Agenda — Sonoma City Council, January 17, 2024 (part 3 of 3)

City of Sonoma Draft Climate Action Strategies January 2024 75 Maintaining and expanding the city’s tree canopy is the city’s promulgated policy (SMC

12.08.010):

In addition, trees in the community and in the neighborhood provide a sense of identity and tradition and enhance property values. For all of these reasons, it is the goal of the city council to maintain and expand the extent of tree canopy in Sonoma.

Based on visual assessments, there is a tree shade canopy deficit in Sonoma especially on the west side, but this needs verification with data. Through grants, local communities, such as Petaluma (ReLeaf), have trained citizen scientists and students to conduct tree shade canopy assessments by mapping and identifying species and measuring the shade canopy for entry into a GIS database. Based on the inventory, shade canopy deficits are identified, which is followed by the restoration and expansion of the canopy through targeted plantings of appropriate trees.

In addition to public lands, the city should promote increased shade canopy in strategic areas that would also have strong co-benefits with cooling such as parking lots and private walkways.

Plant Miyawaki Forests - “Miyawaki Forests” are dense pocket forests that are grown with native trees and with minimal intervention. In addition to carbon sequestration, planting dense pocket forests creates islands of increased biodiversity. Miyawaki Forests could be planted on public property, such as city parks and preserves, but also private property that does not have trees.

Seek Tree City USA Designation - The city should seek a Tree City USA designation, which offers communities a four-step framework to maintain and grow their tree canopy. If received, the Tree City USA designation demonstrates to residents and the city’s commitment to healthy habitats and climate action through the planting and maintaining of trees that sequester carbon in addition to the multitude of co-benefits.

8.3.3 Establish the Sonoma Carbon Offset Program
Residents, businesses, and visitors can cancel out (offset) the impact of some of their GHG emissions by contributing to a local offset program. The city should create the Sonoma Carbon Offset Program, a voluntary carbon offset program that provides offsets specifically in Sonoma.

Individuals and entities electing to offset some or all of their emissions would contribute a set dollar amount based on vehicle miles travelled or air miles traveled. All offset monies would go directly into the Sonoma City Tree Fund, which could be used to pay to plant and maintain trees in Sonoma (or Sonoma Valley) thereby supporting local carbon sequestration efforts. The city should partner with the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau in promoting the fund through lodging and Special Events.

In the city, all trees on public property and existing significant trees on private property are protected from unnecessary damage, removal, or destruction. The protection of trees helps Agenda Item #9.1:

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City of Sonoma Draft Climate Action Strategies January 2024 76 protect natural carbon sequestration under SMC 12.08.035.E. This ordinance also established the tree fund mechanism, but it is currently not operational nor funded. Thus, the first step is the adoption of an ordinance to reestablish and formalize the Tree Fund for the replacement of trees from development. In addition, the ordinance would add the carbon offset program component to the fund and allow for voluntary contributions, similar to Petaluma’s ReLeaf program (www.releafpetaluma.org). The ordinance should also direct members of the city’s Tree Committee to focus their efforts on planting appropriate trees to sequester carbon and increase the tree canopy as previously discussed. Following the creation of the fund, the city could create a simple web-based platform that identifies vehicle and air miles’ GHG emissions and suggests contributions that would offset these miles. The platform would accept contributions that would be deposited into the Tree Fund.

8.4 Implementation of Carbon Sequestration Actions
This section outlines a potential strategy to implement each category of carbon sequestrationrelated actions. Regarding costs, the tables below present preliminary, estimated costs.

Additional costs will be likely including initial start-up, ongoing administration, and compliance monitoring and enforcement costs. While some actions and supporting measures will only require funding from public entities, others will result in increased costs for businesses and residents.

The implementation timeframe presents a probable time to begin implementation of the action as either short-term (within 12 months), medium-term (12-24 months) and long-term (more than 24 months).

C-1 Increase Soil-based Carbons Sequestration
Expand the application of compost in Sonoma and support the use of biochar.

Target Year Performance Metric GHG Offset Potential
2023 • Amount of compost distributed annually • Medium
Implementation Details
Implementation
Timeline Medium-Term Start Year 2023 Completion Year 20-23 and ongoing Co-Benefits • Decrease water consumption.
• Improve soil health.

Basic
Implementation
Steps

1. Modify the city’s solid waste franchise agreement to provide free compost to the community on quarterly basis.

2. Add a link on the city’s website providing educational materials on composting and biochar research.

3. Support development of biochar demonstrations projects.

City Costs • Staff time to modify the solid waste franchise agreement and the city’s website.

Community Cost Slight increase in trash fees to comply with state-mandated SB 1383 requirements.

Funding
Opportunities CalRecycle’s SB 1383 grant
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City of Sonoma Draft Climate Action Strategies January 2024 77 C-2 Increase Planting of Trees
Increase the planting of trees in strategic locations.

Target Year Performance Metric GHG Offset Potential
2023
• Number of trees planted annually.
• Percent shade canopy in the city.
• Receipt of the Tree City USA designation.
• Medium
Implementation Details
Implementation
Timeline Medium-Term Start Year 2024 Completion Year Continuing Co-Benefits
• Decrease urban heat island effect.
• Decreased cooling costs.
• Increased and improved wildlife habitat.

Basic
Implementation
Steps

1. Identify a local non-profit to support the inventory of the current shade canopy.

2. Based on the assessment, develop a tree planting plan (GIS-based) with the goal of achieving Tree City USA designation.

3. Identify opportunity sites for green pocket forests.

City Cost
• Staff time to identify partners.
• $10,000 to support non-profit recruitment of volunteers and equipment. • Cost to plant new trees (may be covered by revised Tree Fund). • Staff time to prepare ordinance to establish and expand the Sonoma City Tree Fund. • Staff time to prepare application for Tree City USA designation.

Community Cost None known at this time.

Funding
Opportunities
USDA Urban & Community Forestry
CalFire Urban and Community Forests
C-3 Create Local Carbon Offset Program
Initiate the City of Sonoma Carbon Offset Program.

Target Year Performance Metric GHG Offset Potential
2023
• Number of participants per year.
• Amount of money collected per year.
• Number of trees planted and protected.
• Medium
Implementation Details
Implementation
Timeline Medium-Term Start Year 2023 Completion Year Continuing Co-Benefits
• Decrease urban heat island effect.
• Decreased cooling costs.
• Increased and improved wildlife habitat.
• Promotes environmentally conscious tourism.

Basic
Implementation
Steps

1. Create an ordinance to reinvigorate and modify the Tree Fund.

2. Create a Sonoma-specific carbon offset program and a web-based payment platform.

3. Recruit partners to participate in promoting the program and participants.

4. Start the program.

City Cost
• Staff time to modify the Tree Fund.
• Staff time to create the offset program and a web-based platform. • Potential costs for the web-based payment program.
• Staff time to recruit partners to participate in promoting the program.

Community Cost None known at this time.

Funding
Opportunities
USDA Urban & Community Forestry
CalFire Urban and Community Forests
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City of Sonoma Draft Climate Action Strategies January 2024 Appendix I. Environmental Emergency Resolution
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City of Sonoma Draft Climate Action Strategies January 2024 Appendix II. Sonoma’s Climate Actions and Data as of
April 2020
The various accomplishments and associated data are presented in the following major GHG categories:
• Buildings
• Water Resources
• Transportation
• Waste Reduction
• Miscellaneous
Under each of the five categories, information is presented in tables that list the climate/sustainability action, provides a very brief description of the item, and presents available results and data.

I-A. Buildings
The following table presents a list of energy items, their description, and available results and data as of April 2020.

Energy Item Description Results/Data
Renewable Power
In July 2013, Sonoma joined
the Sonoma Clean Power
(SCP) consortium, a
Community Choice
Aggregation program. The
default choice for customers is
CleanStart; customers can optout to purchase the PG&E
option.

