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Sonoma County renters are poised to receive new protections from eviction under a proposal tentatively approved by the Board of Supervisors. This week, SoCo Correspondent reports on the new protections as well as a pair of major land acquisitions in west county and a County initiative to reduce suicides by promoting stronger social connections. Plus, we’ve got an inside look at a quick, economical and fun way to get married in Sonoma County. SoCo Correspondent also will introduce you to the county’s new poet laureate, who is launching a dialogue on what it means to live 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.

Board of Supervisors tentatively approves new protections for renters

Renters in unincorporated areas of Sonoma County would gain new rights under an ordinance tentatively approved Aug. 20 by the Board of Supervisors.

 

The ordinance would prevent landlords from evicting tenants for nonpayment unless more than one month of rent is overdue. Evictions would be prohibited, in most cases, during a declared emergency. When tenants are asked to vacate a property, the landlord would be required to provide information on tenants’ rights in English and Spanish.

 

“The Board of Supervisors took a critical step toward maintaining housing stability for some of our most vulnerable residents, building upon existing state law,” said Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, vice chair of the Board.

 

The new County protections are in addition to protections within the California Tenant Protection Act, a 2019 state law that limits rent increases and requires landlords of many types of rental units to have a just cause to evict a tenant who has lived in a property longer than one year. Just-cause evictions are allowed for such things as nonpayment of rent, lease violations or criminal activity. Under the County ordinance, tenants would be protected by just-cause requirements as soon as they begin renting, and state law exemptions for subsidized housing from just-cause protections would be removed.

 

The board also approved a $34,100 outreach campaign to explain the new rules to Sonoma County residents. Through a series of town halls, webinars and advertisements, County staff will work to ensure that renters understand their rights, including the new rules adopted by the Board of Supervisors.

 

If given final approval at the board’s Sept. 17 meeting, the ordinance would take effect in 30 days.

Dig deeper into the new protections for renters

Nearly 800 acres conserved forever in west Sonoma County

The Russian River Redwoods property. (Vivian Chen/Save the Redwoods League) 


One property bounds the Russian River south of Guerneville and is home to the beloved Clar Tree, a 2,000-year-old redwood believed to be one of the oldest and tallest trees in Sonoma County. The other is nestled in the forests rising above Dutch Bill Creek, a critical habitat for coho salmon outside Camp Meeker.

 

Both parcels will now be protected forever. On Aug. 20, the Board of Supervisors, acting as directors of Sonoma Ag + Open Space, approved deals to purchase the two properties for a combined $8.4 million.

 

The 394-acre Russian River Redwoods property near Guerneville has long been eyed for conservation, given its scenic river frontage and stand of redwood trees. Save the Redwoods League, which acquired the property in September 2023, agreed to sell the land to the Russian River County Sanitation District, which is managed by Sonoma Water.

 

“Conservation of the Russian River Redwoods property is a deeply important and exciting moment for west county,” said District 5 Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, who represents the area. “We know the community has long dreamed of this property being conserved, and I’m proud to see this vital place stewarded for us all, now and in the future.”

 

The 384-acre Camp Meeker Forest Open Space Preserve will be owned and managed by Camp Meeker Recreation & Park District. It was purchased from the Episcopal Bishop of California and St. Dorothy’s Rest, which donated 28 acres to the park district. The preserve is expected to open to the public in the next couple months.

 

Ag + Open Space funded the two purchases and acquired conservation easements and recreation covenants on both properties, ensuring they can be opened to the public in the future while their natural resources are conserved forever. The deals were funded by a quarter-cent sales tax approved by voters in 1990 and reauthorized in 2006 to protect the diverse agricultural, natural resource and scenic open space lands of Sonoma County for future generations.

Learn more about Ag + Open Space

A no-fuss, economical way to get married

Did you know you can get your marriage license and then tie the knot in a ceremony at the Sonoma County Clerk-Recorder’s office without being tied up in knots by the burdensome cost and details of a traditional wedding? That’s right, you can sign your wedding docs and, for an additional $60 fee, say “I do” in a ceremony overseen by a County official. Once you grab your paperwork, you can step into your new future as a legally married couple.

