To: Board of Supervisors, Board of Directors of the Sonoma County Water Agency, Board of Commissioners of the Community Development Commission, and the Board of Directors of the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District
Department or Agency Name(s): County Executive Office
Staff Name and Phone Number: David Guhin; Jennifer Solito 707-565-2431
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Ordinance to Uphold the Civil Rights, Dignity, Health and Safety of Our Immigrant Population and all Sonoma County Residents (Second reading)
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Adopt an Ordinance titled “Ordinance to Uphold the Civil Rights, Dignity, Health and Safety of Our Immigrant Population and all Sonoma County Residents”. (Introduced on April 7, 2026) (Second Reading)
end
Executive Summary:
On April 7, 2026, at a regular meeting, the Board of Supervisors, Board of Directors of the Sonoma County Water Agency, Board of Commissioners of the Community Development Commission, and the Board of Directors of the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District (Board) introduced an ordinance to Uphold the Civil Rights, Dignity, Health and Safety of Our Immigrant Population and all Sonoma County Residents. This Board item recommends adoption of the ordinance, incorporating the amendments that were read into the record via the first reading on April 7th. The proposed ordinance would be effective 30 days from the date of adoption.
Discussion:
Since its formation in August 2025, the Supporting Immigrant Communities Ad Hoc (Ad Hoc) has met regularly to advance key initiatives and respond to community requests to ensure that County practices and policies align with state law and best practices and to strengthen County preparedness to respond to potential immigration enforcement events, while more broadly supporting immigrant communities.
On April 7, 2026, staff provided an update to the full Board on the various recent initiatives completed by the Ad Hoc since the prior Board update. Those details can be found here:
<https://sonoma-county.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7964615&GUID=D333297F-0BA6-410D-8ACC-9CDC12CEB80E>
During the April 7, 2026 Board meeting, the Board considered, and then passed a resolution introducing, reading the title of, and waiving further reading of an Ordinance to uphold the Civil Rights, Dignity, Health and Safety of Our Immigrant Population and all Sonoma County Residents (Ordinance).
As discussed in the January 27th update, the Ad Hoc spent several months convening with the Sanctuary Coalition toward the development of a Non-Collaboration Ordinance. The Ordinance cannot legally be extended to apply to elected departments heads, such as the Sheriff, County Clerk-Recorder-Assessor, Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector or District Attorney. Due to this limitation, the Sanctuary Coalition did not support proceeding with the draft as proposed by the Ad Hoc and the initiative was paused.
The Ad Hoc subsequently revisited the concept of an Ordinance and recommended the Board consider adoption of a new County Ordinance to provide clarity and centralized information regarding County’s policies and procedures related to immigration enforcement activities. The attached proposed Ordinance memorializes the County’s current operations and confirms compliance with all applicable state laws. The Ordinance would apply to all operations under the purview of the County Board of Supervisors, and as such, does not apply to the operations of elected department heads, however such departments are still bound by applicable State law.
The goal of this Ordinance is to confirm the County’s support for the civil rights and safety of all residents, including immigrant residents, and to memorialize the steps taken by the County in support of this commitment.
The Ordinance sets forth the following:
• Section 1 sets forth the findings and purpose of the Ordinance.
• Section 2 clarifies the defined terms utilized by the Ordinance. At the April 7 hearing the Board read into the record an amendment to the Agency definition in Section 2 of the Ordinance that has been incorporated herein.
• Section 3 sets forth that the County will protect all sensitive private information, including immigration status, and may only release such information when required by law.
• Section 4 explains that the County will not allow the use of its resources, including personnel, software, other technologies, and physical space, to assist or cooperate with immigration enforcement operations unless required by law. Further, County-owned and leased property must not be used for immigration enforcement activities, staging, or other related operations. The County will clearly delineate public and non-public spaces. This was completed in 2025.
• Section 5 confirms the County will maintain public information regarding support and resources for immigrant communities, including the Support for immigrant communities website, found here: <https://sonomacounty.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/county-executives-office/projects/support-for-immigrant-communities>
• In Section 6, the County will implement training for staff regarding protocols for engaging with immigration enforcement officers at County facilities. This was completed in December 2025 and January 2026.
• In Sections 7 and 8 the County will require that departments and agencies report to the County Executive that the above training and signage have been completed and implemented. This was completed in 2025. The County as well affirms its stance against bullying, discrimination and hate violence.
• Sections 8 and 9 set forth the County’s commitment to these policies and procedures and methods for review and reporting implementation of this Ordinance.
• Sections 10 through 12 provide the effective date, that this Ordinance is consistent with applicable law, and if any section of this ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid and/or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion of this Ordinance, and finally the publication requirements for the Ordinance.
By passing this Ordinance the County seeks to ensure that these protocols remain clear and consistent should immigration enforcement activities increase during this or any future administrations.
Strategic Plan:
This item directly supports the County’s Five-year Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following pillar, goal, and objective.
Pillar: Healthy and Safe Communities
Goal: Goal 1: Expand integrated system of care to address gaps in services to the County’s most vulnerable.
Objective: Objective 2: Identify gaps in the Safety Net system of services and identify areas where departments can address those gaps directly and seek guidance from the Board when additional resources and/or policy direction is needed.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
4/7/26 - Board received an update on the status of the Ad Hoc; introduced the first reading of the attached Ordinance, and approved $1.5 million in General Fund Contingencies to support immigrant resource work.
1/27/2026 - Board received an update on the status of the Ad Hoc
<https://sonoma-county.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7824729&GUID=E931C6CB-12F3-4718-A663-7DA1E2C87421>
11/4/2025 - Provided direction to staff regarding development of a policy prohibiting specific enforcement activities on County-controlled properties - <https://sonoma-county.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7720689&GUID=007E4CB2-66D8-4792-9F4A-8A72150CB9B1>
9/23/2025 - Board reviewed draft ordinance towards implementation of SB 627. <https://sonoma-county.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7662770&GUID=A2C7F5C5-B2D9-43D4-8D3D-D7B67FD2BAD4>
1/10/2025 - Board adopted a Resolution upholding the civil rights, dignity, health, and safety of the immigrant population and all Sonoma County community members. <https://sonoma-county.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7087194&GUID=630532E8-1F20-41A1-9DF5-331527EAB540>
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY25-26 Adopted |
FY26-27 Projected |
FY27-28 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
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Fees/Other |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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General Fund Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
There are no fiscal impacts related to this action.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Ordinance
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.