Sonoma (zip code 95476) has 5,530 electrical power
meters: 4,578 (82.8%) Residential and 949 (17.2%)
Commercial & Industrial Meters. Of total eligible meters,

86.9% use SCP (CleanStart and Evergreen) while only

13.1% have opted out. Sonoma is 8th among the 13
jurisdictions in SCPs service area with opt-outs.29
Low Carbon Energy
CleanStart is 91% carbon free
(renewable and hydro)
producing 98.81 lbs. CO2/MWh
whereas the PG&E option is
69% carbon free (33%
renewable, 24% nuclear, 12%
large hydro).30
The vast majority of the 86.9% customers not opting out of SCP subscribe to the CleanStart option.
29 Personal communication, Nathan Kinsey. Commercial Accounts Mangier, Sonoma Clean Power, January 31, 2020.
30 https://sonomacleanpower.org/uploads/documents/Power-Content-Label-2018-Web.pdf Agenda Item #9.1:

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City of Sonoma Draft Climate Action Strategies January 2024 Energy Item Description Results/Data
Local, Low Carbon
Energy
The EverGreen option is 100%
local renewable power
(geothermal and solar)
producing 46.02 lbs.

CO2/MWh31
City operations switched to the EverGreen program—the
first jurisdiction in the county to do so. A total of 80 (1.4%) meters in zip code 95476 have signed up for the
EverGreen option. Sonoma ranks 3rd out of 13
jurisdictions in the county for its total percentage of EverGreen accounts/meters.32
Street Lighting
Efficiency
Replace inefficient streetlights
with high efficiency LED lights.

In 2015, the city replaced 1,100 streetlights with energy efficient LED fixtures reducing annual CO2 emissions by 180,000 lbs.

Traffic Light Efficiency
Replace traffic (safety) lights
with high efficiency LED lights.

In 2012, CalTrans converted 25 traffic/safety lights
(100%) at 9 intersections in the City. Each LED
conversion saves up to 615 kWh of energy. Conversion
to the 25 LEDs results in an approximate annual GHG
reduction of 11,600 lbs of CO2. Each LED is designed to last up to 15 years compared to a 5-year life span of
earlier generation lighting.33
Residential Solar PV
Installations
Installation of roof-top
photovoltaic (PV) solar arrays
on residential buildings.

Between 2002 and 2019, 1,364 residential accounts in
zip code 95476 installed PV solar units with 8,466.75 kW DC installed capacity; an average of 6.2 kW DC per
installation.34
In the City limits, the estimated PV installation rate for homes is a minimum of 14%35
Commercial Solar PV
Installations
Installation of roof-top PV solar
arrays on commercial
buildings.

Between 2002 and 2019, 83 commercial accounts in zip
code 95476 installed PV solar units with 4,067.33 kW DC installed capacity; at an average of 49 kW DC per
installation.36
Industrial Solar PV
Installations
Installation of roof-top PV solar
arrays on industrial buildings.

Between 2011 and 2012, 2 industrial accounts in zip
code 95476 installed PV solar units with 1,108.45 kW DC installed capacity.37
Non-profit Solar PV
Installations
Installation of roof-top PV solar
arrays on non-profit buildings.

Between 2016 and 2017, 3 non-profit accounts in zip
code 95476 installed PV solar units with 92.94 kW DC
installed capacity.38
City Government Solar
PV Installations
Installation of PV solar arrays
on city government buildings.

A PV solar array was installed on the Police Facility in 2010 with an output of 52.4 kW. A PV array was installed on the Public Works Building at the Corporation Yard in 2011 with an output of 20.2 kW.

Expedited Solar PV
Permitting
Sonoma’s Building Department
offers expedited PV solar
permitting (1 to 3 days) for
single- and dual unit residential
buildings.

The city implemented the expedited PV solar permitting
program in 2015. Between 2015 and February 2020, 215
permits were issued for PV solar installations.
31 https://sonomacleanpower.org/uploads/documents/Power-Content-Label-2018-Web.pdf 32 Personal communication, Nathan Kinsey. Commercial Accounts Mangier, Sonoma Clean Power, January 31, 2020.
33 Personal communication, Phillip Rodriguez, District 4 Sustainability Manager, California Department of Transportation, January 31, 2020.
34 Go Solar California--California Energy Commission & California Public Utilities Commission, 2020 35 There are 1,714 parcels in the City of Sonoma with single family residences or duplexes. Since 2015, 242 building permits have been issued for residential PV solar systems. Building permits for PV units were issued prior to 2015 but exist in paper form and thus have not yet been tracked. 36 Go Solar California--California Energy Commission & California Public Utilities Commission, 2020 37 Go Solar California--California Energy Commission & California Public Utilities Commission, 2020 38 Go Solar California--California Energy Commission & California Public Utilities Commission, 2020 Agenda Item #9.1:

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City of Sonoma Draft Climate Action Strategies January 2024 Energy Item Description Results/Data
Solar PV Requirements
for New Construction
Starting in 2020, updated state
building efficiency standards
require all new low-rise singlefamily and multifamily buildings to install a rooftop PV solar
system or to use an offsite
community solar system.

City adopted the state solar mandate code.

Expedited Battery
Storage Systems
Sonoma’s Building Department
offers expedited permitting (2
to 4 days) for Battery Energy
Storage Systems.

City implemented the expedited battery storage
permitting program in 2019. In 2017 and 2018, 3 permits were issued for battery storage installations.

Solar on Multifamily
Affordable Housing
Solar on Multifamily Affordable
Housing (SOMAH) program
provides financial incentives for
installing solar PV energy
systems on multifamily
affordable housing.

Under the Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing
(SOMAH) program, between 2012 -2016, 14 rooftop
solar PV projects were completed in zip code 95476
saving 6,790 therms of natural gas annually.39
New Solar Homes
Partnership
The New Solar Homes
Partnership program provides
incentives for new solar
homes.

Under the New Solar Homes Partnership program,
between 2014 -2018, 8 solar projects with 105.23 kW
capacity were completed in zip code 95476.40
Solar Consultations
The Sonoma County General
Services, Energy and
Sustainability Division,
provides free, unbiased
consultations on PV Solar
potential for residential
structures.

Between June 2019 and January 2020, six Solar PV
consultations were completed for individuals in zip code 95476.41
Sonoma County Energy
Independence Program
The Sonoma County Energy
Independence Program
(SCEIP) offers Property
Assessed Clean Energy
(PACE) financing for energy
and water efficient
improvements through the
property tax system for
residential, commercial,
industrial, agricultural,
multifamily and certain nonprofit projects.

Between 2009 and 2019, SCEIP financed 38 projects
and 87 improvements in Sonoma funded at a value of
$1.11 million.42
Home Energy and Water
Workshops
The Sonoma County General
Services, Energy and
Sustainability Division,
provides free workshops onsite
and in communities to reduce
energy and water consumption
for residential structures.

Between 2017 and 2019, two workshops were held in
Sonoma.43
39Go Solar California--California Energy Commission & California Public Utilities Commission:
https://www.californiadgstats.ca.gov/downloads/
40 Go Solar California--California Energy Commission & California Public Utilities Commission, 2020 41 Personal communication, B.C. Capps, Energy and Sustainability Analyst, Energy and Sustainability Division, Sonoma County General Services Department, January 31, 2020. 42 Personal communication, B.C. Capps, Energy and Sustainability Analyst, Energy and Sustainability Division, Sonoma County General Services Department, January 31, 2020. 43 Personal communication, B.C. Capps, Energy and Sustainability Analyst, Energy and Sustainability Division, Sonoma County General Services Department, January 31, 2020.

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City of Sonoma Draft Climate Action Strategies January 2024 Energy Item Description Results/Data
DIY Energy Audit Kits
Do it yourself energy audit kits
are provided that includes
weather stripping, kill-o-watt
meter, IR thermometers, and
other tools and equipment to
reduce energy loss.

A DIY Energy Audit Kit is available for checkout at the Sonoma County Regional Library in Sonoma.

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City of Sonoma Draft Climate Action Strategies January 2024 I-B. Water Resources
The following table presents a list of water resource items, their description, and available results and data as of April 2020.

Water Resources Item Description Results/Data
Advanced Metering
Infrastructure
Advanced Metering Infrastructure
(AMI) uses new generation meters that
provide remote, real-time access to
water usage allowing customers to
monitor water usage before seeing the
water bill. In addition, notification
alarms can be set to identify usage
spikes or possible leaks and provide
for early leak detection for quicker
repairs.

All water meters in Sonoma are scheduled to be
replaced with new AMI meters, which should
reduce per capita water consumption by 9-15%.

Leak Letters
When a continuous flow is detected in
a household, Sonoma Water sends a
“leak letter” to the building owner. This
letter is often followed up with
education and outreach to identify the
leak and recommend water
conservation actions/items.

Between July 2016 and January 2020, 6,755 leak
letters were sent.

