City Council:
John Gurney, Mayor
Patricia Farrar-Rivas, Vice Mayor
Jack Ding
Ron Wellander
Sandra Lowe
6:00 P.M. - REGULAR MEETING
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
OF THE SONOMA CITY COUNCIL
City Council Chambers
177 First Street West
Wednesday, February 7, 2024
6:00 PM Regular Meeting
CONVENE, CALL TO ORDER, & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Gurney called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Mayor Gurney, Vice Mayor Farrar-Rivas, Council Member Wellander, Council Member Ding, and Council Member Lowe
REPORT ON CLOSED SESSION
There was no Closed Session held.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion by Council Member Lowe, seconded by Council Member Ding, to approve the agenda with item 9. 2 moved in front of item 7. 1. Motion carried unanimously.
1. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Robert Demler and Lisa Marie provided public comments.
2. MEETING DEDICATIONS
None.
3. COUNCIL MEMBERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS
,-- Council Member Lowe attended a Sonoma County Transportation Authority Executive Committee meeting on February 5, 2024.
The League of California Cities API Caucus appointed Mr. Ding as a commissioner to the Revenue and Taxation Committee. On January 18, 2024, he attended his first Revenue and Taxation Committee meeting. Council Member Ding also attended a Mayors and Councilmembers Legislative Committee meeting on behalf of Council Member Lowe, on January 19, 2024. He also spent time at the League of California Cities Mayors' and Councilmembers' Academy held in Monterey, California, from January 24th -26th . On January 29, 2024, Mr. Ding attended a Sonoma Valley Groundwater Sustainability meeting in addition to attending Sonoma Overnight Support's (SOS) grand opening of their "Unity Kitchen" on February 3, 2024. On February 1, 2024, Council Member Ding had the opportunity to meet with former Mayor, Logan Harvey, who's now the current general manager for Recology. During the site visit, Mr.
Ding toured the facilities with Mr. Harvey.
From January 24th to 26th , Vice Mayor Farrar-Rivas attended the League of California Cities Mayors and Councilmembers' Academy in Monterey, California. She also attended a Sonoma Clean Power Board meeting on February 1, 2024.
Council Member Wellander attended an event put on by the Sonoma County Farm Bureau.
Mayor Gurney attended Sonoma Overnight Support's grand "Unity Kitchen" opening on February 3, 2024.
He also attended the Mayors and Councilmembers' Academy in Monterey, California, from January 24th to 26th .
4. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
In the absence of City Manager Guhin, Community Development Director Jennifer Gates provided comments and announcements.
Community Development Director Gates provided an update after this weekend's heavy storm. Public Works crews are continuing the clean-up efforts throughout the City through the remainder of this week.
Ms. Gates also reported that Sonoma Water is currently completing an upgrade just upstream of Sonoma's water tanks that have temporarily interrupted the water deliveries to Sonoma. However, due to Sonoma Water's proactive efforts in filling the tanks prior to the project starting, there are no anticipated changes to deliveries to City of Sonoma customers. Community Development Director Gates shared that twenty-three (23) sets of new trash/recycle/organics receptacles will be installed throughout the Plaza, with an anticipated completion date of February 22, 2024. Ms. Gates informed Council of the newly formed "Heritage Rose Alliance". This partnership will include volunteer members from the Sonoma Valley of the Moon Garden Club, known as the "Rose Brigade," who will work under Regular Meeting Minutes, 2/7/2024
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PWs supervision to assist in the maintenance of the Plaza's roses. Lastly, Community Development Director Gates gave an update on the Chamber Rotating Art Program by highlighting the new exhibition in the Council Chambers. The new exhibition showcases a collection of artworks created by residents of Sweetwater Spectrum.
5. CITY ATTORNEY COMMENTS
On behalf of the League of California Cities, Colantuono, Highsmith, and Whately filed an amicus brief in the lawsuit challenging the business roundtable tax measure. City Attorney Ruderman noted he is working with the League of California Cities Cannabis Regulations Committee to update the "Seed to Sale" publication that they publish and distribute. Mr. Ruderman also noted that he attended a Legal Advocacy Committee meeting a few weeks prior.
