A budget is more than just a spending plan. It’s also a statement of priorities. In this week’s edition of SoCo Correspondent, we offer a preview of the County’s annual budget hearings that begin on June 11. You will also find updates on several high-priority investments, including initiatives to reduce the threat of wildfires, create new parks, build affordable housing, improve our airport and make County government more accessible.
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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County awards another $1 million in grants to reduce fire danger | |
One way to slow down or stop a fire is to deprive it of fuel. That’s why the County has distributed more than $11 million in grants over the last four years to remove vegetation in fire-prone landscapes.
Last week, the Board of Supervisors approved another $1 million in grants for nine projects that will create fuel breaks and secure evacuation routes in key areas of Sonoma County. Recipients will provide $1 million in matching funds to implement the projects. When completed, the projects will reduce vegetation on nearly 50,000 acres of land in the Mayacamas Mountains and the Russian River corridor while creating more than 13 miles of shaded fuel breaks and roadside treatments.
“We can achieve more by working together instead of working alone,” said Supervisor David Rabbitt, chair of the Board of Supervisors. “Today’s investment, and the partnerships we are forming through this program, will make our county safer.”
The Board of Supervisors created the Vegetation Management Grant Program in 2020. It is funded with $25 million from the county’s settlement with PG&E over damage caused by the 2017 wildfires.
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Public hearings on 2024-25 Sonoma County budget to begin June 11 | |
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors will hold annual budget hearings beginning Tuesday, June 11 at 8:30 a.m. The hearings will be streamed live with an opportunity for the public to provide input each day regarding the recommended 2024-2025 fiscal year operating plan. At the conclusion of the budget hearings, the board will adopt a final budget to serve as the strategic operating plan for the fiscal year beginning on July 1.
Sonoma County receives the largest share of its funding from state and federal governments to run programs and deliver public services. State and federal funding represents approximately 40 percent of the annual budget. The 2024-25 recommended budget includes $2.4 billion in total expenditures, a three percent increase from the 2022-23 adopted budget.
Public comment may be made in person in the board chambers. The budget hearings include budgets for special districts for which the Board of Supervisors acts as the Board of Directors, such as Sonoma Water and the Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District.
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County makes Forbes list of nation’s best employers | |
For the third straight year, the County of Sonoma has been named one of the top mid-sized employers in the United States by Forbes magazine.
In the government services sector, Sonoma County was ranked No. 11 among 25 public agencies that made Forbes’ list, which was based on a nationwide survey of workers asked to rate their employer. Overall, Forbes ranked the county No. 204 among the nation’s 400 best mid-sized employers, which it defined as having 1,000 to 5,000 workers. The full list can be viewed at Forbes.com.
The county, which employs approximately 4,200 full- and part-time workers, offers career opportunities in more than 800 different job classifications ranging from customer service and administrative support to nursing and engineering, information technology, criminal justice and land management.
Come join us! The County is currently recruiting to fill more than 50 open positions in a variety of full-time, part-time, and temporary employment opportunities, including internships.
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County bans sale of e-cigarettes, flavored tobacco in unincorporated areas | |
Use of e-cigarettes and flavored tobacco is rising among high school-aged youth. By the time they reach 11th grade, 13 percent of Sonoma County children say they have used an e-cigarette. The devices, also known as vapes, can cause serious health implications, including contributing to detrimental inhalation patterns, and heightened risks for youth's developing brains, according to medical researchers.
The Board of Supervisors took action on May 14 to reverse that trend, banning sales of e-cigarettes and flavored tobacco in unincorporated areas. The ordinance aligns the County with similar bans in the cities of Petaluma, Sebastopol and Windsor.
“Today’s action signals the Board’s ongoing commitment to the health and safety of local youth,” said Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, vice chair of the Board of Supervisors. “By banning the sale of certain tobacco products that have pervaded youth culture, we can make it harder for children to access these dangerous products.”
There are currently 78 licensed tobacco retailers in unincorporated Sonoma County, representing nearly a quarter of all tobacco retailers throughout the county.
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Sheriff’s Office details limited role in enforcement of immigration laws | |
ICE notification requests and jail bookings
It happens nearly 10 times every week in Sonoma County. When U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement believes someone entered the country illegally and is being held in the local jail, it contacts the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office and asks to be notified when that person will be released from jail.
