|
One of the things that makes Sonoma County a special place is its commitment to fund parks and conserve scenic landscapes. In this edition of the SoCo Correspondent, we have updates for you on how sales tax measures approved by voters in 2006 and 2018 are being used to create recreational spaces in Santa Rosa and the Sonoma coast. We also have information about opportunities to protect your home against wildfires, an upcoming resource fair for farmworkers, where you can get free help with civil legal issues and much more.
Be sure to tell friends, colleagues and family members about this newsletter and 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.
| |
Farmworkers Resource Fair coming March 3 | |
|
Sonoma County Job Link and the county Economic Development Board, in collaboration with many community partners, will host a resource fair for farmworkers on Sunday, March 3 in Windsor.
The event will take place from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Mary Agatha Furth Center, 8400 Old Redwood Highway in Windsor. There will be food, music and danza, and health screenings. More than 30 local agencies will provide information and support around housing, advocacy, immigration, tax preparation and more. For questions, contact Job Link at (707) 565-5550.
| |
Want help in protecting your home? Attend a vegetation management grant webinar on Feb. 27 or March 12 | |
|
Sonoma County is now accepting applications to fund projects that protect residents from wildfires by creating fuel breaks, expanding defensible space around homes, and removing vegetation along evacuation routes in fire-prone landscapes.
The Sonoma County Vegetation Management Grant Program provides resources and grant funding for vegetation management in areas at high-risk of wildfire. This funding is targeted to support the work of local fire districts, schools, communities with Community Wildfire Protection Plans, Resource Conservation Districts, community groups, nonprofit organizations, licensed foresters, tribal entities and resource managers. While funding will not be provided to individual landowners or private companies, the county encourages landowners to partner with eligible agencies.
Interested applicants are encouraged to attend one of the informational webinars on Feb. 27 or March 12 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. For webinar details and more information on how to apply, visit SonomaOpenSpace.org/VegManagement.
| |
Self-Help Center for civil court issues moves
to new location | |
|
Need assistance with a civil law issue but you don’t have a lawyer? Visit the Sonoma County Superior Court’s Civil Self-Help Center, which moved last month to new offices at the Civil and Family Courthouse, located at 3055 Cleveland Ave. in northwest Santa Rosa.
The Civil Self-Help Center provides free assistance with eviction and debt collection cases, small claims lawsuits, restraining orders for civil harassment and elder abuse, name changes and other civil law issues. The center can help you understand your legal options and provide access to legal forms and computers. Interpreters are available; call ahead to request one in advance to reduce your wait time.
The legal process can seem overwhelming and stressful at times, but the Civil Self-Help Center is staffed with a team of committed legal professionals who aspire to provide exceptional, accessible and fair justice services to all. Email questions to selfhelp@sonomacourt.org or call (707) 521-6534 for more information.
| |
Ag + Open Space backs effort to create park
in southeast Santa Rosa | |
|
It stretches nearly two miles across southeast Santa Rosa and has sat unused since the 1950s, when Caltrans acquired land to extend Highway 12 east from Farmer’s Lane to Spring Lake Regional Park.
Now, the 49-acre Santa Rosa Southeast Greenway is closer than ever to becoming an urban park. This month, members of the Board of Supervisors, acting in their roles as directors of Sonoma County Ag + Open Space, allocated up to $1 million to acquire the property. Sonoma Land Trust and the Santa Rosa Southeast Greenway Campaign will provide $827,000 in matching funds to complete the purchase.
“We are so grateful to the community for its commitment and vision, sticking with this project over the years,” said District 1 Supervisor Susan Gorin, who represents the area. “We are thrilled to be able to support the work of turning what was once land for a freeway into a vibrant public park.”
The acquisition will include a conservation easement and recreation covenant over a majority of the property to ensure this land is forever conserved for public recreation and urban open space protection.
“We are grateful to all our partners for their support in helping to move this vision closer to reality for our community,” said Santa Rosa City Manager Maraskeshia Smith. “This Greenway will provide a vibrant active greenspace, and will provide connectivity for bicyclists and pedestrians to the east and west areas of the county while helping to meet our climate goals.”
| |
District 5 opening satellite office in Guerneville
| |
|
West Sonoma County residents will now have the option to access county officials and services without the need to drive to Santa Rosa. On March 2, District 5 Supervisor Lynda Hopkins and her staff will celebrate the opening of a new satellite office in Guerneville.
The new office will be housed in the former Bank of America building alongside offices for the Department of Health Services and West County Community Services. The location will also be used to host meetings of the area’s Municipal Advisory Council and other groups. Later this year, the Human Services Department will move into the space.
Initially, District 5 staff will be available by appointment only. Appointments can be made by emailing district5@sonoma-county.org. Bilingual services will be available.
“This opening is a celebration of our collective commitment to serving our community more effectively,” said Supervisor Hopkins, who represents the area. “We are ecstatic to be able to bring services closer to our community.”
