Dear Friends,
As we near June, we enter the most important policy setting period of the year: budget hearings. While the Board of Supervisors sets policy year round, how we spend our money speaks volumes about our priorities in County Government. Either we put our money where our mouth is — or we don’t.
In June, we will face our County’s fiscal challenges head on. I have to admit that the projected numbers we’re seeing for our 2019-2020 County Budget and beyond are pretty grim. We have not received property tax backfill funding from our 2017 wildfires from the State, which means that we are faced with a $5 million shortfall right off the bat — at a time when costs are rising and revenues are not keeping pace.
It is important to be transparent and honest about the challenges and opportunities we face going into budget hearings. I’d like to share the specific projects that I will be asking the Board to support this next fiscal year.
Some of the proposals I have put forth include:
· $1.4 million for the General Plan update;
· $300,000 for enhanced security in downtown Guerneville;
· One-time funding for flood and fire damaged roads (cost estimate from Transportation & Public Works
pending);
· $450,000 for dock repair and replacement at the Sports Fishing Center in Bodega Bay;
· $300,000 funding toward first phase development of Specific Area Plan for Lower Russian River
Area, from Forestville to Duncans Mills;
· $300,000 toward developing a habitat conservation plan that will assist in the recovery of local
endangered species and the development of infill housing within urban growth boundaries;
· $200,000 to convert County energy use to 100 percent renewable energy.
Additionally, my priorities include protecting mental health services, ensuring that Sheriff Mark Essick can maintain critical public safety services in unincorporated areas, and ensuring adequate staffing to provide for internal fiscal controls and future revenue increases. (It doesn’t sound sexy, but if we fire auditors, we are not effectively stewarding taxpayer dollars, and we are risking future mismanagement of funds.)
While the Department of Health Services was able to backfill a $19 million revenue gap last year with one-time reserves, this year’s $11 million revenue gap is looking even more difficult to close. Behavioral Health, in particular, is looking at a shortfall of $8 million and the proposed reductions will have negative impacts to many in Sonoma County who rely on government-funded mental health services. Proposed cuts could affect the Peer and Family Support Program, Crisis Stabilization Unit and other critical programs. I do not support service reductions that impact our most vulnerable population. I plan to work with my colleagues to mitigate these cuts to the greatest extent during budget hearings, which will take place starting June 11 and continue for several days.
Speaking of my colleagues, it’s important to recognize that working
with
my fellow Supervisors — not against them, and not just in my own interest — is truly how I approach budget hearings. At the most basic level, the budget can’t be passed by any one Supervisor. It takes a majority of the Board to approve the budget. But in an era of resource scarcity, I believe it’s critical to work in the best interests of the community (including communities outside of the 5th District), to stay positive and cordial, and to balance individual district needs (like security for downtown Guerneville) with broad countywide needs (like behavioral health services). I don’t expect all of the proposals I’ve put forward to be funded... but I also know you won’t ever get what you don’t ask for!
Maybe the best part about budget hearings is that they're completely, 100 percent open to the public. Make sure to
check the agendas here
and, if you can't attend the meetings in person, stream them online. The link to the video will appear next to the agenda on the day of the meeting. If you can't find it, make sure to click on my
Facebook page,
and you'll find the link of the meeting that day.
Cheers,
Lynda
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- Forestville Youth Parade and Carnival: Saturday, June 1, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Forestville Youth Park)
- Sonoma County Pride Parade: Saturday, June 1, 11 a.m. (Santa Rosa Courthouse Square)
- Graton Green Opening Celebration: Sunday, June 2, 4 to 5 p.m. (Graton Green)
- Planning Meeting on the Occidental Area: Monday, June 3, 1:30 to 3 p.m. (OAEC)
- Sonoma County Board of Supervisors Meeting: Tuesday, June 4, 8:30 a.m. (Board of Supervisors Chambers)
- West County Pet Adoption Fair: Saturday, June 8, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Ragle Ranch Regional Park)
- Russian River Sisters' Bingo Benefiting Russian River Health Center: Saturday, June 8, 6 p.m. (Guerneville Veterans Hall)
- Sebastopol Fire Department Blood Drive: Tuesday, June 11, 1 p.m. (Sebastopol Fire Department)
- Sonoma County Board of Supervisors Budget Hearings: Tuesday, June 11 through Friday, June 14: 8:30 a.m. (Board of Supervisors Chambers)
- Stumptown Daze Parade: Saturday, June 15, 11 a.m. (Guerneville, Main Street)
- Lower Russian River MAC Meeting: Thursday, June 20, 5:30 p.m. (Guerneville Veterans Hall)
- Moorland Neighborhood Action Team Potluck: Saturday, June 22 (Andy's Unity Park)
- Pig and Pie Fundraiser for West County Community Services: Saturday, June 22, 5:30 p.m. (Guerneville Senior Center).
