REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
OF THE SONOMA CITY COUNCIL
City Council Chambers
City Council: 177 First Street West
R0“ Wehnder; Mayor Wednesday, August 19, 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 6:02 pm.
ROLL CALL:
PRESENT: Mayor Wellander, Vice Mayor Lowe, Council Member Farrar—Rivas, Council Member Gurney, and Council Member Ding
CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Wellander announced that the City has selected Cristine Alilovichto be the new permanent city manager. The employment contract will be brought for formal action at the September 2, 2026, regular City Council meeting.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion by Council Member Ding, seconded by Council Member Farrar-Rivas, to approve the agenda as presented with Items 9.1 and 9.2 moved ahead of the Consent Calendar, and Item 9.2 considered prior to Item 9.1. Motion carried unanimously.
1. COMMENTSFROM THE PUBLIC
Ronny Joe Grooms, Josette Brose-Eichar, Rachel Glitz,Joyce Carlson, Diane Thompson, and George Patru provided public comments.
2. MEETINGDEDICATIONS
Council Member Ding dedicated the meeting to Steve Wolf.
3. COUNCIL MEMBERS’ REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Council Member Farrar—Rivasattended a Sonoma Clean Power Board meeting on August 6, 2026; a special meeting on August 12, 2026, during which a group of UC Berkeley Haas School of Business Executive MBAstudents was hosted; and a Finance Committee meeting on August 19, 2026. She also shared that La Luz Center and Redwood Credit Union are hosting Dia Financiero (Day of Finance), a free community event, on September 5, 2026.
Council Member Ding proudly shared his experience hosting California State Treasurer Fiona Ma during her visit to Sonoma County on August 14, 2026.
Vice Mayor Lowe attended a Sonoma County Transportation Authority meeting on August 10, 2026.
She also encouraged members of the public to join her on September 8, 2026, to ride and promote Sonoma County Transit Route 40X, departing Sonoma Plaza at 7:15 am. for the Petaluma SMART station. The ride is intended to raise awareness of the transit connection available between the City of Sonoma and the SMART rail system in Petaluma.
Council Member Gurney attended a Sonoma Tourism Improvement District meeting on August 13, 2026, as well as a Sonoma Valley Library Advisory Board meeting. Mr. Gurney also attended the Finance Committee meeting with Council Member Farrar—Rivastoday, August 19, 2026. He also attended the annual Zucchini Races yesterday.
Mayor Wellander reflected on several City events and meetings that took place since the previous Council meeting. He noted that the annual City Party was held on August 6, 2026, and that the City hosted approximately 70 students from UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business Executive MBA program on August 12, 2026. On August 14, 2026, he attended Transcendence Theatre Company’s performance of Mamma Mia! Today, the Mayor also participated in an impromptu meeting with various interested stakeholders regarding the future use of the Maysonnave House. Lastly, Mayor Wellander attended the annual Zucchini Races and shared the winners' names.
4. CITY MANAGERCOMMENTSAND ANNOUNCEMENTS
City Manager Alilovich thanked the City Council and community for the opportunity to serve as the permanent City Manager. She recognized August as National Emergency Awareness Month and expressed appreciation for emergency management professionals and their service to the community.
Ms. Alilovichannounced a new outdoor “Movies Under the Stars” series at the Plaza, beginning August 28, 2026, with a screening of The Incredib/es. Additional movie nights are scheduled for September 18 and October 16. She also provided an update on the City’s $200 high-efficiency clothes washer rebate Regular Meeting Minutes, August 19, 2026
program, noting that additional information is available on the City’s website. Ms. Alilovichannounced that the City is recruiting a part-time Parks and Recreation Coordinator, with applications accepted through August 28. Additionally, she shared that Music in Place will present two free Sunday performances at the Plaza Amphitheater on August 23 and August 30. She concluded by reminding the community that the final Tuesday Night Market of the season will be held on September 8, 2026.
5. CITYATTORNEYCOMMENTS
None.
6. PRESENTATIONS
Item 6.1: "Celebrate Sonoma" - Presentation of Certificate of Recognition to Bob Taylor Public Comment: Steve Paige and anonymous speaker
Item 6.2: Proclamation Designating August 26, 2026, as Women's Equality Day in the City of Sonoma
7. CONSENT CALENDAR — CITY COUNCIL
Motion by Vice Mayor Lowe, seconded by Council Member Gurney, to approve the Consent Calendar as presented, with item 7.9 being pulled for separate discussion. Motion carried unanimously.
