THE CITY REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Or
OF THE SONOMA CITY COUNCIL
CALIFORNIA City Council Chambers
City Council: 177 First Street West
Patricia Farrar-Rivas, Mayor Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Ron Wellander, Vice Mayor
Sandra Lowe
John Gurney 6:00 PM Regular Meeting
Jack Ding
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
No reportable action was taken in Closed Session.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion by Council Member Lowe, seconded by Council Member Ding, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
1. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Janet Boyle, Ky, Steve Heard, and Peter Hanson provided public comments.
2. MEETING DEDICATIONS
None.
3. COUNCILMEMBERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS
On May 15, 2025, Council Member Ding attended a Zero Waste Sonoma meeting. Additionally, he attended a Sonoma County Mayors and Councilmembers Association Legislative Committee meeting on May 16, 2025.
Council Member Gurney attended a Sonoma Tourism Improvement District meeting on May 8, 2025, as well as a Finance Committee meeting on May 15, 2025.
Vice Mayor Wellander attended a Town Hall meeting hosted by Supervisor Hermosillo on May 13, 2025.
Mayor Farrar-Rivas attended a Sonoma Clean Power meeting on May 7, 2025, as well as a Sonoma County Mayors and Councilmembers Association meeting on May 8, 2025. On May 15, 2025, Mayor Farrar-Rivas attended a Sonoma County Transportation and Climate Agency meeting on May 12, 2025, in addition to the Town Hall meeting hosted by Supervisor Hermosillo on May 13, 2025. On May 15, 2025, Mayor Farrar-Rivas cut the ribbon for Milestones of Development which opened a second office in Sonoma, Northern California Battle of the Bands held at the Plaza on May 17, 2025.
4. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
City Manager Guhin reminded the public that the Council will hold their annual Budget Workshop tomorrow, May 22, 2025, starting at 9 AM in the Emergency Operations Center. He also provided updates on the Sonoma Overlook Trail improvements, newly installed columbariums, and the recently upgraded pedestrian crossings around the Plaza. Furthermore, he highlighted the replacement of all tables and benches in the Plaza with new ones donated by Sonoma Raceway, made from Redwood.
Lastly, he shared that the survey of the Plaza is being finalized, which will lay the groundwork for future improvements to the Plaza.
5. CITY ATTORNEY COMMENTS
City Attorney Ruderman provided an update regarding taxation of streaming services after attending a recent League of California Cities City Attorneys Conference.
6. PRESENTATIONS
Item 6.1: Proclamation Designating the Week of May 18 - 24, 2025, as National Public Works Week in the City of Sonoma
Item 6.2: Proclamation Designating the Week of May 18 - 24, 2025, as Classified School Employee Week in the City of Sonoma
Regular Meeting Minutes, May 21, 2025
Item 6.3: Proclamation Designating the Month of May 2025 as Affordable Housing Month in the City of Sonoma
Item 6.4: Introduction and Recognition of the 2025 Student Creative Artist Teagan Rhodes and Merit Award Winners Maggie Brown and Tallulah Kimball
Item 6.5: Introduction and Recognition of the Sonoma Valley High School Film Festival Winning Film "365" by Siena Kelly
7. CONSENT CALENDAR - CITY COUNCIL
Motion by Council Member Lowe, seconded by Council Member Ding, 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: Accept the Expenditure Report for the Month of April 2025 (Prapti Aryal, Finance Director
Action: The Expenditure Report was accepted.
8. PUBLIC HEARING
Item 8.1: Public Hearing Regarding the Status of City of Sonoma Vacancies and Recruitment and Retention Efforts in Compliance with Assembly Bill (AB) 2561 (Jenny Yankovich, Asst to City Manager)
Action: Public Hearing was conducted, and the report was received.
Open Public Hearing: 7:27 p.m.
Public Comments: Ky.
Closed Public Hearing: 7:28 p.m.
9. REGULAR CALENDAR - CITY COUNCIL
None.
10. SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT (ONLY REQUIRED IF PUBLIC SPEAKERS REMAIN FROM ITEM 2.0) None.
11. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Farrar-Rivas adjourned the meeting at 7:30 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 18th of June 2025.
1 лие
Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk
Regular Meeting Minutes, May 21, 2025