City Council Meeting - March 22

The Cloverdale City Council will hold a regularly scheduled meeting:

Wednesday, March 22 at 6:00 pm

The Council meeting will be held at the Cloverdale Performing Arts Center. A zoom link is available on the agenda for virtual attendance and participation.

Major items on the City Council agenda include:

City Council welcomes public interest, attendance, and participation at meetings. Attendees may join open session both in-person at the Cloverdale Performing Arts Center, 209 N. Cloverdale Blvd, virtually at www.zoom.us/join, or by telephone: 1.669.900.6833, both using Meeting ID: 823 1668 4527; or directly online at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82316684527

Regular City Council meetings are also streamed on YouTube via live webcast at cloverdale.net/youtube.

Sonoma County Transportation Authority Awards City $1.2 M for Local Transportation Projects

On February 6th, the Sonoma County Transportation Authority (SCTA) Board approved $67 million in funding for local transportation projects. The projects were selected based on their ability to meet the goals of the Countywide Transportation Plan, the Climate Mobilization Strategy, the Vision Zero Action Plan, and the Go Sonoma tax measure. Funding sources included local tax revenue from Measure M and Go Sonoma as well as State and federal gas tax money and grants.

Out of the $67 M awarded by SCTA, Cloverdale was awarded a total of $1.2 M in funding for the following two projects:

Cloverdale Blvd. Traffic Calming Project – Implement Various Traffic Calming Improvements on S. Cloverdale Blvd.($700K)
Cloverdale Blvd. Sidewalk Completion Project - Construct new sidewalk and retaining wall on South Cloverdale Blvd. connecting sidewalk segments between Shady Lane and Muscat Creek crossing ($500K).

The projects are slated to begin the design process in late 2023 pending issuance of final grant guidelines by SCTA.

City Staff Participate in Read Across American Activity at Jefferson Elementary

Jefferson Elementary School participated in the National Education Association’s Read Across America and celebrating Dr. Seuss’s birthday activity. Guest readers were invited into the School's library to read a story aloud to students.

City staff including Police Chief Jason Ferguson, City Clerk Mike Maloney and Engineering Tech. Bobby Spagnola were invited to attend by the School and participated by reading books to students. Mike and Bobby are pictured below with the Jefferson Elementary School students.

Storm (Atmospheric River) Update

The City of Cloverdale weathered two major storm (atmospheric river) events over the last week, the first of which impacted Sonoma County on March 9-10 followed by another storm on March 13-14. While there was some localized road flooding for short periods during the storm, overall impacts to the City were minor.

Additional storms are expected to bring additional precipitation to northern California next week (March 19-22). Northern California and the coastal regions of the state are likely to receive an average of between 2 and 6 inches of rain over the next six days.

This is a reminder of the potential impacts of storm events and actions you can take to be prepared when the storms arrive in Cloverdale:

Storm Impacts:

Falling debris will cause a threat to life, especially to those who are exposed to the elements
Downed trees/branches with the potential for power outages, road blockages
Displaced citizens living in river, creek, and stream beds
Flooding, especially in poor drainage areas
Small streams and creeks overflowing
Swollen larger rivers, possibly exceeding flood stage
Ponding of water on roadways
Inundated low road crossings in/near flood plains/river
Rocks and another sediment may dislodge from hillsides

Be Prepared:

Avoid unnecessary travel during the alerts
Turn Around, Don't Drown. Stay away from the edge of rivers and creeks and flooded roadways
Stock up now on groceries and water, if needed
Bring items in from outside that might blow away
Clean out house and street gutters and ditches
Have flashlights, extra batteries, and candles ready and cell phones charged in case electricity goes out
Move valuables and animals to higher ground if they are in a potential flood area
Bring animals inside or provide shelter for them
Check-in with neighbors, especially elderly neighbors who live alone
Have your Go Bags ready and prepared

Sandbag Stations

Sandbag stations are available on Second St. next to the City Park and Furber Park’s main parking lot. The city has a limited supply of bags, and they are available on a first-come, first-served bases. Shovels are available on limited bases, and residents are encouraged to bring their own shovels. Ace Hardware, located at 750 S. Cloverdale Blvd. has sandbags in stock which are available for purchase while supplies last.

