REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
OF THE SONOMA CITY COUNCIL
City Council Chambers
Cig Council: 177 First Street West
_ ,JohnGurney:Maror Wednesday, May 15, 2024
PatrICIa Farrar-Rlvas, 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 pm.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Mayor Gurney, Vice Mayor Farrar—Rivas, Council Member Wellander, Council Member Lowe, and Council Member Ding
REPORT ON CLOSED SESSION
There was no Closed Session held.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion by Council Member Lowe, seconded by Vice Mayor Farrar—Rivas, to approve the agenda with Items 6 in front of general public comment and limiting the public comment time to 2 minutes per person.
Motion carried unanimously.
1. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Rabbi Steve, Susan LaMonte, Ken Warnick, Rheem Barakrat, Alex Garcia, AllenWolves, Tanya Marsh, Jen Miller, Katie Jute, Seth Donnelly, Lexi Beckard, Peter Standford, Sabina Cezar, Joy Mendez, Mandy Bolling, Casper, Celene, Resident of Sonoma Valley, Able Bolger, Kennith Hun, Rich Cross, Ariel Mihik, Tom Conlon, Tony Rollins, Jean Lois Camu, Alice King, Anika Wood, Petal Conlin, No Name Provided, Maria Barakrat, Jordan, Richard Price, Fred Allebach, Niko Karmer, Maximus Campos, and Zach provided public comments.
2. MEETING DEDICATIONS
None.
3. COUNCIL MEMBERS’ REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Council Member Ding also announced that Jeffrey Roush would be his direct appointment on the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commission.
Council Member Farrar—Rivas attended a Sonoma Clean Power meeting on May 2, 2024, as well as their 10—YearAnniversary Celebration that evening. She was also able to attend opening night of the annual Tuesday Night Market.
Councilmember Lowe attended a Sonoma County Transportation Authority meeting on May 13, 2024.
Councilmember Wellander attended the “State of the District” hosted by the Sonoma Valley Unified School District on May 13, 2024. He also attended both a Water Advisory Committee meeting as well as a North Bay Watershed Association meeting.
Mayor Gurney attended a Mayors and Councilmembers Association Board of Directors meeting on May 9, 2024.
4. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Acting City Manager Gates reported that the City will have its second annual Pride Celebration event on May 30, 2024. She reported that water customers will receive postcards shortly providing details about the current Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMl) project. The first round of meter replacements will begin June 1, 2024. Ms. Gates officially recognized the Public Works crew, as next week is National Public Works Appreciation Week. She reported that there will be a Special Joint General Plan Study Session between the City Council and Planning Commission on June 5, 2024, starting at 5 pm. Acting City Manager Gates announced that the City has hired a new Finance Director — Prapti Aryal. However, Associate Planner Kristina Tierney will be leaving the City, and her last day will be this Friday. Lastly, the next exhibit, called “Celebration of Trees,” is almost completely hung up in the City Council Chambers.
Mayor Gurney called for a recess at 7:54 pm; Council reconvened at 8:00 pm.
5. CITYATTORNEY COMMENTS
None.
Regular Meeting Minutes, May 15, 2024
6. PRESENTATIONS
Item 6.1: Proclamation Declaring the Week of May 19-25, 2024, as "Classified School Employee Week" in the City of Sonoma
Item 6.2: Proclamation Proclaiming May 2024 as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in the City of Sonoma
Item 6.3: Proclamation Proclaiming May 2024 as "Bike Month" and May 16, 2024, as "Bike to Work Day" in the City of Sonoma
Item 6.4: Proclamation Proclaiming the Week of May 19—25,2024, as "National Public Works Appreciation Week" in the City of Sonoma
Item 6.5: Sonoma County Library Presentation by Library Director Erika Thibault
7. CONSENT CALENDAR — CITY COUNCIL
Motion by Council Member Lowe, seconded by Council Member Wellander, to approve the agenda with Item 7.3 being pulled to be brought back at a subsequent meeting, as well as Item 7.5 being pulled for separate discussion. Motion carried unanimously.
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: Receive the Minutes from the Regular Meeting of May 1, 2024 (Monique Saviez Burns, Deputy City Clerk)
Action: Minutes were received.
Item 7.3: Accept the Expenditure Report for the Months of March & April 2024. (Jennifer Gates, AICP, Community Development Director)
Action: Item was pulled and will be brought at a subsequent meeting.
Item 7.4: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City to Apply for Funding from the Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, to Implement Tree Protection Strategies Identified in the 2024 Climate Action Strategies. (Jennifer Gates, AICP, Community Development Director) Action: Adopted as Resolution 31-2024.
Item 7.5: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager To Execute a Professional Services Agreement with ZFA Structural Engineers In An Amount Not To Exceed $150,000 Annually To Provide As—Needed Structural Engineering Services. (Mike Berger, Public Works Director)
Action: Pulled for separate discussion. Adopted as Resolution 30-2024.
Public Comment: Tom Conlon
Motion by Councilmember Wellander, seconded by Vice Mayor Farrar-Rivas, to Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Professional Services Agreement with ZFA Structural Engineers In An Amount Not To Exceed $150,000 Annually To Provide As—Needed Structural Engineering Services. Motion carried unanimously.
Item 7.6: Adopt Two Ordinances Amending Sections of the Sonoma Municipal Code Pertaining to Appeal Time Periods and Finding this Action is Exempt from Further Environmental Review Under the General Rule in California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) that CEQA only Applies to Projects that have the Potential for Causing a Significant Effect on the Environment. (Jennifer Gates, AICP, Community Development Director)
Action: Adopted as Ordinance 03-2024 and Ordinance 04-2024.
8. PUBLIC HEARING
Item 8.1: Consideration, Discussion, and Possible Action to Introduce an Ordinance of the City Council Amending Sonoma Municipal Code Chapter 12.06 (Sidewalk Seating Permits) and Section 19.50.060 (Outdoor Dining, Display, and Sales Standards), and Finding the Proposed Amendments are Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Pursuant to Section 15061(B)(3) — General Rule — of the CEQA Guidelines. (Jennifer Gates, AICP, Community Development Director)
Action: Ordinance was introduced.
Public Comment: John Toulze and Tom Conlon
Motion by Council Member Lowe, seconded by Vice Mayor Farrar-Rivas, to Introduce an Ordinance of the City Council Amending Sonoma Municipal Code Chapter 12.06 (Sidewalk Seating Permits) and Section 19.50.060 (Outdoor Dining, Display, and Sales Standards) with amendments to sidewalk width and the requirement of pre—set tables, and Finding the Proposed Amendments are Exempt from the Regular Meeting Minutes, May 15, 2024
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Pursuant to Section 15061 (B)(3) — General Rule — of the CEQA Guidelines. Motion carried unanimously.
9. REGULAR CALENDAR — CITY COUNCIL
Item 9.1: Discussion, Consideration, and Possible Action to Adopt a Resolution Approving a First Amendment to the Employment Agreement with the City Manager and Authorizing the Mayor to Execute Same. (David J. Ruderman, City Attorney) Action: Adopted as Resolution 32-2024.
Motion by Council Member Ding, seconded by Council Member Lowe, to Adopt a Resolution Approving a First Amendment to the Employment Agreement with the City Manager and Authorizing Mayor to Execute Same. Motion carried unanimously.
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Gurney adjourned the meeting at 8:53 pm.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and regularly adopted at a regular meeting of the SonomaCZCouncil on the 17’”of July 2024.
Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk
Regular Meeting Minutes, May 15, 2024