Turf Removal Rebate
Program
Cash rebates are provided for the
removal of turf thereby reducing the
need for irrigation
Since 2014, 125,589 square feet of turf has been
removed under this program.

Water Conservation
Devices
The City provides customers with free
low-flow shower heads, faucet
aerators, and automatic hose shutoffs.

Annually, between 2009 and 2019, the City has
provided, free of charge, approximately 500 of
each of the three water conservation devices. In
addition, a container with all these devices is
located in the front entrance of City Hall for
individuals to take free of charge.

Low Flow and
Automatic Shut-Off
Faucets
Devices designed to conserve water. The Sonoma Plaza public restrooms have low-flow faucets; restrooms in the Police Department/City
Council Chambers also have automatic shut-off
faucets.

High-Efficiency Water
Rebate Program
The Sonoma-Marin Saving Water
Partnership provides rebates for the
purchase of high-efficiency residential
washing machines and commercial
dishwashers, ice machines, lavatory
faucets, pre-rinse spray valves, and
steam cookers
Since June 2014, 52 washing machine rebates
were processed for Sonoma residents.

Water-Efficient
Landscaping
New construction projects with
landscape areas of 500 ft2 and
rehabilitated construction projects with
landscape areas of 2,500 ft2requiring
city building permits must assess and
plan for water-efficient landscaping.

Sonoma adopted the enhanced requirements for
water-efficient landscaping in 2017.

Recycled Water Use at
Sonoma Valley High
School
Recycled water for irrigation of athletic
fields to off-set consumption of potable
water.

Starting in 2020, SVHS will replace 50-acre ft of
potable water with recycled water for irrigation of
athletic fields.44
44 Personal communication, Kevin Booker, P.E., WA Principal Engineer, Sonoma Water, February 11, 2020.

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City of Sonoma Draft Climate Action Strategies January 2024 Water Resources Item Description Results/Data
Low Impact Design
Landscaping
Demonstration
Demonstration of low impact water
design features including rainwater
harvesting, drought resistant plantings,
porous surfaces.

A low-impact demonstration garden is located at
the Sonoma Garden Park.

I-C. Transportation
The following table presents a list of transportation items, their description, and available results and data as of April 2020.

Transportation
Item
Description Results/Data
Alternative Motor
Vehicles
As of October 2018, there were
30,720 vehicles (cars, light
trucks, SUVs, and heavy trucks)
registered in zip code 9547645.

Vehicles not exclusively gasoline fueled as of October
2018 in zip code 9547646:
– Diesel/Diesel Hybrid = 1,708 (5.56%)
– Hybrid = 1,498 (4.88%)
– Plug-in Hybrid = 306 (1.0%)
– Electric (EV) = 289 (0.94%)
– Natural Gas = 7 (0.02%)
– Hydrogen Fuel Cell = 5 (0.02%)
Public Transit
City-subsidized “Fare-Free”
Sonoma Shuttle rides (Route 32).

In 2019, the first year of the program, there was a 55.39% (16,763 rides) increase in ridership.

Youth = +142.4%
Adult = +65.4%
Senior = +46.7%
Child = +25.1%
Disabled = -15.6%
Transfers = -99.6%
Among the five fare-free routes in the county, Sonoma had the 2nd highest ridership increase.47
Electrical Vehicle
Charging Stations
Stations designed to charge
electric vehicles (EVs).

There are 4 stations in Sonoma: 3 private stations
connected to lodging and 1 station in the City public
parking lot at 152 East Napa Street.

EV Charger Permitting
Sonoma’s Building Department
offers expedited permitting (1 to 3
days) for EV Charging Stations.

City adopted this program in 2017.

Electrical Vehicle
Charging Capability
In 2010, Green (CA Green
Building Code) required EV
charging infrastructure
requirements (conduit and circuit
sizing) for new construction.

City adopted the code in 2010.

Pedestrian Network Features to improve movement
by pedestrians.

Sonoma has created 30 marked crosswalks.48
45California Department of Motor Vehicles,
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/pubs/media_center/statistics 46California Department of Motor Vehicles,
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/pubs/media_center/statistics 47 Personal communication, Bryan Albee, Transit Systems Manager, Sonoma County Transit, January 13, 2020.
48 Sonoma Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan (2008, updated 2014). pg. 25.

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City of Sonoma Draft Climate Action Strategies January 2024 Transportation
Item
Description Results/Data
Enhanced Pedestrian
Safety and
Accessibility
Improve the safety and
accessibility for pedestrians.

CalTrans has multiple pedestrian safety enhancements
planned for the City to be completed in 2022 including:
– Install pedestrian crosswalk signs
– Restripe pedestrian crossings with high visibility
crosswalk markings
– Pedestrian-activated crosswalk lights
– Upgrade ADA curb ramps.49
Bicycling
Opportunities
Dedicated bike paths, bike lanes,
and mapped bike routes.

Sonoma has created:
– Class I pathway, 3.91 miles
– Class II bike lanes, 1.99 miles
– Class III bike routes, 2.41 miles50
Bicycle Parking
Designated parking to support
bicycling infrastructure.

There are 70 spaces available for bicycle parking at 55 locations on public and private property including 49 bike racks, 4 bollards, 1 post, and 1 cement slot.51
Bicycle Rentals
Bicycle rental opportunities in
Sonoma
There are 3 companies in Sonoma that rent bicycles in
addition to area lodgings that offer or rent bicycles for guests.

Enhanced Bicycle
Safety and
Accessibility
Enhancements
Improve the safety and
accessibility of bicycle
transportation in the City.

CalTrans has plans to accommodate additional Class II
Bikeways in limited portions of SR-12 (Broadway Street) through a repaving project by 2022.52
Safe Routes to School
Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition
offers bicycle safety education
and bicycling skill/safety practice
to promote bicycling to school.

Adele Harrison Middle School, Prestwood Elementary
School, and St. Francis Solano School are enrolled in the Safe Routes to School program.

Anti-Idling Ordinance
Limitations on commercial
vehicle idling
SMC 9.56.080 limits idling of commercial vehicles when
parked within 100 feet of residential zoning district to 5 consecutive minutes of idling except when vehicles are
loading/unloading in which idling is limited to 30 minutes.

I-C. Waste Minimization
The following table presents a list of waste minimization items, their description, and available results and data as of April 2020.

Waste Minimization Item Description Results/Data
Free Residential Curbside
Recycling
Not charging for recycling
collection to reduce the
disposal of trash.

Sonoma Garbage offers free curbside recycling
collection.

Free Residential Curbside
Green & Vegetative Waste
Collection
Not charging for green waste
collection to increase the
recovery of organics while
reducing the disposal of trash.

Sonoma Garbage offers free curbside green and
vegetative waste collection.
49 Personal communication, Phillip Rodriguez, District 4 Sustainability Manager, California Department of Transportation, January 31, 2020.
50 Sonoma Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan (2008, updated 2014). 51 Sonoma Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan (2008, updated 2014). 52 Personal communication, Phillip Rodriguez, District 4 Sustainability Manager, California Department of Transportation, January 31, 2020.

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City of Sonoma Draft Climate Action Strategies January 2024 Waste Minimization Item Description Results/Data
Tier-based Pricing for
Residential Curbside Trash
Collection
Using economic incentives to
reduce the generation and
disposal of trash.

Sonoma Garbage offers 3 different sized trash
containers and fees, which is an economic nudge to
reduce trash generation.

Free Commercial Food
Waste Collection
Not charging for commercial
food waste collection to
increase recovery of food
waste and thereby reducing
disposal of trash.

Sonoma Garbage offers its commercial customers
free food waste collection
Food Recovery
Recovering edible food from
grocery stores that would
otherwise go to the landfill and
instead distributed through
local emergency food
programs
The non-profit organization Friends in Sonoma
Helping (F.I.S.H.) and Redwood Empire Foodbank
collect and distributes tons of food each month from
Whole Foods, Safeway, and the Sonoma Market.

Composting Workshops
Zero Waste Sonoma and UC
Master Gardener Program of
Sonoma County hold free
home composting workshops
In 2018 and 2019, 4 workshops were held: 2 in
English (28 participants) and 2 in Spanish (14
participants).

Free Mulch and Compost
Program
Local mulch provided to
residents.

