Rexroad Reluctance and Our Future

Matt Rexroad is reluctant to be seated on a new committee on climate change in Yolo County, according to his statements to the Daily Democrat on March 4th. I would like to help him with his questions about what could be done to respond to global warming in our county. I would suggest that no development be allowed outside of core cities unless the developer helps fund alternative routes for local electric cars, bicycles, and pedestrians. These routes would be safe blacktop routes not on the shoulder but safely removed from auto routes. All buildings, residential, farm, business, and government buildings should have passive solar, solar panels or other approved alternative energy sources included in the design. Plan approval for businesses with emphasis on growing or producing products for local consumption should be given priority. This would include not only farmer's markets and small farms but the inclusion of community gardens close to transportation or pedestrian paths. We have a golden opportunity for Yolo County with it's great farming bounty to not only provide for larger markets but to develop more venues to provide much of what Yolo County residents consume benefiting both health and slowing global warming. We are in a window of opportunity to include in our General Plan future thinking before the plan is formalized for the next crucial years.We have examples of development allowed in our county, such as Wild Wings, which could have benefited by such regulations. Wild Wings must be accessed by pulling out on a heavily traveled Road 16. The bus line is the Cache Creek bus which does not stop at Wild Wings, probably because there is no provision for a safe stop. No provision has been made for a bike route or safe pedestrian paths as alternative transportation for the community, forcing all residents into cars making and creating an even more dangerous Road 16. The houses were not required to have structural elements focused on saving energy and money, a fact which may make heating and cooling them prohibitive in the coming years.We owe it to our children to recognize and build in responses to the future. If we wait until the next General Plan revision, elected officials may be in a reactive mode and the expense will be much higher, impacting business and the standard of living in Yolo County. There are more developments waiting in the "wings" which are outside core cities which will seek approval under this General Plan. If our county elected officials do not look forward and take in all available information in the best interests of the citizens of Yolo County, I must ask if they are truely representing the people of Yolo County or those of special interests who may be funding their next election. There is no longer a debate about global warming, to put off building responses in light of that knowledge in our Yolo County General Plan is irresponsible. If we must take a little more time for the greater good of the citizens of both Yolo County and the world at large, it would seem our Supervisors are doing their jobs. I would think Mr. Rexroad would be honored to be asked to help tailor the General Plan to assure it responds to the future of Yolo County since he and his family plan to live here. His children will thank him.