Sonoma County Supervisors Nick Esposti and Ernie Carpenter

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a tune for cinema Counting the eighties with Rich McGlinchy coming up next and now the Sonoma County Public Information Office presents Cinema County in the eighties with your host rich McGlinchy. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome

to a rather special edition of Sonoma County eighties. We've been able to corral two of our busy legislators local legislator, supervisors, if you will. We have supervised Ernie Cartner on the left of your screen. He represents our first district higher. Any Brits could see quite a

while. And over here, the gentle giant knickers Basti, the supervisor for the fourth District are congratulations on your recent success at the polls. Right. Okay, we've had these two gentlemen with us once or twice before and found it to be very interesting. And we think that

we will be able to give you our audience a little bit better view of what we are facing in the county and certainly what local government is facing. Ernie represents the fifth District. He's in the middle of his second term of office. Nick was just reelected

recently Reelected. It goes into his third term very shortly. Now I'm going to ask these questions kind of in general on def are asked them of you individually. But if either of you when I had something by all means jump in, we will start with you.

What do you feel are the key primary issues facing stole my county right now, I think, generally were getting out of the woods, so to speak, on the jail. I feel pretty confident that that project is behind us. As far as all of the of the

smoke and fire goeth, I'm not sure that we won't have a few problems here and there. But I think the budget and how Teoh pay for our, uh, uh, need for services will continue to be a problem with the county for the next several budget sessions.

As you know, the state in the federal government are beginning toe cut back more and more on funding for local government. And that puts us in a squeeze. So I would say that the budget will be the primary problem. Second to that is a general plan

update. Obviously, land used in Cinema County will continue to be an issue. And there are many associated issues sewer, water, traffic and the such like that. Go with it. But I think the general plan and the budget will stay with us. Is a board for quite

a while. What? Well, I have to agree. I think the jail issue is behind us at this point. We've done a good job, I think, at this point, and it will be built and I hope on time as well as within the budget. Ah, major issues.

I I agree. I think the ongoing funding of services and Sonoma County is is an important issue. With the shortfall this year and possibly for the next two years, we will have a major effect on areas, mainly human service. I think this year, with the $201

million budget, uh, we've just had no growth within the department's attn. This point and there are areas of cutbacks and that happen to be in the human service areas So I think that as the tax base changes and hoping that we have a fund balance for

next year, we can overcome some of the problems. Well, having worked with you for eight years and earning here for six, or even before that when he was a planning commission and I mean this sincerely, I often wonder why men and women run to be members

of the Board of Supervisors because they work 70 to 80 hours a week. If you consider all of the things that have to do, they're not that well paid, that's for sure. It can sometimes be a very thankless job. And yet you find men of good

will and ability that get involved in this do get elected and do a good job of governing our county. And I I personally mean that sincerely, I congratulate you both for we want for the same reasons We wonder for the same reasons. Oh, well, I believe

that. All right, let's take this and eat away. Nick, you're the supervisor for the fourth District Attorney. The fifth Nick will start with you. What are the areas of concern? Primary concern in your district? Well, I think, uh, we share the same concerns Countywide. Uh, basically,

growth is is a big issue and a major concern because of the impacts, you have traffic, sewer, water, all the other issues that follow with with the growth issue and the services that have to be provided. So, uh, we have to do some good long range

planning. And that's always a concern. And, of course, to direct at into areas where it's least impacted, especially on agriculture and Cinema County. I have two of the greatest areas. I think maybe the world as faras prime soils are concerned, and Dry Creek Valley and Alexander

