A Message from Supervisor Coursey | | |
These past few weeks have been unsettling for many in our community. The federal government shutdown has created real concern and delays in the CalFresh food benefits that so many of our neighbors rely on. No one should go hungry in Sonoma County — not one family, not one child. That’s why we’re sharing information in this newsletter about local resources such as the Redwood Empire Food Bank, the 211 resource line and the County’s latest searchable directory, Open Doors, for anyone who may need extra support right now. Scroll down for more.
I’ve also heard from residents feeling fearful after reports of possible ICE activity in nearby counties. Even rumors of enforcement can cause deep anxiety and uncertainty for families. We now know that a surge in federal enforcement has been called off for the time being in San Francisco and the Bay Area. Last week, we issued a press release outlining the steps the County is taking to be ready should a surge occur. These actions include working proactively with the Sheriff’s Office, activating the Department of Emergency Management and assessing our Safety Net departments to prepare for any potential impacts on local residents.
The board recently approved the Supporting Immigrant Communities Ad Hoc Charter and earlier this year we adopted a resolution upholding our commitment to protecting the civil rights of all our residents. We’ve allocated funds for Secure Families Collaborative and established an immigrant initiative website designed with resources and supports for our residents.
The Rapid Response Network 24-hour hotline, (707-800-4544) provides a way for people to respond to fear and anxiety in our community as a result of the increase in immigration enforcement. The network dispatches trained legal observers to the raid location, provides legal defense and accompaniment services.
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I want to be clear: Sonoma County remains committed to being a place where every resident is treated with dignity, respect and compassion regardless of their immigration status. The are our friends, neighbors, co-workers and, often, family members.
I know these are challenging times, but one powerful way to make your voice heard is by voting. In-person voting is underway, and the final day to vote is November 4. Visit the Registrar of Voters website to see voting locations.
As always, my team and I are here to listen and to help connect you with resources and information. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you or someone you know needs support.
Sincerely,
| | What's New at the County of Sonoma? | | |
This month, the Board of Supervisors adopted an ordinance amending existing zoning code for agricultural employee housing to be consistent with the California Employee Housing Act, reducing qualifying thresholds and removing permitting barriers. This will make it easier for farms to provide housing for the people who power our local agricultural economy. These zoning updates will reduce barriers for smaller farms to build employee housing while continuing to protect valuable farmland from sprawl.
Under the ordinance, farms can qualify for one dwelling for every 10 acres of vineyard or orchard, down from the current 20-acre minimum. New categories of farming, such as vegetable crops and cut flowers, will also count toward eligibility, and smaller farms can qualify based on their total sales rather than acreage. To ensure the dwellings are used for agricultural employees, the ordinance establishes a simple annual reporting process for farm operators to verify their qualifying agricultural activity or gross sales.
The changes are part of the County’s ongoing effort to expand the supply of affordable housing and fulfill its state-mandated housing goals.
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Earlier this month, the Board of Supervisors held a special meeting to inform the community about how recent federal actions may impact the County budget and services in the coming months and the next Fiscal Year.
The County’s budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26 includes $386 million in federal funding, which supports programs such as Medi-Cal, CalFresh, housing assistance and public health. These dollars help ensure that families can put food on the table, access medical care and keep a roof over their heads.
The County’s three largest safety-net departments – Human Services, Health Services and the Community Development Commission – are expected to feel the greatest impact as HR 1 adds new work requirements and tighter eligibility rules for health and nutrition programs, while reducing support for housing and homelessness initiatives. Local nonprofits already are seeing rising hunger, higher demand for medical care and growing anxiety among families.
Sonoma County is working with regional and state partners to advocate for stable funding and develop mitigation strategies and pursuing legal action to challenge new conditions that would withhold federal funding unless the County cooperates with immigration enforcement and eliminates diversity programs.
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This month, the Board of Supervisors directed County staff to begin formal discussions with the City of Santa Rosa, the Sonoma County Fair Board and the United Soccer League (USL) to evaluate the Sonoma County Fairgrounds as a potential site for a new multi-purpose professional soccer stadium and mixed-use entertainment district. This would begin a yearlong feasibility process that will study land use, financing, governance and potential community impacts of the proposed stadium. The Sonoma County Fair Board provided similar direction to its staff.
The USL, operating more than 200 professional and pre-professional soccer clubs across the United States, identified Santa Rosa as a potential expansion market due to its strong youth soccer participation, growing population and regional accessibility. The Fairgrounds emerged as the preferred location after a preliminary site review.
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The November CalFresh food benefits are delayed. The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) provided an update to the County’s Human Services Department, which manages the CalFresh Program, on the potential impacts to CalFresh due to the federal government shutdown:
“The federal government is shut down. Until President Trump and Congress reopen the government, millions of Californians receiving CalFresh benefits may have their benefits impacted. The federal government has not provided additional funding for these benefits. Funding is available for benefits for the month of October. However, CalFresh benefits will be delayed in November.”
As of now, CalFresh participants will be able to use their EBT cards with any remaining benefits as usual during the federal government shutdown. More information will be shared if anything changes. County social services offices remain open. Participants can visit in person or call 1-877-847-3663 for assistance.
Visit the California Dept of Social Services website for more CalFresh FAQs: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/benefits-services/food-nutrition-services/calfresh/calfresh-frequently-asked-questions
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The SMART Board of Directors awarded the construction contract for the long-awaited rail extension to Healdsburg, restoring service there for the first time in decades and moving SMART closer to completing its voter-approved system from Larkspur to Cloverdale.
