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March 2020

Information about Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

The City of Santa Rosa is in close communication with the Sonoma County Department of Health Services, who is working with other Bay Area health departments, the California Department of Public Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to monitor the 2019 novel coronavirus. READ MORE

The 2020 Census is Right Around the Corner

Get counted and make a difference in our community! Census data helps secure important government funding for housing, health care, education and social services in Santa Rosa. Invitations to get counted in the 2020 Census will be mailed March 12 - 20, 2020, to all residents, and the letter will explain all the ways you can complete the Census questionnaire. If you don’t receive a letter in the mail, you can also take it online (beginning March 23) or by phone. Be sure to include any person living in your household, regardless of age, immigration status or criminal history. Everyone counts and your answers are 100% confidential! Each household should submit one Census response that includes all family and non-family members, such as renters and roommates. WATCH VIDEO

Recovery Update

CalHome Disaster Assistance Loan Program Now Allows Gap Financing for Mobile Homeowners

As of February 19, 2020, the CalHome Disaster Assistance Loan Program has expanded to allow loan funds to be used as gap financing for mobile homes located in a mobile home park within the Santa Rosa City limits, including replacement of a mobile home. The Program provides eligible Santa Rosa homeowners whose homes were damaged or destroyed in the October 2017 wildfires, who owned their homes at the time of the fire, and who have not yet begun to rebuild the opportunity to apply for gap funding of up to $100,000. Fire survivors earning up to 120% of the Area Median Income (AMI) (currently $111,950 for a family of four) are eligible for the Program. READ MORE

Streetlight Recovery Update

All street lights damaged in the 2017 fires within the Hidden Valley neighborhood have been repaired, replaced, and re-energized. City crews continue restoring street lights in various neighborhoods in the Fountaingrove area including the Rincon Ridge, Crown Hill, and Parker Hill Road areas. The contract has been awarded and construction is moving forward in the Fir Ridge and South Ridge neighborhoods for replacement of 40 wooden pole street lights destroyed in the fire. The prototype replacement for the 70 unique carriage fixtures located in Skyfarm have been approved, and the contract is currently out for bid. Replacement poles for street lights in the Coffey Park neighborhood are on-hand with installation and re-energization anticipated in summer 2020. READ MORE

1000th Home Rebuilt

On February 13, the City of Santa Rosa passed the 1000-mark for homes rebuilt in the areas impacted by the 2017 wildfires. Penelope Barnes is the owner of the 1000th rebuilt home. The City of Santa Rosa would like to congratulate her and all who have moved back home and thank those who continue to strive to rebuild. The City is incredibly grateful and humbled by the perseverance and resiliency of all fire survivors. For those still in progress and for those yet to start, the City remains 100% committed to helping you to rebuild. READ MORE

City Council Seeking Applicants to Represent Community 

Nonprofits Can Apply for Community Promotions Funding

The City of Santa Rosa invites nonprofit organizations to apply for grant funding for events that help promote Santa Rosa. The Santa Rosa City Council annually allocates $125,000 in total to Community Promotion Funding in the form of cash support and/or city services to promote local assets, such as the downtown, and to foster inclusivity among its diverse population. The deadline to apply is March 5. READ MORE

Tell Us Your Vision for Santa Rosa Parks

Help shape the future of parks and recreation in Santa Rosa! The City wants your input to prioritize a revenue expenditure plan for Santa Rosa’s share of Measure M sales tax approved by voters in 2018. Residents will have several opportunities to give input over the next six months, including through a series of community dinners and workshops in each of Santa Rosa’s four quadrants. The next upcoming meeting is scheduled for March 26 beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Montgomery High School. More information is available on the City’s website, including further details about Measure M and ways to provide input. READ MORE

Howarth Park Opens with Improved Accessibility

When Howarth Park attractions open for the spring season on Saturday, more members of our community can take part in the fun! The pathways around the attractions and picnic areas have been reconstructed to improve disability access. The park’s seasonal weekend schedule begins March 7 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., weather permitting. This includes the boathouse, train, pony rides, and snack bar (opens at noon). Testing and inspection of the carousel, which was removed and refurbished during construction, is happening this month, and it is scheduled to open in April. READ MORE

Sean McGlynn Named City Manager of the Year

Santa Rosa City Manager Sean McGlynn has been named the 2020 City Manager of the Year by the California City Management Foundation (CCMF). The award, presented during the League of California Cities City Managers Conference on February 6, cites McGlynn's leadership throughout the 2017 wildfires as well as his support of fellow city managers dealing with disasters in their own locales as being among the reasons for the selection. McGlynn was presented by CCMF President Ken Striplin and League City Manager's Department President Reva Feldman. READ MORE

