Culture/Education

Here's a paper by Jason Bradford & Brian Weller presenting a model detailing a way to think about creating social change. Transformative Social Change -- Adobe .pdf file Jason Bradford & Brian Weller have written a paper discussing the stages of effective working team development. Team Development Model -- Adobe .pdf file In this paper Jason Bradford describes the first several months in the history of WELL and his perspective on how to start an economic localization group Outpost Guide: Willits Chapter -- Adobe .pdf file

Energy

In February 2005 the Energy Project Team completed a preliminary inventory of the Willits Community's energy usage Willits Area Energy Inventory -- Excel file (xls) The WELL Energy Group, in conjunction with the Willits Ad Hoc Energy Committee, has developed an energy framework paper. This paper discusses steps towards Energy Independence, as developed for the City of Willits and surrounding community. Be sure to look at Appendix I for entrepreneurial possibilities regarding businesses and needs in a post-petroleum economy! (1st released August 2005): Recommendations towards Energy Independence for the City of Willits and Surrounding Community -- Adobe .pdf file Want to conduct an energy inventory in your own community but don't know where to start? This document also contains notes on related inventories such as water, food and medicine. Click here for a (draft) guide to help you get going! (1st released August 2005): Conducting Community Inventories -- Adobe .pdf file Here's a paper from the WELL Energy Group outlining two specific energy projects for the City of Willits with an emphasis on emergency preparedness(1st released February 2006): Two Energy Projects to Start the City of Willits Towards Energy Independence -- Adobe .pdf file

Finance

Here's a link to the BerkShares Local Currency web site. This organization has set up a local currency in Massachusetts. BerkShares Here is a link to a Bay Area organization that can help set up local currency. Current Innovations

Food

Here is a graphic created by Professor Phil Howard at Michigan State University detailing the organic food industry structure: Organic Food Industry Structure -- Adobe .pdf file Here are a couple of web sites that list local food producers: CELL Local Food Resources Mendocino Bounty Local Products List Here are ten reasons to buy local food as published by "Growing for Market," a national monthly journal for direct farmers: Ten Reasons to Buy Local Food -- Adobe .pdf file Environmental Commons has published a series of educational fact sheets on the importance of local control in supporting healthy regional food systems. The fact sheets are a clear and concise educational tool to raise awareness and inspire action for strong local food systems. You can download them here: Local Food Fact Sheets In March 2005 the Food Project Team completed a Willits Area biointensive garden plan for 1000 square feet. Willits Area Biointensive Garden Plan -- Adobe .pdf file Here's a report on calculating local food needs written by Jason Bradford (1st released September 2005): Food Security Report -- Adobe .pdf file.  Here are four blogs by Jason Bradford in a series Can My County Feed Itself? Part 1: The Diet, Part 2: The Land Requirements, Part 3: The Available Land Base, Part 4: Try Again.

Health

The Health Project Team has prepared a local directory of Health Care Providers. It may be accessed here: Willits Health Care Providers Directory -- Adobe .pdf file

Transportation

Here are some links that you will find useful to track the Willits Highway 101 Bypass Project: Caltrans Willits Project Page MCOG Home Page On November 20, 2006 the WELL Coordinating Committee sent a letter to the Willits City Council inviting them to reconsider the four-lane Highway 101 bypass. Read the letter here: WELL City Bypass Letter -- Adobe .pdf file Phil and Richard Jergenson have been thinking about Rail Villages for quite some time. Here is a paper on such prepared by Phil Jergenson: Rail Villages: A New Route to Sustainable Mendocino -- Adobe .pdf file In 2003 the City of Willits completed a design study of how Baechtel Road & Railroad Avenue might be connected to improve traffic flow in downtown Willits. You can download it here: Baechtel Road - Railroad Avenue Design Study -- Adobe .pdf file In 2000 a bike & pedestrian plan was created for the City of Willits. You can view the graphic of that plan here: Willits Bike & Ped Plan -- 4MB .jpg file In 1999 a Willits community seminar was held to discuss envision transportation possibilities in Willit. Here is the graphic that resulted: One Town, One Vision -- .jpg file

Water

On September 21, 2006 the City of Willits' water attorney, Alan Lilly, wrote a letter to the City of Willits regarding the City's water issues. You can review that letter here: Alan Lilly Letter September 2006 -- Adobe .pdf file The City of Willits has commissioned several studies to review water & sewage rates and usage within the city. They are posted here: Sewage Rate Study June 2006 -- Adobe .pdf file Water Planning Study February 2006 -- Adobe .pdf file Water Rate Study June 1998 -- Adobe .pdf file Water Rate Study June 1997 -- Adobe .pdf file The U.S. Geological Survey has conducted a study on Mendocino County's ground water resources. We have extracted the portion describing water resources in the Little Lake Valley. You can download it here: Ground Water Study -- Adobe .pdf file - 20MB