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Sonoma supervisors approve Supporting Immigrant Communities ad hoc; staff to pursue urgency ordinance alongside meet‑and‑confer
Summary
The board unanimously approved a Supporting Immigrant Communities ad hoc charter and reviewed a draft urgency ordinance that would require officers in unincorporated areas to display identifying insignia; staff emphasized the ordinance is subject to meet‑and‑confer and noted similar state law (SB 627) takes effect Jan. 1, 2026.
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors on Sept. 23 approved the charter for a Supporting Immigrant Communities ad hoc and reviewed a draft urgency ordinance that would require law enforcement officers conducting operations in unincorporated areas to present identification and agency insignia.
County staff described the ad hoc as a broad, inclusive forum to engage stakeholders—community groups, labor representatives and county departments—about measures to support immigrant residents amid heightened federal enforcement. Staff noted the ad hoc has met three times and emphasized outreach will expand by topic area (housing, food, legal services) and geographic district.
The draft urgency ordinance presented to the board would prohibit officers from concealing identity while operating in unincorporated areas and require visible identification. Staff and supervisors emphasized the ordinance is subject to the applicable meet‑and‑confer process with unions. Staff also noted Senate Bill 627, a state law with similar provisions, will take effect Jan. 1, 2026, and recommended coordinating county meet‑and‑confer with implementation of SB 627.
Vice Chair Hermosillo (board representative to the ad hoc) and Chair Hopkins were named as the board’s ad hoc representatives. Several supervisors stressed the board cannot direct the independently elected Sonoma County Sheriff regarding policy for his deputies; staff reiterated that meet‑and‑confer is intended to protect ongoing public‑safety operations while addressing community concerns about outside law‑enforcement personnel operating in the county.
Supervisor Gore, who moved the action, said the ad hoc’s intent is to ‘‘support and uplift’’ immigrant communities and to both clarify what the board can do and coordinate stakeholders to fill service gaps. The motion carried unanimously by roll call.
What’s next: staff will continue meet‑and‑confer with labor groups, broaden stakeholder outreach by topic and bring proposed ordinance language back for the board’s consideration pending meet‑and‑confer outcomes.
