Solano County
The County's rich and colorful history started with two local political figures, General Mariano Vallejo and Dr. Robert Semple. Dr. Semple was the founder of the City of Benicia. General Vallejo was the founder of the City of Vallejo and was responsible for drawing boundary lines for the State's original 27 counties. The County was named after fierce Suisun Native American Chief Sem Yeto, baptized Francisco Solano. Solano County is a special place, with its inviting mix of rural and suburban lifestyles and easy access to all of the urban amenities associated with two of the nation's most dynamic metropolitan regions. Situated midway between San Francisco and Sacramento - the State capitol, Solano County is home to rolling hillsides, waterfronts and fertile farmland. County residents can enjoy day trips to the San Francisco Bay area, Lake Tahoe region and the Napa and Sonoma Valleys. Thanks to a mild climate, plenty of open space, proximity to lakes, rivers and mountains, residents can enjoy year round outdoor recreational activities like fishing, boating, skiing, hiking and biking. The first inhabitants of Solano County were Patwin Indians who lived and hunted in California's inland valleys and the delta thousands of years before Europeans arrived. The Spanish dispersed the Indians and smallpox epidemics took their toll. Settlers began arriving in the 1840s and the towns began popping up about 1850. Solano County has long been an agricultural county and that tradition continues. Today, the 826-square-mile county is also a major bedroom community for workers who commute to Sacramento, Contra Costa County and the Bay Area. Solano County weather means dry, hot summers and cool winters. Temperatures in the 100s are common in July and August. In the average winter, about 19 inches of rain falls. The county comprises seven incorporated cities: Vacaville, Fairfield, Suisun City, Dixon, Rio Vista, Vallejo and Benicia. At a Glance Population (2007 estimate by the California Department of Finance): 424,823 Race (Numbers provided by U.S. Census Bureau and because of overlapping categories do not reflect total population): White: 208,664; Hispanic or Latino: 78,875; Black or African American: 53,309; American Indian and Alaska Native: 3,778; Asian: 59,286; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: 2,457; Some other race: 48,586; Two or more races: 20,054 Age: Under 5 years: 27,783; 18 and older: 284,704; 65 years and over: 40,560; Median age: 35.1 Housing Units: 141,837 Median Household Income: $62,742 Registered Voters: Total (as of Jan. 4, 2008): 165,261; Democrats: 80,285; Republicans: 46,759; Non-partisan: 31,779 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County of Solano, Solano County Registrar of Voters Major Employers: Kaiser Permanente: 3,262; NorthBay Medical Center: 1,480; Six Flags Discovery Kingdom: 1,500; ALZA Corporation: 1,000; Albertson's Distribution Center: 450; Sutter Solano Medical Center: 67; Westamerica Bancorporation: 542; Genentech: 950; Valero Refining Company: 480; Anheuser-Busch Brewery: 465; CSK Auto Incorporated: 400; TIMEC Co.: 400; Wal Mart: 349; Jelly Belly: 400; Mervyn's: 367 Board of Supervisors The five-member Board of Supervisors sets policy for county offices and land use in the unincorporated area and enacts ordinances. The board meets the first, second and fourth Tuesdays of each month in its chambers at the Solano County Government Center, 675 Texas St. Supervisors are elected by district to four-year terms. They include: • Barbara Kondylis, District 1, term expires January 2009: 553-5363• Chairman John Silva, District 2, term expires January 2009: 553-5364 and 784-3031
• Jim Spering, District 3, term expires January 2011: 784-6136
• Vice Chairman John Vasquez, District 4, term expires January 2011: 784-6129
• Chairman Mike Reagan, District 5, term expires in January 2009: 784-6130 Information on agenda items is available from the board clerk and on the Internet at www.solanocounty.com. The County Board of Supervisors can be contacted in the County Administration Center, located at 675 Texas St., Suite 6500, Fairfield, CA 94533, or by calling (707) 784-6100. Correspondence should be addressed: Solano County Board of Supervisors, 675 Texas St., Suite 6500, Fairfield, 94533-6342. Planning Commission The Solano County Planning Commission reviews development plans and related environmental studies and acts on a variety of requests for conditional use permits, zoning changes and general plan amendment requests. Planning commissioners serve four-year terms and are appointed by individual supervisors. Current planning commissioners are: • Jennifer Barton, District 3, term expires January 2011
