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Next week, many of us will gather with family and friends to celebrate all that we are grateful for. Some will pop open a bottle of one of the many fine wines from Sonoma County, while others will prepare meals showcasing the county’s delicious fruit, vegetables and dairy products. In this week’s issue of the SoCo Correspondent, we have new information about the size of the county’s vibrant agricultural sector, with fun facts to share around your table this Thanksgiving. We also have stories about the role that Sonoma County landscapes could play in removing carbon from the atmosphere, an exciting new development coming to Roseland, and some new options to grab a bite to eat when you are flying out of Sonoma County. Plus, we have news about an amazing couple in Sonoma who have fostered more than 58 children. Now that’s something we all can be grateful for.
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.
¿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.
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Sonoma County ag sector yields $796 million
bounty despite drought
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The total value of agricultural crops grown in Sonoma County dipped to $796 million last year, a 1.9 percent decrease from 2021, according to a new report by the Sonoma County Agricultural Commissioner.
Drought conditions combined with spring frost, heat waves and late season rains reduced the size of the 2022 grape crop, which accounts for more than two-thirds of ag production in Sonoma County. Grape prices rose 9.3 percent to an average of $2,869.62 per ton in 2022 but the size of the harvest fell 7.3 percent to 190,864 tons. As a result, the value of the county’s grape crop fell 1.25 percent to $547.7 million.
The drought impacted other parts of the county’s agriculture sector, including dairy farms, livestock ranchers and nurseries.
“As in recent years, Sonoma County growers and ranchers are forced to adapt to rising fuel and labor costs, dwindling water supplies and higher feed costs due to drought,” said Supervisor Chris Coursey, chair of the Board of Supervisors. “The bright spot in this year’s crop report is our local nursery industry, which continues to thrive because of demand from both agricultural producers and home gardeners.”
Dairy was the county’s second-largest ag product last year, valued at $67 million, followed by cannabis at $40 million.
Top 5 crops in Sonoma County
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$547.7 million
$67.4 million
$40.4 million
$39.4 million
$28.7 million
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Winegrapes
Milk
Cannabis
Misc. Livestock & Poultry
Nursery - Ornamentals
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Report: Sonoma County landscapes could play
key role in removing carbon from atmosphere
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Sonoma County has the potential for large-scale carbon sequestration – removing carbon from the atmosphere to help the county achieve its goal of net-zero emissions by 2030 – according to a report presented to the Board of Supervisors this month.
The biggest opportunity to sequester carbon in Sonoma County is through natural and working lands, by protecting the places where carbon is currently stored in soils, rocks, and plants and drawing additional carbon from the atmosphere into plants and soil.
“Natural and working lands, including our iconic redwood forests, oak woodlands, vineyards and pasturelands, can be a powerful engine for mitigating climate change and increasing resilience to climate impacts,” said Supervisor Chris Coursey, chair of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. “Conserving these ‘carbon sinks,’ where plants and soils take in more carbon than they release, can help move the county closer to achieving the objective of carbon neutrality.”
The report establishes an inventory of current carbon stocks and evaluates the potential for Sonoma County’s landscape to sustainably store more carbon. Developed with local governments, resource conservation districts, and nonprofits, the study quantifies existing carbon stocks throughout the county. It presents recommendations for protecting significant carbon stocks and identifies available practices that can increase carbon sequestration countywide.
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County hires new Public Health Officer | |
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Meet Sonoma County’s new public health officer: Dr. Tanya Phares, an experienced physician and health care executive from Reno, Nevada.
Phares, who started on Nov. 14, serves as the county’s chief medical officer and top health policy official, with the authority to declare public health emergencies and issue and enforce orders to protect the community’s health.
Phares, who was appointed to her new role by the Board of Supervisors on Nov. 7, succeeds Dr. Karen Smith, who served as interim health officer since August. Previously, Phares served as a faculty member at the University of Nevada School of Medicine in Reno and a consultant to health care organizations. Over the last two decades, she has worked as an executive and physician at St. Mary’s Health Network, SilverSummit Healthplan, Renown Health and other health care organizations..
“Throughout her career, Dr. Phares has demonstrated excellent leadership in the healthcare industry,” said Tina Rivera, director of the county’s Department of Health Services. “She will be able to immediately dive into our public health challenges, including protecting public health, enforcing health regulations, and advising elected officials, members of the medical profession, and the public on matters affecting health and safety.”
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Demolition to make way for Roseland Village | |
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Next week, demolition crews will begin tearing down the old Dollar Store and Wind Toys buildings in Roseland, making room for Tierra de Rosas and Casa Roseland, a new mixed-use development that will reshape the southwest Santa Rosa neighborhood.
Tierra de Rosas is a 7.41-acre mixed-use development. It will include 75 units of affordable housing for individuals and families (Casa Roseland), 100 units of market rate rental housing, a civic building for community uses, a commercial parcel envisioned as a mercado food hall, and a one-acre public plaza.
