It’s time to catch up on the latest summer news from Sonoma County. In this month’s edition of the SoCo Correspondent, you’ll find updates on the outlook for wildfire season and how the county is preparing not just for fires but for high heat events in the summer and fall and freeze warnings in the winter. There’s also news on efforts to reduce homelessness, fix our roads and make it easier to access county services in Sonoma Valley.

If you’re looking for a great job, consider joining the county, which was recently named by Forbes magazine as one of the best mid-sized employers in America for the second straight year. We’ve got details below, including information on the approval of pay raises to ensure the county’s wages and benefits remain competitive for the region.

As always, we encourage you to share this newsletter with friends, colleagues and family members or 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.

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Fires and floods are not the only types of disasters that require a coordinated response. The county’s Department of Emergency Management added a new chapter to its playbook last month that will guide the region’s response when temperatures get too hot or too cold.

Under the plan, the county will work with nonprofits, faith-based organizations, libraries and other community groups to protect the public by opening warming centers during freeze warnings and cooling stations during high-heat events. The county will spearhead the response in unincorporated areas and work with cities to notify the public of warming and cooling centers elsewhere.

For the first time, the county has set clear criteria on when to open warming and cooling centers. Entities interested in partnering with the county to operate warming/cooling centers should contact the Department of Emergency Management at (707) 565-1152. Training and financial assistance will be available.

“As these extreme weather events become more frequent, the sustainability of support systems will rely on the collaborative work we do with partners, faith groups, nonprofits and local jurisdictions,” said Jeff DuVall, interim director of the Department of Emergency Management. “No one group or entity can take on climate change response alone.”

The plan, under development since late 2022, was unanimously approved by the Board of Supervisors on June 12. Six days later, the county Civil Grand Jury issued its annual report, including a section outlining the need for advanced planning and coordination to respond to extreme temperatures – issues that were directly addressed in the plan approved by the board. 

The 2023 wildfire season is off to a promising start, a panel of fire and emergency leaders told the Board of Supervisors last month. Sonoma County woodlands are drying out more slowly than normal following an unusually wet winter and chilly spring, delaying the onset of conditions that fuel explosive fires. Forecasters predict “normal” fire conditions into August and September, a break from previous years when the county faced “above normal” risk of fire.

“This is not the time for us to breathe a sigh of relief and expect that we will have a low-key fire season,” Cal Fire Division Chief Ben Nicholls told the board. “It just gives us roughly a month extra of time to prepare.”

Fire and emergency response agencies are taking advantage of the extra time, using prescribed burns to reduce fire fuels in key areas, conducting emergency alert and evacuation exercises, training staff, and meeting weekly to prepare for potential threats, fire officials informed the board during their Wildfire Preparedness Update. (Click here to view a video of the 26-minute presentation)

Cal Fire, which opened a new base last year on the county’s Los Guilicos campus, is ready for wildfire season after boosting staffing across its Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit to peak levels two weeks ago. To accelerate emergency response, local and state fire crews will be deployed in high-risk areas proactively again this year during red flag events, when hot, dry, windy conditions enable fires to spread rapidly, Sonoma County Fire District Chief Mark Heine told the board.

New technology this year will help firefighters improve their response. When a fire breaks out, a Cal Fire intel plane can be overhead within 20 minutes and begin streaming live video and infrared imaging into fire modeling software. The technology will simulate the fire’s growth over the next eight hours, enabling incident commanders to prioritize their response, get people out of harm’s way and deploy resources with more precision. “This takes that to an all-new level for us,” Heine said.

Residents should take advantage of the extra time, too, by signing up for alerts, reviewing their evacuation zone, and building an emergency preparedness kit, said Jeff DuVall, interim director of the county Department of Emergency Management. Visit SoCoEmergency.org for more information on how to prepare for an emergency.

The Board of Supervisors last month unanimously approved a $2.3 billion balanced budget for the fiscal year that began July 1. It maintains spending at roughly the same levels from last year while avoiding reductions in core county services.

