Community Update for December 28, 2022

HAGA CLIC AQUÍ PARA ESPAÑOL

 

 

Happy Wednesday, Petaluma – 

Tonight is our final Community Update of 2022! We hope you are all feeling ready for the new year and all the great things Petaluma has in store! We are excited to see you all in 2023.

While a time of joy, laughter, and planning for what’s to come – it’s important to keep safety top of mind as you plan New Year celebrations. Whatever your plans this New Year’s, please remember to exercise caution when driving and practice safe drinking habits. We appreciate your care for yourself, our community, and your fellow neighbors.

This evening, we’re sharing information on ways to celebrate safely during holidays, Petaluma Transit, ways you can be emergency prepared in the new year, Petaluma’s new gun safety ordinance, and much more. Please enjoy, share with your friends, and have a wonderful evening. We’ll see you in your inbox next Wednesday!

 

 

Celebrate – and Drive – Safely! 

This holiday season, please plan ahead to get to and from your celebrations safely. Drinking and driving increases over the holidays, and the highest rate of drunk driving fatalities happens on New Year’s Eve. Plan your way home in advance via Petaluma transit HERE, rideshare, taxi, or a designated driver.

See someone about to drive drunk and want to get them the help they need? Call the Petaluma Police Dispatch line at 707-762-2727. Police can help folks get a cab or a rideshare and keep everyone on our roads safe. 

 

 

Give Transit a Try this Weekend! 

Did you know that Petaluma Transit offers a great way to get around town? Get out of your car and give the bus a try with Petaluma Public Transportation! Easily plan your trip using the online planning tool and save yourself some gas money.

Plan your trip HERE and learn more about riding Petaluma Transit HERE. 

 

 

Are You Emergency Ready? 

The new year is right around the corner! Ensure you are ready for anything 2023 might hold by updating your emergency kits, reviewing your plans, and following the additional tips below so you can be prepared for potential emergencies in the new year.

Make Emergency Preparations A New Year’s Resolution 

Disaster can strike fast and unexpectedly. You don’t want to find yourself unprepared in the face of an emergency situation! This New Year’s, make proper emergency preparations part of your resolutions to stay safe and secure in 2023. 

Follow these simple practices tips to ensure your family will be safe in case of emergency: 

• Make an emergency plan: choose a safe place to meet, learn evacuation routes, and establish an out-of-town contact. 
• Get to know your neighbor and invite them to be a part of your emergency plan. 
• Snap photos of important documents and save them in a secure place or online. 
• Set up group text lists so you can communicate with friends and family during emergencies. 
• Keep and update emergency supplies; remember to include cash. 
• Have backup power sources available to charge devices in case of a power outage. 
• Check your insurance for coverage of disasters like floods, fires, and earthquakes. 
• Snap pictures of your property for insurance purposes. 
• Financially prepare for the New Year. Find out how with the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit. 

To learn more about being prepared in case of emergency, visit: cityofpetaluma.org/emergencyprep. 

 

 

New Petaluma Gun Safety Ordinance

On Monday, December 19, the City Council unanimously approved an ordinance that will reduce the potential for gun-related violence and accidents in Petaluma by requiring safe storage of firearms in homes and in vehicles. This means that if you are keeping a firearm in your home or vehicle, it must be stored in a locked container or disabled with a locking device. It also means that gun owners must report a lost or stolen gun to the Petaluma Police Department within 48 hours.

For additional information and help, check out these resources: 

• State-approved devices and guidance, click HERE. 
• Petaluma Police Department for a free Firearm Safety Kit (contains a safety curriculum and a cable-style lock), click HERE. 

 

 

Join the General Plan Advisory Committee 

Help shape the future of Petaluma! The Petaluma City Council will select residents to fill current vacancies on the General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) to review and provide guidance on draft General Plan documents.  GPAC members represent the diversity of the Petaluma community and serve as advisors and project ambassadors to the community throughout the General Plan process. GPAC members are chosen based on the following criteria:  

• Expertise  
• Ability to represent a community interest group  
• Relevant technical experience and expertise  
• Ability to work collaboratively with people of diverse perspectives and experiences  
• Strong interest in the planning process  
• Availability to perform the necessary work  

GPAC members will be appointed February 6, 2023. The GPAC meets monthly on the third Thursday of each month with work anticipated to conclude in last 2023 or early 2024. Applications to be a member of the GPAC will close on January 15, 2023.

For more information on the planning process visit planpetaluma.org. To submit an application, visit: cityofpetaluma.org/joiningccbs 

 

 

RELEAF COMMUNITY MEETING 

Join ReLeaf Petaluma for a virtual community input meeting on January 2 at 7:00PM to provide your input about the McDowell School and Park tree planting. Join the Zoom meeting HERE. 

 

 

CAN’T MISS NEW YEAR’S EVENTS 

Looking for something to do on New Year’s Eve? Check out the happenings going on this New Year’s Eve at vistpetaluma.com. 

 

 

RELEAF TREE PLANTING AT MCDOWELL PARK 

McDowell School and Park will soon be flourishing with over 80 shade and understory trees. ReLeaf Petaluma will begin the first phase of planting on Saturday, January 14. Stay tuned to see the park fully planted! 

 

 

JOIN OUR PETALUMA TEAM!