REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
OF THE SONOMA CITY COUNCIL
City Council Chambers
City Council: 177 First Street West
. 90““Gum.”Mar“ Wednesday, August 21, 2024
PatnCIa 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, Council Member Wellander, and Vice Mayor Farrar—Rivas ABSENT: Council Member Ding and Council Member Lowe
REPORT ON CLOSED SESSION
There was no Closed Session held.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion by Vice Mayor Farrar—Rivas, seconded by Council Member Wellander, to approve the agenda with item 7.10 being pulled for separate discussion. Motion carried 3—0—2with Council Member Wellander, Vice Mayor Farrar—Rivas, and Mayor Gurney voting YES and Council Member Ding and Council Member Lowe absent.
1. PRESENTATIONS
Item 1.1: Proclamation proclaiming August 26, 2024, as "Women's Equality Day" in the City of Sonoma
Item 1.2: Presentation by Christine M. Sosko, Director of Sonoma County Environmental Health Regarding Microenterprise Home Kitchens (MEHKO)
2. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
None.
3. MEETING DEDICATIONS
None.
4. COUNCILMEMBERS’ REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Vice Mayor Farrar—Rivas attended a Sonoma Clean Power Board meeting on August 1, 2024.
Council Member Wellander, on behalf of Council Member Ding, attended the Zero Waste Sonoma Board meeting on August 15, 2024. He also attended the annual Zucchini Races at the Sonoma Plaza on August 20, 2024.
Mayor Gurney, along with Council Member Wellander, attended the Mayors’ and Councilmembers’ Association Board meeting on August 8, 2024. He was also present at the annual Zucchini Races at the Sonoma Plaza on August 20, 2024.
5. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
City Manager Guhin reiterated that there was a great turnout on August 20, 2024, for the annual Zucchini Races held at Sonoma Plaza. Mr. Guhin reminded everyone that the City routinely sends out a newsletter that includes a plethora of important information. City Manager Guhin provided a brief update on the City’s cemeteries and shared that the City will be holding the following “Cemetery Clean Up Days”: Valley Cemetery on September 2, 2024; Mountain Cemetery on October 26, 2024; and Veterans Cemetery on November 9, 2024. He also provided a status update on the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA) Bond Measure, which was pulled from the November 2024 ballot. Mr. Guhin shared that he participates in Sonoma Valley Unified School District’s (SVUSD) school consolidation process; information on these public meetings can be found on SVUSD’s website. Lastly, City Manager Guhin reminded the public that the “Celebration of Trees” art exhibit reception will be held in the Council Chambers on Thursday, August 22, 2024, from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm.
6. CITY ATTORNEY COMMENTS
None.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR — CITY COUNCIL
Regular Meeting Minutes, August 21, 2024
Motion by Council Member Wellander, seconded by Vice Mayor Farrar—Rivas, to approve the Consent Calendar with item 7.10 being pulled for separate discussion. Motion carried 3—0—2with Council Member Wellander, Vice Mayor Farrar-Rivas, and Mayor Gurney voting YES, and Council Member Ding and Council Member Lowe absent.
Public Comment: Sedra Nathan
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: Accept Minutes from the Regular Meetings of July 17, 2024, August 7, 2024, and the Special Joint Meeting of June 25, 2024 (Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk) Action: Minutes were accepted.
Item 7.3: Accept the Expenditure Report for the Month of June 2024 (Prapti Aryal, Finance Director)
Action: The expenditure report was accepted.
Item 7.4: Accept the Expenditure Report for the Month of July 2024 (Prapti Aryal, Finance Director)
Action: The expenditure report was accepted.
Item 7.5: Adopt a Resolution Approving a Cooperative Funding Agreement with Sonoma County Transportation Authority (SCTA) for Go Sonoma Measure M Funds for CIP Project No. T—6,Citywide Safety Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements (Mike Berger, Public Works Director)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 57-2024.