6. PRESENTATIONS
None.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR- CITY COUNCIL
Motion by Council Member Ding, seconded by Vice Mayor Farrar-Rivas, to approve the Consent Calendar as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
Item 7.1:
Item 7.2:
Item 7.3:
Item 7.4:
Item 7.5:
Item 7.6:
Item 7.7:
Waive further reading and Authorize Introduction and/or Adoption of Ordinances by Title Only. (Standard procedural action - no backup information provided) Receive the Minutes from the Regular Meeting of December 20, 2023, and January 17, 2024 (Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk)
Action: The Minutes were accepted.
Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the Public Works Director to Apply for the California State Parks Habitat Conservation Fund Grant to Fund Major Rehabilitation of Portions of the Sonoma Overlook Trail (Erica Warner, Environmental Compliance Analyst) Action: Adopted as Resolution 05-2024.
Adopt a Resolution Amending the City of Sonoma Conflict of Interest Code (Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 06-2024.
Adopt a Resolution Authorizing Certain City Officials and Staff Members to Order Deposits and Withdrawals from the Local Agency Investment Fund (LAIF) (Chuck McBride, Interim Finance Director)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 07-2024.
Adopt a Resolution Approving an Addition to the 2023-24 Cemetery Price List to include an Opening and Closing Fee for Crypt Placement (Jenny Yankovich, Assistant to the City Manager)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 08-2024.
Adopt an Ordinance Amending SMC Section 2.40.010 - Attendance and Sections
2.40.010, 2.44.010, 2.48.020, 2.50.020, 2.56.020, 2.60.020, AND 10.12.080 - Composition and Accept the Amended City Commissions & Committee Appointment Policy (Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk)
Action: Adopted as Ordinance 01-2024.
8. PUBLIC HEARING
None.
9. REGULAR CALENDAR - CITY COUNCIL
Item 9.1: Selection of the 2024 City of Sonoma Alcalde (Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk) Action: Wayne Schake was selected as the City of Sonoma's Alcalde.
Motion by Mayor Gurney, seconded by Council Member Lowe, to ratify the selection of Wayne Schake as the 2024 Alcalde. Motion carried unanimously.
Item 9.2: A Resolution to: 1) Accept the Proposal by Ferguson Waterworks of Sacramento, CA, to Implement the Advanced Meter Infrastructure Project (CIP W-1 O); 2) Authorize the City Manager to Execute a Construction Contract with Ferguson Waterworks in the Amount of $3,613,981; 3) Authorize a 5% Project Contingency in the Amount of $180,000; 4) Increase the Advanced Meter Infrastructure Total Project Budget from $3,600,000 to $3,793,981; and 5) Appropriate $3,793,981 for the Advanced Meter Infrastructure Project (CIP W-10) in the current Fiscal Year 2023-24 Capital Improvement Program Budget, with $3,493,981 to be Provided by the Water Enterprise Fund and $300,000 from Grant Funding (Tom Bonigut, Interim Public Works Project Manager)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 09-2024.
Regular Meeting Minutes, 2/7/2024
Motion by Council Member Ding, seconded by Council Member Lowe, to adopt a resolution to 1) Accept the proposal by Ferguson Waterworks of Sacramento, CA, to implement the Advanced Meter Infrastructure Project (GIP W-10); 2) Authorize the City Manager to execute a construction contract with Ferguson Waterworks in the amount of $3,613,981; 3) Authorize a 5% Project Contingency in the amount of $180,000; 4) Increase the Advanced Meter Infrastructure Total Project Budget from $3,600,000 to $3,793,981; and 5) Appropriate $3,793,981 for the Advanced Meter Infrastructure Project (GIP W-10) in the current fiscal year 2023-24 Capital Improvement Program Budget, with $3,493,981 to be provided by the Water Enterprise Fund and $300,000 from grant funding. Motion carried unanimously.
Item 9.3: A Resolution Updating the 1991 Environmental Review Procedures and Finding the Proposed Modifications are Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Pursuant to Section 15061 (B)(3) - General Rule - of the CEQA Guidelines (Kristina Tierney, Associate Planner)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 10-2024.
Public Comment: Robert Demler and Cynthia Marksen
Motion by Council Member We/lander, seconded by Vice Mayor Farrar-Rivas, to adopt a resolution updating the 1991 Environmental Review Procedures and finding the proposed modifications are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15061 (8)(3) - General Rule - of the CEQA guidelines. Motion carried unanimously.
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Gurney adjourned the meeting at 7:41 p.m.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and regularly adopted at a regular meeting oft S ma City_ Council on the 21st of February 2024.
Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk
Regular Meeting Minutes, 2/7/2024