130 Avram Avenue Rohnert Park CA 94928 (707) 588-2226 Fax (707) 794-9248 www.rpcity.org
City Council
Gerard Giudice
Mayor
Emily Sanborn
Vice Mayor
Susan Hollingsworth Adams
Jackie Elward
Samantha Rodriguez
Councilmembers
________________
Marcela Piedra
City Manager
Michelle Marchetta Kenyon
City Attorney
Lee Burdick
Assistant City Attorney
Cindy Bagley
Director of Community Services
Jamie Cannon
Director of Human Resources
Vanessa Garrett
Director of Public Works
Alicia Giudice
Director of
Development Services
Sylvia Lopez Cuevas
City Clerk
Tim Mattos
Public Safety Director
Betsy Howze
Finance Director
January 6, 2025
2025 Chair City, City of Rohnert Park
Sonoma County Mayors’ and Councilmembers’ Association
130 Avram Avenue, Rohnert Park, CA 94928
Attn: Lauren Berges, MCA Clerk [email protected]
Re: Request for Re-Appointment to the North Bay Division, LOCC, Executive Board
Honorable Mayors and Councilmembers,
I am writing to respectfully request your support for my re-appointment to the North Bay Division, LOCC, Executive Board.
I’ve been an active member of the League of California Cities since elected to the Rohnert Park City Council in 2020 and appointed to the North Bay Division, LOCC, Executive Board in February of 2023. I would love to continue expanding my understanding of the challenges faced by all the member cities and towns, and I am excited at the opportunity to continue to work collaboratively with the League of California Cities. I believe working together and sharing common experiences will help us come up with creative solutions to ongoing issues.
Thank you so much for your consideration of my request for reappointment to the North Bay Division, LOCC, Executive Board.
Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions at (707) 588-2223, or by email at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Jackie Elward
City of Rohnert Park
Cc: City Council
City Manager
City Clerk
City Selection Committee Clerk of the Board
[email protected] and
[email protected]
Docusign Envelope ID: E48F9B1D-CC33-4FBB-8218-4B8D582F61A7 January 19, 2025
SCMCA City Selection Committee
Michelle Norman
Kyreen Gonzalez
County of Sonoma, Board of Supervisors
575 Administration Dr. Room 100A
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Re: Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District Letter of Interest To Whom it May Concern,
Please accept my request for your support for my appointment to the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District. Agriculture, water, farmlands, wildlife and quality of life in Sonoma County is very important to me. Would love to have an opportunity to contribute to future decisions in this area.
Raised on a local Family Farm in Petaluma, I learned the importance of Agriculture and education of sustainable agriculture for future generations. My family’s land is near the Petaluma Urban Growth Boundary, it was very important for me, to protect it, supporting the recent ballot measure to expand the UGB for another 50 years. As well, as volunteering to help defeat Measure J which would have harmed our local agricultural businesses and put our local farms/ranches, in jeopardy.
In the past, I have raised awareness to the importance to our local State Parks and keeping them open to the public. My love of the community and history, earned me the Petaluma 1995 Good Egg Award.
Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park is one of the County’s first ranchos, owned by General Vallejo. It is an example of how important Agricultural lands are to our area, protecting and maintaining the waterways for wildlife etc.
My first term on the Petaluma City Council was 2004-2008, during that term, the City approved a 20- year General Plan. In 2022, I was elected again, as the District 3 Council member, again, Petaluma is working to finalize another 20-year General Plan. Looking to the future, yet remembering the past, is important to me. Quality of life for my family, friends, and neighbors is my commitment, as I serve on the City Council. I would very much like to have an opportunity to serve on a County Committee too.
Thank you for the opportunity to submit my name to this County committee, I ask for your support as a new member. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at 707-529-2487 or [email protected]
Sincerely,
Karen Nau
City of Petaluma
Council member
District 3
Lauren Berges <[email protected]>
Letter of Interest
1 message
Marjorie Morgenstern <[email protected]> Sun, Jan 19, 2025 at 8:13 PM To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
I would like to submit a letter of interest to become a member of the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District Citizens Advisory Committee.
