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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 21, 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 Wei lander, Council Member Ding, and Council Member Lowe
REPORT ON CLOSED SESSION
There was no reportable action taken in Closed Session.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion by Council Member Lowe, seconded by Vice Mayor Farrar-Rivas, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
1. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Larry Barnett, Lexie Beckhard, Maria Barakat, No Name, Andrew Engdahl, Seth Donnelly, Ali Deering, Ronnie Maad, Alex Garcia, Reham Ariqat, and Havi provided public comments.
2. MEETING DEDICATIONS
None.
3. COUNCIL MEMBERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Council Member Ding attended a Zero Waste Sonoma meeting on February 15, 2024. On February 16, 2024, Council Member Ding, on behalf of Council Member Lowe, attended a Mayors and Councilmembers' Association Legislative Committee meeting.
Vice Mayor Farrar-Rivas attended a Library Board meeting on February 8, 2024. She also attended a Cal Cities North Bay Division meeting hosted by the League of California Cities on February 15, 2024, in which they discussed the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA).
Council Member Wellander attended a Mayors and Councilmembers' Association dinner meeting on February 8, 2024.
Council Member Lowe attended a Cal Cities North Bay Division meeting on February 15, 2024, along with Vice Mayor Farrar-Rivas, in which they discussed the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA).
She also attended a Coastal Cities Update meeting, hosted by the League of California Cities, on February 21 , 2024.
Mayor Gurney attended a Mayors and Councilmembers Dinner Meeting on February 8, 2024, along with Council Member Wellander. On February 12, 2024, the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce hosted the "Meet the Mayor" event held at Murphy's Irish Pub and Restaurant. He was also able to attend a Shared Services meeting with Supervisor Susan Gorin on February 21, 2024.
4. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
City Manager Guhin provided a status update on the installation of new trash, recycling, and compost bins around the Plaza. Mr. Guhin Sonoma Ecology is conducting controlled, prescribed burning operations in the Mantini Preserve periodically through April 2024. City Manager Guhin proudly announced that Sonoma native, Ada Limon, the U.S. Poet Laureate, was named one of Times Magazine's 12 Women of the Year for 2024.
5. CITY ATTORNEY COMMENTS
None.
6. PRESENTATIONS
Item 6.1:
Item 6.2:
Proclamation Designating March 2024 as Red Cross Month in the City of Sonoma Proclamation Designating February 2024 as Black History Month in the City of Sonoma
Regular Meeting Minutes, 2/ 21/ 2024
7. CONSENT CALENDAR - CITY COUNCIL
Motion by Vice Mayor Farrar-Rivas, seconded by Council Member Lowe, to approve the Consent Calendar as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
Item 7.1:
Item 7.2:
Item 7.3:
Waive further reading and Authorize Introduction and/or Adoption of Ordinances by Title Only. (Standard procedural action - no backup information provided) Accept the Expenditure Report for the Month of January 2024 (Chuck McBride, Interim Finance Director)
Action: The expenditure report was accepted.
Receive the Minutes from the Special Meeting of February 2, 2024, and the Regular Meeting of February 7, 2024 (Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk) Action: The minutes were received.
- 8. PUBLIC HEARING
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None.
9. REGULAR CALENDAR - CITY COUNCIL
Item 9.1: A Resolution Approving the Temporary Use of Field of Dreams "Fazio Field" by Transcendence Theater Company for a Summer Event Series June 17-24, July 22-29, August 12-19 and September 16-23, of 2024. The proposed resolution is exempt from the California Environmental Act (CEQA) under Sections 15304 (minor alterations of land), 15323 (normal operations of facilities for public gatherings) and 15061 (b)(3) (common sense exemption) of the CEQA Guidelines (Lisa Janson, Senior Management Analyst)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 11-2024.
Public Comment: Fred Allebach, Tom Conlon, Rod Crisp, John Toulze, Bill Lynch, Brad Surosky, and J.J. Abodeely.
Motion by Council Member Lowe, seconded by Council Member Ding, to adopt A Resolution Approving the Temporary Use of Field of Dreams "Fazio Field" by Transcendence Theater Company for a Summer Event Series June 17-24, July 22-29, August 12-19, and September 16-23, of 2024. The proposed resolution is exempt from the California Environmental Act (CEQA) under Sections 15304 (minor alterations of land), 15323 (normal operations of facilities for public gatherings) and 15061 (b)(3) (common sense exemption) of the CEQA Guidelines. Motion carried unanimously.
Item 9.2: A Resolution Ratifying the 2024 City Council Goals (David Guhin, City Manager) Action: Adopted as Resolution 12-2024.
Public Comment: Larry Barnett, Robert Demler, Fred Allebach, Unidentified Individual, Tom Conlon, and Maria Barakat.
Motion by Council Member Lowe, seconded by Vice Mayor Farrar-Rivas, to adopt a Resolution Ratifying the 2024 City Council Goals with a 12-month workplan to be created and brought back to Council with regard to the Annexation/Unification goal. Motion carried 4-1 with Council Member Ding, Council Member Lowe, Vice Mayor Farrar-Rivas, and Mayor Gurney voting YES; and Council Member We/lander voting NO.
Item 9.3: Introduction of an Ordinance Adding Chapter 10.22 to Title 10 of the Sonoma Municipal Code Regulating Sideshows, Street Races, and Reckless Driving Exhibitions (Brandon Cutting, Police Chief)
Action: Ordinance was introduced.
Public Comment: Tom Conlon
Motion by Council Member Ding, seconded by Council Member Lowe, to introduce an Ordinance Adding Chapter 10.22 to Title 10 of the Sonoma Municipal Code Regulating Sideshows, Street Races, and Reckless Driving Exhibitions. Motion carried unanimously.
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Gurney adjourned the meeting at 8:48 p.m.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and regularly adopted at a regular meeting ~ • City Council on the 6"' of March 2024.
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Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk
Regular Meeting Minutes, 2/ 21/ 2024