|
These may be the dog days of summer, but there’s been no slow down in activity around the County of Sonoma. We have lots of news to report, so let’s get to it. Below, you will find important updates on COVID and our drought conditions as well as the county’s efforts to address homelessness and its impacts on our community. We’ll share information about a critical tool that can help you get emergency alerts, even when the region’s power grid and cellphone network are out. We celebrate a program that has helped hundreds of local foster youth go to college. And we prepare to say farewell to the county’s top executive who led county government through the most challenging era in its history. All that and more in the August edition of SoCo Correspondent.
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.
| |
|
There are hopeful signs that California’s BA.5 surge may have peaked. New daily COVID-19 infections in Sonoma County have dropped to 27 cases per 100,000 people, a decline of 13 percent over the last two weeks. And hospitalizations, a lagging indicator of spread, appear to be plateauing after increasing in late July. Thankfully, no deaths have been reported in the county since July 1, when the local death toll from the pandemic reached the grim milestone of 500 fatalities. Because the latest COVID-19 variants are highly contagious and can make you very sick, Dr. Sundari Mase, Sonoma County’s Health Officer, is continuing to strongly encourage residents to wear masks, get tested and get vaccinated and boosted.
“My message to the community is to remain vigilant,” Dr. Sundari Mase, the county’s health officer, told the Board of Supervisors during a COVID update report on Aug. 2. “COVID is still with us, and we need to take precautions to stay safe.”
Regardless of vaccination status, it is recommended everyone ages 2 years and older wear a mask in all indoor public settings (such as a grocery store.) You should also consider wearing a mask in crowded outdoor settings.
Sonoma County public health officials and the Sonoma County Office of Education will host joint webinars in English and Spanish at 4 p.m. on Aug. 10 and 11 to discuss vaccinations for school children, review the latest trends in COVID-19 and discuss initiatives in local schools designed to keep students, staff and their families healthy. View the webinars live on the county’s Facebook page.
| |
County’s top administrator retiring in March | |
|
County Administrator Sheryl Bratton, who has overseen daily operations of the county government since 2016, informed the Board of Supervisors in July that she will be retiring from her position at the end of her contract term in March 2023. She recommended that the Board begin the search for her successor soon to provide adequate time to ensure a smooth transition for the organization.
During her six-year tenure as the top executive in county government, Bratton has strengthened the county’s financial position by overhauling its budget process, bolstering reserves and paying down unfunded pension liabilities. She also oversaw efforts to craft a new five-year Strategic Plan; create the Office of Equity, which supports the county’s commitment to racial equity work; consolidate local fire agencies, improving their effectiveness and sustainability; and expand the supply of transitional housing for unsheltered people. She accomplished all this while leading the county’s response to multiple disasters, beginning with the 2017 wildfires and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The county has been incredibly fortunate to have had Sheryl at the helm for these years,” said Supervisor James Gore, chair of the Board of Supervisors. “Her calm and steady leadership has kept us on an even keel through some major storms, including firestorms and a pandemic, and we will always be grateful to her.”
Bratton began her career with the county in 1992, first serving as deputy county counsel before later becoming the assistant county counsel in 2010. As county administrator, Bratton oversees 4,181 full-time employees and a $2.14 billion budget.
| |
|
Sonoma County is now in the third year of what’s classified as a “severe drought,” and it’s getting worse. The first six months of the year have been the driest in the past 128 years, with rainfall 20 inches below normal.
Late last week, federal regulators approved a PG&E request to reduce diversions from the Eel River into the east fork of the Russian River northeast of Ukiah. As a result, there will be less water available this summer for water districts, residents and farmers who depend on the Russian River. This week, the state Water Resources Control Board implemented new restrictions on water rights holders along the Russian River, and further curtailments are expected later this month.
The drought is contributing to the growth of potentially toxic algae blooms in the Russian River and other waterways. Children and dogs are particularly susceptible to serious health impacts and should avoid touching any suspicious-looking algal material in the water or along river banks. Based on state guidance, the county has posted “Toxic Algae Alert” signs at recreation areas along the river.
