Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Council Joins Community To Appeal Dutra Approval


Council Joins Community To Appeal Dutra Approval

The Petaluma City Council voted tonight after a Closed Session  meeting, to appeal Judge Chouteau’s Dec. 23, 2011 decision (upholding Sonoma County’s approval of the Dutra asphalt factory at Haystack Landing. ) The Superior Court decision will  be challenged in Appellate Court in San Francisco by the City of Petaluma, holding together the  original coalition of plaintiffs, which includes Friends of Shollenberger Park, Moms for Clean Air, The Madrone Audubon Society, Petaluma Tomorrow, The Petaluma River Council and several individuals.  The vote was 6 in favor of appeal, and one, Council Member Albertson, against.

The Petaluma  Council heard citizens speak during Public Comment at 5:30 PM tonight at City Hall. People from all walks of life in Petaluma from Downtown Business Association Executive Director, Marie McCusker
  to David Keller, Petaluma River Council, to former Mayor Pam Torliatt  made a forceful case for the economic  basis of funding an appeal citing  tourism and Shollenberger Park as crucial economic drivers for Petaluma’s future.

The citizen comment period culminated with Sheri Chlebowski , Moms for Clean Air and Joan Cooper, Friends of Shollenberger Park spokesperson making the City Council the offer of $10,000 to help defray  the City’s  legal costs of the appeal. With the estimate from the City Attorney of a maximum of $18,500, the community has generously ponied up more than 50 % of the City’s projected legal expenses.

Mayor Glass commented that the strong response of the citizenry urging the Council to appeal figured into his vote to appeal.  He noted that the Dutra issue had catapulted many into political action who had never participated in the process before. The anti Dutra movement  is a reflection of the strong commitment of  the  people of Petaluma to preserve and protect Shollenberger Park and the quality of life as we know it in Petaluma.

Thank you to one and all for signing the petition, writing to the council, donating money and taking the time to come to the council meeting and speak, as well as talking to friends and neighbors. This shows how a community can pull  together and make a difference.
 Now on to the appeal – more fundraising for our own legal expenses will ensue – AND that means more parties! Events! And community fun.

 Next event: HANDS AROUND SHOLLENBERGER
 FEB 12 A VALENTINE FOR OUR PARK
Posted by Friends of Shollenberger Park at 9:41 AM 1 comments

Monday, January 16, 2012

STAND UP FOR SHOLLENBERGER RALLY HUGE !


400 hundred people and dogs gathered at Shollenberger Park to protest the approval of the Dutra Asphalt factory across the river from its paths. Oldsters, kids, dogs on leashes, babies in strollers, bikers, Occupiers all heeded the call to STAND UP FOR OUR PARK given by Friends of Shollenberger, Moms for Clean Air, and Occupy Petaluma.

It was a real Petaluma Grass Roots Day – the kind of experience that reminds you why we all love Petaluma and the Park so much and want to live here in peace and good health.

Click here for video

Bug Deakin, Heritage Salvage motored gallantly by in his Cutter, then stopped to read aloud his wonderful poem, “Ode to Dutra!” Poetry to tell Dutra to go way and leave our birds alone!

Hundreds waved from the Viewing Platform shouting DUCKS NOT TRUCKS and SAVE OUR PARK and NO DUTRA NO DUTRA.

The crowd then walked in solidarity together to the dredge spoil pond and stood before the expansive vista of the Measure D Voter Mandate protected wetlands.

“Look south,” Bill Kortum,  our much loved environmental leader and former Supervisor,  once said to me and then Sup. Candidate Mike Maguire. “What do you see?” “Nothing but wetlands and sky,”  we replied. “That’s because the voters wanted it that way .” Open and free of industrial blight and development.

Yes, nothing but  birds and blue sky and a view of a cleaner future for our children and their children. Worth appealing and preserving. That’s something.

Photographer Scott Hess captured the inspiring moment of young and old standing together united to save the park. Videographers Sebastian Nau, Kaye Chandler, Beau Bouverat and others filmed the crowd.

Friends of Shollenberger wants to thank Lorna Johnson and Eve O’Rourke for gathering the community together by envisioning this Rally and bringing us all together and giving us this wonderful day.

Also many thanks to OCCUPY Petaluma who kicked off  our rally on Saturday with a wonderful street side demonstration at Washington and Petaluma Blvd.

Our message to the City Council:

“Petaluma City Council must join the appeal. STAY THE COURSE.”

Write your City Council this week – AGAIN.


Drop Everything and Come to the City Council Meeting:
City Hall, English St. Petaluma, CA
JAN 23 7 PM MON EVE
Hear their decision face to face.
STAND UP AND BE COUNTED ONCE AGAIN


We will appeal and we will prevail


Posted by Friends of Shollenberger Park at 11:26 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Untitled Document

Join Us! Sunday, January 15 3:30p to 4:30p At Shollenberger Park!

Sunday promises to be a beautiful warm sunny day! Perfect for being outdoors!

Come join your friends and neighbors on a walk around Shollenberger Park on Sunday, January 15 from 3:30 to 4:30 to show your support for the park and the appeal.

Scott Hess will be there to take a HUGE group photo of us at 4:00.

The photo will be taken at the viewing platform - which is right across from where Dutra is planning to built its noxious asphalt plant.

Stand up for your wetlands and let everyone know you think the sanctity of our Shollenberger Park wetlands and the quality of life in Petaluma are worth saving.

Everyone - parents, kids, elders, runners, cyclists, birders, rowers, Occupiers, teachers, students: walk, run, dance, ride your bike, or paddle your kayak - and bring a friend or two! Bring the whole family! See you there!