• Fred Barnes, District 4, term expires January 2011
• Dan Mahoney, District 5, term expires January 2009
• Shawn McAndrew, District 1, term expires January 2009
• John Moore, District 2, term expires January 2009 Commissioners can be contacted through the Resource Management Department, which handles planning and zoning issues: 784-6765. Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) The Solano County Local Agency Formation Commission has the final say on municipal annexation requests and requests to form or dissolve special districts. The commission is made up of five members: John Saunderson, chairperson and the commission's public members: Supervisor Jim Spering and Supervisor John Silva, Vacaville Mayor Len Augustine and Dixon City Mayor Mary Ann Courville. Alternates are Nancy Shopay, Mayor Eddie Woodruff and Supervisor Mike Reagan. LAFCO members serve four-year terms that end in May, unless they leave their elected office, in which case they must step down from their LAFCO post. Commissioners can be contacted through the LAFCO office, headed by Executive Director Shaun Pritchard: 438-1785. County offices • Agricultural Commissioner and Sealer of Weights and Measures: 784-1312
• Animal Control: 421-7486
• Assessor/Recorder Marc Tonnesen: 784-6200
• Auditor-Controller Simona Padilla-Scholtens: 784-6280
• Child Support Services Pamela Posehn: 784-7210
• Conflict Defender Jeffrey Thoma: 784-6755
• Cooperative Extension Carole Paterson: 784-1317
• Coroner Gary Stanton: 421-7500
• County Administrator Michael D. Johnson: 784-610
• County Counsel Dennis Bunting: 784-6140
• District Attorney David W. Paulson: 784-6800
• Fairgrounds: 551-2000
• First Five Solano Children & Families Commission Christina Arrostato: 784-1332
• General Services Spencer Bole: 784-7900
• Grand Jury: 421-7837
• Health and Social Services Patrick Duterte: 784-8400
• Human Resources Donald W. Turko: 784-6170
• Library Director Ann Cousineau: 421-6510
• Lake Solano reservations: 1-530-795-2990
• Office of Emergency Services: 784-1600
• Probation Chief Probation Officer Isabelle Voit: 784-7564
• Public Defender Jeffrey Thoma: 784-6710
• Public Works: 784-6060
• Registrar of Voters/Elections Ira Rosenthal: 784-6675
• Resource Management Birgitta Corsello: 784-6765
• Solano County Public Guardian: 421-6595
• Sheriff Gary Stanton: 421-700
• Treasurer/Tax Collector/County Clerk Charles Lomeli: 784-6295
• Veterans Services Director William Reardon: 784-6590 Special districts More than 40 special districts provide services in the county. The districts were established to light street lamps, fight fires, and to pay for landscaping, recreational facilities, library services, and water delivery for domestic and irrigation uses. Cemetery districts pay for graveyard maintenance. Some of the major special districts in unincorporated Solano County include: • Greater Vallejo Recreation District: 648-4600
• Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District: 429-0923
• Suisun Resource Conservation District: 425-9302
• Rural North Vacaville Water District: 784-6064
• Solano Irrigation District: 448-6847
• Solano County Mosquito Abatement District: 437-1116 Adult Services Counseling: • Solano County Mental Health Crisis Services: 428-1131
• Solano County Mental Health, Outpatient Services, 2101 Courage Drive, Fairfield: 784-2080; Vallejo: 228 Broadway Street, 553-5331
• Solano Substance Abuse Services: 784-2220
• Solano County Dental Clinic: 784-2120
• Solano County Family Health Services: (Vallejo) 553-5509 and (Fairfield) 784-2010 Child Services • Solano County Adoptions: 421-7961
• Solano County California children's medical services: (800) 826-3452, 784-8650
• Solano County Child Abuse/ Neglect: 1-800-544-8696
• Solano County Child Health and Disability Prevention Program: 784-8670
• Solano County Child Welfare Services: 784-8791
• Solano County Communicable Disease Reporting: 553-5555
• Solano County Dental Clinic: 784-2120
• Solano County Fairfield Children Mental Health Clinic: 399-4900
• Solano County Family Health Services: (Vallejo) 553-5509 and (Fairfield) 784
