County budget hearings to begin June 10 amid uncertainties about state, federal spending | | |
The Board of Supervisors will begin deliberating spending priorities for the coming fiscal year when it holds its annual public hearings starting on Tuesday, June 10 at 9 a.m. Public comment is welcome at each of the hearings, which also will take place on June 11 and June 13 in the Board of Supervisors chambers located at 575 Administration Drive in Santa Rosa.
At the conclusion of the hearings, the Board will adopt a balanced budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year, which starts July 1. View the full schedule here.
The 2025-26 recommended budget totals $2.71 billion, a 7.9 percent increase from the 2024-25 adopted budget. Nearly half of the increase reflects funding from two new voter-approved sales taxes that are collected by the County and passed through to other entities to support fire and emergency services (Measure H) and child care and health services for children (Measure I). Absent those two tax measures, the recommended budget would increase County spending by 3.8 percent.
“There is a great deal of uncertainty in next year’s budget,” said Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, chair of the Board of Supervisors. “Nearly 40 percent of the County’s funding comes from the federal and state government. Frankly, there are many unanswered questions about what will happen to that funding in the coming year and how our economy might be impacted by changes in federal policies and the recent wildfires in Los Angeles. We want the public to share their priorities with us as we focus on maintaining core services during a challenging year.”
| | Sonoma County to build new treatment center for mental health and addiction | | |
Thanks to a $68 million grant from the state, Sonoma County is moving forward with plans to build a treatment center in Santa Rosa that will serve adults who need help with mental health and addiction challenges.
The new facility, called the Orenda Campus, will include four 16-bed residential centers for people recovering from serious mental illness and a 40-bed facility for those struggling with substance use, including detox services.
Right now, most local residents under County care for serious mental health issues – called conservatees – must leave the area for intensive long-term treatment because there aren't enough beds in Sonoma County. The Orenda Campus will change that, creating a place where people can get the care they need close to home. By offering mental health and addiction treatment in one place, the Orenda Campus will make it easier for providers to work together and support people with complex needs.
“This grant will go a long way towards providing the vital behavioral health support that our community needs,” said Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, chair of the Board of Supervisors. “With this funding, we can create a first-rate rehabilitation facility and add desperately needed substance use disorder treatment beds.”
The funding comes from Proposition 1, the $6.4 billion bond passed by California voters in March 2024 to build housing for people experiencing homelessness and treatment facilities for mental health and substance use programs. The campus will be built on County-owned land in east Santa Rosa, where the existing Orenda Center detox facility is located. The project is in the early planning stages and construction is expected to be completed by 2028.
| | County’s efforts to reduce vacancies deliver results | | |
County government is the largest employer in Sonoma County, with more than 4,200 workers who serve our community. And like most other employers, the County had a hard time filling open positions during the COVID-19 pandemic and the great reshuffling of the American workforce that followed.
By the end of 2022, the number of vacant positions in the County’s workforce exceeded 12 percent, higher than its historic level of 9 percent.
But the County has worked hard to fix the problem. As of March, the County’s vacancy rate had dropped to 8.36 percent, Human Resources Director Janell Crane reported during a special meeting of the Board of Supervisors on May 16.
Recruitment efforts have been aided by hiring incentives for some positions that are very difficult to fill, new labor contracts in 2023 that raised pay for all County workers over three straight years, and the continuing use of telework, when appropriate. Resignations and retirements have declined over the last two years, while applications have increased. Going forward, the County will continue to identify and remove artificial barriers to employment and look for opportunities to accelerate the hiring process.
“The County of Sonoma is a great place to work,” Crane said. “If anyone out there is looking for work, or considering a career change, please take a look at our website – YourPath2SonomaCounty.Org – for our list of current job opportunities.”
| | Heading to the river this weekend? Here’s how to stay safe in the water | | |
While summer doesn’t officially start for another three weeks, Memorial Day kicked off the busiest time of the year along the Russian River.
Wearing a life jacket is the best way to stay safe on the Russian River, where conditions can change seasonally, depending on water flows. Last weekend, Sonoma County Regional Parks resumed a program that provides free life jackets to visitors at five popular beaches: Del Rio Woods, Healdsburg Veterans Memorial Beach, Steelhead Beach, Forestville River Access and Sunset Beach. Just borrow one for the day and put it back when you leave.
The Russian River Patrol, a roving team of lifeguards, will also visit river beaches Fridays through Mondays through Labor Day.
Learn more about these programs and other ways to stay safe on the water in a new episode of the County’s podcast, SoCo Chat. Greg Desmond, aquatics supervisor at Regional Parks, discusses the many ways you can enjoy the river this summer without putting yourself in danger.
