REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
OF THE SONOMA CITY COUNCIL
City Council Chambers
cigy Council: 177 First Street West
38”“ '-°""ev "”3Y°’ Wednesday, August 16, 2023
John Gurney, Vice Mayor
Jack Ding _ Patricia Farrar—Rivas 5500 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
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Mayor Lowe, Council Member Ding, Vice Mayor Gurney, Council Member Farrar-Rivas, Council Member Wellander
REPORT ON CLOSED SESSION
There was no Closed Session held.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion by Council Member Ding, seconded by Vice Mayor Gurney, to approve the agenda as presented with items 6.1 and 6.2 being interchanged. Motion carried unanimously.
1. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Tarney Baldinger, Jim Silverman, and Henri Montgomery Yale provided public comments.
2. MEETING DEDICATIONS
Council Member Farrar-Rivas and Vice Mayor Lowe dedicated the meeting to Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, and all those affected by the recent wildfires in Hawaii.
3. COUNCILMEMBERS’ REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Committee Reassignments:
Council Member Ding and Council Member Wellander will be swapping roles on the Sonoma Continuum of Care Board moving fonNard. Additionally, Council Member Ding willbecome an alternate to the Finance Committee so that Council Member Farrar-Rivas can become a regular member of that committee. Lastly, Mayor Lowe will work with the City Manager to create a position for one of the Council Members to be assigned to be a liaison to the Sister Cities moving fon/vard as well.
Council Member Ding thanked everyone who worked on the preparation and execution of the Mayors and Councilmembers Association Board meeting event last Thursday. Council Member Ding also reported that he attended the California American Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus Institute threeday training in Sacramento earlier this week.
Council Member Farrar-Rivas attended a Sonoma Clean Power meeting on August 3, 2023. On August 4, 2023, Council Member Farrar-Rivas, City Manager Guhin, and Rebecca Hermosillo from Congressman Mike Thompson’s office had their initial meeting with Jeanette Rodriguez-Chien, the new Superintendent of Sonoma Valley Unified School District. On August 10, 2023, Council Member FarrarRivas attended a Sonoma Valley Library Advisory Committee meeting as well as the Mayors and Councilmembers Association Board meeting event that evening. Lastly, she was able to be ajudge for the annual Zucchini Races held at the Sonoma Plaza on August 15, 2023.
On August 7, 2023, Council Member Wellander attended a Water Advisory Committee meeting.
Additionally, he also attended a Continuum of Care Committee meeting.
Mayor Lowe shared that she was also a judge at the annual Zucchini Races held on the Sonoma Plaza on August 15, 2023. Mayor Lowe thanked staff for a successful Mayors and Councilmembers Association Board meeting event held on August 10, 2023.
4. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
City Manager Guhin provided an update on the Highway 12 and Verano safety lights which are now active. Mr. Guhin also thanked the Sunrise Rotarian Group for coming out on Saturday to help clean up Depot Park. He noted that there are plans to schedule future “clean-up” days for the various cemeteries and parks in town; more information would be posted on the City's website. City Manager Guhin also provided a reminder that there will be a bench dedication ceremony on August 18, 2023, in front of Readers’ Books, for U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limon. Lastly, in honor of the City's Ukrainian guests Anatolyi and Lubya Leontyev, the City is flying the Ukraine flag in front of City Hall through Friday.
5. CITYATTORNEY COMMENTS
None.
6. PRESENTATIONS
Item 6.1: Proclamation in Honor of Womens Equality Day - August 26, 2023 Item 6.2: Recognition of Sonoma Sister Cities Association Kaniv, Ukraine Committee on Receiving the Prestigious 2023 Sister Cities International Innovation in Humanitarian Assistance Award and Introduction of Ukrainian Guests Anatolyi and Lubya Leontyev Public Comment: Tarney Baldinger
7. CONSENT CALENDAR — CITY COUNCIL
Motion by Council Member Wellander, seconded by Council Member Farrar-Rivas, to approve the Consent Calendar as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
Item 7.1: Waive further reading and Authorize Introduction andlor Adoption of Ordinances by Title Only. (Standard procedural action - no backup information provided)
Item 7.2: Receive Minutes ofthe Regular Meeting of August 2, 2023 (Rebekah Barr, MMC,City Clerk)
Action: Minutes were received.
Item 7.3: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Contract with AECOM to Prepare Appropriate Environmental Review Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for the 4th Street East & Brazil Street Hillside Residential Projects (Kristina Tierney, Associate Planner) Action: Adopted as Resolution 58-2023.
Item 7.4: Appoint Alternate Donna Dambach as one of the City's Regular Members of the Sonoma Valley Citizens Advisory Commission (Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk) Action: Donna Dambach was appointed as one of the City’s regular members of the Sonoma Valley Citizens’ Advisory Commission.
Item 7.5: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Purchase Agreement for a New 2023 Chevy Tahoe 2WD Police Package Vehicle/Command Vehicle, in an Amount not to Exceed $60,000 as Approved in FY 23/24 Budget (Brandon Cutting, Police Chief)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 59-2023.
Item 7.6: Adopt a Resolution Agreeing to Reimburse the County Sheriff for its Expenses Incurred in Executing and Performing Under a Two-Year Contract with FLOCK Safety for Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) Products, in an Amount Not to Exceed $57,000 Annually as Approved in FY 23/24 Budget (Brandon Cutting, Police Chief) Action: Adopted as Resolution 60-2023.
8. PUBLIC HEARING
None.
9. REGULAR CALENDAR — CITY COUNCIL
None.
10. COMMISSION AND COMMITTEE ROSTER
One position and one alternate position are still vacant on the Sonoma Valley Citizens Advisory Commission.
The regular City Council meeting scheduled for Wednesday, September 6, 2023, has been canceled. The next regularly scheduled City Council meeting will be held on Monday, September 18, 2023.
11. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Lowe adjourned the meeting at 7:12 pm.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and regularly adopted at a regular meeting of th: Sam? City Council on the 18”’day of September 2023.
Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk