Supervisors Adopt Active Transportation Plan, Back $2M Immigrant Safety Net

Sonoma County supervisors on Oct. 27, 2026, unanimously adopted a countywide Active Transportation Plan. It ranks bike and pedestrian projects by priority but funds none of them. In the same session, the board approved a coordinated bus overhaul 5-0, passed $2M in immigrant legal and mental health aid on the consent calendar, and heard staff warn that the county's long progress on homelessness has stalled.

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• Active Transportation Plan adopted 5-0, replacing the 2010 bike-ped plan with no funding attached
• $2M immigrant-support package approved after nine nonprofit and community speakers lined up in support
• Three bus systems coordinate service starting Feb. 14 after a 5-0 vote; Route 62 suspended
• Homeless count holds flat as chronic homelessness tops 800 and funding runs short
• Flock surveillance questions prompt a pledge to flag surveillance technology in future items

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Active Transportation Plan Passes, but the Money Comes Later

The basics: An active transportation plan guides investment in walking and biking. Sonoma County's plan replaces the 2010 Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, updates policies, ranks projects in three tiers based on safety and equity, and amends the General Plan and Local Coastal Plan. Staff found it exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act.

Why it matters: Adoption makes listed projects eligible for competitive grants, and staff said those grants increasingly require partners. "It's no longer feasible to apply as a single jurisdiction or agency and attain that highest level of grant funding," said Wil Lyons of Permit Sonoma.

Where things stand: The plan reflects SB 1216, a state law that bars new Class 3 "share-the-road" routes on roads above 30 mph. The Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee and the Planning Commission recommended approval. Eris Weaver, executive director of the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition, called the three-tier ranking reasonable.

Neighbors pushed on the rankings. Sheila O'Neill asked the board to move Bennett Valley-area projects 58A–C to Tier 1 and drop project 127 to Tier 3. Philip Sales cited camera counts of cyclists and pedestrians at two crossings in the area. Rebecca Koch, a Ride Napa Valley cycling club organizer, asked for Tier 1 status for HAWK signals at Berndale and 121. HAWK signals are pedestrian-activated crossing lights.

The other side: Tamara Boltway, a public commenter, argued the plan designates too many rural roads for bikes, with effects on residents, wildlife and adopted area plans. On the dais, the doubts were about money. "I'm going to guess that not only is there not funding for the 367, there's not funding for even just the Tier 1s," said Chris Coursey, Vice Chair and Supervisor, District 3. David Rabbitt, Supervisor, District 2, warned that "quick builds has just become a synonym for cheap builds and not doing it the right way in the first place."

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: James Gore, Supervisor, District 4, called it "an aspirational plan and one that gives us a list of things to fund towards in the future." Lynda Hopkins, Supervisor, District 5, pressed staff on how to turn the plan's toolbox into policy. Board Chair Rebecca Hermosillo, Supervisor, District 1, asked for updates about every other year. She also asked staff to treat the 8th Street East multiuse path separately from the Berndale crossing options. The vote was For: 5 (Coursey, Gore, Hermosillo, Hopkins, Rabbitt); Against: 0; Absent: 0. Cyclists gain a grant-ready project list. The Bennett Valley tier requests and rural-road objections remain open questions.

What's next: Supervisors pledged to revisit quick builds and funding. Every project still has to win grant money.

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Nonprofits Rally Behind $2M Immigrant Aid Package

Why it matters: Federal immigration enforcement continues, and a benefits cliff for mixed-status families looms in December. The county is now funding legal defense, rapid response, mental health care and 211 navigation for immigrant families.

Where things stand: Item 11, called the Blueprint for Belonging and led by VIDAS, grew out of the Supporting Immigrants Ad Hoc committee led by Hermosillo and Hopkins. Hermosillo said the effort is part of a 12-county response network. "It is no small dollar amount to be able to ... as a county say that we have appropriated $2 million to support our immigrant communities," said Board Chair Hermosillo.

An organized coalition filled public comment:
- Monica Julian, executive director of VIDAS, described habeas wins through the Bay Area Habeas Network.
- Dr. Daniela Dominguez and Nick Lopez of On the Margins described embedded trauma-responsive care and plans to train local clinicians.
- Paola Santos, interim executive director of Latino Service Providers, said the money backs the North Bay Rapid Response Network, which responds to immigration raids.
- Noemí Palomino of Promotoras en Comunidad said in Spanish that VIDAS helped her become a citizen.
- Adriana Rizon of Health Equity Rising and Carissa Moreno of Center for Well-Being also spoke in support.

The other side: Support came with asks. Lisa Carreño, president and CEO of United Way of the Wine Country, urged more investment before an expected surge in need. She cited HR 1 impacts and noted that two proposals went unfunded. An online commenter, Anabel, said her group's posadas sponsorship request had gone unanswered. Later, a commenter named Priscilla asked in Spanish for published budgets, caps on administrative costs and outreach through schools. She cited a $1.5M figure. Hermosillo said Priscilla's email had been received and is being answered.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: "I think what's true is that there are larger Bay Area counties doing less than we are," said Supervisor Rabbitt, who called the effort iterative. Supervisor Hopkins cautioned that "the money is really just the first part, right?" The item passed within the consent calendar by roll call. Rabbitt, Coursey, Hopkins and Hermosillo voted yes; Gore's response was inaudible. The VIDAS-led network gains its funding. Groups with unfunded proposals, along with residents seeking spending transparency, will be watching how the money is used.

