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 07, 2025
5:00 PM
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Sonora City Council will have their regular meeting on July 7, 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
___________________________________________________________________________________________ 06/16/2025
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
Called to order at 4:00 PM.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT
Mayor Ann Segerstrom
Councilmember Bess Levine
Councilmember Stephen Opie
Councilmember Mark Plummer
ARRIVING SOON
Vice Mayor Andy Merrill
PUBLIC COMMENTS
No public comment.
ADJOURN INTO CLOSED SESSION
1. Conference with Labor Negotiators (Gov. Code Section § 54957.6): Agency Designated Representatives:
Melissa Eads, City Administrator; Chris Gorsky, Assistant City Administrator; Employee Organization: Sonora Management Association (SMEA); Sonora Police Officers Association (SPOA); Sonora Fire Fighters Association (SFFA); Sonora Employees Association (SEA).
2. Public Employment (Government Code Section §54957): Fire Chief; Police Officer; Doug White, City Attorney, Chris Gorsky, Assistant City Administrator, Melissa Eads, City Administrator.
3. Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation - (Gov Code § 54956.9): One (1) Potential Case; Doug White, City Attorney, Chris Gorsky, Assistant City Administrator; Melissa Eads, City Administrator.
4. Public Employee Performance Evaluation (Government Code Section 54957 (b)(1)) - City Administrator; Doug White, City Attorney
5. Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation. Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9: 1 potential case; 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
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 the Council will continue with Closed Session after the adjournment of the Regular meeting.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Mark Plummer led the Pledge of Allegiance.
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 Thursday, July 3, 2025 at 1:20 PM.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Motion made by Vice Mayor Andy Merrill, Seconded by Councilmember Mark Plummer. 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 addressed the Council.
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
Vanessa Barberis Cal Sierra Waste Management introduced Javier Sanchez as the new Recycling Education Representative; would like to speak with the Councilmembers in more detail about the Green Waste Plan for the City; and Javier Sanchez addressed the Council.
Lisa Mayo President and CEO Visit Tuolumne County introduced three new awards that will be presented at the Annual Tourism Summit on October 16th.
Mayor Ann Segerstrom read a statement.
PRESENTATIONS
6. Receive an Update from Tuolumne County District 1 Supervisor Mike Holland; Melissa Eads, City Administrator.
Mike Holland Tuolumne County District 1 Supervisor informed the Council the preliminary budget was approved; the County will have lots of changes and new directions; Heaven for Kids Playground will be closed for a few days for repairs; and the Environmental Health Town Hall went well.
Councilmembers asked questions and discussed.
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.
7. Consider Approval of the Meeting Minutes from June 2, 2025; June 4, 2025 (Special); June 5, 2025 (Special); June 16, 2025 (Special); June 16, 2025 (Regular); Stacy Enos-Del Razo, Deputy City Clerk.
8. Consider Authorizing the Mayor to Sign and Certify the Environmental Document for 209 S. Stewart Street, Subject to Section 58.5 – Environmental Review; Tyler Summersett, Community Development Director.
Tyler Summersett Community Development Director made a clarification to the address on the agenda report. The documents attached to the agenda report have the correct address.
No public comment.
Motion made by Councilmember Mark Plummer, Seconded by Vice Mayor Andy Merrill. 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
NEW BUSINESS
9. Consider Adoption of Fees Associated with Implementation of Ordinance No 904, a Text Amendment of Title 12 of the Sonora Municipal Code, Amending Chapter 12.16, Use of Sidewalks for Business; Tyler Summersett, Community Development Director.
Tyler Summersett Community Development Director presented the three different Fee Options for Ordinance #904.
Councilmembers made comments and discussed.
John Williams Mountain Home Gifts spoke in support of Fee Option #3.
Tracy Skelly City Clerk read an email comment from the Tap Room.
Motion made by Vice Mayor Andy Merrill to approve Fee Option #3, Seconded by Councilmember Mark Plummer. Voting Yea: Mayor Ann Segerstrom, Vice Mayor Andy Merrill, Councilmember Bess Levine, Councilmember Stephen Opie, Councilmember Mark Plummer
COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS
Councilmember Stephen Opie will be attending YES Council; and Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM).
Councilmember Bess Levine attended the League of California Cities event and dinner; and will be attending Visit Tuolumne County.
Vice Mayor Any Merrill reported earlier on the Ad Hoc meeting for the Homelessness Committee; and did not have much to update on Tuolumne County Transportation Council (TCTC).
Councilmember Mark Plummer attended Cable 8 - Access Tuolumne; Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO); and Tuolumne County Transportation Council (TCTC) will not have a meeting in July.
Mayor Ann Segerstrom toured the facilities and green waste at Cal Sierra; thanked Cal Sierra for attending the Council meeting; attended IRWM; League of California Cities; Amador Tuolumne Calaveras Action Agency (ATCAA); was interviewed on Motherlode Views; and helped to put Flags out on Washington Street.
ADJOURNMENT
Adjourned back into Closed Session.
Reconvened into Open Session.
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 stated direction was given to staff.
Adjourned at 6:56 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.