I grew up in Marin County at the very end of a dead end street. First the land next to our home was privately owned. Eventually the land became Open Space and the entire community was delighted that the land would be preserved and that the community could finally utilize the land for hiking gatherings and picnics. I believe Open Space and Agricultural Preservation are extremely important for our entire community. Not only is Open Space beautiful it is highly recreational as well. Open Space is important for protecting and preserving the environment.
Agricultural Preservation is important because it supports the environment along with nurturing biodiversity, local communities and the economy. Preserved farmland creates habitats for wildlife, improved soiled health, along with helping to reduce water pollution while ensuring local food supply. Preserved farmland supports numerous jobs in agriculture and in the food sector.
I would like to participate in preserving Sonoma County Open Space and Farmland for generations to come.
Farmland preservation insures that farming is here to stay. Sonoma County is a vital part of the Country’s food and wine supply and I would like to participate on a committee that supports these endeavors.
Thank you,
City of Cloverdale Councilmember Marjorie Morgenstern
Sent from my iPad
1/20/25, 11:12 AM Gmail - Letter of Interest
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/?ik=8cbee50ff6&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f:1821739773705753131&simpl=msg-f:1821739773705753131 1/1 January 20, 2025
2025 Chair City,
City of Rohnert Park
Sonoma County Mayors’ and Councilmembers’ Association
130 Avram Avenue, Rohnert Park, CA 94928
Re Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District Citizens Advisory Committee Letter of Interest
Honorable Mayors and Councilmembers,
I write to respectfully request your support for my appointment to the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District Citizens Advisory Committee. I firmly support the District’s mission to preserve agricultural lands, community identity, community health, water, and wildlands.
My diverse background and passion for open spaces gives me a unique perspective that will serve this advisory board well. I am an avid user of our open spaces through hiking, backpacking, and biking, I am a strong supporter of our county’s agriculture and view it as a cornerstone of our economy and culture. I am deeply rooted in our community and committed to serving it. I’ve served on Petaluma’s Transit Advisory Committee since 2023 (Chair for past 6 months). I also served simultaneously on Petaluma’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee and was the Vice Chair of this committee during this same time. My terms on these committees ended when I recently won my election to Petaluma’s City Council, at which time I was reappointed to both committees as the council liaison.
I hold a BA in Accounting and an MBA from Saint Martin’s University in Lacey Washington.
My professional background is in supply chain transportation. I’ve held key leadership positions for companies like Target and my current employer Restoration Hardware. My years of experience have taught me how to lead teams, collaborate and work with others to accomplish important goals. Our opens spaces are critical for our community’s quality of life and I’m confident my experience will help me offer meaningful contributions to this important committee.
Lastly, I’m passionate about climate change and I believe preserving our open spaces is critical to our efforts to reverse the course we are on. I am excited to join the Petaluma City Council, and I am committed to protecting our open spaces would enjoy an opportunity to work on this issue regionally.
I would be honored by your support for this appointment and respectfully ask for your vote. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 707-971-9226 or by email at [email protected] Sincerely,
Frank Quint
Petaluma City Council member
cc: Members of Petaluma City Council
130 Avram Avenue Rohnert Park CA 94928 (707) 588-2226 Fax (707) 794-9248 www.rpcity.org
City Council
Gerard Giudice
Mayor
Emily Sanborn
Vice Mayor
Susan Hollingsworth Adams
Jackie Elward
Samantha Rodriguez
Councilmembers
________________
Marcela Piedra
City Manager
Michelle Marchetta Kenyon
City Attorney
Lee Burdick
Assistant City Attorney
Cindy Bagley
Director of Community Services
Jamie Cannon
Director of Human Resources
Vanessa Garrett
Director of Public Works
Alicia Giudice
Director of
Development Services
Sylvia Lopez Cuevas
City Clerk
Tim Mattos
Public Safety Director
Betsy Howze
Finance Director
January 6, 2025
Clerk of the Board
County of Sonoma, Board of Supervisors
575 Administration Dr, Room 100A
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Attn: Michelle Norman [email protected] Karen Gonzalez [email protected]
Re: Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) District Letter of Interest Dear City Selection Committee,
In light of the upcoming vacancies, I am writing to respectfully request your support for the appointment to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) District Board of Directors, for a four-year term.