“This is a good news budget,” said Supervisor Chris Coursey, chair of the Board of Supervisors. “While it does not solve all our problems, without extravagance it meets our needs. It takes care of our employees, safeguards core public services and ongoing county operations, addresses department requests and infrastructure needs, and promotes good governance by bolstering the county’s rainy-day fund.”

The budget will allow county departments to increase staffing by 2.8 percent, to 4,390 full-time employees, improving their ability to serve the public.

The board also allocated $46.7 million in one-time funds, including $29.4 million in unexpected savings from the 2022-23 budget. The money will be used to build infrastructure for the long-promised Tierra de Rosas mixed-use development in Roseland, improve county roads, bolster county reserves and relocate the county health lab and morgue, among other things.

The Board of Supervisors last month approved another $3 million in grants for 17 vegetation management projects that will fortify thousands of acres against wildfires while expanding public access to tools that reduce the threat posed by wildland blazes.

The projects are the latest to be funded by the county’s Vegetation Management Grant Program with money from the PG&E settlement over the 2017 firestorm. The program has now awarded $11.3 million in grants to 63 projects since 2021.

“These projects will make our county safer by removing combustible fuels in critical areas, creating fire breaks and securing evacuation routes,” said Supervisor Chris Coursey, chair of the Board of Supervisors. “They also make our county smarter by teaching people how to create defensible space around their homes without turning them into moonscapes and how to use prescribed burns to improve both public safety and our environment.”

The county grants will be matched with more than $1.8 million in funding from organizations implementing the vegetation management projects.

The Board of Supervisors this week approved the last of 11 labor contracts up for renewal this year, concluding more than nine months of negotiations over agreements that will increase most employees’ pay by a minimum of 13 percent over three years.

The pay increases, combined with new hiring bonuses for some positions, will bolster the county’s efforts to attract top talent in the highly competitive Bay Area labor market.

“These packages achieve our goals of investing in our workforce with an emphasis on retention and recruitment while maintaining fiscal discipline,” said Supervisor Chris Coursey, chair of the Board of Supervisors.

Sonoma County is currently recruiting to fill approximately 100 full-time, part-time and temporary positions. A list of open jobs can be viewed at yourpath2sonomacounty.com. The county offers competitive salaries; a comprehensive benefits package including a robust workforce development program; flexible schedules; paid family leave; opportunities to work on innovative and community-centered projects; and recruitment and selection processes that emphasize equitable hiring. Some hard-to-fill positions include hiring bonuses of $10,000 to $30,000.

In February, Forbes magazine named the County of Sonoma one of America’s 500 Best Mid-Sized Employers for the second consecutive year. It was the only government agency in California to make the magazine’s list. Overall, Forbes ranked the county No. 307 among the nation’s 500 best mid-sized employers, which it defined as having 1,000 to 5,000 workers.

The Board of Supervisors allocated $10.3 million last month to resurface and maintain county roads, a 3 percent increase in General Fund contributions to the Pavement Preservation Program.

The increase is necessary because construction costs are rising, gas tax revenues have declined and local roads are deteriorating, according to the county Department of Public Infrastructure.

The Board of Supervisors proactively contributes more discretionary dollars to road repairs than any other county in the state. Since 2012, the board has invested more than $203 million to improve 516 miles of roads totaling 38 percent of the county’s 1,368-mile road network, the largest county-maintained road network in the San Francisco Bay Area.

These investments are making a difference. The county’s Pavement Condition Index, an industry standard that measures the quality of roads on a scale of 1 to 100, has improved eight points since 2012, from 44 to 52.

An ongoing series highlighting public servants across a variety

of departments at the County of Sonoma.