Please share this email with your friends!

Thank you!!

Friends of Shollenberger Park

Posted by Friends of Shollenberger Park at 11:32 AM 0 comments

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

SAVE SHOLLENBERGER JOIN THE APPEAL!

Please sign our Petition and send a message to the Petaluma City Council to do what's right, stay the course, join the community coalition of non-profits and individuals as plaintiffs in this appeal.

Click Here to download the full text of Judge Chouteau's decision.


Posted by Friends of Shollenberger Park at 11:24 PM 0 comments

DONTRA! No Asphalt Plant Next to Our Park!

Untitled Document

DONTRA!
NO Asphalt Factory Next To Our Park!
ROUND TWO!

"Stay The Course"
"It Takes A Community" to protect itself. Judge Chouteau's flawed decision needs to be challenged in a higher court. That's why our justice system has an appellate court.

Preserving wetlands for the good of the planet and all of us living beings leads to a healthy future.

Allowing an industrial factory on the banks of the river is going backwards to the bad old times.

Petaluma doesn't want this factory at its Gateway, but Dutra does. Who wins, who loses? It goes against the 2020 County General Plan guiding principle: The County should cooperate with cities when planning for parcels in their sphere of influence, just outside the city limits.

KNOWN IMPACTS OF THE DUTRA ASPHALT FACTORY:
Judge Chouteau's legal ruling doesn't change the DUTRA Asphalt factory. It's still the same noxious factory.

A FUTURE DUTRA FACTORY:
Still Smells like hot asphalt
Still Unhealthy and Toxic Operation
Excessive NOX levels that lead to asthma allowed
2.5 particulate matter causes asthma & cancer - not evaluated
Still Creates traffic jams for commuters using 101
Still Impacts Shollenberger's wildlife
egrets and herons
Still impacts nearby residences and businesses:
noise, dust, smells, and lights
Still lowers housing values
Still an Eyesore at the Gateway to Petaluma:
Still Hurts local restaurant, shopping and tourism businesses

WHY WE CAN WIN AN APPEAL AT A HIGHER COURT:

Legal errors in Judge Chouteau's ruling make it possible to overturn it on appeal for reconsideration by a panel of three judges in a San Francisco higher court. Getting the case out of Sonoma County may help our case.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Are you with us?
Will you stay the course to protect our park and community?

Call, write, and e-mail your Petaluma City Council Members and Mayor:

1. Commend them for standing together to defend the taxpayers' $4 million investment in Shollenberger Park and the Petaluma Wetlands
http://cityofpetaluma.net/cclerk/council.html

2. Subject line for e-mails and letters: "Stay The Course"
3. Ask them to join the legal appeal to this flawed decision

daveglass@comcast.net
teresa4petaluma@comcast.net
tiff@tiffanyrenee.com
councilman.albertson@gmail.com
councilmemberkearney@me.com
mthealy@sbcglobal.net
mike4pet@aol.com

Chris Albertson
councilman.albertson@gmail.com
POB 61, 94953 707.778.4525 12/14
Teresa Barrett
teresa4petaluma@comcast.net
POB 901, 94953 707.953.0846 12/14
David Glass
Mayor
daveglass@comcast.net
POB 61, 94953 707.778.4345 12/14
Mike Harris
mike4pet@aol.com
POB 751361, 94975 707.773.3196 12/14
Mike Healy
Vice Mayor mthealy@sbcglobal.net
304 Kentucky Street, 94952 707.762.8768 12/12
Gabe Kearney
councilmemberkearney@me.com
POB 61, 94953 707.238.2199 12/12
Tiffany Renée
tiff@tiffanyrenee.com
POB 750536, 94975-036 707.776.6214 12/12

Posted by Friends of Shollenberger Park at 9:23 AM 0 comments
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Community bench donations for inscribed bricks now closed


The bench pad has been installed. We will have a Dedication Gathering in January 2017 at the Community Bench site, located on the South loop of the walking path at Shollenberger Park. Check it out!

Donations to Save Shollenberger always welcome and needed. Think of our park and the work we need to keep doing to save it when making your end of the year donations — tax deductible!



Donate Today!


Hands Around Shollenberger

Click here to watch a video of our Hands Around Shollenberger event!

Watch an additional video of our 400 person rally here

Upcoming Events

Shollenberger Shindig
Feb 25, 2019
River Front Cafe
A Benefit for Friends of Shollenberger (O.W.L. Foundation) fund to protect our park.

Mission Statement

We are a group of ordinary citizens who enjoy open space, clean air, and community well being. We have joined together to preserve and protect Shollenberger Park and the Petaluma Wetlands for all of our families and for future generations.

We provide information and a forum for citizens to learn about our local environmental issues and work towards protecting our park. As a “Special Project” of the O.W.L. Foundation, (http://owlfoundation.net/OWL.htm), we are a non-profit organization and donations to support our activities are tax-deductible.

Read More

  • 2014 Petition for Rehearing
  • Dutra Reply Brief 9/25/2012
  • Dutra Opening Brief 7/20/2012
  • Judge Chouteau's decision 12/23/2011
  • City Opening Brief (PDF)
  • Trial Brief CEQA Brown Act (PDF)
  • Dutra's Record
  • Our Partners In This Fight
  • More Information

This fight is not over!

Stay tuned for our next steps in preserving and protecting Shollenberger Park and Petaluma Wetlands, and our community from an asphalt factory at Haystack Landing.

How You Can Help

  • DONATE (tax-deductible)
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