New Gas Tax will Fund Pavement, Ditching, Culverts and more
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On April 17, 2018, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors approved road improvement projects which will make it easier and safer to travel in Sonoma County. These improvements will be funded with the new gas tax, also known as Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.
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Governor Brown Extends Price Gouging Protections Through Dec. 4, 2018
Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch announced Monday, April 16th, that Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. issued an Executive Order extending the protections against Price Gouging under Penal Code Section 396 through December 4, 2018. A prior Executive Order issued by the Governor had extended the protections through April 18, 2018. To date, the District Attorney’s Office has investigated over 220 complaints of price gouging.
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Permit Sonoma - Update
Are you building or rebuilding after the October wildfires? Learn more about the different steps of the permitting process by watching tutorial videos Permit Sonoma has created to help guide you.
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Rebuild Story
The County of Sonoma is following the rebuilding journey of Bill Collins and Vicky McKay, a couple who lived in Hidden Hills (off Riebli Road) in Sonoma County and lost their home in the Tubbs Fire in October of 2017. This documentary series of short videos, posted on
YouTube
, captures their experiences, highlighting information that is relevant to our broader community as we move forward with recovery and rebuilding.
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Revised Manual - Onsite Waste Treatment Systems
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors will be considering the revised onsite waste treatment systems (OWTS) manual at an upcoming meeting on May 22, 2018.
The OWTS Manual provides the policy, procedural and technical details governing individual onsite wastewater treatment systems (also referred to as septic systems). If the Board approves the revision, the County will then submit a revised Local Area Management Program and OWTS Manual to the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board.
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Mock Multi Causality Incident Exercise
The Mock Multi Causality Incident Drill was held on Wednesday, April 18
th
. This tri-yearly event was a full day exercise that involved first responders from the Red Cross, the airport, fire, emergency and sheriff departments staff as well as ambulances, helicopters, hospitals, and volunteer high school students who pretended to be injured during the exercise.
The responders reacted to a simulated plane crash within the airport grounds. The injured patients were then transferred to local hospitals depending on the type of injuries. Because the first responders had no idea what they were up against, the exercise was able to provide simulate experiences that may be encountered when dispatched to this type of incident. The day was a great success - all of the teams worked well with one another and shared learned lessons.
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California HOPE Program
Sonoma County launched the California HOPE program to provide outreach and counseling to those emotionally impacted by the Sonoma-Complex Fire. California HOPE is a FEMA-funded program that can send crisis counselors to meet people wherever they are (at home, school, business, etc.) to provide crisis counseling, resource navigation, and disaster recovery education.
California HOPE counselors specialize in helping survivors understand their current reactions, reduce stress, receive emotional support, prioritize needs and solve problems, choose coping strategies, and connect with people and agencies who can help. If you would like free assistance from this program, please contact them as follows:
Adults aged 50 or better: (707) 608-8804 ---- Santa Rosa: (707) 608-8805
North County: (707) 608-8807
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Sonoma Valley: (707) 608-8806
South County: (707) 608-8806
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West County: (707) 608-8807
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County Clerk-Recorder's
New Website
The Sonoma County Clerk-Recorder’s Office has launched their new website. Members of the public can now search the index of Clerk-Recorder records and purchase selected documents online with a credit card. Previously, customers were required to purchase documents in person or mail in a request with payment.
This new website increases access to records and convenience to the public. Additionally, the website has a full Spanish translation. View the new website
here.
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Got Eggs?
Sonoma County residents who raise poultry outdoors are invited to get their eggs tested for contaminants.
To find out if harmful substances on the ground that are eaten by hens get passed along in the eggs they lay, Maurice Pitesky, UC Cooperative Extension poultry specialist at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, is providing free egg testing. “We’re trying to understand the connection between the environment that backyard poultry are raised in and the eggs they are producing,” Pitesky said.
Residents may drop off eggs at the UC Cooperative Extension office at 133 Aviation Blvd Suite 109 in Santa Rosa. The UCCE office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
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State Recognizes Sonoma County Department of Child Support Services
The County of Sonoma Department of Child Support Services received two awards from the State of California Department of Child Support Services at the Statewide Directors Meeting in April. The first award for “Courageous Leadership” recognizes Director Jennifer Traumann for her “solid commitment to the children and families of California.” Director Traumann was one of 4 recipients of the Courageous Leadership award. This award is in “recognition of the exceptional leadership shown during the Tubbs and Atlas fires in October 2017.” From the first moments of the emergency, Director Traumann marshalled her resources to ensure that child support services would remain available during one of the most destructive wildfires in California’s History. Without her leadership, “many families would have experienced additional financial burdens” in the aftermath of that tragedy.
In addition to that recognition of Director Traumann, the California Department of Child Support Services recognized Sonoma County for exceeding its 2017 annual performance over the Federal Fiscal Year 2016. There were several specific measurements that were noteworthy. These efforts driving Sonoma County’s performance “result in families receiving support in a more timely manner and have had a meaningful impact” in our community. The State recognizes that these accomplishments “improve the lives of California’s children and families and acknowledge the contributions to the State’s overall performance in Federal Fiscal Year 2017.”