- Lower Russian River Wastewater Citizens Advisory Group Meeting: Thursday, June 27, 6 to 8 p.m. (Monte Rio Community Center)
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Federal Disaster declared for February floods
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Sonoma County 1 of 17 eligible to receive disaster funds
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After nearly three months since the most catastrophic flooding event the lower Russian River has seen since 1986, President Donald Trump issued a disaster declaration for Sonoma County, making it eligible to receive federal funding to repair damage made to public infrastructure.
The disaster declaration makes the county eligible for roughly $19.5 million of reimbursements. Unfortunately, these reimbursements are only for damages to public infrastructure.
Cal-OES and FEMA did not recommend reimbursement for local residents, as they did not believe our disaster would qualify.
According to Eric Lamoureux, acting deputy director for response and recovery for Cal-OES, FEMA historically provides California with individualized disaster aid in areas where more than 800 homes receive major damage.
The declaration will allow the county to seek funding reimbursement on much needed infrastructure repairs, which means we can begin to prioritize slides, slips and other damage caused to public infrastructure.
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River MAC Meeting: June 20, 2019
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Sheriff and River deputy to
discuss budget, staffing changes
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The Lower Russian River Municipal Advisory Council (River MAC) will hold its next regularly scheduled meeting on
Thursday, June 20 at the Guerneville Veterans Memorial Hall at 5:30 p.m.
The full agenda will be published at least 72 hours before the meeting, in accordance with the Brown Act, though the River MAC strives to release the agenda a week before the meeting. While the June meeting agenda is still being finalized, the River MAC is pleased to announce that
Sonoma County Sheriff Mark Essick, Lt. Mike Raasch and Misti Wood, community engagement liaison with the Sheriff's Office, will present on budget and staffing decisions made during the June Board of Supervisors budget hearings.
Read more about Lt. Raasch, who recently returned to the Guerneville area.
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Sonoma County Chipper Program Available
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Free chipping available to reduce wildfire risk
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Sonoma County's free Roadside Chipper program supports residents in creating defensible space around their homes and reducing vegetation along access routes. Properties in unincorporated Sonoma County are eligible to receive up to three hours of complimentary chipping. On average, this is enough time to chip a pile of vegetation that is about 50 feet long, 4 feet tall and 8 feet wide.
The program, which is offered May through November (depending on the weather), is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Last year, the program served more than 450 properties. Since this season kicked off on May 1, the County has received 123 applications, spanning the County from Cloverdale to Sonoma and Jenner to Kenwood.
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Why a Census?
Federal funds, grants and support to states, counties and communites are based on population totals and breakdowns by sex, age, race and other factors. Your community benefits the most when the census counts everyone. When you respond to the census, you help Sonoma County get its fair share of more than $675 billion available per year of federal government funds.
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Are you ready to get counted?
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On May 17, 2019 the County of Sonoma partnered with United Way of Wine Country to host the first event highlighting the beginning of the Census 2020 outreach efforts.
A census aims to count the entire population of a country as at the location where each person usually lives. The census asks questions of people in homes and group living situations, including how many people live or stay in each home, and the sex, age and race of each person.
The goal is county everyone once and only once, in the right place.
Learn more about Sonoma County's Census 2020 efforts, including how you can be involved, what's new, and find the answers to frequently asked questions.
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Gleason Beach and Highway 1 Repairs
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Coastal Highway down to one lane north of Bodega Bay
Traffic on Highway 1 at Gleason Beach, located just north of Bodega Bay, will be slow going through the summer months. Due to dangerous slides and erosion in the southbound lane, Highway 1 will be limited to one lane for 1200 feet, or roughly 2/10 of a mile.
The single lane will be managed by a sustainable signalization system that will remain in place until the area is repaired or made safe for traveling.
Driveways along the affected part of Highway 1 will have a push button that will stop traffic in both directions, enabling them to safely leave their residences as needed. The entire system will use a combination of poles and protection ground laid conduit, on the pavement or attached to K-rails, and power lines to power up the system.
Caltrans held a public meeting Thursday, May 23 at the Bodega Bay Fire Protection District to discuss the lane closure and potential solutions to the damaged roadway. Caltrans showed up in force to discuss the repair projects and the sudden closures, concentrating on two areas directly impacting Highway 1 through Bodega Bay, including just south of Bay Hill Road and at Gleason Beach. The meeting was well-attended with approximately 75 locals. Caltrans listened to concerns and answered questions.
