THE CITY REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
OF THE SONOMA CITY COUNCIL
CALIFORNIN City Council Chambers
City Council: 177 First Street West
Patricia Farrar-Rivas, Mayor Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Ron Wellander, Vice Mayor
Sandra Lowe
John Gurney 6:00 PM Regular Meeting
Jack Ding
6:00 P.M. - REGULAR MEETING
CONVENE, CALL TO ORDER, & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Farrar-Rivas called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
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 with item 6.0 moved in front of the continued public hearing. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING
IF NEEDED: Continued Public Hearing to Review and Gather Feedback on Draft Boundary Maps of the City's Voting Districts Pursuant to Elections Code Section 10010(a)(1) California Voting Rights Act (David Guhin, City Manager and Rebekah Barr, MC, City Clerk) Action: The Council directed the consultant to draft an updated "Draft B" Map—or multiple versions thereof-incorporating provided input, key themes, and population data. Key themes include renter/low-income areas, fire hazard zones, plaza and business districts and the Latino community. The council also decided to draft four districts rather than five with an At-Large Mayor.
1. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Karla Noyes, Carol Marcus, Robert Demler, and Peadar Dalton provided public comments.
2. MEETING DEDICATIONS
None.
3. COUNCILMEMBERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Council Member Lowe attended a Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) meeting today, March 5, 2025.
Vice Mayor Gurney attended a Library Advisory Board meeting on February 13, 2025, and a Finance Committee meeting on February 24, 2025.
Council Member Ding attended a meeting with the Sonoma Valley Hospital on February 4, 2025, a Zero Waste Sonoma meeting on February 7, 2025, and the Sonoma County Mayors and Councilmembers Legislative Committee meeting on February 20, 2025.
Vice Mayor Wellander attended a Sonoma County Homeless Coalition meeting last week.
Mayor Farrar-Rivas attended multiple meetings: the annual Tourism meeting on February 5, 2025; a Sonoma Clean Power meeting on February 6, 2025; a Sonoma Restaurant Industry meeting on February 12, 2025; and a Mayors and Councilmembers' Association meeting on February 13, 2025. In addition, the Mayor participated in KSVY's "Mayor's Segment" on February 19, 2025, as well as a Community Meeting with Supervisor Rebecca Hermosillo. On February 24, 2025, she attended the Finance Committee meeting. On February 26 and 27, 2025, Mayor Farrar-Rivas attended a Sonoma Valley Community Advisory Commission meeting and a Sonoma Realtor's Association meeting, respectively.
Lastly, she and the City Manager attended a meeting with the La Luz Center on February 28, 2025.
For the Sonoma Valley Library Advisory Board, Mayor Farrar-Rivas and Council Member Gurney are switching roles: Mayor Farrar-Rivas will be the alternate and Council Member Gurney will be the primary City representative moving forward for this year.
4. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
City Manager Guhin highlighted the City's bi-weekly newsletter and encouraged online registration for updates. He announced upcoming events, including the Bridge Dedication for Larry Murphy on March Regular Meeting Minutes, March 5, 2025
14, 2025; recognition of Kathy Witkowicki as the 2025 Alcaldessa on March 20, 2025; the Treasure Artist Award event honoring Margaret Hatcher on April 4, 2025; and the final Art Walk on April 6, 2025.
City Manager Guhin informed the community about the 5th Annual Earth Day Contest and the Annual Student Creative Artist Award contest, both currently open for participation. He also mentioned an online survey available to gauge interest in a potential pet cemetery. Additionally, he added the installation of new columbariums will be completed at Mountain and Veteran's Cemeteries, with reservation details accessible on the City's Cemeteries webpage.
Acknowledging the Valley of the Moon Garden Club, Mr. Guhin commended their ongoing contributions to the Plaza Rose Garden. City Manager Guhin reported the completion of the Rapid Flashing Beacon (RFB) installation at Third and West Spain, in addition to the City's receipt of a grant from UC Berkeley for a Complete Streets Safety Assessment. He noted ongoing efforts to re-stripe and repaint curbs around City Hall Plaza and the commencement of a two-month scheduled maintenance on the upper Mr. Guhin proudly announced the City's receipt of the NorCal Engineering Contractors Association award for the successful collaboration on the Chase Street Bridge Project. He concluded by mentioning the finalization of an agreement with Sonoma County Transit to host their electric bus, number 32.
5. CITY ATTORNEY COMMENTS
None.
6. PRESENTATIONS
Item 6.1: Proclamation Designating March 2025 as Red Cross Month in the City of Sonoma Item 6.2: Proclamation Designating March 2025 as Women's History Month in the City of Sonoma
7. CONSENT CALENDAR - CITY COUNCIL
Motion by Council Member Lowe, seconded by Council Member Gurney, to approve the Consent Calendar 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: Receive Minutes from the Regular Meeting of February 3, 2025 (Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk)
Action: The Minutes were accepted.
Item 7.3: Accept the Expenditure Report for the Month of January 2025.
Action: The Expenditure Report was accepted.
8. PUBLIC HEARING
None.
9. REGULAR CALENDAR - CITY COUNCIL
Item 9.1: A Resolution Ratifying the 2025 City Council Goals (David Guhin, City Manager) Action: Adopted as Resolution 08-2025.
Public Comment: Sedra Nathan, Tom Conlon, Caitlin Cornwall, Raj Alger, Aileen Roch, Carol Marcus, and Johanna Campa.
Motion by Council Member Ding, seconded by Council Member Lowe, to Ratify the 2025 City Council Goals as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
Mayor Farrar-Rivas called for a recess at 7:58 p.m.; Council reconvened at 8:07 p.m.
Motion by Council Member Lowe, seconded by Council Member Ding, to move item 9.5 before 9.2.
Motion carried unanimously.
Item 9.5: A Resolution Approving a New Job Classification and Salary Range for a Parks & Recreation Director (David Guhin, City Manager)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 09-2025.
Public Comment: Karen Collins, Steve Paige, Johanna Campa, Sedra Nathan, Tom Conlon, and Diana Stanson.
Motion by Council Member Gurney, seconded by Council Member Lowe, to Adopt a Resolution Approving a New Job Classification and Salary Range for a Parks & Recreation Director. Motion carriea unanimously by voice vote.
Item 9.2: A Resolution Adopting the City of Sonoma Fraud Policy (Prapti Aryal, Finance Director) Action: Adopted as Resolution 10-2025.
Regular Meeting Minutes, March 5, 2025
Item 9.3: Mid-Year Budget Update Report for Fiscal Year 2024-25 to Provide an Analysis of the City of Sonoma's Financial Position as of January 31, 2025 (David Guhin, City Manager and Prapti Aryal, Finance Director)
Action: Mid-Year Budget Update Report was received.
Public Comment: Tom Conlon
Motion by Council Member Lowe, seconded by Council Member Ding, to receive the Fiscal Year 2024- 25 Budget Update as of 1/31/2025. Motion carried unanimously.
Item 9.4: A Resolution Approving Mid-Year Budget Adjustments for Fiscal Year 2024-25 (Prapti, Aryal, Finance Director)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 11-2025.
Motion by Council Member Ding, seconded by Council Member Lowe, to Adopt a Resolution Approving Mid-Year Budget Adjustments for Fiscal Year 2024-25. Motion carried unanimously.
10. SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT (ONLY REQUIRED IF PUBLIC SPEAKERS REMAIN FROM ITEM 2.0)
11. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Farrar-Rivas adjourned the meeting at 9:10 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 19th of March 2025
Monique Saviez Burns, Deputy City Clerk
Regular Meeting Minutes, March 5, 2025