SoCo Correspondent delivers the latest news from the County of Sonoma, twice a month, to your email inbox. Subscribe in English or Spanish and share with your friends and neighbors. | | Help shape Sonoma County’s priorities for 2026 | | |
What should Sonoma County focus on in the year ahead? Residents will have a chance to weigh in Tuesday (Feb. 3), when the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors gathers in Sonoma Valley to set its priorities for 2026.
The meeting, which begins at 10 a.m. at the Sonoma Veterans Memorial Building, includes the Board’s annual priority-setting session. The public discussion provides an opportunity for supervisors to outline the goals they hope to accomplish in the coming year and hear directly from the community.
“This meeting gives our board the opportunity to align our priorities and set a strong foundation for the year ahead,” said Supervisor Rebecca Hermosillo, chair of the Board of Supervisors. “Hearing directly from our constituents is essential to ensuring that our work truly reflects the needs and priorities of our entire community.”
The Veterans Memorial Building is located at 126 1st Street W. in the city of Sonoma. Members of the public are invited to attend in person and address the Board. Spanish translation will be available to support broader community participation.
For those unable to attend in person, public comments may be submitted by email to bos@sonomacounty.gov. Residents can also review the agenda and watch the meeting live via Zoom.
| | County approves $20.7 million for road, bike and pedestrian improvements | | |
Six major road improvement projects across Sonoma County are moving forward after the Board of Supervisors approved more than $20.7 million in regional transportation funding agreements this month.
The Board approved a series of funding agreements between the Sonoma County Public Infrastructure Department and the Sonoma County Transportation Authority, clearing the way for improvements in Forestville, Penngrove and along Airport Boulevard. The funding will support environmental review, design, right-of-way acquisition and construction.
The projects are funded through Measure M and Go Sonoma, the quarter-cent sales tax approved by voters in 2004 and renewed by voters in 2020 to improve the county’s transportation network. Together, the grants will help improve safety, reduce congestion and expand bicycle and pedestrian access on several heavily used county roads.
“When we invest in transportation, we’re investing in quality of life,” said Supervisor Rebecca Hermosillo, chair of the Board of Supervisors. “By easing congestion and supporting more sustainable ways to get around, these improvements will make travel safer, cleaner, and more accessible for everyone.”
Approved improvements include:
- Penngrove intersections at Old Redwood Highway, Ely Road, Railroad Avenue, Adobe Road and Main Street, where roundabouts, sidewalks, signage and ADA-compliant curb ramps will be built.
- Mirabel Road, which will be widened between State Route 116 and River Road, adding Class II bike lanes and new turn lanes.
- Airport Boulevard, where new bike lanes and intersection improvements will be added at key connections, improving access for workers in adjacent business parks and airport travelers.
Several Airport Boulevard projects build on improvements that have been underway for years. As part of the Jan. 13 action by the Board, excess funds from a prior phase of upgrades will be reallocated to complete remaining work more efficiently.
| | Registrar of Voters moves to new offices near Airport | | |
After decades at the County’s main campus in Santa Rosa, the Sonoma County Registrar of Voters Office will be moving to a new location near the Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport next week.
The new office, located at 3880 Brickway Blvd., will open Monday (Feb. 2). Staff will be available to help people register to vote, check or update your voter registration status, or file papers to run for elected office.
“With the continued growth of our county and the increasing number of registered voters, our office has needed to expand to meet the demands of our public,” said Evelyn Mendez, Sonoma County Registrar of Voters. “This new location gives us the space we need to better serve voters and candidates while continuing to protect the integrity of our elections. We look forward to welcoming you at our new location – please come by and visit us!”
The old office, located at 435 Fiscal Dr., will shut down permanently at the end of the day tomorrow (Jan. 30). For additional information, visit socovotes.com or call 707-565-6800.
| | County funds 10 projects to reduce wildfire risk | | |
The County is making a $1.5 million investment to protect local communities from wildfires. On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors approved funding for 10 projects that will reduce wildfire risk in high-priority landscapes, improve safety along key evacuation routes, and train workers in land management practices that can slow the spread of wildfires.
The 10 projects were shaped by fire professionals, resource conservation districts, community organizations and County staff during a series of workshops and site visits over the past two years. Together, the projects aim to prevent wildfires from spreading by reducing vegetation in key areas around vulnerable communities, evacuation corridors and critical facilities. The grants will also advance environmental review for future large-scale projects and expand training programs that prepare workers for careers in land stewardship.
