REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
OF THE SONOMA CITY COUNCIL
CALIFORNIA City Council Chambers
City Council: 177 First Street West
John Gurney, Mayor Wednesday, March 6, 2024
Patricia Farrar-Rivas, Vice Mayor
Jack Ding
Ron Wellander 6:00 PM Regular Meeting
Sandra Lowe
6:00 P.M. - 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, Council Member Wellander, and Council Member Lowe ABSENT: Vice Mayor Farrar-Rivas and Council Member Ding
REPORT ON CLOSED SESSION
There was no reportable action taken in Closed Session.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion by Council Member Lowe, seconded by Council Member Wellander, to approve the agenda as resented. Motion carried 3-0-2 with Council Member Wellander, Council Member Lowe and Mayor Gurney voting YES, and Council Member Ding and Vice Mayor Farrar-Rivas absent.
1. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Maria Barakat, Lexie Beckhard, Tania Marsh, Celene, Casper, and Seth Donnelly provided public Council Member Ding arrived at 6:14 p.m.
2. MEETING DEDICATIONS
Council Member Lowe dedicated the meeting to Janet Nicholas.
3. COUNCIL MEMBERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Council Member Lowe attended a Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) meeting today, March 6, 2024.
Council Member Wellander attended a Sonoma Homeless Coalition meeting on March 1, 2024. He also attended a North Bay Watershed Association meeting on February 28, 2024.
Council Member Ding attended the Sonoma Community Center's Chinese Lunar New Year event on March 2, 2024. He also attended the annual Employee Recognition event, which was held at The Lodge on March 1, 2024.
Mayor Gurney made the opening remarks at the Sonoma School of Martial Arts's 2024 Taekwondo Tournament held on February 24, 2024, and attended the annual Employee Recognition event on March
4. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
City Manager Guhin reported that the emergency warming center was activated last weekend due to inclement weather conditions. Mr. Guhin also announced that the 2024 Alcalde reception honoring Wayne Schake will be held on March 26, 2024, at the Vintage House at 6:30 p.m. In addition, the application process for the 2024 Student Creative Artist Award, which closes on April 5, 2024.
5. CITY ATTORNEY COMMENTS
None.
6. PRESENTATIONS
Item 6.1: Proclamation Proclaiming March 2024 as Women's History Month in the City of Sonoma (Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk)
Item 6.2: Presentation from Sonoma Water Agency on the FY 2024-2025 Proposed Budget by Lynne Roselli, Administrative Services Division Manager and Jake Spaulding, Finance Manager (Mike Berger, Public Works Director/City Engineer)
7. CONSENT CALENDAR - CITY COUNCIL
Motion by Council Member Lowe, seconded by Council Member Ding, to approve the Consent Calendar as presented. Motion carried 4-0-1 with Council Member Wellander, Council Member Lowe, Council Member Ding and Mayor Gurney voting YES and Vice Mayor Farrar-Rivas absent.
Regular Meeting Minutes, 3/06/2024
Item 7.1: Waive further reading and Authorize Introduction and/or Adoption of Ordinances by Title Only. (Standard procedural action - no backup information provided) Item 7.2: Adopt 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: Adopted as Ordinance 02-2024.
Item 7.3: Receive Minutes from the Regular Meeting of February 21, 2024 (Rebekah Barr, MC, City Clerk)
Action: The minutes were received.
Item 7.4: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute Notice of Completions for the City of Sonoma (Mike Berger, Public Works Director and Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 13-2024.
Item 7.5: Adopt a Resolution Cancelling the Regular Meeting Scheduled for April 17, 2024 (Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 14-2024.
Item 7.6: Accept the City of Sonoma General Plan Annual Progress Report and Direct Staff to Distribute to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and the Governor's Office of Planning and Research (OPR) (Kristina Tierney, Associate Planner)
Action: The City of Sonoma General Plan Annual Progress Report was accepted.
Item 7.7: Adopt a Resolution Approving a Request From Sonoma Valley Authors Festival to Temporary Install Large White Letters That Spell READ In the Sonoma Plaza Leading Up to the 7th Annual Authors on the Plaza Event (Lisa Janson, Senior Analyst/Special Events Manager)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 15-2024.
8. PUBLIC HEARING
None.
9. REGULAR CALENDAR - CITY COUNCIL
Item 9.1: A Resolution Authorizing A One-Time Allocation of $75,790 in the Fiscal Year 2024 Construction and Materials Budget in the Long-Term Building Maintenance Fund (Fund 610) to Complete Needed Maintenance, Repairs, and Equipment Upgrades to the Haven Building for Use as an Emergency Warming Center and Authorizing the City Manager to take All Necessary Actions to Execute the Provisions Therein (Chris Pegg, Public Works Operations Manager)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 16-2024.
Motion by Council Member Lowe, seconded by Council Member Ding, to adopt a resolution authorizing a one-time allocation of $75, 790 in the fiscal year 2024 construction and materials budget in the long- term building maintenance fund (Fund 610) to complete needed maintenance, repairs, and equipment upgrades to the Haven building for use as an emergency warming center and authorizing the city manager to take all necessary actions to execute the provisions therein. Motion carried 4-0-1 with Cos and Vice Mayor are as all Member Lowe, Council Member Ding, and Mayor Gurney voting
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Gurney adjourned the meeting at 7:18 p.m.
Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk
Regular Meeting Minutes, 3/06/2024