REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
OF THE SONOMA CITY COUNCIL
City Council Chambers
177 First Street West
Wednesday, December 6, 2023
City Council:
Sandra Lowe, Mayor
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 Council Member Farrar-Rivas, seconded by Vice Mayor Gurney, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
1. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Sheila O’Neill, Matt Metzler, Fred Allebach, and Robert Demler provided public comment. Public comment was then moved to the end of the meeting after a caller attempted to give hate speech comments.
2. MEETING DEDICATIONS
None.
3. COUNCIL MEMBERS’ REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Council Member Ding attended a Zero Waste Sonoma meeting on November 20, 2023.
Council Member Farrar-Rivas attended a Sonoma Valley Citizens Advisory Commission meeting on November 28, 2023.
Mayor Lowe attended the first annual Lighted Tractor Parade on December 2, 2023, where she was honored to have been able to ride on a float.
4. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
City Manager Guhin reported that the 2024 Alcalde nomination period is now open and willstay open through 5PM on January 12, 2024. Mr. Guhin also reminded the community that City Hall offices will be closed for the holiday season from December 25, 2023, through January 2, 2024.
5. CITY ATTORNEY COMMENTS
City Attorney Ruderman provided an update to Council regarding the California Business Roundtable measure, specifically named “Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act”.
6. PRESENTATIONS
Item 6.1: Introduction of New Employees
The following employees were introduced:
Natalie Lundeen — Planning Department Permit Technician Luis Contreras — Public Works Maintenance Worker
Ross Hage — Public Works Maintenance Worker
Donte Armstrong — Public Works Maintenance Worker
Brian Rowlands — Public Works Maintenance Worker
Item 6.2: Presentation by Elise Gonzales, Food Security Network Weaver, Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund on their Resource Guides for Food Security
7. CONSENT CALENDAR — CITY COUNCIL
Motion by Council Member We/lander, 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 from the Regular Meeting of November 15, 2023 (Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk)
Action: Minutes were received.
Item 7.3: Adopt a Resolution to Accept a Monetary Donation From Traintown to Cover Expenses Associated with a new Rectangular Flashing Beacon (RRFB) pedestrian crossings at Broadway at Clay Street (Mike Berger, Public Works Director) Action: Adopted as Resolution 76-2023.
Item 7.4: Adopt a Resolution Opposing Initiative 21-0042A1 the Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act (David Guhin, City Manager) Action: Adopted as Resolution 77-2023.
8. PUBLIC HEARING
Item 8.1: Public Hearing to Consider an Appeal by the Applicant of the Planning Commission's Decision to Approve the Use Permit, Exception to Development Code Loading Standard, Reduction of Residential Component, Design Review, Demolition Permit, and Lot Line Adjustment for the Hotel Project Sonoma (Kristina Tierney, Associate Planner)
Action: Council provided direction to Staff. Item was continued to the January 17, 2024, council meeting.
Mayor Lowe called for a recess at 7:06 p.m.; Council reconvened at 7:13 p.m.
Open Public Hearing: 7:14 p.m.
Public Comments: Fred A/lebach, Robert Demler, Gary Nelson, Johanna Patri, Victor Conforti, Anne Ching, Carol Marcus, Bonnie Brown, Matt Metz/er and David Eichar.
Closed Public Hearing: 7:42 p.m.
Motion by Council Member Ding, seconded by Council Member Farrar-Rivas, to continue this item to the January 17, 2024, council meeting. Motion carried unanimously.
9. REGULAR CALENDAR — CITY COUNCIL
Item 9.1: Joint Powers Agreement and City Policy for Sonoma Valley Community Advisory Commission (Jennifer M. Gates, AICP, Community Development Director) Action: Adopted as Resolution 78-2023 and Resolution 79-2023.
Motion by Council Member Ding, seconded by Council Member Farrar-Rivas, to Approve the City Council Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Execute a Joint Powers Agreement between the County of Sonoma and the City of Sonoma, in addition to Adopting the City Council Resolution Amending Policy 2001-1. Motion carried unanimously.
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Lowe adjourned the meeting at 8:59 p.m.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and regularly adopted at a regular meeting of;the oma Cit: Council on the 20”’day of December 2023.
Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk