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, June 02, 2025
5:00 PM
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Sonora City Council will have their regular meeting on June 2, 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 Andy Merrill
Council Members Bess Levine, Stephen Opie, Mark Plummer City Administrator Melissa Eads
City Attorney Douglas White
___________________________________________________________________________________________ 07/07/2025
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 - 4:00 PM
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Ann Segerstrom read a statement and clarified the error on the Closed Session Agenda language.
Called to order at 4:00 PM.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT
Mayor Ann Segerstrom
Vice Mayor Andy Merrill
Councilmember Bess Levine
Councilmember Stephen Opie
Councilmember Mark Plummer
PUBLIC COMMENTS
No public comment.
ADJOURN INTO CLOSED SESSION
1. Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation - Significant Exposure to Litigation Pursuant to Gov.
Code, § 54956.9(b): Two (2) Potential Cases; Douglas White, City Attorney, Tyler Summersett, Community Development 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 Andy Merrill
Councilmember Bess Levine
Councilmember Stephen Opie
Councilmember Mark Plummer
CITY CLERK’S REPORT ON AGENDA POSTING
The Agenda was posted on Friday, May 30, 2025 at 8:17 AM.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Motion made by Vice Mayor Andy Merrill, Seconded by Councilmember Bess Levine. Voting Yea: Mayor Ann Segerstrom, Vice Mayor Andy Merrill, Councilmember Bess Levine, Councilmember Stephen Opie, Councilmember Mark Plummer
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 informed those in attendance of the Elder Empowerment Symposium on June 11th; the Groveland Yosemite Express publication; and an incident that occurred on Washington Street.
Councilmember Stephen Opie shared information on the Brian Dahle event.
PRESENTATIONS
2. Receive an Update from the President of the Sonora Chamber of Commerce, Katie Dunn; Tracy Skelly, Administrative Services Officer/City Clerk.
Katie Dunn President of the Sonora Chamber of Commerce informed those in attendance El Campo de Sonora is June 7th; June 14th is Second Saturday Art Night and is the first Summer Concert at Coffill Park; a memorial art show for Dale Bunse is on June 14th; and the Chamber Mixer is at the Tuolumne County Historical Society on June 17th.
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
3. Receive a Presentation from Visit Tuolumne County Regarding the Quarterly Marketing Update, Lisa Mayo, President & CEO, and Jen Lopez, Marketing Director, Visit Tuolumne County.
Jen Lopez Marketing Director Visit Tuolumne County informed those in attendance of the 2024 Tuolumne County travel impacts; physical visits to Sonora; web and media visits; attended the Bay Area Travel and Adventure Show and the Home and Garden Show; hosted Tuolumne County Art Week; is on the Tuolumne County 175th Anniversary Committee; and the scope of work for the upcoming year.
Councilmembers asked questions and made comments.
4. Receive a Presentation Regarding Defensible Space Awareness, Sonora Fire Department Services, Frequently Asked Questions, and Best Practices for Preparing Your Home Before the Upcoming Wildland Fire Season; Brittan Gregory, Sonora Fire Captain, Grant Miller, Sonora Relief Fire Engineer.
Brittan Gregory Fire Captain and Grant Miller Relief Fire Engineer gave a presentation on defensible space; Sonora Fire Department Services; and preparing your home for the wildland fire season.
Councilmembers asked questions and made comments.
Several Members of the public asked questions, made comments, and added additional information.
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 of Sonora Meeting Minutes from May 19, 2025; Stacy Enos-Del Razo, Deputy City Clerk.
6. Consider the Re-Appointment of Curtis Wicks to the Tuolumne County Transportation Council (TCTC) Citizen's Advisory Committee (CAC) as a Representative for the City of Sonora with a Term to Expire in May of 2029; Tamera Blankenship, Tuolumne County Transportation Council Executive Director.
7. Receive an Update on the Removal of Trees on Mono Way by PG&E; Tyler Summersett, Community Development Director.
Mayor Ann Segerstrom made comments on the tree removal on Mono Way.
Sharon Marovich Tuolumne Heritage Committee addressed the Council on the tree removal.
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
Melissa Eads City Administrator and the Council discussed the removal of the trees as a safety issue.
Motion made by Councilmember Stephen Opie to approve Items 5, 6, and 7, Seconded by Councilmember Mark Plummer. Voting Yea: Mayor Ann Segerstrom, Vice Mayor Andy Merrill, Councilmember Bess Levine, Councilmember Stephen Opie, Councilmember Mark Plummer
8. Review and Discuss Adding to a Future Agenda a Proclamation Recognizing the Month of June as Pride Month in the City of Sonora, Andy Merrill, Vice Mayor.
Councilmember Mark Plummer requested Item 8 to be pulled, Councilmember Stephen Opie agreed.
Several members of the public shared comments on the Proclamation.
Councilmembers thanked the public and shared their comments.
A member of the public addressed the Council on a point of order.
Mayor Ann Segerstrom made additional comments.
Motion made by Vice Mayor Andy Merrill, Seconded by Councilmember Bess Levine. Voting Yea: Mayor Ann Segerstrom, Vice Mayor Andy Merrill, Councilmember Bess Levine Voting Nay: Councilmember Stephen Opie, Councilmember Mark Plummer
PUBLIC HEARINGS
9. Waive the First Reading, Read by Title Only, and Introduce Ordinance No. 906, Approval and Adoption of the 2025 Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map as Recommended by the California State Fire Marshal; Gary Carlson, Interim Fire Chief.
Gary Carlson Interim Fire Chief explained Ordinance 906 to the Council.
Councilmembers asked questions and discussed the fire hazard severity zone map.
No public comment.
Motion made by Councilmember Mark Plummer, Seconded by Councilmember Stephen Opie. Voting Yea: Mayor Ann Segerstrom, Vice Mayor Andy Merrill, Councilmember Bess Levine, Councilmember Stephen Opie, Councilmember Mark Plummer
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
COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS
Councilmember Mark Plummer attended the Pride event.
Councilmember Stephen Opie did not attend IRWM (Integrated Regional Water Management) as it was cancelled; and attended the Brian Dahle event.
Councilmember Bess Levine attended the Town Hall with our California State Treasurer.
Vice Mayor Andy Merrill attended the Pride event.
Mayor Ann Segerstrom met with Cole Przybyla; recorded the newsmaker for El Campo de Sonora with Katie Dunn; attended the Town Hall Economic Forum with our California State Treasurer; and the League of California Cities meeting will be in Sonora on June 26th.
City Clerk Tracy Skelly gave a recap of the upcoming Special meetings and the next Regular City Council meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
Adjourned at 7:02.
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.