Sonoma Garbage offers customers free mulch of up
to 1 yd
Christmas Tree Recycling
Sonoma Girl Scouts offers
curbside collection of
Christmas Trees for
composting with a
suggested donation
Christmas Trees collected and composted from
Sonoma Valley:
2013-2014 = 1,429
2014-2015 = 1,274
2015-2016 = 1,368
2016-2017 = 1,316
2017-2018 = 1,103
2018-2019 = 1,130
Ban on Single-Use Plastics
at City Events
Reducing the generation of
disposable plastics to
encourage the use of
environmentally preferable
alternatives.

Starting in 2019, single-use plastics and compostable
plastics are banned at permitted events held on the
Plaza and Deport Park. This model has been
adopted by Windsor and Sebastopol and is being
considered by Cloverdale
Public Space Trash and
Recycling
Improved design of public
space trash and recycling can
increase recycling while
decreasing the generation and
disposal of trash.

Improvements include
improved signage, weather
protection, and
trash/recyclables segregation.

In 2020, 27 new public space trash stations with 81
new containers are proposed to be installed on the
Sonoma Plaza.

Water Bottle Filling Stations
Water bottle filling stations for
reusable containers decrease
the generation and disposal of
single-use plastics.

Sonoma Plaza = 1 station, 2 more are planned for
installation in 2020
Sonoma Valley High School = 3 stations
Construction & Demolition
Waste Management
Building contractors must
provide a construction waste
management plan for City
inspectors to review and
approve, which includes
invoices and other
documentation to demonstrate
the diversion rate of 65% was
met.

This requirement is a component of CALGreen,
which has been adopted by the City.

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City of Sonoma Draft Climate Action Strategies January 2024 Waste Minimization Item Description Results/Data
Electronic Waste Collection
Events
Periodically, Zero Waste
Sonoma offers free electronics
collection events to increase
recovery and reduce disposal.

Between March 2017 and November 2019, 5
electronic collection events were held in Sonoma with
952 participants, 60,199 lbs were collected.53
Electronic Waste Drop off
Free electronic waste drop-off
at Staples on W. Napa Street
and the Sonoma Transfer
Station
Between 2017 and 2019, 803,805 lbs of electronic
waste was dropped off at the Sonoma Transfer
Station.54
Mattress Collection Events
Periodically, Zero Waste
Sonoma offers free mattresses
collection events to increase
their recovery and thus reduce
their disposal.

In 2017, 24 mattresses were collected and in 2019,
44 mattresses were collected.55
Used Ink Cartridge Drop-off Free used ink cartridge dropoff at Staples Collection point at Staples, W. Napa Street.

Used Rechargeable Battery
Drop-off
Free used rechargeable
battery waste drop-off
Collection points at Friedman’s and Staples, W. Napa
Street
Household Hazardous
Waste Collection Events
Periodically, Zero Waste
Sonoma offers free household
hazardous waste collection
events
Between January 2017 and November 2019, 655
participants dropped off 46,901 lbs of household
hazardous waste at collection events in Sonoma.56
Curbside Used Oil
Collection
Sonoma Garbage Collectors
conducts free, curbside
collection of used oil
Between 2017 and 2019, 245 gallons (1,838 lbs) of
used oil was collected.57
Cork Recycling Free collection for natural
corks
Collection point located at Whole Foods in Sonoma
Reuse Shops
Retail and non-profit shops
that focus on reuse--reselling
used goods—reduce the
amount of waste generated
and disposed.

There are 3 thrift stores and 1 consignment shop in
Sonoma
Curbside Collection for
Reusable Clothes and
Goods
Non-profit and for-profit
services conduct periodic
curbside collections of
reusable goods, electronic
waste, and bulky waste
Redwood Gospel Mission of Santa Rosa and United
Cerebral Palsy conduct periodic curbside collections.

Textile Recovery: Reusable
Clothes and Household
Goods
Non-profit organization that
maintains donation boxes at
host sites where reusable
goods, clothes, and small
household items in working
order.

Recycle for Change has 4 locations in Sonoma:
– 19425 Sonoma Hwy
– 195 W. Napa St
– 925 Broadway
– 20580 Broadway
Drug/Pharmaceutical Drop
off
Collection of unwanted and
expired drugs/pharmaceuticals
and vaping cartridges for safe
and proper disposal.

The pharmaceutical/drug drop off is located inside
the Sonoma Police Department.
53 Personal communication, Courtney Scott, Household Hazardous Waste Program Manager, Zero Waste Sonoma, January 27, 2020.
54 Personal communication, Courtney Scott, Household Hazardous Waste Program Manager, Zero Waste Sonoma, January 27, 2020.
55 Personal communication, Sloane Pagel, Zero Waste Program Manager, Zero Waste Sonoma, April 13, 2020.
56 Personal communication, Courtney Scott, Household Hazardous Waste Program Manager, Zero Waste Sonoma, January 27, 2020.
57 Personal communication, Courtney Scott, Household Hazardous Waste Program Manager, Zero Waste Sonoma, January 27, 2020.

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City of Sonoma Draft Climate Action Strategies January 2024 Waste Minimization Item Description Results/Data
Electric Hand Dryers
Electric hand dryers eliminate
the generation of paper towel
waste.

Electric hand dryers were installed at the Plaza public restroom.

Paint Take back
Unwanted, leftover paint is
accepted for recovery and
recycling operated by the Paint
Stewardship Council.

There currently is no paint collection site in the City limits, but Kelly-Moore at 18506 CA-12 in the Springs
has collected paint since 2012:
2013-14 = 37,523 lbs
2014-15 = 40,331 lbs
2015-16 = 53,113 lbs
2016-17 = 60,305 lbs
2017-18 = 58,875 lbs
2018-19 = 67,934 lbs
2019-Date = 33,495 lbs
Total = 351,576 lbs58
Online Business License
Renewal
Paperless applications for City
businesses licenses reduce
the generation of paper waste.

In 2020, Sonoma adopted an online paperless
application program for its current 2,328 licensees to
replace the single page, doubled-sided paper
application.

I-D. Miscellaneous
The following table presents a list of miscellaneous items, their description, and available results and data as of April 2020.

Miscellaneous Item Description Results/Data
Parks and
Conserved Open
Space
Open and conserved space is
critical for healthy natural habitat
and for recreation.

Sonoma has 16 parks encompassing 79.15 acres and 2
open space preserves encompassing 98.75 acres.59
Farmer’s Markets
Fresh local food sales Sonoma has two seasonal (Sonoma Garden Park and the Plaza) and one year-round (Depot Park) weekly
farmer’s markets with a total of approximately 100
farmer market days per year (there is also a seasonal
weekly market in the Springs).

Tree Protection
Ordinance
All trees on public property and
existing significant trees on private
property are protected from
unnecessary damage, removal, or
destruction
This ordinance is codified in SMC Chapter 12.08
Green Purchasing
Policy
State guidelines exist on the
purchase of recycled products -
State of California Public Contract
Code
In 2011, the City approved a green purchasing policy by adopting the state guidelines codified in SMC Chapter

3.04.060.

Community
Gardens
Community gardens are collectively
gardened plots on public land to
produce local fruit, vegetables,
and/or plants.

Sonoma has approximately 35 community garden plots
available at Sonoma Garden Park.
58 Personal communication, Daria Kent, Northern California Regional Coordinator, Paint Care, February 12, 2020.
59 Sonoma Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan (2008, updated 2014). pg. 25.

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City of Sonoma Draft Climate Action Strategies January 2024 Miscellaneous Item Description Results/Data
Sustainability
Coordinator
Position supporting the
implementation of climate actions,
waste minimization, and EV
charging stations
Sonoma’s part-time Sustainability Coordinator was
hired in December 2019.

Sustainability-based
Education
Sustainability-based education
programs are organized and
conducted by the Sonoma Ecology
Center at the Sonoma Garden
Park.

Programs offered:
– Sustainable gardening demonstrations and
workshops
– EnviroLeader Internship Program in sustainable
agriculture and habitat restoration
– K-12 watershed education
– Summer Science Camps
– Field trips including every 4th grader in Sonoma
Certified Green
Businesses
The Sonoma County General
Services, Energy and Sustainability
Division, provides assistance to
small to medium sized businesses
to become a Sonoma County
Green Business Certified company
Sonoma currently has 4 certified green businesses and
5 pending applications for certification.60
Wood Burning
Devices Ban
Wood-burning appliances release
CO2 and can degrade air quality.

City adopted a ban on certain wood burning devices in
2005.