If you’re heading to the river this summer, avoid the peak season parking headaches by riding the Regional Parks River Shuttle. Buses run every 30 minutes on weekends and holidays between El Molino High School in Forestville to Steelhead and Sunset beaches. All-day tickets are only $5, and kids 18 and younger ride free. Parking at the school is free.
Please note: Peak season day use parking fees are now in effect at Sunset Beach, Steelhead Beach, Riverfront Regional Park, Healdsburg Veterans Memorial Beach, Del Rio Woods and Cloverdale River Park. Day use parking is $12 through Sept. 1 or free for Regional Parks members who display their park passes.
| | Board of Supervisors approves $14.5 million in road repairs | | |
Sonoma County has more roads to manage than any other county in the Bay Area, with 1,368 miles of roads and 328 bridges in the unincorporated area. Maintaining that infrastructure is not cheap. Earlier this month, the Board of Supervisors approved $14.5 million in repair and maintenance projects funded by SB1, a state transportation program.
“This crucial public investment allows County road crews to repair and pave more secondary and rural roads, resulting in more overall road miles being maintained on an annual basis,” said Board Chair Lynda Hopkins. “It’s about prioritizing the most effective and community-supported projects.”
Despite having the largest road network in the Bay Area, Sonoma County receives less SB1 revenue than urbanized areas because the state funds are allocated based on the number of cars that are registered in a county, not the size of the road network. To make up the difference, the Board of Supervisors taps into the County’s General Fund, the Measure M sales tax, the Measure L tax on overnight visitors and the PG&E settlement fund for the 2017 wildfires. Today, the Board of Supervisors contributes more local money to road repairs than any other county in California.
| | New project will expand access to Russian River in north Sonoma County | | |
The northern stretch of the Russian River is getting a major investment that will make it safer and easier for people to enjoy this beautiful waterway. Earlier this month, the Board of Supervisors approved the Russian River Parkway Project, which will create three formal public access points to the river between Cloverdale and the Mendocino County line.
Sonoma County Regional Parks will build trailheads, restrooms, picnic areas and river access trails along a 1.75-mile stretch of Geysers Road, bringing long-awaited improvements to a previously unmanaged section of the river. View a video about the project here.
“This part of the river has been a well-loved destination for years, but it hasn’t had the resources or structure to support that use responsibly,” said District 4 Supervisor James Gore, who represents northern Sonoma County. “With this project, we’re creating safe, sustainable access that supports recreation, protects the environment, and respects the needs of the surrounding community. It’s about turning a heavily used area into a well-managed public asset – cleaner, safer and more welcoming for everyone.”
The project responds to long-standing community concerns about illegal dumping, trespassing, and safety along the northern Russian River by providing managed, maintained access points. Construction is expected to begin in the fall, with the first phase of improvements completed in the summer of 2026.
| | Creating comfort and connection: Behavioral Health opens La Clínica LatinX | | |
When a suite of offices in the Department of Health Services offices in southwest Santa Rosa became available, Veronica Peinado saw an opportunity to create something meaningful. Peinado, a health program manager in the department’s Behavioral Health Division, asked her manager if she could turn it into a dedicated clinic where staff could serve young LatinX clients.
The result is La Clínica LatinX, a therapeutic space designed to be welcoming, culturally grounded and accessible to youth and their families who feel most comfortable when they are speaking Spanish. Staff in the division’s Youth and Family Services Section created the space with intention, ensuring it reflects the lived experiences of the LatinX community.
“One of our goals is for the LatinX community to feel welcomed and to seek mental health services through culturally and linguistically appropriate services offered by Behavioral Health,” Peinado said. “The goal is to reach out to more LatinX young people and their families and let them know that we are here to help and support them.”
Peinado hopes the initiative will also help Behavioral Health recruit and retain more bilingual and bicultural staff members. “I want bilingual staff to feel proud of who they are and the language they speak, and know that they truly make a huge impact within the County’s workforce,” she said.
To access La Clínica LatinX, youth and their families may call 707-565-4729 and request a mental health evaluation.
| | Pose your questions about homelessness in Sonoma County | | |
The Sonoma County Department of Health Services will host an online forum on June 10 to demonstrate a data dashboard that paints a detailed demographic portrait of homelessness in Sonoma County.
The Zoom webinar begins at 5:30 p.m. Michael Gause, the County’s Ending Homelessness manager, and Daniel Overbury-Howland, coordinator of the Homeless Management Information System, will provide an overview of data collected about homelessness in Sonoma County. The public will have an opportunity to ask questions about the data during a Q&A session following their presentation.
