In today’s edition of SoCo Correspondent, we take you inside last week’s battle against the Point Fire and show how firefighters utilized new tools adopted in the wake of previous wildfires. You will also find valuable information on how you can prepare yourself and your family for the next emergency, including links to our special SoCo Ready podcast series on wildfire season. Plus, you will find the latest information on the new County budget, repairs at the airport, and new stats on the number of people experiencing homelessness in Sonoma County.
If you have a friend or family member who lives in the area – or you know of a former Sonoma County resident who might be interested in receiving these updates – urge them to sign up for the SoCo Correspondent so they can receive it directly, normally on the first and third week of each month.
¿Está interesado en leer sobre lo que hace el Condado de Sonoma dos veces al mes? Este boletín estará disponible en español. Regístrese aquí para suscribirse a nuestro boletín, el SoCo Correspondent.
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Lessons from past wildfires aided response to Point Fire | |
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The orange area displays the area burned by the Point Fire last week. The black squares indicate structures that survived the fire without any damage, thanks to the efforts of firefighters.
Last week’s Point Fire destroyed five homes and nine outbuildings and left one firefighter injured as it burned through 1,207 acres of forest and brush in the hills above Dry Creek Valley. But it could have been far, far worse.
New tools and hard-earned wisdom gained from battling major wildfires in Sonoma County in 2017, 2019 and 2020 helped firefighters, public safety agencies and emergency managers respond to the fire quickly and effectively.
“Every lesson that was learned out of the ‘17 fires, the ‘19 fires, and the ‘20 fires came to fruition and was used in this fire,” Mark Heine, Sonoma County Fire District chief, told the Board of Supervisors last week.
The fire broke out shortly after lunchtime on Father’s Day and exploded, driven by gusty winds. Firefighters equipped with a new tool – images and data live-streamed from a Cal Fire plane flying over the blaze – realized it would spread into Dry Creek Valley if they did not mount an aggressive defense. They made the decision to alert every fire station in Sonoma County, sending a one-tone dispatch to every firefighter in the county. The countywide alert was last used in 2020 on Day 2 of the Glass Fire, when flames threatened the Skyhawk neighborhood in east Santa Rosa. “It is a tool to get as many on-duty firefighting resources to a single spot as quickly as possible,” Heine told the supervisors. Within 45 minutes, more than 50 firefighting resources were stationed on Dry Creek Road. Not a single structure was lost after that.
Meanwhile, the Sheriff’s Office warned neighbors, in English and Spanish, to prepare to evacuate shortly after 2 p.m., utilizing maps created in 2021 that divide the county into zones that are clearly defined and labeled. Less than an hour later, 242 people in Zone 2E2 were ordered to evacuate, a decision designed to save lives and allow firefighters to focus on defending homes.
That night, Cal Fire utilized another new tool: a pair of large Chinook helicopters crewed by pilots trained to fight fires in the dark using night-vision goggles. The copters made water drops and helped evacuate the injured firefighter. “That was a huge new asset available to us this year that we haven't had in previous years,” Heine told County supervisors. “It made a huge difference.”
On Tuesday morning, the Sheriff’s Office activated the Agricultural Access Verification program, another innovation launched after the 2017 wildfires. The program allows ag workers who have completed fire safety training to enter evacuation zones and tend to crops and livestock. Later that afternoon, County Health Officer Dr. Tanya Phares issued a health advisory in English and Spanish with guidance on how to protect yourself in areas with poor air quality.
“The Point Fire is a reminder for Sonoma County to check their go bags, have a plan, know their evacuation zone, and be ready for any emergency,” said Jeff DuVall, director of the County’s Department of Emergency Management. “You can also visit SoCoEmergency.org or call 2-1-1 for more preparedness information, including how to build an emergency kit and sign up for SoCo Alerts.”
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Board of Supervisors approves $2.5 billion budget | |
County spending is projected to increase 10 percent in the fiscal year that begins July 1 under a new budget approved this month by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. The $2.5 billion spending plan avoids any reductions to core services and bolsters reserves while adding 43 full-time positions to the County workforce, for a total of 4,502 employees.
“This is a balanced budget that maintains quality, essential services for Sonoma County families, individuals and communities,” said Supervisor David Rabbitt, chair of the Board of Supervisors. “State and federal funding make up the majority of the County’s budget. The fiscal decisions in the County’s budget will take care of our employees, safeguard public services and allow us to better navigate any future economic uncertainty.”
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The Board of Supervisors supplemented the proposed budget with $4 million in ongoing discretionary funding, including money to improve emergency preparedness, maintain justice services, increase community engagement and make government more accessible to people who don’t speak English. Supervisors also allocated $27.6 million in one-time funding, approving proposals to support the Sheriff’s Office, move the county’s Public Health Lab and morgue to the main County campus and increase reserves.