Gasoline-Powered
Leaf Blower Ban
Gasoline-powered leaf blowers
produce comparatively high levels
of emissions that can degrade air
quality while also contributing to
noise pollution.

In 2016 the use of gasoline-powered leaf blowers was
banned.

Pesticide Use
Restriction
Restricting or banning the use and
application of problematic
pesticides can improve ecological
habitat and non-targeted species.

In May 2019, the City approved a ban on the application of glyphosate-based herbicides on City property
60 Personal communication, B.C. Capps, Energy and Sustainability Analyst, Energy and Sustainability Division, Sonoma County General Services Department, January 31, 2020.

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CLIMATE ACTION

STRATEGIES
City Council
January 17, 2024
Agenda Item #9.1:

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BACKGROUND
• Nov 2020: City Council adopted Climate Emergency
Resolution
–Established target of NET ZERO GHG Emissions no
later than 2030
• Apr 2022: City Council created Climate Action
Commission (CAC)
2 Agenda Item #9.1:

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• Feb 8, 2023: initial meeting of CAC - identified
preliminary list of priority climate actions
• Aug 9, 2023: CAC finalized list of priority climate actions • Sept 27, 2023: City posted draft and began public
comment period
• Oct 18, 2023: Public presentation and solicitation of comments
• Nov 8, 2023: CAC unanimously approved
recommendation to City Council to accept document

BACKGROUND
3 Agenda Item #9.1:

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Sonoma GHG Emissions, 1990-2020
4 51,970
59,486
63,823 64,121
49,934
3,060
371
190 193
193
31,750
37,331 26,278 23,280
20,790
10,110
10,653
14,599
11,700
4,168
96,890
107,841
104,890
99,294
75,085
0 20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000
1990 2010 2015 2018 2020
MT CO2e
Transportation Water/Wastewater Buildings Solid Waste
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Sonoma GHG Emissions, 2020
5 Transportation, 66.50%
Water& Wastewater,

0.26%
Buildings, 27.69%
Solid Waste, 5.55%
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Annual Per Capita GHGs, 1990-2020

11.93 10.11

9.53 8.84

6.99 1990 2010 2015 2018 2020
MT CO2e
41% decrease
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CLIMATE ACTION STRATEGY

OVERVIEW
Climate Strategy Plan – 3 Phases

1. Identify evidenced-based actions to reduce GHGs to
achieve net zero GHGs by 2030

2. Identify preventative actions to address negative
impacts of climate change

3. Address how city will adapt and improve its resilience to climate hazards
7 Agenda Item #9.1:

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CLIMATE ACTION STRATEGY

OVERVIEW
CSP
Planning Process
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CLIMATE ACTION STRATEGY

OVERVIEW
9 Agenda Item #9.1:

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DRAFT TRANSPORTATION ACTIONS
10 Category Action Summary
T-1. Expand
Bicycle and
Pedestrian
Infrastructure
Master Plan for Bicycle and Pedestrian
Infrastructure
Develop master plan to expand bicycle
and pedestrian infrastructure.

Connect the Sonoma City Trail to the
Plaza
Enhance pedestrian and bicycle access
to the Plaza area by connecting the
Sonoma City Trail to the Plaza via a
Class I or II trail.

Downtown Bicycle Parking
Create high visibility concentrated
bicycle parking.

Cool Corridors for Bicycle and
Pedestrian Trails
Increase shade and passive cooling on
bicycle and pedestrian trails.

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DRAFT TRANSPORTATION ACTIONS
Actions in italics: CAC priority actions
Category Action Summary
T-2.

Electrification
of Personal
Transportation
Increase EV Charging at Multi-unit
Dwellings
Increase availability of L2, EV chargers
at multi-unit dwellings.

Publicly Accessible EV Charging
Add additional publicly accessible L2 EV
chargers at Depot Park parking lot.

T-3. Improved
Public
Transportation
Electric Downtown Shuttle
Establish an electric-powered downtown
shuttle.

Expand the #32 Sonoma Shuttle
Expand the run times for workers riding
the #32 Sonoma Shuttle.

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DRAFT TRANSPORTATION ACTIONS
Category Action Summary
T-4. Ban New
Fossil-Fueling
Stations
Consider Ban Construction of New
Fossil-Fuel Filling Stations
Adopt an ordinance to prohibit
construction of new fossil-fuel filling
stations.

T-5. Reduced
Idling Consider Ban New Drive Thru Windows
Adopt an ordinance to prohibit
construction of new drive-thru windows.

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DRAFT BUILDING ACTIONS
Category Action Summary
B-1. Reduce
Reliance on
Natural Gas
Encourage Increased Electrification and
Energy Efficiency in Residences and
Commercial Buildings
Promote and educate property owners
on energy efficiency programs and
benefits.

Adopt All-Electric or Electric Preferred
Reach Code
Adopt all-electric or electric preferred
reach code that would ban or discourage
future natural gas hookups.

B-2. Increase
Community
Energy
Efficiency
Sponsor Lighting Efficiency Giveaway
Events
Sponsor giveaway events that focus on
energy efficient lighting and power strips.

Offer Energy Efficiency Workshops
Sponsor local energy efficiency
workshops to provide information and
demonstrations of energy efficient
equipment.

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DRAFT BUILDING ACTIONS
Category Action Summary
B-2. Increase
Community
Energy
Efficiency
Deploy Local Energy Conservation
Teams
Work with a local partner (non-profit) to
install energy and water efficient items at
senior, lower-income, and multi-family
residents.

Building Energy Benchmarking Promote building energy benchmarking for smaller commercial buildings.

B-3 Expand PV
Solar
Increased Installation of PV Solar
Expand education and outreach and
work with the Sonoma County General
Services on offering free PV solar
workshop.

B-4. Community
Microgrids
Explore Feasibility of Community
Microgrids and Muli-family Solar
Systems
Conduct feasibility assessment with local
partner to pilot a microgrid in city limits.

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DRAFT SOLID WASTE ACTIONS
15 Category Action Summary
SW-1 Increased
Organic
Materials
Segregation
Offer Discounted Residential Backyard
Composters
Increase backyard composting by
offering discounted home composters
and composting workshops.

Update the Solid Waste Franchise
Agreement
Modify the city solid waste franchise
agreement to improve segregation
through improved signage, labels,
colored containers, and education and
outreach.

Increased Minimum Waste Practices
Implement minimum-waste practices at
City facilities and events to help reduce
the amount of waste generated.

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DRAFT SOLID WASTE ACTIONS
16 Title Action Summary
SW-2 Decrease
Consumption of
Plastic
Shopping Bags
Adopt a Plastic Bag Ordinance
Close loopholes in the state single-use
plastic bag law.

Enforce State Bag Fee Requirement
Enforce state fee requirement for
distribution of plastic shopping bags.

SW-3 Reduce
Single Use
Plastic Water
Bottles
Increase the Number of Water-Bottle
Filling Stations
Install water-bottle filling stations at the
Plaza, Depot Park, Petanque/Bocce
Courts, and Olsen Park.

SW-4 Increase
Use of
Compliant Food
Serviceware
Increase Use of Compliant Items at
Special Events
Require all food serviceware items used
for Special Events to be purchased
through a city contract.

Enforce City’s Ban on Disposable Food
Serviceware
Enforce city’s ordinance banning nonrecycled and non-compostable food serviceware. Agenda Item #9.1:

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DRAFT WATER ACTIONS
17 Actions in italics: CAC priority actions
Title Action Summary
W-1. Reduce
Use of Irrigation
Expand and Modify the Cash for Turf
Program
Expand the cash for turf program to
increase the replacement of irrigated turf
in the city.

Offer Discounted Residential Rain
Barrels
Offer rain barrels to residents at a
discounted price to increase the capture
of rainwater.

Rainwater Capture Systems at
Government Buildings
Install effective rainwater capture and
reuse systems at city facilities.

Prepare and Implement a Community
Based Social Marketing Plan
Develop a community based social
marketing plan to achieve behavior
change with water conservation.

W-2. Install Real
Time
Monitoring of
Water
Consumption
Install Advanced Water Metering
Infrastructure
Advanced Metering Infrastructure uses
new generation meters to provide real
time data on water consumption.

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DRAFT GOVERNMENT OPS ACTIONS
18 Title Action Summary
G-1. Energy
Conservation
Measures in City
Buildings
Conduct Energy Conservation Audits
Contract with an energy company to
conduct an investment-grade energy
conservation/weatherization audit of
municipal buildings.

