City Council:
Ron Wellander, Mayor
Sandra Lowe, Vice Mayor
Jack Ding
Patricia Farrar-Rivas
John Gurney
SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA
OF THE SONOMA CITY COUNCIL
Sonoma Community Center, 276 E Napa, Room 110,
Sonoma
Friday, January 30, 2026
12:00 PM
Be Courteous - TURN OFF your cell phones and watches while the meeting is in session.
NOTICE: The Mayor has called the City Council into a Special Meeting to discuss only the matters stated on the agenda listed below.
PUBLIC COMMENT AT SPECIAL MEETING: Members of the public shall have the opportunity to address the City Council concerning any item listed on the agenda during consideration of that item, when the Mayor opens public comment. No other items may be discussed at this special meeting.
Page
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION
2.1: Conduct a Special Session to Discuss City Council Goals and Priorities Topics of discussion may include:
2026 Goals and Priorities
PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE TAKEN AT 1:00PM.
2026 Goal Setting Presentation
3 - 13
3. ADJOURNMENT
I do hereby certify that a copy of the foregoing agenda was posted on the City Hall bulletin board as legally required. Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk.
*********************************************************************************************************************************** Copies of all staff reports and documents subject to disclosure that relate to any item of business referred to on the agenda are normally available for public inspection the Wednesday before each regularly scheduled meeting at City Hall, located at No. 1 The Plaza, Sonoma CA. Any documents subject to disclosure that are provided to all, or a majority of all, of the members of the City Council regarding any item on this agenda after the agenda has been distributed will be made available for inspection at the City Clerk’s office, No. 1 The Plaza, Sonoma CA during regular business hours.
If you challenge the action of the City Council in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described on the agenda, or in written correspondence delivered to the City Clerk, at or prior to the public hearing.
APPOINTMENTS TO COMMITTEES: The Council may establish and make appointments to a Council committee (made up of two Council Members) with respect to any item appearing on this agenda.
CLOSED SESSION: If action is taken during a Closed Session meeting and is required to be reported the Council will return to Open Session and report out immediately. However, if they are unable to do so due to time constraints, they will report out at the immediately following Regular Council Meeting under "REPORT ON CLOSED SESSION".
MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION: A Council Member voting with the majority on any item appearing on this agenda may move for reconsideration of that vote provided the motion is in conformance with the rules adopted by the Council governing such motions.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk (707) 933-2216. Notification 48-hours before the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting.
NOTE: Portions of this document may have been drafted with support from AI-based tools, consistent with City of Sonoma policy on use of artificial intelligence. All information represented in this document has been reviewed by City of Sonoma staff.
SONOMA CITY COUNCIL
GOAL SETTING
January 30, 2026
Sonoma Community Center
WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS
2 0 2 6 S O N O M A C I T Y C O U N C I L G O A L S E T T I N G Agenda Item #2.1:
TODAY’S
AGENDA
Welcome & Introductions
2025 Annual Goal Progress Highlights
Staff Leadership Perspective
Council Legacy Discussion
Public Comment and Input
Break
2026 Goals & Priorities
Defining Our Purpose
Closing
Adjourn
2026 Goal Setting
2025 COUNCIL GOALS
OVERVIEW
2 0 2 5 C O U N C I L G O A L S P R O G R E S S H I G H L I G H T S Housing,
Parks,Recreation/CommunityServices,
Economic Development / FinancialStability,
Unification/ Annexation,
ClimateMitigationand Adaptation
2026 Goal Setting
Agenda Item #2.1:
HOUSING
2025 COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Regulatory Streamlining
Affordable Housing Production
& Preservation
Regional Partnerships, Funding
& Policy Advocacy
Homelessness Response &
Emergency Shelter Operations
2026 Goal Setting
PARKS, RECREATION AND
COMMUNITY SERVICES
2025 COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Department Formation & Organizational Realignment
Pedestrian Safety, Accessibility & Active Transportation Urban Forestry, Tree Canopy & Green Infrastructure
Parks Planning, Plaza Stewardship & Capital Projects
Cemeteries Operations, Revenue Sustainability & Planning Community Programs, Nonprofits & Cultural Services
Arts Programs, Projects and Partnerships
Agenda Item #2.1:
Revenue Stewardship, Budgeting & Financial Systems
Voter-Approved Revenue Measures & Implementation
Local Business Support, Permitting & Downtown Activation Business Diversification & Industry Cluster Development Plaza Corridor Planning & Connectivity
ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
& FINANCIAL
STABILITY
SONOMA VALLEY
UNIFICATION/
ANNEXATION
2025 COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Sonoma Valley Inclusion &
Representation
Regional Emergency
Preparedness & Resilience
Shared Services &
Homelessness Coordination
Valley-Wide Infrastructure
Financing (EIFD)
Agenda Item #2.1:
Climate Action Strategy Implementation &
Public Engagement
Urban Forestry, Conservation & Natural Systems
Fire, Flood & Hazard Mitigation
2025 COUNCIL PRIORITIES
CLIMATE
MITIGATION AND
ADAPTATION
Montini Preserve Prescribed Burn - June 2025
STAFF
LEADERSHIP
PERSPECTIVE
FOR 2026
2026 Goal Setting
Agenda Item #2.1:
What’s the
messagehere?
2026 Goal Setting
"A community grows great when
its leaders plant trees in whose
shade they shall never sit.”
What willbeyour legacy?
2026 Goal Setting
Agenda Item #2.1:
PUBLIC COMMENT
2 0 2 6 S O N O M A C I T Y C O U N C I L G O A L S E T T I N G 15 MINUTE BREAK
2 0 2 6 S O N O M A C I T Y C O U N C I L G O A L S E T T I N G Agenda Item #2.1:
2026 CITY COUNCIL GOAL
SETTING DISCUSSION
C I T Y O F S O N O M A 2 0 2 6 G O A L S E T T I N G
UNIVERSAL THEMES
Housing remains critical priority
Parks & Recreation department established
Economic development / tourism focus
Financial stability achieved, in the short-term
Strong council / staff dynamics
C O U N C I L I N P U T T O G O A L S E T T I N G
2026 Goal Setting
Agenda Item #2.1:
OTHER
THEMES
Climate adaptation and
fire hazards
Plaza maintenance /
beautification
Renter protections
2026 Goal Setting
“YEAR OF…"
D E F I N I N G O U R F O C U S
PHOTO: 2025 EarthDay PhotoContest Entry by EmmaDiaz
Agenda Item #2.1:
CLOSING
2 0 2 6 S O N O M A C I T Y C O U N C I L G O A L S E T T I N G KEEP IN TOUCH!
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Agenda Item #2.1:
SONOMA CITY COUNCIL 2026
TThhaannkk YYoouu!!
John Gurney | Sandra Lowe, Vice Mayor | Patricia Farrar-Rivas | Ron Wellander, Mayor | Jack Ding Agenda Item #2.1: