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Over the last month, we’ve entered a new season and a new fiscal year and are making other important transitions as well. In this month’s edition of SoCo Correspondent, you will learn about changes occurring in the county’s response to two major challenges, the COVID-19 pandemic and the drought. Meanwhile, we also provide updates on the new budget approved by the Board of Supervisors in June, upcoming events including some workshops for homeowners on wildfire resilience and an important agreement the county has reached with labor groups to strengthen oversight of the Sheriff’s Office. Get the latest on these stories and other developments around the county below.
As always, we encourage you to share with friends, colleagues and family members so they can sign up for the SoCo Correspondent and receive it directly the first week of each month.
¿Está interesado en leer sobre lo que hace el Condado de Sonoma cada mes? Este boletín estará disponible en español. Regístrese aquí para suscribirse a nuestro boletín, el SoCo Correspondent.
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Conserving water this summer is critical with supplies nearing historic lows at Lake Sonoma and Lake Mendocino, which store water for more than 600,000 people in Sonoma and Marin counties.
Remember: There is no guarantee the 3-year-old drought will end this winter. If we have another dry year, we could face drastic cuts in 2023 unless we conserve what we have now. For water saving tips and programs you can take advantage of to conserve water and save money, visit SavingWaterPartnership.org.
To preserve dwindling water supplies in Lake Sonoma and Lake Mendocino, Sonoma Water began cutting flows in the Russian River last month. The action, which was approved by the State Water Resources Control Board, commits Sonoma Water and its retail customers to a 20 percent reduction in diversions from the Russian River this summer and fall, compared to 2020.
Sonoma Water will be presenting an update on the state of the drought to the Board of Supervisors on July 12.
Join Sonoma Water and the County of Sonoma at 4 p.m. on Thursday, July 7 (the day we’re sending this newsletter) for the latest in our series of monthly updates on the drought. Supervisor Lynda Hopkins will moderate a panel of experts who will provide new information about the impact of the drought on recreation and water quality in the Russian River. Click here to register for today’s town hall and upcoming webinars in the series. A recording of the July 7 town hall update will be available at youtube.com/c/countyofsonoma.
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With the reduction of federal COVID-19 funding at the end of June, Sonoma County’s response to the pandemic is in transition. The county’s COVID work will shift from an emergency response to a long-term disease control initiative within the county’s Department of Health Services.
The county’s COVID response unit will contract from 60 to 40 workers, while Health Services will absorb several of the unit’s functions. The county will focus its resources on providing critical support for vulnerable communities, including the elderly, the immunocompromised, the unsheltered and the uninsured.
“As long as COVID is still with us, we will continue to respond to keep the community safe,” said Supervisor James Gore, chair of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. “Our response is becoming more strategic as we plan for the next phase of living with this virus.”
Make no mistake: COVID is still with us. While cases are not rising in Sonoma County, they are not falling much either following a surge in early May. We are still detecting 38.5 new cases per day per 100,000 residents. Vaccination remains the best protection against serious illness and death. If you are eligible for a primary vaccination or booster, don’t wait.
Sonoma County’s fixed clinic at the Roseland Community Center will remain open at least through September. Vaccines also will be provided through primary care providers, health centers and pharmacies. This includes vaccines for those as young as six months old.
Last month, federal and state regulators approved the use of COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 6 months to 4 years old. Parents who have health care coverage are encouraged to reach out to their primary care provider to find a vaccination appointment for their children as soon as possible. Vaccinations for those ages 6 months and up are also available at the county’s clinic at the Roseland Community Center. Walk-ups are accepted but appointments for pediatric vaccinations also can be made on myturn.ca.gov.
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Board approves $2.26 billion budget | |
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The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a $2.26 billion budget for the new fiscal year that began July 1. The plan, which calls for a 7 percent increase in spending, avoids any reductions to core county services.
“This budget makes major investments in county priorities, without overcommitting to ongoing programs,” said Supervisor James Gore, chair of the Board of Supervisors. “It’s a responsible budget that optimizes available resources with targeted investments in strategic goals and accounts for the uncertainty of both outside funding and future economic stability.”
