The RV MAC returned for its January meeting on the 8th, having taken a break in December. The guest speaker was Jeff Adair from the Mendocino County Office of Emergency Services. Sheriff Matt Kendall was also there to provide his input on emergency services. Kendall reminded us that it was Elvis Presley’s birthday, but the “fellas at the jail” did not sing Jailhouse Rock.
Emergency Operations Plan Update
Adair told us that the County’s Emergency Operations Plan is being updated. An email link to the draft plan has been sent to all of the Municipal Advisory Councils, city governments, and other agencies within Mendocino County for review and comment. The OES is also updating the Community Wildfire Preparedness Plan. The draft update of CWPP will be reviewed by all of the Fire Chiefs in the County, and the Forest Service. After the agencies review and comment, the draft plans will be available online for review and comment by the public.
The CWPP was last revised in 2015. The revised CWPP is easy to navigate online, with a table of contents linked to the sections of the plan. The Plans include every community in the County, taking microclimates into account. The OES would like to get public comments on the Plans. The state and federal governments require that the EOP be revised every 10 years. Adair said “there are grant funds that hinge on that.”
Evacuation Zones and Communication Plans
MAC Member Chris Boyd asked how to find our Evacuation Zones. Each neighborhood is assigned a zone consisting of letters and numbers. You can find the Evacuation Zone for your address at MendoReady.org. Alerts are sent via text or email to residents of each relevant zone when they need to prepare for and evacuate.
Alternate MAC Member Marybeth Kelly, a former Army Communications Officer, said, “What is your communication redundancy plan?” Adair replied that broadcast radio is part of the plan. All of the local radio stations will broadcast emergency warnings at the request of the OES. Ham radio operators are also part of the redundant communication plan. Kendall said that he works with local radio stations, all of which will make announcements on behalf of the Sheriff’s Office during disasters.
Siren Controversy
MAC Member Patricia Ris-Yarbrough asked why the OES is not using sirens, because when power, internet and cell reception are down, people cannot receive the Nixle warnings. Adair said that the only sirens being used are the tsunami sirens on the coast.
MAC Chair Dolly Riley wanted to know why the Fire Department does not use the siren that was installed two years ago at the Redwood Valley fire station. Riley said she had to evacuate during the October 3 fire. “Why were there no sirens? I could have died.”
Adair said the OES hasn’t completed the FEMA phase one review for the siren. John King, head of the Humane Society for Inland Mendocino County, asked whether FEMA was the holdup in moving to phase two of the review? Adair replied that “it’s on FEMA‘s timeline.” The request was submitted to FEMA in November 2024.
Sheriff Kendall said that as far as the sirens, he is not a firefighter, and he is not “going to push the button on the sirens”. Sheriff Kendall, whose father and brothers were firefighters, said “Back in the day sirens were used to summon the volunteers to the fire department during an emergency. That’s what the sirens are for. The current issue is who is responsible for pushing the button.”
Redwood Valley Calpella Fire Chief Kerry Robinson said that the battalion chiefs need to prepare an MOU on how the siren purchased two years ago will work. Robinson said, “When I have a fire, my objective is to find the head of the fire and put it out.” Kelly said, “Well who does that leave for pushing the button?” The siren issue remains unresolved.
Understanding-Emergency-AlertsNew Patrol Cars and County Grants
Adair, with 30 years of fire service, said, “I realize that talking about fire is super hard and emotional for the whole community.”
The OES offers evacuation tags to hang on your front gate after you are told to evacuate. This lets the first responders know that your house is empty, and they can quickly move on to the next house. It is helpful to write your address on the tag so they can record which homes are empty. You can also write “please remove” on the tag. The first responder will remove the tag after logging your address as evacuated, to prevent potential looters from seeing the tag and realizing that the house is empty. You should also leave a note if you have chemicals or fuel stored, and where they are located on the property, to prevent injury to first responders.
Sheriff Matt Kendall thanked County grant writer Kelly Hansen for obtaining $50,000 in grant funds to get two patrol cars fitted. Kendall said “She put her shoulder into it, and I really appreciate that.” New patrol cars require an extra battery, lights, and other equipment to be installed prior to use. These new hybrid patrol cars will be used in Redwood Valley.
Hansen distributed a chart showing that Mendocino County obtained close to $13 million in grant funds this past year for community planning, infrastructure projects, fuels reduction, and economic development. Grant applications are in the pipeline for another $64 million worth of funds for climate resiliency, economic development, hazard mitigation planning, and wildfire resilience.
Behavioral Health and Police Academy Updates
There are seven trainees in the Police Academy. There will be a core team on community outreach and engagement, working with County Behavioral Health. Construction of the new behavioral health wing at the jail is on schedule.
Social Issues and Safety Concerns
We asked Kendall about the recent Nixle warning and posts on the Mendocino Sheriff Facebook page during an incident involving an armed man on Sherwood Road in Willits. Comments on social media expressed confusion as to whether the person had been caught, or if residents still needed to be aware. Kendall said that he left that situational awareness post up for 14 hours so that people would be aware the following morning as they left for work, as the suspect had not been caught, although law enforcement thought he had moved on from the neighborhood.
Kelly asked Kendall about an aggressive panhandler in Redwood Valley. This person has been parking behind people’s cars in parking lots, blocking them in, demanding money. When he receives money, he buys nitrous oxide at the gas station. (Note: It is legal for those over 18 to purchase nitrous oxide in California.) Kendall advised against giving money to panhandlers. Instead, donate to agencies who provide food and services such as Plowshares.
