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Board of Supervisors Department

Lower Russian River Municipal Advisory Council

Lower Russian River Municipal Advisory Council Meeting

Date: December 12, 2024

Time: 5:30 p.m.

Hybrid Meeting:

Guerneville School Community Room
14630 Armstrong Woods Road, Guerneville

Meeting Recording

Registration Required: No

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1. Call to Order
A. Announcement from Spanish Interpreter
B. Pledge of Allegiance
C. Roll Call

2. Approval of Agenda
Discussion   Possible Action
This approval process ensures that the agenda accurately reflects the items to be discussed and decided upon. Members may request adjustments to the agenda, including reordering or deletion of items at this time. Any changes must comply with the Brown Act requirements for public notice and agenda setting. The agenda must be finalized before the Council proceeds with other meeting items.

3. Statement of Conflict of Interest  
Discussion

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. The River MAC bylaws state that members will not involve themselves in official River MAC activities that could materially benefit them personally, their business interests, or the interests of organizations that they represent. In a conflict of interest, the member will abstain from voting, and the abstention will be recorded in the minutes.

4. Consent Agenda
Discussion   Possible Action
These items are expected to be routine and non-controversial. The Lower Russian River MAC will act upon them at one time without discussion. Any Representatives, staff member or interested party may request that an item be removed from the consent agenda for discussion.
A. October 10, 2024 regular meeting minutes

5. Councilmember comment on matters not listed on the agenda  
Discussion

Comments are restricted to matters within the Board’s jurisdiction. Please be brief and limit spoken comments to one minute. Due to Brown Act regulations, this is not a time for discussion of any item, however a brief dialogue about considering an item for a future agenda is permitted during this time.

6. Public Comments
On Matters not listed on the agenda: Comments are restricted to matters within the Lower Russian River MAC’s jurisdiction. Please be brief and limit spoken comments to two minutes.

7. County Updates  
Discussion
A. Supervisor Hopkins
B. Staff - Update regarding compostable plastic processing

8. Presentation from Permit Sonoma regarding parcel zoning updates based on the Federal Emergency Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) recently updated Special Flood Hazard Area maps.
Discussion
Representatives from Permit Sonoma, including Planner Azine Spalding, Assistant Director Scott Orr, and Deputy Director of Engineering Nathan Quarles, will present an overview of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) recently updated Special Flood Hazard Area maps and proposed parcel zoning changes that will implement FEMA’s maps. The County’s F1 (Floodway) and F2 (Floodplain) zoning combining districts correspond to FEMA’s Special Flood Hazard Area maps and implement requirements for building within those areas. Permit Sonoma will provide information about FEMA’s mapping process, and how FEMA’s maps and parcel zoning affect the use of property.

This session aims to update the Lower Russian River community on the process and rationale behind these changes, respond to questions or concerns from MAC members and the public, and discuss potential options for mitigating the impact of these changes in the Lower Russian River area. This is an important opportunity for community awareness, as flood mapping may have significant impacts on residential and commercial flood insurance costs and local businesses.

9. November storm impacts and flood protocols  
Discussion
A discussion on storm impacts, public feedback, and potential solutions for improving notifications and evacuations during minor flooding events in low-lying areas

10. Committee & Community Project Reports  
Discussion
Written reports may be included for review. Committee chair or delegate may briefly highlight parts of the update, respond to councilmember questions, and receive public comment.

11. 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.