Windsor opposes renaming Black Mountain

Black Mountain is more than 12 miles due north of Windsor, but that hasn't stopped the Town Council from going on record against a proposal to rename the peak.

A majority of council members last week voted to oppose billionaire vintner Jess Jackson's bid to rename the 3,128-foot-high peak Alexander Mountain.

Black Mountain "has been the name of the mountain for generations," said Councilwoman Debora Fudge who put the issue on the agenda. "It's important to me that the historical things in Sonoma County remain and not be changed for commercial reasons."

Fudge, who is running for county supervisor, described the proposed name change as "a decision of regional importance."

The mountain, which looks more like a long ridge compared to its more pointed northerly neighbor, Geyser Peak, is clearly visible from Windsor.

Councilmembers Sam Salmon and Cheryl Scholar sided with her and agreed to write a letter to the U.S. Board of Geographic Names to preserve the current name.

Councilmembers Robin Goble and Steve Allen abstained on the issue, noting it was outside the realm of Windsor politics.

"Windsor's a long ways away from it (Black Mountain)," Allen said. "I feel it's too easy for councils to get distracted with things not germaine for what we were elected to do."

Pete Downs, an executive with Jackson Family Enterprises, last year proposed renaming the peak Alexander Mountain, saying it would distinguish it from many others in the country named Black Mountain and honor the heritage of pioneer Cyrus Alexander, for whom Alexander Valley is named.

But he acknowledged the new name would support an application for a new American Viticultural Area called Alexander Mountain, for the grapes grown on Jackson's 5,400-acre estate.

Jackson already is using the name "Alexander Mountain" on some of his wine labels and began using it after he bought the old Gauer Ranch on the flanks of Black Mountain in the 1990s.

Two other city councils in northern Sonoma County have also weighed in on the issue.

The Cloverdale City Council last August voted in favor of the name change.

But after the proposal drew publicity and opposition from more than 300 residents who signed a petition against the renaming, the Healdsburg City Council voted to keep it Black Mountain.