Sonoma County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Sonoma County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Aircraft noise at Charles M. Schulz Airport
Residents in Windsor, Forestville, Sebastopol and west county have filed more than 46,000 noise complaints this year — up 329% — since the FAA implemented the Redhead departure route in 2024. The county can't force changes because the FAA controls airspace, so it's pursuing voluntary measures and new procedure designs. The 3-2 vote shows even the board is split on whether this spending will actually help.
2027 Legislative Platform and state advocacy
The county's annual wishlist for Sacramento: flexibility to reuse the fairgrounds racetrack property, safeguards against abusive remote public comment, and state funding to fix aging veterans memorial buildings. The platform also adds a new principle opposing state mandates without reimbursement and responds to federal HR 1 changes to Medi-Cal and CalFresh.
Reorganization of county advisory boards
Item 7 dissolves the EDC Advisory Board and transitions Creative Sonoma's advisory board — both boards themselves recommended the change to avoid duplicative oversight. Supervisor Hermosillo checked before voting that the boards supported it.
$2 Million Immigrant-serving Providers Funding
The Board's consent agenda included a $2 million agreement funding legal aid, rapid response, and mental health services for immigrant families, led by VIDAS with a broad coalition. Speakers credited it with reuniting detained residents with families.
Transit system overhaul (MASCOT Phase 2)
Sonoma County Transit, Santa Rosa CityBus, and Petaluma Transit are coordinating as one system to connect riders to SMART, cutting duplicated routes. The Windsor Route 62 gets suspended and some SRJC trips will now cost $3 via SMART instead of a free but 100-minute bus.
Guerneville interim homeless shelter
The count stayed flat at 1,952 — great by California standards — but the population is older, sicker, and includes twice as many kids. COVID-era and Measure O money is spent, and federal HUD changes threaten ~100 permanent supportive housing units.
Surveillance technology and Flock cameras
Supervisor Coursey flagged that a Homeland Security grant funds a video wall for Santa Rosa PD's real-time crime center, and Flock camera images could appear on it during active cases. The County Executive agreed to flag future surveillance-tech items.
Active Transportation Plan adoption
A 16-year-old bike/ped plan gets replaced with a modern blueprint of ~367 prioritized projects, aligned with a countywide plan to win bigger grants. Debate centered on Sonoma Valley's Burnvale/121 crossing and whether rural roads should carry bike designations.
Extended storm emergency proclamations
The local emergency proclamations from the November 2024 and February 2025 atmospheric rivers stay in effect, keeping recovery aid flowing.
Tamayo Madarieta claim settlement
The county settled an employment claim for $225,000 in closed session, with Hermosillo recused.
Palm Drive Health Care District tax rates and budget
The board set the health care district's property and parcel tax rates and adopted its FY 2026-27 budget, which funds local health care services.
Schmitz et al. v. Permit Sonoma settlement
The county paid $150,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by three people with ACLU backing over Permit Sonoma practices, plus dismissal of the case. Terms will be public once executed.
VESCO Amendments: Replanting and Permit Extensions
Proposed changes to the county's vineyard erosion rules would address replanting of cultivated lands and extend permits. It matters to growers and to anyone concerned about hillside vineyard development and watershed protection.
Restoration of CAPE Mental Health Crisis Teams
A regional look at mobile crisis response — the program that sends trained teams instead of police to some mental health and behavioral emergencies. The update shows how the system is performing across the region.
West Sonoma County Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District
Supervisors were set to act on the financing plan for a West Sonoma County EIFD — a tool that channels a slice of property tax growth into local infrastructure — and hear how EIFDs affect the county's general fund.
Sonoma County Government Center Draft Environmental Impact Report
The Board held a public hearing on the draft EIR for the county government center — the environmental review that has to happen before major changes to the civic campus move forward. Public input at this stage shapes what gets studied further.
Breastfeeding support services
WIC and partner organizations celebrated a Breastfeeding Awareness Month resolution, touting a peer counseling program whose breastfeeding rates run more than twice the state average, and First Five's new investments in bilingual lactation support.
Fairgrounds workers' compensation settlement
Tom Schopflin Fields soccer complex grant
The Board approved a matching grant for phase 2 of the Schopflin Fields project, which supporters said leverages private fundraising to create youth sports fields serving kids across the county.
FY 2026-27 County Budget Adoption
If the budget requires it, departments would be authorized to conduct layoffs under Civil Service Rule 11, while human resources works to avoid cutting jobs where possible.
Campaign contribution limits for sheriff and DA
The Board killed a proposal to raise campaign contribution limits for the sheriff and district attorney, after speakers argued it would benefit an incumbent sheriff criticized for ICE cooperation and would let outside money influence local elections.
Community health centers
The Board honored National Health Center Week; center leaders warned of state and federal funding threats and policies affecting immigrant patients, and stressed the safety-net role of the county's eight community health centers.
Sign ordinance enforcement concerns in Monte Rio/Monterey area
A longtime west county resident said her family was forced to remove signs over a single complaint while non-compliant signs nearby go unenforced, and asked Permit Sonoma for an affordable path forward rather than waiting years for a general plan update.
Sheriff's ICE collaboration and immigrant community concerns
Multiple speakers said they opposed any increased funding or advantages for the sheriff because of his continued cooperation with ICE, urging the county to invest in education, health, and housing instead.
Veterans Services and Veterans Court
A Roseland resident urged the board to keep the veterans court operating and to make better use of the county's Veterans Memorial Buildings, citing the strain on returning veterans. Justice services are the largest share of the county budget.
Wooler Slide and Giovanetti Culvert Road Repairs
Changes to the 2026-2027 repaving list and right-of-way contracts for the Todd Road/Standish Avenue intersection project were on the consent calendar. These determine which county roads get fixed and when.
Measure O Renewal on the Horizon
The Board was scheduled to hold a public hearing on renewing the county's parks sales tax measure, which funds parks, trails and open space. Renewal affects what residents pay at the register and how local parks are maintained for years to come.
Crisis Stabilization Unit Funding and Sustainability
The county was scheduled to award a design-build contract for a Youth Crisis Center at Los Guilicos, funded through the state's Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program. It would give young people in Sonoma County a dedicated crisis care facility close to home.
Appropriations Limits for County and Special Districts
The Board was set to establish the legal ceiling on how much the county, its special districts, county service areas, and the agricultural preservation and open space district can spend under state law.
Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District Budget
The sewer district serving Sonoma Valley was slated for its own budget adoption, requiring a two-thirds Board vote. It determines what the district can spend on wastewater services next year.
Telecommunications Ordinance Updates
The county's rules governing telecom facilities — think cell towers and wireless equipment — were set for a public hearing update. These rules shape where infrastructure can go and how neighboring properties are protected.
Chalk Hill Road Building Envelope Modification
A public hearing was scheduled to modify two building envelopes on a Healdsburg-area parcel, changing where structures may be placed on the lot.
River Road Right-of-Way Vacation
A public hearing was set on vacating a portion of River Road near Summer Home Park Road in Forestville. Neighbors may care about changes to public access or road use.
County labor negotiations
The Board met privately with its bargaining team to discuss negotiations covering all employee organizations and unrepresented county employees, including retirees. No action was taken publicly, and any direction to staff stays confidential until reported out.