 

Last year, more than 800 couples chose this no-fuss, economical option. No-fuss does not mean zero choices. There are both indoor and outdoor venues at the Clerk-Recorder's Office. Up to 17 family and friends can attend, you can dress up or down, and the ceremony can be performed in English or Spanish for less than what you’d pay for a dinner for two at a moderately priced restaurant.

 

Who gets married at the County offices? “We have every age, from young to old, every ethnicity, every demographic, people who come in in cut-off shorts and full wedding dresses, so it is everyone across the spectrum and it’s beautiful to see,” said Deva Marie Proto, Sonoma County’s Clerk-Recorder-Assessor-Registrar of Voters.

 

Proto’s favorite wedding to perform was for a couple who stopped in while on a road trip with their dogs. “Since dogs can’t come inside the office, we did it outside in the pouring rain because they wanted to be near their dogs as they got married. As someone who loves dogs, I understood completely, and not only didn’t mind getting drenched, I was happy to do it,” she said. 

VIDEO: Experience a wedding at the Clerk-Recorder's office

New report highlights role of ADUs in expanding the supply of housing

Every week, on average, two more granny units are built somewhere in Sonoma County outside its nine cities. A forecast by Permit Sonoma projects there will be more than 800 of these homes built in unincorporated areas by 2031, accounting for more than 20 percent of the 3,824 housing units that must be developed in unincorporated areas of the County by 2031 to meet state targets.

 

Also known as ADUs – short for accessory dwelling units – these homes are built on lots also occupied by a primary single-family home or apartment building. As a result, they are significantly less expensive to build than a traditional house. They are a critical part of the County’s plan to increase the supply of housing for lower- and moderate-income residents, a strategy embodied in the Board of Supervisors’ decision last December to allow up to two ADUs on a parcel, double the number it permitted before.

 

Last year, the County issued permits for 120 new ADUs, according to a Permit Sonoma report presented to the Board of Supervisors at its Aug. 20 meeting. Construction was completed on 114 new ADUs last year.

Get more information about ADUs and the County’s permitting process

County halts enforcement of all-electric building code after U.S. District Court ruling

Photo of an electric stovetop with a pot of water on top Foto de una cocina eléctrica con una olla de agua encima

Sonoma County has suspended enforcement of a building code that prohibits natural gas or propane appliances in most new residential construction after a federal court ruled that local ordinances preventing the use of gas appliances are overridden by federal law.

 

The ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals came in a case filed by the California Restaurant Association against a similar ordinance in the City of Berkeley, which banned natural gas piping in new buildings. The court’s decision means the County’s all-electric building code, adopted by the Board of Supervisors in 2022 to help the County meet its climate goals, is preempted by the federal law.

 

“Permit Sonoma has stopped enforcing the all-electric building code as a result of the court ruling,” said Supervisor David Rabbitt, chair of the Board of Supervisors. “We still encourage new residential construction to look for suitable alternatives to fossil fuel-burning appliances, and we will undoubtedly revisit this issue during our next building code update.”

 

As an alternative, many local jurisdictions seeking to stop the use of natural gas in new construction have adopted “electric-preferred” efficiency standards, which are allowed under federal law. Boosting energy efficiency requirements creates an incentive for developers to build all-electric structures since using natural gas would require them to compensate with other energy efficiency improvements. Permit Sonoma is moving forward with this efficiency approach for the next building code update, which will come before the Board of Supervisors next year.

Connect with Permit Sonoma

Faces of the County: Meet Allison Schichtel

This is part of an ongoing series of profiles highlighting public servants across a variety of departments at the County of Sonoma.

Name: Allison Schichtel

 

Title: Senior Conservation Planner, Sonoma County Ag + Open Space

 

Years with County: 8

 

Personal side: I currently live in Rohnert Park with my spouse, toddler, and scruffy pup, and am expecting a new addition to our family this summer. I grew up in Auburn near the American River Canyon, a daughter of two public servants with big hearts for open space. I’m not terribly surprised by my life trajectory! After living in Arcata, a stint in Las Vegas and San Diego, I feel so fortunate to have settled and made a home here in Sonoma County.

