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 21, 2026
5:00 PM
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Sonora City Council will have their regular meeting on September 21, 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 Christopher Gorsky
City Attorney Douglas White___________________________________________________________________ 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
1. Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation - Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1) - In the Matter of the Abatement at 277 N. Shepherd Street (Superior Court of Tuolumne County; Case No. CV68716)
2. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9(d)(2): 1 potential case
3. Liability Claims - Pursuant to Gov. Code, § 54956.95: Two (2) Claims, Claimants: Hang; Deir; Agency Claimed Against: City of Sonora; Chris Gorsky, City Administrator.
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
PRESENT
Mayor Ann Segerstrom
Vice Mayor Andy Merrill
Councilmember Bess Levine
Councilmember Stephen Opie
Councilmember Mark Plummer
PUBLIC COMMENTS
No public comments.
ADJOURN INTO CLOSED SESSION
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 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, September 18, 2026, at 1:37 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.
Sabrina Biehl addressed the Council.
Amariah Richards Visit Tuolumne Business Development Manager extended an invitation to their Annual Tourism Summit & Awards Partner Showcase, October 15, 2026.
Mike Lemke gave an update to the Council.
Mayor Ann Segerstrom informed those in attendance Tuolumne Utilities District (TUD) is having a Coffee Talk on October 8, 2026.
PRESENTATIONS
4. Receive the Ceremonial Swearing-In of the City’s New Administrative Services Director Elizabeth Peterson; Nicole McCutchen, Administrative Services Officer/City Clerk.
Mayor Ann Segerstrom introduced Elizabeth Peterson Administrative Services Director.
Nicole McCutchen City Clerk officiated the Oath of Office.
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
5. Receive a Presentation of the Proposed Scope of Work from Visit Tuolumne County for Tourism Marketing Services Effective July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027; Lisa Mayo, President and CEO; Myrka Cringle Marketing and Communications Manager, Visit Tuolumne County.
Lisa Mayo President and CEO Visit Tuolumne addressed the Council and introduced Myrka Cringle Marketing and Communications Manager.
Myrka Cringle Marketing and Communications Manager presented the Scope of Work for the City of Sonora including, Advertising; Familiarization Tours; Program Co-Ops; and Shared Marketing Costs.
Lisa Mayo President and CEO Visit Tuolumne made final comments.
Councilmembers made comments.
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.
6. Consider Approval of the Meeting Minutes from September 8, 2026; Stacy Enos-Del Razo, Deputy City Clerk.
7. Consider Acceptance of Disbursements in the Amount of $207,940.11 and $203,903.98 for Payroll, Including Employee Salaries, Employer and Employee Taxes, Retirement Contributions, Miscellaneous Voluntary Employee Deductions, Holiday Pay, and Other Adjustments, Including Retro-Pay; Nicole McCutchen, Administrative Services Officer/City Clerk.
8. Consider Giving Direction to Staff to Submit a Notice of Exemption, Utilizing Class 1 and 11 Exemptions, with the Office of Planning and Research and the County Clerk as the Appropriate Level of Environmental Document for the City of Sonora Parking Lots Improvement Project; Tyler Summersett, Community Development Director.
9. Amendment No. 1 to the Tourism Marketing Agreement with Visit Tuolumne County, Removal of the $150,000 Compensation Cap and Restoration of Compensation at 25% of Transient Occupancy Tax; Chris Gorsky, City Administrator
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
PUBLIC HEARINGS
10. Consider Adoption of the following:
City Council Resolution 09-21-2026-A to Approve the Formal Vacation of the Right-of-Way Area at the Intersection of Old Wards Ferry Road and Sanguinetti Road; and City Council Resolution 09-21-2026-B to Approve an Agreement to Transfer the Land to the Adjacent Landowner and Subject to the Provisions Contained Therein; and Introduce City Council Ordinance No. 917 to Rezone a Portion of the Area from Open Space to General Commercial.
Tyler Summersett, Community Development Director.
Tyler Summersett Community Development Director introduced each item of the Public Hearing individually beginning with, approve the formal vacation of the right-of-way area at the intersection of Old Wards Ferry Road and Sanguinertti Road; approve an agreement to transfer the land to the adjacent landowner and subject to the provisions contained therein; and rezone a portion of the area from open space to general commercial.
Councilmembers made comments.
Scot Patterson California Gold Development and Crossroads Enterprise addressed the Council.
Barbara Dresslar addressed the Council.
Jerry Fuccillo addressed the Council.
Sharon Marovich addressed the Council.
Mike Lemke addressed the Council.
Scot Peterson, Jerry Fuccillo and Sharon Marovich made additional comments.
Josh Varinsky City Attorney shared additional information.
Councilmembers shared their comments.
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
COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS
Councilmember Stephen Opie attended YES Council and Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) meetings.
Councilmember Bess Levine attended the Visit Tuolumne County Board meeting.
Vice Mayor Andy Merrill attended Solid Waste Committee; Tuolumne County Transportation Council (TCTC); and the Commission on Homelessness meetings.
Councilmember Mark Plummer attended the Tuolumne County Transportation Council (TCTC) meeting.
Mayor Ann Segerstrom attended the Cal Cities Division meeting and Election of Officers.
ADJOURNMENT
Adjourned at 6:31 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.