Valley I do might us to protect those families because of that fact. Housing and agriculture is not compatible. Ernie, your district, the Fifth District is unique to the extent I believe I have about 26 different water systems and as many fiery we're gonna talk about. Those

leaders were not doing so well. They represent the real problem, and I put that on the top of my list is trying Teoh bail out a lot of these water systems that were constructed in the fifties and early sixties, and now they have full time residents,

and it's it's quite a problem. I think we're getting the land use planning in the West County straightened out. Most of the areas have been through an area plan, so we know the specific sounding. It doesn't make everyone happy, but it. But it's helpful. There's the

continued story of discharges into the Russian River. I think that will be with us for another several years. I hope we can get to a decision for zero discharge in the very near future. Of course, we always have our own, uh, sewerage problems with the little

small districts we have around the county. And to continue financing those and to upgrade them will be a problem past that. I think we have to rate traffic is very high on the lift. I hear more complaints about traffic and probably any other single subject. Most

of it's related to growth, but not all of it. Quite a bit of people in the county probably aren't aware that in Moran, some of their studies indicated with Intercounty traffic people moving back and forth that create a lot of the problems, So the cumulative effect

I believe will be, was quite a while, so we will have to put a lot of energy into resolving traffic problems. Well, the public may or may not know that basically, the county population is divided periodically among to five districts. I think that's probably in excess

of maybe 60,000 per district now. But what they may also not know is that to geographically speaking the fifth District in the fourth District and complicit to be about 2/3 of the county. So although you have the same, maybe amount of population knows where. You have

a much more diverse area and so you can have more problems of that nature. This is important to know to you, but I know it's important to the county in general, the tax base at the guys er's and how it's affecting the county. You're a takeoff

on that well. This year alone, we've we've come up with a shortfall of about $2 million. The tax base has dropped because of the cost of fossil fuels, and that's tied into the formula that the sale of the product is is formulated on with P Jeannie,

so it has had an effect of about $2 million. And, of course, this year, with a shortfall in revenue sharing, I happen to be another couple, three million. So we really had to hold the line this this particular year. So Aziz, the price of oil continues

to increase again. That tax base will increase with that and help offset some of the problems that we've had this year for next. You want to comment on that? Well, I bet answer is certainly satisfies. May we've. We've had Teoh make some pretty good cutbacks in

government this year, or at least hold the line due to the loss of revenue with the Kaiser's and decrease in property tax and also annexations to the city. They've taken cities. They've taken quite a bit of our tax revenue that we got from motels and so

on on San Rose Avenue. So I think that the guys er's has been a very strong prop for the county in the tax base, and due to the formula, we have not realized that revenue. So it's been it's been a on the one hand, hard for

the county. We couldn't spend some of the money we needed to build the other hand. I think we went through a very good belt tightening experience, and with our new county administrator, I'm very positive that we will be able to ride this through well, thanks to

Geo, Thermo and and many other local aspects, including what I would consider good fiscal management on the part of the board. This county is not in the crucial period, at least yet that I read just recently there some 18 counties in California that are actually contemplating

the possibility of bankruptcy and because of state mandated. Because that's that's the main of all of our existence is a state mandated program, but never the money. Well, we've been through that experience with the state. It's it's really is biting the hand that feeds you. You

know, the boards of supervisors are an extension Legislature, and we're we were created to carry out their their laws, so it's hard to fight with him. But when we go to North County, conferences are the California counties conferences, and you talked all the small rural rural

counties, particular neighbor to the north, and you know that kind of shape that they're in, Uh, this moment having to cut back you on fire services in law enforcement and some of our northern counties. It makes you feel very happy that you are in home. County

makes you feel good that you have the tax base that you do because we are able to still provide, I think, good services for the dollar that people are paying. You're to have on occasion opposed each other on the board in general. But one of the

things I think that you could both be commended for is in general, you work these things out. They haven't just stated loggerheads for years to come. That has happened in the past. Few documents of article correctly. Listen, what about the prop throw limit in the budget

now that that thing has been pretty much the vein of local government lately, isn't it? Well, this last year, we were right up to the problem. It Yeah, and that gets pretty touchy when you have other priorities that have to be met and you have the

money. But you can't spend it. That's the point. That's the whole point. We were no longer there, were not there were looking forward to getting back to having a prop for problem Oh, good. Okay, But the point in opposition food began additional. Whatever. It was askew.

