REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
OF THE SONOMA CITY COUNCIL
City Council Chambers
cig Council: 177 First Street West
33”“ L°""ev Mayo’ Wednesday, November 15, 2023
John Gurney, Vice Mayor
Jack Ding
Patricia Farrar-Rivas
Ron Wellander
6:00 PM Regular Meeting
6:00 P.M. — REGULAR MEETING
CONVENE, CALL TO ORDER, & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Lowe called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT PROCESS FOR ZOOM ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS
Public Comment Process for ZOOM Attendance at Meetings
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Vice Mayor Gurney, Council Member Farrar-Rivas, Council Member Wellander, Council Member Ding, and Mayor Lowe
REPORT ON CLOSED SESSION
There was no Closed Session held.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion by Vice Mayor Gurney, seconded by Council Member Wellander, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
1. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
John Henly provided public comment.
2. MEETING DEDICATIONS
None.
3. COUNCIL MEMBERS’ REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Council Member Ding attended the Veterans Memorial Ceremony on Saturday, November 11, 2023, along with City Manager Guhin and Vice Mayor Gurney Council Member Farrar-Rivas attended a Sonoma Clean Power meeting on November 2, 2023.
She also pointed out that on November 8, 2023, the Climate Action Commission approved the Climate Action Strategy plan for recommendation to City Council.
On November 4, 2023, Vice Mayor Gurney, along with Council Member Wellander and City Manager Guhin, attended the Veterans Cemetery Clean Up day. Vice Mayor Gurney also reported that the Sonoma Tourism Improvement District meeting scheduled for November 11, 2023, was canceled.
Council Member Wellander attended a Water Advisory Committee meeting on November 6, 2023, as well as a Sonoma County Continuum of Care meeting on November 15, 2023. Council Member Wellander also reported attending the second General Plan Update Kick Off Community Meeting on November 13, 2023.
Mayor Lowe attended Art Walk in Sonoma on November 2, 2023. On November 13, 2023, Mayor Lowe attended a Sonoma County Transportation Authority meeting. Mayor Lowe also reported that the Sonoma County Mayor and Councilmembers Association Legislative Committee had the opportunity to meet with Senator Mike McGuire to discuss insurance.
4. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
City Manager Guhin informed everyone that the annual Lighting of the Plaza will take place on Saturday, November 18, 2023, starting at 5pm. Mr. Guhin also provided a reminder that City Hall offices will be closed on November 23 and 24 for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. He also acknowledged Oriana Hart, Public Works Administrative and Project Manager, for her service as her last day with the City of Sonoma was today.
5. CITY ATTORNEY COMMENTS
None.
6. PRESENTATIONS
Item 6.1: Proclamation Proclaiming November 12-18, 2023, as National Nurse Practitioner Week in the City of Sonoma
Item 6 2 Presentation by the Sonoma Conservatory of Dance by Patty O’ReiIIy, Executive and Artistic Director
Item 6.3: Presentation by the Himalayan Sherpa Club of Sonoma Regarding Summitting Mt K-2
7. CONSENT CALENDAR — CITY COUNCIL
Motion by Council Member Farrar-Rivas, seconded by Vice Mayor Gurney, to approve the Consent Calendar with Item 7.5 being pulled for separate consideration. 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: Accept the Expenditure Report for the Month of October 2023 (Chuck McBride, Interim Finance Director)
Action: The expenditure report was received.
Item 7.3: Receive Minutes from the Regular Meeting of November 1, 2023 (Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk)
Action: Minutes were received.
Item 7.4: Adopt a Resolution Approving Temporary Use of City Streets by Motiv Servicing for the Charles M. Schultz Sonoma County Airport Napa to Sonoma Wine Country Rose 5K on Saturday, July 20, 2024, and Half Marathon on Sunday, July 21, 2024 (Lisa Janson, Senior Management Analyst)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 70-2023.
Item 7.5: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Task Order in the Amount of $117,926.00 with GHD Inc. under their Master Service Agreement with the City for Design and Engineering Services for the Seventh Street West, W. Spain Street and Maple Street Rehabilitation Project and Various Streets Slurry Seal (Mike Berger, Public Works Director/City Engineer)
Action: Pulled for separate consideration. Adopted as Resolution 73-2023.
Motion by Council Member Wellander, seconded by Council Member Ding, to Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Task Order in the Amount of $117,926.00 with GHD Inc. under their Master Service Agreement with the City for Design and Engineering Sen/ices for the Seventh Street West, W Spain Street and Maple Street Rehabilitation Project and Various Streets Slurry Seal. Motion carried unanimously.
