Sonoma Valley Connect

On March 16, I am launching an initiative called “Sonoma Valley Connect,” an initiative designed to provide information and services to the people of Sonoma Valley in a variety of areas. This bi-monthly informational series of meetings in the Valley will bring government, nonprofit and community stakeholder groups together to inform residents of what is available in terms of programming and perhaps help identify needs. My intention is to build on existing relationships and create new ones to better serve the Valley.

Sonoma Valley Connect #1 will be “Housing Options, Tenant Protections and Homeless Services” on Wednesday, March 16, 6 p.m. at Altimira Middle School. Co-sponsored by the County of Sonoma, City of Sonoma, La Luz Center, Springs Community Alliance.

Please join us to learn more about what is available to landlords, tenants, homeless services, senior advocacy, etc. for Valley residents. I look forward to seeing you there.

State of the County update

It has been my sincere pleasure to serve as Chair of the Board of Supervisors in 2015. Every year is filled to the brim with activity and passes more quickly than the last. This year was no exception.

One proud accomplishment is our recent financial commitment of $13.5 million to building approximately 100 miles of new roads by 2017. These new dollars bring the total general fund roads contribution to a record $25 million annual investment. The Board has devoted an unprecedented level of resources to mitigate the social and economic impacts associated with homelessness and a tight housing market. Utilizing the “Housing First” model to guide investment, Building HOMES: A Policymaker’s Toolbox for Ending Homelessness outlines our goal to create 2,000 housing units through a coordinated countywide effort.

Borne out of the County’s commitment to Upstream Investments, the Board has embraced the health and economic benefits of universal preschool for all children under age five, investing $655,000 to leverage $2.4 million to secure 312 preschool slots.

We became the seventh county in California to pass a Living Wage Ordinance this year, an accomplishment which represents our commitment to reducing poverty and paying fair and sustainable wages to our employees and organizations we contract with.

Finally, 2015 saw the establishment of a new citizens committee to advise the Board on pension related matters aimed at ensuring a fair, equitable, sustainable, and transparent County pension system.

I want to thank my colleagues on the Board, County employees, and our community partners for a successful and memorable 2015. I look forward to continuing our work on behalf of the residents of the First District and Sonoma County.

Highlights from the 2015 Annual Report

For a full listing, please visit: http://sonomacounty.ca.gov/CAO/Public-Reports/Sonoma-County-Annual-Report/

The Community Development Commission provided $2.1M to enable the start of construction for a 60-unit affordable, workforce rental apartment community in the Boyes Hot Springs area.

Board of Supervisors approved funding to build approximately 100 miles of new roads, adding $13.5 million of funding and bringing the total general fund contribution to roads to a record $25 million.

The Veterans Service Office helped more than 5,400 veterans obtain benefits of more than $18.7 million. Sonoma County Transit launched its “Veterans and College Students Ride Free” Pilot program, providing 178,000 trips to College Students and 30,000 trips to Veterans

The Law Office of the Public Defender added an Immigration Specialist to address the complex legal ramifications of criminal case charges on non-citizen clients.

Behavior Health Crisis Assessment, Prevention and Education (CAPE) implemented a Question Persuade, and Refer (QPR) training program, teaching 1,800 school personnel, students and community members how to help save a life from suicide.

The Probation Department coordinated the Keeping Kids in School Grant, which focused reducing school truancy, suspensions, and expulsions of at-risk youth.

The Gang Resistance Education and Training Program (G.R.E.A.T), coordinated by the District Attorney’s Office in partnership with the Santa Rosa Police Department, helped educate hundreds of teens across the county about the dangers of gun-violence and gang involvement.

Some 9,000 seniors, people with disabilities, and their caregivers are served through programs funded by the Area Agency on Aging, such as adult day care, caregiver respite, case management, health education, congregate and home-delivered meals, legal services and transportation.

The SHARE Housing Project has created 50 home-share partnerships that provide housing to 100 older adults. Human Services received $1 million from the State to help homeless SonomaWORKS families transition into permanent housing.

Regional Parks opened the 820-acre North Sonoma Mountain Regional Park & Open Space Preserve, providing access to outstanding views and a four-mile Bay Area Ridge Trail that connects to Jack London State Park.