The Coast needs you to take action: The Coast is NOT for sale
As some of you might know, recently it has come to light that former Supervisor Efren Carrillo is supporting and promoting a yearly marathon that will close highway 1 every year between Fort Ross and Bodega Bay on September 29th. The marathon is already accepting entry fees and is actively promoting the event.
There is great concern that this will be a quick process with minor input from public before final permits are issued. March 31st in Bodega Bay will be Efren's PR for the event. The LCP, Local Coastal Plan that was so soundly rejected last time the Supervisors tried to open the coast to tourism and development is due out soon. Will this set a precedent for more such events on our fragile coast? This massive EVENT is not appropriate and would cause safety, traffic and would pose a hardship on local businesses as the route is closed down.
This is our coast and we should have access to it, not just paying marathon customers. We will pick up the fall out in form of costs in emergency services, trash pick up, personnel and more. Please consider posting the petition, get others to sign and attend the PR attempt on March 31st, 2-4pm. Our coast is not for sale. Sample letter and all email addresses are below for your convenience.
The Coast is Not for Sale!
Please express your concern that the proposed Sonoma Coast Marathon will shut down the Sonoma Coast from Ft. Ross to Bodega Bay on September 29th 2019 and is gliding through a minimal review process without public input.
Thousands of race participants and spectators will block Highway 1, the only route to access or travel along the coast and significantly impact public access and sensitive coastal resources.
Please help save our coast from being commercially exploited by taking these 3 steps.
- Send an email ASAP to the local officials listed below (sample email & suggested talking points below)
- Attend the very important marathon meeting in Bodega Bay on Sunday March 31st 2-4 pm at the Bodega Bay Grange**
**This location is fully accessible and has a new sound system for better acoustics.
Share this information with 10 friends. Remember to include your friends from surrounding and inland areas who care about coastal protection and access to the coast.
- California Coastal Commission:
Stephanie Rexing: [email protected]
Jack Ainsworth: [email protected]
Tennis Wick: [email protected]
Terry Bartles: [email protected]
Mike Lair: [email protected]
- Sonoma County Regional Parks:
Bert Whitaker: [email protected]
Melanie Parker: [email protected]
Lynda Hopkins: [email protected]
Brooks Rooney: [email protected]
Cathy Beck: [email protected]
Sample Email:
The Coast is Not for Sale!
TO: See contacts
RE: STEP UP REVIEW! NO RUBBER STAMP FOR THE SONOMA COAST MARATHON
I am a resident of (Graton/Sebastopol etc.) who (walks regularly at Salmon Creek beach) (hikes Bodega Head) (enjoys sunsets at the Jenner overlook) etc.
I write to (protest, express concern, ask for more review…) the proposed Sonoma Coast Marathon.
How can anyone justify blocking public access to the State and Regional public beaches and parks along the Sonoma Coast?
The Marathon would shut down Highway 1, the only road access to Bodega Bay, Jenner and all the communities north and south along the Sonoma Coast.
The Marathon would pollute the coast with trash including plastic, stress water and sewer supplies and emergency services and crowds would negatively impact our fragile coast bluffs.
How do 5,000 - 7,000 race participants who can afford to pay $150 for a full marathon and $120 for a half, plus the thousands of onlookers, take precedence over coastal residents, businesses and the general public?
I ask the Coastal Commission and County to require a Coastal Development Permit (CDP) for this event so that a full review and public comment process can occur.
It’s the least we can do to enforce our coastal legislation and protect our coastal environment.
The public must be heard!
Thank you for consideration.
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter.
Sincerely,
Signature of Sender
Printed Name of Sender
Name of Sender
Address of Sender
City, State, Zip Code
Re: The Coast needs you to take action: The Coast is NOT for sale
1 Attachment(s)
Re: The Coast needs you to take action: The Coast is NOT for sale
Today's PD has the following article on the coastal marathon organizers cutting the size in half. It is my opinion that any coastal marathon is not good for Sonoma County residents, so let's keep the pressure up.
https://www.waccobb.net/forums/wacco...4_15-56-29.png
After local concerns, organizers scrap marathon idea and plan Sonoma Coast Half Marathon
MARY CALLAHAN
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT March 19, 2019, 7:37PM
Controversial plans for a long-distance footrace on the Sonoma Coast this fall have been revised in response to community concerns about closing Highway 1 for a large part of the day, with organizers now saying they’ll stage a half-marathon instead of a full one of 26.2 miles for the inaugural year.
