REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
OF THE SONOMA CITY COUNCIL
City Council Chambers
City Council: 177 First Street West
R0“ we'Iander’Mayor Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Sandra Lowe, Vice Mayor
Patricia Farrar—Rivas
John Gurney 6100 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, Council Member Farrar—Rivas, Council Member Gurney, and Council Member Ding
ABSENT: Vice Mayor Lowe
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion by Council Member Farrar—Rivas,seconded by Council Member Ding, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote with Vice Mayor Lowe absent.
1. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Lynne Marie Vincent, Peter Alexander, Matthew Tippell, and Mike Menefee provided public comments.
2. MEETING DEDICATIONS
Council Member Ding dedicated the meeting to Marilyn Kravig.
3. COUNCILMEMBERS’REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Council Member Farrar—Rivas attended a Sonoma Clean Power Board of Directors meeting on February 5, 2026, and a North Bay Watershed Association meeting on February 6, 2026. On February 12, 2026, she attended the grand opening of Forager’s Flowers, as well as the Mayors and City Councilmembers Association meeting in Cotati that evening.
Council Member Gurney attended a Sonoma Tourism Improvement District meeting on February 12, 2026, and a Library Advisory Board meeting the same day.
Mayor Wellander attended a Water Advisory Commission meeting on February 9, 2026. Additionally, he attended the Lighted Art Festival in Napa later that day. Mayor Wellander also had the opportunity to meet with Whitney Reuling, the CEO of Sonoma Family Meals, and received updates on the current operations. Lastly, on February 14, 2026, he attended the Boys and Girls Club Sweetheart Gala.
4. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
City Manager Guhin shared that the City activated its Warming Center on February 17, 2026. The Warming Center willremain open through Friday morning, and staff willmonitor conditions to determine whether operations need to be extended. Additional information is available on the City’s website.
Mr. Guhin announced that the annual Treasure Artist Reception honoring Ada Limén will be held on April 16, 2026, from 5:30 pm. to 7:30 pm. at the Plaza Amphitheater. In addition, the annual Alcalde Reception honoring Gary Edwards will be held on March 12, 2026, at the Vintage House. More information willbe available on the City’s website on February 19, 2026. City Manager Guhin also noted that monthly Cemetery Clean-Up Days will begin, with the first scheduled for February 28, 2026, from 9:00 am. to 12:00 pm. at Mountain Cemetery. Lastly, he welcomed the City’s newest staff member, Antoinette Freeman, who willserve as the City’s part-time Sustainability Coordinator.
5. CITYATTORNEY COMMENTS
None.
6. PRESENTATIONS
None.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR — CITY COUNCIL
Motion by Council Member Gurney, seconded by Council Member Ding, to Approve the Consent Calendar as presented. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote with Vice Mayor Lowe absent.
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: Receive Minutes from the Regular Meeting of January 26, 2026 (Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk)
Action: The minutes were received.
Regular Meeting Minutes, February 18, 2026
Item 7.3: Accept the Expenditure Report for the Month of January 2026 (David Guhin, City Manager)
Action: The Expenditure Report was accepted.
8. PUBLIC HEARING
None.
9. REGULAR CALENDAR — CITY COUNCIL
Item 9.1: A Resolution Accepting the Urban Canopy Assessment and Tree Inventory (Jennifer Gates, AICP, Community Development Director, Dave Jahns, Parks & Recreation Director, and Jacob Dunn, Associate Planner)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 03-2026.
Public Comment: Tom Conlon and Caitlin Cornwall.
Motion by Council Member Farrar—Rivas, seconded by Council Member Ding, to Adopt a Resolution Accepting the Urban Canopy Assessment and Tree Inventory. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote with Vice Mayor Lowe absent.
Item 9.2: UtilityBox Art Wrap Pilot Program: Artwork Selection (Dave Jahns, Parks & Recreation Director)
Action: The designs were approved.
Public Comment: Connie Schlelein
Motion by Mayor Wellander, seconded by Council Member Gurney, to Approve the Designs and Initiate the Installation Process. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote WithVice Mayor Lowe absent.
Item 9.3: A Resolution Ratifying the 2026 City Council Goals (David Guhin, City Manager) Action: Adopted as Resolution 04-2026.
Public Comment: Robert Demler
Motion by Council Member Farrar—Rivas,seconded by Council Member Gurney, to Adopt a Resolution Ratifying the 2026 City Council Goals as amended. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote with Vice Mayor Lowe absent. ' 10. SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT (ONLY REQUIRED IF PUBLIC SPEAKERS REMAINFROM ITEM 2.0) Robert Demler provided public comment.
Mayor Wellander called for a break at 8:25 pm; Council reconvened at 8:35 pm.
11. CLOSED SESSION
Item 11.1: PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION- Pursuant to Government Code 54957
Title: City Manager
Item11.2: PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT / PUBLIC EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENT - Pursuant to Government Code 54957
Title: City Manager &Acting/Interim City Manager
12. REPORT ON CLOSED SESSION
The Council provided direction to the City Manager; however, no reportable action was taken.
13. ADJOURNEMENT
Mayor Wellander adjourned the meeting at 9:10 pm.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and regularly received at a regular meeting of the Sogza Cit: Council on the 4th of March 2026.
ebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk
Regular Meeting Minutes, February 18, 2026