At a recent special meeting, Sonoma’s Planning Commission reviewed modifications to the city’s SB9 ordinance, and at its next meeting will finalize its recommendations to the City Council. An illustration of how SB9 increases density on a single-family lot SB9 is a 2022 state housing... Continue
What’s Happening
Local Sonoma Valley News
Electric Trikes are Popular for Vineyard Tours By David Bolling Unless you’re a practicing Hindu, the name that Howard Sapper bestowed on his electric, Wine Country tour vehicles is a bit of a stretch. He calls the company Pushpak Motors, after the flower-bedecked flying vehicle... Continue
The public is invited to review and comment upon the draft Sonoma Active Transportation Plan developed in cooperation with the Sonoma County Transportation Authority. This plan “focuses on improving active transportation connections within the city and creating low stress connections to surrounding jurisdictions.” A review... Continue
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors today voted to establish a local program to permit small-scale residential retail food facilities, known as Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations, or MEHKOs, which are authorized by state law. In opting into the statewide MEHKO program, individuals will be able... Continue
Sonoma Water has announced plans to update its climate change models for the Russian River watershed using the latest available data. Sonoma Valley and the City of Sonoma both are contractors with the agency, and receive water from the Russian River. The agency will partner... Continue
On Monday night, Sonoma’s City Council upheld the appeal by the owners of the historic Cooperage Building, long a matter of controversy among the neighbors of northern First Street West. The appeal was prompted by the denial by Sonoma's Planning Commission of the use of... Continue
Following successful mediation on Oct. 1, 2024, the Valley of the Moon Teachers Association (VMTA) and Sonoma Valley Unified School District (SVUSD) administration were able to reach a tentative agreement to resolve contract negotiations for the 2024-25 school year. This week, VMTA members voted to... Continue
Kathleen Hill, Sonoma’s Grand Dame of food, wine and culinary contraptions beyond measure, former food and wine editor for the Sonoma Index Tribune, and before that food and wine columnist for the Sonoma Valley Sun, is returning to her weekly journalism roots. She’s coming home... Continue
The Springs community has been promised a community plaza since the last century. For any number of reasons, it just hasn’t come to be. Recently, a few promising cement blocks and picnic tables appeared in the space. Supervisor Susan Gorin explained, “I would have liked... Continue
Impact100 Sonoma will again offer multiple Impetus Grants of up to $25,000 to nonprofit organizations. After a successful pilot in 2024, the group also will continue to offer a multi-year Encore Grant, which will give one 2025 Impetus Grant recipient a second grant of the... Continue