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Board of Supervisors adjusts cannabis business tax rates in response to market changes
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted unanimously to adjust county tax rates for cannabis operations in unincorporated areas in response to changes in the cannabis market. The amended Cannabis Business Tax Ordinance, which is scheduled to go before the Board of Supervisors for a second reading on April 30, would, upon final approval, take effect July 1. Projected cannabis tax revenue is $1.4 million for fiscal year 2024-25, a slight decrease from the previous year estimate. Read full story
County of Sonoma Board of Supervisors to hold annual budget workshops April 22 to April 24
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors will hold its annual budget workshops on April 22, 23 and 24 to provide county residents and taxpayers an opportunity to learn about the 2024-2025 fiscal year preliminary spending plan and provide input to the Board of Supervisors before it adopts a final budget in June. The County of Sonoma fiscal year runs July 1 through June 30. The workshops are informational, and the Board will not make any determinations for fiscal year 2024-25 until the June budget hearings. Read full story
Local Program Receives Community Awareness Project Funding for 2023 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week
The Victim Services Division of the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office has received funding from the National Association of VOCA Assistance Administrators (NAVAA) through a grant from the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), within the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, to promote community awareness of crime victims’ rights and services during the 2024 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. Read full story
Sonoma County Supervisors approve updated tree ordinance
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved an expanded version of the county’s tree protection ordinance, which will preserve more of the county’s trees and help to combat climate change given that woodlands pull carbon from the atmosphere. Read full story
Sonoma Water Board of Directors approves wholesale water rate adjustment in support of infrastructure
The Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) Board of Directors on Tuesday voted to increase wholesale water rates to address the pressing needs of aging infrastructure.The adjusted wholesale water rates are forecasted to make a modest impact on household budgets of between $2 to $3 per month, based on location and water usage. Funds produced by these rates will largely go toward operations and maintenance of Sonoma Water’s supply and distribution infrastructure, including cathodic protection to stave off rusting aqueducts, replacement of aging pumps and valves, enhancements in water treatment processes and upkeep of water storage tanks. Read full story
Local partnership completes first project initiated by Sonoma County’s Climate Resilience Fund
A partnership between local government, conservation districts and environmental groups today announced the completion of a pilot project that removed carbon from the atmosphere by applying compost on agricultural land, the first project initiated by Sonoma County's Climate Resilience Fund. Read full story
Sonoma County residents encouraged to participate in Shake Out earthquake drill on April 18
Sonoma County residents are urged to join the Sonoma County Shake Out drill on April 18 at 10 a.m., as part of the annual observance of National Earthquake Preparedness Month. This exercise offers the community an opportunity to practice the recommended safety action of drop, cover and hold on during an earthquake. Read full story
Santa Rosa man sentenced to life in prison for aggravated sex crimes against child
Javier Cruz Navarro, 35 years old of Santa Rosa, California, was sentenced yesterday to serve an indeterminate sentence of 35 years to life in state prison by the Honorable Dana Simonds. Read full story
Sonoma County seeks public input on proposed update to Cannabis Ordinance
A 30-day public review and comment period on a proposed update to Sonoma County’s cannabis ordinance begins today. County officials are seeking feedback on proposed policy changes that emphasize neighborhood compatibility and environmental stewardship before the project moves forward to the environmental impact report process. Read full story
Violent Third Strike Offender Denied Parole
CDCR Inmate Louis Manuel Moreno, 66 years old of Lakeport, California, was denied parole today by the California State Board of Parole Hearings following a morning hearing held at the Solano State Prison in Solano County. The Parole Board found that Moreno was unsuitable for parole as he continues to pose an unreasonable risk to public safety. Read full story