Name: Melanie Griffin

Title: Programs manager, Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach

Years with County: 23

Personal side: I live in Rohnert Park with my partner of 17 years, Randy, and our two cats, Jette and Robert Redfurred (aka Bobby). We share a blended and extended family, with four adult children and three grandchildren. We have cousins, siblings, in-laws, friends who have become family, and truly, it’s a great group of smart, hilarious, interesting folks to get to go through life with.

Education and/or certifications: In 1986, I earned an associate degree in Liberal Studies at Santa Rosa Junior College, with a focus on media studies. I transferred to Sacramento State to major in communication studies, but life had other plans for me, and I ended up dropping out just shy of graduating. Back in Sonoma County, I went back to SRJC and studied justice, psychology and early childhood development. In 2015, I felt the timing was right to finish what I had started years before. Working with a counselor at Sacramento State, I built a plan for finishing my degree with online courses from several different universities and some courses at SRJC. Along the way, I earned another associate degree from SRJC in 2016, in Social and Behavioral Sciences, and I got to walk in graduation with my daughter, who earned the same degree. On May 20, 2017, I walked across the big stage at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, having finally earned my bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies. There are many reasons that moment meant so much to me, besides the feeling of accomplishment. For one, that day would’ve been my father’s 90th birthday, and he was a huge influence on my love of learning. I know he was with me that day, along with my dear family who traveled to Sacramento to celebrate with me. It was one of the most magical days of my life and one for which I am so very grateful.

I also maintain a Professional Administrative Certification of Excellence through the American Society of Administrative Professionals, and I am very close to earning my Certified Practitioner of Oversight through the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement.

What do you do? I started my career with the county at the Recorder’s Office and then went on to work for 18 years as a secretary for the Probation Department. In 2019, I accepted a promotion to the administrative aide position at IOLERO because I wanted more responsibility. I may have bit off more than a normal person would want to chew. When I came to IOLERO, it was a department of two – me and my director. Everything larger departments had to do, we had to do, too, and we were both new to most of it, so it was a whirlwind of learning and doing. But what a great opportunity it was and continues to be. I am very grateful for the network of other county employees who helped walk me through processes, offered support, shared their expertise of programs that I was new to using, etc., as I learned my new role.

In short, IOLERO accepts complaints against the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office and audits the investigations of those complaints. Our auditors make policy recommendations based on their findings, and we publish an annual report summarizing those findings and recommendations. We perform community outreach and provide administrative support for the Community Advisory Council. The work is fascinating. I’m happy to report that we now have six full-time positions. My role as programs manager is to focus on the internal operations of the office, including budget and contract management, process and policy development, overseeing our complaint tracking and managing special projects. I love it. I’ve also just taken on the responsibility of supervisor, and I am very excited about helping all of our staff be successful and grow in their own roles. I feel my work at IOLERO is a great fit for my personal values, and my work and educational experience. There is never a day at IOLERO where I am not learning something, and we have a great team.

What gives you fulfillment? Making people laugh, cheering people up. When I can help a friend who comes to me with a problem or is sad about something they are going through, that’s when I feel I am serving my purpose here on Mother Earth. I also find fulfillment in watching my own daughter, the product of an often chaotic single-parent environment, find her own strength. She just earned her master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, is working on her internship hours, and is already hearing positive feedback from her supervisors and clients. Man, that makes a “mama heart” very proud. I find fulfillment from watching my granddaughter grow into her fascinating personhood, and I enjoy just hanging out with family and friends, having great conversations. Give me a firepit, a bottle of wine, and a group of great people, and I am happy. I am also happy to just sit and enjoy a good movie or TV show while Jette or Bobby take a nap on my lap.



