Original 2016 RVMAC members. From left: Katrina Frey, Chris Boyd, Debra Ramirez, Alex de Grassi, Cassie Taaning, Estelle Clifton, Marybeth Kelly, Melinda Hunter, and Sheilah Rogers, being sworn in by Carre Brown in 2016.
The Redwood Valley Municipal Advisory Council RVMAC is a group of 7 members and 2 alternate members, who serve by appointment of the Board of Supervisors. The function of the RVMAC is to act as an advisory group and the voice of Redwood Valley residents to the County of Mendocino Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, and other agencies that take actions affecting the community. Membership on the RVMAC is voluntary (application form for membership may be accessed in the "About RV Mac" section of this website); no members receive any compensation. The RVMAC can't pass laws or regulations. They are under requirements of the Brown Act (see Resources section of this website), which requires OPEN MEETINGS whenever a quorum (4 or more) of members meet or talk. Meeting agendas are posted for public viewing (this website, the RV Post Office, the site of the meeting--usually the Grange-- and the RV Market) at least 72 hours in advance. For the RVMAC to gain success in influencing Board and other agency decisions, we encourage wide participation by our Redwood Valley neighbors.
RVMAC Members, as of March 2023
Dolly Riley (Chair), Jini Reynolds (Vice-Chair), Katrina Frey (Treasurer), Chris (Wick) Boyd, Patricia (Pien) Ris-Yarbrough, Adam Gaska, Marybeth Kelly (Alternate Member) and Fran Laughton (Alternate Member).
If you are interested in becoming a member of the RV MAC, fill out an application at https://mendocino.granicus.com/boards/forms/69/apply/1320305?code=0fc7ffd1-cf8c-4901-b731-0035696caae3&reapply=true
MAC members are appointed by the Board of Supervisors. The RV MAC shall have 7 members and 2 alternates. All members shall serve 4 year terms.
Also, we are in great need of a Website professional (a paid position at $22/hour) to update this website on the Squarespace application. Inquire by contacting the MAC or any member via this website or at our PO Box (243, Redwood Valley, Ca. 95470). Come join the team and earn some cash!!!!!
Dolly Riley (Chair)
Dolly received a BA in Social Sciences from Sonoma State University, a degree in Alcohol and Other Drug Studies from Mendocino College, and a Teaching Credential from Dominican University. She worked 10 years as an Employment Counselor for Employment Development Department, 7 years as a Substance Abuse Therapist for Mendocino County, a couple years as a Teacher for Ukiah Unified, and 10 years more for Mendocino County as Social Worker (5 yrs) and Social Worker Supervisor (5 yrs). Dolly Riley helped to start Family Dependency Drug Court in Mendocino County in 2007, and was recognized as Supervisor of the Year by UC Davis in 2015. She has been a member of the Mendocino County Library Advisory Board for almost four years. She joined the MAC in 2019.
Patricia Ris-Yarbrough
Patricia Ris-Yarbrough, aka Pien (a Dutch nickname pronounced Pean), is a new resident of Redwood Valley who fell in love with its natural beauty. She and her husband decided to move away from San Francisco’s foggy Ingleside to this sunny and fertile valley in 2018 to become stewards and gardeners of an old farmstead. She has a natural inclination to enhance, beautify and facilitate change for the good. In this vein she created a San Francisco nonprofit to support home bound dementia care partners, at a time when very little community socialization was available. She also became an active volunteer for the creation of a mini-park and walkway that has garnered local and national attention as an example of collaboration between neighbors, city agencies, local government and innovative landscape design. She has two grown children, in Portland, OR and Brooklyn, NY, and became an American citizen in 1998. She loves to garden, support local farmers, walking in nature and to get to know people. Pien joined the MAC in July, 2020.
Supervisor Carre Brown administers service oath to retired member, Sandra Berman
Ex-officio members are those who have termed out or retired from the MAC but still actively participate in specific projects.
Alex de Grassi [ex-officio member*] graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Economic Geography, but has since pursued a career as a recording artist and internationally touring concert guitarist. He and his wife, Alison, moved to Redwood Valley from San Francisco in 1994, where both are active members of the Mendocino County community. Recently, Alex has been appointed to the Ukiah Planning Commission. For more information, please visit www.degrassi.com.
Sheilah Rogers [ex-officio member*] moved to Redwood Valley in 1972 and is still grateful to have found the place that she and her husband Steve call home. Sheilah is a recognized pioneer and champion of micro-business development in the U.S. As the founding CEO of Mendocino County’s West Company, she worked with colleagues in California and across the country to recognize locally owned small businesses as the major economic engine of rural economies. She is currently a member of the Mendocino County Food Policy Council.
Jini Reynolds (Vice Chair)
Virginia “Jini” Reynolds has lived in Redwood Valley since 1975. She is still living in the same home with her husband Peter Reynolds. She has been an active member of the community since the day she arrived. Both of her sons were born and raised in Redwood Valley. Jini has participated in this community working with children, emergency medical teams, counseling, teaching dance and water aerobics, volunteering in classrooms, crisis counseling and more. Jini is very concerned about our Climate and our community resources. She has been involved with the RVMAC since the conception, as she was involved in the direct action to keep Dollar General out of Redwood Valley. She has worn many hats in the community. She has been a big part of the Redwood Valley Grange since 2014 and is currently the vice chair of the RVMAC. The love of her family comes first, with our community next on the list. Her motto is “We may not have it all together, but together we have it all.”
Marybeth Kelly (Alternate Member)
A founder of the fight against Dollar General in RV, is the senior Alternate member of the MAC. She is also busy as an Executive member and rental manager for the Redwood Valley Grange and a volunteer for Plowshares. Marybeth holds a BS in Field Biology from San Luis Obispo and a teaching credential, and served as an officer in the Army Signal Corps from 1978-89. Marybeth worked for 14 years as a field engineer for Pac Bell and taught science and math for 12 years at Eagle Peak Middle School. She has lived in Redwood Valley for many years with her son, Joshua, and loves reading, animal rescue, raising chickens, and photography.
Not pictured: Member Adam Gaska
Christine Boyd (aka "Wick") graduated from UC Irvine and worked for 32 years in local government, including 3 years as Manager of the Orange County Emergency Management Division. Upon retirement, she was a Deputy Fire Marshal/Battalion Chief for a large Southern California fire department. In 2020, she was elected to the Board of Directors of the Redwood Valley-Calpella Fire District. She holds a certificate in Haz Mat Management and has been a part-time instructor in ballet at Mendocino College, Chris and her husband, Tom, have lived in Redwood Valley for over 15 years. They are dedicated to helping maintain our community's rural character.
Katrina Frey, Treasurer of the MAC, graduated from Earldom College and moved to Covelo, where she studied biodynamic farming before founding the organic, Biodynamic Frey Vineyards, Ltd., in Redwood Valley with her husband, Jonathan, and brother-in-law, Matthew. Working jobs from grape picker to her current position as Executive Director, Katrina is treasurer of Taste of Redwood Valley, board member of the Demeter Assoc., a past director on the RV Water District, among other offices. In 2004, she helped spearhead the passing of the Mendocino County initiative banning GMO crops and animals.
