Accomplishments

By Shirlee Zane

Shirlee Zane's Accomplishments in her First Term as Third District Supervisor

Protecting Sonoma's Economy in Tough Times:

Shirlee formed and serves on the county's Ad-Hoc Committee for Pension Reform. The Committee has developed a Pension Reform Plan to contain costs and to maintain market competitiveness and workforce stability while increasing accountability and transparency. Shirlee's efforts to build a stronger county-wide economy were recognized with a Building Industry Association of the Bay Area Award recognizing her for initiating a code that would defer impact fees and affordable housing fees--to both assist builders and create jobs. Shirlee co-chaired and raised funds for Building Economic Success Together (BEST), a Chamber of Commerce program that seeks to create over 4,000 local jobs within five years by actively recruiting new businesses to Sonoma County. Shirlee initiated an audit of management-to-line-staff ratios to advance transparency in the County's Human Resources operations. Advocating for on-time SMART Train and Clean Transportation Planning:

Shirlee is a member of the Board of Directors for Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) and is committed to seeing passenger rail service between Sonoma and Marin Counties implemented in 2015. Construction on the line has begun and will provide hundreds of new jobs in 2012.Shirlee is on the Board of the Sonoma County Transportation Authority/Regional Climate Protection Authority (SCTA/RCPA). Promoting Health and Safety for Sonoma County Residents:

Shirlee has been an outspoken and tireless advocate for coordination of Mental Health Services with Public Safety needs. She worked with the Sheriff, Director of Health Services, and Mental Health Services to create a Behavioral Health Mobile Support Team to assist law enforcement on 911 mental health and substance abuse calls. Shirlee led the charge to create the first Sonoma County Non-Smoking Ordinance, which will have tremendous impacts on the health of our citizens and employees. Shirlee has provided top leadership for the County in resolving solid waste issues; she Chairs the Solid Waste Advisory Group that includes 12 elected representatives from both county and local governments, and has led the movement to retain and reopen our County landfill. Shirlee has worked closely with the District Attorney and community providers to open and fund the first Family Justice Center. Shirlee is serving as Chair of the Long-Term Care Subcommittee for the National Association of Counties (NACo). Her work focuses on implementation of long-term care goals, mental health issues, and a policy platform for counties across the US. Shirlee formed a Task Force On Pedestrian Safety that includes public safety officials and representatives from all county jurisdictions united in the effort to make Sonoma County more pedestrian friendly. In May 2011 Shirlee was invited to attend a special Whitehouse Summit to discuss county issues with senior cabinet members and Vice President Biden. Protecting Sonoma's Environment:

Clean water and environmental protection continue to be high priorities for Shirlee. She works with the Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) to secure federal funding for County water projects. She worked on a San Francisco Bay Restoration Federal Act and has been instrumental in developing a Groundwater Management Plan for the Santa Rosa plain. Further, she worked with the SCWA to implement the largest Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) efficiency upgrade program in the country -- the Sonoma County Energy Independence Program (SCEIP). As a proponent for our environment and open spaces, Shirlee is proud to have facilitated the opening of Taylor Mountain with Sonoma County's Open Space District, Regional Parks, and LandPaths. Shirlee has more than 25 years of experience working in health and human services as a family therapist, minister, hospital chaplain, special education educator, and inner-city social worker. She holds a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in theology from Chicago Trinity Divinity School and an M.A. in family counseling from Sonoma State University.

Shirlee is a fluent Spanish speaker and has worked abroad in Caracas, Venezuela. She has served on a number of boards and commissions, including the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) Elderly and Disabled Advisory Committee. She is a recipient of the Reverend Coffee Human Rights Award and the Community Service Award in Education from the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Prior to her election to the Board of Supervisors, she served from 1999 + 2008 as the CEO for the Council on Aging, a private nonprofit corporation that provides services for seniors countywide. There she led the successful capital campaign to raise $3.5 million for a new community kitchen to provide hot meals for seniors and serve as an emergency disaster kitchen for Sonoma County.

Awards:

Northern California Center for Wellbeing, Government Leader in Health and Wellness Award, 2011

Building Industry Association of the Bay Area, Salute to Excellence Award, 2010

Sonoma State University, Distinguished Alumni Award, 2009

Council on Aging, Senior Advocacy Award, 2009

American Philharmonic Award for Service to Senior Citizens of SonomaCounty, 2009

Reverend James E. Coffee Human Rights Award, 2005

Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award--Education, 1995