"The significance of this site to the Roseland community cannot be overstated," said Supervisor Chris Coursey, chair of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. "This progress toward the development of the Tierra de Rosas project, which was born out of a community vision, marks a breakthrough in our collaborative response to the historical disinvestment that Roseland has endured. The project will not only provide much-needed affordable and market-rate housing, it also will revitalize the existing community hub and serve as a catalyst for invigorating economic growth in the area."
Tierra de Rosas, a $40.5 million project, previously had a funding gap of more than $18 million. The gap was narrowed by the Board of Supervisors providing one-time funding of $7.68 million, Chair Coursey committing another $2 million from Third District infrastructure funds, and the Community Development Commission receiving a $2 million matching grant from Ag + Open Space. An additional $3 million was secured by state Sen. Mike McGuire and Assemblymember Damon Connelly during state budget allocations.
Mitote Food Park, a popular community hub, will remain in operation in its current location during the first two phases of the three-phase project. The development is a public/private partnership between the county’s Community Development Commission and MidPen Housing.
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Sonoma foster parents win statewide award | |
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Petie Torri, left, and Mimi Torri
A Sonoma couple who has fostered more than 58 children since 2014 were honored Oct. 14 by RaiseAChild, a Hollywood nonprofit that partners with counties to recruit and train foster parents.
The children Mimi and Petie Torri have welcomed into their home range from newborns
to teens, and have included children with special needs and prenatal exposures to drugs and alcohol. The couple, who adopted two children into their forever family, say they believe that excellent parenting takes plenty of laughter, empathy, joy, patience, flexibility and humor.
“The kids didn’t ask for this, so if we can help in any way then we have to try,” Petie Torri said.
There is a shortage of foster parents in Sonoma County. Every day, the county Department of Human Services cares for 50 to 75 local children and teens who are awaiting placement in a foster or adoptive home. Foster parents can be single adults, straight and gay couples, Spanish-speaking families, children’s relatives, family friends and other approved caregivers.
Foster parents have the opportunity to be a part of a team that helps children and families grow and change. When birth parents are not able to safely care for their children, foster parents provide loving care in a way that continues to respect the relationship between a child and their birth parents. It’s a magical thing when a child can see their foster and birth parents working together on their behalf. It can create lifelong relationships between the foster and birth families that expand a child’s sense of community and family.
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Get up to $10,000 in rebates to reduce your wildfire risk | |
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Protect your home and family from wildfires by signing up for a free wildfire risk assessment from SoCo Adapts. The pilot program, launched by Permit Sonoma, is available to property owners in select areas of the Sonoma Valley, west Sonoma County and north Sonoma County at high risk of wildfires.
Participants in the program will receive a report outlining steps they can take to reduce wildfire risk. They are eligible for up to $10,000 in rebates to help implement the recommended safety measures, including tree maintenance, brush removal, improving vents and more.
The free wildfire risk assessments are available to the first 1,000 eligible residents who sign up for the program. View a map of the parcels eligible for the free assessments.
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County’s three Groundwater Sustainability Agencies
win $15.1 million in state grants
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California Department of Water Resources Regional Manager Juan Escobar, second from right, presents checks to the chairs of Sonoma County’s three groundwater sustainability agencies, from left, Cotati Mayor Susan Harvey, Supervisor David Rabbitt and Supervisor Susan Gorin.
Ensuring there is enough groundwater to meet community needs for the next 50 years is the job of three local agencies that manage valuable water resources stored underground in the Petaluma Valley, Sonoma Valley and Santa Rosa Plain.
The state Department of Water Resources endorsed their work last month, presenting $15.1 million in grants to the Petaluma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency, the Sonoma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency and the Santa Rosa Plain Groundwater Sustainability Agency.
The money will support local sustainable groundwater management, including projects to help rural residents use water more efficiently and better understand how groundwater pumping impacts local creeks and streams. The effects of climate change and prolonged drought have resulted in depleted groundwater across the state. The three agencies are working to chart the amount of water stored underground and do more to recharge groundwater when it rains.
“In Sonoma Valley, we need this funding to ensure our farms, homes and businesses can depend on groundwater resources today and in future years and help us build our resilience to drought,” said Supervisor Susan Gorin, who chairs the Sonoma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency.
This is the second round of grant funding for the three agencies, which each received $2 million previously to develop their groundwater sustainability plans.
“This is significant funding to help us meet the timeline and goals of our plan and will offset the ongoing costs to our community for this work,” said Supervisor David Rabbitt, who also chairs the Petaluma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency.
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Find room to grow with a county job | |
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Registrations are now being accepted 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 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 7.
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 Dec. 7 class or sign up for our mailing list to be notified of future classes.
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New food and beverage options debut
at Sonoma County airport
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Just past the bronze statues of Charlie Brown and Linus that welcome travelers to Charles M. Schulz – Sonoma County Airport lies a rich diversity of new dining experiences for Sonoma County travelers.
Just off the main terminal, visitors will find Tap & Pour, a full-service restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. Guests can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner with cocktails, beer and wine. A renovation scheduled in early 2024 will add new interior furnishings, new outdoor patio seating with a fireplace, and new kitchen equipment.
To the south of the terminal is Costeaux On The Go, featuring acclaimed baked goods, savory items, coffee and more from the Healdsburg-based bakery. Its products are also available at several vending machines, located in the restaurant and in the terminal.
