City Council Received Complete Streets Report from UC Berkeley Safe Transportation Research and Education Center

At the March 22nd City Council meeting, the Cloverdale City Council received a presentation on the recently completed Complete Streets Safety Assessment. The City of Cloverdale requested that the Safe Transportation Research and Education Center at University of California, Berkeley conduct a Complete Streets Safety Assessment (CSSA) study.

A team of two bicycle and pedestrian safety experts conducted the CSSA for Cloverdale on May 19, 2022 and prepared this report. The objectives of the CSSA are to improve safety and accessibility for all people traveling in the City of Cloverdale.

The report presents the findings and suggestions for potential improvement derived from:

Benchmarking analysis of the City’s existing bicycle and pedestrian programs, policies, and practices (Chapter 3)
Field walking audit at various locations in Cloverdale (Chapter 4)

Link to Complete Streets Report:

Cloverdale_CSSA_2022_report.pdf

Street Story Program

The Street Story program (https://streetstory.berkeley.edu/) is a new tool developed by UC Berkeley’s Safe Transportation Research and Education Center (SafeTREC). Street Story is a community engagement tool that allows residents, community groups and agencies to collect information about transportation crashes, near-misses, general hazards and safe locations to travel.

Street Story is free to use and publicly accessible. Street Story features a survey where residents can record travel experiences. Once a record has been entered, the information is publicly accessible on the website with maps and tables that can be downloaded.
Residents are encouraged to utilize this free tool to provide information for local needs assessments, transportation safety planning efforts, safety programs and project proposals.

Wallace House Leased by Local Not-for-profit Reach for Home

Margaret Sluyk, CEO of Reach for Home, a Healdsburg based non-profit serving Northern Sonoma County, announced that Good Shepherd Episcopal Church has chosen Reach for Home to administer programs at the 6-unit Wallace House in Cloverdale.

Wallace House is owned by the Church and has long been a refuge for the unsheltered community in Northern Sonoma County. Wallace House adds critically needed permanent supportive housing for Reach for Home program participants of all ages and genders.

"We look forward to growing our partnership with the Church and the City of Cloverdale and are so grateful we are able to add this option for participants," Margaret Sluyk stated in the Reach for Home's latest newsletter. According to their announcement, their newest staff member, Housing Case Manager Bella Ortega, started last week. She will manage several programs, including Wallace House.

PG&E Announces Operational Changes at Scotts Dam... May Impair Future Water Diversions to Lake Mendocino

Pacific Gas & Electric announced that they have made the decision to keep the spillway gates atop Scott Dam at Lake Pillsbury in Lake County open this spring and in future years. PG&E's decision to keel the spillway gates open will result in lower summer lake levels and less water being released from Lake Pillsbury later in the year. Water availability moving forward is expected to be similar to dry year conditions experienced in 2020 and 2021.

Notification to the City from PG&E:

I am reaching out to share that PG&E has made the decision to keep the spillway gates atop Scott Dam at Lake Pillsbury in Lake County open this spring and in future years. This will result in lower summer lake levels and less water being released from Lake Pillsbury later in the year. Water availability moving forward is expected to be similar to dry year conditions experienced in 2020 and 2021.

The safety of our hometowns is PG&E’s most important responsibility, and this includes the company’s dedicated team of geoscience and engineering experts regularly performing updated seismic analyses and modeling of its dams based on regional and site-specific data. While Scott Dam is not at risk of imminent failure, models with updated parameters show an increased risk around seismic performance. As a result, PG&E is taking steps to reduce the risk.

We recognize the impacts that reduced water storage in Lake Pillsbury will have. PG&E is committed to public and environmental safety and is committed to working closely with resource agencies and water districts to address any impacts associated with this safety measure.

Again, the seismic risks for the Scott Dam remain low and the decision to not close the spillway gates helps reduce risk. For more details, please see the PG&E Currents story (Water Levels at Lake Pillsbury to Be Lower this Year - PGE Currents). Should you have any questions or comments, please email PVInquiryPGE@PGE.com.

Behind on your Water or Wastewater bills?

What is LIHWAP and how can it help?

All Californians deserve access to safe and clean water, and many households need assistance now.

