February 5, 2015:
Through this PowerPoint presentation from the Board of Supervisors last May, the following topics and concerns are discussed: the history of SDC, the unity of the community, current services, natural land benefits, outdoor recreational assets, the task force on the future of DCs, the community stakeholders, putting a face to SDC, and the County’s priorities.
January 29, 2015:
Q: How long has the Sonoma Developmental Center been established in Eldridge, California?
A: Opening at its current location on November 24, 1891, the center has been established for 123 years now. The center has also existed at previous locations in Vallejo and Santa Clara since 1884.
Q: How many people live at the Sonoma Developmental Center?
A: As of December 31, 2014, four-hundred and seventeen individuals live at the Sonoma Developmental Center.
Q: What is at risk if the Sonoma Developmental Center were to close?
A: The loss of the SDC facilities and open space to development would have consequences affecting hundreds of patients and their families, over 1,000 employees, support services in the local community, critical habitat for fish and wildlife, and the potential for recreation and public access.
Q: Are there plans for the Sonoma Developmental Center to close?
A: There has not been a stated plan to close the Sonoma Developmental Center, but there is no perfect solution for the future of the center as change is inevitable and understandably, the scope of the degree of change is very difficult for those directly affected. According to the California’s Department of Developmental Services website on the History of the Sonoma Developmental Center, ” (it) has always been and will always be committed to continuous improvement of its comprehensive array of therapeutic service.” Although the California Department of Health announced its notice to terminate federal funding for the center, DHCS along with DDS emphasized that patient care will not change as a result of the termination notice.
Q: Are people allowed to access the property for recreational uses?
A: Individuals have frequented the property for decades now, whether it be for hiking, birding, or horse back riding. It is encouraged that one stays to the out skirts of the property though away from the buildings as the residents of SDC do reside and use the facilities.
Q: What are some special status species that reside on or near the Sonoma Developmental Center?
A: A few special status species that reside on or near the Sonoma Developmental Center are the Northern Spotted Owl, the Red-Legged Frog, the California Tiger Salamander, and the Western Pond Turtle. Pictures of most of these special status species are available to view in the Photos box of this blog.
Q: Where do I go to report a siting of a special status species on or near SDC, or report a safety hazard present on the property?
A: To report a siting of a special status species on or near SDC, go to the California Natural Diversity Database and fill out the form titled Submitting Data to CNDDB. With reporting a safety hazard present on the property, one can email the Department of Developmental Services Chief Deputy Director John Doyle at john.doyle@dds.ca.gov.
Q: When and where is the next public meeting for the ‘Transform SDC’ Project?
A: The next public meeting, the Parent Hospital Association Legislative Meeting, will be held on March 25th from 10am to 12pm at SDC in the Wagner Building.
Q:Where can I go to retrieve more information on the efforts being put forth for the project?
A: The ‘Transform SDC’ Blog is made to be a one stop shop for all the information you may need to stay up to date on the efforts of the project. Other websites that may provide additional information and are part of the SDC Coalition are the Parent Hospital Association, the Sonoma Ecology Center, and the County of Sonoma website with connection to Supervisor Susan Gorin.
Q: How can I help with the ‘Transform SDC’ Project?
A: We will be establishing a Tags Committee where those who would like to be involved in the process can come and express their interests and ideas. There will also be public workshops held soon as part of the planning process for the project.
January 20, 2015:
The Department of General Services (DGS) Real Estate Services Asset Enhancement Section
The following describes the step-by-step process of how State-owned land is determined to be surplus and then dispensed:
By looking up SDC on the Statewide Property Inventory, it can be determined that the agency controlling the Center is the Department of Developmental Services, a division of Health and Human Services that deals with people living with developmental disabilities. They would be the ones letting DGS know each year how “utilized” the property is.
Private individuals may contact the controlling agencies to see if any property may one day be listed as “excess.”
Governing Law: Government Code Sections 54220-54232.
Announcement courtesy of Bob McKinnon, Assistant Chief.
January 13, 2015:
In January 2014, the State of California announced plans to “fundamentally transform” the remaining state-operated development centers in California. What was once a network of 21 centers housing over 13,400 residents with developmental and intellectual disabilities has been reduced to four facilities with 1,335 clients. The Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC) is the largest of the remaining facilities, and it is recognized as a critical economic, social and environmental resource for Sonoma County.
This blog site is for everyone who cares about the Sonoma Developmental Center. The Sonoma Land Trust is hosting this site and, in partnership with the County of Sonoma, the Parent Hospital Association, the Sonoma Ecology Center and the other members of the SDC Coalition, we are committed to building public awareness and creating tools for dialogue, learning and activism.
We don’t know what the future holds for SDC. The State of California owns and operates the property and they have not indicated what “transformation” of it will entail. Will the State propose closure of the Center? Will they propose sale of the property? Or can we develop a plan that will retain vital health care services, protect the site’s rich natural resource values and preserve the 1,000+ jobs for the dedicated health care professionals who currently work at SDC?
We believe that an informed and engaged citizenry can make a fundamental difference in the governmental decision-making process. That’s the history of Sonoma County. We like to compare SDC to San Francisco’s Presidio. In the months to come, we will be sponsoring a community dialogue to create a common vision and set of proposed uses for the SDC. You can follow our progress on this blog site and sign up for our eNews as well. We appreciate your interest and invite you to leave comments on this blog site and to share in our work to preserve this precious resource of Sonoma County.
Article by John McCaull, Land Acquisition Project Manager at the Sonoma Land Trust.
January 1, 2015:
A coalition of organizations urges your support for the Sonoma Developmental Center. As the Sonoma Developmental Center is at the heart of Sonoma Valley and the core of the valley’s wildlife corridor, a lot is at risk.
January 1, 2015:
Located in the “pinch-point” of the Sonoma Valley Wildlife Corridor, nearly 800 of the Sonoma Developmental Center’s 1,000 acres are undeveloped and wild, making it critical habitat for wider-ranging mammals, like mountain lion, deer, bobcat, bear, and coyote. This is why Sonoma Land Trust is a leading partner of the effort to develop a community-centered plan for SDC.
January 1, 2015:
Pictured at Stevenson Pond in the Sonoma County Parks near the Sonoma Developmental Center is the California red-legged frog. This species can be found on the special status species list.
Photo courtesy of Jeff Wilcox.
January 1, 2015:
Pictured is a special status species, the Ferruginous Hawk at the Mitsui Ranch near the Sonoma Developmental Center.
Photo courtesy of Jeff Wilcox.
January 1, 2015:
Listed as a special status species, pictured is the Horned Lark on the Mitsui Ranch near the Sonoma Developmental Center.
Photo courtesy of Jess Wilcox.
January 1, 2015:
Offering but a glimpse of the Sonoma Developmental Center’s property, this view provides an idea of the uses this site offers not only to the individuals who enjoy its beauty, but the species who call it their home as well.
Photo courtesy of Scott Hess Photography.
Transform SDC 