Community Update for July 26, 2024

man holding a chicken with two children in the background

HAGA CLIC AQUÍ PARA ESPAÑOL

Hello, Petaluma —

We’ve got some welcome cooler temperatures headed our way this weekend! Not only that, but August is just days away. We hope you are making the most of our beloved summer season, taking in all the exciting events our community has to offer as we make the most of the longer daylight hours.

In today’s issue of our Community Update, we will be sharing the latest episode of our One Petaluma podcast which focuses on how we are working to create safer streets (and fewer potholes). We’ll also share information on how to irrigate efficiently this summer, new water meter technology that will be rolled out in the coming months, updates on the D Street Traffic Calming Pilot Project, upcoming events, and more!

Please enjoy and share with your friends. We’ll catch you back here in a couple of weeks!

CITY OPPOSES MEASURE J

At the Monday, July 15, Council meeting, the City Council unanimously passed a resolution affirming support for Petaluma’s farms and agricultural businesses and opposing Measure J.

Measure J is a bill that will appear on the November 2024 ballot that is designed to ban Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) of any size in Sonoma County. It was initiated by a Berkeley-based group called Direct Action Everywhere.

The City opposes Measure J, both because of Sonoma County’s deep and rich agricultural heritage, and because of the crucial role farming and agriculture still play in our economy and our daily lives. The City also disagrees with claims that the measure would protect animal welfare, small family farms, or the environment.

Read the full text of the Resolution approved at the July 15, 2024, City Council Meeting, and the supporting documents including the staff report and the Sonoma County Economic Development Analysis on the potential impacts of Measure J, by clicking HERE.

D STREET PILOT PROJECT TO MOVE FORWARD

On April 8, the City Council adopted a resolution approving a pilot project on D Street to slow traffic, create safer conditions, and encourage walking, bicycling, and safe driving on this busy corridor.

Some of the features on D Street from Petaluma Boulevard South to Windsor Drive will include:

Traffic calming and pedestrian enhancements to reduce speed and improve safety and visibility.
New crosswalks at Laurel Ave. and 10th Street.
New and enhanced bike lanes along D Street between Petaluma Boulevard South and Windsor Drive.

This is a temporary pilot project designed to gather community feedback and data that will help inform the design of the long-term D Street utility and road reconstruction project planned to begin in 2026.

Installation of the pilot is scheduled for later this summer and should take approximately 2 weeks to install. The pilot project will remain in place until the permanent road reconstruction project is built in 2026. To learn more and sign up to receive project updates, please visit: cityofpetaluma.org/dstreetpilotproject.

PETALUMA’S NEW REUSABLE CUP PROJECT

As reported by the Press Democrat on July 9, a reusable cup project is coming to Petaluma this August as major brands and local restaurants plan to swap single-use cups for reusable, to-go cups at no added cost!

The Petaluma Reusable Cup Project from the NextGen Consortium— part of a collaboration to address single-use plastic waste globally— is a pilot program that will run until November and aims to help customers create return and reuse habits. A release from Closed Loop Partners said the city of Petaluma was specifically chosen for this initiative because of customer habits, businesses embracing the effort because of policies pushing to phase out single-use packaging. It added that the city’s tight cluster of businesses within walking distance and proximity to suburban and rural areas added to the appeal.

More than 30 restaurants in Petaluma will participate in the initiative, according to a news release issued this week, including company-operated and licensed Starbucks locations, Peet’s Coffee, KFC and The Habit Burger Grill along with other local cafes and restaurants.

Learn more HERE.

ONE PETALUMA PODCAST, EP. 2: SAFE STREETS — NOW LIVE!

Need a new podcast for your upcoming road trip, beach hang, or Petaluma staycation?

We’ve got you covered with the second episode of One Petaluma: Your Local Government Podcast!