Kendall wrapped up his report with comments on overdose deaths. The County has had a reduction in overdose deaths, but it is hard to quantify because many accidental deaths are overdoses that are not reported as overdoses. In 2024, 60% of accidental deaths were from overdose.
Fire Wise Communities and Insurance
Boyd resigned from the board of the Redwood Valley-Calpella Fire Department. Ryan Mayfield has joined the board. Two operations people recently resigned. A strike team from Mendocino County is in Los Angeles to help fight the fires.
Chair Riley said it is imperative for neighborhoods to sign up as Fire Wise Communities. The Mendocino County Firesafe Council will help set this up. It may help prevent price rises or cancellation of homeowners’ insurance.
Riley also reported that Jeanne Chinn of the Utility Wildfire Working Group, who was a guest speaker in October 2022, is still working on a letter writing campaign to Governor Newsom about the damage and fire hazards caused by inept tree trimming crews hired by PG&E. The MendoFever article about this from October 2022 is linked here.
Grange Flea Market and Community Events
Kelly announced that the theme for the Grange Flea Market on January 11 from 9 to 2 is “Seeds, Sees, and Fleas,” with a free seed exchange and See’s candy for sale, along with the flea market items. The Grange holds a flea market on the second Saturday of every month except December, from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. The kitchen remodel project is taking longer than expected, delays caused by the flooring tile contractor.
Traffic and Recreation Center Initiatives
Riley advised community members to urge the Mendocino Council of Governments to find a solution for the traffic situation at North State and School Way. MCOG meetings are the first Monday of every month at 1:30 pm. Online comments may be submitted if you cannot attend the meetings.
The organizers of the potential Redwood Valley Recreation Center will meet Monday, January 20 at 10 am at the Grange to discuss their plans for a large turnout at the Ukiah Unified School District meeting on February 13 at 6:00 pm. Organizers are hoping that the UUSD will issue a request for proposal regarding the abandoned Redwood Valley School property. If the RFP is not yet on the agenda, the group wants to show support and let the District know that the community is strongly advocating for a recreation center.
Cannabis Policy Discussions
Cannabis Policy Standing Subcommittee members Boyd and Ris-Yarborough reported that the Board of Supervisors allowed the backers of the cannabis ordinance to double the amount of cannabis growing space from 10,000 square feet to 20,000 square feet. Boyd accused the cannabis department and cannabis investors of holding non-public meetings, and that they are not listening to opponents’ input, when the meetings should include all stakeholders. King, one of the supporters of the failed cannabis exclusion zone in Redwood Valley, expressed disappointment with the BOS. Members of public can send letters to the individual board of supervisors, expressing their views.
Gas Station Proposal Update
Chair Riley gave an update on the proposed Faizan gas station on North State Street. County Planner Liam Crowley told her that Faizan needs to request a contractual agreement with Caltrans and the County regarding changes to the freeway median, which so far has not happened. Boyd will research the proposed ordinance prohibiting new gas stations to determine how this was achieved in other counties.
Community Action Plan and MAC Assignments
County Planner Russ Ford sent the MAC a spreadsheet comparing Redwood Valley’s Community Action Plan with the County Plan. Riley, and the CAP Committee will work through the comments on the spreadsheet and provide a response.
The Members voted for annual assignments. Riley will remain Chair, Boyd was elected Vice-Chair, and Ris-Yarbrough will remain Treasurer. There are openings for two MAC Members. The RV MAC website now has pictures and bios of the Members.
Form Energy Battery Project
Photo of Form Energy batteries being assembled at the factory in West Virginia. [Permission to use from Form Energy]
King inquired about the Form Energy battery project next to the PG&E substation on East Road. Form is installing 128 freight containers. Each battery is the size of a washing machine. Form representative Reena Birch Fram spoke about the project at two prior MAC meetings. The prior MendoFever.com articles are linked January 2024 and November 2023.
We contacted Form’s current media representative after the meeting for an update. The company is “exploring ways to optimize the project’s aesthetics – be it through green landscaping, more modern fencing, or other creative solutions.” The company has completed UL9540A safety testing of the batteries. The iron-air-rust batteries can be deployed safely without fire barriers, as they do not contain lithium ions.
Upcoming Speaker and Next Meeting
State Farm Agent Jay Epstein will be February’s guest speaker. He promised to provide an insider’s view of what is going on with fire insurance in California.
The next meeting is set for February 12, 2025, 5:30 pm at the Redwood Valley Grange.
Sirens don’t stop wildfires, dozer lines, firing out, prescribed burns & code compliance does.
When pg and e didn’t comply with code and 90mph winds blew over trees onto their power station in Potter sparking the 2017 fires where 9 people died, a siren would have been nice. Everyone out here was scrambling, getting woken up by cars honking and neighbors yelling at 1:30 am, even though the fire was spotted so much earlier then that. Not too mention our fire resources were down helping sonoma county’s fire. There’s just not enough infrastructure to save any civilization from a fire, whether it’s Redwood Valley or LA.
Michael,
I don’t think anyone is suggesting a siren will stop a fire.
Many have suggested that the suren is a last ditch effort to alert citizens within a couple/few miles of the fire station to imminent danger due to fire and/or other untenable and widespread emergency/major threat to life & limb of citizens.
Communications during an emergency is critical to reducing the direct impacts to life.
Stopping a fire is a different matter, entirely.
Waiting on FEMA. That’s nothing new. They sure take their time, meanwhile, a disaster could happen at any time. A siren is a good way to alert a lot of people all at once! Hope it is up and running soon as fire is a constant danger.
Enough excuses Redwood Valley fire dept and now Sheriff Kendal !!