Search is on for a new high school principal
Parents of high school students are invited to take part in the initial stages of a search for a new principal for Sonoma Valley High School for the 2010/2011 school year. The meeting, which will take place on Monday, December 14 at 6 p.m. in the high school pavilion, will provide a forum for parents to offer their input on the qualities they’d like to see in a new principal. For those parents unable to attend Monday’s meeting, written feedback forms are available in the high school office as well as on the web site.
Big dip in visitor tax revenue
Revenues from the Transient Occupancy Tax collected by Sonoma in the first half of 2009 decreased 30 percent from last year’s figure, according to the Sonoma County Economic Development Board.
The $795,000 collected for January-June fell far below the comparable figures for 2008, when $1,142,00 was collected. The 2007 figure was $1,067,000.
The 2009 revenue number, stung by a particularly poor first quarter, is the lowest for the same period since 2003.
Executive Director Ben Stone said as a whole the Transient Occupancy Tax revenues have steadily grown over the past eight years reflecting the county’s increasing popularity as a tourist destination and the rise of hotels’ average daily rate.
“In recent quarters, TOT revenues have shown a reverse in this trend,” he said, summarizing the most recent available data.
The Transient Occupancy Tax for Sonoma is 10 percent of a guest’s hotel bill; likewise Petaluma, Cloverdale and Sebastopol. Santa Rosa, and all unincorporated areas, imposes a 9 percent tax. The fee is 12 percent in Rohnert Park, Healdsburg and Windsor. San Francisco charges a 14 percent tax.
Sonoma’s Transient Occupancy Tax total for 2008 was $2,549,053, a record number. The money goes directly into the city’s general fund, where last year it accounted for nearly 17 percent of city revenue.
The second quarter showed a small relative improvement. Whereas the Transient Occupancy Tax for January-March was down 33 percent, revenue for the following three months dipped by 29 percent.
Stone reported that the third quarter, the busy summer months of July through September, provides a disproportionate share of the Transient Occupancy Tax.
Police raid El Verano pot operation
An El Verano residence housing a $400,000 marijuana growing and cannabis oil operation was raided by sheriff’s detectives last week.
Seized during the Ola Court search were approximately 100 pounds of processed marijuana, 96 growing plants, growing equipment and several pounds of hashish. Detectives also discovered numerous vials of concentrated cannabis oil, and the lab equipment used to extract it.
The value of the processed marijuana, plants and hashish is estimated to be more than $400,000. Also found in Dec. 3 raid was $49,000 in cash.
Sergeant Glenn Lawrence said criminal charges are pending against two Sonoma Valley brothers, ages 37 and 32.
Sonoma named “Solar Champion”
The influential advocacy group Environment California has named Sonoma a “2009 Solar Champion” for having one of the largest concentrations of solar power in the state. With more than 250 solar roofs totaling more than 3,000 kilowatts of solar power capacity, the Sonoma Valley ranks fifth in the state for solar power per capita.
“Way to go Sonoma!” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, clean energy advocate for Environment California. “Increasing numbers of Sonoma residents and businesses are investing in our abundant sunshine to save money, create green jobs and solve problems like global warming.”
Del Chiaro, who grew up in Sonoma, will present the award in person at the Sonoma City Council Meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 16.
Government incentives at the local, state and federal levels help drive more consumers toward solar power, she said, and Sonoma is especially supportive with the recent move to make solar financing available to city residents.
“A healthy and growing solar power market is taking hold throughout California from small towns to big cities,” said Del Chiaro. “What we’ve seen so far is only the beginning. The sky is no limit when it comes to putting Sonoma’s clean and abundant sunshine to work.”
For more information about solar rebates and tips on going solar visit environmentcalifornia.org.
