REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
OF THE SONOMA CITY COUNCIL
City Council Chambers
City Council: 177 First Street West
R0“ We”a”der’Mayor Wednesday, August 5, 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 6:15 pm.
ROLL CALL:
PRESENT: Mayor Wellander, Vice Mayor Lowe, Council Member Farrar—Rivas, Council Member Gurney, and Council Member Ding
CLOSED SESSION
City Attorney Ruderman reported out from the 5:00 pm. Closed Session concerning labor negotiations, stating that the City Council provided direction to its negotiators regarding contract negotiations with a potential City Manager. Additional closed sessions may be held, as necessary, to provide further direction while negotiations continue. Once negotiations are concluded, the proposed contract willbe presented to the City Council in open session for consideration and approval, at which time the selected individual will be publicly announced.
Mr. Ruderman also reported that no reportable action was taken during the 5:30 pm. Closed Session regarding anticipated litigation.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion by Council Member Gurney, seconded by Council Member Farrar—Rivas, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
1. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
CityClerk Barr read a public comment received by Laurie Alderman.
Ann Colichidas, Jason Villeggiante, Jack Allen, Loretta Carr, Mark Wilson, Diana Glory, and Kathleen McLean provided public comments.
2. MEETINGDEDICATIONS
Council Member Farrar—Rivasdedicated the meeting to Steve Ferrara and Council Member Ding dedicated the meeting to Teresa Cappas.
3. COUNCIL MEMBERS’ REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Vice Mayor Lowe attended a Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) meeting this morning.
Council Member Ding attended a Zero Waste Sonoma meeting on July 16, 2026. He also attended a Sonoma County Mayor’s and Councilmember’sAssociation Legislative Committee meeting on July 17, 2026.
Council Member Farrar—Rivasprovided details on two trade workshops Sonoma Clean Power willoffer this upcoming weekend.
Mayor Wellander reported that he attended the Harvest Bell Ringing on July 21, 2026, followed by the 5K and Half Marathon events on July 24 and 25. He also noted that several local businesses were featured during KTVU’s Zip Trips segment. Additionally, Mayor Wellander highlighted the upcoming annual City Party, scheduled for August 6, 2026.
4. INTERIMCITY MANAGER COMMENTSAND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Interim City Manager thanked the first responders for their efforts in last week’s incident. She highlighted the two events happening tomorrow, August 6, 2026, at the Plaza: the annual City Party and Art Walk. Ms. Alilovich shared that the City’s candidate filing period for Districts 1, 3, and 5 closes this Friday, August 7, 2026, at 5:00 pm. She shared that there willbe a new bus route — 40X — starting August 10, 2026, which provides weekly commuter connections between Sonoma Plaza and Petaluma.
Interim City Manager Alilovich provided details on a rebate program the City is launching, which is a $200 high-efficiency clothes washer rebate program for eligible resident water customers. She shared that the City is now accepting applications through August 28, 2026, for a part-time parks and recreation coordinator. Lastly, she shared that a new “Movies in the Park” series is coming, movie details and times are still being worked out, but the dates will be August 28, September 18 and October 16 in the Plaza.
Regular Meeting Minutes, August 5, 2026
5. CITYATTORNEY COMMENTS
None.
6. PRESENTATIONS
Item 6.1: "Celebrate Sonoma" - Presentation of Certificate of Recognition in Honor of the Sonoma Valley High School Dragons Baseball Team
7. CONSENT CALENDAR — CITY COUNCIL
Motion by Vice Mayor Lowe, seconded by Council Member Gurney, to Approve the Consent Calendar as presented with item 7.3 being pulled for separate discussion. Motion carried unanimously.
Public Comment: City Clerk Barr read a public comment from Laurie Alderman.
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 an Ordinance Amending Section 10.74.011 of the Sonoma Municipal Code (Brandon Cutting, Police Chief)
Action: Adopted as Ordinance 04-2026.
Item 7.4: Designate Mayor Ron Wellander as the City of Sonoma Voting Delegate for the 2026 Cal Cities Annual Conference and Council Members John Gurney and Jack Ding as the Alternates (Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk)
Action: Mayor Ron Wellander was designated as the City of Sonoma Voting Delegate for the 2026 Cal Cities Annual Conference and Council Members John Gurney and Jack Ding as alternates.
Item 7.5: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Fifth Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with 4LEAF, Inc. to Extend Services for as needed Plan Check and Inspector Services (Jennifer Gates, AICP, Community Development Director) Action: Adopted as Resolution 46-2026.
