Community Update for June 7, 2024

HAGA CLIC AQUÍ PARA ESPAÑOL

Happy Pride Month, Petaluma!

Well it’s certainly feeling like summer this first week of June! We hope you’ve been enjoying the warm weather and also finding ways to keep cool. A few friendly tips to keep in mind when temperatures rise:

Find air-conditioning when you can
Avoid any strenuous activities
Wear light, loose-fitting clothing
Check on vulnerable neighbors, family, and friends
Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water

Got pets? Please check out these important tips to protect them during hot weather HERE.

We’ve got a jam-packed Update for you today. Read on for information about our new One Petaluma podcast(!), projects happening around town, the Fair, and more.

We also want to congratulate all our Petaluma students moving up and on this year! From the littlest preschool graduates to our seniors taking their places in the world, we’re proud of your hard work and so happy to have you here in our community.

Have a wonderful weekend, Petaluma!

NEW! ONE PETALUMA PODCAST

With so much going on in our City, we are excited to launch a new monthly podcast to bring our community behind the scenes of your local government at work! While emails, social media, or mailings can be great to share meeting information or new program details, we also want to keep our residents informed about the big picture. Our hope is that the One Petaluma podcast will give your City staff an opportunity to answer your questions in more depth and show the complexity around issues facing our community.

Our first episode is about City Communications and how we are working to provide you with the information you need. 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:
https://cityofpetaluma.org/subscribe/.

And don’t forget to subscribe for future episodes!

CITY COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER NEW CANNABIS RULES

The City Council will be considering an update to our rules about how cannabis can be sold in Petaluma on Monday, June 17, 2024. Since 2018, Petaluma has allowed up to 2 cannabis dispensaries through a delivery only method. At its goal setting session in April, the City Council requested a proposed update to the program that would expand our limited cannabis dispensary model to allow on site cannabis sales (retail). Click here to watch the Council discussion. If you are interested in learning more, watch for the agenda for the June 17 meeting in your email inbox. If you don’t currently receive agendas for City Council meetings, click here to subscribe.

CAULFIELD BRIDGE PROJECT UPDATE

The City of Petaluma is planning and designing the Caulfield Bridge Crosstown Connector Project, which will create a new 500-foot moveable bridge (similar to the D Street drawbridge) over the Petaluma River connecting east and west Petaluma via Caulfield Lane to Petaluma Boulevard South. This bridge will:

Provide a safe, convenient route for people walking, bicycling, and driving across town
Help reduce traffic congestion on existing crosstown connectors, such as D and E. Washington Streets
Improve emergency response times

Our team held a meeting with the Riverfront neighborhood on May 30 to provide an update on the project, answer questions, and seek feedback on bridge design and aesthetics, amenities, and traffic circulation.

Next, Our team will present a brief update to the City Council at their regular meeting on Monday, June 17 at 6:30 PM. Meeting materials and instructions on how to participate will be posted to cityofpetaluma.org/meetings the week prior to the meeting.

To learn more and sign up to receive project updates, please visit: cityofpetaluma.org/caulfieldbridge.

TURNING BASIN DOCK REPLACEMENT PROJECT RESUMES!

We are thrilled to announce we are resuming the replacement of our Turning Basin docks! The new docks will provide increased river access for our community, improved docking amenities, increased safety via a new fire suppression system, and more. After a brief hiatus to accommodate an environmental permit window, replacement of the Turning Basin docks is set to resume in mid-June. Construction is expected to last from June 2024 – September 2024.

What to expect during dock replacement construction

D STREET BRIDGE: Periodic openings June thru Sept = potential traffic delays.
PETALUMA SMALL CRAFT CENTER (PSCC) – THE FLOATHOUSE: We are working with PSCC to temporarily relocate their docks during the project. Visit thefloathousepetaluma.org/ for updates.
TURNING BASIN: No access June – September.
NOISE & VIBRATION: Will occur in the area in June & July.

We will be sending Nixle alerts ahead of days when there will be multiple openings of the D Street Bridge to allow the community to plan to avoid traffic in the area. To register for Nixle, click HERE or text your zip code to 888777.

The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) dredging of the Petaluma River will begin shortly after the dock replacement is completed in fall 2024.

Please stay tuned to cityofpetaluma.org/turningbasin for more information.

COW-A-BUNGA! SEE YOU AT THE SONOMA-MARIN FAIR, JUNE 20-23!

We can’t wait to see you on the Fairgrounds for this year’s Sonoma-Marin Fair! Your City is proud to be a sponsor of our beloved Fair this year, and to welcome residents to the property as your hosts for the first time. We continue to make upgrades and repairs to the Fairgrounds to better serve our community.

As you plan for your visit this year, consider riding Petaluma Transit to the fair – for FREE! Route 11 stops right in front of the fair. Connections to these routes are available from both the east and west side of Petaluma! Plan your trip and track your bus using Transit App (Apple & Android app available) or call 707-778-4460.

The Petaluma Police Department will be increasing patrol staffing in and around the fair to ensure community safety and to provide immediate access to emergency services. During this time, we anticipate additional pedestrians and traffic in the area, so please allow for extra travel time and remain alert on the road. If you witness suspicious or illegal behavior, please report it to on-site staff or to our department by calling 911.

Learn more about this year’s exhibits and activities at https://www.sonoma-marinfair.org/. Find out how to rent the fairgrounds property for YOUR next event at our website HERE.

OYSTER COVE TRUCK TRAFFIC

Oyster Cove surcharging will begin mid to late June 2024. Surcharging is the practice of adding a large amount of soil to the ground area of a site for a 10 to 12-month period to remove excess liquid from water-logged soil and improve the quality of the grounds for construction.

The former vacant commercial site will be home to 132 new units of housing, commercial spaces and a new public river promenade. All steps from public transit, Downtown, Steamer Landing and the River Park. The reimagined site will offer residents the ability to live in the heart of the community with quick access to Downtown, transportation, and recreation.

Trucks will haul soil to the site over 6 weeks, Monday through Friday from 7AM- 5PM. City Staff and the applicant are committed to being fully responsive to potential short-term traffic and noise issues. Contact Gonzalo Rodriguez (916) 206-0414 to report traffic or noise issues during surcharge activities. Learn more about the Oyster Cove Project HERE.

Learn more about Surcharge Operations HERE.

COMMUNITY WOOD CHIPPER PROGRAM

Did you know you are legally required to remove flammable vegetation from a minimum of 30 feet and up to 100 feet on all sides of your home depending on fire risk?

The Neighborhood Chipper Program assists residents in maintaining defensible space by providing no-cost chipping to our community. The program is based on a “you cut, we chip” model. After clearing brush and small trees from around your home, residents can participate by bringing branches, limbs, and other woody vegetation to the designated drop-off location in Prince Park this August OR by piling vegetation on the curbside if local chipping is available in your neighborhood this year.

Before stacking your vegetation curbside OR 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.

Find out if you’re eligible for neighborhood pickup or learn more at cityofpetaluma.org/chipperprogram.

KPCA SEEKING CONTENT

Our local Petaluma Community Access radio station 103.3 is seeking producers and hosts! Have a great local perspective you want to share? Reach out to Rob Tomaszewski at [email protected].

Training and use of the equipment is included in the cost of a Producer Membership. Info on how to get started can be found by calling (707) 773-3190 or visiting petalumacommunityaccess.org.

UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS

Petaluma has some amazing events scheduled this summer! Check out our events calendar to plan fun for the whole family in the months to come: cityofpetaluma.org/events.