Please vote unanimously to the support the resolution declaring a local emergency related to climate change.
I'd like to suggest changes to the legislative platform section titled Climate Resilience and Renewable Energy: The 4th bullet item in this section is additional and contains two action items that should be separated—a shorter-term sanitation practices item intended for disaster preparedness and a longer-term affordable housing item that is a longer-term planning and permitting issue. The 12th bullet item addressing tree harvesting for small landowners must protect against over-harvesting, particularly of mature trees and legacy oaks, in the name of wildfire mitigation. Thinning of young, overcrowded trees in a section is what you want to address, and this should be stated in regulations. Regulations must address and protect against "overzealous take" such as we saw with PG&E contractors several years ago, and small landowners clearing more than the 100-foot perimeter recommendation should adhere to rigorous guidelines that are transparent and noticed like any other other THP. Trees sequester carbon, help prevent landslides, provide shade and a host of other benefits. Let's be very careful about regulations permitting removal.
Though I believe these lists are onerously long and could be consolidated and simplified, I suggest an additional bullet item for this Climate Resilience section: Reduce the air quality impacts of open burning, particularly in valley communities. Regulate emissions from woodstoves, and ban open wood-burning fireplaces in homes by a certain date. Ukiah during the months of November and December had daily air quality ratings in the moderate range for most days, according the UDJ weather page. This is a public health issue that needs to be addressed.