Mark Stapp
Council Member
City of Santa Rosa
100 Santa Rosa Ave.
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
January 12, 2023
Board of Directors Appointments
Chair
Mayors’ and Councilmembers’ Association
City of Healdsburg
401 Grove Street
Healdsburg, CA 95448
ATTN: Raina Allan, City Clerk/Public Information Officer, CMC Dear Ms. Allan,
I am pleased to submit this Letter of Interest for the available seat on the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District Advisory Committee. I was elected in November to the Santa Rosa City Council and hope to represent the City with Ag + Open Space. Protecting Sonoma County’s agricultural areas and wildlands is critical to the future of our County. Our open spaces are the basis for healthy communities, vibrant ecosystems, fire resilience, and even ensuring our water supply.
I am already engaged with issues and projects adjacent to the work of Ag + Open Space, and believe my experience would be an asset to the Advisory Committee:
•In my role at Sonoma State University as Senior Director for Corporate and Foundation Relations, I partner with SSU’s Center for Environmental Inquiry to secure funds to support SSU’s 4,160 acres of wildland preserves, including the 450- acre Fairfield-Osborn Preserve on Sonoma Mountain and the 40-acre Los Guillicos Preserve near Mount Hood;
•I work closely with SSU’s Wine Business Institute, which promotes education and research related to issues of land use and sustainability throughout California; •I am currently Vice President for the Sonoma County Farm Bureau Foundation Board, which supports agricultural education and environmental resilience throughout the County.
On a personal note, my wife and I live adjacent to Trione-Annadel State Park and, in 2021, we both certified as Wildland Level 2 Firefighters with the intention of assisting with prescribed burns. In short, Ag + Open Space’s commitment to our natural and agricultural spaces resonates with me deeply and I would be proud to serve the organization as an Advisory Committee Member. I thank the Association members for their consideration, and will be happy to provide additional information about my background and interest upon request.
Warmly,
Mark Stapp
Council Member
City of Santa Rosa
707-328-7024/[email protected]