State, county and local officials will present an update on the drought and its impacts on Sonoma County during a virtual town hall meeting at 4 p.m. today (Thursday, Aug. 4). The webinar, which will be moderated by Supervisor James Gore, is the fourth in the county’s series of monthly public forums on the drought. View the live briefing on the county’s Facebook page and register to attend future town halls.
|  | |
County increases investments to address homelessness, works to reopen Joe Rodota Trail | |
|
The Board of Supervisors last month approved $4 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds for projects addressing homelessness. The initiative will increase interim housing opportunities, create more rental units and bolster outreach efforts to prevent homelessness by helping individuals stay housed.
“We have to keep leaning in on this issue,” said Supervisor James Gore, chair of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. “We need a compassionate approach, a results-driven approach, but also an accountable approach to homelessness.”
Preliminary numbers from the county’s annual point-in-time count showed 2,893 individuals were experiencing some form of homelessness in February, an increase of 5 percent from the 2020 count of 2,745 (no count was taken in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Overall, the county had been experiencing an overall downward trend since 2011, when the number of local homeless exceeded 4,000.
In July, the county led an effort to find shelter for people camped along the Joe Rodota Trail, the popular bike and pedestrian path connecting Santa Rosa and Sebastopol along State Route 12. Regional Parks closed a section of the trail on July 8 due to concerns about the camp’s impact on the safety of those using the pathway. Although the county’s efforts to place the homeless residents at local shelter sites and reopen the trail were delayed due to a court complaint, a federal judge on July 29 lifted a temporary restraining order and allowed the county to proceed with cleanup efforts. The encampments were cleared earlier this week, and Regional Parks crews were expected to have the trail reopened by Friday.
| |
Housing Heroes live among us | |
|
Coming soon to Sonoma County … an opportunity to become a Housing Hero! If you have an empty studio, accessory dwelling unit, or even extra rooms in your home, consider becoming a hero to others and your community. We have vulnerable seniors, families, and individuals who need a place to live and many of them have a housing voucher that will pay for their rent.
The Housing Heroes campaign will highlight successful home-sharing between property owners and people in need of housing. We will provide step-by-step information on how you, too, can become a Housing Hero in our community. The campaign is a partnership between the Sonoma County Housing Authority and the County of Sonoma. Look for details later this month.
| |
An ongoing feature series highlighting your public servants across a variety of departments at the County of Sonoma. | |
|
Name: Caerleon Safford
Title: Department Analyst with Permit Sonoma’s Fire Prevention Division
Years with County: 18
Personal side: Lives in rural west Sonoma County, near Cazadero
What do you do? I’m currently working on several wildfire risk reduction grant projects at Permit Sonoma. The Wildfire Adapted Sonoma County project provides assessments for both defensible space and for structure hardening for approximately 8,000 parcels in high-wildfire-risk areas throughout the county. We’ve already accomplished almost 6,000 assessments, with another 2,000 vegetation assessments and 1,500 structure assessments coming soon.
Phase 2 of the grant will provide cost-share incentives for property owners to accomplish high-priority vegetation management and home hardening projects. Parcels in our current grant footprint were selected because of high wildfire risk, though we’re hoping to launch out into a more countywide platform in the future.
I’m also completing an update to the 2016 Sonoma County Community Wildfire Protection Plan. The updated plan will help the community plan for wildfire and prioritize projects that can reduce risk. The way we think about, respond to, and plan for fire has changed since the 2016 version. The updated plan will reflect those changes.
What gives you fulfillment? Knowing that I can make a difference. The frustrating thing about fire prevention is that if you’ve done your job, nothing happens.
But I’ve had a few phone calls from people after fires, including from someone after the Tubbs fire. I’d previously spoken with him for an hour about his structure, his roof, the vents, priorities for structure hardening and the vegetation next to the structure. He called me and said, “Caerleon, I did nearly everything that you said, and my house was the only one that survived on my street.”
Passions outside of work? Hobbies, are you kidding me? I live in the country, so something is always breaking or growing. I spend a lot of time trying to keep my own property fire-resilient. I live and breathe this stuff. The best part of the day is always a long walk with my dog Poppy.
