City CouncilChambers
cry Council: 177 First Street West
Patricia Farrar-Rivas, Mayor Wednesday, August 20’2025
Ron Wellander, Vice Mayor
Sandra Lowe
John Gurney 6:00 PM Regular Meeting
Jack Ding
REGULARMEETING
CONVENE, CALLTO 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 Councrl Member Gurney
ABSENT: 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 as presented. Motioncarried unanimously by voice vote.
1. COMMENTSFROMTHE PUBLIC
Gil Latimer, Bill Hutchinson, Peder Dalton, Josette Brose-Eichar, Janet Boyle, Ken Stokes, JJ Abodeely and Perry EllisPanigulia provided public comments.
2. MEETINGDEDICATIONS
None.
3. COUNCILMEMBERS’REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Council Member Lowe, along with Council Member Gurney, attended the Muse Celebration at the Sonoma Community Center.
Council Member Gurney attended a Sonoma Tourism Improvement District (TID) meeting on August 14, 2025. He also attended the Harvest Mission Bell Ringing ceremony later that evening at the Sonoma Mission. Council Member Gurney shared that the annual Lightingof the Plaza willbe held on November 22, 2025.
Council Member Ding attended the Harvest Mission Bell Ringing ceremony, along with Council Member Gurney, at the Sonoma Mission on August 14, 2025.
REGULARMEETINGMINUTES
OF THESONOMACITYCOUNCIL
Vice MayorWellander chose John Baston to be his direct appointee to the Climate ActionCommission (CAC). He also had an opportunity to meet with the Executive Director of Sonoma Family Meals — Whitney Reuling. Sonoma Family Meals are in transition of taking over Unity Kitchen.
Mayor Farrar-Rivas attended Sonoma Clean Power meeting on August 7, 2025. She also attended a Sonoma County’s Mayors and Councilmembers Association meeting on August 14, 2025. She also had an opportunity to visitSonoma Cancer Support non-profitwhich provides cancer wellness services in town. Mayor Farrar-Rivas also thoroughly enjoyed being a judge at the annual Zucchini Races held at Sonoma Plaza.
I 4. CITYMANAGERCOMMENTSANDANNOUNCMENTS
City Manager Guhin reminded the public that all information regarding the General Plan update is ‘ available online at www.sonomacitLgeneralplan.org. He also shared several upcoming Cemetery 1! I
Volunteer Clean-Up Days: Valley Cemetery on September 20, 2025, Mountain Cemetery on October 25, 2025, and Veterans Cemetery on November 8, 2025, all from 8:00 am. to 2:00 pm. Sign-ups are available on the City’s website. Additionally, Mr. Guhin noted that there are multiple openings on the City’s commissions and committees, and applications can be submitted online. He shared that the NationalWeather Service has issued a heat advisory forthe area, with a heat wave expected tomorrow and Friday. Local libraries, along with Sonoma UnityKitchen, willextend their hours to provide cooling centers for those in need. Finally, City Manager Guhin introduced Liz Russell, the new district representative for California Senator Cabaldon, and Dave Jahns, the City of Sonoma’s new Parks and Recreation Director.
5. CITYATTORNEYCOMMENTS
None.
Regular Meeting Minutes, August 20, 2025
6. PRESENTATIONS
Item 6.1: ProclamationDesignating August 26, 2025, as Women's Equality Day in the City of Sonoma
7. CONSENT CALENDAR— CITY COUNCIL
Motion by Council Member Lowe, seconded by Council Member Ding, to approve the Consent Calendar, as amended. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
Item 7.1:
Item 7.2:
Item 7.3:
Waive further reading and Authorize Introduction and/or Adoption of Ordinances by Title Only. (Standard procedural action - no backup information provided) Accept the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of August 6, 2025 (Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk)
Action: Minutes were received.
Accept the Expenditure Report for the Month of July 2025 (Prapti Aryal, Finance Director)
Action: The expenditure report was accepted.
8. PUBLIC HEARING
None.
9. REGULARCALENDAR— CITYCOUNCIL
Item 9.1: Receive Presentation and Provide Staff Directionon City Participation inthe Sonoma Valley Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District(EIFD) Initiated by Sonoma County (David Guhin, City Manager)
Action: Presentation was received, and Staff was provided direction.
Public Comment: Tom Conlon
Mayor Farrar-Rivas called for recess at 7:35 pm; Council reconvened at 7:41 pm.
Item 9.2: Adopt a Resolution Approving the Temporary Use of Field of Dreams by Transcendence Theater Company for a Summer Event Series May 28 - Sep 18, 2026.
The proposed resolution is exempt from the California Environmental Act (CEQA) under Sections 15304 (minor alterations of land), 15323 (normal operations of facilities for public gatherings) and 15061(b)(3) (common sense exemption) of the CEQA Guidelines. (David Guhin, City Manager)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 53-2025.
Public Comment: Stephanie Sada, MT Robinson, Graham Bennett, Ken Stokes, Vickie, and Tom Conlon.
Motion by Council Member Gurney, seconded by Council Member Ding, to Adopt a Resolution Approving the Temporary Use of Field of Dreams by Transcendence Theater Company for a Summer Event Series May 28 - Sep 18, 2026. Motion carried unanimously.
None.
11. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Farrar—Rivasadjourned the meeting at 8:35 pm.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and regularly received at a regular meeting of the So omaCity Council on the 29'" of September 2025.
Rebekah Barr, MMC,City Clerk
10. SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT(ONLY REQUIREDIF PUBLIC SPEAKERS REMAINFROM ITEM2.0) l
Regular Meeting Minutes, August 20, 2025