If any additional savings materialize at year end, priority will be given to elevating General Fund reserves from 10.2 percent to 11.2 percent of the operating budget to ensure the County is in a strong position to respond to disasters, economic downturns or state/federal budget cuts. Any remaining funds will be divided in equal shares to prepay unfunded pension liabilities, increase General Fund reserves, and accumulate money for a new County Government Center.
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Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office puts spotlight on wage theft | |
District Attorney Carla Rodriguez, left, leads a panel discussion at the Wage Theft and Labor Justice Symposium on June 21.
Employers who underpay workers or withhold benefits they’ve earned are committing a crime just like any other type of theft. Sadly, it is a growing problem in California, one that exploits low-paid workers and shifts costs over to taxpayers, speakers said last week at the first-ever Wage Theft and Labor Justice Symposium organized by District Attorney Carla Rodriguez.
“We are definitely seeing more and more cases,” Ana Hurtado-Aldana, community outreach and resource planning specialist for the U.S. Department of Labor, told more than 100 people who attended the symposium.
The District Attorney’s Office and the Labor Department created a five-year partnership in January to conduct joint investigations of wage theft law violators, cross-train investigators at both agencies, and expand public awareness of the problem. “We are dedicated to protecting our workers from all labor crimes including wage theft, fraud, and labor trafficking,” District Attorney Rodriguez said at the time.
Workers in agriculture, janitorial firms, hotels, restaurants and car washes are frequently victims of wage theft and exploitation, said Alejandro Lazo, a reporter with CalMatters who spoke at the symposium. Misclassification of workers, a kind of wage theft, costs the state more than $7 billion every year, said Michael Pickens, district representative for Operating Engineers Local 3, citing figures from the state Department of Labor Standards Enforcement. This type of wage theft occurs when an employer improperly classifies its workers as independent contractors so it does not have to pay payroll taxes, minimum wage or overtime, or comply with other labor laws, such as providing meal periods and rest breaks.
“I do think that we need to continue this conversation,” said District Attorney Rodriquez, who hopes to hold a similar forum again.
Workers who believe they are the victims of wage theft or want more information on labor rules can call the District Attorney’s wage theft hotline at 1-833-88-WAGES (1-833-889-2437).
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Runway refurbished at Sonoma County airport | |
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After the last flight of the day landed Monday, construction crews converged on a section of runway at the Charles M. Schulz - Sonoma County Airport and got to work. Twenty hours later, they had completed their mission and replaced a deteriorating storm culvert that had caused a small section of the runway to sink.
The $667,000 project was scheduled after an annual inspection in January identified the need for repairs. The timing and details of the repair project were approved by the Federal Aviation Administration, which regulates safety and operations at the regional airfield.
The airport implemented temporary repairs to keep the runway safe until permanent fixes were completed. Airport staff and engineers monitored the runway daily, even installing a 24-hour camera to observe the condition of the culvert and runway pavement.
“I applaud County airport officials for being proactive in addressing these concerns,” said Supervisor David Rabbitt, chair of the Board of Supervisors. “There is nothing more important than the safety of the traveling public and our employees. Thanks to a coordinated response with the FAA, the quality and reliability of our airport infrastructure remains first-rate.”
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Homelessness increases 11 percent in Sonoma County | |
The number of people experiencing homelessness in Sonoma County increased 11 percent this year, mirroring a trend seen across California, according to preliminary results of the annual point-in-time count released last week by the Sonoma County Department of Health Services.
The annual one-day snapshot, conducted Jan. 26, identified 2,522 people experiencing homelessness, up from 2,266 in 2023. Much of the increase is likely due to the closure of COVID-era programs that provided shelter and supportive services during the pandemic. An ongoing shortage of affordable housing in Sonoma County also contributes to the problem.
“While we want the number lower, Sonoma, like most of California’s counties, saw an increase in the point-in-time count post-pandemic and it’s not that surprising,” said Supervisor David Rabbitt, chair of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. “We need to continue to invest in proven strategies to decrease our unhoused population and ease the burden on our communities.”
The County is launching a $2.6 million pilot program this summer designed to prevent homelessness in partnership with the cities of Santa Rosa and Petaluma and All Home, a San Francisco nonprofit. “We are hoping to stop people from becoming homeless in the first place,” said Tina Rivera, director of the Department of Health Services.
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Help shape development of future park on Sonoma Coast | |
If you had an opportunity to create a park from scratch on the Sonoma Coast, what would you do?
