• Wohler Bridge

Resilient Infrastructure

Enhance services to the community by investing in County facilities and infrastructure; including roads, buildings, communications, and flood protection.

Why is Resilient Infrastructure a Strategic Plan Pillar?

Some of Sonoma County’s existing roads, bridges, communications networks, and public buildings were not designed to modern standards capable of withstanding the impacts of fires, floods, seismic and Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events. Our aging infrastructure requires rehabilitation, replacement, and ongoing investments to enhance services to the community.

Creating resilient infrastructure is an investment in the future of Sonoma County and critical to ensuring a healthy economic foundation for the community. Through this Strategic Plan pillar,the Board of Supervisors can mobilize countywide efforts towards preparation, mitigation and prevention of community impacts caused by emergencies and natural disasters.

Current Resilient Infrastructure Work at the County

The Board of Supervisors has prioritized investment in roads and bridge infrastructure with ongoing funding of over $120million across the County’s 1,380 mile road network,through activities such as pavement preservation and rehabilitation (large-scale paving projects), corrective road maintenance (pot hole repair, brush cutting, etc.), bridge retrofits/replacements, and various other road safety and improvement projects.

In addition, the Board invests $5 million in annual Capital Improvement Budget funding to support over 2 million square feet of County office, detention, health, Courts-shared use, and specialty purpose facilities. Funding in recent years have focused on adding generators to Veterans buildings frequently used as shelters during disasters, and improving the resiliency of the County’s data center, communications network, and mobile systems to withstand power outages and expand remote work capabilities.

Pillar Goals and Objectives

Goal 1:  Invest in County buildings and technology solutions to enhance service delivery and improve employee mobility.

  • Objective 1: Design new County Center to be carbon neutral and zero waste; and pursue carbon reduction and zero waste plans for remaining County facilities.
  • Objective 2: Adopt design standards for County office improvement projects to maximize opportunities for telework and incorporate revised workstation space standards
  • Objective 3: Develop and implement technology tools that enhance employees’ ability to work remotely and promote virtual service delivery models in order to reduce County facility space needs.  
  • Objective 4: Establish resilient neighborhood/regional and satellite service centers with access to transportation systems in West County, Cloverdale, and Sonoma Valley, as expressed in the Real Estate Master Plan, by 2023 in order to improve equitable public access to services. 

Goal 2: Invest in capital systems to ensure continuity of operations and disaster response.

  • Objective 1: Strengthen critical communications infrastructure, interoperability, and information technology tools relied upon during disasters.
  • Objective 2: Invest in electric power resiliency projects at County facilities, including Veteran’s Buildings, used for evacuation sites, warming/cooling centers, or as alternate work facilities for delivery of critical services.
  • Objective 3: Design and build a new, resilient Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

Goal 3: Continue to invest in critical road, bridge, bicycle, and pedestrian infrastructure.

  • Objective 1: Continue to maintain road segments, including designated turnouts where feasible, increase efforts on vegetation removal and drainage features, and improve pavement conditions in neighborhoods.
  • Objective 2: Increase investment by 5% annually on preventive maintenance on all road infrastructure/facilities.
  • Objective 3: Invest $5 million by 2024 on new pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and adopt maintenance guidelines on roads to consider bicyclists and pedestrians. 
  • Objective 4: Identify and retrofit bridges in County that are at high risk for damage during earthquakes.  

Goal 4: Implement countywide technological solutions to promote resiliency and expand community access.

  • Objective 1: Leverage funding and seek grants to expand communications infrastructure within the community to improve equitable access to broadband, wireless, and cell phone services. 
  • Objective 2:  Leverage existing fiber optic infrastructure and grant opportunities to expand wireless and broadband access across County.  

Goal 5: Support, fund, and expand flood protection.

  • Objective 1: Develop partnerships with cities, tribal governments, and private organizations regarding flood protection and sustainability to identify gaps and address climate change impacts. 
  • Objective 2:  Implement land use planning and assessments to address flood protection, including river setbacks and riparian corridors, and make resources available for residents.
  • Objective 3:

    Evaluate the feasibility, creation, and/or update of Flood Protection Plans and seek out financing mechanisms to establish protection zones countywide by 2026.

Contact Information

Policy, Grants, and Special Projects Division

County Administrators' Office

Business Hours
Monday – Friday
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Contact us by Phone
Address

County Administration Building

575 Administration Drive

Suite 104A

Santa Rosa, CA 95403
38.4649057, -122.7277385
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