REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
OF THE SONOMA CITY COUNCIL
City Council Chambers
City Council: 177 First Street West
_ ,JOh“Gum?”Mal/0’ Wednesday, September 4, 2024
PatrICIa Farrar—Rivas, Vice Mayor
Jack Ding _ Ron Wellander 6:00 PM Regular Meeting
Sandra Lowe
6:00 PM. — REGULAR MEETING
CONVENE, CALL TO ORDER, & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Vice Mayor Farrar-Rivas called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Council Member Wellander, Council Member Lowe, Council Member Ding, and Vice Mayor Farrar—Rivas
ABSENT: Mayor Gurney
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
9.1 moved to before item 8.1. Motion carried 4-0—1with Council Member Lowe, Council Member Ding, Council Member Wellander, and Vice Mayor Farrar—Rivas voting YES, and Mayor Gurney absent.
1. PRESENTATIONS
Item 1.1: Proclamation Proclaiming September 15 — October 15, 2024, as Hispanic Heritage Month in the City of Sonoma
Item 1.2: Update on the 2024 Fire Season in Sonoma Valley by Sonoma Valley District Fire Chief Steve Akre
2. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Michael Woods and Tom Conlon provided public comment.
3. MEETING DEDICATIONS
Council Member Ding dedicated the meeting to Juliet Courtial Smith.
4. COUNCILMEMBERS’ REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Council Member Lowe attended a Local Agency Formation Commission today, September 4, 2024.
Additionally, Council Member Lowe is dedicating a lot of her time working on Measure T, which is the Sales Tax Measure which will be on the November ballot.
Council Member Wellander attended a Northbay Watershed Association meeting on August 30, 2024.
Vice Mayor Farrar-Rivas attended a Sonoma Valley Community Advisory Committee meeting on August 28, 2024.
5. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
City Manager Guhin acknowledged the Public Works team for their recent efforts to paint red curbs and work through traffic safety issues. He also provided an update on the Sonoma County Transit’s current transition to an all-electric bus fleet. Mr. Guhin made the public aware that the fiscal year 2024—2025 budget book is now available online for the public to access. Additionally, there is readily available information on Measure T — the City’s revenue measure, which will be on the November 2024 ballot.
City Manager Guhin also provided a reminder that the City will be holding a Cemetery Volunteer CleanUp Day at Valley Cemetery from 9:00 AM — 12 Noon on September 21, 2024. Mr. Guhin also stated that there are only two more Tuesday Night Markets left for this year, and they willbe held at a slightly earlier time — 4:30 PM — 7:30 PM. He wanted to remind all that the Plaza palm tree lights willbe turned off after the last Tuesday Night Market of the year and then will be turned back on again during the annual Holiday Lighting Ceremony. Lastly, City Manager Guhin announced that the nomination period for the 2025 Treasure Artist of the Year is now open and nominations can be made online via the City’swebsite.
The nomination deadline will be 5PM on October 31, 2024.
6. CITYATTORNEY COMMENTS
None.
Regular Meeting Minutes, September 4, 2024
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7. CONSENT CALENDAR — CITY COUNCIL
Motion by Council Member Lowe, seconded by Council Member Ding, to approve the Consent Calendar with item 7.8 being pulled for separate discussion. Motion carried 4-0-1 with Council Member Lowe, Council Member Ding, Council Member Wellander, and Vice Mayor Farrar—Rivas voting YES, and Mayor Gurney absent.
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 August 21, 2024 (Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk)
Action: Minutes were received.
Item 7.3: Adopt a Resolution Approving Sonoma Valley High School Request for Temporary Use of City Streets on October 18, 2024, to Conduct the Annual Homecoming Parade (Lisa Janson, Senior Management Analyst)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 65-2024.
Item 7.4: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute Purchase Agreements for Two New 2024 Ford Lightning Pro Fully Electric Pickup Trucks and Two New 2024 Chevy Silverado HDService Body Pickup Trucks in an Amount Not to Exceed $285,000 and to Approve a FY 24/25 Budget Adjustment in the Amount of $285,000 for the Purchase of the New Vehicles and an Additional $15,000 for Installation of Two New Electric Vehicle Charging Plugs at the Public Works Corporation Yard (Chris Pegg, PW Operations Manager)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 66-2024.
Item 7.5: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Purchase Agreement with Republic EVS for a New 2024 Ford E-450 Custom Type IIIAmbulance (Steve Akre, Fire Chief)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 67-2024.
Item 7.6: Adopt a Resolution Confirming Signatories on City of Sonoma Financial Institution Accounts, Authorizing the Finance Director to Make Transfers Between Accounts, Including Money Market and Investment Accounts, and Amending Signature Requirements to Allow for Electronic Signatures (Prapti Aryal, Finance Director and Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 68-2024.
Item 7.7: Adopt a Resolution Approving an Application for Temporary Use of City Streets for the 2024 Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival 5K Foot Race and the Sonoma Volunteer Fire Fighters Association Annual Water Fights September 28, 2024 (Lisa Janson, Senior Management Analyst)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 69-2024.