Julie Schneider, local homeowner in Bodega Bay stated “With only two lanes to work with, there really isn’t a perfect solution, but I thought the representatives from Caltrans and the County encouraging feedback and suggestions from the Community was a great start in an effort to make it as painless as possible.”
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In addition to the Gleason Beach project, Caltrans will be working on additional projects along the Coastal Highway to repair damage caused by the early storms of 2019.
Highway 1 travelers should expect other delays due to construction work this summer, including:
- A culvert replacement at post mile 11.2 (between Bodega Bay and Salmon Creek). Estimated repair time is May 2019 through October 2019
- One-way signal and slide repair and post mile 15.4 (Gleason Beach Project).
- Slide repair and drainage improvements at post mile 22.64 (just north of Jenner). Estimated repair time is July 2019 through November 2019.
- Slide repair and one-way signal at post mile 24.2 (north of Jenner, just before Meyers Grade). Estimated repair time is May 2019 through November 2019.
- Slide repair and drainage improvements at post mile 38.64. Estimated repair time is July 2019 through November 2019.
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Meet the Lower Russian River Wastewater CAG
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The Lower Russian River Wastewater Citizens Advisory Group (called CAG for short) was created to help inform residents about efforts to develop sustainable and affordable wastewater solutions for community in the lower Russian River area that meet the new state and county requirements. The CAG was established by the Lower Russian River Wastewater Interagency Team (called IT for short). The IT is a group of professionals from several agencies involved in implementing the new state regulations pertaining to the Russian River known as the TMDL, or Total Maximum Daily Load.
The initial focus of the CAG is participating in a planning and brainstorming process that will explore and develop practicable improvements to wastewater treatment in portions of Monte Rio and Villa Grande. The CAG is working with the IT to identify grant opportunities that could assist homeowners with the cost of improved wastewater treatment, whether septic replacement, small common sewage systems or sewer system connection. The range of solutions developed during the planning study could serve as a model for other communities. Most of the nine volunteer members live in Monte Rio or Villa Grande, with others from neighboring communities facing similar issues.
The members have committed to engage community members with government agencies to work toward effective, long-term solutions to wastewater issues along the lower Russian River. The CAG is seeking solution that both work for the community and meet new government requirements. Priorities include affordability, practicability and openness to alternatives.
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Nine community volunteers comprise the Lower Russian River CAG. They include:
- Brenda Adelman (Rio Nido), Russian River Watershed Protection Committee
- Kyla Brooke (Villa Grande), Realtor, LMFT, President of Friends of Villa Grande
- Dan Fein (Monte Rio), Technology Consultant
- Rich Holmer (Villa Grande), Septic System Consultant
- Brian Grant (Monte Rio), Project Coordinator with Praxis Architects
- Steve Mack (Forestville), Retired General Manager of Sweetwater Springs Water District
- Steve Trippe (Monte Rio), President and Executive Director of New Ways to Work
- Mike Reilly (Forestville), Retired Fifth District Supervisor
- Sarah Yardley (Hacienda), Retired Civil Engineer
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CAG meetings are held the fourth Thursday of the month at the Monte Rio Community Center from 6 to 8 p.m. The public is welcome to attend. Visit the
CAG website to learn more.
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Get out, enjoy the air and win a prize!
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On
June 1, Sonoma County will launch the Coastal Close-up photo contest to highlight the beautiful Sonoma Coast. Everyone is invited to submit a photo that showcases Sonoma County’s coastline, coastal vegetation or wildlife.
Submit your photo before
July 12 and compete to win prizes donated by Shutterbug Camera, Sonoma County Tourism and Sonoma County Regional Parks. The judge panel includes Sarah Heyne from
Sonoma Coast Chapter Surfrider Foundation, Cea Higgins from
Coastwalk, 5th District Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, and professional photographer
Dennis Kohn.
“We hope this photo contest encourages people to enjoy our Coast by getting outside, taking pictures, and sharing these images with our community,” said 5th District Board of Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, “These photos will help us visualize the many different perspectives of our unique coastal resources.”
This contest coincides with Permit Sonoma’s public engagement process for updating the Draft Local Coastal Plan, which is scheduled to take place this summer. This Plan meets the California Coastal Act’s goal to preserve coastal resources, and it is the blueprint for land use along the coast. Contest photos may be selected for inclusion in the Local Coastal Plan and related materials.
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Fifth District Supervisor Lynda Hopkins | County of Sonoma | 707-565-2241
Lynda.Hopkins@sonoma-county.org
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