The budget allocates $224.8 million to behavioral health services, $126.2 million for road maintenance and operations, $80.5 million to public health, including the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and more than $27 million for an array of infrastructure projects. It funds 4,272 full-time employees, a 2.8 percent increase in staffing.
As part of Sonoma County’s commitment to transparency, open government and citizen engagement, the county has created an interactive website that allows the public to drill down for detailed information. View the budget tool at sonomacounty.budget.socrata.com
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County strengthens law enforcement oversight | |
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The County of Sonoma and two labor groups representing county law enforcement employees, the Sonoma County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association and Sonoma County Law Enforcement Association, have reached an agreement to implement Measure P.
The 2020 voter-approved measure expands the authority of the county’s Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach (IOLERO).
The county and the associations spent more than a year negotiating the agreement. All parties united in a mutual effort to implement the voters’ will, ensure that IOLERO’s expanded authority represented smart and effective law enforcement oversight, and treat Sheriff’s Office employees fairly.
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A feature series highlighting your public servants across a variety of departments. | |
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Name: Eduardo Barragan
Title: Child Protective Service Social Worker
Years with County: 19
Education and/or certifications: Bachelor's degree in sociology from Sonoma State University; master’s degree in social work from California State University Long Beach; licensed clinical social worker
Personal side: Lives in Windsor with wife and three children
What do you do? My ultimate goal is to ensure children are safe in our community. I have worked in Family Reunification, Emergency Response, TEAM facilitation and now court investigations with the county’s Family Youth and Children’s division investigating and intervening in cases of child abuse and neglect.
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If there is a decision to separate a child from the parent/caretaker and place the child with a relative or foster home, I collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of medical professionals, attorneys, law enforcement, schools and family to present a recommendation to the court to make sure the child is safe. We seek to empower these families, helping them gain the skills through supportive services they need to make healthy and safe decisions in their lives.
What gives you fulfillment? I grew up in this community, so I am vested in trying to help and improve it. I am very fortunate to be a part of something that supports the community in ways that can help create safety, not just for children, but for their families and the community as a whole. I have witnessed miracles. I have seen people in crisis — I am talking about the worst possible case scenarios that you could ever imagine — and I have seen them empowered to become productive and healthy people for themselves and their children. Being a part of that is a true blessing.
Passions outside of work? I absolutely love classic cars and have a fully restored 1965 Chevy Impala. In 2001, some friends and I founded 1 Firme Car Club. Together with other clubs in the Sonoma County Lowrider Council, we helped create a lowrider patrol car for the Santa Rosa Police Department this year in the memory of Marylou Armer (a detective who died of COVID-19 in 2020). Through the Latino Action Committee, 1 Firme Car Club hosts a lowrider car show at the Luther Burbank Center. The LAC plans the Mexican Independence Day Festival that draws thousands of people, as well as other events that celebrate our cultural heritage. I have also been a part of a local leadership project, On The Verge, which helped develop the CURA Project, a nonprofit that helps people impacted by COVID. Helping others and being able to be part of the solution in society is something I was taught by my parents. Their example has motivated me to help others.
On working at the county: I had no idea when I joined the county 19 years ago that there would be so many opportunities to grow and develop new skills. I started as an entry-level eligibility worker at the Department of Human Services and was promoted several times, helping to train and develop newly hired staff for the department. After earning my master’s degree, I got the opportunity to transition into a new role as a Child Protective Service social worker, where I worked in family reunification, emergency response, team facilitation and court services. Now that I have my LCSW accreditation, I will be advancing into a behavioral health clinician role with the Department of Health Services. I love developing and learning new skills and using them to help my community.
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See something that needs to be fixed in unincorporated areas of Sonoma County? We’ve got an app for that.
The new SoCo Connect app allows you to quickly and easily report problems that need to be addressed, like downed road signs, damaged guardrails, hazardous trees and overgrown vegetation, potholes, abandoned cars and roadside litter.
The app, which replaces SoCo Report It, also allows users to submit photos and monitor progress on requests. Download the new SoCo Connect app from the Apple and Google Play stores. Residents may also use the SoCo Connect page on the county’s website to file a report.