I was first elected in 2020, and since then I have served as a Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Councilmember on the Rohnert Park City Council. In December of last year, I was elected by the Rohnert Park City Council to serve as Mayor for 2025. For many years, I have served as a Director for the Sonoma County Transportation Authority/Regional Climate Protection Authority, and in 2022, I was appointed as Director for the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway & Transportation District Board. I am a long-time resident of Rohnert Park and have had the fortune of witness each phase of the system come to fruition. I have been a supporter of SMART connecting cities since regular service opened in 2017.
The combination of my professional and live experiences as a resident residing on the rail line in Sonoma County will bring a unique perspective as member of the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) District Board of Directors.
Thank you for your consideration of my request for an appointment to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) District Board of Directors. Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions at (707) 899-3087, or by email at [email protected]. I appreciate your support.
Kind Regards,
Gerard Giudice
Mayor, City of Rohnert Park
Cc: Rohnert Park City Council and City Manager
Cc: Lauren Berges, [email protected]
Docusign Envelope ID: 41F979C6-E2CC-4DD4-89ED-E608C92CCF91
CITY OF PETALUMA
POST OFFICE BOX 61
PETALUMA, CA 94953-0061
Janice Cader Thompson
District 1
Petaluma City Hall
11 English Street
Petaluma, CA 94952
Phone (707) 778-4345
E-Mail:
[email protected]
January 19, 2025
Re: Request for Appointment to the Sonoma Marin Rail Transit (SMART) Commission Dear Board of Directors:
Dear Mayors and Council Members,
I am seeking one of two SMART-SCTA/RCPA seats representing the nine Sonoma County cities on the SMART board of directors and I humbly ask for your support. With all three seats being vacated (two SMART-SCTA/RCPA, one SMART only), it is vital to appoint experienced councilmembers who understand the intricacies of transportation funding, SMART’s role in driving city-centered development, and the importance of both the train and multi-modal trail to our cities and region. A SMART sales tax renewal will likely be on a ballot in the next two years. My hard-earned experience passing local measures and working with regional partners will be vital to SMART’s success and I will work tirelessly to make sure the renewal passes.
I currently serve as Petaluma’s representative on SCTA/RCPA where I strongly advocate for transit equity and mobility as part of Petaluma’s commitment to citycentered development and carbon neutrality. As a member of the SMART board, as I have at SCTA/RCPA, I will advocate for policies to complete SMART to Healdsburg and north to Cloverdale, as well as policies to ensure safe and reliable access to the SMART corridor from communities in east and west county.
I will use my experience and regional relationships to make sure the interests of all nine cities are represented and that the most vulnerable populations have opportunities to access safe, reliable, transportation options.
My approach to projects is to find innovative and practical solutions, work closely with partners, and to support equity, mobility and carbon neutrality. Like other cities, Petaluma city bus rides are fare-free, and we recently added Luma Go, our county’s first door-to-door pickup service. Both programs have proven successful and are utilized by Petaluma’s seniors, communities of color, and the vulnerable and underserved. Our goal is to expand Luma Go for those who need alternate transportation options —I will bring my commitment to innovative solutions that benefit all to representing your city on the SMART board.
Thank you for your careful consideration. I will work tirelessly to pass the sales tax renewal, bring my long years of experience working for practical and innovative solutions, and make sure your community’s interests are represented at SMART.