Passions outside of work? Randy and I love to hike, so we try to get out to our beautiful parks on a regular basis. We have such a great system of parks here, for all levels of hikers to explore. I love to read and I consider myself a lifelong learner, so I usually have a short stack of books that I’m working my way through. My father and I often visited bookstores together and we never left empty-handed. Honestly, my family didn’t have much when I was growing up, but there were always books around. My favorite subjects include biographies and memoirs of influential and/or interesting people and historical fiction. I love that I get to share these passions now with my daughter and granddaughter, through bookstore dates where we definitely do our part to support the local economy. I do love painting and practicing Italian, and I really should make more time for those pursuits. Oh, and Randy and I love a good road trip, by ourselves or with friends or family. I am also passionate about trying to approach each day with an attitude of gratitude.

The ADA tent area, left, and edible garden, right, at the Emergency Shelter Site

at the county campus in Santa Rosa.

Yes, it’s an ambitious goal: the county is committed to reducing homelessness by 10 percent each year. The county’s five-year Strategic Plan outlines steps to achieve it by enhancing services through improved coordination and collaboration.

The Board of Supervisors is putting that plan into action. Last month, supervisors allocated $3 million for housing-focused homeless intervention projects by six local nonprofits and the cities of Petaluma, Rohnert Park and Sonoma. Projects include the SAVS Horizon Shine safe parking site in Sebastopol for people sheltering in RVs, SHARE Sonoma County’s shared housing project for seniors, and Rohnert Park’s safe sleeping site for homeless individuals. The funding comes from Measure O, the quarter-cent sales tax approved by voters in 2020 to fund mental health and homelessness services.

Meanwhile, the county received $4.6 million in state funding last month to support its efforts to move people out of homeless encampments into safe and stable housing. The grant will fund the next step toward longer-term housing for people who once camped along the Joe Rodota Trail and other areas. Today, many reside in interim housing like the 90-bed emergency shelter site on the county campus, the 60-bed Los Guilicos Village and the 35 trailers at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds.

The county’s efforts are making a difference. Last month, the Human Services Department announced preliminary results of a new $1.9 million program that identifies people at risk of becoming homeless and helps them obtain stable housing and supportive services. The Housing and Wellness Program identified 118 people who were either unhoused or were in danger of becoming homeless and then placed them in stable housing. Another 164 people at risk of losing shelter were kept off the streets through the program, which provided mental health services, parenting support and financial assistance.

“Investing in solutions that keep people off the streets by helping them secure and hold onto housing is both cost-effective and humane,” said Supervisor Chris Coursey, chair of the Board of Supervisors. “Last year, homelessness declined by 22 percent in Sonoma County thanks to programs like this and others. This Housing and Wellness Program is one of many ways the county is working to reduce homelessness by addressing its root causes.”

Members of the State Emergency Services of Ukraine meet

with Sonoma County emergency responders. (Sonoma County Fire District)



A Ukrainian government delegation recently visited Sonoma County to learn how the county has improved its ability to respond to emergencies in the wake of the 2017 wildfires.

The six-member team represented the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, which responds to fires and other disasters caused by nature and by war. They visited the county’s Emergency Operations Center on June 14 as part of a two-week tour of the United States, gathering insights that will help them revamp Ukraine’s emergency response systems. The tour was organized with support from the U.S. Forest Service (Click here to view a short video of the visit).

Supervisor Chris Coursey, chair of the Board of Supervisors, and County Administrator Christina Rivera were among those from the county who met with the delegation. Representatives from the Sonoma County Department of Emergency Management, the Sheriff’s Office, Sonoma County Fire District, Cal Fire and the North Bay Community Emergency Response Team described lessons the county has learned about preparedness, alerts, evacuations and other facets of emergency response since the 2017 wildfires.

“This visit was enlightening and educational as we shared our insights about emergency response while hearing from our Ukrainian counterparts about all they’re having to deal with in their war-torn country,” said Jeff DuVall, interim director of the Department of Emergency Management. “I imagine we got as much, if not more, out of this visit as they did.”

Are you looking for a new job? Thinking about career options for the future? Learn how you can take the next step in your professional life and join the County of Sonoma family!