The public is invited to attend an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. on March 2 with Supervisor Hopkins, her staff and representatives of county departments staffing the satellite office. Light refreshments will be served and emergency preparedness go-bags will be given away in a raffle.
| |
Get the inside scoop at 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:
-
Johannes Hoevertsz, director of the county’s Public Infrastructure Department, on responding to winter storms.
-
Tennis Wick, director of Permit Sonoma, on the upcoming revision of the county’s general plan and new ways to get the public involved.
-
SoCo Chat Roundtable – A conversation about recent Sonoma County news including storm damage, county staff vacancies and Avelo’s expansion at the Sonoma County airport.
-
Michael Gause, manager of the county’s Ending Homelessness Program, on what we’ve learned from the county’s annual census of homeless people.
-
M. Christina Rivera, County Administrator, reflects on her first 12 months as the county’s top administrator and discusses career opportunities at the county.
-
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 Ethan Brown, executive director of the county’s Economic Development Board; Marcie Woychik, chief deputy clerk for the Board of Supervisors; and Jennifer Lake, 211 director for United Way of the Wine Country.
Listen for a chance to win a SoCo Chat coffee mug by answering the trivia question of the week.
| |
Visit the county’s newest regional park
on the Sonoma coast | |
|
Visitors are now welcome at Chanslor Ranch, a 378-acre property overlooking Bodega Bay, Salmon Creek and the Sonoma coast.
Sonoma County Ag + Open Space acquired the ranch for $5.5 million in late November and will transfer ownership later this year to Sonoma County Regional Parks, which is managing the property.
“We are thrilled to have Chanslor Ranch under public ownership,” said District 5 Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, who represents the area. “This coastal gem has been a beloved destination for community members and visitors alike for many years, and we look forward to welcoming even more visitors on this cherished property in the years to come.”
Since the close of the sale, Ag + Open Space and Regional Parks have been preparing the longtime guest ranch for continued public use by improving the parking area, marking existing trails, and removing safety hazards. Hikers and equestrians continue to have access to the existing trails, while a commercial stable continues to offer private trail rides and horse boarding.
Visitors are welcome daily from 7 a.m. to sunset. The parking fee has been temporarily waived during the ownership transition. Ag + Open Space and Regional Parks will host an open house on Saturday, March 9, with informational booths, activities and interpretation to showcase the new park.
| |
Cast your ballot in the March 5 election | |
|
Seven vote centers for the March 5 presidential primary election will open daily starting Saturday, Feb. 24, giving you more ways to cast your ballot in a presidential election than ever before.
Another 24 will open the following weekend, beginning March 2, providing voters with a convenient place to vote in person or drop off their mail-in ballot. All vote centers will be open daily, including weekends, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Election Day, the vote centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
If you prefer to use your mail-in ballot, drop it off at one of the county’s 21 official ballot drop-boxes or return it directly to the Registrar of Voters Office (435 Fiscal Drive in Santa Rosa) during regular business hours. You may also send it back in the mail, as long as it is postmarked on or before March 5 and received by March 12.
View an interactive map of the county’s vote centers and official ballot drop-boxes.
If you haven’t registered to vote yet or want to change your political party registration, you will need to complete the Same-Day Voter Registration process and request your ballot in person at the county elections office or vote center.
| |
Help the county’s independent law enforcement watchdog set new goals | |
|
The Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach invites the public to help it set priorities for the year at a strategic planning workshop in Windsor on Feb. 24.
Supervisor David Rabbitt, chair of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, and Sheriff Eddie Engram will address the public at the 10 a.m. meeting of IOLERO’s Community Advisory Council, which will be held at the Sonoma County Regional Library at 9291 Old Redwood Highway, in Windsor.
IOLERO’s mission is to strengthen the relationship between the Sheriff’s Office and the community it serves through outreach and the promotion of greater transparency of law enforcement operations. The Community Advisory Council’s mission is to engage the public to better understand the role of IOLERO and the Sheriff’s Office.
Those who cannot attend in person are invited to submit their ideas in writing to CAC@Sonoma-County.org.
| |
Find room to grow with a county job | |
|
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 2 p.m. on March 14.
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 March 14 class or sign up for our mailing list to be notified of future classes.
| |
Adopt the pet of the month | |
|
My name is Phillip. I’m a pit bull terrier who weighs 60 pounds and is a little over 1 ½ years old. I was brought to the shelter last July. My caretakers say I’m a happy pup who is calm, relaxed and loves attention. Will you bring me into your family?
Phillip is one of dozens of cats, dogs, rabbits and other animals at Sonoma County Animal Services in need of adoption.
| |
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:
-
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.
| |
|
(stories may require subscriptions)
| |
Getting outside and enjoying the county | |
Follow us online or contact us via email | | | | |