Problems in areas not serviced by the County of Sonoma should be reported to the appropriate municipal government agency.
View a list of local agencies here.
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County partners with Marin, Mendocino to create a cleaner coast
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Sonoma County is teaming up Mendocino and Marin counties to expand its year-old campaign to reduce the amount of litter and waste in coastal regions and watersheds.
The initiative, which Sonoma County launched in 2021 in partnership with Colorado nonprofit Leave No Trace, will feature a bilingual messaging campaign to educate coastal visitors about the Seven Principles of minimal impact.
“We had a bit of a head start with the successful launch of our Leave No Trace campaign last year, and we are happy to leverage and coordinate our efforts with our neighbors from the north and south,” said Sonoma County Supervisor Lynda Hopkins. “Visitors don’t stop at county lines, nor does the flow of trash.”
More than 55,000 pounds of trash were picked up from the sensitive coastal environment across the three counties last year.
A Leave No Trace Hot Spot event will be taking place from Wednesday, Aug. 3 through Monday, Aug. 8 at Steelhead Beach Regional Park. Hot Spot events are held for public resources that are impacted by high usage. The Subaru/Leave No Trace team will be leading a variety of workshops, outreach programs and community events. Check this website for more information as the date nears.
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County temporarily bans burning of landscape debris | |
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In response to the increased threat of wildfires over summer and fall, Permit Sonoma has banned the burning of residential landscape debris in unincorporated areas of Sonoma County.
The ban aligns Sonoma County with a burn suspension announced last month by Cal Fire. With the landscape parched by a historic drought, the county is bracing for a long and dangerous wildfire season.
All open burning in unincorporated areas is now suspended, though agricultural, forest management, fire training and other industrial type burning may proceed if a Cal Fire official – or a local fire chief – has inspected the area and issued a permit. Permit Sonoma will coordinate with Cal Fire on lifting the burn suspension once conditions are safe.
For more information on burning in unincorporated Sonoma County, please contact Permit Sonoma’s Fire Prevention Division at (707) 565-2361 or FirePrevention@sonoma-county.org.
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Law enforcement legs it out for Special Olympics
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Members of the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, Windsor Police Department, the county Probation Department and the county District Attorney’s Office teamed up June 21 on a blazing hot Tuesday to carry the Flame of Hope through Sonoma County and raise money for the Special Olympics.
The county participated in the 25th anniversary of the Northern California Law Enforcement Torch Run, joining more than 2,000 law enforcement personnel from 195 agencies. Since its inception in 1997, the Northern California run has raised more than $20 million to support the athletes of Special Olympics.
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Board seeks input on evacuation zone rules for agriculture workers | |
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The Board of Supervisors will collect public input on July 19 as it considers creating new rules governing workers’ access to agricultural properties and livestock during mandatory evacuations.
Members of the public are invited to comment by attending the workshop in person in the Board Chambers or by participating via Zoom by clicking on the July 19 meeting agenda here: https://sonoma-county.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx. Spanish-language interpretation will be available for those attending the meeting in person as well as those attending via Zoom.
The county launched the initiative following wildfires in 2017, 2018 and 2019. To address concerns about access to agriculture and livestock operations during mandatory evacuations, including the safety of operators and workers, the county invited 43 stakeholder groups to provide input and held 18 stakeholder meetings. In February, the board created a seven-member Ad Hoc Committee to support a collaborative policy development process and to ensure that any program is implemented in a way that supports the needs of local workers and operators.
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Learn how to upgrade your home | |
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The county Energy and Sustainability Division is offering a new round of online workshops to help homeowners learn how to make and fund improvements that will make their homes more resilient.
The free workshops, to be held each Wednesday through July 27, cover a range of topics including ways to save energy, conserve water, and tap the benefits of solar power. Presentations will also include information about the county’s property-based financing program and other resources such as no-cost consultations, rebates and incentives to get projects done.
Information on the series, including the schedule and registration links, is available from the Department of General Services’ Energy and Sustainability Division.
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Study finds troubling disparities in kindergarten readiness | |
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Fewer than one in three Sonoma County children were ready for kindergarten when they entered school last fall, according to a new report released by the county Department of Human Services and First 5 Sonoma County.