This month, we’re talking about our Safe Streets Program (and how we’re working hard to make that old “Pothole-uma” joke obsolete!). You’ll hear from:

Gina Benedetti-Petnic, Interim Director of Public Works & Utilities
Jeff Stutsman, Deputy Director of Operations
Bjorn Griepenburg, Active Transportation Manager
Jessica Medina, Communications Project Manager

Listen on our website, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. Click the link below to view all the places you can listen to the podcast now: cityofpetaluma.org/subscribe.

And don’t forget to subscribe for future episodes!

PETALUMA POLICE DEPT INTRODUCES NEW DISTRICT NEWSLETTERS

Did you know that the Petaluma Police Department follows a District Policing model? This model helps officers better serve the community by breaking up Petaluma into 15 smaller neighborhoods that we refer to as Districts. Each District is then assigned dedicated officers who are specialists in your neighborhood and who are available to answer your questions, address your concerns, provide safety resources, and ultimately act as liaisons between the Department and the District.

Learn more at cityofpetaluma.org/map-district-policing to find out what District you belong to, meet your District’s assigned officer, sign up for your District Newsletter, and even report a crime.

IRRIGATE EFFICIENTLY THIS SUMMER

As temperatures rise so does our outdoor water use, mostly on lawns and landscapes. Below are a few ways you can use water more efficiently outdoors:

If you need to irrigate, set it to run in the early morning or evening to avoid day time evaporation.
Inspect your irrigation systems: Fix any leaks, clogs, or breaks.
Make sure you’re watering the landscape, not the sidewalk, street, or driveway
Walk the areas irrigated by your system, look for wet spots, holes, or depressions for signs of an underground leak.

For help identifying leaks, adjusting irrigation timers, and guidance on how to use water efficiently outdoors, schedule a free Water-Wise HouseCall by calling (707) 778-4507. To learn more about Water Conservation, visit cityofpetaluma.org/conserve.

WATER METER TECHNOLOGY UPGRADE

Petaluma is upgrading our water meter technology to help us, and you, save water. Water meters throughout town are scheduled to be upgraded in the coming months. Our contractor, Professional Meters, Inc. (PMI), will be installing the upgrades.

The new technology, Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), will:

Show your water use in real time through an online portal (Eye on Water)
Alert you to water leaks
Help you to identify water use trends

To learn more, please visit: cityofpetaluma.org/AMI.

PETALUMA MUSIC FESTIVAL — SATURDAY, JULY 27

The Petaluma Music Festival is back on Saturday, July 27! 14 amazing bands across 3 stages, including:

The Greyboy Allstars
ALO
Monophonics
Moonalice
New Monsoon

…and lots more! All proceeds benefit music education in Petaluma public schools. Visit petalumamusicfestival.org to learn more.

TEEN MOBILE HEALTH CLINIC

Petaluma People Services Center and the Petaluma Health Center are hosting a Teen Mobile health clinic at the Mentor Me Cavanagh Center.

The clinic will be held July 30 from 12:30pm – 4:30pm at 426 8th Street in Petaluma. Services will be provided for teens aged 13 and older, and will include sports physicals, immunizations, and same day/urgent care.

Contact the Petaluma Health Center at 707-559-7500 if you have any additional questions, or to schedule an appointment.

PETALUMA NIGHT OUT — TUESDAY, AUGUST 6

Please join us at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds on Tuesday, August 6 from 4:00pm-7:00pm for Petaluma Night Out!

Our annual public safety festival will feature a multitude of booths from safety and not-for-profit organizations, as well as Petaluma Fire, the SAFE team, city departments, your local CHP, Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, Red Cross, among others. Each booth will offer a variety of safety activities, swag, and resources. Enjoy tours of emergency vehicles and observe safety scenarios. Free food, games, music, and prizes will be available for guests.

Petaluma Night Out is an inclusive event that gives your City staff an opportunity to share information about city resources available to all residents. It’s also a night to celebrate collective efforts in making our Petaluma a safer and stronger city.

This year, we are also hosting a blood drive and a back-to-school ‘pack the patrol’ car event where we will be accepting new donations (notebooks, markers, pencils, etc!) to distribute to schools in our community. Contributing to either will earn you extra tickets for our raffle! We look forward to seeing you there!