New Sign, New Times for Rohnert Park

While neighboring Cotati enjoyed its largest ever Oktoberfest, Rohnert Park celebrated a milestone of its own, with a dedication of the newly reconditioned "Rohnert Park - The Friendly City" sign at the south end of town.

New Lexan panels,  new steel for the base (which a passing car had mysteriously collided with some time ago), new LED lighting instead of florescents, new ballasts for the lights, paint, a new gateway sign, landscaping - to say nothing of the volunteer and donate labor and materials that went into making the resurrected sign a true community project.

Still, the most appreciation seemed directed at former planning commission chair Dave Armstrong, who many regard as the driver of the project.

"This never would have happened without Dave and the work he did," said City Council member Amy Ahanotu, among the handful of officials at the loose Saturday afternoon gathering of 30 or so of the sign's best friends.

Maurice and Betty Frederick were there, primary beneficiaries of the project, and with good reason: Maurice Frederick was the one of the founders of city of Rohnert Park, and Betty's lively and brief dedication speech kept the chill out of the fall air. Their life-long commitment to Rohnert Park as a city and a community brought continuity to their support of the sign's rededication.

Steve Timmins was there too, the painter with county-wide roots who donated the paint. However, he insisted, "My guys deserve the credit," as almost half of the project's final $23,500 budget came from donated labor or work in kind, no less valuable for being intangible.

Wayne Sutton, current Rotary Club president, manned the grill for the event, but his contribution was more profound than hot dogs. "We scraped together a donation from out of the  budget," he said modestly of his request to Rotary for some financial support for the project.

"Twenty minutes later and it was done," said Armstrong, marveling at the efficiency with which Sutton came up with the critical funds that put the project on track. "It took a lot of Yes to get it to go."

Along with the Rotary and the various contractors who helped out with time and donations, Armstrong repeatedly thanked the city's Public Works department for their active cooperation. "The city couldn't be happier" with the new sign, said Ahanotu. Vice Mayor Pam Stafford was also on hand.

For now the new Rohnert Park sign looks completed.  A new gateway sign - in time to feature badges of local service clubs and other organizations, now solely occupied by the Rotary wheel - stands solid and clearly visible from Commerce Boulevard.

Tonight the lights come on, and the Rohnert Park welcome sign will be almost the beacon it once was. What remains? Maybe getting a local solar company to donate a small array on top of the sign, to make it energy self-sufficient.

And how about asking CalTrans about cutting down some of those trees along 101 that obscure the view of the city's identity.

"The council is going to be talking to them about that," said Ahanotu.