Start Here! is a virtual class that provides an overview of the county’s job application, examination and selection processes. The two-hour session provides information on how to submit a thorough application, best practices for the interview and examination, and much more. Send an email to careers@sonoma-county.org and we will invite you to future class opportunities. Let us help guide you through the county’s selection process.

None of the 500 people whose ashes are buried in the rose garden at a Sebastopol cemetery has a grave marker bearing their name. But each has a unique story, said Angela Struckmann, director of the county’s Human Services Department.

On June 10, Struckmann and other county leaders held a memorial service to honor the lives of people whose remains were laid to rest at Pleasant Hills Memorial Park through the county’s Indigent Burial program. Every year, the program provides free cremation and interment for the remains of approximately 45 people whose bodies go unclaimed after their deaths.

“Although we don’t know your name, we know you mattered. Through our collective hopes and dreams, our triumphs and struggles, we are more alike than different,” Struckmann said. “Regardless of your path, you mattered as a human being.”

The memorial service – the first of its kind in Sonoma County – is important, said District 5 Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, who represents the Sebastopol area.

“By caring for the most vulnerable people in our community, we uphold those values of compassion, social responsibility, dignity and respect – values that benefit us all,” Hopkins said.

It is a chapter of local history that was nearly forgotten: 59 airmen died in Sonoma County during World War II while training at Santa Rosa Army Airfield, now the site of Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport. More than 20 others were lost when they crashed in Sonoma County during flights from nearby military airbases.

Because it was wartime, there was little or no media coverage of the deaths at the time. But years of exhaustive investigation by dedicated local researchers has documented these fatalities.

Last month, the Board of Supervisors authorized $50,000 to create a memorial honoring their lives. The Town of Windsor has also committed $50,000 to the installation, which will consist of three granite panels on the Windsor Town Green.

“It is fitting to finally honor these brave young men. They came to Sonoma County from across the U.S. and paid the ultimate sacrifice while training to defend our country,” said Sonoma County Supervisor James Gore, whose district includes the airport and Windsor. “We are grateful for the passion and persistence of local researchers, and our partnership with Windsor and other local groups so that we may finally give these lives the attention and respect they deserve.”

The county has taken steps to make it easier than ever for Sonoma Valley residents to access critical government services. This week, the Board of Supervisors gave final approval to creation of a county service hub at the northwest entrance to the City of Sonoma.

The county will lease the former Nelson building at 19080 Lomita Ave. and turn it into a satellite office this fall for staff with the departments of Health Services, Human Services, and Child Support Services. The building also will serve as a housing navigation services center, in partnership with the Sonoma County Community Development Commission and the City of Sonoma. Supervisorial District 1 and the county Office of Equity also will also utilize the space.

“Because of distance and traffic congestion, residents of Sonoma Valley are often not able to travel to a central location to access critical services, so we are bringing these services to them,” said District 1 Supervisor Susan Gorin, who represents Sonoma Valley. “This board has prioritized the establishment of neighborhood-based services sites, and I am proud to see the Sonoma Valley hub moving forward.”

The planned Sonoma Valley hub is part of a broader initiative to establish regional service centers in remote parts of Sonoma County with access to transportation systems to provide more equitable public access to services.

People enjoying the Russian River (Sonoma County Regional Parks)

With Russian River flows higher this year than in past summers, Regional Parks wants to ensure you are safe while having fun. Regional Parks has reopened its free “loaner” life jacket stands on Russian River beaches at Del Rio Woods, Healdsburg Veterans Memorial Beach, Steelhead Beach, Forestville River Access and Sunset Beach. Just grab a vest for the day and return it when you leave. Avoid parking problems on weekends and holidays by taking the River Shuttle and keep an eye peeled for the county’s roving Russian River lifeguard patrol, which is now visiting river beaches on weekends through the summer.

The swimming area at Healdsburg Veterans Memorial Beach reopened last month for the first time in three years after Regional Parks installed its seasonal dam on the Russian River just downstream from the city’s historic steel-truss bridge. Lifeguards are on duty daily, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Labor Day. Parking is $7 or free with a Regional Parks membership.

