KVFV Association August 2006 Newsletter

PRESIDENT'S REPORT TO THE ASSOCIATION:

Thank you to all residents that attended our association's general membership meeting held on May 13th at the FireHouse. This newsletter is to bring you up to date on the association and your representation by the new board of directors elected on June 10th.

At the May 13th general meeting, the membership in attendance supported a review of the KVFV by-laws be referred to the new board. A new draft of updated by-laws will be presented to the membership for review and approval at our fall membership meeting. The membership also voted for the association to hold more frequent general meetings in order to keep residents informed, and this recommendation will be included into the draft of our updated by-laws.

Another source of communication will be a newsletter and the website knightsofthevalley.com which will be dedicated to KVFV Association news and information. Thank you to Amy and Michael Grable for donating this site and managing it for this community.

As most of you are aware, Sonoma County is in the public hearing phase of its state-mandated General Plan Update (GP2020) Policies that are being considered for change or addition to the General Plan can be reviewed at the Permit & Resource Management Dept. public counter at or over the internet at www.sonoma-county.org/prmd/gp2020/index.html. or at the PRMD File Counter at 2550 Ventura Avenue or the branches of county libraries. Call PRMD at 565-1900 with specific questions about the General Plan update. Recent mailings by some organizations opposing policies within GP2020 have included incorrect information.

Of most direct impact on the futures of our valleys in the GP2020 update may be the Land Use Element of the General Plan. The Sonoma County Planning Commissioners will hear public testimony on the zoning and land-use policies within this section of the General Plan, including re-adoption of our Franz Valley Area Plan which has kept these valleys an agricultural and resource conservation district. Information on public hearings are recorded at 565-8354.

That our Knights and Franz Valleys have avoided the commercialism and over-development of other agricultural valleys is no accident of good fortune. The Franz Valley Area Plan, adopted by Sonoma County in 1979 and reaffirmed through the last General Plan update, established the agricultural and resource conservation policies which I firmly believe most residents of this unique region want to uphold. The board of directors is committed to supporting this document and its implementation by the County of Sonoma.

Hope to see you all at the picnic. Please contact me for any issue or suggestion or to say hello. I can be reached at 942-4900 or enyart@sonic.net.

Craig Enyart

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ANNUAL KVFV PICNIC, AUGUST 27th

The historic Charles F. Laufenberg Ranch in Knights Valley will be the setting of this year's KVFV annual picnic thanks to our hosts the Sonoma Land Trust and Barney and Nanette Welsh. This 179 acre ranch was established in 1887. In 1988 Charles F. Laufenberg donated his Knights Valley ranch to the Sonoma Land Trust (www.sonomalandtrust.org), and through his vision and generosity the land will "forever be held, maintained, and operated exclusively for conservation purposes that shall include agricultural production and the preservation of forested lands, wetlands, and native plant and animal habitat" Today it is the site of Forni-Brown gardens, which supplies fresh vegetables year round.

Come enjoy summer's end with your neighbors and friends at this very special place in our valley. As is the tradition, please bring a salad or dessert to share according to the initial of your last name (see enclosed invitation). Barbecue and beverages will be provided and we appreciate the wine contributions by our gracious friends and neighbors. Please send in the reservation form no later than August 19th on the enclosed invitation to confirm your attendance and to assist us in our planning. Let's hope temperatures are only in the double digits, and don't forget your hat! If you'd like to volunteer to help with the picnic in any way please call 942-4900.

KVFV ASSOCIATION NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT ELECTION 2006

The Nominating Committee, in charge of the 2006 election, consisted of Peter Fourkas, Chair; Barbara LaFranchi and Peggy Pochini. On May 24, 2006 the committee mailed ballots and a notice of the election procedures, which we wanted to be clear, precise, and timely. As per instructions from the membership at the May 13th meeting, the information and ballots were mailed to all members whose association dues were current as of the mailing date. Seventy-four envelopes, containing one hundred and thirty ballots were mailed. One envelope was returned by the Post Office, which documented "No such number." Three ballots were received that did not follow the election parameters as to receipt and/or postmark dates. The ballots were not opened and the contents were not included in the final count. On Saturday, June 10, 2006 at 2 p.m., six association members observed the committee open and count the ninety-four ballots received per the election parameters. The following nominees were elected to the Board: Jaime Zukowski, Wes Thollander, Gloria Ball, Bruce Meyer and John Pelkan.

OFFICERS OF KVFV BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2006

On Monday, June 19, 2006 new board members joined continuing board members Craig Enyart and Herb Westfall for a first meeting per association by-laws to decide terms and positions:

911 is the number to call for FIRE, any emergency, anywhere.