Probably call gave counties. The, uh the restriction, if you will, are spending only when it was to a certain year in the past or slight percentage morning. That didn't matter whether they fiscally solvent or not, they simply couldn't spend the money beyond a certain limit. This

meant that programs had to be sacrificed in some cases, and and it's coming back to haunt us. Nick, what about the future of Windsor? That's pretty much a fast growing community right now, isn't it? Yes, it is written, in fact, or in the process now of

redesigning the community actually into a in urban community. And, uh uh, it is the fastest growing unincorporated area in the county. And, uh, we are coming up with a plan that basically will be an urban plan. And I believe it will be the ninth city in

Sonoma County when the people in that area support Inc. That's their choice. But I think that it's going to be for the betterment of the community, and maybe within the next couple of years will we'll see a movement in that direction. Would you like to buy

a little piece of property up there? No, that be maybe a conflict of interest. I I'd rather not have it. Would You know, I, uh I should point out on our salaries were not really able to buy a lot of property, But what do you think

of them? I think the Windsor planets a good urban plan, and I think the people in supervisor from the district, or to be complimented I've supported it. Nick and I have toss back and forth a few little comments about why I'm supporting it. Then mainly, I

want to take the pressure off of the West County in terms of growth. So I feel people have to have somewhere to live if you can make it a condensed population and provide the services that spares splitting up the farmland, having people hither and yon putting

more stresses on our services. So I do support the concept of compact urban growth that could I probably will never stop tossing little judge back plan. I think basically, you know, we differ on opinions from time to time, but nevertheless, there are issues out there that

have to be resolved, and it's a matter how you get there. Sometimes we we don't hear the same pattern, but we end up in the same place a face and neck. You and earlier are individuals, and you both have your own thoughts of what is most

important local government and your vote. You're going to advocate your abilities. You're gonna fight each other that way. But you do. It is, gentlemen, and you do it with a constructive aim and and as far as I can see in the long run, very constructive results.

So I think that's all the electric has the right to ask when a pause right here for a moment, Let the station bring the audience a public service announcement. After we come back, we'll talk about the the $5 million shortfall were experiencing this year. Maybe a

little warm springs dam in our general plan update first, These messages excessive drinking and alcoholism are problems of major magnitude throughout our country state nation in the world. Yet if you a member of your family or someone you know and care about, has a drinking problem,

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further information, contact Horrendous center at 5 to 84141 Welcome back, Ladies and gentlemen to this edition of Saddam account in the eighties. We're talking with our 50th tick supervisor on the left of your screen or any carpenter you excuse me and the capacity the

fourth district supervisor on the right of your screen. As I said when we left, we're gonna talk about two or three other things. Let's have a little comment from both of you on Warm Springs. Damn where it's gone. It's important. It's future. Well, over the years,

there were a lot of battles and whether Cinema County should or shouldn't have warm summer exam, I think the last time around on the vote I think that was basically a mandate. And from that point on, I think it's worked fairly smooth. Uh, funding has always

been a problem. The costs have increased from 40 million to 300 40 million over the years. But, uh uh, it is now operable and in good shape. We are planning a, uh, generating facility there. And, uh, I believe by the next year or so that will

be in operation and the recreation facilities have come a long way. We're doing quite well. They're so as's faras tight money in Washington, we've been very successful in the last 34 years and getting our fair share to continue in the developing of these facilities. I'm quite

pleased with it at this point. Coming. I think it's very important to continue on developing the recreational years. Warm spring Stam. I've been up a couple times Teoh participate in the water sports and I think it's great to have that. And we need to continue on

because one day I was there, they had to close the parking lot. There was no space left, and apparently it's gonna be a very popular area. So we need to move ahead and make arrangements so that it can accommodate all the people who want to go

there. While we do that, we have to also protect Dry Creek Valley and particularly the Western watershed. I hate to see those being developed in tow recreational homes, and I know there's no land to do that at the moment. But I think the supervisor, very aware

of that aspect of the land, use uh, one of the things that you touched on briefly earlier. That's very, very important is there's a $5 million shortfall in the budget this year. How is that affecting the county in general, in each of your respective opinions? Well,