• Solano County Foster Home Licensing: 421-7961
• Solano County Maternal Child and Adolescence Health: Women, Children, Teen: 1-800-794-7422
• Solano County Public Health Nursing: Fairfield; 784-8070, Vallejo; 553-5402 Employment and Eligibility Services • General Information about County & Community Resources – 211
• CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, CMSP, Food Stamps: 784-8050 (Fairfield) and 469-4500 (Vacaville)
• CalWORKs, Food Stamps: 553-5681 (Vallejo) and CalWORKs only: 553-5777 (North Vallejo)
• Medi-Cal, CMSP: 553-5787 (Vallejo)
• General Assistance: 553-5234 (all areas) Older adult Services • Adult Protective Services (APS) 24-Hour: 1-800-850-0012
• In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Intake: 784-8259
• IHSS Provider Line: 784-8990
• Public Authority: 738-1773
• Public Guardian/Administrator/ Conservator: 784-8920 County fire districts In unincorporated Solano County, fire services are provided by the Cordelia Fire Protection District, Dixon Fire Protection District, Vacaville Fire Protection District, Montezuma Hills Fire Protection District, Ryer Island Fire Protection District, Suisun Fire Protection District, and East Vallejo Fire Protection District. Additional information, including addresses and telephone numbers, for these districts may be found in listings under the city which they protect. Business licenses Licenses to operate a business in the unincorporated area of Solano County may be obtained from the Resource Management Office, 675 Texas St, Suite 5500, Fairfield. The office is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday: 784-6765. Certificates Birth certificates: If ordered by mail: $19; marriage certificates: $15; death records: $14. They are available at the Solano County Recorder's Office, 675 Texas St., Fairfield: 784-6294. The office is open from 8 a.m to 4 p.m. weekdays; recording ends at 3:30 p.m. If ordered by mail, please go to www.solanocounty.com for instructions and the application form. Building permits The cost for a building permit in the unincorporated areas of Solano County depends on the cost and complexity of the work being done. To review an existing permit, or apply for a new one, go to the office of Resource Management-Building Safety Division, 675 Texas Street, Fairfield. Hours are 8 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday: 784-6765. Airport The county-owned Nut Tree Airport is located at 301 County Airport Road off East Monte Vista Avenue in Vacaville. Unincorporated communities Some communities within Solano County have chosen not to organize into separate, formal cities. County government agencies provide most services for these communities. • Elmira, a small community at Vacaville's southeastern edge. Mostly older homes. • Allendale, a rural residential area north of Vacaville. Most properties are 5 acres or larger. • Green Valley, an affluent residential area outside Fairfield. Includes the only private golf course/country club in northern Solano County. • Collinsville, a rural delta hamlet at Solano County's southern border. Planned to become a deep-water port someday. Housing aid and information Northern Solano County Association of Realtors: Established in 1959, the association has about 925 member Realtors and is affiliated with the California Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors. The association produces listing information for the area. The association's address is 3690 Hilborn Road, Fairfield 94533: 422-5306 (phone); 422-9140 (fax). Solano Affordable Housing Foundation: Formed in 1990, the foundation is designed to promote and develop affordable housing projects in Solano County, as well as coordinate local, state and federal housing development funds. The foundation's address is 2750 North Texas Street Suite 100-D, Fairfield 94533: 422-5919 (phone); 422-0631 (fax). Sheriff's Office The California State Constitution first established the Office of the Sheriff in 1850. The citizens of each county elect their sheriff, who holds a term of office of four years. Gary R. Stanton is the current elected sheriff and his term of office expires on January 1, 2011. The Solano County Sheriff's Office is a large department consisting of 523 employees, 29 reserve peace officers and approximately 101 citizen volunteers (43 ESERT volunteers, 26 Dive volunteers, 12 OES volunteers, 20 religious volunteers). The Sheriff's primary