Item 7.6: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Professional Services Agreement with Willdan Engineering to provide as needed Code Enforcement services with a not to exceed budget of $75,000 (Jennifer Gates, AICP, Community Development Director)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 47-2026.
Item 7.7: Adopt a Resolution Approving the Construction of a Storage Shed at the City-Owned Maysonnave House Property Located at 291 First Street East Property (Dave Jahns, Parks & Recreation Director)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 48-2026.
Item 7.3: Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Sonoma Accepting the Plaza Park Historic Landscape Survey and Finding this Action is Exempt from Further Environmental Review Under the General Rule in California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15061 (b)(3) (Jennifer Gates, AICP, Community Development Director) Action: Pulled for separate consideration. Adopted as Resolution 49-2026.
Motion by Vice Mayor Lowe, seconded by Council Member Farrar—Rivas,to Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Sonoma Accepting the Plaza Park Historic Landscape Survey and Finding this Action is Exempt from Further Environmental Review Under the General Rule in California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3). Motion carried unanimously.
8. PUBLIC HEARING
Item 8.1: Public Hearing to Introduce an Ordinance amending certain sections of Chapter 12.08 Tree Ordinance of the Sonoma Municipal Code and finding the Ordinance exempt from the California Environmental Act (CEQA) Pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) - General Rule - of the CEQA Guidelines (Jennifer Gates, AICP, Community Development Director) Action: The public hearing was held and ordinance was introduced.
Open Public Hearing: 7:22 pm.
Public Comments: None.
Closed Public Hearing: 7:22 pm.
Motion by Vice Mayor Lowe, seconded by Council Member Gurney, to Introduce an Ordinance amending certain sections of Chapter 12.08 Tree Ordinance of the Sonoma Municipal Code and ?nding the Ordinance exempt from the California Environmental Act (CEQA) Pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) - General Rule - of the CEQA Guidelines. Motion carried unanimously.
Item 8.2: Public Hearing to Introduce an Ordinance repealing and replacing SMC Chapter 19.51 Public Art Program and adding Chapter 3.45 Public Art Fund to the Sonoma Municipal Code and finding the Ordinance exempt from the California Environmental Act (CEQA) Regular Meeting Minutes, August 5, 2026
Pursuant to Section 15061 (b)(3) - General Rule - ofthe CEQA Guidelines (Jennifer Gates, AICP, Community Development Director) , Action: The item was continued to the regular meeting of September 16, 2026.
Public Comment: Connie Schlelein and Deb Emerson
Motion by Vice Mayor Lowe, seconded by Council Member Ding, to continue the'item to the regular meeting of September 16, 2026. Motion carried unanimously.
9. REGULAR CALENDAR- CITY COUNCIL
Item 9.1: Consideration of a Resolution Authorizing the Field of Dreams Organization to Enter into a Multi-YearAgreement with Transcendence Theatre Company for Temporary Seasonal Use of the Field of Dreams During the 2027—2029Summer Seasons (Dave Jahns, Parks & Recreation Director)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 50-2026.
Public Comment: Connie Schlelein
Motion by Council Vice Mayor Lowe, seconded by Council Member Farrar-Rivas, to Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the Field of Dreams Organization to Enter into a Multi-Year Agreement with Transcendence Theatre Company for Temporary Seasonal Use of the Field of Dreams During the 2027—2029 Summer Seasons. Motion carried unanimously.
Item 9.2: Discussion, Consideration, and Possible Introduction of an Ordinance Amending Sonoma Municipal Code Section 2.01.020 Councilmember's Salaries to Increase Councilmember Compensation to $950 Per Month (Cristine Alilovich, Interim City Manager, David Ruderman, City Attorney, and Rebekah Barr, MMC,City Clerk) Action: The Ordinance was introduced.
Motion by Vice Mayor Lowe, seconded by Council Member Ding, to Introduce an Ordinance Amending Sonoma Municipal Code Section 2.01.020 Councilmember's Salaries to Increase Councilmember Compensation to $950 Per Month. Motion carried 4-1, with Council Member Gurney, Vice Mayor Lowe, Council Member Ding, and Council Member Farrar—Rivasvoting YES, and Mayor Wellander voting NO.
10. SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT(ONLY REQUIRED IF PUBLIC SPEAKERS REMAINFROM ITEM2.0) None.
11. ADJOURNEMENT
Mayor Wellander adjourned the meeting at 8:08 pm.
Regular Meeting Minutes, August 5, 2026