Community Update for June 27, 2025

HAGA CLIC AQUÍ PARA ESPAÑOL

Hello, Petaluma!

What a fantastic time we had at the 2025 Fair! Thank you so much to everyone who came out — we are thrilled to share that attendance was strong, safety was improved, and the energy was palpable. While we learned a lot of lessons for next year, we are also so proud of the way our community came to make the Fair the best it could be!

Special thanks go out to all who helped make it such a memorable event: our generous sponsors, talented entertainers, dedicated vendors, volunteers, City staff, and the incredible agricultural community that continues to make Petaluma such a special place. This was truly an all-hands-on-deck event, and it would not have been so successful without every single person who invested so much time and heart into the Fair.

But now we are back to our regularly scheduled City programming! In this edition of the Community Update, we’re sharing news about exciting happenings around town, including the upcoming Fourth of July fireworks display, our summer wood chipper programming, safe streets improvements, and more.

Have a wonderful weekend — and thank you for all you do to make Petaluma the unique and wonderful place that it is!

4th of July Fireworks Show Returns – and a Reminder About Petaluma’s Fireworks Policy

Get ready to celebrate! The City of Petaluma is once again hosting a high-elevation professional fireworks display on Friday, July 4 at 9:30 PM. The show is designed to be enjoyed from neighborhoods and parks across the city.

CLICK HERE for a map of recommended viewing locations. Great spots to catch the show include the following parks:

Leghorn’s
Meadow View
Sunrise
Lucchesi
Prince
Wiseman
McDowell
La Tercera
Miwok
Oak Hill
Penry
Walnut
Wickersham
McNear
Grant
Westridge

As we gear up for the holiday, please remember that all personal fireworks are strictly prohibited in Petaluma, including sparklers and so-called “safe and sane” fireworks. The City maintains a zero-tolerance policy, violations can result in fines of up to $1,000, and property owners may be held responsible for fireworks used on their property, even if set off by someone else.

Let’s keep Petaluma safe and enjoyable for all this Fourth of July – leave the fireworks to the professionals!

Message to the Community Regarding North Bay Animal Services

This month, the Sonoma County Civil Grand Jury released a report following a complaint filed regarding the management of North Bay Animal Services (NBAS) in Petaluma. The report outlines several concerns that members of the Grand Jury had with NBAS’s operations, financial model, and facilities, along with broader concerns and recommendations for the animal care system throughout Sonoma County.

The City of Petaluma staff have read the report and are giving it the seriousness and consideration that it deserves. Ultimately, we agree with a number of the findings and recommendations; disagree with some; and identify a few as factually inaccurate.

The City is required to formally respond within 90 days of the report publication date. Staff will draft a response to all of the findings and recommendations in the report with explanatory reasoning and detail and plan to bring the response to the City Council at the September 8th meeting for approval. At this point, we will be recommending conducting an RFP next year for animal services. This would be in advance of NBAS’ 3-year renewal option that comes up in July 2026.

Learn more by reading our full message to the community at our website HERE.

Help Improve Safety on Lakeville Street

As part of the City of Petaluma’s ongoing commitment to creating Safe Streets for All, we are launching a focused initiative to improve one of our city’s most important transportation routes: Lakeville Street/Highway (Route 116).

Lakeville is a major corridor that connects neighborhoods, schools, businesses, and services – while also serving as a vital route for commuters, freight, and visitors traveling through our city. Although it feels like a local road to many of us, much of Lakeville is actually a state highway maintained by Caltrans, making this a unique opportunity to collaborate with regional and state partners to develop thoughtful, balanced solutions.

To guide this effort, we’ve launched the Lakeville Corridor Study in partnership with the Sonoma County Transportation Authority. We’re assessing conditions along Lakeville from Petaluma Blvd. North to Browns Lane. Our goals: improve safety, ease traffic flow, and support walking, biking, driving, and mobility access. And we need your input!

Please CLICK HERE to take our survey. To learn more about Lakeville safety initiatives, please visit: cityofpetaluma.org/lakeville.

Wood Chipper Program at Prince Park

If you are a resident of the City of Petaluma, you are invited to keep your property fire safe by bringing vegetation for chipping to our all-community drop-off site. To help you reduce the fire-fueling vegetation around your home, the Petaluma Fire Department will have a chipper and crew available to the entire community at Prince Park from June 20 through July.

Here’s how it works: you cut and remove the dangerous fire fuels from around your home and haul it to our clearly-marked site at Prince Park. Then our crews will take over and dispose of the debris.

Before hauling your vegetation to Prince Park, please note:

The chipper cannot take raked duff, pine needles, grass or garbage bags.
Only vegetation is allowed – no other items will be accepted.
A maximum of 9” diameter rounds can be chipped.

Have any other questions? Email Amy Segui, Assistant Fire Marshal, at [email protected] or call the Fire Prevention Bureau at (707) 778-4389. Thank you for helping keep Petaluma Fire Safe this year!

Rainier Avenue Pilot Project Update

In August 2022, we launched the Rainier Avenue Traffic Calming & Safety Pilot Project with the goal of reducing vehicle speeds and enhancing safety for all who use the roadway. Throughout the pilot, we gathered critical safety data and community feedback. Thank you for your valuable input. Based on what we’ve learned, we are now ready to move forward with permanent improvements to the Rainier Avenue corridor.

On May 29, 2025, we hosted a neighborhood meeting where we reviewed pilot project data including traffic safety metrics and community input, presented a draft of the final roadway design with adjustments based on feedback, and provided details about upcoming utility work. The new design will include a roundabout at the intersection of Rainier Avenue and Maria Drive. Construction is currently expected to begin in late summer or fall 2025 and continue into 2026.

To learn more about the project, review the May 29 meeting presentation and notes, and to sign up for email updates as the project progresses, please visit cityofpetaluma.org/rainierpaving.

Let’s continue working together to build a safer, more connected Petaluma!

Art & Garden festival

When: Sunday, July 13, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Where: Kentucky Street, Fourth Street, B Street & the A Street Parking Lot.

The Art & Garden Festival is one of Petaluma’s most beloved events! Join the community for a fun-filled day for the entire family. This is not your typical street fair. Vendors are handpicked and will be showcasing the quality, creative home and garden décor, jewelry, arts, and more. With 145 booths of unusual, unique, and handmade items, this event has something for everyone’s taste and budget.

In addition to local crafters, artisans, and gardeners, there will be live music on two stages, and an array of local wineries, breweries, restaurants, and fine food purveyors.

This event is free to attend with tasting packages available to those who wish to partake in all the great wine, craft beer, and cocktails.

Rivertown Revival

When: Friday July 18, 2025 to Saturday July 19, 5:00-10:00 pm
Where: Steamer Landing Park (6 Copeland Street)

Friends of the Petaluma River presents Rivertown Revival. Join us to celebrate The Greatest Slough on Earth!

Get ready for another Rivertown hootenanny under the stars! Come celebrate our community, creativity, and a bit of quirky magic at one of the North Bay’s most beloved summer festivals. Dance the night away surrounded by live music, delicious food & drinks, vibrant local art, jaw-dropping acrobatics, and of course, famed $5 weddings!

Rivertown Revival is a benefit for Friends of the Petaluma River (FOPR), a local nonprofit dedicated to celebrating, conserving, and educating the community about the Petaluma River and its watershed.

This year’s headliners feature the high energy, orchestral rock of The Space Orchestra on Friday, and the soulful, rootsy rhythm of Sean Hayes on Saturday. See our website HERE for the full lineup, tickets, and more.