REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
OF THE SONOMA CITY COUNCIL
City Council Chambers
City Council: 177 First Street West
Ron Wellander, Mayor Wednesday, April 15, 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 6:12 pm.
ROLL CALL:
PRESENT: Mayor Wellander, Vice Mayor Lowe, Council Member Farrar—Rivas, Council Member Gurney, and Council Member Ding
CLOSED SESSION
There was no reportable action taken in Closed Session
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion by Council Member Farrar—Rivas,seconded by Council Member Gurney, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
1. COMMENTSFROM THE PUBLIC
Connie Schlelein and Erin McTaggert provided public comments.
2. MEETINGDEDICATIONS
Council Member Ding dedicated the meeting to the late Gary Magnani.
3. COUNCILMEMBERS’REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Council Member Farrar—Rivasattended a Sonoma Clean Power Board meeting on April 2, 2026, and a North Bay Watershed Association meeting on April 10, 2026.
On April 12, 2026, Council Member Ding attended the Sonoma Valley Historical Society’s Mountain Cemetery Tour and participated as one of the reenactors.
Council Member Gurney attended a Sonoma Tourism Improvement District meeting on April 9, 2026, as well as a Sonoma Valley Library Advisory Board meeting.
Vice Mayor Lowe attended a Sonoma County Transportation Authority meeting on April 13, 2026.
On March 31, 2026, Mayor Wellander visited the Train Museum, where he observed the restoration of train engine No. 2472 and viewed other train memorabilia. On April 1, 2026, he attended KSVY’s anniversary celebration and participated in a Sonoma Water Agency tour of Sonoma’s water system.
On April 9, 2026, the Mayor attended the “Spirit Guides” tour at the Sonoma Botanical Garden, and on April 15, 2026, he participated in a webinar regarding current water supplies.
4. CITY MANAGER COMMENTSAND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Interim City Manager Alilovichthanked everyone for the warm welcome she has received to date. She announced that Siena Kelly is the recipient of the 2026 Student Creative Artist Award and recognized Kassandra Castillo as a merit winner. Interim City Manager Alilovich also reminded the community that the City’s Treasure Artist Reception honoring Ada Limon will be held tomorrow at 5:30 pm. in the Plaza’s Amphitheater. She announced several upcoming events, including the annual Trashion Fashion Show this weekend at the Sonoma Community Center and the final day to vote in the 2026 Earth Photo Contest. She also noted that a community meeting regarding Citywide Historic Resources willbe held on April 22, 2026; the Trash Bash willtake place at the Sonoma Community Center on April 25, 2026, from noon to 2:00 pm; the Tuesday Night Market season begins on May 5, 2026; and the Kyle Petty Ride Across America will begin its journey from The Lodge on the morning of May 1, 2026.
5. CITYATTORNEY COMMENTS
None.
6. PRESENTATIONS
Item 6.1: Proclaiming April 2026 as Parkinson's Disease Awareness Month
7. CONSENT CALENDAR — CITY COUNCIL
Motion by Council Member Farrar-Rivas, seconded by Vice Mayor Lowe, to approve the Consent Calendar as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
Regular Meeting Minutes, April 15, 2026
Public Comment: Tom Conlon
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: Accept the Minutes from the Regular Meeting of March 30, 2026 (Monique Saviez Burns, CPMC, CMC, Deputy City Clerk)
Action: The minutes were accepted.
Item 7.3: Accept the Expenditure Report for the Month of March 2026 (Ryan Kodama, Accounting Manager)
Action: The expenditure report was accepted.
Item 7.4: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the Interim City Manager to Execute a Contract Amendment to the Contract with GHD, Inc. for the Design of the Citywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements Project (CIP T-6), In An Amount Not to Exceed $49,857, For a Total Contract Value of $432,287 (Ashley Cotter, PW Admin & Project Manager and Mike Berger, Public Works Director)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 19-2026.
Item 7.5: Adopt an Ordinance Amending Sonoma Municipal Code Section 13.20.010 and Finding the Ordinance Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) - General Rule - of the CEQA Guidelines (Ashley Cotter, PW Admin & Project Manager and Mike Berger, Public Works Director) Action: Adopted as Ordinance 03-2026.
Item 7.6: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing a Budget Amendment to Increase One Time Expenditures from the Long-Term Building Maintenance Fund by $26,980 for Police Station Maintenance and Repairs (Ashley Cotter, PW Admin & Project Manager and Mike Berger, Public Works Director)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 20-2026.
Item 7.7: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing a Budget Adjustment to Move Funds from Water Enterprise Fund General Supplies to the Vehicle Replacement Fund for the Purchase of a Backhoe Thumb Attachment (Ashley Cotter, PW Admin & Project Manager and Mike Berger, Public Works Director)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 21-2026.
8. PUBLIC HEARING
None.
9. REGULAR CALENDAR— CITY COUNCIL
Vice Mayor Lowe recused herself from the remainder of the meeting at 6:50 pm. because she resides less than 500 feet from a Mobilehome park.
Item 9.1: Study Session to Discuss Draft Ordinance for Mobilehome Park Closures and Conversions Underthe City of Sonoma MunicipalCode and Recent Legislative Changes Under AB 2782 and SB 610 (Jennifer Gates, AICP, Community Development Director) Action: Study session was held anddirection given.
Public Comment: Bonnie Joy Kaslan, Lin Marie Devincent, ReginaBaker, Patrice Schmidt, Mary Stems, Jody Johnson, Dean Moser, Saul, John Kyle, Caitlin Cornwall, Kate Viby, and an anonymous speaken
10. SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT (ONLY REQUIRED IF PUBLIC SPEAKERS REMAINFROM ITEM2.0) None.
11. ADJOURNEMENT
Mayor Wellander adjourned the meeting at 9:30 pm.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and regularly received at a regular meeting of the Sonoma City Counc' ,, the 20’”of May 2026.
‘ .C, Deputy City Clerk
Regular Meeting Minutes, April 15, 2026