I am sure we are all exhausted by this extensive heat wave, but there is an end in sight! As of writing, the Heat Advisory issued by Sonoma County's Public Health Officer had been extended to and is set to expire on Tuesday, July 9th. Please continue to stay cool and check in on friends, family, and neighbors.

Continue reading this newsletter for information on events, announcements, and community news.

First District Community Meetings Recap: Springs Community Plaza - On May 15th I held a bilingual community meeting in the Springs on the topic of the long-discussed Springs Community Plaza. Our goal was to share an overview of Springs Plaza efforts to date, and solicit community feedback under this framing question: what features and programs do you want to see in your plaza?

A Springs Community Plaza has been desired by the community for decades, far beyond my tenure in office. The 22 Boyes Blvd location (currently a county parking lot adjacent to the Post Office) has long been identified as a preferred location, with historic photographs, including one from 1943, show the site used previously as a plaza.  

After going over the background, we asked attendees at the community meeting to work together to envision and prioritize what they’d like to see at a future Springs Plaza under four categories: Infrastructure, Amenities, Landscaping, and Programs and Events. It was delightful to watch neighbors – some who had known each other for decades, others who had just met that evening – share their aspirations and observations of what kind of plaza would best serve all members of the community, regardless of their age, cultural background, socioeconomic status, and more. After the initial brainstorming, we asked attendees to prioritize which concepts they deemed most important to a future plaza, with five rising to the top: shade trees, art (in the form of classes, fairs, and public art such as murals and sculptures), a farmer’s market, bathrooms, and seating. If you’ll allow me to interpret based on these priorities, I hear from the community the desire for a space that that encourages both passive and event-based activity, one that is both utilitarian and artistic, and lastly one that is inviting, comfortable, and beautiful.

Additionally, on June 7th, my office hosted a roundtable with business owners in the Springs to hear their perspective on a Springs Community Plaza. Working with staff from the Economic Development Board, we heard from a small but mighty group of business owners and prospective business owners in the area who all expressed enthusiasm for the project. They envisioned a vibrant public space that would compliment the sense of place already developing in the Springs: colorful, welcoming, family friendly, artistic, and comfortable. They also expressed that this space should be more than just a park, but also create opportunities for crafts, creativity, and commerce; picking up a coffee or a locally made piece of pottery, chatting with shop keepers, or watching a performance. Most importantly, they wanted to help. 

While I would have liked a plaza to be built before I retire at the end of this year, we all know that projects such as these take time. However, I think we have been able to lay some groundwork, and it is my intention to leave a strong illustration of the community interests for a plaza that have been shared with me over my tenure. Some next steps include exploring potential expansions of the plaza footprint – I’m well aware that the current parking lot is just a tiny postage stamp of a plaza, and we are looking at ways to make it slightly larger. Additionally, the Springs Specific Plan DEIR recirculation is coming this year, and as you may recall, a Springs Plaza at the 22 Boyes Blvd location was identified in the draft plan in 2022. And lastly, we would need to put together a project description, draft Environment Impact Report (EIR), and explore opportunities for a potential matching grant to help fund a project. 

There is a lot of work left to be done, but I truly believe that, with the support of this community, a Springs Community Plaza is in our future. Please stay engaged, feel free to write to me with any input you may have, and let’s make this happen!

Save money on your annual sewage bill - Discounts on sewer service bills are available to low-income homeowners who live within the Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District. The discounts, which can cut the sewage charge on your annual property tax bill in half, are also available to nonprofit organizations that provide housing to low-income renters in the Sonoma Valley sanitation district.



Applications are due by July 10. Learn more and apply below.

Sonoma County Sheriff's Office Newsletter - The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office releases a monthly newsletter to inform residents of significant topics such as budget, cold cases, evacuation prep, major crimes, and more. The newsletter is now also being published in Spanish!

You can sign up to receive the Sheriff's Office monthly newsletter at the following links.

Springs MAC - Join the Springs Municipal Advisory Council on the second Wednesday of each month at 6:30pm.

Next Meeting: Wednesday, July 10th at 6:30pm.

North Sonoma Valley MAC - Join the NSV MAC on the third Tuesday of the first and third months of each quarter: Jan, Mar, Apr., Jun., Jul., Sept., Oct., Dec.

Next Meeting: Tuesday, July 16th at 5:30pm.

Sonoma Valley Community Advisory Committee - The Sonoma Valley Community Advisory Commission advises on local planning projects in the Sonoma Valley, and hears informational items on other areas of interest. Join the SVCAC on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 6:30pm.

Next Meeting: Wednesday, July 24th at 6:30pm.