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 Expenditure Report for the Month of July 2026. (Ryan Kodama, Accounting Manager)
Action: The expenditure report was accepted.
Item 7.3: Accept the Quarterly Investment Report for the Quarter Ending June 30, 2026. (Ryan Kodama, Accounting Manager)
Action: The quarterly investment report was accepted.
Item 7.4: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the Interim City Manager to Execute a Purchase Agreement for a New 2026 GEM© e2 White Electric Vehicle with a 8kW Lithium Battery, in an Amount Not to Exceed $30,000 as Approved in the FY 26/27 Budget. (Brandon Cutting, Police Chief)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 51-2026.
Item 7.5: Adopt an Ordinance Amending Certain Sections of Chapter 12.08 Tree Ordinance of the Sonoma Municipal Code and Finding the Ordinance Exempt from the California EnvironmentalQuality Act (CEQA) Pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) - General Rule - of the CEQA Guidelines. (Jennifer Gates, AICP, Community Development Director & Dave Jahns, Parks and Recreation Director)
Action: Adopted as Ordinance 05-2026.
Item 7.6: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the Interim City Manager to Execute a Contract with Murga, Strange & Chalmers, Inc., in an Amount Not to Exceed $75,000 to Provide OnCall Concrete Services as Needed, Subject to Legal Review. (Ashley Cotter, Public Works Administrative& Project Manager)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 52-2026.
Item 7.7: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the Interim City Manager to Execute the First Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Bureau Veritas Technical Assessments, LLC for $4,781.78, for a Total Contract Value of $69,395.81. (Ashley Cotter, Public Works Administrative& Project Manager)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 53-2026.
Item 7.8: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the Interim City Manager to Execute a Professional Services Agreement with National Plant Services, Inc., in an Amount Not to Exceed $150,000 for Storm Drain Condition Assessment Services. (Elif Myers, Environmental Compliance Analyst)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 54-2026.
Council Member Gurney and Mayor Wellander recused themselves from Item 7.9.
Item 7.9: Receive City Clerk's Certification That There are Not More Candidates than Offices to be Elected for Districts 3 and 5 at the General Municipal Election on November 3, 2026, and Adopt a Resolution Providing for the Appointment to the Offices of Districts 3 and 5 in This City That Were to be Elected on Tuesday, November 3, 2026 (Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 55-2026.
Council Member Gurney and Mayor Wellander returned to the meeting.
Regular Meeting Minutes, August 19, 2026
8. PUBLIC HEARING
None.
9. REGULAR CALENDAR — CITY COUNCIL
Item 9.2: Discussion, Consideration, and Possible Adoption of an Ordinance Amending Sonoma Municipal Code Section 2.01.020 Councilmember's Salaries to Increase Councilmember Compensation to $950 Per Month (Monique Saviez Burns, CPMC, CMC, Deputy City Clerk)
Action: Adopted as Ordinance 07-2026.
Public Comment: Connie Schlelein
Motion by Vice Mayor Lowe, seconded by Council Member Farrar—Rivas, to Adopt 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 Vice Mayor Lowe, Council Member Gurney, Council Member Ding, and Council Member Farrar-Rivas voting YES, and Mayor Wellander voting NO.
Vice Mayor Lowe recused herself from Item 9.1.
Item 9.1: Study Session to Discuss Draft Ordinance for Mobilehome Park Closures and Conversions Under the City of Sonoma Municipal Code and Recent Legislative Changes Under AB 2782 and SB 610. (Jennifer Gates, AICP, Community Development Director)
Action: A study session was held, and direction was provided to Staff.
Public Comment: Madolyn Agrimonti, Ann Colichidas, Bonnie Joy Kaslan, Nick (?), Pat Chaner (?), John Bobbit, Sabina Ceasar, Kent Sorensen, Hugh McBride, Cynthia Boyer, Lin Marie DeVincent, John Kyle, Julian Mackie, Caitlin Cornwall, Saul, Ellen McBride, BillDarton, Jodi Johnson and Kate Viby.
Mayor Wellander called for a recess at 8:45 pm; Council reconvened at 8:55 pm.
10. SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT(ONLY REQUIRED IF PUBLIC SPEAKERS REMAINFROM ITEM2.0) None.
11. ADJOURNEMENT
Mayor Wellander adjourned the meeting at 10:20 pm.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and regularly received at a regular meeting of the Sonoma City Co , on the 16thof September 2026.
, CMC, Deputy City Clerk
Regular Meeting Minutes, August 19, 2026