Dear Friends,
Summer is in full swing, as is the new 2019-2020 Fiscal Year.
In mid-June, after a week of deliberation, my colleagues and I adopted a $1.78 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2019-2020. Our deliberations were thoughtful and thorough, but the task was difficult. The Board was faced with prioritizing and aligning requests to revenues in order to adopt a structurally balanced budget in the face of recent natural disasters, increasing expenditures, and declining revenue sources. This year’s budget presented a $14 million gap between available ongoing revenues and departmental requests for ongoing funding.
The budget book and supplemental materials are difficult documents for our staff to produce, and also time-consuming to read. As your elected representative, it’s critical for me to thoroughly review and absorb these documents. The nitty-gritty details provide the foundation for critical decisions on funding issues. The Board heard extensive public comments about the cuts to mental health that were proposed, and we found a path to providing gap funding through diligent research on available funding sources.
The Board of Supervisors was faced with saving much-needed behavioral and mental health services; addressing crumbling, aged infrastructure; paying down our pension liabilities; and ensuring the County is in a fiscally safe spot so that our local government can successfully maneuver the economic downturn that many economists fear is coming.
The adopted 2019-2010 Fiscal Year Budget includes:
- Allocating $2.5 million in one-time funding to continue providing Peer Counseling and Family Services for the next two years;
- Securing more than $3.8 million to maintain Adult Services, including residential care facilities and outpatient case management programs, which support some of the most vulnerable populations in our community;
- Enhancing public safety in partnership with the Sheriff through the funding of a $300,000 security contract for the downtown Guerneville area;
- Enhancing the newly formed Department of Emergency Management with more than $3 million to invest in the creation of a comprehensive community and alert warning system;
- Supporting fire service agencies with more than $8 million, including an investment on a countywide fuels reduction campaign, and funding for cover REDCOM dispatch fees for our fire agencies;
- Allocating $450,000 to repair and manage the recreational sports fishing dock at Porto Bodega; and
- Earmarking $200,000 for a first payment on a lower Russian River Specific Area Plan to work with our towns to envision their future.
I am extremely grateful for the support, in letters, emails, public comments and more, from Fifth District constituents before and during budget hearings. Public engagement drives action and change; the more involved our pocket of Sonoma County can be, the more we can effect change in the Fifth District. Thank you to everyone who participated in the budgeting process. We would not be where we are without every voice that chimed in.
Cheers,
Lynda
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- Community Ice Cream Social: Wednesday, July 3, 5 p.m. (Sebastopol Police Services)
- 3rd of July Fireworks and Music Extravaganza: Wednesday, July 3, 5:30 p.m. (Analy High School)
- Independence Day: Thursday, July 4 (County Offices Closed)
- 4th of July Maritime Celebration: Thursday, July 4, Bodega Bay
- Redwood Coast Democrats Town Hall: Saturday, July 6, 3 to 5 p.m. (Del Mar Center, The Sea Ranch)
- Sonoma County Board of Supervisors Meeting/Quarterly Hazard Workshop -- Wildfires: Tuesday, July 9, 8:30 a.m. (Board of Supervisors Chambers)
- Moorland Neighborhood Action Team Meeting: Thursday, July 11, 6 p.m. (Andy's Unity Park)
- 65th Annual Chicken Teriyaki BBQ and Bazaar: Sunday, July 14, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Enmanji Buddhist Temple)
- Lower Russian River Wastewater Citizens' Advisory Group Meeting: Tuesday, July 16, 5 to 7 p.m.
