The U.S. Coast Guard Training Center, west of Petaluma, is the largest on the west coast and trains recruits to be medics, information and electronics technicians, operations specialists and much more. The training center is also home to the Coast Guard Leadership Development Center's Chief Petty Officer Academy.
The city clerk is a vital but often misunderstood position in city government. In Petaluma, City Clerk Claire Cooper, who was appointed in 2005, is the go-to-person for any information about upcoming or past City Council meetings, resolutions and ordinances.
The city's website offers live streaming of City Council meetings as well as video of past meetings, dating back to 2005. It also has a database of all city decisions and ordinances. In addition, the City Clerk's office accepts applications for passports and registers domestic partners.
Petaluma Transit is a community-based transit service, designed to meet the public transportation needs for the people of Petaluma. Petaluma Transit is operated by the City of Petaluma and is a division of the Department of Public Works. The city provides both public and paratransit transportation within Petaluma city limits at a cost of $1 per ride. All buses carry transit schedules, but you may request one by calling 707-778-4460 or by visiting City Hall, the Public Library, and various other locations throughout Petaluma. The transit schedule is also on the Web site.
Petaluma Refuse & Recycling is a local service provider affiliated with North Bay Corporation/Redwood Empire Disposal. It provides both residential and commercial services, debris and storage boxes and distribution of comprehensive disposal and recycling guides on a semi-annual basis. The website allows customers to pay bills online.
The Petaluma Police Department is headed by Chief Dan Fish, a 20-year veteran of the force. The agency has 67 officers, sergeants, lieutenants and deputy chiefs. The department has traffic officers, gang enforcement and other special divisions along with its very own SWAT team and a mobile command unit.
The Department of Water Resources and Conservation manages the city's water from the moment it's delivered to homes and businesses to when wastewater is collected at area pump stations and treated.
Afterwards, it is released to the Petaluma River during the winter, and recycled during the summer for irrigation of 800 acres of agricultural land, turf and one vineyard.
Customers can access the agency's website for questions about their water usage, rates and to pay their bill.