REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
OF THE SONOMA CITY COUNCIL
City Council Chambers
City Council: 177 First Street West
R0“ Wehnder; Mayor Wednesday, July 15, 2026
Sandra Lowe, Vice Mayor
Patricia Farrar—Rivas
John Gurney 6:00 PMRegular Meeting
Jack Ding
REGULAR MEETING
CONVENE,CALL TO ORDER, & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Wellander called the meeting to order at 6:09 pm.
ROLL CALL:
PRESENT: Mayor Wellander, Vice Mayor Lowe, Council Member Farrar—Rivas, Council Member Gurney, and Council Member Ding
CLOSED SESSION
There is no reportable action taken in Closed Session.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion by Council Member Ding, seconded by Vice Mayor Lowe, to approve the agenda as presented.
Motion carried unanimously.
1. COMMENTSFROM THE PUBLIC
Bonnie Joy Kaslan, George Barich, Paul Bryan, Sahesh Dakar, Mike Menefee, Armando Zimmerman, Michael Ceremello, Carol Campbell, Ray Capra, Barbara Stouter, and an anonymous individual provided public comments.
2. MEETING DEDICATIONS
None.
3. COUNCILMEMBERS’REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Council Member Farrar-Rivas attended a Sonoma Clean Power meeting on July 2, 2026. She also confirmed that she will not be re-running in the November 2026 election for City Council.
Council Member Ding attended a Zero Waste Sonoma meeting on June 18, 2026, and a Sonoma Valley Groundwater Sustainability meeting on June 22, 2026. On July 11, 2026, he met with the Pueblo Serena Homeowners Association to discuss updates to the mobile home ordinance.
Council Member Gurney attended a Sonoma Valley Library Advisory Board meeting on July 9, 2026.
Since the last meeting, Mayor Wellander attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for MX3 Gym; a concert at the Sonoma Library presented by the Santa Rosa Symphony; the second Transcendence Theatre performance of the season; and a meeting between the County and City regarding homelessness funding opportunities. Mayor Wellander, along with Sarah Tracy, also met with Senator Padilla’s field representative to discuss federal funding processes and potential opportunities. He also attended the NASCAR event.
4. CITY MANAGERCOMMENTSAND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Interim City Manager Alilovichthanked the many community members and staff who worked to make this year’s Fourth of July celebrations a success. She announced that the nomination period for City Council candidates is now open and will remain open through August 7. The City will hold its first district—basedelections on November 3, 2026, for Districts 1, 3, and 5.
She also shared that Sonoma County Transit will launch a new route, the 40X, as part of a pilot program beginning August 10, 2026. In advance of the launch, a Sonoma Valley Community Workshop will be held on July 22, 2026, at the La Luz Center to gather community feedback as Sonoma County Transit develops its plan.
Interim City Manager Alilovichreported that the Newcomb Street Rehabilitation and Bike Boulevard Project has been selected for funding by the Sonoma County Transportation Authority. The City will receive $1.7 million in local grant funding for the project.
She also noted that KTVU will be viSitingSonoma to feature the opening of Dead Letter, a new restaurant on the Plaza, and willreturn on July 24 to film its live morning Zip Trips broadcast.
Additionally, Interim City Manager Alilovich highlighted a new public art installation coming to the Plaza: an interactive piano titled “Squared Keys.” She shared that the National Academy of Athletics has several summer camps available,with additional information available online.
Regular Meeting Minutes, July 15, 2026
Lastly, she provided an overview of upcoming events in the City, including the annual City Party on August 6, which will mark the City’s 29th annual celebration.
5. CITYATTORNEY COMMENTS
None.
6. PRESENTATIONS
Item 6.1: Presentation Recognizing Robert A Smith on his 40 Years of Service to the City of Sonoma
7. CONSENT CALENDAR — CITY COUNCIL
Motion by Vice Mayor Lowe, seconded by Council Member Farrar—Rivas, to approve the Consent Calendar as presented with item 7.5 being pulled for separate consideration. Motion carried unanimously. ‘ Public Comment: Michael Ceremello
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: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the Interim City Manager to Execute Agreements with Two Lynchpin Road and Amendments with Keyser Marston Associates, W—TransInc, Architectural Resources Group, Olaunu Inc, and EKI Environment & Water, Inc. for Services Rendered Throughout the 26—27Fiscal Year (Rebekah Barr, MMC,City Clerk) Action: Adopted as Resolution 42-2026.
Item 7.3: Receive Minutes from the Regular Meetings of June 3, 2026, and June 17, 2026, and the Special Closed Session Meetings of June 3, 2026, and June 17, 2026 (Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk)
Action: The minutes were received.
Item 7.4: Adopt a Resolution Adopting the Plans and Specifications for the 2026 Citywide Slurry Seal Project No. 2602 (Project); Accepting Bids and Awarding a Contract to Sierra Nevada Construction, Inc.; Authorizing the Interim City Manager to Execute a Construction Contract in the Amount of $287,007.00, and Authorizing the Interim City Manager to Approve $43,051.05 (15%) in Contingency (Michael Berger, Public Works Director)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 43-2026.
Item 7.6: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a Second Amendment to the Restated Lease with Sonoma Valley Field of Dreams and Accepting Public Facility Site Improvements (Dave Jahns, Parks & Recreation Director)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 44-2026.
Item 7.5: Adopt a Resolution Establishing an Ad Hoc Advisory Committee to Support the Development of a Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Planning Effort (Dave Jahns, Parks & Recreation Director)
Action: Pulled for separate consideration. Adopted as Resolution 45-2026.
Motion by Vice Mayor Lowe, seconded by Council Member Farrar-Rivas, to Adopt a Resolution Establishing an Ad Hoc Advisory Committee to Support the Development of a Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Planning Effort. Motion carried unanimously.
8. PUBLIC HEARING
None.
9. REGULAR CALENDAR — CITY COUNCIL
Item 9.1: An Ordinance Amending Section 10.74.011 of the Sonoma Municipal Code (Brandon Cutting, Chief of Police)
Action: The ordinance was introduced.
Public Comment: Armando Zimmerman
Motion by Council Member Farrar—Rivas,seconded by Council Member Ding, to Introduce an Ordinance Amending Section 10.74.011 of the Sonoma Municipal Code. Motion carried unanimously.
Item 9.2: Receive Informational Report Regarding Council Compensation (Cristine Alilovich, Interim City Manager / Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk / David Ruderman, City Attorney)
Action: The informational council compensation report was received, and direction was provided to Staff.
Regular Meeting Minutes, July 15, 2026
Public Comment: Julian Mackie
10. SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT(ONLY REQUIRED IF PUBLIC SPEAKERS REMAINFROM ITEM2.0) None.
I 11. ADJOURNEMENT
Mayor Wellander adjourned the meeting at 8:22 pm.
Regular Meeting Minutes, July 15, 2026