Mission Statement: To foster a safe, vibrant, and prosperous community that enhances the quality of life for all
Vision Statement: With leadership and integrity, the City of Sonora commits to excellent service through collaboration and innovation
CITY OF SONORA
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
Monday, September 18, 2023
5:00 PM
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Sonora City Council will have their regular meeting on Monday, September 18, 2023, at 5:00 PM in the City of Sonora Council Chambers located at 94 N. Washington Street Sonora, CA 95370.
THIS MEETING IS PHYSICALLY OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING VIA VIDEO CONFERENCING AT:
Zoom Meeting Link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81193397821?pwd=UGdrRTcyaFFac3o0b2JQK2FmMTRyUT09 Dial: (669) 444-9171
Meeting ID: 811 9339 7821
Passcode: 906625
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WILL BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE COMMENTS.
THIS MEETING WILL BE LIVE STREAMED ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE AT www.sonoraca.com.
Written comments can be submitted to be included as part of the administrative record; they will not be read during the meeting. All comments must be received by 3:00 pm on the day of the noticed meeting and can be submitted to the City Clerk at 94 N. Washington Street Sonora, CA 95370, or via email to [email protected].
Mayor Mark Plummer
Mayor Pro-Tempore Ann Segerstrom
Council Members Suzanne Cruz, Matt Hawkins, Andy Merrill City Administrator Melissa Eads
City Attorney Douglas White
08/05/2024
Mission Statement: To foster a safe, vibrant, and prosperous community that enhances the quality of life for all
Vision Statement: With leadership and integrity, the City of Sonora commits to excellent service through collaboration and innovation
OPEN SESSION - 5:00 PM
Called to order at 5:00 PM.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilmember Matt Hawkins.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT
Mayor Mark Plummer
Mayor Pro-Tem Ann Segerstrom
Councilmember Suzanne Cruz
Councilmember Matt Hawkins
Councilmember Andy Merrill
Leaving early Councilmember Matt Hawkins
CITY CLERK’S REPORT ON AGENDA POSTING
The Agenda was posted on Friday, September 15, 2023 at 12:37 PM.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Motion made by Mayor Pro-Tem Ann Segerstrom, Seconded by Councilmember Andy Merrill. Voting Yea:
Mayor Mark Plummer, Mayor Pro-Tem Ann Segerstrom, Councilmember Suzanne Cruz, Councilmember Matt Hawkins, Councilmember Andy Merrill
PUBLIC COMMENT (NON-AGENDA ITEMS)
The public may address the Council on any item of public interest not otherwise on the agenda that is within the jurisdiction of the City. No action may be taken. Matters to be addressed may be referred to City Staff or placed on a subsequent meeting Agenda. Speakers are limited to a three (3) minute presentation. If participating via Zoom, please raise your hand using the Raise Your Hand feature or dial *9 (*6 to unmute).
Katie Dunn President of the Sonora Chamber of Commerce informed those in attendance at the last Board Meeting the Board approved all Chamber events in Downtown Sonora to be smoke and vape free; the next mixer will be a joint mixer with the Columbia Chamber of Commerce at Heritage Self Storage, there will also be a ribbon cutting for their grand opening; Trick or Treat Street in Downtown Sonora is on Saturday October 28th; and introduced new Board Member Mat Galvan.
Mission Statement: To foster a safe, vibrant, and prosperous community that enhances the quality of life for all
Vision Statement: With leadership and integrity, the City of Sonora commits to excellent service through collaboration and innovation
PRESENTATIONS
1. Receive a presentation regarding the Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act Initiative and consider a Resolution in Opposition; Stephen Qualls, League of California Cities.
No public comment.
Councilmembers discussed the Resolution and with input from the City Attorney stated it was best to adopt the language changes to the first "Where as" that was suggested to make it more neutral.
Motion made by Councilmember Andy Merrill, Seconded by Councilmember Matt Hawkins. Voting Yea:
Mayor Mark Plummer, Mayor Pro-Tem Ann Segerstrom, Councilmember Matt Hawkins, Councilmember Andy Merrill
Abstaining: Councilmember Suzanne Cruz
2. Receive a presentation concerning the Ralph M. Brown Act, the Sonora Handbook of Rules and Procedures, the rules of decorum, and meeting procedures; Douglas White, City Attorney.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Items on the Consent Calendar are considered routine and will be voted on in one motion unless a Council member or member of the public has a question or wishes to discuss an item. In that case, the item will be removed from the Consent Calendar and considered separately.