On working at the county: The Permit Sonoma team is made up of awesome people. And working for the county allows me to make more of a difference. If I’d been working elsewhere I couldn't have gone to FEMA and ask for funds for these kinds of projects. But because I work at the county, I’ve been able to leverage those relationships to go after significant grants that make an impact. It’s incredible to have access to the people and systems to make those things happen.
| |
County named one of best midsized employers in America | |
|
The County of Sonoma has been named one of America’s 500 Best Midsized Employers by Forbes magazine, the only government agency in California to make the magazine’s list.
In the government services sector, Sonoma County was ranked No. 6 among eight public agencies across the United States that made Forbes’ list of best midsized employers, which it defined as having 1,000 to 5,000 workers. Overall, Forbes ranked the county No. 302 among the 500 best midsized employers in the U.S.
Sonoma County is currently recruiting to fill more than 100 open positions in a variety of full-time, part-time, and temporary employment opportunities, including internships. A list of open jobs can be viewed at yourpath2sonomacounty.com. The county offers competitive salaries; a comprehensive benefits package including reimbursement for staff development and wellness; hybrid/remote work options for many positions; a robust workforce development program; flexible schedules; paid family leave; opportunities to work on innovative and community-centered projects; and recruitment and selection processes that emphasize equitable hiring.
To learn more about the county’s hiring process, send an email to careers@sonoma-county.org requesting information about the next Start Here! class, a virtual class that provides an overview of the county’s job application, examination and selection processes.
| |
County proposes rule changes for well permits | |
|
In response to evolving California case law that requires local governments to protect the health of rivers and other “public trust resources,” the Board of Supervisors on Aug. 9 will consider new standards for permit applications to drill wells in Sonoma County.
The proposal would create a new framework for Permit Sonoma to evaluate environmental impacts while reviewing applications for permits to drill new or replacement groundwater wells. The agency crafted the proposal to comply with a 2018 decision by the state Court of Appeal, which requires counties to evaluate and mitigate impacts of well permits on public trust resources in “navigable waterways,” such as the Russian River, along with the habitat and wildlife they support, including the endangered Coho salmon.
The proposed ordinance and ways to submit public comments before the Aug. 9 meeting can be viewed at Permit Sonoma’s webpage for Items of Significant Interest.
Permit Sonoma, also known as the Permit and Resource Management Department, receives roughly 300 water well permit applications annually. The department estimates approximately a third (100) of them would require a public trust review.
| |
Student anglers land a big one with grant | |
|
An innovative fisheries biology program at Casa Grande High School in Petaluma received a major county boost last month through a $105,000 grant for field work aimed at rehabilitating a key south county fish habitat.
In its capacity as directors of Sonoma Water, the Board of Supervisors on July 19 approved the funding for the United Anglers of Casa Grande, a nonprofit formed at the high school in 1983 to teach students the importance of watershed management.
“Environmental education is vastly important to this board, and I am happy to provide future generations with the tools to be good stewards of our waterways,” said Supervisor David Rabbitt, whose district includes Petaluma. “Personally, I am a big supporter of the stream restoration work that United Anglers has done in the south county, and I am pleased that this board has again funded this program.”
Sonoma Water’s Stream Maintenance Program has supported United Anglers’ work managing Adobe Creek, a vital tributary of the Petaluma River, since 2017. The current grant runs through June 30, 2025.
Through the program, students learn how to identify and remove invasive species, develop a riparian canopy, and extract debris from the channel.
| |
Mitote Food Park arrives at Roseland Village
| |
|
Mitote Food Park, believed to be the first Mexican food park in Northern California, staged its grand opening last month. It marks the completion of the first piece of Roseland Village, a plan by the County of Sonoma to redevelop the site of a former shopping center in the Roseland neighborhood.
“It’s been a long time coming and the beginning of more improvements to the Roseland Village site,” said Sonoma County Supervisor Chris Coursey, who represents the area.
