City Council Meeting Update - November 10, 2021

The City Council held a regular meeting on Wednesday, November 10th (Council Agenda). The City Council took the following actions during its meeting:

Received Resilient Cloverdale Presentation - Social Cohesion Survey Findings
Approved agreement with Robert Smith to Provide Code Enforcement Services for the City of Cloverdale
Adopted Resolutions adopting an Initial Study Negative Declaration and the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan and updated General Plan Public Health and Safety Element
Received Update on the Cherry Creek Affordable Housing Project
Cancelled its regular meeting scheduled for Wednesday, November 24, 2021

In addition to the City Council meeting, the Homelessness Community Advisory Group (CAG) met from 1:30-3:00 pm on Tuesday, November 9th at the Cloverdale Library. During the CAG, the subcommittee provided an update on current homelessness planning activities and discussed the recent emergency response to address homeless encampments in the Russian River flood zone during the atmospheric river event on October 24th.

Cloverdale Police Department Participating in No-Shave November

Every year in November, Police Departments across the nation participate in No-Shave November to raise cancer awareness. The motive behind the No-Shave November is to let participants grow out their hair, whether it be mustaches, beards, and goatees, and donate the money to a cancer charity that otherwise would be spent on shaving and grooming products.

Cloverdale Police officers will be donating the funds they raise to local not-for-profit Courtney’s Pumpkin Patch. As many know, Courtney Davis desired to help those around her at such a young age and began Courtney’s Pumpkin Patch in 2003. Sadly, Courtney was diagnosed in 2005 with a rare pediatric bone cancer. After a hard and courageous battle with cancer, Courtney passed away in 2008 at 16 years of age. Despite this, Courtney’s Pumpkin Patch still thrives in her honor. The Cloverdale Police Department and its members would be honored to donate to this fantastic organization.

So, if you see our Officers looking a bit scruffy, not to worry, it is for a great cause. If you would like to donate to Courtney’s Pumpkin Patch, please visit their website at www.courtneyspumpkinpatch.com.

Coffee with the Mayor

The Cloverdale Senior Multipurpose Center hosted Coffee with the Mayor on Veteran's Day. During the event, Mayor Cruz shared an update with the event participants about the November 10th Council meeting.

Mayor Cruz was joined by Special Guest, Retired Air Force General Andy Grose. General Grose provided an overview of his experience serving in the United States Military and some "fun facts" about military service. The presentation was live streamed on Facebook. The video can be viewed on the Cloverdale, Ca Facebook at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/1153046663/videos/320586129753154/
A special thank you and salute to General Grose (ret.) and all veterans for your service!

Thank you to the the Cloverdale Senior Multipurpose Center for hosting Coffee with the Mayor on Veteran's Day!

Porterfield Creek Open Space Vegetation Management Program Update

Progress continued to be made on Phase 1 of the Porterfield Creek Open Space Vegetation management program work. The Northern Sonoma County Fire District's Fuels Crew is making significant progress limbing up trees and removing dead vegetation within the open space to reduce the extent of ladder fuels. The Fuels Crews are chipping and mulching excess vegetation on site which is expected to improve soil health. The vegetation management program includes the proposed use of controlled burns to reduce the extent of vegetation in areas that are inaccessible by the Fuels Crew's vegetation chipper/shredder. The current plan is to grind or chip all accessible vegetation, then later as the project progresses, create approved manageable piles to perform a controlled burn.

The recent heavy rains and wind caused several trees within the Porterfield Creek Open Space to fail some of which have blocked park trails. Park staff dedicated staff time to removing trees and vegetation encroaching on hiking trails. The immediate priority for Parks staff is to clear the trails to maintain safe access to the parks by park visitors.

City of Cloverdale partners with North Bay Animal Services

City of Cloverdale Contracted with North Bay Animal Services

The City of Cloverdale contracted with North Bay Animal Services to provide all animal control-related services within the incorporated city limits. Since July 1 2021 North Bay Animal Services has an animal control officer assigned to the city to respond to calls for service and provide education on various animal-related topics, including leash laws.

Residents may see North Bay Animal Services vehicles in the city every Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. North Bay Animal Service Officers will be available after hours and on-call Sunday-Monday and will respond if needed based on the nature of the call. Please contact the Cloverdale Police non-emergency line at 707-894-2150 if you need animal control services. Animal Control services provided include:

FIELD SERVICES:

Patrol
Animal pickup
Return to owners
Enforcement of local, state and federal laws
Citation for violations
24/7 services
Emergency services
After-hours services
Investigation of bite reports
Investigation of animal cruelty/neglect
Public Nuisance reports
Deceased animal pick up

SHELTERING SERVICES:

Animal impounds
Pre-adoption spays and neuters
Sheltering abandoned, surrendered, or stray animals
Microchipping
Vaccinations
Veterinary care
Adoption counseling
Humane education
Behavioral assessments
Rabies vaccinations
Volunteer recruitment and training

For more information, please visit their website: https://northbayanimalservices.org/

Call 911 before you Dig

Planting a tree? Working in your garden? Building a fence?
You may be digging close to underground utility lines connecting to your home. Contact 811 to have your underground lines marked before the project begins.

Visit california811.org or call 811 at least two working days before you dig or plant. The date of notification does not count as part of the two working-day notice. For example: If excavation will begin on Friday, you or your excavator must call no later than Tuesday. 811 is a FREE service.
Submit a ticket at http://www.811express.com/

County of Sonoma, Energy and Sustainability Division Offers Fall Energy Workshop Series

The County of Sonoma, Energy and Sustainability Division s(ESD) erves county residents and businesses as a central clearinghouse of information about energy efficiency, water conservation and solar energy improvements. ESD announced the latest workshops in an on-going series for those interested in learning more about the benefits of making improvements that will help make your home or business more resilient.

The workshops cover a range of topics including evaluating energy use, making a project plan, funding your projects, solar photovoltaics and battery storage, water conservation, wildfire safety, and converting to electric at home. In addition to the workshops for homeowners, ESD added a workshop for non-residential companies that would like to learn about resources that can help businesses be more energy-efficient and sustainable.
See the Meetings and Events section below for a list of upcoming workshops.

Meetings and Events
On-demand webinar - The Benefits of Electric Fireplaces (Sonoma Clean Power)
11/9 - BayREN Business Webinar (BayREN)
11/10 - Conserving Water to Combat Drought (County of Sonoma Energy and Sustainability Division)
11/10 - Building Resilience: Local Food Systems and Disasters (Sonoma State University)
11/16 - Equity and Environmental Justice Focus Group on the Air District Update to the CEQA Thresholds of Significance for Greenhouse Gases (Bay Area Air Quality Management District)
11/16 - BayREN Business Webinar (BayREN)
11/17 - Be Sustainable – a free business workshop (County of Sonoma Energy and Sustainability Division)
11/17 - Ser Sostenible: un taller gratis para empresas (County of Sonoma Energy and Sustainability Division)
11/17 - Being Sustainable - a free business workshop (County of Sonoma Energy and Sustainability Division)
11/18 - BayREN Business Webinar (BayREN)
12/1 - Saving Energy at Home (County of Sonoma Energy and Sustainability Division)
12/8 - Funding Your Projects – Rebates and Financing (County of Sonoma Energy and Sustainability Division)