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Today we present the first spring edition of SoCo Correspondent, in which we offer readers an update on efforts to create a memorial to the victims of the 2017 wildfires. You will also find stories on efforts to improve the reliability of communications during emergencies, fund open spaces in urban areas, create a community hub in Geyserville, and make county government more effective.
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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Site selected for memorial to victims of 2017 wildfires | |
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Nagasawa Community Park in Santa Rosa's Fountaingrove neighborhood.
So where is the best place to locate a memorial to honor all that was lost in the 2017 wildfires, including the lives of 24 people who died in Sonoma County?
The Board of Supervisors created a task force in 2022 to address that question. Members evaluated 32 potential sites for a memorial, which they hope will serve as a sanctuary for reflection and healing while reminding visitors of our community’s resilience to an inferno that destroyed 5,300 homes.
Members of the task force scored each site by asking themselves such questions as, does the site provide a peaceful, serene environment free from urban noise and interruptions? Do the aesthetic qualities of the landscape – such as trees, water features and views – contribute to a reflective atmosphere? Does the site provoke an emotional impact for visitors, including feelings of respect, hope, or a sense of closure? Is it near people most impacted by the fires?
In late March, the Board of Supervisors approved the primary site recommended by the task force: Nagasawa Community Park, located in Santa Rosa’s Fountaingrove neighborhood. Maddux Ranch Regional Park, located in the Larkfield-Wikiup area, was selected as the top alternative.
The Fire Memorial Task Force, which is working with Creative Sonoma, will now begin searching for an artist to design a memorial and discuss opportunities for collaboration with the City of Santa Rosa, which owns Nagasawa Community Park. It hopes to complete the installation by September 2025.
Tara Thompson, director of Creative Sonoma, will appear on the County’s SoCo Chat podcast next week to discuss the fire memorial and other initiatives to support the county’s creative community.
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County creates radio system to bolster emergency response in rural areas | |
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When cellphone towers lose electricity and telephone lines go down during an emergency, it can cripple the flow of information needed to send help. To ensure rural areas are not cut off from communications during a crisis, the County has invested $2.3 million to create a mobile radio network for use during disaster response. The radios will allow community groups to call for assistance and improve the County’s ability to communicate with crews in the field.
In partnership with Neighborhood Auxiliary Communications Services, the Department of Public Infrastructure has distributed 500 handheld radios and trained more than 200 people on how to use them in the communities of Villa Grande, Hacienda, Monte Rio, Rio Nido, Cloverdale, Occidental and Guerneville. The radios use a network of 14 repeaters that facilitate communications covering approximately 80 percent of the county.
Public Infrastructure also has deployed 85 handheld transceivers and 144 digital mobile radios to enhance employees’ ability to respond in the field.
“We know from experience that communications during natural disasters can be limited, intermittent or cut off completely, especially in rural communities,” said Supervisor David Rabbitt, chair of the Board of the Supervisors. “This new radio system will streamline communication and mitigate safety risks – for first responders trying to call out evacuations, for County road crews working in isolated areas to remove hazard trees and debris, and for our community members who lose water, power and gas and whose safety depends on our ability to respond effectively.”
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Design work to commence on community plaza in Geyserville | |
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A concept design for the Geyserville Community Plaza.
Residents of Geyserville have long sought a central space where the community could gather. Three years ago, the Geyserville Municipal Advisory Council identified the perfect spot: a piece of County-owned land next to the Sonoma County Transit Park & Ride facility on Geyserville Avenue.
This month, the Board of Supervisors executed a grant agreement with the California Coastal Conservancy and allocated $400,000 to start design, environmental review and permitting work on the project.
“Geyserville is home to world-class wineries, award-winning restaurants, and a growing arts community, but it needs a plaza where people can come together and celebrate the town’s charms,” said District 4 Supervisor James Gore, who represents the area. “This piece of County property is the ideal place for a plaza, and I am looking forward to helping this project become a reality.”
Sonoma Ag + Open Space has approved a $1 million matching grant to develop the plaza. The Department of Public Infrastructure will manage the project. A small group of stakeholders and community leaders will gather at the site at 11 a.m. Saturday to celebrate the accomplishments so far and kick off the design phase of the project.