In Sonoma County, what happens next depends on whether the suspect has been charged with a misdemeanor or a serious crime. The policy and practice of the Sheriff’s Office is to only answer ICE requests about inmates who were detained on suspicion of violent crimes, felony DUIs, sex offenses and other felonies, Sheriff Eddie Engram told the Board of Supervisors on May 17 at an annual hearing on immigration enforcement. Last year, 85 percent of notification requests by ICE went unanswered, and no inmates were transferred directly into ICE custody.
State laws prevent local law enforcement agencies from using their resources to investigate, interrogate or arrest people for immigration enforcement. The Sheriff’s Office does not initiate contact with immigration officials or accept complaints about immigration violations. One state law, known as the TRUTH Act, requires law enforcement agencies to issue an annual report detailing the amount of information they provide to ICE.
Engram told the Board of Supervisors that ICE requested release dates concerning 492 inmates, the most in four years. The Sheriff’s Office provided information on 72 suspects, all of them charged with a serious crime or a felony.
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Mark West celebrates new sidewalks, future park | |
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Supervisor James Gore, center, helps to cut a ribbon officially opening new sidewalks on Mark West Springs Road.
After the 2017 wildfires devastated the Mark West area north of Santa Rosa, District 4 Supervisor James Gore made a commitment to residents. “We were not just going to rebuild, but rebuild better,” he recalled.
On May 11, Supervisor Gore and Mark West residents celebrated the completion of a County project to improve Mark West Springs Road between Old Redwood Highway and Ursuline Road. The Department of Public Infrastructure repaved and striped the road while installing new bike lanes, sidewalks, curbs and storm drain culverts. The sidewalks feature “sparkle grain” in the design of a flowing river that shimmers in the sunlight, just as Mark West Springs Road flows through the community connecting people. At the intersections are three landmark plinths bearing key words – renewal, unity and resilience – that embody the way neighbors came together to support each other after the fires.
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Following a ceremony to officially open the new sidewalks, residents walked down the street and celebrated the recent acquisition of a one-acre vacant lot that will become a community park. The property, located off Old Redwood Highway, was the site of a preschool that burned to the ground during the 2017 wildfires.
Funding for the $1.8 million purchase was provided by Sonoma County Ag + Open Space, the Board of Supervisors and several local businesses and private citizens. Mark West Area Community Fund, a nonprofit that acquired the land in partnership with Sonoma Land Trust, is raising money to build a playground, a gazebo for community gatherings, picnic tables, fitness stations, and a walking path through a butterfly garden. It hopes to start construction later this year.
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State approves sale of land for future park in Santa Rosa | |
It’s taken decades, but big achievements are rarely easy or quick.
With critical funding from Sonoma County Ag + Open Space, the City of Santa Rosa has struck a deal to acquire a 49-acre strip of land from Caltrans and transform it into a “Central Park” for the county’s largest city.
The property, once envisioned for an extension of Highway 12, has sat vacant since the 1950s. Now, it will be preserved in perpetuity as open space after the California Transportation Commission this month agreed to sell the Southwest Greenway property to Santa Rosa for $1.8 million. The city is expected to take ownership of the property in July.
Sonoma County Supervisors, acting in their roles as directors of Ag + Open Space, allocated up to $1 million in February 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’re thrilled to see the Southeast Greenway reach this milestone, and we’re grateful for the collaborative spirit that made it possible,” said Bert Whitaker, director of Sonoma County Regional Parks. “The Greenway will create a vital connection for pedestrians and cyclists, making it easier for more people to explore the beauty of Spring Lake and beyond and fostering relationships with nature for generations to come."
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Summer shuttle to Russian River beaches returns | |
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It can be a real hassle finding a parking space near the most popular Russian River beaches on summer weekends. Here’s an insider tip: ditch the car and take the River Shuttle offered by Sonoma County Regional Parks.
The shuttle operates from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends and holidays through Labor Day, departing every 30 minutes from El Molino High School in Forestville, where there’s plenty of parking. The shuttle operates on a loop to Steelhead Beach and Sunset Beach river parks. An all-day round-trip ticket costs $5. Youth 18 and younger ride for free. Tickets can be purchased in advance at SoCoParks.org/ShuttleTickets.
Starting July 1, the parking fee at Steelhead and Sunset beaches will increase from $7 to $10 for the summer peak season. Other parks with peak season parking fees are Cloverdale River Park, Del Rio Woods Regional Park, Healdsburg Veterans Memorial Beach and Riverfront Regional Park. Parking remains free for Sonoma County Regional Parks members displaying their park passes.