To the south in Santa Rosa, the swimming lagoon at Spring Lake Regional Park is now open for summer. Lifeguards are on duty daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. While there, check out the new café: Sonoma Burger Snack Shack, which serves burgers, hot dogs, vegan options, slushees, beer and wine from noon to 7 p.m., Wednesdays through Sundays.

Sonoma County Regional Parks wants your input on how the county should reduce climate pollution and address climate impacts to its parks. You can help the county set its priorities by taking a 5-minute survey.

The results of the survey will help the county create a Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Plan for its regional parks. The plan will address some of the hazards caused by climate change – including extreme heat, drought, flooding and wildfires – while reducing Regional Parks’ carbon footprint and protecting the county’s natural resources from the impacts of climate change.

The Veterans Memorial Building in Petaluma will get a new roof, seismic upgrades and other improvements thanks to a $1.9 million construction contract approved by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors on July 11.

The 64-year-old veterans building serves as a key community meeting space in Petaluma as well as an emergency evacuation center during disasters. The current roof is more than 25 years old and has multiple leaks.

“I am thrilled that we are finally able to tackle a major maintenance project on this vital community asset,” said Supervisor David Rabbitt, who represents Petaluma. “The veterans building serves as an important space for veterans, community events and also provides a lifeline for evacuees in times of crisis.”

A project to make sidewalks and street crossings safer and more accessible in downtown Guerneville will begin later this year, thanks in part to $1.07 million in funding allocated by the Board of Supervisors last month.

The project, led by Caltrans, will upgrade sidewalks along Highway 116 from Brookside Lane to River Road to meet accessibility requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act. It will include curb extensions at intersections to provide additional pedestrian space and visibility, and safety beacons to stop traffic while pedestrians cross Highway 116 at Mill and Church streets.

“We are excited to see downtown Guerneville receive much-needed safety improvements along Highway 116, a route often used to get to the coast,” said Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, whose district includes Guerneville. “These features will increase pedestrian safety and reduce the need for maintenance on outdated infrastructure."

The county will pay for the new pedestrian lighting, while the sidewalks will be funded by Caltrans.

Learn how to protect yourself and your family during a disaster by attending the second annual Sonoma Ready event in Roseland on Aug. 10 at Bayer Park, 1550 West Ave. Participants will learn how to find your evacuation zone, sign up for alerts and work together to keep your neighborhood safe. Each family will receive a free go-bag, while supplies last, and a chance to win raffle prizes.

The bilingual event, held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., is sponsored by the county Department of Emergency Management in partnership with the City of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Fire Department and Latino Service Providers. A taco truck will be on site for participants who wish to purchase dinner.

Get involved with local government

Government is only as good as the people who step forward to serve. There are many ways you can become involved in local government by serving on local boards, commissions and committees.

Current vacancies include:

• Child Care Planning Council of Sonoma County: To develop ongoing comprehensive planning for child care needs in the county and to provide greater coordination of and advocacy for child care services.

• Community Action Partnership of Sonoma County: To partner with low-income families and individuals to help them achieve economic and social stability.

• Green Valley Cemetery District: To oversee care of the grounds, sell plots and maintain records of burials, secure liability insurance, provide annual audit materials and submit an annual report to the State Controller’s Office.

• Independent Citizens’ Pension Committee: To ensure a more fair, equitable, and sustainable County pension system.

• Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Advisory Board: To promote the physical, social and emotional health of families, children and adolescents in Sonoma County.

• Sonoma County Local Task Force on Integrated Waste Management: To develop goals, policies and procedures around waste management, waste reduction and recycling.

• Workforce Investment Board - To lead an integrated workforce development system to ensure the County’s economic vitality and quality of life.

Check out the list of current vacancies and discover how you can help shape the future of Sonoma County.