“Thoughtful investments and strong partnerships can reduce the growing threat posed by wildfires,” said Supervisor Rebecca Hermosillo, chair of the Board of Supervisors. “These grants support projects developed in collaboration with landowners, community groups and local fire experts. This results in practical work on the ground that will better protect communities and strengthen our county’s overall preparedness.”
The County’s investment will be matched by approximately $1.4 million from state, local and private sources, including landowner contributions.
The grants are the latest to be funded through the County’s Vegetation Management Grant Program, created by the Board of Supervisors in 2020 using $25 million from the County’s settlement with PG&E following the 2017 wildfires. Sonoma County Ag + Open Space manages the program.
Since 2021, the program has funded 74 projects totaling $12.5 million, resulting in fuel reduction treatments on 6,845 acres and training for more than 3,500 individuals. With this latest action, approximately $5.7 million remains available for future vegetation management efforts.
| | Meet the Sheriff at Feb. 11 open house in Bodega Bay | | |
Residents on the Sonoma Coast are invited to chat with Sheriff Eddie Engram on Feb. 11 during a casual meet-and-greet at Bodega Bay Grange Hall, 1370 Bodega Ave.
The 5:30 p.m. gathering is designed to feel more like an open house than a traditional town hall. Sheriff Engram will offer a brief update and members of the Sheriff’s Office will be on hand to answer questions. Community members are welcome to drop in, listen, ask questions and share feedback at their own pace.
Everyone is welcome, whether you have a specific concern, a general question, or just want to put faces to names and learn more about the people who serve the community.
| | County preserves historic land records dating back to the 1890s | | |
Deva Marie Proto, County Clerk-Recorder-Assessor, displays a historic map.
Some of Sonoma County’s oldest public records – fragile maps and books that document land ownership more than a century ago – will soon be preserved for future generations.
The Board of Supervisors this month approved a contract with Kofile Preservation to restore, preserve and make digital images of historic maps and books maintained by the County Clerk-Recorder’s Office. The records include 120 assessment maps and 227 books used by the County Assessor’s Office from 1895 to 1925 to document property boundaries and changes in ownership. They remain an important resource for researchers, title searches and members of the public interested in local history.
While the maps were scanned years ago, the books have never been imaged and exist only in their original form. Both the maps and books have deteriorated due to age and repeated handling, and are currently stored in aging wooden cabinets that offer no preservation benefits.
Under the contract, Kofile will clean, repair, deacidify and encapsulate each map and book page using archival-quality materials designed to slow chemical and physical deterioration. The maps will be scanned in color using current imaging technology, and the books will be carefully dismantled, preserved page by page and re-bound in custom archival binders. The project also includes the installation of new custom shelving units designed for long-term preservation.
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Left, the old County courthouse is shown in a historic map of downtown Santa Rosa archived at the County Clerk-Recorder-Assessor’s Office. Property ownership is documented in leather-bound books, middle and right.
“These records tell the story of how Sonoma County grew and changed over time,” said Deva Marie Proto, County Clerk-Recorder-Assessor. “Property owners and researchers depend on these documents every day. By preserving these irreplaceable records, the County is ensuring that a vital chapter of Sonoma County’s history remains accessible for generations to come.”
The $428,000 contract will be funded through the Recorder’s Modernization Fund, which is dedicated to modernization projects within the Recorder’s Office.
| | Find room to grow with a County job | | |
The County currently has nearly 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 Feb. 4 at 10 a.m. 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 Feb. 4 class or sign up for our mailing list to be notified of future classes.
| | Get involved with County government | | |
Government is only as good as the people who step forward to serve. There are many opportunities available now to support the community by serving on County boards, commissions and committees. Here are just three examples:
Check out the full list of current vacancies and discover how you can help shape the future of Sonoma County.
| | Adopt the pet of the week | | |
My name is Marlow. I’m a 4-year-old male pit bull terrier who was brought to the shelter in August. I’m blind in one eye, but I get around well with a little guidance. I’m not only good at using my other senses to compensate, but I’m also really smart: I already know the commands “sit,” “down,” “shake” and “roll over.” You can get a glimpse of me on a recent episode of the County’s podcast, SoCo Chat. There’s no fee to adopt me. Will you bring me into your family?
Marlow is one of dozens of cats, dogs, rabbits and other animals at Sonoma County Animal Services in need of adoption.
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