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34th Annual Volunteer Recognition Reception
County volunteers were honored at the 34
th annual Volunteer Recognition Reception where over 300 volunteers enjoyed an array of delicious appetizers and desserts, and had the opportunity to socialize with other volunteers and staff. The October 2017 wildfires emphasized a special trait in our volunteers, a selfless spirit, where many volunteers gave of their time and energy to help survivors and animals during this critical time.
Outstanding Volunteer awards were selected by departments and presented to thirteen volunteers who have gone above and beyond in their volunteerism. The County has over 4,000 volunteers, who donated more than 200,000 hours of time, which is equivalent to approximately $5.8 million dollars of service that augments the public services provided by the County.
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Foster Care Recognition Month
In May, we honor the hundreds of adults and families who have offered a safe haven to foster children and youth who need a caring place to stay after experiencing neglect or abuse. Sonoma County foster parents are single and married, teachers and retirees, straight and gay, relatives, neighbors, coaches and family friends who provide a stable, warm and welcoming home to children in need.
During 2017,
724 children and youth were in foster care for some period of time
, under the care of the
Family, Youth and Children’s Division
.
They were cared for by community foster parents and relatives, in group homes or transitional homes for youth going to school or working. While most children returned to their birth parents once home was considered safe, 31 were adopted into forever families who started out as foster families.
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May is CalFresh Awareness Month!
Join in the fun and flavorful events and activities that promote participation in CalFresh, a vital food and nutrition program to help many of our neighbors stretch their grocery budgets to meet their basic needs.
Since many farmers markets countywide accept CalFresh benefits to pay for food, they will host several health and wellness events. Market Match ($1 more for every $1 in CalFresh benefits up to $10-$20) will be available at participating markets.
On May 16, Sonoma County will be part of a statewide program, Rethink Your Drink!, to offer healthy alternatives to the use of sugar-sweetened beverages, especially by children and youth.
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May is Older Americans Month!
This year, Engage at Every Age! Celebrate the 55th year of Older Americans Month and honor the many ways older adults make a difference in our community. In Sonoma County, about 25% of us are age 60 or better.
You are never too old (or young) to take part in activities that enrich your mental and physical wellness, including sharing your wisdom and experience with the next generation through the mentorship. No matter where you are in your life, there is no better time than now to start. This May, get and stay active and Engage at Every Age!
On May 9, the Aging Together collaborative salutes the benefits of older adults in the workforce at a breakfast meeting for employers and older workers,
Sonoma County’s New Workforce: Older Adults – The Business Case for Age-Friendly Hiring
.
Aging Together Sonoma County is led by members of the Board of Supervisors, the Sonoma County Human Services Department Adult and Aging Division, Sonoma County Department of Public Health, the Council on Aging, Petaluma People Services Center, and the Petaluma Health Center.
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The Sonoma County Fair
The 2018 Sonoma County Fair is on its way, August 2-12! We are working hard to put together an amazing Fair for our County. The centerpiece of the Fair is “Salute to Heroes”, an opportunity for us to celebrate and honor all the heroes that are among us, and who served this community during the October fires.
In addition to honoring our heroes, the Fair will continue to provide fun-filled activities for Fairgoers of all ages. From a floral tribute to Sonoma County to lots of free entertainment and tasty fair food to the exhibit buildings filled with your neighbor’s art to the ever exciting livestock barns and to the thrilling live horse racing, the Fair has something for everyone.
Pre-Sale tickets for the Fair go on sale April 28th. The Sonoma County Fair Box Office will open Saturday, April 28th at 9am. Online pre-sale tickets will go live at noon on April 28th. The Box Office will be open Monday through Friday, 9am to 6pm through August 1st. Check out our website for the most up-to-date information for the Fair and ticket information. See you at the Fair and remember “Fair Time is Fun Time!”
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Regional Parks Upcoming Events
Regional Park – Swimming Lagoon Boat Rentals
May 5th 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM |
Nuestros
Parques
, Sonoma Valley Regional Park
Environmental Discovery Center
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Documenting Fire Recovery
You can help track
Sonoma Valley Regional Park's
recovery from the Nuns Fire by contributing to a crowd-source time-lapse photo project. Look for the smartphone stand on the Valley of the Moon Trail and follow the easy instructions (in English and Spanish) to take and share photos of a hillside that burned in the wildfire.
Over time, Regional Parks will curate and share the images to show how the land heals.
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Sign Up for SoCoAlert
Sign up for SoCoAlert to receive local emergency alerts and warnings. Emergency Officials use the SoCoAlert Emergency Notification System to deliver incident-specific information or life-saving instructions to the precise geographic area affected.
This service is free, secure, reliable, and easy to use. SoCoAlert notifications may be sent via text, email, voice, web, and social media.
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Employment Opportunities
Explore employment opportunities with the County of Sonoma.
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Investing in beautiful, thriving & sustainable communities for all
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575 Administration Drive, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Produced by the County Administrator's Office
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