Weingarten Realty, Green Valley and the City of Santa Rosa to celebrate the re-grand opening of Stony Point Plaza.
Join us on Thursday, October 27th from 1pm-2pm to celebrate the grand re-opening of the Stony Point Plaza located at Stony Point Road and Highway 12. Guest Speakers will be City of Santa Rosa Mayor Olivares and Lance Sherwood of Weingarten Realty. The event will be held near Anna's Linens.
Green Valley provided comprehensive land surveying, landscape architecture and civil engineering design services for the complete site development of the new, artful, 88,000 square-foot Stony Point Plaza project including incorporating progressive low impact development storm water management design, decorative and eco-friendly landscaping, and pedestrian and transit oriented improvements. You can now access the Plaza and all of the shopping amenities via the Joe Rodota Multi-Use Trail along Hwy 12. To learn more about the project and Weingarten Realty, click here.
Sonoma County Regional Parks Appoints New Board Member 
Liz Ellis, President of Green Valley Consulting Engineers, Joins the Team
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors recently approved at their regular meeting on August 9th the appointment of Liz Ellis to the Board of Directors for the Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation for a term of 2 years ending in August 2013.
"I'm thrilled to be on the Board of Directors for this excellent organization. Preserving and enhancing our parks and open-spaces is incredibly important to me and a cause I take seriously", Ellis stated when asked about her feelings regarding her recent appointment.
Originally one of the founding Board Members for the Regional Parks Foundation in 1997, Ms. Ellis took a hiatus for the past few years to focus on supporting the County Parks in other ways, mainly through offering financial support and engineering services via her company, Green Valley Consulting Engineers. Ms. Ellis has been at the helm of local civil engineering firm, Green Valley Consulting Engineers, stewarding parks and open spaces in these other ways. "Now it's time to roll up my sleeves and get involved in other ways. The economic situation is precarious and it is impacting our precious parks. There is no time like the present to step in and get involved", states Ellis.
The Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3), was established in 1997 by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. The Foundation raises funds, fosters partnerships, and advocates in support of specific projects and activities that benefit our County parks. The Foundation is funded primarily through support by individuals, groups and businesses who are committed to the preservation and expansion of our County park system.
Michael Grimes Passes Certified QSD/QSP Exam
Michael Grimes, P.E. recently passed the exam for becoming a certified SWPPP (storm water pollution prevention plan) Developer and Practitioner (QSD/QSP). To date, Grimes is one of only a few hundred people in the State of California who has obtained this certification allowing Grimes and Green Valley to offer their clients money-saving and compliant SWPPPs. The certification is in response to the new federal Construction General Permit 2009-0009-DWQ that became effective in July 2010. The new permit requires that all construction projects that disturb one or more acres of land are required to obtain coverage under the new permit. These new regulations are urging the construction industry toward more rigid standards for water quality compliance. SWPPPs must now be written, amended, and certified by a Qualified SWPPP Developer (QSD). The QSD must be a Licensed Engineer, Geologist, or Landscape Architect with the State of California. For more information on how Green Valley’s professional storm water engineering staff can help you stay current with all of the new regulations, please contact Michael Grimes at: 707.579.0388 or via email.
Where has Liz been?
Training for the 6 tunnels half marathon in Las Vegas, Nevada!
On March 12th, President of Green Valley, Liz Ellis, ran over 13 miles to complete her first half marathon. Up and over mountainous and rocky terrain in the bold, desert sun with temperatures soaring to 80 degrees, Liz found her way up to the finish line. Congratulations, Liz!
Hat's Off to Green Valley's Rich Turner!
Who recently passed the State of California Land Surveyor exam to become a licensed Professional Land Surveyor! Better yet, Rich passed on his first attempt! The rigorous test failed all except 85 of the 367 people who attempted.
Rich has been with Green Valley for over five years and is responsible for heading up the full-time surveying department. When not at work you can find Rich summiting Mt. Shasta or enjoying mountain excursions in Lake Tahoe and Yosemite.
Learn more about Green Valley's surveying services.
Staying Ahead for the Benefit of our Clients
John Navarro Now an AutoCAD Civil 3D 2011 Certified Professional
Green Valley is committed to the professional development of all its employees. With an embodied understanding that when it's employees are challenged, encouraged, and inspired to be the best they can be, we know that this translates into successful projects and satisfied clients.
Green Valley continues on with its commitment with the recent certification of John Navarro, Engineering Technician with Green Valley for over two-years, who recently passed his exam to become an AutoCAD Civil 3D 2011 Certified Professional.
This rare certification allows Green Valley an opportunity to bring added value to our clients' projects. As John is 1 of only 3 individuals in California to have obtained this certification so far for the 2011 version of AutoCAD Civil 3D, Green Valley can support our clients by offering innovative design solutions and higher-quality projects faster. Additionally, Green Valley is now available to offer training services on the software to support our clients with staying current on the latest AutoCAD design standards.
Cold-Foam Asphalt Base Stabilization Featured in UC Berkeley Newsletter
Green Valley's award-winning project, Fort Bragg Downtown Streetscape was featured in the UC Berkeley Institute of Transportation Studies Spring 2008 newsletter. Download and read the article (PDF). The project was featured for its utilization of the cost-saving and environmental friendly technique of cold-foam asphalt base stabilization (PDF), a roadway recycling process in which all of the pavement and some of the underlying material is pulverized and treated with a foamed asphalt additive to produce an improved, stabilized base. In 2006 and 2007, the City of Fort Bragg, performed a two phase project using the foamed asphalt process that Green Valley designed. The project was recently honored with an ACEC Small Firm Merit Award for Engineering Excellence in part for its utilization of cold-foam asphalt.
Green Building Projects in the North Bay
Two of Green Valley's projects are listed in the North Bay Business Journal's list of Green Building projects. Both the Valley of the Moon Children's Home and the Windsor Fire Station #2 are listed amongst the top 27 Green Building projects throughout the North Bay. Each of the projects are in pursuit of LEED Silver or Platinum certification. Projects were ranked by square footage and whether or not they are registered or certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.
See the North Bay Business Journal's listing of Green Building projects.