REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
OF THE SONOMA CITY COUNCIL
City Council Chambers
City Council: 177 First Street West
Patricia Farrar—Rivas, Mayor Wednesday January 15, 2025 Ron Wellander, Vice Mayor ’
Sandra Lowe
John Gurney 6:00 PM Regular Meeting
Jack Ding
6:00 PM. — REGULAR MEETING
CONVENE, CALL TO ORDER, & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Farrar—Rivas called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Vice Mayor Wellander, Council Member Lowe, Mayor Farrar—Rivas, Council Member Gurney, and Council Member Ding
REPORT ON CLOSED SESSION
There was no Closed Session held.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion by Council Member Gurney, seconded by Council Member Ding, to approve the agenda with item
10.1 moved directly after item 1.1. Motion carried unanimously.
1. PUBLIC HEARING
Item 1.1: Presentation and Second Public Hearing Regarding City of Sonoma's Transition to ByDistrict Elections (David Guhin, City Manager & Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk) Action: The presentation was received, and the public hearing was conducted.
Opened Public Hearing: 6:42 pm.
Public Comments: Robert Demler and Erica Ercalano
Closed Public Hearing: 6:49 pm.
10. REGULAR CALENDAR — CITY COUNCIL
Item 10.1: Selection of the 2025 City of Sonoma Alcalde (Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk) Action: Kathy Witkowicki was selected as the 2025 Alcaldessa.
2. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Leslie Nickelson, Ken Stokes, Amy Alterman, Erica Ercalano, Julie King, Robert Demler, Jonathan Clark, David Dixon and Tom Graves provided public comments.
3. MEETING DEDICATIONS
Council Member Gurney dedicated the meeting to Sam Morphy and David Farrell.
4. COUNCILMEMBERS’ REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Since the last City Council meeting, Council Member Lowe attended a Sonoma County Transportation Authority Ad—HocCommittee meeting. She also reported that a new SMART station opened last Friday north of Petaluma on Corona Road and encourages everyone to ride it.
Vice Mayor Wellander, representing the City of Sonoma, attended the Mayors and Councilmembers Association Board meeting on January 9, 2025.
Council Member Ding attended the annual State of the Valley on January 9, 2025.
Council Member Gurney attended a Sonoma Tourism Improvement District meeting on January 15, 2025.
Mayor Farrar—Rivas also attended the State of the Valley on January 9, 2025. During the event, Sonoma Roots Natural Medicine was named Business of the Year, Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance was named Nonprofit of the Year, and Saul Gropman was awarded the Community Legacy Award for 2025.
5. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
City Manager Guhin reported that the City Council willhold their annual Goal Setting Session on January 30, 2025, from 9:00 am. to 5:00 p.m., at The Lodge in Sonoma; public comments willbe received starting at 10:00 am. Those unable to attend in person can submit their comments to [email protected] prior to the session. Additionally, that evening, there will be a General Plan Land Use Workshop being held from 6:00 pm. to 8:00 pm. at the Vintage House. Mr. Guhin continued on to announce that on April 4, 2025, the City will be hosting the annual reception to honor the 2025 Treasure Artist Award recipient — Margaret Hatcher. He went on to report that the sidewalk repairs down Broadway are now complete, as well as some tree trimming, which was done in the same area. Pedestrian flashers have also been Regular Meeting Minutes, January 15, 2025
installed along Broadway and the next anticipated set will be installed at West Spain and Third Street.
City Manager Guhin updated the public that the holiday lights around Sonoma Plaza will be taken down next week. The main palm tree willcontinue being lit until the start of the Tuesday Night Farmers Market.
Lastly, Mr. Guhin informed the assembly that progress continues on the Hazard Mitigation Plan Update.
He emphasized the importance of public participation and encouraged residents to complete a survey available on the City’s website. This survey allows the public to identify hazards and suggest resources for the City to consider. City Manager Guhin concluded by expressing the City’s solidarity with the residents of Los Angeles and the broader Southern California region. He noted that Sonoma County has already deployed multiple resources to support the ongoing efforts in Southern California. Additionally, he reiterated that the City of Sonoma remains prepared to provide any necessary assistance throughout the recovery period.
6. CITY ATTORNEY COMMENTS
None.
7. PRESENTATIONS
Item 7.1: Presentation by Sonoma County Water Agency
8. CONSENT CALENDAR — CITY COUNCIL
Motion by Council Member Ding, seconded by Council Member Lowe, to approve the Consent Calendar as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
Item 8.1: Waive further reading and Authorize Introduction and/or Adoption of Ordinances by Title Only. (Standard procedural action - no backup information provided) Item 8.2: Accept the Minutes from the Special Meeting of December 18, 2024, and the Regular Meeting of December 18, 2024 (Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk) Action: The Minutes were accepted.
Item 8.3: Adopt a Resolution Adopting City of Sonoma Standard Plan No. 119 - SolarPoweredNVireless Communication Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon System and Square Pole Installation (Mike Berger, Public Works Director) Action: Adopted as Resolution 01-2025.
