Community Update for September 6, 2024

aerial image of an art piece featuring bathtubs on stilts

Photo Credit: Scott Hess

HAGA CLIC AQUÍ PARA ESPAÑOL

Happy September, Petaluma! Though we haven’t quite reached sweater weather (we hope you were all able to stay cool this week!), fall is just around the corner and we have lots of exciting City and community happenings in store.

In today’s update, we’re bringing you important information about upcoming General Plan workshops focused on land use. We encourage everyone to take part as the work we are doing now will shape Petaluma’s growth over the next 20 years! We’ll also share information on our ongoing water meter technology upgrade, emergency prep events, and more. And, in very exciting news, we’re announcing a new winter ice skating event that will be held at the Fairgrounds – Luma Ice!

Please share with friends and family. Have a lovely weekend!

Draft Policy Framework: Land Use Alternatives

The Land Use Policy Framework is the last of 14 policies that will inform Petaluma’s General Plan Update, and it is now available for review! This policy defines how and where the city will evolve over the next 20 years including where we live, work, shop and play. Your feedback on the Land Use Policy Framework will help shape how Petaluma evolves over the next 20 years!

Join us at one of two community open houses to learn more and share your thoughts. The same material will be presented at both workshops.

Saturday, September 21, 10-1pm @ The Beverly C. Wilson Building at the Petaluma Fairgrounds (100 Fairgrounds Drive)
Wednesday, September 25, 5-8pm @ Petaluma Community Center (320 N. McDowell Blvd)

Learn more or provide online feedback at planpetaluma.org.

Water Meter Technology Upgrades are Underway

Petaluma is upgrading our water meter technology to help us, and you, save water.

Water meter upgrades are taking place throughout town and will continue into 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.

Emergency Prep Events

It’s fire season, Petaluma! There’s no better time to brush up on your emergency preparedness skills than with our two upcoming community events!

First, the Sonoma County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is hosting a two-day training, Sept. 7 + 8 at the Petaluma Community Center. Click the link HERE to register (registration is limited to the first 40 sign-ups).

Then, on Sun., Sept. 22, Scouting America is hosting the 12th Annual Emergency Preparedness Fair in Walnut Park. All are welcome to learn more about preparing for an emergency, practice your CPR technique, or just enjoy a hot dog! Learn more HERE.

Thank you to all of our community partners for hosting and participating in these events to help Petaluma stay safe, no matter what comes our way.

Fine Balance is Almost Complete

We are excited to announce that the artist, Brian Goggin, has nearly completed the installation of Fine Balance at the H Street Pocket Park near Foundry Wharf. The two bathtub figures are now firmly standing and the artist is focusing on the finishing touches. We are grateful to Brian Goggin, volunteers and staff that have worked to bring this project home to the emerging arts district along the Petaluma River.

We’ve teamed up with Rebuilding Together Petaluma to refresh the park, address conditions and prepare the location for a big reveal on September 8th.

Join us from 6:30PM to 8:30PM at 1 H Street for light refreshments, whimsy, and celebration! All are welcome!

Lynch Creek Trail Beautification Day

Join Rebuilding Together Petaluma and the City of Petaluma for a volunteer day at the Lynch Creek Trail! We’ll be giving our greenest cross-town connector a makeover just in time for autumnal strolls and bike rides, from Water Street to S. McDowell Blvd.

When: Sat., Sept. 14, 8:30 a.m – 2 p.m.
Where: Meet at the Lynch Creek Trail at Payran Street

Volunteers are needed to help with a range of jobs, including weed abatement, tree trimming, painting, graffiti removal, pressure washing, and debris pickup and loading. Coffee and muffins will be provided in the morning, and a burrito lunch will follow at 1pm. We encourage volunteers to walk, bike, or take public transit as parking at the Trail and Payran is limited.

Visit the page HERE to register. Additional information will be provided before the event.

Repair Fair

Join us at the Petaluma Community Center on Saturday September 14th, from 1-4pm for a Petaluma Repair Fair! This is a free public event.

Do you have a lamp, small appliance, textile, or bike in need of repair? Bring it to the Repair Fair! Volunteers and specialized repair professionals will be on-hand to repair* your items. We ask that you stay with your item while it’s being fixed, so you can learn tips for future maintenance, how to shop for repairable goods, and even how to repair things yourself!  

If you’d like to bring an item to repair, please register the item here.

*We cannot guarantee your item(s) will be repaired, depending on the existing damage or breakage, ability of volunteer fixers, and availability of materials for repair. We also cannot work on microwaves.

This event is put on in partnership with Reuse Alliance and Zero Waste Sonoma!

Harvest Beats

Join us at the Petaluma Fairgrounds for Harvest Beats, a farmers market and music event! Bring your family to enjoy food trucks, locally made goods, music, and FUN!

We are excited to also unveil “The True Heart of Petaluma. Ode to the Fairgrounds #1” the new 130-foot-long photo mural featuring portraits of 118 Petalumans with ties to our historic Fairgrounds and was commissioned by the City to honor the Fairgrounds’ central role in Petaluma’s past, present, and future.

Where: Petaluma Fairgrounds, 175 Fairgrounds Drive
When: Thurs., September 19

4:00pm – Petaluma Farmers’ Market
5:00pm – Music
- Ballet Folklorico Ireri – Ireri Ballet Folklorico Petaluma
- Sang Matiz – http://www.sangmatiz.com/

FREE bike valet! Learn more at: https://cityofpetaluma.org/parks-recreation-special-events/

Thank you to our partners:
Cool Petaluma
Blue Zones

We look forward to seeing you there!

Celebrate The Season At Petaluma’s New Outdoor Ice Rink Luma Ice

December 13, 2024 – January 7, 2025

Petaluma’s downtown is home to wonderful holiday traditions, from Santa’s Riverboat Arrival to the annual Gingerbread Showcase to the snow falling gently into the courtyard of the Hotel Petaluma every December. Now, the City of Petaluma is thrilled to launch our first ever outdoor ice-skating rink at the Petaluma Fairgrounds, bringing a new holiday tradition to the heart of our town.

LUMA ICE runs from December 13 through January 7, and will offer daytime and evening skating, event and facility rental, and more on the only real ice outdoor skating rink in Sonoma County. Interested in hosting a corporate team building event, holiday party or other event at the ice rink? Want to bring a group of skaters such as a school tour or holiday camp field trip? Sponsorships and other partnership opportunities are available – contact Kat Reisinger, Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation, at [email protected] to find out more.