Rangers must temporarily close park entrances when parking lots reach capacity – a frequent occurrence on hot days. The shuttle ensures you will reach Steelhead and Sunset beaches while making it easier to float between them, eliminating the need to park cars at the beginning and end of the float route. New this year, R2T2 River Rentals will be offering float tubes for rent at Steelhead Beach, eliminating the need to buy floats that often get discarded along the river after use. Tube rentals can be booked in advance online at r2t2taxi.org/rentals.
“The River Shuttle is a big win for Russian River communities,” said District 5 Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, who represents the lower river area. “It cuts neighborhood traffic jams and emissions from idling cars circling for parking and improves community river access on busy weekends.”
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Utility boxes get colorful makeover in the Springs | |
From left, Kaya Rose, Mary Christensen and Elizabeth Zindler painted this utility box in the Springs.
Utility boxes help power our cable TV networks, traffic lights and other conveniences of modern life. But let’s be honest: most are eyesores.
That’s changing along Highway 12 north of Sonoma, thanks to an effort by District 1 Supervisor Susan Gorin, the Springs Municipal Advisory Council, Sonoma Valley nonprofit Art Escape and artist Kaya Rose, co-founder of Glass Wing Mural Co.
Last month, three Comcast utility boxes in the Springs area were transformed into whimsical works of art following years of planning and paperwork. With help from the county’s Public Infrastructure Department, collaborators hope to win approval to paint two Caltrans utility boxes later this year. The colorful themes, created with input from the community, are designed to capture the beauty and diversity of the Springs.
“Over the years, I’ve observed painted utility boxes in cities and towns across the United States, often with themes and images reflecting the local culture and spirit of their communities,” Supervisor Gorin said. “It has long been a passion project of mine to see a similar public art project to the Springs. Little did I know the number of hoops we would have to jump through. It was no easy feat, but nothing our tireless MAC members, Art Escape, and the amazing artists couldn’t handle!”
The project is the second undertaken by the Springs Municipal Advisory Council to beautify the community. In 2023, the group led an effort to wrap bicycle racks at several bus stops in the Springs with bright colors and designs.
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Airport moves forward with permanent runway repairs | |
Now that the rainy season is over and the ground is drying out, Charles M. Schulz - Sonoma County Airport is proceeding with plans to refurbish a section of runway pavement and replace a deteriorating culvert that crosses under the runway.
The Board of Supervisors last week awarded a contract to Granite Construction to implement permanent repairs to the runway. The work, projected to cost $667,115, will replace temporary measures installed over winter to prevent further deterioration of the runway.
The repairs will take place in early June and are expected to take 20 hours. The airport is coordinating with the FAA to mitigate any possible impacts of the work and will communicate with travelers in advance.
“The safety of the public and employees is the County’s top priority, and we can rest assured that the travel experience at STS will continue to be world-class,” said District 4 Supervisor James Gore, who represents the airport area.
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Tierra de Rosas mixed-use project advances | |
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Construction workers will soon begin installing sewer lines, utilities, streets and other infrastructure to support the long-awaited Tierra de Rosas mixed-use development in Roseland.
The Board of Supervisors this month approved a $14.8 million contract with Ghilotti Construction Co. to build the backbone infrastructure for the project. When completed, it will include 75 units of affordable housing, 100 units of market-rate housing, a one-acre public plaza, a Mercado Food Hall and a 24,000-square-foot civic-use building in southwest Santa Rosa’s Roseland neighborhood.
“We’ve been working toward this day for a long, long time,” said District 3 Supervisor Chris Coursey, who represents the area. “It wasn’t easy getting here, but we never gave up because this project has the potential to transform Roseland while increasing our supply of affordable housing.”
The first phase of the infrastructure construction project is scheduled to be completed by February 2026. Construction on the second phase is expected to start next March and is scheduled to be completed by July 2026. Mitote Food Park, a popular outdoor food court on the site, will remain open through the first two phases of construction.
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New policy seeks to remove language barriers to County services | |
Nearly 55,000 people age 5 and older in Sonoma County speak a language other than English at home, according to the most recent U.S. Census. More than 40,000 of these individuals speak Spanish, comprising almost 10 percent of the county’s population, but more than 75 other languages are spoken across our diverse county.
Access to County services should not be limited by the language you speak. That fundamental principle underlies a new language access policy approved May 14 by the Board of Supervisors.
