District 3 Monthly Newsletter | |
A Message from Chair Coursey | |
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The ever-lengthening Halloween season has officially started, and festivities abound in Sonoma County. From signature corn mazes, joyful harvest festivals and fun-filled pumpkin patches, the changing colors of our landscape are by far not the only indications that fall has arrived. In this newsletter, we’ve listed some of the local, free or low-cost events for you and your loved ones to participate.
Other spooky, not so fun, sightings this fall include occasional smoky skies from wildfires in Northern California and Southern Oregon, and a slow but steady rise in COVID-19 infections. These serve as reminders to enjoy the season with precaution and care. You can stay up to date on emergency information, sign up for alerts and learn how to prepare for disasters by visiting SoCo Emergency. In this newsletter, we also have included a community health update and an opportunity for the public to help us ensure the efficacy of our emergency alert system.
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Aside from the seasonal happenings, your local government continues to work on policy, projects and initiatives that advance Sonoma County’s economic health, climate action and overall well-being. Read on to learn more. As always, we appreciate your continued engagement and welcome your thoughts, comments and feedback.
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What's Happening at the
Board of Supervisors?
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The Board of Supervisors approved for the March 2024 ballot a half-cent sales tax for enhanced fire protection, paramedic services and disaster response after a petition received enough signatures endorsing that the measure be included in the upcoming election.
If approved by a majority of voters in the March 5 primary, the initiative would raise approximately $60 million annually. If passed, the initiative requires the establishment of an oversight committee to provide transparency and ensure fiscal accountability.
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It started in 2016 with a simple concept: Employers who make money by selling products or services to the county government must pay their workers a wage that will more closely support living in Sonoma County.
The Board of Supervisors voted to increase the number of workers who benefit from the county’s Living Wage Ordinance by expanding the ordinance’s application to larger employers doing business on county-owned property such as the Sonoma County Fairgrounds, the Sonoma County Airport and the county’s seven veterans’ memorial buildings.
“Our entire county benefits when we reduce poverty and raise the standard of living for our lowest-paid workers,” said Chair Coursey. “These changes will increase the number of workers who are protected by the Living Wage Ordinance while ensuring they have access to paid time off in case they get sick or need to spend time away from work.”
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The Board of Supervisors also recently updated a policy that requires construction contractors and subcontractors to pay workers union wages and benefits when they work on large public works projects. Also referred to as Project Labor Agreements, the policy with its new thresholds now applies to a broader scope of projects. This means that more workers will likely benefit from working on publicly funded projects.
“We need more jobs that pay the kind of wages that families require to live in Sonoma County,” said Chair Coursey. “Our current policy on Project Labor Agreements has not been applied to a single construction contract over the nine years since its adoption in 2014. This is because the $10 million threshold used to trigger the policy is too high. The revisions embraced by the board today will ensure that we create good-paying jobs for local workers when the county initiates a construction project of $1 million or more.”
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Other County News & Updates | |
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Sonoma County is phasing out two interim housing sites and replacing them with longer-term housing. The action follows Point-In-Time Count results, which showed a 22% reduction in homelessness between 2022 and 2023, reflecting the county’s efforts to expand the number and types of available housing systems.
Transition plans for the County Campus Emergency Shelter established earlier this year include its replacement on another, larger site that would provide RV or trailer shelters and tiny homes. The county also will work to replace existing pallet shelters at Los Guilicos Village with renovated brick & mortar dormitories.
“We have made ending homelessness and creating affordable housing our priorities in Sonoma County, with investments in new shelter facilities, expanded supportive services and the development of current and new affordable housing projects,” said Chair Coursey. “We have more work to do, and we won’t let up on our commitment to achieving ‘functional zero,’ which means that any episode of homelessness is rare, brief and non-recurring.”
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The Sonoma County Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach this year audited 27 cases involving complaints against the Sheriff’s Office, according to IOLERO’s annual report. This is the first annual report since the full implementation of Measure P, a voter-approved measure to strengthen the agency’s police oversight authority.
The reviewed cases included two officer-involved shootings, two in-custody deaths, and three cases involving canine use of force, citing both agreements and disagreements with Sheriff’s Office findings and making corresponding policy recommendations.
IOLERO is planning to host a webinar to present details of the annual report to the public on Oct. 19 at 6 p.m. Prior registration is not required and the webinar can be accessed here.
