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“Big Savings” Forecast From Solar
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Randol, Van Bockern Join OVA Board
April 10, 2021 • Volume 60, Number 7
OVA “Largely Successful” Despite “Bumpy Ride”
nAl Haggerty
nMarty Thompson
nOakmont News Staff
Those solar panels soaring over the parking lots at Oakmont activities centers are at work delivering electricity at cost savings that should have a growing positive effect on OVA’s budget over the years. The panels are providing enough clean renewable solar power to equal most of Oakmont’s annual needs. “Our power rate will be fixed, and as PG&E rates go up we will benefit,” OVA President Tom Kendrick told the board in March. That will mean “big savings for Oakmont,” Director Jess Marzak said. Those savings are forecast at about $272,000 over the next 25 years. The solar installations were financed in a 25-year power purchase agreement with Tri-Tec Americas of San Diego. Tri-Tec takes care of all system costs, including design, installation, maintenance and
Mark Randol and Wayne Van Bockern were newly elected and Heidi Klyn, Noel Lyons and Jeff Young were re-elected to the Oakmont Village Association Board of Directors, according to results released April 5.
Despite a “bumpy ride” brought on by Covid-19, the uncertain future of the golf courses and wildfires, the Oakmont Village Association emerged from the past year “largely successful.” This is the picture outlined by Tom Kendrick, OVA Board President, in his State-of-the-OVA address at the 55th annual meeting of the association livestreamed to residents April 5. Kendrick noted that the golf courses, now managed under a long-term lease by CourseCo, have been quite busy and while the buildings remain closed, a lot of improvements have been made, especially to the Quail Inn. He said the buildings will be opened in line with county guidelines. He noted that the Library and the Fitness Center have begun operating.
New OVA Board, left to right outside the Berger Center with Peanuts character Woodstock: Jeff Marzak, Noel Lyons, Mark Randol, Elke Strunka, Heidi Klyn, Wayne Van Bockern, Jeff Young and Tom Kendricks. All were several weeks past their second Covid shots, and agreed to appear maskless. (Photo by Julie Kiil)
See board on page 8
Cars parked beneath solar panels at the East Rec. parking lot, with pickleball courts in the background. (Photo by Kathy Sowers)
East Rec. pickleball courts in front of solar panels over the parking lot. (Photo by Kathy Sowers)
insurance. Construction began last July and the system went on line Jan. 29. In exchange for erecting the panels OVA will continue to pay for power, but at the current rate, which will not increase during the term of the agreement. David Dearden of OVA’s building construction committee, explains that OVA’s PG&E rate will remain fixed for 25 years, so as PG&E prices rise Oakmont’s will not.
The election results were announced at a live-streamed organizational meeting. The new board then re-elected Tom Kendrick, president; Klyn, vice president; Lyons, secretary, and Elke Strunka, treasurer. As OVA Election At-a-Glance the candidates with Results of the 2021 OVA Board election, the most votes, Randol, in which 1,460 votes were cast: Lyons, Klyn and Young Noel Lyons 1,174 will serve two-year Mark Randol 1,171 terms. Van Bockern Heidi Klyn 1,143 received a one-year Jeff Young 989 term. Wayne Van Bockern 763 Kendrick thanked Ken Smith 752 Carolyn Bettencourt and Marianne Neufeld, who were leaving the board, for their work. He said Bettencourt asked “good, tough” questions and worked hard to help the board understand complex issues. He called Neufeld “a mainstay” in many roles and thanked her for her “tremendous work” on fire safety. Lyons said, “We were fortunate and blessed to have both of you.”
Junk the Junipers
nOakmont News Staff
The first week of Junk the Junipers starts April 21–26. During this week Juniper debris can be taken to the Berger where the OVA is providing bins for disposal. A second week is scheduled for May 5–10 at the East Rec. Center.
See solar on page 5 PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID SANTA ROSA, CA PERMIT NO. 323
Wildfire Community Preparedness Day
nMarlena Cannon Tremont
Map Your Neighborhood (MYN), Oakmont Emergency Preparedness Committee (OEPC) and the Firewise Committee will join forces May 1 for Wildfire Community Preparedness Day, a national campaign that encourages people and communities everywhere to come together on a single day to take action to raise awareness and reduce wildfire risk. “We are asking Oakmonters to voluntarily participate by selecting one project to do that day,” said Katy Carrel, MYN coordinator. “Each of the sponsoring organizations has a list of ideas to choose from. Many of them are easy and inexpensive and will help everyone See preparedness on page 4
Map Your Neighborhood is Expanding
nJackie Ryan
For several years, Oakmont has been part of the nationally recognized and FEMA-endorsed program, Map Your Neighborhood (MYN) that has been adopted in 40 states. A robust program for sheltering in place, Oakmont MYN is now expanding to include preparations for wildfires, evacuations and power shutdown events. One of the new signature programs is called Oakmont Ready Tips. Through various media, Oakmont’s MYN team will issue easy-to-read—and use—tips on everything from fire safety and home extinguishers to garage door openers and what to do in the event of an earthquake. Some tips will be informational only, some will be geared towards action steps to take. The Tips will be categorized by importance to the time of year—informational content appearing more in April, May, and action tips more in July and See map on page 6