responsibility is the provision of law enforcement and crime prevention services in the unincorporated areas of Solano County and the custody of criminal offenders. The Sheriff serves civil process countywide, maintains a warrant repository for all county law enforcement departments, and provides courtroom security services and the transportation of incarcerated defendants for multiple county courts. During times of emergency the sheriff manages mutual assistance and mutual aid, providing additional law enforcement resources as needed for all areas of the county. The Sheriff manages two jail facilities housing approximately 1,100 inmates. The Sheriff's main facility is located at 500 Union Avenue, First Floor, in Fairfield, and the Sheriff's Sentenced Detention Facility is located at 2500 Claybank Road in Fairfield. A third facility dedicated to the temporary holding of criminal defendants appearing for trial is located at 321 Tuolumne Street in Vallejo. The sheriff's Emergency Communications Center, located at the downtown Fairfield facility, dispatches sheriff's deputies, reserve deputies and volunteers throughout the county. The Emergency Communications Center also provides contracted dispatch services for rural fire protection districts and three city police departments. In recent years the County of Solano has consolidated the offices of Coroner, Marshall and the Office of Emergency Services under the Sheriff. • Dispatch Center and non-emergency calls: 421-7090 and hearing impaired
• Office of Emergency Services: 784-1600
• General Information: 421-7000
• Administrative Office: 421-7040
• Sheriff Gary Stanton: 421-7000
• Undersheriff Thomas Ferrara: 421-7047
• Director of Administrative Services Michael Medvedoff: 421-7048
• Investigations: 421-7050
• Civil Bureau: 421-7020
• Records/Warrants: 421-7010
• Personnel/Training: 421-7070
• Executive Offices: 421-7030
• County Jail (main branch, downtown Fairfield): 421-7100
• Jail Medical: 421-7150
• Jail Administration: 421-7130
• Solano County Sentenced Detention Facility, Claybank Road: 421-7180
• Work Furlough: 421-7183
• Vallejo Court Holding Facility: 553-5201
• Drug tip hotline: 1-800-734-3784
• Coroner's office: 421-7500 Probation The Probation Department protects the community by conducting investigations and providing recommendations for the court; enforcing court orders; pursuing victim restoration and advocacy; facilitating rehabilitation of offenders; and providing safe, secure, effective detention and treatment programs. The department provides services to adult and juvenile offenders, and operates a 90 bed juvenile detention facility, 30 bed residential treatment program, and 60 bed boys camp. In addition, the County Office of Family Violence Prevention is part of the department. • Solano County Probation Department Main Office is located at 475 Union Avenue, Fairfield, 784-7600. Chief Probation Officer Isabelle Voit: 784-7564. Chief Deputy Joel Keller: 784-7564. • Vallejo Branch Office, 355 Tuolumne St.: 553-5531. • Solano County Juvenile Detention Facility, 740 Beck Avenue, Fairfield: 784-6570. Superintendent Rick Vaccaro. • Fouts Springs Youth Facility, P.O. Box 189, Stonyford, CA 95979: (530)963-3101. Manager Bruce Lillis. • Office of Family Violence Prevention, 475 Union Ave, Fairfield: 784-7789. Carolyn Thomas-Wold, Family Violence Prevention Officer. Office of Education Offices for the Solano County Office of Education are at 5100 Business Center Drive, Fairfield, 94534-1658: 399-4400 (phone), 863-4175 (fax). Web site address: www.solanocoe.net. The Solano County Office of Education oversees programs for special education, vocational education and alternative education. It also provides business oversight and instructional support to school districts. The County Board of Education usually meets the second Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. in the Solano County of Education Boardroom, Fairfield. Trustees: • Larry Asera: 644-0888
• Mayrene Bates: 426-0748
• Maria Kennedy: 399-4402
• John Galvan: 745-3362
• Douglas Ford: 678-9495
• Ray Silva: 864-0491
• Rozzana Verder-Aliga: 399-4402
• Superintendent Dee Alarcon: 399-4401
Sites and principals or directors:
• Golden Hills Education Center, 2460 Clay Bank Road, Fairfield, Janet Harden: 399-4800
• Gomer School, 4522 Abernathy Road, Fairfield, Ken Scarberry: 438-3674
• Irene Larsen Center, 1707 California Drive, Vacaville, Penee Hughes: 448-1615
