Elected leaders offer reflection on 2022 successes, plans for coming year during State of the Valley

Sonoma Valley made strides on a handful of issues in 2022, Sonoma Mayor Jack Ding said, but next year is likely to present further challenges related to ongoing economic factors.

Ding was one of several local elected officials who on Monday reflected on 2022 and presented their predictions for the upcoming year during the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce State of the Valley presentation, meant to provide updates across various levels of government that impact the people of Sonoma Valley.

“It is remarkable that we started this year with the biggest surge of COVID-19 cases we had ever experience, and just 10 days ago, the plaza hosted the largest lighting event we can recall,” Ding said during the presentation. “Our community has seen a dramatic recovery to pre-pandemic services and activities.”

Among the city’s biggest accomplishments in 2022, he said, included initiating a strategic assessment of local homelessness, improvements to housing and adding a non-voting youth member to each city commission.

“Sonoma will likely face challenges in the coming year related (to) inflation, cost of living, housing insecurity, homelessness and the drought,” he said. “The city remains vigilant and open to working to address these complex issues.”

Ding said hiring a new city manager, seating three new Sonoma City Council members and setting the council’s yearly goals and initiatives as his top three priorities for 2023.

In addition to Ding, speakers during this year’s State of the Valley included U.S. Congressman Mike Thompson, State Sen. Bill Dodd and Sonoma County Supervisor Susan Gorin.

In his presentation, titled “State of the City,” Ding highlighted the 2022-23 fiscal year budget items that show “continued and pronounced recovery.” His highlights included the addition of a deputy for community oriented policing and problem solving; restoration of funding to core recreation partners at pre-pandemic levels; increased code enforcement for spacial events and high-traffic weekends; funding of scholarships for youth and senior swimming programs; an increase of about $200,000 to the Housing Trust Fund; putting $240,000 in the city’s Capital Improvement Program; and adding $320,000 for one-time projects.

Gorin focused most of her talking points on the key decisions and actions that lie ahead for the community, such as pooling local resources.

“The county and the city are engaged in conversations about shared services,” Gorin said. “Wait — we will be engaging in that conversation next year.”

She spoke about the ongoing problem of traffic along Highway 37, and how Sonoma and three surrounding counties are going to work together on a solution.

“I can’t say that it’s going to happen quickly, but I will say that it will happen,” she said.

Final construction drawing and designs are being planned for the intersection of highways 116 and 121, she said, and planning for a traffic circle at Eighth Street East and Fremont Drive has also begun.

On the housing front, she added that making plans for the Sonoma Developmental Center is crucial.

“The first opportunity for additional housing has to be at the Sonoma Developmental Center,” she said. “Stay tuned on that one — that comes to the Board on Dec. 16.”

Her closing point touched on her excitement over providing more direct access to services in the county.

“What is coming forward is the new planning for a new county center at the site of the existing administration center, but along with that, we are negotiating for a front door in Sonoma Valley for the county services to be provided to the valley,” Gorin said.

Dodd, who represents California’s 3rd District, spoke about the impact of fire season, and how the state has improved on preparedness and defensive efforts for combating burns at the source.

And Thompson, who represents the state’s 5th District, spoke about what influential bills he helped pass over the last year, including those to support people on Medicaid, veterans, fire relief and gun control.

As for 2023, Thompson said he plans to implement major mental health legislation.

“I think, next to climate change, mental health is the biggest problem that we face as a people today, and I’ve got a pretty important bill that would help provide mental health services to folks who are on Medicaid,” he said.

The full presentation can be viewed online at Youtube.com/SonomaTV.

Contact the reporter Rebecca Wolff at rebecca.wolff@sonomanews.com.