Community Update for December 6, 2024

HAGA CLIC AQUÍ PARA ESPAÑOL

Happy December, Petaluma!

With the holiday season in full swing, we have lots of special events to share this week – plus updates from your City team on how to save money on your water bill, capital improvements across town, and more.

With so many ways to celebrate in Petaluma, we hope you’ll take a moment also to check the events calendar at visitpetaluma.com. The folks at Petaluma’s Downtown Association are working hard to make this season bright, and we are grateful to ALL our downtown businesses for the incredible food, gorgeous gifts, holiday displays, and festive cheer you bring to our city. We hope our readers will shop locally this year whenever possible to keep Petaluma thriving well into 2025!

Book Your Tickets Now for Luma Ice!

Join us Dec 13 – Jan 7 under the big new tent at the Petaluma Fairgrounds for ice skating, a family photo booth, kids activities, a Polar Express train on the Fairgrounds concourse, amazing art installations, and more! Come on down for a day of fun or plan to host a party. Tickets and event bookings are available now HERE.

Refreshments will be provided by Sax’s Joint, and Petaluma’s own Boy Scout Troop 8 will be selling Christmas Trees adjacent to the rink. We’ll also have special events throughout the holidays including the Disco & Diamonds New Year’s Eve Party! Visit the website HERE to learn more about LUMA Ice – Sonoma County’s only outdoor, real ice ice skating rink – and plan your best holiday ever right here in Petaluma!

Special thanks are due to our incredible sponsors, like Presenting Sponsor Exchange Bank, as we work to bring LUMA Ice to life. Check out the full list of sponsors HERE!

Save Water Now, Save Money Year-Round

Did you know that wintertime water conservation can lower your water bill year-round?

Monthly wastewater rates for residents are based on the average amount of water used during the winter months or actual water usage, whichever is lower. This means, the more you conserve during the winter, the less your wastewater bill will be throughout the year! To learn more, visit CityofPetaluma.org/WaterBill. Want to check your water usage? Check out our website HERE for tips on reading your meter.

Also, with lower temperatures and occasional rain, we encourage you to turn off your irrigation system and water only when needed. As outlined in the Petaluma Municipal Code (Section 15.17.070), it is prohibited to irrigate landscape during and within 48 hours after measurable rainfall. Thank you for doing your part to use water efficiently!

Now Accepting Letters to Santa!

We are excited to once again offer our Letters to Santa program this Winter Season!

How it Works:

Have your child or children write a letter to Santa.
On a separate piece of paper, please legibly provide the child’s first and last name, age, and what they want from Santa.
Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope so that a response may be easily mailed.

The North Pole Post has two mailboxes in Petaluma:

Petaluma Community Center – 320 North McDowell Blvd
Petaluma City Hall – 11 English Street

The deadline for letter submissions is Sunday, December 8, so don’t delay!

Downtown is LIT and ready for the Holidays!

You may have noticed all the recent activity in Center Park and Helen Putnam Plaza. The City has been working with community partners to illuminate our magical Downtown in creative and fun ways! Big thanks to Rebuilding Together Petaluma for installation services and support. Deep gratitude to Sonoma-Marin Arborists, who generously relit the redwoods in Center Park with support from Rex Hardware. We are excited to share that Petaluma creative team, Wonderstump, has installed a fun temporary artwork at the fountain in Putnam Plaza, too!

Upcoming Construction on Lakeville Street

Heads up, Petaluma! We are preparing for Phase 2 construction of the Payran Madison Area Water and Sewer Main Improvement Project. We will be replacing and upgrading portions of underground pipe to ensure all lines remain in safe, working condition.

Our contractor, Coastside Concrete & Construction, has tentatively scheduled construction between 10pm and 5am the nights of Monday 12/9 through Thursday 12/13. They will be working on Madison Street at the Lakeville Street intersection. During construction, Lakeville will be closed to through traffic from Petaluma Blvd. North to East Washington. A detour will be available via Wilson Street and access to properties and driveways will be maintained throughout the project.

To learn more, please visit cityofpetaluma.org/payranmadison.