Replace Ineffective Window Sash Locks
Replace the ineffective window sash
locks in City Hall and seal leaks.

Install Vacancy Lighting Sensors
Install vacancy lighting sensors in all
appropriate rooms in municipal buildings.

Install HVAC Zones in City Hall and
Carnegie Library
Install zones in the heating and cooling
systems of City Hall and Carnegie Library
to conserve energy.

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DRAFT GOVERNMENT OPS ACTIONS
19 Title Action Summary
G-2 Upgrade and
Expand PV Solar
Upgrade Current PV Solar Arrays
Examine current operational status of the
existing PV solar arrays at the Police
Station and Corp Yard to assess
replacement and upgrade of non-working
microinverters to increase power
production.

Expand PV Solar on Municipal Buildings
Assess expansion of rooftop PV solar on
all appropriate municipal buildings.

Assess Potential Areas to Install PV Solar
Parking Canopies
Assess potential to construct solar
canopies at Corp Yard, Fire Department,
and Police Department employee and
public parking lots.

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DRAFT GOVERNMENT OPS ACTIONS
20 Title Action Summary
G-3.

Electrification of
City Vehicles
and Equipment
City Fleet and Equipment Electrification
Plan
Develop a plan to electrify the city’s fossilfuel powered fleet and equipment.

EV Workplace Charging for City
Employees
Install EV workplace charging for city
employees and fleet vehicles.

G-4. Replace
Natural Gas
Fired Equipment
Replace Gas-Fired Water Heaters
Replace the gas-fired water heaters at
City Hall, Carnegie Library, Corp Yard,
and Fire Station with efficient electric hot
water systems.

Replace Gas-Fired HVAC System at the
Police Department
Replace gas-fired HVAC system at the
Police Department with a high efficiency
all-electric system (e.g., zoned heat
pumps).

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DRAFT CARBON SEQUESTRATION

ACTIONS
Title Action Summary
C-1. Soil-Based
Carbon
Sequestration
Support the Application of Compost
Increase use of compost on public and
private property.

Application of Biochar
Support the application of biochar on
private land.

C-2 Increase
Planting of
Trees
Urban Tree Shade Canopy Assessment
Conduct an inventory and measurement
of existing shade tree canopy on to
assess expansion of shade canopy.

Miyawaki Forests
Planting dense pocket forests on public
property.

Tree City USA Designation
Assess status to potentially achieve
designation of Tree City USA.

C-3. Local
Carbon Offsets
Establish a Local Carbon Offset Program
Create a voluntary carbon offset program
for residents, businesses, and visitors.
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STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a "Resolution of the City Council of the City of
Sonoma Accepting the Climate Action Strategies and
Finding that the Action is Not A Project Subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)."
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City of Sonoma
Agenda Item Summary
Meeting: City Council - 17 Jan 2024
Department
Administration
Staff Contact
Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk
Agenda Item Title
A Resolution Approving the City Council Commission & Committee Appointment Process and Introducing an Ordinance Amending SMC Section 2.40.010 - Attendance and Sections

2.48.020, 2.50.020, 2.60.020, and 10.12.080 - Composition Summary
On December 6, 2023, the City Council heard a presentation regarding its Commission & Committee appointment process. Several areas had been identified that could be amended to make the appointment process run more smoothly. Based on feedback and direction, staff is presenting an updated policy for consideration.

Originally, it was thought that a transition plan would be needed to implement changes throughout the year with a full change-over by January 2025, coinciding with the city election.

In further discussion, it was felt that the policy could be amended immediately with the understanding that the changes would be completed as soon as possible, but no later than January 31, 2025, if the City Council approves the resolution.

Attached for consideration are a resolution adopting the updated commission policy and an ordinance amending the affected code sections based on the direction the City Council provided on December 6, 2023.

UPDATED AREAS
Municipal Code
Sonoma Municipal Code Section 2.40.010 - Attendance - Per this code section, if a commissioner reaches 3 absences (consecutive or calendar year) their seat becomes vacant automatically.

Reason for Change: This section should not apply to direct appointments who serve at the will of the individual Council Member who appointed them.

Update: The municipal code language has been modified to apply only to the At-large members who are appointed by Council-majority.

Sonoma Municipal Code Sections 2.48.020, 2.50.020, 2.56.020, 2.60.020, and 10.12.080 - Composition
Reason for Change: The composition of the commissions is not consistent.

Update: The municipal code language will be modified to make the Climate Action Commission, Design Review & Historic Preservation Commission, Parks, Recreation, & Open Space Commission and Traffic Safety Committee all seven member boards, instead Agenda Item #9.2:

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of five. The Planning Commission and Cultural & Fine Arts Commission already consist of seven voting members.

The attached ordinance will also clarify that the five direct appointees shall be city residents and at least one of the remaining two at-large members shall be a resident of Sonoma Valley.

Action: A recruitment will be opened for the newly created seats.

Policy
Definitions - Types of Commissions & Committees -
Reason for Change: Since this is a City policy, it would be more appropriate for those commissions/committees to be addressed first.

Update: Lettering convention updated so that city commissions/committees are primary, and regional/valley commissions are secondary. This section was renamed to "Definitions" and expanded to include additional definitions of terms used throughout the policy.

Mayoral Appointment Process -
Reason for Change: The regional/valley commission appointments are made through a complex multi-step mayoral appointment process that is different process from all other appointments.

Update: To simplify the appointment process, language updated to reflect that regional/valley appointments will be made in the same manner as the City's at-large and youth members by a Council-majority vote at a regular Council Meeting.

Individual Council Member Appointments -
Reason for Change: Term starts February 1 for appointments, and it is currently considered as a separate agendized item.

Update: Language updated to allow that these direct appointments can be made at any time during the "Council Member Reports and Comments" section of the agenda. These appointments would not require separate agenda items or ratification by the Council as a whole. If a Council Member is reelected to another term, there would be no need for reappointment unless that Council Member desires a change.

Random Draw -
Reason for Change: The policy lays out the procedure for how the Council Members will make their appointments and that the order is determined by random draw.

Update: Section removed from the policy as it no longer applies with the change to direct appointments noted above.

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Alternate Members -
Reason for Change: Role and need of Alternate members on City commissions.

Update: Section on Alternates was removed from the policy as the position was not needed any longer.

Non-Voting Youth Member Terms -
Reason for Change: Timing of appointment no effective and term length limits ability to participate.

Update: Section on Youth members was updated to reflect two-year terms with an October appointment. The words "non-voting" were removed, and it was clarified that they could vote, however, their vote would not count towards the final outcome of a motion. It was also memorialized that the Youth member's attendance did not count towards the establishment of a quorum.

ITEMS INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL AT THE DECEMBER 6, 2023, SPECIAL STUDY

SESSION
Frequency of Commission Meetings
Members of the City Council expressed a desire that frequency of commission meetings be increased to allow them to continue their project work. Per the Sonoma Municipal Code, regular meetings of the commissions, except Planning, are held once each calendar quarter. It also says that a more frequent schedule of regular meetings can be approved by the City Council.

That being said, the code specifically allows for a special meeting to be called at any time by the chair or a majority of the commission. For example, the Climate Action Commission could add a special meeting study session to each quarter when they approve their annual calendar.

No change is needed to allow for additional meetings.

Appointees from Sonoma Valley –
There was consensus of the City Council that they wished to continue including members appointed from Sonoma Valley, which is defined as the boundaries of the Sonoma Valley School District. Currently, the municipal code allows for one Sonoma Valley member on each commission, however it is silent as to what position those members can be appointed to - direct appointment or at-large.

When the policy was adopted, the Municipal Code required the five members directly appointed be qualified electors of the City. For the commissions who had seven members, one or both of the At-Large members could be appointed from Sonoma Valley depending on the commission.

The thought at the time was that elected city council members should be represented by someone who they were elected by. This was not memorialized in the policy.

Using this same train of thought, though "qualified elector" was changed to "city resident", direct appointments would be city residents.

Agenda Item #9.2:

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With this policy and code update, this language was included to avoid any confusion in the future.

Non-Voting Youth Members -
A request was made to review the age of the non-voting youth member, possibly changing from "14-18 years of age at time of appointment" to "14-24 years of age". Staff would recommend making no change to the age because at the age of 18, an individual can be appointed to a commission or committee as a regular voting member with the full power and duties of that seat.

