REGULARMEETINGMINUTES
OF THESONOMACITYCOUNCIL
CityCouncilChambers
oig Council: 177 First Street West
Patricia Farrar—Rivas,Mayor Wednesday, August 6. 2025
Ron Wellander, Vice Mayor
Sandra Lowe
John Gurney 6:00 PM Regular Meeting
Jack Ding
REGULARMEETING
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,and Council Member Gurney
ABSENT: Council Member Ding
REPORT ON CLOSED SESSION
There was no Closed Session held.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motionby Council Member Lowe, seconded by Council Member Gurney, to approve the agenda as presented. Motioncarried unanimously by voice vote.
1. COMMENTSFROM THE PUBLIC
Josette Brose-Eichar, David Eichar, Janet Boyle, Perry Ellis,Gil Latimer, Van Solkov, and Armando Zimmerman provided public comments.
2. MEETINGDEDICATIONS
None.
3. COUNCILMEMBERS’REPORTS ANDCOMMENTS
Council Member Gurney attended the annual City Party on August 5, 2025.
Council Member Lowe attended the Hall of Flowers preview of the “Petals and Pets" exhibit at the Sonoma County Fair.
Vice Mayor Wellander attended a Water Advisory Committee (WAC) meeting on August 4, 2025.
Mayor Farrar-Rivas also attended the annual City Party on August 5. 2025. In addition, she attended the following meetings: Sonoma Valley Community AdvisoryCommission (SVCAC) meeting on July 23, 2025; the Keystone Leadership Summit event on July 30, 2025, whichwas held by the Boys and Girls Club of Sonoma Valley; and a Community Partners meeting on July 19, 2025.
4. CITYMANAGERCOMMENTSANDANNOUNCMENTS
City Manager Guhin providedthe followingupdates: the annual City Party, held on August 5, 2025, was a success; the City’s FY2025-2026 Online Budget Book is now available for the public on the City’s website; and Transcendence Theater Company has returned for a second year withrehearsals starting tomorrow. Due to public concerns raised regarding the sound impact on surrounding residents, the City willbe holding a Community Input meeting on Thursday, August 7, 2025, inthe Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at noon to allow the public an opportunityto voice any concerns they may have.
5. CITYATTORNEY COMMENTS
City Attorney Ruderman provided information regarding Senate Bill707.
6. PRESENTATIONS
Item 6.1: Proclamation Recognizing August 3-9, 2025, as National Health Center Week in the City of Sonoma
Item 6.2: Presentation of GIS Cemetery Mapping Project by Intern Eowyn Medeiros
7. CONSENT CALENDAR— CITYCOUNCIL
Motion by Council Member Lowe, seconded by Council Member Gurney, to approve the Consent Calendar, as amended. 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 informationprovided) Regular Meeting Minutes, August 6, 2025
Item 7.2:
Item 7.3:
Item 7.4:
Item 7.5:
Item 7.6:
Item 7.7:
Receive Minutesfrom the Regular Meetings of June 18, 2025, and July 16, 2025 (Rebekah Barr, MMC,CityClerk)
Action: Updated Minutes were presented at the meeting and received.
AdoptOrdinances Amending Sonoma MunicipalCode to Clarifythe Responsibilitiesof the Review Authoritiesand ModifyRegulations Pertaining to Design Reviewto Further Streamline City EntitlementProcess.and Findingthe Ordinances are Exemptfrom the CaliforniaEnvironmentalAct (CEQA) Pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) - General Rule - of the CEQA Guidelines (Jennifer Gates, AICP, Community Development Director) Action: Adopted as Ordinance 10-2025 and 11-2025.
1. Adoption of an Ordinance Repealing and Replacing Chapter 7.40, Permitsfor Motion Picture and Television Production and adding Chapter 7.42, Unmanned Aircraft Systems, of the Sonoma MunicipalCode and Finding the Ordinance Exempt from the CaliforniaEnvironmentalAct (CEQA)Pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) - General Rule - of the CEQA Guidelines;and
2. Adoptionof a Resolution ofthe CityCouncil ofthe City of Sonoma adopting a Filming Operations Permit Policy finding the Resolution exempt from the California EnvironmentalAct (CEQA) Pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) - General Rule - of the CEQAGuidelines(Jennifer Gates, AICP, Community Development Director) Action: Adopted as Ordinance 9-2025 and Resolution 49-2025.
Adopt a ResolutionAuthorizingthe City Manager to Finalizeand Execute Agreements with Richardson & Company LLP and Robert Smith, and Amendments with Keyser MarstonAssociates, MatrixConsultingGroup, and W-Trans Inc (Rebekah Barr, MMC, CityClerk)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 50-2025.
Adopta ResolutionCancellingthe Regular MeetingScheduled forSeptember 3, 2025 (Rebekah Barr, MMC,CityClerk)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 51-2025.
Adopt a Resolution Approving a Budget Amendment and Authorizing the City Manager to Purchase a Previously Approved and Budgeted 2024 Ford E450 Type III Ambulance (Steve Akre, Fire Chief)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 52-2025.
8. PUBLIC HEARING
None.
9. REGULARCALENDAR — CITYCOUNCIL
None.
10. SECOND PUBLICCOMMENT(ONLY REQUIREDIF PUBLICSPEAKERS REMAINFROMITEM2.0) None.
11. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Farrar—Rivasadjourned the meeting at 6:50 pm.
I HEREBYCERTIFYthat the foregoing minutes were duly and regularly received at a regular meeting of theSinoma fr:Council on the 20‘hof August 2025.
Rebekah Barr, MMC,City Clerk
Regular Meeting Minutes, August 6, 2025