3. Consider approval of disbursements in the amount of $167,928.48 for payroll, including employee salaries, employer and employee taxes, retirement contributions, miscellaneous voluntary employee deductions, holiday pay, and other adjustments, including retro-pay; Tracy Skelly, Administrative Services Officer.
4. Consider acceptance of the Sonora Police Department’s annual Military Equipment Report as required by Assembly Bill 481; Turu VanderWiel, Police Chief.
5. Consider awarding a three-year contract, with up to two one-year options to extend the contract, to Nate’s Tree Service, Inc. for annual creek clearing services and authorize the City Administrator to execute the contract and all related documents; Rachelle Kellogg, Community Development Director.
6. Consider approval and execution of the Cooperative Agreement between the City of Sonora and the Tuolumne County Transportation Council for the Project Approval and Environmental Document Phase of the Gold Rush Multi-Use Path – Phase I Active Transportation Program Grant Project; Melissa Eads, City Administrator.
Consider approval and execution of the Cooperative Agreement between the City of Sonora and the Tuolumne County Transportation Council for the Project Approval and Environmental Mission Statement: To foster a safe, vibrant, and prosperous community that enhances the quality of life for all
Vision Statement: With leadership and integrity, the City of Sonora commits to excellent service through collaboration and innovation
Document Phase of the Gold Rush Multi-Use Path – Phase I Active Transportation Program Grant Project; Melissa Eads, City Administrator.
No public comment.
Motion made by Councilmember Andy Merrill, Seconded by Councilmember Suzanne Cruz. Voting Yea:
Mayor Mark Plummer, Mayor Pro-Tem Ann Segerstrom, Councilmember Suzanne Cruz, Councilmember Andy Merrill
MONTHLY REPORTS
7. Receive the Administrative Services Department Report for July 2023 (FY23/24).
8. Receive the Sonora Fire Department monthly report for August 2023; Aimee New, Fire Chief.
9. Receive the Sonora Police Department monthly report for August 2023; Turu VanderWiel, Police Chief.
10. Receive the Sonora Public Works Department monthly report for August 2023; Mike Lagomarsino, Public Works Supervisor.
COMMUNICATIONS
11. Receive communications regarding the Tuolumne County Behavioral Health Advisory Board Speaker Series on the Opioid Crisis and Other Health Topics.
12. Receive communications regarding the City of Sonora community outreach for the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP).
COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS
Mayor Pro-Tem Ann Segerstrom informed those in attendance she and Melissa met with the Fire Safe Council, Tuolumne Fire Safe Council and Karen Caldwell, as the City is looking to expand collaboration with the Fire Safe Council; attended the YES Partnership for Councilmember Suzanne Cruz; will be attending the California League of Cities Conference; and is working on the news letter, as it is close to completion.
Councilmember Andy Merrill informed those in attendance Tuolumne County Transportation Council (TCTC) is accepting an agreement with the City to take on the environmental impact and project design phase of the Gold Rush Path; Groveland Community Services District is collaborating with Tuolumne County Transportation Council (TCTC) to build a trail from Laveroni Park to Pine Mountain Lake; Caltrans is receptive to collaborate with Vision Sonora and our Planning Committee regarding Highway 49 infrastructure; attended the grand opening of the Rural Resource Center at the County Enrichment Center; and played at the Bear Fest Music Festival.
Mission Statement: To foster a safe, vibrant, and prosperous community that enhances the quality of life for all
Vision Statement: With leadership and integrity, the City of Sonora commits to excellent service through collaboration and innovation
Councilmember Suzanne Cruz thanked Mayor Pro-Tem Ann Segerstrom for standing in for her a the YES Partnership meeting; shared Visit Tuolumne County Communication & Tourism Manager Katie Kirkland reported Sonora has received the Sunset Travel Award for the Best City Get Away in the Western United States; attended the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) for Mayor Mark Plummer; and explained the Central Sierra Economic Development District (CSEDD) committee, who they are, their goals, objectives and five year economic plan.
Mayor Mark Plummer thanked everyone for filling in for the different committee assignments while away.
ADJOURNMENT
Adjourned at 7:37 PM.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk at City Hall (209) 532-4541, [email protected]. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting (28 CFR
35.102-35.104 ADA Title II).
Materials related to an item on this Agenda submitted to the City Council after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection in the City Administrator’s Office at 94 N. Washington Street, Sonora, CA 95370 during normal business hours (8:00 am - 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays). The agenda and supporting public documents are also available on our City website www.sonoraca.com listed under the agenda/minutes link on the Government page.