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Board of Supervisors Department

Lower Russian River Municipal Advisory Council

Special Joint Meeting of the River & Coast Municipal Advisory Councils

Date: September 25, 2024

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Hybrid Meeting:

El Molino Library
7050 Covey Rd
Forestville, CA 95436

Zoom Link »

Registration Required: No

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    1. Call to Order, River MAC Chair Pip Marquez de la Plata
      1. Pledge of Allegiance
      2. Roll Call, River MAC
      3. Roll Call, Coast MAC
    2. Approval of the Agenda, Chair Pip Marquez de la Plata
    3. Statement of Conflict of Interest
      This is the time for the Chair, Vice Chair and Council Members to indicate any statements of conflict of interest for any item listed on this agenda.
    4. Presentation and facilitated discussion regarding the formation of an Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District (EIFD) and community priorities regarding the types of projects residents in Unincorporated West County would like to be considered.
      Presenters: Felicia Williams & Joe Dieguez of Kosmont consultancy.

      The City of Sebastopol and County of Sonoma are considering formation of a special district called an Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District (EIFD). EIFDs capture the increased property tax value from new private development to fund public improvements. This is not a new tax - The EIFD allows for a reallocation of future property taxes to a separate account to be used to pay for infrastructure improvements that benefit the communities around Sebastopol and unincorporated areas within the 5th District.

      An estimated $125 million may be available from the EIFD over time to fund public improvements such as roads, parks, water/sewer, affordable housing, broadband, flood control, fire mitigation, emergency access, brownfield remediation, dock & coastal infrastructure at risk of sea level rise, community gathering spaces, public buildings such as a sheriff / fire station and libraries. The County would like to hear from the public about the types of improvements most needed in these communities.

      Some helpful background information about this initiative can be found at 2 hours, 35 minutes into this Sebastopol City Council meeting recording as well as a brief description of EIFDs in Supervisor Hopkins' September 9 newsletter.

    5. Adjournment

Open Meetings: Except as expressly authorized under the Ralph M. Brown Act (the State’s local agency open meeting law), all meetings of the River Municipal Advisory Council are open to attendance by interested members of the public.

Agenda Comments: The Chair will invite public comment for agenda items as they are taken up by the Committee. If you wish to speak, you may do so upon receiving recognition by the Chair. Please state your name and limit your comments to the agenda item under discussion. Speakers are limited to three minutes each; available time for comments is determined by the Committee Chair based on agenda scheduling demand and total number of speakers.

Public Comments on Items not on the Agenda: At any Regular Meeting, any member of the public may address the Committee on a matter not listed on the agenda as long as the subject matter is within the jurisdiction of the Committee. If you wish to speak, you may do so upon recognition by the Committee Chair. While members of the public are welcome to address the Committee, under the Brown Act open meeting laws, Committee members may not deliberate or take action on items not on the agenda. Speakers are limited to two minutes each; available time for comments is determined by the Committee Chair based on agenda scheduling demands and total number of speakers.

Documents related to open session agendas: Any writings or documents provided to a majority of the Lower Russian River Municipal Advisory Council regarding any item on this agenda after the posting of this agenda and not otherwise exempt from disclosure will be made available for public review at 575 Administration Drive, Room 100-A, Santa Rosa, CA, during normal business hours.

Disabled Accommodation: If you have a disability and require a sign language interpreter, assistive listening device, material in an alternate format, or other accommodation to attend, please contact District5@sonoma-county.org or 1-707-565-2241 at least 72 hours prior to the meeting in order to facilitate arrangements for accommodation.