 

Education and/or certifications: I have a dual bachelor’s degree in Environmental Biology and Botany from Humboldt State University and a master’s degree in GIScience, with a watershed science emphasis, from San Diego State University.

 

What do you do? Ag + Open Space conserves forever our county's farms and ranches, scenic open space, greenbelts and natural areas for the benefit of our community now and for future generations. The agency also preserves places to recreate and enjoy nature in wild parks and preserves, as well as open spaces close to our urban areas. As the Senior Conservation Planner, I support our diverse mission by developing decision-support tools and managing maps and data to understand where the most important lands are to protect, conducting research and supporting in the design of conservation easements for individual properties, and participating in countywide and regional planning efforts related to conservation and land use.

 

What aspects of your job give you the most fulfillment? The aspect of my job that I most enjoy is getting to work at multiple scales and across all facets of the organization’s work – from evaluating conservation priorities at the countywide scale for agricultural, natural resource, greenbelt, recreation, and community open space protection, to informing specific protection strategies for say, a sensitive plant species on an individual property. I enjoy the challenge of investigating how a conservation project fits into the larger vision of a healthy landscape and getting to work with maps and data every day. I also love being able to look out across the county and see the very real, tangible, and everlasting benefits of our work.

 

What is one of the biggest misconceptions about Ag + Open Space? We may be known for our role in working with partners to create parks and preserves that the public can explore and enjoy, but we also work with private landowners to protect open space properties that are critical for sustaining a vibrant agricultural economy, high biodiversity, clean and abundant water, and resiliency in the face of climate change. We work on projects big and small, in more rural parts of the county and right in your community. Lands protected by Ag + Open Space range from an 18,000-acre ranch at the headwaters of Lake Sonoma to a six-acre community garden and gathering space in the City of Santa Rosa, and everything in between. I believe it is through this diversity of projects that we can best achieve a balance of benefits for all communities and natural systems in the county.

 

Passions outside of work? I love getting outside with my family and sampling all that Sonoma County has to offer. My favorite days usually start with a treat from Red Bird Bakery and evolve into a short hike and picnic “somewhere west” among the redwoods or on the coast. I also love thrifting and crafting (knitting, sewing, punch-needling, stamp-making…all of it!) and working on projects that add a bit of whimsy and silliness to my home.

Dave Seter honored as Sonoma County’s 13th poet laureate

Petaluma poet Dave Seter, center, receives a Gold Resolution from Supervisor David Rabbitt and the Board of Supervisors at their Aug. 20 meeting.

 

Dave Seter spent more than three decades working as an engineer with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, developing creative solutions to clean up contaminated wells and toxic copper mines.

 

These days, the Petaluma man is pouring his creativity into an entirely different arena: poetry. His poems and essays focus on social and environmental issues, including the intersection of the built world and the natural world. He serves as an affiliate artist at the Headlands Center for the Arts and is also an emerging translator of contemporary Lithuanian poetry.

 

In August, Seter officially became Sonoma County’s 13th poet laureate. During his two-year term, he will head a countywide initiative based on the “Our California” poetry project to encourage dialogue on what it means to live in Sonoma County.

 

The Board of Supervisors honored Seter on Aug. 20 for his work to bring the arts to the people of Sonoma County. At the meeting, Seter recited a short poem (see below) that he dedicated to “the people who do the heavy lifting and make Sonoma County run, make it safe. May we help them brush away any fear that may come their way.”

VIDEO: View Dave Seter’s recital of “Near-Weightless Hitchhiker”

SoCo Chat celebrates local Latino community in new series

County Executive Maria Christina Rivera, right, speaks with County Communications Specialist Karina Garcia on a recent episode of SoCo Chat.

 

Every September, National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the histories, cultures and contributions of Americans who trace their ancestry to Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. This month, SoCo Chat is inviting Latino leaders within our community to talk with us about their experiences and what it means to connect with the Latino community and to honor their heritage.