The Tierra de Rosas project eventually will include both affordable and market-rate housing, a community center, a library, a food market and a one-acre park with public restrooms, shaded areas, picnic tables, and a gaming area. The park will provide a communal area for food, drinks, cultural arts events and farmers’ markets until the Roseland Village development is completed.
| |
NOAA Weather Radios: another way to warn Sonoma County | |
 | |
Sonoma County has experienced a number of disasters over the past several years including floods, earthquakes, power shutoffs, a pandemic and wildfires. The county’s alert and warning systems have grown to notify residents of an emergency in their area early and accurately. It’s important to make sure you have several ways of receiving emergency alerts, reducing the chance you will miss a critical message during a crisis.
In addition to signing up for SoCoAlert and Nixle, every home should also have a NOAA Weather Radio. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration radios utilize frequencies outside the AM/FM bands and are capable of receiving emergency messages when power outages impact radio stations and cellular telephone networks. When programmed properly, the National Weather Service can remotely turn on these radios and send basic alerts, including for wildfires. Some models are equipped with their own backup power sources, allowing users to stay informed during power outages.
Sonoma County is the first county in the western United States to use the NOAA radio system to deliver emergency messages to the public unrelated to the weather, the result of collaboration between the county Department of Emergency Management and the National Weather Service.
There are many models of NOAA Weather Radios, make sure to purchase one with the “Public Alert” logo, which is used on models that can be automatically activated during emergencies and emit a warning tone.
Sonoma County residents may tune their NOAA radio to:
-
County of Sonoma frequency 162.475
-
Northwest Sonoma County frequency 162.550
-
Southwest Sonoma County frequency 162.475
Possible add-on equipment includes strobe lights and bed shakers for the deaf and blind.
| |
County to buy former Bank of American building in Guerneville
| |
|
The county is acquiring the former Bank of America building in downtown Guerneville, ensuring residents in lower Russian River communities will continue to have uninterrupted access to critical services.
Two county agencies, the Department of Health Services and the Probation Department, lease space in the building with West County Community Services, a local nonprofit. During floods and fires, the building has also served as a Local Assistance Center, a one-stop shop where residents and businesses can obtain disaster services.
“With this acquisition, the county will secure an important piece of property for our future,” said District 5 Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, who represents west county. “Taking ownership of this building will avert any disruption to existing services when our lease expires next year. But it also creates an exciting opportunity to improve the delivery of services to residents in west Sonoma County by turning the building into a satellite office for other county agencies, a key element of our ongoing efforts to reimagine the central County Government Center."
As part of the Resilient Infrastructure pillar of the county’s five-year Strategic Plan, the Board of Supervisors is seeking to establish regional service centers in west Sonoma County, the Sonoma Valley and Cloverdale by 2023.
| |
Sonoma County assessment roll increases to $108 billion | |
|
The value of all real and business property in Sonoma County increased to a record $108 billion this year, up 6.46 percent from last year, according to the 2022-23 Assessment Roll released last month by the county Assessor’s Office.
Property tax revenue generated by the assessment roll funds vital institutions, such as schools, community colleges, counties, cities, as well as public benefits and services.
Property owners can search the assessment roll and view the assessed value of their properties on the assessor’s website. If you believe the market value of your property was lower than the assessed value as of Jan. 1, file an Application of Change Assessment by Nov. 30.
The Assessor’s Office is still reviewing claims submitted last year under Prop. 19, which changed the treatment of intergenerational transfers and allowed homeowners 55 and older to transfer the taxable value of their existing home to a replacement home. The Assessor’s Office saw an increase in deeds in response to this new legislation.
Have a question about property tax assessments? Contact the Assessor’s Office at (707) 565-1888.
| |
Creative Sonoma distributes first Arts and Cultural Equity fellowships
| |
|
Six local artists and cultural workers have been named recipients of the county’s first-ever Arts and Cultural Equity fellowships.
The program provides funding, training and mentorship to emerging and mid-career artists who work within communities of color. Each fellow will receive $5,000 in grant funding and an additional $1,250 training stipend to support cultural art works, activities, events and professional development opportunities that celebrate diverse racial and ethnic populations in Sonoma County.