The Healdsburg Extension will be delivered through a phased contracting process, approved with Stacy and Witbeck/Herzog, A Joint Venture, starting with the Phase One award in the amount of $21.7 million, through a Progressive Design-Build approach, integrating design and construction to accelerate delivery. SMART has secured $269 million in federal, state, regional and local transportation grant funds to complete work from Windsor through to the northern city limit of Healdsburg, covering nearly 9 miles.
Construction is scheduled to begin in January 2026 and is anticipated to be complete by late 2028.
The completed project will deliver a new SMART station in Healdsburg; extend the SMART multiuse pathway alongside the rail corridor and include critical safety and infrastructure upgrades, such as improved grade crossings, the replacement and rehabilitation of aging bridges and the installation of modern train control, signaling and communications systems.
“SMART has been steadily working toward completing the northern extensions of our rail system, and this milestone shows how far that commitment has taken us,” said SMART Board of Directors Chair Coursey. “We have built real momentum, and moving into construction on the Healdsburg extension brings us another step closer to delivering the full vision of the SMART system for our communities.”
| | Public Service Announcements | | |
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has opened the 90-day public review period for the County-sponsored Todd Creek revised Flood Insurance Study, which includes maps to determine your flood risk severity and can impact flood insurance requirements. During this review window, members of the public can review FEMA’s preliminary mapping and submit technical appeals or comments.
Permit Sonoma is hosting a hybrid community meeting on Thursday, Nov. 13, from 6 pm to 8 pm at their offices, and via live webinar hosted on Zoom to help residents understand the FEMA maps, discuss study findings, explain the review process, and provide guidance on submitting appeals, comments, and next steps.
When: Thursday, Nov. 13, 6 pm – 8 pm
Where: In person - Permit Sonoma Hearing Room, County Center 2550 Ventura Ave., Santa Rosa
Online – Register online via Zoom
| | Disaster Preparedness Survey | | |
The County of Sonoma's Office of Equity recently released a Household Survey on Disaster Preparedness to understand how well Sonoma County's public is prepared for a disaster, measure preparedness actions, attitudes, and motivations and understand the resources accessed for recovery after a disaster.
This work is part of the Unified Community Preparedness & Long-Term Disaster Recovery Project—funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) in collaboration with County of Sonoma departments and community-based organizations.
Community input from this survey, along with information gathered from 10 focus groups will guide recommendations for how Sonoma County improves its long-term disaster recovery framework.
The survey is open through Oct. 31.
Take the English survey here.
Take the Spanish survey here.
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Sonoma County Regional Parks offers free parking for veterans, active-duty military personnel and their families at all county parks on Veterans Day, Nov. 11. The free parking is offered in partnership with the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors to honor the contributions of service members. Sonoma County residency isn’t required. A full list of parks is at SoCoParks.org/Find-A-Park.
To receive the free parking, visitors should be ready to show proof of veteran or active-duty status, such as a military or veteran's identification card or discharge certificate.
In addition to the Veterans Day offer, Regional Parks provides a year-round Distinguished Veterans Day-Use Pass, which grants free parking to veterans with a 50% or greater disability rating. For more information, visit SoCoParks.org/Renew.
For more information about the veterans passes, contact Regional Parks at 707-565-2041 or parks@sonomacounty.gov.
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The Redwood Empire Food Bank has been notified that CalFresh benefits will not be reloaded on Nov. 1, affecting at least 100,000 individuals in the service area. The REFB is providing immediate response locally, to help everyone who needs food and are taking immediate action to prepare for this surge in demand including:
· Expanding capacity at their 300 distribution sites, prioritizing locations that can safely serve more people while remaining geographically accessible to those in need.
· Strengthening partnerships through regular check-ins with 130 hunger relief partners across our service areas.
· Securing additional food by reaching out to trusted food donor network for emergency support.
· Optimizing operations by directing community members to sites offering walk-up, drive-through, or hybrid distribution models based on their needs.
Access food now:
Register for the REFB if you are a new participant here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScC90UPM_DbaRhIOSrRU1MBh1hw-nOi9G6bjyKllMutQrQe4A/viewform
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The new Sonoma County Open Doors website, www.OpenDoorsSC.com, offers a searchable directory of more than 600 social service providers across 12 categories making it easier for the public and service providers alike to quickly find the support they need. This collaborative effort unites government, nonprofits and community-based organizations that deliver critical safety net services to vulnerable populations. It expands upon the No Wrong Door philosophy adopted in 2021 by the Board of Supervisors, which set out to create an interlinked system of care where people are connected to the services they need, regardless of where they enter the system.
The Open Doors initiative complements the 211 Sonoma County call line, operated by United Way of the Wine Country, giving residents multiple ways to access help when they need it. Residents can continue to call 211 for live assistance or use the Open Doors website for quick, easy online access to
information.
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The Rohnert Park Community Altar (Ofrenda) is a heartfelt part of the Halloween & Día de los Muertos Celebration hosted by the City of Rohnert Park. This community event invites everyone to honor and remember loved ones by contributing photos, flowers, letters, or small keepsakes to the altar. Participation is open to all, fostering a collective space for remembrance and cultural expression.
Extended Display dates:
Oct. 27–30 | 8am –7pm &
Oct 31–Nov 2 | 8am – 6pm
Pick-up: Nov 3–7 | 8am–5pm
Rohnert Park Community Center, 5401 Snyder Ln, Rohnert Park
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You are warmly invited to join us on November 1st and 2nd to honor and sustain this vibrant tradition. This celebration belongs to the community—and only together can we keep it alive. With your participation, we can transform Santa Rosa Courthouse Square into a sacred space for these two nights—a place where we connect, remember, and heal through the traditions passed down to us.
When: November 1 & 2
Where: Old Courthouse Square, 69 Old Courthouse Square, Santa Rosa
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