Item 7.6: Adopt a Resolution Taking an Official Position Supporting “THE IMPROVED AND
ENHANCED LOCAL FIRE PROTECTION, PARAMEDIC SERVICES AND
DISASTER RESPONSE INITIAT|VE”, Measure on the March 5, 2024, Sonoma County Ballot (Steve Akre, Fire Chief)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 71-2023.
Item 7.7: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Contract in the Amount of $23,500.00 with Peterson Mechanical Inc. for HVAC Services at the City of Sonoma’s Fire Station No.1 (Mike Berger, Public Works Director/City Engineer) Action: Adopted as Resolution 72-2023.
8. PUBLIC HEARING
None.
9. REGULAR CALENDAR — CITY COUNCIL
Item 9.1: Resolution Appropriating $120,000 from Unallocated General Fund Reserves and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute Expenditures for the Placement of 100 Additional Columbaria Units at Mountain and Veterans’ Cemeteries, Approval of the Proposed 2023-24 Cemetery Price Lists and Authorization for the City Manager to Outsource Burial Contractor Services (David Guhin, City Manager) Action: Adopted as Resolution 74-2023.
Public Comment: Madolyn Agrimonti, Robert Demler, Fred Allebach and Gary Magnani.
Motion by Council Member Wellander, seconded by Council Member Ding, to Adopt a Resolution Appropriating $120,000 from Unallocated General Fund Reserves and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute Expenditures for the Placement of 100 Additional Columbaria Units at Mountain and Veterans’ Cemeteries, Approval of the Proposed 2023-24 Cemetery Price Lists and Authorization for the City Manager to Outsource Burial Contractor Services. Motion carried unanimously.
Mayor Lowe called for recess at 7:34PM; Council reconvened at 7:41 PM.
Item 9.2: Traffic Safety Committee Recommendation of Installation of Speed Management Measures on East Napa Street at Fifth Street East (Mike Berger, Public Works Director/City Engineer)
Action: Council provided direction approving the Traffic Safety Committee’s recommendation of the installation of speed management measures on East Napa Street at Fifth Street East.
Council Member Farrar-Rivas disclosed that she had met with James Whittaker, a resident of East Napa Street, on September 27, 2023, as part of her Ex-Parte communications.
Public Comment: Fred Allebach, Richard Mabe, Brian Shien, Tom Conlin, Peter Fitzgerald and Chief Steve Akre.
Motion by Council Member Farrar-Rivas, seconded by Council Member Ding, to approve the Traffic Safety Committee’s recommendation of installation of speed management measures on East Napa Street at Fifth Street East.
Vice Mayor Gurney made a substitute motion to approve one of the alternate speed table placement options, having one off~set speed table on the west side of the intersection and one on the east side of the intersection. There was no second, the motion failed.
Main motion made by Council Member Farrar-Rivas, seconded by Council Member Ding, to approve the Traffic Safety Committee’s recommendation of installation of speed management measures on East Napa Street at Fifth Street East. Motion carried 4-1, with Mayor Lowe, Vice Mayor Gurney, Council Member Farrar-Rivas, and Council Member Ding voting YES, and Council Member We/lander voting NO.
With no objections from Council, Mayor Lowe confirmed the meeting willgo past the 9PM hour.
Item 9.3: Implementation of Emergency Warming Center in Response to Extreme Weather Events Including:
- Operational Policy to Ensure Efficiency and Consistency, and a - Resolution Terminating the Agreement Between Sonoma Overnight Support to Run the City's Emergency Shelter, and
- Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into an Agreement With a Third-- Party to Operate the Emergency Shelter When Triggered by the Extreme Weather Operational Policy, and
- Increase Emergency Funding for Extreme Weather Events (Lisa Janson, Senior Management Analyst)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 75-2023.
Council Member Ding provided a Fair Political Practice Commission (FPPC) conflict of interest disclosure, stating that he has no ?nancial interest in Sonoma Overnight Support and, therefore, no con?ict of interest. The FPPC has provided a written acknowledgment of this information to Council Member Ding.
Public Comment: Madolyn Agrimonti, Judith Walsh, Dr. Curran, and Kathy King.
Motion by Vice Mayor Gurney, seconded by Mayor Lowe, to Adopt a Resolution Terminating the Agreement Between Sonoma Overnight Support to Run the City’s Emergency Shelter and Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into an Agreement with a Third-Party to Operate the Emergency Shelter when Triggered by the Extreme Weather Operational Policy and Increase Emergency Funding for Extreme Weather Events. Motion carried 4-1 with Mayor Lowe, Vice Mayor Gurney, Council Member Farrar-Rivas, and Council Member Wellander voting YES, and Council Member Ding voting NO.
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Lowe adjourned the meeting at 10:13 p.m.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and regularly adopted at a regular meeting of the S om ityCougcil on the 6"’day of December 2023.
Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk