The Redwood Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) convened on June 11 to discuss a broad range of community matters, including ambitious plans to revitalize Lake Mendocino, law enforcement updates, local fire safety efforts, and looming state budget cuts. From regional recreation investments to grassroots initiatives, the meeting offered a comprehensive look at developments shaping Redwood Valley and beyond.
Lake Mendocino: A Vision for Recreation and Economic Growth
The meeting’s featured guest was Poppy Burkhead, Operations Project Manager for the Army Corps of Engineers at Coyote Dam, who was joined by Katrina Kessen, Executive Director of the Greater Ukiah Business and Tourism Alliance (GUBTA). The two outlined a collaborative initiative to enhance outdoor recreation at Lake Mendocino and draw more visitors to the area.
Kessen shared that new interpretive signs have been installed at the lake’s north and south boat ramps. Despite these improvements, staffing remains an issue—ranger numbers have dropped from a dozen to just four over the past 15 years due to a hiring freeze. Currently, the Kyen campground is open, while the Bushay campground remains closed due to high water levels.
The long-term vision includes transforming the former Chekaka campground site into a flagship recreation zone, modeled after San Francisco’s Tunnel Tops Park. Plans feature a woodsy playground, food truck area, meditation platform, and educational space, all connected by trail to the dam. The project, still in early stages, depends heavily on grant funding and hopes to generate revenue to reinvest into further improvements. A recent lantern release event was sold out, demonstrating the area’s growing potential.
Burkhead noted the Corps performs annual bald eagle surveys and monitors water quality for swimmers, advising that the best swimming conditions are found in deeper areas away from the shore. She also clarified that the Army Corps is not involved in operations at Lake Pillsbury or the Potter Valley Project. Water releases from Lake Mendocino are governed by minimum flow requirements in the Russian River. The possibility of raising the dam is under study—a move that would submerge the Bushay campground and the north end of the lake but leave the planned playground area untouched.
Public Safety Briefings
In Sheriff Matt Kendall’s absence, Lt. Aaron Clark and Captain Quincy Cromer provided law enforcement updates. Cromer reported no arrests have been made in the June 10 Standley Street shooting in Ukiah. The case is being led by Ukiah Police, with assistance from the Sheriff’s Office, and surveillance footage has been collected.
The department assisted in the June 7 Taqueria Jalos shooting, though that investigation is also being handled by UPD. Cromer declined to comment on the June 5 fatal incident in Willits, in which a man died after being tased and pepper sprayed. The case is under review by the District Attorney’s Office, and involved deputies are on paid administrative leave.
Cromer also addressed community questions about Citizen Connect alerts. Unlike Nixle alerts, which are reserved for emergencies, Citizen Connect provides logs of prior service calls and arrests, and allows users to monitor specific neighborhoods. The system excludes sensitive case types such as coroner reports and child or sexual abuse investigations.
Recruitment remains a priority, Cromer said, noting that several new hires were recently made, including local graduates and former correctional staff. When asked about enforcement of a proposed noise ordinance, Cromer explained it would apply specifically to amplified music and be classified as a “disturbance” call. He helped shape the proposal alongside County Counsel and former Supervisor Glenn McGourty.
County and State Government Updates
Supervisor Madeline Cline was absent due to her attendance at the Ukiah Planning Commission’s hearing on the city’s proposed annexation of county land.
Scott Alonso, District Director for Assemblymember Chris Rogers, gave a sobering report on the state budget, which is facing a $15 billion deficit. Lawmakers must approve a budget by June 15, with the governor having two weeks to sign. Rainy-day reserves are being tapped, and future deficits are expected through at least 2029. Cuts to Medi-Cal and other federally supported programs, including Covered California and CalFresh, are expected.
Alonso also addressed Assembly Bill 942, which reduces payment credits to solar customers under the Net Energy Metering program. The bill only affects new homeowners, who would fall under the less generous NEM3 plan, even if the previous owners had more favorable terms. Rogers voted against the bill, which may see amendments in the Senate.
A one-time $110 million fund for Proposition 36 implementation has been added to the budget, including $50 million for behavioral health and $60 million for courts, public defenders, and pretrial services.
Fire and Emergency Services
Redwood Valley–Calpella Fire Chief Dan Grebil reported that the fire district has hired additional seasonal firefighters through October 2, thanks to Measure P funding. AEDs and iPads have been added to the fleet for better communication with county dispatch. Grebil is currently drafting a policy for siren use, and said fire hazard zone maps are being updated through CalFire.
CalFire, Caltrans, and CHP have partnered on a vegetation management project to burn grass along Highway 101 from Ukiah to Willits, reducing roadside fire risk. Chief Alex Leonard was credited with organizing the effort.
Community Development and Planning
MAC members received updates on several community projects and initiatives. The Ukiah Unified School District has engaged CBRE realtors to issue a request for qualifications (RFQ) for the former Redwood Valley School Campus. The Redwood Valley Recreation Center group intends to submit a proposal to develop the site.
The Redwood Valley Grange kitchen remodel must be completed by October before the building permit expires. Once finished, the commercial kitchen will be available for rent by food trucks and culinary entrepreneurs.
Form Energy’s proposed battery storage project on East Road has been scaled down from 128 containers to 40. The company determined that a 1.5-megawatt cap is the most efficient model, down from the originally planned 5 megawatts.
Discussion also included recent news that camping on parcels under two acres would now require a use permit for more than one campsite, following a report by KZYX’s Karen Ottobani.
No new development applications were submitted in Redwood Valley this month. However, the Cannabis Subcommittee flagged the installation of unpermitted hoop houses at 9800 West Road. Member Patricia Ris-Yarbrough will follow up.
MendoFever cross-referenced the same address within Mendocino County’s eTRAKiT system and found that the property owner applied for permits for the hoop houses.
MAC members also debated reducing the number of council seats due to difficulty filling positions. Any change would require Board of Supervisors approval. They also discussed recording MAC Zoom meetings for future viewing.
Additional Community News
Caltrans, with help from Gizmo Henderson and Marybeth Kelly, plans to install electronic signs along highways reminding drivers to check trailer chains during red flag warnings and holidays. Henderson also raised the idea of requiring QR codes on new trailers linking to safety regulations, which would require legislation at the state level.
A key takeaway from the recent Fire Safety Town Hall was the importance of home hardening, which increases a home’s survival rate during a wildfire by 40 percent. Insurance industry representatives did not attend the meeting.
Patricia Ris-Yarbrough announced that Eva King of the Fire Safe Council is interested in reactivating the Firewise certification in Redwood Valley. A meeting is tentatively scheduled for July 2 to explore the initiative.
John and Theresa King from the Humane Society for Inland Mendocino County announced two upcoming fundraisers: a June 21 wine release at Cesar Toxqui Cellars and a June 29 dance at Mia Bea Winery featuring the Fargo Brothers.
MAC member Deborah Hughes had added a discussion item proposing a resolution in support of enforcing Proposition 36. The item was tabled for the next meeting in Hughes’ absence.
The MAC will have a float in the Black Bart Parade on June 28. The council will take a summer recess in July. The next meeting is scheduled for August 13 at 5:30 p.m.
Redwood Valley is all aflutter and giddy with the buildup to the Big Parade for a guy who robbed 27 stage coaches and did six years in San Quentin while the RVMAC talks about enforcing prop 36. If we have someone who decides today to rob 27 public busses and gets six years how long til we can have a parade for them? How long til our county sheriff dresses up as the bus robber? Prop 36 should be unenforceable in Redwood Valley.
Hum Dingbat It’s just a parade . Stay home if you don’t like it
I should start an Iran Days parade in Redwood Valley.
Charge admission and you should become a very wealthy man.
Lefties from near and far will descend upon RV.
Imagine another no nukes concert.
Apparently people of RV just love a parade so I’ll bet that attendance will be mostly very local. Food. Drink. Dance. Floats! Who can resist! Ms. Cline can be the first Grand Mullah. It’ll be awesome. In 60 years it’ll be Sheriff and DA dressed as Persian police.
Celebrate Sheriff Doc Standley then, the sheriff that chased Black Bart.