REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
OF THE SONOMA CITY COUNCIL
•CALIFORNIA City Council Chambers
177 First Street West
John Gurney, Mayor Wednesday, November 6, 2024
Patricia Farrar-Rivas, Vice Mayor
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: Council Member Wellander, Council Member Ding, Council Member Lowe, Vice Mayor Farrar-Rivas, and Mayor Gurney
REPORT ON CLOSED SESSION
There was no Closed Session held.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion by Vice Mayor Farrar-Rivas, seconded by Council Member Ding, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
1. PRESENTATIONS
Item 1.1: Proclamation Designating November 2024 as Native American Heritage Month
2. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Armando Zimmerman and Anne Ching provided public comments.
3. MEETING DEDICATIONS
Mayor Gurney dedicated the meeting to John 'Mac' McQuown.
4. COUNCILMEMBERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Council Member Lowe attended a Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) meeting today Vovember 6. 2024. Over the past few weeks, she has dedicated her time and efforts to communicating information to residents about Measure T - the City of Sonoma's Transaction and Use Tax Measure, which was on the ballot this month.
Council Member Ding attended a Sonoma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency (SVGSA) meeting on October 28, 2024.
Last Monday, October 28, 2024, Council Member Wellander attended a Water Advisory Committee (WAC) meeting.
On October 23, 2024, Vice Mayor Farrar-Rivas attended a Sonoma Valley Community Advisory Commission (SVCAC) meeting
5. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
City Manager Guhin announced that the City's 'Express Permitting Process' is live for various residential permits; more information is available on the City of Sonoma's website. He also shared that the ambulance that the City donated to Sister City Kaniv, Ukraine earlier this year finally arrived at its destination after a long journey; additional information is available on the Sister Cities website. Mr.
Guhin also shared that there will be a Cemetery Clean-Up Day at the Veterans Cemetery on November 11, 2024, from 9 AM to 12 Noon. Additionally, City Manager Guhin shared that the nomination period for the 2025 Alcalde is now open and will close on January 31, 2025. Lastly, Mr. Guhin highlighted and thanked Tommy Plume, Street Supervisor, who was off-duty at the time and was one of the first on- scene to the pedestrian hit-and-run accident that occurred in a crosswalk on October 20, 2024.
6. CITY ATTORNEY COMMENTS
None.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR - CITY COUNCIL
Regular Meeting Minutes, November 6, 2024
Motion by Council Member Lowe, seconded by Vice Mayor Farrar-Rivas, to approve the Consent Calendar, with the stated minor amendments to the October 14, 2024, regular meeting minutes, as presented. 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: Accept Minutes from the Special Study Session Meeting of October 14, 2024, and Regular Meetings of October 14,2024 and October 21, 2024 (Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk)
Action: The minutes were accepted with minor amendments to the October 14, 2024 regular meeting minutes.
Item 7.3: Adopt a Resolution to Support the Extension of the Sonoma County Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Authority for a 10-year Period (Brandon Cutting, Police Chief) Action: Adopted as Resolution 91-2024.
Item 7.4: Receive Report on City Commissions and Committee Attendance (Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk)
Action: The report was received.
Item 7.5: Selection of Index for Determining Annual Minimum Wage Adjustment (Prapti Aryal, Finance Director and David Guhin, City Manager)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 92-2024.
8. PUBLIC HEARING
Item 8.1: Continued 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 (WTUP-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 (Jenniter Gates, AlCP, Community Development Director)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 93-2024.
Ex-Parte Communication Disclosures (Since the last meeting):
- Vice Mayor Farrar-Rivas spoke to Jim Bohar via phone. - Council Member Ding spoke to Jim Bohar via phone.
- Council Member Wellander met with Jim Bohar in person. - Council Member Lowe communicated with Jim Bohar via text. - Mayor Gurney spoke to Jim Bohar via phone.
Open Public Hearing: 6:32 p.m.
Public Comment: Jim Bohar and Victor Conforti
Closed Public Hearing: 6:43 p.m.
Motion by Council Member Lowe, seconded by Vice Mayor Farrar-Rivas, to Adopt a Resolution Titled "A Resolution of the City of Sonoma Affirming in Part and Denying in Part an Appeal of the Planning Commission's Decision on May 16, 2024, Denying the Amendment to the Use Permit (UA 23-40) and Wine Tasting Use Permit (WTUP 24-1) Applications of Michael Ross at 301 First Street West (APN 018- 161-042), Setting Aside the Planning Commission's Resolution and Approving the Use Permit (UA 23- 40) and Wine Tasting Use Permit (WTUP 24-1). Motion carried unanimously.
Item 8.2: Public Hearing to Consider Adopting a Resolution Declaring Results of Majority Protest Proceedings to Renew the Sonoma Tourism Improvement District (David Guhin, City Manager)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 94-2024.
Open Public Hearing: 6:57 p.m.
Public Comment: None.
Closed Public Hearing: 6:57 p.m.
Mayor Gurney sits on the Sonoma Tourism Improvement District Board.
Motion by Council Member Ding, seconded by Council Member Lowe, to Adopt a Resolution Declaring Results of Majority Protest Proceedings to Renew the Sonoma Tourism Improvement District. Motion carried unanimously.
9. REGULAR CALENDAR - CITY COUNCIL
None.
10. SECOND COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
None.
Regular Meeting Minutes, November 6, 2024
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Gurney adjourned the meeting at 7:00 p.m.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and regularly received at a regular meeting of the Sonoma City Council on the 20th of November 2024.
nue
Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk
Regular Meeting Minutes, November 6, 2024