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Faces of the County: Meet Fred and Amanda Esposti | |
Fred Esposti, right, is a road maintenance foreman with the Department of Public Infrastructure. His daughter, Amanda Esposti, left, is an administrative assistant with the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office. | |
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Amanda Esposti
Years with County: 4
Personal side: I’m the third generation and fifth member of my family to work with the County. My son and I live in Fulton, where I was born and raised. My parents and my sister live across the street and my uncle John, who was an employee of Transportation and Public Works, is my neighbor.
Education: I graduated from Maria Carrillo High School and took a few courses at Santa Rosa Junior College.
What do you do? For the last six months, I’ve worked as an administrative assistant for the Town of Windsor’s Police Department, which is staffed by the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office. Previously, I worked as a senior office assistant in Fleet Operations for the Department of Public Infrastructure.
On working at the County: I am the proud granddaughter of former 4th District Supervisor Nick Esposti. When I was little, my grandfather talked about how much he loved our county and how I should work for the County when I was old enough. I applied for years and was finally hired as a full-time employee on the five-year anniversary of my grandfather’s death. It was a full circle moment. I now get to serve the residents of Windsor, a town my grandfather was instrumental in creating. There’s even a park named after him. I’m incredibly fortunate to work alongside my dad and serve the county my grandpa poured his heart into. Our family’s history with the county is something we are all proud of and I know my grandpa would be proud of all of us, too.
Passions outside of work? Spending time with my family, crafting, being outdoors, being involved in 4-H, gardening.
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Fred Esposti
Years with County: 30
Personal side: I’m the second generation of my family to work at the County. My dad, Nick Esposti, served on the Board of Supervisors for 16 years and my brother John retired in 2021 after working for Transportation and Public Works for 38 years. I live with my wife of 32 years in Fulton.
Education and/or certifications: I have an associate degree in Fire Science from Santa Rosa Junior College.
What do you do? I manage a crew of 10 full-time employees and two to four extra-help workers. We maintain 350 miles of roadway to ensure they are safe and functional. As part of our job, we fix potholes, clear brush, trim trees and maintain drainage systems. We are always on call for any storm, disaster, fire, flood or vehicle accident to keep our roads open and safe.
On working at the County: I’ve stayed here for so long because I like working within my community and making a difference. I have spent my entire career in emergency service and it’s a passion of mine to help. My dad was passionate about the county we lived in, and I feel like I’m following his footsteps by dedicating my career to public service. My dad was my hero. I’ve had the privilege of working alongside him and my brother, who also dedicated his career to public service, and now my daughter. My dad would be proud of his legacy.
Passions outside of work? Spending time with family, fishing, riding motorcycles and raising livestock. During fire season I operate bulldozers with Cal Fire to help cut fire lines and prevent fires from spreading.
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Brace yourself: Sonoma County’s Spring Shake Out is coming April 18 | |
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Mark your calendars for 10 a.m. Thursday, April 18, when we drop, cover and hold on during the Sonoma County Spring Shake Out.
The county-wide earthquake drill gives us the chance to practice what to do when the earth shakes, and how to help neighbors, families and friends in the time immediately following an earthquake. Register here for a chance to win an Emergency Go Bag, which contains a three-day supply of food and water.
Don’t wait for a real earthquake to do these three things:
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Practice: Rehearse the “Drop, Cover, Hold On” earthquake drill with family and neighbors. Hold on to any sturdy furniture until the shaking stops.
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Prepare: Secure items, such as televisions and objects that hang on walls. Store heavy and breakable objects on low shelves. Make sure your Shelter in Place Kit has supplies for the whole family for at least seven days.
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Protect your home: Consider obtaining an earthquake insurance policy whether you own or rent your residence.
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County government modernizes leadership structure | |
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In an effort to make government more efficient and effective, the Board of Supervisors last week consolidated responsibility for oversight of most departments into the County’s top leadership position.
That position, currently called County Administrator, will get a new name: County Executive.
