Derek Hoyle for City Council

Greetings, I'm Derek Hoyle

I love living in Fort Bragg, it still has a small town community feel to it and I've found it easy to meet my neighbors because I primarily shop locally and park and walk downtown when I can. And then there's the Post Office, a town meeting place for decades, where I'm bound to see even more of my neighbors, because we ultimately are all neighbors here on this beautiful, but isolated Mendocino Coast.

As a life long entrepreneur and small business owner, I've always felt a need to give back to my community, so I've spent the last 4 years learning how the City functions as preparation for a seat on the Fort Bragg City Council, and I'd like to be YOUR representative if you're willing to cast your vote for me, Derek Hoyle in the May 7th Election.

Currently, I'm on my third year as a City Council appointee to the Fort Bragg Planning Commission, and was recently re-elected Chair for the second year, which gives me an excellent over-view of Fort Bragg's current state of development.

I've attended nearly every City Council meeting for the last 4 years, as well as nearly every meeting concerning the Mill Site, Mill Site Trail; Marine Biology Lab/Aquarium; Industrial Arts Center; Main Street Improvement Project; and more, which gives me a broad prospective of the current and future issues Fort Bragg faces.

And during the last several years as I could make the time, I've attended meetings of the Fort Bragg Community Development Committee, FB Public Safety Committee, FB Promotion Committee, FB Public Works and Facilities Committee, and I've toured our Waste Water Facility, and the Mill Site several times, which again gives me an even more comprehensive view of how our City functions.

A few years ago I was honored by being asked by our City Manager to be a panelist during the interview process of five candidates for the Fort Bragg Chief of Police, and as you hopefully know, that turned out very well as Chief Mayberry has revitalized the Police Department helping to keep Fort Bragg a safer Community.

For nearly 3 years now I've been a member of the Mendocino Coast Biomass Collaboration, which is actively exploring ways to utilize excess forest biomass for power or fuel, and which could bring well paying jobs to our area. I'm currently the Meeting Facilitator, and the Recording Secretary.

I recently finished 13 months as the Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mendocino County, unfortunately closing it down after 37 years due to the depressed state of the economy. But now I have the time available to spend on the Fort Bragg City Council working for the citizens and business owners of Fort Bragg.

I'm an active member of the revitalized Fort Bragg Neighborhood Watch Groups forming all over town, and I started and administer the (private) FB Watch email listserv to facilitate and coordinate communications between Neighborhood Watch group captains city wide. We build Community by having neighborhood social get togethers and picnic's, which helps to keep Fort Bragg a wonderful place to live.

And more recently, as a founding member of the dormant Fort Bragg Bike Barn, I'm happy to report that it may become active again, after a recent conversation with Police Chief Mayberry about some PAL funding that may be available for tools.

So soon we may be teaching free, bicycle maintenance classes at the Police Station for local youth who want help, instruction, or how to learn to properly use hand tools, while providing a space for youth who just want a safe place to hang out.

My civic mindedness in Fort Bragg goes back over a decade when I volunteered for nearly 5 years at Parents & Friends in the Furniture Annex assisting the Manager Gypsy, and helping PFI in other ways, such as assisting with their yard sales, and repairing things around the buildings.

I'm a long time FCC Licensed Ham Radio Operator, call sign: KE6EBZ, and I'm primarily active in Emergency Communications preparation and testing. I coordinate with the City, Police Department; the County Sheriff; local Health Care Facilities; and more, to ensure Fort Bragg will have Emergency Ham Radio Communications should an earthquake, tsunami or other large scale disaster occur.

I have a love of Local History and I'm a member of the Fort Bragg Mendocino Coast Historical Society and was on their Board for 2 years. I was also a Volunteer Docent in the Guest House Museum for nearly 6 years. I also volunteer leading evening History Walks through our Downtown area during the summer months.

I moved to the Mendocino Coast 21 years ago, and for the last 13 years I've lived within 4 blocks of the Fort Bragg City Hall, which is a nice mix of neighborhoods and downtown businesses, and I have friends all over town, so as I walk the neighborhoods I have a very good feel for what Fort Bragg is about and the sense of Community that keeps our City strong.

I'd appreciate your support and vote so I can help you get your voice heard, please consider voting for me during the upcoming special Mail-In Election for Fort Bragg City Council, May 7th, 2013.

Thank You, Derek Hoyle

Derek Hoyle for City Council