Celebrate Transit Driver Appreciation Day, March 25

Transit drivers don’t have an easy job—they just make it look that way! Santa Rosa CityBus drivers are a highly trained group of professionals with a combined 500+ years of experience behind the wheel. In 2019, Citybus drivers offered 2 million rides and covered an impressive 930,000 miles as they transported people safely and efficiently to work, school, shopping, medical appointments and other destinations throughout Santa Rosa. Join us on March 25 in giving our divers a much-deserved cheer of thanks.

Earth Day OnStage 2020

Earth Day is turning 50! And Santa Rosa will celebrate this monumental anniversary at its 11th Annual Earth Day OnStage Festival in Courthouse Square. This fun, FREE, family-friendly festival is a great way to inspire awareness and build community through environmental protection. Enjoy live performances OnStage, great food, local and earth-friendly products, and eco-friendly crafts and activities for all ages. READ MORE

2019 Housing Numbers 

The numbers are in for housing in the City of Santa Rosa for 2019. From January 1 to December 31 of last year, permit applications were initiated for a total of 1,688 units, 796 units were in some phase of construction, and 254 units were completed. These totals are in addition to units rebuilding from the October 2017 wildfires. To better track the housing market in Santa Rosa, the City has set up a dashboard to give people live, up-to-date information of the current status of all pending development. READ MORE

Summary Report of SRPD’s Community Listening Sessions

Last fall Police Chief Rainer Navarro invited the community to attend one of five Community Listening Sessions held at locations across the City. During these roundtable meetings, attendees voiced concerns regarding public safety issues in their neighborhoods. In response to the Community Listening Sessions, the Santa Rosa Police Department has compiled existing strategies and new plans explaining how the Police Department tackles these community issues. READ MORE

Violence Prevention Partnership Announces CHOICE Cycle X Grant Awards

The City of Santa Rosa’s Violence Prevention Partnership is pleased to announce that 11 local nonprofits have been selected to receive grant funding through the Community Helping Our Indispensable Children Excel (CHOICE) Cycle X Grant Program. Funded by Measure O (2004), the total grant awards amount to $1,680,000, with programs beginning January 2020 and running through December 2021. READ MORE

Imagine Art in Courthouse Square

The Art in Public Places Committee (APPC) has selected its artist finalists in the running for the public art commission slated for Old Courthouse Square. These artists have the opportunity to help create a central symbol of the unique Santa Rosa values of innovation and cultural inclusivity that will inspire visitors to Downtown to reflect on what makes this community special. Finalists were selected for their experience, among other factors, and must to submit final proposals by April 20. The APPC will make the final artist selection by July. READ MORE

Active Transportation Corridor Study (Bike and Pedestrian)

Based on feedback received through the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Update, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board (BPAB) selected to study potential bike and pedestrian comfort-level improvements along the Stony Point Road corridor between West Third Street and Sebastopol Road. W-Trans was awarded the contract to analyze and assess the City’s first bicycle and pedestrian corridor study. The study will review existing conditions, gather operational counts, analyze collision data and conduct a field review of the corridor. The public is encouraged to attend the BPAB meeting on March 19 from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. as W-Trans presents details on the project scope. READ MORE

FREE Leak Kits Available to Help Find and Fix Leaks

Being handy around the house doesn't have to be difficult. Common types of leaks found in the home are worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets and other leaking valves. These types of leaks are often easily correctable, requiring only a few tools and hardware that can pay for themselves in water savings. Pick-up your free leak kit today at the City’s Municipal Service Center (69 Stony Circle) or the City Hall Annex (90 Santa Rosa Ave). READ MORE

Metal Streetlight Pole Banner Policy

The Planning and Economic Development Department will propose an ordinance to implement a new policy that will permit placement of banners on City poles in Downtown and some surrounding areas at a City Council meeting on March 17. This new policy would institute size limits, duration of placement and responsibilities to put up and take down banners as well as limit the use of banners to nonprofit institutions. READ MORE

Rinconada Park Neighborhood Meeting 

National Arts Program Awards Reception 

Saturday, March 8 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., Finley Community Center, 2060 W. College Avenue 
Winners for the 17th annual National Arts Program will be honoroed at a reception open to the public. This annual program features artworks created by residents of Santa Rosa or City of Santa Rosa employees and their families as part of a community exhibition at the Finley Community Center. The exhibition is open to the public now through March 27. LEARN MORE