Item 7.8: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Professional Services Agreement with W—Transin an Amount Not to Exceed $75,000 to Develop a Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Guidelines for CEQA Analyses (Jennifer Gates, AICP, Community Development Director)
Action: The item was pulled for a separate discussion. Adopted as Resolution 70- 2024.
Public Comment: Michael Woods and Tom Conlon
Motion by Council Member Wellander, seconded by Council Member Lowe, to Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Professional Services Agreement with W—Trans in an Amount Not to Exceed $75, 000 to Develop a Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Guidelines for CEQA Analyses.
Motion carried 4-0-1 with Council Member Lowe, Council Member Ding, Council Member Wellander and Vice Mayor Farrar-Rivas voting YES, and Mayor Gurney absent.
Vice Mayor called for a recess at 7:45 PM; Council reconvened at 7:50 PM.
9. REGULAR CALENDAR — CITY COUNCIL
Item 9.1: A Resolution Affirming Support of Farms, Ranches, and Agricultural Operations and Businesses in Sonoma County and Opposing Measure J (David Guhin, City Manager) Action: Adopted as Resolution 71-2024.
Public Comment: Lewis, Becky Robinson, Alex, Samantha, Molly Fabian, Sam Coturri, Chase, Sarah, Van Mangum, Nicki, Bronti Edwards, Carla Cabral, Curtis, Tom Conlon, Jordan Marr, Jennifer Burretta, Dayna Ghirardelli, Vickie Mulas, and Anthony Fernandez.
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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.
8. PUBLIC HEARING
Item 8.1: Public Hearing to Consider an Appeal of the Planning Commission's Decision to Deny a Use Permit Amendment (UA—23-40)and Wine Tasting Use Permit (VVTUP-24—1)that Would have Authorized a Vacation Rental and Wine Tasting Facility at 301 First Street West Under the Adaptive Reuse Provisions of the City’s Development Code. The Appellant requests the City Council approve the Use Permit Amendment and Wine Tasting Use Permit and give direction to staff on policy issues concerning the Adaptive Reuse Ordinance (Jennifer Gates, AICP, Community Development Director) Action: Item was continued to a subsequent meeting.
Council Disclosed any Ex-Parte Communications that have had, including: - Council Member Wellander communicated with Tom Thorney, Alice Duffee, James Bohar, and one neighbor (cannot recall the specific name). - Council Member Lowe communicated with James Bohar and Michael Woods. - Council Member Ding communicated with Michael Woods, James Bohar, and Michael Heffler, - Vice Mayor Farrar—Rivas communicated with Michael Ross, Michael Heffler, James Bohar, and Carrie Fog.
Public Comment: Michael Woods, Bruce Crawford, Tom Dunlap, Jim Bohar, Steve Wisegar, and Greg Smith.
Vice Mayor Farrar-Rivas called for a recess at 8:56 PM; Council reconvened at 9:01 PM.
Public Comment resumed: Carol Heffler, Andrea Huff, Michael Huff, Pete Weed, Carrie Fog, Nedra Peterson, Tom Con/on, Christine Bohar, Victor Zarzana, Peter Mathis, Victor Conforti, Michael Heffler, and Glen Ikemoto.
Motion by Council Member Lowe, seconded by Council Member Ding, to continue the public hearing to a date certain — October 2, 2024. Motion carried 4-0-1 with Council Member Wellander, Council Member Lowe, Council Member Ding, and Vice Mayor Farrar-Rivas voting YES, and Mayor Gurney absent.
9. REGULAR CALENDAR — CITY COUNCIL
Motion by Council Member Ding to continue item 9.2 to the next scheduled meeting.
Substitute motion by Council Member Lowe, seconded by Council Member Wellander, to continue the meeting to hear item 9.2. Motion carried 4-0-1 with Council Member Wellander, Council Member Ding, Council Member Lowe, and Vice Mayor Farrar-Rivas voting YES, and Mayor Gurney absent.
Item 9.2: A Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Construction Contract with Granite Inc., for $163,250, Approve $16,325 (10%) in Contingency, and Approve a Project Budget of $189,599.41 for Urgent and Necessary Repairs to the Storm Drain System at the Intersection of Fifth Street East and East MacArthur Street Pursuant to Public Contracts Code 22050 (Michael Berger, Public Works Director) Action: Adopted as Resolution 72-2024.
Vice Mayor Farrar—Rivas disclosed that she lives within 500 feet of this location.
Motion by Council Member Lowe, seconded by Council Member Ding, to Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Construction Contract with Granite, Inc. for $ 163,250, Approve $ 16,325 (10%) in Contingency, and Approve a Project Budget of $189, 599.41 for Urgent and Necessary Repairs to the Storm Drain System at the Intersection of Fifth Street East and East MacArthur Street Pursuant to Public Contracts Code 22050. Motion carried 4-0-1 with Council Member Wellander, Council Member Lowe, Council Member Ding, and Vice Mayor Farrar-Rivas voting YES, and Mayor Gurney absent.
10. SECOND COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
None.
10. ADJOURNMENT
Vice Mayor Farrar-Rivas adjourned the meeting at 10:38 pm.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and regularly received at a regular meeting of the Sono a City Council on the 18’“of September 2024.
e ekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk
Regular Meeting Minutes, September 4, 2024
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