 

Our first guest is County Executive Maria Christina Rivera, who became the first Latina, bilingual County Administrator in the history of the County of Sonoma when she was appointed by the Board of Supervisors in early 2023. Watch or listen to this engaging and fun interview here


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. Recent guests and topics of discussion have included:

 

 

Upcoming SoCo Chat episodes will include conversations with Melissa Valle, interim director of the County’s Office of Equity, and Jennielynn Holmes, chief executive officer of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa. Listen for a chance to win a SoCo Chat coffee mug by answering the trivia question of the week.

SoCo Chat podcast logo with since 2024 and a retro microphone in the middle
Join the conversation at SoCo Chat

Sea otter sand sculpture contest at Doran Beach

District 5 Supervisor Lynda Hopkins joined representatives from the Kashia Band of Pomo Indians, Sea Otter Savvy and the Marine Mammal Center on Tuesday at Doran Beach to promote the critical role that sea otters once played in our local marine ecosystem.


The day featured a sea otter sand sculpture competition judged by Supervisor Hopkins (shown below, right). District 5 is already looking forward to hosting a similar event next year as it convenes conversations about the possible reintroduction of southern sea otters to the Sonoma Coast.  


Visit the Sea Otter Savvy webpage to learn more about sea otters and ongoing conservation efforts.

Preventing suicides by forging stronger social connections

Half of American adults struggle with loneliness. It can have serious implications for one's health, increasing the risk of premature death to levels comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day, according to U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy.

 

Building stronger social connections is one focus of an initiative developed by the Sonoma County Department of Health Services to reduce suicide, which claims the lives of 73 people annually, on average, in Sonoma County. The County and its partners in the Life Worth Living Suicide Prevention Alliance will hold three “Connection is Prevention” events during the month of September to emphasize the essential role that human connections play in maintaining good mental health and nurturing a supportive community.

 

The first event will take place Saturday, Sept. 7 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in downtown Santa Rosa at Old Courthouse Square. The public is invited to enjoy the Bibliobus Mobile Library, Children’s Museum on the Go, free paletas, food trucks, raffle prizes, swag bags, and more. More than 35 organizations will set up tables and provide resources, and Board of Supervisors Chair David Rabbitt will present a proclamation designating September as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.

 

“It’s been very disturbing to learn how prevalent suicide and self-harm are in Sonoma County,” Supervisor Rabbitt said. “I hope everyone will consider attending one of these special events put on by our Behavioral Health division to celebrate mental well-being and meaningful connections.”

 

The public is also welcome to attend “Connection is Prevention” events in Cloverdale (Saturday, Sept. 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Cloverdale Plaza) and Sonoma (Wednesday, Sept. 25 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Hanna Center). All three events are free.


Learn more about the risk factors contributing to local suicides by listening to a new episode of SoCo Chat just released today. Melissa Ladrech, the Mental Health Services Act coordinator for the Sonoma County Department of Health Services, discusses some of the warning signs and how to talk about suicide with someone who’s feeling hopeless.

 

If you or someone you care about is in emotional distress or thinking about suicide, help and support are available: Call 988. For help identifying local resources, call 211.

Learn more about crisis services offered by the Department of Health Services

County expands mental health services for high school students

High school has always been a stressful time for many students, and it’s only gotten worse since the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020.

 

After a six-year hiatus, the Sonoma County Department of Health Services has resumed a program to teach faculty, students and their families how to detect the onset of mental illness. In addition to educating high school communities about mental illness and suicide prevention, the program also provides crisis intervention services when a student is experiencing a mental health emergency.

 

“The pandemic was harmful for kids’ mental health, and depression and anxiety have shot through the roof since then,” said Karin Sellite, youth and family services manager in the department’s Behavioral Health division. “It makes sense to have behavioral health staff back in schools so that we can help meet their needs as quickly as possible.”

 

The Board of Supervisors in July invested $1.8 million to revive the CAPE program, short for Crisis Assessment, Prevention and Education. It is funded by Measure O, a quarter-cent sales tax approved by voters in 2020 to expand mental health and homeless services.

 

The CAPE program is currently operating in three high schools in west Sonoma County and the Sonoma Valley. It will be expanded to 19 high schools countywide as staffing comes on board.

Access mental health services from the County

Sheriff’s Office to host town hall in Sonoma on Sept. 12

Sheriff Eddie Engram attends a recent town hall.