For more information about preparing for local flood hazards, go to https://www.socoemergency.org/get-ready/local-hazards/flood/

Water Supply / Precipitation Update

Water Supply Levels Update: Reservoir Levels Reach 100% Water Supply Capacity

Recent rains have significantly improved water storage at Lake Sonoma and Lake Mendocino. Both reservoirs are above 100% of their water supply capacity. For the first time since 2019, our reservoirs are (more than!) full. Lake Sonoma is now slightly above 114% of the water supply capacity and Lake Mendocino at 103% percent of water supply curve, thanks to a program to keep as much water in storage as possible called Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO).

FIRO is an innovative approach to reservoir management, and currently in use at both reservoirs. FIRO for Lake Mendocino was developed and piloted over several years with many partners including but the US Army Corps of Engineers, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and researchers at Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes at Scripps Institution. FIRO at Lake Sonoma is building on the success at Lake Mendocino and has the potential to store an additional 19,000-acre feet of water. Combined with the additional 11,650-acre feet that can be stored in Lake Mendocino, the “FIRO water” is enough to meet the demands of around 100,000 households.

Parks Update

Parks Staff continued making progress on critical park maintenance and park development projects. Park projects in progress this week include:

Parks Repairs & Maintenance
Porterfield Creek Trail Rehabilitation
Storm Response & Clean-Up
Park Capital Improvement Projects

Parks Repairs and Maintenance

Repairs and maintenance continue throughout the City's park system. This week the focus was on replacing hardware and facilities dispensers at park restrooms as well as minor electrical repairs. the work was performed in preparation for increased use due to the upcoming Spring season and organized sports events such as baseball.

the Parks Team was was fortunate to have a volunteer student from Cloverdale High School this week. The student assisted with spreading mulch at Jefferson Springs to earn community service hours required to graduate.

Porterfield Creek Trail Rehabilitation

Due to consecutive storm events, a tremendous amount of debris and maintenance demands have been required to maintain safe use of the trail system at the Open Space. This week one entire day was dedicated to removing debris and re-routing a 50' section of the Andiamo Trail where there was complete wash-out. Parks staff removed all obstructing debris and re-carved the trail to make it passable. Additional work is scheduled as the ground becomes less saturated.

Storm Response & Clean-Up

Parks staff spent several days this week responding to clogged storm drains across parks and L&Ls. It is critical to keep these clear to prevent potential damage due to flooding and erosion. Numerous loads of debris were hauled, and branches collected during the winds and rain.

No major incidents to parks and facilities were identified. A small section of split-rail fencing at Furber Park that was damaged due to the storm was repaired upon discovery.

Park Capital Improvement Projects

Community Development and Parks continues to work on Park Capital Improvement Project. Projects in process include:

New Basketball court construction at the Second Street City Park - Two new basketball courts are under construction at 2nd Street City Park. Preliminary grading of the courts and installation of the perimeter fencing poles is completed and is undergoing final compaction prior to placement of the new asphalt surfacing.
Dog park adjacent to the Train Station (planning in process) - The city is currently negotiating a License Agreement with SMART for use of a portion of underutilized right-of-way for a public dog park. Cost estimates for planned and potential amenities were prepared and approved by the City Council on February 22nd.

Volunteer in Your Local Parks

Ready to become a VIP, or "Volunteer In Parks" and make a positive difference in your community? Great! Please take a moment to review our Volunteer In Parks flyer below and visit our website: Volunteer Opportunities | Cloverdale, CA - Official Website

Fix A Leak Week - March 20-26

Did you know that easy-to-fix water leaks account for nearly 1 trillion gallons of water wasted each year in U.S. homes?

