Community Update for January 24, 2025

Images of Janette Lugo & the Lace House Linen team

HAGA CLIC AQUÍ PARA ESPAÑOL

Hello Petaluma!

Winter mornings in Petaluma have been greeting us with a chilly frost, but by the afternoon, the sun breaks through, filling our days with warmth and light. It’s one of the many joys of living in our beautiful Northern California climate—experiencing such a range of weather all in a single day. Whether you’re bundling up for a brisk morning walk or soaking up the sunshine later on, these days are a reminder of how lucky we are to call Petaluma home.

Stay cozy and enjoy this week’s updates!

City Employee and Local Business win California Water Environment Association (CWEA) Industry Awards

We are thrilled to share that a City of Petaluma employee AND one of our oldest local businesses will be honored at the California Water Environment Association’s Industry Awards!

Janette Lugo, Laboratory Analyst in our Dept. of Water Resources & Utilities, will be receiving the award for Laboratory Person of the Year from CWEA. Patrick Pulis, Environmental Services Supervisor, writes, “Janette is an extremely hardworking, dedicated person. She is selfless, a strong leader, and always willing to go above and beyond in all aspects, not just those involving the laboratory. The award will be presented at the Annual Redwood Empire Section CWEA awards Banquet in January.”

Lace House Linen Supply will be awarded the Large Facility of the Year for Northern California by the CWEA at the upcoming Annual CWEA Pretreatment, Pollution Prevention and Stormwater (P3S) Conference due to their proactive steps to meet current pollution control standards. Their successful efforts in energy reuse, in addition to their innovative actions to treat the facility’s wastewater to the City’s required standards, were the basis for the award.

Congratulations to Janette and the team at Lace House Linen!

The Saxelby Family Makes Us Petaluma Proud With Their Unwavering Dedication To Our Community!

Sisters Kimberly and Tiffany Saxelby worked for years at the former Pepper’s Restaurant, balancing work and single motherhood with pride. Their father, “Sax,” often encouraged them to start their own business. After his passing, a vacancy at the former “Marvins” restaurant at 317 Petaluma Boulevard South seemed like a sign from their dad. In the summer of 2013, they opened Sax’s Joint, a 1950s-inspired diner, with support from their talented baking mother, “Mee-Maw.”

Known for its home-style cooking, oversized pancakes, and nostalgic atmosphere, Sax’s Joint has become a local favorite. Their family-run business now includes their children, in-laws, and a close-knit team who feel like family.

Beyond serving delicious meals, the Saxelby family has a reputation for giving back. Whether handing out treats at events or supporting causes like Rip City Riders, Sonoma Strong, youth sports, or Micah’s Hugs, they never hesitate to help those in need.

This winter, the City of Petaluma partnered with Sax’s Joint at LUMA Ice. Their hot chocolates, smash burgers, and sweet treats brought warmth and joy to the holiday event at the Fairgrounds.

Up next, Sax’s Joint will co-host the “Food Not Fentanyl” event this Saturday, January 25, 2025, at the Petaluma Fairgrounds. Join them in supporting this important cause—get your tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/food-not-fentanyl-tickets-1148574089019.

Thank you to Kimberly, Tiffany, and the entire Sax’s Joint family for their generosity, spirit, and for making Petaluma a better place for all of us!

Reminder: Join Us For A Downtown Parking Workshop!

Help shape the future of downtown parking! Join us on Monday, January 27, at 6:30 PM in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 11 English Street, for a workshop on the findings of our Downtown Parking Study.

We’ll share data, survey insights, and discuss potential next steps to improve parking and downtown accessibility. This is the first of many opportunities to provide input on the future of downtown parking. Share your thoughts during the public comment portion or email them to [email protected] by 4:30 PM on the meeting day.

Learn more: cityofpetaluma.org/downtownparking.

Turning Basin Docks Closed January 27 – February 7

A quick reminder that the Turning Basin docks will be closed for utility installation from January 27 through February 7. During this time, there will be no access to the docks.

Once the installation is complete, the docks will reopen to pedestrians and non-motorized watercraft. We’re still working on a few final steps to finish the project, with motorized boat access expected by summer 2025.

Thank you for your continued patience as we put the finishing touches on this exciting project!

Learn more: cityofpetaluma.org/turningbasin.

Take The Survey To Help Us Set Petaluma’s Housing Priorities

The City of Petaluma receives money from the Federal Government to support projects and programs that serve low-income seniors, persons with a disability and households with housing needs. The funds are awarded to local non-profits through a competitive grant program each year.

The City of Petaluma is creating its 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan – a roadmap for using Federal funds to meet a variety of community needs like affordable housing, neighborhood improvements, and services such as support for seniors, youth, and those experiencing homelessness. By taking the survey (linked below), you’ll help set five-year goals and priorities for the community.

English – https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LHD52K5?lang=en
Spanish – https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LHD52K5?lang=es

*The survey closes March 17

Cool Petaluma News + Wildfire Updates

Do you subscribe to the Cool Petaluma Newsletter? In the most recent edition, Co-Founder Natasha Juliana wrote, “If you were with us in the early days of Cool Petaluma, you will remember that three cities won the Cool City Challenge – Petaluma, Irvine, and Los Angeles. Lisa Hart (pictured above between D’Lynda and me) runs Cool LA and the Neighborhood Council Sustainability Alliance…[She] shared with us the sad news that all of our sister Cool Blocks in the Pacific Palisades are gone.”

While the news is devastating, Natasha added that the Cool Block LA networks helped residents to evacuate safely and find needed resources after the fires. “Cool Block LA member Beverly wrote, “The lessons we learned from the Cool Block program continue to assist us in the present situation. These include a WhatsApp group where we are strategizing immediate housing and sharing resources. Your principles helped all of us to organize our evacuations, making sure that we remembered our necessary documents. We were in contact with each other on 7 January, urging each other not to delay evacuation and reporting the situation on various evac routes.”

Cool Petaluma connects our community members with a variety of events and Team Leader trainings throughout the year. Learn more about how to get involved at https://www.coolpetaluma.org/.

Free Social Media Safety Education – Thurs January 30

Empower your children to know THEY are the first line of defense against online threats! Social Media Safety Education is a free resource presented by the Polly Klaas Foundation designed to teach children ages 12-16 how to stay safe online and in the real world.

The program covers:

Choosing when to post online, and why these choices matter.
Unintended consequences of sexting and other online communications.
The sex trafficking of minors and the dangers of running away.
Training to identify red flags and online predators, and how to respond.
Potential resources for students who may have been victimized online.

The event is FREE to the public and appropriate for children ages 12-16. A free dinner of sandwiches from Jersey Mikes, along with chips, cookies, and drinks will be provided.

WHEN: Thursday January 30, 5:30-7:30pm
WHERE: Polly Klaas Community Theater, 417 Western Avenue, Petaluma

The presentation is generously sponsored by Jersey Mikes and the Rip City Riders Motorcycle Club. Reservations are recommended but not required. To learn more, please visit: pollyklaastheater.org/events.