REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
OF THE SONOMA CITY COUNCIL
City Council Chambers
cry Council: 177 First Street West Ron Wellander, Mayor Sandra Lowe, Vice Mayor Wednesday, May 6, 2026
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 6:07 pm.
ROLL CALL:
PRESENT: Mayor Wellander, Council Member Farrar—Rivas,Council Member Gurney, and Council Member Ding ABSENT: Vice Mayor Lowe
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 with Vice Mayor Lowe absent.
1. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Martin Laney, Bob Taylor, and Tanner Zarf provided public comments.
2. MEETING DEDICATIONS
None.
3. COUNCILMEMBERS’REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Council Member Farrar—Rivasreported attending several community events, including the Morton’s Hot Springs Restoration Unveiling on April 24, 2026; the Sonoma Community Center Earth Day event on April 25, 2026; a Climate Champion event in St. Helena on April 26, 2026; a Pets Lifeline event; and the ribbon cutting for the annual Tuesday Night Market on May 5, 2026.
Council Member Ding reported visiting Shanghai, China, with the Mayor of San Francisco to celebrate six years of the Sister Cities partnership with San Francisco.
Mayor Wellander reported attending several community events, including the Treasure Artist Reception celebrating Ada Limon on April 16, 2026; Trashion Fashion on April 18, 2026; the Napa Valley Larsen Park Reopening on April 19, 2026; the Cornerstone Ribbon Cutting on April 24, 2026; the annual Pétanque Tournament on April 26, 2026; the Kyle Petty Charity Ride and a Polenta Dinner at Shell Vista Fire Department on April 30, 2026; and a Water Advisory Committee meeting on May 4, 2026.
4. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Interim City Manager Alilovich recognized Public Service Appreciation Week and highlighted the new artwork on display in the Council Chambers, featuring submissions from the 2026 Earth Day Photo event. Ms. Alilovich also reminded the public that the deadline to provide input on the Citywide Historic Study and Survey project is May 8, 2026. She announced that Bike to Work Day willtake place on May 14, 2026, and that a Cemeteries Clean-Up Day will be held at Veterans Cemetery on May 16, 2026, from 9:00 am. to 12:00 pm. She further noted that Music in Place will return this year and willbe held from June through September.
5. CITYATTORNEY COMMENTS
City Attorney Ruderman stated that he will attend the CalCities Attorney‘s conference next week and will report back after he returns.
6. PRESENTATIONS
Vice Mayor Lowe arrived at 6:30 pm,
Item 6.1: Proclamation Designating the Month of May 2026 as Affordable Housing Month in Sonoma Item 6.2: Proclamation Designating the Month of May 2026 as Jewish Heritage Month in Sonoma Regular Meeting Minutes, May 6, 2026
Item 6.3: Proclamation Designating May 3-9, 2026, as National Travel and Tourism Week in Sonoma
Item 6.4: Proclamation Designating May 2026 as Bike Month and May 14, 2026, as Bike to Work Day in Sonoma
Item 6.5: Annual Report from Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau and Tourism Improvement District
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.
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 Quarterly Investment Report for the Quarter Ending March 31, 2026 (Ryan Kodama, Accounting Manager) Action: The quarterly investment report was accepted.
Item 7.3: Adopt a Resolution Approving the Final Parcel Map for a 2-Lot Subdivision, Known as the Reiter Minor Subdivision, Located at 234 Malet Street (APN: 128- 071-014) and Authorizing the Subdivision Improvement Agreement for Public Improvements (Jennifer Gates, AICP, Community Development Director) Action: Adopted as Resolution 22-2026.
8. PUBLIC HEARING
None.
9. REGULAR CALENDAR — CITY COUNCIL
Item 9.1: 2026 Planning Commission Annual Work Plan (Jennifer Gates, AICP, Community Development Director) Action: The 2026 Planning Commission annual workplan was approved.
Motion by Vice Mayor Lowe, seconded by Council Member Farrar—Rivas,to approve the 2026 Planning Commission annual workplan. Motion carried unanimously.
Item 9.2: 2026 Historic Preservation Commission Annual Work Plan (Jennifer Gates, AICP, Community Development Director) Action: The 2026 Historic Preservation Commission annual workplan was approved.
Motion by Council Member Farrar—Rivas,seconded by Council Member Ding, to approve the 2026 Historic Preservation Commission annual workplan. Motion carried unanimously.
Item 9.3: Letter of Interest Received and Direction to Mayor Wellander or His Designee Regarding A Nomination to the Airport Land Use Commission on Behalf of the Sonoma County Mayors' and Councilmembers' Association and the City Selection Committee (Monique Saviez Burns, CPMC, CMC, Deputy City Clerk) Action: Direction was provided to Mayor Wellander or his designee to nominate Ariel Kelly to the Airport Land Use Commission.
10. SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT(ONLY REQUIRED IF PUBLIC SPEAKERS REMAINFROM ITEM2.0) None.
11. ADJOURNEMENT
Mayor Wellander adjourned the meeting at 7:27 pm.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and regularly received at a regular meeting of the Sonoma City C no 0 3’“ of June 2026.
Monique CMC, Deputy City Clerk
Regular Meeting Minutes, May 6, 2025