The changes will return to the Board for a final review on April 16. If approved, current County Administrator M. Christina Rivera would assume the new role as County Executive.
County department heads examined the reorganization approach in 2022, concluding it would strengthen the County Administrator’s ability to support their performance by providing direct and timely feedback. Under the plan approved by the Board, Rivera would supervise the directors of 16 County departments, while the Board will maintain appointing authority over directors of five departments including Agriculture/Weights & Measures, IOLERO, Probation, Public Defender, and Child Support Services. The structure is widely used in other large counties including Sacramento, San Diego, Riverside, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Contra Costa, Alameda and San Mateo.
“We should constantly be looking at our org charts to make sure we are providing services to the public in the most efficient way possible,” said Supervisor David Rabbitt, chair of the Board of Supervisors. “This change will advance our efforts to ensure County government is efficient, effective, accountable and fiscally responsible.”
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Get the inside scoop at SoCo Chat | |
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Tina Rivera, director of the Department of Health Services, right, and Sonoma County Communications Manager Paul Gullixson record an episode of SoCo Chat.
Where can you go to hear directly from County leaders about matters of public importance? The answer is right at your fingertips. Subscribe to SoCo Chat, the County’s new podcast series on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and YouTube. Recent guests and topics of discussion have included:
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Tina Rivera, director of the Department of Health Services, goes in-depth on racism, health disparities and homelessness as well as bookkeeping issues surrounding DEMA, the operator of several past and present homeless shelters and alternative care sites in Sonoma County.
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Jon Stout, manager of the Charles M. Schulz - Sonoma County Airport, talks about all the fantastic updates happening at our local airport.
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Brian Whipple, director of Sonoma County Animal Services, discusses how you can help the animals at the Sonoma County Animal Shelter find homes, foster homes or volunteer to get them home-ready.
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Supervisor Susan Gorin, who represents the 1st District on the Board of Supervisors, talks about fire dangers, Los Guilicos Village in Sonoma Valley, the future of Sonoma Developmental Center and other key issues facing her district.
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Bert Whitaker, director of Sonoma County Regional Parks, on the latest changes and activities available in our regional park system.
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Supervisor David Rabbitt discusses the year ahead and his new role as chair of the Board of Supervisors for 2024.
Upcoming SoCo Chat episodes will feature discussions with District 4 Supervisor James Gore; Barbara Lee, director of the County’s Climate Action & Resiliency Division; Sharon DeBenedetti and Ron Chestnut, former forepersons of the Sonoma County Civil Grand Jury; Alegría De La Cruz, director of the County’s Office of Equity; Tara Thompson, director of Creative Sonoma; and Bryan Albee, transit systems manager, Sonoma County Transit.
Listen for a chance to win a SoCo Chat coffee mug by answering the trivia question of the week.
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Ag + Open Space looking to create open spaces inside communities | |
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Bayer Farm, located in the Roseland area of Santa Rosa, is one project funded by the Ag + Open Space matching grant program.
Open spaces in the heart of urban areas have the potential to transform neighborhoods. They can provide places to find solitude, grow food, hold public gatherings and connect with the outdoors.
It’s the reason why Sonoma County Ag + Open Space has revamped a program that has provided more than $50 million in matching grants over the last three decades to public agencies, nonprofits and tribal organizations seeking to create open spaces within cities and unincorporated communities.
Applications for grant funding through the Community Spaces Matching Grant Program will now be accepted on a continuous basis. The change will improve Ag + Open Space’s ability to respond to time-sensitive urban open space projects and support applicants through the process.
Interested in applying for a grant to create an open space in your community? Attend a two-hour informational webinar at 5 p.m. on April 25. Review program guidelines, complete the pre-application, and get details about the upcoming webinar at SonomaOpenSpace.org/MGP.
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County releases report on DEMA
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Last week, Sonoma County posted a report by Santa Rosa accounting firm Pisenti & Brinker that analyzed billing documents from DEMA Consulting and Management, which operates the emergency shelter site for homeless people at the county government center in north Santa Rosa.
The report, requested by the Sonoma County Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office, focused on whether DEMA maintained appropriate and sufficient documentation to support invoices seeking payment from the County for work operating alternative care sites and non-congregate shelters.