You’re Invited: Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Petaluma’s New Turning Basin Docks – Thurs 12/12

Date: Thursday, December 12, 2024
Time: 1:00 PM (ribbon cutting at 1:15 PM)
Location: Turning Basin Docks, Weller Street Access

Join us as we celebrate the opening of Petaluma’s new Turning Basin docks! Be among the first to experience the improved river access, enhanced docking amenities, and beautiful design that will serve our community for years to come.

Mayor Kevin McDonnell will share his thoughts on this exciting project before we officially cut the ribbon.

The new Turning Basin docks are open for use by pedestrians and non-motorized watercraft, including kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards!

What’s Next at the Turning Basin Docks:

November 15, 2024 – January 2025: Open for pedestrians & non-motorized watercraft.
February 2025: Temporary closure for utility and fire protection upgrades.
March 2025: Grand reopening for all watercraft, motorized and non-motorized!

Visit cityofpetaluma.org/turningbasin for updates and project details.

We hope to see you at the ribbon cutting to celebrate this exciting step forward for Petaluma’s riverfront!

Thank you for your patience and support as we continue to enhance our community spaces.

SMART Train Full System Closure Saturday Dec 14 & Sunday Dec 15

All SMART trains and stations will be closed December 14 and 15 to allow for essential Systems Testing in preparation for the opening of the new SMART Petaluma North station. During this time, the entire SMART rail line and all SMART Connect shuttles will be out of service. SMART appreciates your patience as they work to expand passenger rail service to the communities in the North Bay. The Petaluma North station is slated to open in late December.

SMART recommends apps such as the Transit app, Google Maps, or Apple Maps to help you plan a trip using alternate transit routes. Golden Gate Transit offers bus service connecting Sonoma and Marin counties to San Francisco. SMART Customer Service agents are available Monday-Friday from 8 AM – 5 PM, to assist you with trip planning at (707) 794-3330 or via email at [email protected].

Despite Quiet Zones ordinances restricting the use of train horns, the Federal Railroad Administration requires the use of horns and bells during rail Systems Testing. As a result, trains utilized for the systems testing will sound their horns and bells intermittently in the Petaluma and Penngrove areas. SMART apologizes for any inconvenience and is taking steps to minimize noise disruptions while maintaining safety as the top priority for everyone in the area.

For more information, please visit sonomamarintrain.org/systemclosure.

Join the Holiday Lighted Bike Ride – Friday December 20

Decorate your bike and join your friends for the 3rd Annual Petaluma Holiday Lighted Bike Ride! The Ride is a fun, family-friendly, slow bike ride that’s free for all. It’s on the east side of our town this year. The 5.4 mile loop ride starts and finishes at the Petaluma Community Center on quiet neighborhood streets. All ages welcome!

Please note that registration is required. CLICK HERE to register.

When: Friday, December 20 @ 5pm (ride starts at 5:30)
Where: Starts and finishes at the Petaluma Community Center (320 N. McDowell Blvd at Lucchesi Park)

Share Thoughts on Parking for a Chance to Win

The City of Petaluma is working on a Parking Management Study for downtown, and we’d love to hear from you! We’re looking to understand your experience with parking and getting around downtown so we can identify ways to improve. Your feedback will help us better understand the challenges you face and guide our recommendations for a more convenient and enjoyable experience for everyone visiting downtown Petaluma.

CLICK HERE to complete the survey and enter for a chance to win a $100 Shop Petaluma gift card!

To learn more about our Parking Management Study and sign up to receive updates, please visit: cityofpetaluma.org/downtownparking.

Bring Your Own Containers and Reduce Waste

This fall, the Petaluma Reusable Cup project got the community talking about how we use plastic at restaurants around town. The folks at Cool Petaluma are taking the initiative a step further by launching a new Bring Your Own campaign to encourage residents to bring their own cups AND to encourage businesses to accept them.

This kind of reuse saves businesses money and requires no extra energy or resources to create – just a little forethought on your part like keeping a cup in your car or bag.

Learn more about how to BYO and which local businesses are participating at the Cool Petaluma website HERE.

Shop Petaluma Gift Cards Make Great Holiday Gifts!

Support local year-round with a Shop Petaluma gift card! Shop Petaluma gift cards can be used at more than 100 participating Petaluma businesses, many offering special deals for gift card users.

Click HERE to purchase a Shop Petaluma gift card today. If you already have a Shop Petaluma gift card, be sure to use it this holiday season.