Recommended Council Action
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the resolution and introduce the ordinance.

Alternative Actions
Council discretion.

Financial Impact
There is no financial impact to this item.

Environmental Review Status
Environmental Impact Report
Negative Declaration
Exempt
Not Applicable
Approved/Certified
No Action Required
Action Requested
Attachments
Resolution Commission Policy Changes
Ordinance Amending SMC re Commissions - Redline
Commissions and Committees Appointment Policy 01.17.24
Commissions and Committees Appointment Policy - Redline 01.17.24 Agenda Item #9.2:

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City of Sonoma
RESOLUTION #____- 2024

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SONOMA APPROVING

REVISIONS TO THE COUNCIL COMMISSION AND COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT POLICY WHEREAS, at the meeting of November 6, 2017, the City Council adopted a new Commission and Committee Appointment Policy; and
WHEREAS, this policy is followed in the appointment of new Commissioners; and WHEREAS, the Council directed changes to the policy on December 6, 2023; and WHEREAS, the policy needs to be updated to reflect these changes.

NOW THEREFORE IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED by the City Council that the following changes will be made to the Council Commissions and Committees Appointment Policy:

1. The lettering convention updated so that city commissions/committees are Group A, and regional/valley commissions are Group B. Section was renamed to "Definitions" and expanded to include additional definitions of terms used throughout the policy.

2. Group B Commission appointments will be made by a Council-majority vote, in the same manner as the At-Large and Youth members.

3. Direct appointments can be made at any time, without being separately agendized.

4. The random draw requirement was removed.

5. Alternate positions dissolved on all commissions/committees, with the current Alternates continuing until June 30, 2024, to allow for project completion.

6. Youth member appointment timing amended to October and term to two years.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council hereby adopts the updated Council Commission and Committee Appointment Policy attached hereto as Exhibit A that reflects the changes listed above.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the changes to the policy will become effective on the same date as Ordinance ______.

PASSED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council on January 17, 2024.

AYES:

NOES:

ABSENT:

ABSTAIN:
______________________________________
John Gurney, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________________
Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk
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1 COUNCIL COMMISSION AND COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT POLICY
Purpose:

Public involvement is crucial to the City’s decision-making process, and appointed advisory bodies are an important and valued part of City government. There are particular areas of decision-making which benefit from the advice and counsel of qualified residents. Advisory bodies assist the City Council in making the most informed decisions. The Sonoma Municipal Code provides for the establishment of advisory bodies including commissions and committees to advise the City Council and provide ongoing citizen input into policies and issues affecting the Sonoma Community.

The purpose of this Policy is to outline those Council policies pertaining to the City’s Commissions and Committees and set forth a structure that encourages meaningful involvement by the community in decision-making.

I. Definitions
A. Group A – City Commissions and Committees
City commissions and committees are those bodies formed by the City Council which are assigned duties and responsibilities particular to the City of Sonoma and whose jurisdiction is limited to the matters and affairs of the City of Sonoma. These commissions and committees shall be referred to as the “Group A Commissions” and identified in Exhibit A.

B. Group B – Regional/Valley Committees and Commissions Regional/Valley Committees and Commissions refer to those commissions, boards, and committees which are governmental entities separate and apart from the City of Sonoma, and/or boards whose jurisdiction extends beyond the City of Sonoma. The City Council is authorized to make an appointment or appointments to these boards, commissions and/or committees of members of the public and not solely Council Members. These commissions, boards and committees shall be referred to as the “Group B Commissions” and identified in Exhibit B.

C. Direct Appointee
Direct appointees are members of Group A Commissions that are appointed by individual Council members. Direct appointees must be residents of the City.

D. At-Large Member
At-Large members are members of Group A Commissions that are appointed by a majority vote of the City Council. There are two At-Large members on all Group A Commissions.

One At-Large shall be a resident of Sonoma Valley as defined below.

E. Youth Member
Youth members are at least 14, but not more than 18, years of age at time of appointment.

There is one youth member on all Group A Commissions. The Youth member is in addition to the composition required by the Sonoma Municipal Code.

F. Sonoma Valley
For the purposes of this policy “Sonoma Valley” means the area within the Sonoma Valley Unified School District.

EXHIBIT A
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2 II. Application Process
A. Anyone interested in being considered for service on a Group A or Group B Commission shall submit an application for appointment indicating an interest in serving. The application should be completed through the City’s online CivicWeb Portal. If unable to complete electronically, a hard copy can be obtained by contacting the City Clerk’s office.

Applications are maintained on file in the City Clerk’s Office for twelve months from the time of receipt and considered active.

B. Whenever a vacancy occurs on a Group A or Group B Commission, the City Clerk shall post a notice of vacancy notifying the public of the vacancy to be filled in compliance with the Maddy Act. Notwithstanding the noticing provisions of the Maddy Act, the City Manager may prescribe a different period of time than specified in the Maddy Act within which applications for said vacancy must be submitted to the City Clerk. The Maddy Act (Cal. Gov. Code 54974) outlines certain processes that must be followed in the instance of a vacancy on a commission.

III. Appointment Process
A. Individual Council Member Appointments to Group A Commissions

1. Each Council Member shall be entitled to appoint one member to each of the Group A Commissions. No formal interview process by the Council is required. It shall be left to the sole discretion of each Council Member as to the nature and scope of any interview or investigation into the qualifications and/or background of the candidates. However, only persons who have submitted applications may be considered for appointment.

2. Direct appointees serve at the will of the Council Member who appointed them. These appointments can be made at any time during the "Council Member Reports and Comments" section of the agenda. These appointments do not require separate agendizing or ratification by the Council as a whole. If a Council Member is reelected to another term, there will be no need for reappointment unless the appointing Council Member desires a change.

B. Group B, At-Large, and Youth Members Selected by Majority Vote of Council

1. Upon the vacancy or likely vacancy on a Group B Commission and generally at least 15 days, but no less than 7 days, before the Council meeting at which a candidate is to be selected to fill the vacancy, the City Clerk shall email a list of all of the qualified applicants for that position, along with their applications, to each Council Member.

2. All members of Group A Commissions, except for Direct Appointees, shall be selected by a majority vote of the City Council. These positions shall be filled at a noticed public meeting. The staff report submitted for these appointment(s) shall include the list of all candidates as well as copies or links to each of their applications.

IV. Youth Members
The Youth member may be a resident of the city or Sonoma Valley. Youth members will participate as regular members but cannot make or second a motion and their vote will not be counted. The Youth members will not be included in the count towards establishing a quorum.

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3 V. Length of Service – Direct Appointees
A. Direct Appointees serve at the will of the Council Member who appointed them. There shall be no limit on the number of years or time they may serve as a commissioner.

B. If a Council member leaves office before their term concludes, their appointee continues to serve until such time as the appointee is re-appointed or replaced by the Council member newly elected to the departing Council member’s seat. The new Council member can make a new appointment at any time as outlined above in this policy.

VI. Terms of Office for Persons Appointed by Council as a Majority A. Group A Commissioners

1. There shall be no limit on the number of terms a person selected by the Council may serve as a commissioner.

2. Except for Youth members, persons appointed by a majority vote of the Council will serve two-year terms beginning on February 1, to coincide with city council elections.

3. Youth members shall be appointed to serve a two-year term, beginning October 1.

B. Group B Commissioners

Unless the Group B Commission has preset term lengths and limits, a person appointed by a majority of the Council will serve for a two-year term and there shall be no limit on the number of terms.

VII. Commissioners Serve Until Replaced

Even if a commissioner's term has officially ended according to the policies mentioned here, they still have the right to attend commission meetings, participate as a regular member, vote on all agenda items, and fulfill their duties until the newly appointed commissioner is sworn in and takes over their responsibilities.

IX. Proof of Residency
By signing the commission application, the applicant is making a declaration that the information is true and correct. If residency is challenged, the applicant will be asked to furnish proof of residency to the City Manager who shall determine whether the applicant has established that they are a resident (e.g., lease agreement, utility bill, bank statement).