• Juvenile Detention Facility: 740 Beck Avenue, Fairfield, Rick Vaccaro: 784-6570
• T.C. McDaniel Skill Center, 1707 Enterprise Dr., Fairfield, Darlene Perez: 425-1017
• Me Too Program, 1895 Woolner Ave., Fairfield, Marianne Duncan: 429-5075
• T.C. McDaniel Skill Center, 1895 Woolner Ave., Fairfield 94533: 422-3418 Solano Community College For Solano Community College, See SUISUN CITY Seniors Seniors groups that serve Solano County. (See individual cities for specific services within each city): • NorthBay Alzheimer's Resource Center provides information and assistance to Alzheimer's patients, those with other dementia, and their families. The center is at NorthBay VacaValley Hospital, 1000 Nut Tree Road, Vacaville 95687: 454-3112. • Meals on Wheels of Solano County Inc. is a nonprofit agency which serves meals to homebound seniors covering all of Solano County with the exception of Benicia. Meals on Wheels is at 95 Marina Center, Suisun City 94585: 426-3079 or 1-800-788-5114. • Long-Term Care Ombudsman investigates and resolves complaints concerning nursing home care: 644-4194. • Social Security and Medicare Eligibility Information: 1-800-772-1212. • Solano County Adult Protective Services receives reports of elder abuse and offers information and referral and in-home support: 784-8259. • Solano County Communicable Disease Reporting: 553-5555. • Solano County Public Authority maintains a registry of people interested in providing care to seniors or diabled adults in the In-Home Supportive Services Program: 438-1773 • Solano County Public Administrator/Conservator/Guardian: 784-8920. Solano County Public Authority maintains a registry of people interested in providing care to seniors or disabled adults in the In-Home Supportive Services Program: 438-1773. • Solano County Public Health Nursing: Fairfield; 784-8070, Vallejo; 553-5402. • Elder Care Locator offers a nationwide service to help families and friends find information about community services for seniors: 1-800-677-1116. Parks • Lake Solano Park: Pleasants Valley Road and Highway 128, near Winters • Sandy Beach Park: Beach Drive, Rio Vista • Lynch Canyon Open Space Park: Lynch Canyon Road off American Canyon Road in unincorporated Solano County; for more information call Solano County Land Trust at 421-0150 • Grizzly Island Wildlife Area: West H Street and Parkgreen Drive, Suisun Courts/Justice System Solano County's courthouses are in Vallejo and Fairfield. The Vallejo courthouse is located at 321 Toulumne St., and the Fairfield courthouse is located at 600 Union Ave. Judges and their departments: • Dept. I Judge Paul Beeman: 561-7801
• Dept. II Judge William Harrison: 207-7302
• Dept. III Judge Harry Kinnicutt: 561-7803
• Dept. IV Visiting Judge Dwight Ely: 207-7304
• Dept. V Judge Cynda Riggins Unger: 207-7305
• Dept. VI Judge Scott D. Daniels: 207-7306
• Dept. VII Unassigned: 207-7307
• Dept. VIII Judge Wendy Getty: 207-7308
• Dept. IX Presiding Judge Ramona Garrett: 207-7309
• Dept. X Judge Michael Mattice: 207-7310
• Dept. XI Judge David E. Power (presiding judge): 207-7311
• Dept. XII Judge Allan Carter: 561-7812
• Dept. XIV Judge Garry Ichikawa: 207-7314
• Dept. XV Judge Robert Bowers: 561-7815
• Dept. XVI Judge Scott Kays: 207-7316
• Dept. XVII Judge Peter Foor: 207-7317
• Dept. XVIII Judge Donna Stashyn: 207-7318
• Dept. XX Commissioner David Haet: 561-7820
• Dept. XXI Commissioner Barbara James: 207-7321
• Dept. XXII Family Law Commissioner Alberta Chew: 207-7322
• Dept. XXIII Commissioner Raymond Wieser: 207-7323
• Dept. XXV Commissioner Robert Fracchia: 207-7325 For a tape of tentative civil law and motion rulings on next day's hearings, call 421-7849. The rulings are adopted if no one appears to object. The rulings are also available for review at www.solanocourts.com as is basic information on local criminal and civil cases. Phone Numbers These are some frequently needed numbers for courts: • Jury Services: 561-7850, 207-7350
• Solano County grand jury: 207-7302
• Court Executive Offices: 207-7370
• Traffic Division: 207-7360
• Small claims: 207-7335; Vallejo: 561-7835
• Civil Division: 207-7330
• Criminal division: 207-7380
• Vallejo Branch – Solano Justice Center: 561-7800
• Small claims: 561-7835
• Criminal division: 561-7880