Item 7.6: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Professional Services Agreement with Matrix Consulting Group, Ltd. in an Amount Not to Exceed $50,000 to Develop a Comprehensive Fee Study, Cost Allocation Analysis, and Nexus Study for Impact Fees (Prapti Aryal, Finance Director & Jennifer Gates, AICP, Community Development Director)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 58-2024.
Item 7.7: Adopt a Resolution of Intention to Renew the Sonoma Tourism Improvement District (STID) (David Guhin, City Manager & Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk) Action: Adopted as Resolution 59-2024.
Item 7.8: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into a Cooperative Purchasing Agreement (Interlocal Contract) with the Houston-Galveston Area Council of Governments (H-GAC) (Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 60-2024.
Item 7.9: Adopt a Resolution Amending the City of Sonoma Conflict of Interest Code (Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 61-2024.
Item 7.10: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Task Order with Land Culture LLP, Previously Doing Business as Ann Baker Landscape Architect, for Olsen Park Renovations, Capital Improvement Project P—8(Mike Berger, Public Works Director) Action: Adopted as Resolution 62-2024.
Motion by Vice Mayor Farrar—Rivas, seconded by Mayor Gurney, to Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Task Order with Land Culture LLP, Previous/y Doing Business As Ann Baker Landscape Architect, for Olsen Park Renovations, Capital Improvement Project P-8. Motion carried 3- 0-2, with Council Member Wellander, Vice Mayor Farr—Rivas, and Mayor Gurney voting YES, and Council Member Ding and Council Member Lowe absent.
8. PUBLIC HEARING
None.
9. REGULAR CALENDAR — CITY COUNCIL
Item 9.1: Adopt a Resolution Approving the Updated 2024 City of Sonoma Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) (Sarah Tracy, Senior Management Analyst/PIO) Action: Adopted as Resolution 63-2024.
Motion by Vice Mayor Farrar-Rivas, seconded by Council Member Wellander, to Adopt a Resolution Approving the Updated 2024 Emergency Operations Plan (EOP). Motion carried 3-0—2,with Council Member Wellander, Vice Mayor Farr—Rivas, and Mayor Gurney voting YES, and Council Member Ding and Council Member Lowe absent.
Regular Meeting Minutes, August 21, 2024
Item 9.2: DiSCUssion, Consideration, and Possible Adoption of a City Council Resolution to Adopt a Policy to Allow for Alternative Sidewalk Materials and Designate the Public Works Director the Authority to Issue Permits for Sidewalks and Driveways (Jennifer Gates, AICP, Community Development Director & Mike Berger, Public Works Director) Action: Adopted as Resolution 64-2024.
Public Comment: Sedra Nathan
Motion by Vice Mayor Farrar-Rivas, seconded by Mayor Gurney, to Adopt a Resolution to Adopt a Policy to Allow for Alternative Sidewalk Materials and Designate the Public Works Director the Authority to Issue Permits for Sidewalks and Driveways. Motion carried 3-0-2 with Council Member Wellander, Vice Mayor Farrar—Rivas, and Mayor Gurney voting YES, and Council Member Ding and Council Member Lowe absent.
item 9.3: Appointments to the Sonoma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Advisory Committee and Sonoma Community Housing Corporation (Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk) Action: Elena Neigher was appointed to the Sonoma County Groundwater Sustainability Advisory Committee. By consensus of the Council, the open position on the Sonoma Community Housing Board will be brought back for consideration at a subsequent meeting.
Motion by Vice Mayor Farr-Rivas, seconded by Council Member Wellander, to appoint Elena Neigher to the Sonoma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Advisory Committee. Motion carried 3-0—2WithCouncil Member Wellander, Vice Mayor Farrar—Rivas, and Mayor Gurney voting YES, and Council Member Ding and Council Member Lowe absent.
10. SECOND COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
None.
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Gurney adjourned the meeting at 7:43 pm.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and regularly received at a regular meeting of the Sonoma City Council on the 4‘"of September 2024.
Monique S ez s, D y City Clerk
Regular Meeting Minutes, August 21, 2024