THE
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
OF THE SONOMA CITY COUNCIL
CALIFORNIA City Council Chambers
City Council: 177 First Street West
Sandra Lowe, Mayor Wednesday, March 1, 2023
John Gurney, Vice Mayor
Jack Ding
Patricia Farrar-Rivas 6:00 PM Regular Meeting
Ron Wellander
6:00 P.M. - REGULAR MEETING
CONVENE, CALL TO ORDER, & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Lowe called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm.
PUBLIC COMMENT PROCESS FOR ZOOM ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS
Public Comment Process for ZOOM Attendance at Meetings
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Mayor Lowe, Council Member Ding, Council Member Farrar-Rivas, Council Member Wellander, Vice Mayor Gurney
REPORT ON CLOSED SESSION
There were no reportable actions taken in Closed Session.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion by Council Member Farrar-Rivas, seconded by Council Member Ding, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
1. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Gil Latimer and Josette Brose-Eichar provided public comments.
2. COUNCILMEMBERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Council Member Wellander reported that he attended his first Sonoma County Continuum of Care (CoC) meeting on February 21, 2021.
Council Member Ding also attended the Sonoma County Continuum of Care (CoC) meeting held on 2/21/2023.
Council Member Farrar-Rivas reported that she attended her first Sonoma Valley Citizens Advisory Commission (SVCAC).
Mayor Lowe reported that she attended her first Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) meeting today, 3/1/2023.
3. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Interim City Manager Linder provided an update on the women's public restrooms in the Plaza as well as an update on the strategic planning process surrounding homelessness.
4. CITY ATTORNEY COMMENTS
None.
5. MEETING DEDICATIONS
Mayor Lowe dedicated the meeting to Fred Ross.
6. PRESENTATIONS
Proclamation Proclaiming March 2023 as American Red Cross Month in the City of Sonoma (Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk)
7. CONSENT CALENDAR - CITY COUNCIL
Motion by Council Member Ding, seconded by Vice Mayor Gurney, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
Public Comment: David Eichar
Item 7.1: Waive further reading and Authorize Introduction and/or Adoption of Ordinances by Title Only. (Standard procedural action - no backup information provided)
Item 7.2: Adopt an Ordinance Amending the Sonoma Municipal Code Amending Title 19, Chapter 19.12 (Streetscape) to add new Sections 19.12.030 (Fire Apparatus Access Road Standards), 19.12.010 (Private Road and Driveway Standards); Removing Section 19.48.100 (Driveways); and Amending Chapter 19.92 (Definitions) to Align Roadway Standards with the California Fire Code as Amended and Adopted by the City Council, and Clarify Various Definitions Related to Development Projects and Finding the Proposed Amendments are Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Pursuant to Section 15061(B)(3) - General Rule - of the CEQA Guidelines (Kristina Tierney, Associate Planner)
Action: Adopted as Ordinance #02-2023.
Item 7.3: Adopt an Ordinance Amending the Sonoma Municipal Code Amending Title 19, Section 19.10.020 (B)(3) (Residential Component) and Section 19.010.020 (C)(2) (Residential Component) to the City of Sonoma Municipal Code and Finding this Action is Exempt from Further Environmental Review Under the General Rule in TELETE California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) That CEQA Only Applies to Projects that have the Potential for Causing a Significant Effect on the Environment (Kristina Tierney, Associate Planner) Action: Adopted as Ordinance #03-2023.
Item 7.4: Receive Status Report on Funding Update for the City's Homelessness Consultant Andrew Hening Consulting LLC (Lisa Janson, Senior Management Analyst) Action: Homelessness consultant status report was received Item 7.5: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the Upgrade of One (1) Maintenance Worker I| Position to a Senior Maintenance Worker Position with a Mid-Year Budget Adjustment (Michael Berger, Public Works Director/City Engineer)
Action: Adopted as Resolution #14-2023.
8. PUBLIC HEARING
None.
9. REGULAR CALENDAR - CITY COUNCIL
Item 9.1: Part One of Three Reports: Receive and Discuss Annual Reports From City of Sonoma Community Services Providers (Lisa Janson, Senior Management Analyst) Action: Annual reports were received.
Public Comment: Michael Heffler, Erin McTaggart, Dave Mahoney, Wolfgang Kurz, Claire Solot, and Sinjin Bain.
Item 9.2: Discussion, Consideration and Possible Action to Adopt a Resolution Approving a New Job Classification and Salary Range of a Community Development Director in the FY23/24 Budget and Directing the Interim City Manager to Initiate the Recruitment Process (Mark Linder, Interim City Manager)
Action: Adopted as Resolution #15-2023.
Motion by Council Member Farrar-Rivas, Seconded by Vice Mayor Gurney, to Adopt a Resolution Approving a New Job Classification and Salary Range of a Community Development Director in the FY23/24 Budget and Directing the Interim City Manager to Initiate the Recruitment Process. Motion carried unanimously.
10. COMMISSION AND COMMITTEE ROSTER Informational only; no action will be taken Mayor Lowe asked Council to select a commission to be a liaison to moving forward. Below are the selections made:
Council Member Wellander Planning Commission
Council Member Farrar-Rivas Climate Action Commission
Vice Mayor Gurney Traffic Safety Committee
Council Member Ding Design Review & Historical Preservation Commission Mayor Lowe Cultural & Fine Arts Commission
11. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Lowe adjourned the meeting at 8:00 pm.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and regularly adopted at a regular meeting of the Sonoma City Council on the 15" day of March 2023.
Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk