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Board of Supervisors approves comprehensive vacation rental ordinance update
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors approved updates to the Vacation Rental Ordinance today, including a prohibition on new vacation rentals in R1-zoned (low-density residential) areas, allowing for caps to be placed on vacation rentals in areas of concentration and establishing restrictions on corporate ownership of vacation rentals in Sonoma County. Existing vacation rentals will not be affected by the ownership or zoning changes voted on today. Read full story
Maxwell Farms Regional Park renovation budget approved by Board of Supervisors
The Board of Supervisors today approved an additional $3.35 million needed to complete $7.2 million in renovations and improvements to recreation facilities at Maxwell Farms Regional Park, a popular regional park located in Boyes Hot Springs adjacent to the city of Sonoma. Read full story
Hugh Reimers and Krasilsa Pacific Farms, LLC Settle Environmental Complaint for $925,000
Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch announced today that her office has reached a settlement agreement with Hugh Reimers and Krasilsa Pacific Farms, LLC to settle a legal action arising out of unpermitted work on property located in Cloverdale which caused significant environmental damage. Read full story
Board of Supervisors to consider comprehensive vacation rental ordinance update on August 2
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors will consider updates to the Vacation Rental Ordinance at its August 2 meeting. The proposed changes create a new vacation rental license permit program, performance standards, enforcement strategies, and permanent caps on vacation rentals in areas disproportionately impacted by vacation rental businesses. Read full story
Forbes lists Sonoma County as one of America’s best midsized employers
The County of Sonoma has been named one of America’s 500 Best Midsized Employers by Forbes magazine, the only government agency in California to make the magazine’s list. Read full story
Avian flu detected in Sonoma County
Positive cases of avian influenza, or the bird flu, have been found in four wild birds in Sonoma County. While this particular strain of the virus poses minimal risk to humans, out of an abundance of caution the Sonoma County Department of Health Services is warning residents of the potential risk of handling or coming into close contact with a diseased or dead bird. Read full story
Permit Sonoma announces revision to draft well permit ordinance
Permit Sonoma today announced a revision to a proposal the Board of Supervisors will consider on Tuesday, August 9 that seeks to enact new standards for drilling wells in Sonoma County. Under the change, domestic wells that extract less than two acre-feet of water annually would not be required to install meters. Read full story
Regional Parks and Leave No Trace host Hot Spot Clean Up at Steelhead Beach
National Leave No Trace experts will visit one of Sonoma County’s most popular Russian River beaches in early August to support special stewardship projects, educate river-goers and train land managers on practices, skills and ethics that can help minimize the environmental and community impacts of summer crowds. Read full story
Regional Parks’ Caminitos Al Parque program earns industry recognition
Sonoma County Regional Parks has garnered state and national recognition for its groundbreaking Caminitos Al Parque program, which introduces low-income Latinx families with preschool-aged children to the wonders of nature. Read full story
Sentencing in Murder of Santa Rosa Man
Defendant Carlos Martinez-Carceres, 23, was sentenced by the Honorable Christopher Honigsberg to serve 15 years to life for the murder of Howard Quick, Jr., after Martinez-Carceres entered a no contest plea to second degree murder. Read full story