REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
OF THE SONOMA CITY COUNCIL
City Council Chambers
City Council: 177 First Street West
R0” we”a”derymay” Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Sandra Lowe, Vice Mayor
Patricia Farrar-Rivas
John Gurney 6:00 PM Regular Meeting
Jack Ding
REGULAR MEETING
CONVENE, CALL TO ORDER, & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Wellander called the meeting to order at 6:02 pm.
ROLL CALL:
PRESENT: Mayor Wellander, Vice Mayor Lowe, Council Member Farrar—Rivas, Council Member Gurney, and Council Member Ding
REPORT ON CLOSED SESSION
There was no Closed Session held.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion by Council Member Farrar-Rivas, seconded by Vice Mayor Lowe, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
1. COMMENTSFROM THE PUBLIC
Lynn Clary provided public comments.
2. MEETING DEDICATIONS
None.
3. COUNCILMEMBERS’REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Vice Mayor Lowe attended a Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) meeting today, February 4, 2026.
Council Member Farrar—Rivasvisited the Sebastiani Theater on January 27, 2026, to preview the venue's expansion. On January 29, 2026, she attended the State of the Valley, and on January 30, 2026, she participated in the annual City Council Goal Setting.
Council Member Ding attended Zero Waste Sonoma on January 29, 2026. He also appointed Joe Henry to the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Commission (PROS) as his direct appointee.
On January 27, 2026, Mayor Wellander attended a hybrid meeting at the East Sonoma County Services Center, where various homeless service providers gathered to discuss mental health support. The following day, January 28, 2026, the Mayor attended a Continuum of Care Board of Directors meeting.
Additionally, Mayor Wellander attended the State of the Valley on January 29, 2026, and the annual City Council Goal Setting on January 30, 2026. Lastly, on February 3, 2026, he attended a Board of Supervisors meeting. Mayor Wellander appointed Joel Green to the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Commission (PROS) as his direct appointee.
Council Member Gurney appointed Kathleen Kubal as his direct appointment to the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC).
4. CITY MANAGER COMMENTSAND ANNOUNCEMENTS
City Manager Guhin shared that the City Council held its annual Goal Setting on January 30, 2026. The intent is to bring the goals back for adoption at the City Council meeting on February 18, 2026.
Additionally, he shared that the 2026 Student Creative Artist Award application period is now open, through March 18, 2026.
5. CITYATTORNEY COMMENTS
None.
6. PRESENTATIONS
None.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR — CITY COUNCIL
None.
8. PUBLIC HEARING
None.
Regular Meeting Minutes, February 4, 2026
9. REGULAR CALENDAR — CITY COUNCIL
Item 9.1: Study Session to Discuss the Programmatic Assessment of Emergency Evacuation Routes for the City of Sonoma General Plan Safety Element Update (Jennifer Gates, AICP, Community Development Director)
Action: The Study Session was held.
Public Comment: Robert Demler, Tom Conlon, and Ken Stokes.
Item 9.2: Appointments to the Climate Action Commission, Cultural & Fine Arts Commission, and Parks, Recreation & Open Space Commission (Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk) Action: Calvin Stevens was appointed as the Youth Member to the Climate Action Commission (CAC); Emma Farrar was appointed as the Youth Member to the Cultural and Fine Arts Commission (CFAC); and Lisa Colarusso was appointed as the At-Large Member to the Parks, Recreation, and OpenSpace Commission (PROS).
Public Comment: Tom Conlon
Motion by Vice Mayor Lowe, seconded by Council Member Ding, to appoint Calvin Stevens as the Youth Member to the Climate Action Commission (CAC) and Emma Farrar as the Youth Member to the Cultural and Fine Arts Commission (CFA C). Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
Motion by Vice Mayor Lowe, seconded by Council Member Farrar-Rivas, to appoint Lisa Colarusso as the At—LargeMember to the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Commission (PROS). Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
10. SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT (ONLY REQUIRED lF PUBLIC SPEAKERS REMAINFROM ITEM2.0) None.
11. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Wellander adjourned the meeting at 8:08 pm.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and regularly received at a regular meeting of th Sono City Council on the 4th of March 2026.
Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk
Regular Meeting Minutes, February 4, 2026