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4 EXHIBIT A
GROUP A COMMISSIONS – CITY
Planning Commission
Climate Action Commission
Cultural and Fine Arts Commission
Parks, Recreation, & Open Space Commission
Design Review and Historic Preservation Commission
Traffic Safety Committee
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5 EXHIBIT B
GROUP B COMMISSIONS – REGIONAL/VALLEY
Sonoma Valley Community Advisory Commission
3 Commissioners,1 Alternate and Non-voting Members including 1 Emeritus member*, 1 Ex-Officio and 1 Ex-Officio Alternate**
Oversight Board of the Successor Agency of the Former Redevelopment Agency of the City of Sonoma
1 Member/1 Alternate and 1 Employee Representative/1 Alternate Sonoma Community Housing Corporation Board
Sonoma County Library Commission
Marin/Sonoma Mosquito and Vector Control District Board County-Wide Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission
Sonoma County Sustainable Groundwater Management Advisory Committee Each of the above – 1 Member
*Must be a former Commissioner or alternate
**Must be a Councilmember, Planning Commissioner or Planning Staff member Agenda Item #9.2:

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6 EXHIBIT C

BOUNDARY MAP OF SONOMA VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT
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7 POLICY LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
DATE RESOLUTION # TYPE OF REVISION
11/06/17 None Adoption of Policy
02/05/18 07-2018

1. Change length of terms for At Large member from 4 years to 2 years and align with the next election cycle.

2. Change language to clarify that all commissions members must be qualified electors in the area that they are representing – either the City or the Sonoma Valley.

3. Selection of a Sonoma Valley resident in an At Large seat should remain optional.

4. Create a non-voting youth position for the CSEC for a 14–18-year-old

5. Clarify language to state that if a Council Member is not re-elected or chooses to not seek re-election their individual appointees stay on the commission until replaced.
09/05/18 64-2018

1. CSEC Youth Member term length, timing of appointment, and appointment process

2. Section V.A.4 – Added Language “to coincide with City Council elections”
04/19/21 20-2021

1. Section VI.A – Changed language regarding terms of office of persons appointed by individual council members.

NOTE: Resulted from three council members leaving office early. 08/03/22 47-2022

1. Remove Community Services & Environment Commission

2. Add Parks, Recreation & Open Space Commission

3. Add Climate Action Commission
10/19/22 64-2022

1. Applications on file/active for 12 months

2. On-file applications reviewed prior to opening recruitment.

3. Youth Members added to all commissions

4. “Qualified Elector” requirement removed and replaced with “resident”

5. Proof of residency defined
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City of Sonoma
ORDINANCE # _____-2024

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SONOMA
AMENDING SECTIONS 2.40.010, 2.48.020, 2.50.020, 2.60.020, AND 10.12.080 OF THE

SONOMA MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING TO ATTENDANCE AND THE COMPOSITION OF THE CITY’S COMMISSIONS
The City Council of the City of Sonoma does ordain as follows:

Section 1: Section 2.40.010 of the Sonoma Municipal Code is amended to read as follows:

2.40.010 Attendance.

Attendance by members at the regular and special meetings of all boards, commissions, and advisory or assisting groups of the city (hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as “commissions” or “commission” and their members referred to as “commissioners” or “commissioner”) appointed by the city council now in existence, or hereafter established, shall be subject to the following rule:

If an at-large member of any board or commission of the city fails to attend the regular or special meetings of such a board or commission for three consecutive meetings or one-third of any calendar year’s meetings, the office becomes vacant automatically, without any declaration to that effect, and shall thereafter be filled as any other vacancy. Upon request by a commissioner, the council may waive the attendance rules due to special circumstances.

Section 2: Section 2.48.020 of the Sonoma Municipal Code is amended to read as follows:

2.48.020 Composition – Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Commission.

The parks, recreation, and open space commission shall consist of five seven voting members who are at least 18 years of age. All members shall be appointed and hold office in accordance with the applicable provisions of Chapter 2.40 SMC and rules and procedures established by city council resolution. At least fourEach Council Member will directly appoint one voting members who shall be residents of the city. The remaining voting members will be referred to as at-large members and at least one shall may be a resident of Sonoma Valley, as defined by the council commission and committee appointment policy.

Section 3: Section 2.50.020 of the Sonoma Municipal Code is amended to read as follows:

2.50.020 Composition – Climate Action Commission
The climate action commission shall consist of five seven voting members who are at least 18 years of age. All members shall be appointed and hold office in accordance with the applicable provisions of Chapter 2.40 SMC and rules and procedures established by city council resolution.

At least fourEach Council Member will directly appoint one voting members who shall be residents of the city. The remaining voting members will be referred to as at-large members and at least one shall may be a resident of Sonoma Valley, as defined by the council commission and committee appointment policy. Applicants who have professional background, expertise, or education in one or more of the following areas may be appointed to the commission: climate Agenda Item #9.2:

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action, environmental science, energy efficiency, alternative transportation, environmental justice/equity, sustainable business, waste minimization, environmental education, or a related field.

Section 4: Section 2.60.020 of the Sonoma Municipal Code is amended to read as follows:

2.60.020 Composition – Design Review and Historic Preservation Commission.

The design review and historic preservation commission shall consist of five seven voting members who are at least 18 years of age. All members shall be appointed and hold office in accordance with Chapter 2.40 SMC and rules and procedures established by city council resolution. At least fourEach Council Member will directly appoint one voting members who shall be residents of the city. The remaining voting members will be referred to as-large members and at least one shall may be a resident of Sonoma Valley, as defined by the council commission and committee appointment policy. The members of the commission shall include persons who have demonstrated special interest, competence, experience or knowledge in the following areas: historic preservation, cultural geography, or other historic preservation-related discipline; architecture and architectural history; prehistoric and historic archaeology; urban planning; landscape architecture; or related disciplines, to the extent such persons are available in the community. All members must have demonstrated interest in and knowledge of the cultural heritage of the city.

Section 5: Section 10.12.0808 of the Sonoma Municipal Code is amended to read as follows:

10.12.080 Traffic Safety Committee is Established
The traffic safety committee shall consist of five seven voting members who are at least 18 years of age. All members shall be appointed and hold office in accordance with the applicable provisions of Chapter 2.40 SMC and rules and procedures established by city council resolution.

Section 6: Severability. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or word of this chapter is for any reason held to be invalid and/or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this chapter.

The city council hereby declares that it would have passed and adopted this chapter and each of the provisions thereof irrespective of the fact that any one or more of said provisions be declared invalid and/or unconstitutional.

Section 7: Effective Date. This ordinance shall take effect thirty (30) days after passage thereof.

Section 8: Publication. This ordinance shall be published in accordance with the provisions of Government Code Section 36933(c)(1).
********
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THE FOREGOING ORDINANCE was introduced at a regular meeting of the Sonoma City Council held on the 17th day of January 2024, and thereafter passed and adopted at a regular meeting of said City Council held on the _______ day of ______, 2022, by the following roll call vote:

AYES:

NOES:

ABSENT:

ABSTAIN:
___________________________
John Gurney, Mayor
ATTEST:
___________________________
Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk
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1 COUNCIL COMMISSION AND COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT POLICY
Purpose:

C. Direct Appointee
Direct appointees are members of Group A Commissions that are appointed by individual Council members. Direct appointees must be residents of the City.

D. At-Large Member
At-Large members are members of Group A Commissions that are appointed by a majority vote of the City Council. There are two At-Large members on all Group A Commissions.

One At-Large shall be a resident of Sonoma Valley as defined below.

E. Youth Member
Youth members are at least 14, but not more than 18, years of age at time of appointment.

There is one youth member on all Group A Commissions. The Youth member is in addition to the composition required by the Sonoma Municipal Code.

F. Sonoma Valley
For the purposes of this policy “Sonoma Valley” means the area within the Sonoma Valley Unified School District.

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Applications are maintained on file in the City Clerk’s Office for twelve months from the time of receipt and considered active.

III. Appointment Process
A. Individual Council Member Appointments to Group A Commissions

B. Group B, At-Large, and Youth Members Selected by Majority Vote of Council

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VI. Terms of Office for Persons Appointed by Council as a Majority A. Group A Commissioners

1. There shall be no limit on the number of terms a person selected by the Council may serve as a commissioner.

2. Except for Youth members, persons appointed by a majority vote of the Council will serve two-year terms beginning on February 1, to coincide with city council elections.

3. Youth members shall be appointed to serve a two-year term, beginning October 1.

B. Group B Commissioners

Unless the Group B Commission has preset term lengths and limits, a person appointed by a majority of the Council will serve for a two-year term and there shall be no limit on the number of terms.

VII. Commissioners Serve Until Replaced

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6 EXHIBIT C

BOUNDARY MAP OF SONOMA VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT
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