LIHWAP stands for the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program and it may be able to help you pay your water or wastewater utility bill. LIHWAP is a federally funded program that offers low-income households a onetime payment to help pay residential water or wastewater costs.

If you’re like many Californians struggling with higher costs on everything from food to gas, LIWHAP could help your family stop worrying about how to pay your water bill and keep the water flowing. The amount of help that you could get will depend on your residential water and wastewater bills. Households whose utility payments are included in their rent may also be eligible for LIHWAP. In addition, program participation is limited to households receiving services from water and wastewater systems enrolled in LIHWAP to receive the payment of assistance benefits.

Recipients of CalFresh, CalWORKs, and LIHEAP are automatically income-qualified for LIHWAP assistance. LIHWAP can offer a one-time payment to help you: 1. Pay your residential water and wastewater utility bills. 2. Manage an emergency or water crisis, such as a service disconnection. 3. Prevent other adverse effects such as debt collection or placement of liens. If you are struggling to afford your residential water or wastewater bills, please visit csd.ca.gov/waterbill / Paying My Water Bills (ca.gov) to see if you qualify for payment assistance through LIHWAP and to find a local service provider near you to apply.

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:

Storm Response & Clean-Up
Porterfield Creek Trail Rehabilitation
L&L District Brookside Terrace
Cloverdale Regional Library

Storm Response & Clean-Up

Parks crew worked as quickly as possible to address the impacts of the recent storm events on parks and landscape areas within the City. The winter storms have meant additional maintenance in all parks and open spaces including

Unclogging storm/park drains;
collecting/removing fallen debris;
diverting water away from parks and city infrastructure;
flood prevention/response in high traffic areas such as baseball fields and playgrounds; and
producing signage for community awareness.

The maintenance tasks listed above are critical to keeping the parks and open spaces safe, open and available for use to the public between breaks in the storm events.

Please report any hazardous situations within our parks by emailing hgalvan@ci.cloverdale.ca.us or by calling 707-894-1707.

Porterfield Creek Trail Rehabilitation

The ability to exercise and enjoy nature is critical to the physical and mental health of our community members. Parks survey shows that nature trails provide experience that attract more users than any other type of recreation facility available. Developing, managing, and maintaining trails is key to a thriving local amenity. This week, the focus was to complete the clearing of any encroaching vegetation on trails. With almost 300 acres of open space at this location, the volume of debris and sites requiring attention involves more staffing than we're able to offer within the parks department.

Parks Dept collaborated with Cloverdale Fire Chief Jason Jenkins, who was able to offer several crew members to assist with clearing debris from park trails in the Porterfiled Creek Open Space Preserve. The amount of work completed wouldn't have been achieved without support of Clovedale Fire. Special thanks to Chief Jenkins and Battalion Chief, Rick Blackmon who never hesitate to lend a hand when we're in need!

L&L District Brookside Terrace

Although our attention has been primarily directed to storm response the last several weeks, parks staff have made an effort to dedicate time for regular L&L, parks and facilities maintenance. The entire Brookside Terrace district saw a fresh layer of woodchips throughout planted areas as well as mechanical weed-eating of invasive plant species.

Cloverdale Regional Library

Much needed attention was given to the library this week. Several broken tree limbs were removed along the creek near the parking lot. Litter and debris were collected and disposed of due to the increased water levels in the adjacent creek. Vegetation management was implemented by weed-eating and applying organic herbicides. Economy Tree Service volunteered to inspect tree cabling currently in place to ensure it is secure and intact.

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

Energy & Resilience Workshop Series for Spring 2023 Announced

The County of Sonoma, Climate Action and Resiliency Division is pleased to announce the latest homeowner workshops in an on-going series for those interested in learning more about the benefits of making improvements that will help make your home more energy efficient and resilient.

The online workshops cover a range of topics including evaluating energy use, wildfire safety improvements, funding your projects, solar photovoltaics and battery storage, and innovative water reuse. The series will also include an in-person induction cooking expo. The event will be held on May 6^thfrom 11am to 2pm at Premiere Bath and Kitchen in Santa Rosa. Chef Rachelle Boucher, found of Kitchens to Life will be conducting hands-on, kid-friendly cooking demonstrations. The interactive cooking experience will cover:

Induction 101: Myths & Truths of Induction Cooking and Electric Kitchens
Benefits of Electric Kitchens: Health, Safety & Cooking
Rebates, Resources & More

To register for workshops or the induction expo, please click on the links. For online webinars, all registered attendees will receive copies of the presentation and slides upon conclusion of the workshop.

