Sandy Person appointed as representive for Solano County General Plan Update citizens advisory committee

February 28, 2006

Supes choose reps for General Plan

By Barry Eberling

FAIRFIELD - Their backgrounds are diverse - open space advocates, farmers, developers and more.

They could be working together for three years to help come up with a vision for the future rural Solano County.

County supervisors each nominated four people for the county General Plan citizens advisory committee. The committee will look at everything from county land use to emergency preparations.

The county Board of Supervisors is scheduled to appoint the citizens committee members today. It meets at 8:30 a.m. at the county Government Center, 675 Texas St. The board will begin in closed session on labor issues.

Supervisor John Vasquez has seen the names nominated by the other supervisors.

"I think we just have a really good sprinkling of folks who bring a lot of skill sets," Vasquez said.

One of his nominees is Curt Johansen of Triad Communities. The company is looking at development projects in Vacaville's Lagoon Valley, Fairfield's Allan Witt Park and downtown Vallejo.

Vasquez also nominated Rio Vista-area rancher Jeanne McCormack, Brian West of the proposed Dove Creek rural residential development near Vacaville and Solano Economic Development Corp. Vice President Sandy Person.

Supervisor Duane Kromm nominated former Fairfield Mayor Karin MacMillan. He mentioned her work with orderly growth issues and her knowledge about how cities and farms interact at city borders.

MacMillan is running for the Board of Supervisors, hoping to take the seat that Kromm will be vacating. If elected, she would still have until January 2006 to be on the committee, Kromm said.

Kromm also nominated former University of California Cooperative Extension farm advisor Larry Clement, Ron Lanza of Wooden Valley Winery and Green Valley resident Eva Laevastu.

Supervisor Mike Reagan nominated former Rio Vista Planning Commissioner Jeff Shewmaker, Mike Fortney of Placer Title Co., Vacaville Planning Commissioner Brett Johnson and Jack Batchelor, who was active in the Dixon General Plan update.

Supervisor Barbara Kondylis nominated Nicole Arnold of the Greenbelt Alliance, Benicia City Councilwoman Elizabeth Patterson, Sierra Club Solano Chapter delegate Patricia Gatz and Marti Brown.

Supervisor John Silva nominated former Fairfield Planning Commissioner Thomas Mattis, Erickson Farm owner Victoria Erickson, Anthony Russo and Sarah Lindemann.

Silva and Kondylis couldn't be reached to give backgrounds on their nominees.

Reach Barry Eberling at 425-4646 Ext. 232 or at beberling@dailyrepublic.net.