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The County of Sonoma will allow public comments to be made only in person or via email for Board of Supervisors meetings, as well as meetings for Sonoma Water and the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation & Open Space District through the end of 2023. The change is due to the escalating challenges of maintaining civility among those making public comments through the Zoom platform.
Members of the public who wish to address the Board during meetings, normally held on Tuesdays beginning at 8:30 a.m., must attend in person in the Board Chambers at 575 Administration Drive, Room 100A in Santa Rosa. Members of the public may watch or listen to the meeting on Legistar, Zoom or phone, but will not be able to comment virtually. The public is also invited to submit comments any time to bos@sonoma-county.org.
“We will take a break from virtual comments while we try to figure out a solution to the racism, the antisemitism and the hate that has been spread online by bad actors over the last several weeks,” said Chair Coursey. “Until we have a better way of doing that, we will only allow public comment within the Board Chambers.”
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Climate Action Made Local | |
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Sonoma County has purchased three mobile solar-powered electric vehicle charging stations to support zero-emission vehicles and mitigate ongoing climate disruption. The initiative is part of a larger program to electrify the County Fleet by 2030 and the County’s ongoing climate action work.
The charging stations have been initially placed in sites throughout the County and their use is free to the public (excluding any pre-existing location-specific parking fees). The mobile units also can be used as a backup power supply in the event of an emergency.
“With the devastating health and economic consequences of climate change growing here and elsewhere, we know that Sonoma County must act with urgency,” said Chair Coursey. “This versatile new infrastructure is completely off-grid and transportable, which makes it a sustainable source of electricity for first responders and the general public, especially during an emergency.”
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Greenhouse gas emissions from county government operations fell 37 percent from 2017 to 2021, according to a new study presented to the Board of Supervisors this month. So what was the factor behind the decrease? COVID-19. The pandemic increased the number of people working from home and decreased commuting.
The study has now set a baseline for the county, allowing it to measure progress as it seeks to become carbon neutral by 2030. The graph above illustrates some of the study’s findings.
The county’s Climate Action and Resiliency Division will return to the Board of Supervisors in December with a set of options to reach the county’s emission targets. The image below shows potential outcomes if the County adopts the corresponding emissions reduction strategies.
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The county’s Climate Action and Resiliency team is staging a series of free workshops in October and November to educate homeowners about improvements that will make your home more energy efficient, safe and resilient.
Participants will also learn about rebates, incentives and financing to help pay for upgrades to their homes during the 90-minute workshops. A free home energy score report, valued at up to $450, will be given away in a drawing. Register to attend a workshop in your neighborhood:
For more information or to register for one of the workshops, contact energy@sonoma-county.org or call (707) 565-6470.
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Resources & Community Bulletin | |
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The Sonoma County Housing Authority is accepting applications from Oct. 1 until Oct. 31 for its Housing Choice Voucher waitlist lottery.
After the close of the application period, 750 applicants will be randomly selected for placement on the waitlist. Selected applicants will then be confirmed for eligibility. Those who are not selected this time will be notified and are welcome to reapply when another waitlist reopens.
The Housing Choice Voucher program - formerly known as the Section 8 program - provides financial assistance to very low-income individuals and families to enable them to afford housing in the private rental housing market.
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The California Senior Legislature (CSL) is a nonpartisan group of older people who gather from all areas of California. They advocate for new laws to improve the quality of life for aging Californians in areas such as health care, housing, transportation, and financial abuse.
Senior Legislators are elected by their local Area Agency on Aging (AAA). If you’re interested in applying to represent Sonoma County on the CSL, contact the Area Agency on Aging by phone at 707-565-5238 or by email at aaa@schsd.org
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Residents and small businesses in Sonoma County impacted by the winter storms from December 27, 2022 to January 31, 2023, are potentially eligible for the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Disaster Loans.
Deadlines to Apply –
- Physical Damage: October 10, 2023
- Economic Injury: May 9, 2024
Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information, and download applications at https://hubs.la/Q01_mHq20.
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For local assistance, contact the Sonoma County Economic Development Board at edb@sonoma-county.org or (707) 565-7170. | |
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Dr. Karen Smith, Sonoma County’s health officer, has issued new guidance strongly recommending that everyone 6 months or older get vaccinated for influenza and COVID-19.
COVID-19 and flu illnesses are increasing in Sonoma County, according to wastewater sampling monitored by the county, and COVID-19 hospitalizations have been ticking upwards since early July. Vaccination remains the best protection against both types of respiratory virus infections. Wearing masks in public indoor settings can further slow the spread of COVID and influenza.