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Three Bus Systems Align Around SMART Feb. 14

Why it matters: Sonoma County Transit, Santa Rosa CityBus and Petaluma Transit all face rising costs. Phase 2 of the MASCOTS plan points buses toward SMART trains and cuts duplicate routes.

Where things stand: "SMART ridership has gone up 28%, and Golden Gate ridership has also increased 8% south of San Rafael," said Emily Betts, Transit Manager, Sonoma County Transit, describing Phase 1 results. Phase 2 reworks five corridors: Mendocino Avenue, South Santa Rosa Avenue, two Petaluma corridors, and Windsor-Santa Rosa, where Route 62 is proposed for suspension. The changes require more than 150 bus stop changes costing about $300,000. Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) students would pay $3 on the new route, compared with riding free on Route 48. "SMART does not currently have an arrangement with SRJC for fares," Betts said. The hearing also satisfied Title VI, the federal civil rights requirement for service changes.

The other side: Mark McMullen, a Healdsburg rider, welcomed longer Route 67 hours. He asked the board not to finalize Route 67 stop removals until they are reviewed with Healdsburg, the Senior Citizens Advisory Commission and riders. Another commenter urged support for nighttime riders after Golden Gate service north of San Rafael ended. Hermosillo asked staff to address "equity impacts and understanding what the cost will be on underserved constituents."

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Coursey said "we're witnessing a minor miracle right now." Rabbitt, president of the Golden Gate Bridge board, said "Golden Gate Transit is the most expensive bus service in the United States." Hopkins tied transit to emissions and equity. Members also raised bilingual videos and paratransit pilots. Rabbitt moved and Coursey seconded. The vote was For: 5; Against: 0; Absent: 0.

What's next: Service launches Feb. 14. Route 67 stop concerns remain unresolved.

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Homeless Count Stalls as Funding Runs Dry

Why it matters: Sonoma County's 15-year decline in homelessness has leveled off, while Measure O and pandemic funds are nearly spent.

Where things stand: Hunter Scott, Deputy Director for Homelessness, said the county "has reduced our homeless population by 4,541 people down to 1,952 people." Michael Gause, Ending Homelessness Manager, said the January count was one person lower than last year, despite a 17% funding cut. The unsheltered count fell about 2%, and the sheltered count rose 3%. Family homelessness fell 46%, to 42. Chronic homelessness topped 800 people, and youth homelessness rose. The county's by-names list, which tracks individuals by name, counted 2,166 people on count day and 2,390 later.

Federal policy is adding pressure. "We were forced to give up almost 100 units of permanent housing and apply for about the same amount of transitional housing," Gause said of a HUD shift.

The other side: Hopkins flagged "a very strong overrepresentation in the Black population and in the Indigenous population." Gause said HUD barred race or equity work in the county's Continuum of Care application "for the first time ever." Staff said one outreach worker per region is not enough, including for Guerneville's unsheltered residents. "Supervisor Hopkins now has a shelter. We don't," Hermosillo said.

What's next: The item was informational, with no vote. Nolan Sullivan, Director, Department of Health Services, warned that city and county electeds can slip into "spats" as numbers rise. He suggested a joint discussion with the Sonoma County Mayors' and Councilmembers' Association.

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Flock Questions Shadow Police Video Wall Grant

A federal Homeland Security pass-through grant (item 13) will fund a video wall at the Santa Rosa Police Department's Real-Time Crime Center. Coursey asked whether the wall connects to Flock license-plate cameras. Director Duvall said he could not say for certain and would check with the police chief. "So essentially, at this point in time, we can't say for sure whether this will involve integration with Flock technology or not?" Hopkins asked. Duvall replied, "I cannot say that."

County Executive David Guhin later said Flock images are not displayed automatically, but data tied to a case could appear on a map on the wall. Coursey asked that future items involving "surveillance technology, and FLOC in particular" be flagged. Guhin pledged that "we'll flag that in future items." Hopkins voted yes, noting the grant funds screens that do not store data.

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• Russian River: Lytton Tribal Mitigation grants fund a regional monitoring program and a 3- to 5-year watershed governance pilot.
• Gore on Lytton funds: Gore said the mitigation money is "really general fund dollars"; regulators and watershed groups backed both grants.
• Bodega Bay: The consent calendar included more than $2M for an ice house and a berthing-fee waiver.
• Behavioral health: Item 15 moves the homeless coalition into the behavioral health department, backed by Gregory Ferrin, president of HEPA.
• Closed session: No reportable action on the county executive's evaluation, the Streeter litigation, or 651 Airport Boulevard.

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Looking ahead: The board adjourned in honor of Jack Robert Hanson. Its next regular meeting is Nov. 3, 2026, which is Election Day.