The newest concessionaire at the airport is Runway Wellness, which offers nutritional juice drinks and soups in addition to chair massages and beauty services.
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For travelers who prefer to go through the passenger screening area immediately upon arrival, there are post-security dining options as well. Apple Spice offers fresh pizza, soup, sandwiches, salads, wraps, ice cream, snacks and non-alcoholic drinks in Concourse A (beer and wine to be offered in the future). Crush, which offers beer and wine from the North Coast along with a full bar and select breakfast and lunch items, is also in Concourse A.
A full-service vending area in Concourses A and B offers hot dishes, hot coffee, cold coffee, a variety of popular snacks and beverages, and other travel essentials to complement the fresh food offerings by Apple Spice and Crush. Local products include gourmet packaged meats, cheeses, baked goods, sandwiches and baby items.
An outdoor patio with seating and shade umbrellas is located between Concourse A and B after security, providing travelers with a place to rest, relax and enjoy the outdoors while waiting for their flight to depart. Additional new amenities at the airport include two private lactation rooms located both before and after security checkpoints. In addition to the pet relief area near the main terminal, an additional pet relief area is now open between the concourses, complete with a fire hydrant, hand sink and bench.
The $40 million terminal modernization project – which opened to the public on Nov. 16, 2022 – added more than 27,000 square feet of space to the airport facility. The project has supported an average of 164 jobs annually, generated $100.9 million in total payroll, $31.2 million in tax revenue, and $231.7 million in economic output in Sonoma County.
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County invests another $2 million
in vegetation management projects
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The Board of Supervisors authorized another $2 million this month for a fourth round of projects in 2024 that protect residents from wildfires by creating fuel breaks, expanding defensible space around homes, and removing vegetation along evacuation routes and in fire-prone landscapes.
The Board of Supervisors also approved changes to the 3-year-old vegetation management grant program that will allow the county to prioritize projects that align with the objectives of local and state fire agencies and county departments.
“We are enhancing the county’s ability to support a wider and more successful range of vegetation management projects in the communities and landscapes that face the greatest threats from wildfires,” said Supervisor David Rabbitt, vice chair of the Board of Supervisors. “Today’s $2 million investment, along with the changes to the vegetation management grant program, will make our county safer.”
The Board of Supervisors created the vegetation management program in 2020, setting aside $25 million from the county’s settlement with PG&E over the 2017 Tubbs fire. The program, administered by Sonoma County Ag + Open Space, has awarded $11.5 million in grants to 65 projects proposed by community organizations, fire districts and nonprofits.
In all, the first three rounds of grants have reduced fire danger on 3,045 acres by reducing fuel loads using prescribed burns, grazing, hand crews and equipment to manage vegetation. The grants have created defensible space around 630 homes, constructed 82 miles of shaded fuel breaks and reduced vegetation along 64 miles of roads that serve as critical evacuation routes. The program has approved five additional projects that will reduce fire risks on 45,621 acres under the state’s Vegetation Treatment Program, which provides for streamlined environmental review to expedite projects that protect the public from wildfires.
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Windsor war memorial dedicated | |
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Supervisor James Gore, right, with memorial organizer Karen Alves, center, and Windsor Mayor Rosa Reynoza.
With the somber strains of “Taps” wafting through the air, local veterans, historians and public officials unveiled the Windsor Military Memorial Wall on Nov. 4.
The granite wall pays tribute to the lives of 86 airmen who were killed when their planes crashed on training missions in Sonoma County during World War II. Most were based at the old Santa Rosa Army Airfield, now the site of Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport.
The memorial, located at the north end of the Windsor Town Green, also honors 11 Windsor residents who lost their lives defending our country during World War II and other wars.
The Board of Supervisors and Town of Windsor each contributed $50,000 to create the memorial, which was supplemented with funding from local veterans groups and the Windsor Chamber of Commerce.
“By honoring the present, we honor the future. By going back and honoring the past, we honor those who serve today,” Supervisor James Gore, whose district includes the airport and Windsor, said during the dedication ceremony. “We stand here today in honor of true service. This is what Windsor is all about.”
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Learn more about homelessness in Sonoma County | |
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The county’s Homelessness Services Division will host a webinar at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 29 to give the public an opportunity to learn what it is like to experience homelessness in Sonoma County.
The forum will begin with a brief discussion on homeless experiences, followed by a Q&A with two people who have been homeless: Chessy Etheridge, a member of the Continuum of Care board, and Rebekah Sammet, chair of the county’s Lived Experience Advisory and Planning Board.
The forum is part of a series of monthly webinars designed to raise public awareness of homelessness in Sonoma County.
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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.
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Adopt the pet of the month | |
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My name is Noodles. I’m a 69-pound female Great Pyrenees who has been at the shelter since July 26. I’m about 4 years old and a little timid. I’m quiet and friendly, but would benefit from some training and leash work. My caretakers would like to place me in a home without smaller pets or children under the age of 15.
Noodles is one of dozens of cats, dogs, rabbits and other animals at Sonoma County Animal Services in need of adoption.
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