Feel free to call or email if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Janice Cader Thompson
Janice Cader Thompson
Councilmember for District 1
City of Petaluma
Cloverdale Mayor Todd Lands
124 N Cloverdale Boulevard
Cloverdale, CA 95425
[email protected]
(707) 280-1366
1/10/2025
SMART Board of Directors
Old Redwood Highway
Suite 200
Petaluma, CA 94954
Subject: SMART Board Letter of Interest
Dear SMART Board of Directors,
I am writing to express my interest in concurrently serving as the Cloverdale city/town representative to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) Board of Directors and the Sonoma County Transit Authority (SCTA). As an experienced leader with a strong commitment to advancing infrastructure, providing services to economically vulnerable residents, and enhancing connectivity within our communities, my interest in serving aligns SMART’s objectives.
Serving as Mayor of Cloverdale for three consecutive terms, I have developed a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities involved in improving public services and infrastructure. During my tenure, I’ve advanced projects aimed at supporting socio-economically disadvantaged populations, ensuring that vital services reach those who need them most. I’ve collaborated with diverse stakeholders across jurisdictions to deliver positive outcomes.
SMART’s planned extension to Windsor, Healdsburg, and finally Cloverdale, aligns with my community’s desire to be connected to the rest of the region. I’m particularly interested in the potential of SMART’s rail and pathway system to enhance access to jobs, education, retail hubs, and housing, while also boosting tourism and economic growth in Cloverdale. My familiarity with local needs and priorities positions me uniquely to advocate for SMART’s expansion and ridership in northernmost Sonoma County.
In addition to my leadership experience, I bring a strong track record of fiscal responsibility and resource optimization. Crafting and managing balanced budgets has been a cornerstone of my public service career, beginning with my tenure on the board of Cloverdale Unified School District and most recently, as mayor, filling a one-million-dollar deficit and bringing the City’s spending back into the black. I highly value ensuring that community projects are both impactful and sustainable. I am confident my skills would be valuable to SMART’s ongoing success as a steward of public funds and resources.
I look forward to the opportunity to discuss how my leadership experience, budgetary acumen, and dedication to sustainable growth makes me a good choice to serve as the city/town representative to the SMART Board.
Warm regards,
Todd Lands,
Cloverdale Mayor
(707) 280-1366
CITY OF HEALDSBURG
401 Grove Street
Healdsburg, CA 95448-4723
Visit us at www.healdsburg.gov
Ariel Kelley
Healdsburg City Councilmember
January 20, 2025
Sonoma County Mayors' & Councilmembers' Association
Re: SMART Board - SCTA Seat Letter of Interest
Honorable Mayors and Councilmembers,
As I begin my second term on the Healdsburg City Council, I am writing to request your support for my appointment to one of the two SCTA/RCPA seats on the SMART Board of Directors as the Sonoma County Mayors & Councilmembers appointee.
I am uniquely positioned to help SMART achieve its key priorities over the next four years:
For the past four years, I have served on the Sonoma County Transportation Authority/Regional Climate Protection Authority (SCTA/RCPA), planning, funding, and implementing regional and local transportation projects. In this role, I have worked diligently to advocate for Sonoma County as a whole. This has included ensuring our fair share of transportation and roadway funding and fostering collaboration among agencies often operating in silos.
Before joining the City Council, I served as CEO of Corazón Healdsburg, an equity-driven nonprofit advocating for underserved residents. In that role, I worked closely with SMART staff to secure resources and engage marginalized communities in SMART planning and funding efforts in Northern Sonoma County. I turned those insights into successful grant applications, increased ridership, and pathway planning that benefited both SMART and our local residents.
As a Sonoma County Planning Commissioner representing District 4 from 2017 to 2020, I built relationships with our tribal partners across the county. I have leveraged these relationships to secure federal and state funding for SMART through advocacy on key grant applications and by raising awareness of passenger rail as a vital transit equity issue for Native communities at the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.
As an attorney with expertise in land use law and environmental policy, I bring a deep understanding of CEQA, complex funding structures, and real estate agreements. These skills will be invaluable in executing environmental planning and construction for SMART’s northern extensions and exploring future expansions toward the Capitol Corridor.
Finally, as a parent of a nine- and eleven-year-old, I bring a personal perspective on nurturing the next generation in Sonoma County. Today families and students are using SMART in record numbers to get to school, work and other critical destinations. This lens will inform my advocacy on the SMART board as it implements the Plan Bay Area 2050 vision.
In this coming term, SMART and our regional partners will be tasked with prioritizing strategies to create a more resilient and equitable future for Sonoma County and the Bay Area. It would be an honor to put my experience to work for you on the SMART Board and I humbly ask for your support.
Successfully reauthorizing the SMART sales tax prior to its expiration.
Securing funding to complete SMART’s extension through Healdsburg to Cloverdale, including the pathway.
Increasing ridership and operationalizing freight rail service to meet critical regional economic and climate goals. [email protected] | 707-385-1282
Lauren Berges <[email protected]>
SMART Position
1 message
Fleming, Victoria <[email protected]> Mon, Jan 6, 2025 at 9:25 AM To: Lauren Berges <[email protected]>
January 6, 2024
Dear Mayors and Council Members,
I am writing to you to express my interest in service as your “non-SCTA” representative to SMART.
My interest in serving comes from a desire to streamline communication about planning and funding between SMART and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission which I have served on since 2021.
In this time I have successfully advocated to add the Healdsburg Station to Plan Bay Area and have been in frequent communication with staff at SMART and Board Members.
Thank you for considering me for this position. If you have any questions, please reach out to talk with me.
Warmly,
Victoria Fleming
1/6/25, 9:37 AM Gmail - SMART Position
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/?ik=8cbee50ff6&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f:1820521204067457619&simpl=msg-f:1820521204067457619 1/1
January 20, 2025
2025 Chair, City of Rohnert Park
Sonoma County Mayors’ and Councilmember’s Association (SCMCA) 130 Avram Avenue
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
Attn: Lauren Berges, MCA Clerk, [email protected]
Dear SCMCA Chair, et al.,
I am enthusiastic about submitting my letter of interest for the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) Board of Director position. My understanding is there are three positions open – two are for SCTA Board of Directors and one is for a Non-SCTA Board of Director. My interest is in the Non-SCTA Board of Director opening.
I’m passionate about the work of SMART and excited that Cotati has this opportunity to have one of its members be selected for the Board to represent our entire region. Cotati is currently working on an update to the Santero Way Specific Plan which would facilitate a residentially focused transit-oriented community (TOC) surrounding the SMART station in Cotati, which may be the first TOC in the Bay Area. Having this TOC experience would enable me to share that with the other nine (9) cities in the county. This is going to benefit infill and other similar projects at the other cities in Sonoma County.
In Cotati, the City Council recently approved an agreement with the City of Rohnert Park and Sonoma State University to work on issues on a collaborative basis, and SMART would be one of those areas. Ensuring that SMART and the parallel multi-use path continues towards completion is of utmost importance to all residents in Sonoma County. The new Redwood Bikeshare program installed in Cotati, has the highest ridership in Sonoma County and could be attributed to our SMART station’s proximity to Sonoma State University. I’m aware that SMART has some important work and initiatives and know I would be able to lend my skills and support.
I’m a hard-working public servant that works strategically with others to connect and build coalitions. As a Board Director, I would be able to use my bilingual public information officer experience to help outreach for the upcoming sales tax renewal. Also, my experience and ideas would help with community engagement and engaging groups of voters and riders who are traditionally difficult to reach.
I will be fully committed to the SMART Board and look forward to serving to help the Board and organization meet its goals and objectives. Since I retired from my 34-year career in public service at the County of Sonoma, I have been serving as a City Councilmember in Cotati and look forward to sharing and connecting all communities with the work and aspirations of SMART.
Thank you for your time and consideration and please let me know if I can answer any further questions.
Sincerely,
Sylvia Lemus
Sylvia Lemus
Vice-Mayor, City of Cotati
[email protected]
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sylvia-lemus-369a4929/