North Bay Business Journal

Neighbors appeal Lucas project approval

SAN RAFAEL — An organization representing neighbors of a proposed 270,000-square-foot Lucasfilm digital movie production studio in Lucas Valley northwest of San Rafael has appealed the recent project approval by the Marin County Planning Commission.

Poll: 74% of Sonoma Co. residents, 65% of businesses support local green-energy grid

SANTA ROSA — A survey of Sonoma County residents found strong support for clean-energy options, including solar and wind power, and for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

State tax agents checking licenses, permits in north Santa Rosa

OAKLAND — This month, the Board of Equalization’s Statewide Compliance and Outreach Program teams contacted businesses in the 95403 ZIP code area, which includes north Santa Rosa, the Wikiup-Larkfield-Mark West area and the Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport industrial parks, about a planned door-to-door check of licenses and permits.

Sonoma Valley voters extend hospital tax

SONOMA — Voters in Sonoma Valley on Tuesday easily passed a measure that extends for five years a $195 parcel tax that generates $2.8 million annually for the area’s public hospital.

BEST to poll 100 businesses on retention, expansion needs

SANTA ROSA — A public-private Sonoma County partnership aimed at spurring job growth plans to survey 100 local businesses in as many days on what they need to stay and thrive in the county.

Share your thoughts: Should North Bay local governments provide financial and other incentives to attract and retain businesses?

Airline traffic increases 5.4 percent in February to new record

SANTA ROSA — Airline travel in and out of Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport continued to climb upward in February, reaching an all-time high of 14,996 passengers, an increase of 5.4 percent from a year before, according to figures released this morning.

Agency calls Russian River water supply ‘critical’

Russian River water supply conditions changed to “critical” today under the Sonoma County Water Agency’s water rights permits and State Water Resource Control Board’s Decision 1610. This “critical” designation means the water agency is permitted to reduce Russian River flows to preserve water storage in Lake Mendocino so there is enough for all water users and for release in the fall to support migrating Russian River Chinook salmon, listed as threatened on the Federal Endangered Species List.

Sonoma County names new health officer

SANTA ROSA — The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors today named Lynn Silver-Chalfin, M.D., M.P.H., as the county’s new health officer, responsible for health policy development and advising government and medical professionals on public health and safety.

Share your thoughts: Raise California taxes or cut education?

California already has made major cuts to health care and the state prison system, and education would be next on the chopping block without higher taxes, according to State Controller John Chiang. Do you support increasing taxes in California to bridge the funding gap for education and other services? If so, who should carry the burden of those increases?

Sonoma Valley Hospital seeking parcel tax renewal

SONOMA — Sonoma Valley Hospital is seeking a five-year extension of a parcel tax that provides more than $2 million in annual revenue for the district hospital, which officials say is vital to maintaining core and emergency services in eastern Sonoma County

Buckelew, Family Service Agency merger represents two-fold trend

SAN RAFAEL — The recent merger of two Marin nonprofits represents a two-fold trend affecting nonprofit mental health providers: increasing consolidation of services amid the prolonged economic downturn and a shift toward larger, more integrated organizations as a result health care reform and the law’s emphasis on mental health, according to experts.

Friedman’s signs lease for Deer Creek store

PETALUMA — Friedman’s Home Improvement, the largest locally owned home improvement retailer in the North Bay, announced today it’s returning to Petaluma 66 years after brothers Benny and Joe Friedman opened the original store.

Q&A: John Chiang, California State Controller

CALIFORNIA — John Chiang was first elected as California’s State Controller in November 2006 and was reelected to a second term in 2010.  He previously served on the state Board of Equalization, first elected in 1998, and served two terms, including three years as chair. Mr. Chiang began his career as a tax law specialist [...]

Q&A: Political consultant Brian Sobel

NORTH BAY — Brian Sobel is principal consultant for Sobel Communications, based in Petaluma. He has extensive experience in both the public and private sectors. Additionally, he has worked as a news director for two radio stations and in television . Before opening his consulting firm, Mr. Sobel spent several years working for a major corporation as a writer, training consultant and video producer. In the public sector, he has been active as a past candidate for the California Assembly and is a former planning commissioner and vice-mayor of Petaluma.

People: Week of Feb. 13, 2012

Banking & Finance Jeff Gerlomes joined Bank of Napa, N.A. (OTCBB: BNNP) as vice president, marketing and relationship manager. Mr. Gerlomes  previously served on the bank’s  board of directors. He is a graduate of Sacramento State University, where he received B.A. He began his business career at American Savings and Loan where he served as a [...]

Sonoma County tourism ‘bright spot’ in 2011

SANTA ROSA — The county’s $1.3 billion tourism industry turned in solid growth in 2011 despite a persistent recession, with year-over-year occupancy rates up 8 percent at lodging businesses and room revenue up 10 percent, the Sonoma County Tourism Bureau said this morning at its annual breakfast.

Lagunitas explores own wastewater plant

PETALUMA — Lagunitas Brewing Co. wants to build its own process-wastewater treatment plant to handle the expected growth of its brewery in the next several years, and Petaluma and business leaders are exploring whether additional industrial wastewater treatment capacity is needed to accommodate current food and beverage companies as well as attract more.

SMART expects ‘at least’ two more contracts by summer

Planners expect to award at least two more contracts for the construction of a commuter rail line between Sonoma and Marin counties by this summer, following the failure of an effort that could have repealed the 2008 sales tax measure that supports the project.

RepealSMART campaign submits ballot signatures

NORTH BAY — Election officials in Sonoma County have completed an initial count of 5,471 signatures submitted today in support of a ballot measure to overturn the quarter-cent sales tax voters approved in 2008 to fund construction of a North Bay commuter rail project. Staff at the Marin County Registrar of Voters office will conduct an informal count on Monday. RepealSMART, the group spearheading the repeal, submitted the signatures hours before an end-of-the-day deadline and six months after their efforts officially began in August.

Business news: Week of Jan. 16, 2012

Cosmetics Assemblymember Jared Huffman will present his December Sustainable North Bay Award to Renaissance House of Beauty for its environmentally responsible products and business practices. In 2009, Renaissance became the first “green” certified hair and beauty salon in Marin County. For Renaissance, being green means being environmentally conscious about the products they use and retail, [...]