Item 8.4: Adopt a Resolution to (a) Accept the City’s Annual Report and Findings Regarding Development Impact Fees as Required by the Mitigation Fee Act and the Quimby Act for Fiscal Year 2023—24; (b) Approve the Reauthorization of the Intended Use of Retained Funds Collected for Improvements that Remain Unspent for More than Five Years (Prapti Aryal, Finance Director & Jennifer Gates, AICP, Community Development Director) Action: Adopted as Resolution 02-2025.
Item 8.5: Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of Sonoma as Successor Agency Approving the FY 25—26Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule [ROPS] for the Period July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026 (Prapti Aryal, Finance Director)
Action: Adopted as SA Resolution 01-2025.
Item 8.6: Adopt an Ordinance Amending Sonoma Municipal Code Chapters 19.41 — Two-Unit Residential Development and Chapter 19.72 — Parcel Maps For Urban Lot Splits and Finding this Action is Not a Project under Division 13 (Commencing With Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code (Jennifer Gates, AICP, Community Development Director) Action: Adopted as Ordinance 01-2025.
Item 8.7: Accept the Expenditure Report for the Month of December 2024 (Prapti Aryal, Finance Director)
Action: The expenditure report was accepted.
Item 8.8: Adopt an Ordinance Amending Chapter 19.51 ofthe Sonoma Municipal Code to Align with the Revised Public Art Policy (Sarah Tracy, Senior Management Analyst/PIO) Action: Adopted as Ordinance 02-2025.
Item 8.9: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Small Enterprise Agreement for Local Government Cloud-Based Geographic Information Systems Software and Support with Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. and Directing the City Manager to Amend the Fiscal Year 24—25Budget by Increasing the Management Information Services Fund Budget by $2,920 (Chris Pegg, Public Works Operations Manager)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 03-2025.
9. PUBLIC HEARING
Item 9.1: Discussion, Consideration, and Possible Action to Introduce an Ordinance Amending Sonoma Municipal Code Section 19.88.020 (Notice of Hearing). and Finding the Ordinance Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Pursuant Regular Meeting Minutes, January 15, 2025
to Section 15061(b)(3) — General Rule - of the CEQA Guidelines (Jennifer Gates, AlCP, Community Development Director)
Action: The ordinance was introduced.
Opened Public Hearing: 8:14 pm.
Public Comment: None.
Closed Public Hearing: 8:14 pm.
Motion by Council Member Lowe, seconded by Council Member Ding, to introduce an Ordinance Amending Sonoma Municipal Code Section 19.88. 020 (Notice of Hearing), and Finding the Ordinance Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Pursuant to Section 15061 (b)(3) — General Rule — of the CEQA Guidelines. Motion carried unanimously.
Item 9.2: Discussion, Consideration, and Possible Action to Introduce an Ordinance Amending Sonoma Municipal Code Section 10.52.20, Curb Markings to Indicate No Stopping and Parking Regulations, and Repealing Municipal Code Section 10.48.160 and Finding the Ordinance Exempt from the California Environmental Act (CEQA) Pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) — General Rule - of the CEQA Guidelines (Mike Berger, Public Works Director &Ashley Cotter, Public Works Administrative & Project Manager)
Action: The ordinance was introduced.
Opened Public Hearing: 8:23 pm.
Public Comment: Erica Ercalano
Closed Public Hearing: 8:25 pm.
Motion by Council Member Lowe, seconded by Council Member Gurney, to introduce an Ordinance Amending Sonoma Municipal Code Section 10.52.20, Curb Markings to indicate No Stopping and Parking Regulations, and Repealing Municipal Code Section 10.48.160 and Finding the Ordinance Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Pursuant to Section 15061 (b)(3) — General Rule — of the CEQA Guidelines. Motion carried unanimously.
Item 9.3: Discussion, Consideration and Possible Action to Introduce an Ordinance Amending Sonoma Municipal Code, Title 5 Business Licenses and Regulations, Sections
5.04.110, 5.04.200, 5.04.290, and 5.08.075 (Alicia Formato, Accounting Technician) Action: The ordinance was introduced.
Opened Public Hearing: 8:34 pm.
Public Comment: None
Closed Public Hearing: 8:34 pm.
Motion by Council Member Ding, seconded by Council Member Lowe, to introduce an Ordinance Amending Sonoma Municipal Code, Title 5 Business Licenses and Regulations, Sections 5.04.110,
5.04.200, 5.04.290, and 5.08.075. Motion carried unanimously.
10. REGULAR CALENDAR — CITY COUNCIL
Mayor Farrar—Rivas called a recess at 8:36 pm; Council reconvened at 8:41 pm.
Item 10.2: Presentation and Discussion, Consideration, and Possible Action to Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Sonoma Approving the Active Transportation Plan and Finding this Action is Exempt from Further Environmental Review Underthe General Rule in California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) (Jennifer Gates, AlCP, Community Development Director)
Action: The presentation was received and adopted as Resolution 04-2025.
Public Comment: Emily Charton and Michael Woods
Motion by Council Member Gurney, seconded by Council Member Lowe, to Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Sonoma Approving the Active Transportation Plan 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). Motion carried unanimously.
11. SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT (ONLY REQUIRED IF PUBLIC SPEAKERS REMAIN FROM ITEM 2.0) None.
12. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Farrar—Rivas adjourned the meeting at 9:39 pm.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and regularly received at a regular meeting of the S om Counci the 3“ of February 2025.
Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk
Regular Meeting Minutes, January 15, 2025