The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) has announced the enactment of a burn suspension, beginning at 12:01 AM Monday, May 10, 2021, which bans all outdoor burning.

The Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport will host a webinar on June 9, 2021 from 10:00am - 11:00am PDT about the Airport's Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program and proposed DBE goal.

Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch announced a consumer protection False Advertising Law settlement in a civil action against Cannacraft, Inc. Cannacraft is a licensed cultivator and manufacturer of cannabis products based in Sonoma County, and does business in California's legal cannabis market. Under the terms of the stipulated judgment, Cannacraft will pay $250,000 in civil penalties $25,000 in cy pres restitution, and $25,000 in investigative costs. Cannacraft also agreed to be bound by an injunction for 10 years. The Sonoma County District Attorney's Office reached the settlement as a member of the California Food, Drug, and Medical Device Task Force ("Task Force"), which also includes Alameda, Marin, Monterey, Napa, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta and Solano Counties.

Defendant Hector Cabrales-Larios, 39 years old of Santa Rosa, was sentenced today by the Honorable Robert LaForge to serve six years in state prison after pleading “no contest” in March of this year to felony charges of hit and run.

Sonoma County has now fully vaccinated more than half of its 16 and older population. In addition, more than two-thirds of these 411,000 residents have received at least one shot of the vital protection against COVID-19.

We all sometimes need help with quick and easy tasty meals for the family. What better time than Spring, when we start getting more fresh local veggies, to get some new recipes and ideas? Free Nutrition classes for clients, CalFresh EatFresh website updates, use CalFresh at the Farmers Markets, food and ACEs, nourishment and language.

View a list of our current and upcoming job opportunities, including:

- Auditor-Appraiser I

- District Attorney's Office Information Systems Technician I & II

- Senior Account Clerk - Regular & Time-Limited

Defendant, Patrick Gilles Murphy, 35 years old of Sebastopol, was sentenced on May 4, 2021 by the Honorable Mark Urioste to serve 6 years in state prison after pleading “no contest” in April of this year to stalking, dissuading a witness by force or threat, and felony domestic battery against his ex-girlfriend. 

The Water Advisory Committee (WAC) to the Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water), which consists of representatives from eight public water utilities in Sonoma and Marin counties, passed a resolution Monday asking customers of the Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership (Partnership) to voluntarily reduce water use by 20 percent due to the drought.

The Sonoma County Housing Authority recently completed an ADA Transition Plan and Section 504 Self-Evaluation.

Tina Rivera, an experienced administrator for more than 25 years in government and nonprofit work, has been named interim director of the Sonoma County Department of Health Services by the County Administrator. A native of Louisiana, Rivera has worked for the County of Sonoma since 2018, most recently serving as assistant director of the Department of Health Services.

Come Join Us Wednesday, May 19th, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Learn About the County of Sonoma's Application Process

Defendant Joseph Nin, 36 years old of Windsor, was sentenced today by the Honorable Mark Urioste after pleading "no contest" in March of this year to a felony charge of Filing a False Report.  Additional felony charges of Perjury and Grand Theft were dismissed as part of a plea bargain. Nin, a former juvenile corrections counselor employed by the Sonoma County Probation Department, was sentenced to 90 days jail or work release, followed by 24 months of felony probation, the legal limit for most felonies under a new law passed last year by the California state legislature.  

As you may recall from our past newsletters and IOLERO's 2019-2020 Annual Report, IOLERO and the CAC partnered with Sonoma State University (SSU) and Redwood Consulting Collective to design a high-functioning Community-Oriented Policing Program that will help the community and the Sheriff's Office work together to improve policing and quality of life for everyone in the community.

Defendant Victor Torres, 31 years old of Santa Rosa, was sentenced today by the Honorable Mark Urioste to serve a term of 25 years to life in state prison after pleading "no contest" earlier this month to multiple charges of child sexual assault.

Read all about updates on the County’s COVID-19 response, information on newly available rental assistance, upcoming tree ordinance workshops and many more items of importance!  

Defendant Paul Morrow, 60 years old of Rohnert Park, was sentenced today by the Honorable Peter Ottenweller to serve 5 years in state prison following a “no contest” plea earlier in April to one felony count of sexual penetration of an unconscious victim, and one felony count of sexual penetration of a minor under the age of 16.

The County of Sonoma is pleased to invite you to respond to a Request for Proposals (RFP) for First Episode Psychosis (FEP) Services.

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors today adopted a resolution proclaiming a local drought emergency and requesting the governor seek a Presidential Disaster Declaration. 

The Sonoma County Community Development Commission is pleased to announce the issuing of this Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for affordable housing in the incorporated and unincorporated areas of Sonoma County.

On Friday, April 23, the CDC and FDA announced they would accept the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' (ACIP) recommendations to lift a pause on the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine for all adults. Sonoma County Health Officer Dr. Sundari Mase concurs with the findings of the ACIP and Western States Scientific Safety Review (WSSR) that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is safe and that health providers should resume its administration to prevent community spread and severe illness and death from COVID-19. Sonoma County joins the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Solano and the City of Berkeley in the Bay Area in immediately lifting the pause and resuming administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

The Agricultural Commissioner’s Office surveys producers when there are significant impacts to agricultural production due to weather.  Based on survey results, a disaster can be declared and various assistance programs become available through USDA. 

Sonoma County Regional Parks, Pepperwood Preserve and Sonoma Ecology Center/Team Sugarloaf are asking residents to be citizen scientists and take part in the global City Nature Challenge event. The challenge takes place two parts. From April 30 to May 3, people are asked to take pictures of wild plants and animals and upload them to the iNaturalist app. Scientists will be identifying what was found, May 4-9. Results will be announced on May 10.

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors will hold its annual budget workshop on April 26, 27 and 28 next week to provide the Board and the community an opportunity to learn about the County's preliminary spending plan for fiscal year 2021-22, ask questions and provide direction before final adoption during the June budget hearings. 

You are ready to vaccinate- what if your clients don't want it? How to build trust, address concerns, and use language to address Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy with pregnant clients.

Dispose of medications, including controlled substances, at special one-day collection events sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Sonoma County Tourism along with Sonoma County Regional Parks today announced a partnership with the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics to help ensure visitors who enjoy the region’s parks and other natural resource areas do so responsibly and sustainably.

Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) joined Governor Newsom today at a parched Lake Mendocino for the announcement of an executive order to help drought stricken watershed's such as the Russian River watershed.

Sonoma Land Trust has closed escrow on the 200-acre Fitzsimmons Ranch, which is an inholding of private land within 2,000-acre Hood Mountain Regional Park and Open Space Preserve. The expansion of the park has been a key priority for Sonoma Land Trust, ensuring that future generations of visitors and wildlife can thrive and adapt in this important corridor of the Mayacamas Mountains.

On April 19, 2021, Permit Sonoma staff is publishing a Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR), which analyzes the environmental impact of potentially rezoning 59 sites in unincorporated Sonoma County to accommodate the county’s housing need.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (“PGE”) was arraigned earlier today in the Sonoma County Superior Court on a 33-count criminal complaint alleging that it recklessly caused the 2019 Kincade Fire, which burned approximately 78,000 acres, and destroyed 374 structures, including 174 homes. The fire that started on the night of October 23, 2019 at the Geysers Geothermal Field northeast of Geyserville resulted in the largest evacuation in the history of Sonoma County, including the entire towns of Healdsburg, Windsor and Geyserville.

Permit Sonoma published a Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) that analyzed the environmental impact of potentially rezoning up to 59 sites for housing.

El 19 de Abril la oficina del Supervisor Coursey junto al Condado de Sonoma se unió con lideres comunitarios para informar sobre la nueva fase de apertura, y recursos para inquilinos y también para contestar preguntas sobre las vacunas. ¡El Foro Informativo fue completamente en Español!

On April 19th Supervisor Coursey's office along with the County of Sonoma hosted a collaborative panel with community leaders to inform on the new phase of reopening, tenant resources, and to answer questions on the vaccine. The forum was conducted completely in Spanish. 

This newsletter will provide an update about the resumption of in-person visits at the Sonoma County Jail and the Community Advisory Council’s (CAC’s) May meeting which will focus on Community Oriented Policing. However, first I want to take a moment to acknowledge the tragic deaths of Daunte Wright and Adam Toledo who were both killed during police encounters last week. 

"IOLERO is monitoring this situation closely," Navarro wrote. "If IOLERO receives evidence, whether from a citizen complaint or other source, that indicates there is a conflict of interest and the sheriff's office should not be investigating the numerous sexual assault allegations against Foppoli, IOLERO will investigate the matter."

Defendant Henry Palencia-Diaz, 21 years old of Santa Rosa, was sentenced today by the Honorable Peter K. Ottenweller to serve 180 days in county jail, pay $1,500 in restitution, and be placed on two years formal probation, after pleading “no contest” in March of this year to charges of assaulting of his 76-year-old co-worker.

The County of Sonoma recognizes the importance of intentional and coordinated efforts to prepare and help mitigate the effects of wildfire. In response to the critical need throughout the region, several County departments have received funding to do essential work to protect the community.

General Consul of Mexico Remedios Gomez Arnau will be the featured guest speaker at the Sonoma County Community Briefing on Wednesday, April 21, a news briefing that for the first time will be conducted entirely in Spanish with English interpretation available.

Sonoma Valley Community Health Center, Sonoma Valley Hospital, and La Luz Center are working in partnership with the County of Sonoma to open a new vaccination clinic serving residents in and around the Boyes Hot Springs and Agua Caliente in Sonoma Valley.

As part of the ongoing effort to rebuild wildfire-ravaged Foothill Regional Park in Windsor, the Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation has received a $500,000 Kaiser Permanente grant. This funding will allow Sonoma County Regional Parks to renovate the 211-acre park with a new “climate-adaptive” design to make it more resilient to future wildfires and offer greater protection to surrounding neighborhoods.

La Junta de Desarrollo Económico del Condado de Sonoma (EDB, por sus siglas en inglés) organiza la Semana de Desarrollo Económico, del 3 al 7 de mayo de 2021 para celebrar las contribuciones positivas del desarrollo económico y su importante papel en nuestra comunidad local.

The Sonoma County Economic Development Board (EDB) is virtually hosting Economic Development Week from May 3-7, 2021 to celebrate the positive contributions of economic development and its important role in our local community.