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, July 15, 2024
5:00 PM
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Sonora City Council will have their regular meeting on July 15, 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 live streaming 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.
CITY COUNCIL appreciates your interest and encourages participation. Regularly scheduled meetings are held on the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month.
The numerical order of the items on this agenda is for convenience of reference. Items may be taken out of order upon request of the Mayor or Council Members. All questions shall be directed to the Mayor who, at their discretion, will refer to Staff.
________________________________________________________________ Mayor Ann Segerstrom
Vice Mayor Suzanne Cruz
Council Members Bess Levine, Andy Merrill, Stephen Opie City Administrator Melissa Eads
City Attorney Douglas White
________________________________________________________________ 10/07/2024
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 Ann Segerstrom
Vice Mayor Suzanne Cruz
Councilmember Bess Levine
Councilmember Andy Merrill
ARRIVING LATE
Councilmember Stephen Opie
PUBLIC COMMENTS
No public comments.
ADJOURN INTO CLOSED SESSION
Adjourned at 4:01 PM.
1. Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation - Significant Exposure to Litigation Pursuant to Gov.
Code, § 54956.9(d): (1 case); Melissa Eads, City Administrator, Doug White, City Attorney.
RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION
OPEN SESSION - 5:00 PM
Called to order at 500 PM.
REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Ann Segerstrom stated direction was given to staff.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Stephen Opie 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 Ann Segerstrom
Vice Mayor Suzanne Cruz
Councilmember Bess Levine
Councilmember Andy Merrill
Councilmember Stephen Opie
CITY CLERK’S REPORT ON AGENDA POSTING
The Agenda was posted on Friday, July 12, 2024 at 11:50 AM.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Motion made by Vice Mayor Suzanne Cruz, Seconded by Councilmember Bess Levine. Voting Yea: Mayor Ann Segerstrom, Vice Mayor Suzanne Cruz, Councilmember Bess Levine, Councilmember Andy Merrill, Councilmember Stephen Opie
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.
Margott Weltin from Weltin Designs informed those in attendance of the first annual Ranch to Table Dinner at the Opera Hall on August 17th.
A member of the public shared information and his concerns on marijuana use in the community.
Katie Dunn President of the Sonora Chamber of Commerce shared with those in attendance the informational meeting for the Business Watch Program is July 31st at the Opera Hall; and the next mixer is at Nox Sonora.
Don Nessl shared his concerns about the last City Council Meeting.
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
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.
2. Consider Approval of Disbursements in the Amount of $210,484.66 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.
3. Consider Approval of the City Council Meeting Minutes from August 7, 2023; September 5, 2023; and April 1, 2024; Stacy Enos-Del Razo, Deputy City Clerk.
4. Waive the Second Reading and Adopt Ordinance No. 896, Amending the Zoning Map through the Rezoning of Assessor’s Parcel Numbers 056-106-004 AND 056-106-001 from General Commercial (CG) to Commercial (C); Tyler Summersett, Community Development Director.
Motion made by Vice Mayor Suzanne Cruz, Seconded by Councilmember Stephen Opie. Voting Yea:
Mayor Ann Segerstrom, Vice Mayor Suzanne Cruz, Councilmember Bess Levine, Councilmember Andy Merrill, Councilmember Stephen Opie
PUBLIC HEARINGS
5. Waive Second Reading, Read by Title Only, and Adopt Ordinance 899 Amending Chapter 1.16, Elections, of Title One, General Provisions, to Change the Date of General Municipal Elections to Coincide with Statewide General Elections; Douglas L. White, City Attorney.
The Councilmembers and City Attorney discussed Ordinance 896.
Colette Such addressed the Councilmembers on the length of their campaign.
Motion made by Councilmember Stephen Opie, Seconded by Councilmember Andy Merrill. Voting Yea:
Mayor Ann Segerstrom, Vice Mayor Suzanne Cruz, Councilmember Bess Levine, Councilmember Andy Merrill, Councilmember Stephen Opie
NEW BUSINESS
6. Consideration of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Columbia College to use Dragoon Gulch as an extension of the Campus Learning Environment for Various Programs to Learn and Practice Forestry Management Skills; Tyler Summersett, Community Development Director.
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 Andy Merrill requested confirmation if he should remove himself from voting as he is an employee of Columbia College.
Sonora City Attorney confirmed.
Kevin Anderson addressed the Council.
Vice Mayor Suzanne Cruz requested clarification on worker’s compensation.
Tyler Summersett Community Development Director responded to the questions.
Sonora City Attorney suggested moving to approve the MOA with the necessary adjustments and changes to worker’s compensation.
No public comment.
Motion made by Vice Mayor Suzanne Cruz, Seconded by Councilmember Bess Levine. Voting Yea: Mayor Ann Segerstrom, Vice Mayor Suzanne Cruz, Councilmember Bess Levine, Councilmember Stephen Opie Councilmember Andy Merrill Abstained from voting.
A member of the public addressed the Council about a point of order.
7. Consideration of Accepting the Washington-Stockton Corridor Improvement Project as Built, Paying Contractor Retentions and Directing Staff to Submit for all Reimbursements Due to the City for the Project; Tyler Summersett, Community Development Director.
Councilmembers and Tyler Summersett Community Development Director discussed the project.
Don Nessl informed those in attendance that the project is awesome.
A member of the public asked the Council a question about the corridor.
Motion made by Councilmember Andy Merrill, Seconded by Councilmember Stephen Opie. Voting Yea:
Mayor Ann Segerstrom, Vice Mayor Suzanne Cruz, Councilmember Bess Levine, Councilmember Andy Merrill, Councilmember Stephen Opie
MONTHLY REPORTS
8. Receive the City of Sonora Administrative Services Department Monthly Report for May 2024; Chris Gorsky, Administrative Services Director.
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
9. Receive the City of Sonora Community Development Department Monthly Report for June 2024; Tyler Summersett, Community Development Director.
10. Receive the City of Sonora Fire Department Monthly Report for June 2024; Aimee New, Fire Chief.
11. Receive the City of Sonora Police Department Monthly Report for June 2024; Turu VanderWiel, Police Chief.
Police Chief Turu VanderWiel informed those in attendance the lobby and parking lot will be closed at the Police Station temporarily for the installation of the new Dispatch Room and Equipment.
12. Receive the City of Sonora Public Works Department Monthly Report for June 2024; Michael Lagomarsino, Public Works Supervisor.
COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS
Councilmember Stephen Opie is looking forward to attending the first Committee Meetings.
Councilmember Bess Levine is looking forward to attending the first Committee Meetings; has attended all the Farmer's Markets; and attended 2nd Saturday.
Councilmember Andy Merrill gave an update on the Committee for Homelessness Navigation Center; will be traveling all over the state playing, and is looking forward to going to Dixon, California.
Vice Mayor Suzanne Cruz highlighted the following businesses, Devine Market at Willow Springs; the Mongolian BBQ restaurant; the new Casino is open; and Yanni's Grill.
Mayor Ann Segerstrom toured the Dome; attended a Zoom Meeting with Governor Newsom's External Affairs Advisor and Assistant; and viewed the new Police Departments Dodge Durango's.
City Manager Melissa Eads spoke on behalf of Fire Chief Aimee New and invited the Council and the community to attend the Pancake Breakfast and Fire Truck push-in on August 3rd.
ADJOURNMENT
Adjourned at 6:00 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 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
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.