Online workshops are held on Wednesdays 11:30am – 12:30pm

April 12 Solar, Storage, and Electrification – A Perfect Match

April 19 Making Improvements for a More Resilient Home

April 26 A Water Smart Future – Innovations in Water Reuse and Efficiency

May 3 The Value of Energy Efficiency in Home Electrification

May 6 Induction Cooking Expo at Premiere Bath and Kitchen

May 10 Funding Your Improvements – Incentives, Rebates, and Financing

For more information or to RSVP directly, call 707-565-6470 or email Energy@sonoma-county.org

April is Earthquake Preparedness Month California

We know that there are many things to be worried about, but when it comes to earthquakes, it is not a matter of if one will occur but when. Cal OES is encouraging residents to take the time to update their emergency plans and to download the MyShake App. So many things in life may catch us off guard, but now, earthquakes don’t have to!

Earthquake Warnings are a Game Changer: Cal OES encourages residents to have a plan for how to protect themselves in the event of an earthquake. There are moments to act if you receive a warning or feel shaking. People can get a jump start before shaking can be felt. Make sure to take protective actions such as DROP, COVER, and HOLD ON (or LOCK, COVER, and HOLD ON if using a wheelchair).

There may be circumstances where a warning is issued, but no shaking occurs. It is always better to err on the side of caution when it comes to earthquakes. We encourage you to share this information with friends and family in California to help spread the word about the technology available to help keep them safe.

Here are some of the ways to receive earthquake warnings:

MyShake App. An app that can be downloaded for mobile devices at no cost from Google Play and the Apple App Store. App users can set up a “HomeBase” location to receive earthquake warnings without having location services turned on.
Android Earthquake Alerts. Included in new or updated Android devices, the system uses the same technology as the MyShake App.
Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs). Text-like messages from the government during emergency situations. This includes Presidential, Imminent Threats (fire, earthquake, floods, etc.), and AMBER alerts.

?When an earthquake warning is issued from any of these sources, you should act quickly and take protective actions to stay safe, such as dropping to the ground, covering your head with your arms, and holding onto your neck with both hands until the shaking stops. Do not stand in doorways or near glass windows.

To Lear more about the latest tools and resouces and how to use them, please visit:

California Earthquake Early Warning | California Earthquake Early Warning Information

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

Newsletter Updates - Help Get the Word Out!

Please share this newsletter with anyone who might find it useful. To subscribe, click here.

Notify Me

Type your email address in the box and select Sign In.
If you want to receive text messages enter your phone number and select Save.
To subscribe or unsubscribe click and/or next to the lists to which you wish to subscribe/unsubscribe.

Events

CLOVERFEST

Date: Saturday, April 8, 2023
Time: 12 noon to 4:00pm

Unlimited tastingsincluded in ticket price.Food available at additional charge.

Cloverdale Wine Walk

Please join downtown businesses and the Cloverdale Chamber of Commerce at their third Wine Walk of 2023. The event starts at 11 a.m and ends at 3 p.m. Your $30 ticket includes complimentary wine & beer tastings, olive oil tastings, a complimentary wine “glass”, unless you want to bring one from previous Cloverdale Wine Walks, and other special discounts. Several busineeses will be hosting pop-ups and artisans. Tickets can be purchased the day of thre event at either Kelley & Young Tasting Room or I.See.Optical downtown. You can also get yours in advance at www.kelleyandyoung.com/winewalkClick

Nashvilles Comes to Sonoma County

The Cloverdale Senior Multipurpose Center is joining forces with the Northern Sonoma County CERT (headed by Geoff Peters) to hold a benefit concert near Showa Farms in unincorporated Cloverdale.

The event is on Saturday, June 24. Performances by Grammy-award winning singer-songwriters Gretchen Peters, Matraca Berg, and Steve Seskin will perform "in the round." Our local Fitch Mountaineers and special guests will be opening this fun musical event. Tickets are available on our website (link below).

For more information about the event:Nashville Charity Concert 2023 — CSMC (cloverdaleseniorcenter.org)