The public is invited to read the full report and the response from DEMA. The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to discuss the report at its April 16 meeting.
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Award-winning program that connects underserved youths with nature wins $297,000 grant | |
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In 2017, Sonoma County Regional Parks created an innovative program to introduce teens from underserved communities to the great outdoors. It targeted youths from low-income backgrounds; Black, Indigenous and other people of color; and teens who identify as LGBTQ+.
Last month, the YES! Parks program – short for Youth Exploring Sonoma Parks – received a $297,320 grant from the state’s Youth Community Access program, which is funded by a 2016 voter-approved tax on marijuana. The grant will fund the County’s YES! Parks program through the end of 2025, introducing 120 local teens to hiking, cycling, paddling and camping.
“Our YES! Parks program was created with equity in mind,” said Guadalupe Navarro, community engagement manager for Sonoma County Regional Parks. “The grant enhances the YES! Parks programs and keeps them viable for years to come. We’re fortunate to be able to introduce even more Sonoma County youth to our vibrant natural resources.”
The program won statewide recognition last year for its success at creating a sense of community.
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County seeks public input on proposed update to cannabis ordinance | |
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Do you have an opinion about the County’s proposal to update its cannabis ordinance? If so, we want to hear from you.
The proposed update seeks to support the local cannabis industry while protecting the environment and ensuring operations are compatible with surrounding neighborhoods. It would allow most cannabis operations to be permitted by right, and not subject to review, in areas zoned as industrial and commercial; eliminate term limits and permit renewals; apply land-use regulations uniformly to medical and adult-use cannabis; adjust setback requirements that protect concentrated residential development; and allow on-site retail consumption, subject to relevant health ordinances.
The revised policy would also designate cannabis cultivation as “controlled agriculture,” which is considered a primary use on agricultural lands. The current ordinance considers cultivation to be secondary and incidental to traditional agricultural use. The revision would allow most policies related to agriculture to also apply to cannabis, as well as allow for regulations to protect public health and safety. While cultivation uses on agricultural lands would be subject to discretionary review, much of the environmental review requirements would be addressed by a programmatic environmental impact report, which will help streamline permit processing.
Written comments are due by May 1. They may be submitted to Cannabis@sonoma-county.org or sent by mail to Permit Sonoma, Attn: Cannabis Ordinance Update, 2550 Ventura Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95403.
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County accelerates path toward digital future | |
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Dan Fruchey, director of information Systems.
One of the county’s top technology priorities for the coming year is to improve access to government records, systems and services, regardless of where users are located or what type of computing device they use.
The initiatives will make county government more transparent, expand hybrid work options for County employees, and reduce spending on legacy technologies that can’t conform to this model, said Dan Fruchey, director of the County’s Information Systems Department.
“As a result of local and national tragedies, we’ve accelerated our path towards digital transformation in government services, embracing technologies for remote working much more quickly than we would have otherwise,” Fruchey said in a recent interview with GovTech Industry Insider.
“Unsurprisingly, this has resulted in a lot of great benefits for our clients and community. We will continue looking for ways we can work with our community remotely. That means converting additional work processes to electronic equivalents and helping our workforce adapt to those changes.”
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Funding available for 2020 wildfire survivors | |
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Sonoma County homeowners whose homes were damaged in the 2020 wildfires can now apply for state funding to rebuild their homes or retrofit them to prevent future damage.
The funding, which is targeted at homeowners with low to moderate incomes, is available through the state’s ReCoverCA housing program. It provides up to $500,000 to rebuild or repair damaged homes, and, up to $50,000 for retrofits that protect homes from future fires.
The application period will remain open until all funds are exhausted.
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Adopt the pet of the month | |
Find room to grow with a County job | |
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The County currently has more than 80 job openings posted on its website, but 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 5:30 p.m. on April 25.
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 April 25 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:
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Emergency Medical Care Council: Improve emergency medical care, oversee and maintain the system, and coordinate long-term planning for public education and injury prevention.
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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Volunteer and employment opportunities | |
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Getting outside and enjoying the county | |
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