Altered race-day arrangements also would allow for traffic in single-lane convoys spaced at hourly intervals during the run to ensure residents and coastal visitors can have some freedom of movement while the race proceeds.
That’s the plan that will be presented during a March 31 meeting of the Sonoma County Coast Municipal Advisory Council in Bodega Bay, which will provide the first and likely only public airing of the Sept. 29 event proposal.
The amended plans mean the hard road closure will be significantly curtailed compared to what initially had been proposed and was roundly criticized by people concerned about the inconvenience to coastal residents and visitors and the effect to local businesses.
“You’re not successful unless you have community buy-in,” said Lacie Flannery, managing partner with Napa-based Blistering Pace Race Management, which is working with partners to launch the Sonoma Coast Half Marathon and Bodega Bay 5K.
...
The event is the brainchild of former Sonoma County Supervisor Efren Carrillo, now director of government and community relations for nonprofit Burbank Housing and principal of the limited liability company formed last June to host the race.
...
The new race will be a half-marathon between the Jenner Headlands Preserve and Bodega Bay, without the dog-leg into Goat Rock, Flannery said.
Runners will take buses from Westside Regional Park to the starting point, with road closures in place by 7:30 a.m., though Highway 1 north of Highway 116 near Jenner will reopen by 8:30 a.m., organizers said.
The remainder of Highway 1 would reopen by 11 a.m., according to permit applications.
...
See full article here
Re: The Coast needs you to take action: The Coast is NOT for sale
The following is from former Santa Rosa City Council member Marsha Vas Dupre.
The Coast is Not for Sale!
RE: STEP UP REVIEW! NO RUBBER STAMP FOR THE SONOMA COAST MARATHON
I am a resident of Santa Rosa who also has a home in Sea Ranch.
I write to protest, express concern, and to ask for more review for the proposed Sonoma Coast Marathon.
How can anyone justify blocking public access to the State and Regional public beaches and parks along the Sonoma Coast?
The Marathon would shut down Highway 1, the only road access to Bodega Bay, Jenner and all the communities north and south along the Sonoma Coast.
The Marathon would pollute the coast with trash including plastic, stress water and sewer supplies, emergency services, and crowds would negatively impact our fragile coast bluffs.
How do 5,000 - 7,000 race participants who can afford to pay $170 for a full marathon and $120 for a half, plus the thousands of onlookers, take precedence over coastal residents, businesses, and the general public who pay taxes/your salaries?
I ask the Coastal Commission and County to require a Coastal Development Permit (CDP) for this event so that a full review and public comment process can occur.
It’s the least we can do to enforce our coastal legislation and protect our coastal environment. Bill Kortum must be crying – that’s where all this rain is coming from!
The public must be heard! Thank you for consideration. Thank you for making time to read this letter.
Sincerely,
Marsha Vas Dupre, Ph.D., Former Santa Rosa City Council Vice Mayor, SRJC Trustee
3515 Ridgeview Drive, Santa Rosa, CA 95404, 707-528-7146
Quote:
Posted in reply to the post by Shepherd:
Re: The Coast needs you to take action: The Coast is NOT for sale
Thank you Shepherd for posting this. I just found out that coastal marathons are the new thing. Show up March 31st 2-4pm Bodegta Bay Grange for the PR being presented to convince us to approve this. Marin has one going from StinsonCoastal 50K/Marathon.
Date is September 22nd, Sunday before the proposed Sonoma coastal marathon.
Race Information
This point-to-point trail run from the cozy getaway of Stinson Beach to the popular Rodeo Beach offers both marathon and 50k race distances. Enjoy spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, Marin Headlands, and the Golden Gate Bridge along the way.
Shuttle Bus Service to Start
The shuttle service (included in entry) to Stinson Beach (the start) will depart Rodeo Beach (the finish) at 5:30 a.m. Parking will be available near the finish. You can opt-out of the shuttle service if you have a ride.
Related Events
Did you know that this race is part of a series of runs? If you like this race you may want to run one of the following Coastal Trail Runs events.
Quote:
Posted in reply to the post by Shepherd:
The following is from former Santa Rosa City Council member Marsha Vas Dupre....
Re: The Coast needs you to take action: The Coast is NOT for sale
California Coastal Commission Weighs in on Marathon :
Sonoma Coast Marathon CDP Requirements
Hello All,
We have been asked for our opinion regarding the coastal development permitting (CDP) requirements associated with the proposed Sonoma Coast Marathon. As we have previously informed Sonoma County PRMD and Board of Supervisor staff, and based on the information we have been provided and our current understandings, it is clear to us that the proposed race activities constitute development under the Coastal Act and the LCP, and therefore the Marathon requires a CDP from Sonoma County. If approved by the County, such CDP approval action would be appealable to the Coastal Commission due to its location, but a County denial action on a CDP would not be appealable.