 

The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office and Sonoma Police Department will host a town hall on Sept. 12 in Sonoma to meet residents and answer their questions.

 

“Our Town Halls are casual events designed to maximize personal interactions with members of the Sheriff’s Office,” said Sheriff Eddie Engram. “I’ll share an update on our operations and progress we’ve made on my top priorities – public safety, recruitment, and outreach.”

 

The hour-long event begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Sonoma Police Department, 175 1st St. West. There is no agenda, so attendees may stop by at their convenience.

 

The Sonoma Police Department is operated by the Sheriff’s Office, which has provided law enforcement services to the City of Sonoma since 2004 under a contract between the city and the County.

Attend the Sept. 12 Sheriff’s Office town hall in Sonoma

Attend the Bodega Bay Health & Safety Fair on Sept. 18

Connect with more than 20 organizations working to make Sonoma County safe and healthy on Sept. 18 at the Bodega Bay Health & Safety Fair.

 

Organizers will offer free CPR training, blood pressure and glucose checks, and dental screenings. The family-friendly event will include free food and opportunities to meet first responders.

 

The fair will take place from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Bodega Bay School, 1200 Canon St., in Bodega Bay. The event will be hosted by District 5 Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, Providence Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, Bodega Bay School and various community organizations, including the Sonoma County Fire District, the Bodega Bay Community Emergency Response Team, and the Bodega Bay Fire Foundation.

Attend the Sept. 18 Bodega Bay Health & Safety Fair

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 10 a.m. on Sept. 24.

 

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 Sept. 24 class or sign up for our mailing list to be notified of future classes.

Explore current job openings

Adopt the pet of the week

My name is Mendy. I’m a 2 ½-year-old female pit bull terrier mix who was brought to the shelter in February. I weigh 45 pounds. I can be shy at first, but once I am comfortable I’m a delight and may even show you my super-fast zoomies. I know how to sit and I’m working on some other skills. Will you bring me into your family?

 

Mendy is one of dozens of cats, dogs, rabbits and other animals at Sonoma County Animal Services in need of adoption.

View animals available for 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:




Your involvement can make a significant impact. Take the first step and explore how you can contribute to a brighter future for Sonoma County.

Find out more and apply online

Volunteer and employment opportunities

Volunteer opportunities


Make a difference in your community. Find out how you can give back here.

Employment opportunities


Take your next career step with the County of Sonoma. Explore employment opportunities here.

In the news

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Upcoming events

A megaphone against the backdrop of a blackboard with chalk writing that says, "Save the Date!"

Upcoming events

Sept. 10          Board of Supervisors

Sept. 10          Aging & Disability Commission Executive Committee

Sept. 11          Mark West Area Municipal Advisory Council

Sept. 11          Springs Municipal Advisory Council

Sept. 12          Lower Russian River Municipal Advisory Council

Sept. 12          Commission on the Status of Women

Sept. 17          Board of Supervisors

Sept. 17          Mental Health Board

Sept. 17          North Sonoma Valley Municipal Advisory Committee

Sept. 18          Community Development Committee

Sept. 18          Aging & Disability Commission

Sept. 18          Fire Memorial Task Force

Sept. 18          Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission

Sept. 19          Planning Commission

Sept. 19          Coast Municipal Advisory Council

Sept. 19          Fish and Wildlife Commission

Sept. 24          Board of Supervisors

Sept. 24          Measure O Citizen’s Oversight Committee

Sept. 24          Human Rights Commission

Sept. 25          Economic Development Collaborative Advisory Board

Sept. 25          Homeless Coalition Board

Sept. 25          Sonoma Valley Community Advisory Commission

Sept. 26          Ag + Open Space Advisory Committee

Oct. 3             IOLERO Community Advisory Council

Oct. 3             Planning Commission

Oct. 8             Board of Supervisors

Getting outside and enjoying the county

Sept. 6          Parks After Dark: Community Campfire – Doran Regional Park

Sept. 7 & 8    Water Bark – Spring Lake Regional Park

Sept. 12        Settle Down at Sundown – North Sonoma Mountain Regional Park

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A publication of the County Administrator’s Office – Communications Staff