• CITY COUNCIL PRESENTATION-I made a presentation to the City Council (CC) on Dec. 18.  Basically I stated that establishing a quiet zone would have both financial and quality of life benefits for Fairfield, and would be a great boon to the new Fairfield Arts and Convention Center (FACC).  No action was requested, so there was little discussion and no vote.  However, my sense is that if the community funds a quiet zone, that we will eventually get the CC’s support. 
• PRIVATE FUNDING-After consulting with lots of people both inside and outside City government, I said we would raise the necessary funds privately to pay for the necessary crossing improvements.  The basic plan is to raise around $50,000, roughly half the required amount, and then go back to the CC and request that they start the necessary actions to approve a quiet zone. 
• FUND RAISERS-we need to establish a core group of people who will work to raise money for our quiet zone.  Although it helps to have substantial contacts to do this sort of thing, anyone who has the time and desire to help will be able to do so.  Please contact me at qt@natel.net if you want to help.  Put “fund raiser” in the subject line to help me sort emails. 
• NON-PROFIT STATUS-before actually accepting any money, we want to have non-profit status.  Once we have accomplished this, we will open an escrow account where all funds will be deposited.  If for some reason the project does not happen, all money received will be returned with interest.  I consulted with an attorney about non-profit status and he offered to help.  However, we are first checking to see if we can use someone else’s non-profit status as a vehicle for fund raising.  Anyone who has suggestions of possible vehicles for non-profit please contact me.
• FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS-it is time to start seeking commitments to support our quiet zone project.  My wife Martha and I are going to start the ball rolling by committing $2,000 to the fund.  I believe that this will be a very profitable contribution, as we are very sure that once the quiet zone is established, that our house, located just 4 houses from the RR tracks, will gain much more than this amount in value.  Please email your commitment to qt@natel.net, and put “financial commitment” in the subject line. 

I hope we can get this project done by the time the Arts and Convention Center opens officially in early 2008.  As a community we raised millions for the FACC.  We should be able to raise the necessary money for a quiet zone in the next 6 months.  Thanks and have a great 2007.  Regards,  Bill Blackmore