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, January 06, 2025
5:00 PM
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Sonora City Council will have their regular meeting on January 6, 2025, 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
___________________________________________________________________________________________ 02/03/2025
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 - 3:00 PM
CALL TO ORDER
Called to order at 3:00 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 comment.
ADJOURN INTO CLOSED SESSION
Adjourned into close session at 3:01 PM.
1. Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation - Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1) - Lee Pagni vs.
City of Sonora et al. (Superior Court of Tuolumne County; Case No. CV66705); Doug White, City Attorney, Tyler Summersett, Community Development Director.
2. Conference with Labor Negotiators (Government Code § 54957.6): Agency Designated representatives: Melissa Eads, City Administrator; Chris Gorsky, Administrative Services Director; Employee Organizations: Sonora Management Employee Association (SMEA), Sonora Confidential Employee Association (SCEA), Sonora Fire Fighters Association (SFFA), Sonora Police Officers' Association (SPOA), Sonora Employee Association (SEA).
3. Threat to Public Services or Facilities (Gov. Code Section 54957(a)). Consultation with Police Chief Turu VanderWiel.
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
RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION
OPEN SESSION - 5:00 PM
Called to order at 5:00 PM.
REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Ann Segerstrom reported out on one matter. Direction was given to staff on remaining matters.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Bess Levine led the Pledge of Allegiance.
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, January 3, 2025 at 3:31 PM, for the Regular and Special Meetings.
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.
Duke York addressed the Council on a parking space at St. Patrick’s Church.
Lisa Mayo President/CEO Visit Tuolumne County shared with those in attendance January is California Restaurant Month, and they have created a campaign called Snap & Savor; and they have brought back Fuel Your Journey Campaign.
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.
4. Consider Authorization for the Sonora Police Department to Submit a Central Sierra Continuum of Care (CSCOC), Homeless Housing and Prevention (HHAP) Round 5 Application, Authorize the City Administrator to Execute all Documents Relating to the Grant Application, and Direct the Police Chief to Return to City Council with the Application Results to Accept the Award; Turu VanderWiel, Police Chief.
5. Consider Approval of the City Council Meeting Minutes from December 16, 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 Andy Merrill, Councilmember Stephen Opie
PUBLIC HEARINGS
6. Waive First Reading, Read by Title Only, and Introduce Ordinance No. 900 and No. 901 of the Sonora City Council Amending Sections 9.50.010, 9.50.020, 9.56.020, 9.56.050, 9.56.060, and 9.61.050, Adding Section
9.04.046, Bathing and Washing in Public Fountains or Public Restrooms, and Adding Chapter 9.80, Shopping Carts, to Title 9 of the Sonora Municipal Code; Douglas White, City Attorney.
Doug White City Attorney explained the changes to the Municipal Code.
No public comment.
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
COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS
Councilmember Stephen attended the Airport Land Use Committee meeting.
Councilmember Bess Levine had nothing to report on Commissions and Committees; attended the Mixer hosted by the Chamber and Visit Tuolumne County.
Councilmember Andy Merrill informed those in attendance Tuolumne County Transportation Council/Tuolumne County Transit Agency (TCTC/TCTA) is close to finding a new Executive Director; attended the Homelessness Committee meeting; and gave an update on Amador Tuolumne County Action Agency (ATCAA).
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 attended the Chamber and Visit Tuolumne County Mixer; the City of Sonora Appreciation Dinner; Special Meeting to authorize the parade; and helped dismantle Christmas Town.
Vice Mayor Suzanne Cruz read to those in attendance her resignation letter.
ADJOURNMENT
Adjourned at 5:28 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.