The dashboard, which can be viewed here, tracks demographic data on local people who enter and exit homelessness each year. It also displays data on housing resources for people experiencing homelessness. It was created as part of the Sonoma County Homeless Coalition’s five-year Strategic Plan.
The webinar is the seventh in a series of online forums presented by Health Services to expand public awareness of homelessness in Sonoma County.
| | Safer, stronger bridge coming to Geysers Road | | |
Times have changed since the bridge on Geyser Road over Fraiser Creek was built just east of Cloverdale. The two-lane bridge is now functionally obsolete and could fail in a major earthquake.
To fix the problem, the Board of Supervisors approved a $5.5 million plan on May 13 to replace the span. The new two-lane bridge will be stronger, safer and built to modern standards, with wider shoulders.
“This bridge replacement project, like all County infrastructure projects, represents a collective investment in quality, safety, resiliency and access,” said District 4 Supervisor James Gore, who represents north Sonoma County. “After years of civil and geotechnical engineering, traffic studies, hydrology and public outreach, we can rest assured that the new Geysers Road bridge will address key concerns and provide safe, reliable access for generations to come.”
The project will be funded by Caltrans and reimbursed through the Federal Highway Bridge Program. Redding-based Steelhead Constructors JV has been selected to carry out the work.
| | Sheriff’s Office honors peace officers who died in the line of duty | | |
“So we may never forget.” The words are carved in stone at the entrance to the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office. Below those words are the names of 10 local peace officers who have died in the line of duty since the creation of the Sheriff’s Office in 1850.
“Their names are etched permanently into our history as symbols of courage and selflessness,” Sheriff Eddie Engram said at a May 15 ceremony to mark Peace Officer Memorial Day.
An honor guard, composed of members of the Sheriff’s Office and Santa Rosa Police Department, lowered flags to half staff in a gesture of respect for their fallen comrades. Henry 1, the helicopter piloted by the Sheriff’s Office, flew overhead in an aerial salute to the fallen officers.
Observed annually on May 15, Peace Officers Memorial Day honors local, state, and federal officers who have died or been disabled in the line of duty. The ceremony serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing commitment and risks undertaken by peace officers every day.
“Peace Officers Memorial Day reminds us of the dangers inherent in our profession, and how quickly circumstances can change,” Sheriff Engram noted.
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County helps reopen post office in Rio Nido
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In small towns like Rio Nido, a post office is more than just a building where you pick up the mail. It can be the heart of a community, a place where neighbors cross paths, share stories and forge bonds.
On Wednesday, District 5 Supervisor Lynda Hopkins and members of the west Sonoma County river community gathered in Rio Nido to celebrate the reopening of the Rio Nido Post Office after a seven-year closure.
“Rural infrastructure matters – and the reopening of this post office proves it,” said Supervisor Hopkins, who represents the area. “Reopening these doors means restoring a hub of connection and belonging. I’m proud to stand with this community as we bring it back to life.”
The County provided up to $125,000 in funds to install new post office boxes in the building, using community infrastructure funds from District 5. Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, attendees toured the freshly renovated building while enjoying coffee, drinks and snacks. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us and supported this important project!
| | Sonoma County Fairgrounds to host wildfire and earthquake expo on June 1 | | |
Learn how to prepare for the next disaster at the annual Wildfire and Earthquake Expo this Sunday (June 1) at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa. Free go-bags, provided by the County of Sonoma, will be available to the first 2,000 families.
First responders and emergency preparedness experts will be offering demonstrations, hands-on activities and practical insights on how to protect yourself and your family during a disaster. By attending, you’ll not only learn what actions to take but also discover how to support others – or who to turn to if you need assistance yourself.
The free, family-friendly event will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Board of Supervisors allocated $60,000 to help fund the event.
| | Join the conversation at SoCo Chat | | |
District 3 Supervisor Chris Coursey, right, speaks with Paul Gullixson, the County’s communications manager, during a new episode of SoCo Chat.
In addition to representing central Sonoma County on the Board of Supervisors, Chris Coursey also serves as chairman of the board of directors for SMART, the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit district. In a new episode of SoCo Chat, Supervisor Coursey discusses the rapid growth in SMART ridership since COVID as well as the grand opening of the Windsor SMART station and pathway on June 13.
Subscribe to SoCo Chat on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and YouTube, and check out our growing library of episodes in both English and Spanish. Recent guests and topics of discussion have included:
- Rebecca Hermosillo is the first Latina elected to the Board of Supervisors in the County’s 175-year history. This groundbreaking pioneer recently stopped by SoCo Chat, where she discussed the significance of her swearing-in, her push for language access, and her vision for community-driven change.
