Want to see the dilapidated Petaluma Trestle turned into a riverfront community promenade? I do. I wrote an in-depth feature on the sore subject of this decaying mass back in February of this year. The article (click here) traveled far and wide within our community and I'm pleased to have played a small part in the push to present reasoning for its rehabilitation before the Petaluma City Council as a priority item for our town.
Who's on board?
Five Council members and the Mayor and that was enough to push the Trestle to the top of the council's to-do list.
The Petaluma Women's Club, entering its 126th year of active improvements in our community, is also on board, big time. The Women's Club has written its appreciation in a letter to the City for making the Trestle a priority.
"We think your timing is critical to update and finalize the design, to provide legal and DPW staff and funding and to collaborate with SMART to get this done," wrote co-president Colleen Mahoney, adding that the project deserves the City's attention so that our community can finally see this nuisance and liability turned into a visionary, rehabilitated promenade for visitors and residents to enjoy.
In fact, the Women's Club has pledged to help with this legacy project, in keeping with its significant and substantial local works over the past century and a quarter. On behalf of all 150 members, Colleen asked that the project be accelerated as an opportunity for business, community leaders, city council and staff to join forces and get this done:
"The City needs to play the lead role, but we are poised to gather community-wide momentum to finally see this project become a reality."
After all, it was Ida McNear who formed The Petaluma Women's Club in 1895. By 1900, the following creed was adopted: "We desire to do all in our power to make Petaluma an ideal town, that may be known as the home of good citizenship. In the effort for clean streets, good water, pure food and better sanitation, we will constantly be on the alert to aid our street and City officials."
I can't help but think that Mrs. McNear would be relieved to know that the Women's Club has championed this year as "Time to Trestle."
Its leaders are committed to hosting fundraisers/benefit concerts and collaborations with multiple organizations within the community to support and boost federal and state grant monies that must be secured by the City in the coming months.
Although this is a municipal project, everyone needs to think outside of the box with funding strategies.
Petaluma City Council is insufficiently staffed by its own admission and reluctant to over promise and under deliver, so let's hope that this public right of way that Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit currently has responsibility for may make this a project that SMART engineers could somehow help get off the ground before transfer of ownership to the City. SMART understands bridges, structures and permits after all. And the Trestle has been a big liability for SMART so one would hope that it is keen to pass the baton to the City. It would certainly be SMART's opportunity to shine in Petaluma.
I messaged County Supervisor and SMART Board chair David Rabbitt and he replied that same day that SMART is all in as well. Though: "Neither have the funds to do anything but working collaboratively, we will be seeking opportunities". Promising news.
Petaluma City Council Member Kevin McDonnell spoke with me at length about the challenges ahead. In short, there are three obstacles to overcome: the first is to get the City Attorney to say yes it can be done considering all the legal wrangling and for the City to then take charge; the second is to nail down the nuts and bolts of the engineering project and the third is to secure funding.
"It's a lottery, you just don't know," Kevin explained with regards to grant applications. "SMART has access to additional funds the City doesn't, so it's really important what the City does with SMART."
"The City is just now recovering from a 10 year battering," he added. "There are many, many priorities. Yet I've been very hopeful that the Trestle rehabilitation will happen. It's central to our community. It's why we have a downtown and others don't and struggle. We must preserve our downtown and go for the grants now."
It was great to catch the Trestle on CBS News on May 11th. Click here for the news clip .
Coffee with chief instigator of the Trestle restoration campaign, Living History Museum President Christopher Stevick and his wife Elaine Stevick caught me up on news from their end. Chris and Elaine met me for coffee at Riverfront Cafe to fill me in on the latest from their perspective as two of the city's most passionate campaigners (along with Petaluma Pete) for the rehabilitation of this important California heritage site.
Chris has poured his heart and soul into the future public promenade, which he describes perfectly as "Our balcony to the river".
"And the river is the heart of our town," he adds. "Santa Rosa put a lot of money into historic Railroad Square. The Trestle is already here. A town needs a square and we have a river and this is our version."
On Monday May 1st, the City Council agreed to prioritize the trestle’s restoration over the next two years. According to the Petaluma Argus Courier, prior to a six-hour city priority discussion, council member Dave King was confident the trestle restoration would be at the top of the list for the next two fiscal years.
“It’s always been significant, (but) it’s largely been a question of money,” King told the Argus in a phone interview. “Prior to Measure U, the City was strapped pretty badly, the budget was pretty tight all the way around. But as time has progressed, the trestle isn’t getting any better and something has to be done with it.”
I'll be posting regular updates with how to get involved in the Trestle project. A community promenade for festivals, events and general, every day enjoyment of the great outdoors promises to be a riverside delight. Things are happening and that's great news for Petaluma.
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