Hello, Petaluma —
We’re kicking off June by celebrating our LGBTQIA2S+ community! Throughout the month, look for rainbow flags being flown at our City offices and community buildings — a symbol associated with love, inclusion, and peace.
In tonight’s email we’re sharing some important information from the County of Sonoma regarding Omicron and older adults, free tests, and COVID-19 treatments. We also have important information about new emergency water conservation regulations from the State of California, opportunities to weigh in on the future of our Fairgrounds and ways to keep our streets safe, exciting updates about our Spanish language inclusion efforts, and more.
Please enjoy, share with friends, and have a lovely evening. We’ll see you in your inbox next Wednesday.
JUNE IS PRIDE MONTH!
Please join us in celebrating the LGBTQIA2S+ community this month. Throughout the month of June, you will see rainbow flags being flown at our City offices and community buildings to honor this important month and show solidarity with our amazing LGBTQ+ community.
A little history from Sonoma County Pride:
The pride flag was first introduced in 1978 by a man named Gilbert Baker. He was approached by the San Francisco Pride committee to come up with a new symbol to represent their fight for equal rights. After much deliberation, he decided on a rainbow, for its representation of diversity and of acceptance. Since then, the rainbow flag has become an internationally recognizable symbol for the gay rights movement. It is associated with love, tolerance, and peace.
CLICK HERE for a list of Pride events taking place in Sonoma County.
OMICRON AND OLDER ADULTS, FREE TESTS, AND COVID-19 TREATMENTS
A message from the County of Sonoma:
Covid-19 killed older Americans at higher rates during the Omicron wave than it did last winter. While overall per capita Covid death rates have fallen, older people still account for an overwhelming share of them.
With case rates rising, many people have had a close contact with someone who has COVID-19. Residential households in the U.S. are now eligible for another order of free at-home tests.
CLICK HERE to order your free at-home tests.
In addition to at-home tests, you can go to testing locations throughout the county for free, confidential COVID-19 testing that does not require social security or citizenship. This includes LHI testing locations where you can get tested and, if you are positive and qualify, you may receive COVID-19 treatment medication on-site at no cost to you.
Learn more HERE.
NEW STATE BAN ON IRRIGATING NON-RECREATIONAL TURF AT COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, AND INSTITUTIONAL PROPERTIES
The State Water Resources Control Board recently adopted new emergency water conservation regulations, effective June 10, 2022, that ban irrigation of non-functional turf at commercial, industrial, and institutional properties. Emergency regulations may remain in effect for up to one year. Non-functional turf is defined as, “turf that is solely ornamental and not regularly used for human recreational purposes or for civic or community events.”
Turf at commercial, industrial, or institutional properties may continue to be watered after June 10, 2022, if one or all of the following conditions are met:
- The turf is irrigated with recycled water.
- The turf is used for human recreation, civic purposes, sports, or play.
- The turf is on the same valve as at least one tree or perennial non-turf plantings.
- The turf is not at a commercial, industrial, or institutional location.
Homeowners Association (HOA) common areas are included in this turf irrigation ban unless one of the exemptions listed above is met.
The playing fields within City parks will continue being irrigated under the current reduced watering schedule (many with recycled water).
For more information on the State restrictions, click here.
For the full list of Petaluma’s water use restrictions, please visit our drought webpage.
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE FAIRGROUNDS
What are your thoughts on the future of the Petaluma Fairgrounds? There will be several opportunities for you to weigh in as the Fairgrounds Visioning process unfolds over the coming months. The first way is to fill out this survey.
CLICK HERE to take the survey.
Please share this with your friends, neighbors, and family so we can hear from all parts of our community.
GRAB YOUR BIKE AND RIDE FOR WORLD BIKE DAY ON JUNE 3RD!
Established in 2018 by the United Nations, World Bicycle Day draws attention to the benefits of using the bicycle — a simple, affordable, clean and environmentally sustainable means of transportation. You can read more here. The following local organizations can help you incorporate cycling into your daily lifestyle:
- Sonoma County Bike Coalition: bikesonoma.org
- Bike Petaluma: bikepetaluma.org
- Petaluma Wheelman Cycling Club: petalumawheelmen.org/page-86823
WORKING TO CREATE SAFER STREETS
The City of Petaluma is committed to making our streets safer for all who travel them. We are hard at work on projects all over town and look forward to updating you on our progress as we go. Check out what we’ve been up to below!
Help Us Make Petaluma Roads Safer
Keeping our roads safe for all who use them is a high priority for the City of Petaluma. We are putting together a Local Road Safety Plan and an Active Transportation Plan and we need to hear from you. We’d love your perspective on:
- Locations you have witnessed accidents almost happen (“near miss” areas)
- Areas where you feel unsafe when walking, biking, or driving
- High traffic areas where children or families often walk
CLICK HERE to share your input today.
We will be holding a virtual community workshop the evening of Tuesday June 7 to share what we’ve learned so far and take additional input from the community about how we can make our streets safer.
Join the workshop to learn more and share your perspective!
When: June 7, 6pm
Where: Zoom – CLICK HERE to join
SPANISH LANGUAGE INCLUSION
The City of Petaluma wants to improve the way we communicate with our Spanish-speaking community and we are taking steps to ensure the inclusion of Spanish speakers in our communications. We’re excited to share some new additions to our Spanish inclusion program. Please share with your Spanish-speaking friends and family so they can more easily take part in all our Petaluma has to offer.
- Spanish Facebook & Instagram Channels – We now have dedicated City of Petaluma Spanish language social media channels – like and follow us today!
- Instagram: @ciudaddepetaluma
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ciudaddepetaluma
- City Council Meeting Translation – Live Spanish translation will now be available for all City Council meetings, as well as many other public meetings.
- Community Survey – If you live in Petaluma, are part of the Latinx community, and use primarily Spanish to communicate, please fill our survey to help us create a more inclusive community.
- CLICK HERE to take the survey.
Stay tuned for more as we continue to expand our Spanish language inclusion efforts!
JOIN OUR PETALUMA TEAM!
The City of Petaluma is looking for talented people to join our team! Please click the links below for more information about our open positions. CLICK HERE for a full list of career opportunities.
Have questions about working for the City? Please reach out to [email protected].
UPCOMING MEETINGS
The City of Petaluma is hard at work for our community. Please check out our upcoming meetings and click on the links below for more information:
June 6, 6:30pm – Meeting of the Petaluma City Council and Petaluma Community Development Successor Agency
June 8, 6:30pm – Regular Joint Transit Advisory and Pedestrian & Bicycle Advisory Subcommittee
June 9, 4pm – Transit Advisory Committee
June 9, 6:30pm – Climate Action Commission
Check for upcoming meetings, agendas, and how to participate on the City’s meeting webpage: https://cityofpetaluma.org/meetings/