As part of the policy, the County will bolster efforts to provide timely interpretation and translation services to County residents and visitors who do not speak English. The County also committed to using plain language in public communications including writing in short sentences, using simple words, avoiding technical jargon and designing documents for easy reading.
“We need to make sure that government services are accessible to anyone who needs them, and that starts with communicating in a language that people understand,” said Supervisor David Rabbitt, chair of the Board of Supervisors. “The language access policy represents our commitment to inclusivity and equity for communities that have experienced marginalization from government processes and services.”
The Office of Equity, in partnership with the County Administrator’s Office, will help County departments and agencies implement the policy, as resources allow.
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Get the inside scoop at SoCo Chat | |
District Attorney Carla Rodriguez, right, and Miranda, a comfort dog in the victims’ service office, appear on SoCo Chat with Supervising Communications Specialist Matt Brown.
In honor of wildfire preparedness month, SoCo Chat will be offering a special four-part series during June dedicated to looking ahead to what’s in store for Sonoma County this fire season and what residents and neighborhoods can and should be doing to be better prepared. Stay tuned for more details. Subscribe to SoCo Chat, the County’s new podcast series 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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Jennifer Hainstock, the County’s Public Administrator discusses the safety net maintained by her office and how to avoid needing its services.
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Melissa Ladrech, Mental Health Services Act coordinator for the Sonoma County Department of Health Services, talks about services available in the county’s mental health care system.
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Erika Thibault, director of the Sonoma County Library, talks about the agency’s 12 regional libraries, two community libraries, three special collections and a growing array of digital resources.
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Carla Rodriguez, Sonoma County’s district attorney, discusses the criminal justice system in Sonoma County (and a very special guest joins the set).
Upcoming SoCo Chat episodes will feature discussions with District 3 Supervisor Chris Coursey; District 4 Supervisor James Gore; Janice Thompson, deputy director of Engineering and Maintenance for the Department of Public Infrastructure; and Kim Batchelder, manager of the County’s vegetation management grant program.
Listen for a chance to win a SoCo Chat coffee mug by answering the trivia question of the week.
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County honored for Clean Commute program | |
Staff with the County’s Climate Action and Resiliency Division and Supervisor Chris Coursey, far right, serve up breakfast on Bike to Work Day.
The County is not just a great place to work. It’s also one of the most bike-friendly employers in Sonoma County, according to the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition, which will honor the County on June 8 at its second annual Golden Spoke Award Gala.
The bicycle coalition singled out the County’s Clean Commute Program, which offers employees free transit passes along with free bike lockers and EV chargers on the County campus. Eligible employees receive a $600 subsidy if they bike or walk to work or use a train, bus or carpool to commute at least 48 days in a six-month period – an average of two days per week.
Employees can find a carpool and log their commute days using an online TripTracker. The system, administered by the County’s Climate Action and Resiliency Division, automatically calculates the amount of money saved, calories burned, and CO2 emissions reduced. In the first three months of 2024, County employees took 1,100 bicycle trips, 397 transit trips and 2,391 carpool trips. Members of the County’s CARD staff were also enthusiastic supporters of Bike to Work Day, serving up free breakfast to 32 riders who stopped by CARD’s Energizer Station on their way to work May 16.
“As the largest employer in Sonoma County, this program offers an example we hope other businesses and agencies will emulate,” the bicycle coalition declared.
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County strengthens penalties for illegal cannabis farms | |
California legalized the recreational use of cannabis nearly eight years ago, but that doesn’t mean you can grow it anywhere you want. Cultivation is governed by a series of state and local laws.
Earlier this month, the Board of Supervisors tentatively voted to align civil penalties for unpermitted cannabis operations in unincorporated Sonoma County with state law. Civil penalties for unpermitted cannabis land use range from $1,000 per violation up to a maximum civil penalty of $10,000 per day. The amount of the penalty depends on the seriousness of the violation, environmental impact, culpability of the violator and the impact on surrounding properties. Cannabis violations discovered on a separate property are treated as a second or additional violation, which escalates the civil penalty to up to $25,000 per day and then $50,000 per day when the violations occur within two years.
“These amendments align the County’s daily penalty scheme with state law while maintaining prior penalty amounts,” said Supervisor David Rabbitt, chair of the Board of Supervisors. “It also provides a grace period for licensed individuals operating in good faith, consistent with state guidelines.”
The proposal is scheduled to return to the Board of Supervisors for final approval on June 4.
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Find room to grow with a County job | |
The County currently has more than 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 noon on June 27.
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 June 27 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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