Council Joins Community To Appeal Dutra Approval


Council Joins Community To Appeal Dutra Approval

The Petaluma City Council voted tonight after a Closed Session  meeting, to appeal Judge Chouteau’s Dec. 23, 2011 decision (upholding Sonoma County’s approval of the Dutra asphalt factory at Haystack Landing. ) The Superior Court decision will  be challenged in Appellate Court in San Francisco by the City of Petaluma, holding together the  original coalition of plaintiffs, which includes Friends of Shollenberger Park, Moms for Clean Air, The Madrone Audubon Society, Petaluma Tomorrow, The Petaluma River Council and several individuals.  The vote was 6 in favor of appeal, and one, Council Member Albertson, against.

The Petaluma  Council heard citizens speak during Public Comment at 5:30 PM tonight at City Hall. People from all walks of life in Petaluma from Downtown Business Association Executive Director, Marie McCusker
  to David Keller, Petaluma River Council, to former Mayor Pam Torliatt  made a forceful case for the economic  basis of funding an appeal citing  tourism and Shollenberger Park as crucial economic drivers for Petaluma’s future.

The citizen comment period culminated with Sheri Chlebowski , Moms for Clean Air and Joan Cooper, Friends of Shollenberger Park spokesperson making the City Council the offer of $10,000 to help defray  the City’s  legal costs of the appeal. With the estimate from the City Attorney of a maximum of $18,500, the community has generously ponied up more than 50 % of the City’s projected legal expenses.

Mayor Glass commented that the strong response of the citizenry urging the Council to appeal figured into his vote to appeal.  He noted that the Dutra issue had catapulted many into political action who had never participated in the process before. The anti Dutra movement  is a reflection of the strong commitment of  the  people of Petaluma to preserve and protect Shollenberger Park and the quality of life as we know it in Petaluma.

Thank you to one and all for signing the petition, writing to the council, donating money and taking the time to come to the council meeting and speak, as well as talking to friends and neighbors. This shows how a community can pull  together and make a difference.
 Now on to the appeal – more fundraising for our own legal expenses will ensue – AND that means more parties! Events! And community fun.

 Next event: HANDS AROUND SHOLLENBERGER
 FEB 12 A VALENTINE FOR OUR PARK

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Regional Water Quality Control Board Ruling

Dear Friends, GOOD NEWS! The Regional Water Quality Control Board rejected Dutra's analysis of Alternative Sites and told Dutra to demonstrate the necessity for an asphalt factory in Petaluma. The State agency declared Dutra Haystack Asphalt Plant's Alternative Site Analysis "Invalid". (See Letter below) Thanks to all who have supported the community's efforts to preserve and protect Shollenberger Park and especially to those who wrote supporting letters this time around. This fight is not over - stay tuned for upcoming community fundraising events and gatherings to Save Shollenberger Park. Joan Cooper & David Keller PRESS RELEASE - For immediate release. November 16, 2016 Contact: David Keller, Director, Petaluma River Council - (707) 763-9336 Joan Cooper, Founder, Friends of Shollenberger Park - (415) 516-3673 Dutra told to justify the need for asphalt plant in Petaluma: State agency declares Dutra Haystack Asphalt Plant's Alter...
Read more

Community Health Forum Announced

The Petaluma Health Care District has announced a community forum on March 17th to discuss the health impacts of the proposed Dutra asphalt plant. The forum will consist of presentations on health-related issues, followed by a question-answer period. All of the members of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors will be invited, along with several other people, including representatives of Dutra and the people who prepared the final environmental impact report. The forum will take place from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Petaluma Community Center in Lucchesi Park, at 320 N. McDowell Blvd. Help spread the word by printing and distributing this flyer
Read more

Dutra's Track Record - History in Miami, Florida

Image
In 1994 Dutra Construction Co. began contracted work with the Port of Miami, dredging a section of the shipping channel in Biscayne Bay, a “shallow subtropical lagoon with diverse habitat including mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reefs. Manatees, crocodiles, sea turtles, and many important fish species also share the immediate marine environment with the port.”1 This “rich marine habitat”1 was severely damaged by Dutra’s illegal dredging and destruction of “3.5 acres of seagrass outside of the permitted dredging area.”2 “in violation of county, state, and federal laws.”3 “This is the largest unauthorized sea-grass-destruction case ever investigated by DERM [Miami-Dade Department of Environmental Resources Management],” declared biologist Craig Grossenbacher, chief of DERM's coastal resources section. “At the very least there was gross negligence.”3 Grossenbacher also stated that “We now know this illegal dredging occurred between 1995 and 1997.”3 “To make matters worse, the exc...
Read more