If you have not received a COVID-19 vaccine in the past two months, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends you get an updated vaccine to protect yourself this fall and winter. Updated vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna were released earlier this month. Book an appointment or find a walk-in clinic today by going to myturn.ca.gov.
You also can get four free rapid COVID-19 tests sent to your home by registering at COVIDtests.gov. If you have older tests at home, check to see if their expiration dates have been extended before throwing them out.
In response to the increase in respiratory illnesses in the county, Dr. Smith issued a health order last week requiring health care personnel to wear a mask when in patient care areas. The order applies to staff at health care facilities including hospitals, clinics, surgery centers, infusion centers, dialysis centers, skilled nursing facilities, portions of long-term care facilities where nursing care is provided, and other facilities where patient care is provided indoors. It will be in effect throughout the respiratory virus season, which runs from Nov. 1 through April 30.
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Join Legal Aid of Sonoma County for their Open House on Thursday, October 5th from 5 pm to 7 pm. This will be a great opportunity for community members to meet staff and learn about Legal Aid's programs. See flyer for details. | | |
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Join Desi Harp, Sugarloaf staff and members of the Mishewal-Wappo, in this walk of storytelling and reflection to honor Indigenous Peoples Day. Tickets are $15-$5 sliding scale; free for children under 12. Meet at the White Barn. Parking fees apply. | |
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Join the Santa Rosa Junior College community for this year's Indigenous Peoples' Day gathering, on Monday, October 9, 2023, 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, at the Santa Rosa campus. The event will include speakers, art, food vendors, drumming, and dancing.
Also during the event, SRJC Retiree Dennis Barela, Kashia Pomo Singer, Dancer, and Teacher will be remembered and honored.
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The Windsor Unified School District invites families to celebrate and learn about the District's new Native American Education Program. The open house and resource fair will take place on Tuesday, October 10th from 6pm to 7:30 pm. | |
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Join the SRJC Community on Friday, October 13 for the second annual Latinx Carpa. This free community event is provides an opportunity for SRJC students and the community to share and experience local talent and culture.
All are welcome to participate with special invitation to underserved, minority, ESL, international students and students who might not otherwise have had an opportunity to perform in front of an audience to express themselves through music, dance and theatre and showcase. All SRJC students and community members are encouraged to participate, attend and support!
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SRJC Shone Farm welcomes the public to experience the garden in its full harvest season during the Fall Festival on October14 from 10am-3pm! See the farm come alive with authentic farm activities including U-pick pumpkins and apples, farm equipment displays, children’s activities, and hay bale rides.
A farm stand will highlight Shone Farm fresh seasonal produce and the students in the tasting room will be pouring Shone Farm wines. You can stop by the barn to see the animals or grab some food court snacks from Green Valley 4-H, chili made by Food for Thought, burgers from Sebastopol FFA, Noble Folk ice cream or tasty bites from Black Piglet Catering.
The event is open to the public and entrance fee is $5 per car and tickets are available online.
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Join the Sonoma County Economic Development Board for the 2023 Fall Economic Perspective event featuring keynote speaker, Dr. William Rodgers III, VP and Director of the Institute for Economic Equity at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
The event also will celebrate this year's Economic Prosperity Award recipients, honoring work toward increasing economic wellbeing.
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It's almost time for Fall Fun Fest! Mark your calendars, pick out your Halloween costumes, and get ready for this free community event in Downtown Santa Rosa!
The fun will take place on Friday October 27 from 5-8pm. Come down for trick-or-treating at downtown businesses (from 4-6pm), and enjoy Ferris wheel rides, costume contests, games with prizes, music and dancing, food trucks, and oh so much more! Did we mention it’s FREE?!
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You and your family are invited to come enjoy the 5th annual Halloween Carnival with Dia De Los Muertos Celebration on Saturday, October 28 from noon-5pm at the Rohnert Park Community Center.
Event highlights include the haunted maze (scary and un-scary times will be scheduled), Community Altars in partnership with the Latino Alliance, a wide variety of animals from Safari Encounters, performances by Aztec Dancers and Ballet Folklorico, a magic show, balloon twisting, a juggler/unicyclist, carnival games, food vendors, and so much more! As always, anyone who shows up to the event in costume gets a piece of candy!
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