My name is Marley. I’m a male Siberian husky mix just under 2 years old. I weigh about 34 pounds. My caretakers say I’m an adventurous boy when I’m bored and would thrive with someone who can provide lots of entertainment and enrichment. I am friendly and playful with other dogs after a long introduction. I’ve been at the shelter since December, and I’m hoping to find my forever home.

Marley is one of dozens of cats, dogs, rabbits and other animals at Sonoma County Animal Services in need of adoption. This summer, all dog adoptions are free during the “Love Don’t Cost a Thing” summer special. All you have to do is purchase a dog license. Meet your new pet from noon to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays-Saturdays at Sonoma County Animal Services, 1247 Century Court in Santa Rosa. We are also looking for weekend foster homes for our shelter dogs. Contact SCASFosters@sonoma-county.org if interested.

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.

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• County looking for new ways to improve trash, other public services for unincorporated areas (July 10)
• County commits $9.6 million for local programs to fight homelessness (July 10)
• Sonoma County’s property tax roll reaches record $114 billion (July 7)
• Sonoma Water begins resurfacing first of two large water tanks in $6.5 million project (July 7)
• Promising early results from year-old homelessness program funded by county with COVID-relief dollars (July 5)
• County housing project in Roseland gets lifeline (June 28)
• State budget deal includes $2.25 million for Sonoma County parks, plus fire and transit funds (June 28)
• Larson Park will finally get bathrooms (June 26)
• Sonoma County invests over $1 million to improve downtown Guerneville sidewalks, lighting (June 21)
• 6,000 purple flags on display as grim tally of elder abuse reports (June 18)
• Sonoma County Board of Supervisors approves $2.27 billion budget (June 16)
• Ukrainian government officials visit Sonoma County to discuss emergency management (June 15)
• Sonoma County, Santa Rosa get millions in state funds to address homeless encampments (June 15)
• Sonoma County airport passenger numbers rise 7% in May (June 15)
• Buckelew to take over operation of county’s Orenda Center (June 14)
• Inflatable dam going up on the Russian River signals advance of warm weather months (June 13)
• Sonoma County supervisors show tentative support for living wage expansion (June 12)
• Sonoma County countersues ambulance giant AMR in contract breach dispute (June 12)
• Sonoma County, upper Mark West watershed residents, practice evacuation (June 11)
• County faces tightening of budget (June 11)
• Ceremony will honor Sonoma County residents who died penniless (June 10)
• Northern California Public Media shares 'The Prepared Bachelor,' a creative video on emergency preparedness (June 1)

Upcoming events

July 17 - Board of Supervisors (Special Meeting)

July 18 - Board of Supervisors

July 18 - Mental Health Board

July 18 - North Sonoma Valley Municipal Advisory Council

July 19 - Community Development Committee

July 20 - Planning Commission

July 20 - Coast Municipal Advisory Council

July 20 - Dry Creek Valley Citizens Advisory Council

July 25 - Human Rights Commission

July 26 - Sonoma Valley Citizens Advisory Commission

July 26 - Economic Development Board

July 26 - Continuum of Care Board

July 27 - Ag + Open Space District Advisory Committee

Aug. 1 - Board of Supervisors

Aug. 2 - IOLERO Community Advisory Council

Aug. 3-13 - Sonoma County Fair

Aug. 3 - Planning Commission

Aug. 9 - Springs Municipal Advisory Council

Aug. 10 - Joint Lower Russian River and Sonoma Coast Municipal Advisory Councils

Aug. 10 - Commission on the Status of Women

Aug. 15 - Board of Supervisors

Getting outside and enjoying the county

July 22 - Calabazas Creek Regional Park Preview

July 22 - Saturday Walk in the Park: Gualala Point Regional Park

July 25 - Bilingual Dog Training: Andy’s Unity Park

July 26 - Winging it Wednesday: Helen Putnam Regional Park

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