The Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce has launched “Send Sonoma” (www.sendsonoma.com) to support local shopping during the holiday season. The portal promotes online shopping, phone orders, curbside pickup, and gift cards as convenient options for those who may not be comfortable shopping in person to find unique gifts while supporting local businesses. There are dedicated … Continued
The County continues to process a large number of mailed ballots, and the election is not final until the results are certified by the County. Election results will change throughout the canvass period as vote-by-mail ballots, provisional ballots, and other ballots are processed. As of November 6, the “Unofficial Partial Results” for City ballot measures … Continued
The two candidates running unopposed for two open seats on the Sonoma City Council will be sworn in at the City Council meeting of either December 7 or December 14, depending on the date that the County officially certifies the election results. Incumbent Amy Harrington was reelected to a second term and will be joined … Continued
Parklets, pedestrian pathways, pick-up zones, and partial street closures are transforming the downtown business area during COVID-19 health restrictions. A critical part of the team behind this effort is the City’s Streets Crew, who’ve been instrumental in making modifications to the public right-of-way in a manner that prioritizes safety while supporting our local businesses. Thanks … Continued
The first quarter financial report for the fiscal year shows City revenues on track to meet or slighlty exceed the scaled-back projections incorporated into the annual operating budget, which began July 1. The FY 20-21 budget is based on General Fund revenues of $17.2 million, or almost $3.3 million less than the adopted budget for … Continued
At the meeting of October 19, staff reported to the City Council on the key accomplishments of the past twelve months. While in typical years this information is included in the proposed budget document reviewed by the Council in June, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the regular budget development process along with the City’s revenues. The … Continued
Despite pandemic-related restrictions on construction activities, the City’s Building Department team has been very busy in recent months, with Solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems among several types of permit applications with a high volume. Since March, a total of 55 permits for Solar PV and/or battery storage have been issued, with four more currently in plan … Continued
As the coronavirus pandemic has created new and evolving challenges, the talents of City staff are being redeployed to meet the needs of the community. A good example is Lisa Janson, the City’s part-time Special Event Manager. While a typical year sees Lisa coordinating festivals, farmers markets, and numerous other events held on City property, … Continued
Measure V is one of four local ballot measures before voters in the City of Sonoma this election. Sonoma’s Local Sales Tax Sonoma has a voter-approved half-cent (0.50%) local sales tax that helps fund City services. Sonoma voters first approved this local sales tax in 2012 for five years to preserve City services and help … Continued
Mayors and law enforcement leaders in Sonoma County recently came together and made a commitment to review law enforcement “use of force” policies and identify any necessary changes. The City of Sonoma contracts for law enforcement services with Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, and the operational policies of the Sheriff’s Department are followed by deputies assigned … Continued
