REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
OF THE SONOMA CITY COUNCIL
City Council Chambers
org Council: 177 First Street West
Patricia Farrar—Rivas, Mayor Monday February 3 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 Lowe, seconded by Council Member Gurney, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
1. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Robert Demler, Steve McCroskey, and Erin McTaggart pro‘vided public comments.
2. MEETING DEDICATIONS
Mayor Farrar-Rivas dedicated the meeting to the members of Sonoma’s Immigrant Communities, both past and present.
3. COUNCILMEMBERS’ REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Vice Mayor Wellander and Public Works Director Berger attended a Water Advisory Committee meeting on February 3, 2025. Mr. Wellander also shared that Mendocino and Sonoma Lakes are completely filled and that there is now a zone above the definition of “filled”which has an additional 30,000-acre feet of water saved.
Council Member Lowe has a Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) meeting scheduled for February 5, 2025, and shared the agenda for this upcoming meeting.
Mayor Farrar—Rivas has a Sonoma Clean Power meeting this upcoming Thursday that she willreport on during the next City Council meeting. She attended the People’s March on January 18, 2025, and was one of the chosen speakers for the event. On January 20, 2025, the Mayor and Council Member Lowe attended the Montini Preserve Hike, where they were shown the fire mitigation efforts that have been made. Between January 22-24, 2025, most of the City Council attended the annual League of California Cities Conference. Most of the City Council also attended the 125th Sonoma Women’s Foundation Celebration on January 27, 2025. On January 28, 2025, Sonoma Sister Cities hosted a “Meet the Mayor” event. She also had a tour of Unity Kitchen and will be going back for another visit. On January 29, 2025, Mayor Farrar—Rivas met with County Supervisor Rebecca Hermosillo. Lastly, she attended the annual City Council Goal Setting workshop as well as the General Plan Land Use meeting on January 30, 2025.
4. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
City Manager Guhin thanked the public for attending the annual City Council Goal Setting as well as the General Plan Land Use meetings on January 30, 2025. Mr. Guhin announced that there is currently careful and meticulous work being done to clean the black mold offthe exterior of City Hall. Also, weather permitting, Public Works crews will be starting the restriping of Sonoma Plaza. One change that will be communicated via public outreach is that there will be a new area for the mid—blockcrosswalks to make it safer for pedestrian crossings. Lastly, City Manager Guhin informed the City Council that he would be out of town later this week to attend the annual League of California Cities City Manager Conference.
5. CITY ATTORNEY COMMENTS
None.
6. PRESENTATIONS
None.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR — CITY COUNCIL
Motion by Council Member Gurney, seconded by Council Member Lowe, to approve the Consent Calendar as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
Regular Meeting Minutes, February 3, 2025
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 Minutes from the Regular Meeting of January 15, 2025 (Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk)
Action: The Minutes were accepted.
Item 7.3: Adopt a Resolution Cancelling the Regular Council Meetings on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, and Monday, March 3, 2025, and Adding a Regular Council Meeting on March 5, 2025 (Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 05-2025.
Item 7.4: Adopt 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 (Jennifer Gates, AICP, Community Development Director)
Action: Adopted as Ordinance 04-2025.
Item 7.5: Adopt 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: Adopted as Ordinance 05-2025.
Item 7.6: 1. Adopt an Ordinance Amending Sonoma Municipal Code Section 10.52.020, 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; and
2. Adopt a Resolution Designating Locations for 15—MinuteDrop-off Parking (Green Curb) in the City of Sonoma Under Municipal Code Section 10.48.190 Consistent with Previous Council Direction (Ashley Cotter, PW Admin & Project Manager) Action: Adopted as Ordinance 06-2025 and Resolution 06-2025.
8. PUBLIC HEARING
None.
9. REGULAR CALENDAR — CITY COUNCIL
Item 9.1: A Resolution of the City Council Authorizing the City Manager to Sign on Behalf of the City a Funding Agreement with the County of Sonoma for Disbursement of Proceeds from Measure H, "The Improved and Enhanced Local Fire Protection, Paramedic Services and Disaster Response Transactions and Use Tax Ordinance” (David Guhin, City Manager)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 07-2025.
Motion by Council Member Lowe, seconded by Vice Mayor Wellander, to adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to sign a Measure H Funding Agreement with Sonoma County that either incorporates changes to the proposed County agreement substantially in accordance with the staff recommendations or that includes an agreement that the parties will negotiate and reach agreement on changes substantially in accordance with the staff recommendations to clarify key provisions such as those concerning maintenance of effort. Motion carried unanimously.
Item 9.2: Letters of Interest Received and Direction to Mayor Farrar—Rivas or Her Designee Regarding Nominations for Appointees to Regional Commissions & Committees on Behalf of the Mayors' and Councilmembers' Association of Sonoma County and the City Selection Committee (Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk)
Action:
Motion by Council Member Lowe, seconded by Council Member Ding, to direct the Mayor to support the appointment of Brian Barnacle, Gerard Giudice, and Stephen Zol/man to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District Board, Golden Gate Bridge, Highway & Transportation District, and the Sonoma County Consolidated Oversight Board, respectively. Motion carried unanimously.
Motion by Council Member Ding, seconded by Council Member Lowe, to direct the Mayor to support the appointment of Jackie Elward, Frank Quint, and Victoria Fleming to the North Bay Division LOCC, Executive Board, Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District Citizens Advisory Committee and the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) Commission Non—SCTA appointment, respectively, in addition to Janice Cadar Thompson and Ariel Kelley to the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) Commission SCTA appointments, respectively. Motino carried unanimously.
10. SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT (ONLY REQUIRED IF PUBLIC SPEAKERS REMAIN FROM ITEM2.0) None.
Regular Meeting Minutes, February 3, 2025
11. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Farrar—Rivas adjourned the meeting at 6:51 pm.
I HEREBYCERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and regularly received at a regular meeting of the S om ity Council on the 5thof March 2025.
Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk
Regular Meeting Minutes, February 3, 2025