St. Patrick's Day Lunch (age 50+)

St. Patrick’s Day 5K Run/Walk 

Composting Workshop En Español

Saturday, March 21 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Farm at Bayer Park, 1550 West Ave 
In this FREE two-hour workshop learn how to turn yard waste and kitchen scraps into wonderfully rich compost to use as a soil amendment or mulch in your garden. This workshop will be taught in Spanish only. REGISTER

Measure M ‘Parks for All’ Community Dinner & Workshop

Thursday, March 26, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Montgomery High School, 1250 Hahman Dr
Help prioritize spending of Santa Rosa’s share of new sales tax revenue for parks.Your input will help city planners to set the course for improvements to Santa Rosa’s parks, trails, and recreation programs in the years to come. READ MORE

21st Annual Senior Expo 

First Saturday Cleanup on Prince Memorial Greenway

Saturday, March 7 from 10:00 a.m. to noon at Olive Park near 1698 Hazel Street 
Help care for Santa Rosa Creek, home to river otter, kingfishers, steelhead trout and more. Tools, snacks, and water provided for volunteers. LEARN MORE

Laguna Stewardship Day 

Saturday, March 14 from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the Laguna Treatment Plant, 4300 Llano Rd 
All ages welcome to help care for and learn about a one-of-a-kind native plant garden and wetland. Volunteers will assist with planting, weeding, and mulching. Participants will have the opportunity to take a tour of the wetlands and hear from an expert about habitat restoration, native plants, and wildlife in Sonoma County. LEARN MORE 

Arbor Day Tree Planting Party

Saturday, March 14 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Two Locations:
Finley Community Park, 2060 W. College Ave
Rincon Valley Community Park, 5108 Badger Rd.
Bring your family and celebrate Arbor Day at our community tree-planting parties! Learn about what makes trees important to our natural and urban environments, and what makes Santa Rosa a Tree City USA! Arbor Day is the birthday of the late famed botanist and Santa Rosa resident Luther Burbank, so expect cake! Please sign up to volunteer at either Finley or Rincon Valley Community Park. SIGN UP

Earth Day OnStage Volunteers Needed

Saturday, April 27 from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Downtown Santa Rosa, Courthouse Square 
Volunteers make Santa Rosa's Earth Day OnStage possible. Two- and four-hour shifts available. Volunteers will receive an event t-shirt and a reusable stainless steel Take it From the TAP! water bottle. REGISTER

Current Job Openings 

The City of Santa Rosa offers great career opportunities with excellent salary, a generous benefits package, including retirement through CalPERS, a competitive leave package, a choice of three health plans, flexible spending program, and top of the line, employer paid vision and dental coverage. 

Associate Civil Engineer | Full-Time | $100,814 – $122,538 Annually | Transportation & Public Works
Associate Civil Engineers perform professional engineering work in the planning, investigation, design, analysis, construction, and inspection of public works, utilities and related projects, or the investigation, review and inspection of private development projects. This position will be located in the Capital Projects Engineering Division and will be responsible for design and construction management of projects to rehabilitate, upgrade and expand the City's water infrastructure, including the sanitary sewer collection system, water distribution system and water reclamation and reuse systems. Open until filled.

Communications Dispatcher Trainee | Full-Time | $49,992.00 - $62,047.00 Annually | Santa Rosa Police 
The Communications Dispatcher Trainee position receives, triages, and processes emergency and routine calls from the public requesting police or other emergency services. We offer paid classroom and on-the-job training and an opportunity to provide a vital service to the Santa Rosa community. Closes March 16, 2020. Watch this video about becoming a dispatcher.

Environmental Specialist | Full-Time | $6,767 – $8,219 Monthly | Santa Rosa Water
The Environmental Specialist position oversees a broad range of programs related to environmental monitoring and activities required by the City's NPDES municipal storm water permit such as sampling, investigations, enforcement, reporting, public outreach, and oversight. This position provides biological expertise for City-wide creek restoration planning efforts and assists with or leads the creek stewardship program. Closes March 16, 2020.

Safety and Training Coordinator | Full-Time | $6,659 – $8,605 Monthly | Santa Rosa Water
The Safety and Training Coordinator is responsible for planning, evaluating, reviewing, coordinating, reporting, and conducting a wide variety of training and safety programs that promote safe work practices. Closes March 18, 2020.

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