Oakmont’s Semimonthly Newspaper
Junk the Junipers Volunteers Needed nNews Staff Report
March 16–22 and April 20–26
The Junk the Junipers team needs your help for the 2022 events, with tasks ranging from parking lot monitors to those who have a pickup truck and will travel throughout Oakmont to help neighbors who are unable to haul cut junipers to the Berger. Under the OVA’s Firewise Landscape Policy, junipers must be removed entirely from properties (up to 30 feet from the house) by Sept. 1, 2022. During the two weeks of Junk the Junipers, owners can haul cut junipers to the Berger, where they will be chipped and disposed of for free. Only junipers will be accepted for chipping. There are several volunteer opportunities, including two- to three-hour shifts monitoring and directing drop-offs at the Berger. Truck owners are needed to help haul cut junipers from residents’ curbsides to the chipping site (for those who cannot make other arrangements). There is also a need for volunteers to help less able Oakmont neighbors to get junipers cleared from properties. To volunteer, or if you have questions or need help, contact Dani@oakmontvillage.com.
Cal Fire Camp Coming to Los Guilicos nNews Staff Report
There will soon be a year-round CalFire base across Highway 12 from Oakmont on the Los Guilicos campus off Pythian Road. The base is expected to house a firefighting team during the fire season, normally about nine months of the year, and a fuel abatement team during the wet season, about three months a year. The county said it’s expected to improve response times and fire-fighting resources, County supervisors approved a three-year lease with CalFire, which is expected to occupy the space late this spring. The agreement runs to March of 2025. The site will provide one acre of outdoor space and 10,000 square feet of indoor multi-use space. That includes the former Sierra Youth Center, a classroom/ multi-use building, parking area and yard. “It is exciting to see the unused facilities at Los Guilicos put to such good use for the community,” County Supervisor Susan Gorin, who represents the area, said in a statement. She said the base will provide the valley and the county as a whole with a critical addition to fire protection. It will be Cal Fire’s first fire camp in Sonoma County since the 1990s.
www.oakmontvillage.com/news
Firewise Town Hall nNews Staff Report
Improving landscape practices for fire resilience is the topic for an Oakmont Town Hall on Tuesday, March 1. The Firewise Committee presentation will feature Jon Kanagy, landscape architect with the Sonoma Ecology Center. The full title is “Improving landscape practices— the good, the bad and the ugly.” The program will be available starting a 1 p.m. on March 1 on Zoom, at an online address to be published in the Inside Oakmont email newsletter.
OVA Drops Mask Mandates and Meeting Restrictions nAl Haggerty
The Oakmont Village Association has lifted mask mandates and restrictions on indoor and outdoor gatherings. The OVA Board voted unanimously Feb. 15 to follow county orders to drop masking and gathering restrictions with certain caveats. The unvaccinated still must wear masks and those over 65 with underlying conditions are encouraged, but not required, to continue masking. Also, it was noted that masking won’t be discouraged. One board member noted that he will be wearing a mask at his next trip to Costco. Later, OVA said that all clubs, committees, and other groups were free to impose masking and attendance restrictions beyond those set by OVA. Although OVA has lifted masking requirements in facilities, Sundari Mase, MD, Sonoma County health officer, issued the following advice in a recent media conference: “Residents, particularly seniors over the age of 65 with underlying health conditions and people who have not yet been boosted or vaccinated, are encouraged to avoid large gatherings and continue wearing masks indoors around people outside their household.” The county orders had restricted indoor gatherings to not more than 50 people and outdoor gatherings to not more than 100. One immediate effect was to allow Movies At Oakmont to resume Feb. 20 after a brief hiatus.
ANNUAL ELECTIONS
Board President Tom Kendrick focused his message on the upcoming board elections, which will put four new members on the board April 4. The six candidates, whom he described as “highly qualified,” include current board members Jess Marzak, Wayne Van Bockern and Jeff Neuman. They are facing challenges from Iris Harrell, Marianne Neufeld and Ken Smith. Directors whose terms continue are Heidi Klyn, Jeff Young and Mark Randol. Kendrick said he is “very grateful that during my couple of terms on the board I have worked with an See board on page 6 PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID SANTA ROSA, CA PERMIT NO. 323
February 26, 2022 • Volume 60, Number 4
Candidates Night Draws a Crowd nJackie Reinhardt
Interest in the upcoming OVA Board election almost returned to pre-pandemic levels Feb. 23 when just over 200 Oakmonters listened to what six candidates running for four vacancies had to say in response to a wide range of questions about their top priorities, whether they could be impartial, how to keep dues affordable and whether there are sufficient reserves in the event of a catastrophic fire. Among the attendees 70 were at the Berger Center while the others participated on the live stream or on Zoom. Questions moderated by President Tom Kendrick were submitted in advance. The topic that most candidates seemed to coalesce around was keeping Oakmont safe by reinforcing the work of the Firewise Committee. Four of the candidates—Ken Smith, Iris Harrell, Marianne Neufeld and Jeff Young—have participated in home fire safety inspections. Hiring a new general manager was also a top priority. The post currently is vacant. When asked their personal agendas, Harrell said she wanted Oakmont to become the best Firewise Community in the USA and the most welcoming. She also focused on the need for ongoing maintenance of facilities, holding up a damaged sprinkler that sparked significant damage at the West Recreation Center that is being covered by OVA insurance. Ken Smith, chair of the Energy Resiliency Committee, said his priority is bringing electric power to the community while Jess Marsak said he wanted to lead a discussion about the issues surrounding the Berger Center. Jeff Neuman focused on emergency responses. Also emphasized was doing a better job of keeping the Oakmont community informed. Asked whether competitive bids should be required for construction projects, most of the candidates thought it depended on the project. Several pointed out the important thing was the relationship built with the contractor. It was noted that Nordby Construction, which handled the East Recreation remodel gets at least three bids from his subcontractors. Consensus around keeping dues in check was expressed by Marianne Neufeld. “We shouldn’t do things we don’t need to do,” she said. But it’s hard to keep dues really low. We have to maintain our facilities. These are our assets.”