you either raise revenue, Are you cut back on your expenditures And we did. We did a little bit of both. We've had to raise the fees and planning departments and Health Department Building Department. Certainly it doesn't make you happy to raise fees, but in that case,

in those cases, it's the user will have to pay. So our responsibility, I believe, to make those departments work more efficiently and deliver services in a timely fashion. And that's been difficult in some departments. But we've taken it on, and I think we will be successful

after this year. Secondly, we have made several reductions in the budget Teoh balance, so it's been a combination of raising some fees and reducing in other areas. And unfortunately, those areas we have to reduce in our services that the federal and state government used to fund

that we now have to cut back and most or in social services. We've tried to keep the essential ones alive. Child Protective services, some of the mental health programs. But if your revenues were consistently reduced, you can't go into deficit spending Countywide. Fire services. There's something

we now have are providing, I guess you'd say, Nick, you wanna common Lubin on that? Nick and Ernie later? Yes. This has been an ongoing process for the last couple three years to develop a Countywide service s so that we can have a good integrated service

and and, uh, uh, provide the service of the people, the level of services people expect at a reasonable cost. And I think that, uh, since we've had our own director of fire Services on, we've contract ID with many the Fire District's volunteer companies, even the city

companies for coverages that don't overlap and I think really provide a good level of service. So it's a little early, and there were a lot of concerns on, uh, the overall plan. Even with the Department of Forestry at first. Now they're right out there and there

supporting us, and it's going quite well. I think there's one company in the county that has not contacted with this yet. But that is coming. And once that is fulfill, then I think the gaps are covered, and I think we're in pretty good shape. Coming. Well,

I would only add that, uh, we're not in the business of running fire trucks and we're not gonna have a fire company per se anytime in the near history. At least that goes out to suppress fires. But we do have a coordinator and a training officer

and some fire inspectors who will work with the existing companies in the cities to strengthen them. And probably next year we will start talking about rearranging some of the funding on the basis more of needs. An in form of the. Since Prop 13 the formula in

augmentation funding has been in place and it will be difficult. I think you want Teoh any radical change, and I think most of the fire companies will be cooperative. So I think we will strengthen fire services through this maneuver from From my standpoint of watching you

work with this over the years, it seems to me this definitely is a constructive step forward in a long What is this coordination? More so to speak. Mike Cahill? Yeah. Fire Service person and his presentation before the board that I have listened to. Uh, it seems

to me, you know, even the layman can grasp the idea that coordination is now occurring. And I think in the long run, it will be beneficial Everybody, don't you? Well, on that on that subject. Ah, little different answer. It's been exciting. And Nick and I have

been through this now with a few years that many department heads for no reason other than they've been around for a long time of retired. And we've been able to replace many of them with younger people with different philosophy who have good managers. And I think,

uh, well, present company excepted, Richard course. But, uh, but my Cahill represents one of that breed, and I think he's just been excellent for the county. And frankly, it's been one of the exciting things that I've been able to do is to hire to be a

part of hiring those people who are county department heads and hope that doesn't come back to haunt me. But so far it's called very well. That's very good, because Mike, we intend to invite Mike be a guest on the program here in the next few months

and and talk about some of the things that has occurred in his a 10 year of service here with us. There's a couple of things that I think of really important. We kind of touched on General Plan update. So I'm gonna go on beyond that for

the moment. You want to come back to it. There's a mobile home rent review ordinance that's been before you for some time, and that's an emotional son of a gun. So either of you wish Teoh pick up the ball and run with it for a while.