- Adopt, Then Shop: Saturday, July 20, 10 a.m. (Sebastopol Hardware Center)
- Sonoma County Board of Supervisors Meeting: Tuesday, July 23, 8:30 a.m. (Board of Supervisors Chambers)
- 108th Annual Monte Rio Variety Show: Thursday, July 25, 4:30 p.m. (Monte Rio Amphitheater)
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Fireworks BANNED in Unincorporated Sonoma County
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Local calendars, as of June 20, 2019, list the following
public
firework events
in Sonoma County:
Wednesday, July 3rd:
- Fireworks and Music Extravaganza in Sebastopol (Analy High School)
- Windsor Kaboom Independence Day (WIndsor Town Green)
Thursday, July 4th
- Cloverdale 4th of July Fireworks (Cloverdale High School)
- Healdsburg’s 4th of July Fireworks Show (Healdsburg High School)
- Petaluma 4th of July Celebration (Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds)
- 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular at Green Music Center, Rohnert Park
- Red, White, and Boom! Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Santa Rosa
- Rocket Out of this World, Sonoma Plaza
Friday, July 5th
- Monte Rio Independence Day Celebration
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As Independence Day approaches, the County of Sonoma Fire Prevention division would like to remind residents and visitors that all fireworks are illegal in unincorporated Sonoma County.
“Our dry summer landscape creates a greater potential for fires caused by fireworks,” said Sonoma County Fire Marshal, Chief James Williams. “We encourage people to go see fireworks at events put on by professionals so you can have fun without putting others at risk.”
Every year, people are seriously injured, property is damaged, and the risk of fires increases due to the illegal use of fireworks. According to the
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
, fireworks start an average of 18,500 fires per year, including 1,300 structure fires, 300 vehicle fires, and nearly 17,000 other fires. Additionally, in 2017, U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 12,900 people for fireworks related injuries.
If you are in an area that allows fireworks, please follow CAL FIRE’s guidelines to help prevent wildfires caused from fireworks by taking the following actions:
For more information on the County of Sonoma’s Fire Prevention work, please visit Permit Sonoma's
website
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Russian River TMDL: Next steps
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The public comment period on the proposed
Russian River TMDL has closed. The TMDL, or Total Maximum Daily Load, is a new health standard proposed by the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, that aims to limit the amount of E. coli and other bacteria in the Russian River.
To control the TMDL, the Regional Water Board has the authority to require homeowners within the affected area update their septic systems, if they are not functioning at acceptable standards. Homeowners who are operating on cesspools or unidentified onsite wastewater treatment systems, or OWTS, may need to update their systems in order to comply with the new environmental standards.
Does this mean you need to update your septic system now? Not yet. After the Regional Board takes up and approves the TMDL is August, there remains a lengthy process, which will include approval by the State Water Quality Control Board. The TMDL will like go into effect no sooner than Spring 2020, and will begin with a mailed survey to properties within 200 feet of the main stem Russian River and tributaries. Individual property owners who need an upgrade will have up to 15 years to comply, unless they choose to expand their home's footprint, add additional bedrooms, or have a system that fails. Communities that demonstrate an action plan to address community-wide need will have up to 20 years to implement their system.
The Regional Water Board will hold a meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 14 at 8:30 a.m. during which it is set to discuss and likely approve the Russian River TMDL. To sign up to receive the agenda and other Russian River TMDL related news,
click here to be directed to the North Coast Regional Board Email List Subscription site.
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New groundwater fees to go in effect in 2022
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Public input helped shape the fee structures recently approved by the Santa Rosa Plain Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA).
The Santa Rosa Plain GSA is a relatively new governmental agency, created in response to a state mandate ordering the county to manage water use in the Santa Rosa Plain groundwater basin. The GSA has a responsibility to make sure that clean groundwater is available to the thousands of people, farms and businesses relying on it today and in the future. To do this, the GSA needs a small, stable funding source.
Throughout the past year and a half, the GSA board has weighed many options, including a tax measure and imposing fees to fulfill state-mandated groundwater management requirements. In June, the GSA board approved a methodology that charges all groundwater users in the Santa Rosa Plan a fee based on actual or estimated groundwater use. Those fees won’t kick in for three years, however, as the County of Sonoma and Sonoma Water have both contributed money to fund the GSA through the planning process. In other words, we’re picking up the tab for any rural groundwater user in the Santa Rosa Plain, for the next three years.
The approved fees, which will be assessed starting in 2022, are $19.90 per acre-foot for large groundwater users like vineyards; $1.99 per year for urban well users and $9.95 per year for rural residential landowners. During the three planning years, the GSA will reevaluate the average water usage to ensure equity in the rate structure once fees are assigned in 2022. For more information about the Santa Rosa Plain GSA, please visit
santarosaplaingroundwater.org
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Summer MAC meeting to focus on fire
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In August, the Coast MAC will join the Lower Russian River MAC for a special joint meeting that will feature State Senator Mike McGuire. The meeting will be held Thursday, Aug. 15 at the Cazadero Fire House. The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m.
Although the agenda has not been finalized, community members can expect an update on state legislation affecting Sonoma County. In addition,
FireSafe Sonoma is expected to provide information on fire safety and there will be a presentation on consolidation efforts and talks throughout West County.
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Public Safety Power Shutoffs: What to expect
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As we continue to have more Red Flag Warnings throughout the summer and fall season, PG&E continues to work on educating the public about the roll out of their
Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS). Click the link above (Note: The video will not play in the email browser, but will take you to a separate page) to watch a quick, three-minute video to learn all what to expect with a PSPS.
Should PG&E inform you of an upcoming public safety power shutoff, it's a good idea to have an emergency kit on hand. Common emergency kit supplies include:
- 1 gallon of drinking water per person per day
- Nonpersishable, easy to prepare food
- Non-electric can opener, plus eating utensils
- Baby food and pet food
- Flashlights; do not use candles
- Extra batteries
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
- Mobile phone with portable charger
- Basic first aid kit
- Medication and eyeglasses
- Blankets and clothing
- Toiletries
- Activities for children
- Cash and credit cards
- Important documents, like IDs, medical records, pet vaccinations and family photos
- Other useful items, including paper towels, trash bags and a multipurpose tool
For additional tips and information about how to prepare for wildfires and potential power outages, visit
pge.com/wildfiresafety.
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Community Work Days at AUP
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Be part of the neighborhood!
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Join your neighbors and Landpaths staff every Tuesday, Thursday and second Saturday of the summer in a community-wide effort to maintain Andy's Unity Park and garden.
Volunteers are needed to help weed, mulch, plant and maintain this very special park. Community work day hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, call 707-565-7888 or visit the park's
calendar site.
In addition, the Moorland Neighborhood Action Team (NAT) meets on the second Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. at the park. The group is dedicated to making the Moorland area a safer place for the community and families who live there. Over the past six months, the NAT's involvement has resulted in:
- The installation of a four-way stop at Bellevue and Moorland Avenues
- New red curb striping on Moorland Avenue
- Increased CHP and Sheriff deputies patrolling at Andy's Unity Park
- "No Overnight" parking signs within Andy's Unity Park
For more information about the Moorland NAT, contact
Omar Gallardo.
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Farewell from our Field Representative
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After nearly two years with the Fifth District, our Field Representative is moving on, having accepted a job with Social Advocates for Youth (SAY).
Amie writes:
"I am grateful for the opportunities, challenges and triumphs this office provided me. I have learned more about myself, my strengths and weaknesses and of course, my community and its strengths and weaknesses, in the past two years, than I did during my previous two years as a newspaper reporter (and that's saying a lot, because I learned a TON when I was a reporter). More important, I was lucky enough to witness time and time again, the compassion, courage, grit and straight-up unabashed funk that epitomizes West County. I love how each community has its own flavor and I will miss being entrenched in it.
Thank you for letting me serve you."
We wish her and her family the best of luck.
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Fifth District Supervisor Lynda Hopkins | County of Sonoma | 707-565-2241
Lynda.Hopkins@sonoma-county.org
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