible permitted growers to obtain state licenses, some of which may be eligible for new applications under Phase 3 of MCCR/10A.17. The County should substantially clean up illegal grows and enforce its own regulations for permitted grows. Enforcement should also be addressed by an advisory committee with members experienced in geographic information systems (GIS). The County needs help to improve the issues with processing Phase 1 permits, enforcement, and opening up Phase 3 under MCCR/10A.17. I think an advisory committee of local scientists and mapping experts is a logical solution. I am concerned that such a committee could be composed of lobbyist or unqualified consultants without licenses or training. TPR communicates to the County that the mishandling of state environmental law is not a public relations problem and the community is suffering. This is an ideal opportunity to modernize all planning and permitting in Mendocino County.
Estelle Clifton
Registered Professional Forester and Botanist
Redwood Valley Grange grant from PG&E settlement. The Grange has played a big role in helping the community survive fire disasters through meals, a place to gather, Internet access, helping survivors network with needed services and more. This community resource is valuable and investing in it to insure it will be available and fully functional for future generations is a wise investment.
August 15, 2021
Letter to BOS Regarding BOS August 17 2021 meeting, Item 4E.
Dear Board of Supervisors,
We are writing to you as homeowners in the Vichy Estates community. We have lived here since 2000 and have experienced and witnessed several wildfires initiated at the Ukiah Rifle and Pistol Club (hereafter referred to as the “gun club”) located at 2300 Vichy Springs Road which is across the street from our community. As you are probably aware, a recent fire at the gun club occurred on August 10th, 2021, behind the pistol range. A fire occurred in the same location last year. We suspect the fires in the last two years have been initiated by ricochets. Luckily, we live in a town that contains a CalFire Air attack base that is able to quickly extinguish such fires. Here are some questions we would like to pose:
• How much does it cost for four (4) Cal Fire aircraft and an engine to extinguish a fire at the gun club?
• Why are we, the taxpayers, responsible for this cost?
• Why isn’t the gun club culpable?
• Why are gun club members allowed to shoot in very dry, hot and high probability burn
conditions?
Fire is not our only concern. We have learned that the gun club’s membership has more than tripled since we moved here. We understand that out of county members are allowed. The impact of the increased membership includes not only fire risk, but an increase in ricochet bullets, a substantial increase in noise pollution, and lead contamination affecting water and wildlife, and lead dust traveling into our Vichy Springs community where residents walk, and children play. Our domesticated pets are exposed as well.
None of the conditions discussed in this letter existed or have been properly mitigated since we moved here. For example, the general scientific acceptance that climate change in California has increased fire risk was not evident in 2000. Because climatic conditions have changed and because the gun club has increased membership, we believe the conditions under which we agreed to live here no longer apply. The probability and potential for gun club initiated wildfires, adverse environmental impacts, and cost to tax payers is increased.
• The gun club should be temporarily closed during the fire season.
• An assessment of existing conditions should be made by an independent, third party that
addresses concerns present at the gun club.
• A management plan developed by an independent, third party should be made.
We hope these concerns will be addressed and proposals discussed to regulate the Ukiah Gun Club in a responsible manner.
The Longstreth Family 641 Tehuacan Road Ukiah, CA 95482
For 8/17/21 Item 5e: I am writing to ask the county to adopt a non leathal exclusion service and education service to protect both property and especially wildlife in Mendocino County. We can follow the example of many other counties that have humane methods that are not so cruel and dangerous to all wildlife that may accidently encounter traps or poison. Thank you, Joan Hansen
I support The People's Referendum and support the BOS withdrawing CCAO 22.18.
The County is greatly impacting neighbors and ecosystems by not incorporating qualified local experts in advising on the various improvements needed to gain pubic trust with cannabis permitting. If the County is having trouble with administering CEQA and providing adequate data to the state, get help from qualified experts by create an advisory group of geologists, botanists, and foresters to work with Planning and Building (PB). Such an advisory group could assist in hiring qualified staff. the County must hire an adequate number of experienced and competent planners, botanists, and biologists to handle cannabis permitting. The County can prove to the community PB's capabilities by processing or denying the stalled permit applications of hundreds of small “legacy” growers, under the existing ordinance (MCCR/10A.17). The County should assist eligible permitted growers to obtain state licenses, some of which may be eligible for new applications under Phase 3 of MCCR/10A.17. The County should substantially clean up illegal grows and enforce its own regulations for permitted grows. Enforcement should also be addressed by an advisory committee with members experienced in geographic information systems (GIS). The County needs help to improve the issues with processing Phase 1 permits, enforcement, and opening up Phase 3 under MCCR/10A.17. I think an advisory committee of local scientists and mapping experts is a logical solution. I am concerned that such a committee could be composed of lobbyist or unqualified consultants without licenses or training. TPR communicates to the County that the mishandling of state environmental law is not a public relations problem and the community is suffering. This is an ideal opportunity to modernize all planning and permitting in Mendocino County.
Estelle Clifton
Registered Professional Forester and Botanist