Kindergarten readiness has been declining in Sonoma County over the last five years, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and major wildfires in three of the last five years. But some parts of our community have been hit harder than others: Latinx, Black and Indigenous/Native American children, and children from low-income families.
The report found children who attended early childhood education programs (including preschool, licensed home-based child care and Head Start) were almost twice as likely to be ready for kindergarten as children who did not attend any early learning programs. It is one reason the Board of Supervisors allocated $6.35 million of American Rescue Plan Act funding to address early learning facility and workforce gaps and create a guaranteed basic income pilot for families with young children.
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Trim your waste this summer | |
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Learn how you can help make our county more sustainable during Zero Waste Week, which takes place July 24-30 and features a series of workshops, tours and other events that showcase simple ways to reduce waste.
Zero waste is a philosophy that promotes reuse, recycling, composting and conservation programs, and emphasizes sustainability by considering the entire life-cycle of products and systems. It views discarded materials as a resource, rather than waste that needs to be managed.
Over the course of the week, participants will have opportunities to tour the Redwood Landfill compost facility, glean fruit from apple orchards, view artwork upcycled from discarded objects, clean up Colgan and Nathanson creeks, learn how to can tomatoes, and find out how to turn kitchen scraps into rich compost.
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Learn about the environment – and get paid for it | |
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The Sonoma County Youth Ecology Corps is still accepting applications for its summer employment program, which gives 18- to 24-year-olds opportunities to learn new skills, acquire work experience and earn money while working with crews on local environmental and conservation projects.
Participants earn $16 an hour learning about the environment, exploring career opportunities and developing work-readiness skills. The program lasts 8 weeks during the summer with opportunities for extended work throughout the year. Corps members contribute valuable services to the community by maintaining streams and parks through vegetation management, helping to prevent flooding and fires, and addressing safety issues on public lands and roadways.
Interested? Text the Youth Ecology Corps at (707) 758-4129 or fill out an interest form at www.scyec.org.
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Deadline nearing to comment on Springs plan | |
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July 19 is the deadline to submit comments on the draft Environmental Impact Report for a plan that will guide future development of the Springs area along Highway 12 north of Sonoma.
The draft Springs Specific Plan is designed to foster a vibrant, multimodal community with increased opportunities for housing and improvements for pedestrians, bicyclists and transit. When fully implemented, the plan could lead to an additional 706 dwelling units, 120 hotel rooms and up to 276,903 square feet of commercial, office, hotel, recreation and non-residential uses.
“I encourage members of the public to read through the draft report and provide their feedback,” said Supervisor Susan Gorin, who represents the Springs. “In order to really hone in on the community’s vision for the future growth, development, and community resources within the Springs area, we need residents and businesses to engage in this part of the process.”
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New study to explore Russian River wastewater treatment options | |
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The Sonoma County Water Agency Board of Directors has approved a study of options to treat wastewater in the lower Russian River communities of Monte Rio and Villa Grande.
Homes and businesses along the lower Russian River rely on onsite wastewater treatment systems for treatment and disposal of septic waste. Many of these systems do not meet current standards and have the potential to discharge inadequately treated wastewater into the Russian River and its tributary creeks.
The Lower Russian River Wastewater Citizens Advisory Group will be actively engaged in working with the study team, which will investigate a broad range of options.
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Get involved with local government
Government is only as good as the people who step forward to serve others. There are many ways you can become involved in local government by serving on local boards, commissions and committees. Check out the list of current vacancies and discover how you can help shape the future of Sonoma County.
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Adopt the pet of the month | |
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My name is Rosco. I am a neutered male, black-and-red German shepherd/Rottweiler mix who’s been at the shelter since December. I’m about 2 ½ years old and weigh about 60 pounds. My caretakers say I have one of the sweetest personalities ever. I wag my whole body to say hello and love going on walks or playing with toys. I’m much too interested in cats to live with one in my family, but I would be okay with another well-mannered dog. Would you take me home?
Rosco is one of dozens of cats, dogs, rabbits and other animals at Sonoma County Animal Services in need of adoption.
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