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, March 04, 2024
4:00 PM
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Sonora City Council will have their regular meeting on Tuesday, March 4, 2024, 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 citizens who wish to provide public comment during the meeting will be invited to do so by the Mayor.
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].
Public Access Audio and Video Live Streaming
The Public will not have access to give public comments via public access audio and video live streaming; they are available for audio and visual only; and can be accessed via our website at www.sonoraca.com.
Remote viewing of the meeting via live streaming is provided to members of the public as a courtesy. If the livestreaming connection malfunctions for any reason and no Council Members are attending via teleconference, the City Council will continue the public meeting in Chambers without remote access.
Mayor Mark Plummer
Mayor Pro-Tempore Ann Segerstrom
Council Members Suzanne Cruz, Matt Hawkins, Andy Merrill City Administrator Melissa Eads
City Attorney Douglas White
06/03/2024
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
CLOSED SESSION - 4:00 PM
CALL TO ORDER
Called to order at 4:00 PM.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT
Mayor Mark Plummer
Mayor Pro-Tem Ann Segerstrom
Councilmember Suzanne Cruz
Councilmember Matt Hawkins
Councilmember Andy Merrill
PUBLIC COMMENTS
No public comments.
ADJOURN INTO CLOSED SESSION
1. Conference with Real Property Negotiators (Gov. Code, § 54956.8) Property Location: Parking lot, located at the intersection of Church Street and Stewart Street; Agency Negotiator: Melissa Eads, City Administrator; Christopher Gorsky, Administrative Services Director.
RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION
OPEN SESSION - 5:00 PM
Called to order at 5:03 PM.
REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Plummer stated direction was given to staff.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Matt Hawkins led the Pledge of Allegiance.
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
ROLL CALL
PRESENT
Mayor Mark Plummer
Mayor Pro-Tem Ann Segerstrom
Councilmember Suzanne Cruz
Councilmember Matt Hawkins
Councilmember Andy Merrill
CITY CLERK’S REPORT ON AGENDA POSTING
The Agenda was posted on Thursday, February 29, 2024.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Motion made by Councilmember Matt Hawkins, 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.
A member of the public gave an update on Creative Corps Heartland Grants including Dianne Stearns's project with the WATCH Program and the beautiful mosaic mural; thanked everyone who attended the Pebbles in a Pond Heartland Project; and shared the date and location for the next event for Pebbles in a Pond.
Katie Dunn, President of the Sonora Chamber of Commerce informed those in attendance that the Chamber was awarded a traveling exhibit from the California Historic Society and there will be many activities planned around the exhibit; Downtown Sonora will be having a Sidewalk Sale; there will be an Opera at the Opera Hall in May; and let the public know when the next Chamber Mixer will be.
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
2. Receive an update from Tuolumne County District 1 Supervisor David Goldemberg.
Tuolumne County District 1 Supervisor David Goldemberg, attended the National Association of Counties Legislative Conference in DC, while in DC he attended meetings on the Rural Caucus, California Caucus, Finance, and Pensions; spoke at a Round Table for the Pew Charitable Trust on Disaster Resilience; and updated those in attendance the County has not published their priorities and goals from their Workshop, they should be released in 2 -3 weeks.
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 $207,792.84 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 waiving the second reading and adopt Ordinance No. 895 to amend the City's Zoning Map; Tyler Summerset, Community Development Director.
No public comment.
Motion made by Councilmember Matt Hawkins, Seconded by Councilmember Suzanne Cruz. Voting Yea: Mayor Mark Plummer, Mayor Pro-Tem Ann Segerstrom, Councilmember Suzanne Cruz, Councilmember Matt Hawkins, Councilmember Andy Merrill.
NEW BUSINESS
5. Consider acceptance of the Fiscal Year 23/24 Mid-Year Budget Update with recommended adjustments; Chris Gorsky, Administrative Services Director.
A member of the public commented she commended Chris Gorsky and the Administrative Staff for pulling together the Budget Update Report, as it is a vital revival of the budget; she thanked everyone for their efforts to help pass Measure Y; and commented City Hall has incredible staff and they are moving in the right direction, having people in City Hall to help is a gift for all of us.
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
Motion made by Councilmember Matt Hawkins, Seconded by Councilmember Suzanne Cruz. Voting Yea: Mayor Mark Plummer, Mayor Pro-Tem Ann Segerstrom, Councilmember Suzanne Cruz, Councilmember Matt Hawkins, Councilmember Andy Merrill.
COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS
Councilmember Suzanne Cruz informed those in attendance about the many emails she receives daily from homelessness to road issues, she is working with the City Administrator to stay on top of these issues so they can be addressed; she thanked the citizens for reaching out to let us know the issues that are out there; and she will be attending the Sonora 7th (Seventh) Day Adventist Event celebrating International Women's Day.
Mayor Pro-Tem Ann Segerstrom attended a virtual meeting for the Water Advisory Committee; attended the City Housing Element Meeting, a Talk with Marie Alverado-Gil; and was hoping for an update from Chief New on the Family Feud Game Show.
Councilmember Andy Merrill attended a productive meeting with the County on the homelessness situation; and would like to start a Homeless Committee at the City level.
Councilmember Matt Hawkins commented to those in attendance this is the last City Council Meeting before the election, and is feeling good about whoever obtains the new Councilmembers spots; and is proud of the Council and the direction they are going in.
Mayor Mark Plummer also attended the meeting with the County on the homelessness situation and would like to discuss establishing a Homeless Committee at the City level; and attended the Access Tuolumne meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
Adjourned at 6:12 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.