Well, I started in on a ridge. I'll start with it, uh, knowing that the seniors and the mobile home parks have had some problems over the years, and especially with the increasing of rants and other costs, uh, throughout the parks that have been passed through to

the homeowners and it's been a real problem, and of course here on a very limited fixed income. You know, many people on fixed incomes, but I think they're very limited and very captive because they have no other place to go. And we tried to work out

a rent review board that could address some of their concerns. And some of their problems create a better line of communications between the park owners and the mobile home residents. That hasn't worked out as well as we had figured. We now have it before us, and,

uh, we're looking at binding arbitration so that we do have some teeth in the ordinance. I was never too much in support of rent control, especially in the mobile home area, because of the fact that there has been no new mobile home parks developed in the

last few years. We need a few throughout the county. Oh, relieve that pressure and have a little vacancy factor and keep these people on a little more. I think of a competitive basis that hasn't happened. So, uh, this point, I think that the board is going

to have to move forward with Rent Review Board that has binding arbitration, and it's gonna be a little expensive for it, but I think that the people in those parks, in that type of a situation, need that a little additional help. So it's it's moving forward

now. It's within our legal department and hope that very shortly will have it result the well, I would only add that, uh, I am not in favor of rent control on a Countywide basis for apartment buildings or anything like that. And I know Nick isn't either,

but mobile home park for a special case. You you, by your coach. For the most part, you move in, and once you're there, you can't just get up and leave. And as the supervisor points out, most of people are on fixed income. They don't have the

ability Teoh react as you and I might move on to the next apartment or home or whatever. So I think that we're talking here a very special of AH group of people who need some special consideration and, uh, where we've come from and where we're going.

I think it's very positive. I think the ordinance will be strong enough that if there's not a problem in a park, then it won't affect you. But if But if you have, for instance, a now outside corporation that's buying up a mobile home park and wants

toe, advertise their debt, raise the rent and so on and put a lot of people who are economically marginal in jeopardy that will be able to deal with that in a very positive fashion. About three minutes left to us. And there's a bunch of things here.

Offshore oil jail, county tree ordinances. Let's look at offshore oil briefly. Yeah, let's do that with you. Well, this county is taking very strong positions against offshore oil drilling, primarily because the Department of Interior through the various secretaries haven't really come to grips with our particular

problems. I think this could be worked out if we would have some recognition of the special beauty and the uniqueness of the Northern California coast. But given that it's not being worked out, and we all read the newspapers about how it's going back in Washington, D.

C. We do have a referendum on the ballot in November called Measure A, which will prevent onshore facilities without a vote of the people, and I would encourage everyone toe vote for that well, a few years ago under the Secretary of Interior, they indicated that the

probability of any great amount of oil was very limited, that they was not, in their estimation, a preliminary evaluation. That was a great deal of oil there. So maybe that gives strength to the I'm sure rejection there. There seems to be an ego contest going on

between Congress and Department Interior, and that's not going to resolve our problems. So you see this kind of see we grassroots rebellion, if you will, coming about all over California, where local governments are looking for some statement they can make so measure it will be our

our statement. You both mentioned the failing water systems and anything you want to add to that. We had about a minute and 1/2 left here only that when you lose the excitement of being able to work with people to resolve traffic problems, failing water system problems,

fixing chuck holes and should move on to some kind of work to have it. It's taken six years on some systems, but I'll be patient enough to keep working to resolve their problems. Impossible. You have to your credit. You made real progress in that. I mean,

slow granted a lot of pains in the neck, but But there's been progress. Made any final comment from you? Well, I I just have to add to that little you asked the question when we first came on why we were really doing the job that we're

doing. And it is very frustrating to work through the bureaucracy. I know I should, you know, the challenges early referred to there a minute ago are there. And as long as those challenges there for us, we're gonna work our hearts out. So on, especially makes Sonoma

County a better place to live. Thanks again for being a guest. I appreciate it very much. Had these two gentlemen with us a time or two before, and you've indicated you wanted to hear more from him, so we brought him back. My name is Richman Committee.

The program of Snow McCann. In the eighties, our guests have been on the left of your screen. Fifth District Supervisor Ernie Carpenter and on the right of your screen for district Supervisor Nick a spastic. And I'll be back with you next week with other members of

the county government, family or related agency until then, Good luck, good health and good night. Sonoma County in the eighties is a production of the Sonoma County Public Information Office. This'll program is Being produced is a public service by Total Television of

Santa Rosa for Channel 22. Be sure to join us next week. Same time, same channel for another edition of Sonoma County in the eighties.