It is also possible that very limited areas of the race might be located within the Commission’s retained CDP jurisdiction (e.g., potentially at certain Highway 1 stream crossings), but there has not yet been a formal boundary determination through the Coastal Commission’s mapping department. If that is the case, the race applicants would also need to apply for a separate CDP from the Commission for any such portions of the proposed event. Any such CDP application to the Commission would not be processed unless and until the applicants have received all local approvals from the County (and would not be accepted for filing if the County were not to grant it local approvals).
With respect to the potential for the race to qualify as a CDP-exempt temporary event pursuant to the Coastal Commission’s guidelines, the Executive Director has determined that the race has the potential for significant adverse impacts on coastal resources, including public access, that it does not qualify for a temporary event CDP exclusion, and that a CDP is required.
I hope the foregoing helps to clarify the CDP requirements associated with the proposed Sonoma Cost Marathon. Feel free to contact me should you have any questions.
Thank you,
Jeannine Manna
District Manager
North Central Coast District
California Coastal Commission
Re: The Coast needs you to take action: The Coast is NOT for sale
A half marathon is simply not acceptable. Half enough damage is not adequate. The organizers, savy political people, may have proposed a full marathon, knowing that it would be challenged. No polluting our beloved coastal area!
Re: The Coast needs you to take action: The Coast is NOT for sale
The PR event the marathon organizers are presenting will be Sunday, March 31st from 2-4pm at the Bodega bay Grange. Show up if you have concerns.
1 Attachment(s)
Re: The Coast needs you to take action: The Coast is NOT for sale
https://www.waccobb.net/forums/wacco...4_15-56-29.png
Inaugural Sonoma Coast Half-Marathon canceled for this year
MARY CALLAHAN
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT March 29, 2019, 6:49PM
Organizers of a hotly debated half-marathon on the Sonoma Coast are withdrawing their bid to launch the race this fall because of a series of regulatory hurdles that they said make it impossible to move forward fast enough to stage the event in September, as originally proposed.
They are still holding onto hope they can reach agreement with governing authorities and a restive public for a future event that would treat participants to the spectacular vistas of the Sonoma coastline, race manager Lacie Flannery said.
But for now, online registration for the Sept. 29 half-marathon is being shut down and refunds issued amid frustration over what Flannery contended were poorly communicated demands by county government for permits. She claimed such demands have not been equally applied to other events like the Levi’s GranFondo bike ride that utilize Highway 1.
“I have experience across the country, and I’ve never experienced anything like this,” said Flannery, managing partner of Napa-based Blistering Pace Race Management, which works with marathons in New York, Chicago and San Francisco, among others.
“It’s tough because we really wanted to be part of something special in our backyard, and as a female-owned production company we were super excited to bring this here. But to spend months and there’s no road map for how to get there, and we’re no closer than we were in February, it’s unfortunate.”
The move comes as marathon representatives, led by former Sonoma County Supervisor Efren Carrillo, confronted several setbacks, including confirmation that they’ll be required to pursue a time-consuming coastal development permit from the county, in addition to various other permits from the state and the county, before they can proceed with the first race.
It appeared initially they needed only to apply for over-the-counter permits that might be more quickly acquired. A coastal development permit is more complicated and includes a public hearing process as well as the potential for appeals to higher bodies. It also is possible they could need a second permit for certain elements of the race from the California Coastal Commission, though that has not yet been determined, officials said.
Sonoma County planning director Tennis Wick was first to suggest organizers consider postponing the event “given the complications of holding the race in such a sensitive setting, and given the short timeline,” according to a letter he wrote to Carrillo and business partner Tina Wallis, a Santa Rosa attorney. They are principals in the company founded in June last year to stage the marathon.
Wick also said the proposed half-marathon is sufficiently different from other coast events that distinct permitting requirements are warranted.
Continues here
Re: The Coast needs you to take action: The Coast is NOT for sale
YEA! The people won one!
Quote:
Posted in reply to the post by Barry:
Re: The Coast needs you to take action: The Coast is NOT for sale
Sounds like they'll be baa-aack next year, Shepherd. :-(
Re: The Coast needs you to take action: The Coast is NOT for sale
And now we know what Efren Carrillo is doing these days, too.
Quote:
Posted in reply to the post by wisewomn:
Sounds like they'll be baa-aack next year, Shepherd. :-(