The inaugural group of fellows include Melissa Andrade, Ron Carter, Skylaer Palacios and Féven Zewdi, all of Santa Rosa; Jesus Bravo, of Boyes Hot Springs; and Dianna L. Grayer, of Petaluma.
The program is administered by Creative Sonoma, a division of the county Economic Development Board, in collaboration with Kimzin Creative, a local arts and equity consulting group.
| |
Addressing the impacts of trauma | |
|
Experiencing traumatic events during childhood can have substantial long-term effects on children, families and communities across generations. But a group of nurses from the county's Department of Public Health are getting national attention for a model employed by the county to address these difficult problems.
In 2017, the Sonoma County Field Nursing Team began implementing a trauma-informed approach to their home visitation program. The program connects individuals with public health nurses trained to work with parents and caregivers who have experienced trauma, including physical or mental health challenges, substance abuse, experiences with racism or the criminal justice system, inequity, physical or emotional abuse, PTSD, and adverse childhood experiences.
Members of the county's Field Nursing staff documented their approach in a recent issue of the American Journal of Public Health. The article, “Trauma-Informed Home Visiting Models in Public Health Nursing: An Evidence-Based Approach,” is co-authored by Brittany Lobo, home visiting program manager, Laura Turner, supervising public health nurse, and Julianne Ballard, previously a supervising field nurse who left the county to pursue a Ph.D.
In their article, the nurses urge other public health agencies to adopt this model, noting the innovative program can “mitigate toxic stress, improve resilience, and optimize health among low-income families that are at high risk for trauma and are experiencing medical or social challenges.”
| |
Congratulations to our 2022 foster youth scholars! | |
|
A program to support the educational dreams of former foster youth who once faced abuse, neglect or abandonment at home recently awarded $132,250 in scholarships to 32 students. The program, supported by the Valley of the Moon Children’s Foundation and the Sonoma County Department of Human Services, provides funding to help scholars pay for tuition, rent, books, health care, transportation and other needs.
The program was established in 2006 by Diana Edwards, former director of Human Services, who requested donations to the scholarship fund in lieu of retirement gifts. Over the last 16 years, it has awarded nearly $1.3 million in scholarships to 365 former foster youth.
| |
Beautiful El Recreo in Sonoma Valley protected for future generations | |
|
In partnership with the Bucklin, Tilt and English families, Sonoma County Ag + Open Space is negotiating an agreement to preserve El Recreo – a beautiful, 289-acre property near Kenwood in the Mayacamas Mountains, nestled next to Hood Mountain Regional Park.
Ag + Open Space is acquiring a conservation easement for $898,000 that would remove future options to develop the land, ensuring its wild and natural habitats continue to flourish. Owned and cared for by the same extended family since the 1950s, the property has creeks that drain into Sonoma and Santa Rosa creeks, hosts sprawling fir and hardwood forests and serves as a wildlife corridor. Much of El Recreo burned in the 2017 and 2020 fires, and the family manages the property’s vegetation with past and future wildfire impacts in mind. With its location close to communities, highways and parks, this property functions as a scenic greenbelt in an area critical for wildfire resilience.
| |
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.
Current vacancies include:
- Assessment Appeals Board: To make determinations about property values for Sonoma County property owners.
- Child Care Council of Sonoma County: To address the child care needs of all families and all child care programs in Sonoma County.
- Independent Citizens Pension Committee: To ensure a more fair, equitable, and sustainable County pension system.
-
Regional Measure 3 Independent Oversight Committee: To review the expenditure of the funds by the Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA).
Check out the list of current vacancies and discover how you can help shape the future of Sonoma County.
| |
Adopt the pet of the month | |
|
My name is Anakin. I’m a neutered male, brown tabby domestic shorthair kitten who weighs approximately 3 pounds. I’ve been at the shelter since July 9 and my caretakers estimate I’m about 16 weeks old. Please take me home with you, I am the chosen one!
Anakin is one of dozens of cats, dogs, rabbits and other animals at Sonoma County Animal Services in need of adoption.
| |
|
Volunteer and employment opportunities | |
(stories may require subscriptions)
COVID-19
Other topics
| |
Follow us online or contact us via email | | | | |
