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, January 20, 2026
5:00 PM
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Sonora City Council will have their regular meeting on January 20, 2026 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 Chris Gorsky
City Attorney Douglas White
___________________________________________________________________________________________ 02/17/2026
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 4:30 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 – 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.
RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION
OPEN SESSION - 5:00 PM
REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Ann Segerstrom stated direction was given to staff.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Bess Levine 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 on Friday, January 16, 2025, at 2:05 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.
Derek Nunes addressed the Council.
PRESENTATIONS
2. Receive the City of Sonora Police Department Annual Statistic Summary Report for 2025; Turu VanderWiel, Police Chief.
Turu VanderWiel Police Chief presented to the Council the Annual Statistic Summary Report for 2025.
Vice Mayor Andy Merrill made comments, thanked the Chief and Police Department.
A member of the public asked for clarification.
Turu VanderWiel Police Chief responded.
Councilmember Mark Plummer asked questions and discussed.
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.
3. Consider Approval of the Meeting Minutes from December 1, 2025; Stacy Enos-Del Razo, Deputy City Clerk.
4. Consider Acceptance of an Informational Report for December 2025 Accounts Payable Payment Register and Void Report; Chris Gorsky, City Administrator
5. Consider Acceptance of Disbursements in the Amount of $271,014.94 and $198,566.23 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/City Clerk.
No public comment.
Motion made by Councilmember Mark Plummer, Seconded by Councilmember Bess Levine. Voting Yea:
Mayor Ann Segerstrom, Vice Mayor Andy Merrill, Councilmember Bess Levine, Councilmember Stephen Opie, Councilmember Mark Plummer
PUBLIC HEARINGS
6. Conduct a Public Hearing, Receive Public Comments Pursuant to Proposition 218 Requirements, Consider Any Protests Regarding the Proposed Solid Waste Rate Increases, and Consider Approval of Resolution No. 01-20-2026-A Declaring the Results of the Noticed Protest Proceedings and Adopting a Rate Schedule of Solid Waste Rate Adjustments, that Becomes Effective During the Billing Period that Begins on January 1, 2026; Carlye Buchholz, P.E., P.L.S. – City Engineer.
Carlye Buchholz City Engineer gave the history on the request for proposals to solicit competitive bids for proposals for solid waste, recycling, green waste collection and management; and the Proposition 218 process.
Councilmembers asked questions and discussed.
Chris Gorsky City Administrator made comments.
Carlye Buchholz City Engineer made comments.
Mayor Ann Segerstrom made additional comments.
Derek Nunes 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
Carlye Buchholz City Engineer replied to questions and added clarification.
A member of the public addressed the Council.
Chris Gorsky City Administrator provided clarification.
Christine Pritchard City Attorney provided clarification.
Councilmember Stephen Opie made final comments.
Mayor Ann Segerstrom closed public comment.
Christina Pritchard City Attorney made an amendment to the Resolution to clarify that the rates are effective for five years.
Councilmember Mark Plummer made additional comments.
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
MONTHLY REPORTS
7. Receive City of Sonora Fire Department Quarterly Report for October, November, and December 2025; Brittan Gregory, Fire Chief.
8. Receive the City of Sonora Police Department Quarterly Report for October through December 2025; Turu VanderWiel, Police Chief.
9. Receive the Sonora Public Works Department Quarterly Report for October, November, and December 2025; Matt Lewallen, Public Works Supervisor.
Tyler Summersett Community Development Director addressed the Council on his Monthly Report.
COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS
Councilmember Mark Plummer shared Cable 8 - Access Tuolumne is meeting soon; attended Visit Tuolumne County as an alternate; and the TCTC (Tuolumne County transportation Council) Workshop.
Vice Mayor Andy Merrill attended the TCTC Workshop.
Councilmember Bess Levine thanked Councilmember Mark Plummer for going to the Visit Tuolumne County meeting.
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
Councilmember Stephen Opie was not able to attend the YES Council meeting; will be attending the IRWM (Integrated Regional Water Management) meeting.
Mayor Ann Segerstrom helped dismantle Christmas Town; attended the Pet Food Drive; Age Friendly Coalition Action Plan; MLK Liberty and Justice for All Presentation; and shared there will be a memorial service for Colette Such.
ADJOURNMENT
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.