I'll keep my intro short, because there is a lot going on in the First District this month! Keep reading below for events, announcements, updates, and community news! |
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Fridays at the Hood - Fridays at the Hood, the summer concert series previously known as Funky Fridays at Hood Mountain Regional Park, is back beginning June 2nd! I am so thrilled that after several years off, in part due to the pandemic, that this special event has been revived and reborn. A huge shoutout to the Live Musicians Coop for their tireless work, and visit the links below for tickets and follow along on the Fridays at the Hood Facebook page. I look forward to seeing you there!
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Caltrans Restarts Bridge Replacement Projects on HWY 12 - Caltrans forges ahead with the Sonoma Creek and Hooker Creek Bridge Replacement Projects. One-way traffic control and detours scheduled in late spring and summer. Expect traffic delays and plan for alternate routes. For more information go to the project website at the link below.
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Vacation Rentals and Fractional Ownership - On April 24th, the Board of Supervisors voted to change vacation rental regulations, create caps and exclusion zones for vacation rentals and to define fractionally owned housing as timeshares. The first action involved creating a business license program that standardizes operating requirements for vacation rentals to protect neighbors from nuisances, while the second action placed caps and exclusion zones in specific neighborhoods in the first, fourth and fifth supervisorial districts to reduce over-concentration of vacation rentals in these areas. A third vote in the afternoon amended zoning code to clarify regulations for timeshares and short-term use of fractionally owned residential properties. Continue reading the press release at the link below for more information.
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PG&E Helicopters May 15 & 16 - PG&E will conduct a training exercise on May 15 and May 16 as part a training exercise for the Public Safety Power Shutoff program (PSPS). A helicopter will fly to patrol portions of electric overhead equipment in areas on/near Mark West Road, from the Larkfield to Riebli areas. The flight patrols will occur during the hours between approximately 8am and 3pm each day.
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Sonoma County Library - May is Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month! Visit sonomalibrary.org/AAPI for information about library events that celebrate AAPI communities, including free virtual and in-person programs.
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Call for Applications for the Sonoma Valley Citizens Advisory Commission - In anticipation of upcoming vacancies, Supervisor Gorin is requesting anyone interested in joining the Sonoma Valley Citizens Advisory Commission (SVCAC) to submit an application. We are particularly encouraging residents of the Springs who would consider serving on both the SVCAC and the Springs Municipal Advisory Council, which has a seat specifically for an SVCAC member. The City of Sonoma also has a vacancy, so whether you live in the City of Sonoma, the Springs, Kenwood, Glen Ellen, or elsewhere in the Sonoma Valley, we would love to review your application.
The SVCAC is a Joint Powers Authority between the City of Sonoma and the County, and generally hears land use items and provides an advisory recommendation the project moves to the Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Adjustments, or other hearing body. In recent years, the SVCAC has heard such items as the Sonoma Developmental Center, Verano Ave Hotel and Housing project (former Paul’s Resort), Victory Station/Amazon project, Siesta Senior Apartments, various vineyard and cannabis projects, and other important land use items.
If you’re interested and want a brief overview of what SVCAC does, and a crash course in Permit Sonoma planning and land use, and how SVCAC’s recommendations are integrated into the planning process, please take some time to review this video presentation from the April SVCAC meeting. Between the presentation and commissioner questions and discussion, the item takes about an hour.
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City residents please reach out to Sonoma City Clerk Rebekah Barr at rbarr@sonomacity.org to express interest.
County residents who would like to apply can visit the link below.
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Springs MAC - Join the Springs Municipal Advisory Council on the second Wednesday of each month at 6:30pm.
Next Meeting: Wednesday, May 10th at 6:30pm.
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North Sonoma Valley MAC - Join the NSV MAC on the third Wednesday of each month at 5:30pm.
Next Meeting: Wednesday, May 17th at 5:30pm.
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Sonoma Valley Citizen's Advisory Committee - The Sonoma Valley Citizens Advisory Commission advises on local planning projects in the Sonoma Valley, and hears informational items on other areas of interest. Join the SVCAC on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 6:30pm.
Next Meeting: Wednesday, May 24th at 6:30pm.
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In April, I took members of the County Communications Division, along with my staff, on a tour of the Sonoma Valley. It is important to me for county staff to be familiar with our valley to better understand its unique needs and challenges. We lucked out with one of the first beautiful sunny days of the year - thank you to the Comms Team for coming out! |
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Susan Gorin, 1st District Supervisor
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