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
Tuesday, September 03, 2024
5:00 PM
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Sonora City Council will have their regular meeting on September 3, 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 .
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
________________________________________________________________ 11/04/2024
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 Stephen Opie
ABSENT
Councilmember Andy Merrill
PUBLIC COMMENTS
No public comment.
ADJOURN INTO CLOSED SESSION
Adjourned at 4:01 PM.
1. Conference with Legal Counsel - Liability Claim (Government Code Section §54956.95): Two (2) Potential Cases, Claimant: Greenlaw, Claimant: Ramey; Agency Claimed Against: City of Sonora; Chris Gorsky, Administrative Services Director.
RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION
OPEN SESSION - 5:00 PM
Called to order at 5:00 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 Stephen Opie
ABSENT
Councilmember Andy Merrill
CITY CLERK’S REPORT ON AGENDA POSTING
The Agenda was posted on Friday, August 30, 2024 at 9:45 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 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.
A member of the public had questions for the Council.
A member of the public addressed the Council about the transit station on Green Street and Stockton Road.
PRESENTATIONS
2. Receive an Update from Tuolumne County District 1 Supervisor David Goldemberg; Melissa Eads, City Administrator. (10 min.)
Tuolumne County District 1 Supervisor David Goldemberg informed those in attendance the County is still working on their budget; the Sheriff is in discussions with the State for a new Dispatch Center; Tuolumne Road work is continuing; the County is sponsoring several Town Hall meetings in different Districts, District 1 will be September 25th at 5:30 PM; the Goveners Office of External Affairs will be coming for a visit on September 18th; the Navigation Center is in the process of hiring; and the safe camping clean and clear is scheduled.
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
Mayor Ann Segerstrom asked for more information on the SERAL Project (Social and Economic Resilience Across the Landscape).
City Administrator Melissa Eads asked if someone from the Sonora Police Department or Council could attend the visit from the Governors Office of External Affairs.
A member of the public addressed the Council.
3. Receive a Presentation from Visit Tuolumne County on the Quarterly Marketing Update; Lisa Mayo, President & CEO and Jen Lopez, Programs & Project Manager, Visit Tuolumne County. (20 min.) Lisa Mayo, President & CEO and Jen Lopez, Programs & Project Manager from Visit Tuolumne County gave a brief review of who they are and presented their Quarterly Marketing Update; informed those in attendance of their upcoming contract with an agency in Germany to promote Tuolumne County; they will be hosting the Black Travel Alliance professional organization; David DeVoss travel journalist with East-West News will be visiting; partnering with Condé Nast to have a space in their news letter; maintaining their presence in California Visitors Guide; looking for candidates to fill the Visitors Services position; and thanked the City and Council for their continued support.
A member of the public applauded Lisa and her Team.
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.
4. Consider Approval of Disbursements in the Amount of $189,402.77 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.
5. Consider Approval of the City Council Meeting Minutes from December 4, 2023; December 12, 2023; December 18, 2023; and June 3, 2024; Stacy Enos-Del Razo, Deputy City Clerk.
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 Stephen Opie
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
COMMUNICATIONS
6. Receive a Letter to Quincy Yaley, Executive Director of Tuolumne County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) Regarding the August 26, 2024, Press Release on LAFCO Staffing Transition and the City of Sonora's Response to the June 2024 Grand Jury Report on LAFCO.
No public comment.
COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS
Councilmember Stephen Opie attended the Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) meeting.
Councilmember Bess Levine attended the Tuolumne County Marketing meeting; ribbon cutting for the new Family Practice Physicians; and the Natural Resources Advisory Committee.
Vice Mayor Suzanne Cruz informed those in attendance that the Central Sierra Business Development Center is offering a training covering everything to do with starting and running a business on September 9th; and PG&E is clearing vegetation for fire safety.
Mayor Ann Segerstrom attended the Adventist ribbon cutting, the second Business Watch meeting, and Cable 8-Access Tuolumne meeting; the Aronos Club will be having Coffee with a Cop on October 9th, and collecting non-perishable foods for the teen pantry.
ADJOURNMENT
Adjourned at 5:46 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.