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 16, 2024
5:00 PM
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Sonora City Council will have their regular meeting on September 16, 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 Andy Merrill
Councilmember Stephen Opie
PUBLIC COMMENTS
No public comment.
ADJOURN INTO CLOSED SESSION
Adjourned at 4:01 PM.
1. Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation - Initiation of Litigation Pursuant to Paragraph (4) of Subdivision (d) of Section § 54956.9: One (1) Potential Case; Doug White, City Attorney, Melissa Eads, City Administrator.
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 Andy Merrill
Councilmember Stephen Opie
CITY CLERK’S REPORT ON AGENDA POSTING
The Agenda was posted on Friday, September 13, 2024 at 9:07 AM.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Motion made by Vice Mayor Suzanne Cruz, Seconded by Councilmember Andy Merrill. 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.
Katie Dunne President of the Sonora Chamber of Commerce informed those in attendance the Chamber hosted the third Business Watch meeting and will be having a workshop on using the BAND App; Trick or Treat Street is October 26th from 4:00 - 5:30 and will now have Spooky Town Park; there will be a Christmas Town Sonora Committee meeting and we are working on the Christmas Parade; the Chamber is now in partnership with the Sierra Business Builders, and are having monthly workshops for small businesses.
Mayor Ann Segerstrom read a statement in regard to homelessness.
PRESENTATIONS
2. Receive a Demonstration of How to Administer Naloxone (Narcan); Police Chief Turu VanderWiel and Corporal Thomas Brickley. (10 min)
3. Receive Introduction and Swearing in of Police Corporal Erik Weber; Turu VanderWiel, Police Chief. (10 min)
4. Receive a Presentation regarding the Central Sierra Economic Development District’s (CSEDD) Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS); Alex Bloom, Central Sierra Economic Development District Manager. (15 min)
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.
5. Consider Approval of the City Council Meeting Minutes from February 8, 2023; August 21, 2023; June 17, 2024; and July 1, 2024; Stacy Enos-Del Razo, Deputy City Clerk.
6. Consider Approval of Disbursements in the Amount of $186,420.75 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.
7. Consider Acceptance of an Informational Report for the August 2024 Accounts Payable Payment Register and Void Report; Chris Gorsky, Administrative Services Director
8. Consider Adoption of Resolution 09-16-2024-A and Acceptance of the VFC (Volunteer Fire Capacity) Grant Award – 7GF24020 and Authorize the Fire Chief to Approve and Sign the Contract to Accept the Award; Aimee New, Fire Chief.
9. Consider Adoption of Resolution 09-16-2024-B, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Sonora, Adopting Necessary Changes to the City of Sonora’s Conflict of Interest Code; Douglas White, City Attorney.
Motion made by Councilmember Andy Merrill, Seconded by Councilmember Bess Levine. Voting Yea:
Mayor Ann Segerstrom, Vice Mayor Suzanne Cruz, Councilmember Bess Levine, Councilmember Andy Merrill, Councilmember Stephen Opie
NEW BUSINESS
10. Consider Potential Demonstration Projects to Increase Pedestrian Safety, Implement Elements of the Linoberg Refined Concepts Report, and Deliver Public Art to Sonora’s Downtown Area; Tyler Summersett, Community Development Director.
The Council discussed the Linoberg concepts and Public Art.
Sharon Marovich of the Tuolumne County Heritage Committee shared her comments and concerns.
Kristine Conforti, Public Policy Advocate for Blue Zones addressed the concerns of the Council and Public.
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
MONTHLY REPORTS
11. Receive the City of Sonora Administrative Services Department Report for July 2024 (FY24/25); Chris Gorsky, Administrative Services Director.
12. Receive the City of Sonora Community Development Department Monthly Report for August 2024; Tyler Summersett, Community Development Director.
13. Receive the City of Sonora Fire Department Monthly Report for August 2024; Aimee New, Fire Chief.
Fire Chief Aimee New informed those in attendance on October 5th the Fire Department will be working with the Red Cross to install smoke detectors in the city.
14. Receive the City of Sonora Police Department Monthly Report for August 2024; Turu VanderWiel, Police Chief.
15. Receive the City Sonora Public Works Department Monthly Report for August 2024; Michael Lagomarsino, Public Works Supervisor.
COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS
Vice Mayor Suzanne Cruz attended the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) and the Tuolumne County Transportation Council (TCTC) meetings; informed those in attendance September 17th is National Constitution Day and read the Preamble.
Councilmember Andy Merrill attended the Solid Waste meeting, the Tuolumne County Transit Agency (TCTA) and Tuolumne County Transportation Council (TCTC) meetings; informed those in attendance the College will be hosting two orchestral performances, one on October 4th and the next in December.
Councilmember Bess Levine attended the Business Watch meeting; Natural Resources Advisory Committee; and next month will attend the Annual California Tourism Summit at the Chicken Ranch with Visit Tuolumne County.
Councilmember Stephen Opie attended the Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) meeting, and YES Council presentation on the fentanyl crisis.
Mayor Ann Segerstrom attended the Tuolumne County Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs meeting, Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), and Tuolumne Public Power Agency (TPPA); and the District 1 Town Hall is September 25th.
ADJOURNMENT
Adjourned at 6:56 PM.
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
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.