-
City Council:
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
OF THE SONOMA CITY COUNCIL
Patricia Farrar-Rivas, Mayor
Ron Wellander, Vice Mayor
Sandra Lowe
City Council Chambers
177 First Street West
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
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.
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 by voice vote.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Vice Mayor Wellander, Council Member Lowe, Mayor Farrar-Rivas, Council Member Gurney, and Council Member Ding
1. PUBLIC HEARING
Item 1.1: Presentation and Fifth Public Hearing to Select the Final District Map and Introduce an Ordinance Adding Section 2.01 .030 to Chapter 2.01 of Title 2 of the Sonoma Municipal Code to Change the City's Electoral System from At-Large to By-District Elections for City Council Elections, Establishing Boundaries, and Sequencing of Elections Within the Districts (David Guhin, City Manager & Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk) Action: Council selected Draft Map B3, including the sequencing noted, as the final map and introduced the ordinance with the amendment of striking the fifth WHEREAS within the ordinance that states, "WHEREAS, the City Council nevertheless concludes that the public interest would be better served by transitioning to a district-based electoral system because doing so: 1) furthers the purposes of the CVRA; 2) provides for improved representation of diverse neighborhoods and communities; 3) reduces the barriers to entry for city council candidates; and 4) avoids the need to pay attorney's fees and costs in response to a demand letter and otherwise defend against a CVRA lawsuit; and" from the ordinance text.
Open Public Hearing: 6:07 p.m.
Public Comment: Bill Boreum and Ken Stokes.
Closed Public Hearing: 6:11 p.m.
Motion by Council Member Lowe to introduce the ordinance as presented.
Friendly amendment to motion by Council Member Gurney to introduce the ordinance with an amendment to strike the fifth Whereas within the ordinance that states, "WHEREAS, the City Council nevertheless concludes that the public interest would be better seNed by transitioning to a district-based electoral system because doing so: 1) furthers the purposes of the CVRA; 2) provides for improved representation of diverse neighborhoods and communities; 3) reduces the barriers to entry for city council candidates; and 4) avoids the need to pay attorney's fees and costs in response to a demand letter and otherwise defend against a CVRA lawsuit; and" from the ordinance text.
Council Member Lowe accepted the amendment. Motion seconded by Council Member Ding. Motion carried unanimously.
2. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Janet Boyle, Steve Mccroskey, Ken Stokes, Bob Flanagan, and Alice May provided public comments.
3. MEETING DEDICATIONS
None.
4. COUNCILMEMBERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS
On March 20, 2025, Council Member Ding attended a Zero Waste Sonoma meeting. He shared that the organization will be hosting several events at the Sonoma Community Center: an E-Waste Recycling event from April 4 to 6, 2025; a Mattress Recycling event on April 5, 2025; and a Repair Fair for various small appliances on May 17, 2025, from 1 :00 to 4:00 p.m. Additionally, Council Member Ding shared that a Zero Waste Sonoma Symposium will take place in Rohnert Park on May 1, 2025, as an all-day event.
Regular Meeting Minutes, April 2, 2025