Now’s your chance. Sonoma County Regional Parks is seeking ideas from the public to guide development of Wright Hill Regional Park and Open Space Preserve, a 1,236-acre property just south of Jenner. The former ranch was purchased by Sonoma County Ag + Open Space in 2007 and transferred to Regional Parks in 2021.
Share your priorities and ideas for the future park by taking an online survey before July 31. Public feedback will be incorporated into a Master Plan that will guide how the property is developed and managed for future public use.
The property offers panoramic views of Salmon Creek, Bodega Bay, Willow Creek and Jenner. It supports more than 350 plant species – 250 native to Sonoma County – and at least 86 bird species. Public access challenges include the fact that the property can’t be reached from any public road, and much of the property is surrounded by California State Park land, which has limits on permitted trail uses.
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SoCo Chat launches four-part series to help you prepare for wildfire season | |
After three relatively quiet wildfire seasons, the 1,200-acre Point Fire above Dry Creek Valley last week was a jolting reminder that dangerous fires occur all too frequently in Sonoma County. Thankfully, there are some simple things that you can do to protect your home, your family and yourself from wildfires. Learn how by listening to SoCo Ready, a new four-part podcast series launched by the folks who brought you SoCo Chat. Episodes now available include:
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Part 1: Outlook for fire season – Jeff DuVall, director of the Sonoma County Department of Emergency Management, provides a forecast of the 2024 wildfire season.
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Part 2: Preparing our wildland areas – Kim Batchelder, the County’s vegetation management coordinator, discusses programs that are reducing the risk of fire by removing combustible material from our landscapes.
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Part 3: Creating a zone of protection around your home – Caerleon Safford, program manager for Permit Sonoma’s Fire Prevention Division, offers tips on what you can do to lower the odds that your home will burn in the next wildfire.
- Part 4: (coming July 2) Ready, Set, Go – Nancy Brown, the County’s emergency preparedness coordinator, talks about what you need to do to be ready to evacuate when the time comes.
Subscribe to SoCo Chat podcasts on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and YouTube. Check out our growing library of episodes in both English and Spanish (Descubre nuestra creciente selección de episodios en inglés y español). Recent guests and topics of discussion have included:
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Supervisor James Gore, who represents the Fourth District, discusses insights gained from the recent Point Fire and his work representing the County in the National Association of Counties.
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Supervisor Chris Coursey, who represents the Third District, looks back on his first four years in office and shares his observations about the successes he has witnessed and the challenges ahead.
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Janice Thompson, deputy director of Engineering and Maintenance for the Department of Public Infrastructure, talks about the County’s efforts to maintain local roads.
Upcoming SoCo Chat episodes will feature conversations with District 2 Supervisor David Rabbit and Angela Struckmann, director of the County’s Human Services Department. Listen for a chance to win a SoCo Chat coffee mug by answering the trivia question of the week.
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County seeks artists’ proposals for wildfire memorial | |
Nagasawa Community Park
All of us who lived through the 2017 wildfires will never forget it. Soon, there will be a place where we can gather to reflect on all that we lost, and how far we’ve come since then.
The County is seeking proposals from qualified artists or artist teams to design, create and install a memorial that will honor the victims of the 2017 wildfires and commemorate the community’s resilience.
The memorial will be located in Nagasawa Community Park in Santa Rosa’s Fountaingrove neighborhood. Through workshops and public meetings, the selected artist will gather insights and stories from residents, ensuring the final design reflects the community’s spirit and personal experiences of the event. The artist will receive up to $320,000 for the project, covering all costs associated with design, fabrication, installation, materials and community engagement.
Submissions are due by July 19. Application materials and complete details about the project, selection criteria and timeline are available at the Creative Sonoma website.
“The 2017 wildfires forever changed Sonoma County,” said Supervisor David Rabbitt, chair of the Board of Supervisors. “This memorial will serve as a lasting tribute to those who lost their lives, a testament to the enduring spirit of our community, and a space for reflection and healing.”
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Get help financing upgrades to your home or business | |
Are you looking for a way to help pay for improvements to your home or business that utilizes energy and water more efficiently? Need help financing projects that strengthen buildings against wildfires and earthquakes?
Check out the Sonoma County Energy Independence Program, which was created by the Board of Supervisors in 2009. The program allows property owners to finance improvements with no up-front costs and repay the amount, with interest, through property tax assessments over a term of 10 or 20 years. Financing is available from a minimum of $2,500 up to a maximum amount that equals 10 percent of a property’s market value. Interest rates remain fixed, and the assessment is attached to the property, not the owner.
