Jane Bogner
Solano Group

Help Needed - Get Involved Locally

Solano Group has teamed up with several local movements to preserve and protect areas from development. Please get out and help these groups in your hometown.

• Fairfield/ Suisun City
  
  Citizens Against the Dump Expansion (CADE) in Solano County continues to wage a campaign against the destruction of the Suisun Marsh by the Potero Hills Landfill. On June 23 the Solano County Planning Commission, after 6 hearings, decided to deny a permit for the expansion. They found that the environmental impact report was grossly flawed. They also cited concerns about the resulting air quality (69 tons of emissions!). The Vacaville Reporter newspaper (8/21/05) stated Solano County now has the highest asthma prevalence rates of any county in California.
  
  The expansion is near the Suisun Marsh and is bound to have an impact on wildlife and people. Critical habitats for vernal pool species will be removed by the landfill as part of the expansion.
  
  The super dump currently trucks in sewer sludge, garbage, and recyclables from a 150 miles radius of Solano County. Only 15% is from Solano County! Supervisors John Silva, Mike Reagan, and John Vasquez overturned the Planning Commission's ban. Supervisors Duane Kromm and Barbara Kondylis voted to uphold the denial.
  
  CADE is encouraging the public to write to BCDC and ask that they do not issue a permit for the landfill expansion. Send letters to Will Travis, Executive Director, San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, 50 California Street, Suite 2600, San Francisco, California 94111, (415) 352-3653, travis@bcdc.ca.gov.
  CADE's website is: www.aceconservator.com, antar5@sbcglobal.net or 432-0792.
  Written by Dwight Acey
  
  Friends of Allan Witt Park
  Allan Witt Park is Fairfield's oldest and largest public park with large expanses of green grass, acres of picnic areas (70+ tables) shaded by mature trees, 7 ball fields, a community pool, an indoor sports center, 8 tennis courts, 2 outdoor basketball courts, an award-winning skate park, 3 children's playgrounds, 3 public restroom buildings, volleyball, horseshoe pits, covered large-group BBQ, gazebo and around 400 parking spaces. It is considered by many to be the gem of Fairfield's public parks.
  
  A proposal to sell 14 acres of Allan Witt Community Park is being developed by the City of Fairfield "in partnership" with developers Triad Communities and Centex Corp. The City granted Triad an "exclusive right to negotiate" for the project, which means no competitive bids. The land will be sold at "estimated market value" - potentially millions of dollars below what competitive bidding might yield.
  
  The latest proposal, now at draft EIR preparation stage, would gut most functional park facilities and sell the acreage with the oldest and tallest trees. Ball fields would be moved to a remote and windy city-owned site on Cordelia Rd next to the sewage treatment plant where a new Sports Complex would be built with public funds for a private operator to manage. The City claims this will satisfy legal requirements that protect public parks and permit the privatization of public park land.
  
  The Friends of Allan Witt Park have been spreading the word and circulating petitions. For more information visit the website at www.allanwittpark.org, or contact Brad Smith at (707) 425-7527 or brsassoc@jccomp.com.
  Written by Brad Smith
• Vacaville
  Your neighbors, the Friends of Lagoon Valley, continue to fight against subdivision development of our last remaining semi-rural valley. More information: Friends of Lagoon Valley 735 Brookside Drive, Vacaville CA 95688. Marian Conning, 447-7356.
  
• Solano County
  October 8 - Native plant sales in Benicia and Vacaville. Check out www.recycle-guide.com or call 707 644-9183.
  
  November 12 - Solano Group Annual meeting at the Fetterly Art Gallery in Vallejo Potluck at 6:30. Watch your mail for details and program Help is needed to set up the event. Call Jane at 644-9183.

• Vallejo - Vallejo Waterfront Coalition
  For more information, contact the Coalition at (707) 645-3186 or info@VallejoWaterfrontCoalition.org.
  
  Update on the Vallejo Waterfront Development: The Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) comment period closed on August 10. With assistance from legal experts and technical consultants, the Vallejo Waterfront Coalition (VWC) submitted substantial comments addressing major issues such as air quality, traffic and toxic contamination. Approximately 25 other residents submitted significant, relevant comments addressing legitimate concerns with the Callahan-DeSilva waterfront plan.
  
  Next Steps: Because the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) laws are self-enforced, the City still could choose to publish the Final Revised EIR and merely state that they have addressed all of the comments - even if they have not actually done so. And if the Council decides to approve the EIR, the ball is in the public's court - citizens who believe the comments were not addressed must file a CEQA lawsuit demanding the City go back and deal with the issues.
  
  When the City Council/Redevelopment Agency certifies the EIR, the Council will also be asked to approve zoning and other general plan changes. This is because Vallejo's current land use laws do not allow the type of development proposed in the Callahan-DeSilva waterfront plan. If the Council approves the changes, the community's most effective recourse (in addition to the CEQA lawsuit) would be a referendum - putting the decision to a vote of the people.
  
  The VWC is looking for volunteers to assist in planning for this effort, and will be hosting a meeting on October 2 at a location to be announced. If you are interested in attending and assisting with a referendum, please RSVP to info@vallejowaterfrontcoalition.org.
  Written by Katy Meissner

VALCORE Community Recycling: Check out www.VALCORErecycling.org and www.recycle-guide.com for Solano county recycling info. Solano Group and 8 other nonprofits run this recycling center.

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NEW HOURS @ VALCORE Recycling

• 38 Sheridan St., Vallejo
• New Hours: Monday through Saturday
• Donation: 9am - 5pm (4:30 in winter)
• CRV Buy Back: 10am - 5pm (4:30 in winter)
• CLOSED FOR LUNCH 1pm - 2pm

Donate your cans to Sierra Club during CRV Buy Back hours. Sierra Club gets a higher price for aluminum cans donated to them than what VALCORE pays to the public. Please also bring CRV #1 PET and glass bottles.

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VALCORE 2005 Recycling Workdays: November 12. We work from 9 am to Noon. $50 is offered to volunteer supervisors for their favorite classroom or environmental project. Call 644-9183 or e-mail jabogner@juno.com.

On July 16 Doris Klein, Nancy McCoy and Jane Bogner helped re-organize the office supply cabinets at VALCORE. On August 27, John Kolarik, Phil McCullough and Jane Bogner re-organized the Cargo bin. Thanks to all.

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Wanted: VALCORE Board Replacement

Solano Group has been a member of VALCORE Recycling since 1985. Obligations for a board member include attending the monthly board meeting on the 4th Monday of each month at 6:30 in Vallejo and arranging volunteers for the 8 Saturday workdays at the recycling site. It's an exciting board and a great way to 'act locally' on a global issue.

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