View All County Press Releases
Board of Supervisors strengthens penalties for illegal cannabis, establishes grace period for zoning violations by permitted operators
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors voted today to align civil penalties for unpermitted cannabis operations in unincorporated Sonoma County with state law, including a penalty of $1,000 per violation, separate violations for each plant above the personal cultivation limit, and escalated penalties for violations on multiple properties. The Board also approved a correction period of three calendar days to provide licensed and license-exempt cultivators, such as patients and caregivers, an opportunity to remedy zoning violations before civil penalties are imposed. Read full story
Board of Supervisors adopts language access policy
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors today approved a language access policy and implementation plan, in a commitment to improve access to County services for residents who do not speak English as their primary language or who do not speak any English. The policy was created by the County’s Office of Equity. Read full story
Sonoma County awards $14.8 million contract to build infrastructure for mixed-use development in Roseland
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors today approved a $14.8 million contract with Ghilotti Construction Co. to build sewer lines, utilities, streets and other infrastructure to support the Tierra de Rosas mixed-use development in Roseland. Read full story
Sonoma County bans sale of e-cigarettes and flavored tobacco in unincorporated areas
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors today voted to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products and e-cigarettes in unincorporated areas of the county. The changes to the county’s tobacco retail ordinance are in response to public health data that show e-cigarettes and flavored tobacco use increasing among high school-aged youth. Read full story
Evacuation exercise planned for Cloverdale areas of Clover Springs, Palomino Lakes and Highland Ranch
The Sonoma County Department of Emergency Management, in partnership with community preparedness groups, will be holding an evacuation exercise on Sunday, May 19, for the Cloverdale areas of Clover Springs, Palomino Lakes and Highland Ranch. Read full story
Santa Rosa Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Domestic Violence Offenses
Defendant Adrian Cervantes-Alvarez, 38-years-old of Santa Rosa, was sentenced on May 6, 2024 by the Honorable Troye Shaffer to serve 6 years plus 27 years to life in prison after having been convicted by a Sonoma County jury in February of attempting to murder the mother of his children. Read full story
Board of Supervisors to hold TRUTH Act Forum to review Sheriff’s Office data on ICE access
Sonoma County residents are invited to participate in a community forum to learn about when the Sheriff’s Office Detention Division provides information about certain incarcerated persons to federal immigration authorities. This public meeting, the TRUTH Act Forum, is required under a 2017 state law. Read full story
Santa Rosa Man Receives Life Sentence for 2022 Killing
Defendant Juan Antonio Martinez, 35 years old of Santa Rosa, was sentenced today by the Honorable Laura Passaglia to serve 20 years-to-life in state prison after pleading “no contest” in February of this year to charges of second-degree murder, and extortion by posing as a kidnapper, and admitting a sentencing enhancement for personally using a firearm. Read full story
Murderer Denied Parole
District Attorney Carla Rodriguez has announced that Bryon Tibbals, currently 60 years old and originally from Nevada, was denied parole on May 2, 2024. Read full story
Sonoma County Cannabis Equity Program awards $635,000 to advance economic justice and reduce industry barriers
The Board of Supervisors authorized grant agreements for 20 Sonoma County cannabis operators who were impacted due to cannabis-related offenses that occurred between 1971 and 2016, including arrest for or conviction of the sale, possession, distribution, use, manufacture or cultivation of cannabis, or other non-violent cannabis-related crimes, or were subject to asset forfeiture. Read full story