• Court administration: 561-7870 Beeper judges Operating through local police agencies, lawyers acting as pro tem judges can be contacted during nonbusiness hours to sign emergency protective orders when a judge is unavailable. These are emergency protective orders, for short-term help with an immediate threat of violence only, and must be followed up with the more formal temporary restraining order, obtained from a judge. Domestic violence Solano County domestic violence and sexual assault programs: • SafeQUEST Center for domestic violence: 425-3422
• Solano County Mental Health Crisis Services: 784-1131
• Women Escaping a Violent Environment: (916) 920-2952 Superior Court clerk's office To request a restraining order, obtain the forms from the records division at 600 Union Ave. in Fairfield. Paying fines It is not necessary to appear in person at the Hall of Justice for all traffic fines, small claims fees or criminal bail forfeitures. Visa and Discover Card payments are accepted through the mail and by telephone, and blanks are provided on courtesy bail notices for credit card numbers. • To make payments for criminal fines: 207-7380 • For payments to small claims: 207-7335 • For payments to traffic: 421-7460, Vallejo: 553-5361 • To make credit card payments in the Vallejo courthouse, call the individual department involved. Legal help For legal help if you cannot afford a lawyer: • Legal Services of Northern California offers free legal help with landlord/tenant problems,eviction notices, public health benefits: 643-0054. • For questions on how to press charges or for information on criminal issues, call the Victim Witness Program of the District Attorney's Office: 421-6844. • Free lawyer consultation and referral at the John F. Kennedy Library in Vallejo from 6 to 8 p.m. the first and third Thursday of each month. A line for the service generally starts before 4 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis and only a few can be selected for consultation. For more information call the library: 553-5568. Juvenile Detention Facility Located at 740 Beck Avenue in Fairfield, only parents and legal guardians are permitted to visit. Visiting hours are on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday; times vary based on living unit. Specific schedules are available at the Probation department Web site at wwww.solanocounty.com/probation or by calling the number below. • General information: 784-6570 • Administration: 784-6573 Probation Department Located at 475 Union Avenue, in Fairfield • Chief Probation Officer Isabelle Voit: 784-7545 Solano County Jails Solano County has two jail facilities, both in Fairfield. For visiting hours or other information, call the main jail numbers: • Fairfield Main Jail, 500 Union Ave.: 421-7110 • Clay Bank Facility, 2500 Claybank Road: 421-7180 To determine what, if any, bail is set for a particular inmate, call the jail booking office: 421-7110. Many court services can be found at the Solano County Justice Center located on Union Avenue in Fairfield. Grand Jury Solano County, like every county in the state, has a grand jury that serves as a watchdog over the workings of local government. The Solano County grand jury has 19 members who are chosen randomly from a field of candidates nominated by local political leaders or by application submission. Grand jurors can serve two-year terms. The activities of the group are overseen by the presiding judge of the county. The grand jury receives legal advice from the county counsel's office on civil matters, and from the district attorney on criminal matters. The group issues an annual report at the end of the year, as well as updates on its activities during the course of the year when it sees fit. Solano County Grand Jury Administrative Assistant, Jamielynne Harrison, can be reached at 207-7302. The current Grand Jury panel includes Karl Uebel (Foreman), Donal Basso, Ronald Bryant, Bettye Gonzales, Jan Hewitt, Frank Capriato, Judy Calipo, Carol Casaba, Bruce DuClair, Sandra Hollinshead, Bunyan Johnson, Michael Gorelick, Phil Carrubba, Joe Moore, Thomas Johnson, Sherry Kelly, Thomas Kreisman, Julie Majewski, Ralph Petty. Veterans Office • 675 Texas St., Suite 4700, Fairfield: 784-6590 • 401 Amador St., Vallejo: 553-5261 Voter information The Solano County Registrar of Voters is Ira Rosenthal. The Registrar's office is located at 675 Texas St. in Fairfield. Election Manager: Deborah Seiler. Call 784-6675 for more information.
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