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The County is seeking to modernize its campus for the health and well-being of residents and employees. This is a once-in-a-generation project that will consolidate and streamline public services for better access and convenience, and reduce the County government carbon footprint, all while saving taxpayer money. Johannes Hoevertsz, director of the County’s Public Infrastructure Department, discusses the initiative.
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You can’t get a Snickers bar or a bag of Doritos from the newest vending machines that are popping up across Sonoma County. Instead, they contain free health and wellness supplies – things like fentanyl test strips, the opioid overdose reversal drug Narcan, condoms, pregnancy tests and gun locks. Ryan DeHart, the County’s public health preparedness section manager, and Alyssa Hamilton, public health analyst, explain how the Health To Go machines work and what the County hopes to accomplish with the program.
| | Creative Sonoma funds 19 public art projects in west Sonoma County | | |
From murals to music workshops, public art will soon be sprouting up across west Sonoma County. Creative Sonoma has awarded nearly $127,000 in grants to 19 local organizations for community-based public art projects in the Fifth Supervisorial District. The goal: bring people together, beautify neighborhoods, and celebrate the creative spirit of unincorporated West County.
“These projects beautifully capture the unique creative energy that pulses through West County,” said District 5 Supervisor Lynda Hopkins. “Seeing such an enthusiastic response to this first-time grant program honestly makes my heart sing – this is exactly the kind of community-driven momentum we need right now.”
Grants range from $3,000 to $10,000 and will fund everything from a sea otter-themed mural in Jenner to youth-created artwork in Graton and cultural art workshops at the Occidental Community Farmers Market.
Creative Sonoma, a division of the County’s Economic Development Collaborative, designed the program to support local artists, educators, and organizations. This initiative is funded by the Fifth District’s Community Infrastructure and Tourism Impact Funds. A PDF listing all of the projects approved for funding can be downloaded here.
| | Waitlists open for housing vouchers at local apartments for seniors | | |
Starting Sunday (June 1), the Sonoma County Housing Authority will begin accepting applications from low-income seniors who want to live in one of five subsidized apartment complexes in Petaluma and Cloverdale.
Applicants will be placed on a waiting list to enter a lottery for a project-based voucher that can be used to pay their rent. To qualify, applicants must be 62 or older with incomes at or below 50 percent of the area median, currently $60,400 for a two-person household.
The vouchers may be used at five apartment complexes: Kings Valley in Cloverdale and Vallejo Street, Daniel Drive (Herb Lee), Fisher I/II and Lindberg Lane in Petaluma. Applicants must indicate which apartment complex they wish to live in and will be placed in a lottery to be added to its waitlist. Applicants may be placed on multiple waitlists.
Applications for the project-based vouchers will be accepted through June 30. The applications may be completed online at www.waitlistcheck.com/CA085 or in person at the Housing Authority's new office at 141 Stony Circle, Suite 210 in Santa Rosa. The offices are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Housing Authority advises applicants to be cautious of scams; no fees or credit card information are ever requested when applying for housing vouchers.
| | Nominate a changemaker for a Spirit Award | | |
The Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women is accepting nominations for its fifth annual Spirit Awards, which will honor five outstanding leaders who are working to make our community more just and vibrant.
The awards recognize individuals who lift and amplify the voices of people in our community who are marginalized based on race, gender, sexual orientation, immigration status and/or socio-economic status. If you know someone whose passion, leadership and dedication deserve to be celebrated, please submit a nomination by June 4. Nomination forms are available here.
The Commission on the Status of Women is dedicated to promoting equal rights and opportunities that enhance quality of life for all women and girls, and to addressing issues of discrimination and prejudice that negatively affect Sonoma County women. The 15 commissioners on this public advisory body are appointed by the Board of Supervisors.
| | Find room to grow with a County job | | |
The County currently has more than 40 job openings posted on its website. How can you improve your chances of landing one?
Sign up for the next Start Here! class, which provides an overview of the County of Sonoma’s job application, examination and selection processes. The next two-hour class will be held June 26 at noon on Zoom.
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 June 26 class or sign up for our mailing list to be notified of future classes.
| | Adopt the pet of the week | | |
My name is Jazmine. I’m a 6-month-old German shepherd mix who weighs 35 pounds and was brought to the shelter in December. I’m currently living with a foster family because the shelter was a bit noisy and scary for me. I would benefit from training and other activities to help me build my confidence. Will you bring me into your family?
Jazmine is one of dozens of cats, dogs, rabbits and other animals at Sonoma County Animal Services in need of adoption.
| | 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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