In fact, the average household leaks nearly 10,000 gallons of water per year, or the amount of water it takes to wash 300 loads of laundry, and could be costing you an extra 10 percent on your water bills.

Don’t assume your home is leak-free! Here are some tips for finding leaks:

Review your water usage during a winter month, such as January or February, when automated irrigation systems are off. If a family of four exceeds 10,000 gallons per month, you may have a leak and should investigate further.
Read your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is used. If the meter registers use during this time, you probably have a leak.
Examine faucet gaskets and pipe fittings for any water on the outside of the pipe to check for surface leaks.
Don’t forget to check irrigation valves, since water leaking through a valve is not visible on the surface and can occur even when the system is off for the winter.
Consider bringing in an expert if you are unsure if a leak has been correctly diagnosed and fixed.
Identify toilet leaks by placing 10-15 drops of food coloring in the toilet tank without flushing. If any color shows up in the bowl after 10 minutes, you have a leak. (Be sure to flush immediately after the test to avoid staining the tank.) Faulty flappers or fill valves are leading causes of toilet leaks that most homeowners can easily repair.

This year, the Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership is encouraging residents to find and fix toilet leaks by sponsoring the Dye Tab Challenge through March 31, 2023. To join the Dye Tab Challenge, check your toilets for leaks and submit your results for a chance to win a $25 Visa Gift Card!

In just 10 minutes, you can search your home for leaks and crack down on water waste. Many common household leaks are quick to find and easy to fix. Worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and leaking showerheads are all easily correctable and can save on your utility bill expenses and water in your community.

Download the free 10-minute leak finding check list here:

10-Minute Fix a Leak Week Checklist 2023 Download

For more information on ways to save water visit savingwaterpartnership.org

County of Sonoma Climate Action & Resiliency Newsletter

Are climate issues important to you?

The Climate Action and Resiliency Division of Sonoma County’s Administrators Office is offering a new quarterly newsletter featuring the latest updates on climate news in your community!

Stay informed about the County’s current work on energy efficiency, carbon sequestration, adaptation and more. Learn about free workshops and other resources to inform your own climate action! The newsletter will be available in both English and Spanish.

Click the link to sign up.

Signup Form (constantcontactpages.com)

Cloverdale Certified Farmers Market

This newly opened Cloverdale Certified Farmers Market is now under the management of the Santa Rosa Original Certified Farmers Market. This will ensure that all of vendors are certified growers and represent the freshest produce that is locally grown.

The Market looks forward to once again serving the wonderful community of Cloverdale and the surrounds! Please come by and enjoy a shopping experience that makes you feel like you're part of the community, while also supporting your local farmers, ranchers and vendors.

Famer's Market Dates (Weather Permitting):

Tuesday, March 21, 2023, 4:00pm-7:00pm
Tuesday, March 28, 2023, 4:00pm-7:00pm
Tuesday, April 04, 2023, 4:00pm-7:00pm
Tuesday, April 11, 2023, 4:00pm-7:00pm

Meeting Notices and Schedule:

The City Council has established various subcommittees to help set management objectives for city government, adopt a city budget for fulfilling those management objectives, and ensure accountability to the citizens of Cloverdale.

Subcommittee Meeting Schedules:

Finance, Administration & Police - Next Meeting: April 3, 2023
Planning & Sustainability - Next Meeting: April 18, 2023
Public Works & Facilities - Next Meeting: March 28, 2023
Joint City/Cloverdale Unified School District - Next Meeting: April 17, 2023
Homelessness Community Advisory Group - Next Meeting: June 12, 2023

Council Subcommittee Schedules:

For more information about City Council Subcommittees, visit: https://www.cloverdale.net/242/City-Council-Subcommittees

Regional Board Meetings:

Sonoma Clean Power - April 6, 2023
RCPA/SCTA Board of Directors Meeting - April 10, 2023
Sonoma County Library Commission - April 4, 2023
Northern Sonoma County Air District Board Meeting - April 27, 2023

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