On June 4, the Board of Supervisors raised interest rates for SCEIP financing to 7.99 percent, up from 7.49 percent, to keep them competitive with similar options. The groundbreaking program is the first countywide municipal program of its kind to provide Property Assessed Clean Energy financing for homes and businesses.
“These interest rates are still very competitive with other types of financing, such as home equity loans and personal loans,” said Supervisor David Rabbitt, chair of the Board of Supervisors. “PACE financing has unique advantages that are worth exploring if you are looking for a way to pay for improvements that will make a home, apartment building, condominium or business safer and more efficient.”
Since its inception in 2009, the program has disbursed more than $105 million to 3,208 projects. The projects, 90 percent of which were completed by local contractors, have created or retained more than 2,067 jobs while eliminating more than 150,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
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Do you know your HIV status? | |
About 13 percent of people with HIV in the United States – or 153,500 people – don’t know it because they haven’t been tested. Early HIV diagnosis is crucial. Public health officials say everyone aged 13 to 64 should be tested at least once, while people at higher risk of exposure to HIV should be tested at least annually.
HIV diagnoses have been rising in Sonoma County over the past five years, particularly in the Latinx community and among the heterosexual community overall, according to the Sonoma County Department of Health Services. Concerningly, heterosexual exposure is more likely to lead to AIDS because late diagnoses are more common.
The good news is, HIV is no longer a life-threatening infection. People who take HIV medicine (called antiretroviral therapy or ART) as prescribed, and get and keep an undetectable viral load, can live long and healthy lives and will not transmit HIV to their partners through sex.
Today is National HIV Testing Day, the perfect time to level up your self-love and get your status checked. Local testing options include:
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Share your ideas on disaster recovery | |
The choices made early in a disaster can have a significant impact on the direction and pace of the recovery that follows. That notion lies at the heart of an effort by the Sonoma County Department of Emergency Management to develop a countywide Recovery Operations Plan.
The plan will serve as a blueprint for the County’s efforts to restore and revitalize the health, social, economic and environmental fabric of our community in the wake of future disasters. You can help shape the plan by sharing your personal experiences with disaster recovery and ideas on how to improve recovery programs. Register to attend one of three upcoming public workshops:
Each workshop will include a brief educational forum on the basics of recovery and how it is conducted after disasters, followed by multiple engagement activities where you will have an opportunity to share your stories from recent disasters.
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County invests in improvements to Spud Point and Mason's marinas | |
The old wooden F dock at Mason’s Marina, left, has now been replaced with welded aluminum frames and fiberglass decking.
Two marinas operated by the County on the western shore of Bodega Bay are getting much-needed improvements.
Spud Point Marina began demolishing two old fishing boats this week that are blocking access to its docks. It recently installed three new fuel dispensers on its fuel dock, improving its ability to service commercial fishing boats and recreational seafarers.
Immediately to the north, Mason’s Marina is approaching the midway point of its plan to rebuild all seven of its docks, including repairs to gangway ramps that were severely damaged by high winds and stormy weather in February. Two docks have been replaced since the project began in 2018 and the third is scheduled to be completed in July, with funding from District 5 Supervisor Lynda Hopkins.
"The update to Mason's Marina provides critical repairs for a dock experiencing years of deferred maintenance,” said Supervisor Hopkins, who represents the coastal area. “This is a generational investment for our fishing and recreational community to continue to safely access, enjoy, and benefit from the ocean at our doorstep."
The Board of Supervisors has temporarily waived dock fees at Bodega Bay marinas for commercial fishing vessels experiencing financial hardship. The waiver is intended to help the commercial fishing fleet, which has been dealt a significant economic blow due to cancellation of the salmon season and shortened crab seasons. The fee waivers will be prioritized for vessels that can demonstrate financial hardship, contribute to the local fishing economy, and are at risk of being abandoned.
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Find room to grow with a County job | |
The County currently has 50 job openings posted on its website. How can you improve your chances of landing one?
Sign up for the next Start Here! class, which provides an overview of the County of Sonoma’s job application, examination and selection processes. The two-hour virtual class will be held at 2 p.m. on July 31.
The free class is intended for the public, whether you are looking for a new position now or planning for a future employment opportunity. Participants will learn how to submit a thorough application, best practices for the interview and examination, and much more.
Contact us at careers@sonoma-county.org to register for the July 31 class or sign up for our mailing list to be notified of future classes.
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Support your community by getting involved | |
Get involved with local government
Make a difference in Sonoma County! Local government thrives when passionate individuals like you step up to serve. There are countless opportunities for you to get involved and play a crucial role in shaping the future of our beloved Sonoma County. Check out the current vacancies:
Your involvement can make a significant impact. Take the first step and explore how you can contribute to a brighter future for Sonoma County.
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