NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVATION OFFICER JOE GARCIA MAKES US #PETALUMA PROUD

We are especially #Petaluma Proud of City staffer Joe Garcia for receiving the 2019 Humanitarian of the Year award as part of the Petaluma Area Chamber of Commerce Community Awards of Excellence program.

Joe has lived in the community all his life and serves with pride as the City’s Neighborhood Preservation Officer.

Joe’s job is not easy. He is responsible for contacting people who are not following City rules related to how a building is used or maintained—for example, a homeowner whose house is in disrepair or a business that’s operating in an unsuitable location.

Many people might understandably be upset by a visit from Joe, were it not for the fact that, rather than simply give the homeowner or business a notice of violation, he goes above and beyond to help find a solution that works for everyone.

His compassionate approach includes connecting elderly, disabled, and low-income homeowners with local nonprofits that will make repairs or do clean-up to ensure the house meets the City’s rules at no charge to the homeowner.

Jane Hamilton, executive director of Rebuilding Together Petaluma, notes Joe approaches code enforcement from a place of heart and bettering peoples’ lives.

In addition to being a humanitarian at work, Joe demonstrates heart in his personal life by crafting and selling homemade Sriracha hot sauce as a fundraiser for fire relief. In the past two years, his efforts have raised more than $15,000 for Rebuilding Together and the Redwood Empire Foodbank.

We take our hats off to Joe for demonstrating true community spirit in all facets of his life!