REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
OF THE SONOMA CITY COUNCIL
City Council Chambers
cmCouncil: 177 First Street West
Patricia Farrar—Rivas, Mayor Wednesday March 19 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 pm.
REPORT ON CLOSED SESSION
No reportable action was taken in Closed Session.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion by Council Member Gurney, seconded by Council Member Ding, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Vice Mayor Wellander, Council Member Lowe, Mayor Farrar—Rivas, Council Member Gurney, and Council Member Ding
1. PUBLIC HEARING
ltem1.1: Presentation and Fourth 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 & Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk)
Action: Council received the presentation, selected the Draft Map B2 noted as “Visualization 2” on slide 18 of the PowerPoint Presentation, and directed the consultant to come back with an updated draft map, “Draft Map B3”, with edits to the West side of District 4’s boundary lines.
Open Public Hearing: 6:24 pm.
Public Comment: None.
Closed Public Hearing: 6:38 pm.
2. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Janet Boyle, Charles Zupke, and Bob Flannigan provided public comments.
3. MEETING DEDICATIONS
None.
4. COUNCILMEMBERS’ REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Council Member Gurney attended a Sonoma Tourism Improvement District (STID) meeting on March 13, 2025. Although there was no quorum, the group was still able to receive a presentation.
Vice Mayor Wellander attended a strategic meeting with the Sonoma County Homeless Coalition on March 12, 2025. On March 19, 2025, he also attended a By—Names—List meeting regarding homelessness. The Vice Mayor also announced an art project to take place at the roundabout at Highway 116 and 121. A community meeting will be held on April 1, 2025, at Anaba Wines from 5:00 to 6:00 pm. to gather input and facilitate discussions.
Council Member Ding attended a Sonoma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency (SVGSA) meeting on March 17, 2025.
Mayor Farrar—Rivas attended the CivicWell Policies Conference from March 13 — 15, 2025, in Yosemite, California. She also reached out to Senator Christopher Cabaldon’s office to voice support for SB 346.
Mayor Farrar—Rivas requested that the Council agendize a discussion regarding providing the City Manager with the authority to send letters of support and draft resolutions to address topics of interest and/or concern in the City and County of Sonoma.
5. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
City Manager Guhin informed the public that the updated Fire Hazard Severity Map is available on the City’s website and will be brought for the Council’s adoption in either April or May 2025. Additionally, he reminded everyone that the Annual Alcalde recognition is being held tomorrow, March 20, 2025, from 6:30 — 8:30 pm. at the Vintage House to celebrate Kathy Witkowicki as the 2025 Alcaldessa.
Regular Meeting Minutes, March 19, 2025
6. CITY ATTORNEY COMMENTS
None.
6. PRESENTATIONS
Item 6.1: Proclamation Designating the Week of March 16 - 22, 2025 as National Surveyor's Week in the City of Sonoma
Item 6.2: Presentation by Sonoma Water on the FY 2025—2026 Proposed Budget & Rates — Water Transmission System
7. CONSENT CALENDAR — CITY COUNCIL
Motion by Council Member Ding, seconded by Council Member Lowe, to approve the Consent Calendar with amendments to Item 7.2 and pulling Item 7.6 and Item 7.7 for separate consideration. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
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 Special Meeting of January 30, 2025, and the Special and Regular Meetings of March 5, 2025 (Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk) Action: The minutes were accepted.
Item 7.3: Accept the Expenditure Report for the Month of February 2025 (Prapti Aryal, Finance Director)
Action: The expenditure report was accepted.
Item 7.4: Adopt a Resolution Approving and Consenting to the Use of City Streets for the July 4th Parade on Friday, July 4, 2025 (Lisa Janson, Senior Management Analyst) Action: Adopted as Resolution 12-2025.
Item 7.5: Adopt a Resolution Approving an Application for Temporary Use of City Streets for the 2025 Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival 5K Foot Race and the Sonoma Volunteer Fire Fighters Association Annual Water Fights September 27, 2025 (Lisa Janson, Senior Management Analyst)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 13-2025.
Item 7.8: Adopt a Resolution Approving an Administrative Policy for Unpaid Closed Water Accounts and Collections Procedure (Prapti Aryal, Finance Director) Action: Adopted as Resolution 14-2025.
Item 7.6: Adopt Resolution Adopting a New City of Sonoma Master Tree List (Ashley Cotter, Public Works Administrative & Project Manager)
Action: Pulled for separate consideration. Adopted as Resolution 15-2025.
Public Comment: Jessica Misuraca
Motion by Vice Mayor Wellander, seconded by Council Member Lowe, to Adopt an Administrative Policy for Unpaid Closed WaterAccounts and Collections Procedure. Motion carried unanimously.
Item 7.7: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Professional Services Agreement with BKFEngineers in the amount of $39,888 forthe Plaza Park Topographical Survey and a Resolution Authorizing a Budget Adjustment in the Amount of $43,877.00 (Ashley Cotter, Public Works Administrative & Project Manager) Action: Pulled for separate consideration. Adopted as Resolution 16-2025 and 17- 2025.
Motion by Council Member Lowe, seconded by Council Member Gurney to Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Professional Services Agreement with BKF Engineers in the amount of $39,888 for the Plaza Park Topographical Sun/ey and a Resolution Authorizing a Budget Adjustment in the Amount of $43,877.00. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
Mayor Farrar—Rivas adjusted the agenda by moving Item 9.1 before Item 8.1.
9. REGULAR CALENDAR — CITY COUNCIL
Item 9.1: Adopt a Resolution to Accept a Lumber Donation From Sonoma Raceway for Refurbishment of Benches in the Sonoma Plaza Amphitheater and Park (Mike Berger, Public Works Director)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 18-2025.
Motion by Council Member Lowe, seconded by Council Member Ding, to Adopt a Resolution to Accept a Lumber Donation From Sonoma Raceway for Refurbishment of Benches in the Sonoma Plaza Amphitheater and Park. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
Regular Meeting Minutes, March 19, 2025
8. PUBLIC HEARING
Item 8.1: Public Hearing to Introduce an Ordinance Repealing Sections 2.08.260, 2.08.270, and
2.08.280 and Amending Sections 2.10.020 and 2.10.030 of the Sonoma Municipal Code Pertaining to the City's Finance Director and Treasurer Duties (Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk)
Action: The ordinance was introduced.
Open Public Hearing: 8:12 pm.
Public comments: None.
Closed Public Comment: 8:15 pm.
Motion by Council Member Gurney, seconded by Council Member Ding, to Introduce an Ordinance Repealing Sections 2.08.260, 2.08.270, and 2.08.280 and Amending Sections 2.10.020 and 2.10.030 of the Sonoma Municipal Code Pertaining to the City’s Finance Director and Treasurer Duties. Motion carried unanimously.
9. REGULAR CALENDAR — CITY COUNCIL
Item 9.2: City of Sonoma General Plan Annual Progress Report and Direct Staff to Distribute to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) (Diane Levine, Associate Planner)
Action: The General Plan Annual Progress Report was received and directed Staff to distribute to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI).
Motion by Council Member Ding, seconded by Council Member Lowe, to Receive the City of Sonoma General Plan Annual Progress Report and Direct Staff to Distribute to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and the Governor’s Of?ce of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI). Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
10. SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT (ONLY REQUIRED IF PUBLIC SPEAKERS REMAIN FROM ITEM2.0) None.
11. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Farrar—Rivas adjourned the meeting at 8:30 pm.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and regularly received at a regular meeting of the 'ty Council on the 215t of April 2025.
Regular Meeting Minutes, March 19, 2025